Royal Road of the Extra Scribe

Chapter 55

As the end of the joint training approached, I began to have some free time.

Some cadets with poor performance were sent for reinforcement training, while regular officer candidates, including myself, were granted freedom under the guise of personal maintenance, except during military science classes.

I decided to use that time to finish writing my novel.

In a secluded place, I was reviewing the contents of the novel.

“I’ve written almost everything….”

Excluding the scenes that could be considered pornographic military scenes, it was turning into a dull romance novel.

After getting approval from Estelle, I could transform it into a sensual novel by adding military scenes, but…

“It feels lacking.”

I tried to find the problem, but as the writer, it wasn’t easy for me to spot the issue. I needed a third party to evaluate the content.

I thought about showing it to Beril or Dorothy, but there was someone lingering around me.

Erina, who seemed to be watching her surroundings cautiously.

Confirming that there were no prying eyes around, I gestured for her to come over.

In response to my gesture, Erina opened her eyes wide like a rabbit and approached me cautiously.

“Sit here.”

“…Is it okay? I didn’t upset you, did I?”

“Upset me?”

“Well… You said you didn’t want to talk to anyone from the Saléon faction anymore. Even at the last reception, I suggested sitting together for no reason…”

“That was just a request not to pretend when others are around. It’s fine when it’s just the two of us. Actually, at the previous reception, I also wanted to sit together, so it’s okay.”

“Phew! That’s what it was.”

“Rather than that, sit down quickly. Before others come.”

I seated Erina in front of me and handed her the novel.

“My friend is writing this novel. Could you read it and point out any issues?”

From Noble mtl dot com

“Usually, in such cases, it’s said to be one’s own story. Is this written by Als?”

“Well, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Hmm, I’ll read it first.”

Erina read each sentence carefully, savoring them. Since we didn’t know when someone else might come, I kept my distance until she finished reading the entire book.

After two hours, she finished reading and we discussed her impressions.

“Why are you so nervous?”

I anxiously awaited her praise, but…

“It’s too mundane and predictable.”

“Cough!”

I coughed as if spitting out blood involuntarily.

“If you’re going to tell a story in such a monotonous way, at least the sentences should be beautiful, but they aren’t.”

“Cough!”

“Moreover, the plot development is not great. What’s with this development that feels like a walk in a flower garden?”

“Enough….”

My life was already at 0.

“Is there room for improvement?”

“The expressiveness of the sentences isn’t something that can be improved in a short period, so changing the development of the situation seems inevitable. It would be good to add another character. By doing so, the story will deepen, resolving the monotony of the drama and the progression of the situation.”

“A third character then. Should we add a friend character?”

“No, it’s a love story… Let’s add a rival in love.”

It was a convincing solution. Many dramas and movies unfold their plots in this way.

“So, that was the part that felt lacking.”

Erina seemed truly remarkable.

“Indeed, worthy of being called the granddaughter of Grancel!”

“Is it worth saying that over such a small matter…?”

“Rather than a rival in love, how should we proceed? Would it be better to introduce a man aiming for the heroine?”

“No… Let’s add another heroine who is entwined with the protagonist.”

“A fantastic turn of events.”

Inspiration flowed effortlessly.

Erina, as if provoking it, said, “That girl, you know. She has long, wavy, blonde hair down to her shoulders. She is the daughter of a high noble. And… she always carries a fan with her.”

“But the protagonist is set as a low-ranking officer, how can he meet such a high-born lady?”

“That, that’s… He went to the noble’s mansion before to study as a butler. That’s when he met that girl… Right! In fact, the protagonist had liked that girl since then. That girl’s name is… Irina! Irina Paleon!”

“…?”

Feeling something strange, when I raised my gaze, Erina was covering her face with the fan. Judging by the way her neck was blushing, her face must have been flushed as well.

“Although they were separated by their social status, in the end, their sincerity will connect them.”

“Even surpassing the main heroine?”

“It’s a plot twist.”

“It’s quite a shocking development.”

“Isn’t it? Not monotonous, right?”

Regardless of how the additional heroine’s setting turned out, her advice was striking a chord.

I continued to write the story with the new heroine included.

As they were engrossed in their writing, there were eyes watching them.

Alth was so focused on writing that he didn’t notice those eyes.

“…?”

Kasper clenched his fist tightly.

“How dare he throw a wrench in my plans for Erina!”

Furious, Kasper wanted to rush in and separate them immediately, but he knew that if he did, he would receive a cold response from Erina.

Erina took on a frosty attitude towards him ever since pretending to be Wade.

“Darn it!”

In the end, he turned around and went to find Gilbert.

If he informed Gilbert of this fact, that guy Alth would surely hear harsh words. However, to his surprise, Gilbert seemed rather pleased, even smiling.

“Be more open-minded, Kasper. Isn’t that boy also a friend of Erina’s?”

“B-But, Gilbert. That guy belongs to the Helian faction!”

“There’s no need for kids to be concerned about factions.”

“Is that so?”

In truth, Gilbert considered Alth a good match for Erina.

It all started after hearing about Al’s s*xual exploits. An elite cadet who never missed being top of the class from elementary academy to middle academy. It indicated the potential to become a core officer in the military.

Moreover, the Illein family was the same.

As Rainpole developed, the taxes paid by the Illein family to the nation had increased significantly. Positioned as a trading intermediary with Crossing, in terms of revenue alone, they rivaled even a viscount.

If he just gave a little support, his rise in status would be swift.

And then, the story would change.

If he was both a viscount’s son and a core officer in the military?

“If Erena seems to like that guy, then I should push for a marriage proposal right away.”

There was no reason to refuse a strategic marriage that could make his daughter happy.

With such thoughts unknown even in his dreams, Casper vented his frustration.

“Lord Gilbert. Didn’t you mention that Erena seems to have taken a liking to me? But Erena still acts cold towards me.”

“hahahaha, sorry. She’s just a very capricious child.”

In Gilbert’s gaze upon Casper, there was a hint of disdain.

“Idiot.”

To him, Casper was an object of contempt. Regardless of the outcome, he had subjected him to the humiliation of being a prisoner.

Yet, the reason he kept him around was for the future.

Caught in a fake Wade identity, Casper, who came begging for help, was being manipulated to gulp down the wealth and land of Marquis Hulias.

“Don’t be impatient, Casper. Everything will eventually work out as fate dictates.”

“Understood…”

Leaving Gilbert’s study, Casper headed back to where Erena had been, but she had already left.

Seeing Al alone writing, he approached confidently.

“Hey.”

“…?”

Casper growled, releasing a warning.

“Do not approach my Erena any further. She lives in a different world than the likes of you.”

Listening with a blank expression, Al soon chuckled.

“hahahaha, do you really think you live in the same world?”

“Of course.”

“Oh, I see.”

Al smirked. He felt a sense of superiority even in not realizing he was being used as a pawn.

Thinking that Al was underestimating him, Casper threatened in a low voice.

“Do you know who I am to show such attitude? I am Wade. The one who led the victory in the war against Albad, who defeated Julian Craig.”

“…”

Al was so surprised by his audacity that he couldn’t say a word.

Thinking Al was intimidated, Casper smiled satisfactorily.

“Alright, never approach Erena again. If the same thing happens again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

“Can I say something too?”

“…?”

“A sand-built castle can easily crumble. Once it collapses, it’s irreparable. Escape before that happens. This is a serious advice.”

“Do you think I need advice from the likes of you? I asked you to know your place.”

“If you accept it like that, I have nothing more to say.”

Alse, who shrugged his shoulders, cutting off Kasper’s nerves.

Kasper stared at Alse for a while, then turned his back and left.

* * *

The joint training ended two days earlier than scheduled.

Seeing me wasting time aimlessly, Duke Helian instructed to end the training only for the top performers.

Ending earlier than planned, I had to head to Rainfall alone without Eona Yumir’s reception.

“Whew! It’s been less than a month, but it feels like it’s been a long time.”

Rainfall, who had been making progress day by day, looked different after returning in a month.

I first headed towards the main management office in the Crossing direction.

Although I wished to return to the mansion immediately and eat the food Eo had prepared, I couldn’t do so.

It was because of the news I heard from Duke Helian before coming here.

“The Chimera War is about to begin.”

The northwest of Europe. The north of Tunkai.

And the west of Svenner had officially formed an alliance and started gathering troops.

Following the territorial forms of these three countries, an alliance called the Chimera Alliance was formed.

Their goal was the southern powerful country, Blerang. War was brewing between major powers.

“First, gather intelligence.”

Heading to the main management office to read the intelligence information of Crossing, I heard a strange sound.

Thud! Clatter! Thump! Squeak! It was an incomprehensible sound of books falling or desks dragging.

“Are they moving luggage?”

Thinking so, as I opened the office door, I could only freeze in place.

Because there were Ilya’s master and Anton passionately kissing each other.

In fact, the master was pushing Anton against the wall, bringing their lips together ardently. They were so passionate that they didn’t even notice my presence.

“Uh…!? Ilya, wait…!”

“Why are you acting like this now, Anton? You’re the one who lit the fire.”

Anton, who had been pushed against the wall, glanced at me with a side eye, but the master, leaning against the door, didn’t. Confused Anton was kissed even more roughly, almost cutely.

In response, Anton pushed the master away strongly.

“Anton…? Why…?”

The master made a pained expression as if hurt. But that was short-lived.

“Alse has arrived!”

“What!?”

Only then did the master turn his head, meeting my eyes, and then froze like a stone.

“Oh, that… I’m sorry for not knocking. But wouldn’t it be better to lock the door just in case?”

“Oh, no, no, no! It’s not like that, Alse!”

“It’s okay. It’s a good thing, right? It might be good to separate work and personal matters.”

“So, that…!”

“Seeing you after a month was shocking, but you seem happy. It’s nice to see.”

“….”