Chapter 47

"Fey!"

Fey was in the courtyard. In the twilight, she seemed to be playing with the red dragon. The two of them, dyed in the colors of the sunset, looked even more red than usual.

"Um, I have something I want to ask."

Before I could say more, I had to ask.

When I said that, Fey looked a bit puzzled, then tilted her head along with the red dragon. They get along so well.

"Um, what do you expect from me?"

"Expect? That's funny! You're a one-of-a-kind guy. And, I expect our friendship! ...And of course, as an artist, I expect you to draw pictures."

I asked nervously, and Fey replied without hesitation.

"…Not to make the drawings come to life?"

"Yeah. I want to decorate the house with the pictures you draw. So, of course, they shouldn't come to life! I'd be in trouble if the pictures suddenly started moving, right!?"

I felt a bit let down.

I should have known, but when she said it, it felt like the tension drained out of me.

"Um... This might be a strange question, but, is it because you like me...?"

"Well, yeah, I guess... I mean, it's better to ask a good person for a job rather than a bad one, right? But... I don't really understand this."

Fey scratched her head, stared into space, and thought for a moment... then said,

"Look, you drew my picture, right? When I saw it, I thought, 'I want to decorate the house with pictures like this.' They're soft and fun."

She said this with a smile... then nodded solemnly.

"So, even if you were a bad person, I might have asked you anyway."

"...I see."

I was very happy. But at the same time, I was also anxious.

"Um, I'm not a good artist."

"I don't think so."

"I don't think I should make a living from art. I went to art school and learned, but there are many people who can't make a living from art even after that. I'm definitely not as good as them."

After saying "art school," I thought it might not make sense to people in this world, but it seemed Fey understood the meaning. She tilted her head... then grinned.

"To be honest, I can't really tell if a picture is good or bad. Yeah. I probably wouldn't even notice if someone said it was a famous painter's work."

Yeah... somehow, it felt like him.

"But, isn't that how art is evaluated? It's like whoever shouts 'This is amazing!' the loudest wins, right?"

...I was told something incredibly shocking. But... I couldn't really argue!

"So, if Togo is only worried about whether you can do the job well, just throw it all away and come to me! I don't know if your art is good or bad, but I like it. I'm ready to shout 'This is an amazing picture!' with a loud voice! Besides, if you don't want to do a job, you can just say no. We don't lack money. If you can't make a living, as I said before, we can support you!"

It was reassuring. Very... well, very reassuring.

But I didn't understand why he would say so much.

To "support"... what does that mean? Why would he say so much? What did he like so much? My art? Yeah, I don't understand.

What should I do? I'm getting scared again. What is this?

"…I don't understand the noble's way of thinking. But apparently, for nobles, supporting one or two people is no big deal."

When I was confused, Laokles advised me from the side.

"Just think of it that way. Our values are too different. Thinking about it is a waste of time."

...I was told something incredibly shocking, but I couldn't really argue...

...I thought about it. I thought about it, but I still... I'm still dreaming in this world.

So, I can't give up now. It's too late.

"I think I'll fail. At least, I probably won't achieve the kind of 'success' that many people hope for. I don't want to become the castle's magician, and I don't want to become rich. I probably can't create world-renowned art and achieve a high position, and I probably can't help enhance your reputation."

Thinking it was a bit sly, but I felt it would be too dishonest to become an artist without stating these reasons, so I ended up giving excuses.

"I probably won't be good at actively promoting my art. There might be jobs I can't do well because I'm not motivated."

I admire it, but I know I can't do it easily. I don't have the skills. I don't have the courage to promote my art. I probably don't have the resolve to let go. So,

"That's why I think I'll fail. I can't succeed."

"Alright. That's fine."

Fey said this with a happy smile.

"It wouldn't be interesting or a waste if you became the castle's magician! Right?"

"...A waste?"

"Yeah. A waste!"

I see. So, it would be a waste if I became the castle's magician.

Is it the other way around? You won't say that drawing is a waste, right?

You won't say, 'Don't do such a waste of time,' or 'How long are you going to stick to such a thing?'

...I'm so happy. Is it okay? For something like this to happen.

"Still... Have you really thought about it? Are you okay? I said before, but I'm not sure if I can really protect you even if we make a contract?"

"Protection isn't necessary. I'll try to protect myself. ...But, if you recognize my art, that would make me the happiest."

"Hmm... I don't really understand, but it's fine. If Togo says so, then it's fine."

Fey tilted her head, saying, "Recognize?" Yeah. I don't really expect her to understand. It's fine. Because Fey will recognize my path without even questioning it.

"Also... I don't really want to say this, but, well, we're just a lord of a small territory. We probably can't help you much to succeed as an artist. If you want to become a great artist, it might be better to become the castle's artist..."

Fey suddenly sounded less confident, which was a bit funny. He was so reassuring just a moment ago. Is this how he becomes when it's about himself?

...Yeah, maybe I shouldn't talk about others.

"...I prefer someone who can laugh and feel regret with me when I fail, rather than someone who can make me succeed."

I'm not interested in success. I don't particularly dislike it, but I'm not good at it. So, it's fine if you don't make me succeed.

I just want someone to be with me. I don't want them to say, 'I told you so,' 'You should have listened,' or 'This is what happens when you draw pictures,' when they see me fail.

...If they don't mock or feel disappointed with what I've chosen and achieved, and just laugh and feel regret with me, that would be the best.

"Will Fey laugh and feel regret with me?"

I looked up at Fey, who was in a higher position than me, and asked.

"Yeah! Let's fail together! That means, from today, you're my best friend and our official artist! Great!"

Fey said this with a big smile, grabbed my hand, and shook it.

...I felt a bit relieved. Yeah, maybe I'm feeling a bit "floaty" as Laokles said.

I thought a lot, felt scared, anxious... and nervous. Yeah. The tension is gone, and I feel floaty. It's almost unreal.

"...Is it okay for something like a dream to happen?"

"Of course! You should chase your dreams too! I achieved my dream! Thanks to you! So now it's your turn to achieve your dream! Chasing dreams is free, but it's better if they come true, right?"

The red dragon peeked out from behind Fey and seemed to grin. I can't really tell what a dragon's expression is, but probably.

"Ah, right. If you can't refuse but don't want to do a job, you can just draw the phoenix as a chick again, right? I mean, that story was incredibly funny. I'm actually looking forward to it."

...Yeah, that's right... If he enjoys it, that's good.

It's good... Yeah, it's good. This is fine.

I'm looking forward to it.

Becoming an artist... I'm anxious, scared, and lack confidence, but I'm also looking forward to it.

Then, I slipped into my futon and tried to sleep. But I couldn't fall asleep because I was too awake.

Because I became an artist. I became someone who makes a living by drawing.

I'm looking forward to it, anxious, scared, and very excited. I could feel my heart beating fast... and I welcomed the morning. Yeah. Because I couldn't sleep. It couldn't be helped.

The light coming through the window was quite bright. Everything was dyed in gold or a soft, bright yellow by the morning sun.

Looking at it, I thought... it's the color of a chick. The chick phoenix is orange like a sunset, but this is the color of a regular chick.

"The color of a chick..."

When I muttered this, Laokles, who was sleeping in the bed next to me, stirred.

"...Are you awake?"

It seems I woke him up. Sorry.

"Um, I couldn't sleep."

Laokles looked at me with a puzzled expression... but I couldn't help but smile when I saw his slightly sleepy eyes.

His eyes, which look like the winter morning sun when he's awake and seem to flash like lightning when he fights, now looked... like a different color.

The color in his eyes is the color of the morning sun, the color of lightning... and the color of a chick!

"The color of a chick...!"

"Chick? ...What are you talking about?"

Laokles looked puzzled, but maybe because I looked so happy, he started to smile a little.

Combined with the high spirits from staying up all night, I felt overwhelmed with happiness.

When I got closer to the window, I could see a landscape of chick colors.

I probably won't forget this scenery for the rest of my life. It's the scenery of the morning on the day I set out. Even if the day comes when I have to return to my original world, I won't forget. Ever.

The world illuminated by the chick-colored morning sun is a gentle color, yet dazzling. It's a scenery like a newborn chick.

"The color of a chick. Indeed, you look like the color of a chick right now."

And apparently, I, who got closer to the window, was also dyed in the color of the morning sun, the color of a chick. Laokles was smiling.

...In a sense, I am like a newborn chick now, so this color is very fitting.

Then, I formally went through the paperwork with Fey's father... and became the official artist of the Redgard family.

...I'm nervous. But I'm also excited. I'll do it.

"Then, Togo, I would like to request a painting immediately."

"Yes."

"The first request is a family portrait of the Redgard family. We don't have a single portrait of the whole family."

...It seems I will be able to draw what I like right away.

It's a happy thing. Really.

...I received this request, but I decided to go back to the forest once.

My art supplies were left in the forest, and besides... the models here are time-limited. I feel bad about it, but I decided to do this first.

"You're going to draw our portraits!? Wow, I'm really looking forward to it!"

"Can I really be in it too?"

"Yes."

...As a thank you, I will immediately use Interia and Carnelia as models and draw them.

It's fun. Really fun.

Carnelia can't stay still for a long time, so I take breaks while drawing.

And during such a break.

"...When I was asked to be a model, I thought you might be drawing a nude."

"Huh?"

Interia said something unbelievable.

Nude. Not a rough sketch, but probably a nude.

...No, I shouldn't think about it. It's not good. It's not good.

"Hehe. From your reaction, it seems you never thought about it!"

"Yes..."

When I bought Laokles, there were such women... but nude portraits, yeah, um, maybe later... I want to practice the muscles first...

"But, well, it's a good thing you're not that kind of person. If you asked me to take off my armor and clothes, I would have resisted, even if it was from a benefactor."

"I wouldn't ask that."

Nude models are only for professional nude models. I think it's not right unless they are in that profession.

"Right. Well, if asked, I would resist, but I would comply."

...Um, I don't want you to say such things...

Somehow, by the time the break was over.

"It seems to be popular in the capital. I don't understand it at all, though."

"Huh? Popular?"

I was suddenly asked, and my mind couldn't keep up.

Interia laughed cheerfully and said,

"Nude portraits."

...Yeah.

Um... Will this trend come to this side too?