“Teacher Castorice, when are you going to turn in Volume Two of Reborn as an Alchemist?” “I’m writing it.” “What do you mean you’re writing it?
We agreed that I’d open a ‘World Wide Web Entertainment and Culture Shop’ on the World Wide Web and you’d provide the manuscripts.
But you’ve only managed to squeeze out one volume in three months.
Customers keep asking me every day when the next volume is coming out.” If it were anything else, Castorice might have backed down.
But when it came to writing novels, she would not give an inch.
“Creating isn’t that simple.
You need the right time, the right place, the right mood.
You need strong emotions, a clear mind, and a little bit of inspiration…” For once, Castorice spoke at great length.
But the core message was only one sentence.
[I’m writing it.] What Castorice did not realize was that this was exactly the answer Amos had been waiting for.
He stroked his chin, wearing a suspicious expression.
His tone was full of doubt.
“Is writing novels really that hard?” Castorice nodded without hesitation.
“Harder than alchemy?” Castorice remembered how, before starting her novel, she had asked Amos for some beginner-level alchemy materials.
Then Amos had spent three days compiling Introduction to Alchemy, a collection that filled three entire rooms, totaling 16,879 volumes, with a table of contents alone as thick as a finger.
After hesitating for a moment, she nodded.
Having received the answer he wanted, Amos leaned back in his chair, looking as if his competitive spirit had been awakened.
“How about this?
Let’s make a bet.
Starting now, you’ll write Volume Two of Reborn as an Alchemist, while I’ll start writing a novel from scratch.” “When the next deadline arrives, we’ll compare what we’ve written.
We’ll compare quantity, but quality can’t be ignored either.” “We’ll have professional editors, a panel of friends and family, and ordinary readers score them.
We’ll use the combined result.” “If you win, I’ll stop rushing your manuscripts.
But if I win…” He let out a chuckle.
“You’ll have to write your other works at the same speed I write novels.” Castorice blinked.
The rules seemed very favorable to her.
After all, every Chrysos Heir was exceptionally intelligent.
Since she had never intended to make novel writing her profession, she considered herself just an ordinary amateur writer.
But judging from the reactions of the people of Okhema, she was undoubtedly a master author.
So in terms of quality, she was not afraid of a complete beginner like Amos.
In terms of influence, she also had a huge advantage.
The only area where she might lose was speed.
After all, those in the know understood.
Masters liked to say they were taking their time to perfect their work, but anyone with eyes could tell they were just professional procrastinators.
But how fast could a beginner like Amos possibly write?
Besides, as the saying went, good writing overcomes everything.
The first part forgotten, the second part forgotten, but anyway…
A literary giant of Okhema versus a novice writer.
‘The advantage is mine!’ Thinking this, Castorice made a rare decisive choice.
“Fine!
If I win, you’re not allowed to rush my manuscripts anymore!” The competition with Amos did not put much pressure on Castorice.
Because unlike people such as Phainon, Mydei, Castorice, and Tribbie, who spent their days wandering around, Amos, Aglaea, and Hyacine were arguably the three busiest people in all of Okhema.
One handled academia.
He was the strongest alchemist in Amphoreus.
Even Anaxa acknowledged that title.
Simply by standing there, he could rival the Grove of Epiphany.
One handled politics.
Phainon was quite good at debate, but his administrative ability was only average.
After all, that sort of thing could only be built through massive amounts of experience.
No matter how smart Phainon was, he still had to learn step by step.
One handled logistics.
The Garden of Life was not only a branch of the Courtyard of Dusk, but also the home of the Chimeras, Aglaea’s golden cocoon chamber, and a gathering place for scholars.
It was one of the few places where every faction could sit down and talk.
Everyone trusted Hyacine’s character, so the Garden of Life held enormous authority in resource allocation.
After carefully observing Amos’s schedule for several days, Castorice completely relaxed.
Teaching classes in the morning.
Supervising experiments in the afternoon.
Discussing matters with the other two leaders in the evening.
At night, going drinking with Phainon and Mydei, only to be spotted by Cat, who accidentally told Tribbie.
Tribbie, appointed by Cyrene as the Healthy Lifestyle Assistant, immediately launched a fierce attack.
Phainon and Mydei fled on the spot and rushed into a bathhouse.
Amos looked at their retreating backs and laughed in disdain.
Then the smiling Cyrene came and took him home.
With such a busy life, how could he possibly have time to write a novel?
And how could he possibly beat her?
Castorice completely stopped worrying about the competition.
After returning home, she originally planned to write a little.
But when she saw the Chimera doll beside her, already half finished, she suddenly thought, ‘Since I’ve already won against Amos anyway, why not finish this doll first?’ As a result, three days before the manuscript deadline, when her editor routinely asked about her progress, Castorice stared at the completely blank scroll and fell into deep thought.
Facts proved that human potential was limitless.
Driven by her desire to win, Castorice managed to write one hundred thousand words in just three days.
This unprecedented achievement filled her with a sense that no matter what she did, she would succeed.
Carrying that confidence, she marched off to find Amos.
Standing before the door of Amos’s laboratory, Castorice felt a rare rebellious impulse.
‘Since I’ve already won, it shouldn’t matter if I don’t knock, right?’ With that thought, she pushed the door open.
Then all her courage instantly turned into embarrassment.
“Why…
is everyone here…?” A faint blush appeared on Castorice’s cheeks, and her hands instinctively tightened around the hem of her skirt.
Because inside Amos’s office, dozens of people turned to look at her.
Editors, publishers, all the Chrysos Heirs, and even some familiar-looking scholars she did not recognize were gathered around Amos’s desk.
Everyone’s gaze carried a different meaning.
The Chrysos Heirs, her closest friends, were looking forward to the spectacle.
The editors and publishers looked full of anticipation.
The scholars looked as though they had been saved.
Because before Castorice arrived, Amos had been operating on a simple principle, Since he was free anyway, he might as well check up on the research projects they were currently working on.
The scholars, who had originally come out of curiosity after hearing there would be a new novel to read, were immediately stunned.
One after another, they nervously introduced their projects while secretly observing Amos’s expression.
But Amos’s acting skills could fool even Laegus.
How could they possibly read his thoughts?
As a result, the scholars became even more nervous.
They kept feeling that Amos’s smiling face was actually hiding a cold sneer.
After he finished reviewing the manuscript…
No, after he finished appreciating the world-shaking masterpiece casually written during the spare time of the greatest alchemist in the world, a work filled with profound meaning, revealing the truths of the universe, intended to enlighten humanity, but deliberately written as a novel because he knew most people were too foolish to understand it as a paper…
he would probably execute them afterward.
So to them, Castorice’s sudden appearance was like clouds parting to reveal a clear sky.
Castorice was here.
The questioning would end.
Castorice was here.
The novel had arrived.
“Castorice, let the others read your novel first.
As for you few, I still have a few questions I’d like to ask.” The scholars were instantly horrified.
(o_O)!