The Editor Is the Novel’s Extra

It is urgent to comply with the Labor Standards Act

First was the crown prince. From Kleio’s viewpoint, it would have been better to deal with him as the insidious person from the previous versions or some evil twin. However, Behemoth had called Melchior human. He just happened to have the protection of a muse. Looking back at the situation with Tasserton, it seemed that Melchior had seen an information window similar to Kleio’s. The warning was outside the output area of Clio’s Promise. Thinking about the crown prince’s skill, it seemed to be for the purpose of displaying people’s thoughts and details when using his talent.

‘So far, only he and I have unique skills named after the Muses… Do all people who associate with the Muses see these messages?’

What a terrible hybrid was a Greek god displaying messages on an LED signboard… Kleio soon arrived at another question. Why was the villain Melchior, and not Arthur, protected by the Muse?

‘The goddess doesn’t engage in powerful events directly, then why does she leave traces here with her name and word? Is it a sponsorship? For what purpose? Was this the author’s intent?’

Jungjin was given the purpose of renewing this world. He had received Clio’s name in the form of Promise so that he could fulfill his role. If Melchior didn’t come from outside the work like Jungjin, then he was something built into the system.

‘…And that life is so terrible.’

The vivid memories of his eight lives, to be endured only to decorate the final victory of the protagonist. In the manuscript -The Prince of the Albion Kingdom-, the description of Melchior’s struggle had been completely omitted. Kleio felt an incredible sense of compassion for the world’s adversary. At the same time, he wanted to blame himself for such a feeling.

‘Who cares now? This life doesn’t make any sense.’

Perhaps this was an aftereffect of being exposed to the charm skill. There was a possibility that Separation had weakened that night, given that Promise was working overtime. Erato’s charm was a powerful skill, granting Melchior the means to survive in a hostile world. Kleio’s anger subsided a little only after he screamed out some profanities he had learned in the military.

‘It feels dirty, damn it. He even tried to kill me at the last minute. He’s not just a villain — he’s a completely convinced madman. It hurts.’

Kleio, who had listened to Melchior’s dramatic monologue when he had been barely awake, was able to confirm that he was only interested in the coronation itself. He had no concerns for the country’s future, the well-being of the people, or anything like that.

‘A king like him is an absolute no-no for the people of Albion.’

Melchior knew too much, and there seemed like too many such people were showing up now. And Arthur… the orthodox protagonist. Kleio was hoping he wouldn’t learn about these issues until the end.

‘But the new unique skills aftermath…’

Kleio carefully reviewed the warnings that had come to mind when he activated it.

The activation of Diegesis has the potential to violate the inner consistency of the work.

If the internal consistency of the manuscript is seriously impaired, there is a risk that the narrative structure will be dismantled.

The content of the warning had become clear right after he used the skill.

Arthur had felt like he could do and understand everything. He seemed to have found some answer to his questions, but he had not been able to ask what problems were resolved even after the case was over.

‘Even if I try to ask, it won’t get me anywhere. There also seems to be a degree of influence on his training.’

Arthur had begun training with an unprecedently serious attitude, and Mietsu, who remained in the Duchy as a guest, had ignited his own spirit of education. Even though he was bunking in the same room as Arthur, he hadn’t seen his face for four days. Rather, he heard the news of them and Isiel only through the servants who brought in his meals.

They had told him that Isiel and Arthur had been in a fight and that they dug up the training ground for the twelfth time. There was apparently an explosion in the mountain as well, and when the patrol investigated, they had found Arthur and Mietsu fighting with wooden sticks. Arthur sounded to be energized after the night of the raid. In such a situation, it seemed impossible to ask what questions the young prince had about himself. Besides, there were so many things Kleio hadn’t told Arthur, and many of them were secrets he intended to keep.

‘Arthur already has his visions, but what if he learns about the manuscript? It would be like finding a tiger while trying to avoid a fox.’

He had no corner to move comfortably, especially given the issues in using Editor’s Authority this time around. As soon as he had woken up, he pushed in enter to confirm that it was working. His stigma had lit up intact, making Kleio so furious he wanted to smash something. Of course, he was staying in someone else’s castle, so he had to bear that rage.

‘You don’t listen to my recommendations, the author, but the name had convinced me.’

Kleio had to hold down his anger, having more than a couple of problems at hand to consider. However, as he dealt with the aftermath of his fever and muscle pain, he had only one thought as he lay down in that narrow bed.

‘I want to be paid for a leave of absence. I don’t want to think about anything for just one month! Ah! Apply the Labor Standards Act to this book!’

***

It took a week for Kleio’s fever to fade away completely, and as soon as his body temperature normalized, Kleio booked his train ticket. Arthur and his party, who hadn’t been able to leave even when asked, were going for the capital in a day. If someone had cast [Reduction] on Kleio, his recovery would’ve quickened, but there was no end to the issues that arose. The apprentice wizard stopped working after the demon raid, and Meyer hadn’t a chance to see him since he had been too busy. Instead, the castle maids had shown him kindness, disinfecting and applying ointment to his wounds. The knights, soldiers, and their family had also bought and fed him a bunch of honey, boiled fruit, and tea. Meanwhile, the children were busy restoring the castle and training.

‘I don’t know what the twins or Cel are doing in the training area… phew.’

At that moment, Trude visited Kleio as he was busy packing.

“Little wizard!”

The knight, carrying a basket full of peanuts and walnuts, delivered the day’s news as he did throughout the past week. Arthur’s training had become so severe that even the knights couldn’t bear to watch it. Had he not been supervised by Mietsu, he would’ve likely ended up dead at the bottom of the waterfall in the middle of the mountain. Kleio’s face was filled with sorrow and compassion, and Trude broke open some of the nuts.

“However, thanks to that, we found all those shadow spiders that popped out.”

There had been thousands of shadow spiders that appeared that day. However, Arthur and Mietsu had found out the cause of their attack during training.

“There were a bunch of black crystals buried in the cliffs by the sea. How good it would’ve been if we knew about it earlier.”

“It was probably buried and brought up recently.”

“That’s right, Lysa said as much. Recently, a landslide caused the rock to crack, so more demons came out.”

“Her investigation and research are so accurate and quick.”

“Lysa is the smartest of us, but you aren’t normal either. But you and the prince, and that red-haired knight. Are there only such smart monsters in the Defense Force’s school?”

“Arthur and Isiel are exceptional. Arthur, in particular, can’t be compared to.”

“I was pretty skilled at that age, but it’s different from being a prince. Hi, little prince, and our duke. I remember something from when I was young. To think that man was so skilled.”

After completing today’s training and washing up, Cel opened the door to visit Kleio and answered Trude instead.

“He was originally famous for being completely stupid.”

“Did you finish your run? He’s a fool that drinks more than a couple drinks at a celebration and wears the same sword all day long.”

“What…”

Cel chatted easily with Trude, whose simple personality matched Cel’s well. While Kleio slowly packed, the two sat around his bed and ate snacks as they chattered. Kleio clicked his tongue mentally.

‘He reached level 6, so wouldn’t it be good to rest and celebrate for a few days? Or, does he think that level up isn’t entirely his own?’

That seemed likely for Arthur. Even though he reached level 6, a title hadn’t appeared and remained blank, which he might’ve thought was attributed to Kleio’s help.

‘Well, it’s not a big deal, but I can’t say anything.’

Cel laughed with Trude as Kleio was lost in thought.

“I know what the prince is thinking. If the duke had been injured that much, would Grendel have been normal? He thinks that his lack of strength made everything a mess and got our wizard hurt.”

“Why is that the prince’s responsibility?”

Kleio stopped unnaturally in the middle of organizing his luggage. Cel, a genius at grasping the mood, skillfully flowed out of Trude’s questions.

“Yes? Why? Where did you get these walnuts? They are so delicious.”

“Oh, my uncle has a few trees. Would you like some more?”

“Oh, thank you. They would be a wonderful snack on the train. If you come to the capital later, please stop by the Camellia Hall.”

“Yes! In spring, I will be back in Lundane!”

The students and the knights had become incredibly close after fighting together. As far as Rotan was concerned, they were friends because they shared life and death together. As a middle-aged Tsundere, he had taken more care of the children than anyone else. Tristein’s own soldiers had effectively stopped the beasts without a single loss, which was an undeniably great victory.

Rather, the orders that Melchior left behind were causing a bigger storm than the duke’s death or the raid. The situation was clear to an outsider like Kleio. He had gained favor among the Tristein knights and was able to remove their limitations without much resistance. The order he left was that Tasserton Tristein, the 23rd duke, was exempt from the obligation to protect the northern territory after completing his inheritance procedure and could go to the capital with the necessary personnel. With that permission, the young knights were excited.