episode_0097

The day the Imperial Academy graduation ceremony was held.

In a cafe in the capital, nobles who could be considered influential figures in the empire were gathered for a meeting.

Among the many cafes in Chaldea, this one called Imperial Garden was popular because it had a normally open first floor, but a closed space on the second floor for guests who wanted to have a secret meeting.

“The number of people who can show that arrogant person an example has finally gathered.”

“I can finally beat up those shallow guys.”

The identity of those who rented the entire second floor of the Imperial Garden today was none other than the Imperial Parents’ Association.

Their goal, a group of nobles who have recently come under fire due to the serialization of ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ in Manapia, is to ban comics in the empire.

“It’s really annoying for commoners to learn to read and write through comic books!”

“That’s right! Last time, I complained about the contents of the tenancy agreement, but it was ridiculous.”

“They’re not the only ones who have a problem. The new aristocrats are also using the content of the comics to incite the commoners!”

In the past, 90% of the common people, or rather, except in very special cases, were illiterate.

That is why it was common for nobles to forge or falsely report various contracts and deeds of title to rip off commoners.

The commoners, who could not read and write, could not protest even when they knew that the nobles were deceiving them.

When they started to check contracts and documents carefully, the nobles suffered great losses.

That was possible because the number of people who learned to read comic books, starting with , had increased significantly.

Although there were still many who had to be read by others in order to read, there were also many who learned letters because they wanted to read themselves.

That is why, if you look for someone in the village who can read and write, you will find that in the past you might only find one person, but now it is not uncommon to find one.

And since people who can read tend to take the lead in helping nobles make contracts, nobles who tried to commit fraud like before ended up paying a penalty instead.

That wasn’t all.

‘Nobles must prove their nobility by fulfilling their duties. Can those who only seek their rights and do not care about their duties be called nobles?’

Some new aristocrats, in collusion with merchants, began to spread the above information to the common people.

Some nobles were outraged by the radical and dangerous content, but there was nothing they could do about it.

What they attacked were not the imperial family, but some noble forces.

‘I’m a corrupt part! I’m targeting the nobles. Are you perhaps offended by anything?’

If it was criticism directed at the empire, it could be condemned as treason, but since their remarks were directed solely at a few nobles, it was difficult to find fault with them.

However, it was difficult to suppress them by using power, as the new aristocrats also had considerable influence and were supported from behind by wealthy merchants, so there was no way to do anything, making the situation frustrating.

“The number of nobles who sympathize with our cause has already exceeded 50.”

“Finally I can call them to ‘Agora’!!!”

But they were not nobles who would just take it.

There was one reason why they formed an organization called the Imperial Parents’ Association and gathered nobles in similar situations.

‘agora’

To open the Agora, a traditional debate method that has been passed down since the founding of the empire, the consent of at least 50 nobles was required.

If 50 nobles were present, they could request the imperial court to open the Agora to a discussion on a single topic.

This was called the sacred right of the imperial nobility and was mainly a way of expressing discontent with the emperor.

That is why when the Agora was opened, it was not opened hastily as it was expected to cause conflict with the imperial family.

However, this time, there was no burden on the royal family as the Agora was aimed at Rupert Somerset personally and not the royal family.

but,

“You must keep in mind that when the Agora opens, one of the two must die.”

The Agora, intended for disputes between nobles, had a different character.

Agora, where the Emperor and three of the seven nobles are selected as judges.

The huge circular debate hall where such an agora was held was filled with numerous spectators, and in front of them, the parties to the agora and those who were designated had to engage in a debate.

In this way, through discussion, the judges make a decision, and when the emperor approves it, there is a winner and a loser.

The one chosen as the winner in the Agora has the right to demand anything from the loser except life, which is a truly extra-legal right that cannot be stopped by imperial law.

It is also famous that the losers of Agora throughout history met with terrible endings.

For example, in the most recent agora, the victor confiscated the noble title and property from the loser, leaving him penniless.

Afterwards, it became widely known that the loser was beaten to death in the middle of the night by commoners he had a grudge against.

“If there is anything that can be exploited as a weakness, from the negative influence comics have on the Empire to Rupert Somerset’s usual behavior and past actions, you must collect every single one of them!”

Even though they had the protection of the Imperial Family, the members of the Imperial Parents’ Association were very proud because decisions made through the Agora could not be reversed even by the Emperor.

“Just spare my life! Hahahahaha!!!”

The rich laughter of nobles echoed through the secret room on the second floor of the cafe.

***

The Imperial Academy announced its closing ceremony.

Most students would return to their respective homes during vacation.

However, some people in less fortunate circumstances stayed in dormitories.

But Wolfgang, one of the students in the music department still at the academy, was a slightly different case.

He was the second son of Baron Amadeus, and although he was not a very powerful person, he was of noble birth who had no shortage of money to live off of.

The reason he couldn’t go down to his family home during the vacation was because of shame.

“Damn it… If only my arms were intact.”

Since I loved listening to music since I was young, I was naturally exposed to numerous musical instruments.

Wolfgang also had talent and learned to play various instruments, and he became somewhat well-known in social circles.

The violin and piano he played were so sweet that not only noble ladies but even noble males invited them to hear his music.

And it was only natural that he was accepted into the Imperial Academy’s music department.

But he got the worst grade on this midterm.

bang!

As I struck the piano keys with my palm, a tearing sound echoed.

I wanted to smash the piano with both hands, but I couldn’t.

Because he had no left hand.

-no!

An unexpected accident that occurred before entering the academy.

His left hand could have been restored quickly if only he had a priest or a potion, but unfortunately, it was too late to be revived.

After that, Wolfgang, who was no longer able to play an instrument, entered the academy and studied composition, but that was not easy either.

I had to compose while actually playing the music I had imagined in my head, but since that was impossible, I always had to ask my peers to play for me.

This was because even those who had been willing to help him at first gradually began to find him annoying and avoided him.

In this way, he cannot play or compose as he wants, so he gives up everything due to feelings of inferiority, and naturally, his grades are also miserable, which is a vicious cycle.

So, even though it was vacation, Wolfgang chose not to return to his family home and instead stayed in the dormitory alone.

“I can’t give up like this.”

He had been playing music since he was young, and he knew better than anyone that his talent lay in music.

Now, even though it was difficult to continue working as a performer, I was able to compose music, so I calmed down and started writing down music scores with the thought that I should at least work on that.

“Come to think of it… There was music in the cartoon club’s work too.”

Wolfgang was reminded of a shocking piece of work that had astonished all the audience gathered at the closing ceremony held not long ago.

He still felt the emotion he felt that day because he saw it firsthand.

The harmony of vividly moving pictures and the sweet melody that beautifully surrounds them came to him as a fresh shock he had never experienced before.

“Of course the music was good, but it had a heavy feeling.”

The cartoon club’s animation had a light atmosphere that could be described as an animal show.

The music that accompanied it was well-composed, but Wolfgang felt it was a bit heavy.

Was it really necessary to build up harmony so thickly with so many instruments?

If it were me, I would have transformed it into something a little more stylish.

The melody is made simple so it looks easy and comfortable to listen to, but later variations are added to create a bouncy feeling with complex techniques.

Wolfgang, who had come up with the idea like that, immediately began writing down the notes on the score with one hand.

Clearly, I had a feeling that this song would be good, so I was able to write it down in no time without even realizing how hard it was.

“Now I have to try it myself… .”

Wolfgang, who had finally completed the score, looked at his right hand.

The song he just created may seem easy at first glance, but it is music that focuses on the technique of adding variations.

It was simply impossible to do this with one hand.

If it were during the semester, I would have shamelessly asked my friends for help, but now that there was no one there, that was impossible.

♪♫♬

However, Wolfgang started playing with one hand, forcing himself to do so, because he knew he couldn’t finish the song unless he played it somehow.

Since he was originally good at playing the piano, he was able to continue the melody in the beginning, but it got a little more complicated as it got closer.

The beat and pitch began to go out of sync.

“Damn it!”

He shouted, feeling frustrated again at his inability to play even one song as he wished.

Since there was no one there anyway, he felt like he would explode if he didn’t let out some swear words, so he vented all his anger.

Squeak.

However, there was one thing that was different from what he had expected: his frustration and the fact that there was one person listening to the song he was playing, however clumsily.

That means he still remains in the academy.