Surviving as a Plagiarist in Another World

< Chapter 11: Conan Saga >

In the early 20th century in America, there existed magazines known as “pulp magazines.”

This term wasn’t used to describe a specific magazine but rather referred to cheaply produced magazines printed on low-quality paper.

Similarly, a comparable type of magazine had recently started to emerge in this world, specializing exclusively in cheaply-made short stories that could be classified as “hardboiled violent tales,” created by people who smelled money in such ventures.

“Hello! My name is Ryan, and I run the magazine ‘Half and Half’! I heard you came through an introduction from President Dorling!”

“Ah, yes. There’s no need for such a formal greeting….”

“Not at all! If you’re an acquaintance of President Dorling, then you’re like a brother to me!”

And ‘Half and Half’ was one of those cheap magazines.

It was named so because it sold for half the price of other magazines. The quality of the paper was so poor that it could tear with just a slight tug.

“The reason I came to see you, President Ryan, is that I’d like to serialize a novel in your magazine.”

“Oh, a novel, you say?”

“Yes.”

“Well… as the president, it’s awkward for me to say this, but the pay per character at our magazine is only about half of what other magazines offer.”

“Oh, that’s fine. I’m not doing this for the money.”

“Really?”

Instead of answering, I pulled out a manuscript and handed it to him.

“Here, this is the manuscript for the novel I want to serialize.”

“This is….”

The president, slightly stunned, started reading the manuscript right there.

I liked his attitude.

It felt like he was in this business because he loved novels.

“…It’s interesting. The reflection of actual culture and history seems a mess. But it’s so interesting that I can overlook those aspects.”

“Right?”

“Are you really going to serialize this novel in our magazine?”

“If I hadn’t intended to, I wouldn’t have come looking for you.”

“…I’ve never felt so regretful that my magazine is just good enough to be used as toilet paper.”

“Actually, I think this novel fits well with such a magazine.”

What I brought was the origin of what is commonly called ‘American-style fantasy,’ the progenitor of all ‘sword and magic fantasy’ that leads to modern web novels, and the original of all genre novels known for their simple and straightforward plots, like litRPG and formulaic stories.

“Seeing such a spirited yet not unpleasant protagonist for the first time. Conan the Barbarian… even the name has a rugged charm.”

“I’m thinking of calling the series ‘Conan Saga.’”

Conan Saga.

“The Conan Saga… I’m looking forward to working with you, author.”

“I look forward to working with you too, president.”

* * *

“Is this the novel that Lord is starting to serialize?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm, it’s fun but… it feels a bit light. There are also parts that seem a bit inaccurate and bother me.”

“But it’s fun, right?”

“Yes. That’s really interesting.”

The Conan Saga─ Conan the Barbarian series is the archetype of all hero-centric fantasy.

This type of fantasy, referred to as ‘a world of swords and magic,’ later led to Dungeons & Dragons, influencing the formation of the video game universe through TRPGs and CRPGs.

If the novel ‘Don Quixote’ is the father of all modern literature.

Then the ‘Conan the Barbarian’ series is the father of all subculture!

“If it’s fun, that’s enough.”

“I think I understand why Lord wrote this novel under a different pen name. Certainly, if the critics in the capital read this novel, they would be heavily criticized.”

“Huh? Oh, that’s not exactly the reason.”

What do critics care, whether in past lives or this one? I’ve always ignored them.

“Then what is the reason for hiding your pen name?”

“If they knew I was Homer, the magazine would try to increase my fee.”

“…Really?”

My goal is to sow the seeds of genre fiction in the pulp fiction market.

For that, as many magazines as possible need to be sold and as many people as possible need to read the novels. I don’t want the price of magazines to go up.

“And there’s another advantage to writing under a new pen name.”

“What is that advantage?”

“It’s easier to be dismissed.”

Simply put, the characteristics of pulp fiction—rough sentences, messy historical accuracy, linear plots, and flat characters—engender a strange illusion in readers that ‘I could write better than this.’

‘Edgar Rice Burroughs,’ famous for ‘Tarzan,’ also picked up a pen after reading pulp fiction and thinking ‘I could write better than this.’

“Then isn’t it all disadvantages?”

“That’s exactly the advantage. Heh heh…”

“…Lord, you are quite a unique individual. It’s difficult for an ordinary person like me to understand your thoughts.”

“Think of it simply. Every reader is a potential writer. So, increasing readership is increasing the number of writers.”

No matter how much money you have, no matter how high your honor, if there’s no culture to enjoy, that’s a dead life.

Only literature can fill a person’s soul.

That is why I am stealing the works of my previous life in this world. To create soil where new literature can sprout, and to sow its seeds.

“But what does your newly chosen pen name mean?”

“Huh? Oh, well, just something I picked randomly.”

Sion’s question made me awkwardly avert my gaze.

Every time I talk about the pen name, I can’t help feeling a bit embarrassed.

Yet, I honestly can’t resist.

“Herodotus… It feels similar to the previous pen name ‘Homer’ you used.”

“That’s right.”

The father of Western history.

The man who invented the discipline of ‘history’ itself.

Herodotus.

That was my second pen name.

“Excuse me, my lord.”

“Hm?”

“When are you planning to write the next story?”

“…Haha, it’s interesting, isn’t it?”

“It’s just that, I’m really curious about what happens next and can hardly wait.”

“I’ve got something written already, I’ll show it to you.”

“Thank you…!”

* * *

The first installment of the ‘Conan Saga’ was quickly released to the world.

Since a separate pen name was used for magazine serialization, it didn’t become a topic of conversation as Homer’s new work.

Instead, due to the cheap accessibility of ‘Half and Half,’ it spread quickly among the lower classes.

“Hey, have you read this magazine?”

“Half and Half? Isn’t that just a cheap magazine worth a few coins? Reading such things is just a waste of eyesight.”

“It’s not like that at all! There’s a series called Conan Saga being serialized, and it’s really fun! It touches a man’s heart, if you know what I mean. Just read it!”

“What’s it about that you’re making such a fuss?”

“It’s about a barbarian from a savage tribe named Conan who smashes his enemies…”

“Ah. Another one of those novels? I’m not really into novels that are just sensational.”

“That’s not it at all! Conan is a hero! A passionate and just hero that stirs the heart of a man!”

“Hmm, you’re making me curious now. I should give it a read.”

Especially among the workers in the magi-engineering factory, the story spread by word of mouth and received explosive reactions.

“Conan the Barbarian is the true definition of a man! Loyalty, love, violence!”

“Yeah, I want to emulate the barbarian too. The nobles always act all high and mighty, putting on airs, but in truth, isn’t a barbarian more genuinely just?”

Unlike the plethora of violent stories flooding the market, Conan the Barbarian’s character as a ‘noble savage’ was refreshingly straightforward without being offensive.

The image of the pure and noble barbarian Conan intersected with the traditional ‘chivalry’ of existing knight literature.

“Although the civilized speak rudely without getting their heads split, barbarians are still considered ruder,” this line gained much sympathy from readers suffering under societal absurdities.

However, not all the feedback was positive.

“Tsk, to marvel that such a simplistic novel is entertaining shows their level. It’s clear what level they are on.”

“The research on magic is lacking… Why is this popular? There were numerous irritating points throughout.”

As the work gained popularity, so too did the voices of criticism grow louder.

The story’s linear narrative focused predominantly on the protagonist was objectively seen as lacking in probability and depth.

Lack of research and historical accuracy was one of the reasons the work faced criticism. Since the ‘Sword and Sorcery’ genre is entirely a product of Earthly imagination, real fantasy worlds with actual magic could not avoid criticism regarding authenticity.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Consequently, readers’ reactions to the work were divided.

“I want to write an enjoyable work like this!”

“I could write better than this if I tried!”

* * *

Publishing house ‘Half and Half’.

Just as when they published Don Quixote, this time too countless fan letters arrived.

“Are all these fan letters really for me?”

“Yes, author…”

One difference from before was,

[As much as a barbarian might be considered unintelligent, jumping into danger just to keep a promise is too frustrating. I expected a thrilling novel but…]

[Hello? I am Cléang, the Chief Mage of the Grey Mage Tower. I am writing to point out inaccuracies in the depiction of magic in the work, specifically regarding ancient magic…]

[Isn’t this plagiarizing Don Quixote?]

While there were fans, there were also detractors.