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

35 – 35. Inter-year Melee (3)

35.

Leila von Princeton.

The young lady of the lower nobility Princeton family. With her silver short hair and distinctive purple eyes, she was not particularly noticeable among the magic department students.

Although she was attractive enough to catch the eye, she was excessively quiet more than anything else.

It’s not that she couldn’t speak.

But she was the type that particularly avoided having a conversation with people.

Today as well, as soon as the class was over, Leila got up from her seat and walked under the bright sunlight flooding down onto the schoolyard.

“It seems that for this year’s inter-year melee, the third-year representative is going to be Albert from the knight department, as expected.”

“Albert again, huh… What about the magic department?”

“They say Ellieon will participate. Last year during the inter-year melee, both seniors had a tremendous showdown as second-year representatives.”

“Ah, that story. It’s famous.”

“But Alan Muller, I heard he took fifteen guys down by himself. With that kind of skill, why did he choose humanities instead of knight school?”

Leila’s ears perked up at the mention of the name.

Alan Edgar von Muller.

A name that has been the talk of the town since his admission to Versa Imperial Academy. Even Leila, who barely had any friends, knew of him. There’s hardly need for explanation.

“We’ll never know, but since then, no one dared to pick on him.”

“It’s to be expected after he beat up fifteen guys. Rumor has it his family sent out warning letters.”

“They are watching, huh. Scary…”

“But still, he’s the youngest son of the Muller family. No one would be idiotic enough to pick a fight with Alan Muller.”

“Well, the third volume really did shock me.”

“Indeed. Is it possible for something like talking orcs to exist? We and Osrians have been at conflict all along.”

“I’m not sure. But novels are novels after all. Would something like that really happen, surely not?”

While overhearing the conversation of students, Leila went on her way.

‘Alan Edgar von Muller…’

Her purple eyes glanced at the sky as she looked back.

“… Let’s hurry.”

***

There was some free time till the inter-grade competition, so Alan focused on writing the fourth volume while attending lectures.

Alan wouldn’t be participating in the competition anyway.

It was no surprise that his friend Meiya was honored this time as well to read the first draft of the fourth volume.

“Reading your work sort of dissolves prejudices.”

“I don’t believe it’s that impactful.”

“You say that, yet you are attempting what’s never been done in the Empire.”

“I’m rather shocked that I’ve always portrayed orcs as monsters.”

Alan twirled his fountain pen.

“When in reality, they are the backbone of Osrian. I don’t understand why they’re looked down on as monsters.”

“I think it’s because it’s more comforting that way.”

“More comforting?”

“If the ones we killed are just speechless beasts, we might feel less guilty.”

At Meiya’s words, Alan furrowed his brow.

Of course, in many fantasy novels, orcs are commonly described as monsters, so it’s not unusual.

The heroes were often treated like common mobs.

For the people of the Western Empire and the city of Tyranto, the orcs of the eastern wilderness might just be such beings.

“… Yet I still can’t understand.”

“The conflict between Osrian and the empire is old. There’s deep-rooted animosity towards Osrian, particularly towards the orcs at its centre, so much so that even when the battle between Kunlun was taking place in the empire’s east, a brief ceasefire occurred due to Osrian’s withdrawal,” explained the character.

It’s possible this antagonism is even stronger due to their long history of fighting against each other, Mia added.

Allen clicked his tongue.

“It’s said that during the war of Black Magic, the orcs fought on the side of the black wizards, so it’s not particularly strange.”

“I think it’s been ingrained into them, considering their long history.”

“Well, I wish it was just a novel to read…”

“I think we’ve come too far for that.”

At Mia’s words, Allen shook his head vigorously.

The third volume ends with a scene where the protagonist learns how to control his vengeance from Cranish and then swears to become true friends.

Although the scene was inspired by the Mongolian ‘Anda’ ritual, it’s an immutable fact that local readers would have been shocked by just this scene.

The sight of mixing human and orc blood and becoming friends would undoubtedly be shocking.

“It feels strange that Shuren doesn’t immediately leave to go down the path of revenge, and instead gets involved in orc affairs,” states one character.

“Because Shuren and Cranish became friends. He’s just trying to help his friend.”

The fourth volume is set to progress with Shuren continuing to chase the trace of the black wizard, which appears within the orc tribe, helping Cranish reconcile the internal division of the orc tribe and chasing after the black wizard.

Along the way, a new character who will be the heroine is introduced.

‘A black wizard who does not deal with the devil.’

The black wizard who, without borrowing the power of the devil, uses only shadows, darkness and spells. Based on the story about the Graphite Order he heard from Thea during the basic magic class, it’s clear that the villain group ‘Evil Emperor’ is essentially no different from the black wizard group.

‘Human sacrifice, creating Jiangshi… In reality, the Jiangshi version of the necromantic spell is almost unused, but there are still things like skeletons.’

Placing his fountain pen down and stretching, Allen lets out a half-sigh, half-scream.

Mia remarks, “It’s strange, I heard recently a group of black wizards were discovered and exterminated in the south. It’s strange, considering your novel.”

“Wait, in the south?”

“Yes.”

Allen made an expression of disbelief.

“Why would a black wizard show up there?!”

“A black wizard was found and eliminated. Were there any additional damages, such as soil contamination?”

“Fortunately, there was no secondary damage. In case of a possible incident, the priests from the Lu sect will soon be dispatched.”

The head of the imperial intelligence bureau personally delivered the report.

The emperor of the empire, clad in splendid regalia, clicked his tongue and put down the report.

“I’m relieved to hear that there is no substantial damage. It was hard to understand why Hubert would give such instructions.”

He wasn’t sure when his son, Prince Hubert, suddenly said he would mobilize the intelligence bureau, but it was difficult to criticize him for producing good results.

This was why the emperor clicked his tongue.

“Ultimately, we achieved satisfactory results. The Graphite Sect is tenacious, so I believe the ones we’ve eliminated this time are merely a small fraction,” said the emperor.

“There is a Hooksmaal Kingdom on the southern border.”

The emperor got up from his seat and swept his finger across the map of the continent hanging on the wall.

At the very southern end of the vast Tyrranto Empire, far too immense for the word magnificent to truly capture, was the Hooksmaal Kingdom, one of the nations belonging to the confederation commonly known as the Western United Kingdom.

The kingdom, as the name suggested, was categorized as a weaker nation among the countries belonging to the Western United Kingdom.

The emperor pointed directly at the Hooksmaal Kingdom.

“It might be a good idea to mobilize the intelligence agents deployed in the Hooksmaal Kingdom.”

“Do you suspect that the Graphite Sect has joined hands with the Hooksmaal Kingdom?”

“The Graphite Sect has long separated from the remaining forces of the Black Wizard Tower. Their power has expanded to the point where they can control seven factions. They merely choose not to reveal themselves.”

The emperor withdrew his gaze from the Hooksmaal Kingdom.

Seeing the emperor’s gaze, the intelligence bureau chief bowed his head.

“What do you think is the reason?”

“I believe it’s because of the strong men like Count Mueller, Count Bernhardt, and Count Ledyos.”

“You’re right. The priests of the Lu sect are likely as uncomfortable for the Graphite Sect as formidable knights like Count Ledyos.

The ‘sword’ of the Empire Mueller, the ‘eye’ of the Empire Bernhardt, and the ‘shield’ of the Empire Ledyos.

Three counts who have been bestowed with the responsibility to protect the Empire as a knight, a wizard, and a paladin.

If any one of them decided to make a move, even the Graphite Sect would find it challenging.

Count Mueller is recognized as the strongest sword master in the Empire, Countess Bernhardt oversees all four wizard Towers, and Count Ledyos is the most powerful paladin of the Lu Sect.

If one of them moves, it means the power connected with them is also in motion.

The emperor said,

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“If the Mueller family moves, the Empire’s knight order will move, and if the Bernhardt family moves, the wizard towers will move. If the Ledyos family moves, the Lu sect will follow suit.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“To avoid unnecessary depletion of our forces, the Graphite Order must have divided its power and infiltrated various parts of the continent. The fact that remnants of the Black Magicians have been discovered in the south where the Hooksmael Duchy resides does not leave much room for doubt.”

“If the Hooksmael Duchy reacts even a little bit, it means we’re likely in a bad position….”

“No need to talk about that then.”

The emperor laughed.

“Thus, monitor the Hooksmael Duchy thoroughly through the agents we’ve dispatched in the south.”

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

“You may leave.”

The chief of intelligence bowed his head and exited. Left alone, the Emperor pulled a book from a drawer with an intrigued expression.

As he looked down at a book titled ‘Shuren’s War Chronicle’, he casually glanced out the window.

“Speaking of which, the academy will soon be bustling. It’s the inter-grade competition, isn’t it? I hope this year also brings forth excellent talents.”

The emperor gently stroked the cover of ‘Shuren’s War Chronicle’.

What great change will this young novelist who wrote this book bring to the empire?

A gust of wind ruffled the golden hair of the laughing emperor, who seemed to be looking forward to the future. It was a dry wind that seemed to carry the bleakness of the vast wilderness.