Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Volume 4 The Elf Dreaming of an Affair with an Orc Feels Frustrated Again Today (4)
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"It ended up longer than I thought. But I can't help adding episodes that keep popping into my head."
I scratched my head as I looked at the manuscript that had blown past my target of around 200 pages.
Honestly, the pregnant sex scenes, and that super realistic birth scene I drew...
There were a lot of parts where I really went overboard in this one, so I was feeling a bit worried.
The overall vibe is super bright, but since I dove headfirst into the erotic bits so sincerely, the sex scenes came out intensely dark and moody.
But that's what makes it genuinely arousing—you can't just give that up, right?
And I scrubbed out any repulsive bits from the emotional descriptions, leaving only the happy, warm feelings, so it should be okay.
'Honestly, I held back pretty well, but that painting's impact was just too intense.'
After encountering Professor Rondo's White Light, I felt like I'd drawn this work in a total frenzy of madness.
Like my dick got hijacked by that picture, leaving me desperate to draw comics that hijack other people's dicks in turn?
Honestly, it's all Professor Rondo's fault—no, that White Light she drew is just too damn arousing.
I feel so wronged.
"It's really ballooned a ton..."
"Still got a huge backlog?"
"Nah, things are stabilizing now, and I've cleared the queue ahead of time, so we can jump straight into samples. Wow, Siu's artwork is gorgeous as always."
She let out an admiring gasp as she looked at the cover image I'd worked on this time.
Nothing over-the-top—just a cover featuring a deeply troubled orc and an elf wearing a pervy expression.
But I'd snuck in details like the elf's crotch soaked with her own juices and trails dripping down her thighs to amp up the eroticism.
The theme was an erotic atmosphere without any actual exposure, and it came out exactly like I'd hoped.
"You know Descent of the Avatar is starting to get stocked in libraries and bookstores now?"
"...For real?"
"Yeah, we thought supply was finally evening out, but then orders from them piled up again for a while. It's under control now, though."
Comics—this brand-new illustration genre—are causing a total sensation. And since they're in book form, they're even starting to eat into the market for traditional novels and such.
With that explanation, she settled up my sales revenue, and the sheer amount made my head spin more and more.
Honestly, the last payout was already more than enough for my needs...
But this one? It's like raking in cash with a pitchfork.
"Oh, and they've opened a spot to browse new comics? Wanna take a look?"
"Yeah, sure, that sounds great."
I had to wait for my work's samples anyway, and there wasn't much else to do in the meantime.
Might as well spend my time in the capital checking out other artists' comics.
"Remember that question you asked before? We redesigned everything based on it. Now they display huge cover art with sample stacks underneath."
"Ooh... The chairs around the edges are a nice touch. Great atmosphere overall."
It was a solid setup for long viewing sessions, and it was coming together really well.
Honestly, it looked more like a library than a gallery, but there was no better way to scout new comics.
I was seriously grateful they'd kept this going.
"This area's just for stuff that hasn't started publishing yet—they stack 'em here for display. If it doesn't get recommendations in a few days, it's pulled."
"They extended the minimum display time?"
"Evaluations take longer compared to regular art by nature, so they apparently overhauled the whole criteria."
Works that get vetted here move to the next gallery, and everything there starts selling as full books.
So doesn't that mean my new release should start fair at the bottom too?
But she said sequels get some gallery priority if the previous one hit the top ranks.
That put me in a spot where I could greenlight production right away.
"Ooh... So first print's coming sooner than I thought?"
"Right? We're expecting a massive initial rush, so we're pushing production as fast as possible. Prepped ahead and everything, but the page count's higher than expected, so it'll take a little time."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After that, I started checking out new comics from other artists.
Some had art that was a total mess from start to finish, but others were damn near perfect manga-level.
Even the perfect ones didn't rack up recommendations, though—the stories were just too convoluted.
"If it was just kinda boring, that art quality would've carried it. But this is straight-up incomprehensible..."
Unlike illustrations where you could just swap styles and follow along, comics needed time for painters unused to that kind of plotting to adapt.
Still, the actual techniques for drawing comics had caught up to mine almost perfectly. Their speed at picking up new styles was insane.
In the end, I didn't recommend a single one and left the gallery.
Better to head back to the inn quietly and wait for my samples.
"O...!"
The actual samples for The Elf Dreaming of an Affair with an Orc Feels Frustrated Again Today turned out fantastic.
I'd sized it for an average of around 200 pages originally, so I'd worried the overrun might cause issues.
But it read perfectly fine, so I could breathe easy.
Now it was just down to how the market received it.
"What do you think? You read it to check, right?"
"Oh, it was super fun! Honestly, orcs always make me think 'sex fiends' or 'rapists,' but I've never actually heard of incidents like that with modern orcs. Made me realize how narrow-minded I was, judging a whole race based on historical crap..."
No, I was just trying to highlight how they differ from the stereotypes—not spark some life-changing epiphany.
I subtly asked her opinion on the erotic scenes instead of that part.
She blushed at first, then admitted it felt like a romance story she kinda envied.
Fuck, I wasn't asking about the romance?
But straight-up quizzing her on the sex scenes felt awkward...
"Ah, sorry. Work keeps popping up."
"No worries. Guess I'll head out then?"
"Yup! We'll rush production and get sales rolling ASAP!"
Business done—I should head back and prep the next one.
This was a total fresh start, so maybe a Descent of the Avatar sequel next?
Honestly, the first one was so short it felt like a teaser; a follow-up soon made sense.
It was basically just a taste.
'So the title for this new one...'
Avatar's Zeal.
This series follows the protagonist Albedo as she starts seriously battling the Corrosion.
Of course, she's not alone—she gathers a bunch of comrades, and fighting the Corrosion alongside them becomes the core of the story.
This time, I'd make their daily lives the main focus, with the battles as side elements.
"Huh?"
I was roughly hashing out the setup for this new one and idly sketching when a knock came from outside.
What the heck?
Mom and Dad would've just come in—no knocking. Anyone else...
"Holy shit, Rozaria!?"
I'd been so lost in drawing that I'd lost all track of time. Summer break had already started?
This was totally out of left field.
How do I even handle this?
At first, I'd used the 'Siu' alias because I didn't want my family knowing I was drawing, and I wanted pure recognition on merit.
But now 'Siu' was treated like some archmage or grand master, and revealing that magicless hack Kali was the same guy felt terrifying.
Sure, close friends might be fine, and I'd have to tell the family eventually...
But with my relationship with Rozaria still all over the place, dropping that bomb right now was way too much pressure.
'F-First, stash all the drawings.'
I'd decide later whether to come clean—but to even have that option, I needed to hide everything first.
I frantically gathered sketches, notes, scrapped pages, whatever, and crammed them into a corner of the storage room before locking it.
Luckily, Rozaria must've thought I was asleep—she knocked with plenty of patience in between.
Thanks to that, I managed to hide it all somehow.
"Haha, Rozaria, come on in."
"Kaaali...!"
She practically tackled me, sniffling like she was about to cry, and started going wild on me.
Ria, I get that you like me and all, but sniffing my body like that is mega embarrassing...
But I couldn't exactly tell her that—not when she was losing her mind with joy after seeing me for the first time in half a year. So I just stayed put until she was satisfied.
"Seriously, seriously... I thought I was gonna die from missing you."
"I missed you too."
"Hehe. Smells like oil paints lingering a bit at home, huh? So you really were drawing."
"Uh? Y-Yeah."
With that, Rozaria excitedly wandered around, saying it had been ages since she'd been here too. I trailed after her, breaking into a cold sweat and hoping against hope.
But in the chaos, there really was one drawing I hadn't hidden—and when I tried to snatch it away, Rozaria spotted it and took it from me.
'Ah, fuck.'
...Isekai, half a year in.
Childhood friend catches me with the hentai stash at home.
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