How To Live As A Writer In A Fantasy World - Chapter 226: Book 17 (1)
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Iāve always thought about it, but I feel grateful that my fatherās genes have manifested, albeit late. If that hadnāt happened, my back would have been broken a long time ago.
However, a bigger issue remained: the changed attitudes of Marie and Cecily. Itās not that they were distant or have lost affection towards me, but rather it has deepened even more than before.
To the point where the intensity has become so strong.
Originally, we used to compromise with each other, but starting with Adelia, it seems like theyāve developed a new preference of conspiring together.
Rather than waiting for their turn, it seems they took to staying by my side. Surprisingly, Marie was more proactive than Cecily, and her jealousy seems to be increasing day by day, always trying to keep me by her side.
In her heart, she even wanted us to share a dorm like a married couple. Thanks to that, I could understand how much she loves me.
As time goes by, more women gather around me, but still, I will prioritize Marie and love her passionately.
She was the first to notice me and confess her love, so I couldnāt do anything less.
āOh, by the way, itās almost our 1-year anniversary.ā
I remember the exact day when Marie and I officially started dating. I have a habit from my past life of diligently commemorating anniversaries and such.
In this world, apart from birthdays, thereās no culture of commemorating special days. Even with engagements or marriages, it ends there.
So, wouldnāt she be moved if I remembered our anniversary? Since Iāve caused Marie some emotional turmoil, I plan to give back as much as I can.
Of course, Cecily was the same. Even if she pretends not to mind if I only take care of Marie, sheāll feel disappointed inside.
āBut what could be a good giftā¦ā
It was a dilemma thinking about what would be an appropriate gift here, cosmetics or an expensive perfume would be the safest, but asking other women would still be the best.
So, I planned to send a letter to my mother soon and ask her. Or maybe subtly ask Marie so she doesnāt catch on.
Becoming a good-for-nothing, this is the best expression of goodwill and apology I can do. Since this might not be enough, Iāll make sure to commemorate the special days diligently to soothe their hearts.
Anyway, since the Adelia incident, my life has been divided into assistant duties, writing, and sweet dates with my lovers, as usual. Thereās nothing else to do than things that require attention one by one, but recently, Iāve been concentrating on writing.
Iāve become accustomed to the assistant life, so helping Elena and Cindy is a breeze, and as for the dates⦠letās just pass over that.
However, during the weekend, Adeliaās face bloomed with a bright smile, and that made me very satisfied. Not a smile to hide the wounds but a genuinely happy one. Just that alone is worth sacrificing my waist for.
Although we briefly deviated to another topic, letās get back to the issue of Volume 17. As everyone knows, Volume 17 focuses on Jin and Lily, and it depicts the events unfolding in the āHoly Church,ā which can be considered the āChurchā episode of Xenonās Biography, centered around Xavier like country.
⦠Letās not complain that I chose the name āHolyā too casually. I just named it like this because I couldnāt think of a better name.
Anyway, the development is that a priest associated with devils threatens Jin and Lily in the Holy Church. This story was also rather realistic.
The world realized the contamination level of the World Treeās roots as soon as they saw my book. But how corrupt can clergy members be? Especially in the case of the Luminous Order, there is a distant past where they turned fanatical and slaughtered demons.
Given the considerable time that has passed since then, the likelihood of internal decay once again spreading is high. Hence, though hesitant to write about it when faced with the thought of opposition, I had no choice but to proceed, for fear the plot might stagnate if I made amendments.
More than anything, it was transformed to the extent of creating something that doesnāt exist, unlike Animers previously. If I were to exaggerate a bit and write that dung can turn into gold, there are those who might take it at face value.
With this in mind, while the story continues as it is, Iāll ask Luminous directly. Are there truly corrupt clergy members within Xavier?
[There are.]
āCrazy.ā
And a positive response came back from Luminous. I couldnāt believe it even though I had hoped. Hearing a definitive answer from the god overseeing the world was more than shocking.
I felt my head ringing. However, cursing during a conversation with a god was an obvious blasphemy, so I immediately apologized.
No matter how much Luminous may favor me, a god is a god. Even a slight slip of the tongue in jest is a serious matter.
āIām sorry, Iām sorry. How could Iā¦ā
[Iām fine. I can understand your feelings. But itās truly fascinating. Cultural differences aside, the extent of these outcomes is unexpected. Itās quite severe, but interesting, isnāt it?]
Luminous seemed to be in a daze now. Although I poked to check, they probably didnāt expect it to actually exist.
No, he may not directly interfere, but heās observing. Even though he knew that Xavier was rotting from inside, he probably couldnāt come up with a proper plan.
Not informing about the widespread devil worshippers was similar to this. Since no one raised questions, the gods must have been frustrated. Even if they warned through oracles, it would have been misinterpreted, leading to frustration.
Or maybe those interpreting the prophecy became corrupted. Thatās not an impossible possibility.
[ā¦We, gods, always end up owning you. Thanks to you, the future of the world is becoming brighter.]
āShould I thank the devil worshippers who summoned me here?ā
[No. Because of those bastards, innocent souls ended up in a completely different place. From the godsā perspective, they might be insignificant, but life is always precious. Thatās what our mother used to say.]
The mother of gods. Luminous and Mora inherited their compassionate nature from Harte, the goddess of life and nature.
It feels proud in a corner of my heart that this world is developing under the protection of such compassionate and loving gods.
On the other hand, I wondered why the devils would invade this world. They are known for destruction and slaughter, but there must be a leader giving them āorders.ā
Perhaps the goal of that leader is the destruction of this world. Since there was no clear explanation in the myth, I became slightly curious. Still, I didnāt ask Luminous directly. Instead, I moved on to another question.
āCan you tell me who in Xavier is making a pact with devils?ā
[Sorry, I canāt do that. Itās a future that would shake the entire world, too much for your sanctity to handle even now. Such a great calamity requires an immense force to occur.]
How severe could it be that even my sanctity is insufficient? It seems like it will bring about a wave as significant as the contamination of the World Treeās roots, which was a major crisis.
And theyāll probably label me as the cause. Now, they will get even more certain with their theories. I dread how severe the aftermath will be once I reveal that I am Xenon. I hope for the safety of those around me, even if Iām unsure about anything else. But things in this world arenāt that simple.
Iāll try to come up with a plan somehow, but Iām not the protagonist in a novel like Xenon, and dealing with the immense power of the world is almost impossible.
Sighā
Amidst the perplexing situation, just as I exhaled deeply, I felt a gentle touch caressing my head. A touch that felt kind and sacred, such warmth. Itās the first time Iāve felt this while conversing with Luminous.
The god of light and hope, Luminous, gently stroked my head, and simultaneously, a clear sanctity entered my body, soothing my complex emotions.
God doesnāt often lay hands on the heads of believers, comforting them as if soothing them, except for the Pope and the Cardinals, I heard.
āā¦Luminous?ā
[Donāt worry too much, child. At least, there wonāt be any dark clouds looming in your near future. The same goes for the women and family you love.]
Luminous reassured me with his gentle tone. Feeling his touch, I couldnāt help but feel relieved. I feel like I understand why people adore Luminous and love the gods of this world. Offering warmth not just to their families but to everyone, who wouldnāt admire such a deity?
Conversely, despite being established for such a god, the Luminous Orderās clergy, which made a pact with devils, became repulsive. Specifically, Iām referring to a minority of clergy.
Surely, most are devout, but itās because of this minority that Luminousās name is being tarnished. Just as Luminous bestowed love and grace upon me, I feel I should repay him in some way.
ā¦Kate, who once asked for my seed, flashed through my mind but swiftly dismissed. There might be a separate favor to ask of her later anyway.
āThank you. Iāll try to finish the book as quickly as possible. It wonāt take more than ten days to complete the writing. And the story Iāve told isnāt in 17 volumes but in 18. Itās a long way to go yet.ā
[Donāt push yourself too hard. Work is important, but taking it easy is just as crucialā¦]
āOtherwise, I might be by Luminousās side soon.ā
[⦠ā¦]
Even if I abruptly interrupted midway, Luminous maintained silence. Luminous probably knew well the situation I was facing at the moment. Curiosity arose with the conversation. It was a half-joking comment, but I wondered what would actually happen if I engaged in nighttime activities without receiving sanctity.
If Luminous had said something, I wouldnāt have been sure, but staying silent without uttering a word made me truly wonder.
āā¦Is such a future really possible?ā
[Under the assumption of you not receiving sanctity. That future ceased to exist because you have received sanctity. Donāt worry too much.]
āCan you tell me what kind of future it is?ā
[Sometimes not knowing is a form of protection.]
I wondered how sad and dreadful a future would have to be for Luminous to outright reject it. I became more curious, but there were situations where not knowing was better.
Moreover, since I consistently received sanctity, that kind of future ceased to exist, so itās not something I need to worry about. As always, I should continuously serve and care for my beloved ones.
As long as I continue receiving both physical training and sanctity, there shouldnāt be any major issues if I keep training.
āUnderstood. Then, until next time.ā
[Oh, before that, ask Cecily to visit Helium once. Mora insists on seeing you.]
Come to think of it, I havenāt visited Mora since the winter vacation. I was too engrossed in academics and writing, not even having the chance to visit Helium.
Though I wish to visit Mora if my heart had its way, Iām currently holding off because I donāt know what prank she might pull. My hair has grown long since winter vacation, and no matter how much I cut it, it seems to grow back overnight. Iāve almost given up. My friends and family say it suits me well and encourage me to continue, but Iām terribly uncomfortable.
The weight of the hair alone is no joke, and itās incredibly difficult to manage when it tangles every day during washing. I sought advice from Cecily, whose hair is much longer than mine. Thankfully, she offered some guidance, otherwise, I would have struggled alone.
āPlease tell her that Iāll go on the condition that she doesnāt play any pranks like last time.ā
[Really? Ah, she apologizes.]
It seems Mora was next to Luminous. That means she heard our entire conversation. With her mischievous nature, Iām not sure what sheāll say, but I hope itās nothing strange.
[Hmm⦠Itās probably better to go as soon as possible.]
āWhy?ā
Luminous replied. After hesitating for a moment, he cautiously conveyed Moraās intentions with a careful tone.
[Otherwise, she insists sheāll turn you into a girl for a monthā¦]
āā¦ā
[It seems sheās suggesting that if itās not Cecily, you could ask Gartz, the demon, for help.]
I should probably hurry. I may not know about other things, but I must avoid turning into a woman. Daily life itself might not be too much of a challenge, but itās as clear as day what kind of reaction my lovely lovers would have. Just imagining it gives me goosebumps.
āā¦Please say I donāt have to go through that transformation. If not, I really wonāt go.ā
[They say theyāll give until the end of the week. After a week passes, they say a month will be added with each passing dayā¦]
āHahaā¦ā
I let out a bitter laugh. Sheās a goddess whoās difficult to deal with in many ways.
Even so, sheās as compassionate and kind as Luminous, so her followers will likely faithfully obey, even if theyāre groaning. You can tell her character from her dedication to the demons and dark elves who were persecuted from the start.
She might play pranks on the children she likes. But Iāve heard that sheās played pranks on herself too, at Cecilyās behest.
She got rid of everything that could be considered pride. It was comfortable, but then she became so depressed that Mora hastily returned her to her original state.
āIāll go as soon as possible. Iām busy too, trying to make time.ā
[No need to rush too much.]
āUnderstood. Then, Iāll take my leave now.ā
[Go ahead. I hope there will be light in your future.]
With those words, Luminousās voice disappeared completely. I slowly opened my closed eyes and lifted my head.
A statue depicting Luminous stood before my eyes. If Luminous was here, a faint aura would have enveloped the statue, but seeing its absence confirms their departure.
I rose from my spot and loosened my stiffened body. My knees were a bit numb from kneeling for so long, but it was bearable.
āI should head to Helium as soon as possible.ā
Itās been a while since I met Mora, and I donāt want to transform into a woman. I should avoid it at all costs this time. Iāll ask Cecily for help this time, and in the future, I can ask Gartz for assistance to visit regularly.
I bowed my head sincerely to Luminous, who has been very accommodating, and stepped outside. As soon as I stepped out, I unexpectedly encountered someone.
āSaint Isaac?ā
āYes?ā
āDid you come to pray to Luminous?ā
It was Kate, the Cardinal of Xavierās Church and the Grand Inquisitor. Her forest-green eyes seemed indifferent but held a hint of delight.
Iāve heard she stays in this temple before, so it didnāt surprise me, but what stood out the most was her attire. Instead of the nunās habit she usually wore, she was clad in armor that covered her entire body.
Given her usual habit, it was natural to question.
āHello, Miss Kate. I just finished offering my prayers a moment ago. But about that armorā¦ā
āIām planning to go exterminate devil worshippers who defile Luminousās name.ā
As expected. As my gaze shifted to her waist, there hung a mace that seemed too heavy to wield with just one hand.
She, with a pure face like a country girl, goes around smashing the skulls of devil worshippers. It felt strange, not aligning with her usual demeanor.
It clearly shows that judging people solely by appearances is wrong. I chuckled at the notion of devil worshippers in the capital and asked.
āAre there devil worshippers in the capital?ā
āThere are rumors that they reside underground. Itās a fitting place for vermin like them. Those creatures need to be crushed thoroughly and incinerated then resurrection should become impossible.ā
I learned during my conversation with Kate that she has quite a sharp tongue. Only when it comes to devil worshippers, though.
Her faith in Luminous must be that strong, indicating sincerity. Despite some missing screws in common sense, sheās not a bad person.
Sometimes, her faith goes overboard, causing some disturbances. But recently, through small talk, she seems to be gradually changing.
āI see. Take care. Donāt get hurt unnecessarily by being too reckless.ā
āThank you for your concern.ā
āUmā¦ā
I looked at Kate with an indifferent expression. As I stared, she blinked her green eyes and grinned.
āDo you have something to say?ā
āNo, justā¦ā
Kate is fervently devoted to Luminous. Does that mean her feelings toward Xavier, her hometown and sanctuary, are the same? It feels uneasy to leave things this way after directly receiving that information from Luminous.
If the 18th volume comes out, it might reveal everything, but by then, it could be too late. However, itās not something that can be directly disclosed. Thereās a risk that revealing it might cause significant trouble for Kate, who is still quite inexperienced.
Certainly, sheās established herself as a skilled individual in terms of combat and has risen to the position of a Cardinal through that. However, there are matters that cannot be resolved by force alone. After pondering repeatedly, I recalled an appropriate proverb and subtly conveyed it to her.
āDo you happen to know the saying, āThe darkest place is under the candleā?ā
āIāve never heard of that. Is it a directive from Luminous?ā
āNot exactly.ā
āHmmā¦ā
Kate cast her gaze downward, blinked a few times, and replied in her characteristic blunt tone. freew ebnovel.com
āIām sorry, but I donāt quite understand.ā
āI see⦠Alright.ā
āStill, I will engrave Isaacās words in my heart, thank you for that.ā
āThank you. May there be a path of hope for you.ā
I bowed slightly, uttering the farewell often shared by clergy of the Luminous order. Kate returned the gesture, offering the same salutation.
āMay there be a path of light for you.ā
After sixteen volumes and precisely a fortnight later, the 17th volume made its appearance in the world. Andā¦
āKate has returned to the Holy Kingdom?ā
āYeah, it seems like something urgent came up.ā
Exactly two days later, Kate returned to her hometown.
Translators note:
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