episode_0022

When I first set foot in the literature of this world.

In other words, there was a time when the only literature was unindividuated knightly literature or popular novels that were close to cheap pornographic stories.

I was devastated.

I had no confidence in surviving in this world without things to enjoy. I did not have the courage to endure a life without literature.

“Zion.”

“Yes, master.”

“It’s great that there are more interesting novels these days. Isn’t that right?”

“I agree. This is all thanks to Mr. Master’s works.”

So, I stole.

Various classics from my past life – modern literature, starting with Don Quixote, were transplanted to this world.

The essence of literature, which would have originally been accumulated over a long history and paradigm changes, was arbitrarily inserted into the world’s literary history.

To be honest, I also felt anxious.

Literature ultimately moves along with changes in the overall paradigm of society. In that respect, the literature I plagiarized was ultimately nothing more than a castle built on sand. It was not a culture conceived in the paradigm of this world, but a culture outside of this world.

“Is it really thanks to my work?”

“Yes?”

“No, well, have you read this? It’s a serial novel that I’m enjoying reading these days… The main character is a worker at a magic tool factory. It’s fun, yet you can feel the joys and sorrows of life… It was probably written based on actual experience.”

“Hmm? Did you like that type of novel?”

“It’s new.”

“I don’t know, but… There must be something that is only visible to you, Master.”

“Puh. Is that so?”

“Yes. I don’t have talent like you.”

However, classics are classics because they transcend the times.

Furthermore, it was itself a catalyst for a new era.

I think that is the true power of literature.

It does not become outdated even as time passes, remains interesting even as civilization advances, and is worthy of respect even as society changes.

A person’s story.

“It’s not really a question of talent, but yes, that’s right.”

“You seem to have a tendency to underestimate your own talent.”

“My work is the best, but I’m not that great of a person.”

When I think about it, that was also the reason why I fell in love with classics in my past life.

Although it is difficult for modern people living in the 21st century to be amazed by technology from decades ago, aren’t they still moved when reading literature from hundreds of years ago?

I couldn’t forget that emotion, so I chose a career as a translator.

“If the master who wrote great works were not great, there would be no great person in this world.”

Anyone who knows how to create is amazing.

The greatness of a writer was no different from the greatness of creation.

But I am a person who has no talent for creation.

My role was simply to serve as a welcome material for them.

“Okay. Enough of the nonsense, could you please review the manuscript?”

“Are these short stories you will use at the academy?”

“Ugh.”

“Although it is a short story, it is a bit of a shame that works like this cannot be released into the world.”

“If the time is right, I should publish it as a collection of short stories.”

Through the magazine series, we identified students’ styles and selected dozens of short stories that would be helpful in strengthening that style.

Some writers were strong at fables and satire, some were good at wordplay and poetic sensibility, and some had a knack for writing in a structured and dense manner. We have selected and organized short stories that may be helpful in strengthening each individual’s personality.

Develop the literature of your current life through the literature of your past life.

Enjoy the joy of life by tasting and enjoying contemporary literature that has been developed in this way.

“You will go down in history as a god of literature.”

“The name Homer would be suitable.”

This was the best life imaginable!

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The Count of Monte Cristo.

The classics, which are evaluated as the ultimate in pure fun, went beyond being simply a success as a lower-class culture and were popular even among the aristocrats and wealthy people who could be considered the upper class of the empire.

“Have you read the novel The Count of Monte Cristo? It’s a novel serialized in a cheap magazine called Half and Half… Wow, it was very interesting for something serialized in such a magazine.”

“Ah! I read it too. I read it because my maid recommended it.”

Novels published serially in cheap magazines, nicknamed ‘Half and Half’ because they were sold at half the price of other magazines, began to become popular in social circles.

There were many cases where it was ignored as a novel for the common people, but the violence of ‘pure fun’ did not discriminate between classes.

As a result, it was the collectors who were in trouble.

“Kaaak! The paper, the paper is all torn!”

“Why on earth does this trashy magazine company use this trashy paper!”

Collectors buy several pieces of work they like and store them in the exhibition hall.

For those with a passion for collecting, cheap magazine pulp that they read once and then throw away was simply unbearable.

“Book! I need a book!”

“Half and Half should publish a book! If you don’t put it out there, I’ll burn down your publishing company!”

As a result, public opinion was created that wanted to publish a book version of ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’.

And there was only one publisher that would take charge of the book.

“Dolling Kindersley! I will work hard and work hard for author Homer’s new book!”

“The Count of Monte Cristo is ‘Herodotus’. You cannot make a mistake.”

“Yes! Of course!”

In this way, it was decided to publish a volume of The Count of Monte Cristo.

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Book publication.

It is a collection of novels published serially in newspapers, magazines, etc., and compiled into one book.

There were several advantages to publishing these books.

First of all, there were many readers who did not prefer ‘magazine serialization’ itself.

For readers who prefer to read a single story at a leisurely pace, magazine series, which have no choice but to read each story one by one, have many disadvantages.

And it was able to stimulate the desire of collectors to own it.

Books printed on good paper and bound with sturdy covers were more likely to stimulate people’s desire to own them than cheap magazines whose paper tore easily.

From the publisher’s perspective, publishing a popular work with already guaranteed results as a book was a way to increase returns while reducing risk.

“Dolling boss.”

“Yes! Writer!”

And, from my perspective, who hopes for the development of literature.

This was an opportunity of sorts.

An opportunity to blur the lines between high and low culture. Thus, it is an opportunity to transcend class and allow a more ‘popular’ culture to flourish.

“Let’s add a recommendation in the name of Homer.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t a recommendation required for a book? And among the writers worthy of a recommendation, the most famous one is ‘Homer.’ So, let me add a recommendation in my name.”

“Uh, is that okay?”

“There’s nothing that can’t be done, right?”

So, I decided to use this opportunity to give impetus to the success of The Count of Monte Cristo.

That method is self-recommendation.

Honestly, if it were known that the author of ‘Homer’ and the author of ‘Herodotus’ were the same person, it would not be strange to be called crazy… .

Just don’t get caught.

In fact, there was nothing bad about being caught. Originally, there was an image that writers were somewhat crazy.

You just hear people say that they have a lot of confidence in their work.

“The writer… I think it’s really amazing.”

“I hear it often.”

“Ah, then the recommendation should be as the author says, and what would be the best way to do things like illustrations and binding for the book? Would it be better to have a classic leather binding?”

“How does the Bible feel?”

“Bible… Is this?”

“Yes. I need to think more about the detailed design, but… It is also a book that symbolizes the resurrection of the Count of Monte Cristo. ah! It would be nice to make something like a limited edition golden book.”

The clue to ‘Father Paria’s Treasure’ that appears in the story was originally hidden in the ‘Golden Bible’.

Since the Bible itself is a symbol of ‘resurrection’, it didn’t seem like a bad thing to have a symbolic meaning.

“Hmm, I think I’ll have to think a lot about it… .”

“Hehe, thank you always. Boss.”

“I am more thankful! The author is a treasure of literature!”

In this way, the publication of the book was completed… .

Now it was time to go meet the students at the academy again.

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The students at the academy were dying.

Regret, exhaustion, obsession.

It was a repetition of regretting why I couldn’t write better, blaming myself, becoming devastated, and obsessing over writing again to overcome that despair.

“K, keuhuh… I was able to read Homer’s short stories, so that’s enough… .”

“The author of Homer is a god… ! I’m an asshole… .”

“Today’s short story was also interesting… . lol… .”

Although his condition was gradually getting worse, his literary skills were improving day by day in inverse proportion.

Of course, literary skills and the talent for creating ‘stories’ are two separate stories.

“Thank you all for your hard work. The results of the readers’ vote were not very good, but I think everyone showed excellent and unique stories.”

Simply becoming proficient in the art of writing does not mean you can write a masterpiece.

“So, regardless of the results of the readers’ vote, I would like to ‘co-write’ with you. Let’s each decide our order.”

“?”

“Now, what… .”

“Huh… ?”

But if they have a talent for writing.

I had a story.

I knew the stories that remained classics.

“I have separately decided on the students who will co-write together and in what order. So from now on─.”

“Wow!!!”

“Hey, hehe! Ho, co-authored with Homer… !”

“Hehehehe… !”

… It’ll take some time to calm down.

Listening to the students’ screams, I thought of some of the classics that would be completed with their help.

for example.

It’s like a fairy tale filled with countless puns, language puzzles, and mathematical paradoxes.