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“When will I get used to this?”

Rupert thought to himself as he felt a burst of light escape from the transmission array, making him feel like he was on a rollercoaster.

While the ability to quickly travel long distances was impressive, this peculiar nauseous sensation was something that was hard to adapt to, no matter how often he used it.

“We’ve arrived, Mr. Rupert.”

“Thank you. Have a nice day.”

Still, it was the only way to get to the Academy in the capital in the blink of an eye, so he had to put up with the minor drawbacks.

As he stepped out of the Mage Tower, a gigantic palace-like structure came into view.

“Alright, time to get to work!”

Rupert walked towards the main gate of the Academy, now quite familiar with the place.

“Good day, Professor.”

“Good morning.”

“Sorry for the hassle….”

Even the guards at the Academy’s main gate knew Rupert by now, but the verification process still had to take place.

This was due to a previous incident where one of the intruders had disguised themselves as a staff member using a transformation potion.

Since then, even Yustaf, the headmaster, was required to go through the verification process upon entry.

After showing his identity token to the guard, Rupert stepped inside the Academy.

“Is Professor Rupert here?”

Just then, Yustaf, who was by the front gate, recognized Rupert and greeted him.

“Hello, Yustaf.”

“How have you been?”

“Yes, fortunately, nothing major happened.”

At Rupert’s reply, Yustaf’s expression became slightly complicated.

“Tsk, looking perfectly fine and capable, yet claiming nothing major happened is hardly something to brag about.”

“Huh?”

“A man should have a rough and wild side. I may appear intellectual and gentle, but in my youth, I had many…”

“Master! You need to prepare the welcome speech for the new students!”

“Ugh!!!”

Yustaf, who was about to say something to Rupert, was suddenly silenced and pulled away by Jenia, who appeared out of nowhere.

“Hello, Jenia!”

“See you in the auditorium, Mr. Rupert!”

As Rupert greeted Jenia, who was taking Yustaf away, she responded back, even as she quickly distanced herself.

“Is it the entrance ceremony?”

Rupert recalled when he had taken up a position as a professor in the Art Department around this time last year.

At first, he thought it was a hassle, but looking back, the position had brought him many wonderful things.

“Just like the Comic Club.”

Through the Comic Club he created, he was able to meet and befriend the main characters of the original story.

Moreover, by teaching students in the Art Department, he managed to secure promising talents who would help immensely with his animation projects.

“I wonder what kind of students will be here this year?”

Excited, Rupert headed towards the auditorium for the entrance ceremony.

***

“Next up will be an address from Professor Rupert of the Art Department.”

The professors of the Academy took turns introducing themselves and explaining what the new students would learn, welcoming them.

After all, as the pride of the Empire, the Imperial Academy was valued highly by the royal family, and its professors were indeed remarkable.

Given that only the cream of the crop from such a vast Empire made it to the Academy, it wouldn’t make sense for the professors to be lacking in skill.

For instance, the professor of the Military Department, Zeion, was rumored to be the strongest since the disappearance of the Sword Saint, and the headmaster, Yustaf, despite stepping down from active duty, had disciples in the Magic Department.

Each field was indeed staffed with top-notch professors worthy of legendary status.

So when the professors came up to introduce themselves, it was no wonder the new students reacted so enthusiastically.

However,

“Wow!!! It’s Professor Rupert!!”

“I finally get to see him in person!”

“The reason I came all the way from Arament is just to learn from him!”

The most fervent reaction today came when Rupert stepped up to give his address.

“Hello! I’m Rupert Somerset, a professor in the Art Department.”

The new students, along with current students, sent a fervent cheer, which Rupert, raising his hand to quiet them, began his speech.

“I may still have a lot to learn, but it’s already been a year since I was fortunate enough to join the Academy as a faculty member.”

The current students felt the shift from the skeptical glances they had cast just a year ago to the applause they now showered upon him.

Last year’s welcome ceremony, when Rupert’s turn came, the atmosphere had turned cold.

But this time, the situation was the complete opposite, and the students couldn’t help but acknowledge Rupert.

“He’s an incredible person. Not just in Sylvania, but even in other countries, everyone is eager to have him!”

“And not to mention, he single-handedly revived a family that was on the verge of collapsing.”

No one dared criticize Rupert now, calling him too young or inexperienced.

“Everyone, last year I vowed to inaugurate a new era with my art before you all.”

At Rupert’s words, the former new students nodded along.

Many had participated in his classes out of curiosity, captivated by his speech at the time which felt radically forward-thinking.

“I believe in the power of culture. One day, our Empire will be a nation others envy, rather than fear.”

– “Furthermore, I want to create a day when we can all love one another through the power of culture, while overcoming disputes and conflicts together.”

Rupert’s words resonated deeply with the foreign students from Sylvania and Arament, who felt their hearts race.

Just a few years ago, or even a year ago, coming to study at the Imperial Academy was something unimaginable.

However, just as Rupert said, the power of culture had shattered the seeming barriers and rekindled exchanges between the Empire and foreign nations.

“Our kingdom must also flourish like the Empire in terms of culture.”

While the students of the Empire respected Rupert, to the foreign students, he was almost like a deity.

“Art? Who needs that? Just drawing a holy painting is enough!”

Contempt for painters had not only been an issue within the Empire.

Thanks to the magic camera, painters were losing ground and their craft was fading away, making it difficult for those with talent and love for painting to pursue it as a career.

In such circumstances, the comic books and fairy tale books created by Rupert were nothing short of revolutionary for them.

“Can you draw well? Then why not come work for our guild?!”

“I heard you’re going to study abroad in the Empire? I hope someone like Author Rupert emerges from my kingdom too!”

“These days in the Empire, those who can draw well are treated better than those skilled in swordsmanship.”

The value of being able to draw soared like never before, and painters began receiving the respect they deserved.

Now, the students arriving in the Empire were recognized as exceptionally talented back home, enjoying luxuries such as covered tuition and allowances.

For those aspiring to paint, Rupert was nearly a divine figure, and they wholeheartedly believed in his words about creating a better future through culture.

***

“It seems the entrance ceremony ended early today.”

“Well, there is more on the agenda, but I just hurriedly slipped away.”

Rupert flopped onto the sofa in Esteban’s office, which now felt as comfortable as home, letting out a sigh of relief.

“Why do you look so exhausted?”

“Honestly, it’s hard to enjoy a meal.”

Upon Rupert’s response, Esteban began pondering the meaning behind it.

“It can’t be that he’s struggling to eat due to a lack of money.”

While he might not be the richest person in the Empire, it was assured that Rupert was rapidly becoming wealthy, and there was no way he was short on funds.

Naturally, he spent everything he earned, but still, the savings kept piling up faster.

“It must be because of Jenia and Amelia.”

“That’s right.”

After the entrance ceremony, Rupert was cornered by the two women, none other than Jenia and Amelia.

“Won’t you dine with me today, Professor?”

“Let’s eat together! I’ve found a nice restaurant!”

During that short lunch hour, they fiercely competed to be the one to dine with him, and Rupert was stuck having to dine with all three at the Academy’s restaurant.

Even during the meal, they fought over who would feed Rupert, draining him more than he managed to eat. In the end, he had to postpone the professor’s meeting scheduled for the afternoon and flee.

“I won’t be here much longer.”

“Indeed, it’s all thanks to you, Young Master.”

As Rupert casually mentioned his bittersweet feelings while resting on the sofa, Esteban immediately replied with gratitude.

“Here you go again. It’s all thanks to the Guild Leader’s efforts.”

“Didn’t I tell you before? Contracting with you was the best decision of my life.”

Rupert recalled the time when he had just completed the fairy tale book *Cinderella*.

Making a book for Aida had led to such a buzz that he was forced to stay up all night with the artisans of the territory, crafting a hundred copies.

Now it seemed a comical number, but back then, making a hundred copies was a struggle.

And among the many guilds that gathered for the book’s sales, it was Esteban’s Yuren Merchant Association that successfully secured the contract.

The bond that began there felt like a miracle, enduring until now.

If either had been even slightly greedy, the relationship would have faltered long ago.

“Moving the main office to Somerset and making this a branch in the capital is my determination.”

“Determination, you say?”

“Yes, now I am a vassal of Somerset. I want to devote the rest of my life to make Somerset Territory as bustling as the capital.”

“Haha, that’s even bigger than my own dreams.”

Rupert thought how today he seemed to meet dreams big enough to make his look trifling.

However, Esteban’s ability was genuine, so it was certain that Somerset Territory, which was already developing beyond recognition, would continue to progress.

Even Esteban, who was building a new main office for Somerset Territory, was not recklessly moving his loyal heart but doing so because he sensed new opportunities for development.

“In the past, it was necessary for Yuren Merchant Association to have its main office in the capital for its prestige, but not anymore.”

Esteban’s voice was filled with conviction.

It wasn’t a baseless confidence but a strong certainty.

Now, situated at the top of the Empire’s merchant associations, the Yuren Merchant Association had experienced explosive growth over the past two years, dominating above all sectors except for the publishing business.

Even those who had belittled Esteban for clinging to something trivial were now scrambling to follow what Yuren Merchant Association did.

In fact, just recently, news spread that the journey to the western continent had been sponsored jointly by Somerset and Yuren Merchant Association, sparking a comical incident where other guilds hurriedly recruited sailors to go to the western continent.

“By the way, I wonder how Captain Lambus is doing.”

“Going to the Eastern Continent is a round trip of at least a year. However, since they took sufficient food, they should be fine as long as nothing unfortunate happens.”

Rupert, recalling Lambus’s voyage to the western continent with provisions for two years packed in a precious spatial pouch, felt a sudden thought of him as he noticed Ismael, who was leaving for his first departure.

“Honestly, I don’t mind if there aren’t any significant results, I just hope they return safely.”

“The goddess will watch over them.”

That guy?

Rupert shook his head inwardly at Esteban’s words.

A moment later, while enjoying tea and snacks brought in by the staff, Rupert and Esteban chatted about their ongoing business and the plans for Somerset Land.

After finishing their discussions and returning to the mansion, the sun was already setting.

“I wonder if Aida has returned?”

Thinking about the times he hadn’t been able to spend with Aida lately due to being overseas, Rupert decided that today he would spend some time with her and opened the door to the mansion.