Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Senyora 100%
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"I've drawn the face for now. What do you think?"
"Oh, she's pretty."
"Right? The original is so good-looking, it draws itself."
"I think this every time I see her, but she's definitely cute."
"Her features are all petite and dainty, and her eyes are huge... Oh, her face is turning red."
"..."
"She's covering her face with both hands."
"Her tail's wagging like crazy too? Gonna start a breeze."
"Stop narrating my reactions...!"
It was Ranyori's cry—practically a plea—as she curled up completely and buried herself in the sofa.
Dung beetle much? She's bold as brass normally, but her defenses drop to zero like this.
I wanted to tease her more, but I'd be the one dealing with the aftermath, so I held back.
"Alright. So what do you think, Mr. Aren? Does this match the Senyora from the author's mind?"
"Hmm... There are a few things I'm iffy on. Um, is it okay if I point them out right here?"
Critiquing every little detail like this might hurt her feelings.
How do people usually handle this? I've never done it before, so I'm clueless.
...Would throwing more money at it fix things?
"Doesn't matter! Just say it!"
"If it feels like too much, I can grab something for you—"
"Just spit it out already! I'll nail Senyora 100% no matter what!"
"...Okay."
Fine then. Time for feedback.
"Let's sharpen the eye shape a bit. From those droopy eyes to something sharper."
"Hmm... Really? That's pretty different from what I had in mind."
"How did you interpret it?"
"She's basically the type who gets bullied in all sorts of ways and ends up looking all mopey, right? So I thought this fit better."
"Hmm."
Fair point. A character's look can hint at their personality.
And eyes are the best way to show that, I think.
No wonder they call them the windows to the soul.
Sharp eyes suit a cold, cynical personality.
Droopy eyes fit someone quiet and passive.
Arwen must've figured the latter matched how Senyora gets treated in my novel.
I'd described her pupils but never specified her eye shape.
Not a bad take. But the image in my head was different.
"No matter how I look at it, sharp eyes don't seem to fit... She wouldn't just sit there in unfair situations."
"Yeah, that's the usual image. But how about thinking of it this way?"
"How?"
"It's because she doesn't match that image that it's even better. The exact opposite reaction from her looks."
"Hmm..."
"Picture this. There's this girl who looks cold on the outside."
"Okay."
"But she actually talks to herself a lot, and when she has to chat with someone, she shrinks back all awkwardly."
"Hmm..."
"And when something really unfair happens, she pouts. When she's flustered, her eyes go wide."
"Hmmm...!"
"See?"
"I feel like it's clicking...!"
"...Pardon?"
Wait, what? Lady illustrator? What’s clicking?
"Hang on. Let me sketch it quick!"
"Ah, sure."
"...Like this?"
"Hmm, overall, don't make her look prickly to match the eyes—keep it closer to expressionless. Like she couldn't care less about the world."
"Oh...! Like this!"
"Yeah, that's what I had in mind."
"Totally different from what I thought! But this works great!"
"Now let's finish the body. It's basically the same as Ranyori's, so just reference her."
"Ranyori...!"
"Yesss..."
Ranyori shuffled over reluctantly. Her slow steps screamed she wasn't thrilled.
But what could she do? The deal was done, and she'd already secured her "later use" rights on me.
"...Eek."
"..."
"Eep, eek, heek...!"
"......"
"Hooo..."
"...I know it's me asking, but could you tone down the noises?"
"It's too ticklish...!"
"I'm not even touching your nape or armpits—just your hand..."
"You're groping it all sneaky-like! If you just grabbed it boldly, it wouldn't tickle!"
"Well... If it were my own body, I wouldn't check it like this either."
"Then do it that way!"
"I'm not confident."
"Confident about what?"
"That I won't get reported."
"...Nyaaah."
"But if Ranyori doesn't mind...!"
"I'll just tough it out meow!"
"Got it!"
"...Hey, Aren. What are you doing over there?"
"The sky's so blue today."
"It's all cloudy right now?"
"Don't bother me till she's done."
"??"
Anyway, Arwen had the gist of it down pat.
She was adding the body to the face sketch.
Every time I saw her art, I thought the same: she was seriously good.
Stylish lines, and above all, she drew things so prettily.
...But there was one issue.
"Why are you detailing the parts that clothes would cover?"
"Pouring your soul into hidden spots is artisan spirit!"
"How does shading the collarbone and navel help this drawing?"
"...It doesn't!"
"Just draw the clothes."
"Tch..."
"Arwen."
"Yes?"
"In my story, Senyora drapes herself in a robe to avoid standing out. Something plain underneath."
"Right?"
"So why's the exposure level this high? Why a top baring her midriff and shoulders with hot pants showing her full thighs?"
"It'd be hot otherwise!"
"No weird excuses. Redo the outfit."
"Tch..."
"...Arwen."
"What now! It's proper this time!"
"Yeah. Clothes are on right, and only key parts are detailed."
"See? No issues?"
"Then why'd her figure get a buff once you added clothes?"
"...Bigger is always better!"
"Then why torture Ranyori?"
"Can we skip this one...?"
"No."
"Grrraaah...!"
Arwen went off the rails sometimes. That was the problem.
...But with me holding the leash, she finished somehow.
This turned out great. Better than the vague image in my head, even.
"Finally, let's do some facial expressions."
"Yes!"
Expressions—how emotions shift into faces—are key.
Two characters feeling rage might just frown or burst into tears.
And that stems from personality differences.
"Keep expression changes subtle overall. Most emotions go through the eyes."
"Oho... Flustered first? How should we do it?"
"Eyes rolling away, avoiding gazes. Dodging the situation."
"Sad then! This one's important, I think?"
"Head down, lips pouted. If intense, a bit of tears welling."
"No full-on bawling?"
"Didn't set her that emotionally explosive. And no scenes like that coming up soon."
"...'Soon'? So later maybe?"
"Depends on the story? Planning to tweak it on the fly."
"Please! Pretty please write it! I wanna draw Senyora bawling!"
"I'll consider it negatively."
"Why!"
"Next. Surprised."
"Hmm. Eyes wide again?"
"...Nah. Just draw her as cutely as you can this time?"
"Really?"
"Surprise breaking her usual mask to show something new? Sounds good."
"Leave it to me!"
"Last one. Smiling, then done."
"Trust me with this too?"
"No... Keep it mostly blank, eyes slightly wider with highlights. Blush on cheeks only."
"Eh... Wouldn't more joy be better...?"
"No big happiness coming her way."
"Eek."
"That's the novel."
"But... I wanna see Senyora's full-power genuine smile...!"
"Maybe in the ending. We'll do it then. Promise."
"Yay!"
Done. Senyora's character sheet was complete. Perfect.
I thought so,
"Ooooh...!"
and peeking Ranyori agreed.
"Author."
"Yes?"
"I love my work too much right now."
"Glad to hear it."
"I could draw a hundred sheets easy."
"C-Calm down. We don't need that many today. Just cover and new character sheets."
"No! I can do it!"
"Volume 2 isn't even done; we haven't picked illustrations."
"Grr... Fine, tons of fanart instead?"
"Uh... Sure..."
"Yahoo!"
"...Wait, no, actually can't."
"Why!"
"You'd burn out and I'd find you cold tomorrow."
"Grrrr!"
So no funny business—just draw new character sheets and covers.
I briefed Arwen on Karen.
Her role. Her personality.
And finally, her looks.
She nodded eagerly at most of it.
Except one thing. Problem.
"Y-You're saying I draw by feel, right? No skills, just analyzing details and reworking."
"Yes."
"I got no data for a Karen type..."
"Hmm..."
"Proportions might tank like this..."
Didn't expect this snag.
Arwen's references: herself and Ranyori.
Both way off from Karen.
Karen's set to be Senyora's big-sis figure.
Matches her build too.
What to do... Do I have a fix for this...?
Wait. One idea.
"I think I can swing it."
"Oh? How?"
"Know someone. Bringing her tomorrow."
"Can't wait!"
"Hello~"
"Hello...!"
Next day, two women greeted each other.
One was Arwen. The other—
"Aren."
"Yeah?"
"Have you lost your mind?"
"Nope."
"Then how are you sane enough to call your mom?"
"Call it flexible thinking."
My mom.