And with the introduction with an (almost) new character, we end this chapter!
(Due to certain circumstances though, it unfortunately may take a while before her plot thread can get picked up again...)
Although, this is not entirely the end, the next strip will be an epilogue again.
Easy? Yep! Pierre-Renard more or less contracted her by accident! It seems that Umami isn't particularly picky regarding her assignments, just really eager to draw blood!
Cheap? Good question. I imagine that she'd come back for demanding her payment after the deed is done. And if you can't or don't want to pay her... Oooh, boy...
(Speaking of MMMMM by the way, I initially worried that wearing her katanas crossed on her back would render Umami looking a bit too similar to her. And there is even yet another lady wearing hers that way in a ComicFury comic. But then I thought: Screw it, the character who popularized this way of katana-carrying in Western media did so since the 80s!)
That's an interesting kind of contract... And a serious one too D: Is there something fantastical about her? I feel like there must be some kind of reason she'd make deals like that...
There isn't anything inherently fantastical about her - but she has that mysterious spherical device you can see in the first panel.
Maybe she does control the Shadow Ninjas with it.
But it's primary function is... well, she didn't enter this room by just waking through the door. Notice all those sparkles around her? And the fact that she is standing in the middle of some strange pit?? ;-)
Overall, Umami sems to have been well received so far, which is great! It's just unfortunate that it may take some time until we will really see her in action. It makes me ponder if there is a way for me to show bits of what she is doing somewhat earlier. For example, I had the idea to do some kind of vignettes with Pierre-Renard between chapters anyway, so why not extent that "new format" to her...?
Clever idea - but she isn't a djinn or other entity that is magically compelled to follow its own rules, so trying that might well result in her making up the amendment that "smart-alecks simply will get stabbed". ;-D
Yep, Pierre-Renard isn't actually blood-thirsty. He says "I'll kill him" in the way one may talk about someone that one is really angry at - it's not meant literally.
Unfortunately though, in doing so, he just hired an assassin by accident...
Surely there can't be any blowback.
Cheap? Good question. I imagine that she'd come back for demanding her payment after the deed is done. And if you can't or don't want to pay her... Oooh, boy...
(Speaking of MMMMM by the way, I initially worried that wearing her katanas crossed on her back would render Umami looking a bit too similar to her. And there is even yet another lady wearing hers that way in a ComicFury comic. But then I thought: Screw it, the character who popularized this way of katana-carrying in Western media did so since the 80s!)
Maybe she does control the Shadow Ninjas with it.
But it's primary function is... well, she didn't enter this room by just waking through the door. Notice all those sparkles around her? And the fact that she is standing in the middle of some strange pit?? ;-)
This may be the proverbial "devil's bargain".
Overall, Umami sems to have been well received so far, which is great! It's just unfortunate that it may take some time until we will really see her in action. It makes me ponder if there is a way for me to show bits of what she is doing somewhat earlier. For example, I had the idea to do some kind of vignettes with Pierre-Renard between chapters anyway, so why not extent that "new format" to her...?
"The name of the person who will die at my place, is... Umami!"
NO NO NO NO PIERRE, THIS IS NOT THE CORRECT WAY TO REDEEM YOURSELF
Though elsewhere, I have already dropped hints about what Pierre-Renard will do to redeem himself. Someday I will this up in the comic proper...
Unfortunately though, in doing so, he just hired an assassin by accident...