Chapter 27
Translator: True Detective
Ah, Do You Not Know? This is Called a Comic
The reason Noel did not contact Clara Vence to ask for help was simple.
'We aren't that close yet, are we?'
Because she thought Clara would not help.
She had somehow managed to commission The Diary Inside My Heart thanks to the Imperial Princess, but fundamentally, Clara Vence was someone who did what she wanted to do, and did not engage in artistic activities at the request of others.
Noel also knew that Clara Vence was highly skilled, and that borrowing her reputation instead of the Imperial Princess's would make it easier to lead the artists and create comics.
She knew that, but because she thought they were not that close yet and that it was obvious Clara would refuse, she had not even mentioned it.
But conversely, Clara Vence came looking for her as if she was upset.
Feeling as though this situation was quite popping with unexpectedness, Noel appropriately explained the reason she had not contacted Clara.
"Because you are bound to be busy, Miss Clara."
I didn't call you because we aren't close enough for us to easily make such a request.
Noel was not stupid enough to speak that honestly.
Even if she lacked in the etiquette of a lady, she knew how to be careful if she knew a bit about social life.
"Of course, it would be an honor for me if I could receive the help of someone like you, Miss Clara, but I thought I could not interrupt you."
I didn't call you entirely out of consideration for you, not because I didn't think of you or ignored you.
Seeing Noel speak like that, Clara seemed a bit appeased about being passed over.
"Ahem, it is certainly true that I am busy, but... Well, it is not as if we do not know each other, so if you earnestly request it, I can help you especially! Very especially."
Isn't this what they call bowing down to receive a bow?
Since matching her mood was not a difficult task either, Noel held Clara's hands tightly as Clara had said and made her request.
"It would be so wonderful if I could receive the help of a competent artist like you, Miss Clara!"
'Let's use this as an opportunity to make her do other creations besides just music or art.'
Harboring such a wicked scheme, Noel made a passionate approach, and Clara, who had not expected Noel to hold her hands, was greatly flustered.
She tried somehow not to let that fluster show, but it was not easy.
"T-Th-Then... what on earth are you looking for an illustrator for?"
Before her face could turn as red as her hair, Clara barely managed to change the subject.
Yet, she did not avoid the hands she was holding with Noel.
It was a natural occurrence for Clara, who was starved for human warmth.
Rather, when Noel tried to let go of her hands before explaining, Clara stealthily prevented her from doing so.
In an unconscious state, that is.
"Ah, I am trying to do something new."
"Something new?"
"I am trying to make something called a comic. Should I say it is writing a story with pictures instead of text?"
"Are you saying you are drawing a mural?"
If one mentioned creating a story with pictures, they were bound to think of things like the hieroglyphics used by ancient people or temple murals first.
"It is not that..."
It was inevitably difficult to explain with words alone.
Even if she made her understand with words, she anticipated a reaction like, "What meaning does something like that have...?"
Therefore, Noel strongly felt that a sample was needed after all.
To do so, from now on, Noel decided to proceed with the work by playing the role of the writer with Clara's help, while making Clara the comic artist and the other illustrators the assistants.
The great undertaking that began like that.
Creating something that did not exist before step by step was indeed not an easy task.
Although she was able to use Clara's reputation to hire skilled artists and make them draw as they were told,
"A panel? What on earth is a panel?"
"So I don't really understand what kind of art style you are asking us to draw in..."
"Pardon? You're saying we shouldn't draw it this elaborately? That we should intentionally kill the details?"
Taking what Noel wanted and drawing comics with ordinary artists who did not know what comics were was truly a difficulty in itself.
Still, the competent Clara was there, and even while expressing their doubts, the artists were reflecting Noel's requirements and making revisions over and over without complaint.
Noel let out a deep breath, thinking she would somehow be able to produce a sample at this pace.
"Dividing panels and expressing the story through pictures according to the order of those panels... This is another bizarre idea. Panels are, so to speak, like dividing paragraphs. I have understood."
"Instead of a realistic art style, a unique drawing style that catches the eye suits comics better? This is certainly better in the sense that we draw without using paint."
"Ah, I understand. Excessively detailed and meticulous depictions distract the gaze. Since even lines go into this speech bubble? or whatever it is called, it does feel like there is an overload of information as it is."
In particular, Clara's contribution in setting the direction smoothly with her incredibly excellent comprehension was huge.
To put it this way, one could say Noel was in the position of the father who sowed the seed called comics, and Clara was the mother who tended to and raised that seed.
Clara perfectly understood even the dogshit amateurish words coming from the experience where participating in a webtoon adaptation work was everything, and reflected them to fit reality.
Once a sample was created and a proper specimen of what a comic was existed, it would become easier from then on, but the time before that was the problem; she did not know what she would have done if Clara had not been there.
"Thank you so, so much, Miss Clara. I do not even want to imagine how much I would have suffered if it were not for you, Miss Clara."
"Ohoho! This much is nothing if I step up."
Noel, taking a breather while enjoying tea time with fine refreshments prepared with the feeling of praising those contributions.
The first comic made using the fairy tale The Elf and the Woodcutter would be completed before long.
In this state, she wondered if they could finish it before The Saintess arrived.
As a token of gratitude for those contributions, Noel said this.
"I would like to put your name, Miss Clara, at the very front when releasing the comic to the public, what do you think?"
Hearing this, Clara was startled and widened her eyes.
A noble yielding such glory?
Furthermore, although it was definitely Clara and the illustrators who did the actual work, in the end, it was Noel who proposed the concept of comics and supervised the work.
In this case, it was natural for the supervising person's name to be listed at the very front, so she could not help but be surprised that she was yielding that.
"I wouldn't call it an alternative, but──."
As expected, she wanted another price.
Clara waited for Noel's continuing words as if that was rather more comfortable for her mind.
While bringing up a negotiation proposal in her head regarding what she would demand of her and how far she could concede to that demand.
However, Clara's expectations like that were completely wrong.
"May I call you Clara comfortably?"
"Hah?"
At those words that made a lady's elegance fly away in a single breath, Clara unknowingly let out a foolish sound.
An expression of being completely caught off guard.
Soon coming to her senses, Clara spoke while hastily managing her facial expression.
"Are you saying you are going to yield the glory of inventing something new that did not exist before for merely something like that?"
"It is not merely something like that."
Taking a sip of tea, Noel spoke in a carefree tone.
"Because becoming close friends with you, Miss Clara, is something of that much value to me."
"Friends...?"
A word far too unfamiliar in Clara's not-so-long life, friend.
Followers were one thing, but the existence of a friend was a sound that felt only unfamiliar, strange, and distant.
So... she only yearned for it and did not acknowledge it; deep in her heart, it was something Clara desired too.
For that reason, fearing Noel might cancel, she hurriedly answered.
"W-Well, it can't be helped. If you earnestly request it to that extent, ahem! A friend, I shall become one for you."
Consider it an honor!
Clara, slightly raising her head and speaking as if she was selecting her.
It was an action to hide her embarrassment.
Looking at such Clara, Noel smiled triumphantly.
'Great! I can dump the matters regarding comics onto Desu-wa.'
Noel had impulsively committed this act purely because she wanted to see comics.
Naturally, having the perseverance or responsibility to continuously protect, cultivate, and raise the culture called comics was just annoying.
So she thought it would be good if there was someone to do that on her behalf, and that was exactly Clara.
Looking at it, it seemed like Clara would know more about comics than Noel after just a little more time passed, and she was the perfect target to dump it on.
Considering Clara's reputation and such, she would also be able to serve as a sturdy pillar of support when the new culture of comics was attacked by the older generation.
In many ways, Clara was more suitable than Noel.
'At this rate, I'll make Desu-wa a comic artist. And after letting her know the joy of creation, I'll naturally make her inherit the shackle named Homer.'
Even though she looked like this, Noel seemed to have a plan for everything.
The build-up originating from the desire to read comics was subtly meticulous.
Of course, plans like this are always like that, but the flaw was that there was no guarantee it would turn out exactly like that.
Whether things would really unfold as Noel thought would be something to keep an eye on.
"My name is Irina Rowell. I am undeservedly being called The Saintess. I am truly delighted to be able to meet you like this today."
And while keeping an eye on that, making comics, and spending time frantically, autumn arrived before they knew it.
Along with The Saintess's visit to the Grace Viscountcy.
The Grace Viscountcy, which had suddenly become saddled with the mission of hosting a state guest on top of the Imperial Princess and the Count's daughter all thanks to their exceptional daughter.
With VIPs increasing in the territory every time they woke up, the servants were suffering greatly.
As a part of the welfare for those servants, something was distributed.
"Is this that comic or whatever it's called that the Miss and the Count's daughter made together?"
"Wow, how fascinating. There are more pictures than words? There are more illustrations than an encyclopedia! My younger siblings will love it if I bring this to them. But is it really okay for me to accept something that looks this precious?"
"A trial test before introducing it to The Saintess? Then we need to examine it well to see if there are no problems."
It was none other than the freshly made, piping hot comic book.
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