“Master, I was just wrapping up the final touches.”
“You’ve worked hard on this project, Edric.”
As usual, Rupert had stopped by the clubroom after finishing his lecture to check on the members’ progress.
What greeted him was a pale and exhausted Edric. Despite his stamina, which surpassed that of most knights, preparing a new animated project in time for the second semester closing ceremony had clearly taken its toll.
Rupert offered words of encouragement to Edric and the other weary club members, but his gaze inadvertently met Amelia’s.
Like awkward teenagers, the two quickly looked away, each hoping the club members hadn’t noticed the odd tension between them. Rupert hastily turned to Edric to ask a question, trying to defuse the moment.
“Have you decided on a title for the new project?”
“Yes, it’s called Heart of Steel.”
The story had been finalized long ago, and now the club members were focused on finishing the illustrations for the animation.
‘Those two make such a good pair.’
Rupert couldn’t help but think so as he watched Edric and Adrian bicker over the title.
Initially, Edric had proposed a story that, by modern standards, would be considered a romantic comedy. It was about a boy who came to the capital to attend the Imperial Academy and managed a dormitory for applicants, encountering a girl who reminded him of his childhood friend.
Rupert thought it was an excellent concept, but when Adrian joined forces with Edric, they created something completely unexpected—a science fiction masterpiece titled Heart of Steel.
Adrian’s meticulous storytelling combined with Edric’s strong character design made for a work Rupert could only describe as a masterpiece.
“Master, I’m enjoying your latest work as well. The new female character, Naru the Night Cat, is incredibly captivating.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you find her appealing.”
“The design of her costume is especially striking...”
Having finished arguing with Adrian, Edric returned to Rupert and began sharing his thoughts about the characters in The Great Treasure.
‘What happened to this guy?’
Rupert, still feeling some guilt toward Edric after his promise to Amelia, couldn’t help but wonder who Edric might eventually end up marrying.
+++++
“Do we really need to put this sheep’s head on the bow of the ship?”
“This is the key detail. Your sense of aesthetics is lacking, Krune.”
For a dwarf, a race known for their unparalleled artistic sensibility, being told they lacked aesthetic sense by a human was no small insult.
However...
‘This one really does have an eye for such things...’
From the new golem hand that had captivated Krune to the illustrations Rupert drew and the items he crafted, everything Rupert created displayed an extraordinary sense of style.
Thus, even Rupert’s bizarre proposal to decorate the ship’s bow with a sheep’s head was something Krune begrudgingly accepted.
“I was thinking a statue of a goddess might be more fitting...”
“Put a goddess statue on the bow, and it might curse the ship.”
“A curse?”
“Yes, something like being pulled into another world.”
Ignoring Rupert’s cryptic warning, Krune inspected the ship’s construction one last time before retreating to his workshop.
“Ah! Can you hear me?”
“Yes, I can, Master Krune.”
Krune’s private workshop, built next to the Somerset Workshop, was packed with tools and rare materials he’d accumulated over time—often to Rupert’s dismay.
“The framework is complete. Thanks to the mithril you provided, I was able to pull it off.”
“Then it’s time to engrave the magic circles.”
“Indeed. And about the power source...”
Through the communication crystal—something usually found only in mage towers—Krune was having a serious discussion with Zinnia.
“To achieve automatic mana absorption and sustained output, we’ll need top-grade mana stones.”
“I saw some in Master Rupert’s storage last time. I’ll pick them up for you.”
“Thank you, Lady Zinnia.”
Krune’s smile widened at the thought of working with Zinnia, whose proposal had been both audacious and fascinating.
Zinnia’s concept was to create a new type of golem—not just an artificial construct used for battle, but one designed for everyday tasks, resembling a human in form and function.
The precision required to craft such a golem’s body demanded Krune’s technical expertise, while the intricate magical formulas needed to animate it were Zinnia’s specialty.
It was a near-miraculous partnership, as both were uniquely suited to the task.
‘But the materials for this...’
Initially, Krune had been thrilled at the prospect of creating something entirely new. However, once he assessed the plans, he realized the enormous costs involved.
For the golem to operate reliably over an extended period, high-quality materials were essential. Its mana-based power source meant only the purest, most conductive ores could be used.
‘Krune, draining Somerset’s treasury for one project is excessive, don’t you think?’
Having already alarmed Rupert with past extravagances, Krune was more cautious this time.
‘Don’t worry. I’ll secure the materials myself!’ Zinnia had assured him.
True to her word, Zinnia delivered the rare resources they needed, allowing Krune to proceed without hesitation.
“This... this is a masterpiece,” Krune murmured.
At Zinnia’s request, the project was being kept a secret, even from Rupert.
The golem’s mithril skeleton resembled that of an undead skeleton, but its surface would soon be engraved with Zinnia’s intricate magical formulas. Materials that mimicked human flesh and blood would later be added, and the final touch would be the most crucial: artificial intelligence.
Unlike the rest of the project, this part was beyond Krune’s capabilities. Zinnia was personally developing the command and control system.
‘Why are you going to such lengths to create this?’ Krune had once asked, curious about Zinnia’s motives.
‘Because this is the only way I can truly be of help to Sir Rupert.’
He recalled how her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment as she spoke, clearly enamored with Rupert.
“Tsk... That man really has a knack for attracting women.”
Even Krune couldn’t deny Zinnia’s charm. Watching her work so hard for Rupert, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.
At the same time, he pitied Zinnia, knowing how oblivious Rupert could be to such feelings. “That man’s as dense as a rock,” Krune muttered. “She’s in for a rough ride.”
+++++
『"Hurry and go, Gatone."
"Faceless... I...."
The leader of the Machine Puppets Destruction Group, Faceless, was already half-crushed between the grinding gears of a mechanical contraption.
Gatone stood frozen, unsure of what to do as he stared at Faceless.
"Go now and destroy the François Puppet."
"..."
"It’s alright. After all, you’ve already heard the final tale of the Faceless Man, haven’t you?"
Gatone could only gaze at the man who had willingly trapped himself in the gears to stop them.
Read 𝓁atest chapters at fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm Only.
The leader of their organization, Faceless, always wore dark-tinted glasses that obscured his eyes. But now, Gatone could see them—clear and sorrowful.
"Damn, without these on, I get too chatty," Faceless muttered, pulling out the glasses from his pocket and putting them back on.
"Fate... is nothing but hell’s machine," he said, directing his last words to Gatone.
After witnessing that majestic end, Gatone turned away. He had to destroy the François Puppet—the first mechanical doll and the source of all evil.』
"I’m withdrawing my support for Puppet Theater."
In front of the Uren Trading Company on Manapia's release day, a man who had just finished reading the latest chapter of Puppet Theater made this declaration, drawing the attention of those around him.
"What? That die-hard Puppet Theater fan is withdrawing his support?"
"The same guy who used to rave about Puppet Theater every time we met?"
"Did he eat something bad?"
Among Manapia’s serialized works, Puppet Theater was one of the most polarizing. Some hailed it as a masterpiece, while others found its chaotic and slow-paced beginning too tedious to endure.
Yet, those who loved it were as passionate as fans of the most popular comics, forming a loyal group known as the Puppet Troupe, one of the fiercest fandoms alongside the Iron League.
Thus, when a well-known member of the Puppet Troupe, who had always promoted Puppet Theater enthusiastically, suddenly declared he was withdrawing his support, everyone who knew him was understandably shocked.
"Starting today, I am no longer just a supporter of Puppet Theater—I am one with it!"
—Any attack on Puppet Theater is an attack on me!
The man’s impassioned proclamation left the crowd speechless.
"What the hell did he see to make him act like this?"
Curious about the reason behind his outburst, onlookers quickly opened their copies of Manapia and began reading the latest chapter of Puppet Theater.
And then—
"This is insane!! How can they pull off such a twist and these scenes...."
"I almost missed out by dropping it early!"
"This story wrings out every emotion a person can feel!"
Everyone who read the latest chapter had the same reaction.
The Desert Circus Theater arc felt like the culmination of countless hints and foreshadowing meticulously laid out by the author, as if everything had been leading up to this moment. The story expanded explosively, captivating readers with its masterful narrative.
Moreover, the once-chaotic artwork, which some had criticized in the early chapters, had now evolved into a polished and powerful visual style, delivering overwhelming emotions with every panel.
It was impossible to stop reading.
"Son, why didn’t you recommend Puppet Theater to me earlier?"
Even a father who had previously complained when his son recommended Puppet Theater was now reconciled with him, a testament to the impact of the latest chapter.
"This week, Her Highness will be delighted," Jorge, Iolin’s shadow guardian, remarked as he observed the enthusiastic reactions.
He had come out, as usual, to gauge public opinion, and the overwhelmingly positive feedback left him both relieved and thrilled.
Not only could he share good news with Iolin, but as a reader who had grown to love her work himself, Jorge felt genuine joy that people were finally recognizing her talent.