Gaka to AI

The shadow of war is cast over the small nation of Oatland. Maurice, a young painter, acquires a gnome, a new species of creature that "can immediately do whatever you show it how to do." Maurice dotes on the gnome, impressed by its abilities, but his fellow painters, feeling the gnomes are stealing their jobs, start an opposition movement to ban the gnomes and kill them. Maurice, believing there is great potential lurking in the gnomes, obstructs the movement and busies himself with searching for a way for the gnomes and painters to coexist.

(Source: Kodansha, translated)