Time flew by, and as time passed rapidly, the weather in Tivian began to grow increasingly cold. With people adding more and more layers of clothing, the year was finally coming to an end once again.
In the Tivian North Suburb, a hazy sky covered the Royal Saint Crown University. Tiny snowflakes slowly drifted down from the sky. Within the Crown University campus, which had already begun to put up preliminary New Year decorations, students wearing thick school robes were hurrying back and forth, busy worrying about their final exams.
It was the year-end exam week, and the Saint Crown University library was packed. Looking across the vast library, every visible seat was occupied by students, and almost everyone was diligently reviewing their coursework.
In a corner somewhere on the edge of the library, Naifnis, wearing a brown coat, was sitting behind a desk, silently flipping through a thick book placed on the surface. Across from her, Neff's roommate Emma had also opened a book and propped it up on the desk. The upright book blocked her face, and Emma seemed to be reading the book in front of her intently.
After reading the book in front of her diligently for a while, Naifnis let out a long sigh. Feeling a bit tired, she leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and rubbed her temples. After opening her eyes again, she closed the book in front of her, then looked at her roommate across from her. After looking at the cover of the book propped up in front of her, she spoke softly.
"Emma, how much longer until you finish the second volume of 'A Brief History of the Conquest Sea'?"
"Hmm... just a little bit left, but if you want to read it, take it. I don't mind." With her head hidden behind the book, Emma also responded in a low voice. Hearing Emma's words, Neff couldn't help but show a look of confusion on her face.
"Aren't you reading this second volume? What will you read if I take it?"
"I'm not reading this anymore, so just take it, it's fine."
Emma responded to Naifnis in this manner. After hearing Emma's words, Neff paused slightly, then seemed to remember something. She reached out directly and took the second volume of 'A Brief History of the Conquest Sea' that Emma had propped up in front of her. After the obstruction of the upright book was removed, Emma's face appeared before Neff.
Neff saw that Emma was currently reading another book placed in front of her with great interest. The second volume of 'A Brief History of the Conquest Sea' was just propped up there; she wasn't reading it at all. At this moment, another opened book was in front of her. On the pages, there were illustrations of two characters fighting each other. It didn't seem like a serious book, but Emma was still reading it with relish.
"Emma! You're still rereading 'Legend of Blood Source'. Look at the time, aren't you going to study anymore!"
Looking at the book in front of Emma, Neff's eyes showed a look that said 'just as expected', and she spoke frankly. Hearing her roommate's words, Emma, who had been reading, slightly raised her eyes and looked at Neff, speaking casually.
"Oh dear... I've been studying for so long, I feel exhausted. I almost couldn't help but fall asleep just now, so I took this book out to change things up and refresh myself."
"Refresh yourself... Are you treating novels like coffee?"
"Coffee? No, no, no... This story is both wonderful and thrilling, the effect is much better than coffee." Listening to Naifnis's words, Emma responded, while Neff said with a slight frown.
"But haven't you already read 'Legend of Blood Source' several times? You're so familiar with it, can it still have a refreshing effect?" Neff asked Emma in confusion, and Emma responded immediately after a moment of surprise.
"'Legend of Blood Source'? I didn't say I was reading 'Legend of Blood Source'..."
As she spoke, Emma also picked up the book placed in front of her. Holding it in her hand, she turned the cover for Neff to see. On the cover, Neff saw a painted image of a figure wearing a tall top hat, wrapped entirely in a cloak, with bandages wrapped around its face, and fierce eyes showing through. Above the cover painting was a gloomy artistic title in stylized letters, which did not spell out 'Legend of Blood Source'.
"This is 'Terror in the Misty Night', it's Miss Ait's new work, the author of 'Legend of Blood Source'~" Holding the book in her hand, Emma said to Naifnis with a hint of boastfulness. Neff couldn't help but be surprised again when she saw it.
"Miss Ait's new work? When did this happen? I haven't seen it serialized in the newspaper!"
Neff said with a surprised expression. Listening to Neff's words, Emma responded to her with a smile.
"It's definitely not serialized in the newspaper anymore~ After Miss Ait's reputation grew, her new books don't necessarily have to be serialized in the newspaper all the time. They're published and released as entire volumes and books directly. Speaking of which, even if there's no new serialization in the newspaper, there were advertisements for the new book in the front, taking up half a page and being really conspicuous. You didn't see that?"
Holding the novel in her hand, Emma said to Naifnis in front of her, while Neff responded by shaking her head.
"I've been busy with finals recently. I haven't looked at any sections other than the serialized part, so I didn't know there was a new book."
"You didn't even see that? As a fan of Miss Ait, you're a bit negligent. This new work is really exciting, you know. I've already read half of it, and I feel it's no worse than 'Legend of Blood Source'." Emma continued speaking to Naifnis. Hearing her words, Neff suddenly felt some interest, so she continued speaking.
"Oh... then tell me, what is this new book about?"
"It tells the story of a terrifying killer ghost wandering in Tivian! Just like 'Legend of Blood Source' was inspired by the terrifying screams in the Church District, this book 'Terror in the Misty Night' also draws inspiration from our local legends in Tivian. Miss Ait created a mysterious and terrifying killer hunter named 'Jack' based on the Nightmare, who hunts for targets on the foggy nights in Tivian and then kills them with cruel methods... It's really stimulating to read! I started reading it when I was feeling sleepy just now, and now I'm completely not tired anymore!"
Emma spoke to Neff with great interest. Listening to her words, Neff's eyes lit up, and she continued speaking.
"Is it that amazing? Let me see too."
"No! I still have half left to read, I'll give it to you in a few days." Seeing Neff lean forward and reach out, Emma quickly reacted by closing the book and pulling it towards herself, completely adopting a protective stance. Neff then spoke.
"In a few days... In a few days, the holiday will start!"
"Then just come to my place to get it. It only takes about an hour by carriage anyway." Emma said, holding her book and waving her hand. Listening to her words, Naifnis couldn't help but pout, then let out a sigh before sitting back in her chair and speaking.
"Phew... If you won't give it, then forget it. I'll go buy a copy myself in a bit. There are plenty of bookstores outside our school anyway."
"Buy? I'm sorry, dear Miss Boyle, 'Terror in the Misty Night' in the bookstores outside the school has already completely sold out. When I went to buy it, there was a queue of people. There's no way you can buy it if you go now." Shaking her finger, Emma said to Naifnis with a serious expression. Hearing her words, Neff was also quite surprised.
"Sold out? That can't be that exaggerated, can it? It's exam time after all, aren't people studying properly instead of reading novels?"
"So that's the charm of the talented thriller novelist Miss Ait~ However, people don't necessarily read the book immediately after buying it. Many people wait until after the exams and holiday to slowly enjoy it. I'm just the type who can't wait.
"Also, the books in the bookstores around our school aren't all bought by students. There are also a lot of scalpers from the City who come specifically to snap them up. The scene in many places in the City is even hotter. If you definitely go to buy it now, you can only buy the high-priced version from scalpers. So I still advise you to borrow it from me after I finish reading it, or wait for the printing factory to quickly print out a new batch."
Continuing to shake her finger, Emma said leisurely to Neff in front of her. Listening to her words, Neff couldn't help but purse her lips, then furrowed her brows, seemingly about to say something else.
...
Time flew by. After finishing their review, Neff and Emma packed their things and left the warm library heated by the fireplace. Just as the two were preparing to return to their dorm, Neff suddenly suggested leaving.
"Huh? You said you were going to see if there were any left? Please, there's absolutely no way there are any, they're all sold out!" At the library entrance, Emma stomped her feet in the cold wind while speaking to Neff, while Neff replied lightly.
"Let's try our luck. Maybe there's one left in a corner that wasn't noticed? Anyway, you go back first, I'll be back later."
Neff said this, then waved goodbye to Emma and headed towards the direction outside the school.
Walking through the campus where snowflakes were falling, Neff showed no redness in her face or shortness of breath, as if the cold temperature had no effect on her as she walked forward. Soon, she walked out of the Crown University gate and, after crossing a wide road, arrived at Green Shade Town, a commercial town that specifically served the teachers and students of Crown University.
In Green Shade Town, Neff skillfully found several bookstores and went inside to inquire about the popular new book. The result was exactly as Emma had said: the popular new book 'Terror in the Misty Night' had long since completely sold out. Now, she could only buy new copies after the printing factory worked overtime to print the next batch.
Seeing that her attempt to buy the new book had failed, Neff did not intend to give up. She stood on the street in Green Shade Town, looked around, and then cast her gaze towards the depths of the town. After pondering for a while on the spot, she lifted her steps and walked towards the direction she was looking, heading into the residential area of Green Shade Town.
A little while later, Neff walked up to a private house in Green Shade Town. After looking at the number 17 hanging by the door, she raised her hand and decisively knocked on the door. Not long after, a familiar sound came from inside.
"The door's not locked, just come in."
Hearing these words, Neff pushed the door open directly and entered the warm interior after changing her shoes. In the spacious living room, she saw a somewhat surprising sight.
Four or five men and women dressed differently were currently crowded in the living room, sitting in front of coffee tables and several temporarily placed desks. In front of each person was a mechanical typewriter. These men and women had vacant expressions and their hands moved rapidly across the typewriter keyboards, quickly typing out lines of letters onto the paper stuck in them. The entire room was filled with rhythmic key sounds, and scattered piles of documents and books were everywhere, like in a busy office.
Neff looked at the scene in the living room with curiosity. Just then, footsteps came from the stairs at the end of the room. Dorothy, wearing a wool top and a padded long skirt, stepping in slippers, with her silver-white long hair loosely scattered, dressed in home attire, slowly walked down the stairs and entered the living room.
"Yo~ Senior Nefelnis, what a rare visitor. Is there something you need by coming directly to my place today?"
Looking at Naifnis in front of her, Dorothy spoke with a slight raise of her eyebrows, while Neff also quickly replied.
"Uh... Miss Dorothy, have you released a new book recently? I've been busy studying these past few days and didn't notice. By the time I realized, the books were all sold out. Do you have any left here?"
"My new book? There should be some... but haven't you been studying and preparing for exams recently?" Listening to Naifnis's words, Dorothy pondered for a moment before speaking, while Neff also immediately responded.
"I've pretty much finished reviewing, there's no problem. However, I haven't gotten your new book, and I'm always a bit flustered mentally, which will affect my performance even more tomorrow and the day after. Anyway, if you have it, could you give it to me first?"
"Let me see..."
Listening to Neff's words, Dorothy immediately controlled two Corpse Puppets who were typing in front of typewriters and had them start searching various places in the living room. After a short while, they found several books of different thicknesses and handed them directly to Neff.
"Here... that's all there is."
"This... why are there so many?"
Holding a pile of books in her hands, Neff couldn't help but frown and say. She found a spot to put the books on a cabinet, and then examined them carefully. In her impression, Dorothy should have only released one new book recently.
Picking up a book with a dark cover, Neff began to examine the cover carefully. What she saw on the cover painting was a pale human face covered in stitches. The title of the book was not 'Terror in the Misty Night', but another name.
"'Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus'...
"This, is this also your new book, Miss Dorothy? No, the author's name is Mary Shelley, not Miss Dorothy's pen name Ait. Miss Dorothy, did you get the wrong ones?"
Looking at the books in her hands, Neff said with a surprised expression, while Dorothy replied calmly from the side.
"There's no mistake, those are the new novels I'm preparing to publish recently. I just changed my pen name. Relatively speaking, in the eyes of ordinary people, a single author's creative ability is limited, and it's impossible to create several works in just half a year. So I decided to use a few different pen names and publish several other works under the names of other authors. This time, I plan to synchronize the release in multiple countries."
"Different new books under other pen names... Could it be that these are all the new books you've prepared, Miss Dorothy?"
Listening to Dorothy's words, Neff couldn't help but be stunned, and then began to look at the other works. After 'Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus', she picked up a novel with an exquisite cover. What was depicted on the cover was an elegant male noble sitting in a high-backed chair, swirling a glass of red wine. A strange smile was revealed on the noble's lips.
Neff looked at the title above the cover. The letters spelled out a person's name, 'Dracula'. And in the author's signature area, another author's name was written, named Bram Stoker.
Looking at the scene before her, Neff couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva, and then continued to look at the next so-called "new books".