Chapter 193: Dream(2)
Chapter 193: Dream(2)
I waited for Cherry to stop crying. She must have had so much resentment bottled up inside; her tears flowed like a broken faucet, beads of moisture clinging to her chin.
Yet, perhaps because she felt validated, a look of relief washed over her face. She looked markedly different from before, when she had seemed utterly devoid of life.
"Are you all cried out?"
"Hic... Yes..."
She wasn't quite done yet. I gave a faint smile as I watched Cherry hiccup while wiping away her tears.
She kept rubbing at her eyes, trying to dry them, but the flow showed no sign of stopping.
I was rummaging through my pockets to see if I had a handkerchief to give her, like I usually did for Adelia, when Cherry asked me in a trembling voice.
"Did you... sniff... did you really find it... interesting?"
"Yes. It was truly interesting. Returning to the past from the future to erase the tragedies you've experienced, and further, to cultivate a better future... How did you come up with such an idea?"
As I mentioned before, the regression story was one of the most common clichés in my previous life. It was a trope that appeared whenever one turned their head, but because the demand was so high, it was a setting authors loved to use.
However, in this world, the cliché of a regression story didn't exist. Anyone might wish to go back to the past to correct their mistakes, but no one ever thought to use that as a subject for a novel.
Upon hearing my question, Cherry rubbed her eyes a few more times and lowered her hands. Tears still clung to the corners of her eyes, and the bridge of her nose was as red as a strawberry.
Still, having vented all the pent-up bitterness she had been harboring, a bit of life had returned to her previously dull eyes. I could see her cherry-blossom-colored pupils becoming clearer.
"Sniff... It was because of you, Author Xenon..."
"Because of me?"
"Yes... hic! There were rumors that you had come back from the future..."
Her insides must have been startled, as she hiccuped intermittently while speaking. I wore a look of wonder upon hearing her answer.
Due to several truths that had come to light after the pollution of the World Tree's roots, the world considered me either a prophet or a regressor. And now, thanks to Luminous's slip of the tongue, I was on the verge of being hailed as a Saint.
Usually, when people heard those stories, they came up with all sorts of speculations and assumptions, but they didn't use them as material for a story like Cherry did. I wasn't sure if I should call this a stroke of creative genius.
"I see. That's impressive."
"Hic... Th-thank you..."
"Hmm..."
I looked at Cherry, who had bowed her head in gratitude, and then shifted my gaze to the manuscript. To be honest, if her book were published as it was, it would be a massive hit.
Unlike the Xenon Biography, which was read by everyone regardless of gender, Cherry's book, Red Sunset Once Again, would likely be read primarily by women. Unlike the Xenon Biography, Red Sunset Once Again was a regression story.
By nature, regression stories inevitably draw focus to the regressor, and the flow of the story revolves around them. Naturally, the focus would be fixed on the female protagonist.
‘Still, the target audience is clear, so it should sell well. Since it’s the first regression story, people will be intrigued.’
Romance novels had always been a well-selling genre even before the release of the Xenon Biography. Even if the prose was frustratingly difficult, as long as the story was understandable, the demand was guaranteed.
It would likely gain immense popularity among noblewomen. As for the men... I wasn't sure. Men in this world held prejudices suited to the era.
While they might enjoy an adventure story full of dreams and hope(?) like the Xenon Biography, they might find a romance novel that bordered on political drama to be tedious.
Of course, the regression aspect would pique some interest, but that would be it. Instead, they would probably at least pretend to have read it just to join the conversations of noblewomen. Trends were a sensitive matter among the nobility.
I looked down at the manuscript paper, which looked as if it had been ruined and then barely restored, then looked up at Cherry.
Though life had returned to her pink eyes, her shoulders were still slumped, and she remained dejected.
Based on her reaction when I mentioned her family and the clear footprints stamped on the manuscript, I could roughly guess the situation.
"Student Cherry."
"...Cherry."
"Hmm?"
"Please... just call me Cherry..."
Perhaps emboldened by my praise, she made the request in her characteristically gloomy voice. I looked a bit hesitant for a moment before nodding.
I also preferred speaking casually. She already seemed certain that I was Xenon, and there was no need for formalities in a private space.
"Alright. Cherry."
"Yes..."
"Do you want to turn this into a book?"
At my direct question, Cherry flinched before slowly nodding her head.
"But your family refused. Right?"
"...Yes."
As soon as I mentioned her family, Cherry began to tremble violently again. Just how severe was her trauma for her to react like that?
I wanted to avoid mentioning them if possible, but this manuscript was closely linked to her family. Even if she were to publish the book in secret, they might find out.
"How many people have actually read this manuscript?"
"...No one."
"What?"
Cherry struggled to speak, her voice shaking.
"Only you, Author... only you..."
"Only me? Even if it's not your parents, surely you could have shown it to someone close to you."
"..."
When I asked in confusion, Cherry simply gripped her school uniform skirt tightly with both hands and didn't answer.
Seeing that, I could guess. The Roseberry family must have been incredibly oppressive.
In the worst-case scenario, they might have dragged away anyone who saw Cherry's novel under some ridiculous pretext. As I've mentioned repeatedly, this was a world with a clear class hierarchy.
It was only because the people around me were decent human beings; for a noble, human rights were practically non-existent.
"...They did."
"Hmm?"
"If anyone else read my writing... they kicked them all out... and they even interfered to make sure I couldn't write..."
What kind of family is that? Hearing Cherry's strained answer, I felt more bewildered than shocked.
With such a tyrannical family, it was no wonder the girl was so broken. It was a miracle she hadn't committed suicide.
When a person has a firm dream, they naturally harbor bright convictions and hope in their heart. Even if there are trials along the way, as long as a tiny flame remains, they move forward without yielding.
But the Roseberry family had utterly trampled even that flame. Just like the footprints stamped on the manuscript.
‘I really was born lucky.’
If I had been born into the Roseberry family, the Xenon Biography might never have been born. I offered my thanks once again to the gods for letting me be born into the Maishal family.
Seeing Cherry's eyes begin to lose their light again, I decided I had to do something.
If things continued like this, it was obvious she would eventually take her own life. Perhaps her desperate act of grabbing my hair earlier had come from that very place of urgency.
If even I had rejected her, there was a high probability I would never have seen her again. She was in a precarious state even now; meeting me was practically a stroke of luck.
"...Cherry."
"Yes..."
"You're sure no one else has seen this manuscript?"
When I asked to confirm, Cherry nodded her head up and down. That meant her so-called parents hadn't even bothered to read her novel before trampling it and tearing it to shreds.
A person who crushes their child's dream instead of supporting it has no right to be a parent. At the very least, they were certainly beings who shouldn't be called parents.
I carefully set the manuscript down on the table, then leaned forward slightly and asked Cherry.
"How would you like me to help you?"
"..."
"If you want, I can secretly pass the manuscript to a publisher. But you'll have to rewrite it, not in this ruined state. Does the Academy have people monitoring you?"
Shake, shake.
Cherry shook her head from side to side. Fortunately, it seemed they hadn't gone as far as placing monitors at the Academy.
Perhaps they thought they had crushed her hope so thoroughly that she wouldn't even think of doing anything useless. Either way, they were still trash.
"Then will you rewrite it and show it to me? To be honest, the writing itself is good, but the progression feels a bit too fast. I'd like you to explain more clearly what kind of place this world is, and further, give more details about what the protagonist experienced in the past. The overall events are good, but I think the things that happen between people are important."
"..."
As I gave her various pieces of advice, a change came over Cherry's expression. Her gloomy aura vanished without a trace, replaced by curiosity and vitality.
The very act of someone giving her advice on her novel must have been a fresh experience for her. I felt a similar way and was slightly excited myself.
It felt as if I had gained a colleague or a disciple. Naturally, when people share the same hobby, they find common ground and grow closer.
"And there's one thing you need to be most careful about here. The future the protagonist experienced and the future ahead won't be exactly the same. The things the protagonist does to prepare for the future might actually bring about results that hasten it. Or they might lead to a completely different outcome."
"Ah... I think I know what you mean."
"Right?"
As the conversation progressed, a light of hope began to sprout in Cherry's eyes.
Her dark gaze began to sparkle with pink light, and her gloomy atmosphere thinned out, even if only slightly. She was returning to being a 'person' rather than a 'doll.'
To think they had so ruthlessly trampled someone who shone with such beautiful light—I could tell just how grim the Roseberry family must be.
"Cherry."
"...Yes."
"As I said before, if you need help, tell me. I don't know how much help I can be, but I'll help as much as I can."
"..."
Hearing that, Cherry stared at me with a dazed face, her lips trembling before her mouth curled into a smile. It was an unmistakable smile.
But soon, moisture began to fill her eyes again, and tears started to roll down her cheeks once more. She was smiling, yet streams of water were flowing from her eyes.
The sight of someone crying and laughing at the same time wasn't exactly pleasant to look at, but since it represented her feelings, I watched quietly.
"Thank... you..."
"Sure. If you have a hard time in the future, come talk to me. Just don't cry. It'll ruin your pretty face."
"Hic..."
Hearing my words, Cherry hurriedly wiped her tears, but they showed no sign of stopping. It seemed the resentment she had kept buried deep inside was still coming out.
While she wept, I checked the clock. I had spent a considerable amount of time reading the manuscript, and it was already nearly five o'clock.
The time to meet my acquaintances was approaching. I couldn't just leave Cherry like this, so I sat patiently in my seat.
"You must have had a lot built up inside."
"...I'm sorry. For showing you such an unsightly side of me."
"No, no. It's fine. Sometimes it's not bad to have a good cry. Cherry, are you going straight back to the dormitory?"
"Wh-what about you, Author Xenon?"
Cherry didn't answer my question and instead asked one of her own. I thought I should change how she addressed me first.
"Don't call me Author Xenon from now on; call me Teaching Assistant Isaac. And I have to go somewhere else because I have an appointment."
"An appointment?"
"Yes. An appointment. I have to meet some acquaintances. My girlfriend will be there, too."
"Girl... friend..."
What now? What is it this time?
As soon as I mentioned meeting my girlfriend, Cherry's eyes turned pitch black. The life that had just returned to them vanished, and they darkened again as if a switch had been flipped.
Seeing that, I was slightly taken aback when Cherry pursed her lips and asked in a quiet voice.
"...Is it?"
"Hmm?"
"Like in the newspapers... the person you promised the future to..."
"Uh... yeah. We're even engaged."
"I thought so..."
Her characteristic gloomy atmosphere returned. Feeling a sense of unease, I cautiously stood up from my seat.
"I'll take care of the bill, so you should head back to the dormitory, Cherry. You skipped class to come here, so you'll be very busy starting next week."
"...Yes."
"Then come find me at the laboratory whenever you're having a hard time. I'll usually be there, okay?"
"I also..."
"Hmm?"
What did she want to say? Cherry started to speak but then hesitated.
Eventually, she hung her head low and whispered in a voice as small as a passing ant.
"It's nothing. Nothing at all..."
"Cherry?"
Even when I asked, Cherry's answer remained the same.
"...Nothing."
*
Isaac left first for his appointment. But even after he departed, Cherry remained standing still in the private room.
A waiter, sensing something strange, knocked and entered, but the atmosphere was so heavy that they quickly retreated. The waiter simply assumed Cherry had confessed to Isaac and been rejected, but the reality was slightly different.
‘He acknowledged me...’
She was rejoicing inwardly. After reading her manuscript, Isaac had asked when the next volume would be out, and further, he had given her the ultimate praise, saying it was truly interesting.
When she heard that praise, the lump that had been stuck in her chest didn't just dissolve; it felt like a joy that soared into the sky.
Her dreams and hopes, which had been not just trampled but torn to shreds by her family, had been recognized as interesting by Xenon (Isaac), who was currently hailed as the greatest author.
How could she describe this feeling? If she hadn't met him or hadn't been acknowledged, she would have hanged herself in the dormitory.
For the first time since she was born, she felt truly alive. Having fallen into a pit of despair once, the feeling was even more vivid thanks to Isaac pulling her out.
‘But my parents...’
They would never acknowledge it. They were the kind of people who would tell her to read one more philosophy book rather than write such trash.
People who were jealous because their own philosophy books received no attention due to the Xenon Biography. She could vividly see how 'envy' could make a person so hideous.
But Isaac was different. Beyond just acknowledging her, he had even given her various pieces of advice and shown her a path forward. He had treated her not as a doll, but as a person, and had poured sweet water onto her growing dream.
Like eating a sweet candy after eating food that tasted of nothing but bitterness, this sweet feeling lingering in her chest gave Cherry vitality.
However, it wasn't enough. Even if the sweetness lingered in her mouth, a candy isn't something one eats to fill their stomach, so it was bound to be insufficient.
‘More... more...’
She wanted attention. She wanted acknowledgment. She wanted praise. She wanted love.
Every single word he spoke was as sweet as candy, providing new stimulation and pleasure. She had never felt this way in her entire life.
Cherry stared silently at the spot where Isaac had been. The seat he had left, saying he had to meet acquaintances and his fiancée.
Was there no way to tie him to that spot? If she could, she could talk to him longer and look at his face longer.
Slide—
She cautiously stood up and slowly walked to the opposite side. Then, she slowly stroked the seat where Isaac had sat with her hand.
Because he had just left, a lingering warmth remained. Cherry savored the warmth she felt in her hand before bringing it to her face.
"Inhale... Haa..."
As soon as she closed her eyes and took in the scent, she felt something fill her chest. For her, who had been cherishing even a single strand of his hair, this act was no different from inhaling a drug.
Her mental state, unstable from the harsh oppression of her family, acted in synergy, causing a change in her body.
Due to the intense excitement, her heart pounded as if it would burst, and her lower abdomen tingled as if she had been electrocuted. That stimulation even brought a sensation of something becoming damp.
Cherry opened her closed eyes and looked down. Isaac's scent still remained on that leather.
Gulp—
She swallowed hard. A fierce flame flickered in her pink, glowing eyes.
Fortunately, no one was coming to the private room. Even if someone did come, they would knock, so there was no worry of being caught.
How much time had passed since then?
"Goodbye~"
"..."
Only after a long time did Cherry emerge from the private room.
Her face was slightly flushed, and her school uniform was disheveled, but the waiter didn't notice at all.
However, when they entered the private room to clean up, they noticed something strange.
"...What is this smell?"
The private room was filled with the scent of cherry blossoms.