NABC Chapter 22
Chapter 22
The first manga of this otherworld, Frozen Kingdom, spread rapidly throughout the Empire.
“If you press this stone here, the manga's dialogue will play. Everyone can listen and learn to read from these!”
In each region, as directed by the princess, a magical stone that played the manga's dialogue was distributed so that even those who couldn’t read could understand the content. However, the most remarkable thing was the overwhelming response to the manga itself.
“Dad! You promised to read it to me, so why are you just looking at it?”
“Just a bit longer... Let me read it a little more, and then I’ll read it to you. Please, wait!”
Books were, in truth, quite rare. Even inexpensive ones were not easy for commoners to buy, so opportunities to read them were scarce.
Moreover, most books were read by nobles or scholars, so the content was often difficult and filled with unfamiliar terms, making them daunting to approach.
However, this manga was genuinely fascinating.
Even for commoners who couldn’t read, the content was easy to grasp, and it piqued their curiosity about the meaning of the characters used in the book.
“So, this character means ‘Ice Witch.’”
“Oh, so that’s why Elsa has those freezing powers—because of the Ice Witch?”
“Exactly!”
Among the commoners, there were those who could read, and they took on the role of interpreting the manga’s contents for others who gathered around.
Though it was a bothersome and tiring task, they were satisfied because it allowed them the privilege of viewing the manga for the longest time.
However, since there was only one copy of the manga distributed per village, there were always more people wanting to read it than copies available. Frustrated with waiting for their turn, some people chose to:
“How much for this Frozen Kingdom book?”
They went directly to the Yuren Trading Company branches, the only place selling the manga, to purchase it themselves.
“The Frozen Kingdom is currently on sale for a special price of 10 silver.”
“Damn, I guess it can’t be helped. I can manage to buy it if I stretch my budget a little.”
Ten silver was not a small amount for commoners, but it wasn’t an impossible sum either.
If they abstained from drinking or entertainment for about a month, they could buy it to show their children or for themselves. More people chose to make this purchase as the days went by.
‘This is only possible thanks to the Imperial funding.’
An employee of the Yuren Trading Company marveled as he looked at the book.
A book for only ten silver. Even an average storybook cost dozens of silver, yet this manga, which matched any book in quality, was sold at an unbelievably low price.
‘How did they make this paper?’
The unusual material used for the cover was intriguing no matter how often he saw it.
It didn’t get wet easily, nor did it crumple, so the communal manga book that the villagers shared remained intact.
The content was so enjoyable that the employee secretly acquired a copy for himself.@@@@
Truthfully, he found the previous fairy tales childish, but this one captivated him from the first read.
A story about a princess cursed by an Ice Witch saving a kingdom was truly magnificent.
Especially the scenes where characters fought using magic, which made him let out involuntary gasps like a child.
‘I heard that this will be released in other versions too.’
Rumors were already spreading that, like the previous fairy tales, Frozen Kingdom would be released in hardcover or limited editions.
Those would likely only be available at the main store, and only the top customers of the trading company would be eligible to purchase them. But as an employee, he hoped he might have a chance too.
Thinking this, he checked his savings.
It was tight, but he smiled, realizing he could afford at least the hardcover edition.
Scene Transition
“How insolent. Is this not a blatant mockery of me?”
Crown Prince Alex was in a foul mood. Upon hearing about the literacy eradication plan spearheaded by his sister, the princess, he decided to have a look at the result.
Frozen Kingdom wasn’t something he, not being fond of books, intended to read thoroughly, but once he started, he couldn’t stop until he had finished.
Ada stood on the balcony wearing only a thin sky-blue dress despite it being mid-winter.
The maids and the butler, Alain, tried to cover her up, fearing she would catch a cold, but she stubbornly insisted she was the ice princess and wouldn’t get cold.
In the end, she caught a cold and lay coughing on her bed, yet she delighted in the thought of being confined like the ice princess.
Perhaps thanks to Ada’s enthusiasm, the public release of Frozen Kingdom was met with explosive popularity.
The number of publicly distributed copies alone was significant, but the sales of individual volumes far exceeded that.
Even though we minimized profits, the overwhelming sales volume brought in an incomparably higher income, leaving me astounded.
“Hahaha, it’s hard to believe that young master is purchasing Chateau Charlemagne wine.”
The head of the trading guild commented as he looked at the wine glass before him.
Chateau Charlemagne wine, a specialty from the southern region of Charlemagne, was one of the noble’s most coveted wines, known for its refined and elegant fragrance that was said to taste heavenly.
In the past, it would have been an unattainable luxury, but now it was within reach.
‘This is what being a proper noble feels like.’
While enjoying wine with the head of the trading guild, we continued planning the merchandise business.
The factory was already established, and we had secured artisans and workers, so all that remained was to finalize the products and commence production.
“Then this Olaf doll must be included, right?”
“Yes, that will definitely be popular. Just a moment, let me sketch it like this....”
Olaf was a character destined to be a hit, so he had to be made into a plush toy. Wait, I needed paper to draw it out.
I searched for spare paper and spotted a sheet of stationery on my desk.
“Ah, this will do.”
I began sketching the design for an Olaf plush toy on the back of the stationery.
“Hmm, that shape would indeed be popular... Wait, wait, young master. That seal!!!”
The head of the trading guild, watching me, suddenly stopped me in alarm.
“What’s wrong?”
“That’s the Imperial seal! Is that another letter from the princess? No, that’s not the issue; you’re using an Imperial letter as scrap paper!!!”
Oh, I wondered what the fuss was about.
This letter was from the crown prince.
“The crown prince sent a letter.”
“What on earth for?”
“He was displeased with certain aspects of the story. He told me to restrain myself, consider it carefully, and create it again. Just nonsense, really.”
At my words, the head of the trading guild’s face turned pale.
“Young master, this is the crown prince we’re talking about! This is no trivial matter.”
He was overreacting again. Although the head of the trading guild was great, he sometimes panicked unnecessarily.
Come to think of it, the head of the trading guild didn’t know what would happen to the crown prince.
Well, since I knew the plot of the original work, I wasn’t too afraid of the crown prince.
That man would soon be dethroned and become insignificant.
Still, there was no harm in being cautious.
“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine for now.”
Despite my reassurances, the head of the trading guild couldn’t hide his anxiety over the crown prince’s discontent.
I, too, didn’t want to antagonize the crown prince, who had yet to be dethroned, so I crafted a suitable excuse in my reply.
“I was merely following the princess’s orders. I apologize if I have offended Your Highness, the crown prince.”
I sent the letter back, rewritten in an elegant and formal style, so it would likely make him resent the princess instead.