Drawing Manga in a Romance Fantasy

Chapter 173

“Master, do you really have to go?”

Edric, who had returned to spend his vacation at the Somerset estate, watched Rupert pack his belongings with evident concern.

“Prince Adrian requested it, and I’ve never been outside the Empire before. I see this as a good opportunity.”

Rupert’s calm response left Edric unable to argue further.

‘Damn you, Adrian! Taking away the precious time I could have spent discussing manga with Professor Rupert!’

Edric felt especially disappointed.

He had been looking forward to showing Rupert his latest manga drafts and receiving invaluable feedback, but now that opportunity was gone.

“Please be careful. Since you’re invited by royalty, they’ll take care of you, but remember that Silvania doesn’t have the best relations with the Empire.”

Though unable to dissuade Rupert, Edric at least offered advice.

“Yes. That’s why Her Highness sent a personal escort for me.”

“My sister did?”

Edric was surprised to hear that Iolin had assigned guards to Rupert.

‘Then again, it’s my sister we’re talking about.’

For a member of the royal family to assign their personal guards to someone showed immense trust.

Such a gesture was rare and required the emperor’s approval, but given Rupert’s status, Edric figured it hadn’t been an issue.

After all, Edric had heard about Rupert’s bold declaration before the court—that he would become an honorary duke within ten years and marry Iolin.

‘I’m happy that my master is becoming my brother-in-law, but why did it have to be my sister?’

Edric ran his hand over his forehead.

Though it bore no marks now, not long ago, it had sported a sizable bump.

‘Traitors deserve punishment, dear brother.’

A few months ago, Edric had been helping Iolin with sword training.

She had improved so much that he had let his guard down, only to be struck by her.

Of course, Iolin hadn’t yet surpassed Edric’s skill, but his reluctance to fight his sister seriously had resulted in this disaster.

‘Ow! Who hits someone that’s already down?!’

‘Stop pretending to be hurt. Do you think I don’t know how sturdy your body is?’

Of course, he might have been hit less if he’d simply returned the rare collectibles he had taken from her.

‘Guess I’ll just have to take the beating.’

Accepting his fate, Edric had endured Iolin’s relentless strikes with a practice sword, consoling himself that the price for the limited edition items wasn’t too steep.

“Is this really over?”

“Yes. I’ve already gained something far more precious.”

Iolin’s satisfied smile as she said this hinted at her belief that Rupert’s future as an honorary duke—and her husband—was guaranteed.

‘She’s probably talking about Professor Rupert.’

Iolin seemed utterly convinced of Rupert’s eventual success.

“Master, my advice as your brother-in-law-to-be is this—never get into an argument with my sister.”

“What?”

“Always try to resolve things peacefully.”

Rupert looked puzzled, but Edric didn’t elaborate.

He didn’t want to imagine what might happen if Iolin overheard this conversation—especially if she came after him with a real sword next time.

“It’s only a short trip. When I return, I’ll review your work again.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

After Rupert left the estate, Edric returned to his third-floor workshop and immersed himself in drawing manga, his mind already racing with ideas.

‘It’s amazing how these characters feel so alive, even as simple drawings.’

He recalled the recent announcement.

—The Iron-Blooded Alchemist is getting an anime adaptation!

Edric had barely contained his excitement when he heard that The King of Cards anime would be followed by The Iron-Blooded Alchemist.

Two of his favorite characters were Elsa from Frozen Kingdom and Windy from The Iron-Blooded Alchemist.

He had already watched Elsa countless times at the Somerset Theater.

He’d even bought a projector designed for nobles, allowing him to rewatch the animation at home.

Now, the thought of seeing Windy animated fueled his enthusiasm.

‘One day, I’ll turn my manga into an anime too!’

Rupert had mentioned that not only his own works but also those serialized in Manapia would gradually be adapted into anime.

That became Edric’s ultimate goal.

Swish.

Though rough at first, his drawings had improved significantly.

‘I still need work on pacing and paneling, but the characters feel alive—that’s my strength.’

Encouraged by Rupert’s praise, Edric pushed himself to get better.

“Maybe I should take a walk.”

Determined to improve, Edric read countless works and practiced drawing daily.

After hours of sketching, he decided to stretch his legs and stepped out into the Somerset estate’s garden.

But—

Rustle.

‘What’s this presence?’

While strolling through the garden, Edric suddenly sensed something.

The movement was so subtle that even skilled knights might have missed it.

Edric immediately went on high alert.

‘That’s the movement of assassins.’

The near-silent approach was a trademark of those trained in the shadows.

Edric reached for the sword at his waist and moved toward the source of the disturbance.

‘It’s a good thing I started carrying this.’

Since the attack on Somerset by Sataniel, Edric had never gone anywhere without his sword.

‘Think of it as a small token of appreciation.’

The blade, crafted by the dwarf Krune, was one of his finest works and Edric’s most treasured possession.

Even the royal armory couldn’t offer a sword that suited him as well as this one did.

Edric gripped the handle, ready to draw it at any moment, as he approached the spot where the presence had originated.

‘This place…’

Edric’s steps led him to none other than Krune’s private workshop.

‘That’s Krune’s personal space. He uses it for research and crafting new creations, and no one is allowed to enter.’

Having visited the Somerset estate several times before, Edric knew just how important this workshop was.

Krune himself might not be aware, but rumors had been spreading in the Empire about Somerset’s underground chambers.

“Have you heard the rumors? They say the Somerset family has kidnapped dwarves and elves, locking them in the basement.”

“Oh, that? Yeah, I heard. Supposedly, they torture them if they don’t create new inventions.”

These absurd rumors had surfaced due to the Somerset workshop’s constant stream of groundbreaking inventions.

But the rumors weren’t entirely baseless—the so-called “basement” was Krune’s private workshop.

‘Could they be spies from another trading company?’

Edric carefully concealed his presence and crept toward the workshop’s door.

He was certain the intruder was after Somerset’s and Yuren’s technological secrets.

The unlocked door stood ajar, its complex lock tampered with but left undamaged.

‘They opened this intricate lock without breaking it?’

Edric reevaluated the intruder’s skill.

—Your Highness, the truly terrifying assassins are not always the fastest or most agile.

He recalled the words of his swordsmanship teacher, the Sword Saint.

—The real assassins excel in other skills. Some can bypass even the most complicated locks, leaving no trace of their presence.

Edric tensed, realizing the intruder was no ordinary opponent.

He knew he shouldn’t be handling this alone, but—

‘While Professor Rupert is away, I’ll protect Somerset!’

With his resolve hardened and no escape routes left for the intruder, Edric kicked the door open and stormed inside.

“The Creator did not give me a name.”

“What’s a Creator?”

Ada frowned at the doll speaking words she didn’t fully understand.

“In simple terms, it means the one who made me.”

“Then Krune?”

“Yes, but I was created based on Lady Zinnia’s design.”

Ada tilted her head, finding the doll’s explanation hard to follow.

Setting aside the confusing talk, she pulled out a new book and opened it.

“My brother made this for me!”

“Rudolph?”

“Yep! This story is about a reindeer with a red nose—”

“Reindeer noses vary by individual, but they are usually brown. Red noses don’t exist.”

“No! If my brother says they do, then they do!”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes.”

The nameless doll began reading the book titled Rudolph that Ada had brought.

Ada often brought fascinating items whenever she visited—usually books her brother had written.

Occasionally, she even brought dictionaries or reference materials at the doll’s request.

Thanks to Ada’s frequent visits and gifts, the doll had learned to speak naturally through reading.

“Woof!”

“Huh? Raschu, why are you barking all of a sudden?”

Ada turned toward Raschu, startled by his sudden barking.

“There’s an intruder.”

The doll identified the presence the moment Raschu barked.

‘Not the master, and not Krune.’

It had already memorized the biological signatures of Ada, Raschu, and the others.

‘Eliminate the intruder and secure Lady Ada’s safety.’

Zinnia’s hidden security protocols were activating within the doll—something even it was unaware of.