How to Live as a Martial Arts Writer in a Fantasy World

18 – 18. Morrison Detective Agency

18.

-Assault on the Academy Campus

-Three noblemen from the southern nobility were found unconscious in front of the shrine

-Based on the signs of battering on their bodies, it was presumed to be an act of hostility. The student council is set to launch an investigation.

-The three victims were known for dueling with Albert Elring von Muller at the dueling hall before they were found at the shrine

-It was also reported that Alan Ed provoked von Muller by throwing a punch….

-The ‘Morrison Detective Agency’, a detective club in the school, suggested that this might have been caused by a follower of Shuren electric who could not put up with the insult of Alan Ed against von Muller

-Following this, the Morrison Detective Agency announced that it would launch an investigation on this matter, garnering attention.

Reporting on the assault of three students from the Knights Academy who were thrown in front of the shrine with a broken arm by an unidentified person on their way home, Alan clicked his tongue as he read the school newspaper article.

“A school detective, huh? Do they want to be like a detective novel?”

Alan folded up the newspaper with a click of his tongue.

His gaze shifted to Meia.

“Meia. Was it you?”

“…I do not know what you mean.”

“Don’t lie.”

“I truly do not know.”

Meia feigned innocence calmly.

Lacking substantial evidence and only having suspicions, Allen could not press Meia any further, so he clicked his tongue.

“Did Karl get in touch?”

“He said the second volume is slated for distribution at the Imperial Bookshop by tomorrow. Given how well the first volume performed, he said it’s reasonable to expect success with the second.”

“That much?”

“Adonel mentioned almost 100,000 copies were sold merely in the empire.”

“… Insane.”

From even just the first volume, 100,000 copies were sold, Allen sighed.

Considering the population in the empire being close to 500,000, that meant at least one-fifth of the imperial citizens have bought and read Legend of Shuren.

Though it’s 100,000 copies, given the production and budget of the fantasy world, one could say that the performance from the get-go was top-notch.

It seemed conceivable given it was sold in the empire.

Allen was convinced by this.

‘In the first place, 100,000 copies isn’t a small quantity. It may look inflated.’

If only there could have been a YouTube video saying, ‘I sold 100,000 novels in a fantasy world,’ it would have attracted immense attention.

The noise marketing went exceedingly well, that being the issue.

It was exciting to think of the response from that man, the master of empire’s literature, when the second volume came out.

‘No telling what disturbance he would kick up next.’

Sitting at his desk, starting the third book slowly, Allen contemplated.

It would have been similar to when the mainstream literature circle criticized web novels in Korea during its infancy.

And such a response would not stop at just a couple of times.

“Meia. Make sure such things don’t happen next time.”

“Even if it was not me, I will keep it in mind.”

Hearing Meia steadfastly feigning innocence till the end, Allen smirked bitterly.

‘She’s worrying about me too much.’

***

After the lecture, Allan met Lynn at the café.

Today, too, Shen was sticking to Lynn like glue.

Ignoring Shen’s searing gaze directed at him, Allan engaged in conversation with Lynn.

“Looks like a strange fever is sweeping through.”

“I’m worried. I’m afraid there might occur something akin to a scramble for the supplementary edition.”

“Hmm…”

Allan was lost in thought.

“While I think it’s a bit of an extreme assumption, it seems like a valid concern. The impact of the novel is a bit strange.”

“And if the second volume comes out, I think this fever could intensify.”

“There’s nobody who knows who the person is who drew the picture, right, Princess Lynn?”

“Yes, unfortunately.”

Lynn sighed slightly and tipped her teacup.

The unique aroma of the Empire of Toronto’s black tea was heartfelt.

“I heard that the people who started drawing were exchange students from Kunlun.”

“Is that so? It’s the first time hearing this.”

“Hm? Why is that?”

At Allan’s reaction, Lynn let out a sarcastic laugh.

“The home country is divided into three factions, and that applies to the exchange students as well. They are broken down into those who follow me and those who don’t, so we can’t fully grasp it.”

“Sounds like a headache.”

“hehehe…”

‘Was the taste of black tea always this bitter?’ Lynn thought.

“But, it doesn’t seem like a false claim. Even amongst those who follow me, it seems like such rumors are circulating.”

“Hmm… It’s a dilemma since we don’t have the right to stop that either.”

Allan shrugged his shoulders.

From the beginning, the Shuren Chronicle attracting such a windfall of popularity was unexpected. They didn’t think it would be this successful in the beginning.

There’s no way to prevent the Kunlun exchange students from making the interpretation.

Lynn laughed and spoke.

“I heard that the sales of the first volume have exceeded 100,000 copies.”

“Oh, yes. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it either.”

Scratching his cheek with a smile, Allan responded.

“I was in disbelief after hearing Mr. Kal’s words. He claimed to have sold a hundred thousand copies, but there was no way that could be possible.”

“What do you mean, not possible?”

“Even though the population of Hwangdo is half a million, the number of noble families is actually quite small. Not everyone living in Hwangdo is noble.”

Allen chuckled at this.

No matter how vast and grand Hwangdo was, it was preposterous to say that the entire city was filled with nobles.

There was a middle class in Hwangdo.

But Allen didn’t believe that the Shuren Chronicle had become popular among the middle class as well.

“At best, maybe 40,000 to 50,000 copies. I think that’s the correct number that were sold.”

“Don’t you think you’re underestimating it?”

“Even at the academy, there are plenty of students who aren’t fond of me. Those who were recently taken to the temple infirmary are a case in point.”

“Ah, that incident. I saw it in the campus newspaper. It was quite a spectacle.”

Contempt flickers in Rin’s eyes.

“I just can’t understand why they engage in such tasteless actions. If they had openly demanded a duel, then maybe…”

“There’s no denying that wherever you go, there will be those who are gloomy.”

“Well, regardless, I don’t think it’s a good sign that gambling is becoming prevalent within the academy.”

“It’s fine.”

Allen took a sip of his tea and smirked.

“I sent Meyer. That picture, in Kunlun, it’s called Dao Hai, right?”

“Oh, yes.”

“I sent him to retrieve it, so it should be taken care of quickly. I’m curious to know who made it as well. If there’s someone distributing Dao Hai, we need to find out about that too, so I suppose we’ll have to go to the club.”

“The club?”

“The Detective Club, Morrison Detective Agency.”

Allen planned to entrust the investigation of this case to the Morrison Detective Agency, whose members were sharp and reliable, when Meyer brought back the picture.

Initially, Meyer would have beaten those unethical men down and left them in front of the temple. It was evident.

Ever since his childhood, especially after learning swordsmanship from his mother, Meyer had been protecting Allen, even to the point of excess.

Rather than letting Meyer get exposed, it was better for him to be a little more bothered.

After all, he had learned that the mistakes of a servant were to be covered up by the master.

– Remember, Allen. The mistakes of a servant or subordinate are also the fault of the superior who failed to control them.

Why did his mother’s words come to mind at this moment?

Internally sighing, Allen looked at Rin.

“Would you like to join us, princess?”

***

Shulen stared at the burning mansion of the Melnoar family.

The Earl of Melnoar who ruled over the Melnoar Territory died by his hand. Not out of heroism or compassion for the people of the territory.

He simply killed him because he stood in his way.

The Earl of Melnoar had been plundering his subjects and sacrificing them to the devil without hesitation. The Earl’s methods were strikingly similar to those of some people Shulen knew.

“…Sahwanggyo (Evil Emperor Sect). They’ve been connected, with those bastards.”

What Shulen encountered, having drifted far from his hometown in Kunlun to a village at the Western Sea of Sejeguk, had apparently deeply rooted even within Sejeguk itself, beyond his expectations.

Murmuring the name of the hostile force in his home language, Shulen’s eyes glowed coldly.

“I’ll kill them all. I’ll make them pay in blood for the lives they’ve taken – my Master’s, my sworn brother’s, and Shana’s.”

“Excuse me, benefactor. Could you tell me your name…?”

Despite the murderous aura emanating from Shulen, one of the frightened peasants approached and asked. Shulen turned his back to him.

He had no right to face them.

Because he was not a hero but a man of revenge. He was not so idle as to have a conversation with them.

Moreover, according to the stories he heard on his way to the Melnoar estate, the clan that took him in has apparently been marked as a public enemy.

Why should they make a public enemy out of a clan that has already been destroyed and disappeared?

Shulen closed his eyes.

“No need to know.”

His shabby, torn clothes fluttered in the wind.

Shana’s last remaining relic in the world, a torn cloak, was the only thing left to quiver in the wind atop his shoulders.

“I’m a wanderer.”

Perhaps because he said it in Kunlun language, the peasants of the Melnoar estate, who were of Sejeguk, didn’t understand his words.

“Ranker. Remember it as that.”

“Ranker. That’s an odd name…”

There was no longer a need to converse.

It was merely a fleeting connection.

As any one he met could potentially be an enemy.

Shulen left no regrets.

“I can reach it if I follow the trace of the black mage.”

As Shulen departed from the burning mansion, his shabby cloak flapped fiercely in the gusty wind, as if ready to tear.

“…It’s a heartrending circumstance, no matter how many times I read it over. It feels as though a complete emotional shutdown has happened.”

Felicia put down the second volume of ‘Chronicle of Schuren’ which was newly published.

“I’ll have to reach out to Allen, indeed.”

“Um, Your Highness, my book, if you could return it…”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Stella. You did say you’ve had a hard time acquiring it.”

Felicia returned the second volume of ‘Chronicle of Schuren’ to Stella.

Even the Princess failed to get a first edition. The thought that Stella was bold to have gotten it made her admire her.

Felicia, who stood up from her seat, lightly brushed her clothes.

“I must not miss it after all.”

Felicia’s eyes twinkled ambitiously.

“Let’s go, Stella.”

“Uh? Where to…”

“hehehe, shall I convey to Allen to meet us at the cafe?”

The Imperial Princess beamed.

“Please tell him we’ll be waiting, Stella.”