This year’s Imperial Academy has attracted attention for several reasons.

Every year, during the Academy’s admissions season, there is always a buzz surrounding the incoming students. However, this year’s batch of freshmen is particularly impressive, drawing far more attention than usual.

First and foremost, the most famous individual is Edrick Bell, the third prince of the empire, who has been hailed by the Sword Saint as his greatest disciple.

Up until recently, rumors circulated that he would be a strong candidate to replace the current crown prince.

Among the new students, Edrick clearly stands out the most.

Of course, with the crown prince’s status and popularity now at an all-time high, those rumors have subsided.

The next most famous student is Amelia Bluewell, heir to the Bluewell Ducal family, the most prestigious noble family in the empire.

Known for her exceptional talent in magic, she is the second most notable figure after the crown prince.

In addition, the heir of Count Prius, the Northern Marquis, has also joined the academy, causing quite a stir.

Furthermore, the second prince of the Kingdom of Sylvania, a country with which the empire was at war only a few years ago, has also enrolled, giving rise to much gossip.

Although the war is over, there remains a deep rift between the two nations, especially since the Sylvanian Kingdom suffered much greater damage from the empire's preemptive strike. It’s hard to believe that they would send someone as high-ranking as the second prince to study in the empire.

Some believe it was part of the peace agreement after the war, while others speculate that the first prince saw his brother as a political threat and sent him into exile.

With such an illustrious group of new students, there is constant talk that this may be the most extraordinary academy class in history.

“Have you heard the rumors about the academy’s art department?”

“Oh, those rumors?”

But it’s not just the students that people are talking about. The faculty of the Imperial Academy is also renowned for bringing together the best in their respective fields, and there is always a high level of interest in the professors.

Starting with the legendary magician Yustaf Heindel as headmaster, every professor at the academy is considered a top talent within the empire.

However, one professor, in particular, has been at the center of much speculation—Rupert Somerset, the newly appointed professor of the art department.

“Is that author really the new art professor?”

“Be careful what you say. He’s a professor now, and any careless comments could cause trouble.”

“Nonsense. How can someone younger than me be a professor?”

At 17, Rupert is the typical age for a new student entering the academy. However, his appointment as a professor instead of a student at such a young age has certainly raised eyebrows.

Naturally, this unorthodox appointment has sparked controversy, and while many have questioned it, no one can openly oppose it, given that the appointment was recommended by Yustaf, endorsed by the crown prince, and approved by the emperor.

Meanwhile, Rupert, the man at the center of all this attention, sits quietly in a corner of the stage, watching the entrance ceremony unfold.

Headmaster Yustaf welcomes the new students and introduces them to the academy, while the new students listen attentively, their eyes wide with anticipation, and the returning students look bored.

Though these are some of the brightest talents in the empire, a few students can be seen dozing off. For the freshmen, Yustaf might still be the legendary magician from stories, but for the older students, he’s simply an old man with a beard.

“Now, let me introduce the professors who will be teaching you this year.”

At Yustaf’s words, the professors from the military department step forward to introduce themselves briefly.

When it’s finally time for the art department to be introduced, the students’ expressions change, and they sit up straighter, clapping in anticipation.

It’s Rupert’s turn, the new professor everyone has been talking about.

Even the students who had looked bored during the previous introductions now pay close attention, eager to see the man who’s been at the center of so much speculation.

Finally, Rupert Somerset steps forward, walking slowly toward the center of the stage.

He knows that all eyes are on him, but his demeanor is calm and composed, almost languid. A few murmurs spread through the crowd.

“Lucky kid.”

“Does having royal favor make him better than the rest of us?”

“So arrogant, even though he’s just an heir of a minor noble family.”

The very process of Rupert Somerset’s appointment had been controversial. Many students found it hard to accept, and while Rupert had gained fame for his children's books and comics, he was the same age as the freshmen.

For students who prided themselves on their own skills and talents, it felt humiliating to be taught by someone younger than themselves.

After all, being a student of the Imperial Academy was a badge of honor, a recognition of one’s elite status as one of the brightest talents in the empire.

But having to learn from a 17-year-old professor? That was not something easily accepted.

The situation was especially difficult for the art students, who would be taking classes directly from Rupert, unlike students from other departments who wouldn’t interact with him as much.

So, as Rupert stood at the center of the stage, the students’ sneers and curious glances were focused on him.

Finally, Rupert opened his mouth and spoke.

“I have a dream.”

It wasn’t the typical kind of introduction they had expected, but it immediately drew everyone’s attention.

“People don’t yet understand what drawing really is. They ask, ‘Why do we need drawings when we already have photographs?’”

The students and faculty all nodded in agreement. No matter how hard one worked, a drawing could never match the precision of a photograph.

“A drawing is a full-color photograph created through countless irrational imaginations.”

“To learn how to draw is to learn how to see things properly. It goes beyond simply seeing what’s in front of you.”

Rupert’s words were filled with conviction, and there was a certain magnetism to them that captivated his audience.

The murmurs among the students faded, and everyone sat in silence, waiting for his next words.

“I have a dream,” Rupert continued, “a dream that goes beyond just drawing, beyond just the comics I create, and that I can one day create a moment that unites everyone across the continent.”

At first glance, Rupert’s words might have seemed unrealistic, but he paused for a moment before continuing.

“I have a dream that drawing, in its many forms, can be used for the benefit of people, beyond just fairy tales and comics.”

He paused again.

“I have a dream that, in the not-too-distant future, I will be able to create these things together with the students of this Imperial Academy.”

When Rupert finally finished speaking, everyone in the audience seemed to snap out of a trance, realizing just how intently they had been listening.

“I can promise you this: for those who take my art department’s classes, I will give you an experience unlike anything you’ve had before.”

What could possibly be beyond comics? How could he unite people from across the continent with it? And what kind of new experience could he offer?

These were the questions running through everyone’s minds.

But Rupert had no intention of elaborating further.

“That’s all for now. I’ll explain more during the lectures.”

With that, Rupert ended his introduction and returned to his seat.

The remaining professors introduced themselves, but Rupert had left such a strong first impression that no one remembered much of what came afterward.

___________________


 

After the entrance ceremony, Rupert sat comfortably in his spacious office at the academy, sipping tea with Esteban, the head of Esteban Trading Company. The office, located in a prime spot, had been thoughtfully provided by Yustaf, clearly showing his regard for Rupert.

Rupert had effectively made the entrance ceremony his own, and now he and Esteban were discussing the reception of his introduction.

Rupert had prepared the speech, drawing on memorable quotes he had heard on Earth, and had hoped it would leave a strong impression. The reaction had exceeded his expectations.

As soon as the ceremony had ended, Yustaf had invited Rupert to the headmaster’s office for tea and had praised him for his impressive presentation.

"It’s true," Esteban remarked, "we can’t rely solely on the core art courses to attract the talent we need. We have to draw as many students as possible from the general education courses."

Rupert and Esteban hadn’t done this just for show. Everything was part of Rupert’s broader plan for his animation business.

Rupert was scheduled to teach two courses: a major course for the art department and a general education course open to all students. While the major course was mandatory for art students, the general education course, Understanding Art, was barely even taken by art students, let alone others.

If things continued as they were, Rupert’s goal of recruiting talented individuals for his animation projects could be jeopardized.

With so many questioning Rupert’s qualifications as a professor, it was clear that very few students would willingly sign up for his general education course.

That was why he needed to make a bold impression during the entrance ceremony.

Students had a week after the ceremony to attend trial classes before officially enrolling in their chosen courses. Rupert could only hope that his speech had piqued enough interest to draw students to his class.

"The projection machine you mentioned, sir, is now being researched at the Magic Tower," Esteban informed Rupert.

"Really? That’s promising."

Of course, while talented students were essential, technology was also critical to making the animation business work.

The most crucial piece of equipment was the projection machine. Rupert’s goal was to create a film projector, a classic device that uses light and a shutter to display moving images on a screen.

Though not as advanced as modern projectors, it would be more than enough to show animation.

“I never thought I’d be using what I learned in college,” Rupert mused. During his college years, he’d often wondered why he was learning about such devices, thinking that as neither a director nor an engineer, it would never be relevant. But now he was realizing the truth of the saying: “You never know when you’ll use what you’ve learned.”

Of course, he never could have predicted he’d be applying this knowledge in another world.

"Kroon and his craftsmen are working on developing the film, but it seems to be more difficult than anticipated," Esteban added.

"Even after your explanation, I still have trouble understanding what it’s supposed to be."

In fact, there were still many challenges ahead. Rupert didn’t possess all of modern-day knowledge; he could only describe a rough concept without fully explaining the details of how things worked.

Film, for instance, was one of the biggest challenges.

To create film, you needed nitrocellulose, a chemical, combined with camphor, a substance extracted from a special tree. Then, silver had to be applied as a photosensitive element, and the whole thing was coated with gelatin to form the film strip.

It was miraculous that Rupert even remembered all this, but unfortunately, he had no idea how to produce these materials in this world.

Thus, Kroon and the craftsmen at the workshop had been working tirelessly to recreate these substances. However, the chemical components were especially challenging for them, so they had enlisted the help of the Alchemy Guild.

Progress was being made, but there was still a long way to go, and Rupert had resigned himself to patiently wait for results.

After all, without the right talent and materials, there was no reason to rush.

"By the way, I hear you’re already working on the storyboard for volumes 9 and 10?" Esteban asked.

"Yes, I’m trying to get as much done as possible before the semester begins, because once classes start, I won’t have much time."

"It’s a shame that Iron-blooded Alchemist is coming to an end. As an avid reader myself, I’m sad to see it go. I can’t imagine how the other fans must feel."

"Don’t worry," Rupert said with a confident smile. "When they see my next project, they won’t have time to dwell on it."

Esteban couldn’t help but feel excited by Rupert’s confidence. Iron-blooded Alchemist had been a masterpiece, both in terms of its content and its structure. The idea that Rupert had something even better in store was thrilling.

Rupert hadn’t mentioned anything about his next project yet, except to tell Esteban to start expanding the merchandise factories and preparing for more store openings.

Despite his uncertainty, Esteban had no choice but to trust Rupert and make preparations as instructed.