Chapter 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Looking Back, It's Embarrassing
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Done. Published. Volume 3.
It had gone much faster than the time it took to publish volume 2 after volume 1.
Fast enough to leave even Warrenberg a little flustered.
"Oh, you managed to write it this quickly?"
"Pardon?"
"Then volume 4..."
"No way? I put real effort into this one, you know? I need to crash for a while."
"Hmm..."
But his fluster lasted only a moment before he started scheming ways to squeeze more out of me.
I sensed the urge to smack him and quickly deflected.
Truth be told, it hadn't been that hard.
Volume 2 had some half-hearted early parts, but this time I just treated it like a job—put in decent time, took breaks, and wrote it.
Still... there's that saying. Hide at least 50% of your strength.
Otherwise, things get annoyingly complicated.
So, I'll make sure I have some leeway to take it easy for a bit.
Though, saying that, I could probably whip up volume 4 quickly too. No reason not to.
"Anyway, got it. Thank you as always."
"Ugh, I'm the thankful one."
"Yes, well, please take care on your way out."
"Yep. You too."
"Please, please, don't get hurt..."
"...Sure."
Why was Warrenberg emphasizing the "don't get hurt" part so much?
"Warrenberg, get out here!"
"When's volume 3 of Senyora of the Back Alleys coming out?!"
The reason? It was pretty noisy outside.
They weren't holding a serious protest or anything.
Warrenberg had told me they just did this for about an hour periodically, like some kind of event, then left.
Surprisingly, nothing much happened when I came in.
"Oh, are you heading inside?"
"...Yeah. Thought I'd get my first work evaluated."
"Aw, good luck. Hey, come out here."
"Ah, sorry about that!"
"Thanks. I'll head in."
"I'll read your new work when it comes out!"
"Keep at it!"
They even politely made way for me. They thought I was a newbie author submitting my first manuscript and cheered me on.
...Of course, that's because they didn't know I was Aren.
If they caught on somehow? I'd be swarmed with handshake requests.
Swarmed until something broke.
Getting in was fine, but they might suspect me on the way out.
Glancing out now, I could see a few people whispering outside.
But don't worry. I've got a plan. Just needs a tiny bit of help.
"Ready?"
"Of course."
"Here we go...!"
-Rattle!
"No good! Get out!"
"What's wrong with my novel?!"
"Everything! The concept, your writing—everything! Out!"
-Thud!
"Hah, unbelievable!"
"Uh..."
"Hmm..."
He stormed off, huffing indignantly toward home.
No one tried to grab me.
I heard whispers from behind.
Something like, "What did he write that's so bad even Warrenberg, who gets all the weird stuff, rejected it?"
...I nearly burst out laughing and had to grit my teeth. Good thing I wasn't facing them, or I'd have been busted.
Anyway, thanks to Chabi's help, I slipped out without suspicion.
Those folks will see me as Failed Author #1 now, not Aren.
Thus, safe return.
Time passed, and volume 3 finally hit shelves.
[Seriously, Don't Lie Please]
I went out right at opening time, how is it already sold out?!
Come on, this is bullshit.
They never had it in stock and are just claiming it's sold out, right?
What???
Right? Do better.
If you're late even arriving at opening, just go before it opens...
I bought volume 2 a few days after release when stock was plentiful...
Then wait it out this time too~
Guess so...
AAARGH!!
[Spoiler! One Piece of Good News]
Grabbed volume 3 right away and checked the illustrations first thing.
Rika crying mid-book creeped me out, but later she's smiling again.
And Karen's back—lots of illustrations that make your heart itch in all sorts of ways...
Doesn't seem like it'll go full grimdark like I worried after volume 2.
Solid.
Good, volume 3 content sounds fine. Now just gotta buy it.
O~
O~ Wanna die?
You empathized, why hit me?
Your intentions are obviously impure.
Scared of dying, so I'll shut up.
God, I wanna beat you so bad.
Light chatter about the volume 3 release came and went first.
[Spoiler! Rika's Just Too Pitiful...]
She's had a tough life so far—fine, okay.
Sad that a little girl went through this, but...
Honestly, other novels have protagonists or heroines losing limbs and worse, so it's manageable.
But her reaction—being so nonchalant about it—that's what's really heartbreaking.
Senyora can't find a way to help Rika and ends up fleeing.
Rika's response... just "Come back someday." That's it.
She could've blamed Senyora like a kid or cried—that would've been better.
No matter how you look at it, she's in a dire situation but doesn't show it.
She's not even pretending to be okay.
She genuinely doesn't know what's wrong.
That... stirs up complicated feelings.
Makes me get why Senyora's mentality shook in volume 2.
I agree, but we all know you never read normal stuff anyway.
Protagonist and heroine limbs flying off? Not easy.
Just trials to praise humanity.
Haha...
It's basically based on true events... those bastards are total scum.
Dunno how much is true, but she definitely suffered horrors... sigh...
Chest feels tight...
I thought I hated beastkin, but this novel showed me otherwise...
<Senyora of the Back Alleys>, a truly grateful novel for curing beastkin phobia.
Now I hate humans instead.
<Senyora of the Back Alleys>, a truly hateful novel for instilling human phobia.
Based on this alone, it feels like beastkin propaganda kindling...
Wanted to bully Senyora when I saw her, but Rika killed that urge completely.
[Spoiler! Character I Liked This Volume]
Karen, straight up.
Takes a mentally shattered Senyora home in the rain.
Cares for her mental state and promises to help.
And tons of great illustrations.
She was okay from mid-volume 2, but this sealed the deal.
Karen rubbed me wrong at first. How'd this happen?
Senyora's so damn cute it naturally turns you into a beastkin lover.
Isn't that just this board?
Exactly. Her words and thoughts are just like this board's crowd.
Whoa...
Illustration quality goes insane every time Karen appears.
She looks good, sure, but Senyora's adorable and pretty too.
Fresh out of bath, sleeves too big and floppy—driving me nuts.
Don't like Karen.
?
That spot should've been mine.
Sir.
Evaluations of the characters rolled in.
And next came talk of the plot progression.
[Spoiler! Karen's So Competent...]
Her promise to help was real...
Actually helpful... calling in connections to sort it all out...
[Spoiler! Wow! Author Seems Super Smart!]
Was wondering how they'd resolve this after volume 2...
Didn't expect this!
Chills at the corporations' evils against Rika.
But pointing out legal ways to nail them? Had to gasp in admiration!
How do you depict such detailed, clever stuff?
Hmm...
Well, see...
[Spoiler! Aren You Madman]
Says the novel's all fiction.
No relation to reality.
But their crimes match real events exactly.
Even calling it illegal matches what that legal eagle on the board said.
Not even trying to hide it.
Ahem, coincidence. Don't overimmerse~
Some marveled at the realistic, expert resolution. Non-board users mostly did.
Board regulars all thought the same upon seeing it.
This guy's been on the board. Not even bothering to hide it anymore.
Fine, whatever. Sure, déjà vu, but he fleshed it out thrillingly regardless. Satisfied readers kept turning pages.
More importantly, though—what would Rika do when all her tormentors vanished?
Readers were dying to know.
First, Rika kept thanking them profusely until she burst into tears in Senyora's arms.
A heart-wrenching pang hit readers.
Then, Senyora, Rika, and Karen finally enjoyed peaceful days.
Pride swelled alongside boiling rage. Couldn't forgive those who'd hurt such pure souls.
Next, the long-suffering victims rose and attacked the scum.
Catharsis surged.
Some acts crossed lines, drawing negative reactions from a few...
But they were drowned out by the majority.
Finally, when they met Rika and urged her to join revenge...
Readers hoped. Say yes.
And prayed. No frustrating "I forgive them" cop-out.
"...I don't want to..."
So Rika's answer disappointed them.
Anything but this choice...
Disappointed, they turned the page.
...Only then did they realize.
Only after seeing Rika cry did they get it.
The child was crying, saying she wanted no more fights or ties to others.
And readers got disappointed? After a life of despair, this was her first glimmer of hope.
Thinking back—we cheered restraint against the scum, pledged support.
But posts on actually helping victims? Scarce.
Only then did people awaken.
To the guilt and shame tucked away in their hearts.
Like in the novel, rage-filled folks had to drop their torches and clubs.
[Read Volume 3, Then Reread from 1]
Thinking about it,
What made this fun was Senyora rolling through life pluckily.
Her quirky side was cute; her pitiful side made me want to tease yet cherish her.
Above all, those small happy moments amid hardship.
Never expected or wanted revenge porn here.
The ending with the trio happy together, Senyora and Rika smiling at each other? That's enough.
Just hit me like that.