Surviving as a Plagiarist in Another World - Chapter 25: Alice in Wonderland

< Chapter 25: Alice in Wonderland – 3 >

Sometimes, absurd rumors would grow as they spread from person to person. Especially when there was even the slightest bit of evidence.

“The chess depicted in ‘Through the Looking-Glass’ is Harren Kingdom-style chess! Isn’t this proof that the author Homer was from the Harren Kingdom?”

“Ridiculous! Calling the great sage of the Empire a Harrenite over something so trivial, are you out of your mind?”

At first, it was just a joke or a baseless guess. The idea that Homer was from the Harren Kingdom based on a mere chess rule was nonsensical. But rumors often started from such trivial jokes.

“When you think about it, the mystical tendencies in Homer’s literature are quite similar to the myths of the Harren Kingdom.”

“Exactly! The perspective on the soul shown in ‘The Sorrows of Young Werther’ fits perfectly when interpreted through the doctrines of the Eastern Church, which is predominantly believed in the Harren Kingdom!”

Soon, people began to fit evidence to the rumor. Literature offered new perspectives on life, and if one wanted to find evidence in literature, they could find plenty. Furthermore, testimonies from fans who had seen the author Homer in person added fuel to the fire.

“Author Homer had an extremely exotic and handsome appearance! He gave off the vibe of an Eastern mixed-blood? He was also surrounded by a very noble and static atmosphere.”

“Perhaps, indeed, Author Homer was a mixed-blood from the Harren Kingdom?”

His exotic appearance, a mix of his past and present lives, was enough to support the speculation that Homer was of mixed heritage. There were even remarks like these:

“In the Harren Kingdom, it’s common for royalty who are pushed out of the line of succession to change their identity and seek asylum in the Empire. So, could it be…?”

“Gasp.”

Rumors continued to multiply. And the main subject of these rumors was…

“My son.”

“Yes, Father.”

“People are saying you’re the mixed-blood descendant of a royal who sought asylum from the Harren Kingdom.”

“…Yes.”

“That would make me the ‘royal who sought asylum from the Harren Kingdom’….”

“Haha….”

“I’ve never even been outside the Empire, let alone to the Harren Kingdom.”

“Yes….”

He ate his meal quietly, trying to avoid his father’s gaze.

* * *

The head of the House of Fríden was a wastrel. His hobbies included gossiping about central nobles, causing trouble in the council, and feigning illness to avoid attending events in the capital when invited.

The only reason he inherited the title of Count Fríden was that he was the sole son of the late Count Fríden.

He was, in every sense, a naturally born idler. He even once tried to pass on his title to his younger sister, only to be rejected by the Heraldry Office.

“Why am I considered royalty of the Harren Kingdom? My capable second son?”

“…I don’t know either.”

“Are you mixed-blood?”

“No.”

Count Fríden wasn’t genuinely upset. This was just… teasing. The head of the House of Fríden was the kind of father who found joy in teasing his son.

“I don’t mind you wandering outside and writing after taking weird potions, but you shouldn’t commit fraud with our family lineage.”

“Yes…”

“It could cause diplomatic friction with the Harren Kingdom, and it makes me feel weird too. You ungrateful child.”

“No, Father. I never claimed to be from the Harren Kingdom myself─.”

“Huh. Are you talking back to your father now? Oh dear, the great sage and author Homer raises his voice, so a powerless noble like me should just keep quiet. I’m afraid you might write bad things about me in your novel.”

“….”

He was about to say something but ended up just closing his mouth and picking up his spoon. He wasn’t sure if the soup was going into his mouth or his nose. He just wanted to eat quickly and go back to his room to write.

“Now you’re pretending not to hear me… Oh, I should die if I’m getting old. When I die, pass the Count title to Eric. The ungrateful second son can fend for himself.”

“Brother, congratulations on becoming the head.”

“Yeah, thanks, little brother. So, when’s your next work coming out?”

“Don’t know.”

“Raising children is pointless.”

“Tsk tsk, the kids learn from watching you because you’re so careless. How can you be so immature at your age?”

Their father sulked and lowered his head, while their mother clicked her tongue watching him. This was an ordinary day in the Fríden household.

* * *

Rolls Camel was a stutterer. In her mind swam countless fragments of language and poetic inspiration, but translating them into social language was a very challenging task. Thus, Rolls Camel couldn’t help but stutter.

If she were to recite poetry, she wouldn’t stutter and could recite it flawlessly. If she were to tell stories, she could go on all day long.

“I-I-I, I’m, fi-fine! Sp-sponsorship is, to-to-toooo much─.”

“Please, don’t feel so nervous. We’re only offering to support Camel’s artistic activities. We won’t ask for anything special in return.”

“Th-th-that’s, well, I─.”

Speaking with others was exceedingly difficult for her.

It was particularly hard to understand what was called ‘social language.’ The language of Rolls Camel was pure primal speech, refined rhetoric for art, and a complex yet intuitive puzzle.

Being told to speak with consideration of how others might judge it was indeed a challenging task.

“If it’s hard to decide right now, please at least take a look at this document.”

“Ah, ah! Yes, yes, yes!”

“Haha, then I’ll be on my way. I’ll visit again next time.”

“Yes, yes….”

Rolls Camel read the document given by the representative of the patron and threw it into the trash.

Then, she quietly lay on the sofa, gazing at the patterns of the world.

The patterns in the wood that made up the table, the patterns of dust illuminated by the sunlight, the patterns of mana flickering from the broken magical tool. Looking at these things brought her a bit of peace.

However, there was something else that brought her the most comfort.

“Haa… I want to play with the children….”

Children. Especially innocent girls.

Rolls Camel loved such girls. Not in a sexual sense.

In a more spiritual sense, she could only feel deep comfort and relief when talking with young girls.

Perhaps it was because Rolls Camel’s linguistic sensibility was similar to the free linguistic sensibility of children.

If necessary, they could freely create new words and use them, tell disjointed stories all day long, prioritize their own emotions over others’ gazes, and simply enjoy or dislike everything honestly.

Children were the epitome of pure innocence. Rolls Camel thought so.

“Ugh….”

She wanted to play with the children, but she had to be careful.

Adults judged the world with their narrow perspectives, making blasphemous evaluations and assumptions.

There were many irreverent people who treated her as a pervert for wanting to play with children.

It was a terrible thing. These days, they even talked nonsense about the great writer ‘Homer,’ saying he was a mixed blood of Harren or a hidden royal.

People held the foolish belief that the talent to write great works could only come from great lineage.

“I want to see Writer Homer….”

In that regard, Writer Homer viewed the world with a clearer perspective.

It wasn’t about being able to tell by looking at his works─, that wasn’t the point.

Rather, it was about attitude and response. Writer Homer did not possess any of the common prejudices or biases of this era’s people.

He entrusted joint authorship to a stammerer, laughed heartily at her praise of a girl’s innocence, and showed neither noble arrogance nor artistic pride.

He was a peculiarly rational person.

Thus, he appeared pure instead.

A pure and great intellect.

That was how Rolls Camel saw Homer.

“I wish I could become a great writer like Writer Homer….”

While blankly staring at the patterns of the world, Rolls Camel suddenly stood up and headed to her room.

She intended to write. To become a great writer, she first had to be a writer.

* * *

“President.”

“Yes! Writer!”

“There are strange rumors circulating in the empire these days. Please officially clarify our stance. All the rumors currently spreading about the ‘royalty of the Harren Kingdom’ are baseless nonsense.”

“Understood!”

From a marketing perspective, it wouldn’t be bad, but there was no need to leave potentially problematic rumors alone.

Such rumors had to be suppressed early on.

So, she tried to preemptively suppress the rumors through the publishing house.

[Harren Royal Spokesperson: ‘Writer Homer’s works embody the traditions and cultural spirit of the Harren Kingdom. No comment on the rumors about Writer Homer’s royal lineage.’]

…She was a step too late.