Drawn Mochi Volume 4 Chapter 3.1: Operation Capture an Angel*2

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“This is the first time I’ve ever come to a slave shop looking for a model.” (Tougo)

“Hey, hey, hey, how can the guy who bought Laocles say that, hey, hey.” (Fay)

“I just happened to find a natural-born model that time, I didn’t come looking for a model that time.” (Tougo)

　I don’t know what to do. When I thought that this is not a slave shop but an exclusive model shop, I instantly became extremely excited. It’s amazing what a change in perspective can do.

“Oh, it’s been a long time. What kind of slave are you looking for today?” (Shopkeeper)

“I’m looking for someone who looks like an angel.” (Tougo)

　As soon as I entered the slave shop, the shopkeeper spoke to me and answered, “I’m looking for someone who looks like an angel.” I wonder if this is the kind of face that pigeons have, after they’ve been hit with an air gun. Yes, that’s the kind of face they gave me.

“Ah… well, the point is that they are beautiful. We are looking for someone like that. Well, he wants to use them as a model for his paintings.” (Fay)

“Is he a model too?” (Shopkeeper)

“Yes!” (Tougo)

　The last time I was looking for someone to do my housework, it took me a while to get to Laocles, but this time I told him I was looking for a model from the beginning. With this, I should probably find someone who looks like an angel.

“Hmm, like an angel, a slave suitable for a model, huh… Please wait a moment.” (Shopkeeper)

　The shopkeeper said and went into the back of the store.

　Now, I was looking forward to seeing what kind of model would come.

　After waiting for a while, the shopkeeper brought some models to me.

“Thank you for waiting. How about them?”  (Shopkeeper)

　The models who were brought in… were beautiful women.

“Oh, we meet again, sweet boy!” (Slave)

“Would you like to buy me this time? I’ll do something nice for you!” (Slave)

“Shut up old stock! Hey! Pick me! I’ll be useful to you!” (Slave)

　…yep.

“They’re all little devils, not angels.” (Tougo) [T/N: You mean succubae]

　This is no good!

Fay started giggling at the “They’re all little devils, not angels” assessment, and the shopkeeper started sending the women back with a chuckle, and the beautiful women giggled as they left. Yeah, they know what I mean, they do that kind of thing…

　…Well, then, next came the child models.

　A Lots of boys and girls younger than me. They were all quiet, just staring at me in silence. Hmmm…

“Um, how did they become slaves?” (Tougo)

“ I guess they were in a village where there was a famine and they wanted to reduce the number of mouths to feed. Recently, they all came flooding in.” (Shopkeeper)

　…There are a lot of circumstances, aren’t there?

“How is it? These slaves are all very quiet and easy to deal with. They are educated to some extent. They are good at sitting quietly and waiting to be used as models for paintings.” (Shopkeeper)

　As the shopkeeper explained, the children in the line certainly all seemed mature. They don’t talk, they don’t move around unnecessarily. There are a few children who seem to move their legs a little unsteadily, but when I come near them, they hurry to correct their posture. …Hmmm.

“They don’t look like angels…” (Tougo)

　Somehow, they are not angel-like. They are very human, I am not really human, so, who am I to say. Hmm, I don’t think I want to draw any of them, or rather…

“By the way, what would you normally buy these children for?” (Tougo)

　I asked him, because I didn’t think everyone would come to buy models for their paintings. The shopkeeper replied, “Many people buy them to help with the farm work or as pastoral children, and some want to use them as laborers in the workshop. Some people want to use them as laborers in their workshops, and some people buy them as adopted children.”

　I see…I see that there are many people who want to buy children to work as farm hands or as laborers…. In this world, even children are labor power. It’s like England right after the Industrial Revolution.

“That’s right. I can understand why Togo says they are not angelic. I can see why Togo says they don’t look like angels.” (Fay)

　Fay was standing next to me, saying this and making a complicated face. I’m not sure how to choose the right model.

“…Umm, what should I do? If you don’t like anyone here, you can also take a look at the line of slaves…” (Shopkeeper)

　When I was unsure of who to choose, the shopkeeper suggested that I can do.

　In other words, I can look at the models in the same way as when I found Laocles last time.

“Yes, I’ll look at them!” (Tougo)

　Last time, Laocles was not introduced to me at first. But he was tucked away in the back of the shop, so there might be an opportunity to be had this time, too.

　So, I agreed and asked him to let me into the back of the store.

“Well, this is what happens in the end, huh.” (Fay)

“Yeah… Sorry.” (Tougo)

　Well, it’s hard. I think it’s unexpectedly difficult to find models.

“Well, young, beautiful women, or children, not toddlers, but children, about the age of a toddler…”

“There aren’t that many child slaves. It’s hard to find one.” (Shopkeeper)

　Well, then, should I focus my search on young women? …Well, never mind. I’ll just look around for now.

　… Then I went through all the sections, looking at the young women’s section and the children’s section, and I couldn’t find anyone that really caught my eye in the end.

“How is it, Tougo? Did you find an angel-like lady?” (Fay)

“No, I didn’t find one…” (Tougo)

　When I answered, Fay tilted his head a little.

“There were quite a few beauties, too.” (Fay)

“Just being beautiful is not enough. Besides, if I was looking for someone purely on beauty, Ms. Croix will be in my sight…” (Tougo)

“Ah…certainly, if such a beautiful woman is close to you, you’ll have a discerning eye…” (Fay)

　Yes. It’s mostly Ms. Croix’s fault. If that person becomes the standard, most people in the world will look plain.

“…If you’re looking for someone more beautiful than Ms. Croix, it’s a bit unreasonable, right? You know that, right?” (Fay)

“I know that. So, I’m not looking for someone beautiful… I’m looking for someone angelic.” (Tougo)

　Angelic may also include the condition of being beautiful. But more than that, I’d like to have someone who has something, an atmosphere, something that makes you want to draw, to be the model.

“…You really like crime slaves, don’t you?” (Fay)

“It’s not like I like crime slaves, but…” (Tougo)

　And so, we finally came to the last section of the site… the criminal slave section. This place is still outrageous. Things were flying. Words were flying.

　But since it was the second time, I wasn’t that scared. I just keep looking for an angel in the cage, but I can’t find one.

“…they’re not here.” (Tougo)

“That’s right! They’re here because they’re criminal slaves, you know!? They’re the complete opposite of angelic!” (Fay)

　Yeah. I’m starting to think it’s going to be hard to find angels in the criminal slave section. From inside the cage, they said, “It’s an angel! I can see an angel!” But unfortunately, there is usually only one person in such a cage who looks a little dangerous. No angels.

　I also thought that if there was someone who looked like Laocles, I would ask them to become a plaster statue, but there was no plaster statue either. Hmmm.

“…What should I do?” (Tougo)

“Hmm… Shall we go to the store in the Royal Capital? Is it bigger than this store?” (Fay)

　…Should I? I don’t have a very good impression of the Royal Capital because of what happened with Ms. Croix, but, well… it’s a beautiful city, and it’s a lucky meeting, so it might be a good idea to go there.

　So, the three of us, Fay, Laocles and I, decided to go to the Royal Capital.

“You will be away for a while. I’m sad.” (Croix)

“Right now, if we take Ms. Croix to the Royal Capital, it might become a big problem…” (Tougo)

　Ms. Croix is someone who is being chased in the underworld. She has no choice but to live quietly in the forest until the search cools down a little more.

“Um, I’m going to buy you a souvenir. What would you like?” (Tougo)

“Oh, I’m so glad. I’ll make a list. Can I ask you to pick something up for me?” (Croix)

“Yes.” (Tougo)

　Ms. Croix giggles and writes letters gracefully. The letters are beautiful. Since I became able to read the characters in this world, I’ve come to understand whether the characters are neat or messy, but… Ms. Croix’s characters seem to flow, and yet they don’t stray, they’re really beautiful.

　By the way, Fay’s letters are surprisingly neat and clean, and Laocles’ letters… look kind of, you know, rough. Yes, it looks rough.

“Yes, I’ve finished writing it. Here it is.” (Croix)

　A little while later, I got a note from Ms. Croix.

　Lemon cake and walnut cookies from a pastry shop with a light blue sign on the main street. Bread from a bakery that serves royalty. A can of tea. Five thin knives from a weapons shop on a back street. And “something I saw, and thought was beautiful.”

“Especially the last one, I’m looking forward to it.” (Croix)

　Ms. Croix is smiling, and she looks like she’s having fun.

　…that was a difficult one.

“Well then, be careful. See you later.” (Croix)

“I’m going.” (Tougo)