episode_0096

There was no separate festival at the Imperial Academy, but the closing ceremony replaced it.

The last day of school, which marked the end of a semester, was a time when students, who were usually bound by strict rules, could play freely.

Merchants who had been thoroughly vetted entered the academy to sell food, and troupes and orchestras were also invited to provide entertainment.

In addition, it was also worth seeing the display of each department’s semester’s achievements.

The Military Science Department held a public martial arts competition, which attracted the largest number of spectators, and the Magic Science Department gained popularity by publicly demonstrating new magic created by its students.

And at this time, the art department, which was usually out of the mainstream, was able to attract as much attention as the military or magic departments.

The art department exhibited their paintings, the music department students held concerts to attract people’s attention, and there were also various sculptures and other spectacular sights to see, so many people came to see them.

Of course, it’s not just undergraduates who have been waiting for this graduation ceremony.

All the clubs in the academy were eagerly waiting for the graduation ceremony, and since it was one of the few opportunities to show what they had prepared, all the clubs made sure to participate in the ceremony.

And among the exhibitions of these clubs, there was one that caught the attention of not only the students this year but also those who came to see it.

It was none other than the cartoon club’s ‘Animation Exhibition’.

“I’m confident that I’ll show you more than you ever imagined today.”

“That’s where Professor Rupert is as an advisor, so there’s bound to be something worth seeing.”

“Oh, there are no seats already?”

Not only did all the new students known as the Academy Four join, but interest in the comics club, which now included Rupert, who was known as the best artist in the empire, was at an all-time high.

Word had spread that the manga club had prepared a great finale party, so the auditorium rented for the manga club’s exhibition was packed with people, even though there was still quite a bit of time left until the opening.

As the place was crowded with students and outsiders alike, there were cries coming from all over the place.

“Eight! It looks like what you prepared is not that great.”

At first, it was out of curiosity, but many people were annoyed and felt like they had come for nothing after going through all this trouble.

They thought about just going back, but since they had already come in and suffered, they decided to go see the exhibition even if it meant being wronged.

If what the manga club prepared was not very good, I was prepared to criticize it for a long time.

People who waited for a long time in a crowded auditorium for the exhibition to begin.

Finally, when someone entered the podium of the auditorium, everyone’s attention was drawn to him.

“Thank you for coming to see our cartoon club’s closing ceremony exhibition despite your busy schedule.”

A blond young man wearing glasses.

When Rupert, the professor who was the advisor of the cartoon club, came out in front of the crowd and greeted them, a small applause rang out, which soon turned into a loud cheer.

“Wow!!! This is my first time seeing author Rupert in person!”

“This work is really fun! He’s a god!!!”

“What on earth are you trying to show me this time?”

People’s interest in Rupert, who created children’s books, comic books, and now even comic magazines, was at an all-time high.

The change that has occurred is now recognized in people’s minds that whatever he creates is always fun.

Even the students at the Academy who initially did not recognize Rupert now wanted to attend his lectures, as his status rose within just one semester.

“But you’re probably going to show a new comic book, so why did you choose the auditorium as the exhibition space?”

“That’s right, I guess. I just hope that the number of books prepared is small, so that there won’t be any cases of them being returned.”

“I’m a little worried since the students made it. Well, I guess Professor Rupert helped… .”

The people gathered in the auditorium had some doubts.

Since it was an exhibition by a cartoon club, I thought it would definitely be a new cartoon book. I thought they would probably publish students’ short cartoons in a magazine format like the popular Manapia.

I thought, is there really a reason to choose that place as an auditorium?

But before those people could even begin to question, the members of the cartoon club, following Rupert, came out one by one and began to greet the audience.

Because of the four people who stood out among the members, attention was drawn to them again.

After everyone had finished introducing themselves, Rupert continued speaking.

“We are very happy to be able to provide a new experience to those who took the time to visit us today.”

Exactly!

As Rupert finished speaking, he snapped his fingers.

The magic lights that had been brightening the auditorium went out and it became dark in an instant.

“What is it?”

“Why are you turning off the lights?”

“Don’t step on me!”

When the fire suddenly went out and people started to murmur in confusion, Rupert calmed them down.

“Everyone, from now on, please look straight ahead.”

Only when Rupert’s voice resonated through the voice amplification magic did the commotion die down a bit and the audience looked forward following his words.

After a while of silence, a whirring sound was heard from somewhere.

As people were turning their heads to find where the sound was coming from, a white cloth began to descend on the podium in the empty auditorium.

And when the music started to boom from the sound reproduction seats that had been placed throughout the auditorium in advance, the people started to chatter again.

But the commotion didn’t last long.

Because images, or rather animations, began to appear before their eyes.

***

When people see something truly amazing, they are more likely to remain silent than to applaud or admire.

Even among the audience watching the animation , which is currently being screened for the first time in another world, only the sound of breathing could be heard.

In a way, there was nothing but a moving picture before their eyes, but they could not take their eyes off the white cloth on which the projector was projecting.

On that white cloth, sometimes a horse would hum and sing, and sometimes a dog would climb on it and beat cymbals.

The audience clearly knew that it was just a drawing.

But the way the painting moved so naturally and even spoke and sang made me wonder if it really existed.

Finally, 10 minutes passed and it was time for to come to an end.

ends with a scene where a horse, a dog, a cat, and a chicken join forces to drive out a thief who has invaded their home and find a peaceful resting place.

But even after the screening ended and the lights came back on in the auditorium, it was quiet.

The comic club members felt uneasy when they saw the audience who had no reaction at all.

‘Isn’t it really that bad?’

‘We thought we did a really good job.’

‘Was there a problem with my script…?’

When all kinds of negative thoughts pass through my mind.

match!

A round of applause echoed through the audience.

Clap clap clap!!!

Soon, the applause grew louder and soon filled the auditorium, and people’s voices echoed through it.

“This is the first time I’ve seen or experienced this in my life!”

“The pictures weren’t just moving! The music was harmonious, and the story was full of life!!”

“It’s already over? I can’t believe it.”

Ten minutes may seem like a very short time, but it was surprisingly long.

If you ask someone to stand in front of a crowd and do anything for 10 minutes, most people won’t be able to do it.

It was a more difficult task than expected to fill 10 minutes with the crowd of people gathered to watch something.

But today, the cartoon club’s animation went beyond filling time and gave them an unforgettable experience in just 10 minutes.

“Can you see it? Adrian.”

“… Mr. Edric.”

As Adrian, who wrote the script for , was staring blankly at the scene unfolding before his eyes, the Third Prince spoke to him.

“I knew Adrian could do it.”

“No, this is thanks to the members who drew the pictures and made the music… .”

“Of course, the other members’ contributions were also great, but I think it’s because Adrian’s story was so appealing that people cheered so much.”

Even while talking to the Third Prince, Adrian’s gaze was still directed at the audience gathered in the auditorium.

If it were a normal situation, Adrian would have thought it would be a good opportunity to talk to the Third Prince and focused on the conversation.

At this moment, I couldn’t take my eyes off the audience.

A story written by oneself.

The sight of people cheering and clapping as they watched the animation based on the story he had written for fun made his heart race.

It was a different kind of trembling, not the kind that comes from fear or dread.

Adrian was now feeling that heartbeat he had often felt as a child.

The same heartbeat that had raced when he read the heroic epic in the book was now beating powerfully in his body.

“Thank you, Mr. Edric, for your advice back then.”

“No, that was rude.”

“No. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the scene I saw today.”

During the first semester, Adrian honestly felt like quitting many times.

He was growing increasingly dissatisfied with the club he had joined to make contact with key figures in the empire, as it was taking up more of his time than he had expected.

But now, I couldn’t think of any of those hardships or complaints.

All he could see was people cheering.

Adrian looked at the crowd of people gathered in the auditorium, thinking that he wanted to see this kind of sight again and again.