NOVEL WEB The metal pen glided lightly across the manuscript paper divided into panels according to the storyboard.
The strokes, varying in thickness unlike my previous drawings, brought a much better sense of life to the illustration.
“Fantastic. It’s truly amazing that you’ve managed to create a pen with this tactile feel.”
At my compliment, the metal artisan’s expression brightened. Until I tried it, he had looked quite anxious, but upon hearing my satisfied feedback, he finally smiled.
“As you mentioned, instead of using pure lead, I mixed it with steel in a specific ratio, which resolved the issue of durability.”
Using pure lead would make the pen too soft and prone to damage, so mixing in steel provided a solution.
It’s easy to think of such ideas, but getting the ratio just right is anything but simple.
Thus, after countless trials and errors, the metal pen, named the G-Pen, was born.
“Honestly, with just a G-Pen, I could draw everything I need for my comics.”
Among renowned cartoonists, many wield the G-Pen as it is the foundation and essence of drawing pens, and now the game was practically over.
With this pen in hand, I could express any kind of line, leaving only my skill to be demonstrated—which, frankly, I’m brimming with confidence about.
“It’s like handing Lü Bu his Red Hare.”
Now, with all the tools and paper ready for drawing comics, all that was left was to transfer my pre-made storyboard onto the manuscript paper.
I focused back on the manuscript and began to draw.
*
Recently, a public enemy had emerged among merchants.
“Damn those Yuren bastards! They haven’t an ounce of business ethics!”
The culprit behind this uproar was the ‘Yuren’ merchant guild. They appeared with the innovation of fairy tale books and vilely lured the primary customers, the nobility, with such bait.
“Count, why are you suddenly canceling the contract…?” (Merchant)
“I apologize, but you can’t procure the fairy tale books, can you?” (A certain Lord)
They offered exclusive rights to purchase the fairy tale books only to nobles with whom they had trading relationships, prompting numerous nobles to switch their business dealings to the Yuren guild.
As a result, other merchant guilds gnawed their teeth in frustration and attempted to copy and sell versions of the fairy tale books.
“Copy the work of a writer who received a thank-you plaque from the Imperial Family? Are you out of your mind?!”
Yet somehow, having sweet-talked the royals, Yuren brandished that thank-you plaque to shut them down, an utterly detestable maneuver.
“Still, it won’t be long until our prepared plan comes to fruition.”
At the “Vera” guild, one of the Empire’s big seven guilds, Jax, the head of the capital branch, spoke to Guild Leader Vera.
Vera smiled at Jax’s words.
“Yes, it took longer than expected, but we finally created our own fairy tale book.”
If copying fairy tale books was the problem, then the plan was to pivot and create a new fairy tale book with original content from the start.
To accomplish this, Vera’s guild was recruiting artists with strong drawing abilities and storytellers to put the fairy tale book production plan into action.
Of course, there were many trials and errors initially. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t match the quality of Rupert’s drawings, and the stories fell flat.
However, after countless revisions and attempts, they succeeded in producing a fairy tale book that, while still lagging in quality, was at least readable.
They were now on the brink of launch.
Naturally, they couldn’t expect groundbreaking results overnight, so they needed to start by gradually gaining some market share.
With time, quality would improve, and they could create even better fairy tale books down the line.
“Wait for me, Esteban! I will make sure to repay this humiliation!”
Vera had a looming inferiority complex when comparing herself to Esteban, the head of the Yuren guild. While Esteban was hailed as a monster that had propelled the once-small Yuren guild into one of the top seven merchant guilds, Vera had inherited the prestigious Vera guild, which once stood at the forefront of those seven but had now been reduced to just one of them.
In such a situation, there was no way Vera would calmly stand by as her clients were lured away by Yuren using fairy tale books as bait.
“This is the first step to reclaiming the position of the top guild in the Empire.”
Imagining Esteban throwing a fit upon seeing the released fairy tale book made her unable to contain her laughter.
“Gu… Guild Leader!!!”
“What the fuss? How can a merchant be so flustered and clumsy?”
Vera clicked her tongue at an employee who barged into her office without knocking. What was so urgent that it warranted such silliness?
“Uh… Yuren guild and the Imperial Family have collaborated to release a new product!”
“A new product?”
“It’s a comic book, they say.”
A comic book? What on earth is that? Vera felt a wave of anxiety. Just as her trump card—the fairy tale book—was about to launch, they were suddenly releasing a new product.
The fact that they collaborated with the Imperial Family to debut it was exceedingly bothersome.
“Get that comic book immediately!”
“Yes, understood!”
She needed to identify this potential threat to quell her unease.
Vera tried to calm her anxious heart as she awaited the return of the employee sent to fetch this newly launched comic book.
“Please let it be nothing too remarkable…”
*
“How fascinating, wouldn’t you agree?”
“…Indeed, Your Highness the Princess.”
Princess Ioleen Bell couldn’t help but exclaim in wonder as she held the comic book ‘Kingdom of Ice’.
This comic book, unlike the bulky fairy tale books, was handy enough to fit in one hand and easy to carry around.
Moreover, it was composed of simple dialogues, making it much easier to read than the long-winded fairy tale books that were hard for those who couldn’t read to understand.
With this, commoners could pick it up and learn to read with just a bit of effort, making it perfect for beginner readers.
“And yet, the content has this majestic vibe of an epic adventure that overcomes crisis.”
Normally, with simple words, one would think the content would feel trivial, but this comic book didn’t fall into that trap.
The reason? None other than the illustrations.
This quirky book featured illustrations on nearly every page, with only brief explanations and dialogues sprinkled throughout.
“What on earth is this book?”
Upon first receiving the finished copy, she was quite taken aback. But soon, she found herself completely engrossed.
The drawings were so lively that it felt as if the characters were moving in front of her. The transitions were so smooth that her eyes naturally followed the flow of the story.
She was utterly captivated, almost believing that the protagonists of ‘Kingdom of Ice’ were alive right before her eyes.
Furthermore, the scenes of extravagant magical battles depicted in the comic book were so vivid, they seemed to leap off the page, as if pulling her into a fantastical reality.
“This is… quite enjoyable.”
Even Aiden, usually grumbling about the excessive support funds that Rupert and Esteban had pocketed, couldn’t help but get lost in the pages of this comic book.
The Princess was just as satisfied. While the fairy tale books of the past certainly contained beautiful stories, they lacked a certain thrill. However, this one was perfectly tailored to her taste.
“It was absolutely satisfying to see Hannah punch that man right in the face and to witness Elza, thought to be dead, come back to life and give him what for!”
When that seemingly good-natured Hans betrayed them, it made her blood boil, but after witnessing the delightful revenge of the sisters Elza and Hannah, a pleasant feeling enveloped her.
Strangely enough, the Princess had begun to notice that her mood swung wildly whenever she read Rupert’s books, but good was still good.
“Aiden, increase the production of this book even more than planned.”
“Your Highness, we already have quite a large order scheduled.”
“I sense great potential in this book. I want our citizens to have broader opportunities to learn not only how to read but also about right and wrong.”
Seeing the serious expression on the Princess’s face, Aiden decided to comply.
Though she hadn’t been very reliable lately, there was something about that serious expression that promised she would always exceed his expectations with remarkable judgment—truly a ruler’s demeanor.
In that case, all he could do was follow her wishes and ensure they spread correctly.
“Still, those merchants seem so untrustworthy…”
The thought of the guild leader, who had secured support funds from the Imperial Family yet still wore that shifty expression, irked him greatly.
There were no mistakes in the paperwork, yet an unpleasant feeling lingered as if he had been duped.
Nevertheless, he had to issue the production increase, so he would have to meet with him again.
*
“Elza…”
Third Prince Edric was staring blankly at a book in his quarters. This new comic book, created at the suggestion of his sister, the Princess, had left him with unexpected aftereffects after taking a look at it.
When he had seen the fairy tale book before, it had merely been an amusing novelty, and he had thought this one would be the same; however, he found himself unexpectedly haunted by the character Elza, the female lead.
A woman with blonde hair tied back, cursed by the Ice Witch, and bearing a lonely past.
Yet, she didn’t let her curse or past define her; instead, she became a hero who ultimately saved the kingdom from crisis, a journey that resonated deeply with the Third Prince himself.
Until now, he had thought rationality unnecessary at times, simply stirring unnecessary emotions when it came to making cold judgments.
But for some reason, he found himself wondering if it would be alright to be with Elza.
As he flipped through the book once more to find the scenes featuring her,
Thump.
He could feel his heart racing.
This woman seemed to come alive within the pages of the comic book.
Her expressions and movements—were they not all vivid?
Elza… Elza… Elza… Her name kept echoing in his mind.
He felt pity for this strong yet delicate woman. While his younger sister Hannah had found true love, why on earth did fate seem to deny this woman her destined partner?
It was simply unfair.
Edric believed that this woman, who had beautifully overcome hardship and adversity, truly deserved happiness.
Then, abruptly, he pictured himself beside her.
It was winter.