Chapter 615: Lecture(2)
Chapter 615: Lecture(2)
Academy lectures are generally similar to universities on Earth. The difference is that the required credits are excessively high.
Having to take about ten classes a week is a torment in many ways. Back then, I was writing with a pen instead of a typewriter, so I was always short on time.
Things aren't much different now. Until the second year, you have to take classes to fulfill credit requirements; from the third year onward, you can choose your desired major.
Even if you don't choose a major, it doesn't really matter. You can graduate as long as you take random lectures, get good grades, and have them recognized.
While the students are dying under this grueling schedule, professors only have to teach three to four times a week at most.
But I have it even easier. I'm done after just one session a week. You could call it a total cakewalk, and honestly, it is.
Of course, from my perspective, it’s anything but easy, as it’s essentially a trial for me.
As I’ve emphasized time and again—who am I to teach anyone? I’m just someone borrowing power from my previous life.
I couldn't help but be nervous, praying that my lack of depth wouldn't be exposed.
"Can I do this? I can, right?"
"Don't worry so much. You've done fine until now."
As I trembled with nerves, Adelia gently comforted me. We were currently standing right in front of the lecture hall door.
Once I opened that door and stepped inside, people gathered from all over the world to hear my lecture would be sitting there.
Even now, I could hear the low hum of chatter from outside the room. My heart felt like it was being squeezed tight.
"It's strange. Is teaching others really that hard? You were so confident when you revealed your identity before."
Adelia spoke with her arms crossed, sounding like she found it difficult to understand. She had served as a Martial Arts Assistant Instructor, so she was used to teaching people.
However, being a TA is more like one-on-one tutoring. Teaching something in front of a massive crowd is a different story entirely.
"I had Lady Kate's help back then. Besides, revealing my identity only requires courage, doesn't it? A lecture requires knowledge."
"I don't feel like you're lacking in knowledge at all... Anyway, do your best. Even if the lecture is weird, who would dare mess with you?"
Adelia gave my shoulder a firm pat, offering a sort of encouragement. As she said, even if the lecture was strange, no one would be able to touch me.
But I’m a man who knows shame. If I could have developed a thick skin, I would have done so long ago.
I double-checked my prepared materials and took a long breath. It was time to go in.
"I'll wait outside. I need to stop any suspicious people from coming in."
"Alright. I'll go and do my best."
"Fighting!"
Adelia clenched her fists and gave a cute cheer. Thanks to her, my tension eased slightly.
I gripped the doorknob, took another breath, and slowly pushed the door open with a deliberate sound.
Slide—
"..."
"..."
"..."
The moment the door opened, the noisy lecture hall fell silent in an instant. This atmosphere was the most terrifying part.
I tried my best to act unbothered despite the gazes suddenly piercing into me. In my heart, I wanted to run away immediately.
The lecture hall was massive, easily large enough to accommodate a hundred people. I heard it was originally a hall for the Department of Martial Studies.
Since time immemorial, the number of martial students had far exceeded that of literature students, so it wasn't strange for the hall to be so spacious.
Step.
Walking quietly, I eventually reached the center of the podium in front of the chalkboard. Standing there, I slowly scanned the room.
There were fresh-faced undergraduates, of course, but also many older individuals mixed in.
They were all people who had traveled from afar just to hear my lecture.
‘All this just to teach them how to write...’
The content of the lecture was actually quite trivial. It was just the methods of composition and novel writing taught in a Department of Literary Creation.
Of course, it was only trivial by my standards. Before the appearance of Xenon's Biography, books were like the English section of the CSAT.
They were packed with all sorts of difficult vocabulary, requiring the reader to interpret them one by one as if solving a workbook.
So, in this week-long lecture, I planned to reveal basic composition methods and my own philosophy.
‘The only familiar face... is Cherry.’
As expected, Cherry was sitting in the very front row. As always, she was radiating a gloomy aura in all directions.
The other students were mostly unfamiliar faces, but that couldn't be helped. Since my second year, I had only associated with my close acquaintances.
I naturally have the temperament of an outsider, and I don't usually attend social gatherings. I’d rather spend that time writing even a little bit more.
Regardless, I had to give a greeting. After looking over the entire audience, I bowed politely.
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Isaac Ducard Maishal. It is a pleasure to meet you."
As I finished with a final bow, the sound of applause filled the lecture hall. I almost flinched instinctively.
As the noise gradually died down, I took another breath. I couldn't stop my heart from pounding.
I shared a brief nod with Cherry and then addressed the audience, whose eyes were fixed on me.
"As previously announced, I will be teaching you basic composition methods over the next week. Of course, some of you may feel you have no need for this. To those people, I say this."
Since I had prepared diligently, I had a firm theme. It was something I had felt while reading many books until now.
"Writing must be comfortable. If the recipient cannot understand it, it can never be called writing. The same goes for books."
Unless it's a special case, writing should be accessible. While writing infused with specialized knowledge might be difficult for a layperson, it should at least be understandable to an expert.
A book that even an expert cannot understand loses its value. What kind of book is a book that no one can read?
"At the very least, you should be able to clearly convey the thoughts you want to express. Even if the writing contains specialized knowledge, you should be able to explain it easily through your prose."
As I boldly stated my opinion, most of the audience focused on me with expressions full of curiosity. I emphasize most.
A small minority looked slightly uncomfortable; they seemed to be people from outside the academy rather than students.
Judging by their reactions, they were likely people who had been writing books themselves. I could easily guess the situation.
I chuckled inwardly and revealed the theme of the lecture series.
"So, I want to offer you a little help. So that many people can enjoy your books, and furthermore, so that a variety of books can emerge. And..."
The composition methods used in Xenon's Biography and Blood and Iron can be used by anyone. Isn't Cherry's work proof of that?
Although people had been hesitating because it was known as my personal style, that would no longer be the case.
"Anyone will be able to write works like Xenon's Biography and Blood and Iron."
*
The first day of the lecture was more of an orientation, so it ended quickly. But regardless of how fast it went, the pounding in my chest wouldn't subside.
Part of it was the pressure of the audience's gaze, but I was also nervous that someone might find a flaw in my logic.
Fortunately, while there were minor questions during the lecture, nothing unexpected came up.
It was only the first day, and everyone was too busy observing me.
I suppose it was a novelty for someone who had been a recluse to suddenly give a lecture. That worked in my favor.
"Whew..."
After the lecture, I headed to a cafe for a break. Drinking a cold coffee, I felt my racing heart gradually calm down.
"Good job. You did well for your first lecture."
"You were listening to the whole thing?"
"Yeah."
I was momentarily dazed by Adelia's cool, straightforward answer. It seemed she had used mana to listen to my entire lecture.
My face flushed with embarrassment. I just sipped my coffee in silence.
Adelia simply watched me as if I were cute. It felt a bit strange.
Knock, knock, knock—
[Um... Senior, are you there...?]
Right on cue, a familiar voice came from outside along with a knock. The owner of that voice, filled with a gloomy air, was naturally Cherry.
As soon as she confirmed it was Cherry, Adelia jumped up and opened the door. Cherry's figure was revealed as the door opened.
I hadn't noticed during the lecture because she was far away, but seeing her now, she seemed to have grown a bit taller, and her face looked more mature.
Her overwhelming bust, which was no less impressive than Cecile's... I wondered when it would stop growing.
"You're here? Have a seat."
"Yes..."
Cherry sat across from me as I gestured. The childishness about her had definitely faded compared to before.
As I felt a subtle emotion watching her grow into an adult, I met Cherry's eyes.
They were those gloomy eyes that had now become her trademark. According to Cecile, she still didn't have any friends.
For the record, she had been avoiding men who harbored lewd thoughts about her face and body.
She was just wounded, not oblivious.
"It's been a while. How was my lecture?"
"It was really good..."
Cherry replied while sipping the coffee she had ordered in advance. In truth, Cherry didn't need to hear my lecture.
She was already an established author who had completed her own work, Red Sunset Once Again. Moreover, it was a book imbued with her own unique personality.
I wasn't sure why she was attending my lecture, but I figured it was just to see me more often.
More importantly, I had a specific reason for calling Cherry today. I asked with a curious voice.
"I heard from Cecile that you're writing a sequel... Is that right?"
"Yes..."
It was about her next work. As a full-fledged author, she had no obligation to tell me, but I was curious.
Besides, to send a book to the publisher, it had to go through me. Unlike me, she still hadn't revealed her identity.
"Can you tell me the title and what it's about?"
"..."
Cherry looked down at my question. She seemed to be contemplating for a moment.
Was it content so sensitive that she had to hide it from me? Or was it something filled with her personal tastes?
Whatever it was, it didn't matter; I had already seen countless works of that nature in my previous life.
Of course, it might have some of that barbaric flavor unique to the Middle Ages. Even so, it was fine.
"That's... it's a bit difficult to tell you everything..."
"Is there a personal reason?"
"Yes..."
A personal reason. I made a subtle expression at those words and then nodded.
If that was the case, there was nothing I could do. I suppose it would be best to just hear the title and move on.
"Then can you at least tell me the title?"
"Just the title... Yes. That's fine... The title is..."
I took a sip of coffee without thinking.
"The Path of Light."
"...?"
"It's The Path of Light."
I spat it right back out.