NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17
“It’s the release day for Support Disbandment Volume 5!”
“Kyaaaa!”
“Books, books, books!”
“I haven’t slept properly for a week because I’m dying to know what happens after the party finds Marcus!”
“Cassie, I just hope you don’t get in Marcus’s way!”
On the day of the release of Support Disbandment Volume 5, people were causing a ruckus outside the bookstore as usual.
Some were babbling in what didn’t even sound like human language, some were losing their minds, and others were just eager to know what happened next.
It seemed like another ordinary release day for Support Disbandment, but then everyone noticed a sign they’d never seen before at the bookstore.
“Huh? What’s that?”
[Check Writer’s first novel {The Betrayed Hero Does Not Return} Special Cover Edition Event! One entry per book purchased!]
“Limited..?”
“Event?”
“Special cover..?”
“Books, books?”
As everyone pondered over the unusual terms like “Special Cover Edition” and “entry,” an employee standing at the door, ready to open the store, amplified their voice using a magic tool.
“If you look closely at the sign, you’ll see it! But let me clarify! Our talented author Check Writer has commissioned a skilled artist to create a highly detailed illustration for the cover of The Betrayer Hero! Starting today, each Betrayer Hero book will come with a small paper attached to the back for entries! Just write your name on that paper and give it to our staff, and we’ll take it directly to the publishing house!”
The employee took a deep breath before continuing.
“Once you’ve entered and if you win, you’ll receive the Special Cover Edition of The Betrayer Hero with an amazing illustration on the cover! We look forward to many entries!”
As soon as he finished speaking, a huge parchment depicting the cover illustration unfolded in the bookstore’s window.
Underneath the obsidian-like black hair, there were unfocused red eyes.
It was so good-looking, one couldn’t help but think, “Damn, he’s handsome!” but his body was covered in wounds that made him look like he was on the brink of death.
His entire form was bound by a gray mana chain, with arrows piercing both legs, forcing him to kneel.
And the most eye-catching element was the sacred sword that pierced through the center of his broken armor, glowing with a holy light.
This painting was like a perfect representation of the description in The Betrayer Hero, and the reactions of the people in line were electric.
“Woaaaah!”
“If it’s one per book… then ten books means ten entries…”
“Wait, are you saying we can get that picture?!”
“Oh man, this is hype…”
“Miss, watch your language…”
As soon as the bookstore door opened, instead of the original goal of buying Support Disbandment, people opted to grab The Betrayer Hero.
“Since I’m buying, I’m gonna grab all the volumes from 1 to 10!”
“I’ll spend my entire fortune today!”
“Guess I’ll have to run through a dungeon three… no, four times more…”
“Lukaluka…!”
After the chaotic shopping,
“All volumes of The Betrayer Hero have been sold!”
“We received over 200 entries today alone!”
“Support Disbandment sold out too, but it took a bit longer than usual!”
“We’ll be putting the entry forms in the safe!”
The employees organized the entry forms and placed them in a safe that was about 50 centimeters square before heading to the door.
Before long, a carriage stopped in front of the employees, and two guys in full plate armor, looking like knights from a noble family, stepped out to collect the safe.
“Today’s total for entries is 232, thank you very much!”
“No worries! As a knight of the Iceberg family, I guarantee the safe will be kept scratch-free. You can trust me with it!”
“Feeling reassured!”
“Then we’re off!”
The two knights loaded the safe into the carriage and hopped inside, setting off immediately.
Soon, the carriage arrived in front of the publishing house building, which had grown in size thanks to Check Writer.
After the carriage halted, the knights immediately opened the door and stepped out.
One carried the safe while the other maintained a guard stance as they headed toward the publishing house entrance, and the guards immediately opened the door upon seeing the knights.
Inside the publishing house, they were greeted directly by Donnie, the publishing house’s president.
“Ah! You’ve worked hard today!”
“Not at all! Since it was a direct order from our head, we were happy to do it!”
“Hahaha! Glad to hear that. Please, follow me.”
The two knights followed Donnie with the safe.
***
***
-Knock knock.
-Author! I brought the newspaper just like you said!
“Come in!”
As soon as Belua entered and handed over the newspaper, I immediately opened it up.
[A Huge Gift from Check Writer to Readers! What’s this Special Cover?]
[Everyone’s competing to enter for the Special Cover Edition…]
[The Mad Expression of the Special Cover! An illustration that looks just like the Luca everyone imagined…]
“Wow, of course! Come over here, Hero.”
Being satisfied with the articles, I called out to Rate beside me.
Rate came over, read the newspaper momentarily, and her eyes widened in surprise before breaking into a bright smile.
“Everyone loves my illustration this much…”
“Didn’t I tell you? Your illustrations are just insane! The image of Luca I imagined as the author turned out to look exactly like the readers see it! It’s completely mind-blowing!”
If it got this much praise in my world, just imagine how insane it would be here!
Seeing her overwhelmed by joy at how much people loved her work made me feel proud too.
“It’s all thanks to you, author.”
“Nah, what did I even do? You got the materials from the palace, and you made the illustrations, Hero.”
I didn’t really help with the illustrations at all.
“Thanks to you, I ventured to try something like this! But fundamentally, it’s because of you that I’m in this position…”
“Aww, this was all thanks to you, Hero! I’m just a wordsmith!”
“Author…”
Overcome with emotion, Rate trembled as she…
“Thank you!”
“Ack!”
She hugged me tightly.
“Huh?! The author and the hero?!”
Seeing it unfold right next to me, I quickly tried to clarify before Belua got the wrong idea, but,
“Ughhh! Mmm!”
As I was sitting and she leaned down, I failed and ended up buried in her Hero’s pocket.
“I… I’ll just head out! Enjoy your time!”
Oh, this is bad.
***
***
“…Ahem.”
After Belua left, Rate finally realized what she had done and pulled away from me.
“…Hero, did you do that on purpose like last time?”
“Uh, sorry… I was just so happy…”
“Do you do this with everyone?”
“No, only with close friends…”
“…”
“I’m sorry…”
“Phew… It’s fine, it happens.”
It’s perfectly normal to have the habit of hugging someone out of happiness, right?
Even though it’s a problem that a girl like Rate hugs a guy like me…
“Um… Now that we’ve wrapped up the discussion about Volume 1’s cover, how about we talk about what to do next?”
“Y-yes, let’s.”
Trying to break the awkward atmosphere, I smoothly changed the topic.
Why does this type of thing keep happening?
“By the way, Hero, are you planning to draw the covers for all volumes of The Betrayer Hero? It might be a lot of work.”
“…I want to try.”
“Are you serious?”
“Absolutely. After this, I felt really recognized after such a long time by people. Plus, I’m finding drawing to be fun, so I definitely want to illustrate the characters from your novels myself.”
Seeing the determined look on her face made me nod in agreement.
“Alright then. I’ll talk to the palace about continuing to secure drawing supplies for you, and let’s get you a fancy desk too… hmm, I’m not sure what other materials you might need…”strong>
I’m sure the palace will sort it all out.
“Anyway, let’s give it our best shot!”
“I’ll work hard!”
Thus, I gained the ultimate drawing artist of a hero.
***
***
“Author, are you already sleeping?”
“No, Hero, it’s barely dawn…”
“Oh, is that so? I lost track of time while drawing. Good night.”
“Aren’t you tired, Hero?”
“I’m a hero, I’m fine. Didn’t I say I can function without food or sleep?”
“Oh, right…”
‘So unfair.’
While I need to sleep and eat on time, she can keep drawing without needing to do either.
That’s some serious OP stuff.