Chapter: 107
I remember that Earth existed.
There was a person who tried to express the horrors of war through literature, a man who dramatically experienced a miracle while being pardoned at the execution grounds, and a noble who wrote novels after listening to many stories. I know that literature is created from the author’s experiences and inspirations.
In the preface labeled ‘Author’s Note’ and in the ‘Translator’s Note’ at the end of the novels I translated, such content was always written—stories of the author’s background or the circumstances under which the work was created.
So, the novel Surviving as a Plagiarist in Another World is…
A long and somewhat ridiculous ‘Translator’s Note’. As a translator, I had the duty to write a ‘Translator’s Note’ for the readers.
“…It’s a light and entertaining novel! The protagonist reincarnates in another world and plagiarizes advanced literature to achieve success; it seems like there are many ways to adapt that, like spreading cooking or games!”
“It’s an autobiography.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s an autobiography.”
The ‘Translator’s Note’ is the only space where the translator’s voice reaches the reader.
Translation is a process of conveying the author’s voice as completely as possible, so no matter how much I, as the ‘translating author’, added my own voice, ultimately ‘my’ voice cannot and should not reach the reader.
Thus, the ‘Translator’s Note’ is the only place where I can speak as a writer.
It hasn’t changed much even now.
I translated ‘Earth’s literature’ into this world and now wished to convey the reasons behind why ‘I’ the translator, and how such novels were written, through the text Surviving as a Plagiarist in Another World.
“…Huh?”
Mr. Kindersley, not grasping my story, asked several times.
His confused expression made me chuckle lightly as I nodded.
“Please publish it, sir.”
“Oh, yes!”
And so, Surviving as a Plagiarist in Another World was published in the Empire.
…
The novel Surviving as a Plagiarist in Another World garnered quite an explosive reaction among the readers of the Empire.
In summary, the feedback was that it was ‘easy to read and entertaining’. However…
Unlike the enthusiastic praise from the general public, the intellectuals familiar with the ‘characters’ in the work had a different reaction.
“Is this… really true? Prince Idris was actually a cross-dressing man? The current Idris is the illegitimate child of an emperor named Enoch?”
“Come on, that’s just a fictional setting, right? It must be a setting…”
The feeling that can be expressed in one word was ‘creepy’.
Religion, royalty, diplomacy, tradition—this novel starring Homerus blatantly crossed various political taboos of the Empire. It was far too specific to simply be deemed ‘a fictional setting’.
Applying this ‘novel’ to some existing questions in society matched far too clearly.
The moment they realized this, the intellectuals reading the novel felt a chilling sweat running down their backs.
“Haha! Are you too immersed in your own novel? It’s not that uncommon for the names of actual nobles or royals to appear in a story, and especially since it’s Homerus’s novel, the church and the royalty would probably overlook some sacrilege! Don’t go overboard.”
“Yeah, I suppose?”
“By the way, this Homerus really is incredible. The world of ‘Earth’ is described so specifically and plausibly. It’s fascinating that this world was born from that. In his mind, there must be ‘one world’. Countless characters within it are crafting their own lives and stories, don’t you think?”
“Ohh, that does seem right.”
Of course, very few genuinely took such discussions seriously.
Using actual noble names in literature is common, and since the author is this ‘Homerus’, crafting such a convincing narrative is entirely possible. Beginning a story with the label of ‘autobiography’ is also a tradition that has continued since the days of chivalric literature before Don Quixote; it’s not all that special.
Ultimately, the conclusion of the discussion was wrapped up in a Tolkienist kind of praise: ‘Homerus is simulating a world in his mind to write his novel.’
And…
As for the individuals who were not just intellectuals familiar with the characters but were actually characters from this novel…
“Author, isn’t this a bit too much? Writing a lady’s secret into a novel like this?”
“Haha… I’m sorry.”
“Then you must take responsibility, right?”
“Excuse me?”
They were all expressing their discomfort with Homerus in their own ways.
…
To be honest, I considered it quite impolite.
Setting aside the principled issues of royal secrets and religious confidentiality, from a human perspective, I had completely forgotten to state the purpose while spending so much time researching the past.
However.
I still thought it was a necessary task.
After all, this was for literature. All literature can only fulfill its utility within an appropriate social context, and I believed that revealing the ‘truth’ would serve as such a function.
So what I had to do was simple.
“I truly apologize. It was not a topic suitable for careless writing, and it wouldn’t be good in a public sense, either. If there is something I can take responsibility for, I will.”
A sincere apology.
While apologizing doesn’t necessarily solve the problem, it was a necessary thing to do.
“How are you going to take responsibility?”
“Um.”
“If the royal family decides to hold you accountable and sentence you to execution, will you just hand over your neck?”
“Well, if that situation arises… I suppose it can’t be helped? I’d be glad to at least be allowed to write a will.”
At my nonchalant reply, Princess Is seemed to chuckle in disbelief.
Then, after giving me a sideways glare while slightly scrunching her face, she let out a deep sigh and shook her head with a relaxed expression.
“You are truly a hard person to understand… Is literature really that important? Enough to stake your life on a mere book?”
“Yes.”
I had already given my life to literature, which did me in from overwork.
Having died once, I could die again.
Princess Is, apparently not satisfied with my unwavering response, countered again, not understanding.
“Can’t you just live comfortably? Teach your students at the academy, indulge in luxuries once in a while… Read your favorite books at the library. Isn’t that nice? You have plenty of money and influence, recognition from people, and you could even gain power by entering the council if you want… Can’t you just live a little comfortably?”
“……”
After pondering for a moment, I nodded and replied.
“I think I wouldn’t be at ease if literature could not progress any further and was just held back.”
“Not writing such texts… wouldn’t stop literature, would it? The publishing market is continuously growing, and issues like library projects are creating support for authors, so isn’t that enough? Don’t you think you’re wasting too much on trivial matters? You could just remain ‘the transcendent of literature’ without admitting you’re the ‘plagiarist author’ who stole the literature from your past life?”
“……”
“There are plenty of people who accept this ‘novel’ as fact. Especially those who know about you well. Does this hold enough value to betray the trust of those many people towards you?”
“Yes.”
“I simply cannot understand…”
Listening to Princess Is’s voice growing weaker with fatigue, I recalled an old memory.
It was the memory from when I created the book People Beyond the Yellow Barrier.
At that time, I probably said something like this.
“I wish everyone could become a writer.”
“……”
“It seems like these days, there are more cars around than horse-drawn carriages in the streets. I know that the coaches are finding it tough to get jobs. If those coaches could write about their work and life honestly, people would remember the era when carriages roamed the streets even after they vanish completely and understand that there were people who lived off such ancient artifacts, empathizing with those who lived such lives.”
“……”
“The Empire’s systems have also changed significantly, right? People transferred from law enforcement to police forces have reportedly struggled a lot due to the differences. There are certainly those who mock or deride those unable to adapt to new systems or technologies as incompetent. In such cases, having a book that discusses old systems and their implementations could help understand those who have toiled through old ways.”
“……”
“There are families that can only meet once a month in this vast Empire. Misunderstandings arise from not being able to write letters well, and there are times when people regret having hastily spoken during that brief day and spend a month brooding over it. In such moments, I think the writing skills learned through literature could serve as a decent tool for conveying true feelings.”
“……”
“Literature can be a catalyst for contemplation, a tool for discussion, or a reference for materials before changing policies.”
“……”
“I wish for literature to be at the center of this society. For that reason, I hope everyone writes at least one book bearing their name. Even if an era comes when literature is treated as an outdated medium, I wish for a society where a few of their favorite books and a book they’ve diligently written sit on a small shelf.”
“……”
“I wish for everyone to become a writer.”
“……”
“That is why I needed to write ‘my’ book first. Since my literary imagination isn’t that grand, I simply wrote the most genuine form of literature in a way that could bring my talent to life.”
“……”
“Do you need more explanations?”
“Phew… Alright. Just be quiet for a moment.”
Princess Is squeezed her eyes shut as if her head hurt, frowning a little while splashing some water on her face.
Ultimately, with a smile reminiscent of the usual mischievous girl, she reached out her hand to me.
“Let me see your hand.”
“Are you talking about my hand?”
“Hurry up.”
“Oh, yes.”
Princess Is, who grabbed my wrist, placed something onto my hand.
It was a letter.
“Done. I’m reading it alone once I go back.”
“…What’s in the letter?”
“It’s a fan letter.”
“Excuse me?”
“I really enjoyed it. The novel Surviving as a Plagiarist in Another World.”
“……”
“I’m the first patron of that author.”
At that moment, the smile Princess Is wore was…
So warm and gentle that just looking at her made me feel as if I was nestled in sunlight.
“So, I wanted to give it first to you.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
I nodded dazedly.
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