How To Live As A Writer In A Fantasy World

The meeting between Cherry and Kate felt almost like a nuclear fusion about to happen.

It’s impossible not to think of the saying, “opposites attract.”

I even found myself wondering if the two of them might conspire together and try something against me.

Fortunately, the chances of that happening were quite low.

As terrifying as their madness could be, it wasn’t directed at me.

Kate, while prone to getting aroused even from holding hands, had a strong professional ethic

otherwise. Cherry, on the other hand, was so crushed in self-esteem that she wouldn’t even think of coming near me.

Above all, if they ever did try something, the other women around would surely deliver punishment themselves, so I could relax.

“Cherry, how did you come to know Isaac? I heard it was through something like a Mary Sue situation.”

“Before that, we were exchanging letters. And then, by coincidence, a strand of your hair was in one of the letters… Plus, the handwriting was exactly the same.”

“Ah, so it was a giveaway.”

No, don’t accept that explanation! I only approached her as a way to save someone, plain and simple.

Watching Kate nod as though she understood, I let out a dry laugh.

This is exactly why people with criminal tendencies could never predict the thought process of someone like her.

“And you, Cardinal, how did you know?”

“You can just call me Kate. In my case, Lord Luminous directly delivered an oracle. That’s how I ended up meeting him.”

“I see. So, do you also like Isaac?”

“Yes. I love Isaac, who spreads light and hope throughout the world, just like Lord Luminous.”

It was a nice confession, but coming from Kate, it sounded oddly ominous.

There was an undertone of madness that I couldn’t quite shake off.

It was pure, yes—but in a disturbing, twisted kind of way.

After all, I’d dealt with a crazed cardinal with similar purity before.

Cherry, hearing Kate’s words, nodded and then gazed intently at me.

Her dark eyes were the same as always, but now they held a faint sadness.

Even with her self-esteem in tatters, Cherry wasn’t immune to jealousy.

In situations like this, though, she was more likely to blame herself than anyone else.

Just as I opened my mouth to cheer her up, Kate spoke first.

“Perhaps I’m in a similar position as Cherry. I, too, am waiting for Isaac’s choice.”

“Choice…?”

“Yes, choice. If Isaac chooses me, then I can bear his seed—”

“Let’s stop there.”

The moment the conversation started to drift into dangerous territory, I cut it off.

Staying around Kate too long made me feel like a cult leader.

Letting out a deep sigh, I glanced to the side at Cherry and Kate, whose dynamic felt like a nuclear reaction waiting to happen.

Beside them, Adelia’s lips were trembling as if holding back laughter.

If Mari had witnessed this, she would have been seething.

“Sis.”

“Hmm? What’s up?”

“…Nothing.”

It felt too awkward to ask if she found this amusing.

Unlike Mari, Adelia was observing from a safe distance, unaffected by the precarious positioning of her status.

Maybe Adelia had the most peace of mind among us.

I wasn’t someone who discriminated in love, and I’d already freed her from past burdens.

Watching her stifle laughter so hard that even her nose twitched, I cast her a bitter glance before turning forward.

Since the conversation seemed to have ended, I decided to ask something that had been on my mind.

“Cherry, are you planning to continue living like this?”

“Yes. I’ll keep following you, Senpai.”

Cherry casually confessed her intent to keep stalking me.

I froze for a moment but quickly regained my composure.

Though I felt bad for her, it wasn’t going to be possible to keep stalking me anymore.

Not because it was a crime, but because of issues related to her safety.

If it were before I revealed my identity, it might have been fine.

But now, with demon worshippers lurking around, it was a different story.

There was no telling when or how they might pose a threat.

“Cherry, can I be honest with you?”

“Yes.”

“Following me might not be possible anymore.”

“…?”

Cherry’s eyes widened in response to my frank words, and her small mouth opened slightly.

At the same time, her eyes darkened, like a deep abyss.

Sensing danger if I left this unattended, I hastily opened my mouth again.

“It’s not that I don’t want you around. It’s that you could be in danger. I’m Zenon, remember?

The one who’s dealt a major blow to the demon worshippers. You understand what that means, right?”

“Do you mean I could be in danger just for being close to you?”

“Exactly.”

“They’re likely to go for those around you first rather than targeting you directly?”

Cherry tilted her head slightly, offering her take.

And she was right—targeting those around me was the most likely strategy.

Without any formal writing training, Cherry was smart enough to write things that revealed her sharp intellect.

“Exactly. That’s why, instead of following me, it might be better to stay by my side.”

“…Are you saying I might be a burden to you?”

“Wait, no!”

That wasn’t what I meant! Seeing Cherry’s eyes grow darker, I froze.

What I had intended as a request for her to stay near me had failed to consider her fragile self-esteem.

From her perspective, it likely sounded like she was just a hindrance.

She might even be thinking that if she were attacked by demon worshippers, it would only bring harm to me.

For someone like her, it wouldn’t be strange to believe it would be better for her to disappear altogether.

Panicked, I quickly tried to clear up the misunderstanding.

“That’s not it at all! Why would you be a burden to me? If anything, it’s the opposite.”

“Opposite…?”

“Yeah. I’m a fan of your writing, you know? Even though I’ve been too busy to show it lately, I’ve been looking forward to seeing how your story turns out.”

This wasn’t a lie—I genuinely enjoyed her writing. Her debut piece, Crimson Sunset, was precisely my type of novel.

If I hadn’t been so busy, I might have even acted as her manager, helping her refine her work.

It wasn’t an excuse, just the truth—I hadn’t had the bandwidth to focus on her.

“Hehe…”

Hearing my sincerity, Cherry smiled bashfully.

It wasn’t the eerie grin she had before but a warm, genuine smile that even softened her gaze.

Relieved, I sighed internally.

If there was one thing that could boost her self-esteem, it was her dream—writing.

However, the problem wasn’t entirely resolved.

Though she’d successfully stalked me without getting caught, the dangers around us made things too precarious.

“Cherry.”

“Yes?”

“Are you really not willing to stay by my side?”

So I asked her outright.

If she cared for me, being by my side would be much safer.

But Cherry, firm in her resolve, shook her head.

“It’s fine. I don’t think someone like me has a place by your side.”

“And what if I forced you to stay by my side?”

“Huh…?”

That caught her off guard. Blinking slowly, she looked at me, startled.

Her pale cheeks flushed softly, as though she had just entertained a rosy fantasy.

Seeing the gap in her composure, I decided to push forward before she could regain her footing.

“You said earlier that you’d do whatever I asked, right? You’d even give me your body or become my slave.”

“T-that’s true, but…”

“I don’t want you to be in danger. That’s why I need you by my side. Will you still refuse?”

“…”

Cherry hesitated, clearly conflicted.

The thought of standing beside me might have been unthinkable, but my request had shifted the dynamics.

She was likely experiencing a deep internal struggle.

I stayed quiet, waiting for her answer.

“Mari will probably understand to some extent, right?”

I wasn’t asking Cherry to spend the night with me.

My concern was entirely for her safety.

Though she had feelings for me, and things could potentially develop further, that wasn’t my immediate focus.

So, how long would her deliberation take?

“Sorry.”

It seemed the current situation was difficult, as Cherry expressed her refusal.

Her voice carried a hint of deep regret, as if she felt the same disappointment.

“Not yet… I don’t think it’s the right time yet.”

“Not yet?”

“Yes. But I promise I’ll never cause any trouble for you, senior. I’m not the type of person who stands out anyway…”

“…Not the type who stands out?”

That wasn’t me speaking—it was Adelia’s muttering.

I also understood how she felt.

Cherry’s hair and eyes, resembling cherry blossoms, were striking.

Though her subdued gaze could be seen as a drawback, she was overall a radiant beauty.

Moreover, her figure, which the school uniform couldn’t entirely conceal, was enough to evoke desire from men and jealousy from women.

Just as my red hair makes me noticeable from a distance, Cherry’s appearance was impossible to ignore.

Her background also stood out—she hailed from the Roseberry family, known for their philosophical pursuits.

People were bound to approach her for that alone, which made the situation peculiar.

Yet, claiming she wasn’t someone who stood out seemed to stem from her low self-esteem and lack of self-awareness.

“Cherry… do you really think so? That you’re not someone who stands out?”

“Yes… Other than you, senior, no one approaches me or talks to me.”

“What about group projects? Surely there must have been group activities?”

“They included me, but they didn’t assign me any roles. Just my name.”

“…What?”

I couldn’t understand it.

Cherry, a beauty comparable to Cecily, and yet no one paid attention to her?

Even Adelia seemed confused, her expression matching mine.

How did Cherry become so overlooked?

Setting that aside for now, it seemed best to share my thoughts.

“Alright, I understand. But if anything suspicious or dangerous happens, let me know immediately. That’s the only way I can protect you. Got it?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, by the way, this might be a sensitive topic, but could you tell me what happened with Count Leticia?”

“They didn’t say much. Just suggested I try reading books other than philosophy.”

That was a relief.

It seemed the blunt truth I delivered to Count Leticia had a positive effect.

“Your manuscript is in your dorm, right?”

“Yes. Should I bring it?”

“No, take your time. You’ll be following me around tomorrow anyway, won’t you?”

“Yes.”

She didn’t even deny it. I should probably notify others not to report a girl with cherry blossom-colored hair and eyes.

It was a bit funny to call it “legal stalking,” but I decided to wait quietly until she grew more confident.

“Let’s wrap up here… Kate, do you have anything to say to Cherry? Other than the seed stuff.”

“No.”

“Adel, anything from you?”

“Nope.”

“Alright, then that’s it—oh, wait, Cherry. Did you happen to report Leona?”

The memory of Leona being dragged before me recently came to mind.

She had been wandering around my area, likely looking for me, and someone had reported her.

Normally, she would have been punished immediately, but as it was her first offense, she ended up in front of me instead.

That incident had turned into an opportunity for a productive conversation with Lucia.

Given the circumstances, it was reasonable to suspect Cherry was the one who reported her.

Even if she had, I wouldn’t scold her.

Leona and Cherry weren’t even acquaintances at the time. I intended to introduce them gradually later.

“Leona… The girl with brown hair?”

“That’s right.”

“She didn’t seem like a bad person. I left her alone because she appeared to know you, senior.”

“I see.”

So someone else must have reported her.

It wasn’t worth worrying about, so I quickly moved on.

“Um… senior.”

“Hm?”

“There’s just… one thing… just one thing I’d like to ask. Is that okay?”

Just as I was about to wrap up the conversation, Cherry hesitantly made a request, her face flushed with embarrassment.

My curiosity was piqued, as she rarely asked me for anything.

Finally, after some hesitation, Cherry spoke.

“A strand of your hair…”

“Huh?”

“Or maybe a fingernail… if that’s possible…”

Cherry was Cherry, after all. Some things never change, and I was oddly relieved by that.

“Oh, and if possible, I’d like one too,” Kate chimed in.

“Kate, why you?”

“To make a charm, of course.”

“…”

These people were a peculiar mix of terrifying and eccentric.

“Cherry, have you ever held Sir Isaac’s hand before?”

“Yes. It was so soft and comforting.”

“By any chance, did your lower stomach feel strange or tingly afterward?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

“So it wasn’t just me…”

Stop. Just stop, you people.

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