About Pele

No surprise at this point, but making this book gets easier every time. We shouldn't have any trouble finishing it now.

...Hmm. Now that we're gonna have more free time, why don't we take a break and visit Kilauea?

Is Kilauea different from the other volcano we visited, Mauna Kea?

Uh, yeah. Like, completely different.

Mauna Kea's a dormant volcano, while Kilauea's still active.

It's got lava, magma, smoke...all of it.

What's more, people say that Pele lives near its mouth.

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Hmm... Let's see...

Well, if we're talking Pele and volcanoes, then we also gotta cover the snow goddess Poliʻahu! She lives on Mauna Kea, but I bet you coulda guessed that.

They say that whenever Pele tried to chase her away with lava, Poliʻahu would cover the lava up with snow, which is why it's so cold there.

They say Poliʻahu always wore a white cloak, and that Pele had a black one.

Pele would frequently try to kill Poliʻahu, but would always end up getting outwitted.

According to all the legends, Pele never managed to beat her once.

Now that we're here in Hawaii and all, you oughta brush up on your Hawaiian mythology too.

I mean, that's the sort of knowledge we're gonna need in this battle, right?

...Though to be fair, I never thought Pele would be mixed up in all this either.

A goddess with a black cloak, huh... That does sound appropriate for BB.

I heard they also went for the same kind of men.

In one of the myths I read, Pele fell in love at first sight with a male demigod from Oahu by the name of Kamapuaʻa.

Kamapuaʻa had a beautiful singing voice, one that carried all the way to Pele's ears on the island of Hawaii.

But when she went to meet him, she learned the truth: Kamapuaʻa was actually half man, half pig.

They say Pele mocked him for being a pig, but that didn't stop her from marrying him.

Don't know if it was the fact that she'd already fallen for him, or if she just didn't mind the pig side as much as she let on, but anyway.

...That doesn't surprise me. Pigs are smart, docile creatures who like to keep clean, yet can grow to be fearsome boars if left in the wild.

I can understand why some people don't care for pigs...but regardless, there aren't many gods who rule over them.

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That has nothing to do with this whatsoever! Besides, it's the Holy Grail's power that lets her turn her enemies into pigs!

I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need to check your progress.

How many pages have you all completed so far?

...I'd say between half and two-thirds. We're making good time.

Oh wow, and it's still just the third day! That's amazing!

Thanks. At this point, getting it done won't be a problem.

Though if I could take just a little more time on it, I think I could brush it up even more...

I still don't know much about manga, especially doujin, but wouldn't it be better to focus on meeting our deadline in this case?

Well, yeah, you're not wrong. But still...

So you want to up the quality this time too, huh. In that case, why don't we bring on more assistants?

That'd be great. At this point, I'll take help from anyone or anything. Human, pig...hell, even a cat!

You rang!?

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Did somebody say help from a cat!?

...Do you know anything about making manga?

I played around with screentones once.

You're hired!

Hm? What's going on?

Cat just dragged me here...

I wanted you to make me something yummy and nutritious that'll keep me awake and give me energy for days.

I've got computer work to do, and I can't go messing it up with cooking oil.

Th-that's a rather tall order.

...But, okay. I'll see what I've got in the kitchen, and I'll bring it up when it's done.

Good luck!

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Oh! I'm sorry, but I don't have enough ingredients for all of you...

What is it you're low on?

Hmm... Well, I could use more chicken. I've already got plenty of veggies.

Chicken, huh...

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Oh yes.

Leave the hunting to us, Master! Don't worry, we'll be back before you know it!

We're going to need a delicious, nutritious meal to give us the push for this last half, after all!

There we go. This ought to keep us all fed for a while.

I'm a little worried about how they'll taste, but Lady Boudica knows what she's doing!

Perhaps she'll make fried chicken...deep-fried chicken...or even one of those turducken things I've heard about using nothing but chicken!

Oh?

Why the mountain of chicken? There a party I haven't sniffed out yet?

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Last half? For a doujin?

Whose? Jalter's?

She was serious about that!?

I'm not sure Lady Alter would be too pleased to hear you shorten her name like that...

I see, I see. And here I thought she gave up a while back.

Hmm. I'm only versed in the art of reading manga, so I can't do much besides cheer you on...

...but I'll be sure to stop by your table on con day.

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I see...

In that case, I kind of feel bad for you.

I mean, it's pretty much a lock as to who's gonna sell the most books this year...

Hrmph, it makes me sick. I wouldn't touch that chick's book if she paid me!

Hey, Blackbeard! Great timing!

Yeah?

You know that book I was telling you about? "Medb's Rocking Photo Collection"?

Hrmph.

Well, the limited edition comes with special "Be Medb's Footstool" tickets, but there's a limit of two books per customer, so I was hoping you could help me by

I've heard enough. Die!

What was that fooor!?

So she's even ensnared my own elites with those thicc thighs, huh? That's it. No more Simping Blackbeard.

If you get a chance to ruin her beach contest thing, maybe I'll find a way to help you do that. Duhuhu.