Royal Road of the Extra Scribe

75

Juras set a period of two years. A decision had to be made by then.

There was one thing that I was hesitant about.

If I were to follow Juras’ words, the likelihood of becoming the protagonist’s enemy was overwhelmingly high. The final villain theory of Alc, which I had been avoiding, might actually come true.

There could be an opposite meaning, but based on the information gathered now, that aspect is not a matter to consider.

“There’s still time.”

Starting next year, life at the Epsilon Academy would bring the protagonist face to face with me.

Given the changing situation, Juras’ grand plan could also fall apart. So, for the time being, I decided to observe the situation.

“Phew! My head hurts. I should take a break.”

I sank into the sofa. Normally, when I say this, Eo would promptly bring tea, but for some reason, there was no response.

She was staring at me blankly.

“Eo? What are you doing?”

“….”

“Come on. Yumir. Would you bring tea instead?”

Eo remained motionless for a while, only muttering after Yumir brought refreshments.

“…My eyes weren’t wrong after all.”

“What are you talking about? Come, sit down. The tea must be getting cold.”

It seemed like that part pleased her. Even in the boldness with the former Parain King, she vaguely suspected something about my lineage, but when it took shape today, Eo was deeply moved.

“Let me say this in advance; I don’t consider myself of noble blood. Forget about that part. I’m not Alc Almain, but Alc Iline. And if I ever establish a nation, I’ll abolish the aristocratic system, so even the nobles won’t be noble anymore. So, social status means nothing.”

“But…”

“Well, I might keep the king system like Crossing, so I could become a king. Anyway, just because I have noble blood, don’t change your attitude towards me.”

“I-I haven’t changed my attitude! I’ve always admired Lord Alc!”

“Alright. Sit here.”

To correct Eo’s overly loyal tendency, I scolded her, and she sulked, bowing her head. Seeing her like that, my heart softened as well.

“Well, thank you for that sentiment. I’ll count on you in the future as well.”

“Ah…! Yes! I’ll also count on you!”

Eventually, it always ends up with mutual reassurances with Eo.

I don’t know if Eo’s loyal tendency will ever change.

While watching this, the master, smiling, nodded and said, “I should make my position clear too. Alc, it has been a relationship between master and disciple until now, but it seems like it’s time to change.”

The master smiled gently and knelt on one knee.

“I, Iliya Anpe, will become an unbreakable sword and a straight spear to protect your path.”

“hahahaha… Did the news of my lineage change your mind too, Master?”

“Does it seem that way?”

“No, thank you. Master. No, Iliya Anpe. I will continue to rely on you in the future.”

Thump! It was a handshake filled with mutual trust.

Seeing this, Eo was pouting, wondering how she was different.

“And Anton, I’d like to hear your thoughts too.”

Anton must be as conflicted as I am. There are matters related to his father’s death.

“I hold no grudge against Crossing. Therefore, I will continue to assist my lord in the same manner as before.”

“…I see. So that’s how it was.”

“Yes? What… are you talking about?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

It was now that I felt I knew his true identity.

The mysterious figure who freed Alz, branded a traitor and imprisoned when the game’s Alz was imprisoned. Apart from the Seven Spirits, another individual who followed Alz.

Could it be that the mysterious figure, whose name and face were unknown, was Anton?

Perhaps Juras had instigated Anton.

─The rightful heir to Pencillon, whom you should serve, is imprisoned. Anton, now is the time to fulfill the oath of Quentel.

In response, Anton helped Alz escape without hesitation.

“So, in reality, it wasn’t just the Seven Spirits but eight.”

Anton was also a person of Alz in the game.

Through this incident, I had now come to fully trust Anton.

“I look forward to working with you in the future, Anton.”

“Yes! In return for your trust, I will devote myself entirely!”

I explained the situation to Gaspar and Rudger, who were not present. Although nothing was confirmed yet, I had thought about continental unification for a while, so I decided to tell them as well.

Gaspar gave a bitter smile. Rudger looked worried.

“Continental unification… Honestly, I’m not sure if that’s such a good thing.”

It was Gaspar who spoke.

“I’ve seen the end of the Pencillon Empire. I know how rotten that nation had become. I realized that in the end, a unified nation’s words are just the same. Well, you might create a period of peace for now, but I’m worried that the same path will be trodden after you’re gone.”

“You’re speaking quite seriously. But don’t worry about that part. I have plans even for after unification.”

“Well then… I find myself somewhat hopeful. If possible, finish the great task before my lifetime ends.”

“Oh, don’t worry. Judging by your appearance, you’ll live for another 30 years at least.”

“hahahaha, I hope that’s the case.”

Rudger also expressed his concerns first.

“With your abilities, you might lead wars to victory. But governing a nation isn’t about generals; it’s about administrators handling internal affairs. In my opinion, I don’t see anyone under you who could handle internal affairs yet.”

“I’ve been thinking about that as well. By the way, can you handle that kind of internal affairs, Rudger?”

“Managing military affairs is quite possible. But real internal affairs like agriculture, commerce, or construction are not my forte.”

“Hmm.”

In the game, handling internal affairs was as simple as placing a character in the right position, and things would resolve themselves. However, reality was harsh.

While we had gathered enough armed forces, we had yet to secure any internal affairs personnel.

If I were to govern the nation in its current state, it would fall apart. Therefore, I needed internal affairs personnel to assist me.

“I should consult with Beolaf on this matter.”

I intended to appoint Beolaf to oversee the Ministry of the Interior.

Therefore, I decided to join forces with him and start preparing for internal affairs.

***

It was a week later that Beolaf’s new recruits were brought in.

After Juras mediated to secure Beolaf’s recruits first and then release Prince Romelo, the prisoner exchange came to an end.

I worked with Yumir and Gaspar to discreetly handle Beolaf’s actions, then secretly brought him to Rainfall.

From the gate, I welcomed him without his helmet on.

Viola looked around after seeing my face.

“If you’re looking for Wade, he’s right here.”

“hahahaha, sorry. It’s not about the job for the understudy.”

“He’s not an understudy. Will hearing Wade’s voice satisfy you?”

“…Must be a joke. Are you really Wade? How young are you exactly?”

“I’m turning seventeen now. Please, have a seat.”

He still seemed incredulous, staring right through my face.

“You must know how this will turn out for you. You probably have an idea why I revealed my face from the start.”

“You’re going to force me into serving you, right?”

“Not by force, but by any means necessary, I intend to make you my servant.”

“Same old story.”

“It’s a bit different. Regardless, my intention is to make you sincerely follow me. Once you’ve taken that step, I’ll see it through to the end.”

“Is that… a sensual novel?”

“Did you read what I sent?”

“Yes.”

“How was it? Oh, but please refrain from negative comments.”

Nevertheless, Viola continued undeterred.

“It was ambiguous as a sensual novel.”

“Argh!”

To criticize a topic forced upon him. Fists clenched.

He continued speaking.

“What should I say… What I wanted was a novel for men to read, but what you sent seemed more suited for women. Except for the explicit scenes. It felt like it was written from a female perspective.”

“Ah.”

Could it be that Estelle and Erina intervened, unknowingly turning it into a novel for women?

“Perhaps that’s why it lacked the typical sensuality of a sensual novel. As a pure love story without explicit scenes, it was quite well done, but as a sensual novel with such scenes, it was ambiguous.”

“Hmm.”

It was a cutting criticism. In that case, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated.

“In truth, I received help from two friends. I’ll say it upfront, it wasn’t ghostwritten. In the end, I wrote it.”

“Hah, I thought so. Well, I won’t make an issue of that. By reading the text, you can probably sense how much you deliberated.”

“Haah…! Anyway, this is a disaster. Please wait a bit. I’ll hurry to write the next book.”

Though I intended to carefully consider like the Alsk of the game, Viola showed his palm, halting me.

“No, surprisingly, it might be salvageable.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s lacking in sensuality, that’s all. We can supplement that.”

“But the writing is already complete. If we suddenly change the protagonist’s character here, the overall mood will be off, won’t it?”

If increasing sensuality is the goal, the only way is to intensify the explicit scenes.

However, the novel’s protagonist, Wilson, was portrayed as a knightly figure loyal to Erina and Estelle, influenced by them.

There was no sense of debasement even in the explicit scenes.

From Noble mtl dot com

“That’s true. Modifying it that way would disrupt the coherence of the text. But external modifications could make it feasible.”

“External modifications?”

I had no idea what he was talking about.

To me, Beiolaf revealed his creativity.

“First, I’ll publish a pure love novel without explicit scenes. I think it’s well-written, so it should do well, especially among women.”

“And then?”

“Next, under a different pen name, I’ll release an extended version with intense explicit scenes!”

The point is this.

First, publish a pure love novel under my name, then release a pirated version with explicit scenes under a different pen name.

By sullying the existing pure love work, he aimed to create a sense of betrayal.

“Are you… a genius?”

To come up with such a method was beyond belief.

In this case, even if the protagonist’s actions and personality didn’t align, readers would overlook it since it’s a pirated version.

I could intensify the explicit scenes as I pleased.

In this world, where awareness of copyright was lacking, it was possible.

“But even with that, it still seems insufficient. Resolving the soldiers’ s*xual desires…”

“That’s a given. I never thought that everything would be solved with just one book.”

Beiolaf then began explaining the things he had prepared for me.

The erotic novel was just the beginning.

Beiolaf had already considered other means as well.

“I recruited various entertainers to form a troupe. I think if they perform regularly, it will make it easier to control the soldiers.”

“Indeed.”

To me, it sounded more practical than distributing erotic novels.

“It’s not just about the performers’ shows. There’s also a circus troupe prepared to showcase all sorts of amazing feats. I’ve been secretly amassing them during our travels. I plan to invite them to Rainfall soon. What do you think?”

“I… would like to request their presence as well.”

Currently, Rainfall was developing rapidly, but as a result, many side effects were emerging.

The main side effect was the lack of entertainment venues.

Due to the rapid expansion of residential areas, there was a shortage of entertainment and cultural facilities to increase the residents’ happiness.

“Perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad idea to build a large tent where the circus troupe can perform regularly.”

“Very good. But will Crossing easily approve that?”

“You don’t need to worry about that. Rainfall is practically under my control.”

“Oh! That’s reassuring.”

Beiolaf said with joy.

“That’s right. What I wanted was a comrade who understands and supports my ideas.”

“Have I met that criteria?”

“Of course. But there’s one more thing. There’s a promise I want from you.”

“What is it?”

“Let me say this in advance, I love my homeland, Europe. So betraying my homeland is a difficult choice.”

“Technically, you’ve already abandoned Europe, haven’t you?”

“Even so, my heart remains with my homeland. If you can’t convince me all the way, I am prepared to end my own life.”

“Ah. And what promise do you want?”

“A greater cause that can rationalize betraying the homeland. I want you to promise me that.”

“When you mention ‘justice’?”

“If it’s about creating a better nation, I will follow you. Unite the chaotic continent and move forward… Eradicate the discrimination against the Suin. If you promise that and act upon it, I will be loyal to you.”

Judging by appearances, the latter seemed much more important than the former.

“Alright. I also believe that discrimination against the Suin should be eliminated.”

As I readily accepted, Beiolaf let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank you. Let me reintroduce myself. I am Beiolaf Dresden. From now on…”

“My name is Alse Ilaine.”

“Right, Alse. I will work for you from now on. Just call me Olaf. I plan to live as a commoner Olaf, not as the noble Beiolaf.”

“Alright then… I understand. I’ll count on you, Olaf.”

Beiolaf’s recruitment success.

With this, four out of the seven gods were gathered.