How To Live As A Writer In A Fantasy World-Chapter 458: Sequel (5)

Some people might wonder—why choose World War II as the setting for the next installment?

They might say it’s fine to write a story set on Earth, but why pick one of the most tragic wars in human history?

The truth is, there’s no special reason. Just like when I first wrote The Chronicles of Zenon, I’m writing this because I want to.

Besides, there’s a saying that war is the essence of history, and World War II is arguably the pinnacle of Earth’s historical narrative.

Science, culture, ideology, philosophy, society—countless forces collided and collided again, until they finally exploded into war.

Until World War I, it was mostly about territorial disputes. But World War II? That was more like a war of beliefs.

Unless a third world war breaks out, there’s probably no war as complex and multifaceted as WWII.

Just look at the science: tanks, fighter planes, battleships—all military technologies. Then there’s radio, walkie-talkies, radar, computers…

It brought together the cutting-edge of every field at the time. So, you could say it’s the perfect world to explain everything in one go.

‘But really, the biggest reason is just because I want to write it.’

I write because I feel like it. The Chronicles of Zenon started as something I did for fun, and WWII isn’t much different.

And even though I’ve only released bits and pieces so far, people are already extremely hyped, aren’t they?

What everyone seems most curious about is the genre.

Unlike The Chronicles of Zenon, this story of World War II comes from a completely different world.

That’s why people—even scholars—are fascinated, saying I’ve effectively built a whole new field: “fantasy.”

‘Just as I expected—this world sees Earth’s story as fantasy.’

I mentioned before that Earth’s tale would feel like a fantasy to people here. That prediction was spot-on.

On Earth, where culture has developed far more, the idea of fantasy isn’t so strange. But not here.

Even myths that could be considered the origin of fantasy are seen as completely ordinary.

After all, mana and magic actually exist here, so what would be considered “fantasy”?

As I’ve said repeatedly, to the people of this world, a place without mana and magic is the real fantasy.

[The “Adolf Hitler” look is trending. His stern appearance and unique mustache are gaining massive popularity.]

But this I never saw coming. I only revealed his portrait, and now people are copying it left and right.

The mustache, often called a “toothbrush mustache,” remains a symbol of Hitler.

Because of that, future generations avoid it completely—except in cosplay.

And honestly, Hitler has a somewhat passionate and intense appearance.

Even just the portrait sparked explosive popularity.

Since he’s already been mentioned in the prologue and his image revealed, many people are guessing he’s the protagonist and even a hero.

‘He is the protagonist.’

Though not a hero.

In the early part, he’ll be shown as a failed art school applicant and an ordinary young man helping revive a ruined Germany.

Viewed in isolation, that journey alone could earn him the title of “hero.” Especially his speeches—they’ll probably leave a big impression.

Furthermore, up until the occupation of France, the people of this world may very well see his actions as part of a “conquest campaign.”

When “imperialism” was first introduced, most people here reacted like, “Isn’t that just another conquest campaign?”

But conquest and imperialism differ slightly—the root of conquest is ‘food.’

As population increases, food demand increases. But land is limited. If a famine strikes on top of that?

Even the most powerful empires often crumble in the face of famine.

To survive it, they frequently launch conquest campaigns.

‘I’ll need to explain that clearly too.’

Earth had no magic, and even gods were questionable in existence, so it had no choice but to rely on science.

Through that, they eventually resolved the food problem.

It’ll be hard for people here to accept, but they might at least nod along.

It’s all treated like fantasy anyway, so what’s the issue?

Sure, someday when synthetic nitrogen fertilizer is invented, people will cry “prophecy!” and all that, but I don’t care.

By then, I’ll have returned to nature long ago.

And while The Chronicles of Zenon wasn’t a prophecy, this one kind of is.

‘Can’t wait to see when people start frantically shaving off their mustaches.’

If the image of Hitler shifts from a great conquering monarch to a racist maniac and mass murderer, how will people react?

It makes me wonder—how do people in this world really see Hitler?

To future generations, he’s almost universally seen as the embodiment of evil.

But people of that time hailed him as a god.

So from a past perspective, I’m curious how he’ll be judged.

‘The beastkin will definitely curse him out, no doubt.’

Even just portraying the Holocaust would be like pressing a trigger for them.

They experienced mass slaughter during their own racial war, so it’s only natural.

Anti-Semitism is inseparable from Hitler’s identity.

If you read Mein Kampf, which he wrote while in prison, you’ll clearly see how much he hated Jews, and the ideology he embraced.

I spent my time organizing material for Volume 1 of my next project: World War II.

Now and then, I checked the newspaper too.

‘Winter break is almost over…’

But honestly, I don’t really care.

That’s because Elena and Cindy left on their expedition to the Gray Desert.

So even if I go to the academy, there’s nothing to do—

It’s like being a grad student whose advisor suddenly disappeared.

Normally, a professor would take their grad student along, but I’m not even a real grad student—just left behind, drifting.

‘The Academy told me not to come back until Elena returns anyway…’

Mari, Rina, and Cecily are all set to go into Political Science.

Though, given the situation, it doesn’t really mean much.

Leona was planning to join History with me, but that’s on hold due to Elena’s absence.

Instead, if I take other major classes during the semester, they’ll give me credit.

So I’m expecting to spend most of this semester in the dorms.

‘Maybe I should use this opportunity to build some connections?’

The Academy hosts a variety of events, including the freshman welcome party. It’s just that I’m a bit of a homebody—otherwise, I know there’ve been quite a few events already.

As I’ve often mentioned, I can’t stay locked up in my room forever. It may be safe, but it’s no different from being a bird in a cage.

More than anything, I’m most curious about the reaction when World War II is released—not just from critics, but from the people around me too.

The Chronicles of Zenon is already completed, so there’s no more teasing or foreshadowing to build up. But World War II is “fantasy.”

There’ll be a flood of questions, many of which even I haven’t thought of. Authors are always delighted to receive questions about their work.

‘The Chronicles of Zenon felt like people just worshipping it, but this one’s different. I’m writing a real story this time.’

With Zenon, the atmosphere turned into something close to ‘stanning’—even I felt pressured by it.

A string of unexpected events turned things surreal, and it wasn’t something I could control.

But this next project tells a completely different kind of story. Forget prophecies—it’s just fantasy.

Sure, Luminous did say three dwarves would come dragging tanks, but let’s skip over that for now.

If you think of dwarves as the “Western nerd” type, it all kind of works out.

‘I just need to get past the nitrogen fertilizer issue.’

That, however, is a line I cannot cross. If nitrogen fertilizer gets invented and proves effective, it’ll almost certainly be seen as a prophecy again.

Especially now, with the Minerva Empire recently thrown into chaos by a famine—if nitrogen fertilizer appears?

There’s even talk that Rina is gathering alchemists from around the world to reconstruct “chemistry.”

In other words, it’s still a long way off before nitrogen fertilizer can be invented.

‘Even if it does get invented, as long as I’m not the one credited, it’s fine. Let it be Rina’s achievement.’

Rina’s a very tight-lipped person, so I can trust her. I started moving my paused hand again.

Knock knock knock—

[“Isaac? A painting has arrived from Mr. Karls.”]

While I was jotting down notes about the future plot, I heard Mari’s voice from outside.

Judging by the timing, it seemed the commission I had requested had just arrived.

Adelia, who was standing beside me, made eye contact and then walked toward the door.

Creak—

When the door opened, I saw Mari and a knight holding a well-wrapped painting.

Adelia took the painting and returned to her seat, while Mari stepped inside.

I received the painting from Adelia, began unwrapping it, and asked Mari:

“What’s everyone else doing?”

“What do you think they’re doing? Playing Go, of course. Even Grandpa Clark joined in this time.”

“Haha…”

The Go craze is only getting worse. Cecily and Arwen are obsessed, and now even Clark is hooked.

I’m starting to worry they’ll delay funerals just to play one more game.

Rip! Rip!

As I continued unwrapping the painting, one image gradually came into view.

I looked at it and nodded with satisfaction. As expected, Karls is definitely an artist born in the wrong era.

“Who’s this one? Last time it was the protagonist, but this one seems different.”

“Let me see… yeah, who is that?”

In response to Adelia and Mari’s curiosity, I replied with a satisfied tone:

“The Marshal of Steel. And…”

The dictator famously known as Hitler’s one and only rival.

“The Butcher of Georgia.”

At that very moment, Iosif Stalin, General Secretary of the Soviet Union.

Just when everyone was obsessed with Hitler’s portrait, mimicking his look—

[A new portrait is revealed! This time, of a completely different figure…]

After a series of… well, persuasive negotiations with Karls (let’s not call it threatening), I finally received and unveiled the next portrait.

It was none other than Hitler’s rival and future co-superpower leader—Iosif Stalin.

While Hitler had a fiery appearance, Stalin’s look was… peculiar.

At times he appeared benevolent, at other times, stoic and military-like. Sometimes, even filled with passion like Hitler.

From appearance alone, it was hard to pin down what kind of man he was. But people did pick up on certain clues.

[“Marshal of Steel, Iosif Stalin. Judging by the title, he’s clearly the top leader…”]

[“Leader of the vast Soviet Union. Looking at the maps shown earlier, the USSR was an empire that swallowed up half the world…”]

[“What exactly does ‘Secretary General’ mean? Is it a leader? Or a rank equivalent to Duke?”]

Just from the title Marshal of Steel, it was easy to infer that Stalin wasn’t some low-ranking figure.

Most assumed he was among the highest ranks. The fact that he led the USSR—a vast empire—only added weight.

But that didn’t mean everything about him was positive.

[“The Butcher of Georgia. That name suggests indiscriminate massacres.”]

[“How did someone born in Georgia rise to lead the Soviet Union? Is birth origin irrelevant?”]

The Butcher of Georgia—a nickname earned from the horrors of the Great Purge.

Of course, this world has no way of knowing that, but the nickname alone made people assume he was a ruthless killer.

Even aside from that, his thick Kaiser mustache stood in stark contrast to Hitler’s toothbrush style.

And while Hitler’s mustache received mixed reactions, Stalin’s was widely praised for its masculinity.

[“After Stalin’s portrait was released, demand for hair growth tonic spiked…”]

[“But is this style even replicable by the average person?”]

Thanks to that, a bizarre trend began—hair growth tonic sales skyrocketed as people tried to grow similar mustaches.

Despite his brutal nickname, Stalin’s popularity soared, and the reason was simple:

[“Judging by the USSR’s vast territory, he must be extremely ambitious. And his country borders Austria, where Hitler was born…”]

[“Revealing portraits of both Hitler and Stalin suggests the two are closely connected. Likely rivals.”]

[“A nation in crisis always produces a hero. Hitler may become that hero, pushing back the Soviet Union.”]

Maybe it was because of Isaac’s earlier work, The Chronicles of Zenon, or because of anti-empire sentiment, but people saw the setup as a classic heroic tale.

This is known as underdogma, but no one recognized it as such. They were too distracted by the vastness of the USSR.

[“A battle between the two is highly anticipated. Even if it ends in tragedy, it will be a romantic one.”]

Blood and steel. And nothing but tragedy—The German-Soviet War.

[“In the end, the one to fall will be Stalin’s Soviet Union.”]

Once again, Isaac had unleashed poison upon the world.