“Has the storyboard work already been completed?”
Normally, Esteban would meet and talk with Rupert 2-3 times a week if nothing special happened.
However, due to Rupert’s recent busy schedule as he was also taking on a teaching position at the academy, they might meet just once on the weekend.
“Yes, I thought I would be short on time, but somehow I managed to adjust my schedule.”
Rupert was feeling a sense of relief after a long time.
He had finally finished the storyboards for volumes 9 and 10 of [The Iron-Blooded Alchemist], and now only the finishing work of Saint and Sena remained.
So, practically speaking, Rupert’s tasks were done, and he was enjoying a proper rest time for the first time in a while.
“I informed the artisans in advance. They should be prepared for overtime this month.”
“I was hoping to avoid it… What was their reaction?”
Rupert responded to Esteban’s mention of overtime with a look that asked, “How could you make them do that?”
Esteban’s expression twisted for a moment, even though it was in front of an important partner.
“Do they have no conscience? Do they see me as a merciless employer?”
Esteban glared at Rupert, who was known among merchants as “the Iron Mask” for his composed demeanor, but the man himself was nonchalantly just sipping his tea.
“… Surprisingly, the artisans had a positive reaction.”
Despite Esteban mentioning it would be hard work for a month, the artisans were actually pleased, saying it turned out well.
At this point, he couldn’t help but think that he didn’t know what was going on here anymore.
“Releasing a limited edition complete set for volumes 1-10 was indeed a great idea.”
Even now, books were being sold in limited editions, hardcovers, and paperbacks, but Rupert had suggested selling the complete collection with a different cover and case to commemorate its completion.
At first, Esteban had questioned, “Would people really buy something they already purchased before, and for such a high price?”
But since it was Rupert’s suggestion, he figured it was worth a shot and instructed to take reservations under the name of a commemorative limited edition.
And when he confirmed multiple times the number of expected sales, he couldn’t help but be shocked.
“This is how this industry works. People can’t resist anything with the label of limited edition.”
What kind of bizarre industry is this that predicts such unreasonable consumption?
Thanks to that, they were not only going to print volumes 9 and 10 but also needed to create a commemorative limited edition set, requiring the factory to work tirelessly for the time being.
“How is the contest going?”
“Don’t even get me started. There are so many who tear down the contest announcements so others can’t see them, and there are already several submissions.”
“Already?”
“Most of them are just childish doodles.”
It had been less than a week since the announcement, and submitting a three-chapter draft would be impossible unless it had been pre-made.
Works just thrown together because of the prize were overflowing, leading to an overwhelming workload for the guild staff who had to filter them out.
Of course, the 100 Gold prize was a large amount even for nobles, so Esteban understood the reactions.
“But can works really be selected this way?”
“Well, honestly, it would be hard to come up with a perfect work.”
Esteban, the guild leader, knew Rupert was aware of the concerns.
Still, what Rupert was hopeful about was only one thing: potential.
The fairy tale and comic books he had spread would undoubtedly give birth to compelling narratives in another world.
He could assist with technical inadequacies.
However, since he couldn’t teach anything else, he intended to select those with the potential in this contest.
“Of course, it would be great if someone with excellent drawing skills and a good story appeared.”
He thought to himself that it was a bit shameless to wish for such a genius to come out in a world where comics were just beginning to emerge.
*
“Wooden doll.”
Ioleen began sketching on paper with a pen from the comic introduction set her attendant brought to her.
What she found appealing in the recent work she saw, [Pinocchio], was that the doll Pinocchio could talk and move like a person.
Of course, it was made possible by the fairy’s magic, but she pondered, “What if it wasn’t magic?”
“Just like my brother’s new golem arm.”
Recently, Crown Prince Alex had changed significantly.
Ioleen knew that Alex was a deeply caring person, but she regretted that he wasn’t steadfast in his nature.
In her view, if only Alex had a bit more determination, he would become a better ruler than their father, the emperor.
But this newly transformed Alex left Ioleen in awe.
He no longer showed indecisiveness, and there were even stories of him leading debates in royal meetings while listening to the opinions of talented individuals around him.
“Do people really grow and learn through sacrifice?”
Alex, who lost his right arm and wore a steel one, had truly grown, making the dialogue from the comic seem plausible to her.
The comics drawn by Rupert contained not only simple excitement but also deep reflections on humanity, inspiring Ioleen with a yearning to create a comic with similar content.
“A wooden doll that moves automatically like a new golem arm.”
Ioleen thought that she wanted a doll made of precise mechanical parts, unlike Pinocchio.
“Shall I call it a mechanical doll?”
If the doll moved like a puppet, it would be amazing if the dolls battled fiercely like knights.
The G pen in her hand began to dance on the paper, and despite having practiced drawing for only a short time, her noticeably improved skills birthed an impressive picture.
Having sketched the draft of the mechanical doll, Ioleen fell back into deep thought.
While using a mechanical doll as a theme was good, and fighting would be exciting, she lacked a reason why they had to fight.
All the fairy tale books and comic books she had seen had a clear purpose in their stories.
Realizing she needed that purpose in her own story, she began building a narrative in her mind.
“The first mechanical doll desires to become a person, just like Pinocchio.”
One day, a mechanical doll with emotions was accidentally created.
That doll, known as the first doll, developed an ambition to become a person over time.
As she pondered a storyline about the doll committing evil acts, such as experimenting on humans due to its greed, it began to seem quite plausible.
To stop that first doll, the protagonist, a mechanical doll artisan, would shatter it with the doll he controls.
It wasn’t quite ready to be turned into a manuscript for the contest yet, but with the basic framework completed, Ioleen felt a sense of accomplishment.
“Is that how he created his comics?”
Translating her imagination into drawings and weaving stories through those drawings.
It felt like a genuinely enjoyable task for her.
Though she usually lost interest quickly, she had a feeling this time it wouldn’t be so easy to tire of.
*
“Go! Richard, you must survive!”
“Stop talking nonsense! I’ll clear the path, just follow me!”
The man wielding an enormous sword possessed one that was far too massive to be called a sword.
Kaaahh!
Behind the man lay a woman collapsed. She, who seemed to wield a bow, had it in her hands along with a quiver strapped to her back.
However, the woman’s condition did not look good. She had severe injuries with blood flowing profusely from her abdomen.
The man swung that huge sword to protect the woman.
That colossal sword, which most would consider impossible to lift, moved as lightly as a stick.
‘Things’ that had rushed at them were swept away like mere scarecrows.
It was a proper cutting action, but the term “swept away” felt accurate.
Yet many remained.
Despite seeing the fallen comrades, they did not lose heart. With ominous eyes and beast-like teeth, they roared.
“You fool… You have a home to return to. How long will you keep your father and brother waiting?”
Despite clearly being in a dire situation, the woman shoved the man’s back, urging him to run away alone.
Her injuries seemed far too severe for her to escape, and she thought the ones who could live should survive.
“If I leave you behind, I won’t be welcomed back home.”
-Above all, what would it mean to live after abandoning you?
The man’s words elicited only a retort of “You idiot” from the woman, but something hot was flowing from her eyes.
The woman wiggled her pointed ears, which were notably developed among her physical traits, to focus.
“The number of them I can detect by sound exceeds 50.”
“Piece of cake, as long as I swing ten times, I can deal with all five of them at once.”
The man pulled the enormous sword towards himself and took his stance.
He spoke lightly to reassure the woman, but he understood that it was challenging.
Those creatures had such strong vitality that even after being beheaded, they could still move for a time, and their sharp claws and teeth easily tore through steel armor.
Faced with a life-or-death crisis, he was reminded of the time he had snuck into the battlefield without knowledge, barely surviving while lost.
He had met his master wandering the forest without water.
From him, he learned not just swordsmanship, but many things—and now, he inherited that burden.
Richard recalled his master’s words.
– Burn everything, all of it.
He evoked that memory as he swung his sword.
‘My head must be cool, but my heart must burn; I must ignite my spirit.’
– I will surpass my limits. I am Richard… the heir of Somerset and the captain of the Crimson Wardens.
The sword was glowing red.
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LOL, well here comes the brother I guess.
Oooo, finally his brother came!!!
Can’t wait for next chapterss!!!
Haha the brother is actually alive, and it seems he’s coming back with an elven wife.
So this MF still alive lmaooo
This misdibg brother kinda gave me demon slayer vibes.