episode_0002

I brought you Don Quixote, a game changer, to stop you from churning out dozens of identical novels.

But now, works that directly plagiarized Don Quixote were overflowing in the capital.

I looked down on the senselessness of this world.

Isn’t this a world where the Patent Office supervises publishing rights because there is no proper copyright law in the first place?

“… young master. Should I take legal action?”

“I can’t catch this.”

“Yes?”

“You did not print my novel without permission, but you plagiarized the contents of my novel.”

The scope of publication rights guaranteed by the Korean Intellectual Property Office literally only covers ‘publication’. It would be a problem if an unauthorized publisher published Don Quixote.

However, it was difficult to sue someone for plagiarizing the plot.

That is the limit of justice in this world. It was a disaster that occurred due to a complete lack of awareness of ‘copyright’.

“It would be nice if copyright law could be properly enacted using this as an opportunity, but it is still impossible.”

“That can’t be possible… .”

Shion, who had become my fan after reading Don Quixote first, seemed disappointed by that fact.

I was a little pleased with Shion’s reaction, so I made a joke.

“Why? Because you don’t want to spend money on royalties?”

“… Isn’t this a novel that you worked hard to write, even giving up your pocket money? I am angry that such a novel cannot receive proper compensation.”

Actually, this novel wasn’t that difficult to write.

Because I also clearly plagiarized from the ‘original world’. Of course, it went through some modifications to suit the history and culture of this world, but since I knew the basics, it wasn’t that difficult.

Still, there was something about Shion’s reaction that I could sympathize with, so I nodded.

“Don’t forget that feeling. Readers need to have that kind of awareness first, in order for copyright to be properly established.”

There is no point in claiming copyright on the author alone.

In the end, there must be a ‘mass’ to raise one’s voice.

And the best way to attract the public was to reward them with better works.

“In that sense, it’s still a little early to bring it up, but I’ll show it to you in advance, Shion.”

“… Maybe?”

“Uh.”

I took out a wad of paper from the drawer and showed it to Shion.

“Don Quixote, Part 2.”

◦ at

Shion screamed and took the wad of paper I took out.

The screams were so loud that the chamberlain himself came to check what was happening. I wrapped it up and sent it back.

Shion, whose hands were shaking like someone suffering from withdrawal symptoms, sat down on the floor and began to read.

‘The situation is very interesting.’

In fact, the reason Don Quixote Part 2 originally appeared in the world was because of the abundance of pirated copies.

In fact, in the preface and passages of Part 2 of Don Quixote, information about pirated editions was written in a bitter tone. I also wrote similar information out of respect for the original work and as a warning to pirates flooding the market.

I sat in the armchair and waited for Zion to finish reading.

Because the volume was not small, it was only around dinner time that Sion finished reading the text.

“… Ugh. Also, Don Quixote… .”

“Did you read it all?”

“This… It will definitely sell! No, beyond just selling, it will change the history of this world itself!”

“I think that went too far… , it would be nice if only the parts related to copyright law could be changed.”

The existence of copyright law is essential to guarantee the rights of creators and create a healthy creative environment.

Only then can you enjoy more diverse and interesting works.

In the end, my purpose was still one. Reading more interesting novels. In order to do this, an environment in which interesting novels could be conceived had to be created first.

“Ha, can I read it one more time? I want to reflect on Don Quixote’s journey.”

“It doesn’t matter, but… Is it meal time now?”

“… Ah.”

Shion then realized that he had been reading for hours and sighed.

And while trying to stand up, he twisted his body as if he had cramps in his legs and fell down again.

“Ugh… . Sorry, sorry.”

“There’s no need to rush, so take your time. Slowly.”

When Shion, who had been moaning for a while, was able to walk, a servant informed her with good timing that the meal was ready.

I headed to the restaurant with a shy Shion.

After taking a seat while being attended to by Shion, Shion bowed her head and moved to where the servants were eating.

Other family members were already sitting at the table.

My father, the head of the family, looked at me and clicked his tongue and scolded me.

“Why are you coming out so late? Also, isn’t it too late to look at the article or something?”

“Yes, well… .”

He may say it bluntly, but in reality, it is my father who takes care of me more than anyone else.

It’s just that if my father doesn’t say a word, my mother will continue to nag me, so I played first. I bowed my head, expressing gratitude to my father with my eyes.

“Tsk tsk, what’s so fun about such a light novel… .”

He muttered as if his father, who had been talking for a while, suddenly came to mind.

“Oh, come to think of it, the capital is also abuzz with a novel called Don Quixote or something. Have you read it? I’ve never read article literature, so I don’t understand the story. Those raccoons in the center really don’t live up to their age… .”

“… Don Quixote?”

“Okay. When I tell them I haven’t read it, they keep talking amongst themselves, and I wonder if they should read it because it’s so annoying… . If it’s okay, Ed, could you organize it for me?”

“Uh, it’s not difficult.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Because it’s a novel I wrote.”

“… What?”

There was a clang, the sound of a spoon being dropped somewhere.

All eyes of the family members who were eating turned to the person who dropped the spoon. It was Eric, my older brother and the eldest son of the family.

Eric asked back, stuttering for words.

” Also, you are the author of ‘Homer’ who wrote Don Quixote?!”

“Ah, yes.”

Hearing a pen name in front of my eyes makes me feel a little different.

I think using the name of the greatest epic writer as a pen name went too far. My face felt hot for no reason.

Because it’s no different from a singer’s stage name being ‘Freddie Mercury’.

” That’s ridiculous… .”

“By the way, does your brother read books like that? I thought article literature was not read because it was childish.”

“Among young nobles, Don Quixote is a god!”

“That’s not blasphemy… ?”

Don Quixote is a great literary work.

A classic representing the history of literature, the first modern novel, the most beloved literary work by writers, the Bible of Spain, the father of all modern novels… . Don Quixote’s influence in literary history is incomparable to any other work.

That’s how it is in ‘literary history’.

One cannot help but wonder whether it has that much influence outside of literature. Even in modern times, Don Quixote was known to the general public as ‘the madman who crashed into a windmill.’

‘… Well, it’s a world where no particular cultural industry has developed.’

Although there are spectacular attractions such as monster circuses and magic performances, we live in an era where there is little that can be called ‘content’.

When I thought about it that way, it made sense that Eric would react this way.

Even though the ‘publishing industry’ itself was not very developed in the world, the relatively large publishing industry had a stronger influence than expected because other cultural industries were worse than the publishing industry.

“Well, thank you for reading.”

“My brother is that Homer… .”

While my older brother was still in shock, my mother watched me and opened her mouth.

“That work called Don Quixote… Is it that great?”

Then my older brother raised his voice and spoke passionately.

“Of course! Among young nobles these days, if you say you haven’t read Don Quixote, you’ll be laughed at. Especially sensitive to trends─”

Eric took a long time to explain how influential the work ‘Don Quixote’ was.

In social circles, if you don’t know ‘Don Quixote’, you are shunned, saying you are behind the fashion, and it is said that a game where you imitate Don Quixote’s clothes is popular among some nobles. As I listened to that story, the word ‘Werther Effect’ from the original world came to mind.

After the work The Sorrows of Young Werther became popular, young people who read the work imitated Werther’s attire in the novel and committed suicide one after another.

‘The influence of literature… ‘It’s bigger than I imagined.’

The power of literature. The energy of literature. In my previous life in Korea, if I brought up such a story, I would be laughed at.

In what era are we still holding on to old-fashioned paper books?

But this era was different. The publishing industry was just in its infancy, and although it was still immature, it had the potential to become a ‘universal culture’.

“… I need to be more careful when I produce my next work.”

I was so muttering without realizing it.

Eric, who heard that muttering to himself, suddenly stopped talking and looked at me. And with sparkling eyes, he asked.

“Next work?”

“Huh? Yes.”

“Perhaps… Don Quixote Part 2?”

“First of all, right?”

Eric’s reaction after that was… .

Let me just say that it was so extreme that it was burdensome. Thanks to this, the dinner table became a mess.