The Sequel
The Sequel
Unlike my previous works, this one had a lot more to keep in mind.
First of all, no matter how much I condensed the story, it would need at least seven volumes to reach a proper conclusion, so how to pace the content was crucial.
"Volume one has to have impact, no matter what."
So while drafting the storyboards for volume one, that was the part I focused on most.
The work that served as the motif used a structure that jumped between past and present, but if I kept that as-is, I could feel that readers who weren't yet used to manga would find it unfamiliar.
So I decided on a straightforward chronological progression from beginning to end. Once I had the storyline in place, I chose the episode that would deliver the first major shock.
The shocking scene where the protagonist, together with his younger brother, loses a part of his body while trying to bring their mother back to life.
I decided to start the manga right there.
I also had to rethink the 'Auto Gear,' which would play a major role throughout the manga. Unlike modern readers, who could accept technology simply because it belonged to a fictional setting,
the people of this world were not yet ready to accept something merely because it was a setting inside a book.
'Auto Gear didn't even exist on Earth. Dropping technology that advanced into a world without firearms would be too much.'
Since this story was set on the Silvania Continent, I could not include worldbuilding that readers here would find impossible to accept.
So I chose to replace modern technology like guns with magic as much as possible, but I couldn't bear to give up the Auto Gear.
It was what you could call a core element of the story.
'The heroine in the original manga was the one who made the Auto Gear, wasn't she?'
Did this other world have a prosthetic like the "Auto Gear" from the original manga?
Come to think of it, when I went to the Magic Tower, I remembered seeing items for people who had lost arms and legs on the battlefield.
'Golem Prosthesis.'
It was an item made for soldiers who had lost limbs on the battlefield, and since it incorporated magical technology, its performance was excellent.
However, the design was too crude, which was a shame.
I would redesign the Golem Prosthesis to look sleeker and more futuristic.
Even a slightly stronger metallic feel made it look much sharper.
It was just right to say that this part was a cutting-edge Golem Prosthesis made by the dwarves using their clan's technology, and that it was already widely available in the world of the manga.
And since dwarves weren't even in the empire, there wasn't anyone who could fact-check the detail, which made dwarves incredibly convenient to use.
"If the heroine learns how to maintain the Golem Prosthesis for the protagonist brothers, that wouldn't be bad for the story either."
Personally, I remembered the original heroine quite fondly.
How should I put it? She didn't interfere with the protagonist's adventure and remained a supporting character, yet kept all of her charm and was a memorable presence throughout the story.
And it was precisely because of her that the story's legendary cosmic scene near the end could happen.
"That final famous line, at least, can't be left out."
This one was going to be pure MSG.
The works so far were certainly very fun and interesting stories if you applied this world's standards.
But this one was on a different level.
It would feel like children who had been eating unseasoned baby food made from natural ingredients trying Chapagetti for the first time.
The storyboards for volume one were already coming together.
Of course, the work of turning them into a finished product was still needed, but the framework was already set.
"Personally, full color has its charm, but black and white is the truth of manga."
I planned to draw this work entirely in black and white, except for the cover.
In the first place, black-and-white manga isn't just used for cost-cutting or technical limitations.
People exercise a bit more imagination and focus when reading black-and-white manga than full color.
The reason is that black-and-white manga doesn't end at the artist's hand but leaves room for imagination in the reader's head.
It's not for nothing that popular manga are still serialized in black and white.
"If I had an assistant, the work speed would really pick up."
I had more ideas and projects in my head than I could count. The frustrating part was having only one body.
If I could use a clone technique, I could work on multiple projects at once, or split the work with one person on storyboards, one on characters, one on backgrounds, and so on.
That was exactly what assistants were for—an indispensable tool of the manga artist—but I still hadn't found anyone skilled enough to assist me.
In the first place, this was a world where art hadn't developed, so finding skilled people was hard, and finding trustworthy people was even harder.
"Ah, come to think of it, the artisans have been complaining about overwork lately."
I wasn't the only one who needed assistants.
Due to the recent increase in workload, manpower was short, and since I'd even built a merchandise factory, everyone was working overtime.
People in the territory had apparently started using the Somerset mansion as a nighttime landmark because its lights never went out. I found that oddly satisfying.
'A lighthouse of the territory, that's kind of cool.'
Anyway, if I didn't expand the workforce soon, there was a high probability that the Imperial Code would be found in the workshop again.
Thinking that I should have Alain recruit people, I continued working.
***
"My good man! Even if it's a product your company has a monopoly on, how can a children's toy possibly cost this much?"
BANG!
At one branch of the Yuren Merchant Company, shouting echoed out again today.
But by now, all the company employees treated such incidents as trivial daily occurrences, letting it go in one ear and out the other while focusing on their own work.
"Sir, please calm down. Of course, the price of the item is somewhat expensive, but—"
"Not somewhat! How can a wand or a dress-up doll cost several silver?"
The employee handling him could understand the complaint, but another part of them wanted to tell the customer to count himself lucky.
For the merchandise released exclusively for nobles, the expensive ones went for gold.
"First of all, this isn't a toy. It's an item being sold under the name 'merch.'"
"Same thing, isn't it just wordplay?"
"This is licensed merchandise for the Kingdom of Ice manga, so it's specially made. That's why it costs more."
"Even so, to display an item at this price, and of all places, right near where children frequent, as if showing it off!"
Of course, it was placed there on purpose. When he first heard about it, he remembered clapping at this demonic sales strategy.
The order to set up temporary stalls and display the merchandise in every alley children frequented had been genuinely brilliant.
"We didn't have many suitable places to advertise... If the price is too steep for you, how about this instead?"
"What trick are you—"
"Now, buying each of these merch items individually costs a fortune."
Exactly. That was why the price was hard to accept. Wealthy nobles drowning in money might not care, but for ordinary commoners it was a serious burden.
Commoners would break their backs trying to buy these.
"However, for customers who purchase the manga, we are selling this three-piece merch set at a full 50% discount."
"What? 50%?!"
"Yes. It's still expensive, but for a child you love, isn't it affordable if you stretch just a little?"
At the employee's words, the man who had come to complain thought it over.
Wasn't it a full half off?
And besides, he already had the manga at home, so there was no need to buy the book separately.
Wasn't this a rational purchase?
"...Is it really 50%?"
"Of course!"
The customer who had clearly come in angry left carrying an armful of merch with a happy smile.
Today was another peaceful day at the Yuren Merchant Company.
***
"Mister, why can't you cook this either?"
"I'm telling you, that book is all lies—no, exaggerations!"
In his heart, he wanted to shout that the dwarf in that picture book was fake, but he remembered the trouble he'd gone through when he did that once before and the child had cried, so he quickly changed his words.
Kroon was frustrated. No, what kind of absurd fantasy was this, drawing a dwarf who personally made food and brought it to a human woman?
"Mister, you're a slightly lacking dwarf, but you helped Snow White, so it's okay!"
At the child's words, Kroon was dumbfounded, yet his heart felt at ease again, and a laugh slipped out.
When the Tunnel Snake had chased him until he lost consciousness, he'd been certain he was finished.
Fortunately, this human girl—that is, Sena—had brought him home, treated him, and cared for him, allowing him to barely escape the crisis.
At first, he'd been wary because she was human, but Sena had helped Kroon with incredible devotion.
When he'd asked why, curious, it was a sight to behold.
'Dwarves are the kind people who helped Snow White!'
He'd wondered what on earth she meant, and she'd said it was from a book trending in human countries these days.
Since dwarves appeared in it, he'd asked to see it out of curiosity, and it was a strange book unlike anything he'd ever seen.
It was a book that was half text and half pictures, and it was quite easy to read, so he'd finished it quickly.
'Good grief, a dwarf that looks like that? There's no dwarf that dopey!'
He didn't know where the artist who made the book had seen dwarves, but they'd drawn them surprisingly accurately. Even so, the dwarves in the story looked far too innocent and soft.
By tradition, dwarves had to look fierce and rugged to be handsome.
But it was also surprising. The depiction of them living in houses built underground was a fairly proper portrayal of dwarves, and above all, drawing them in a kind role.
That point was the most astonishing.
As far as he knew, humans were just as wary of dwarves, and he wondered if that had changed already.
"Here, eat this!"
While he was lost in thought, Sena suddenly held out a roasted potato.
"What about you?"
"I already ate!"
Seeing Sena smile brightly as she handed him a potato, Kroon realized it was a lie.
Sena's family was by no means well-off.
If Sena hadn't desperately stopped her parents from kicking him out when they'd been startled at the sight of Kroon and tried to throw him out immediately, he would have already been cast out.
Being a dwarf was a problem in itself, but they didn't have the means to care for a patient on top of their already tight finances.
Because of that, Sena always gave up her own portion of food to Kroon.
Once, that much selfless kindness had made him uncomfortable enough that he'd asked Sena directly.
'Why are you so good to me?'
'Because the dwarves helped Snow White, the princess became happy. I want Kroon to be happy too.'
Hearing those words, Kroon had been at a loss for words and couldn't give any answer.
But one thing was certain.
Dwarves never forget a grudge, but they also never forget a debt of gratitude.
Kroon resolved that once he recovered, he would definitely repay this kindness to Sena.