I am a literary giant in Japan

"I you."

Pete's brain was completely shut down by Kitagawa Hide's words.

His eyes widened, he gripped the microphone, a thousand words swirling in his mind, yet he couldn't utter a single one.

Before firing off those barrage of questions, Pete had imagined countless ways Kitagawa Hide could respond.

Perhaps he would be speechless for a moment and unable to answer his question;

Perhaps he would get so frustrated by his own questions that he would become incoherent.

He might simply ignore this tricky question and change the subject, brushing it off by downplaying the issue.

Anyway, if Pete were in this position, he would have thousands of ways to deal with being tricked in front of everyone, to ensure that the public lecture could end smoothly.

Never imagined.

Kitagawa Hide chose the most drastic approach from among countless options!
"I despise your kind of pointless whining!"

Once those words are spoken, there's no going back.

Of course, the news reporters from BBS and ABC wouldn't miss this classic scene. They were taking pictures like crazy and recording the real situation on the spot. They were all overjoyed, knowing that they had secured the headlines for the next few days, or even the next few months!

[World-renowned literary figure publicly criticizes leader of Norwegian "white left" party!]

The title alone is enough to generate a wave of viewership.

Not to mention, this isn't clickbait; it's real big news from the Swedish Academy!

Even more outrageous, Hideki Kitagawa publicly stated that he would write a new book and make a new movie to satirize them!
Is this a declaration of war against "white leftists" around the world?

Pete felt incredibly frustrated.

He really wanted to say something.

This was actually the best time for him to amplify the impact of the incident.

Kitagawa Hide's blatant mockery of his father, as well as the faction and party they belong to, is a challenge.

Peet was completely stunned. His brain couldn't process anything, and he could only stand there dumbfounded, like a piece of wood, at a loss for what to do.

“Pete, do you have any other questions?” Kitagawa Hide glanced at his watch. This “argument” had lasted for about half an hour, and he couldn’t let it continue to take up other people’s time.

"I... I thank you for your explanation, Mr. Kitagawa."

Pete stammered for a long time, unable to muster the courage to engage in a deeper debate with Kitagawa Hide. He could only sit down awkwardly, like a deflated balloon.

This sudden debate seemed to be Pete hitting Kitagawa Hide's weak spot and successfully provoking his anger, causing him to say some impulsive things.

But in the eyes of others, this was undoubtedly a great victory for Kitagawa-sensei against the "white leftists" who loved to make things difficult for people.

Those below who shared similar political views with Pete remained silent, as if they had been reprimanded by Kitagawa Hide.

This is the first time a world-renowned figure has said in front of the media, "I despise your kind of pointless whining!"

This is simply throwing their dignity into the ground and trampling on it.

After Pete gave up, Olivia became the second student to ask a question.

However, Olivia didn't really make things difficult for Kitagawa Hide.

As a student representative from the Department of Literature and History at Yale University, she asked Hideki Kitagawa several questions about Childhood and the sequel to the trilogy.

Olivia's questions were clearly well-prepared, hitting the nail on the head with key points related to the novel while cleverly helping Kitagawa Hide gain more attention.

Kitagawa Hide answered very comfortably, and after the Q&A session, he deliberately gave Olivia a "you're awesome" look.

After that, the people asking questions were all planted by Knut and his team. This rigid question-and-answer session completely lost the interest of the journalists, who all lowered their heads to edit their manuscripts and ignored the situation in the classroom.

And so, the unique public literature appreciation class ended smoothly amidst laughter and joy, completely putting Knut and Göran Malmqvist, who had been sweating profusely, at ease.

As for the feud between Kitagawa Hide and the "white leftists," they don't want to get involved, can't get involved, and dare not get involved for the time being.

Previously, he helped the Arnault Club deal with Kitagawa Hide, but in the end, the Arnault couple were both imprisoned, the Arnault Club disintegrated, and the Swedish Academy and the Nobel Prize in Literature were also scorned.

Only Kitagawa Hide, as if nothing had happened, came to wander around here again.

Therefore, Ma Yueran and his group chose to wait and see, neither supporting nor opposing the situation.

Anyway, the Nobel Prize in Literature will be awarded as usual, and it's going to happen next year, the new millennium, so there's no rush.

After failing to get autographs and photos, many students and celebrities could only leave the large lecture hall in batches, feeling unsatisfied.

Many people were discussing as they walked: "Teacher Kitagawa is really amazing. That Pete's face turned green, and his legs might have gone weak too."

"Yes, this is the first time I've seen a celebrity dare to confront 'white leftists' in front of so many cameras. That's really brave!"

"Do you think Professor Kitagawa might come to teach at the Faculty of Arts in the future? Didn't the faculty say they would award him an honorary professorship?"
I remember that professors-eminent sometimes come to the school to give lectures or something, right?

"Don't even think about it. Those honorary professors who frequently come to the school to make their presence felt are either just empty titles or trying to use this opportunity to curry favor with the tenured members of the college."

Do you think Kitagawa-sensei would care about winning the Nobel Prize in Literature?

"That's true. But it would be such a shame if Kitagawa-sensei stopped coming to class."

His new theory of tragedy, which he presented today, was truly inspiring, making me wonder if Hegel's theory of tragedy is indeed outdated.

"Haha, you should save your breath. Even if it really is outdated, it's not for people like us to judge."
By the way, do any of you have a French version of "Childhood"? Could I borrow it?

"The French version hasn't been released yet, has it?"

After the students and celebrities left one after another, Knut immediately ran to the back of the classroom and found Kitagawa Hide, who was discussing with Olivia what to have for dinner.

“Teacher Kitagawa, you said that in class?” Knut asked tentatively.

Kitagawa Hide glanced at him, then dismissed Olivia before speaking once he and Knut were alone in the room: "Are you here to mediate for Pete Dimon?"

In this public lecture, Kitagawa Hide was somewhat tricked by the Faculty of Letters.

He couldn't help but wonder if some members of the Swedish Academy also had leftist tendencies.

These Westerners aren't quite right in the head. Sometimes you think they're a normal person, and then they pull some crazy tricks on you.

Sometimes you think he's crazy, and then he becomes terrifyingly normal.

"How is that possible!" Knut felt like strangling Pete Dimon right now.

Pete Dumon's question was most likely based on his personal grudge against Hideaki Kitagawa.

But now the matter has spread to Kitagawa Hide and the entire leftist faction, putting the Swedish Academy in an awkward position once again. Although he agreed with Göran Malmqvist's attitude of waiting and seeing, after much deliberation, he finally approached Kitagawa Hide to find out what was going on.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Hideaki Kitagawa would undoubtedly be the strongest contender for next year's Nobel Prize in Literature!
The year 2000, the year of the supposed end of the world according to Mayan prophecy, and the fact that the Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded every two years, makes next year's prize more prestigious than ever before.

Knut would go crazy if Kitagawa Hide missed out on the Nobel Prize in Literature again because of such a ridiculous reason.

"So what do you mean?" Kitagawa Hide still trusted him quite a bit.

"I just want to hear your real thoughts. You're not really planning to write a novel to satirize the liberal left, are you?"

Knut, worried that Kitagawa Hide was unaware of the terrifying power of the left-wing forces, patiently explained it to him, and then added...

"The Dumon family is influential in Norway and Sweden, but only in those two countries."

After leaving Norway and Sweden, they became just an ordinary political family, with absolutely no chance of influencing the literary circles of other countries.

Of course, after what happened last time, you don't need to worry about them manipulating the Nobel Prize in Literature selection; we won't let such a foolish thing happen again.

"I see."

Kitagawa gestured for Knut to sit down, then picked up the cosmetics Olivia had left on the table and tossed them around casually.

"However, my true thoughts are what I said when I was facing the camera."

I've always disliked those self-righteous types, and those who claim to be doing things for others when they're clearly doing things for themselves.

But that only made me unhappy; it didn't make me initiate a conflict with them.

But this time, Pete Dumont's question not only forced me to make a choice, but also questioned my work.

You should understand how much Alyosha's autobiographical trilogy means to me, right?

I will never compromise on matters concerning the content of my novel.

"Of course I understand its significance to you. Anyone with eyes that aren't blind should be clear about its value to the history of world literature."

That's why I rushed here to find you.

Given your writing speed and current state, you should be able to finish the trilogy this year, right?

This will be just in time for next year's Nobel Prize in Literature selection.

Using them to win the Nobel Prize, completing the final piece of your literary puzzle, is the best outcome, isn't it?

Knut nodded repeatedly and said earnestly,

"If these things cause you to miss out again..."

"Professor Knut. I once said something like this in a similar speech at the University of Tokyo."

'What lasts forever is the work itself, not awards.'

If the Nobel Prize rejects me again because of this, then it can only be said that I am destined to be without the Nobel Prize, which is a pity.

But that's all.

Kitagawa Hide caught the falling cosmetics, then looked Knut straight in the eye with a serious expression and said, word by word,
"We write novels, become writers, and publish one work after another that readers love, all in order to convey our thoughts to others."

The ladder of human progress is literary works, not literary awards.

Kitagawa Hide knew that Knut meant well, which was why he was willing to talk to him so much, but at the same time he was also telling him that he would not break his promise or violate his principles in life for the sake of an award, and would not compromise or do things he did not want to do.

The Akutagawa Prize and the Tanizaki Prize used to be no match for it.

Even the Nobel Prize in Literature won't do!

"The ladder of human progress is literary works, not literary awards."

Knut pondered Kitagawa Hide's words, then fell into deep thought.

"As for that new work, I suddenly had an inspiration during my speech."

"Mr. Knut, you know, it's hard for a literary creator not to write down the perfect work they envision."

Kitagawa Hide stood up, gently patted his senior's shoulder, and then walked towards the door without looking back.

It's almost dinnertime.

He already stood Olivia up once today, and if he stands her up again, she'll probably hold a grudge forever!

After Kitagawa left, Knut remained seated for a long time.

He and Göran Malmqvist have always believed that "the Nobel Prize in Literature is the most important thing," and anything that conflicts with the award can be postponed unless it is a matter of life and death.

Those who desperately want to win awards but can't get them all have this kind of mindset.

Since the Nobel Prize in Literature was established, this understanding has become a consensus and has never been questioned.

According to Japan, the Nobel Prize in Literature is the number one prize in the world of literature, and it is the undisputed number one. At the beginning, it even far surpassed the British Booker Prize, the French Goncourt Prize, and the American Pulitzer Prize.

Which writer wouldn't be moved by it?

But Kitagawa Hide's words cracked a rift in Knut's resolute heart, which had remained steadfast for decades.

Is it right just because it has always been this way?
Did he develop that arrogant mindset because he worked at the Swedish Academy for a long time and was exposed to the Nobel Prize in Literature for so long?

Why are they so high and mighty, admired and worthy of being looked up to?

Can't there be someone who disdains winning awards, who disdains receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature?

Sartre, who previously refused the Nobel Prize, did so because he did not recognize the award's prestige and believed that inexperienced and unqualified judges were not qualified to award anyone.

It's as if he doesn't think anyone can award Leo Tolstoy.

However, Sartre's story happened too early, in 1964, an era when information was not readily available and the speed of dissemination was slow, making it easy for the Academy to cover it up.

"The ladder of human progress is literary works, not literary awards."

Perhaps this sentence should become the college's newest motto.

Having fully understood Kitagawa Hide's feelings, Knut stopped worrying and simply removed his hat and bowed in the direction Kitagawa had left. It took him a very long time before he slowly got up.

Hideaki Kitagawa, who had long since left the Swedish Academy, was unaware of this.

He and Olivia drove to a high-end Western restaurant in downtown Stockholm, deciding to have the romantic candlelight dinner she had been longing for.

While passing by Stockholm University, Kitagawa Hide told Olivia the amusing story that the university had moved the motto stone of the Faculty of Arts. Olivia laughed heartily, unable to stop. (End of Chapter)