Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: The Immortal Loyalists (1)
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From an age so ancient even dragons had no memory of it, the continent had used a single language.
However, languages naturally take on regional and racial flavors, so their origins inevitably differ.
Among them, the most alien was the demonic tongue.
It could be read in continental script, but its bizarre forms defied interpretation in the common tongue.
Like a mischievous devil cackling as it scorched a turtle's shell with fire, chaotic and messy.
Thus, the demonic language—its very ring unpleasant, rarely used even in scholarly circles—languished in obscurity as a field of study.
Yet there will always be fools who spot a faint blue trace on a parched riverbed and charge in shouting "blue ocean."
The republic's foremost demonic linguist and authority in demonology.
Sordinang was just such a man.
Of course, he had no regrets about his choice of major.
Like most who pursue literature, history, or philosophy, he was a madman.
The sort who bypassed his own nation's novels to buy collections of newspaper serials published in the empire.
And he...
"Oh, ooh—!"
Felt a shiver run down his spine.
An ancient demonic phrase, glimpsed only fragmentarily in long-forgotten legends.
Among them were "classical idioms"—words with known meanings but obscure origins.
Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage: to desperately seek out someone worthy of serving.
Peach Garden Oath: like-minded souls banding together.
Hand-Clasp Friendship: bonds of unbreakable closeness.
All their meanings aligned perfectly.
Revealed in the imperial novel Two Heroes.
Quoted so aptly it seemed the scenes themselves had birthed them, shining in their perfect placement.
Even in the latest installment, with the tale of Wu...
Eye-Opening Rival. To reassess one's foe—
Woven seamlessly into the anecdote of Yu Meng and Lu Su.
For one man's imagination, it brimmed with too much conviction.
No matter how commonplace the phrases in daily use, without profound grasp of demonic linguistics, such flawless interpretations were impossible.
The revelation that the "peach" in Peach Garden Oath meant literal fruit was recent even in academia.
How could a mere novelist know that and craft a tale under a peach tree?
It was clear.
This man was a genius in demonology.
‘麴窮盡蔔 死而後已’.
Enigmas like ‘勿令妄動 靜重如山’ plaguing scholars.
Not just deciphering the glyphs themselves, but even their handed-down meanings remained murky across many phrases. Surely, they could discuss them together.
Overjoyed, he seized his pen and dashed off a letter.
"Kim Yul. A letter's arrived."
"From who?"
"It's from abroad—the Sordinang Professor from the Demonology Research Lab at the Republic's First University Graduate School of Letters."
"Kieeeek!!!"
I usually stick to one exclamation mark!
But three just burst from my mouth!
University! Professor!
I didn't need to see it to know!
Another devil whispering "You've got talent," dragging me to grad school for hot papers, working me like a dog—first drinks tonight, so prep the car; got a field trip soon, scout good pubs nearby; when are you getting married—
"Calm down, Kim Yul."
"Mm."
Thanks to Historie's intervention.
I finally escaped my PTSD.
"Shred it immediately."
"Understood."
Vrooom—clack clack—grind—
The shredder's whir soothed my wailing soul.
Mmm.
Nothing beats the sound of something getting pulverized.
As long as it's not my spine.
.
.
.
A brief episode where my composure and sanity crumbled, but I bounced back to work.
The Battle of Red Cliff was smoothly morphing into a web novel.
After briskly writing Huang Gai embodying the Thirty-Six Stratagems' Beauty Trap and thrashing Cao Cao's forces.
"Phew."
Notebook screen blank.
I pored over records of the Imjin War and the official memoir, War Diary of the Chongning Era, sorting my thoughts.
Speaking of thrashing, I suddenly shuddered at Express Lord Lü Bu's 5G speeds—no, wait, Cao Cao's.
Average adult walking speed: 4-5 km/h.
Yet Grand Marshal Lü Bu, born for long marches, covered 40 km a day nonstop, a national trek.
That famous VTuber I watched in my past life tried a cross-country hike and imploded her channel that day. That's how brutal it is!
Makes the Express Lord sprinting from Hanyang to Uiju seem all the more legendary...
I worship you... Truly a sage...
"Quite the wandering thoughts. Struggling with the novel, I take it."
"Yeah, a bit..."
My cutting-edge AI can, as always, read my mind spot-on.
"Definitely... This'll get flak."
Straight up.
Even dryly listing historical facts as a novel.
Prime hatebait.
Not a fun issue.
Sure, obligatory frustrating arcs sneak in, but Skip power skips them quick.
One problem.
"More fantasy than fantasy."
"Precisely."
Even to me, it defied logic.
Career record: 23 battles, 23 wins, 0 losses.
KDA? Solid 99.9 man.
Plus, zero ships lost in 23 naval clashes?
I'm no navy buff.
Haven't seen the sea here, not sure if navies even exist.
But insiders wouldn't cheer "Whoa, badass!"—they'd hurl my novel in the fireplace screaming "This make sense?!"
I'd do the same.
Yi Sun-sin's battle scenes?
No need for verbose prose like cannonballs from port broadsides bending pirate spines like bows.
Truth is.
I came, I saw, I conquered!
That's the summary.
Without enemy desperation moves, no battle thrill—just one-sided farming.
So the crux.
"How to pull punches."
"Isn't the saga of a national savior rescuing a dying nation intense enough?"
"But mess up, and it's 'This guy solos every general you simps farm.'"
"Fair point."
History too OP makes writing tough.
Capturing great heroes with pen weighs heavy.
The wandering lost lamb.
Kim Yul couldn't solve his own dilemma.
Instead, to ease his aching back, sore wrists, pounding head.
He sought the holy pouch of divine power, the walking human IV drip.
Roselin.
"Oh, Author!"
Roselin greeted Kim Yul with her usual radiant smile.
Of course, nothing's free.
"Whoa...! It's so thick!"
"You earned it."
"Tell Historie thanks too!"
Clutching Jane Austen's masterpiece of Emma Woodhouse and Mr. George Knightley's romance, Roselin meticulously swept away the fatigue blanketing Kim Yul's body.
Considering imperial nobles queued with numbers, none tasting her holy power.
Churning out romance novels for donation was dirt cheap.
Her lips blooming sacred smiles, Roselin tucked the paper bundle into her reliquary like treasure.
"Author, free today?"
"Huh?"
"Done with manuscript? Wanna hang out?"
"Mm..."
Kim Yul pondered briefly.
No reason or excuse to refuse.
Maybe revisit that moving house snag from before.
That's what Kim Yul thought.
But soon after.
His destination differed from expected.
"A play?"
"Yep! Never seen one, right?"
"Well..."
Kim Yul spared Roselin's illusions.
Pre-trip, he'd frequented small theaters.
Though corpse-watching culture soured him, plus grad school hell, years passed without stepping foot.
He'd even flown to Japan for the once-in-a-century forbidden anthem, Bungok Dance live.
Thus.
He swallowed mild disappointment inwardly.
If novels fell short, could plays or musicals match modern Earth?
"It'll be fun! Great mood booster."
"I see."
Still, whatever.
Saintess insists.
Go, enjoy, feel better.
That's what Kim Yul thought.
.
.
.
.
"Take this! My holy sword, Fire Sword!"
"Grahhh! Damn, what the hell is this power?!"
High-tier illusion school's final evolution tech tree.
Until witnessing magical theater firsthand.
Plot flew in one ear, out the other.
Hyper-real flames roaring from the holy sword, lifelike costumes entranced Kim Yul's eyes.
Sword slams down, earth erupts in flames.
Demon king's gaping maw belched viewer-refreshing ice breath.
"That's... how...?"
"Magic, they say? Hmm, plot's off. Kidnapped princess sidelined... Sigh..."
Ignoring flames fiercer than effects blazing in Roselin's eyes, Kim Yul refocused ahead.
Lead actors.
Demon king and hero dueling fiercely, backdrop alive.
Not modern CG sleek, but pulsing holograph hordes of beasts vs. holy knights.
Like SSR cards from Hero Assembly.
Come to think.
Semi-permanent AR on cards? Obviously stage plays too.
Lifelike massive naval battles.
Turtle ships too...!
Novel publish simultaneous.
Highlight theater reel for viral buzz?
Fireworks exploded in Kim Yul's head.