NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31 - The Author hasn't grown.
“Ooh, here we are!”
The president tilted her head up, full of excitement.
Like an excited puppy seeing a large toy, her appearance made me chuckle.
“Wow, amazing.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty.”
Amelia and Siwoo exclaimed as they looked at the mountain.
It is pretty.
Back in the original world, I rarely looked at the scenery since I was always on the computer or staring at my phone in my room.
An untouched landscape by humans is more beautiful than I thought.
Well, saying it’s untouched by humans is a lie itself.
A branch of Übermensch was hidden there.
[This will be fun! I’m really looking forward to it!]
“I’m really looking forward to it too.
”
“Yeah! I’m excited!”
I suppose even academy students are still students?
Everyone seemed excited about the possibility of enjoying themselves at the lodge instead of attending classes at the academy.
Especially Amelia and Siwoo.
Those two have been sticking together since earlier.
I wonder what they’re doing?
“Amelia?”
“Hieek?! Oh, yeah. What is it, Arte?”
“No, I was just wondering what you two were doing.”
“Uh, nothing! Sorry, I’ll move away in a bit!”
They looked so happy together that I was feeling warm inside.
But when I spoke to Amelia, she jumped in surprise, creating distance between them.
Ah, I see.
She’s embarrassed!
“You don’t need to apologize.”
Rather, I should be the one apologizing.
I guess it’s because I’ve never been in a relationship before.
I didn’t pick up on the pink hue.
They were having a nice time when I suddenly butted in and made them flustered.
I’ve seen scenes like that a lot in light novels.
Just as the male and female leads are about to kiss, someone rudely interrupts, and they pull apart in embarrassment.
I remember getting so angry at the clueless one ruining that moment.
But now I was in that same clueless position.
I can’t help but feel apologetic.
The president had already run off excitedly ahead of us.
I saw Amelia and Siwoo whispering to each other again.
Hmm, since no one’s watching, it should be fine.
I slightly moved the thread inside my choker.
“Keck?!”
“Oops, my bad. Are you okay?”
“Keck, koff. I’m, I’m fine.”
Hmm, I still haven’t gotten used to it. I should practice using it more.
The Author gave me the ability to control the threads of any clothing I perceive as clothing, as long as I’m wearing it.
Although I’ve practiced enough to use it naturally, like moving my limbs, applying it is still difficult.
Not that the applications are anything special.
I can control the threads until the mana in them runs out.
For example, if I load them up with plenty of mana, I can manipulate clothes whose threads I’ve preloaded.
I tried making many thread balls once, but the Author stopped me.
She gave me a penalty instead of letting me make the ability too strong, saying it would be cheating if I removed the penalty.
Claimed it would make me no different from the protagonist.
That’s the only time she’s stern.
Anyway, that’s why preloaded threads are difficult to handle.
If I pull too hard, Lyla ends up gasping for air like a dog on a leash.
Her head could have rolled right off if I messed up the force.
I need to be more careful.
Maybe I’ll practice and try again later.
“Lyla, do you remember my request.”
“…Right away.”
She disappeared after giving her a smile, seemingly understanding what I meant.
Alright, I’ve blocked out the main variables now.
It’s time to finally hear the story I’ve been dying for.
“Author, isn’t it time you told me now?”
[Heh, heheh. Yes, I suppose I can tell you now.]
Finally, I’ve been dying to know.
The Author was so tight-lipped, refusing to tell me no matter how much I asked, saying she had an amazing setting in mind!
I wonder how much she’s grown.
I hope it’s a good setting.
[You see, the Übermensch are modeled after animals, right?]
“Yes?”
Of course, the setting is about transcending humanity by implanting animal traits.
[So I thought the executives should be famous animals!]
The Author stated it as if it were some grand revelation when it was just the obvious.
If she said the executive of the Übermensch had the Pygmy Hog trait implanted, what would readers think?
They’d be like, “What the hell is a Pygmy Hog, you weirdo?”
But if it’s a famous animal, it’s much easier to understand.
“The Übermensch executive has the Tiger trait implanted!”
It’s way easier to grasp without explanation and sounds powerful.
No, wait, I shouldn’t jump to conclusions yet. The Author hasn’t finished speaking!
But I believe in the Author!
[But it felt a bit lacking just using famous ones, so I thought, why not make them symbolic too?]
“Oh, symbolic ones, nice.”
I held back my urge to express joy.
Right, our Author just lacks experience.
She can definitely pull it off.
[Right?! So I decided to take them from the Chinese Zodiac since there are twelve executives total!]
“Huh?”
Chhrrrsshh.
It was like dousing the wildfire burning in my heart with cold water.
What did she just say?
The Chinese Zodiac? Twelve executives?
[The Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig! Heheh, so many motifs!]
Ah.
The Author’s voice, giggling about the abundance of motifs, rang in my ears.
Didn’t I just say to hear people out until the end?
This is why I didn’t.
She hasn’t grown at all.
“Um, Author. Have you already set this in stone?”
[Hm? Yes, I have.]
I somehow managed to swallow the profanities that almost spilled from my mouth.
Stay calm, Arte Iris
.
Author is an idiot.
Author is a massive idiot!
I have to endure if I don’t want to die!
“Do you know how long it would take to introduce all twelve of them?”
[Huh?]
“Even if we introduce three per episode, that’s still four spent just on that.”
[Huh?!]
“And if we introduce three immediately, won’t it lack tension when we reveal the next three?”
[…]
“And if we start with one or two but then dump a bunch later, there will be power inflation issues and whatnot. Can you really handle all that?”
I waited for a while.
No response, huh.
Patiently waiting for the Author’s rebuttal, she meekly countered in a dragging voice.
[Well, we don’t have to introduce all twelve, right?]
“So you won’t introduce all the executives of the main antagonistic force?”
[Hiii…]
This is ridiculous.
How do I even salvage this?
“Author, what if we just get rid of them all?”
[I could for one or two…but all of them is a bit…]
Alright, fine.
Since the Author says she can’t get rid of them, I’ll have to accept the setting she’s locked in.
I cooled the heat that had risen to my head.
Pressing the Author further would be pointless.
Doing that could lead to the world’s destruction.
“Then how many are at this lodge?”
[Well, each executive has 200 subordinates…]
“200? By the way, how many new students enrolled at the academy this year?”
[300.]
I didn’t even have the energy left to get angry.
If each executive has 200 subordinates, and assuming the other executives have similar numbers without much deviation, that’s 2,400 in total for 12 executives.
Even if all the academy students became villains right after graduating, it would still take 8 years?
This is a setting error.
But there’s nothing I can do about it. As much as I really dislike it, I have no choice.
“Author, can you prepare just one school uniform for me?”
[Huh? A school uniform?]
“Yes. I have a feeling I’ll need one.”
I needed a safeguard in case I had to go all out.
This is broad daylight we’re talking about.
Using my ability recklessly would be insane.
Even if I used it at night, I could confidently declare I wouldn’t be in my right mind.
Fortunately, this is in the mountains, a place untouched by human hands besides the Übermensch.
As long as my fellow club members don’t find out, it should be fine to let these people who are going to die anyway get an eyeful.
The dead don’t talk, after all.
“If I kill them all, it’ll be okay, right?”
[R-Really?]
“Yes. We’ll find some way to fix it.”
But there were still too many villains…
Hmm, we can say they were villains who fled from overseas and settled here.
Their numbers dwindled from infighting at first, but for some reason, they merged instead.
The result was the ballooned number of members in Übermensch.
This contrived setting is the best I can do.
It’s really forced, but how else could we reasonably explain 2,400 people?
“Phew, it’s going to be a busy evening.”
I can’t kill all 201, including the executive.
I need to leave a decent number to ambush Siwoo’s group later.
Maybe around 15 would be enough?
It’s not ‘Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves’; it’s ‘Arte and the 2,412 Beasts’.
Way too many.
At this point, shouldn’t I be called an editor instead of a reader?
That thought crossed my mind.
Author’s Notes
Hehehe…
Mommy Arte~
I’m dead (actual death)
And, for those who dislike controversial subjects, I’ll give one final notice. Truly, the last time, I won’t give any more notice.
I’m tired, too; my fingers hurt from typing so much.
It’s not no-romance.
*censored by the translator cause spoilers.*
I think that’s explanation enough, right?
Translator’s Corner
Thanks for stopping. I can’t keep teasing you guys with spoilers. Also…
Mommy Arteeeeeeee~
(is only joke, please no leave)
-Ruminas