I will become the villain of volume one.
After building up expectations for the next volume, I’ll neatly conclude it in a single volume.
There’s a lot of foreshadowing, but it’s cohesive enough to avoid any meddling from the Elders’ Council.
Did you enjoy volume one? Oh wait, there’s no volume two, so it’s a standalone! Let’s meet again in the first volume of another novel.
Even if the Elders’ Council calls me a one-volume villain, I’ll laugh as I leave the Zhuge family after taking a little bit of revenge. Truly a perfect plan.
Of course, there was a rather trivial problem.
“What novel should I write?”
I returned from the meeting, but I had no idea what kind of novel to write.
“Weren’t you feeling confident? You came back without knowing what to write?”
Gilsan leaned against the wall and asked me, sitting blankly in the chair.
“Does writing come that easily?”
“If you’re the world-renowned Ho Pil, shouldn’t you manage that much?”
“Ho Pil can write well because he writes what he wants. If I write what I’m told to, I just want to collapse on the floor.”
I sat in front of the desk as soon as I arrived, but the paper in front of me had been blank for hours.
Ugh.
“The old folks are too much. What nonsense are they talking about?”
Ugh….
“Seriously. The protagonist of the Sichuan Tang Family feels envious, so they want the protagonist of the Zhuge family? Where did this ridiculous demand come from?”
Ehh….
“Miss Zhuge. What are you doing down there?”
I turned my head to look at Miss Zhuge, who was bowing her head down on the floor.
“I-I’m apologizing on behalf of the elders…”
Miss Zhuge said with her head down, seemingly feeling unworthy.
“You don’t need to do that, Miss Zhuge.”
“B-But…”
“This is something to get the Elders’ Council’s agreement on. They said I could write just one volume, so it’s fine. If you really feel sorry, just help a lot, Miss Zhuge.”
As I approached Miss Zhuge and gently tickled her back, she seemed unable to hold back and stood up.
Lately, she’s been looking even prettier. Watching her timidly glancing at me made me smile without realizing it.
“Then! I will help with anything!”
“You can’t say ‘anything’.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
——
“Zhuge family’s protagonist…”
A sigh mixed with frustration slipped out before I knew it.
I like martial arts, but as a writer and a reader, the protagonist of the Zhuge family is genuinely a difficult topic.
“Why are you so painfully sighing? Don’t you have any ideas? You wrote well about the protagonists of the Sichuan Tang family and the Mount Wu, didn’t you? Can’t you just write about the Zhuge family’s protagonist similarly?”
“Their martial arts characteristics aren’t of a powerful family.”
“What?”
“Ah, right. Our family isn’t particularly famous in martial arts.”
Miss Zhuge seemed to agree, nodding passively.
“What are you talking about? Aren’t formations famous?”
“Ah, um… Well, formations aren’t martial arts strictly speaking; they’re more like the art of spatial manipulation.”
“Spatial manipulation?”
“In common sects, what’s called formations is martial arts, but the Zhuge family uses ancient methodologies of spatial manipulation.”
The origin of the Zhuge family’s formations comes from Zhuge Liang’s Eight Trigrams from the Three Kingdoms era, looking at the sky, reading celestial patterns, and measuring the earth, imitating immortals.
Often, the pinnacle of martial arts leads to becoming an immortal, so it can be said they are similar but stem from a different root.
“The Zhuge family’s martial artists are strong too. Isn’t that a problem?”
I shook my head at Gilsan’s words.
Of course, the Zhuge family’s martial arts aren’t weak. However, in terms of name value, the Zhuge family has to take a step back.
“What? Then why is the Zhuge family famous like other martial families?”
“Uh, um…”
“When four monkeys swing swords, there has to be a zookeeper counting the money from behind.”
Haha!
Miss Zhuge seemed to like that analogy as she covered her mouth and laughed.
“That means there are a lot of smart people?”
“Not just that. It’s a family that does everything for you.”
“What?”
“Medical Astrology, Forbidden Arts and Literature, Trade and Cultivation of Plants, Crafts and Miscellaneous Knowledge. Starting with medicine, then music, writing, painting, and even garden maintenance. They’re not just a family with both civil and martial skills; they excel at everything. So even when martial artists make a mess, the Zhuge family normalizes it.”
Whether it’s with swords, axes, or spears, someone has to wield a brush; otherwise, it would turn into a primitive society.
“Hehe. It’s only natural that everyone from the family has at least one talent. Man Geum Garden was made by the family as a gift for my mother.”
It was only natural for Miss Zhuge to feel proud.
Even when we make a mess, the Zhuge family covers for us.
A family that adds coherence to martial artists who only slice with swords. It’s no wonder the Zhuge family is rarely absent when talking about the Five Great Families or Eight Great Families.
Except for one problem.
“Except for the lack of distinctive martial arts characteristics.”
“Ah, right.”
“Having the Zhuge family’s protagonist… I just can’t get a grasp on it.”
Sichuan Tang Family. Namgung Family. Hebei Peng Family. Not to mention Jinju Yeon… Why must I skip them all and put the Zhuge family’s protagonist?
“How about examining the martial arts of the Zhuge family? Miss Xiang, can you show us?”
Seeing me in deep thought, Gilsan subtly spoke to Miss Zhuge, who was continuously glancing at me.
“M-Me?”
“Who else but you, the direct descendant of the Zhuge family, to demonstrate their martial arts?”
“Miss Zhuge, do you have any martial arts other than formations?”
I wondered if there was something I could think of by observing Miss Zhuge’s martial arts. Looking at her with an expectant gaze, she averted her gaze shyly and opened her mouth nervously.
“I-I can show you martial arts using iron wire.”
“Iron wire! Isn’t that the Zhuge family’s weaponry along with the Judge’s Pen?”
Right. It’s not a dead end. If the Zhuge family may not have a genius in sword arts, it’s possible to have a genius in blood stabbing.
“I can show it, but… Oh no, I have to help, so…”
She seems lacking in confidence in her martial arts skills. Miss Zhuge took out some iron wire from somewhere hesitantly.
Should I say it’s okay if she doesn’t want to? No, it’s a situation where I have to catch at least a straw.
“I-I will show you now.”
The Zhuge family’s martial arts unfolding with the iron fan. A martial art that is for self-defense but, like a fan dance, carries elegance. If a beauty performs it, it must be beautifully mesmerizing.
With a tense expression, Miss Zhuge began to showcase the Zhuge family martial arts that I imagined in my mind.
“Umm…”
As Miss Zhuge performed her martial arts, a murmur of disbelief escaped my lips before I knew it.
Should I say something?
No, let’s watch for a little longer. Miss Zhuge is trying her best. Just when I was deep in thought, someone spoke up as if they could no longer hold it in.
“Xiang, it looks like the reeds are swaying.”
“Ahhh…”
——
“I’m hopeless.”
“Hey. Even so, how can you say that?”
As I patted Miss Zhuge, who was lying face down on the bed, I scolded Gilsan.
“Seriously. If courtesans performed like that in front of me, I’d ask them to switch immediately…”
Ugh. What a blow.
“How can a person be good at drawing, formations, and martial arts all at once? You’ve seen enough talent; so don’t worry.”
Thanks to that, the genius in blood stabbing of the Zhuge family was nullified. I thought as I consoled Miss Zhuge.
“Don’t you have any other thoughts?”
“Thinking of the Zhuge family, it’s easier to imagine a female character than a male.”
It’s difficult to think of a male protagonist, but imagining a heroine feels relatively easy.
“What do you mean?”
“The protagonist competes, and somehow comes up with plausible strategies, going ‘Ah! This time it was your strategy that worked. I absolutely will not recognize you!’ but gradually becomes closer to the protagonist while using strategies that seem to be a teacher-student relationship.”
“Not bad?!”
“You, kid! You know a bit!”
Gilsan and I high-fived, and Miss Zhuge peeked up with her head raised.
“I-I feel like someone just came to mind.”
Her voice was filled with dissatisfaction, unlike Miss Zhuge.
“Ha-ha! It’s a misunderstanding!”
Facing Miss Zhuge’s doubtful gaze, I could only awkwardly smile. It’s truly a misunderstanding. Not Hayeon, but one among the genuine Zhuge family-type heroines.
“The Zhuge family genius in sword arts isn’t an option after all. Maybe I should have a protagonist who uses formations instead.”
I tossed the idea at random for now.
“I can help with formations too.”
Right. As long as I have Miss Zhuge’s help, I might handle the references. What could I do to please the Elders’ Council further?
“Does the Zhuge family have any unique barriers or domain development?”
“Huh?”
“It’s nothing. I’ll think a bit more.”
It certainly wasn’t a decision that could be made at once.
——
“This is overwhelming.”
Before I knew it, it was evening. I muttered while looking out the window.
In most martial arts novels, characters from the Zhuge family often play supporting roles. They often serve as strategists or heads of the martial alliance, essential but hard to be the protagonist.
They are undoubtedly martial artists, but characters who stand out in areas other than martial arts. That character aspect defines the Zhuge family.
Being tied to the next volume as the protagonist of the Zhuge family while writing a martial arts novel that pleases the Elders’ Council.
It’s quite a dilemma.
“Master Kang. Would you like some tea?”
“Thank you. This tea smells wonderful.”
Such a pleasant scent. As I lifted the teacup that Miss Zhuge handed me, I spoke.
“It’s lavender tea. It will help calm your mind.”
“Ah… I see.”
Lavender tea from the Zhuge family. Indeed, it’s suitable for evening tea as it helps with sleep.
“I…”
Miss Zhuge, holding the tray cautiously, gazed at me carefully.
“Feel free to speak.”
“I-I think you seem to have too many worries.”
“How can I write a novel that will please the Elders’ Council?”
I spoke confidently when I returned yet found myself completely lost.
Miss Zhuge glanced at my worried face and continued speaking, lowering her head.
“Ah! I wasn’t trying to say that. It’s just… I think it’d be great if you just did what Master Kang does well.”
“What I do well?”
“The elders just want to see the Zhuge family as written by the renowned Ho Pil. They wouldn’t want to see the Zhuge family they tell you to write.”
“When it comes to the characters of the Zhuge family I write…”
I shouldn’t be overly concerned about the Elders’ Council. What’s important is the novel I want to write. It made me realize I shouldn’t think too much about their opinions.
“What Master Kang wants to write, what Master Kang does well, that’s what you should pursue.”
“Is it okay to do that?”
At my question, Miss Zhuge nodded her head, smiling like a blooming hydrangea in the night.
“Yes. Write freely. Because you are my, my, my…”
“What?”
Miss Zhuge blushed and stared at me for a while, then seemed to muster her courage, closing her eyes and saying,
“My Master Kang.”
“Miss Zhuge…”
Her gaze towards me was filled with unwavering trust.
“Ah, but it seems like Hayeon shouldn’t come out.”
I correct myself. I wavered for a moment.
“Hahahaha!”
“Ah! You can do whatever you want!”
Though Miss Zhuge corrected herself out of embarrassment, I couldn’t stop laughing. I felt like my belly might burst from laughter.
“I’ve decided on the theme.”
I tidied myself and stood up.
“R-Really?”
In response to Miss Zhuge’s question, I lifted my brush.
I didn’t necessarily have to write a martial arts novel that the Elders’ Council wanted.
If I didn’t have to write a martial arts novel, then what kind of novel should I write? The character traits fitting the Zhuge family are, after all, intelligence over martial arts.
Let’s write what I want.
The answer lies within me. The genre I like. The field at which I excel. And a genre that makes the Elders’ Council yearn for the next volume.
“What’s this?”
Miss Zhuge asked, looking at the answer I found within me.
“It’s the name of the protagonist I will write about.”
“…Zhuge Seollok?”
“I’ll be writing a mystery novel.”
