How to Live as a Martial Arts Writer in a Fantasy World

42 – Leila

42.

Leila felt her lips dry slightly.

It was because Allen was looking at her strangely, without answering.

As long as she was tied to the Sect, the only thing she could do was stick as close as possible to Alen.

More accurately, she needed to stay close if she wanted to prevent the Sect’s plans from reaching Alen.

‘The Sect Leader is interested in Alen. And except for me, there are no Sector members inside the Academy at the moment.’

Of course, they have a secret base within the Academy prepared so they can infiltrate by swapping people at any time.

At such times, Reila could help Alen.

The reason why she wants to help Alen is paradoxically because Reila harbors a strong antipathy towards the Sect.

“I haven’t thought about the illustrations yet.”

Reila looked slightly disappointed at Alen’s words.

If she was to take on his novel illustrations, she would naturally have more time to interact with Alen. Then she could anticipate any moves the Sect might make.

She wished she could thwart the Sect’s plans by sticking to Alen’s side, but it seemingly all vanished into thin air.

“Still, I guess I’ll include some if I ever need illustrations.”

Alen put down his spoon and wiped the corner of his mouth.

“I’d like to see your drawing skills if you want to do the illustrations. Do you have time?”

***

Why not subtly introduce the concept of illustrations in the novels, and later develop it into the concept of comics or webtoon in this world?

The concept of authors in this world is limited to novel writers.

There is no such thing as comic artists, webtoon artists, drama writers, or game scenario writers.

Well, they are concepts that appeared much later on.

Regardless, Alen didn’t think Reila’s proposal was a bad idea.

‘It’s about what she intends to approach me.’

If Reila, as Alen suspected, has read Shurenjeon-gi and depicted swordsmanship actions in her drawings, he needs to figure out what she’s hiding.

Before that, Alen wanted to see her skill as an illustrator.

He’d flatly refuse if she wanted to draw illustrations without any real skill.

“Do you… have time?”

Like she’d never heard such words before, Reila’s eyes widened.

A previously unseen emotion fills her silver bobbed hair and purple quartz-like eyes, like water rapidly rising.

Alen answered.

“Yes. I need to see if you can draw well. Please make some time.”

“I, I’ve never heard anyone say that…”

A faint blush spread across Reila’s cheeks.

In fact, it was Allen who was slightly taken aback by her reaction.

‘What kind of reaction is that?’

All he had asked was if she had time because he wanted to see her skills.

Why was she suddenly blushing?

It was an inexplicable situation for Allen.

“It’s not a date proposal or anything. Don’t blush!”

“Huh? It wasn’t?”

“A date proposal, you say?!”

Allen exclaimed in disbelief.

The focus of the room shifted to them.

From Noble mtl dot com

The word ‘date’ seemed to have triggered them. The burning gazes pouring in from all over made Allen rub his forehead.

Sighing, Allen explained.

“I think you know how to draw, so I just want to see your skills. That’s why I’m asking if you’ve got some time.”

“And the hiring…?”

“I said it would be out of the question for a while. I have something in mind.”

Allen picked up his spoon again.

He had the feeling that an unexpected talent had rolled in, but he couldn’t help being skeptical.

If Leila really is the one who drew that swordfight painting, it’s reasonable to suspect her authorship.

“Something in mind…?”

“Yes. So I want to see your skill level. You said that you majored in arts, didn’t you?”

At Allen’s query, Leila nodded her head.

It was true that she had chosen an art-related minor at the humanities department.

“Have you ever read ‘The Chronicles of Shuren’?”

“I like it.”

Leila was sincere.

For her, who was stuck in the Graphite faction, ‘The Chronicles of Shuren’, about a journey to take revenge on an enemy, had resonated deeply.

If she had some power, she would have already escaped from the Graphite faction and relished her freedom.

“Which scene do you like the most?”

“When Shuren overthrows the enemy.”

“Be more specific.”

“Defeating the black magician lord was the best. Personally, I like that scene the most.”

“Count Melnoar?”

At Allan’s counter-question, Raila nodded.

‘She likes a scene from the early part of Volume 2….’

Even more strange was the emotional weight carried by the word ‘black magician’.

Allan hmm’d, and pondered to himself a bit.

“Can you draw that scene?”

“…Yes.”

Raila nodded.

“When should I have it?”

“Sooner, the better.”

“Got it. I’ll bring it as soon as possible.”

At Raila’s approval, Allan scratched his cheek.

He didn’t think she would agree so quickly.

What could she be thinking? It was straining his mind heavily.

Allan left after finishing his meal. Raila’s gaze flood to her lone corner and then scattered.

She silently accepted the fleeting stares and finished her meal quietly.

***

Sureun and Cranish were looking at the burning Orc settlement.

It was a terrifying sight.

The bodies of dead orcs were strewn about. The houses, uniquely Orcish in style, were shattered and welcomed the guests who visited the Orc settlement with desolate faces.

Sureun walked down the burning street, gritting his teeth.

“What the hell happened, Cranish.”

“Our tribe was embroiled in a civil war. It all started when the Great Chief brought a black magician into his fold.”

“A black magician?”

Seeing Sureun’s eyes turn cool, Cranish nodded.

“We called him Gurka.”

“Gurka?”

“Yes. He was originally a small, weak creature. But ten years after leaving his hometown, Gurka returned as a black magician. That was when it started – when our tribe began to change.”

As an honorable Orc warrior, Cranish couldn’t stand the changes that Gurka had brought about. But the Great Chief protected him, and there were countless followers of Gurka.

Dozens of orc tribes formed a formidable force that protected Gurka, leaving Kranish with no choice but to leave him be.

Shuren spoke up.

“Should’ve killed him right there. Who would reject a duel?”

“True. But Gurka, he’s clever. Claiming he’s unworthy for a duel, he had someone else fight for him.”

Kranish touched the wound cutting diagonally across his chest.

“He put forward Oger, a legendary warrior. I fought with all my strength, but was bound to lose.”

“Why?”

The Kranish Shuren knew was no less skilled, even when compared with himself.

They had fought fiercely across open fields for several days, Shuren knew, acknowledged even, that Kranish was strong.

Kranish gave a bitter smile.

“I fell for his ploy. He promised to leave the tribe if his champion lost the duel, but the chieftain intervened. He gave him a chance to stay in the tribe, even if his champion was defeated.”

“You’ve been tricked completely.”

“Yes, the chieftain is fooled by Gurka. And Shuren, if you’re after a warlock, he might be connected to your enemy.”

“I don’t think every warlock has ties to my enemy.”

“But it would ne a good thing, wouldn’t it?”

A melancholic smile formed at the corner of Kranish’s mouth.

“I will reunite our divided race. Return to a time before it was sullied by black magic.”

Clenching his teeth, Kranish tightened his grip on his axe.

He raised his arm and roared.

“We orcs will not become slaves to black magic! I swear on my name, Kranish!”.

***

A week after the annual competitive event, the fourth volume was published.

The content of Volume 4, continuing from Volume 3, vividly portrayed Shuren’s confusion when he suddenly got involved in the internal conflict of the orc tribe.

It depicted Shuren’s cultural shock as he, a human who knew little about orcs, experienced their culture firsthand.

– Is Shuren’s story an exploration of orc culture by a human?

– Instead of pursuing a path of revenge, Shuren has suddenly become involved in orc infighting. Where will this lead him?

– Given that the content of Volume 4 ends with a connection to the warlocks, it’s clear how dangerous the group of warlocks are.

-The identity of the female warlock who appeared in Volume 4?

As soon as the fourth volume was released, Allen was looking at the sensational headlines.

“I wish they’d leave novels be and not tie them to reality, but I guess that’s not going to happen.”

“From the beginning, the impact of the ‘Schuren Chronicles’ was immense. Have you thought about the content for the next volume, My Lord?”

“To some extent.”

The female dark magician, Irene, who appeared at the end of Volume 4, was a dark magician forced to work under the Imperial Religion.

Dark wizards associated with the Imperial Religion.

The orc civil war doesn’t go as the Imperial Religion desires, and Irene, through Shuren, plans to disrupt its course.

The contents of Volume 5 would depict the concealed intentions of the dark magician, Irene, and her journey with Shuren and Cranish.

At Allen’s words, Maya wore an interested expression.

“Then does Irene, the dark magician, open her heart to the protagonist…?”

“It’s not uncommon for someone to change from being a mere tool to a love interest, in novels. After all, there is no definitive answer to the feelings of love. Think about mom and dad.”

At Allen’s words, Maya let out an uncharacteristically bitter laugh.

The Duke and Duchess of Mueller were both born and raised in an environment where it was difficult for a central noble and an eastern noble to understand each other. Their marriage, from the outset, illustrated that love doesn’t necessarily have a definitive answer.

Duke Mueller, for one, had married Allen’s mother, a woman of mixed blood, against everyone’s discouragement, proving his love for her over all else.

“I’m curious to see how Shuren’s attitude will change.”

“I should induce gradual changes. What about Cranish?”

“If he wasn’t an orc, he’d be fantastic.”

In reaction to Maya’s comment, Allen scratched his cheek.

“Hmm, maybe it was still too experimental.”

“But given the current popularity, it seems that the fascination people have with the ‘Schuren Chronicles’ is immense.”

“That’s true. As a writer, it’s part of my job to meet the expectations of my readers.”

Allen took out his quill again.

Maya’s hair fluttered in the breeze as she left to fetch more manuscript paper, and the young novelist, left alone in his room, sank once more into his work.

As April passed and May approached.