episode_0180

“Here! This is the latest trend in the Empire, the King of Cards goods!”

“Is the item certain?”

“Of course. I, Alves, am a merchant who lives solely on credit!”

In a dark alley in Berhen, the capital of the Kingdom of Kyle, two men were having a secret conversation.

“It’s really this hard to get this.”

“I’m really glad you were able to get it this way. Even in the empire, supplies are running low, so it will take at least a few months to get it to the kingdom.”

“I heard the rumor too.”

Recently, there have been uproar in several kingdoms over banning certain imperial items.

– Bringing in fairy tale books, comic books, and any other items from Somerset Workshop is prohibited.

The process by which Rupert’s work penetrated foreign countries was similar to the invasion of the New World that occurred on Earth.

Just as diseases carried by foreigners spread to the natives who had no immunity, people quickly became absorbed in works that were out of line with the existing culture.

Some countries took this seriously enough to ban the sale of items made in Somerset workshops.

but,

‘Do you have anything?’

‘The price has gone up. Surveillance has gotten stricter these days, so they’re opening new routes…’

‘No problem! Just give me the stuff quickly.’

It wasn’t that they were trying to block it, but rather that they were just actively trading in the shadows.

This only increased people’s dissatisfaction.

“Why are you banning it when you can’t even stop it and only make the price go up?”

“That’s right! Isn’t it just the smugglers who are getting full? I, who was importing and selling the goods properly, am suffering huge losses!”

“The works that the kingdom initially put forward as substitutes were so poorly made compared to the empire’s that they didn’t even sell.”

They did not try to block it outright, but rather tried to revive their own culture, but unfortunately, it was useless because the level difference was so great.

Moreover, the actions of the Kingdom of Sylvania have made things even more difficult.

‘I heard that in Sylvania you can see the Empire’s latest item, animation?’

‘What? I heard that even the Empire doesn’t sell that item to other countries.’

‘The King of Sylvania is said to have had a conversation with writer Rupert, who visited the kingdom.’

People from kingdoms other than the Empire also knew of the existence of animation.

Since everyone who visited the empire and returned unanimously praised it, the rumor was bound to spread.

‘You mean animation? That’s something you absolutely have to see.’

People’s curiosity grew as they heard the incredible stories spread by those who had seen it in person, that the painting moved and spoke as if it were real.

However, since items related to animation are strictly controlled by the Empire with the latest technology, their leakage to the outside is prohibited.

Even for those who smuggle, it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack to surrender to the strict management.

At that moment when the thirst for animation was growing, the people’s discontent only grew when Sylvania, the Empire’s neighbor and most hostile country, announced that it would import the animation.

“Why on earth can’t we see Sylvania releasing them?”

“Isn’t that because the higher-ups banned Somerset’s goods?”

“Oh my, how can we not see this while collecting taxes as taxes?”

Although they did not openly express their discontent, they were put in a situation where everyone from commoners to nobles gathered together and criticized Somerset’s decision to ban goods.

As officials of the kingdom, they had no choice but to take it seriously.

‘How could you make such an agreement with the Empire without saying anything?’

‘We have never made any agreement with the Empire?’

‘The story of bringing in imperial goods and sending the kingdom’s talented people to study at the Imperial Academy has already spread throughout the continent!’

‘That’s a deal with the writer Rupert Somerset, not the Empire. They’re completely different entities.’

‘Isn’t that a pun?!’

‘Then why did the troops and supplies that were supposed to be sent during the last war arrive only after the war ended?’

‘That’s… I guess there’s a procedure.’

‘Isn’t that a pun?’

The diplomatic envoys who went to Sylvania to express their anger at the situation that had been created had no choice but to return dumbfounded.

As Sylvania, we have been acting as a breakwater to block the Empire, and we have had many complaints from other countries.

In particular, other countries, which had been watching from a distance since they had not suffered any direct damage despite the always-busy promise of providing troops or funds, had nothing to say.

In this way, the Kingdom Alliance was largely divided into two groups.

The union of kingdoms was divided into hardliners who insisted that imperial items should be banned even more thoroughly, and moderates who insisted that the items should be accepted, learned, and the culture developed.

Rupert would not miss the opportunity to divide.

“Kingdom of Aramen, I have always wanted to visit this beautiful country!”

“Wow!!!”

“This place, which inspired my work and is full of long history and unique culture, is truly the cultural capital of the continent!”

Rupert was also visiting the moderate Kingdom of Aramen to hold a signing ceremony and give lectures.

“The King of Cards was modeled after Aramen’s culture!”

“He’s an imperial bastard, but he’s got his head in the right place.”

“Even the Empire has no choice but to acknowledge the long history of our Aramen.”

The people of Aramen smile from ear to ear to Rupert’s ceaseless song of Aramen Yongbieocheonga.

The enthusiastic response they gave surprised even Rupert.

After the lecture and signing, Rupert was able to find out why.

“Can you believe that Rupert’s work, The King of Cards, is this popular?”

“Ha… This is more popular than the Empire.”

Knax-su-namun, Aramen’s vizier who guides Rupert.

Rupert, walking down the street with him, was confused as to whether this was the Dual City or Iroka, the capital of Aramen.

“Shall we play a duel?”

“Good!”

The streets were filled with people dueling, and there were things that looked like dueling tables scattered all over the place, although they looked a little different from the Empire.

“I hate to say this myself, but the people of our kingdom have been thirsting for recognition from other countries.”

“Is that so?”

“Because they are people who have been deeply despised, always living off of sand and dust.”

The Kingdom of Aramen was one of the countries on the continent with the longest history.

That’s why they had a strong sense of pride in their kingdom and were proud of its culture, but separate from that, they were always treated poorly in other countries, so that was always a source of dissatisfaction.

But since Rupert’s work, The Lord of Cards, spread across the continent,

“Aramen? I heard that’s the setting for the King of Cards. I’d like to see it.”

“I’ve already been there. It’s a completely different place than the rumors say.”

“Others also said that the exotic atmosphere was superb.”

The number of people looking for Aramen began to increase simply because they could see the backgrounds from .

As the number of people who visited increased, rumors about the Kingdom of Aramen that had spread out of ignorance began to gradually disappear, and instead, the perception that it was an attractive country began to spread.

Chancellor Knaksunamun, who was the first to notice this change, took the lead in the moderate faction that decided to accept the empire’s culture together with Sylvania.

As Sylvania had done, we invited Rupert personally to give a lecture and a signing event.

From Rupert’s perspective, the more countries like Sylvania there were, the closer he was to fulfilling his promise with the Emperor, so he happily ran there.

‘Thank goodness I have time left thanks to Siri.’

Although the Academy is on vacation, it is not easy for Rupert to visit a foreign country as he is busy with serialization and new animation work.

But thanks to Siri, who became his assistant, he was able to buy some time.

‘Is this Rupert’s work?’

‘Yes, you just need to use white to erase the parts I’ve marked here.’

At first, Rupert had no idea how well Siri could perform, so he only gave her simple modifications.

But Siri’s performance was beyond expectations.

One day, I had a day off from work, so I gave Siri some time to rest. After hanging out with Ada, Siri returned to her studio and started drawing.

When Rupert saw that, he wondered what kind of picture he was drawing, and surprisingly, it was a manuscript for the serial that Rupert was drawing.

He was reproducing the manuscript, which was only at the storyboard stage, as if it were drawn by Rupert.

‘I’m learning Rupert’s drawing style.’

When Rupert was surprised to see it and asked how she drew it, Siri replied that she simply learned it.

Of course, he couldn’t perfectly copy the drawing, but it was close enough that he was able to entrust the finishing touches to it, and thanks to that, Rupert had the time to visit the Kingdom of Aramen.

“Our kingdom also wants to send talented people to the Imperial Academy, especially to the Department of Fine Arts, which is headed by Lord Rupert.”

“If you do so, I will definitely train you to be a talented person who will be of help to Aramen.”

Rupert responds to Knaksunamun’s proposal.

‘I guess I should expand the garden?’

Although the selection of new students had not yet been completed, Rupert was troubled by the thought that the numbers would be tight if they were to accept students from Aramen and Sylvania and also recruit talent from the Empire.

If you make a suggestion to the headmaster, Yustav, he will probably listen, but it’s not certain, so it’s a bit worrisome.

‘You haven’t been feeling well lately.’

I went to see Yustav to discuss something related to the new students, and I found him in a daze.

‘Following the disciple, even the prince is raiding my warehouse… .’

It was Yustav who was muttering to himself with an expression that seemed as if he had lost his country.