Surviving as a Plagiarist in Another World

A few days after the chaotic reading session, Isolette received a book as a gift.

It was a fairy tale book titled “Stories for Children.”

The book contained various fairy tales, including “The Little Mermaid,” “The Snow Queen,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” “The Little Match Girl”—all woven together in one volume.

“…Really, such a great talent. My cousin.”

The fairy tales, filled with beautiful imagination, each had literary value on their own.

Isolette was once again struck by the talent of her cousin.

Even though she hadn’t fully grasped the fact that her cousin was actually ‘Herodotus,’ reading something like this left her with no choice but to realize it.

That her cousin was indeed a great writer.

“Heh, but this, isn’t it too sad for children to read?”

While reading the book slowly, Isolette’s gaze stopped on one sentence.

The last part of “The Little Match Girl.”

It was a scene describing a girl’s death.

[In the early morning, the poor girl, who had grown cold, was leaning against the wall and smiling. The girl froze to death on the last evening of the year.]

The existence of the girl, who had burned all her matches and grown cold.

It truly felt endlessly sorrowful.

.

.

.

“Ed. I read the fairy tale book you gave as a gift, but isn’t the ending too sad for a child to hear?”

At the dinner table of the Fríden family. This was the last meal with her brother, who would soon be living with his wife in the capital’s mansion.

Her brother grumbled.

Since it was a sentiment I could relate to, I nodded and agreed.

“Well, it’s a fairy tale. It could be called a tradition, right? Even in the last scene of ‘The Little Prince,’ it’s described like that. He’ll look like he’s been bitten by a snake and died….”

“That’s true, but hmm, I’m not sure if it’s okay to read this to a child.”

“But the ending isn’t just sad, right? There are parts that could be seen as a happy ending. For example, yes. Like the Little Match Girl.”

“I thought that was the saddest part….”

The Little Match Girl. The story of the poor girl who, unable to sell matches, trembled in the cold while seeing illusions of flames, was indeed full of sorrow and had a heart-wrenching atmosphere.

In this world, matches had long since become a poorly sold product.

It was because of the existence of a magical tool, a lighter, that allowed anyone to easily light a fire using flint. Few people still used matches.

While matches were still used to light candles at official noble events, that was literally a rare occasion.

“The Little Match Girl went to heaven in her grandmother’s arms. There, she reunited with her family and enjoyed a gentle happiness.”

“But, well, she died! Frozen solid. Left to die by the people.”

“While smiling, though.”

“Ugh, I don’t know.”

Honestly, neither did I. Should I see this as Andersen’s unique ‘immortality of the soul’ happy ending, or should I see it as a sad ending in a harsh world?

There were countless interpretations of Andersen’s fairy tales.

However, there was one thing I knew about fairy tales.

“It’ll be fine. I’m sure that fairy tale will be loved by children.”

Andersen’s fairy tales would forever—be loved by children.

Like the old Disney movies, they might be reimagined as animated films with a dichotomy of good and evil, or they might be reinterpreted into games by some subculture that reveres Märchen, or perhaps they might be transformed into simply happy stories after passing through distorted adult censorship.

Thus, fairy tales have life.

If Don Quixote remains forever as a symbol of the old chivalric ideals and holds value in that place, fairy tales are constantly recreated and reinterpreted, reflecting the values and parenting philosophies of each era, forever changing. There is no such thing as eternity, and that is precisely why they live and breathe eternally.

And.

The Andersen book that I would one day gift to my nephew would also become that way.

Someday, my nephew would grow up, have children of his own, and once again tell them fairy tales. The ending might be changed into a simple happy ending because it was thought to be too sad, or perhaps the story would become something completely different as memories blended together.

In the end, it would all be colored by the name of love.

Isn’t it true that the fairy tale a parent tells a child before bed is always filled with love?

“Could that be the case…?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm, right. Since it’s my brother, who is both Homer and Herodotus, I guess it makes sense.”

Saying that, her brother, who had been quietly continuing his meal while thinking for a moment, suddenly spoke again as if he had just remembered something.

“By the way, aren’t you planning to publish this fairy tale book?”

“Hmm, well….”

Recalling the dozens of ‘odds and ends’ scattered in my bag.

I nodded.

“For now, I just plan to give it as a gift to the people I’ve known.”

White snow fell on Christmas Day.

Children eagerly awaited their gifts, and adults smiled with religious reverence and the joy of festive feasts.

On that day, gifts were delivered across the Empire.

They were luxurious hardcover fairy tale books titled “Stories for Children.”

Inside, there were numerous stories that no one had ever heard before, their origins unknown.

“Your Highness─.”

“Oh my, Father. Your Highness?”

“…Es.”

“Hehe, yes. Idris, what is it?”

“A gift arrived for the prince, but it seems it was sent to you instead, so I brought it.”

“A Christmas gift?”

“Yes. It’s a fairy tale book… but the sender’s name wasn’t written.”

“Hehe, it must be from Author Homer. Thank you for bringing it, Idris.”

“Ahhh─! I haven’t finished the illustrations yet…. Drawing was just a hobby… so why am I working so hard on these pictures…? Should I quit being an illustrator…?”

“Spending Christmas alone, working, it’s so miserable….”

“Huh? A gift? Who sent it…? It’s a fairy tale book….”

“Oh, right. Hehe, when I was drawing illustrations for The Little Prince and Alice, it was really fun. Seeing my art in the book of an author I admire is amazing too….”

“…Yeah, let’s keep going.”

“Mail delivery!”

“M-M-Mail? W-Who sent it? I-I don’t expect… anything… from anyone….”

“Excuse me? I’m not sure who sent it. The contents… seem to be a book?”

“A b-book…? Ahhh! Could it be from Author Homer…?”

“I received a fairy tale book as a gift this Christmas…. Actually, this fairy tale is really interesting….”

“Chief Mage, I have urgent business from the Tower Master, so I must leave now….”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“Oh, but you know I’m close with the Tower Master, right…? Actually, when I first entered the tower, the first person who helped me was the Tower Master….”

“The most beautiful story in this book is The Snow Queen! Do you not understand the friendship and love in this journey?!”

“Hah! The tragedy of The Little Mermaid is the ultimate beauty! If you think otherwise, do you even know what love is?!”

“You! Duel me!”

“Fine! This time, let’s settle it with fairy tales!”

“Your Majesty!”

“Ugh! What now?! It’s Christmas, can’t I even get a break?!”

“Your Majesty, a Christmas gift has arrived for you! Since it bears the seal of the Harren Imperial Seal, it seems that it is from the ‘great master’ you mentioned.”

“Hm? A gift from the author?”

“Yes. It’s a fairy tale book.”

“I don’t have any children, so why would I need a fairy tale book…?”

“Your Majesty, perhaps the ‘great master’ is urging you to have an heir quickly, as you’ve mentioned before? You must find a spouse soon—”

“Please stop with the nagging! Tsk, just bring me that fairy tale book. Let me read it.”

“Cardinal Garnier, there is a letter from the Empire.”

“Hm? Is it from the bishop of the Empire?”

“It doesn’t have the sender’s name. It says it’s from the capital of the Empire. The postal examiner says there are no issues with it, but should we discard it?”

“No. Hm, it’s probably a Christmas gift from my brother. I can’t ignore his gesture. What’s the letter about?”

“The postal examiner said it’s a fairy tale book.”

“…Heh. A fairy tale book for a priest… Could it be a playful suggestion from my brother to always approach the Lord with a childlike heart? Alright, bring it to me.”

“Grey, were you praying?”

“Under the blessing of the Lord, I live each day, and I pray with gratitude every moment. Yes… Even on Christmas, I am thankful that you come to work here. What is it?”

“You have received a package, Sir Grey.”

“Hm, if it’s a bad Christmas gift, it might be quite sorrowful. Is it from that ‘Savior for the People’ group again?”

“No. The sender’s name isn’t listed, but it says it’s from the Empire’s capital.”

“Hm?”

“Head Priest! Look at this!”

“Heh, sister. The children are still sleeping. Please lower your voice.”

“Someone sent dozens of fairy tale books!”

“Ah, it seems the foundation sent books again. How thoughtful.”

“Heehee… I’m so happy I’m crying… Until a few years ago, I couldn’t even give the children a proper meal… Now… we’ve even received a donation for the orphanage building, so the children each have their own rooms… And many teachers are helping the children study… Heehee…”

“Heh, why are you crying on such a good day? It’s Christmas today, so the children who cry won’t receive any gifts.”

“I’m an adult, so it’s okay for me to cry…”

“Hm? But there seems to be something inserted between the fairy tale books. Something shiny… Platinum?”

“Maybe it’s a bookmark?”

“A platinum bookmark, huh? It seems like it’s from someone very wealthy. Ah, there’s a letter here. It says that if we show this platinum card to the Guild of Merchants, they will solve any problem with money. Even if we ask for a whole island, they’ll provide the title deed as well.”

“…Huh?”

[The girl hurriedly lit all of the matchsticks. She wanted to keep her grandmother there with her. As the matches burned, they shone brighter than the midday sun, and her grandmother also shone magnificently.]

[At dawn, the poor girl, cold and lifeless, was smiling as she leaned against the wall.]

[People mourned her death and regretted not buying any matches from her the night before.]

[No one could imagine the beauty the girl saw in the new year or what glory she shared with her grandmother.]