Ch.66Storm (1)

Why is the Biography of Xenon revered as a true masterpiece of this era regardless of nation?

While there are various reasons, the Biography of Xenon is a novel that can be easily accessed by people of all classes, genders, and ages.

It isn’t filled with difficult words to understand, nor does it beat around the bush.

Concisely yet clearly, it captures a story that stimulates the imagination. Through that imagination, it unfolds another world in one’s mind.

This characteristic alone fulfills the conditions for the Biography of Xenon to become a worldwide trend. Add to that an exciting story, and it’s only natural that its popularity has skyrocketed.

Even illiterate people learned to read just to read the Biography of Xenon, which shows how high its status is.

In fact, when encountering unfamiliar words while reading the Biography of Xenon, many people look them up in dictionaries or figure out what sentences mean on their own.

But when popularity soars this high, there are naturally side effects.

Setting aside the fact that hardly any books other than the Biography of Xenon sell, countless people have shed blood trying to become the protagonist from the book.

In a way, it’s a natural phenomenon, but unfortunately, this world has never experienced anything like this before. There has never been a “culture” that became popular regardless of age, gender, class, or race.

Until now, people were busy enjoying this culture without any side effects appearing, but after the 10th volume of the Biography of Xenon was released, hidden problems erupted.

“Open the door quickly! You’re a publishing house! You must know who Xenon is!”

“At least tell us about the situation! You said last time that there were health concerns!”

“Why the sudden hiatus?! What’s this about mental suffering? Come out and explain right now!”

In front of the publishing house that contracted with the Biography of Xenon. There, countless people formed a massive crowd, shouting at the top of their lungs.

From ordinary freemen to seasoned adventurers, and people from various other occupations.

It’s rare to see such diverse people with no common ground gathering to raise their voices together. It’s extremely rare for protests to occur without even someone inciting them.

Ah, of course, they do have one thing in common.

They were all so-called “fans” who were enthusiastic about the Biography of Xenon, and they had gathered here after reading the 10th volume.

“We don’t know either! We only receive manuscripts and print books!”

“That’s right! Shouting like this won’t accomplish anything!”

The employees struggling to hold back the protesters were truly miserable. What made it somewhat unfair for them was that they themselves didn’t know in detail why the author had declared a long hiatus.

They were just desperately trying to hold back the crowd that had surged like a tsunami two days after the 10th volume of the Biography of Xenon was released. Fortunately, the protesters weren’t being violent, so they could hold them back for now.

But if they were provoked even slightly more, the publishing house might truly be occupied. They needed to somehow defuse the situation before that happened, but there was no sign of that happening, which was incredibly frustrating.

‘Do something about it!’

The employee blocking the protesters glared at his company with resentful eyes and silently screamed.

So what was the situation inside the publishing house?

“Can’t you do something? You must have some connection to the author, to Xenon.”

“Please, just deliver this letter. Since he’s suffering mentally, I can take responsibility.”

The president was having a headache dealing with nobles who had gathered from all over the country. He looked at the nobles begging him, a powerless individual, with hollow eyes.

He had expected this, but facing it directly made his mind hazy. It was truly an unprecedented spectacle.

He was merely a nouveau riche who had earned enormous profits since contracting with the Biography of Xenon. He didn’t have strong power like the nobles before him, nor the ability to ignore procedures.

Yet not just one, but a whole group had rushed in and occupied the president’s office, driving him crazy.

‘I don’t know either, you bastards.’

The president laughed hollowly inside as he watched the nobles protesting before him.

The nobles were not much different from the protesters occupying the entrance of the publishing house. Only their method of expression was different; their concern for the author of the Biography of Xenon was the same.

Unlike some ill-natured nobles who were desperate to find the author, they were genuine fans who truly loved the Biography of Xenon itself.

As proof of this, most of the nobles currently in the president’s office were counts or lower. Marquises and above were too busy with official duties to visit places like publishing houses.

Even if they had the time, they would hold meetings among themselves rather than visiting a publishing house.

“Um… everyone? I’m sorry, but no matter how much you press me, I don’t know well either. Why the author is on hiatus…”

“That’s why we’re asking! We want you to find out why the author is having a hard time, and why he’s taking a hiatus for nearly two years!”

As the president sweated profusely trying to calm the situation, a noblewoman countered with a sharp voice, thwarting his efforts.

The president flinched at the noblewoman’s sharp voice and then answered in a timid voice.

“If… if you all continue like this, the author will be uncomfortable too.”

“Do you think such words will work on us? What we want is detailed information about the author, not your worthless speculation. We won’t back down a single step until you explain with a reason that satisfies us.”

“Please, just send a letter. I don’t care who the author is. I’m genuinely worried. You said there were health issues recently.”

His words had no effect. The president felt his head throbbing at the plea of a pitiful noble who spoke after the noblewoman.

‘Do they think letters go back and forth in a day or two?’

He had already sent a letter long ago. Although he couldn’t send it with the last batch of fan letters due to meetings, it should have arrived at the mansion by now.

So if they could just patiently wait about three days, a reply would come back. The president planned to somehow endure until then.

Of course, the three-day estimate was based on the premise that Xenon (pen name) was Hawk. The president had no idea how many days it would actually take for a reply to come back.

“This won’t do. In that case, I’ll directly…!”

“How would that be any different from those who were bothering Xenon? Didn’t you hear the voices of the protesters outside?”

“We didn’t do that! I don’t understand why we have to suffer!”

“It’s already about to ignite, and you want to pour mana stones on it? It would burn quite nicely. If you want to see something like the Jeiros Revolution happening worldwide, go ahead.”

Well fought, well fought.

The president wore a transcendent expression as he watched the nobles who had finally started arguing among themselves.

As they said, this phenomenon would appear as an ominous sign to those above them. It was even more extreme than the signs that preceded the Jeiros Revolution.

What if someone incites or spreads false rumors here?

It’s obvious that a second revolution would occur. So they needed to somehow defuse the situation, but there was nothing he could do.

It wasn’t like watching a fire from across the river. How could he just watch when the company he had built with sweat and tears was burning?

‘Luminus…’

The president prayed to the god inwardly.

*****

The protests weren’t just happening in front of the publishing house that contracted with the Biography of Xenon. As the Biography of Xenon had worldwide influence, protests erupted everywhere.

Not only were there protesters raising their voices with placards in squares, but unprecedented protests also broke out in front of key national facilities.

All of them demanded to know what situation the author of the Biography of Xenon was in and called for proper explanations, protesting whether, as they had seen in newspapers, some nobles had indeed caused this disaster by being annoying.

Although there was no direct armed conflict like the Jeiros Revolution, it was a situation that could explode at any moment, truly on the brink.

In this situation, high-ranking officials in each country were racking their brains on how to respond, but soon they came up with a clever move.

[The author of the Biography of Xenon, that is, Xenon, is not in our country. The publishing house is in the Empire of Minerva to begin with.]

[We’re truly sorry to say this to the protesters raising their voices, but confronting us won’t accomplish anything. We too are shocked and regretful about the news of Xenon’s long hiatus.]

[If Xenon was mentally distressed, there must have been pressure at the national level. There are only two countries that are crazy about culture.]

That was to shift the responsibility to the Empire of Minerva and the Kingdom of Teres.

Indeed, the two countries are famous for being passionate about culture, and they almost went to a cultural war once.

Additionally, the Empire of Minerva is notorious for plundering the culture of the Kingdom of Teres. It’s a globally known fact that the Kingdom of Teres established strict regulations because of this.

The publishing house is in the Empire of Minerva, and the Empire of Minerva is greedy enough to steal others’ culture.

These two hypotheses matched perfectly, and arrows of criticism began to pour toward the Empire of Minerva. It was merely incitement, but the situation was very bad, as even a drop of oil could turn into fierce flames.

Moreover, the Kingdom of Teres had experienced an unprecedented event like the Jeiros Revolution. People thought they wouldn’t be crazy enough to pressure the author of the Biography of Xenon after experiencing such an event.

“What if something like the Jeiros Revolution happens in our empire too? Will it be okay?”

“It’s chaos outside right now. Citizens have started protesting in front of the imperial palace.”

“What should we do…”

Such anxiety began to spread to the Halo Academy located in the capital. I looked around the interior of the classroom where a subtle atmosphere had been pervading since before the lecture began.

Only three days had passed since the 10th volume of the Biography of Xenon was published, but the aftermath was truly terrifying. Newspapers reported that protests were happening all over the country, and that the military had to be mobilized because the security forces couldn’t handle it.

Honestly, I was very perplexed from my position. I had only posted a hiatus notice to focus on my studies, but the situation began to spiral out of control.

The statement about mental suffering was true, but it was distorted to mean that I was under pressure from someone. The problem is that this isn’t entirely false either.

I had sent a letter to the publishing house, but I doubted whether it could defuse the situation.

As I was tilting my head at the strangely unfolding situation, Marie, who was sitting next to me, giggled and opened her mouth.

“So how does it feel?”

“What?”

“You’re personally experiencing the impact you’re having beyond the empire, worldwide.”

I scratched my head, unsure how to answer Marie’s question. As they say, experiencing once is more effective than hearing a hundred times; seeing the classroom in turmoil made it feel real.

If even academy students could detect the uneasy atmosphere, the situation outside must be chaotic. I exhaled a long breath through my nose and glanced at Marie.

She was just smiling her characteristic beaming smile as if she wasn’t worried at all. If it were someone else, I might not know, but Marie is from the Reckyless family, which holds power second only to the emperor.

So her family must have been affected as well. It’s only natural to be worried.

“Aren’t you worried?”

“A little? But it will calm down soon. I can be sure of that.”

Her confident answer naturally raised questions. As I blinked my eyes and tilted my head, Marie snickered.

Then she glanced behind and gestured to me. I slowly brought my face closer as if she wanted to borrow my ear.

“Whoo~”

“Ah!”

I was startled by the wind sound penetrating my ear and floundered. As I jumped like a live fish, Marie let out a mischievous laugh.

“Hehe. Did you like it?”

“Ah, really… stop playing such pranks.”

“Sorry, sorry. And would you look to the side?”

“What now…”

I thought she might be playing another prank, but I turned my head to the side as she said. And as soon as I turned my head, I couldn’t help but blink at the sight of one person who entered my view.

A beauty with golden hair flowing like waves, jewel-like blue eyes, and a pure impression was standing next to me.

It was Rina, the imperial princess of the Empire of Minerva.

I was momentarily puzzled as to why Rina was standing next to me, but Rina looked at me with a darkened expression. Not the always peaceful face, but a face immersed in deep thought.

“…Issac.”

“Uh… yes.”

After calling my name, she looked at Marie once. At that gaze, Marie shrugged her shoulders as if to say do as you please.

Having received permission from Marie, Rina made an expression as if she had made up her mind and spoke to me in a low voice.

“…Can you spare some time?”

I was dumbfounded at that request. It was then that Marie, who was next to me, opened her mouth in a sarcastic tone.

“Is that how you ask someone for a favor?”

“… …”

“You should ask politely. Po.lite.ly.”

Perhaps annoyed by Marie speaking each syllable distinctly, Rina glared at Marie with a slightly vicious face.

Regardless, Marie snorted and acted with plenty of composure. Her expression said, go ahead and try if you dare.

But Rina seemed to realize that engaging in this war of attrition would yield no benefit, so she clenched her fist tightly. Then she looked at me once more and made her request.

“…Please.”

Her voice had considerably lost its strength.