episode_0087

After the white snow fell on Christmas Eve.

Christmas has finally arrived.

I put the book cover that Isolette had given me as a gift, inserted the Christmas card into the page like a bookmark, and looked out the window. There were snowmen standing all over the streets whose origins were unknown.

Every building was colorful with green and red decorations, so it really felt like Christmas.

But what stood out the most was the light bulb that decorated the imperial clock tower like a Christmas tree.

“The empire also feels quite modern.”

“Modern… Is it?”

“That’s right.”

In the empire, new technologies were coming out and new infrastructure was being installed every day. The foundation I created has accelerated the development of such a society.

Magic Tower, Imperial Family, Council, Merchant Alliance, Beast Community, Church, Kingdom of Haren─.

Various ‘powers’ that would have originally been separated from each other according to their own interests cooperated with each other using the foundation as a stepping stone. This ‘Christmas’ was no different from a huge showcase symbolizing such changes. New technologies, modern infrastructure, and the resulting laws and political and diplomatic logic.

All those strange things advertised themselves in the most spectacular way with the ‘magic of Christmas’.

So this is kind of… It was a turning point. A turning point from the past to the present. It was not an ugly turning point like ‘the war to end all wars’, but a cataclysm in the peaceful way of the world.

I looked blankly at the scenery and then checked my watch.

“First of all… There’s a lot left until the appointment time, so I guess I could spend some time reading a book at the library first.”

“I will prepare to go out.”

“Ugh. Thank you always, Shion.”

“It is my pleasure to help you, Master.”

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A conference room set up in the ‘Homeric Central Library’.

A large number of people gathered in a space as splendid and large as the Imperial Parliament. There were various foods and wine on the table, and the faces of the people who came were also very glamorous.

It was a scenery reminiscent of an imperial banquet hall.

No, it was a grander scene than an imperial banquet. The Empire’s Third Prince and his adoptive daughter, Count Plummer, who leads the conservative party in the Parliament, the Sloth King who has become the eternal owner of the Kingdom of Haren, Gray, the spiritual leader of the beast community, Cardinal Garnier of the Vatican, the tower owner and chief wizard of the Magic Tower, and the upper alliance. Union leader, etc.─.

This is because people who symbolize power in each field gathered here.

“The author of Homer had something fun planned: a Christmas dinner to commemorate the library’s founding.”

“That person standing over there… Aren’t you the Eternal King of Haren?”

“Oh, no way. Why is the King of Haren here?”

But it wasn’t anything like a summit.

In addition to those in power, students from the Homeric Academy, priests and volunteers from the orphanage, monks from the monastery, and nobles close to the ‘Fryden family’ were all gathered there.

This is because the ‘Christmas dinner’ was scheduled here.

“Ugh… . You, I’m so nervous. Oh, when is the author Homer coming? W, there are so many scary people here… .”

“Tsk, wait calmly. And─.”

“Ian. Is that friend over there who is good at writing that you always talked about?”

“… … .”

“Nice to meet you. Miss Rolls Camel. This is Ian’s father, Earl Plummer. Unapologetically, he holds the position of leader of the Conservative Party.”

“Ah, ah, hello! My name is Rolls, Car, and Camel!”

“Haha. It’s okay not to be nervous. Our Ian usually causes a lot of trouble, right? Thank you for being close to the youngest guy.”

“What, what!”

Of course, even if it was just for a banquet, it wasn’t just about eating.

Some people hung out with people they knew and built friendships, and some people walked around with business cards eagerly to make new connections.

With the murmur, the surroundings gradually became noisy.

Because the soundproofing was perfect, it would not disturb other users of the library, but the murmur gradually grew louder, making it difficult to understand what people around them were saying. This was even more so because several people who were usually discriminated against or in conflict were also present.

By the time the noise became unbearable.

The door to the dinner hall opened, and a man came in. Silence fell in the dinner hall for a moment.

“Ah, sorry for being late. As I read the book, time flew by… .”

Homer. Herodotus. Sophocles. A transcendent figure in literature.

The greatest writer who symbolizes this era.

Ed Frieden.

He came inside, scratching his cheek shyly. And then I looked back at the people who were staring at me.

He continued speaking as if it was awkward.

“… Have you all been waiting long?”

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Actually, I didn’t plan such a grand dinner party from the beginning.

It all started with Mr. Dorling, president of Kindersley Publishing.

“Writer!”

“Yes, boss.”

“We are planning to host a Christmas dinner party with our employees on Christmas Day. Would you like to join us?!”

“I would be grateful if you invited me.”

“Hehe… . The employees would be very happy if they heard that the author was coming! I’m so happy I might faint!”

Christmas dinner. He said he was holding a small dinner party with the employees of the publishing company he was indebted to, so I nodded, thinking it wouldn’t be a bad idea to join them.

The location is the conference room of ‘Homer Central Library’.

So, an appointment was made with the publishers… .

“Everyone plans to spend Christmas with someone they like.”

“For sure, it will be a particularly meaningful day for lovers.”

“So, I’m going to send it to the author.”

“Yes?”

“My favorite thing is the novel you wrote. I did not know? Phew.”

Princess Is, who came to visit unexpectedly, also suggested that we spend Christmas together.

“Well, I was scheduled to have a dinner party with people from the publishing company that day… .”

“Oh my, is that so? Then I will join you too.”

“Yes?”

“If I’m a sponsor, shouldn’t I be able to attend the publisher’s dinner party?”

“Ah, yes.”

In this way, the number of members of the dinner party increased by one.

The problem is that it didn’t end there.

“Now, writer! Well, our academy students decided to prepare a Christmas dinner for the author… .”

“I will reserve the best restaurant in Plummer’s name.”

It was difficult to refuse because all the students at the academy wanted to get together and have a dinner party.

“The officials preparing the ‘candy parachute’ you mentioned were so funny… . You should have seen that too!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! It’s amazing to see big men carefully wrapping candy in wrapping cloths. Anyway, here you go. Do you have time on Christmas?”

“Um.”

The Eternal King of Haren also came and asked to have Christmas dinner with us.

Besides that, people I know are always asking me about my Christmas schedule… In the end, it was decided to hold a huge dinner party where everyone could participate.

The ‘Homer Central Library’ conference room was so large that it could easily have been converted into a banquet hall.

And the result is just that.

” Author Homer! ‘Transformation’ was a really impressive read! The alienation of the head of the household who cannot work was expressed in a modern way using allegorical symbols─.”

“Homer Venerable! Can you tell me a story about the angel who descended at the time of transcendence?!”

“Homer! Please take a look here!”

“Homer saw me!”

There were countless people constantly flocking around.

To be honest, I regretted it within a minute after coming to the banquet hall. I should have just read a book at home… .

I approached the food prepared while dealing with the crowd of people. I put some plum pudding on my plate and ate it right away.

It was a bit rude, but I had no choice since I couldn’t go to an empty seat because of the crowd.

“Ah. Mr. Gray. It’s been a while.”

“Thank you for inviting me.”

“Are you enjoying the banquet?”

“Thanks to the author for his care. I’m enjoying it enough.”

“Thank goodness.”

As I spoke with Gray, the prisoner, the surroundings suddenly became quiet. Despite all this, beastmen were still discriminated against in this world.

The beastman’s sharp fangs and claws made him feel instinctive fear, and his furry appearance aroused disgust.

I could hear nearby visitors whispering.

“What if Suin hurts the author Homer… ?”

“They say that beastmen cannot control their impulses and become excited at the sight of blood… Shouldn’t we kick them out now?”

My taste buds were a little bitter due to the blatant prejudice.

Although awareness has improved a lot over the years, it is impossible to change perceptions that have been built up over a long period of time in an instant. It will take more time.

Since then, I have greeted many people, including Princess Is, King Eternal, and Cardinal Garnier.

Thanks to this, even though it was a Christmas dinner party, I didn’t eat much food… .

Can not help it.

After confirming that the time had come, I approached the center of the conference room, a wall painted with pure white plaster. Lights from the White Magic Tower illuminated the path, and wizards from the Purple Magic Tower and the Gray Magic Tower guided the crowd to split to the left and right to create a path.

A path made of people appeared in the center of the banquet hall.

As I moved forward, I recited a simple congratulatory speech. He then talked to Zion and told him to bring a gift prepared in advance.

“To celebrate the joyous day when the Savior came down to this earth, we have prepared a small gift for you.”

Gift boxes prepared for the number of people.

People looked at the box with expressions of half anticipation and half curiosity.

By the time everyone received a gift box.

I opened my mouth again.

“This is my new work scheduled to be published next month.”

Although I am not Santa.

I prepared the best Christmas gift I could give.

I think everyone will definitely like it.

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[I still remember the advice my father gave me when I was younger and more delicate than I am now.]

[“Remember when you feel like criticizing someone else. That not everyone in the world is in an advantageous position like you.”]