How To Live As A Writer In A Fantasy World-Chapter 455: Sequel (2)

Readers who believed Zenon’s Chronicles had truly ended with the side story of Jin and Lily were surprised and excited when another side story was announced.

“Is there really more to tell? Wasn’t Jin and Lily’s side story the final chapter? What could this new story be about?”

As curiosity spread, the publisher provided an interesting clarification:

[The final side story, The Passing Hero, is a prequel, just like the Kair Side Story.]

It was revealed that, like the Kair side story—which depicted Zenon’s mentor Kair’s youth and his poignant love story with Elisha—this new side story was also a prequel.

Interestingly, the term prequel didn’t originally exist in this world, but was coined by Isaac when publishing the Kair side story.

Upon seeing the title The Passing Hero, readers speculated:

“Whose story could this be? The title suggests it’s about someone who appeared in the main series.”

The speculation was intense:

[Who is the Passing Hero?]

[Many readers suspect it’s Sakran…]

[One thing is certain: this hero is going to die. That has always been the case.]

[Let’s preemptively mourn yet another tragic death of a side-story protagonist…]

Readers had good reason for their concerns. Every protagonist of Zenon’s Chronicles side stories had met a tragic fate. Kair, for instance, suffered a heartbreaking death, and even Jin was originally meant to die—until an outcry from readers led to his revival. The pattern was clear:

Side story protagonists always die.

It was a sad yet amusing expectation that perfectly aligned with Isaac’s storytelling style.

Just as speculation reached its peak, the publisher made another surprising announcement:

[The protagonist of this side story is a completely new character who did not appear in the main series.]

Rather than celebrating, readers were puzzled.

[With so many fascinating characters already established in the main story, why introduce someone entirely new?]

However, once the side story was released, all doubts vanished.

[The protagonist, Kalk, is truly worthy of the title Passing Hero.]

[Though unrecognized by the world, he left behind ‘hope’—the greatest threat to demons.]

[There are many heroes who perished without leaving even their names behind.]

The story received praise on par with the main series.

Kalk was no more than a mercenary and adventurer, earning a living through odd jobs. Yet, when faced with crisis, his true capabilities shone through:

[A charismatic leader who could rally his subordinates]

[An unshakable resolve, even in his final moments]

[Inhuman stamina and perseverance]

One of the most memorable moments was Kalk’s speech before the final battle against demon-worshippers who had summoned real demons:

[We will be forgotten! Swallowed whole by a great evil, leaving not even a trace behind! If you wish to depart with hope, leave now. But if you wish to fight for hope, stay!]

(A moment of silence, then a smirk.)

[Good. Only fools remain. You will not be recorded in history as heroes. But we will stay. We will die here! And it has been an honor to fight alongside you!]

At this point in history, demonic activity had not yet reached its peak—there were only signs of the impending catastrophe.

The core of the story revolved around Kalk recognizing these warning signs and desperately trying to stop them.

One key moment stood out: Kalk’s encounter and confrontation with Jealousy, one of the high-ranking demons, Leviathan.

Their battle and conversation highlighted their fundamental differences.

[Jealousy sought to curse and destroy the world]

[Kalk, despite his pain, never lost faith in hope]

Their final confrontation was inevitable, though the power gap ensured Kalk’s defeat.

Even then, his characteristic nonchalance remained:

[If I must go, at least let me enjoy one last smoke.]

At the moment of his death, Kalk lit the cigar he had saved for his final moments—the rare and precious World Tree Leaf Cigar.

As he closed his eyes, Jealousy, watching him, simply muttered:

[I envy you.]

Surprisingly, Jealousy did not desecrate Kalk’s body. Instead, he personally cremated it, ensuring a dignified farewell.

The story didn’t end there.

The scene shifted to a group of refugees, those who had barely escaped thanks to Kalk’s sacrifice. Unfortunately, the demons caught up to them.

Amidst the chaos, a woman clutching a fragile infant made a desperate decision—she jumped into a river, hoping at least the child would survive.

Though the mother perished, the infant was miraculously saved when a passerby found them downstream.

The child’s name was revealed in the final moments of the side story:

[His name was Zenon.]

[Kalk’s faith in hope and a mother’s sacrifice—these led to the birth of Zenon.]

[Hope is uncertain, but that is precisely why we believe in it.]

The story never explicitly confirmed whether Kalk was Zenon’s father, leaving it open to interpretation. However, most critics agreed:

[Does it even matter? The story is compelling regardless.]

Kalk’s sacrifice allowed Zenon to grow up safely and eventually become the great hero who saved the world.

By choosing a protagonist separate from the main series, the story seamlessly connected to Zenon’s Chronicles while adding emotional depth.

Thanks to this intricate storytelling, the side story received immense praise.

Interestingly, an unintended side effect emerged.

“I’ve made my decision.”

“About what?”

“I’m saving up to buy a World Tree Leaf Cigar.”

As expected by Isaac and Musk, a surge in demand for World Tree Leaf Cigars followed the story’s release.

The sheer impact of Kalk’s last words and the romanticism surrounding his final act deeply resonated with adventurers and mercenaries, leading to a spike in sales.

The cigars, originally an obscure and costly luxury, suddenly became a sought-after item.

The kingdom of Alvenheim, the sole producer of World Tree Leaf Cigars, was overjoyed at the unexpected economic boom.

“Do you really have to go that far?”

Anne couldn’t comprehend Roy’s fascination with the cigars. While she found Kalk’s final scene moving, she didn’t think it was worth emulating.

Especially considering Roy was a non-smoker. He didn’t dislike tobacco—he simply never smoked.

Yet after reading The Passing Hero, he declared his intent to buy one. As his friend, Anne found it both understandable and ridiculous.

“You read it too. Didn’t you feel anything? Didn’t Kalk’s final moment stir something inside you?”

“I’m not planning on dying anytime soon. Besides, do you even know how expensive those cigars are?”

Unlike the romantic Roy, Anne was a realist. She, too, had been tempted after reading the story—but reality quickly set in.

World Tree Leaf Cigars were exorbitantly expensive. Even nobles hesitated before purchasing them.

Given that they were crafted from the sacred leaves of the World Tree, their price was justified.

Beyond being a luxury, they also had medicinal properties, further driving up their value.

Yet, thanks to Zenon’s Chronicles, they had now become a symbol of an adventurer’s dream and legacy.

In other words, it’s a luxury item that adventurers who live day by day on commissions could never even dream of.

“I know that well. But if I keep saving up little by little, someday I might be able to buy one.”

“Why don’t you just sell the signed copy instead?”

Roy is currently keeping the signed copy Isaac gave him in a very safe place. He cherishes it so much that even Anne doesn’t know where he hid it.

It has been quite some time since Isaac revealed his true identity, but there are still very few signed copies in existence.

Holding public events while being targeted by demon worshipers would put him at risk of an ambush, among other reasons, so he rarely left his home.

Even if he did go outside, the overwhelming crowds made it nearly impossible to get close to him.

That’s why Roy could only explain his luck as extraordinary.

“If you put that signed copy up for auction, you’d become filthy rich in no time.”

“Hey! What are you saying? This signed copy is one of the few in existence! I have to treasure it as a family heirloom. And if I were to auction it off, wouldn’t Zenon be sad?”

“…That makes sense. I have nothing to say to that.”

Anne said that while looking around. The two of them were currently in Michelle Territory.

Since Jin’s funeral incident, they had been making a living by taking on various jobs.

There was more work than expected, and the payment was decent, so they planned to stay for a while.

However, that also meant there were many devoted readers who adored Zenon.

If Roy’s identity as the owner of a signed copy were to be exposed in such an environment…?

That could lead to a worse situation than wandering around in the slums. In fact, even that careless remark just now had been quite dangerous.

‘Fortunately, no one seems to be paying attention right now.’

Thanks to the lively atmosphere of the tavern, no one took notice. Just in case, Roy scanned the area for any suspicious figures, but all seemed normal.

Seeing this, Anne was reminded of Michelle Territory’s low crime rate.

The imperial family provided direct support, but more importantly, the temples of Luminous and Mora were both present.

Committing crimes in a land brimming with divine energy was already a burden, but in a place hailed as a ‘sanctuary’?

If caught, one would be dragged straight to the interrogation chambers. Thanks to this, the citizens lived their daily lives with smiles.

The number of settlers moving into the region was steadily increasing, and the only thing left was further development.

“Huh? What’s this? There’s an author’s note at the end?”

While Anne was looking around, Roy, who had continued reading, widened his eyes in surprise. Hearing this, Anne let out an “Ah” and spoke.

“Read it out loud. That’s the talk of the town right now. It’s related to the sequel, after all.”

“A s-sequel?!”

At the mention of a sequel, Roy’s eyes grew even wider.

He hurriedly began reading Zenon’s words, slowly yet with growing excitement.

[Hello, dear readers. This is Zenon. With the conclusion of The Passing Hero, the long journey of Zenon’s Chronicles has finally come to an end.

I sincerely thank all of you who followed along through more than 30 volumes.]

[There’s much I want to say, but first, I have a question for you all. It might seem like an odd topic, but I found myself wondering—what if this world had no magic or mana?]

[Furthermore, what if the only race that existed was humanity, the weakest of all? What if even the existence of gods was uncertain, leaving nothing to rely on?]

[It’s a rather dangerous thought, but I believe many of you might also be curious. A world without mana and magic.

A world without colossal monsters like dragons. Yet a world where only weak humans exist, and even the gods are uncertain. What kind of civilization would they create?]

[I wish to explore such a world—one deeply intertwined with war. After all, war is the essence of history. Ah, but don’t misunderstand. I am in no way glorifying war.]

[Lastly, just in case, I want to clarify that I have received permission from the gods to write this. There’s also a short prologue attached at the end of this note, so I hope you’ll read it carefully.]

At first, it seemed like a simple message of gratitude for reaching the conclusion, but then it transitioned into a series of puzzling statements.

A world without mana and magic? As someone who strengthened his body using mana, Roy found it impossible to imagine.

Without mana, humanity—known as the weakest race—would struggle to build a civilization, let alone protect itself from external threats.

Even without massive monsters like dragons, wolves alone posed a significant danger to humans.

There was even a saying among commoners that wolves were scarier than monsters.

‘If such a world existed, it would’ve been destroyed long ago.’

Most people shared the same sentiment as Roy. Mana and magic were inseparable from their world.

But since it was Zenon’s work, there had to be something special about it.

Following the details mentioned in the author’s note, Roy turned the page.

[Early 1500s. The Age of Exploration begins with the discovery of a New Continent.]

[With advancements in long-distance navigation, shipbuilding and other technologies naturally followed.]

“Huh?”

Roy furrowed his brows at the sudden historical timeline.

He had expected a lengthy prologue, but the explanations were surprisingly short.

And the mention of ‘navigation’ suggested something related to the sea, though it wasn’t clear yet.

[1700s. The technological advancements from the Age of Exploration lead to the ‘Machine Revolution.’]

[With steam locomotives at the forefront, various machines emerge, causing an explosive increase in production.]

Roy recognized the term ‘steam engine.’ A ‘steam locomotive’ had been introduced in Zenon’s Chronicles, after all.

In fact, in real life, the invention of the ‘magic engine’ had been inspired by steam engines.

‘Machine Revolution? Does that include the steam locomotive?’

Since the definition of machinery wasn’t well established, Roy simply moved on.

[Late 1700s. A political, economic, and military phenomenon known as ‘Imperialism’ emerges, where a nation dominates others through force and influence.]

[Great powers like Britain, Russia, Portugal, and Spain establish numerous colonies.]

[Imperialism remains prevalent into the early 1900s, becoming a major cause of conflict.]

[Against this backdrop, a new nation, ‘America,’ is born.]

Technological and economic growth naturally led to military expansion. It made sense that powerful nations would strive for dominance.

This phenomenon was similar to how the United Human Federation, the predecessor of the Minerva Empire, had once expanded.

[1871. Prussia’s Bismarck unifies surrounding nations, leading to the creation of the German Empire.]

[He allies with Russia to isolate France, but after Emperor Wilhelm II ascends to the throne, Bismarck is dismissed.]

[France then forms an alliance with Russia.]

A concise yet engaging narrative unfolded. It felt oddly captivating.

Like a glimpse into an alternate history—what kind of world was this?

[June 28, 1914. Two gunshots ring out in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.]

[Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife, Duchess Sophie of Hohenberg, are assassinated.]

“Gasp…!”

Roy took a sharp breath.

An assassination of an heir to the throne and his wife?

Anyone could see this was an event that would lead to war. And sure enough—

[July 28, 1914. Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, marking the beginning of World War I.]

A world war? Roy reread the previous passages.

Imperialism had fueled global tensions. Could this be closely tied to the war’s outbreak?

It was hard to say just yet, but his curiosity was piqued.

And finally—

[April 20, 1889. In Austria, a boy named Adolf Hitler is born.]

As the supposed protagonist’s birth was announced, the prologue came to an end.

Roy looked up, processing everything he had read, before exchanging thoughts with Anne.

“So… the main character’s name is Adolf?”

“Seems like it? Otherwise, why would the story go back in time again?”

“I wonder what kind of world this is… And what kind of heroic deeds the protagonist will accomplish?”

A story of heroism?

It was quite the opposite.