Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Julius Caesar (3)
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Molguijeong... The Caesar biography was proceeding smoothly enough.
And as predicted, once daily serialization began, the mechanism by which the status window recognized the novel shifted subtly.
I'd secretly hoped it would link to newspaper sales figures, but the emergence of "daily readers"—a metric that triggered my PTSD—was a bit disappointing.
Still, the removal of the 60-day time limit was incredibly encouraging.
Mr. Gilford was grinning like a cheeky monkey, saying, "Let's keep this up."
For a debut author with no name recognition, I was already making a significant impact on newspaper sales.
Guess I'm doing well.
Moreover, starting past the first week of serialization, reader reactions began trickling in.
Author, write 4 chapters a day! Are you insane?!
Loved it! But for a story starting with divorce, there's a bit too little interaction with the wife. Kinda disappointing!
When does the politics start?
Since they were printed in the newspaper, comparisons to other serials were inevitable.
The quantity... was a bit lacking.
Even if I glued my butt to salon seats all day in this city, my novel was still a drop in the bucket compared to the massive newspaper serialization market.
At least this gave me a channel to gather reader feedback beyond the editor's input.
...That Esujang guy, though.
He was the type to spam "daily updates or bust" on other novels or straight-up savage authors into quitting.
A little scary.
What if he turns yandere later?
"Well, cross that bridge when we come to it."
After rationalizing to myself,
I mixed water well into today's espresso, maximized the ice water dispenser's dignity to brew pseudo-Americano, and took a sip.
Savoring the fulfilling caffeine buzz circulating through my body, I turned my thoughts to another worry.
I still hadn't decided what to do with the skill I'd recently acquired: Pygmalion's Obsession.
The ability to imbue life into anything I desired.
In the original myth, Pygmalion transformed his beloved Real Stone doll—Galatea, whom he loved so much he hugged her even in sleep—into a human.
The moment I recalled that myth, I inevitably thought of Historie.
My bald-headed AI.
Her appearance was so perfect, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a cyber figure.
But, well, how to put it.
Strangely, a monkey's paw wouldn't leave my mind.
If Historie became human, would her current LLM performance transfer intact?
If using the skill caused any glitches, I'd lose my one irreplaceable outlet for historical discussions.
That was exactly the sticking point.
Why I was still hesitating.
Even assuming success, it'd mean one more mouth to feed.
I could handle it now, but who knows about the future.
Honestly, newspaper serialization alone wouldn't cut it until a massive hit; things were precarious at the moment. That's why I stuck to the cheapest food possible.
If survival were secured, I'd have gone for it without looking back.
"Maybe some heavenly opportunity will drop from the sky."
Money windfall or skill jackpot, either works.
"Phew... It's been a while since I last came here."
Hero Serephin set foot in the human city of Camellia for the first time in nearly a year.
Of course, he hadn't rushed straight here upon exiting the Demon Realm.
The last time he'd returned from the Demon Realm,
- Hero! Interview! Just a quick one!
- Rumors say you're about to be promoted to an A-rank hero party—is it true?!
- Hey! The hero's running! Catch him! We need that interview no matter what!
He'd suffered endlessly from the reporters hounding him.
But today was different.
He'd stored all his gloriously shining, blessing-imbued gear in his inventory, donned the most natural clothes that made him look like a commoner,
and slipped out for a private trip without notifying the Hero Guild.
The reason was simple.
"It was definitely Sprout and Branch Publishing, right?"
He was seeking Kim Yul, the author who had saved their lives at least three times.
To offer thanks,
and perhaps glean even a sliver of a clue about the unknown monsters that had blocked their path again.
So he'd requested a one-month leave from the guild and empire, hidden his route from the porters, and made this city his first stop.
His other party members were probably drowning in questions right now.
"Heh."
Serephin chuckled involuntarily at the thought of his struggling comrades, then inquired around and headed toward Sprout and Branch Publishing.
And then.
"...He's gone?"
When the editor—with a bruise under one eye and heavy dark circles—briefly explained what happened,
Serephin felt a strong pang of penitence for the wicked glee he'd felt earlier over his comrades' misfortune, even if just for a moment.
"Hmm... But how did you get here?"
Serephin glanced out the window unthinkingly.
There, hanging blatantly as if for the publishing staff to see, were banners.
[Bring back Kim Yul! Free Olympus!]
[We want the next work! Wake up, publisher!]
It was obvious what had transpired.
The staffer before him kept shooting wary glances too.
No helping it.
Serephin opened his inventory and drew his holy sword.
Then he slightly unleashed the hero's power.
"...Hero? You're the Hero?"
"Haha..."
Serephin didn't particularly like showing off, but this situation called for some persuasive proof.
"I received a lot of help from the Heracles story written by author Kim Yul. I came to ask more about it... but I was too late."
At Serephin's words, the stiffened publisher's lips relaxed.
"Since you're the Hero... I suppose I can tell you. You're a benefactor to our publishing house too..."
"Pardon?"
Naturally, Serephin had no idea his interview had massively boosted sales of Heracles' Heroic Saga and the Iliad.
"No matter. Author Kim Yul has left for the imperial capital."
"Ah..."
Serephin regretted it again.
That was exactly where his comrades had headed.
Still, chatting with the publisher,
"Probably to the Truth Newspaper... I read the work; it was still fascinating. The pen name Ulysses is likely Kim Yul."
"Thank you for letting me know."
Serephin learned Kim Yul's whereabouts.
Of course, it wasn't free.
"If I may impose, could you sign here?"
"...Sure."
The price was adding his own signature next to Kim Yul's elegantly inscribed one.
"Oh my! What a coincidence, Author! I happened to have business in this city too! I heard you're writing a new one? But, um, politics is a great theme... There must be romance elements too, right? Ahaha! What a silly question!"
"...Hah."
Last time, I'd thought her passing by from afar was coincidence.
Learning Roselin had followed me to this city again weighed heavily on my heart.
Of course...,
she was quite cheerful and bright.
As expected of the Saintess, her mere presence seemed to radiate positive energy.
But.
It's heavy.
Her obsession with romance is heavy...!
After mentally expanding the Cleopatra subplot I'd originally planned by threefold,
I shoved today's rations into my mouth.
I want a hamburger...
Pizza too...
Someday, after all this growth, maybe I'll get a cooking skill.
Then I'll become an isekai food vendor, spreading modern cuisine across the world.
Forcing down the sorrow, I spooned bland soup and gnawed on rock-hard bread when—
Ding-a-ling—
The shop door opened, and
"Huff, huff, Au-Author...!"
"Huh? Mr. Gilford?"
Somehow knowing I was here, Mr. Gilford burst through the restaurant door, panting.
"Please, come with me to the publishing house right now...!"
What?
Why this all of a sudden?
.
.
.
The moment I was dragged by Mr. Gilford into the Truth Newspaper reception room—where I'd delivered that morning's manuscript,
Scraaaape—!
Chairs scraped back in unison.
"Could you be Kim Yul?"
A muscular man who spoke my real name like an old friend's reunion bloomed into a full smile.
"You're that Ulysses bastard, huh?"
A soft-looking blonde girl mentioned my laundered pen name from the serialization.
Right after.
The two rushed toward me without regard for who went first, shouting their business haphazardly.
"Author, got any more stories about magical beasts?!"
"Lowly author! Become the servant of this noble one!"