Drawn Mochi Volume 4 Chapter 4.1: Operation Capture an Angel*3

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“…did you find someone that looked like an angel? And it’s that the pickpocket from earlier?” (Fay)

“Yes.” (Tougo)

“Is there an angel who would say ‘F*ck you’?” (Fay)

“He’s the one.” (Tougo)

“Hey, Tougo, are you really sure?” (Fay)

“Yes.” (Tougo)

　He’s definitely the one.

　That child looked very angelic. I definitely want to draw him.

“His eyes were angelic, like the blue sky. He had the eyes of an angel, wary of humans. Also, I think his face was very beautiful. He was still angelic. His hair was dirty, but maybe a little curly. If he washed his hair properly, I think he would really look like an angel. If we put a ring on his head, he would be perfect.” (Tougo)

“So, you stared at him!? I really want to berate you!” (Fay)

　I think anyone would look at an angel if they saw one in front of them. More the angel than a wallet.

“…If you really want to catch that child, it’s going to have to be very hard.” (Laocles)

“I guess so. But no matter… Tougo. I think we should go to the slave shop at least once, right? You can find a lot more angels in the market. You know?” (Fay)

　Hmmm… yeah. Well, I get it.

　Street children, I guess you’d call them, like the girl who just came in. I guess they don’t have a fixed address, they are very quick, and it would be very hard to search for them in this big city. I understand that.

　So… hmmm.

“I understand. To the slave shop, let’s go…” (Tougo)

　…I decided to head to the slave shop while feeling regretful.

“…don’t look so dejected.” (Laocles)

“You’re like a withered plant…” (Fay)

　Yes…

　The slave shop in the Royal Capital was massive. As expected, I could say, very grandiose.

“An angel please!” (Tougo)

“We only deal with human slaves…” (Shopkeeper)

“Umm, give me someone who is angelic as possible!” (Tougo)

“Oh, if that’s the case…” (Shopkeeper)

　And as soon as I walked in, we had a short conversation, and soon the guy from the store brought the potential models.

“What do you think?” (Shopkeeper)

　The models he brought were… amazing. They were totally different from the slave shops in Redgarde. There were so many of them. The number of models brought in at one time was very large.

　From beautiful women to cute children. There are so many. So very many.

“How is it going, Tougo? Is there someone you like?” (Fay)

“Hmm…” (Tougo)

　… But while looking at those many, many models, I couldn’t help but feel that… something was missing.

　The beautiful women are still almost impish. Some of them look like fairy princesses, but they don’t look like angels. I don’t know what it is. I don’t know what I’m missing, and I’d like to draw some of the people here, but they’re not angels… I don’t know what they’re missing.

　And the children were even more pronounced.

　I don’t know why, but they really don’t look like angels.

　I don’t know, there are children who “look like angels,” but they are not angelic at all… they look like dolls. They are smiling and saying, “Hurry up and buy me! Buy me quick!” They are very friendly and… like the others.

　…These kids don’t look like the pickpocket, and they don’t look like they’d say, “F*ck you!” They also don’t seem to be wary of humans, and they don’t seem to be someone who would be able to give their blessing.

“How is it? Did you find a good one?” (Shopkeeper)

“…no one seems to be someone who will say ‘F*ck you’.” (Tougo)

“Wait, wait, wait, wait. Angels don’t say ‘f*ck you’ in the first place.” (Shopkeeper)

　I wonder if that’s true. I think they do. The reason is that they are wary of humans… and if they are a little hungry, they will at least try to pickpocket you… [T/N: Our art-idiot spirit seems to have some skewed perception of angels. But angels would probably be more honest and have no hidden agenda like the models.]

　The shopkeeper brought in another group of models.

　This time they seem to be within the range of beautiful young men. But… well, they’re not angelic at all.

　There are hermits, princesses, queens, princes, fairies, and so on, and there are far more devilish than others, and when it comes to children, there are so many dolls. But… There are no angels. [T/N: So, there are potential traps included huh.]

　There are no angels that are wary of humans, a little cheeky, but still attracting the eye and not letting your gaze leave. There are no angels like that.

　…After that, I was also shown some of the “angelic slaves” that the store owner boasts about, but there were no angelic models…

　Hmmm…

　I saw that the shopkeeper was starting to get a little frustrated, and I was starting to feel sorry for him. It might have been rude of me to come here when there was an angel I had my heart set on.

　No, but that alleyway angel, it’s not realistic to catch him…

　…I was thinking that when,

“…Fay. I think I have no choice but to accept the inevitable.” (Laocles)

　Laocles said to Fay.

“Oh, you felt it? I was getting that feeling too…” (Fay)

　Fay said so and nodded in resignation.

“…Tougo. Do you want to accept the inevitable too?” (Fay)

“Eh?” (Tougo)

　I was surprised, but Fay bent down a little and whispered in my ear,

“It is time for Operation Capture an Angel… Let’s catch that alleyway angel. Otherwise, you won’t be satisfied, will you?” (Fay)

“…yeah. A capture operation. I want to capture that angel!” (Tougo)

“Uhuh, I can’t believe you looked so depressed just now.” (Fay)

“Like a plant that’s been watered.” (Laocles)

　Capture! Capture the angel from earlier! Catch him, take him back to the forest and paint him!

　…When I started thinking like that, I suddenly felt motivated! Thank you!

　I paid the slave shop as a “thank you for showing me things” and left. Next time I want to paint dolls, fairy princesses, or hordes of imps again, I might be able to take care of them.

　After paying the “thank you” fee, which was about the same as one model, the shopkeeper was in a good mood and sent us on our way. We will be in touch with you in the future.

　…Now.

“What are we going to do from here? I’m not good at this kind of thing, though I’m ready for it.” (Fay)

“Me neither. …is probably closer to Croix’s area of expertise.” (Laocles)

　Come to think of it, it was. It seems that Ms. Croix was from the underworld… so she might be good at catching alleyway angels.

“Well, we can’t bring Ms. Croix with us. For the time being, we have no choice but to do it our way…” (Fay)

　Fay and Laocles looked at me, and then at each other and nodded…

“Okay then, let’s use Tougo as bait and go fishing for angels.” (Fay)

　…eh?

“Fishing?” (Tougo)

“Yeah, fishing… See, you’re the perfect bait, no matter how you look at it, right?” (Fay)

　Yes. …Yes? I feel like I’ve been criticized so harshly.

“You don’t look like you’re rich, but you’re well-dressed, not cautious, and above all, you’re soft looking. You’re the perfect target for pickpockets.” (Fay)

　…I can’t refute anything, since I have a history of being targeted by pickpockets.