How to Live as a Martial Arts Writer in a Fantasy World

52 – 52. Dramatization Part 2

52.

“An event?”

To the repeating question, Alan nodded.

“The fifth volume of the Schuren series is about to be published. Although the fifth volume will be out soon, if you consider the time taken to start dramatizing it right now, a little more time might be needed, right?”

“Yeah. We have to write the screenplay, select the actors. There are more than one or two things needed to prepare the stage props.”

“So how about linking the sixth volume with the play?”

“Alan?”

Felicia responded as if questioning what he meant, and Leila turned her head slightly to look at him.

It’s an expression that implies it’s difficult to understand.

The members of the theater club who heard Alan’s words felt the same.

“A linkage?”

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“Giving those who buy tickets to see the Schuren series play the right to see the sixth volume first. Of course, this will be an event targeting the academy students.”

“…Is that possible?”

The one who threw the question was Leila.

Alan nodded.

“It’s our house, the Duke’s house. If we contact the Adonel publishing house, it is quite possible. In truth, if we opt to dramatize, arranging a team by separately casting one actor at a time from a famous theater group is possible.”

“Aah…”

“But that’s a story for when we are going for a luxurious version. Considering we proposed to dramatize it first to the academy theater department, I think we need a cheaper, mass-market version of the Schuren series play.”

A high-end version would have to include an effects team like an orchestra, separately cast actors who fit the image of the characters, and a separate production team for reshooting.

Even though he said it was a mass-market version, what the theater students were making was an item made at an amateur level.

There’s no comparison with the professional level.

Alan was also keeping that in mind.

“To be precise, let’s try to keep collaborating with our novel manga club. From the perspective of the Academy’s drama department, it’s a chance to enhance our reputation before job hunting, and it’s a good opportunity for our club to publicize our work.”

“But at present, we only have Allen’s work.”

Felicia said, to which Allen replied,

“That’s true. But that’s why we are recruiting members.”

During this process, a proposal for dramatization came up.

Of course, there was no response in the traditional theater sector, but if the impact of the Schuren Chronicle drama, created by the Academy’s drama department, expands, it would become amusing.

The world might not be aware of the devastation awaiting when music and theater merge.

‘There is opera. But it hasn’t incorporated drama.’

Opera’s foundation lies in the domain of music.

If a song takes on dramatic elements, it becomes an opera; if a play integrates musical elements, it becomes a musical.

What Allen is planning is closer to a musical.

To be exact, he’s aiming for a play that is closer to a movie.

He intends to integrate music into a play, extracting more devastation through the harmony of visuals and music.

Allen asked,

“Does the College of Arts have a music department?”

“Yes, why?”

“I think it would be a good idea if we could collaborate with them, assuming they’re interested.”

“With music students? But what has that got to do with plays? I don’t see how acting and music can fit together.”

“We should try to blend them. Innovatively.”

Allen laughed.

“Music and drama. What would be born out of these two combined? Aren’t you curious?”

Integrated arts, as the name suggests, are like an orchestra or large band created by mixing various arts.

Music, art, acting, and literature, everything merges.

Literature forms the foundation, art establishes the structure, music becomes the roof, and acting blooms within it.

Allen continued on,

“Ah, and regarding the authenticity of Kunlun’s costumes, I’ll introduce you to Lady Lin so you can ask her.”

“What, really?! Is that even possible?!”

“…Somehow, I happened to form a connection with two princesses.”

“That’s intriguing~. I have quite an interest in plays, particularly if it’s the Schuren Chronicle.”

Felicia gave a sly smile.

“Can we expect a theater performance?”

***

When he first started writing, he had struggled enormously with how to translate his knowledge of martial arts fiction into worldly terms.

Alan, at some point, found himself effortlessly penning down six volumes, and he smirked at the discovery.

“Martial arts and theater. Basically, it’s like Chinese Opera, right?”

Traditional Chinese opera is a combination of singing, dancing, and acting.

It usually takes material from novels or legends to make a script, but in martial arts fiction, they also base it on the stories of martial arts heroes.

He wishes that the basic frame would be maintained in the stage version, though it would probably be slightly tailored for Tiran’s sentiment.

If the play is complete, Alan, as the original author, had to review it as a condition. If something goes wrong, he could ask for revisions.

“It’d be nice if they handle it with some creativity and flair.”

Alan sketched with his fountain pen lightly over the manuscript, then put down the pen for a moment.

“Will someone do some secondary creation?”

It seemed strange that no one would want to plagiarize or imitate Shurengi, which was so successful.

The public opinion on Qunrum’s culture was gradually increasing.

Someone might write something like a mythical episode of Schubert, not Shrenne. He also had such thoughts.

Alan groaned loudly.

“I think it’d be better to illustrate the Shurengi premium version, I could start doing it from the next work. I’m lucky to have Reila, for this.”

Though he still had doubts about Reila, even Allan had recognized her extraordinary drawing skills.

“Reila, really phenomenal…”

Reila’s paintings were so vivid that they reproduced the content of the novel as it is.

She has a remarkable style of drawing, but maybe she has a superior ability to read and understand novels.

Or, she might possess some unique ability.

“Anyway, I created an Eastern fencing department and the number of students there is increasing… Isn’t this like forming a real clan?”

And he should also think about the stage adaptation of Shurengi.

What the academic students create is literally a low-quality version.

Compared to the premium version, the stage, direction, sound effects, everything is bound to be of lower quality. But if the play is successfully performed at the academy, it is likely to wield tremendous influence.

At least within the academy, the number of people talking openly against Allan would decrease.

The current number of such people is already fewer.

“For now, I need to plan out the contents for the sixth volume.”

Alan chuckled as he played with his pen.

The fifth volume has been released.

The storyline follows Irene, who is using Schuren while hiding her true intentions to disrupt the plans of the dark mage coven she belongs to, Schuren himself, and their companion Kranish—an orc.

“Is this the third volume that includes the story of the orcs?”

“But, practically speaking, I think the orc story ends with this volume. This volum is unusually thick compared to the others as well.”

“Yeah, exactly. While reading I kept thinking ‘when is this going to end?’ although I enjoyed it.”

“Do you think Kranish’s orcish axe handling can be realistically portrayed? It seems plausible enough for the orcs of Osrian.”

“Who knows. Anyway, didn’t they say the fifth volume sold out?”

“I managed to get one. I even went to the Adonel Publishing Company’s direct sales factory over the weekend.”

“You’re very passionate. I wish I had the time to do that.”

With the release of the fifth volume, there were more people discussing its content in the correction offices.

That was expected.

After all, it was the most talked-about novel in Huangdo.

Even in the Eastern Swordsmanship branch, where Albert resided, they were studying the swordsmanship of the Schuren Chronicles and even planning to demonstrate it, hence interest was high.

Furthermore, there have been rumors that a theatrical release of the Schuren Chronicles is underway, with the original author Alan’s permission- a situation that could only garner more interest.

“…I never thought I’d live to see kids greet each other with hugs.”

Alan spat out these words, baffled, watching the young cadets from the knight academies on the corrections floors greeting each other with embracing salutes.

The sight of knights and warriors from the Western and Eastern Empires greeting each other with hugs was amicable, to say the least.

More people are discussing the Schuren Chronicles here and there.

Their conversations were sharp enough to stab Alan’s ears.

“Do you think Schuren’s actions were justified…I believe such questions are meaningless since Schuren lost all his comrades.”

“But didn’t he inflict harm upon the innocent people of the empire for the sake of revenge?”

“When he confronted Schuvert, it was in the middle of an empty mountain, and Schuren has never directly committed a massacre in a city.”

“Hmm, but he’s not a subject of the empire. Does it justify such slaughter? He’s even associated with orcs and entangled with the black mages, for that matter.”

“Pretty bluntly, The Schuren Chronicles is just a novel. I want to tell them that they’re over-immersed.”

In the array of audible debates, Alan chuckled softly.

Finally, someone who’s sane, he thought.

“So, do you think we’ll see Schuren and Irene opening up to each other?”

“I don’t know. But since Irene harbors a strong aversion to the dark mage coven and she decided to use Schuren, if they end up traveling together for a long time, there may be emotional changes between them.”

“It makes me curious whether Schuren’s thirst for revenge will ease with that.”

“That’s something I’ve been wondering too. It’s not so much about the simple revenge of Shuren, but more about how he slowly changes as he encounters various fates.”

Whether it’s from the stories she’d heard, Meia throws the question.

“I see, young master.”

“…I have ears too, Meia.”

Allen grumbled.

“I wish we could just read this for fun and move on, why is everyone so serious?!”