Chapter 82

Tense, I waited, and Argent took out a piece of paper from his pocket and presented it to me.

"First, please check the conditions."

...I thought it was rather abrupt, and looked at the paper.

What was written there were, I suppose, the terms of my employment.

The conditions... to be honest, I don't really understand them. After all, I don't really understand the value of money. I wouldn't know what '1000 gold coins per year' means.

However, it's not all incomprehensible.

First, it seems that if I sign a contract with the Argent family, I will receive a fine house in the Argent territory.

Then, it seems that I will have the opportunity to work on paintings in the Argent territory and the capital.

And most importantly, I will be able to call myself an artist employed by the Argent family.

...What should I do? I don't need money, and I can draw houses whenever I want. I don't really need more work, and it would be fine if I could just call myself an artist employed by the Redgard family...

"What do you think of these conditions?"

"Um..."

I'm at a loss when asked what I think. Why? What am I troubled by? How to refuse? The fact that I have to give up being an artist for the Redgard family? Because I'm being offered things I don't really need? Or because I have no interest in the Argent family?

...Interest.

Yes, that's it. What I'm troubled by is that I don't understand the 'interest.'

"Um, why did you offer me this opportunity?"

I'm troubled because I don't understand why Argent is interested in me.

"...Why, you ask?"

Argent looked a bit surprised, as if he hadn't expected to be asked this.

"Hmm, that's quite an interesting question."

Is it interesting? ...Do others not care? Is it unusual to be more interested in 'why' they are being hired rather than 'what conditions' they are being offered?

...But, if I think about it, I can understand the reason. Because I am an 'artist.' It means that the person who offered me this opportunity liked my paintings. That's for sure.

No. But I'm still curious. I'm very curious about what aspects of my paintings they liked and which paintings they liked. I really want to know. ...Is it shallow to think that way?

As I waited nervously for Argent's response, he smiled and said,

"What, it's simple. My way is to secure promising talents before anyone else does."

As I listened to Argent's words, he continued with a smile, trying to reassure me.

"Don't worry. I promise to treat you as a talented individual, regardless of your youth. I will pay you the same salary as other artists and treat you as an artist of the Argent family."

However, despite his reassuring tone and voice, I couldn't feel reassured at all.

"By doing so, you will become an artist of the Argent family. You will receive commissions from the royal palace. Depending on the situation, I might be able to recommend you to the royal palace. Your paintings might eventually be displayed there."

The conversation kept progressing, but I still didn't understand. I understood the words, but my feelings couldn't catch up? My understanding couldn't keep up? It felt like I was suddenly lifted up and placed somewhere high where I couldn't get down on my own.

"And people all over the world will praise your paintings as masterpieces. ...Don't you want to seize such a future?"

"Um, well..."

"What, there's no need to be loyal to the Redgard family. I will take care of any compensation. You can even start living in my territory from today. I will prepare a house for you immediately."

...No, that won't do. If I let this go, I'll be carried away to higher and higher places.

"Um, what did you think of my paintings?"

It was sudden, so Argent looked puzzled. But for me, this is something very, very important.

"Did you see my paintings?"

I want to know why this person offered me this opportunity.

I want to know more about what they thought of my paintings than about me as an artist.

...I want to know how my paintings were evaluated by this person.

With that in mind, I asked.

Argent thought for a moment... and then said,

"Yes, of course. I saw your paintings and thought, 'This could work.' They are a bit out of the current trend, but trends are created. I can influence that to some extent."

"...What do you mean by 'could work'?"

"You seemed to be a person of value worth promoting, I suppose."

...Hmm.

Somehow... somehow, the conversation doesn't seem to match...

"That's the reason. Do you understand now?"

It seems that he finished his explanation. Argent ended the conversation there.

What should I do? The part I most wanted to know was somehow evaded, wasn't it? The conversation was about me, not about my paintings, so I wanted to hear about my paintings...

"You would be a waste if you were buried in the Redgard family. I understand there are obligations, but for your own sake and for the sake of the Redgard family that raised you, please come to us and succeed."

...I'm troubled even when he smiles at me.

What should I do? I've been troubled all along. There are so many things I don't understand, and I can tell that something is definitely not aligning, but the other party doesn't seem to care...

...And the fact that the other party doesn't care is something I can't accept.

"Um, I'm sorry. I have to decline this offer."

So, I can only answer like this.

"...Huh?"

Argent looked taken aback.

He probably didn't expect to be refused. That's the look on his face.

"Um... It's just a bit heavy for me."

So I tried to come up with a plausible reason.

I don't know what to say. I can't say, 'I feel something is not aligning, so I have to refuse,' right?

"Hmm... I don't think you should worry about lack of experience. If you keep saying that, you'll never be able to do anything, right?"

Umm... That's true, but I can't come up with a good reason. How can I refuse this person's offer?

My problem has come full circle. I was already thinking about how to refuse when I received the letter, and I thought it might change after hearing the conversation, but it didn't!

No, I don't think it was wrong to hear the conversation. It just confirmed that I can't accept it, but the conversation itself wasn't wrong, but...

"I'm sorry, Lord Argent."

As I was troubled, Cloa beside me looked at Argent with a troubled smile.

"Tougo Uesora is still young and inexperienced. That's why his thoughts and feelings can't keep up. After all, this is the first time he's been offered such a big opportunity. ...No, it's the same for us. Who would have thought that the Argent family would suddenly offer us an opportunity?"

Cloa said this while looking intently at Argent. Then Argent looked at Cloa and seemed to think, 'Well, it's not bad.'

...Somehow, but I have a feeling that Cloa is using a bit of charm magic. Probably.

"Can we have a little more time? He needs time to think. We will also discuss whether he can handle the pressure."

Cloa looked intently at Argent again, this time a bit more strongly.

Then... Argent's eyes seemed to become a bit unfocused.

"You are... Tougo's secretary?"

Then Argent leaned forward, showing interest in Cloa.

"Yes. I take care of his daily life and act as his secretary."

"Hmm. You seem quite capable. And above all, you are beautiful. Fine. When Tougo becomes an artist for the Argent family, I would like you to come as well."

"Oh, what a kind offer. I never thought Lord Argent would say such a thing."

Cloa smiled, and Argent also smiled, looking pleased.

"Hmm... Well, if that's the case, there's nothing I can do. Take your time to think."

...Ah, good. At least, I'm allowed to retreat for now. Good.

If we can retreat for now, let's go back. We left the parlor without being impolite...

"But my mind is unchanged. It would be a waste to let you be buried in the Redgard family. I want you to come to us and succeed as our artist. I will talk to the Redgard family. You don't need to worry about anything. I expect a good answer from you."

At the door, Argent smiled and said this.

"Talk to the Redgard family. You don't need to worry about anything. I expect a good answer from you."

And so we managed to return to our inn.

When we got back, Laocles was on guard outside the window, in the hallway, and in the neighboring room, and Cloa was checking the room... and finally, we slumped and sighed.

"...I'm tired."

"Yes. Ha, it's really tiring."

Cloa said this while undoing her hair and shaking her head. The long golden hair, which had been tied up, now fell in soft waves, looking very beautiful.

...As I stared at Cloa's hair, Laocles started taking off his armor next to me. Yes. He also looked tired. That's right. Armor is heavy. Yes.

And most of all, I was mentally exhausted. I felt a heavy pressure, was tense, didn't understand, and felt helpless, which made me very tired. Now, back at the inn, sitting with the three of us, I felt like saying, 'Ah, I'm tired.'

"Um, I want to refuse this offer."

So my conclusion was quick. Yes. My conclusion hasn't changed from the beginning. With this mental exhaustion, the decision to refuse the offer was firmly made in my heart. No, this won't do.

"Probably."

Laocles, unusually looking tired, finished taking off his armor and sat next to me.

"...Argent called it a 'negotiation,' but you are not for sale. You can refuse."

Ah, that's right. I think that too.

Probably, at that point, I was already bothered. This is not a 'negotiation' for me. It might be a matter of whether this person will buy me... but being bought is something I don't want.

"Absolutely, the worst are those old men who are drunk on their own 'business acumen.' They have power and money to waste. Ha, absolutely..."

Cloa, unusually, was speaking harshly. But even a harsh Cloa is beautiful. A tired Laocles and a harsh Cloa. I want to draw them. I will draw them. I immediately took out my sketchbook and started drawing.

"Eh, are you drawing now?"

"Yes. I felt like drawing..."

I can talk while drawing, but a harsh Cloa and a tired Laocles are not something you see every day, so I have to draw now.

"...Hehe, that's like you. Well, looking at you makes me feel better."

Eh, I don't want you to feel better yet. Just a bit more, the expression of a harsh Cloa...

As I drew a bit more, Laocles suddenly said,

"...After all, you should refuse that offer. You seem to be interested only in drawing. If you have no interest in honor, status, or money, there's no point in accepting such an offer."

"Yes."

That's right. I have enough money and a place to live... and the kind of evaluation offered, somehow... doesn't match.

"I didn't really understand what that person was saying."

As I said this while drawing Cloa and Laocles, Cloa looked at me with a puzzled expression, and Laocles raised one eyebrow.

"What do you mean? You understand the words and the meaning, but... you don't understand the feeling?"

I recalled.

When I asked Argent about my paintings, Argent... somehow, didn't talk about the paintings, I think.

"That's why I might be feeling uneasy. I don't understand why I was evaluated, so I feel uneasy."

Being evaluated is like being given a place... so if I don't understand why I can be in that place, I feel uneasy.

I think being evaluated is a happy thing, so I should be happy about this offer...

...But for some reason, I'm not just troubled, I'm not happy at all.

"Well, it can't be helped. Even if the other party offers you a place, you don't want to be there, do you? ...And the Argent's idea of you is not your ideal, is it?"

As I was troubled, Cloa said this and reached out to touch my head. Then she stroked my head. ...It feels a bit complicated when Cloa treats me like a child.

"If you are told to sit on a beautiful chair and smile, or to be put in a beautifully crafted birdcage and sing for people who come to see you, you would be troubled, wouldn't you? Or you would dislike it, wouldn't you?"

...Eh?

"You want to be in the forest and draw, but you don't want to sit on a high chair or sell your paintings. I think. I think the conditions Argent offered are not bad, and many people might seek such conditions... but you don't seek them, so it can't be helped."

...That's right.

Evaluation is like being given permission to be in a place, and even being offered a place... but this time, the place Argent offered is not a place I want to be.

Being told to sit on a luxurious chair is less appealing to me than being invited to sit in a meadow in the forest.

That's what it is. Probably. I won't be happy with a place I don't want to be. That's why I'm not happy now.

"Yes. I still want to refuse that offer."

I feel sorry to refuse such a good offer and feel bad for the other party, but still, the place I want to be is... not the Argent family.

"Right. Do that."

"I also think you should do that."

Laocles and Cloa smiled a bit and said this. Yes. I'm happy that they smiled a bit.

...Ah, I missed drawing a harsh Cloa and a tired Laocles...

"But the problem is whether they will let you refuse."

Eh.

"If you refuse, they might put pressure on the Redgard territory. That old man."

"...He said he would talk to the Redgard family. They might already have some arrangement."

"Yes. The Redgard family might already be under pressure from Argent."

...I hadn't thought about that.

Indeed, when I think back, Fay's behavior was strange.

If it were the usual Fay, I think he would have tried to keep me. Even while saying, 'Ultimately, it's up to Tougo,' I think he would have expressed his feelings.

...But this time, he didn't say anything. He told me to make all the decisions.

That... I thought it was to encourage me not to hesitate about going to the Argent family, but maybe it was different.

Fay didn't say anything to prevent me from thinking, 'Will I cause trouble for the Redgard family if I refuse the offer?'