Drawing Manga in a Romance Fantasy – Chapter 70

With the opening of the Somerset Goods Store specializing in merchandise, the branches of the Yuren Merchant Association were no longer overwhelmed with work.

However, they still had to brace themselves whenever a new comic book or fairy tale book was released.

They had to manage the crowds waiting in line to grab the limited editions and prepare for the exhibitions that were inevitable for at least a week after the release, with people eager to get their hands on hardcover or standard copies.

In front of each branch of the Yuren Merchant Association stood a wooden doll wearing a sharply pointed straw hat.

The doll, with a nose particularly prominent, had the appearance of a young boy.

And the words on the wooden sign beside it filled people with anticipation.

“Release of the new fairy tale book <Pinocchio> by Rupert Somerset!”

Even though there were many across the Eastern Continent who didn’t know of the House of Count Somerset, it was uncommon for someone not to know Rupert’s name, such was the popularity of his works.

Of course, many other merchant associations had started releasing fairy tale books, leading to a diversity of stories spreading across the empire.

Yet, compared to the popularity and impact of Rupert’s fairy tales, they were like fireflies before the sun.

Particularly, his last release, a fairy tale called <A Dog of Flanders> had moved both adults and children to tears with its tragic ending.

So naturally, everyone was eager to see what kind of story his new fairy tale would tell this time.

*”Is the protagonist a wooden doll?”


“Seems a bit different from the fairy tales we’ve seen so far.”


“Indeed, this is intriguing.”*

Actually, this new release, Pinocchio, was a work different in nature from any fairy tale people had encountered before.

People who expected a mere beautiful or tragic tale were captivated by the story of a wooden doll yearning to become a human.

Especially with fascinating setups and narratives like the one where the nose grows when lying, or the thrilling adventure into the belly of a whale to save Geppetto, an elderly man who created him and thought of him as his son.

If <A Dog of Flanders> proved that fairy tales were not just for children.

Then <Pinocchio> sealed this notion entirely.

The kids—especially the boys—who were originally the main audience for fairy tales, were wildly enthusiastic about <Pinocchio>.

And even among adults, <Pinocchio> gained widespread popularity.

This was possible because the content of <Pinocchio> was surprisingly profound.

Especially the scene towards the end where Pinocchio saves Geppetto and sacrifices himself, bringing back painful memories.

From the shocking ending of <A Dog of Flanders> where the protagonist, Nello, and Patrasche, froze to death quietly, when they thought it would be a happy ending.

It made people fear that this story, too, might be a tragedy.

However,

“The courage to sacrifice yourself for others is what makes you human,” said the Blue Fairy, lightly tapping Pinocchio’s forehead with her wand.

Then an astonishing thing happened.

Warmth began to return to Pinocchio’s once cold, wooden body.

And from the tip of his fingers and toes, Pinocchio’s body started turning into human skin.

Finally, when every part of the little pine wood doll had transformed into the body of a complete boy.

The boy opened his eyes.

The part featuring Pinocchio becoming human and calling out “Dad” to Geppetto, and the tearful old man looking back and hugging him after being saddened by Pinocchio’s death, left everyone in tears.

Not from sadness, but from emotion and joy.

“What makes a person truly human isn’t money or material wealth! It must be something within the heart or soul!”

This story especially sparked significant discourse among the intellectuals of the empire.

While children and ordinary people merely enjoyed the thrilling adventure and happy ending of <Pinocchio>, it became a fascinating topic for discussion among those considered learned in the empire.

*”How is family created? Look at Pinocchio. He has no blood relation to Geppetto, who made him, but aren’t they the most genuine family?”


“That’s interesting too, but I’m curious about the author’s philosophy. He seems to argue that a person is not born but made.”


“Indeed, there are sorcerers who act like beasts even though they were born human. While Pinocchio, despite being a doll, acted more nobly than a person.”*

Previously, those who had dismissed fairy tales as mere amusement became enthusiastic about <Pinocchio>.

This was because the metaphors and analogies hidden within the book elegantly expressed the themes they had long pondered.

Particularly, the trials faced by Pinocchio to become human were metaphors for the virtues a person should possess.

To those educated in various disciplines, <Pinocchio> looked less like a fairy tale and more like an epic saga of a hero.

As such, <Pinocchio> swept through various circles, becoming a sensational hit and a topic of widespread conversation among people.

*

“Aida loves Papa the most in the world!”

Count Bradley, who had been feeling disheartened by the recent cold stares directed at him, lifted his drooping eyebrows at his adorable daughter Aida’s words.

“Is that true, Aida?”

“Yup!”

Aida smiled brightly at the Count.

No wonder there’s a saying among the nobility that sons are no good even if you raise them.

The eldest son says he wants to test his limits and rushes to the battlefield despite being held back.

The second son, whenever he gets a chance, only says,

“Ride it.”

*He said something mysterious in my direction.


What does he mean, ride? Ride a horse to exercise or something? But then again, when I saw Rupert’s cold stare, I knew it wasn’t that.*

Of course, the Count, having recently gained some financial leeway, had been spending money to reclaim the family heirlooms that were sold off previously, but to receive such a cold stare.

Meanwhile, despite being whiny often, his only daughter shows such lovable aspects; how could he not adore her?

Count was so moved by Aida’s declaration of loving her dad the most that he was teary-eyed and tried to embrace her.

But Aida easily twirled out of the Count’s grasp.

Her smooth and flexible movement was unbelievably swift coming from her slightly chubby body.

“Aida!”

Ignoring the pitiful call from the Count, Aida scampered off without looking back.

Where Aida headed was a full-length mirror situated in the mansion’s center.

“Aida’s nose will grow like Pinocchio’s now!”

Aida was utterly engrossed in the fairy tale <Pinocchio> she had recently read.

So engrossed that she kept lying, hoping her nose would grow like Pinocchio’s, and as a result, everyone in the mansion had learned to take her words with a grain of salt.

“Owen loves Sena!”

Aida’s lie had frightened the new knight Owen.

*”What a crazy guy? And just 12 years old?”


“We should have checked his character when recruiting him.”


“Come to think of it, the other day, he was….”*

Because of the cold stares and misunderstandings he received, Owen fiercely denied it and explained himself until suspicions were cleared.

Owen still had nightmares about the chilling stares he experienced that day.

Now, most people know that Aida’s lies are inspired by <Pinocchio>, so there’s no one left who falls for them, making the Count the last victim.

Aida’s true hierarchy of admiration: her older brother, Rach, Alain, the cool-looking branch owned by a village kid, and then Count Bradley.

Having successfully pulled off her most satisfying lie, Aida eagerly glanced at her reflection in the mirror.

But still, her nose remained unchanged.

“Aww, it hasn’t grown!!!”

Aida was so upset that no matter how many lies she told, her nose didn’t grow.

She wanted a long, sharp nose like Pinocchio.

With it, she could poke Owen, who stopped her from going outside.

And poke Count Bradley when he hugged her and rubbed her cheeks.

“The village kids would be so jealous!”

The mysterious weapon to counter the admiration robbed by the Dragon Slayer (with wood-type attributes) was gone.

“Oh! That’s right.”

Suddenly thinking of a good idea, Aida loudly called Rach.

Woof!

Rach quickly appeared before Aida at her call.

By now, not only people in the mansion but also everyone in the territory praised Rach as the best dog on the continent.

So intelligent that he seemed to understand human speech, with his massive size atypical for a puppy.

Also, after saving Aida from a dark sorcerer, Rach received a lot of interest and love.

But usually, he ignored others’ calls and lay around lazily.

Aida was the only one who could move Rach.

“Rach, let’s go to the workshop!”

Aida naturally climbed onto Rach’s back and held onto the scruff of his neck.

After confirming that Aida was secure on his neck, Rach dashed off toward the workshop.

*

<Pinocchio> didn’t just influence the general public.

“An android… no, a more advanced golem? No, more agile than a golem.”

Saint, who started working as an assistant to Rupert, was deeply affected after reading the recently released <Pinocchio>.

Though he had the skill to draw, he never thought of crafting a story.

Thus, he was learning to embed stories in drawings under Rupert’s guidance while working on comics.

Reading <Pinocchio> triggered a single theme to continuously spin around in his mind.

“What defines a person?”

The wooden doll was recognized as human for his noble sacrifice.

But is sacrificial bravery truly the sole deciding factor of humanity?

Saint dedicated all his time, outside work hours, to concocting a story of his own.

The protagonist was a Mechanical Golem, actually a mechanical human resembling The Golem’s Arm created by Kroon.

In a world populated by such mechanical humans, what could possibly occur?

If these mechanical humans could think, feel, and speak like Pinocchio, what would they be considered? Machines? Humans?

Inspired a lot by the homunculus group Seven Deadly Sins from <Iron-Blooded Alchemist>, Saint.

He began crafting a storyboard in the manner Rupert had taught him.

The next chapter will be updated on September 13th at 11 PM.