บท 4: CHAPTER 4: The Age of Hypocrisy (3)

A single drop of water fell into a quiet, ripple-free pond under a noble blue moon, causing ripples under the refreshing moonlight.

The ripples spread out in concentric circles throughout the pond.

However, since it was at the center, there was no way to know how far the ripples would extend.

***

As it should be expected, Soylent Green caused a huge stir as soon as it was published.

It might not have been possible if this was simply the work of an upstart author, but since a writer who was already at the top published a new work, many people bought the book, and many were shocked.

In an era where there were many high-ranking people who believed in the Malthusian trap, < Soylent Green> gave legitimacy to their actions.

"At least the birth rates should be limited! Only by reducing the number of children born can we hope to survive in the future!"

"Absolutely not possible! Giving birth is a woman's sacred right!"

"Doctrinally, an attempt at abortion is a mortal sin in itself, leading to automatic excommunication. God tells us to be fruitful and multiply…."

"No, that means we are prospering so much that we are all going to die! History proves it!"

However, one thing that was unexpected was that Soylent Green did not lessen the shock waves of < The Sherlock Holmes series>.

The reason was simple.

This was because Soylent Green itself was not that big of a hit.

Of course, it sold quite a lot, but it was difficult to surpass the popularity of the Sherlock Holmes series.

And Sherlock Holmes's main readers ranged from the upper class to the lower class. It was a magazine serial novel to begin with, so it was natural.

In other words, the new novel had a long way to go still.

***

"Oh my gosh!"

As I lay down holding my head, Layla smiled awkwardly.

"How many hours was I there?"

"Three hours sir."

"Being active for three hours without resting is a feat for me."

I sighed and slurped some of the soup Layla brought me.

"Sir, I was wondering whether using contraception was considered sinful?"

"Using contraception is not a sin by Catholic standards. But I'm not telling you to use birth control"

Contraception is not a complete sin at this point. All types of contraceptive methods that we know of are mortal sins, and even ovulation cycle observation was a mortal sin before Paul VI allowed it under the premise of 'legitimate marital relations. But the problem is that we still have to wait another century for Paul VI to become Pope.

"… Well, you didn't make that claim in the novel."

"Huh, but why make such a fuss about it rather than going to confession?"

"If you put it that way, dueling is a deadly sin."

"Is it just a duel?"

I chuckled and thought about all the different things forbidden in Catholicism.

If people had kept religious doctrine as strictly as my mother wanted from the beginning, would the world have turned out like this?

"Ha, anyway…"

"Anyway, when are you going to write a new Sherlock Holmes book? I can't even go out right now…"

"Is the situation that troublesome?"

"The atmosphere in the city is scary, really. If it weren't for the fact that you kept the location of the house hidden, there would have been a riot and people would have come here."

"People are more interested in the Sherlock Holmes series than in the new work I wrote."

"Isn't this something that can't be helped?"

Of course, it seems that the higher-ups of each country are seriously discussing this… Well, it happened in the original history… so it's only natural it happens again this time, right?

Anyway, nothing much will occur.

Or… not.

"So, there's a lot of work to do. We have to prepare the sequel to Soylent Green, and we also have to prepare the next Sherlock Holmes story."

If I had to prioritize, Soylent Green is more urgent. Sherlock Holmes can be kept alive for a few more years at least.

"I always say this, but coming up with a title is the most difficult."

Because it has to reflect the theme of the work and make people want to read it.

"If it's worthy of your name sir, it's only natural there be a certain level of demand, right?"

"Maybe so."

I said, scribbling with a pen.

"And it's a sequel to Soylent Green, so I expect it to be famous, it has to be convincing. Of course, it can't be done if it's not fun."

What I want to do now is to share my thoughts with the public through the form of a novel.

Of course, I have to write it purely based on my skills. Because there was no such thing as a sequel to Soylent Green, this is new.

Of course, it is possible to plagiarize the novels in my head to some extent, and I have accumulated some experience myself, and although I have organized the story to some extent, the beginning of a novel is always the most problematic.

If my name were to remain in history as a supporter of Malthus, not only would my reputation suffer a fatal blow, but I would not have the confidence to endure my mother's backlash.

And, in order to live the comfortable life I dream of, I must never, ever destroy my reputation in high society.

In other words, I must create a work of art by mobilizing all the sources I currently have.

"It's a pain in the rear… really."

I watch as the remaining sand in the hourglass is pouring out, but I can't write and it's driving me crazy.

No, should I decide on a title first?

"Layla, do you have any good ideas for the new work? I need to decide what the title will be."

"Hmm… the symbol of the main character was that wolf, right?"

"The main character and his companions are all wolves."

"Then how about this, < Wolfs don't cry at the moon>!"

"If wolves don't cry when they see the moon, then when do they cry? You didn't really think about that did you? Still, it seems plausible?"

"Hmm."

It may seem quite plausible, or it may not.

"Well, I don't think I have a better idea currently, so I'll just set it as a working title and change it if I come up with a better one."

I wrote the title on the cover of the manuscript bundle.

***

Buckingham Palace, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

George IV, monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Kingdom of Hanover, frowned.

"I heard that Congress is noisy, and so is the media."

"Apologies, lord."

"Isn't it a much more reasonable measure to reduce the number of mouths we feed rather than increase our food supply? It would be easier if we cleared out those slums right away."

The Prime Minister, Duke Arthur Wellesley, and Prince William, Duke of Clarence and St. Andrews, who were by his side, stiffened at George IV's words.

Prince William was currently the closest person to the British throne. George IV's only daughter, Charlotte, died after a difficult birth and her child was also stillborn, so there are no descendants of George IV. His second older brother, Prince Frederick, died three years ago, and Prince William was the third child.

Of course, Prince William could not now pass on the throne to his child. Although he had five children, all of them died young, and the next in line to the throne was Princess Alexandrina Victoria, the 11-year-old only daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, who had died of pneumonia ten years earlier.

Anyway, George IV spoke irritably, shocking the Prime Minister.

"Dr. Malthus is right. We have to reduce the population even if it means going to war. If we continue like this, there won't be any space left in the world!"

"Hmm, that's…."

"But killing people is a bit extreme, I don't like this, I don't like this at all. What do you suggest we do Prime Minister?"

Wellesley cleared his throat.

"A significant number of lawmakers are still opposed to the Anti-Poverty Increasing Act."

The contraceptive methods of this period had many problems.

So, wouldn't it be possible to reduce population growth by providing subsidies from the government in exchange for becoming infertile?

That was the essence of the Act to Prevent the Increase of Poverty. To put it simply, paying money to have sterilization surgery.

Of course, those who need that money will be poor, and since wealth is naturally passed down from generation to generation, the number of poor people can be suppressed.

It's not like castration wasn't done in the West. Even without talking about the Islamic world of the Middle Ages, aren't the Castrati in Italy all castrated boys?

In other words, since castration is a fairly public act, is it a problem to make it an official policy? Aren't they just expendable poor people who will just live and die anyway?

Minor suffering can be ignored if it prevents future food shortages due to their inability to leave descendants.

Isn't that utilitarianism? The greatest happiness for the greatest number.

It is debatable whether happiness, the maximization of pleasure, or the minimization of unhappiness and pain should take precedence, but in any case, it is for the happiness of the greatest number of people.

If our future descendants, who will be much more numerous than us, are much happier than if we had not done this, isn't it worth bearing that the current generation be a little unhappy?

In other words, the law to prevent the increase of poverty is moral. This not only causes suffering to those involved but is also much better for the children of the poor who will also live in misery.

That was the main point of those who advocated the law to prevent the increase of poverty.

Naturally, there were more than one person who objected.

In the history that we know of, when the Poor Law was abolished in 1834, William IV, who ratified it, also expressed his disapproval of it, and the religious community also rose up.

Not only the Catholic Church but also the Anglican Church opposed it. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury criticized it in public.

It is natural, but anyone who follows the Bible or is a religious person could never openly approve of such actions, regardless of religious denomination.

All Whig parties were against it, many Conservatives were also against it, and Prime Minister Wellesley was also against it, although he did not reveal his position for fear of division in the party.

Even Viscount Gentian, genius author of the Sherlock Holmes series, who ignited the Malthus Trap controversy with his novel 'Soylent Green', published an editorial in a major newspaper, arguing that food shortages should be solved through the exploitation of barren lands and technological development. The idea of solving the problem by killing or castrating people is crazy, and although the Act to Prevent the Increase of Poverty will certainly reduce poverty, it will never produce positive results and can never be morally justified.

He strongly criticized the Act to Prevent the Increase in Poverty, saying that the intention behind his novel was not to reduce the number of people at all, but rather to prepare for a population explosion by cultivating abandoned land and continuously developing technology.

In addition, several celebrities opposed it.

Of course, there were a few supporters, but many of them suffered criticism.

Of course, that didn't dampen their pride.

They were also convinced that it was absolutely necessary and considered themselves pioneers. What they had was belief. It was not a simple claim.

And that's why it was so hard to beat.

If it was a matter related to money or interests, if the situation changed, the argument would be overturned according to the benefit, but the most difficult group to persuade were those who acted based on such beliefs.

There is no one who is as difficult to convince as someone who believes that he or she is right.

"Your Majesty, even your Majesty…."

Wellesley's eyes twitched. The prince also looked like he had swallowed something bitter, but the king didn't care.

"Is there any reason why the law to prevent the increase of poverty should not be implemented? The world is progressing, not regressing. Just because we believe in God, do we still live by the laws of the Old Testament? I mean, don't people today put butter on their steaks when they grill them?"

There is a law in the Old Testament that states not to boil a baby in its mother's milk.

In other words, the law prohibits cooking beef with dairy products or cooking goat meat with goat milk.

However, asking how many people do not use butter when grilling meat for that reason means asking why they are bound by past morals and do not choose the obvious progress.

___________________________________________