Drawing Manga in a Romance Fantasy

Chapter 163

“This is it! This is the kind of golem I wanted to create.”

In her academy laboratory, Zinnia was engrossed in reading the latest issue of Manafia. After finding the courage to confess to Rupert following the screening of Heart of Steel, she had been avoiding him out of embarrassment.

It might have been impulsive, but I had to do it.

Zinnia, who had long admired Rupert secretly, first through his fairytale-like works and later in person, had finally realized something vital. Waiting for a prince to awaken her like the princess who bit into the poisoned apple, or to find her and fit her with the lost glass slipper, was not enough. She had to take the first step herself.

Rather than waiting for Rupert to fall in love with her, Zinnia resolved to change and prove herself worthy of his attention.

I’ll make him notice me with my abilities.

She stopped comparing herself to others and began trusting in her own capabilities, throwing herself into the tasks she excelled at. Inspired by Iolin's work Puppet Theater, she realized that the mechanical dolls featured in the story represented the ideal she had been striving for in her golem designs.

What started as an effort to enjoy Rupert's creations had turned into a newfound passion for other works as well. She had soon devoured everything, with Saint’s A Man of Two Centuries and Iolin’s Puppet Theater leaving particularly strong impressions.

“This is exactly the kind of golem I want to create,” Zinnia murmured. Both works featured mechanical beings aspiring to become human, and they helped her define the direction for her next-generation golems.

“It’s not enough for them to perform pre-determined actions. They need to be able to think and make decisions like humans…”

Since Rupert’s ideal was a golem capable of genuinely assisting humans, Zinnia had been tirelessly researching a solution. Her idea? Spirits.

Intangible but sentient beings that could communicate and even learn, spirits seemed to fit perfectly. What if her new golem could serve as a vessel for a spirit, giving it a physical body?

The challenge lay in spirits requiring a contract to manifest physically—a condition that could deter others.

But for Zinnia?

“Such good spirits,” she remarked with a smirk.

Thanks to her overwhelming magical power and the faint aura of a dragon that surrounded her, spirits practically groveled to form contracts with her.

"Leave this village immediately."

Eupi had just defeated Melgun, the Navy Commander wielding an axe, to save the bounty hunter Soro. However, as the group celebrated their victory with a meal at the tavern, a contingent of Navy officers arrived.

“We’re grateful that you’ve freed us from Melgun’s tyranny, but we’re still part of the Navy. We cannot turn a blind eye to adventurers embarking on expeditions prohibited by the World Alliance.”

The officer who had replaced Melgun as the leader of the Navy unit spoke, his head bowed in shame at having to deliver such words to Eupi, who had been their savior.

“Shall we go?” Eupi said calmly.

“Let’s,” his companion replied.

Contrary to his usual playful demeanor, Eupi accepted the situation with surprising composure, ready to leave. His resolve left Kirby, who had been rescued by Eupi, visibly shaken.

“Eupi…”

“What about you? Aren’t you one of them?” one of the Navy officers asked Kirby.

In that moment, Kirby’s dream of joining the Navy flashed through his mind. If he admitted to being friends with Eupi or revealed that he had been forced to work on an adventurer’s ship, his aspirations would be dashed.

That’s when Eupi, sensing Kirby’s dilemma, stepped in.

“I know exactly where this guy’s been and what he’s been up to.”

“What?”

“Well, let’s just say there’s this incredibly fat lady captain on some island or other…”

“Stop it!” Kirby protested.

“A total show-off, that one. And this guy here, well…”

“I said stop!!!”

Unable to hold back, Kirby threw a punch at Eupi, who retaliated with a grin.

“Oh, so you want to fight now?”

In an instant, a brawl erupted, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Eupi is such a man’s man!”
“Exactly! He might seem like a fool most of the time, but when it counts, he’s serious and cool.”
“That new character, Soro, is amazing too. Remember when he ate that muddy rice ball?”

The Empire’s current obsession was the new manga, The Great Treasure. As the series entered the phase of introducing new comrades, the public’s reactions grew increasingly enthusiastic.

One character, in particular, had captured the imagination of readers.

“Do you think it’s really possible to wield a sword with your mouth?”

The unique fighting style of Soro, who used a three-sword technique, sparked debates and even inspired children to mimic the moves.

"That brat! What? He broke a tooth biting on a stick trying to mimic that move?"

This seemingly absurd situation arose after the release of The Great Treasure, leading Imperial doctors to be inundated with patients suffering from dental injuries.

“I’d love to explore the continent, but what about the sea? That place sounds fascinating.”
“A trip to the Eastern Coast doesn’t sound bad either.”
“Too late. The area is already overcrowded, and finding accommodations has become nearly impossible.”

The Great Treasure, set against the vast backdrop of the ocean, sparked a romantic yearning for the sea and adventure among its readers.

The vivid tales of sailing across uncharted waters, encountering monsters, and forming bonds with people along the way gave readers an exhilarating sense of vicarious adventure.

“Who’s with me to venture to the ends of the world?”

The manga’s influence even inspired some individuals to start assembling their own fleets.

“This is something we absolutely need to experience!”

Of course, not everyone was setting out to sea purely from newfound excitement.

“There’s bound to be something there, don’t you think?”
“Without a doubt. It’s a Rupert Somerset story, after all!”

People still remembered how Rupert’s works often intertwined with real-world events. This only heightened speculation that the sea depicted in The Great Treasure truly held wonders like the Sea God’s Curse or treasures left by the legendary adventurer.

“Surely, we can’t miss out on this opportunity, can we?”
“Still… investing so much based on a manga seems a bit reckless…”
“But haven’t you heard? It’s rumored that the Somerset Estate has already hired renowned artisans to construct ships!”
“What? Then we must act immediately! To the sea!”

Even merchants, initially skeptical of maritime ventures, were swept up in the fervor.

And at the center of this frenzy?

Sigh.

“Why the long face?”
“If you were in my position as the head of a trading company, wouldn’t you be sighing too?”

In Esteban’s office, Rupert sat with a perpetually tired expression as they discussed business matters.

If it were me, I’d be dancing with joy, Esteban thought, picturing the pack of scheming children and lioness-like wife waiting for him back home. In the early days of their marriage, his wife had been sly as a fox, but now she was far scarier than any bandits he had encountered on his travels.

And Rupert? He had three potential wives—each a figure of admiration and beauty in the Empire’s social circles:

The Imperial Princess Iolin, often referred to as “the Flower of the Empire.”
Amelia Bluewell, heir to the prestigious Bluewell Duchy and known as “the Jewel of Bluewell.”
And Zinnia, Yustaph’s disciple, whose voluptuous charm had earned her the moniker “the Crimson Rose.”

Even Esteban, who initially thought Rupert’s complaints were petty, shuddered at the thought of what it would mean to balance three spouses in the future.

“So, I need to start creating works that can captivate people from other nations on a larger scale.”
“Your fairy tales and manga are already popular exports abroad.”

Esteban was delighted by the increasing demand for Somerset creations overseas. While books alone didn’t yield significant profits, the higher prices charged for foreign sales, coupled with their volume, ensured a steady stream of income.

“That’s the problem. As much as they enjoy our works, they can access them in their own countries. We need a greater incentive for them to come to the Empire itself.”

“Then, perhaps we should restrict the sale of goods—like merchandise—exclusively to the Empire.”
“Yes, and we need consistent advertising to inform people that these items can only be purchased here.”

Esteban nodded, quickly catching on to Rupert’s plans.

“And once we’ve raised enough development funds, we’ll need to invest here.”

Rupert handed over a sheet of paper, leaving Esteban momentarily speechless.

“The Somerset Land blueprint?”
“Yes, it’s just a rough layout for now.”

The blueprint outlined the grand design of Somerset Land, divided into various themed zones. Some areas were inspired by Rupert’s completed works, like The Steel Alchemist and Van Helsing, while others were based on ongoing series such as The King of Cards and The Great Treasure.

The designs were intricate, with rides and attractions tailored to each theme. The fairy tale zone featured white horse sculptures turned into rides, The Steel Alchemist zone had an attraction resembling a giant alchemical circle, and The Great Treasure zone included a ship ride modeled after the manga’s iconic vessel.

“The charm lies in how every attraction is tied to a specific work.”

Rupert emphasized that safety would be the top priority in developing these attractions.

“Of course. It looks exciting, but any accident could be catastrophic,” Esteban agreed.

Having reviewed the plans, Esteban could now visualize how the attractions would appeal to both children and adults. Yet, the complexity and craftsmanship required were daunting.

“This will require skilled artisans and meticulous test runs to ensure safety.”

It wasn’t merely a matter of funding—it was a long-term project requiring patience and precision.

“First, we’ll need to secure a site for Somerset Land.”

While the initial idea was to build near the Somerset Estate, considerations for accessibility—particularly for visitors from foreign nations—made a location closer to the capital more practical.