Drawn Mochi Volume 4 Chapter 9.2: Operation Capture an Angel*8

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“Maybe that’s okay… but I kind of think I’d like it to be a little less greenish…” (Tougo)

　I can add color, but you can’t take it out. I want to use pure blue for the eye color, like Lian’s clear blue sky.

　…Both the robin’s eggs and the lapis lazuli are each very beautiful blue, and they are very precious things, but that alone is not enough. Hmm, am I being selfish?

“I want a cut out of the sky…” (Tougo)

“That’s all…” (Lian)

　Yes, I do. Because it’s the color of an angel’s eyes. I’m not going to compromise on that.

　The color of the blue sky was nowhere to be found in the store that I had so casually looked at in the royal city. The color of the sky is clear and blue, but it’s hard to find.

　I even asked the Houou to come out and show me its wings, but unfortunately, the sky color I wanted was not there. Instead, I found bright ultramarine blue feathers. This is beautiful.

“…I tried mixing the color, but it’s not quite right.” (Tougo)

“Yeah? It’s not much different from the color of the sky, is it?” (Lian)

“Yeah, that might be true, but still…” (Tougo)

　Lian looks at me with a confused, surprised face. Yeah, I know what he’s thinking.

“I don’t understand at all. Such a difference in color.” (Lian)

“Maybe so, but I’m bothered.” (Tougo)

“Then why don’t you color my eyes with your paint? My eyes will be that color.” (Lian)

“I absolutely will not. Yours is a beautiful color.” (Tougo)

“…Then, why don’t you cut out my eyes from the painting and hang it under the blue sky? You can see the sky through the hole.” (Lian)

“Don’t say such violent things.” (Tougo)

　When I talk to Lian, I get the feeling that my worries aren’t what I should be worrying about. As Lian said, the blue color of the robin’s egg and the blue sky are not that different, so it might be silly to keep dwelling on it.

　…Hmmm… But I am, in any case, bothered by it. I don’t want to compromise. I want to draw the most beautiful thing in the most authentic way. So, the search for blue paint begins again.

　Hmm… As Lian said, it might be better to make a hole in the picture so that the sky can be seen through it. No, but that’s…

　…yep.

“Okay. Let’s cut out a hole.” (Tougo)

“Eh, are you really? I was just joking…” (Lian)

　I’ll make a hole. I will make a picture of the color of the sky as it is.

　However, it is not a picture of the angels that will get the hole.

　A picture of a paint tube.

　I painted a picture of a tube of paint. Then cut out the color label.

　Then, a picture of a paint tube with a gaping hole only at the color label is completed.

　…and I hold it up to the sky…

　It did not materialize.

“Oh, I see…” (Tougo)

“What are you doing?” (Lian)

　Come to think of it, this won’t work. I had to adjust my drawing so that I didn’t pour any magic power into it because I didn’t want it to materialize before I cut it out or painted it, but if I did that, I would really end up with a picture that didn’t materialize.

“Yep, one more time.” (Tougo)

“…Are you alright?” (Lian)

“Yeah. It’s okay. Lian, go play with Ange.” (Tougo)

　Lian looked at me with an expression that was questioning my sanity, but I painted the picture of the paint tube again. This time, however, I cut out a piece of construction paper first. I drew the paint tube with the hole in the paper so that I could use it as a label.

　While holding up the drawing paper in the sky, I managed to slide the pencil onto the paper. wow, this is really hard to draw.

　But now, all I had to do was to pour all my magic energy into the drawing. It’s very hard to draw, but somehow, someway…

　…As I was moving my pencil along the paper, suddenly the picture on the paper began to shake and tremble.

　Then, with a squeak, it shrank back onto the paper and… pop.

　A tube of sky-blue paint materialized.

　And I lost consciousness.

　…It was already night when I woke up. But I’m used to it. The night I woke up from running out of magic wasn’t necessarily the night of the same day.

　The first time I got up on the hammock, a few of the Pipe Fox clones that seemed to be sleeping on the hammock were about to fall out. Oh, sorry.

　Then, the Houou, which seemed to be perched on the branch of the tree from which the hammock was hung, came up and nuzzled me, and then horses, which seemed to have been awakened by that sound of moving, came closer. And then the bird. The giant bird came up to me and stared at me.

“How many days is it today?” (Tougo)

　Of course, there was no answer. They can’t tell me the date. Yes, I know that.

　No matter, I just grabbed onto the Houou and flew away, heading for Laocles’ house. I know what’s in the forest, so I have some idea of where someone is. It’s convenient.

　The lights were on in the house. So let me take a peek through the window… Then, I saw Laocles, who was in the house.

“You’re awake?” (Laocles)

“Yeah. How many days is it?” (Tougo)

“Three and a half days.” (Laocles)

　…impossible!

　Wow, what am I going to do? I didn’t think I would have to sleep for more than three days with one tube of paint. And I’m supposed to have more magic power now that I’m a spirit!

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think that one bottle of paint would do this to me.” (Tougo)

“Paint… Ah, this one?” (Laocles)

　Laocles gave me the sky-blue paint.

“…how did you run out of mana for more than three days with just this?” (Laocles)

“I don’t know. I never thought it would happen.” (Tougo)

　What does it mean that a spirit can run out of mana just by materializing one paint tube? …Is it because I tried to make a cut out of the sky? It’s kind of shocking.

“Lian was terribly worried. Go see him in the morning.” (Laocles)

“Yes, I will…” (Tougo)

　I don’t know why it didn’t work well this time… I’ll try not to use this method to make paint in the future.

“For now, go to bed. It’s late.” (Laocles)

“Yes…” (Tougo)