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How To Live As A Writer In A Fantasy World-Chapter 213: 16th Book (3)
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Volume 16 was released, and about a week had passed. Leona, who had headed to Animers, also returned to the Academy. However, as soon as she returned, she urgently sought me out, saying that she could become a great chieftain and asking for my help, seemingly out of the blue.
Fortunately, there were hardly any passersby around, but if there had been more people, it would have been a dangerous moment in many ways. Of course, it was dangerous for Leona, not me.
In response, we urgently visited a quiet place, a suitable cafe, and I slowly listened to Leonaโs situation. novelbuddy. com
โBefore we go into the details, have things been resolved in Animers? Thatโs what I want to ask first.โ
Did she run around looking for me? Sweat beads formed on Leonaโs forehead. In general, the fact that even the most robust species in terms of hardware was sweating meant that it was urgent.
Thanks to the lilac scent emanating from my body, finding me should have been easy. However, I could roughly sense how dire her situation was.
โPhewโฆ First of all, I apologize for calling you out of the blue. Itโs a very urgent matterโฆโ
โI think I can tell that itโs urgent. So, whatโs the outcome?โ
โUltimately, it went well. Just as you said, when people laughed or pretended not to listen, I gently provoked them, and they naturally got involved.โ
โSo, does that mean the sacred duel is really going to be held in a tournament format?โ
Leona nodded her head firmly in response to my confirmation question. I was honestly surprised by her reaction.
Changing traditions and culture in our era was a very difficult task. Especially since the sacred duel made a crucial contribution to the founding of the country, it would likely be considered integral to the country, and tampering with it would be a courageous act in itself.
However, judging by the result, it seems they themselves recognize that the tradition of the sacred duel was barbaric and a major obstacle to leading the nation.
โItโs in the plans for the future. It wonโt happen immediately, but weโll establish rules and slowly make plans. But to make it public, we need a Great Chieftainโฆโ
โYou canโt issue a decree because thereโs no regent.โ
The only one with enough authority to change tradition is the ruler. And a regent must maintain authority even if someone doesnโt occupy the throne.
If someone declares themselves a king the moment they feel like it, itโs no different from what happened before. Leona mentioned having many siblings, so itโs almost like a power struggle has already begun.
โWhy not just pass the chieftainโs position to the eldest son of the first wife? Are beastmen different?โ
โItโs a bit more complicated. Normally, the chieftain should make the selection personally, but the problem is that this happened before a proper succession could take place, and they returned to Harteโs arms. Because of this, itโs not an easy task to choose the chieftain hastily. Furthermore, the faction that wanted to abolish the sacred duel is also insisting on choosing the chieftain themselvesโฆโ
โIt could potentially lead to a division into two factions.โ
โYes.โ
Itโs common for different groups with varying ideologies within a country to elect their own leaders. In my past life, there were examples like South Korea, Vietnam, Germany, and so on.
This means that Animers, which Hick founded with great effort, could potentially become a divided nation. If we donโt take action quickly, the probability of a civil war breaking out will increase.
I was momentarily taken aback by the apparently more serious state of Animersโ internal affairs and asked a question about the part that had piqued my curiosity.
โSo, whatโs the deal with you possibly becoming a Great Chieftain again? Regardless of whether youโre the daughter of the third wife, you still have the chieftainโs bloodline.โ
โโฆFirst, we need to understand the ideologies of the opposing faction in detail. Itโs closely tied to their reason for wanting to abolish the Sacred Duel. They want a chieftain with intelligence, not just military power, someone who can handle politics, diplomacy, and state affairs. Until now, lions have been in charge of state affairs simply because they were Hickโs descendants. On the other hand, we believe we cannot nominate those who are not lions as a Great Chieftain.โ
It was something that could be found everywhere, but it was very interesting. While the royal family considered lineage important, it was necessary to focus on the opposing forces.
When you think about it, it could be considered the first step toward democracy. Of course, it wasnโt a proper democracy like in my past life, but it emphasized the selection of the monarch. If power is vested in the opposing forces here, the concept of โvotingโ may emerge.
Moreover, the Sacred Duel is also undergoing significant changes that are suitable for this. If used wisely, it could take a step towards democracy. Itโs a bit amusing that the beastmen who were collectively called barbaric across all races are the first to head towards democracy, but in this world, anything is possible.
Anyway, getting back to the point.
โWhen there is such a tense confrontation between each other, Volume 16 of Xenonโs Biography was released. Have you seen it by any chance?โ
โOf course, Iโve seen it.โ
Iโm the author, after all. Leona nodded seriously as she swallowed her follow-up words. Subsequently, she seemed embarrassed, and her cheek turned slightly red, and her ears that had stood up above her head dropped weakly. In that state, Leona hesitated and opened her mouth, not in a cynical tone, but in a very timid one.
โUmโฆ you might not remember, but didnโt I say something like this to you last year? I absolutely donโt read things like Xenonโs Biography that humans write.โ
โDid you say that?โ
I gingerly searched through my memories, tilting my head. The day I accidentally discovered Leonaโs true identity, as far as I can recall, was that day.
She called me a red penguin that squawked without fear, so her views on humans couldnโt have been positive. Perhaps even Xenonโs Biography written by a human seemed uninteresting.
Of course, Iโve long forgotten all of that, but it seems sheโs still kept it close to her heart.
โSheโs secretly timid.โ
On the surface, she tried to appear fierce and strong, but now, seeing her like this, thereโs a timid side. I canโt confirm which is her real self. Maybe the timid side is genuine, and the fierce personality is just a front. She was a daughter of the third wife, but perhaps she wore that facade not to be underestimated.
โโฆActually, thatโs not true. I really like it, you know. Even my siblings enjoy reading it.โ
โYour siblings? Doesnโt seem likely.โ
โI recommended it to them. To read it at least once. No matter what, you should read a book, right? So reluctantly, they read it. But a problem arose after Volume 16. Do you know what Volume 16 is about?โ
Of course, I know. Iโm the author, after all. It would be strange if I didnโt.
Leona nodded as I did, then hesitantly began to reveal more about the story.
โAs you know, Volume 16 doesnโt exactly have Cain defeating Satanโฆ well, not clearly. Anyway, toward the end, Cain, who may be physically weak but mentally strong, becomes the chieftain.โ
โI know that.โ
โHere is the problem. Xenonโs Biography is currently being treated as a prophecy. Because of this, there is a growing voice that says someone like Cain, who excels in intelligence rather than brute force, should become the clan leader.โ
โโฆDo you believe that?โ
Even if thatโs the case, it doesnโt seem right to follow the bookโs contents blindly. The contamination of the World Treeโs roots, the devil worshippers, and the Reapers were events that have already occurred, not the future.
But Animers are currently trying to follow the contents of Xenonโs Biography. Theyโre just trying to fit it in forcibly.
โOf course, there was resistance at first. People questioned whether we should follow something thatโs just in a book. But thanks to Xenonโs Biography, we found out that our situation at Animers is complicated. So everyone believes. Because Xenon knows the future, Animers should also change.โ
โNot at allโฆโ
โHuh?โ
โNot at all.โ
It was so absurd that I almost made a slip of the tongue. Leona blinked her golden eyes when she saw me disagreeing and continued her explanation.
โReally? But itโs also getting involved in political issues here. Iโm smart enough to get admitted to the Academy, and I even have the bloodline of the Lion Tribe. There are no issues with my bloodline, and I meet the desires of the opposing faction.โ
โSo theyโre nominating you as the next Great Chieftain. Is that what youโre saying?โ
โThatโs right! I have no intention of becoming the Great Chieftain, not even a bit!โ
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Was the current situation frustrating for her? Leona, filled with anger, slammed her fist onto the table forcefully. However, whether it was a failure of strength control or not, her fist left a clear mark on the table.
Iโll have to ask about that later. Leona seemed to realize her mistake belatedly and started to give me a hot look.
โโฆIโll compensate separately, so just keep talking for now.โ
โSorryโฆ Anyway, not only our family but even the opposing forces are choosing me as the Great Chieftain, someone who is intelligent and has no issues in terms of bloodline. Moreover, they think itโs right for me to become the Great Chieftain because I also proposed the changes to the Sacred Duel.โ
โBut it was me who first proposed the improvements to it. Didnโt you say you wonโt lie to your family members?โ
โThatโs also an issue. It seems they were impressed by the idea that a wise monarch, not a strong one, should rule the country. They even seem to suspect you might be a sage.โ
โHuh.โ
I let out a bitter laugh. Why do they all call me a sage?
I pondered for a moment about what to say and then spoke in a calm voice.
โWeโre just friends.โ
โUhโฆ Friends?โ
Leona seemed to put on a cold expression when I casually mentioned that we were friends. The word โfriendโ seemed somewhat awkward for her. ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ธ๐ฟ๐๐.๐ฌ๐ธ๐ถ
Well, she had to keep her identity hidden most of the time, so there probably werenโt many people she could comfortably call friends. Recently, others had come to know her true identity, but they werenโt particularly close. I was likely the only one she could consider a friend, given her role as the model student who always had to act and pretend.
โWhy. Is it strange that I call you a friend?โ
โOh, no! Absolutely not! Donโt misunderstand.โ
โWhatโs there to misunderstand?โ
The more I talked with Leona, the more I felt like I was getting to know her true self. It seemed like her current demeanor was her real personality, unlike her usual cynical facade. Perhaps she had been harsh before because I was essentially a stranger. She might have had a mindset that it didnโt matter how she treated me since I wasnโt really her friend.
I watched Leona, who blushed with embarrassment, in silence for a moment and then took a sip of my coffee. Summing up our conversation so far, it went something like this:
In Xenonโs Biography, Cain, who was more intellectually gifted than physically strong, became the Great Chieftain, and Xenonโs Biography was currently treated as a prophecy worldwide.
So, it seems that Leona, who is brilliant enough to be admitted to the academy, is speculated to bring a good outcome to Animers if she takes on the role of the Great Chieftain. Moreover, having established connections with a wise sage(?), who is wise enough to propose improvements for the Sacred Duel, she could reap many benefits.
โAt least that would be the case in a bookโฆโ
In fiction, Animers would achieve tremendous progress after Leona became the Great Chieftain and created an era of peace. They would establish alliances with neighboring nations, and in future major wars, they would play a significant role.
However, one must distinguish between fiction and reality. Whether Leona has the qualifications of a Great Chieftain is uncertain. She could become a tyrant, an even more formidable military leader, or even make history as an unparalleled Great Chieftain.
โUltimately, you donโt want to become the Great Chieftain, is that it? Why donโt you want it?โ
โIโd rather be a chief aide supporting the leader than the leader myself. Besides, itโs already tough enough studying, so becoming a Great Chieftain seems like an absurd idea.โ
โYou lack confidence, donโt you?โ
โYes.โ
Leona confidently replied as if she felt no need to deny it. It must have been quite a surprise for her to receive the offer of becoming the Great Chieftain so suddenly. Of course, from my perspective, it doesnโt matter whether she becomes one or not.
However, I canโt just pretend not to know when sheโs making such a request.
Oh, thereโs one thing Iโm curious about. They probably assume Iโm a sage over there, so it will undoubtedly have an impact on me as well. I know from the culture of the beastmen that they believe in repaying kindness.
Didnโt Leona even declare in front of Mari that she would become my wife last time? Although it was a mishap caused by a difference in common sense, if Leona becomes the Great Chieftain, she might bestow an even greater honor upon me. Of course, from their perspective, it may be an honor, but itโs extremely embarrassing for me.
โCome to think of it, do they consider me a sage over there? If you were to become the Great Chieftain, would it affect me?โ
With a coffee cup in hand, I asked Leona. After posing the question, I sipped my coffee and waited for her response.
โSince you brought a proposal for the Sacred Duel and even gave me advice, probablyโฆโ
Leona, who had been pondering my question, cautiously glanced at me and replied in a hushed tone.
โโฆWe might have to have a child, even if itโs against the customs of the beastmen. Itโs none other than because youโll be carrying on the Great Chieftainโs bloodline.โ
โโฆ โฆโ
Drip
The coffee that was in my mouth returned to the coffee cup.
Translators note:
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