episode_0034

“Even if the editor said so, it was something a writer should not have done! It’s all my fault! We sincerely apologize!”

The writer, Lionel Balzac, even trembled and bowed his head respectfully.

I don’t think he did this because he had some kind of belief in him. Rather, I guess I was so desperate that I didn’t have time to think about it.

“Please raise your head first. It’s uncomfortable to talk if you keep your head down like that.”

“Yes!”

It was very different from the image I had imagined.

The shabby-looking man who trembled in front of his eyes and avoided eye contact was not as noble as Maurice Leblanc, nor did he have the paralyzing side of his name, Balzac.

“Good. You said you did it because you needed the manuscript fee, right?”

“Yes… .”

“I won’t ask you why you had to steal someone else’s character to earn your manuscript fee.”

There was no need to even ask why I needed money.

It wasn’t just a day or two that writers became poor. That’s why aristocrats sponsor writers, and magazine companies buy manuscripts at low prices and publish magazines.

There was something else that was important.

“Is there a novel you want to write?”

“Yes?”

Does this man have any intention of writing ‘his’ novel?

If there was one, I had no intention of condemning this poor writer. I was a plagiarist writer who stole literature from my previous life because I was poor at heart, and condemning this writer would not set a good precedent in the literary world.

and.

“If you’re a writer, you probably have a novel you want to write. Not novels that plagiarize other people’s characters and ignore and criticize them.”

“‥‥‥.”

Although I am not a writer.

I know what kind of creatures the writers are.

We met several times in our past lives, and in our current life, we even took aspiring writers and published books together. We even provided support when students at the academy wanted to publish their own books.

In that respect, writers are very typical people.

“… I want to write a romance novel. I want to write a story that isn’t too obscene like popular novels, isn’t tragic like ‘The Sorrows of Young Werther’, and is a story where two people conflict with each other, but ultimately understand each other and become happy.”

“It’s a romance novel… .”

They always wanted to write ‘their own story’.

“Good.”

“Yes?”

“I will write a letter of recommendation for Homer Academy.”

“… Yes?”

“Go and learn.”

So, as a reader, I wanted to read the ‘genuine article’ written by this author rather than the ridiculous fake version of [Phantom Thief Haksen VS Sherlock Holmes].

The thing that ruined the story of Giamseong was the forced introduction of ‘Sherlock Holmes’.

This author could have written a better novel. I took out a ‘card’ from my pocket, wrote a recommendation letter with a pen, and handed it to him. It was a card made as a character product for ‘Arsene Lupin’.

[I will visit again when the original product is available.]

[-Arsene Lupin, Phantom Thief-]

[Please accept the person who brings this card to ‘Homer Academy.’]

[-Herodotus-]

Lionel was blank for a long time.

I looked at the card.

And then he raised his head and looked at me.

“Thank you!”

He bowed his head once again and said hello.

I wasn’t shaking this time.

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“Are you the editor in charge of Mr. Lionel?”

“Ah, well, I think there was some kind of misunderstanding─, this was ultimately author Lionel’s arbitrary action, so I am responsible─.”

“Lionel is better suited to romance novels than mystery novels.”

“Yes?”

The editor in charge of Mr. Lionel was fired after it was revealed that other people than Mr. Lionel had made such suggestions.

Mini & Life probably had no intention of losing to Half & Half, the publishing company whose stock price has been rising the most recently.

As this fact became known, other editors became more active in checking whether there was any possibility of copyright infringement when reviewing the author’s work. In fact, it was none of the editors’ concern if the writer was sued, but they knew that their own livelihoods could be cut off.

As a result, it served as an opportunity to increase awareness of copyright.

Now, even if writers plagiarize, editors have cut out any areas that could cause problems.

and.

“I plan to create a foundation to support writers.”

“Foundation?”

“Yes. I think Mr. Kindersley needs a little help.”

“Hehe, if that’s the case, just leave it to me!”

I created a foundation by investing the enormous amount of wealth I had earned so far.

It was a foundation that supported writers’ publishing and helped them make a minimum living. Support was planned to be provided in education, medical care, childcare, and various other areas.

“What will you name the foundation?”

“It’s a name… .”

The name of the welfare foundation.

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to just call it [Homer & Herodotus Artist Welfare Foundation], but… .

Since I own the copyright to the two characters that have been recreated the most in the history of genre novels, I wanted to use those names if possible.

[Holmes & Lupine Artist Welfare Foundation]

[Founder: Homer, Herodotus]

In this way, the empire’s first artists’ welfare foundation was established.

.

.

.

Two of the most renowned writers in the empire.

When the existence of the ‘welfare foundation’ jointly founded by Homer and Herodotus became known, requests from people who wanted to support the foundation flooded in.

Nobles for honor, merchants for vanity, and readers for fanaticism.

Each person wanted to put their name on this foundation for their own reasons. It was also an opportunity that might leave a mark in history.

“Please, take my money! I also want to support artists!”

“You don’t have to write your name down! I will give all my money, so please let me join these two writers!”

The problem was that there were too many people wanting support.

The ‘Holmes & Lupine Artist Welfare Foundation’ manages all profits from the copyrights of Homer and Herodotus. That alone was an astronomical amount.

However, when it comes to sponsorship from various wealthy people, it was too much for the purpose of simply supporting ‘artists’.

“Let’s divide the foundation into two.”

“Yes?”

“Aren’t children the writers of the future? At this time, we will provide support so that children can receive proper education without being forced into a working environment.”

[The Little Prince & Alice Children’s Welfare Foundation]

[Founder: Homer, Herodotus]

The foundation, which started to support artists, was separated into the ‘Artists Welfare Foundation’ and the ‘Children’s Welfare Foundation’ through several procedures.

In particular, an astronomical budget was needed for the welfare of children.

With the cooperation of the ‘church,’ President Kindersley created a structure to support children by borrowing the existing church’s social welfare infrastructure.

“Was the writer Homer really a saint given by God? ?”

“But the writer Herodotus… ?”

“Isn’t Homer actually the savior of a new era, and Herodotus his apostle?”

“What.”

In the process, an unholy rumor spread that Homer was the ‘savior of a new era.’

This is because universal welfare for children has been the church’s eternal wish.

Since the Savior came down to this earth, the church has been at the forefront of improving children’s human rights by operating daycare centers and building schools. However, even such a church could not perform miracles like the writer Homer.

“We will also support the foundation! Please accept my money!”

“We also want to share the same views as author Homer. I am willing to give all my money, so please give me the opportunity to support the foundation.”

miracle.

okay. It was a miracle.

A miracle in which countless people step forward to provide support for children of their own volition, and consider it an honor.

Homer recreated on this earth a miracle that no one had performed since the Savior.

“… This makes it clear.”

“Yes. I see.”

“The Vatican officially approves the beatification of ‘Homer.’ As of the present time, the title of the author of ‘Homer’ has been changed to Venerable (candidate for beatification), and he will be treated with the same respect as the bishops of each region until the formal beatification ceremony is held. Cardinal Garnier should speak with the Venerable Homer to set a date for the beatification ceremony.”

“Okay.”

and.

While the Council to beatify the writer Homer was taking place in the Vatican.

Homer himself, who triggered this whole situation.

“Welcome to the Academy. Mr. Lionel Balzac.”

“Hwa, thank you for welcoming us. Author Homer.”

“I heard the story from author Herodotus. Are you a very talented writer?”

“Yes… ?”

He was excited about the idea of nurturing new writers at the Academy.

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.

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“I heard you want to write a romance novel.”

“Ah, yes!”

“Tell me in detail what kind of romance novel you want to write.”

“Ah, that… . I want to write a story about two people with different social statuses who go through many conflicts and misunderstandings, but eventually overcome them and become happy.”

“Hoo. That might be fun.”

“Thank you… .”

“So I prepared it in advance.”

“Yes?”

I took out a manuscript from my bag.

A textbook of romance novels whose plots continue to this day. A direct ancestor of today’s countless romantic movies and dramas.

[Pride and Prejudice]

Jane Austen’s masterpiece and an eternal classic of romance. Pride and Prejudice. I was planning to criticize the structure of this ‘romance novel’ to a writer named Lionel.