Rupert was thinking about how to gather the remaining works that were lacking in the magazine.
‘It would be good to collaborate with Yuren to hold a contest or something like that.’
Modern comic magazines used various methods to discover new talents. Typically, new authors would submit their works directly to companies, but they also held contests to select works directly.
Especially for contests where prize money or serialization opportunities were on the line, the popularity was so high that not only newcomers but also established authors submitted their works, making Rupert think this was the most appropriate method.
“Alright, you’ve all worked hard today, so you can go home now. Sena, you should hurry home and get some sleep too.”
Rupert practically forced the two, who still wanted to draw more, to leave. Being someone who’d pushed themselves to the point of fainting from overwork just a little while ago, he was now putting thorough rest above all else.
However, oddly enough, despite his pleas, the artisans suddenly requested to work overtime. But Rupert pretended he didn’t hear them.
‘After all, busy periods for work are set in stone.’
From about a week before a book was published, he was so busy churning out copies that he could hardly breathe. And even after the release, it was a time when overtime was necessary until the reprint was issued.
Other than that, he just had to print the scheduled quantities and focus on research and development, so there was no need to overwork the artisans.
Moreover, the number of staff had increased quite a bit, allowing them to work in shifts to guarantee their rest conditions.
The same went for the drawing work. Until Rupert created the storyboard, Saint and Sena didn’t need to push themselves too hard.
However, Rupert personally had to keep working without rest.
Deciding the publication timeline for a work depended solely on Rupert’s progress, so he still often had to work late.
But with exercise, regular meals, and the use of a set vitality potion, his working speed had increased significantly compared to before.
After sending Saint and Sena home, Rupert sat alone in the studio, sketching the storyboard, feeling a wave of nostalgia.
What he was currently working on were the storyboards for volumes 9 and 10 of The Iron-Blooded Alchemist.
As it dawned on him that the first comic he created after arriving in this world was finally approaching its conclusion, he felt some indescribable emotions.
He remembered worrying just days ago about whether people would actually like the adaptation he made to fit this world when he first started.
Now, it was already time to wrap things up.
‘The scene where Edward and his father join forces.’
And the reasons behind the birth of the state-certified alchemists, along with the final boss, the fairy trapped in the flask, and her ultimate goal.
‘People might despair just from reading volume 9.’
Volume 9, especially, was where the final battle began, and it needed to convey a sense of overwhelming despair due to an extremely powerful final boss.
Moreover, he thought the shock readers would experience when the secrets of alchemy were revealed would be beyond words.
If volume 10, the conclusion, wasn’t released simultaneously, people might indeed have rioted.
Volume 10 was also a crucial component for a beautiful conclusion, so while working on the storyboard for volume 9, he had to make sure that it transitioned smoothly into volume 10.
‘Once this work is done, I need to kick off the magazine business through the contest.’
Suddenly, Rupert recalled the webtoon war that had occurred back in Korea.
The original webtoon platform, NexT.
While having fewer works, NexT was famous for its high quality.
On the other hand, the latecomer, Naver, focused on the number of works rather than quality.
The webtoon war between these two massive platforms, NexT and Naver.
Everyone thought NexT, known for its high-quality works, would maintain its top rank, but the outcome was quite the opposite.
Despite the difference in quality, Naver, with its vast array of works from various genres, overwhelmingly dominated the market share.
‘Quality is important, but no matter how great a work is, one alone can’t satisfy people.’
If there hadn’t been comics before, that would be one thing, but now that he had spread comics in this world,
Rupert could foresee that it was only a matter of time before a flood of new comics would flood in.
Then, they needed to supply various comics to meet consumer demands accordingly.
Even with overwhelming advantages, there were always instances where things fell apart.
Now, everyone thinks of Iphone and Samsung when they hear ‘smartphone,’ but most people are unaware that there was once a global market dominator named Nokia.
Considering that, it was an event where he couldn’t afford to be careless.
Of course, that was only possible if this work, The Iron-Blooded Alchemist, wrapped up well, so right now, Rupert focused on finishing the remaining storyboards.
Since the Academy had taken up his time, he had to make the most of the time left.
*
“Victory to Edric Bell!”
In the military department’s exclusive training ground within the Academy, two students stood facing each other.
One held a wooden sword confidently while the other lay on the ground, having dropped his sword.
“Indeed, your skills reflect the abilities of the master swordsman’s disciple.”
“That’s hard to believe. The opponent, Kyle, is said to be a genius unmatched in the North.”
“That’s only because he’s facing the third prince; otherwise, the situation would have been reversed.”
The duel between the two, seen as the likely candidates for top of this military department, captured everyone’s attention from the very first day of class.
The training ground was filled with people who skipped classes from not just the military department but other departments as well, eager to watch.
“Truly, the reputation is not unfounded, Your Highness.”
“It was you who showed me why the sword of the North has such high acclaim.”
Edric extended a hand toward the fallen Kyle.
Regardless of the outcome, they both recognized each other’s swordsmanship, resulting in a heartwarming scene.
With their duel concluded, the swordsmanship major class wrapped up, and the two decided to head back to their dorms to freshen up from sweat and dust.
One was a prince of the royal family, and the other was the heir to the northern border count, so if people saw them together outside the Academy,
It could have led to some troubling rumors like ‘the third prince has allied with the northern power,’ which would reek of conspiracy.
However, their conversation contained none of that.
They discussed topics like how someone praised the quality of a sword made by an artisan or how certain aspects felt sharp or unsatisfying when wielding a sword.
While they were chatting, a question suddenly popped into Kyle’s mind, prompting him to ask the prince.
“Speaking of which, Your Highness, you chose Liberal Arts in Understanding Art, didn’t you?”
“I seem to remember you taking that course as well?”
“Yes, initially, I wasn’t interested, but since both you and Lady Bluewell from the Duke’s family are taking it, I became curious and signed up.”
Kyle’s case wasn’t unusual. Most who signed up for the art history liberal arts course did so for similar reasons.
“People learn and refine skills seeking what they are lacking.”
To Kyle’s question, Edric suddenly looked up at the sky with a pensive expression.
“Excuse me?”
Kyle, confused by Edric’s unexpected answer, asked again, but Edric stared silently at the sky for a while before finally responding.
“Professor Rupert holds what I need, so I simply applied to take his class.”
“— Kyle, you can’t tread this path with such shallow thoughts. Even with sheer will, it will be a difficult journey.”
Gently patting Kyle on the shoulder, the third prince then entered his dorm.
Left alone, Kyle pondered the meaning of the prince’s words, but he found it hard to grasp.
*
The only princess of the Empire, Princess Ioleen Bell.
She was called the flower of the Empire, and gossip among the public often claimed that she should assume the position of crown princess in place of the crown prince.
Despite how far-fetched this concept was, many reasons behind such rumors existed.
Her benevolent character was one reason, but the biggest reasons were different.
“Is this how it’s done?”
With a canvas spread before her, Ioleen drew lines.
Having never drawn a picture in her life until now,
this was the first time she held a brush correctly.
Yet the long, straight lines emanating from her fingertips flowed like a skillful painter who dedicated their life to art.
‘Genius’
This was another title given to Ioleen.
Some questioned whether people were just saying flattering things to curry favor with the royal family, but many scholars who had met or taught her collectively agreed that the term genius was tailor-made for her.
As a child, she used to watch her brothers learn swordsmanship from the sidelines and thought she might also be able to do it, so she grabbed a wooden sword.
That day, the three brothers of the royal family had to roll on the training ground floor to evade her strikes.
After a while of swinging around her wooden sword, she soon lost interest and put it aside, marking the moment when a future swordswoman vanished.
Moreover, the tutors who taught her various subjects felt a sense of inferiority or even fear, as she could learn tenfold from just a single lesson.
— There’s no interest.
But perhaps because of such talent?
Ioleen became disinterested in exploring fields where she had even a slight interest.
There was nothing in the world that could fill her.
In that moment she held the sword, she realized she would soon surpass anyone who could contend with her with it if she only put forth a minimal effort.
The same went for magic.
Though she briefly learned under Yustaf, the grand wizard of the Empire, she found it to be no more than a series of simple calculations.
Complex on the surface, yet inefficient magic formulas beneath.
She estimated that given less than five years, she could probably execute them with at least several times more efficiency, and with that realization, her interest waned.
Having found everything in the world to be easy so far, she recently discovered a new field that could potentially satisfy her interest.
‘This is quite enjoyable.’
As she transferred her thoughts onto paper, she sensed that this was going to require much more practice than she initially thought.
There were already some pretty decent drawings taking shape on the paper, but she still wasn’t satisfied.
‘The drawing of that person had a bit more vibrancy…’
Unbeknownst to Ioleen, the truth was that drawing was a synthesis of various skills, and to depict things in detail and vividly required skill.
Despite her raw talent, which defied common sense by feeling instinctively and mimicking, she was still dissatisfied.
That was because the artwork she was envisioning in her mind was Rupert’s work.
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