Giant Doujin of 108 Altrias 3

Okay, that takes care of Cool Altria, Downer Altria, Emo Altria, and Chill Altria.

They're all inked up and ready to go.

Great job.

And we just got...Airhead Altria's page from Jeanne d'Arc.

Although...what exactly is an airhead, anyway?

(Sob) Not ready yet.

I'm still not sure how I'm supposed to make someone so duplicitous also seem cute...

Excuse us. We're just a group of passing wicked officials who happened to overhear, and we had an idea.

What if you had her frame an innocent man so that she could take his wife for herself?

Whaddaya think!?

There's nothing cute about that. Now shoo. Go on, pass on already.

Aaah... (Vanishing like grains of sand in the wind)

Not ready, either.

For a start, I really don't know how to make someone seem like a genius.

I just don't have enough knowledge to depict a genius...

Ah, hello. As it happens, I am a genius, and I was just passing by. I am happy to tell you that all you need do is draw ME!

No, you should draw me!

Perhaps you would be best served by drawing me!

Hmm... For the time being, I think I'll go with Voyager as my model.

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Yan Qing, can I speak with you for a moment?

Sure, what's up?

Um, I'm just concerned that we're...way behind schedule.

Gotcha.

Well, we knew what we were getting ourselves into when we decided to draw 108 Altrias.

Hard to be surprised that we're falling behind schedule, considering.

Yes, that's true, but still...

All right. I suppose we'll just have to ask the capable editor for help.

I do hate to add to her burden, especially as young as she is, though.

Hey, don't worry about it. I'm sure Chloe'll figure something out!

Achoo!

Oh. Are you coming down with something? ...No, that's not it, is it?

Someone's probably just gossiping about me. Anyway, I wanted to ask you, Huyan Zhuo...

Yes?

Why'd you suddenly decide to start drawing a romantic comedy?

Huh!?

Hm?

Oh, uh... Um...

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I guess it's because...I wanted to do something I never got much of a chance to do when I was alive.

Plus, there was just no way I could justify spending my time drawing with the way the world was back then.

I see.

... ...

Hey, Master? Can I ask you a favor?

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I'm really thirsty. Would you mind getting me something to drink?

I know that since I'm your Servant, I should probably be the one doing that for you, but

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Thank you, Master♡

I'll come with you then. I'm supposed to be here to keep you safe, after all.

Thanks, Lancelot.

Okay, there. Now, mind telling me the REAL reason, Huyan Zhuo?

Wh-wh-wh-what're you talking about!?

What do you mean? You were obviously fibbing before, right?

Urk.

You sounded like a toad getting run over by a semi... Anyway, it seemed like you couldn't be honest with Master around, so now's your chance.

D-do you really want to know what badly?

Yeah. Besides, I get the sense this'll be juicy.

So you're just a busybody!?

...Well, anyway...

I guess telling you won't change anything, so...

Hmm?

Apologies for the wait. We didn't mean to take so long.

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Thanks, Master♪

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Thank you, Master. Oh, and Chloe? Please keep what we discussed to yourself.

I will, don't worry♪

Huh? Aren't you curious what Huyan Zhuo and I were talking about?

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Yup. I won't tell you, even if you ask.

... ...

Okay, let's hang in there a little longer!

For a while, making the doujin was going well...but then, another problem reared its head.

You'll never believe it, but...

...Huyan Zhuo's mental health slowly began to unravel...

Aaaaaaaaah!!!

Are we sure people are going to be okay with this doujin!? Are we sure the people who buy this aren't going to stone us!?

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Oh, don't worry. She does this all the time. It's kind of like a regularly scheduled freak-out.

That said...

Ulp... Ulp... I hope people accept this... I hope they don't hate it...

I hope I don't get canceled... I hope they don't all give it zero stars.

I hope they don't tear me to shreds on Servantgram... Maybe I can hit them before they hit me...

Yeah, it seems especially bad this time.

Although, that last bit sounded like something any self-respecting outlaw of Mount Liang would say! Good for her!

True. She is technically our club's star member.

Apparently, this is what she always gets like whenever we hit the final stretch.

Hm, it really feels like we should be doing more to help. Want us to call a doctor?

Please don't. I don't want to make an even bigger scene...

I don't know. This seems fairly hopeless.

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Ghh...

Hmm. You do seem like you're doing worse than usual.

Well I've never done a collaboration with multiple artists before...

They all turned in such great work, too. Some of them are better artists than me, and have bigger fanbases, too...

So I'm feeling threeno, four times the usual weight of expectation, and tenno, twenty times the usual pressure...

I really don't think you need to feel responsible for them as well... But, I suppose you can't help it.

There you have it, Master.

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Would you mind?

Whoa, just like that, huh? Impressive.

Okay, thanks! We're counting on you!

Sure there is. Just cheer her up as best you can.

Yeah!

Whatever you tell her, Leader, I'm sure it'll work wonders!

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Ulp... What is it, Master?

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... ...

You mean it?

...Wh-what specifically did you think was great?

(Hang in there, Master!)

The characters are three-dimensional? The emotional twists and turns keep things fresh to the end?

There are no characters you don't like or find annoying? The only flaw is that it's too short?

Heh... Hehehe... Hehehehehe. I see. Is that so!?

(Nice touch throwing in that last "flaw" that isn't a flaw at all. You're basically saying you wish you could spend more time reading it.)

(Way to go, Leader!)

O-oh. Oh?

"Many feels, such cutscenes, much heartrending do all these Altrias mean I've died and gone to heaven no if anything it's closer to hell what is this what is this the way the story breaks your heart before rebuilding it feels like a warm hug in book form incidentally the thirty-sixth Altria is my favorite!"

W-wow. I don't know where that came from, but I can already feel the confidence welling up inside me anyway!

Even though you said it all so fast I don't think I quite caught all of it!

(I'm not sure there were many actual compliments in there.)

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Okay, I'm ready for the final push! Will you help me, everyone!?

Then let's gooo!

Yeeeah!

It's done... It's done! It's finally done!

We did it!

Congratulations, Huyan Zhuo. But, are you sure about this? I think you've still got another book in you.

...No, this is fine. That was always more of a pipe dream, anyway.

I still haven't given up entirely, but I do think it's important to know when to step away.

Besides, I'm proud I managed to finish this book. Thanks to everyone's help, it turned out fantastically.

Gotcha. In that case, I won't say anything more.

Thank you so, so much, Master! I think we're finally ready to publish this book!

Oh man. So many Altria faces...

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Gosh, there really are a ton of me, aren't there?

All these different art styles really keep things interesting.

Hmm. I don't really understand these picture stories myself...but maybe they would appeal to my sons?

I've been away from the wider world for so long, I no longer have any sense of what makes a popular story.

Oh!

Huh, so that's the kind of girl you like, Tianhua? Well, I'd say this one here's way more my type!

Hmm. I suppose this one seems fine. She appears to have a great deal of spirit.

I-I don't know if I can decide...

I guess everyone really does have their own tastes.

This is Yoroshiku Mount Liang's first major collaboration. Whatever the convention brings, we'll be ready!

Thank you for your help, Master!

Next up, the launch party! You'll stay for it too, right, Leader!?

We don't want trouble with the committee, so let's have a nice, low-key celebration in our room!

Hmm, I like that idea. Very well, I'll go buy the alcohol and snacks.

Juice for me, please!

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