Bam.
I closed the thick book.
“I became stronger!”
“Congratulations, Master.”
As I stood up with my fists clenched, Shish applauded.
Finally, I finished reading the history of the empire.
At first, I was confused because it was completely new content, but as I watched, I realized that there was a lot of content that I had imagined, so I was able to finish it faster than I initially expected.
“As expected, my master is amazing.”
Shish seems to think I'm smart and can get over it quickly.
...No, this guy might have figured something out.
“Shish.”
"Yes?"
“I hope you heard it without misunderstanding.”
“What are you trying to say, my master?”
As Shish narrowed his eyes, his breathing quickened, but he kept his eyes firmly closed and did not look away from my gaze.
“You said you read a book called This World is a Novel.”
"...Yes."
Unusually, Shish's reply was delayed.
“Do you remember what it said?”
“Of course...”
He closed his mouth and furrowed his brow.
“I saw it clearly, but why...”
There was a hint of strangeness in the muttering.
In the end, Shish, who was obviously frowning, shook his head.
“I don’t remember.”
"What?"
“I really don’t remember. It’s like I erased it entirely.”
...Have you forgotten what the book was about?
This is something that could never have happened with Shish's memory.
“What about the other one?”
“The other one? What else was there?”
What, you don't know anything about my life story?
"Yeah. It's two volumes. The main story and the sequel. I mean the sequel, but you really don't remember?"
Even though I spoke to him as if I was just checking, Shish still shook his head.
“Then there’s nothing we can do.”
I kept my mouth shut, afraid that asking more questions would seem suspicious and that I might unknowingly give away information.
How wrong is this world?
Time passed quickly, and the day came when the three of them gathered.
After taking blood from Dietrich, Yuno left to improve the medicine, leaving only me, Shish, and Dietrich in the library.
I had finished the history of the empire, but I still had other things to learn from Shish.
Shish and I were sitting next to each other at the table, and Dietrich was standing next to me.
“If the lower part is resolved, then I won’t have to see the stupid beast with the master anymore, right?”
"What?"
“That’s right. Didn’t you only want your master’s body?”
Dietrich's face contorted at Shish's story, mixed with laughter.
"Don't speak carelessly, Prime Minister. Even though my body has become like this, I still want to be with Author."
“So in the end, you’re saying that you only want the body.”
Shish smiled leisurely and brushed his hair back. With that look, he'd charmed many innocent women.
Dietrich drew his sword and glared at Shish with a sharp gaze.
“Don’t judge my feelings for the Author so rashly, Prime Minister.”
Dietrich threatened his opponent with his well-sharpened sword without a second thought. This sight sent several women into a frenzy.
But to me, it was nothing more or less than a tiring sight.
“Those two are fighting again.”
Let's run away.
Even if you run away, run far, far away.
I quickly headed between the bookshelves and hid between the tall wooden bookshelves.
“Oh... that looks so boring. It’s so thick.”
Phut!
As I was gathering up the seemingly utterly boring books one by one, a sudden loud noise shook my body. Soon, I felt an emptiness around me and behind me.
"Huh...?"
There was clearly a bookshelf, and I could see the blue sky. And the vast sea.
Before I could realize the situation, I heard someone calling me and turned my head towards them.
“Master!”
"Author!"
Two men ran toward me, reaching out. Dietrich drew his sword from his waistband and cut through the debris of the collapsing building.
I blinked on purpose because the scene seemed to be playing very slowly.
The pupils of the two men, their expressions desperate, were inexplicably dilated. It was amusing to see these two men, with their bad relationships, reaching out to me side by side.
Paang!
In the midst of all this, I heard another explosion and felt myself tilting. The sight of the books on the bookshelf scattering into the air was terribly surreal.
A sky filled with peaceful clouds and white paper fluttering as if defying gravity.
...and me.
Boom! Kwakwang!
The aftershock of the explosion sent me flying, and I saw a part of the tower, which had been intact, explode.
"Uh..."
Now, even the two people were nowhere to be seen.
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew, and I couldn't open my eyes properly. I raised my arms to shield my eyes, but my body was still defying gravity.
How long had it been like that? The wind stopped, and I lowered my raised arm.
All that is still visible is the blue sky.
However, I was no longer floating in the air, but lying somewhere.
"...Uh?"
Let's sort out the situation.
Question: I fell from the 100th floor. The bottom was the ocean.
But now I'm lying on a solid surface. I can even smell the fragrant grass.
Where is this place?
Is this the afterlife?
The answer came quickly.
“Ugh...”
I thought the afterlife wouldn't hurt, but every muscle in my body ached with pain. I strained my body, but it was difficult to move, so I paused for a moment to catch my breath.
Rustle.
I heard the sound of grass scraping against the ground, and I couldn't even move my neck, so I just stood there. At best, I thought he was a grim reaper.
It’s truly a shame to leave this world like this.
Are the afterlives connected?
While I was thinking absurd thoughts, a shadow fell over me.
“Are you okay?”
The one who appeared with the sunlight looks down at me and asks.
“Can you hear me? Then blink.”
Blink.
“Fortunately, you are conscious. Excuse me, but let me touch you.”
The man carefully lifted me up by putting his arm under my shoulder.
As I straightened my upper body, I regained my vision from the strong sunlight and was able to see who was speaking to me.
A man dressed in a peculiar white suit. He had dark brown hair and eyes and a neat smile.
"uh..."
“Oh, you’re speaking. I thought you had no voice because you weren’t speaking.”
The man continued speaking in a calm and affectionate tone.
“I was praying to God when you fell from the sky.”
I stayed still because I couldn't grasp the situation yet.
"You seem injured, but I'll have to take you to the temple first. If you have trouble walking, would you mind if I carry you?"
Temple.
After hearing this word, I realized that the clothes the man was wearing were priestly attire.
I didn't recognize it at first because I had just written it as a white priest's robe without really thinking about what it would look like.
"Ah..."
A priest with brown hair and kind green eyes.
The priest's radiant beauty was enough to make the male protagonists' faces slap each other with their eyes wide open, but I know this man.
It was Bilau, the high priest of the temple at the crossroads of the world's end.
I vividly remember being excited about the depravity of priests, thinking that it was the height of depravity...
Fortunately, this man doesn't know that I'm an Author.
“I will hug you.”
The priest lifted me effortlessly and began walking. Dressed in clean white, he looked holy and sacred. He smelled like the midday sun.
“If you feel uncomfortable, please let me know.”
"Yes."
First of all, this guy wasn't the type to be obsessed or fussy, so nothing bad should happen. Above all, this place is very close to the end of the world, so it'll be easy to escape if necessary.
What happened to Shish, Dietrich, and Yuno?
I hope Shish and Dietrich are okay. I'm sure they were definitely on the tower when it exploded, and they fell into the sea.
I'm not sure, but I'm sure I was caught in the aftermath of the explosion and ended up in a completely different area.
“Do you feel any pain or discomfort anywhere?”
"Yes."
The priest must think my body is made of steel. He speaks as if it's natural for me to fall from the sky and not feel any pain.
By the way, I never escaped on my own feet.
Don't misunderstand and later say you're going to chain me up, put a spell on me, and lock me up, kids. Got it?
I muttered loudly to myself, even though the other person couldn't hear.
“Now, that building is the temple.”
I looked up at the priest's words.
Despite its majestic and heavy location at the end of the human world, the temple was simple.
Although the grounds themselves seemed spacious due to the nearby forest, the buildings were smaller than the grandeur of the Milan or Beluga ducal palaces.
Priest, Bilau led me to a small building through a side street, not the main building.
“Would you please wait here for a moment?”
“...”
“Excuse me, but please wait here. Outsiders are not allowed to enter the temple without permission.”
It had been a long time since someone had asked me my opinion so politely, so I took a moment to reflect on what they had said.
"Yes."
It's not that I shouldn't show myself, but I've accepted it for now.
Bilau sat me down on the bench and disappeared.
I guess I can buy myself some time to think.
It was a secluded space, surrounded by building walls. I stared at the grass tickling my ankles.
"Temple..."
All I remember is that the heroine enjoyed a 19+ life with the priests, and that the wine was very tasty.
The heroine did come here. But she couldn't find the door and was captured by the male protagonists.
"Are you listening, kids? I didn't really come here on my own, did I? I had no choice but to come because of the explosion."
As I was mumbling as if I was going to confession, someone tapped me on the shoulder.
“What are you?”
I raised my head at the sound of a voice different from that of Bilau.
A tall man stood there, resembling Bilau, yet possessing a distinctly different feel. He squinted one eye and asked, as if questioning.
“Who are you to be here? You’re not a priest.”
Another thing just occurred to me.
Here, it was the gold-free zone.
I closed the thick book.
“I became stronger!”
“Congratulations, Master.”
As I stood up with my fists clenched, Shish applauded.
Finally, I finished reading the history of the empire.
At first, I was confused because it was completely new content, but as I watched, I realized that there was a lot of content that I had imagined, so I was able to finish it faster than I initially expected.
“As expected, my master is amazing.”
Shish seems to think I'm smart and can get over it quickly.
...No, this guy might have figured something out.
“Shish.”
"Yes?"
“I hope you heard it without misunderstanding.”
“What are you trying to say, my master?”
As Shish narrowed his eyes, his breathing quickened, but he kept his eyes firmly closed and did not look away from my gaze.
“You said you read a book called This World is a Novel.”
"...Yes."
Unusually, Shish's reply was delayed.
“Do you remember what it said?”
“Of course...”
He closed his mouth and furrowed his brow.
“I saw it clearly, but why...”
There was a hint of strangeness in the muttering.
In the end, Shish, who was obviously frowning, shook his head.
“I don’t remember.”
"What?"
“I really don’t remember. It’s like I erased it entirely.”
...Have you forgotten what the book was about?
This is something that could never have happened with Shish's memory.
“What about the other one?”
“The other one? What else was there?”
What, you don't know anything about my life story?
"Yeah. It's two volumes. The main story and the sequel. I mean the sequel, but you really don't remember?"
Even though I spoke to him as if I was just checking, Shish still shook his head.
“Then there’s nothing we can do.”
I kept my mouth shut, afraid that asking more questions would seem suspicious and that I might unknowingly give away information.
How wrong is this world?
***
Time passed quickly, and the day came when the three of them gathered.
After taking blood from Dietrich, Yuno left to improve the medicine, leaving only me, Shish, and Dietrich in the library.
I had finished the history of the empire, but I still had other things to learn from Shish.
Shish and I were sitting next to each other at the table, and Dietrich was standing next to me.
“If the lower part is resolved, then I won’t have to see the stupid beast with the master anymore, right?”
"What?"
“That’s right. Didn’t you only want your master’s body?”
Dietrich's face contorted at Shish's story, mixed with laughter.
"Don't speak carelessly, Prime Minister. Even though my body has become like this, I still want to be with Author."
“So in the end, you’re saying that you only want the body.”
Shish smiled leisurely and brushed his hair back. With that look, he'd charmed many innocent women.
Dietrich drew his sword and glared at Shish with a sharp gaze.
“Don’t judge my feelings for the Author so rashly, Prime Minister.”
Dietrich threatened his opponent with his well-sharpened sword without a second thought. This sight sent several women into a frenzy.
But to me, it was nothing more or less than a tiring sight.
“Those two are fighting again.”
Let's run away.
Even if you run away, run far, far away.
I quickly headed between the bookshelves and hid between the tall wooden bookshelves.
“Oh... that looks so boring. It’s so thick.”
Phut!
As I was gathering up the seemingly utterly boring books one by one, a sudden loud noise shook my body. Soon, I felt an emptiness around me and behind me.
"Huh...?"
There was clearly a bookshelf, and I could see the blue sky. And the vast sea.
Before I could realize the situation, I heard someone calling me and turned my head towards them.
“Master!”
"Author!"
Two men ran toward me, reaching out. Dietrich drew his sword from his waistband and cut through the debris of the collapsing building.
I blinked on purpose because the scene seemed to be playing very slowly.
The pupils of the two men, their expressions desperate, were inexplicably dilated. It was amusing to see these two men, with their bad relationships, reaching out to me side by side.
Paang!
In the midst of all this, I heard another explosion and felt myself tilting. The sight of the books on the bookshelf scattering into the air was terribly surreal.
A sky filled with peaceful clouds and white paper fluttering as if defying gravity.
...and me.
Boom! Kwakwang!
The aftershock of the explosion sent me flying, and I saw a part of the tower, which had been intact, explode.
"Uh..."
Now, even the two people were nowhere to be seen.
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew, and I couldn't open my eyes properly. I raised my arms to shield my eyes, but my body was still defying gravity.
How long had it been like that? The wind stopped, and I lowered my raised arm.
All that is still visible is the blue sky.
However, I was no longer floating in the air, but lying somewhere.
"...Uh?"
Let's sort out the situation.
Question: I fell from the 100th floor. The bottom was the ocean.
But now I'm lying on a solid surface. I can even smell the fragrant grass.
Where is this place?
Is this the afterlife?
The answer came quickly.
“Ugh...”
I thought the afterlife wouldn't hurt, but every muscle in my body ached with pain. I strained my body, but it was difficult to move, so I paused for a moment to catch my breath.
Rustle.
I heard the sound of grass scraping against the ground, and I couldn't even move my neck, so I just stood there. At best, I thought he was a grim reaper.
It’s truly a shame to leave this world like this.
Are the afterlives connected?
While I was thinking absurd thoughts, a shadow fell over me.
“Are you okay?”
The one who appeared with the sunlight looks down at me and asks.
“Can you hear me? Then blink.”
Blink.
“Fortunately, you are conscious. Excuse me, but let me touch you.”
The man carefully lifted me up by putting his arm under my shoulder.
As I straightened my upper body, I regained my vision from the strong sunlight and was able to see who was speaking to me.
A man dressed in a peculiar white suit. He had dark brown hair and eyes and a neat smile.
"uh..."
“Oh, you’re speaking. I thought you had no voice because you weren’t speaking.”
The man continued speaking in a calm and affectionate tone.
“I was praying to God when you fell from the sky.”
I stayed still because I couldn't grasp the situation yet.
"You seem injured, but I'll have to take you to the temple first. If you have trouble walking, would you mind if I carry you?"
Temple.
After hearing this word, I realized that the clothes the man was wearing were priestly attire.
I didn't recognize it at first because I had just written it as a white priest's robe without really thinking about what it would look like.
"Ah..."
A priest with brown hair and kind green eyes.
The priest's radiant beauty was enough to make the male protagonists' faces slap each other with their eyes wide open, but I know this man.
It was Bilau, the high priest of the temple at the crossroads of the world's end.
I vividly remember being excited about the depravity of priests, thinking that it was the height of depravity...
Fortunately, this man doesn't know that I'm an Author.
“I will hug you.”
The priest lifted me effortlessly and began walking. Dressed in clean white, he looked holy and sacred. He smelled like the midday sun.
“If you feel uncomfortable, please let me know.”
"Yes."
First of all, this guy wasn't the type to be obsessed or fussy, so nothing bad should happen. Above all, this place is very close to the end of the world, so it'll be easy to escape if necessary.
What happened to Shish, Dietrich, and Yuno?
I hope Shish and Dietrich are okay. I'm sure they were definitely on the tower when it exploded, and they fell into the sea.
I'm not sure, but I'm sure I was caught in the aftermath of the explosion and ended up in a completely different area.
“Do you feel any pain or discomfort anywhere?”
"Yes."
The priest must think my body is made of steel. He speaks as if it's natural for me to fall from the sky and not feel any pain.
By the way, I never escaped on my own feet.
Don't misunderstand and later say you're going to chain me up, put a spell on me, and lock me up, kids. Got it?
I muttered loudly to myself, even though the other person couldn't hear.
“Now, that building is the temple.”
I looked up at the priest's words.
Despite its majestic and heavy location at the end of the human world, the temple was simple.
Although the grounds themselves seemed spacious due to the nearby forest, the buildings were smaller than the grandeur of the Milan or Beluga ducal palaces.
Priest, Bilau led me to a small building through a side street, not the main building.
“Would you please wait here for a moment?”
“...”
“Excuse me, but please wait here. Outsiders are not allowed to enter the temple without permission.”
It had been a long time since someone had asked me my opinion so politely, so I took a moment to reflect on what they had said.
"Yes."
It's not that I shouldn't show myself, but I've accepted it for now.
Bilau sat me down on the bench and disappeared.
I guess I can buy myself some time to think.
It was a secluded space, surrounded by building walls. I stared at the grass tickling my ankles.
"Temple..."
All I remember is that the heroine enjoyed a 19+ life with the priests, and that the wine was very tasty.
The heroine did come here. But she couldn't find the door and was captured by the male protagonists.
"Are you listening, kids? I didn't really come here on my own, did I? I had no choice but to come because of the explosion."
As I was mumbling as if I was going to confession, someone tapped me on the shoulder.
“What are you?”
I raised my head at the sound of a voice different from that of Bilau.
A tall man stood there, resembling Bilau, yet possessing a distinctly different feel. He squinted one eye and asked, as if questioning.
“Who are you to be here? You’re not a priest.”
Another thing just occurred to me.
Here, it was the gold-free zone.
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