NOVEL WEB Chapter 162
“Welcome, Jenia.”
“I hope I’m not causing any trouble…”
“As a comrade at the Academy, I can always provide conveniences like this.”
“Is that so?”
As the day of the Imperial Academy’s second semester closing ceremony arrived, the atmosphere within the Academy was festive.
Normally inaccessible, the Academy was bustling with visitors and vendors.
Among all these attractions, the most eye-catching was none other than the Comic Club’s animation exhibition.
“I can’t believe how much those who watched the Sylvania Musical Band have been boasting about it.”
“It’s deservedly so. After all, wasn’t it the very first animation?”
People gathered in the auditorium, where the Comic Club’s exhibition was held, chatting away.
Their sole interest lay in viewing the Comic Club’s works being showcased this time around, especially since the previous semester’s closing ceremony had featured the now-fabled Sylvania Musical Band.
“Sorry, but there are no plans for a re-screening.”
Since it was an exhibition showcasing the students’ achievements, not for commercial purposes, the work would never be screened again after the ceremony, burning with anticipation among the crowds.
“To think I would have to discuss animation with someone who hasn’t seen the Sylvania Musical Band.”
Many in the Empire believed that the first animation was the Ice Kingdom made at Somerset Workshop, but the truth was that the first to be screened was the Sylvania Musical Band.
Fans of comics and animations would often flaunt the fact that they had seen the Sylvania Musical Band.
Thus, for this Imperial Academy second semester closing ceremony, people flocked in droves, necessitating a lottery for entry tickets to the screening.
“Were we just comrades?”
Even Jenia, who was sad about not obtaining a ticket, was specially provided a seat by Rupert, but the fact that it was for a fellow comrade still stung her heart.
“Thank you to everyone who came to view our Comic Club’s new work, and we will now begin screening Steel Heart.”
Before she could wallow in disappointment, Adrian, now in charge of the Comic Club, stepped out before the audience to announce the start of the screening.
“Is that person the Prince of Sylvania?”
“I heard he enrolled in the Academy specifically to promote friendship with the Empire.”
As Adrian finished his greeting, the auditorium plunged into darkness.
The people were filled with excitement about what this new work would be.
They had received and read a simple synopsis of the piece upon entering, but the content was utterly unfathomable to them.
***
“I wanted to be happy… and make someone else happy.”
-Where did it all go wrong?
A sound of music echoed from somewhere.
As the song from the Empire’s famous orchestra pierced his ears, Chris awoke.
“What’s going on? He couldn’t have grown enough to play music for me in the morning….”
The Android, Artyk, wasn’t intelligent enough to choose music based on his master’s preferences and play it at the designated wake-up time.
“Are you awake, Master?”
“Artyk, did you wake me?”
“Um…?”
Chris’s words confused Artyk, who tilted his head in puzzlement.
“Well, it couldn’t be you.”
Artyk’s intelligence level matched that of a mere five-year-old human child.
If Artyk had woken him, it would have been by whining or nudging, not music.
“Greetings, Master Chris.”
“Who are you?”
“I am your creation.”
“What?”
Before Chris, who had been pondering, stood a female android in adult form.
“I am the ultimate evolved form of androids, model name Genesis.”
Chris finally understood her identity.
She was the evolved form of the artificial human he had created.
That was Genesis.
The new animation, Steel Heart, had started screening and during the early parts, there were a few distracting noises.
But soon enough, as the story unfolded, everyone was captivated, holding their breath without even a whisper.
The story about Chris, who had created the android and had suddenly vanished to live in seclusion, and how the evolved android Genesis sought him out, shocked the audience greatly.
“I came to find out why you created us and why you disappeared.”
The character Genesis, who sought the reason for her existence and why she was abandoned by her creator, mirrored the questions of the viewers as she delved into the character Chris.
As Chris’s reasoning for creating the androids was revealed, the question of why he had kept only the outdated android Artyk close began to unfold.
“Sniff.”
The sound of people wiping their tears began to spread throughout the audience.
“I finally understand why we wanted to keep progressing even after you disappeared. It’s because you are no longer alone.”
And finally, as the lines and scenes signaling the climax rolled onto the screen, all the audience rose to their feet and began to applaud.
“Awesome!!!”
“I always thought animation was just for kids…!”
“Chris was so pitiful and tragic! How could he undergo such experiences…?”
The audience’s reactions surpassed those of the previous semester’s screening of the Sylvania Musical Band.
While that audience had been mostly in awe of the animation itself, now, those accustomed to various fairy tale series or OVAs screening at Somerset Theater, like the King of Cards, were drawn in by the story and characters.
“You wrote a great story, Adrian.”
“Your character shone brightly, Edric.”
In the back of the auditorium, the two waited anxiously for the reactions to their animation, holding hands.
Normally, they would bicker, but now, they were celebrating each other’s dedication to the work, sharing in the joy of the audience’s approval.
Adrian delighted in the cheers from the audience engulfed by the story he crafted.
Edric relished the joy of seeing his character come alive on the screen.
“It’s okay to be fake.”
Edric recalled the negative rumors surrounding people like him in the Empire lately.
Seeing others get excited about female characters in comics, he often had to endure remarks about how it was all fictional and that they shouldn’t get so swept away by it.
“I want to create a story where fakes become real.”
And that was how Steel Heart came to be.
“There’s no need for reasons for good things.”
No matter what anyone said, Edric found joy in watching comics and happiness in loving the characters within them. That was enough for him.
***
“Thank you for giving me the chance to watch such a work, Rupert.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
After the viewing, Rupert hurried to praise the members of the Comic Club who created Steel Heart in response to Jenia’s gratitude.
He was thrilled that they managed to produce such a piece with minimal interference from him, providing just a bit of help along the way.
However, Jenia’s mind was filled with thoughts triggered by what she had just seen.
-I thought becoming a genius would make me happy.
The introspective words of Chris, who with the highest intelligence among humans created androids with technology that transcended time, left a deep impression on Jenia.
Since childhood, she had been plagued by feelings of inferiority; though she believed she had overcome them by becoming Yustaf’s disciple, her insecurities began to resurface with recent encounters with Ioleen and Amelia.
“You all were born with everything…”
Growing up in a happy environment, receiving abundant love, it enraged her to think that those who had everything might take away even the one thing Jenia desired most.
But,
“I should have created my own.”
Jenia realized now.
The fairy tale prince she adored did not exist in the world.
It was not the prince who could save the girl with cold hands washing clothes on a frigid winter day; it was the girl herself.
The protagonist Chris of Steel Heart also believed he was foolish and that no one loved him, but later he realized that the person who had loved him the least was himself. Jenia recognized this with regret.
It didn’t matter if she was a poor orphan girl or Yustaf’s disciple.
“Rupert.”
“Yes, Jenia.”
“I like you. Since the first time we met, no, even before that, since I read the book you created.”
“Jenia… what’s this all of a sudden…”
Rupert had been aware of Jenia’s affection for him.
Initially, he thought she was just an enthusiastic fan of his works, but lately, he had felt something more akin to romantic interest.
Yet, due to the memory of her youthful self upon their first meeting, he was unsure how to respond.
“Of course, I don’t mean to demand that you accept my feelings unconditionally. But until now, I thought that I needed to help you to be worthy, but today I realized that was wrong.”
Jenia gazed directly into Rupert’s surprised eyes.
‘Before, I could hardly look him in the eye.’
Because she had feared her affection would be a burden to him due to her inferiority complex.
But it didn’t matter what her status was when it came to liking someone.
“I just wanted to convey my feelings before it was too late.”
Jenia slowly approached Rupert, keeping her gaze locked with his.
Rupert instinctively stepped back.
However, as Jenia drew near, she whispered into his ear.
“And may I clarify one thing? I’m actually older than you, Rupert.”
Having said that, Jenia brushed past him and left, leaving Rupert stunned, sitting there speechless.