Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Olympus Tales (6)
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Sing, O Goddess, of rage!
The rage of Peleus' son, Achilles.
That ruinous rage brought countless woes upon the Achaeans.
Myriad heroes' stout and dauntless souls it hurled to Hades.
And their bodies became food for dogs and birds.
That merciless rage.
Sing of it once more!
From the day when the son of Atreus, king of men,
And noble Achilles first quarreled and parted.
Zeus' will unfolded in such tragedy.
Roselin had another busy day today.
- Author! What a coincidence! What's your next work?
- Oh, Author! Heading out for a meal? What about the next romance story?
- Wow! Nice night for a walk! Where are you off to? You can't escape anyway.
…Anyway, it was a busy day.
And by piling up those days, one after another.
- …As the Saintess, I'm showing it to you first. Sniff.
- Ehehe! Don't worry! I swear by the Goddess, I never spill secrets, even outside confession!
In the end, Roselin achieved her goal.
But.
- Romance… Haha, yes, the next work is themed around love.
It was all Kim Yul's fault from the start.
If he'd said he wasn't writing a romance but something else, there'd be no reason for this obsession.
You teased us first.
You promised a romance novel first!
She hadn't used her precious divine power to heal Kim Yul perfectly for nothing.
Her grip on the rough staff had blistered her hands badly.
…It seemed like it would hinder that man's writing.
It was the most reasonable excuse to wield the Goddess's power.
Behold.
Even misusing power in the wrong direction, her divine energy was fuller than ever, never to be depleted again.
Love all and give generously.
The doctrine in action!
The model Saintess of the Holy Kingdom!
That was Roselin.
"Elaine?"
"Yes, Saintess."
"That suspicious element over there—is he still breathing?"
"I'll handle it."
"Grrrk…! Gah, ack!"
So this was just rightful justice.
Glancing at the frail fallen lambs experiencing "Water Knows the Answer" today to atone for daring to target Kim Yul—the future master of romance novels'—life.
She began reading the freshly extorted… no, donated new manuscript.
Unfortunately.
Kim Yul had opened a Greek original edition of the Iliad, grilled Historie for cross-verification.
And for mass appeal, cross-checked Greek and Roman Mythology in One Volume while keeping historical accuracy and his own adaptations in an epic introductory poem.
"Hm."
To Roselin, the woman mad with love, it didn't quite hit.
But flip, flip.
As the pages turned.
"He, Helen…? No way, right here, right now?"
"Even as the owner of the golden apple, if Paris does that here…!"
Of course, a rational reader would.
Curse Paris as a fool for choosing Aphrodite's promise of the most beautiful woman over Hera's supreme wealth and power or Athena's great wisdom and victory in all contests.
But.
Understanding him rationally yet.
"Yes, that's love…!"
Roselin, whose brain was half-melted by romance already, could only cheer for Paris's choice.
Of course.
- Paris…! You can't do that…! Then Paris will…! Be in danger…!
The nymph who wed Paris back when he lived as a shepherd, not a prince.
Still needing edits, his wife Oenone—name mixed with Oeinoe—tried desperately to stop him.
Adultery is a sin, sure.
"But no divorce… Just polygamy… Right?"
The Goddess Church affirmed polygamy.
To Roselin, brain half-melted by dopamine, it wasn't a big issue.
If polygamy itself were the problem, she'd have branded Zeus tales as subversive and burned them first.
And so.
Though Kim Yul—no, Homer's—intent was a heroic saga.
In Roselin's mind, a romance fantasy centered on Helen began to unfold.
"Kim Yul's been scarce lately…"
"No next volume…?"
"Nah, come on. Zeus judged so many gods and heroes—how many tales like Heracles'? He'll deliver!"
"But the next work…"
"Patience, man. We waited a year per book before. His pace was unnaturally fast till now."
Before long, literati hooked on Olympus Tales drowned their boredom in drink.
And rightly so.
The literature they'd enjoyed was mostly one pattern.
Fallen nobles clawing back for revenge.
Commoner heroes conquering the uncharted Demon Realm and Demon King.
Just tweak the protagonist; plots were similar.
They devoured it greedily, but now it was different.
Perfectly prepped, vast worldbuilding without flaws, packed with thrills and emotion in a single volume.
They were hooked, comparing to lesser city works, basking in superiority!
"Wrecked drift…"
"Hey! Tragedy completes the saga—Heracles became a god!"
Today too, lofty debate raged in Salon de Blanc when the door chimed cheerfully.
Enter Heinz, the city's premier literary critic.
Usually grave, today his face gleamed with fervent mania.
Literati knew: that look meant bragging. They ignored him.
"Heh heh, hehehe… New Olympus Tales is out…!"
"What."
"Gasp!"
"Finally!"
Heinz's bombshell rocked the salon.
"Show me, show me!"
"No time—bookstore now!"
"Argh, can't wait…!"
Instant chaos, salon emptied.
After the exodus.
One way salon folk enjoyed literature—
Read-aloud session began.
"Heracles spared only the youngest prince, Podarces, slaughtering the rest. The lone survivor renamed Priam years later, becoming Troy's king. …The final king. This tale tells how Troy hurtled to ruin."
Reviewing prior hero Heracles naturally led to Thetis and Peleus's wedding.
"Goddess of strife Eris, uninvited, fumed. …On the wedding day, Eris's gift arrived: 'To the fairest goddess, this golden apple.' Simple words, heavy impact. Three goddesses present: Hera, Athena, Aphrodite."
"W-Wait, excuse me…!"
One literati, a big fruit vendor owner, bolted at that line.
All knew: From today, every unripe apple in town would be "Eris's Golden Apple."
Minor fuss aside, reading continued.
Scale escalated.
Zeus stayed neutral as chief god, but others picked Greek or Trojan sides by interest; heroes clashed as divine proxies.
Close fights, discord.
Despite Zeus's mediation, Hera and Athena's stubbornness kept war raging without truce.
"Hector…"
"Even Achilles…?"
Deaths of star generals from both sides.
Each twist gripped with sweat-inducing tension.
How could one man's imagination birth this?
Awe beyond admiration.
Thus, noon reading lasted till dusk.
Finally, finale.
"Who could phrase that night's slaughter and calamity, what tears explain the agony? Ancient Troy was falling."
"Ah…"
"If only Helenus were caught…!"
"Hector should have lived!"
Troy fans sighed.
"Odysseus, knew you could!"
"Might bows to wits, after all."
Greek fans clapped in praise.
And now, last page.
"…"
Heinz froze, hands shaking, voice stilled.
Others thought: Old man's savoring the aftertaste. They waited.
"What is it?"
"Shocking twist?"
"Heinz, spill it!"
Despite prodding, Heinz hesitated.
"Gah, gimme!"
His friend snatched the book—but.
"…"
Froze like Heinz.
What was written?
What more tale here?
Curiosity drew crowds.
They beheld it.
Someone read the final line aloud, voice trembling.
"The Olympus Tales series ends here. Thank you for the love."
"…"
"…"
That night.
"Boss, come out!"
"You sane? This the end?"
"What kinda publisher are you? Can it now!"
Torch-wielding angry mob stormed the publisher.
"Hm."
Parting from beloved Camellia.
Far off, flashy fireworks—festival, maybe.
Should've enjoyed it before leaving, he mused fleetingly.
"Oh…"
All night train; dawn breaking upon arrival.
Stepping off, the vibe hit different.
Past city Camellia was medieval-ish.
The imperial capital screamed grandeur, splendor, magic-glimmer everywhere.
Like Sokcho vs. top-tier Incheon.
"Extra! Extra!"
"Smart Crystal Balls in Wonderland! Hot new release!"
Even.
Camellia had weeklies only; here dailies swarmed.
Most walkers clutched a paper.
Indeed, novels' future lay in newspaper serials, not books.
"One copy! Thanks!"
Handed coin to hawking kid, unfolded paper.
Meant to check serials first.
But a weird headline grabbed him.
Olympus Tales. Novel or Prophecy?
Shortly after news of the Hundred-Faced Ghost Dragon's subjugation in the Demon Realm, more glad tidings. Yesterday dawn, a black mage plotting to overthrow border city Antaron tried smuggling cursed items—but guard captain Lancel, deeply inspired by the novel's content, …
…What the hell is this?