Chapter 17

After Knights of the Sky, people became accustomed to lining up in front of bookstores from early morning.

In the relatively early stages, there were those who tried to resolve things through force or status, but even that gradually changed into a culture of naturally maintaining order over time.

“That buzz-cut kid Jacob—I heard he threatened the person who was first in line yesterday and cut in?”

“Bastards like that shouldn’t even eat.”

“Other nobles don’t do that, but I heard Count Stan’s servant cut in line and bought books yesterday.”

While there might be no problem with buying through unfair methods, by the next day their reputation would plummet without filter.

Cutting in line in front of people anxiously waiting their turn was inevitably a sensitive issue, especially when people were already being tested to their limits of patience.

“Don’t you see people lining up? What do you think you are?”

Occasional fistfights broke out, leading to several police dispatches.

After that, there were cases where nobles deliberately sent servants to win public favor, having them line up while conspicuously wearing their family crests.

As time passed and more people bought Karma’s books, just when the fervor was cooling down—

Masked Ball volume 2 was released.

With only volume 1 released wickedly and no volume 2, most readers had read both of Karma’s works.

“Excuse me…”

“Yes?”

“Is this the line for Reverni Bookstore?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

No one was surprised anymore to see the long line that stretched as if it were natural.

You had to walk around the bookstore area twice before finding the end, and with excessive population density, the hastily dispatched police began controlling the streets.

After all, there were more people in line on the streets than pedestrians passing through.

As if they had coordinated, those who kept checking the time at the same opening hours tilted their heads at the commotion coming from the front.

“What did you say?”

“There’s a quantity limit… but I don’t know the details.”

“That’s been there from the beginning.”

From when Knights of the Sky was first released, to prevent a single noble from buying everything up, purchases were limited to a maximum of 10 books per transaction.

When the commotion at the front showed no signs of calming down, people at the back were bewildered.

Hurry hurry—

“Huh? Did you buy these?”

“…Sigh, yes.”

A man with two books tucked under his arm came running to the very end and began lining up again.

“But why didn’t you go look and came here instead?”

When an empire citizen waiting at the very end asked with pure intentions, he hesitated briefly before speaking.

“I originally planned to buy 10 books, but due to the quantity limit I could only buy two, and I didn’t win either, so I’m trying to buy again.”

“Win? Win what?”

“…Karma’s handwritten signature books. I’m thinking of waiting here about two more times, and if nothing comes up, I’ll go somewhere else.”

Initially, people didn’t understand what he meant when they heard this.

But as people who bought books began coming out in droves, the news eventually reached the back completely. The existence of signed books that anyone who reads books couldn’t not know about.

Commoners thought at best some wealthy noble would take them, but that wasn’t the case.

“Huh, I can have one too?”

On the first day of release, all locations began sales while posting announcement together.

Commemorating Masked Ball Volume 2 Release

Books containing Karma’s handwritten signatures are randomly mixed and sold to all purchasers. • Smart version 25 books, Deluxe version 25 books. ~ Limited sales for first batch only

• Each location cannot know in advance how many signed books they have.
• If the magic packaging has been removed, please do not purchase and report to Sapphire Publishing.

Try to win the author’s signature through luck alone!

It was full of words that could stimulate people.

Handwritten signature books. Random. Limited sales. Luck.

Even nobles who had sent servants and were waiting at their mansions were shocked senseless.

Everyone knew that signed books couldn’t be obtained with money alone, and the number of people running around the capital to buy books increased significantly.

However, no one raised objections to the small publishing company at the center of all this commotion—Sapphire.

Sapphire Publishing Statement

Karma’s novels will be released sequentially in the future. We remind you once again that both current works have only recently been published. Karma wishes to focus solely on writing. If Sapphire Publishing’s work is disrupted, novel release dates will be delayed. ~ Please note that excessive attacks on the author and interest beyond limits may result in serialization suspension.

The content of the paper posted on the large bulletin board in front of the publishing house had spread far and wide long ago.

After the statement was posted, rumors circulated that one newspaper that had been pouring out malicious words had suddenly disappeared without a trace, but the truth was unconfirmed.

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“Miss Katarina, 50 books still seems too few.”

“Do you know how hard it is to sign those? If we do it next time, I’m considering reducing it to 30 books.”

What romance—I signed each one by hand without using copy magic, even changing up the one-line phrases.

Originally, this should have been done for the first edition of volume 1, but I didn’t know it would be this successful back then.

Fortunately, only I knew the inside story of how Masked Ball was almost abandoned while writing Knights of the Sky.

“Since we definitely announced permanent sales prohibition, there haven’t been any reports so far.”

Daniel, who had been particularly worried when opening the event, had dark shadows under his eyes until just before publication, but now spoke with a lively face.

I’m glad it ended without incident.

The fact that everything was packaged with magic to prevent signed books from being intercepted during distribution played a part.

However, I didn’t expect the stock prepared by running ten binderies day and night to sell out in just two days.

“I heard it sold for 300 gold coins at auction.”

The destinations of the signed books that found owners varied.

Eight books went up for auction, and testimonies came from people who registered for theft prevention at magic towers.

Though slightly regrettable, signed books going to readers was all the same.

“How’s the reaction?”

“…Didn’t I mention that 200,000 copies sold in two days?”

“Ah, I mean the book’s content.”

I hadn’t had time recently to go around checking reactions or reading newspapers.

No news is good news.

When no particular news came from Daniel for two days, I stopped paying attention and only now became interested.

“Edwin still seems more popular… but Gerard’s supporters are so intense that honestly I’m not sure.”

Watching Daniel trail off with an uncertain face, I smiled with satisfaction.

She too had been a staunch Edwin supporter but was swayed by Gerard, the second male lead, after reading volume 2.

‘They do have completely different appeals.’

I deliberately set all three male protagonists with different charms so readers could choose according to their preferences.

If their popularity becomes evenly matched in the future, nothing would be closer to my intention.

I casually informed Daniel, who sat across from me with a bright face, about the next developments.

“I haven’t been able to write Knights of the Sky volume 2 yet, and it’ll probably take quite a while.”

I must have made a lot of money by now.

My room was too cramped to continue sleeping and working there.

While we’re at it, since Baron Blaine’s household was staying in a small mansion in the capital, it would be good if we all moved to a better place.

“Miss Katarina is the only one in the empire publishing books at such a fast pace—we’re really fine!”

Daniel seemed even happier than before—is it just my imagination?

Rather than seeming disappointed, she clearly looked relieved, making me burst out laughing.

“To stabilize things further here, we’ll need to hire more people… and renegotiate contracts with the binderies.”

I heard the binderies were reinvesting their earnings to grow, so there was no need to increase the number of contracted locations.

After Daniel left, having discussed other matters outside the work—

“Is Father in his office now?”

“Yes, he’s inside.”

I moved my feet boldly as before and barged into the office.

Among food, clothing, and shelter, the most important is shelter.

It was time to show proper filial piety with the gold coins I’d accumulated.