ocean-life Chapter 76
Chapter 76
『Manga Club Application Form
Name:
Department:
Reason for Applying:』
Adrian Belmont, the Second Prince of the Kingdom of Sylvania, sat at the desk in his private dorm, staring at the sheet of paper before him.
The Imperial Academy typically followed the rule of two students per dormitory, but there were two exceptions among the new students this year. One was the Third Prince of the Empire, Edric Bell, and the other was Adrian.
It was rare for nobles from other nations to study abroad at the Academy, but a royal enrolling was unprecedented. Because of this, the Academy had no choice but to provide him with a private room to avoid any disturbances.
Adrian was deep in thought as he began filling out the application for the manga club.
‘Why are key figures like the Third Prince and others all trying to join this professor’s class and club?’
From the moment Adrian decided to study abroad in the Empire, he had one goal: to bring down the Empire, which had invaded his homeland of Sylvania and plunged it into war.
His only reason for coming to the Academy was to learn more about his enemy and devise a strategy to defeat them.
There were many ridiculous rumors surrounding his decision, including the claim that he had fled due to losing in the struggle for the throne. Adrian had only laughed at such baseless speculation.
‘At least I can observe the famous Imperial Academy directly.’
During his time at the Academy, Adrian planned to uncover as many of the Empire’s weaknesses as possible.
He kept his rage hidden beneath a polite and humble exterior, working hard to adapt to the Academy’s social environment. Adrian even flattered the nobles of the Empire to win their favor.
The person he tried hardest to befriend was none other than Edric Bell, the Third Prince.
‘Things haven’t gone as expected, but it’s too soon to give up.’
Adrian had hoped to form a close relationship with the Third Prince, intending to plant a seed of chaos within the Empire.
The rumors that the Crown Prince’s position was unstable had spread not only throughout the Empire but also to neighboring Sylvania.
People had even begun openly discussing who the next Crown Prince might be. Adrian saw this as an opportunity.
By getting close to a potential successor, he hoped to sow seeds of doubt and create instability within the Empire. If a fierce succession battle broke out, it would be the perfect moment for Sylvania to rise.
However, his plan was now on the brink of collapse.
The once-derided Crown Prince had solidified his position beyond doubt.
After wiping out a dangerous group of black magicians who had threatened the Empire, the Crown Prince had further secured his standing by sacrificing his right arm to protect his soldiers. His tale had become so well-known that even children in rural villages spoke of it.
The sight of the Crown Prince wearing a new golem arm during the recent parade had earned him the nickname “The Iron Prince,” and his popularity had soared.
‘No, it’s not over yet.’
Despite this setback, Adrian had not given up.
He hadn’t had many opportunities to interact with Edric Bell yet, but he was convinced that the Third Prince would one day covet the Crown Prince’s position, or perhaps even the Emperor’s throne.
Adrian vividly remembered the banquet he attended upon his arrival in the Empire, where he saw Edric watching the Crown Prince with an intense, covetous gaze. It wasn’t the look of a brother admiring his sibling—it was a look filled with ambition.
‘He’s dangerous.’
Although none of the information Adrian had gathered suggested that Edric was eyeing the Crown Prince’s seat, he believed the Third Prince was merely biding his time, much like a predator stalking its prey.
‘Whatever it takes, I must use Edric to create chaos in the Empire.’
Rupert worried about getting home late again, knowing his sister Ada wouldn’t be happy.
“Look at this!”
In front of a Yuren Trading Company branch in a rural part of the Empire, a crowd had gathered.
It was unusual for people to gather outside the branch unless it was the release day for a new manga or fairy tale book, so this scene was particularly strange.
“What does it say? ‘You too can become a manga artist. We are waiting for the next Rupert Somerset.’”
Since the spread of fairy tale books and manga, more people had learned to read, even if only slowly. They could now understand the contents of the notice posted outside the branch.
“The Greatest Manga Contest in the Universe?”
Alongside the release dates for volumes 9 and 10 of The Iron-Blooded Alchemist, the notice detailed the guidelines for the contest.
“Wait, so we have to draw a manga and submit it?”
“That’s what it says! You need to submit at least 15 pages, which counts as one episode, and a total of three episodes to the Yuren Trading Company for review.”
At first, the crowd was intrigued by the contest, but interest soon faded.
“I don’t know how to draw.”
“Fifteen pages may seem like a lot, but creating 45 pages for three episodes? That would take at least a month of hard work.”
Though reading manga was easy, creating it was a different story.
The “Greatest Manga Contest in the Universe” was about to become one of those events people briefly noticed before forgetting.
However...
“What?! The first-place prize is 100 gold?”
“They’re selecting two winners, and even the third-place prize is substantial.”
“No way! This is an opportunity we can’t pass up!”
The promise of 100 gold for first place, written at the bottom of the notice, caught everyone’s attention.
“I heard Hans, the guy who lives by the crossroads, is really good at drawing.”
“I’ve got a great story idea. I think I’ve got this contest in the bag!”
“But don’t we need tools to draw manga?”
From beginner manga sets to expert-level tools, visit the Yuren Trading Company for all your needs.
As if they had been waiting for this moment, Yuren Trading Company employees set up stalls next to the notice, displaying various manga-related tools.
“If you want to win, you need good tools...”
“Wow, this pen was made by a dwarf!”
“Amazing... Drawing on paper like this would feel incredible!”
Most of the tools being sold by the Yuren Trading Company had been developed at Rupert’s Somerset workshop.
On the very first day the notice was posted, the sales from the tools alone covered the cost of the prize money Rupert had put up for the contest.