Chapter 32

32

“No?”

What am I, crazy? Seol Yejin narrowed her brows, telling her that Seol Yejin was the one who was talking nonsense. If anything, the one who was crazy was yesterday’s Seol Yejin, not today’s.

Yesterday’s Seol Yejin, who gave up the exhibition rights without proper investigation, acting like a fool. It was a mistake as a gallery director.

Seol Yejin, who was rolling a candy in her mouth, added a remark.

“Master. I’m being serious.”

Seol Yejin straightened her back. The curve of her eyes, which had been smiling like a fox, had long turned into a straight line.

“Mr. Kang Seok will become a big name. If I can throw 20 million won to maintain a connection with such a major artist, I will do it as many times as needed.”

This was the intuition of Seol Yejin, a strong player who had survived in this field without gallery connections at a young age.

Moreover, to be able to get a mural from Kang Seok, who will become a major artist later, for 20 million won. Isn’t this a deal with too much profit? Seol Yejin picked up her handbag and stood up.

Suddenly, an article she read a few years ago flashed through her mind. It was about a famous graffiti artist who drew a picture on a wall, causing a 400 million won building to skyrocket to 7.2 billion won.

Maybe it won’t just be someone else’s story. Seol Yejin smiled and looked at Go Dohan.

“20 million won is a small amount. There’s too much of it.”

Seol Yejin briefly greeted Go Dohan, who had a bewildered look, and turned around. She had a mountain of work to do today.

* * * *

The sun was setting, it was 6:30 PM.

The sky, as if to announce that winter had passed, was entirely orange at 6:30 PM in the sketching room.

Kang Seok stared at the sketching room window.

In the distance, the empty school road was visible. Normally, this would be the time to ride a bicycle down that road. But today, it was impossible.

Kang Seok looked straight ahead with a calm face.

The teachers, including Mr. Go Dohan and the part-time teachers, were gathered, engaging in a heated discussion.

It was to select the final three artists whose works would be published in the human figure sketching book.

The works of those not selected as artists for the book would be displayed in a street exhibition within a week, in collaboration with the art academy, as he had heard.

Since the main goal of the project was to publish a human figure sketching book, there would be no monetary compensation for those who were not selected. Instead, they would be given another opportunity by inviting many people related to human figure sketching to the street exhibition, as Go Dohan had initially promised.

Of course, everyone gathered here would prefer their work to be published in the book rather than displayed in the street exhibition.

‘He’s definitely taking care of his people.’

Kang Seok’s eyes moved to Go Dohan, who was carefully examining the scattered sketches. Go Dohan was looking at the human figure sketches more seriously than anyone else.

The floor of the sketching room was filled with the sketches that had been drawn so far. Although they had already been evaluated, they were brought out for the final review.

To check if there were any mistakes in the evaluations done so far, to see if anything was overlooked, and to determine which one was the most comprehensively excellent.

To ensure that both the selected and the unselected would have no regrets, Go Dohan looked at the sketches with a more objective eye than anyone else.

Even if he didn’t select any of them, Go Dohan approached the task with seriousness.

It felt like he had returned to the time of the sketching class placement test. Back then, Go Dohan had meticulously checked if the part-time teachers had made any mistakes or overlooked any talent.

He was doing the same now.

Seeing Go Dohan’s approach, the part-time teachers working under him also examined the sketches with a serious attitude.

Since each sketch could potentially be used for publication, the teachers’ steps, moving between the papers, were twice as cautious as usual.

Among the many sketches, Kang Seok’s were also there. Compared to others, he had drawn twice as much, so they were placed separately, making it impossible not to notice them.

Kang Seok briefly glanced at his own sketches.

Even a cursory look was satisfying. If they weren’t, he would have already torn them up and burned them. The fact that they were preserved like this was proof that each one was a satisfactory result.

‘I did my best.’

Kang Seok found it satisfying. Now, he just had to wait for the results. He looked straight ahead with a calm face.

At that moment, whispers began to come from behind him.

“...I’m probably going to be eliminated. Can’t you just throw them away?”

“Why? You did a good job.”

“Are you kidding? Look at Kang Seok’s sketch next to mine. It’s too much of a comparison.”

“Hey... Comparing your sketch to Kang Seok’s is already a failure.”

The whispers clearly reached his ears. They seemed to think they were speaking quietly, but the whispers were starkly clear to Kang Seok.

“But he really did draw well.”

“Didn’t I hear that Kang Seok only spent about an hour on each sketch? How can he achieve such density in that time?”

“That’s why. Look at the contrast in tones. If he hadn’t continuously applied the pencil in the opposite direction, that density and detail wouldn’t have been possible. Wow. I really can’t believe it. How is it possible in just an hour?”

“Kang Seok can do it.”

Almost all of the whispers were about Kang Seok.

“I heard from a second-year junior at our academy that when Kang Seok draws, he goes all out and it’s like he’s flying. He drew a Venus plaster cast in the second-year sketching class placement test, and it was just a solid figure. A solid figure.”

“...Is it better than the sketches here?”

“Yes...! This is a one-hour sketch, as you said. But apparently, he spent all his time on just one sketch. That’s why, it’s like the Venus is preserved there.”

Kang Seok’s ears perked up. The corners of his mouth twitched. He knew he had drawn well, but it felt good to hear others acknowledge it.

This life and his previous life were distinctly different.

Even if he remembered his past life as Michelangelo, who received reverence and praise from hundreds of people, Kang Seok, who had never experienced such treatment, couldn’t help but be sensitive. His ears turned red without anyone noticing.

Being recognized by Kang Seok was incredibly thrilling.

At that moment,

Go Dohan stepped forward to the students.

Behind him, three part-time teachers were lined up. The fact that all four of them had stepped forward indicated that the evaluation was over.

Go Dohan’s serious expression suggested that they had just concluded their final discussion. His words confirmed it.

“The evaluation just ended. After discussion, the three people whose works will be published in the human figure sketching book are...”

It was really over.

Kang Seok nodded, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment, and repeated the number he had just heard. Three. Three works had been selected for publication. Only three.

“After a long discussion, and after several reviews, I hope you can accept this.”

Though he said it, the shadow cast by Go Dohan’s cap revealed his eyes, which were saying, “What can you do if you don’t accept it?” The students, intimidated by his firm gaze, nodded. Honestly, it didn’t seem like Go Dohan would mix personal feelings into the evaluation.

“First.”

Go Dohan received a sketch from Im Woo-hyun.

The unfolded sketch depicted a woman with short, sharp hair and a tight-fitting outfit, sitting with her legs crossed. The lines from her waist to her hips, like an hourglass, were a work of art.

“Yoo Mi-ji.”

It was a human figure sketch by Yoo Mi-ji. She raised her hand with an excited expression.

“Yes!”

“Though the contrast is too bright and the difference in light and shadow is minimal, making it seem flat, the feminine lines and delicate feel are well expressed, which is why she was selected. It’s chosen based on the expressiveness and atmosphere, so don’t be complacent and keep improving.”

Go Dohan handed the sketch back to Im Woo-hyun and gestured for her to lower her hand. She nodded vigorously and lowered her hand.

“Second.”

Go Dohan received the next sketch from Im Woo-hyun.

This time, the sketch was very orthodox, with a distinctive sharpness in the lines. Unlike Yoo Mi-ji’s soft lines, the face of the woman sitting with her legs crossed was stark and expressionless.

“Choi Young-tae.”

“Yes.”

A male student with sharp eyes behind his wire-rimmed glasses raised his hand. Despite it being summer break, he was wearing a school uniform, and even after a full day of sketching, there was not a trace of pencil marks on his white shirt, which was impressive.

Kang Seok also looked at him.

Choi Young-tae. The rumored student who had been accepted early to the stage art department of Han Yang University of Arts.

Choi Young-tae had an older brother and sister, both of whom were Han Yang University of Arts graduates. Now, with Choi Young-tae, all three siblings would be Han Yang University of Arts graduates.

A tough family, indeed. While Kang Seok was reflecting on this, Go Dohan glanced at the sketch.

“Though the use of negative space and reflected light to create a sense of space is excellent, it’s too sharp. Your sketches are so sharp that even the skin of the human figure looks like a blade. Be careful.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Still, your unique style is unprecedented, which is why you were selected. Keep that feeling.”

“Yes, I will.”

Sharp. Go Dohan smiled and looked at Im Woo-hyun, signaling for the next sketch.

Go Dohan’s smile seemed to predict the next sketch. It was as if everyone could already guess what it would be. Their gazes shifted to one side, as if by intuition.

Intuition. No, it was certainty.

‘It has to be Kang Seok.’

‘Who else could it be?’

Their gazes were directed at Kang Seok’s seat. During the nine hours of daily sketching, the third-year students had repeatedly felt it.

‘He can draw so well.’

And they thought,

‘If I had Kang Seok’s human figure sketching book when I was preparing for the entrance exam...’

If they had to prepare for the entrance exam again, the book they would most want to have would be Kang Seok’s.

While everyone’s gaze was fixed on Kang Seok, Go Dohan spoke.

“Third.”

The sketch left Im Woo-hyun’s hand and unfolded.

How to describe it? The moment the third-year students saw the sketch, countless thoughts intertwined in their minds.

First, the perfect human proportions.

Without even checking the composition or perspective, the proportions felt perfect. There was not a single part that was off, which naturally made the three-dimensionality of the sketch stand out.

At the same time, the balance and weight of the sketch were excellent, without any part feeling lopsided. The sense of movement and the direction of energy flowing from the sketch, which revealed how the force was applied and where the ground was, was truly a new world.

‘I’m experiencing all this.’

‘I understand without you saying it, what is this?’

It was amazing.

Without a single word or explanation, the sketch spoke for itself and made everything clear. It was absurd. Such thoughts flashed through the third-year students’ minds.

They couldn’t take their eyes off the shadows in the sketch. The depth created by the light and shadows was incredible.

Especially, the darkest parts of the shadows were as deep as Vantablack, a new material that can absorb 99.96% of light, making them incredibly dark. At the same time, the way the shadows faded was as light as the gray used to depict hands, creating a sense of space.

“Kang Seok.”

But the fact that the gradient was so natural without a hint of unnaturalness was unbelievable.

‘My hands were just useless.’

As the third-year students deeply reflected, Go Dohan shrugged and chuckled.

“Well, there’s nothing to give feedback on, it’s so perfect. Pass. You have to publish the book. I’ll buy it too.”

“Me too.”

“Me too.”

Go Dohan and the part-time teachers expressed their intention to buy the book, and the sketch returned to Im Woo-hyun’s hands. Announcing the selected artists, who would bring despair to the top 1% of the art world, the event concluded successfully.

“You’ve all worked hard.”

The moment the human figure sketching project ended.

“Let’s grab a meal soon.”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

“Please keep in touch.”

The sketching room suddenly became noisy. Students rushed to their favorite teachers. The third-year students, who looked mature and were about to graduate, returned to being students, chatting away.

“Teacher, I’ll visit often.”

“Sure.”

“I’ll miss you.”

“Sure.”

“Teacher! Are you going to keep saying that?!”

“Sure.”

“Ah!”

The third-year students slowly but not for long, said their goodbyes to the part-time teachers and Go Dohan, and moved to gather their belongings.

Then they left. It was the door to the real world. The next time the third-year students would step into the school would be on graduation day.

Kang Seok watched the third-year students leave the sketching room and stood up last. He didn’t want to intrude on the farewell moment. His farewell was simple.

Since the book would be published, he would see them many more times, and even if he stayed for a month, he would see the third-year students often enough at school.

“I’m leaving.”

Kang Seok left a message and turned around. Or rather, he was about to. But Go Dohan stopped him. He was holding a piece of paper.

“Seok, take this.”

“What is it?”

“That. Remember Seol Yejin, the gallery director?”

There was no way he wouldn’t remember someone he had seen yesterday. Kang Seok nodded. Go Dohan continued, sounding annoyed.

“The mural on the 8th floor of the Renaissance Mall. Seol Yejin found out that you did the work.”

Kang Seok’s gaze dropped. It was a mural commission proposal. The client was the Peony Gallery.

“Seol Yejin wants you to take on the mural.”

Kang Seok’s eyebrows furrowed at Go Dohan’s words. Mural... it was a bit...

Kang Seok was busy.

He still had to finish the sculpting wood left in his father’s studio. He also needed to start on Professor Park Ji-yeop’s project.

He was already busy; did he really need to take on a mural? As Kang Seok tried to back out, Go Dohan added one more thing.

“It says here, but they’ll give you at least 20 million won.”

Twenty million?

The corners of Kang Seok’s mouth twitched.

This changed things.