Chapter 460 – Ah, they say this is a commission.
Some might have questions.
Aren’t otaku typically the kind of folks who just stay cooped up indoors?
Why would they even have a reason to come out to a festival like this?
Especially since this isn’t a place selling books or anything, isn’t something off here?
Those are certainly valid questions.
I’ve had the same questions since the beginning.
But after taking a closer look at my surroundings, I finally understood the reason.
First off, there were indeed booths similar to the one selling books just moments ago.
However, what they were selling wasn’t books.
Nor were they selling figurines or other merchandise.
What they were selling was nothing other than…
“Kyoukyou, but what kind of place is this?”
“Here, they take commissions, www.”
They were drawing pictures in real-time for money.
“So, they draw one picture for you?”
“They also create the original on the spot, www.”
And according to Kyoukyou, it wasn’t just limited to illustrations.
Depending on requests, it seemed they also sold them as short original works.
Of course, for that kind of service, you’d have to pay more.
‘Then I wonder if I can request a webtoon for this novel.’
[Do you think you can handle it?]
‘Ah, fuck.’
For sure, upon looking around, I could see otaku requesting commissions from artists.
Generally, they were just conveying their requests verbally, but some were writing out detailed settings.
Some were even bringing reference illustrations, demonstrating incredible enthusiasm.
Just then, I noticed a somewhat awkward-looking boy at a booth requesting a commission.
“I’d like to request an R-18 doujinshi of this character.”
“Aren’t you a minor?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Are you in your right mind? Shouldn’t you be embarrassed wasting your life like that?”
Honestly, it was definitely a bit embarrassing.
Sure, there were a few regular-looking folks and some families here.
But it would be hard to predict that a kid would come alone to request something so inappropriate.
“By the way, what genre are you requesting?”
“R-18 Pure Love…”
“Seriously? You came here for that kind of stuff?”
Even if the artist might have the ability to draw such content, selling adult material to minors was way too risky.
There was no doubt that would be firmly rejected.
“Also, I’d like to request it with NTR.”
“I’m truly proud to say this!”
With that approval, the artist began sketching.
“Don’t forget to add the hard ahegao!”
“Of course! Japan’s future is bright!”
‘Damn it, you dog bastards!!!’
[……The world is going to hell, you bastards… ]
Anyway, some might find it a bit strange to have such things at a festival.
But since there was a booth selling doujinshi, it wasn’t that surprising.
Besides, this was Japan, famous for its culture, so it really shouldn’t be unexpected.
And the important part wasn’t those details.
“I’d like to request a commission.”
“Hello! I’ll draw anything for you!”
“Really?”
“….Ah, fuck.”
As I mentioned before, this was the Japan Hunter Academy festival.
Once the word ‘hunter’ was involved, it was only natural for some oddballs to be mixed in.
“Hands and feet are usually the hardest to draw, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
That applied here as well.
“Then it’s a limb severing commission, so give me a discount.”
“But why are you requesting even the severed edges, you idiot?”
Whether it’s the one requesting the commission or the artist accepting it.
“Why do you limit your commission requests to just people?”
“I mainly deal with perverse desires projected onto people.”
“Ah ha.”
‘I honestly don’t know what the term ‘perverse desires’ means anymore.’
[Same here…]
And it seemed like the artists had some sort of acquaintance with each other.
Typically, they wouldn’t acknowledge one another offline.
But even amidst the chaos, they exchanged greetings and well-wishes, and some complimented each other’s works.
“Oh! I enjoyed your Pure Love work featuring a smoking heroine! The pregnant part was the best!”
“You mean the moment she quits smoking upon seeing the pregnancy test? I’m glad I put my effort into that scene.”
“However, as an NTR specialist, I wish you had added just one more monologue at the end.”
“What kind of monologue?”
A little bit of advice was a bonus.
“I decided not to think about whose child it is in my belly anymore.”
“Come follow me, you bastard.”
Meanwhile, some artists couldn’t bend their principles.
A serious statement from the heart occasionally surfaced.
“Surely, there’s no combination better than Futa x Boy’s Love.”
“Boy’s Love x Futa is the best combination.”
“…Huh?”
“Is there a problem…?”
[Both are a problem, you crazy bastards!]
‘Every artist is a psycho…’
Yet, not all artists engaged in such exchanges.
While there were many people here,
The artists supplying the illustrations vastly outnumbered them.
The imbalance of supply exceeding demand was palpable.
As a result, despite being fellow artists, at least for now, they were all potential competitors.
They began competing in different ways to survive.
Some artists desperately attempted to attract passersby.
“Hey, monks! Why don’t you snag one of these enticing illustrations for yourself?”
“Oooh, Buddha. That won’t get you out of the path of enlightenment.”
“Revered Amitabha, I’m lacking. I’m really lacking. Cough-cough.”
Sometimes they even lured in clients with bait offerings.
“If you apply in bulk this time, I’ll throw in this life-sized doll for free!”
“Awesome! I don’t need to be a tree today!”
“Tree Guanyin!”
[……Is this perhaps the realm of deities?]
‘……Now even Buddhism will be contacting me, fuck.’
On the other hand, some artists chose not to compete in such ways.
Instead of highlighting their strengths,
They showed signs of keeping an eye on other artists.
“Hey, wait a minute! That’s my illustration, why are you signing it as your own!”
“Is it your first time at the academy? Here we learn to do it like this.”
In a very creative manner for a creator.
“You crazy woman! What liquid are you spilling on my work right now!”
“Hah! Your byproducts are nothing more than my self-indulgent tool?”
“Thanks.”
“……What…?”
In a very brutal way from a human perspective.
“Damn you!!! You’re trying to change the style of my exhibition illustration into some trash art!”
“Chuckle. This is a gun that changes it to a snapping turtle style. Next time, be careful not to get targeted, okay?”
In a way, this was a truly Hunter Academy-like scene.
At that moment, Kyoukyou glanced over at Hyeji with a bright smile and casually suggested something.
“How about you try a commission too, Hyeji-chan, www?”
“Well, I don’t really have anything to request. I already have Shinwoo.”
“Nowadays, Hallyu is popular so they say they can draw Korean characters well too, www.”
Just then, someone’s voice requesting a commission pricked my ears.
Through that, I could sense the credibility in Kyoukyou’s words.
A new wave of Hallyu is indeed sweeping across Japan.
“I’d like to request a character from a Korean novel.”
“Then could you tell me the features?”
This was someone requesting a character from a Korean novel.
“I have long black hair and black eyes, and I’m wearing a white off-shoulder dress. Please have me pose with my hands together.”
“From the vibe, it seems like a character from a Pure Love tale.”
“Yes, that’s right! And please make the eyes watery to showcase the sadness.”
Generally, commissions might request characters from famous subculture works.
But to request a character from a somewhat niche Korean novel in Japan was surprising.
“But is there no further description of the appearance?”
“Oh? Is there more needed?”
“Honestly, what you’ve said seems a bit bland.”
To be honest, being Korean, I couldn’t quite feel it.
But this time, I had to admit it.
Japan is indeed experiencing the popularity of Hallyu.
“Then could you draw a fateful red thread on the left ring finger as well?”
“Sure, understood. And is there one more unique trait about this character?”
“A trait?”
“Yes, I need to understand the character as much as possible to draw well.”
Just a slight problem here was.
“The inner thighs are weak.”
“Yes, I got it.”
A rather odd aspect of the Hallyu.
[Elly Seta Artani Berum Erengeti Luta.]
‘……Fuck, as Pure Love it’s hard to deny…’
Then Hyeji seemed to recall something.
“Kyoukyou, didn’t you say you wanted to come here?”
“Yeah, that’s right!”
“But why? Do you have something you want to request?”
At those words, Kyoukyou shyly scratched her head with a smile.
“Actually, I wanted to try a commission of Hyeji-chan… is that okay?”
“It doesn’t matter, Kyoukyou.”
“Is there a specific artist in mind?”
“Thanks, www just follow me, www.”
And upon hearing Hyeji’s words, Kyoukyou became delighted and began to lead us.
Unintentionally, since we were here, we decided to proceed with Kyoukyou’s wish for a commission.
Just that.
Due to a series of events that unfolded afterward,
I bitterly regretted this decision.
“I shouldn’t have come… fuck…”
[It’s entirely your fault, isn’t it?]
‘Shut up.’
This is a bit further in the future.
