Prologue

On a late night, the dim moonlight casts a soft glow on the wall.

A man, dressed in dark clothing, blends into the shadows, barely noticeable except for the faint light.

With a swift, light jump, he effortlessly clears the wall, which is well over the height of an average adult man.

“How did it go with the item?”

He lands silently on the other side, where a girl has been waiting for him.

Her noble attire hints at her high status, but her trembling hands betray her anxiety as she urgently questions him.

“Here is Volume 3 of the ‘Iron-Blooded Alchemist,’ as you commanded.”

In a dry tone, the man responds as he reaches into his inner pocket and pulls out an ordinary-looking book.

However, upon seeing the book in his hand, the girl quivers with excitement, barely able to contain herself.

Snatching the book from the man with care, she begins to inspect the cover meticulously.

After thoroughly checking for any potential printing errors, scratches, or damages, she lets out a sigh of relief upon confirming everything is in order.

‘Who would think this lady, so enchanted by a book, is the princess known as the flower of the empire?’

The man, silently observing her, also sighs inwardly, reflecting on the situation.

Seeing the princess flapping her hands eagerly while holding the book, he recalls the struggles he underwent.

A remarkable scene unfolds as people from not only the capital but all across the empire line up before the bookstore, all desperate to get their hands on this ‘comic book.’

Of course, he too had stood in line for nearly three days without showering or using the restroom, all to fulfill the princess’s command.

Had he not encountered such an experience while infiltrating enemy territory in the past, he might have easily found himself tossing and turning in bed every night, on the brink of dying.

“It might even be easier to fight assassins targeting the royal family,” he mused.

His colleagues, unaware of the circumstances, might scoff and wonder why purchasing a single book posed such a challenge.

Yet, this newly released volume was, after all, a limited first edition that included the author’s handwritten signature and illustrations.

Eligibility for purchase was restricted to loyal customers who had bought every previous book, resulting in a staggering competition of 100 to 1.

He could not forget the man who, just one spot ahead in line, was unable to secure the book and had dropped to his knees, crying out, “Heavens! I still haven’t bought the book!!!”

That man was undoubtedly there at the behest of his own lady, and the depth of his despair resonated deeply with him.

“Surely the protagonist has thwarted that wicked father’s scheme. How could he… I must check quickly!”

As he watched the princess disappear, protectively cradling the book in her arms, the royal guard Jorge found himself troubled.

Should he report this ‘comic book’ to His Majesty? And if he were to do so, what would he even say?

Lost in this complicated dilemma, Jorge jumped back over the wall and slipped away.

*

“Yurushite kure souni mo nai~.”

Indeed, the melodies of classic songs never fade from memory.

As I hummed the tune, dividing the lines on a white manuscript paper and sketching, I felt an exhilarating rush of inspiration.

It truly is a pity that there are no smartphones or PCs available in this world to listen to music.

“The Alchemist of the Strong X really shows its true colors when listened to while watching,” I mused.

I must find a way to venture into the anime business soon.

When I spoke with the Mage Tower last time, they mentioned that if I could tool the video storage magic and utilize the illusion magic devices, it might not be impossible.

However, the research and service costs would be astronomical, so I realized I need to work even harder to earn money going forward.

“Should I also sell merchandise as limited editions from now on?”

It may shock the fans to hear such a thing, but what can I do? Creating anime requires funding.

I’m not earning money just to spend it on myself.

Isn’t this a type of investment aimed at reviving the cultural arts of this world?

Thus, limited editions are an unavoidable choice.

Only now do I understand why Iphone sold smartphones in such a manner.

I will now follow your lead.