Fanworks Society
Fanworks Society
『"Old man, you're the last one. Any last words?"
Lloyd Cavallo spoke toward the western native leaning against the wall, gasping for breath.
"I despise you."
A simple remark, but the old man's expression showed no trace of defeat.』
"Those heinous bastards!!!"
"How could soldiers commit such slaughter...."
"Isn't all of this because of General King Brandon—no, those Artificial Humans' schemes!"
The storm brought by the news that <Iron-Blooded Alchemist> volumes 5 and 6 would be released simultaneously.
Even normally, anyone after a limited edition or first printing had to start lining up at least a week early.
But this time was on a whole different scale.
It was so bad that the capital's guards had to step in to resolve disturbances, giving them headaches.
Some people didn't miss the opportunity and even sold all kinds of snacks and food to those standing in line, so people who came up from the provinces mistook the scene for a festival.
'Honestly, I think bathroom breaks should be granted out of respect for human dignity....'
Originally, leaving the line meant giving up your spot.
But this time, so many people had been waiting from long before that even the Yuren Merchant Company, which was overseeing the sales, temporarily allowed people to leave for biological needs three times a day for ten minutes.
Of course, the ones who benefited from that were the shops around the Yuren Merchant Company.
The surrounding merchants had originally been angry that the line was interfering with their business, but when people in line came into their shops to use the restroom and bought whatever they could grab on the way out, their sales increased and they beamed with joy.
"I believed in you!!! Author!!!"
"Author? Who do you think you are, talking about the author like he's your buddy?!"
"I'm not gay, but I want to live in a log cabin in the forest with the author. Although...."
People who had worried they would have to wait a long time because the release had been delayed couldn't hide their joy that the new volumes came out sooner than expected.
Moreover, since not only volume 5 but also volume 6 had come out, there was no longer the regret of finishing a manga volume and the fear of having to wait another month.
This time, they could read the next volume right away.
"If I could truly see the next volume in advance, I would pay double to read it early."
"What? Well, it's entertaining, but isn't that too expensive?"
"What can I do about wanting to see what happens next!"
The conversation of people chattering while holding first-print manga volumes that had been prepared more generously than usual for the sake of the readers who had waited.
'Oh, now that I think about it, that's not a bad idea. Next time, instead of releasing two at once, maybe I could charge extra for early access?'
Esteban, the head of the Yuren Merchant Company, who had been listening to that conversation, was thinking something truly dreadful.
If people had heard, they would have swarmed him and beaten him on the spot, but fortunately or unfortunately, he only thought it inwardly, so no such incident occurred.
"But is the protagonist brothers' father really the mastermind?"
"Hmph, I knew it. A man who abandoned his family and left—how could he be a decent person?"
"The brothers are so pitiful."
Even normally, discussions about the content were a daily occurrence after a manga volume was released.
But this time, with two volumes' worth of content, people needed a place to talk at length, and even though it was still daytime, they pounded on the doors of taverns that hadn't even opened yet, making a fuss.
"Hey, owner, open up!!!"
The owner, who had worked late and fallen asleep at dawn, rubbed his sleepy eyes and got up, and though dealing with the excited crowd was a struggle, he couldn't give up on making money, so he hurriedly carried out food and drinks.
"That Kimbala is a truly vicious bastard."
"What's there to say? Soldiers are all the same anyway."
"What? Hey, there are plenty of good people among soldiers! Look at Lance Armstrong, the Alchemist of Pawan."
Especially when the truth of the western native war revealed in volume 6 came to light, evaluations of the people involved in that war were divided.
"See! I told you Skal wasn't just a simple villain!"
"But becoming a perpetrator doesn't excuse you just because you were a victim!"
"People like Windy Rox's parents are the true heroes."
In that process, although Rupert hadn't intended it, the people of the empire gradually came to possess a more progressive perspective.
People who had once cared only about making ends meet were reading manga and talking about it, and a culture of exchanging new perspectives began to form without them even realizing it.
It was still a very basic level of discussion, and only about manga topics, but it could certainly be called an important beginning.
When human history is compressed into a 24-hour day, the Industrial Revolution occurred at 11:58 PM.
And in those two minutes, humanity reached the Moon and even began debating a trip to Mars.
Of course, this still required much time, but the seed had definitely sprouted.
***
"Windy Rox is a spirited woman. Look, she lost her parents and her childhood friend brothers ended up like that, yet she never lost her smile! That's exactly what makes her great."
"Eagle Eye is just as spirited. Did you see that line in volume 6?"
"That's a famous line. 'Burn my back and erase it.' I acknowledge it—I'm selecting Eagle Eye as this month's woman."
Nobles' social clubs came in a great many varieties.
There were simple social clubs where nobles from the same region socialized, and there were also social clubs formed by academy graduating classes or cohorts.
There were also social clubs formed by people with matching hobbies.
And in the imperial capital of Chaldea, there was a recently rising social club.
This social club, with the simple name of 'Fanworks Society,' appeared on the surface to be a gathering whose purpose was impossible to discern.
"A duel. How dare you disrespect my collection."
"Fine, I accept. You haven't even collected all the limited editions—how can you call yourself a devotee of Windy?"
The mysterious social gathering, the Fanworks Society.
But in reality, it was simply a gathering of wealthy manga enthusiasts.
Commoners could chatter about manga in taverns or on the streets, but nobles who valued their dignity couldn't do so even if they wanted to talk about it.
So even though they wanted to chatter about manga together, they had held it in.
Then, at one social club, two noblemen happened to be talking.
'You too? Hey, me too!'
Two young noblemen who realized they were both members of the Iron-Blooded Guild, the extreme fandom of <Iron-Blooded Alchemist>, hit it off and founded a social club—that was the beginning of the Fanworks Society.
The membership requirement was to own at least one limited edition volume of <Iron-Blooded Alchemist>, testing one's affection for the work.
There was also an initiation test to reject those who entered with impure intentions.
'What is the alchemist epithet of Tucker?'
'Isn't it the Chimera Alchemist?'
'Wrong. That's just what people casually call him. The official in-story setting is the Alchemist of Creation.'
'How would anyone know that!'
'If you don't know, get out!'
Because of such demanding admission procedures, there were only a small number of members, but nobles who loved <Iron-Blooded Alchemist> were desperate to join.
Because rumors circulated that the wealthy nobles, overflowing with money, commissioned the empire's famous artisans to produce their own illustrations and merchandise of various characters, which they circulated among members.
And there was a new recruit who stepped in to join that Fanworks Society.
"Oh-ho, that's a splendid mask."
"To recognize this—as expected, the Fanworks Society's discernment is different."
"If you can't recognize the masks worn by the guards of Prince Shin of the East, you can't call yourself a member of the Fanworks Society."
"Your mask is also quite good. To craft the helmet portion of Alex Eldric's armor with such precision."
The Fanworks Society required members to wear masks concealing their identities in order to enter, so they could comfortably participate in the gathering.
They couldn't know each other's identities, but Shroud, the president of the Fanworks Society, was certain this new recruit was no ordinary person.
'To own not just one volume of Iron-Blooded Alchemist, but the entire series in limited editions.'
Because of his dignity as president, he couldn't ask whether the recruit also possessed that legendary pocket watch.
But sure enough, the new recruit casually took out a pocket watch as if to check the time, and Shroud was convinced.
'This guy is the real deal!'
He couldn't see the expression hidden by the mask, but the action seemed to say it wasn't meant as showing off—yet the aura of that sly bragging couldn't be concealed.
Seeing that, Shroud was certain. This guy was definitely the same kind as them. Ordinary people would be too ashamed to brag so shamelessly.
"It seems you won't need an initiation test, but it's still procedure, so I'll have to verify."
"By all means."
"The names of Windy Rox's parents...."
"Allen Rox, Sarah Rox. They were a married couple, both doctors, and they were sacrificed by Skal during the western native civil war. Actually, even if it hadn't been Skal, Kimbala...."
"Stop! Stop, I've heard enough. I grant your admission."
"A shame. If you knew her family history and tragic background, you could gain a deeper understanding of the character Windy Rox...."
"I said that's enough."
A manga-power so great that even the president himself was momentarily overwhelmed.
The members of the Fanworks Society commonly called knowledge and understanding of manga "manga-power."
President Shroud was not someone who would be outmatched in manga-power anywhere, but this new recruit's manga-power was at a level even he found hard to handle.
"So, can I now see the Fanworks Society's secret collection?"
"Yes. But what will you use as your alias?"
"Right. Since we can't use our real names."
The new recruit seemed to ponder for a moment, then spoke.
"Call me Elzawin."
"Elzawin? That's quite a unique alias."
"...Let's just say it's the product of greed that couldn't give up either one."
Even with his face hidden behind the mask, his voice sounded somehow lonely.
The president felt a bit concerned but pretended not to notice. After all, the Fanworks Society had been created so that people like this could gather comfortably.
***
"Yustaf, what brings you to me this evening? We're supposed to enter the audience chamber together tomorrow anyway."
The Crown Prince personally visited the detached palace where imperial guests stayed, late at night.
Yustaf had requested him to come secretly, so he had dismissed his guards and attendants and come under the pretense of taking a walk, which had been a hassle—so his words carried a hint of complaint.
"Your Highness, I apologize for making you come out late at night. However, there is something I must show you."
"What on earth could it be...."
In answer, Yustaf called toward the door for someone to come in.
Soon the door opened, and someone of small stature carefully entered carrying a box.