Chapter 96

The next day, I was painting in the park with the clock tower. This seemed to be one of the painting spots that Cloa had thoughtfully prepared for me. As expected of Cloa’s recommendation, the clock tower was a magnificent building. The tower, made of slightly faded bricks and cream-colored plaster, had a large clock. ...It seems that the clocks in this world tell time according to the sun and moon, and for that purpose, gemstones with the power of the sun and moon are embedded inside. ...Perhaps something like a quartz clock.

Anyway, while admiring this mysterious clock, I began to paint it. Since the clock tower is tall, a composition that looks up might be good. The faded color of the bricks could be nicely captured with a quick watercolor touch. I feel a bit happy when I find such a watercolor-like landscape.

The park with the clock tower had fewer people than the square in front of the castle. It was a quiet place, and it might be just right for painting. However, it wasn’t completely empty, so I was occasionally spoken to. My name was asked a few times, just like when I was painting in the square in front of the castle.

In the midst of this, as I was diligently painting... two fairies flew over.

"Unusual, isn’t it?"

These two fairies seemed to be city dwellers. They probably sneak into shoe stores to sew shoes, or into kitchens to steal cookie and bread crumbs, or into wine cellars to take a sip of wine. Probably.

...And these two fairies were looking at my painting intently and seemed quite pleased. Did they like it?

"...Did you like it?"

When I asked, the fairies said something in fairy language and nodded, then hugged my finger and shook it up and down. This is how fairies shake hands with humans, I know.

The fairies continued to look at my painting with a smile for a while, but then they said something and both of them started pulling on my sleeve.

"Huh? Are we going somewhere?"

Even if I asked, I couldn’t understand their language, so it was pointless... but the two fairies kept pulling my sleeve.

I had no choice but to follow them. They led me to the shade of a tree and stopped.

...What is it? Is there something good in this shade?

I looked around a bit, but I didn’t find anything special. Ah, no, I found a beautiful flower. A type that doesn’t exist in the forest. A city flower...?

...But it seems the fairies didn’t want to show me the flower, so I was a bit confused. The two fairies were still holding my sleeve and kept glancing at where I had been... at the sketchbook that was about 50% colored.

"...Is there something?"

When I asked, the two fairies nodded several times. I see. There is something. ...But what? I have no idea.

From the fairies’ behavior, it didn’t seem like they had any hostility towards me, so I thought they were doing this for my benefit.

Because of this, I couldn’t move at all...

I spent a bit of a confusing time. The fairies kept me firmly in place while staring intently at the sketchbook I had left behind.

...And then.

"Ah!"

A man sitting on a bench in the corner of the park, noticing that no one was around, stood up quietly and approached my sketchbook, and then...

He tried to walk away with the sketchbook in his arms.

Before I could move, the two fairies moved. They flew at an incredible speed and appeared in front of the man. Fairy sparkles danced, and the man, who saw this, stopped in confusion.

"What are you doing!"

Then the man was easily caught by Laocles, who had suddenly appeared from the shade of the tree.

...Huh, Laocles was there? I didn’t know.

"Why did you steal it?"

In front of Laocles, who was standing tall, the man was sitting on the bench, trembling and shrinking. By the way, the fairies were floating on either side of Laocles, also standing tall, but the man couldn’t see the fairies. He could only see the sparkles, and he occasionally looked up in confusion.

"Because... there was a painting there..."

And that was the man’s answer. ...In other words, he wanted the painting, not the sketchbook. Either way, it would be a problem if it was stolen.

"Quite a cheeky answer, isn’t it?"

"Ah!"

When I was confused, Laocles took a step closer to the man. The man shrank even more. ...Yeah, I can understand that Laocles is a bit scary. A looming statue... no, a looming guardian statue. Yeah. Full of presence.

"Ah, um, can I talk for a moment?"

But in front of the guardian statue, the man couldn’t talk much, so I stepped forward in front of Laocles and the fairies.

The man looked a bit relieved. ...Yeah, I stepped forward to have a calm conversation, so this is fine. But... I guess I lack presence. Yeah...

"Are you a painting thief?"

When I asked, a bit dejected, the man looked surprised and shook his head.

"Not a thief! It’s not that!"

"...Then why did you try to take this painting?"

It’s a bit strange for a non-thief to try to take a painting. Hmm, did he really like this painting?

While thinking this and waiting for his answer...

"...Aren’t you Togo Uesora?"

Suddenly being called by name, I was a bit surprised.

"Huh? Ah, yes."

When I answered, the man nodded as if to say, "I thought so."

"I heard it from someone else just now. That you are Togo Uesora."

"Ah..."

I remember, I talked to an elderly couple who seemed to be taking a walk. And this man was on a nearby bench. If he wanted to, he could have heard. I see. He was listening.

...And that was the end of the man’s story. Huh.

"Um, so, did you try to steal the painting because I am Togo Uesora?"

The conversation was cut off, and I wasn’t sure what was going on, but maybe this person is a fan of mine? Hmm, if so, it would be a bit nice...

While thinking this...

"Because... Togo Uesora’s unpublished work was right in front of me! With this, I can become Togo Uesora too!"

...I don’t think so. Yeah.

When I was a bit confused by the unexpected answer, the man, still holding my sketchbook, said:

"Will you sell this to me? I can somehow manage the money!"

"No, I have enough money..."

This conversation feels like something I did yesterday. Hmm...

...While I was feeling a sense of déjà vu and being confused, Laocles appeared from the side.

"...Are you impersonating Togo Uesora?"

When Laocles said this in a low voice, the man shrank again.

"Is your purpose money?"

"Ch, no..."

"Then what is your purpose for impersonating him?"

With Laocles’ looming guardian statue presence, the man was completely shrinking and trembling.

"Speak."

Still, Laocles was relentless, glaring at the man and pressing him...

"To get the attention of a woman I admire..."

...And the man answered.

Yeah. This was unexpected.

"...A woman you admire"

When I asked, the man nodded. I see. Yeah. ...This is a bit of a dilemma. What kind of face should I make to ask this?

"Do you think she will pay attention to you if you have Togo Uesora’s reputation?"

When Laocles said this, completely exasperated, the man nodded several times. I see...

"She seems to like artistic men. So when I said I was Togo Uesora, she said I was a fan of his paintings!"

Thank you for that.

...I would have preferred to hear that directly. But, is that too much to ask?

"By the way, do you paint?"

"No, not at all..."

I see. Lucian and this man... there are quite a few people who claim to be painters without painting.

While I was a bit puzzled, the man grabbed my shoulder and pleaded with a desperate look.

"So, when I bought Togo Uesora’s paintings and put them in my room, she completely thought I was Togo Uesora... and actually, things are going well between us! So don’t interfere! Okay!"

What should I do? From what the man said, it seems to be a bit of a difficult situation.

I don’t want to interfere with them, but the idea of being in a relationship with a woman I don’t know is... well, a bit... embarrassing? Troublesome? Hmm. How should I put it?

While I was being shaken by the man and feeling troubled, Laocles, who was looking up at me, gently pulled my hand and pushed the man back, sighing bitterly. Yeah. I see. This is troublesome.

...But, there is one thing I definitely want to do.

"...Um, can you please return the sketchbook? It’s not finished yet. Besides, I have a lot more I want to paint."

The sketchbook the man was holding. I need to get it back to continue painting.

When I held out my hand, the man... hid the sketchbook behind his back.

"No! If I have this, I can become a more perfect Togo Uesora..."

...But at that moment, the sketchbook behind the man floated up.

"Huh!?"

The man, who couldn’t see the fairies, was surprised, but I and Laocles could see the fairies. Seeing the two fairies working hard to hold both ends of the heavy sketchbook and flapping their wings, I felt a bit grateful and happy.

The fairies worked hard, and the sketchbook finally returned to me. Thank you.

"What... what was that?"

The man couldn’t see the sparkles, so he must have been quite surprised. But in front of me, the fairies were smiling and putting a finger to their lips, so I didn’t say it was the fairies’ doing.

"Thank you for returning it."

When I thanked him, the man was still in shock. He was that surprised. I see.

"Um, and if possible, I would like you to stop using my name..."

After that... I thought it might be a bit harsh, but I decided to say it.

"Such! Then what should I tell her!"

As expected, the man resisted. Yeah. Hmm...

"You could tell her you were lying."

"But she will hate me!"

"Is that my concern?"

Laocles was cold. With a marble-like expression, Laocles said this... and then glared at the man.

"If you want to continue this conversation, you will have to come to a court of law."

In the end, it seemed that Laocles’ words were the deciding factor, and the man promised to stop using the name "Togo Uesora."

But his girlfriend will probably break up with him. Since he was lying, it’s only natural... but if his girlfriend liked him for something other than "Togo Uesora," it would be very regrettable.

...Yeah. I don’t want to be in a relationship with a woman I don’t know, and I don’t want my sketchbook to be taken, but I don’t want to interfere with them.

"Um"

I gently called out to the man, who looked dejected. He immediately looked up.

"...Would you like to paint with me?"

So I suggested.

If the woman he likes