How To Live As A Writer In A Fantasy World
chapter-41

No matter how angry you are, there are things you should never touch. Among them, the most representative one is family.

Even a decent person would get angry if their family was touched, but if they just endure it? That is not a decent person, but rather a pushover.

Additionally, I am someone who has a strong trauma about family. It’s because my parents passed away in an accident in my previous life, and I suddenly became alone. I had no siblings, so the connection between family members has been completely severed.

Of course, Aira wouldn’t know that I’m a reincarnated person, but that’s beside the point. If you have the bare minimum of common sense, you shouldn’t say such things, especially when you’re a daughter of a military family.

“…What, what? What did you just say…”

As soon as the vulgar curse burst out of my mouth, Aira stuttered and seemed shocked, with her eyes widened and her mouth open.

So what do I do? I looked at Aira with cold eyes as she faltered back. As you all know, I don’t swear a lot.

However, Aira made a sharp curse come out of my mouth. At the time of the gathering, Jackson made me dumbfounded so it just came out, but this time I was so angry that it burst out of my mouth.

I looked straight at Aira, who was shocked and unable to speak, and said what I wanted to say.

“Why? Did you not hear me? Should I say it again, you little bitch?”

“You, you…! How dare you…! Do I look easy to you?!”

Aira was furious, even pointing a finger at me. Judging from her face turning red and blue in real time, she was really angry too.

However, it is rather me who should be more angry than her. Aira touched a part she should never have touched.

I opened my mouth, barely suppressing the rage bubbling up like an active volcano. I tried to keep my composure as much as possible, but I couldn’t stop my voice from sinking low.

“Don’t you think I’ve been easygoing with you? Bullshit should at least be called bullshit. All you do is talk nonsense. Forcing someone who doesn’t like you and even dragging their family into it because you can’t have your way? And even a soldier who doesn’t know when they might die working on a border?”

“Hey, it’s a bigger mistake to swear over something like that! And knights and soldiers who aren’t commanders are just guard dogs! Why would you let go of a comfortable life and risk your life to become a soldier? That’s the part that’s even harder to understand, isn’t it?”

“Wow… Really…”

Fuck. I’m just amazed. I can’t believe I’m hearing what I used to hear in Korea even after I was reincarnated.

I don’t know how she received her home education, but if a daughter from a military family speaks like that, it is clear that the situation is serious. Otherwise, the household is probably fine, but her personality must be distorted if such words come out of the mouth of a daughter of a military family.

I inhaled and exhaled deeply as I watched Aira. My chest felt tight as if I had eaten sweet potatoes.

“Are you really the daughter of Marquis Matheus, who is in charge of the border?”

“Why would I lie? Don’t you know that impersonating a noble is a crime? How stupid…”

“The stupid one here is you, who insulted the soldiers. It would be quite amusing if the news spread that a daughter of a military family insulted the soldiers, wouldn’t it?”

To put it in the context of a previous life, it’s like the daughter of a 4-star general insulting a soldier from Hwihwa. Of course, if this story were to spread to the ears of the soldiers, it would seriously damage trust, to the point of completely destroying the reputation of the person who insulted them.

“What’s wrong about that? They’re all people under me anyway?”

“Didn’t your parents or siblings tell you to care for your subordinates?”

“I only learned that in order to become a good leader, you have to lead the people below you well. Is something wrong?”

“Sigh…”

That kind of thinking is absolutely ridiculous. As I listened to her words, I realized there was no response I could give, and I shook my head in disbelief. Aira’s mindset was very concerning.

Being born into a marquis family, she naturally had the idea of noble authority ingrained in her, and the way to become an excellent leader, as she mentioned. These two things created a truly beautiful synergy.

In addition to this, all of this was achieved at the age of 17. It seemed that she firmly believed she could handle the role of the leader herself, which was the reason she took on the position of squad leader.

“…Let me give you a piece of advice. If you keep going like this, someday you’ll experience something even worse.”

“Who would believe such words? Who do you think you are?”

Even though I gave sincere advice, the expression on the child’s face was one of disbelief. However, ‘mutiny’ is an historical fact that remains unchanged regardless of time or place.

In addition, dangerous places such as the front lines or borders are where mutiny frequently occurs. Most often, commanders sacrifice their subordinates to preserve their own lives, only to end up being killed by their subordinates in turn.

Would Aira really be aware of such facts? Since she has never experienced the life-and-death situations on the front lines, she may be able to casually make such remarks.

I struggled to find a way to educate that naive little kid and eventually gave up on verbal communication. No matter what I say, she will never listen.

“If you don’t want to believe it, you don’t have to. I’m just telling you out of concern. You don’t plan on becoming a military commander later on, do you?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m the daughter of Duke Matheus. After completing all the military studies at the academy, I will be commissioned as a commander.”

“Really? Congratulations. That time will be several times worse than me cursing you now.”

I feel like saying something even harsher back, but I resisted the urge because it would have crossed the line.

Even though she mentioned my family, I didn’t want to give her any more reasons to cause trouble. Most of all, I just wanted to get out of this situation as soon as possible.

“You really…! I don’t know what you’re believing in, but you’re finished now. I’m going to tell our dad right away! Got it?!”

Aira shouted out loud, angry at my direct words. I replied as if it didn’t matter.

“Either do it or don’t. Anyway, you don’t plan on participating in the assignment, right?”

“Who would want to work with someone like you?! Do you think you’re so great because you get attention from the professors?”

“Isn’t that about you? Who are you to tell us what to do? And the Marquis’ daughter? There are people around me who are much higher than you.”

I didn’t mention who they were. Even though I was friendly with them, I didn’t want to use them.

“Ugh…!”

Aira grit her teeth and shuddered when I beat her with a fact. His face was visibly red, burning up with anger.

Then she cried out, as if she ran out of things to say. However, it didn’t pose any threat at all.

“Fine! I don’t need any of you because I can do well on my own! What’s so difficult about predicting the development of Xenon’s Biography…!”

“Aren’t you a team leader? Surely you’re not trying to be the leader all by yourself, are you?”

“Do as you please with those two commoners! I’m so annoyed! Really!”

Ira made a tantrum on her own, then turned around and stomped away. Judging by her tightly clenched her small fists, it seemed that she was very angry.

As I let out a complicated sigh, wondering if the situation was over, Aira stood in place and glanced back at me. And she cried once more in anger.

“You know you’re in trouble, right? Do you have any idea what my dad is like?! He’s called “Iron blood”! “Iron blood!”

“I don’t know, so go on. The noise is killing me.”

“What…! You’re a bastard…!

As I waved my hand as if I was annoyed, Aira quickly disappeared as if she was running away. I felt as if a storm had just passed by, and I grabbed the back of my neck.

Honestly, I didn’t expect her to bring up my family, but the situation was somewhat foreseeable. She just had a sudden outburst.

‘I don’t know how to explain it to the professor.’

I have no choice but to wish Professor Beerus to be flexible. It’s not just a simple disagreement, but a situation that arose because Aira crossed the line.

‘Surely not all other nobles think like Aira, right?’

Being a soldier is a job that should never be looked down upon. They are heroes who willingly sacrifice their own freedom for the freedom of their country.

Even in South Korea, where the status of soldiers may not be as high as in other countries, if someone like Aira openly insults them, they will face social condemnation. In the United States, where soldiers are treated as heroes, such behavior can lead to complete social ostracism.

Moreover, the Minerva Empire has such a vast territory that the proportion of soldiers who die in battle is higher than in other countries. Therefore, it is understood that the status of soldiers is also higher there. That’s why I couldn’t understand why she would say such a thing.

‘Surely she doesn’t view war as something easy, does she?’

It could be that she doesn’t know what kind of situations soldiers on the front lines face. Since she has never experienced it herself, she may be saying those things without understanding.

This is actually a phenomenon that often occurs. During the First World War, young men who enlisted with ‘romantic’ dreams experienced the living hell of trench warfare. If it was like that in the 1900s, there’s no need to explain how it was in the medieval times.

Above all, even our father, who was once renowned as the ‘Red Lion,’ couldn’t sleep if he didn’t drink alcohol. This is a story that Nicole told me last time.

‘War…’

Even in Xenon’s Biography, there is a part about war. Originally, it was intended to be a scene that showcased Xenon’s heroic deeds, but after seeing Aira, I was a bit hesitant.

I had a vague concern that people might view war lightly because of the descriptions I wrote.

Furthermore, in the story of Xenon, the enemy is not human, but demons. Even if there is a war against demons, I have no plans for a war between people.

‘…This is something that must be depicted in the next work.’

Although the plan went awry when Xenon’s Biography became an unintended hit, I had originally planned the next work separately.

If you use fantasy in a fantasy world, it’s an ordinary novel, but if you use modern stuff, wouldn’t it be fantasy? The work is a product of such an idea.

I planned to secretly write it right before Xenon’s Biography is completed. I probably won’t start writing until about a year from now.”

“So what are we going to do now? Can we do it by ourselves?”

While I was lost in thought for a moment, Leona spoke in a blunt tone. I snapped out of it and looked at Leona.

She had her arms crossed and was making a sullen, and I rubbed the back of my neck in embarrassment as I answered.

“We can’t help it. Honestly, aren’t you feeling the same way?”

“It does feel good, but it will be hard to get good grades. are you confident enough to present it so well as to cover that up?”

I smiled confidently at Leona’s worried question.

“Of course.”

I’m a writer, but she’s worried that I might not be able to do well.

Leona looked surprised at my cool answer for a moment, but soon shrugged her shoulders.

She seemed to know that there was no answer no matter how much she thought about it.

“You’re pretty confident, huh? I will be watching you..”

“Are you trying to get carried too?”

“I’m not going to sell my conscience like that jerk. Oh, by the way…”

She stopped talking and stared at me. By the time she tilted her head at the observing gaze, Leona’s tightly closed mouth opened.

“…you said your last name was Ducker Michelle, didn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Is your father’s nickname ‘Red Lion’ by any chance?”

It seems that my father is quite famous. Even Leona, who is a beastman, knows about him.

I nodded my head absentmindedly at her question. Leona’s expression became slightly strange, and she muttered something in a barely audible voice.

“A penguin from the lion…They’re a father and son, but I guess an apple can fall far from the tree.”

“What?”

“Nothing. By the way, Benjamin, when is this guy coming?”

“I’m here!”

They said even a tiger would come if I called, and Benjamin returned as soon as Leona mentioned it. He was almost like a puppy when he ran panting, waving his arms.

Afterwards, Benjamin confirmed that we were still alone despite going to the bathroom and said with an anxious expression.

“Ah, Ms. Aira hasn’t come yet?”

“She came, but she went away again. She won’t be with us from now on.”

“What?! W-What does that mean? What happened?”

“Something did happen. But don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

After that, the group assignment went smoothly.

“…so only the three of us are able to attend the discussion. No matter what, I can’t stand it when she touched a soldier, especially my brother who works at the border.”

“Well… I see. Normally, everyone should receive a deduction, but since this is a special case, only the student will be penalized.”

“Thank you, professor.”

On the following Monday, I went to see Professor Beerus separately and fed Aira a very big fuck you.

Translators note:

Today’s chapter 1/2