Surviving as a Plagiarist in Another World

The night before Christmas, when the white snow fell, finally ended.

Christmas had arrived.

Isollette placed the book cover she had gifted on the book, slipped the Christmas card into the pages like a bookmark, and then gazed out the window. Snowmen, whose creators were unknown, stood in various spots on the street.

The buildings were all decorated with green and red, making it feel truly like Christmas.

However, the most eye-catching sight was undoubtedly the Christmas lights that adorned the Empire’s clock tower like a Christmas tree.

“The Empire has quite a modern feel to it.”

“Modern… is it?”

“Yes.”

New technologies were emerging daily in the Empire, and new infrastructure was being installed. The foundation I had created accelerated the development of such a society.

The Magic Tower, the Royal Family, the Parliament, the Merchant Guild, the Beastman Community, the Church, and the Kingdom of Harren—.

Originally, these various ‘powers’ would have been separated based on their own interests, but they now cooperated through the foundation as a bridge. This ‘Christmas’ was no different from a massive showcase symbolizing such changes. New technologies, modern infrastructure, and the accompanying laws and political-diplomatic logic.

All these unfamiliar elements were promoted in the most extravagant way, along with the ‘magic of Christmas.’

So, this was, in a way… a turning point. A turning point from the past to the present. Not a brutal turning point like ‘a war to end all wars,’ but a grand upheaval in a peaceful way.

I stared blankly at the scenery and checked the time.

“Well… there’s still plenty of time until the meeting, so I’ll just read a book at the library to pass the time.”

“I will prepare to go out.”

“Oh, thanks as always, Sion.”

“It is my pleasure to assist you, Lord.”

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In the conference room set up in the ‘Homeros Central Library.’

A large number of people had gathered in a space as magnificent and grand as the Empire’s Parliament. On the table were various foods and wines, and the people who had arrived were also quite impressive.

It was a scene reminiscent of a royal banquet hall.

No, it was even more extravagant than a royal banquet. The Empire’s third prince and his adopted daughter, Count Plummer who led the Conservative Party in Parliament, the Lazy King who had become the eternal ruler of the Kingdom of Harren, Grey, the spiritual leader of the Beastman Community, Cardinal Garnier from the Vatican, the Tower Master and Chief Mage from the Magic Tower, the head of the Merchant Guild, and so on─.

The people representing the powers in each field had gathered here.

“A Christmas banquet to celebrate the founding of the library… It seems like Mr. Homeros has planned something interesting.”

“That person standing over there… isn’t that the Eternal King of Harren?”

“Ah, no way. Why would the King of Harren be here?”

But it wasn’t a summit meeting or anything like that.

In addition to the powerful figures, students from the Homeros Academy, priests and volunteers from orphanages, monks from the monastery, and nobles close to the Fríden family were all gathered.

That’s why the ‘Christmas banquet’ was being held here.

“Ahhh… I’m so nervous. I, I wonder when Mr. Homeros will come? There are so many scary people here…”

“Tch, stay calm and wait. And─.”

“Ian. Is that the friend you always talk about who writes well?”

“……”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Rolls Camel. I’m Count Plummer, Ian’s father. I’m undeservingly the leader of the Conservative Party.”

“Ah, a-ah, hello! I’m, I’m Rolls, C-Camel!”

“Haha. There’s no need to be so nervous. Our Ian has caused a lot of trouble, hasn’t he? Thank you for getting close to the little one.”

“W-well, it’s nothing!”

Of course, just because it was a banquet, it wasn’t only for eating.

Some people mingled with their acquaintances to strengthen their bonds, while others walked around with business cards, trying to expand their network.

The noise gradually grew louder as the crowd became more animated.

Thanks to the soundproofing, it wouldn’t disturb the other library users, but the noise had increased to the point that it became hard to understand what people around me were saying. This was especially true since some individuals who were usually discriminated against or in opposition to each other were gathered in the same place.

When the noise had reached the point where it was almost unbearable.

The door to the banquet hall opened, and a man entered. An instant silence fell over the room.

“Ah, I’m sorry for being late. I got so absorbed in reading that I lost track of time…”

Homeros. Herodotus. Sophocles. The transcendent figures of literature.

The greatest writers of this era.

Ed Fríden.

He entered, scratching his cheek awkwardly as if feeling embarrassed. Then, after looking around at the people staring at him, he continued with a bit of awkwardness.

“…Did you all wait long?”

Actually, I hadn’t planned such an extravagant banquet from the beginning.

It all started with President Kindersley of Kindersley Publishing.

“Author!”

“Yes, President.”

“We’re planning to hold a Christmas banquet with the staff on Christmas. Would you like to join us?!”

“I’d be grateful for the invitation.”

“Hehe… The staff will be thrilled to hear you’re coming! They might faint from excitement!”

A Christmas banquet. Since it was a modest dinner with the staff of the publishing company, to whom I owed a lot, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to join, so I nodded.

The location was the conference room of the ‘Homer Central Library.’

That’s how the promise with the publishing staff was set…

“Everyone says they’re planning to spend Christmas with someone they like.”

“Well, it’s certainly a meaningful day, especially for couples.”

“That’s why I decided to spend it with you, Author.”

“Pardon?”

“My favorite thing is the novels you write. Didn’t you know? Pfft.”

Unexpectedly, Lady Es also suggested spending Christmas together.

“Well, I’ve already promised to have dinner with the publishing staff that day…”

“Oh my, is that so? Then I’ll join too.”

“Pardon?”

“As a patron, it shouldn’t be an issue for me to attend the publishing company’s dinner, right?”

“Ah, yes.”

Thus, the number of banquet attendees increased by one.

The problem didn’t end there.

“Au-Author! Um, the students at the academy have decided to prepare a Christmas banquet for you…”

“I’ll reserve the best restaurant in the name of Plummer.”

The academy students wanted to hold a banquet together, making it hard to refuse.

“The sight of the officials preparing those ‘candy parachutes’ you mentioned was so amusing. You should’ve seen it yourself!”

“Is that so?”

“Yes! Big grown men carefully wrapping candy in cloth was really—. Anyway, do you have time on Christmas?”

“Hmm.”

Even the Eternal King of Harren personally came to request to spend Christmas together.

On top of that, everyone I usually knew asked about my Christmas plans… so I decided to host a massive banquet that everyone could attend.

The conference hall of the ‘Homer Central Library’ was so large that converting it into a banquet hall wasn’t a problem.

And the result of that was this.

“Author Homer! I found ‘Metamorphosis’ deeply moving! You modernized the alienation of a father who can no longer work using symbolic allegories—.”

“Venerable Homer! Could you share the story about the angel said to have descended during the Transcendence?!”

“Mr. Homer! Please look this way just once!”

“Homer looked at me!”

A countless number of people swarmed around me.

Honestly, within just one minute of arriving at the banquet, I regretted it. I should’ve just stayed home and read a book…

I dealt with the incoming crowd as best as I could while heading toward the food table. I placed a plum pudding on my plate and immediately took a bite.

It was a bit impolite, but with the crowd pressing in, I couldn’t find an empty seat, so I had no choice.

“Oh. Mr. Grey. It’s been a while.”

“Thank you for the invitation.”

“Are you enjoying the banquet?”

“Thanks to your thoughtfulness, I’m enjoying it fully.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

As I chatted with Grey, the beastman, the room momentarily fell silent. No matter what, beastmen were still discriminated against in this world.

Their sharp fangs and claws instinctively evoked fear, and their fur-covered appearance often incited disgust.

I overheard visitors whispering nearby.

“What if the beastman harms Author Homer…?”

“They say beastmen are animals who can’t control their impulses and go wild at the sight of blood… Shouldn’t we drive him out now?”

The blatant prejudice left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Although awareness had improved a lot, it’s impossible to overturn long-held prejudices overnight. It would take more time.

After that, I greeted several others, including Lady Es, the Eternal King, and Cardinal Garnier.

As a result, despite it being a Christmas banquet, I couldn’t eat much…

But it couldn’t be helped.

After confirming the time, I moved to the center of the conference hall, toward a wall painted pure white with lime. Lighting from the White Magic Tower illuminated the path, while wizards from the Purple and Grey Magic Towers parted the crowd to create a clear passage.

A human-made path formed in the center of the banquet hall.

As I moved forward, I delivered a brief speech. Then, I signaled to Sion to bring out the prepared gifts.

“In celebration of the joyful day when the Savior descended upon this land, I’ve prepared a small gift for you all.”

Gift boxes were prepared for everyone in attendance.

People looked at the boxes with expressions of half anticipation and half curiosity.

When everyone had received a gift box,

I spoke again.

“It’s my new novel, scheduled for publication next month.”

I may not be Santa Claus.

But I had prepared the best Christmas gift I could offer.

I was certain it would delight everyone.

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[When I was younger and more vulnerable, I still remember the advice my father gave me.]

[“Whenever you feel like criticizing someone, just remember that not all the people in this world have had the advantages that you’ve had.”]

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