episode_0089

Many classics have been plagiarized in this world. The Sorrows of Young Werther, The Little Prince, Pride and Prejudice, 1984… .

However, the best-selling work among them was, of course, Don Quixote.

Although ‘The Little Prince’, which is a ‘fairy tale’, was slightly ahead of Don Quixote Part 2 in total sales, it did not exceed the sales of Don Quixote Part 1.

and.

The work that showed the most overwhelming performance in initial sales was, of course, Don Quixote Part 2, thanks to the popularity of Don Quixote Part 1. At that time, the only work worth reading was ‘Don Quixote’. In other words, at that time, only one work called ‘Don Quixote’ monopolized the entire ‘publishing market’.

Of course, the size of the current publishing market is much larger than then, but now there are many works worth reading even if they are not necessarily the works of ‘Homer’. Lite readers had no reason to flock to buy the book as soon as it was published.

So, when I heard that The Great Gatsby surpassed the initial sales of ‘Don Quixote Part 2’, I couldn’t help but wonder if the calculation was wrong.

But no matter how many times I checked, the results were the same.

“This is what happens… .”

“Isn’t it largely due to word of mouth that increased the size? The fact that it is a book that only a few people can access seems to have created a strange illusion.”

“Sure. I just gave it as a gift because I thought it would be a good dinner party gift… The marketing effect is really… .”

If you think about it, no matter how popular the publishing market was, books were still close to ‘luxury goods’. Even though the price of a book was a bit expensive, the traditional notion of culture was still deeply rooted in people’s perceptions.

A fantasy about a book that only a few people invited by Homer can read.

People competitively purchased books not simply because of their literary value, but because of the illusion of such ‘specialness’.

“Should I say this is completely opposite to what it is on Earth? .”

“Yes?”

“There is such a thing.”

In the history of literature, ‘The Great Gatsby’ was an unfortunate book that sold only a few copies during Fitzgerald’s lifetime.

Unsold books piled up in warehouses, and the movie based on this novel also flopped miserably.

In fact, it is ironic considering the syndrome this novel caused after Fitzgerald’s death. ‘The Great Gatsby’ is called the great American novel and has become the bible for all American writers, and a symbol of the American dream that cannot be forgotten even in modern times. The manuscript of The Great Gatsby was even sold at an auction for the highest price… .

What should I say?

It felt a little odd to see the same work have such different results due to marketing.

“This is also the power of literature… Is it?”

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“… Who came?”

“My older brother. I told you not to follow me, but… .”

As usual, I came to the publishing house after hearing that ‘Princess Is’ had visited.

There was one more person waiting for me.

“It is an honor to meet you like this. Homer, the transcendent of literature, the embodiment of miracles recognized by the universal church, the helper of the Seven Towers, and the creator of Don Quixote.”

“… yes. I am truly honored. His Highness the Second Prince.”

“Please feel free to call me Abel.”

“Yes, Your Highness Abel.”

The second prince of the empire. Princess Is… He used to be an older brother, and now he is a genealogical uncle.

The second heir to the imperial family.

He came to visit the publisher. For the first time in a while, I started to feel quite nervous… .

“I heard a lot about Homer from my younger brother. He turned my ugly younger sister into a woman and listened to many of her complaints. My younger brother caused a lot of trouble.”

“No, that… . I am like a friend with Princess Is. haha… .”

“I know.”

“Yes?”

“Because I have heard so many stories about Homer from my younger brother, I somehow feel familiar with him, as if we have known each other for a long time.”

“… Yes?”

Abel, the second prince of the empire, is quite… He was a person with his own pace.

“Thanks to Homer, my father is quite happy these days.”

“Ah, Your Majesty… .”

“It looks like I can’t be that happy about making up with my younger brother. Especially people of that age… Don’t you tend to prefer daughters over sons?”

“Yes?”

“Ah, since Idris was adopted by Enoch, it would be more correct to call her a granddaughter rather than a daughter.”

“Ah, oppa! Don’t call me Idris!”

“Isn’t that what Idris is? It’s really funny to insist that it’s a woman’s name, just leaving out two letters… .”

“Oppa!”

“You can hear me well even if you don’t shout like that. A voice… Do not raise your voice.”

I felt dizzy for a moment as the comic talk between the heirs to the throne unfolded before my eyes.

this… Imperial family?

Even though they are the royal family of a country with a constitutional monarchy, is this true? ?

“Okay, so why did His Highness Abel come to see me?”

“Wow, you looked so embarrassed in front of such a precious person. To get to the point, I hope the writer Homer will direct this imperial banquet.”

“Yes?”

Me?

What kind of nonsense is this?

“I found out about this work called The Great Gatsby that you recently published. You also have a knack for luxury.”

“… … .”

“We plan to decorate this banquet commemorating the new millennium of the imperial family in a more extravagant and extravagant manner than any banquet that has ever existed. Thanks to Homer’s efforts in various fields for the revival of the empire, the empire’s economy is also constantly developing… Thanks to this, the royal family’s internal money distributed from the empire also reached an all-time high. Isn’t there a need to celebrate the new era in a grand way?”

“I see… .”

“So, I came here to ask the author to direct the imperial banquet.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to leave such work to a professional? ?”

“There is no expert like Homer because he symbolizes a new era.”

hmm.

I understand the intention, but I think it would be better to refuse.

To begin with, I, who never went out in social circles since I was young and only read books in the corner of my room, found it a bit… difficult to host an imperial banquet. .

“It may be a bit of a price to pay, but we will make sure that the empire’s central library and the archives of the National Assembly are completely open to the public.”

“I will.”

ah.

The thought came out without going through the brain.

“Thank you, Homer.”

“And if possible, the royal ancient books… .”

“I will try my best.”

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“When it comes to finance and mining, our prisoners are all in control, so don’t worry. Even if you want a diamond the size of a human head, I will get it somehow.”

“You don’t need that big of a piece of jewelry, just a craft to use for decoration is enough.”

“Haha, I understand. I will definitely prepare it for you.”

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“Aerial acrobatics using an airplane… Looks like fun… . Hehe… .”

“Can you prepare it?”

“Of course it is possible… . Because I’m a senior… .”

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“Haha, I will definitely complete the first request that Homer gave to our Black Magic Tower!”

“Just make fireworks… ?”

“Let’s turn the night sky into fireworks!”

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“Just making the weather clear is not difficult. But, if it’s a banquet, wouldn’t it be okay to make it a little more extravagant?”

“Ah, I decided to prepare fireworks at the Black Magic Tower at night.”

“Hmm? You mean from the Black Magic Tower? All right. In that case, our White Magic Tower will prepare.”

“Yes?”

“Ice fog sparkling like diamonds would be enough to brighten the mood.”

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“New millennium celebration banquet… Is it okay if I go too?”

“Your Majesty the King of Eternals? Aren’t you busy with Haren’s work these days?”

“What the heck… Now, it’s running quite well without me. And although the splendor of a banquet is important, isn’t its value ultimately determined by who participates?”

“Oh, that’s right.”

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“Are you talking about a banquet? Coincidentally, there are plants from the great forest brought by the Equatorial Exploration Team on the top of Johannes, so it would be great for landscaping!”

“Ah, that’s good. Plants are definitely important too.”

“As expected, there were flower trees at the banquet─.”

“As expected, there are evergreen trees at the banquet─.”

“”What. It’s a duel!””

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Although there were many twists and turns, the preparations for the banquet somehow went well. In particular, the advice of the Eternal King, who had experience with many such banquets, was very useful.

The banquet of Haren, where a dragon descendant reigned as king, was incomparable to the empire, which was a constitutional monarchy.

It seemed like the preparations for the banquet were somehow completed, but—.

“Hmm, I feel like something is lacking.”

Somehow, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.

“Is that so?”

“Ugh. I feel like something is slightly missing… .”

After thinking about it for a while, I was finally able to remember what that ‘something’ was.

“Ah!”

okay. That’s what an American party should have.

“Zion. Let’s go to the ‘safe’.”

“Are you planning on writing a new novel again?”

“No, I wanted to bring some old ‘manuscripts’ and other miscellaneous things.”

“Yes?”

The handwritten manuscript of The Great Gatsby was sold for $3.4 million at Sotheby’s, earning it the nickname the most expensive manuscript sold in history.

What I was preparing for the ‘Imperial New Millennium Banquet’ this time was no different from that.

“I’m going to hold a charity auction.”

“Charity auction… What do you mean?”