Chapter 52

52

* * * *

The blue sky.

Gangseok's arm moved quickly.

He was sketching what he had seen inside the marble to leave it as a sketch. On the drawing book on his knees, gray lines were drawn. Gangseok was not satisfied with just one attempt. The pages of the drawing book kept turning.

One, two, three, four, and just as it was about to become five.

The preparatory bell signaling the end of lunch rang.

In ten minutes, the fifth period would start.

Most of the students had already disappeared from the playground. As he watched the students gathering at the main entrance, Gangseok also stood up. It was time for him to go to class.

Tuesday, fifth period.

It was the first sketching class of the first semester of the third year.

.

.

.

At the back of the main building.

If you walk up the stairs in the backyard where the snack shop is located and walk a little, you will find the practical art rooms.

The practical art rooms of Cheonghwa Arts High School are not a single building but a collection of several large and small buildings behind the main building. In fact, each practical art room has a formal name derived from the names of blue flowers.

Gangseok walked to the building on the far right among the practical art rooms. In his hand was a translucent plastic pencil case. Since many students had already entered the building, there was no sound at the entrance.

As he passed through the entrance of the building, a sketch of delphinium was visible.

Delphinium.

It was the name of the building where the sketching room was located.

Thinking Gangseok was looking at the picture, he climbed the stairs. The sketching practical room was on the third floor of the practical art room, officially known as the Delphinium Hall.

When he opened the door and entered, the students were setting up their easels, scattered by class. A familiar scene. The students glanced at Gangseok without realizing it. The gazes of some students who were looking at Gangseok also turned to Go Doo-han.

‘There’s a rumor that Go Doo-han offered him something...’

‘It’s probably true. They say Go Doo-han came to the classroom to see Gangseok before the first period started today.’

‘What?’

And Go Doo-han, not disappointing everyone's expectations, looked at Gangseok, tipped his cap, and acknowledged him.

“You came.”

“Yes.”

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

Though it was a short conversation, the children marveled and let out exclamations of amazement.

Students in the arts and physical education departments are always quick to notice things. While the students glanced at Go Doo-han, who seemed more familiar with Gangseok than with ordinary students,

Gangseok greeted Im Woo-hyun, his long-time homeroom teacher for class D, and turned around.

The sketching room, when you enter, has a large central space like a living room, with two rooms facing each other with the walls removed. On the right are always classes A and B, and on the left are always classes C and D.

Gangseok, instead of going to the left where his body naturally wanted to go, walked to the right.

* * * *

“Do you remember, Mr. Jung, if the piece Seok submitted to the exhibition in his first year of high school was ever sold?”

Joo Sarang, who had a watercolor brush stuck in her hair like a hairpin, turned to look at the side. Joo Sarang was walking down the corridor with Jung Byung-kwon.

Jung Byung-kwon, who usually doesn't leave the sculpture practical room located at the far left corner of the practical art rooms, was walking down the corridor in his work clothes, looking a bit awkward.

If it weren't for the call to attend a meeting for the art exhibition in the principal's office, he would have been holed up in the practical room today.

“Mr. Jung?”

“......Hmm. If I remember correctly, it wasn't sold.”

“Is that so?”

Joo Sarang's lifeless eyes turned to Jung Byung-kwon. Her black eyes always lacked light, whether she was happy or sad. As he nodded, Jung Byung-kwon thought that he was getting used to her eyes.

“Yes. But......I remember that Seok's parents came to take the work every year during the exhibition. They said they would store it instead of discarding it.”

Jung Byung-kwon continued, lost in thought.

“I think they have enough space to store it because Seok's parents run a furniture store.”

“......Is that so?”

Joo Sarang turned her head and muttered. What a pity. If the work had been rotting in a corner of the sculpture room, she might have bought it right away. Early works of famous artists, regardless of their quality or artistic value, always command a premium. Since the parents were storing it, there was nothing she could do. She couldn't go to them and ask to buy it at a low price, even though it would be a good deal.

At that moment.

“You two came together?”

Someone interjected between them. It was Son Dong-wook, the instructor for the sketching class. Jung Byung-kwon, who was close to Son Dong-wook, looked at him with a "Why are you here?" expression.

After all, the people called to the principal's office were only the art teachers. Normally, Go Doo-han, not Son Dong-wook, should have been in this position.

Joo Sarang, surprised by this, also looked at Son Dong-wook and asked.

“What is it? Did Mr. Go Doo-han send you?”

“Yes. He said he couldn't miss class for fear of missing a pearl, and asked me to listen in his place.”

Son Dong-wook laughed heartily.

Jung Byung-kwon and Joo Sarang nodded, thinking it sounded like something Mr. Go Doo-han would say. Joo Sarang nodded and turned the doorknob of the principal's office.

When the door opened, the dark corridor was flooded with bright light. All the lights in the principal's office were on, making it momentarily blinding.

“Mr. Jung, Mr. Joo.”

“Are you here?”

“It’s been a while.”

The other specialized teachers who had arrived earlier greeted the two as they entered the principal's office.

While the design teacher greeted Son Dong-wook, who was entering behind them, asking where Go Doo-han was,

Jung Byung-kwon, after greeting the design, oriental painting, and animation specialized teachers in order, walked to an empty seat. Joo Sarang had already moved to the area near the animation specialized teacher.

“Principal.”

Jung Byung-kwon bowed to the person sitting on the sofa. As he stood up, he noticed a figure standing next to the principal. Who is that? Recalling that there was no one else to come, Jung Byung-kwon looked up.

Silk with a jade hue.

Long, white hair and beard, like those of an immortal.

“T...Teacher!”

Jung Byung-kwon's mentor and the patriarch of the sculpture world.

A first-generation sculptor who brought Korean sculpture to the world under the backing of the San Kang Group.

Yang Seon-gu, who, despite criticism that everyone had lost their hunger, quietly donated his money to Cheonghwa Arts High School, wishing for other artists to have full bellies rather than his own.

“What brings you here?”

Jung Byung-kwon asked Yang Seon-gu, his first words.

“What do you mean? I came to move the marble."

He still wields a chisel for his sculptures, and his straight back and broad shoulders testified to this.

“Marble?”

“Isn’t there a small marble on the playground? It’s a nuisance to have it there, so I came to move it.”

“It’s not a small marble. It’s 19 feet tall, 12 feet wide, and 11 feet deep.”

About 5.79 meters tall, 3.65 meters wide, and 3.35 meters deep. It was a size that clearly didn’t belong on a high school playground. The principal pressed his temples, looking pained.

“Right. I came to move the marble, which is 19 feet tall, 12 feet wide, and 11 feet deep, before April.”

“...April?”

“April is when the sports festival is held. It needs to be moved before then.”

Yang Seon-gu stroked his beard and asked.

“Have you decided where to place it for the work?”

“Ah, that’s the thing.”

Jung Byung-kwon fell silent. He hadn’t decided where Gangseok would work yet. He himself didn’t have a proper studio, so how could Gangseok?

But if he said he had given the marble to Gangseok, who knows what rumors might spread. Jung Byung-kwon kept his mouth shut.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“...Is that so?”

“It’s because Mr. Yang Seon-gu dumped such a huge piece of marble on us. Mr. Jung Byung-kwon is also in a difficult position, isn’t he? Sit down, Mr. Jung.”

The principal, after giving Yang Seon-gu a verbal thrashing, patted the armrest of the seat next to him, indicating for Jung Byung-kwon to sit. Jung Byung-kwon’s gaze turned. Now he noticed that Joo Sarang and Son Dong-wook, who had entered with him, were already seated.

Jung Byung-kwon hurriedly sat down.

As he sat, everyone’s gaze returned to Yang Seon-gu. It seemed the principal wouldn’t start the exhibition meeting until this matter was resolved.

Yang Seon-gu, regardless of whether anyone was looking at him, stroked his beard a few times and closed his eyes, as if deep in thought. After a moment, his eyes opened groggily.

“If there’s no place, we can provide one.”

Yang Seon-gu looked at Jung Byung-kwon.

“What about Bloom on Namsan?”

Bloom?

Jung Byung-kwon’s eyes widened.

Bloom referred to a private art gallery located in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, at the foot of Namsan. It was also the name of a large art gallery created by the San Kang Cultural Foundation, harmonizing the city, nature, and architecture.

The other specialized teachers, who couldn’t be unaware of Bloom, looked at Yang Seon-gu in surprise. It was a gallery run by the San Kang Group. The offer to provide a workspace there was astonishing.

Yang Seon-gu, despite being called a master, could push through such decisions on his own. This moment revealed the extent of his influence in Korea.

“Would that be satisfactory?”

Jung Byung-kwon closed his mouth at the mention of Bloom. He recalled Gangseok’s words about introducing him to a proper studio if he had one. Bloom, indeed. Jung Byung-kwon bit his lip, considering the location.

If Gangseok was to ride his bicycle, it wouldn’t be too far. Even if he worked late, the route to and from home or school wouldn’t be bad.

Gangseok was struggling to find a workspace, and this would be a great opportunity. No, Bloom couldn’t be bad.

Since he couldn’t ask Gangseok, Jung Byung-kwon nodded, deciding to give his permission first.

“If you can arrange it, I would be grateful.”

“Why be so grateful?”

After all, Yang Seon-gu had dumped the marble on him. It was a mistake on Yang Seon-gu’s part, not realizing how few studios Jung Byung-kwon had.

“Since it seems roughly decided, let’s start the meeting.”

The principal nodded, satisfied.

Yang Seon-gu stood up. He had just arrived at the school with a mobile tower crane, a Churela, a large cargo low-bed trailer, and a special mining dump truck. To avoid the principal’s daily calls, he had to move the marble quickly.

“I’ll move it today, so come and see it after school.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Yang Seon-gu, looking at his youngest disciple with a warm gaze, slowly walked out of the principal’s office. Warm sunlight streamed through the window and clung to his hanbok.

* * * *

A night resembling the blue beard of Charles Perrault.

A white crescent moon floated in the sky, alien and unfamiliar.

Gangseok turned off the headlight his father had fixed and slowly got off his bicycle. Bloom Art Gallery, at first glance, seemed as bright as daytime, with a yellow light like a full moon at night.

‘He said he moved the marble I’m supposed to work on here?’

Having only seen it through the internet or media in class, Gangseok was mesmerized by the sight. Whenever he felt the extent of modern scientific progress, the memories of the old man in his stomach resurfaced.

The world has changed so much.

A feeling of novelty, perhaps.

How the world will develop in the future. As such thoughts flooded his mind, Gangseok moved forward.

Or rather, he tried to move forward.

Where should I go? For a moment, he was so surprised that he forgot he had searched for a map on his phone. As Gangseok looked around,

“Lost your way?”

Someone who had been watching from behind spoke to him. It was as if he couldn’t help but speak to a lost child. Gangseok turned at the mention of himself.

An old man dressed like a mountain spirit was looking at him.

Yang Seon-gu.

This was the first meeting between the contemporary master Yang Seon-gu and Gangseok.

53. August 1501