Chapter 49 : Well, I could be mistaken

When I talked to Tunny the other day, I was told that the minimum amount needed to properly start as a VTuber was 500,000 won.

At that time, I couldn’t even imagine challenging myself with that kind of money.

But after yesterday’s broadcast, I earned over 700,000 won, and if I add the money I made from selling rice, it’s over 1,000,000 won. Of course, I don’t plan to use all of that, but at least I now have the opportunity to try being a VTuber.

When an opportunity presents itself, you have to seize it. If you hesitate and let it pass by, you’ll just waste time.

“Hmmm….”

After sitting in front of my computer for over 4 hours searching for an illustration to use as my VTuber model, my body began to feel stiff.

But despite the 4 hours spent, nothing had progressed. Of course, there were many beautiful and appealing illustrations, but hiring the artists who drew them for freelance work was a problem, both in terms of money and time.

If the price was cheap, they couldn’t meet the schedule, and if I wanted the schedule to be met, the cost was too high.

…If I had planned a 3-month break from the beginning, I could have solved this.

Would it be better to extend my break to 3 months now?

I know it’s an absurd thought. Even though my gallery is already burning down because of a 1-month break, adding another 2 months? Just imagining that horrific scene is enough to scare me…

…Well, I’m hungry, so I’ll look for 10 more minutes and then have a meal.

With that thought, I clicked on the recommended tab again and saw the nickname “Tada Shumi” appear on the screen.

The topic of the post recommended to me was, of course, art.

“Wow….”

It was an incredibly beautiful illustration. Without a doubt, it was the best of all the ones I had seen so far.

[Tada Shumi @TadaShumi]

I won’t draw unless I’m drawn to it.

Send me the concept via DM, and I’ll start on my own.

Like being possessed, I clicked on the account, and a profile like that greeted me. The description said that they wouldn’t draw unless they felt drawn to it, and the nickname was ‘Tada Shumi (九尤趣味).’

Someone like this might have potential, right?

Of course, I knew. With this level of art, it was definitely not going to be cheap. If by any chance it was affordable, they would probably have a lot of commissions lined up.

Honestly, I could say it’s a lost cause.

But if this person is really drawing as a hobby without any calculation of profit or loss… there might still be a small chance.

There was no mention of pricing…

[레네 @Lene_ND • 6:32 PM]
Hello, I would like to commission a VTuber illustration. Can you draw a huge Warhammer inquisitor in a priest’s robe?

Please, I hope that the place I’m looking at is the same place they’re looking at.

I prayed earnestly and stood up from my seat.
Time for food.

“Yawn….”

After waking up and stretching, I followed my usual routine of showering and sitting back down at the computer.
It was 11 AM.

Thanks to the Albion raid, my daily routine, which seemed like it would be ruined, fortunately returned to normal in just one day. Although my body is still a little sluggish, it’s nothing that some light movement won’t fix, so it’s fine.

By the way, I still haven’t received a response until last night…
Could it be that my request wasn’t their style?
…Well, I guess.

With such a beautiful drawing, wanting to get it even though I don’t have much money was too greedy.

So, let’s brush off the disappointment and focus on what I can do.

Maybe I’ll keep searching on Nator until Bora comes…

“…Huh?”

While thinking that, I logged into Nator’s homepage and saw a blue circle next to the nickname ‘Tada Shumi’ in my DMs.

It was a notification that a DM had arrived.

“…Could it be?”

[Tada Shumi @TadaShumi, 9:53 AM]

Hello. Sorry for the late reply.

Do you have any character design settings or anything you’ve prepared?

If you have any materials ready, I’d like to see them before deciding.

“…Could it be happening?”

For a moment, a surge of hope rushed through me.

Of course, they added that they would decide after seeing the materials, but still, the fact that there was a possibility was something.

I felt my heart racing as I sent the settings I had prepared yesterday.

To be honest, when I say “prepared,” it was just the hair and eye color, but still…

“…Ah!”

Come to think of it, I had that!

My desired concept is an inquisitor in a priest’s robe holding a Warhammer.

A very familiar outfit for me, one I could easily find in my closet.

Wouldn’t it be much easier to send this as reference material?

With that thought, I immediately opened my closet, took out the priest’s robe and Warhammer that were tucked in a corner, and took a photo to send.

Just in case, I included a shot from the back as well.

Would this amount of material be enough?

It was the best I could do.

With a mix of expectation and anxiety, I waited, and fortunately, this time, the reply came quickly.

[Tada Shumi @TadaShumi, 11:32 AM]

I’ll start working from today.

“…!”

Not only that… they said they’d start working on it.

Overcome with joy, I thought I should send a thank you message, but…

[Tada Shumi @TadaShumi, 11:34 AM]

By the way, could I see a photo of the cosplayer wearing this outfit?

I really like seeing cosplay photos, and the quality of this outfit and the Warhammer is amazing.

If I can see it worn, it will be a good reference for my work…

“Uh, um…”

After reading the follow-up message, my head quickly turned cold.

I realized this person might have misunderstood something.

[레네 @Lene_ND, 11:36 AM]

This isn’t a cosplay outfit.

This priest’s robe is proof that I belong to the Church of the Goddess Iah.

As an inquisitor, my role is to prove that I am right and to show that I have been recognized by her when I bring heretics to repentance.

So, the only times I can wear this robe are within the church building or when I’m in the act of bringing heretics to repentance.

Even if there’s some other reason, wearing this robe to show someone else is absolutely impossible for me.

It would be impossible to wear it for any other reason.

Well, Bora did see it last time, but that was an unavoidable accident.

The other party, not knowing anything, couldn’t help but make such a misunderstanding, but seeing them do so made me think about many things.

This robe is a symbol that tells others who I am, but in the end, it just looks like a costume to others…

A mix of anger and discomfort clouded my mind.

But the thing that made me the angriest was the fact that I couldn’t even argue with the other party about it…

[Tada Shumi @TadaShumi, 11:39 AM]

I’m sorry for the misunderstanding. If my words hurt you, I’m even more sorry.

If it’s difficult to show the outfit now, could you send it to me later?

If it’s a difficult request, I’m willing to pay the price.

Since you commissioned a VTuber illustration, I assume you’ll also need Live2D, and I’ll handle that for you.

And I’ll do this entire project free of charge.

Would this be okay?

I quietly took off my T-shirt and dolphin pants and tidied them up.

…Well, they could have misunderstood.

It’s actually strange for me to get that angry at someone trying this hard.

When they show that much enthusiasm, shouldn’t I be the one thinking of helping them as much as I can?

I wasn’t tempted by the free offer.

No, I definitely wasn’t.

[레네 @Lene_ND, 11:45 AM]

I look forward to working with you.

“…I’m relieved.”

When the response first came that it wasn’t a cosplay outfit, Sia immediately sensed disaster.
Of course, since they hadn’t met face-to-face, Sia couldn’t be certain, but there was a sense of discomfort in the response.

The client… ‘Lene’ had said it wasn’t a simple cosplay costume, but rather something that might hold deep meaning for them.

Sia regretted not considering that in advance.

But that didn’t mean Sia had given up.

Of course, Sia could have just finished the conversation with Lene and started on other work.

Sia could take any job whenever they wanted.

There was no need to cling to a job where they wouldn’t even be properly compensated.

Still, the reason Sia made the extraordinary offer to do everything for free and kept Lene involved was simple.

The quality of the priest’s robe and Warhammer Lene had sent was impressive.
Sia, whose hobby was looking at cosplay photos on Nator, couldn’t help but acknowledge the high quality with the unique eye of an illustrator.

It was just too good.
Sia wanted to draw that outfit.

If possible, they wanted to pour their personal taste into it.

The soul of the illustrator had been ignited.

How would the body’s curves show when wearing this outfit? What kind of atmosphere would suit this robe? What would the final piece look like?

Sia was so curious about these details that she didn’t want to give up on this commission. And it seemed

like Lene recognized Sia’s feelings, as she eventually sent the photos.

“Wow.”

Sia couldn’t help but exclaim.

The priest’s robe, which could appear somewhat loose, was intentionally cinched with a belt to highlight the curves of her body.

This was something only someone confident in their own figure could pull off.

The model in the photo proved where that confidence came from.

Her figure was perfect as a woman—everything in the right places, the curves in all the right spots.

It may sound simple, but considering how many people struggle with this, it’s easy to understand how impressive it is.

And she wasn’t just blessed with a great figure; she had also fully embraced the outfit she was wearing.

The white priest robe, which looked softer than silk, radiated a sense of holiness, and the unusual necklace seemed to prove its mystical nature.

The weight of the Warhammer in the photo almost felt like a statement that everything she did was just and righteous.

It was as if she truly was an inquisitor.

As soon as that thought crossed Sia’s mind, the urge to create surged within her.

Even though she had just finished a major commission yesterday, she didn’t feel tired.

All she wanted to do now was pour that passion into her artwork.

The only regret was that the face was hidden, but since Sia had been more focused on the outfit, it wasn’t that important.

She could easily guess the person was beautiful, though.

“…Oh, right.”

[Tada Shumi @TadaShumi • 11:50 AM]
Sensei,

I want to make it perfect, so I’m thinking of asking for help from others.

Would it be okay to show them this photo?

The two people Sia wanted to ask for help were precious younger siblings who knew that Tada Shumi was actually Sia’s secondary account.

Of course, Sia wasn’t asking just because they were close.

One was an illustrator with skills rivaling her own, and the other was a model who was extremely knowledgeable about fashion, so they would definitely be of great help.

Sia sent the message, and the response she received was:

[Lene @Lene_ND

Thank you in advance
·
11:54 AM]

“…Yes!”

Fortunately, it was a yes.

“Wow, this is so hot…”

She didn’t forget to compliment her as well.