Chapter 54: Les Misérables

< Chapter 54: Les Misérables – 1 >He gathered the manuscript he had been writing and brought it to the publishing company.

The ‘pile of paper,’ which hadn’t even been bound, fell with a thud onto the conference table at the publisher’s office.

“This is the novel I want to publish.”

“…I didn’t expect it to be so thick. Is the manuscript really this long?”

“I won’t take any payment for it.”

“Well, let’s give it a read first.”

Just like the editor’s reaction, ‘Les Misérables’ was a novel boasting an immense volume. In fact, its nickname among fans was ‘The Brick’ due to its sheer size.

This characteristic of the novel stemmed from its style.

The narrative of Les Misérables unfolded in this manner: when a person appeared, the narrative first explained their personal details, behavior, thoughts, history, character, and environment over dozens to hundreds of pages. While the character’s description proceeded, the story also moved forward. If a new setting emerged as the plot progressed, it was explained again over dozens of pages.

During this process, it was explicitly stated that ‘this explanation has nothing to do with the plot.’

Such encyclopedic narration was also evaluated as having historical value, as it showed the contemporary appearance of France.

“…Hmm? Is this a translation? Where is this ‘France’?”

“Think of it as an imaginary country.”

“Aha. So that’s why the background setting is written in such detail? Is it a historical novel dealing with a fictional history? The culture seems similar to the Seidel Republic or the Harren Kingdom.”

Due to the nature of the novel, those encountering the original version of Les Misérables for the first time often found it somewhat bewildering. This was because it took a whopping 14 chapters before the story of ‘Jean Valjean,’ the character commonly known as the protagonist, was introduced.

While reading the book, one might wonder, ‘Why am I reading nearly a hundred pages about a monastery?’

The editor, unaware of the story, found the novel ‘Les Misérables,’ which I had plagiarized, quite interesting. As the editor mentioned, this time I had given up localizing ‘Les Misérables’.

“Ho… fascinating, fascinating… Although there seems to be an excessive amount of information, oddly enough, it’s not boring at all. It’s like reading an excellent journalist’s editorial. The vocabulary is so rich it seems like it was written by a poet.”

“Ah, yes.”

“I felt this way while reading the translation as well, but your writing skill is truly remarkable….”

This was possible because “Les Misérables” was filled with encyclopedic knowledge and Victor Hugo’s journalistic descriptions. The novel contained all the trivial knowledge about the world of “France” that one needed to understand it internally.

Therefore, “Les Misérables” is still regarded today as a depiction of an entire “world.”

It lyrically depicted the fact that history, society, and individuals did more than merely “exist”; they lived and breathed within a certain historical context and interacted with one another. Stories about clergy, convents, girls, battles, convicts─.

In the world where those “poor and miserable people” lived, all knowledge transcended mere existence to become a complex organism where each element enabled the others’ existence.

The editor, who had read the thick manuscript at an incredible speed, nodded.

“Hmm… This writing is chillingly persuasive. It’s as if it truly describes an existing world…”

The editor, who was known to read at a speed faster than most wizards, had indeed earned the title of “expert.”

He read faster than most average magicians.

“I don’t know if it will sell well. Still, given the subject, the Publishing Management Bureau might provide some benefits─, ah, well, anyway. I found it very interesting. It’s quite enjoyable. I’ll clear a printing line to get it published.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

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“Les Misérables” was published in the Kingdom of Harren. Like other novels by “Homer” or “Herodotus,” it didn’t become popular immediately.

The first to show interest in the novel were intellectuals deeply invested in literature.

“I heard Sophocles wrote a piece.”

“Hmm? Do you mean the translator? Ivan Publishing’s translations are terrible, but if it’s translated by Sophocles, it’s trustworthy.”

“It’s not a translation; it’s an original work. My friend, I heard it’s a historical novel set in a fictional country?”

Thanks to Sophocles making a name for himself as a “translator,” there were a few readers interested in his translations.

Thus, the brick-like thick “Les Misérables” became known to people─.

[“If you want to know what a revolution is, call it progress. If you want to know what progress is, call it tomorrow.”]

[“We sacrifice a day to gain a lifetime!”]

“A revolution novel…?”

“Tsk, is it another novel influenced by the Publishing Management Bureau? What on earth do they want─.”

They faced numerous criticisms.

The upper class of intellectuals who first encountered “Les Misérables” were aware of the “hidden truths” of the Harren Kingdom. They knew that the capable but lazy descendants of dragons were trying to return their power to the citizens.

Moreover, they were opposed to such “republicanism.”

The current king of Harren was known as the “Lazy King,” but he wasn’t tyrannical or trying to ruin the country. Despite the decline in diplomatic capabilities, domestic affairs were maintained at a high level by the bureaucrats.

Additionally, the previous king was considered a wise and benevolent ruler, known as the “Good King,” which further fueled the opposition to republicanism.

To the upper class of intellectuals, the idea of entrusting all authority to the citizens was akin to handing a gun to a child. They believed that power without responsibility was nothing but indulgence.

“No matter how excellent the description, ‘Les Misérables’ is just a trashy novel filled with sympathy for republicans!”

“‘Les Misérables’ is a novel full of crude and incompetent stereotypes about ‘ideals’!”

This reaction from the upper class of intellectuals soon led to the interest of another emerging class of intellectuals.

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To those with republican tendencies, “Les Misérables” was a kind of milestone.

The truthful and sincere descriptions contained within “Les Misérables” were reinterpreted by them as something both ‘natural’ and ‘ideological.’

“‘Les Misérables’ truly reveals the contradictions that our world and society are experiencing!”

“What we need is revolution! Progress! Tomorrow! We cannot take a single step back! We must move forward endlessly!”

This led to a usual conflict among the intellectual class in the Kingdom of Harren.

Ideological conflict. Clashes. Confusion.

“Les Misérables” became more than just ‘literature’; it became a symbol of ‘republicanism’ and functioned as a form of participatory literature. Since most of these people were the kingdom’s ‘bureaucrats,’ this conflict resulted in serious administrative exhaustion.

“As long as there are flaws in society, punishment and order are merely tools of oppression that hold people down! What we need is not order but revolution! An ever-changing tomorrow! Return the universal rights granted by the Lord to the citizens! Only republicanism by the citizens can make us whole! Let us seize the right to change, repent, and move forward!”

“Do not be deceived by the agitation of republicans who deny order and plunge society into chaos! Protect His Majesty, our rightful ruler and the apostle of the church! Only under order can we enjoy peace! Obey the order and be loved by the Lord!”

“Long live the revolution!”

“Drive out the reactionaries!”

“Long live republicanism! Long live the nation of citizens!”

“May the master of all Harrenians live long and prosper!”

As a result, the bureaucratic society became paralyzed.

The two intellectual classes constantly clashed, argued, dueled, and berated each other, holding each other in contempt. No policy could be implemented properly due to mutual obstruction.

If this conflict continued long-term, the very order of the Harren Kingdom would completely collapse.

And there was only one person who could end this conflict.

“Your Majesty! Please grant us an audience!”

“All administrative functions have been paralyzed! Your Majesty! Please save us from this chaos!”

The king of the Harren Kingdom─, the Lazy King.

No, the master of all Harrenians, who inherited the blood of the Dragon King.

“…Tsk. What a bother.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Prepare the airship. I will go to the council.”

“…We are eternally grateful! Your Majesty!”

Clement Le Mans.

He left the palace and soared into the sky.

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Before the completion of the airplane by the Grey Tower and ‘Principia,’ the only way to ascend into the sky was by using the gigantic hot air balloons known as ‘aerostats.’

But there were limits to flight via aerostats.

Aerostats couldn’t grow beyond a certain size and could only drift according to the wind.

And then.

“W-What on earth is that…. A giant dragon is flying in the sky…?”

“Gah?!”

Dragons were beings that roamed between clouds, reigning over the sky.

Thus, the Harren Royal Family had inherited the ‘right’ to rule the skies from their ancestors.

“That’s─!”

“It’s an airship! The master of the Harrenians has descended personally!”

As the gigantic beast crossed the sky, the air trembled with a humming vibration as if the heavens themselves were roaring, shaking the world.

It rose from the horizon as if it were the sun itself.

No, it even overshadowed the sun, casting a deep shadow over the land. Those who did not know its identity cowered in fear, believing it to be divine retribution, while those who knew its identity knelt to greet their rightful lord.

A colossal ship crossing the sky─.

The airship.

The structure in the sky, allowed only to the descendants of the Dragon King, halted directly above the council.

Something seemed to fall from it.

The Lazy King, clad in a hang glider resembling bat wings, descended to the ground.

“The servant of the kingdom greets the master of all Harrenians!”

The Lazy King casually tossed the hang glider aside and looked around briefly.

Then he slowly opened his mouth.

“Uh, yeah. Just stay relaxed. I’ll be back soon.”

Though his tone was incredibly casual for someone who reigned as the ruler of all Harrenians─.

No one present dared to lift their heads to point it out.