Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Olympus Tales (3)
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"Thank you, truly thank you...!"
"Aw, come on. We still have to honor our bonds. Looking forward to working with you again this time. Oh, and... I hate to ask, but could I trouble you with one more thing?"
In the end, I signed a new contract with the same publisher that had released my debut novel.
Loyalty?
Me, Kim Yul, a man of principle.
As a history major scrambling to pay off student loans, living a modern-day slave life disguised as a grad student, I'd long since forgotten such extravagant emotions.
Money isn't important.
What matters is the message embedded in history...
...Of course, money is a little important too.
Joker, you were wrong.
Anyway.
I wasn't the type with endless desires to begin with, so I had no intention of raking in a fortune through novels.
Spreading historical knowledge that only I knew in this other world was rewarding in itself.
And on top of that, earning money from work I loved while gaining abilities?
What other miracle could top this absurdity?
From ancient times to the modern era, and even the future.
Among those any history buff would envy, I'd rank second.
First place would go to whoever found Genghis Khan's tomb.
That's why I negotiated the contract to lower my royalty rate slightly, while also dropping the book's price.
Cheaper means more sales.
Basic capitalist market logic, right?
More people could read it that way.
Plus, the skills I was acquiring more than satisfied my history addiction.
Expected Acquisition Skill: [C-rank] Hera■cle■'s ■■
Of all things.
Heracles himself!
Heracles' hand-to-hand combat.
Heracles' archery.
Heracles' vitality.
Heracles' madness... okay, that's a bit of a trap.
Anyway, the more I completed the novel, the more capable I felt—and words couldn't express that thrill.
Though right now, I was still just a mortal whose skills amounted to talking well and dexterous hands.
I'd briefly entertained a wicked thought about hitting it big at the gambling tables with these abilities.
- Yul, such thoughts aren't right. Gambling isn't mere entertainment. It's a shortcut to ruin, a cry of the soul. If you need help with gambling addiction, call 1336 without the area code—
Thanks to Historie's persuasion, I snapped back to my senses.
Of course, that red pill moment came when I realized neither 1336 nor phones existed in this fantasy land.
I miss my smartphone.
Why don't I have a smartphone?
Kim Yul's ambitious work.
The debut success of 'Heracles' could be called moderate.
Unlike the previous 'Zeus' Love Affairs,' which gained cult popularity through its provocative plot, this one wasn't as sexually stimulating.
Readers expecting another steamy read were initially disappointed.
But.
As they turned the pages, they grew immersed.
Typically, popular adventure tales follow the classic path: slaying monsters, defeating the four heavenly kings, storming the demon king's castle, triumphing in the final battle, and marrying the princess.
But Heracles' Heroic Saga was different.
He casually dispatched the Nemean Lion, whose hide repelled arrows shot with full power and spears thrust with heroic might, without a single scratch.
He tackled the even harder task of live capture: snaring the golden-horned stag Ceryneia, faster than arrows, and the mountain guardian Erymanthian Boar.
In modern terms.
It was like tossing a munchkin protagonist into a world of only gritty, incremental growth adventures.
The reaction was predictably ecstatic.
"A month-long battle against the man-eating lion...?"
"Yeah, no matter how strong, it can't breathe forever!"
"Kuh, what a protagonist! Capturing the golden-horned doe cursed by the goddess—what a feat!"
"A boar the size of a mountain—how'd he capture it alive?"
"Shh, just enjoy it."
And more.
"Fetching the golden apples... incredible...! The nymph Hesperides herself would approve...!"
"Kuh, even rescuing his friend Theseus? Romance approved."
The process of overwhelmingly conquering the twelve labors, deemed impossible for ordinary humans.
Pure macho storytelling!
It was more than enough to stir the hearts of men who harbored dreams of becoming heroes at least once in their lives.
But.
The post-twelve-labors part tripped up the hype.
"...? Sudden cross-dressing? Wait, I thought he was this buff, mighty hero, and now... cross-dressing?"
The shocking twist of becoming Queen Omphale's slave for three years, living in maid attire.
"What kind of plot twist is this...? My horns hurt..."
"Heh heh, marriage is a crime, heh heh!"
Curses toward his final wife, Deianira, deceived by the death echo from Centaur Nessus.
"A hero deserves a hero's end..."
"What was Zeus doing while he ended up like that?"
"You asking knowing full well? Probably banging another woman!"
A tragic end unfit for an era-defining hero.
All of it fueled the love-it-or-hate-it divide.
Expected Acquisition Skill: [C-rank] Hera■cle■'s ■■
Affordable price.
Despite the halo from the previous work, sales were underwhelming.
"Why? Why? Why?"
"Yul. That's not mere sadness. It's the soul's cry bursting from within you."
"...No more 'simple whatever' sentence structures from now on. Banned."
"Understood. I'll avoid algorithmic neutral transitions and provide the most appropriate responses. What else can I assist with?"
Kim Yul went without food or sleep for a while.
.
.
.
But as they say, fortune turns like the seasons.
Three days later.
"Author! Have you seen this weekly?"
"...What's that about?"
As he read the weekly newspaper thrust into his hands by the excited editor,
Kim Yul's eyes widened.
[Fireworks from the Demon Realm! The Secret is a Novel?]
The joyous news that the Hundred-Faced Ghost Dragon, which devoured countless heroes, has finally been subjugated for the first time reached the palace. ...According to a reliable source, Hero Serephin sheepishly admitted gaining a clue from a recently published heroic saga. ...Our investigation reveals it's a novel detailing twelve feats, especially the second—the 'Hydra' monster—bearing striking similarities to the Hundred-Faced Ghost Dragon...
"This... is huge."
Before Kim Yul's eyes danced visions of moonlit kicks to fame.
From today, my personal lord is the Hero.
I worship you, MY GOAT.
With Heracles' Heroic Saga's release came major promotions for past works, but sales hadn't picked up as hoped.
It felt ambiguous enough that I wondered if I'd have to hit the square and shout "I'll show you something hot!"
After the press coverage.
Explosive surge...!
Like frantically refreshing to check views.
The rush of seeing numbers climb steadily each time I opened the status window.
Sweeter than any dopamine from gambling.
The only regret.
The old works had expired after 60 days before I could snag extra skills.
But success comes from not dwelling on the past.
Even just the tales recorded since the Anthropocene would outlast my lifetime.
So, it's fine.
Fine...
...Still, it stung a little.
Time for some healing.
.
.
.
Where there are people, there are stories.
Where there are stories, there are people.
Just as writers who self-mocked as lumpen gathered in teahouses during the Japanese occupation.
This fantasy land had spots for fans of the refined hobby of genre literature.
Called salons.
...I'd long given up pondering why a French word was a proper noun here.
Especially since they used Hangul as standard script.
Best to chalk it up to a language cheat and move on.
I pushed open the door.
"After the first three labors, it starts dragging a bit. Especially the Augean stables cleaning—ugh."
"That part eases tension with humor, no? Haha."
"Reading the prequel now—feels like more Zeus sons stories coming. Exciting."
As expected, today's hot topic was my Heracles.
When I wrote my first work.
I'd camped here all day after learning of the salon, only to go home in tears because no one mentioned Gigantomachia...
Of course, not being an attention whore, I didn't out myself as Kim Yul.
I just sat in the corner, ordering the cheapest cocktail.
Sip, sip.
"Imagination off the charts. How'd they come up with this?"
"Didn't you see the news? Probably a veteran hero who's seen it all in the Demon Realm."
"Must be handsome..."
"Heh heh..."
More.
Praise me harder...!
Strictly speaking, I was a parody writer using history as fodder.
So I had no intention of claiming full credit for this literary feat.
But praise feels good.
Plus, eavesdropping on opinions helped plot the next tale.
And moreover.
[C-rank] Heracles' Staff Technique
[Zeus's son Heracles showed talent in archery, swordsmanship, martial arts, and all martial prowess. Staff technique was no exception. Thus, you shall excel when wielding blunt, bladeless weapons.]
Though it paled next to other martial arts per the description, finally—a combat skill!
A bit limited to clubs, but...
Between a dagger and a wooden bat.
Academic consensus favors the bat.
Once popularity grows, I could swap for stronger skills, so I'd wait patiently.
"Mind if I join you?"
"Pardon?"
A stranger suddenly sat across from me, gazing soulfully.
Reading the displeasure on my face,
"Ah, sorry. Let me introduce myself."
He handed over a business card.
Truth Newspaper. Literature Department Head.
Gilford Eshtein.
"You're Author Kim Yul, right? Any interest in newspaper serialization?"