All the Heroines are my Ex-girlfriends

Chapter 109: Eromanga-sensei

Eriri was in deep sorrow.

Curled up on the couch, she cried incessantly.

As a result, the task of helping in the kitchen fell to Kato Megumi.

The two of them went into the kitchen and started their time cooking together.

While washing and sorting the vegetables, Kato Megumi curiously asked:

"So, is Eromanga-sensei really that great? Is they better than Sawamura-san?"

In Kato Megumi's eyes,

Eriri's drawing skills were already exceptional.

After all, she was the top talent in the Toyogasaki art club.

Yukima Azuma sighed, looking at Eriri's aura.

How unlucky could this kid be?

When he became a light novel author and began posting his stories online, while promoting them,

He was really just hoping for some luck.

But the result, after just one morning,

He hit the jackpot immediately.

"Well, they's amazing," Yukima Azuma explained. "Although emotionally, I lean more towards Eriri, if we're talking purely about drawing skills, Eromanga is definitely a step ahead."

Kato Megumi slightly parted her lips, showing a surprised expression, almost saying "Oh."

"Eriri... you know, she draws R18 works, and in that field, she's considered the best."

"But Eromanga is different, they're an artist aimed at all ages, not a manga artist, just an illustrator."

"Just based on drawing skills alone, they've gathered a huge fanbase and have a very strong influence in the illustration world."

"Online, sometimes people joke that buying a light novel is like buying illustrations from Eromanga-sensei, and the story is just a bonus."

"But for works Eromanga is involved in, there are actually people who think like that and buy them, and it's not a small number."

With Yukima Azuma's simple and easy-to-understand explanation,

Even someone like Kato Megumi, who wasn't in the industry,

Now understood the value of the name Eromanga.

She turned her head and looked out of the kitchen.

How strange, isn't it said that those who are foolish live happily? Why is Sawamura-san's luck so bad?

Such thoughts crossed Kato Megumi's mind.

Of course, she would never say these words out loud.

It was just a bit of her darker, unspoken personality.

"By the way." Turning back, Kato Megumi changed the subject. "Azuma-san, you also write light novels, right?"

Yukima Azuma nodded.

At this point, there was no point in hiding it anymore.

As long as Kato Megumi didn't see the content, there wasn't much of an issue.

"When it gets published, I'd like to give Megumi a copy. Would you mind reading it when it comes out?"

"Huh? You want to give me one? I was planning to buy one after it's released."

"But, Megumi doesn't really read light novels, does she?"

"Well, anime, light novels, those things... I don't really understand them."

"Then why would you want to buy one?"

"Because it's a light novel written by Azuma-san, so I want to read it and see."

Yukima Azuma tilted his head and looked at Kato Megumi.

He felt that recently, writing light novels had made him a little dumb.

How could he ask such a question?

She's Kato Megumi.

The person who, no matter how much you talk about things she doesn't understand, would still be willing to listen and try to understand seriously.

She's the undefeated "Saint Megumi."

"What's wrong, Azuma-san?"

Noticing Yukima Azuma's gaze, Kato Megumi tilted her head, her tuberose-colored eyes blinking.

"Oh, it's here, the eight-degree head tilt and the wink—it's the legendary spell that can steal someone's heart!"

"Oh~! I didn't expect you to know that. But now that the spell has been cast, struggling is useless."

"I can't control myself anymore, I can't stop kneeling under Megumi's skirt. For Megumi, I offer my whole heart!"

"Azuma-san, that's dangerous! And you've spilled water all over your clothes."

"Ah, sorry, I got too into character."

Yukima Azuma put the kitchen knife he was holding back in its place.

The move just now seemed to have been risky for cutting his fingers.

Of course, with Yukima Azuma's cooking skill at level 7, even with handling a kitchen knife, he wouldn't hurt himself.

But at this moment, it was best to just quietly obey.

A serious Megumi has the power to make people listen.

.....

After lunch.

"Today it's my turn to wash the dishes, right?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha stood up, cleared the dishes from the table, and went into the kitchen.

"Ah, just the right time. I have something I want to discuss with everyone."

Yukima Azuma snapped his fingers, as if remembering something, and also went into the kitchen.

Kato Megumi and Eriri curiously followed.

Yukima Azuma took the greasy dishes from Kasumigaoka Utaha's hands.

He started by scraping off the food scraps and throwing them into the trash.

Then he placed the dishes into a white machine that looked like a microwave.

He arranged them neatly and then closed the machine.

"Done. From now on, if it's your turn to wash the dishes, just do it like this."

"This is a dishwasher. It has a drying function, so once it's washed, just leave it in there, no need to worry about it."

A few minutes later.

With a 'ting' sound,

Yukima Azuma opened the dishwasher and took out the sparkling dishes, as good as new.

"How convenient."

"It feels like something invented by someone who doesn't want to wash dishes."

Yukima Azuma, who had just been mocked by Kasumigaoka, could only helplessly shrug.

"Meh, laziness does drive progress. Isn't the purpose of technology to make life more convenient?"

"This is a product developed by company, and it's still not released yet. What I brought back is a prototype."

.....

In the afternoon.

Eriri obediently returned to her room to immerse herself in drawing the artbook.

This time, she didn't complain about being tired.

She didn't delay either.

She was solely focused on quickly completing the task at hand.

Even though she had been hit hard at lunch, Eriri had almost recovered by now.

After all...

"Hmpf, that Eromanga has been famous for a long time, and all their illustrations are in a ero style."

"Someone like that is definitely the type of creepy older guy from the legendary of otaku world. Umu, it must be."

"The pink profile picture is probably just to attract fans."

"Someone who can draw such seductive illustrations cannot possibly be a cute girl. There's nothing to worry about."

Eriri reassured herself with this logical analysis.

After all, it was just some creepy older guy.

It wasn't a big deal.

...

On the other side.

Yukima Azuma had accepted Eromanga's friend request.

Immediately after, he initiated a video call.

After about four or five minutes, the call was finally accepted.

On the other end of the video call was a room so dark that the surroundings couldn't be clearly seen.

Only the vague shape of a bed could be made out in the background.

In front of the screen, in the white light emitted by the screen, there was a person wearing a giant pink anime character mask, sitting very close.

"Hello, may I ask, are you Eromanga-sensei?"

"Yes, I am Eromanga. And you must be Yukima Azuma-sensei, right? Why the sudden video call?"

The voice in the call was clearly altered by a voice changer, sounding like a machine, impossible to tell if it was male or female.

Even though the person on the other side was wearing a giant mask and using a voice changer, Yukima Azuma immediately recognized that it was a girl.

Yes, it was the cute girl who drew seductive illustrations that he remembered from his memory.

Compared to appearance or voice, the structure of the body was the best way to recognize gender and age.

With his sharp eyes, which seemed to see through the world along with his cooking vision, Yukima Azuma only needed to glance to see the true nature of the girl on the other side of the screen.

"I'm truly sorry," Yukima Azuma said sincerely.

"But since this is related to the person who will be illustrating my light novel, I wanted to confirm it myself."

"Because... this is a work I've put my heart and soul into, and I absolutely have to choose an illustrator who is up to the task."

The person on the other side of the screen slightly frowned behind the mask, her eyes clearly showing some discomfort.

Sudden video calls in Japan were often seen as socially unacceptable behavior.

But because of this, Yukima Azuma's explanation moved the other person deeply.

"Understood! I completely understand Yukima-sensei's thoughts! Please, go ahead."

"Whatever the test is, I will pass it. The illustration for Saekano can only be entrusted to me!"

A voice, full of determination, rang out from the other side.

Yukima Azuma nodded, as if he had already anticipated this development.

He knew that Eromanga-sensei placed great importance on the emotions conveyed through a work. As long as they shared the same viewpoint in this regard, the relationship between them would naturally improve.

For now, they would cooperate a few times.

Then, he would bring her to Laplace Corporation.

A genius artist who had likely reached level 7 in drawing skills.

Moreover, she seemed the type to be easily influenced.

If he didn't "catch" her carefully, it would truly be a waste.

"Eromanga-sensei, please draw a picture of Kujou Megumi first. I want to see how you portray this character."

Yukima Azuma made the request.

On the other side of the screen, Eromanga nodded in agreement.

The camera switched to presentation mode.

On the drawing software, the strokes quickly began to sketch the outline of the character.

After defining the basic bone structure, each detail was added from top to bottom.

In less than ten minutes, a full-body black-and-white illustration appeared on the screen.

Even though it wasn't colored yet, the character already exuded such life that it amazed anyone who looked at it.

The character in the drawing seemed as if it could step out of the picture at any moment.

The appearance of the character resembled Kato Megumi by about fifty percent.

To be able to imagine a character so well based only on textual descriptions was, without a doubt, the work of a genius.

As Eromanga was about to begin coloring the character, Yukima Azuma suddenly spoke up to stop her.

"Eromanga-sensei, please wait a moment."

The strokes halted.

The camera switched back to face mode.

Perhaps thinking that a direct conversation would show more respect to Yukima Azuma, but she still wore the mask.

The eyes behind the mask showed signs of worry, as if she feared Yukima might say something displeasing.

After reading Saekano on the "Let's Become a Novelist!" page today, she immediately became fond of the work.

No matter what, she wanted to be the illustrator for this project.

"Eromanga-sensei, I understand how you perceive the character. I can feel your intentions through the illustration."

"I'll send you two photos. Please use the character in the pictures as a reference for Kujou Megumi."

"And one more thing... I know your style leans toward the seductive, but for this work, please hold back a little."

After saying this, Yukima Azuma sent two photos of Kato Megumi to Eromanga via Line.

One was of Kato Megumi looking spaced out, and the other was of her in a focused state.

After sending the photos, Yukima Azuma added:

"These photos must not be shared outside. Please delete them once the illustration work is completed."

On the other side of the screen, Eromanga nodded seriously in agreement.

Then, she leaned forward to examine the two photos carefully.

At first, she didn't think much of them.

But after observing them more closely for a moment, her eyes widened in shock behind the mask.