NOVEL NEXT chapter 10
10 – 10. Not Intending to Write This
10.
“…This is a secret from everyone else.”
“I promise I won’t tell anyone I got your autograph.”
Alan quickly scrolled his name in cursive on the paper Diabera gave him.
He’s someone who doesn’t even have an autograph.
He hadn’t expected to be signing an autograph for a so-called devoted reader immediately after his arrival.
Moreover, how could he possibly have a fan when only one volume has been published?
Putting aside such doubts for now, Alan finished signing.
Diabera, holding the paper, beamed a bright smile.
“Thank you!”
“…Don’t go spreading a rumor. I already have enough pressure.”
“Of course!”
“Then.”
Alan picked up his books and left the library.
Diabera, who had been watching his retreating figure, sat back, staring at Alan’s autograph with a bright smile.
“I love it!”
***
The second course Alan chose was the lecture on basic magic theory.
The first week of the Academy is a time to participate in classes and finalize your schedule.
Before you matriculate, you select the classes you want to take and draft a schedule. Once you’re there, you have the opportunity to make changes as you experience the classes in person.
A week-long grace period.
During this week, Allen thought his life would genuinely become taxing if he didn’t accompany Mia everywhere.
‘… Such a bother.’
There were many people who took a liking to Allen, but also many who displayed a hostile attitude towards his novel.
He was spared any trouble not because of his personality, but because he was from the Muell family. Without that background, he would undoubtedly have already been challenged to a duel.
Due to the influence of his brother Albert and his sister Alice, people merely observed Allen with silent hostility. Thankfully direct confrontations were rare.
At least, that was the case at the level of an Academy student.
Higher ranks would be a different story.
“I am Kenneth Ragus von McKellan. I teach the fundamentals of magic. When you address me, do so with respect as Professor McKellan.”
How was it that his very first words conveyed a nagging, old-fashioned vibe?
Allen didn’t particularly care.
He had chosen magic class because he had never seen a mage while living in the duchy.
He had seen plenty of magically enhanced items.
There were artifacts that functioned like modern refrigerators and others that served as air conditioners.
However, he hadn’t seen a mage yet.
The Muell family was known for using magically enhanced artifacts, but they did not employ mages.
That’s why Allen, in this fantasy world, had never encountered the oft-mentioned mages.
‘How can Professor McQuire, who looks completely different, have such an old-man-like voice?’
Allen genuinely wondered.
Though he looked every bit the distinguished scholar seen in films, his voice and attitude emitted an air of an old pest.
He was diametrically opposed to Professor Quire in every facet.
‘Just by looking at him, it’s clear he’s the type to pick faults.’
He would be able to grasp the theory of magic to some extent from books in the family library, but if he wanted a proper understanding, it was best to learn basics of magic at the Academy.
Allen received this advice from Albert.
That’s why he had chosen the magic class, but already, the full-body tension emitting from the nagging old man gave him a bad feeling.
“Before we begin class, there are a few things I wish to say, so listen carefully.”
-Yes, Professor!
At the robust response, a smug smile appeared on Professor McKellan’s face as he begun to speak.
“Recent chatter about the novel Shuren Chronicle has been rumbling. Don’t you know the danger of being branded a traitor, writing a novel that apes the empire, not as an empire, but as Kunglong?”
The comment was meant as a direct blow to Allen, who was in the room.
Of course, Allen looked indifferent.
‘What a old fool.’
Professor McKillan continued his speech.
“It’s a serious challenge to the empire’s literature, and I will impose an F as final grades on anyone who dares mention this novel, which shakes the foundation of our empire literature, even slightly during my lecture.”
“That’s a bit excessive.”
“Oh, were you here? Allen Ed von Müller. Sorry then, I didn’t know you were listening.”
‘Pretending to not know, even when he knew from the start.’
Among various hair colors in the classroom, Allen’s dark-blue hair stood out conspicuously.
There were some childhood troubles because of his naturally dark hair, even though he was not a Kunglong.
It wasn’t the right time to talk about that now.
Allen faced Professor McKillan with a tilted posture.
“… It’s hard to believe that such a subversive book was written by someone from the distinguished Müller family.”
Allen looked at the professor in charge of the basic magic class, showing intense hostility from the start. No hint of a smile.
He could easily be identified as an empire literature cartel member.
If Professor Quiros, who took the first class, was friendly to Allen, Professor McKillan, who was in charge of basic magic, expressed his extreme hostility.
Allen kept quiet. His behavior dared the professor to spill everything he wanted to say.
“That’s a regretful talent. It shouldn’t be used to write that subversive thing. That’s what I think out of true concern for you.”
All Allen did in response to Professor McKillan’s words was keep silent, seemingly prompting him to continue.
“Your talent is exceptional. You wrote that at the age of sixteen, just entering the academy. That goes to show your talent. It means you could make the youngest literary debut in history. If you stop writing such subversive books now, or rather, if you started writing about the empire, instead of Kunglong, I could recommend you to the literary community immediately…”
“That’s enough.”
The cold one cut off Professor McKillan’s words.
It was Lynn.
“Even if it’s just a novel, I can’t tolerate you referring to my homeland in such a way.”
“Lynn Xiao Mei. Right?”
“So what if I am.”
Her attitude remained aloof.
Lynn smiled as she faced Professor McKillan with a language full of grace.
“Surely, you don’t expect the conflict between the Eastern and Western Empires to intensify simply because of a trivial opinion of a professor, do you?”
“…I’ve made a blunder haven’t I.”
Even though he wielded absolute authority within the academy, as a professor, he was no match for Lyn’s authority outside the academy.
Moreover, Felicia, who was nudging him to speak more, was glued by Lyn’s side.
Professor McKillen couldn’t help but feel a sense of crisis.
“Why don’t you say more, Professor McKillen?”
Felicia stood with arms crossed, and a smile on her face, tapping her foot impatiently.
“I am entirely prepared to listen to Professor McKillen’s wise counsel.”
“I apologize, Your Highness. It seems my mere opinion has polluted your ears.”
He acted like a sniveling coward.
Alan looked at Professor McKillen with an annoyed expression.
‘…That man is Schuren’s next target for now.’
Even if you disregard the fact he ignored the Duke Muller family, seeing him kiss up to the Princess, he didn’t seem to fear the Dukes and was terrified of the royal family.
‘I didn’t want to use it, but I have no choice…’
Alan held a malicious smile on his lips.
‘I didn’t want to rely on my family’s power, but let’s see it get crushed just once.’
***
“Looks like my son had an interesting start to his academy life.”
A day later, Professor McKillen could not help but tremble at the stern middle-aged man who came looking for him.
Gert Edwin von Muller.
The Sword King of the Empire himself had left his dukedom for the Bertha Academy in the Imperial Capital.
“I heard you lambasted my son’s work right in front of him.”
A thunderous voice.
Professor McKillen was terrified.
The Sword King of the Empire, Duke Muller, was known to be a difficult man to face. He was always busy with official duties and was an individual who represented the Empire’s strength in sword and magic.
That’s why his movements were deliberate.
The fact this man, who understood the weight of his actions, had come all the way to the Imperial Capital at the receipt of his son’s letter, showed how deep his love for his son was.
“Kenneth Ragus von McKillen. Are you not hearing me?”
“I hear you, Your Grace.”
“You are not responding to my question. Do my words sound funny to you?”
Professor McKillen closed his mouth.
No matter what answer he could come up with now, he had long realized that nothing but destruction awaited him. This was the end for the person who had forgotten that he was dealing with a member of the Mueller ducal family, not just some other family.
Duke Mueller stared down at Professor McKillan with an intimidating gaze.
“You will not answer… You do know that keeping your mouth shut does not only impact you.”
“I…”
“Did my son insult you in some way? Moreover, you belittled Kunlung in front of the princess of Kunlung herself.”
The color rapidly drained from Professor McKillan’s face.
Each word from the Sword King bore down on him with a weight as substantial as his reputation itself.
“Under ordinary circumstances, we would have overlooked this matter. However, upon knowing the Princess of Kunlung was present when you uttered those words in the lecture, the Imperial family itself could question your conduct, not just the academy.”
“That… that was a slip of the tongue…”
“You seem to speak hastily quite often these days,” Duke Mueller commented condescendingly, looking down at Professor McKillan.
“There was a consent to end this matter by forcing your removal from the academy, under the agreement of the princess and the prince, with the consensus of the academy’s President.”
“That’s… that’s…”
“If you cannot accept it, protest through the court.”
Of course, Professor McKillan knew well that he had no real power to do so.
If they had obtained the consent of the prince, princess, and the academy’s President already, they must have taken care of everything else.
Professor McKillan was helpless.
As he slowly fell to his knees, Duke Mueller looked at him with cold eyes.
“There’s nothing more dangerous than a scholar framing the world through a narrow lens.”
Duke Mueller turned away.
“Learn from this.”