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Chapter : 10
It was nearly half a year later that Volume 3 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms was finally published.
The news spread like wildfire.
“At last…!”
“The day has finally come!”
People began lining up in front of bookstores.
At first, passersby rubbed their eyes in disbelief, wondering what was happening.
Now they were almost used to it, merely watching with curiosity.
There was, however, one unusual change.
The composition of the crowd had shifted.
“Huh? That crest…”
“Isn’t that the Bodrick Viscount family’s emblem?”
“I think I see Baron Rotenbar’s crest over there too.”
Since Lugbadin was a major city, it wasn’t uncommon to see noble servants shopping.
But seeing them standing in line outside a bookstore was a rare spectacle.
“Don’t tell me nobles are reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms too?”
“Come on, no way. A cheap book that costs three silver coins? Nobles spend five or even ten silver coins on a single book.”
“Still, it’s entertaining. You never know.”
Perhaps some servants enjoyed reading.
The bystanders reached their own conclusions and quickly lost interest.
But…
I’m not actually a servant.
Klaus Rotenbar swallowed hard and did his best to ignore the curious looks.
To think nobody recognized him—the third son of House Rotenbar, famed among the Marquis’s vassals for its martial prowess.
His disguise had worked, but part of him felt strangely disappointed.
No. I should be happy.
Who knew I had a talent for disguises?
The reason the brave knight Klaus was standing here was simple.
He wanted to buy Volume 3 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
More precisely, he wanted to buy it and read it immediately.
If I send a servant to buy it, how long will I have to wait? I’m heading to the Northern Front next week.
Some might think it strange for a noble to go this far.
But Klaus knew better.
Interest in K.H.’s novels among the nobility had already reached astonishing levels.
Which was only natural.
After all, this was the author whose latest work had made noblewomen weep and driven knights into deep contemplation.
Rumors even claimed the book had spread beyond the Marquisate and was being read in neighboring territories.
And now people learned that the same author had another series?
That a new volume had just been released?
Of course nobles wanted to read it too.
The book already sold out quickly even before attracting aristocratic attention.
For Klaus, who had reread Volumes 1 and 2 five times while waiting for Volume 3, the situation was unbearable.
It was like discovering that your favorite steak restaurant had suddenly become famous for its cheese dishes and attracted crowds from everywhere.
If the first printing sells out, I’m finished. It’s embarrassing, but… I’ll buy it myself.
A great knight possessed decisive action.
The moment Klaus made up his mind, he acted.
As a result, he successfully purchased the forty-fifth copy sold that day.
Thump. Thump.
The entire walk back to his inn, he never let go of the book.
It almost felt as though the book itself had a heartbeat.
If his father saw him like this, he’d probably clutch the back of his neck and lament the collapse of the family’s dignity.
But it couldn’t be helped.
Waiting for a copy to eventually arrive at the Northern Front would be far worse.
Klaus returned to his room and carefully opened the book.
The wait was finally over.
Taking a deep breath, he began reading each line with utmost care.
Volume 3 opened with Dong Zhuo’s death, brought about through Diaochan’s beauty trap and Lü Bu’s betrayal.
Then came the true era of competing warlords.
As powerful factions clashed across the land, Liu Bei wandered from battlefield to battlefield, earning distinction after distinction before finally settling in Xu Province and obtaining territory of his own.
But his peace was short-lived.
Lü Bu—the man who had become synonymous with betrayal after turning against Dong Zhuo and drifting from one master to another—appeared once more.
The rational choice would be to refuse him. But…
A wrinkle formed on Klaus’s brow.
Refusing was clearly the logical option.
And yet…
As expected, you accepted him, Liu Bei.
You truly are a knight.
Indeed. A knight cannot abandon someone who has nowhere left to go.
Of course, Liu Bei hadn’t accepted Lü Bu because of knightly ideals.
But interpretation belonged to the reader.
Admiring Liu Bei’s decision, Klaus eagerly continued reading.
The problem was…
BANG!
“Another betrayal, Lü Bu?!”
Klaus slammed his fist onto the table and roared in outrage.
After being welcomed in, Lü Bu repaid that kindness by seizing Xu Province.
Wasn’t he ashamed?
A man hailed as the strongest warrior in the world?
“Lü Bu is no knight. This is not what a knight should be…”
Klaus muttered as though entranced.
He himself had devoted his life to becoming stronger.
He had always believed that strength was the path toward becoming a great knight.
Yet Lü Bu’s actions posed a question.
What is a knight?
What should a true knight be?
“Whew… calm down. A man like this cannot possibly meet a peaceful end.”
Regaining his composure, Klaus turned the page.
After losing Xu Province to Lü Bu’s betrayal, Liu Bei sought refuge under Cao Cao.
The irony was striking.
Cao Cao was the very man responsible for turning Xu Province into a sea of blood before Liu Bei had ever governed it.
Cao Cao…
The Massacre of Xu Province.
When Cao Cao’s father was killed by a subordinate of Tao Qian, the ruler of Xu Province, Cao Cao retaliated by slaughtering countless civilians.
In Edward’s former world, this event was almost universally condemned.
But Klaus viewed it differently.
Death was familiar in a medieval world.
Especially to a knight who fought on battlefields.
Killing with a justifiable reason was not something he automatically rejected.
Of course, he disliked the murder of innocent civilians, but…
To go this far for his father…
What excessive filial devotion.
To Klaus, Cao Cao was simply a devoted son.
And now Liu Bei served beneath him.
One night, the two men shared drinks together.
Cao Cao sought to conquer the continent.
Liu Bei knew he would someday have to defeat Cao Cao for the sake of the Han Dynasty.
A subtle tension filled the air.
A battle of words.
A contest of hidden intentions.
The wine flowed.
Rain fell outside.
Then—
CRAAAASH!
“In all the world today, there are only two heroes worthy of ruling it.
You and I.”
“…!”
At that exact moment, amid thunder and lightning, Cao Cao finally spoke.
His ambition.
And the irresistible temptation he offered Liu Bei.
Klaus leapt to his feet and hurriedly turned the page.
But—
“What do you mean it ends here?!”
Klaus finally realized his mistake.
The sooner he read the book…
The longer he would have to wait for the next volume.
How many months must I wait to see Liu Bei’s answer?
Despair overwhelmed him.
Only then did his eyes drift to the back cover, where a familiar symbol was clearly stamped.
“This is…”
His hand traced the emblem.
His face turned pale with shock.
“The crest of House Rinter…?”
Could it be…
Patronage?
* * *
While the public celebrated the release of Volume 3,
The nobility were experiencing a different kind of shock.
Rumors had begun spreading that House Rinter was sponsoring Author K.H.
Who was Marquis Rinter?
The embodiment of cold rationality.
A man famous for frugality and for despising extravagance.
There were even rumors that the paintings hanging in his residence were chosen by his butler based solely on whichever ones were cheapest.
And now that man was sponsoring an artist?
A novelist, no less?
The topic dominated noble social gatherings.
“What in the world is happening?”
“Has House Rinter ever sponsored an artist before?”
“No. Never!”
Unlike Marquis Villac Rinter, his only daughter Emilia had always shown an interest in the arts.
The nobles knew this.
Which somehow made the situation even harder to believe.
“Could he have somehow caught Lady Emilia’s attention?”
“No way. Didn’t she reject every artist who approached her?”
“But The Sorrows of Young Werther…”
“…Actually, that might be possible.”
What had nobles spent the past several months discussing?
The Sorrows of Young Werther.
Love.
Sorrow.
Despair.
Anguish.
Everything revolved around that one novel.
“You’re right. A work like that would certainly appeal to Lady Emilia.”
“Then perhaps this new novel as well…”
“Romance of the Three Kingdoms? But isn’t it excessively violent and barbaric?”
When nobles first read the series, most reacted negatively.
Rebels were one thing.
But wasn’t the Han Empire depicted as hopelessly rotten?
As though its collapse were inevitable.
The corruption was portrayed so openly and vividly that many found it distasteful.
And yet…
“Is it really violent?”
A shift in perspective could change everything.
When commoners and knights praised a story full of rebellion, corruption, murder, arson, and warfare, it seemed dangerous.
But what if the same story bore the official endorsement of House Rinter?
“…It’s avant-garde.”
“Our kingdom is at war as well. Perhaps it’s a reflection on the horrors of war and the importance of a stable monarchy.”
“Who said this book was barbaric?”
Attitudes changed.
Nobles began viewing Romance of the Three Kingdoms far more favorably.
“Some nobles simply lack proper education.”
“That’s true. Those of our caliber can appreciate the book’s value.”
“It seems commoners enjoy the battle scenes. They probably don’t grasp the deeper symbolism the way we do.”
At last, the nobles had found something.
An excuse.
An excuse to openly love Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
“This Yuan Shao fellow is impressive. I believe he’ll ultimately seize supremacy.”
“I agree. Cao Cao is talented, but too cunning and impulsive. He’ll eventually have to bow to reality.”
“I don’t understand why Liu Bei is the protagonist. Perhaps he’s meant to be relatable to commoners? A mat seller who’s secretly descended from royalty? That’s exactly the kind of fantasy commoners would enjoy.”
A new topic of discussion.
Something nobles always craved.
And now that three volumes had been released, there was plenty to discuss.
From that point onward, debates about Romance of the Three Kingdoms became fashionable within aristocratic society.
Male nobles argued over military campaigns, warlords, and the fall of the Han Dynasty.
Meanwhile, female nobles—the traditional consumers of novels—
“Lord Guan Yu is rather handsome…”
“I became completely invested in Diaochan and Lü Bu’s relationship… sniff…”
This was the Middle Ages.
An era of swords and horses.
A brutal age, in many respects.
And because of that, women’s ideals of masculine charm often centered on martial prowess.
The niche female fanbase Edward had worried about was slowly beginning to emerge within noble society as well.
Of course, all these developments unfolded gradually after the publication of Volume 3.
As for the author himself—
K.H, the man responsible for the book—
On the very day Volume 3 was released…
He found himself in quite a difficult situation.
