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

51 – 51. Theatricalization

51.

“The most important thing is to secure funds, naturally.”

“Agreed.”

Laila briefly joined Allen’s conversation.

Allen picked up the conversation.

“Since publishing a magazine itself is a new endeavor, we should also recruit students who want to write or draw something in it.”

“I’ve already put my name up here, so I expect a lot of people interested. If it’s ambiguous, we can invite Lynn too.”

“I guess we have to do interviews eventually.”

Allen frowned.

Since Felicia’s name is listed, there would surely be those who want to join to network.

Of course, what Allen wanted wasn’t such individuals, but someone who genuinely wanted to share their novels with others.

People who want to learn how to draw cartoons, people who want their novels critically appraised.

That’s what Allen wants. Only then would the club truly function.

“I think it’s best to filter as many people in the document examination stage as possible, Young Master.”

“I agree. There will be guys who want to join to get close to the princess.”

“Oh, I’m used to it. That’s okay.”

“No, it’s not okay for the club. If we accept these people, the club will be filled with lunatics.”

Felicia etched an uncomfortable smile at Allan’s words.

There was no fault in what he had said.

“Do you think there will be a lot of people you wish for, Allan?” Felicia asked.

“I hope there would be a lot. If not, it can’t be helped.”

Thunk, thunk, Allan, having arranged his manuscript, handed it over to Leila.

“Nothing seems amiss. Let’s proceed with this, Leila.”

“Got it. Any revisions?”

“There’s no need. I think I know how much affection you have for Shuren Chronicles. It would be great if you could add color though…”

“Isn’t that too difficult for now, Allan?”

At Felicia’s words, Allan also nodded his head.

“Anyway, if we color a detailed picture like this cartoon-style by applying pigments and rubbing it around, the picture itself would look smudged.”

Allan thought, it would be great if there were colored pencils or pens.

Is there still no technology in this continent to combine pigments to make it like a pencil lead, he wondered.

If the technique of applying pigments and coloring them by rubbing it in is still widely used, unless someone invents colored pencils, there might be a strong chance that what Allan desires might not become possible.

“Anyway, I first need to find people. There would be a limit with just Leila and me.”

“A novelist and a cartoonist… If Allan’s magazine gets famous, there will be children who aim to become a novelist or cartoonist, won’t there?”

“Of course. Be they novelists or cartoonists, I think they are people who sell and show dreams to people.”

Allan smiled.

“We should first earnestly post recruitment notices, shouldn’t we?”

***

“This is an opportunity.”

Eurysis lit up at the sight of the club recruitment notice brought by the escort knight.

Due to various circumstances, she had not been able to approach Allan but now this club recruitment notice was an opportunity.

“It’s hard to approach since we are in different departments.”

Allan was always surrounded by women.

It was understandable for a nobleman to always be accompanied by maids.

From Diabella ‘Foresthia’ Belsta, the librarian at the central library of the academy, Princess Felicia Alsir Fon Tiranto from the Western Empire, Princess Rin Xiao Mei from the Eastern Empire, and even Leila Fon Princeton, the rising star of the magic department recently.

“If you pursue a natural meeting like this, you’ll become a shriveled old woman before you know it.”

“It was you, Ulysses, who wanted to approach naturally.”

“…Quietly. Before I kick you.”

“I misspoke.”

Ulysses glared at the knight serving as her escort.

“I’m intrigued by this comic concept. It’s surprising the creator thought of it – I’m sure being around this person, there will be lots of fun. Whichever way.”

“I regard it as due to Alan Mueller that curiosity about Kunlung culture is spreading within the academy.”

“That’s one way to put it. I think it is a good thing, in view of the Empire’s wish for improved relations with Kunlung, don’t you think?”

The knight did not answer Ulysses’ comment.

Ulysses rose from her seat.

“Let’s go.”

With purposeful strides, Ulysses moved off, the knight following in silence.

But Ulysses was not the only one intrigued by the recruitment notice.

Students majoring in humanities and arts showed the greatest interest to the recruitment notice.

Alan, Felicia, and Laila were snowed under with interviewing documents, along with Diabella, who joined late as document controller. They had no time for anything else as they sifted through paperwork.

“Client, I’m going to die buried in these documents!”

Renox, whose head pop from between the alarming mountain of never-ending documents, screamed.

And Renox was not alone. The three members of the detective club, Morrison Detective Agency, were also buried in the document pile.

Alan talked as he lightly touched the dark circles under his eyes.

“Don’t die. Don’t you see my state, Renox?”

“I might die soon, client.”

“Then shut up and look at the documents. Why are there so many?”

Felicia being there, he expected a lot, but it was overwhelming.

The problem was that over 90% of the applications needed screening.

There were more than a few applications filled out carelessly. Alan examined them before tossing them, and Meia neatly piled them up for incineration.

Felicia also clicked her tongue as she reviewed the documents.

“I didn’t expect this level of blind following. So many thoughtless applications.”

“I can’t understand it.”

Even Laila, typically composed, sounded weary.

The other employees also had dark circles under their eyes.

The only one lively in this document hell was Diabella, who rejoiced in the smell of paper.

“Come to think of it, when Lady Aelen’s name is combined with the princess’ name, the paperwork’s astounding. It’s an amount you’d expect to see in the library’s document storage.”

“There’s this amount of paperwork in the royal records archive too. It’s dizzying just to look at it.”

Felicia also rubbed her eyes.

Aelen said,

“The fact that this is just the result of three days’ review…”

“We might have to extend the document review period. It seems like we have about another three days’ worth to review.”

Aelen, who had momentarily put down the paperwork, stretched.

Ugh, he groaned, half dying, and swung open the club room window. The breeze that hinted at the approaching summer breezed into the club room as if it had been waiting.

Aelen sprawled out on the chair like a softened slime, feeling the wind.

“…I’m really tired.”

“Shall I make a cup of tea that’s good for fatigue?”

“That would be nice. Make it for the others too.”

“Yes, young master.”

Maya left the club room.

Felicia, who had been watching her leave, spoke up.

“It’s a job in itself to sift through all these careless documents. I understand why the royal scribes are so exhausted.”

“I hadn’t predicted that this many club application forms would pile up.”

“…Agreed.”

At Aelen’s words, Leila tersely agreed, and Felicia also seemed to understand, nodding her head.

“But we can’t just gloss over them.”

“Novels and manga, it seems like there are some students who were drawn by those two things.”

“Considering that even a noble from the Palos Kingdom applied, it’s clear that Aelen’s fame had an effect.”

“hahahaha.”

Even Aelen hadn’t expected the pile to grow to this size.

There’s a song in my head that keeps playing on repeat, saying I shouldn’t have done this. Even after spending three days to get through it, the remaining amount is overwhelming.

Aelen grimaced at the towering stack of paperwork.

“Maybe I should just burn them all…”

“You can’t do that, Aelen.”

“Right. I can’t do that.”

With Leila chiming in, Aelen shook his head.

“…You want to turn the Chronicles of Shuren into a play?”

In the club room, Alen scratched his cheek as he looked at the theater arts students who had come to find him.

To his right and left were Felicia and Leila, who seemed a natural part of the scene.

Behind them, Diabella who held a stack of documents like a secretary and Meia who politely stood with her hands together came into the theater arts students’ view.

‘Interesting… Only girls…’

‘Can’t see a single guy in this club…’

‘Is this secretly a harem club?’

‘Is that a princess?’

‘By the looks of it, even the princess is fascinated by him.’

‘He is quite good looking.’

Listening to the whispers of the theater arts students, Alen furrowed his brow.

“It’s not a club created with such impure intentions.”

“Oops, you heard us?”

“You think I wouldn’t hear you whispering so obviously?”

“Oh dear, were we wrong?”

“Your Highness.”

“Alen, are you really drawing the line to the very end?”

“…It’s hard, okay.”

As Felicia and Alen bickered, the theater arts students’ imaginations ran wild, and then Leila spoke up.

“So, then. What’s the reason?”

“To be honest, even though we’re theater arts students, we’re not that famous. Of course, actors who belong to famous theaters or groups receive good treatment, but for the rest, it’s difficult to get such treatment, and it’s usually lucky if they can join a wandering troupe.”

At the theater student’s words, Alen slightly opened his eyes.

A good idea grazed his mind.

“So, you want to create a play of the Chronicles of Shuren to improve your reputation, even a little?”

“Yeah. Am I showing my hand too much?”

“No, I think it’s quite reasonable.”

Alen shrugged his shoulders.

Subculture always grows on the pushback and contempt of existing industries, and Alen was also welcoming of adaptations into theater.

Webtoons and comic adaptations are also slowly gaining traction.

Just by seeing the exponential increase in newspaper sales at the Glink Herald, the effect was undeniable.

A monopolized comic that can only be found in the Glink Herald and nowhere else.

If you’re a fan of the Schuren series, it’s impossible not to buy and read it.

“Are there any plans to do a Schuren series play? I have a good proposition.”

“A proposition?”

Alan laughed.

“How about having an event with the fifth volume of Schuren war stories?”