Chapter 46 - 'LifeIsOver' Completes the Elf Drawing!

"I... I finished it...!"

In a shabby old wooden house, a girl in worn clothes was holding up her drawing with joy. The girl, petite in stature, was named Hanna Weiss—the gallery's anonymous user LifeIsOver.

"I got two boxes of chicken... I have to make it worth it...!"

The Moderator had commissioned her to promote his channel. And since he'd paid the reward upfront, the pressure Hanna felt was beyond imagination.

A third-rate painter whose name no one knew. Hanna had poured her all into seizing this opportunity. No one looked kindly on a girl wielding a brush while others held plows.

She only hoped the Moderator would be satisfied with her work.

Though the Moderator had long forgotten about this commission.

"I matched the commission details perfectly. It took forever redrawing it over and over to get it right..."

Hanna double-checked the Moderator's requirements she'd jotted down.

'Elf shooting an arrow at a target'

'Bowstring snaps back and hurts'

'But as she gets used to it, she starts feeling something new'

Her first-ever commission. And her first brush with such bizarre tastes.

She'd nearly refused after reading the description, but the reward held her back.

Chicken of all kinds! Honestly, without those two boxes, she never would've accepted.

The finished image was just too embarrassing.

"I hope he likes it..."

Hanna inspected the painting she'd poured her heart into over the past few days one last time.

Never having seen an elf in person, she'd gathered info from around the village to depict one.

Based on memes from the gallery and tales from the village chief and locals urging her to put down the brush.

Their advice to pick up a plow was only natural.

After her supportive parents passed, she and her little sister were all that remained.

"Sharp long ears, beautiful features, white cloth clothes... Just like I imagined."

Hanna knew all too well this was her last shot.

No more money for art supplies—this could be her final painting.

Her last lifeline, never to return.

She prayed it would be the right one.

Finishing her desperate prayer to the goddess, she posted to the gallery.

"Please... let me keep painting... please...!"

Repeating her earnest wish.

*

Roll roll roll roll roll—

Snorrrrt—snorrrt—

Inside the bunker-zoo as always. I'd wrapped up business with Her Imperial Highness the Crown Princess's channel and was browsing the gallery.

That's when a post caught my eye.

From LifeIsOver, the one I'd commissioned before.

With ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all the chaos, I'd completely forgotten about the commission I'd given to the unknown artist LifeIsOver. The finished piece was up as a featured gallery post.

I left a comment, then stuffed her inventory full of goodies.

"Sora thinks so too, right? Looks like I just rescued an artist."

A magnificent drawing matching my request exactly. After admiring it fully, I glanced at the decorative painting hanging on the wall.

A copy of 'Bald Head and Comb' by a third-rate artist whose passion knew no bounds.

Dunno why, but it was sold in the Moderator's dedicated shop. Why the hell sell that? And why did I buy it and hang it up?

It had competed with a copy of 'Starry Night' and proudly claimed its spot after winning.

But now, it seemed that painting's days on the wall were numbered.

To hang the elf picture, gallery upgrades were essential.

Better wrap it up quick before another issue popped.

Upgrades always started later than announced anyway.

I steeled myself and opened my notebook.

On the page: Points to watch to avoid house calls on addition. And below, functions planned for addition.

Jotted one by one as they came, and the list had grown substantial.

"Not all at once this time. Just a few that'll be needed soon."

Points were growing ever more crucial as currency. But it was strictly personal—no trades or transfers, totally closed off.

Obvious it'd be a hassle when continent races started budgeting.

I planned to fix that inconvenience.

"Thanks, Sora."

This addition focused on aiding budget execution. And for the small merchants sure to sprout post-famine.

Point-related functions would be the main event.

"Point transfer is essential, physical currency... add that for now..."

The list trimmed down. Despite the volume, few remained after culling.

Might as well toss in something fun—added GIF function too.

During that treant boss fight, static memes felt lacking.

"Sora, how long for these additions?"

I showed her the finalized list.

Surprisingly short estimated time.

"Can post the notice right away. Empire's got stuff after fertilizer tests, so better hurry."

Nod.

Thanks to that nameless Gallum's sacrifice revealing key info, I timed the upgrade perfectly.

Feeling grateful to him again, I drafted the notice.

Checked the notice for omissions, then hit post.

Upgrade time felt way shorter than before.

I immediately asked Sora about it.

"Sora. Feels like upgrade time's shorter—is it just me?"

"Thanks, Sora-Sora."

Great info. Better to build gradually than random adds.

Nodding at the sensible growth system, I awaited comments on the notice.