Chapter 245: The Typewriter(2)
Chapter 245: The Typewriter(2)
Musk, the publisher, was likely already aware of the news regarding his attempt to purchase a temple. He wasn't joking; he planned to merge the temple and the publishing house for his own safety and that of his employees.
Though he was a man obsessed with money and even guilty of tax evasion, he surprisingly possessed a solid set of principles. Furthermore, considering the era, tax evasion was the kind of crime that could be overlooked if one offered the right bribes to the higher-ups.
If the Imperial Family had truly intended to, Musk’s head would have rolled long ago, but he was protected by a formidable shield: the Xenon Chronicle. He was in a position where it was awkward for them to touch him even if they wanted to.
If Musk had been so blinded by greed that he committed all sorts of atrocities, Isaac would have cut ties with him immediately, but Musk wasn't that reckless.
On the contrary, he had invested in the printing press to ensure the Xenon Chronicle gained even more fame, and by now, he had amassed wealth that rivaled that of the nobility.
However, after being attacked by demon worshippers, he had realized one thing: the value of life.
No matter how much money you have, it’s all for naught if you lose your life. This was a truth and an enlightenment Musk had gained after narrowly escaping death.
But did he only care about his own well-being? Not quite. Since founding the publishing house, he had also come to worry about his employees, who had endured many ups and downs.
The only flaw was that his concern manifested in a slightly different direction. He figured it was much better to keep the current staff than to hire new ones and spend a fortune training them.
Money can solve many things, but it cannot solve time. Moreover, since every release of the Xenon Chronicle caused a massive stir, skilled employees were a necessity, not an option.
That was why he had come up with the seemingly absurd yet plausible proposal to buy a temple with money.
Since his publishing house was under contract for the Xenon Chronicle—the very work that had saved the world from the threat of demons—he figured Luminous might just allow it.
Matthew and the other employees looked at Musk as if he were an idiot, but after chewing over his words, they realized he was right and agreed.
However, there was one variable that even Musk hadn't anticipated...
"You're saying it's not possible?"
"Regrettably, yes. We would love to establish a temple according to your request, Believer Musk, but... we are concerned about the reactions of the other denominations."
That variable was the existence of other religions besides the Church of Light. Musk's plan itself was brilliant enough to be called a stroke of genius, even if it sounded foolish at first.
But the world is full of various variables. In this world, Luminous was not the only god.
While most humans followed Luminous, there were nations like Helium that held Mora as their state religion, and Machina and Animus followed Hirt.
Finally, although Albenheim was currently divided by ethnicity, they believed in all three religions. This meant that, realistically, it was a very difficult situation.
If the Xenon Chronicle were to be released from within a Luminous temple, the other religions would protest with a 100% certainty. Especially since the Xenon Chronicle had saved the demon race, Helium would surely rise up in protest.
Since this was Musk's independent action and not Isaac's, the resulting backlash would be too massive for an individual to handle. Even with the protection of the Minerva Empire, it would be overwhelming.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that this carried the risk of escalating into a religious war. One always had to keep the worst-case scenario in mind when dealing with religion.
Consequently, Musk found himself in a bind. It was certainly a brilliant idea, but it was entangled with many practical problems.
Even though the number of races following Luminous was large, the situation would flip if the other two religions joined forces.
Above all, the Holy Nation 'Savior' was currently in a position where it needed to rebuild its reputation, which had been dragged through the mud because of the demon worshippers. They might be pointed at as being greedy.
While purchasing a temple with capital was the right answer for safety, paradoxically, the fame of the Xenon Chronicle had reached such heights that it made it extremely difficult.
"Is there no other way, then?"
Believing it to be a solid investment for the future, Musk had no intention of giving up on the temple purchase. He once again sought understanding from the Archbishop of the Church of Light sitting across from him.
The Archbishop gave a bitter smile at his question and shook his head. He wanted to agree, but this was a matter that could lead to a major conflict between religions.
Still, there was one way. It wasn't that there was no way at all. It was just that the feasibility was extremely low.
The Archbishop looked at Musk, who seemed as anxious as a dog that needed to go outside, and spoke in a refined tone.
"There is one way, though it is nearly impossible."
"C-could you tell me what that is?"
"As I said, it is nearly impossible. You would have to establish temples not only for Luminous but for Mora and Hirt as well."
"..."
The Archbishop's advice was to fairly purchase temples for each denomination so that no conflict would arise anywhere.
As soon as Musk heard those words, he barely managed to suppress the urge to scoff. However, he couldn't stop the twitching under his eyes.
A temple wasn't some neighborhood dog's name; to buy temples for all three denominations? Was that even feasible?
Musk had no idea how much capital it would take just to buy a Luminous temple right now, so he was at a loss.
In the first place, it was doubtful whether the other denominations would readily agree to establish a temple. To build a temple, a high-ranking official, at least at the level of a Cardinal, had to personally oversee it.
If even Luminous was like this, what about the other denominations? Even with Musk's extensive connections, they didn't reach that far.
"...So you're saying it's just impossible."
"That is correct. I understand your situation, but because it is the Xenon Chronicle and nothing else... For now, our Order can dispatch Paladins to protect you."
"Phew... I understand. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule."
In the end, the plan to establish a Luminous temple and the publishing house together had to be put on hold. As the Archbishop said, being protected by Paladins was the best option.
After the Archbishop left, Musk fell into deep thought for a while. Silence settled over the CEO's office where he remained alone.
How could he ensure the safety of himself and his acquaintances? When even a Cardinal had been a demon worshipper, it was hard to trust even the Paladins.
Even the mercenaries he had hired with money last time had turned out to be demon worshippers. It was a moment when he realized all too well that things in the world don't always go as one wishes.
I have to somehow convince Mora and Hirt...
It was a problem because it had become too famous; the more he thought about it, the more he let out a hollow laugh.
Whether the Xenon Chronicle was treated as a scripture or a book of prophecy? That didn't matter to Musk at all. It was merely a means to make money.
To Musk, the Xenon Chronicle was a goose that laid not gold, but diamonds. And even that goose was being worshipped by the world.
"What should I do..."
It was just as he was staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Knock, knock, knock—
"Sir. It's Matthew. May I come in?"
Matthew, his loyal secretary and one of his "salary thieves," had arrived. Of course, "salary thief" was said half-jokingly; he was an employee who performed his duties as well as the salary he was paid.
And Matthew's arrival meant something had happened. Musk straightened his posture, deciding to deal with the immediate task first.
"Come in."
Creeak—
As soon as Musk gave his permission, the office door opened, and Matthew came into view.
His eyes were sunken as if he hadn't slept recently, and dark circles hung heavily under them. Seeing this, Musk's expression filled with curiosity.
He always had a tired face, but he looked even more exhausted today. Had something happened?
"What's with your face? Did you not sleep?"
"How could I not be anxious when I don't even know where the bastards who might put a knife in your gut are? I'm nervous every single day..."
"..."
Musk felt like he understood the situation. His face instantly stiffened.
As Matthew said, Musk himself had just been attacked by demon worshippers, so there was no reason to think those around him were safe. This applied to Matthew and the other employees as well.
If employees started leaving out of anxiety, it would inevitably affect revenue. If even the accountant left... the thought alone was horrifying.
Assuming he would have to endure significant financial bleeding, Musk asked Matthew.
"Anyway, what brings you here this time?"
"It's nothing else, but the manuscript for Volume 19 of the Xenon Chronicle has arrived."
"What? Already?"
Musk's eyes widened at the news Matthew delivered. The manuscript for Volume 18 had arrived only fifteen days ago, and now the next one was already here.
What kind of magic had been performed for it to come out already? In fact, even releasing one volume a month was a terrifying pace.
A normal author would have produced one volume every two months. Of course, since the Xenon Chronicle was easy to read, it would be relatively easy to write as well.
Still, the work speed was nonsensical. Musk took the manuscript from Matthew with a dazed expression.
Rip—
He tore open the mailing envelope and looked inside to see a thick stack of manuscript paper. Along with a letter that was tucked in with it.
Looking at the characteristically elegant cursive and the signature written in 'Hangul,' it was definitely Xenon (Isaac).
[Hello, Publisher Musk. This is Xenon. I imagine you must be quite surprised that I am sending a manuscript in less than fifteen days. It is because my writing speed has significantly improved thanks to a gift I received from a demon I have a long-standing relationship with.]
The contents of the letter were roughly as follows: He had received a gift from a demon he was already acquainted with, and thanks to that gift, his writing speed had increased dramatically.
He had originally been publishing a new volume every month or two, but from now on, he might be able to send a manuscript every ten to fifteen days.
He didn't know what kind of gift it was, but it was enough to make Musk want to dance for joy.
However, it wasn't without side effects. As everyone knew, the demand for the Xenon Chronicle was increasing as time went by.
The printing press was also running at full capacity, but the supply was far from enough. Furthermore, criminal acts like hoarding were also on the rise, making it a matter of great concern in many ways.
Just what kind of gift is it?
Musk set the letter down for a moment and checked the manuscript first. At first, he didn't notice any difference because it was written in Isaac's elegant handwriting.
But as he passed the halfway point of the manuscript, he clearly grasped what the difference was. Like a book printed at a printing press, each character was precise, as if stamped with type rather than handwritten.
It seemed the item the demon had gifted him was deeply related to type. If he had read the manuscript paper first, he might have misunderstood that Isaac had signed a contract with another publisher.
[...In return for this, I am thinking of writing a side story. The side story will be about the past of Jin and Lily, who are loved by many readers. Since it is a side story for the demons, I will probably focus on Jin.]
A Jin and Lily side story following the Kair side story. He could already hear the sound of money piling up in heaps.
The Kair side story had shown the tragedy caused by the difference in lifespans, but wouldn't Jin and Lily be a bit different? In the main story, Jin and Lily were practically a couple, even if they hadn't confessed yet.
At this, the publisher quickly finished his mental calculations. This would sell incredibly well. Especially in Helium, they would go wild.
[If possible, I would like the side story to be sold in Helium first. It is my small gift to them.]
There was even this content. He could practically hear the demons, who considered the Xenon Chronicle a divine blessing, sobbing with joy.
[Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to the demon who gave me the gift. I won't tell you who that demon is, of course, but I want to convey my thanks through this letter. Oh, and if you wish, Mr. Musk, you may release them at appropriate intervals. According to the newspapers, I heard you are having trouble because supply cannot keep up with demand. You may do as you find convenient, Mr. Musk.]
"Wow..."
How could he be so kind? Musk exclaimed as soon as he saw the content that soothed his worries.
But he had no intention of releasing them every month. Just a moment ago, he had been worried because supply couldn't keep up with demand, but for some reason, Isaac's work speed had become several times faster.
Let's buy not only Luminous's temple but Mora's and Hirt's as well. If a new volume really came out every ten to fifteen days, it wasn't entirely impossible.
After finishing the letter, Musk set it down gently and looked at Matthew. Matthew was still rubbing his eyes, seemingly suffering from fatigue.
"Good work, Matthew. If you're tired, you can go home now."
"Thank you. Oh, by the way, have you heard that rumor?"
"What rumor?"
"I only overheard it, so I'm not sure, but you know the Maishal Territory."
"Of course I know it."
How could he not, when Xenon lived there? Besides, an exhibition was scheduled to be held there.
Matthew spoke quietly in a tired voice.
"They say a temple for Lord Luminous is being built there. I heard Cardinal Kate personally brought the workforce."
"Hmm? What does that mean?"
"I'm not sure either. Something about making it a holy land since it's where Xenon was born. I'm not certain. It's just something I overheard."
"Hmm."
Musk fell into thought after hearing his words. There are no groundless rumors in this world. That rumor was likely true in nine cases out of ten.
He had never met Cardinal Kate personally, but they said her faith was almost bordering on madness. Of course, that was also a rumor.
There was also plenty of 'justification' for making Xenon's birthplace a holy land. He had exposed the existence of the demon worshippers who were eating away at the world, and furthermore, divine punishment had been dealt to a fallen Cardinal.
...Wait a minute.
Would the demons, the followers of Mora, just sit back and watch that?
It was the birthplace of Xenon, whom they considered a savior and whose work they treated as a holy relic.
Religion sometimes has something that transcends race. That characteristic rivalry where you just can't lose to that other guy.
Rumors were circulating that the Church of Light was spending a fortune to build a temple in the Maishal Territory, so there was no reason the Church of Mora wouldn't do the same.
...This is it!
In an instant, a powerful spark flashed through Musk's mind. In matters like this, his brain, which worked unnecessarily well, was activated.
This also required taking risks in many ways and consulting with Xenon, but it was more probable than what the Archbishop had mentioned.
After thinking it through, Musk grinned and asked Matthew pointedly.
"Say, Matthew."
"Why are you calling me?"
"Find out how many of our employees have families. Specifically, those who haven't moved out or have started their own households."
"Why is that?"
At Matthew's question, Musk answered immediately.
"Because we might have to move the company."
"...?"
What was this guy up to now? A look of strong suspicion settled in Matthew's eyes.
*
A few days passed after that.
[Helium's side: We will also build a temple for Mora in the Maishal Territory.]
"...?"
Isaac, who was eating bread in the dormitory, saw the news and doubted his own eyes.