Drawing Manga in a Romance Fantasy

Chapter 185

“Is that the platypus?”

People crowded around a transparent glass enclosure, marveling at the strange creature inside.

“Its beak really looks like a duck’s, but its body’s more like a raccoon’s. I can’t believe something like this actually exists.”
“They say the Western Continent is full of creatures like this.”
“Speaking of which, I heard there’s even a horse with a horn over there.”

The Western Continent Exhibition.

Ever since the Explorer King Lambus returned a year ago, the entire continent had been in an uproar.

“The Western Continent is real!”

This was the declaration Lambus made upon his return, after vanishing without a trace ten years earlier in his quest to find the fabled land.

At first, people were skeptical.

“He probably failed the expedition and hid somewhere out of embarrassment until now.”

Even the Eastern Continent remained largely uncharted, so the idea of a Western Continent seemed like nothing more than a tall tale.

But—

“It’s real. The Western Continent actually exists.”

Lambus quickly silenced the doubters by presenting photographic records from his voyage and showcasing exotic flora and fauna never before seen in the Central Continent.

There were platypuses—creatures with duck-like beaks and furry bodies—unicorns with horns, and spiders that spun webs in seven different colors.

The Western Continent Exhibition, displaying such marvels, drew visitors not only from the Empire but also from nations across the continent. Tickets were so scarce that acquiring one was akin to catching a star.

“And the Sea God’s Curse is real.”

The centerpiece of the exhibition, however, was none other than the so-called Sea God’s Curse.

Fans of Rupert’s manga, The Great Treasure, recognized it immediately—a mythical fruit said to grant superhuman abilities.

For years, treasure hunters had scoured the seas in search of it, only to return empty-handed, leading many to believe it was pure fiction.

But then—

“Wow! That guy can actually breathe fire!”

While not exactly the same as depicted in the manga, one of Lambus’s sailors had reportedly consumed a strange fruit during their expedition, gaining the ability to breathe fire.

The transformation stunned witnesses, who quickly began calling it the Sea God’s Curse.

“Sir Rupert! Look at this! The Sea God’s Curse is real!”

“I can’t believe that meddlesome goddess would even go this far.”

Rupert had muttered to himself when Lambus rushed to tell him the news after returning from the Western Continent.

“Alright, Somerset Tourist Group, it’s time to move on to the next stop.”

A guide called out to the visitors gathered around the exhibition.

“What’s the next destination?”

“We’ll be heading to the Somerset Goods Store next. And you’re in luck—you’ll get to see the legendary Pink Eyes this season!”

“Wow! We actually get to see the Pink Eyes?!”

Excitement rippled through the crowd.

Among the tourists were people with dark bronze skin and others with striking red hair—a mix of appearances that made it clear they had come from foreign lands.

Locals watching the group easily guessed they were tourists.

“Somerset tours really are popular. These days, it’s easier to spot foreigners than locals in the Empire.”

“It’s good for business, though. Look at how the economy’s booming.”

“Sure, but ever since tourists started sweeping through the Somerset Goods Store, it’s impossible to get your hands on souvenirs!”

“Well, they were always hard to get anyway….”

Not long ago, seeing foreigners outside of merchants was a rare occurrence in the Empire.

But now, in both the Imperial Capital and the southern Somerset estate, foreigners had become as common as running water.

And it wasn’t just humans—

“Are you trying to scam me by pretending you’re a dwarf?!”
“Wait, no, I—”
“I’ll report you to the Imperial Guard right now! Let’s see how scared you get when you’re charged under the Anti-Racial Discrimination Act!”
“Fine! Fine! I’ll sell it at your price!”
“Hmph. You should’ve done that in the first place.”

A dwarf was seen haggling fiercely with a street vendor, while nearby, an elf sipping tea gave off an air so elegant it looked like a scene from a painting.

In the Empire, seeing non-human races had become commonplace.

“Come to think of it, isn’t ‘that’ opening next week?”

“Oh, right! No wonder there are so many foreigners and non-humans lately.”

“Ugh, I heard they’re selling tickets on a first-come-first-served basis instead of a lottery. Does that mean we’ll have to camp out again?”

“Forget it. I heard the lines are already so long that people are sleeping on the streets.”

“This is crazy. I can’t miss the opening of Somerset Land!”

Somerset Land.

A massive theme park co-developed by House Somerset and the Yuren Trading Company over the course of ten years.

The project had been hyped relentlessly, and the anticipation was palpable.

So far, its details remained a tightly guarded secret, but with the grand opening set for next week, the Empire was overflowing with tourists from across the continent—and beyond.

And right now, at the construction site of Somerset Land…

*****

“Check the connections again! Even a minor flaw could lead to a major disaster!”

“Relax! We know what we’re doing!”

“It’s that kind of overconfidence that causes accidents!”

Standing before the massive amusement ride, a group of dwarves meticulously inspected every detail.

“Whew… I built it, but even I can’t believe it’s real.”

Wiping sweat from his brow, despite the winter chill, the dwarf who appeared to be in charge let out a deep sigh.

“Good work, Krune.”

“You’re here?”

Approaching him with a handkerchief was a sharp-featured man with golden hair and striking blue eyes.

“I never thought this day would actually come.”

“Neither did I. Without the dwarves you brought in, Krune, finishing this on time would’ve been impossible.”

“There’s no way they’d pass up a project this exciting.”

Krune and the man stood side by side, watching as the final touches were made to the ride.

They couldn’t help but recall the countless obstacles they had faced to reach this point.

The opening of Somerset Land had been far from smooth.

Designing rides thrilling enough to excite visitors was difficult enough.

Building them without mechanical failures or structural issues had proven even harder.

And ensuring their durability required painstaking testing.

“Aaaaah! The seatbelt’s coming loose!”

Thankfully, the test runs had been conducted using Richard and Owen—two of Somerset’s toughest—and no casualties had occurred.

Even so, constructing the massive theme park had drained money like water, despite Somerset and the Yuren Trading Company’s seemingly endless wealth.

“By the way, Rupert, shouldn’t you be busy right now?”

“That’s why I’m here—I ran away.”

“Ha! Always the women, isn’t it?”

Rupert let out a long sigh, nodding in agreement.

Now the head of the Somerset family and recently elevated to honorary duke, Rupert Somerset had his hands full.

“After waiting ten years, it’s no wonder they’re not willing to compromise.”

“I’m just glad they agreed to a joint wedding.”

“Three separate ceremonies would’ve been a bit much.”

Rupert had promised three women—Zinnia, Amelia, and Iolin—that he would marry them once he became a duke.

Now, as the wedding preparations moved forward, chaos reigned.

“You and your wives will be the first guests here, I suppose?”

“No.”

“No?”

“The first guest was decided over ten years ago.”

“Who is it?”

“Ada.”

Krune slapped his forehead, suddenly understanding.

“Right. That troublemaker.”

“It’s about time she got what’s coming to her.”

“And how do you plan to do that?”

“…”

Rupert fell silent, unable to answer.

No one in the household could control Ada anymore.

When she was younger, soldiers like Owen and Alain had teamed up to capture her during her wild escapades.

But those days were long gone.

“Ada took her friends and raided a bandit camp?!”

What had started as childish games had escalated to full-blown leadership.

The Princess Knights.

Ada was now officially the commander of a knight order—albeit one created by Emperor Alex on a whim.

“You really want to be a leader? Fine. I’ll make you one!”

Alex had founded the knight order under Somerset’s banner and appointed Ada as its captain. She’d even named it herself.

Rumors about the group spread quickly.

“They say there’s a female knight who rides wolves.”
“She pops up out of nowhere and punishes criminals.”
“That’s amazing!”

To outsiders, it seemed like a legendary knight order, but in reality, it was a gang of Ada’s childhood friends wreaking havoc.

Not long ago, they had stormed an estate, beaten a corrupt noble to a pulp, and distributed his wealth to the villagers.

“Turns out he was a complete scumbag.”

Rupert had nearly fainted upon hearing Ada’s “gift” for his promotion to duke.

While the situation had been smoothed over—with Alex’s help—Rupert had resolved to punish Ada the next time she returned.

But Ada, as always, anticipated this and left a note before disappearing on another adventure.

“She’ll come back eventually.”

Rupert was sure Ada wouldn’t miss the opening of Somerset Land.

What concerned him more was the looming conclusion of Dumas’s Revenge and the mysterious disappearance of Edric.

“I hope he shows up for the wedding.”

Edric had left years ago without a word, leaving only a brief letter.

“Thank you for everything, Master. I’m setting out to pursue my dream. I hope we meet again someday.”

Zinnia seemed to know something, but no matter how much Rupert pressed, she wouldn’t reveal anything.

“I hope he’s alive.”

Edric was practically a human weapon, so Rupert doubted anything could take him down easily.