第１６２７堀：グッズというと？ (Part2)
Well, I suppose that’s just how insect-type monsters are.
But, compared to the ones you find in the forest, these have a fleshy, translucent, pale look to them—how should I put it? They’re unnervingly raw.
If it were a lugworm the size of my hand, I could handle it just fine to use as bait, but when they’re larger than a human, even I have a visceral, physiological aversion to these worm-types.
Ah, but didn't people like Hivia and the others enjoy studying them?
Man, the field of monster biology is truly deep.
I let my pen wander aimlessly as I pondered this.
Usually, when you’re drafting something for research or development, you’d list out the necessary functions and specs, but there’s none of that here.
For now, I’ve used that lugworm monster as a motif and designed it with a "cute" concept in mind.
The goal is to make it easier for customers to accept.
Ugh, that’s way too half-assed.
They’d probably faint if they saw the real thing.
Well, I’ll worry about that after it gets approved.
And so, based on the sketches I’d scribbled, I used my own sensibilities to make the creature look adorable while staring at photos of the grotesque original.
I shortened its actual length and took those eyes—which I’m not even sure the real thing has—and drew them as large, round orbs, fully deforming the design.
The only thing left that’s even remotely creepy is the sheer number of legs.
"Yeah. I have no idea."
I couldn't tell if it was well-done or a disaster.
But, I do like things like Pokém*n, so maybe it resembles that style a little?
Well, rather than aiming for realism, it’s probably better for children to find it approachable, so I decided to stick with this policy and began drawing the other grotesque monsters in my own cute style.
Before I knew it, it seemed like Micos had returned...
"Huh, I think this is good~"
She said, holding up the design sheet of the mascot-like monster I’d drawn.
"Oh, you’re back. Did you hear the story from Yuki?"
"Yeah, I heard. I also heard from Ratz-san. It’s about those goods that’ll sell, right? Ever since the Weed Mall was built, all sorts of things have been popping up to make it easier for other countries to accept us~"
"I know that. Even in Enaria, they’ve started making standard items like sweets with the national crest on them~"
Goods. Until a little while ago, I didn't even understand what that meant, but ever since the Gate was built, countries have started creating such items to make their existence known to the rest of the world.
Originally, merchants and individuals would make local specialties for tourists on their own, but as for the nations themselves, while money is important, they were historically against the idea of a country "selling itself out" through merchandise.
Though, they did get a bit of money from their prestige... and merchants would often seek the backing of nobles.
Well, they weren't exactly struggling, but now we’re in an era of intercontinental exchange.
The name of your country spreading to other lands equates to influence.
That’s why they’re working so hard to start producing national goods, but even then, they’ve only managed things like sweets and trinkets.
They haven't quite grasped the concept of these "mascot characters" I’m holding.
The reason being...
"They say that cuteness undermines the dignity of the state~. I tried suggesting it in Heiden, but it was a no-go."
"Exactly. They’re so stubborn. Well, I drew these precisely because of that pushback."
"Hmm, I’ll consider it. The others, too."
"The others? Ah, come to think of it, everyone else was drawing, too."
With that, I turned my gaze toward the other designs, and saw monsters and paintings rendered with surprisingly realistic detail.
They were safe, certainly, but I was impressed they were drawn so well. I checked the names to see who did them, and saw Fiora and Prof.
Despite saying they were bad at it, they are princesses, after all.
They can draw quite well when they put their minds to it.
As for Prof, it’s no surprise she has those skills given her background in the Information Division.
And as for the rest...
"This one is Yuki’s, isn't it?"
"You’re quick to judge."
"If it’s deformed like mine and actually looks decent, it has to be Yuki."
Yuki is surprisingly good at drawing, too.
When I asked him why a long time ago, he said:
"Well, we all aim to be manga artists at least once. Though, I only dabbled."
I suppose I can understand the urge to draw when you’re always reading manga.
And as for the others... well, they were avant-garde.
To be honest, they were just scribbles.
"Hahaha..."
It’s not that Lyushi, Orelia, Hobis, or Yayui are bad people.
It’s just that people who are good at drawing have either practiced a lot or have immense natural talent.
Being bad at it doesn't make them bad people.
"Aren't these surprisingly good?"
"Eh?"
For some reason, only Yuki was saying that about the avant-garde art.
"Look, it captures the features, and you can tell what it is."
"Ah, well, I suppose."
It was true that you could tell what they were trying to draw.
Whether it was "good" or not was another matter entirely.
And so, the development of our goods continued.
Goods can be all sorts of things, after all.
Back in the day, flags or tapestries were popular, and when I was a kid, it was wooden swords.
The safest bet is local sweets, of course.
Though now, these "mascot characters"—or local characters—are starting to emerge.