Chapter 244: The Typewriter(1)
Chapter 244: The Typewriter(1)
The "script" of this world resembles English, but the "syntax" itself is no different from Korean.
The reason I was able to master the language of this world so quickly was that even if the words were different, the underlying structure was the same. All I had to do was memorize the vocabulary.
This was also why I believed my work speed would double if a typewriter were ever invented. Since the syntax was the same, I could simply type exactly as I imagined.
Language barriers? Once you get used to it, they become non-existent.
Even in my past life, I only struggled briefly when typing in English instead of Korean; once I adapted, it flowed as naturally as water.
And that was exactly the case in my current situation.
The machine Gartz had delivered to me was a hybrid typewriter and copier called the "Word."
When typing with the power on, characters would manifest in the air like holograms, and as long as there was paper, those characters could be printed.
It was a device created solely for writing, something only the Demons—who were specialized in magic and just as skilled in craftsmanship as the Dwarves—could produce.
Gartz told me I could call the machine whatever I liked. When I asked why I, and not the creator, should name it, he replied that it was a gift made exclusively for me.
So, I simply named it the "Typewriter." It seemed mundane since I was just reusing a name from my past life, but Gartz seemed to like it.
Though it was a simple typewriter in name, its performance was "over-technology" that far surpassed the current era.
It was a device that belonged in the modern era, well past the industrial age. Even considering it was a fusion of magic and machinery, its performance was absurd.
Thanks to this, I realized once again the potential of this world's magic and what the Demons could achieve when they set their minds to something.
Specifically, the typewriter was like giving wings to a tiger. It wasn't an exaggeration to say I could release a volume every fifteen days even while juggling my studies.
During vacation, if I wrote without rest, I could even put one out every ten days. After all, I had already been consistently publishing once a month while writing by hand.
Best of all, I could upgrade its performance through Gartz.
If I drew on my memories from my past life and suggested certain features, Gartz would immediately return to Helium to add them.
At first, the number keys were placed in an odd spot, and the backspace was similar.
After various bits of advice, a typewriter very similar to those from my past life was born. Calling it a typewriter was an understatement; it was essentially a keyboard.
The only downside was the key pressure. It seemed he had set the pressure very low to prevent finger fatigue, but that led to frequent typos from accidental presses.
Still, it was far better than writing by hand. Expecting it to make a satisfying click like a mechanical keyboard would be greedy.
Regardless, the typewriter, born through several improvements, had set my work speed ablaze. Since I had already written about half of the current volume, I used the typewriter for the rest.
Clack-clack-clack— Clack-clack—
The rhythmic noise unique to typing slowly filled the dormitory. Simultaneously, rows of characters began to align before my eyes.
While the principles of this typewriter were scientific, it was mostly constructed through magic rather than pure mechanics, so the noise wasn't very loud.
The key feel was also somewhat plain, offering only the sensation of "pressing." Although it had been refined through my advice, it was still a prototype and lacked in many areas.
However, as I mentioned before, the mere existence of a typewriter was over-technology. The fact that magic played a larger role than machinery only increased its value.
And I was one of the few people who could use that typewriter as skillfully as a professional. It truly was like giving wings to a tiger.
Ding—
Less than five minutes had passed, yet a page was already full. As soon as I heard the notification that the page was complete, I immediately slid a sheet of manuscript paper into the slot at the bottom.
Then, with the whirring sound typical of a copier, the paper emerged from the top of the typewriter. I felt the warmth of the paper as I looked at the characters filling the manuscript.
The page dimensions were strictly based on the manuscript paper, and I could even reduce the font size if I wanted.
'This is seriously convenient.'
After a quick scan for any potential typos, I gently placed the page on the desk. A thick stack of manuscript paper had already accumulated there.
The typewriter's efficiency was one thing, but the most surprising feature was the typo correction.
Typewriters from my past life had the major flaw of having to discard the paper if a mistake was made, but since this one outputted in a hologram format, I could remove characters beforehand.
Even after printing, it wasn't an issue. I didn't know how the copying process worked, but the ink could be wiped clean with a "remover."
Of course, it wouldn't erase after five minutes had passed, but five minutes was plenty. It was an item I could cherish as a lifelong treasure.
As a result, only five days after receiving the improved typewriter—perhaps because I was too excited or just having too much fun—I finished writing all of Volume 19.
I didn't forget to do a final, meticulous check for typos, and after confirming everything, I placed the manuscript in a mailing envelope.
Ah. Before sealing it, I didn't forget to include a handwritten letter. Since the first half was handwritten and the rest suddenly switched to perfectly printed script, I had to explain the situation.
And regardless of anything else, I planned to continue writing letters by hand as a matter of courtesy. You could call it a touch of sentimentality.
'Since I'm on a roll, should I try writing Volume 20 too?'
I felt like writing more. Leaning back in my chair to stretch, I looked toward the typewriter.
When I wrote by hand, I was forced to stop due to fatigue, but since I started using the typewriter, I wanted to keep going.
It didn't have the same tactile "thwack" as a keyboard from my past life, but there was a certain... sensation. Anyway, the feeling was great.
For the past five days, I had thought of nothing but wanting to use the typewriter. That desire, combined with my focus, allowed me to fill more than half the volume and finish Volume 19 in just five days.
I had already planned the plot for Volume 20, so all that was left was the typing. I blinked a few times and reached out my hands.
'I should aim to release Volume 20 before the exhibition.'
I had nothing else to do right now anyway, and there was no harm in writing ahead of time. If anything, it was a gain since I could receive more Divine Power.
Furthermore, Volume 20 was one of the stories I had been eager to write. The reason was that Jin's father, Beelzebub, the ruler of Gluttony, would make his proper debut.
Also, the Demon nation, which had been briefly mentioned in Volume 5, would appear. Its name was Pandemium, and I planned to base it on the real-world Helium.
'Originally, I was going to portray it as a bit gloomy, but...'
Between Rain's punishment and my visit during winter break, Helium was a place that felt deeply human.
It wasn't some gloomy, chaotic den of sin like a city from a crime noir. On the contrary, the majority of the people there moved toward the future with happy smiles.
...The food was a bit outside my preferences, but that was their culture, so I could understand.
'It feels a bit wrong to plunge a city like that into chaos, but...'
The story of Volume 20 follows Jin and Lily as they travel to Pandemium to meet the King. However, the situation in Pandemium was far from good.
Due to the schemes of Beelzebub, the ruler of Gluttony, the number of missing Demons was steadily increasing.
The reason for their disappearance was very simple: Beelzebub was doing it to increase his own power.
Befitting the sin of "Gluttony," Beelzebub had the ability to absorb power, and the process was as simple as it was horrific.
By ripping out an opponent's heart and consuming it, their power would be digested and become his own. Since hearts had long been considered the source of power, it was a plausible concept.
'But that's not the important part.'
In truth, the disappearances in Pandemium were merely a smokescreen. Beelzebub was plotting something much larger.
His plan was to "demonize" every single Demon living in Pandemium.
Kidnapping Demons to store power was just one part of the plan. Unlike Lilith, who was a Demon who became a devil, Beelzebub was a devil by birth.
Naturally, his black mana was not pure but incredibly foul and evil, and his terrifying plan was to spread this like a plague throughout all of Pandemium.
No matter how many generations had passed or how much help they received from the gods, the origin of the Demons was the devil. They were always at risk of turning into devils.
Demons usually became devils only after experiencing tragedies like despair or sorrow, but as seen with Sacran, they could also turn when they absorbed a thick, cloying darkness.
As soon as the main characters realize the plan, they are reminded of Sacran and immediately move to stop it.
I wanted to have them ask Xenon and Mary for help, but the plan had already been in motion for a long time.
Beelzebub displayed his meticulousness by cutting off all external communication and even making teleportation unusable.
In the end, the main story of Volume 20 is about Jin and Lily rushing around to stop him.
'Wow. I've already written this much?'
I had stopped for a brief rest, but the manuscript was already piling up. My hands weren't even tired.
Is this the power of machinery? At this rate, releasing a volume every fifteen days might actually be possible.
As I marveled at the addictive, almost drug-like performance of the typewriter, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
Helium went through the trouble of creating this typewriter for me; shouldn't I do something for them in return?
For the record, I had already given Gartz signed copies—every single book from Volume 1 to the current one.
I still vividly remember how happy he was when he received them. But that was a personal gift for Gartz, not a gift for Helium as a whole.
Then what would be a good gift? Since they invented a typewriter for me, I should give them a fitting reward.
I thought deeply for a moment before a good idea struck me.
Just as I had written the Kair Side Story, I would write a Jin and Lily Side Story. They had been mentioned frequently, but it had never been detailed exactly how the two of them developed feelings for each other.
If I could write a love story between a human and an elf, there was no reason I couldn't do the same for Demons. To be honest, they might be feeling a bit left out on the inside, even if they didn't show it.
Of course, there was just one problem.
'Should I release the side story after Volume 20? Or together?'
Because at the end of Volume 20...
'I feel like I'm going to get lynched by the fans...'
Jin hears the secret of his birth from Beelzebub and, at the same time, has his heart pierced.
*
Concerned about the potential backlash, I had no choice but to set the idea aside for a moment. I should probably ask Cecile first.
The next day, I called Cecile over and asked her. I told her I loved the typewriter and wanted to repay Helium.
I said I could repay them through my writing, which I was best at, but asked if there was anything else they needed. Cecile seemed to think for a moment, then...
"There is one way."
"What is it?"
Cecile smiled at my question and answered in her characteristically sultry voice.
"Starting two months from now, just stop taking the contraceptive pills whenever you're with me."
"... ..."
As soon as I heard that, I immediately looked up to check her horns.
Before I knew it, her horns were dyed a deep red, save for the very tips.
"I'm slated to be the next Demon King, so I have an obligation to produce an heir. There's no problem with moving that up a bit. And besides, it would be Isaac's child, wouldn't it?"
"...Let's think about that later."
"Tch."
Cecile looked genuinely disappointed.