Chapter 74

74

* * * *

Tell me.

When I look at my woman, make me love her.

Let my eyes truly see her beauty.

Let love dwell within me.

...All the beauty you discover is hers, but it grows in the radiance, rising through human eyes to the soul in the heights.

– Excerpt from a sonnet written by Michelangelo around 1530 –

* * * *

September 22.

At noon, white clouds swirled like fish in the blue autumn sky.

The place Jang Seok was heading to was Yongshin Land.

The director of the Bloom Art Museum, Jin Doo-wook, hinted that the Kang Group wanted to commission Jang Seok, and Jang Seok decided to meet him, but it couldn't happen immediately.

– "I'll do my best to set a schedule as soon as possible and contact you!"

Recalling the excited voice of Director Jin Doo-wook, Jang Seok let out a deflated laugh. Perhaps they would meet sooner than expected.

“Master!”

Someone walked up to Jang Seok, who was lost in thought. Even without seeing his face, Jang Seok knew who it was. There was only one person who called him "Master."

“Mr. President.”

Jang Seok still called Jo Dong-beom by his title, the owner of the glass studio.

“It’s been a while.”

“Ha ha, indeed.”

Jo Dong-beom looked at Jang Seok with sparkling eyes. Despite his age, his eyes twinkled, making Jang Seok feel somewhat uncomfortable, but he didn't show it.

“I went to Bongeunsa to see the piece that was installed there. It’s really unbelievable. Just looking at it, I felt something like a newfound Buddhist heart.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It’s also a big deal on SNS. Do you want to see?”

As Jo Dong-beom held up his phone, a truck that had clearly been brought from the glass studio was visible over his shoulder. The truck bed was already full of items.

“It’s fine.”

Jang Seok tapped his sore knee and scanned the back of the truck, covered in a white waterproof tarp. The items stacked under the tarp were likely the works he had commissioned from the studio. Specifically, they were items that could be pre-formed, such as glass molding, resin work, or painting, which were done in advance to speed up the process after the construction was completed.

“Thank you for bringing them. I know you must have been busy with the upcoming weekend and holiday...”

“No, no! This is my job. Didn’t I say I would take care of everything?”

Jang Seok blinked.

– “Master! I can move heavy things well, and I don’t complain about hard work. I’m also really good at cleaning and cooking!”

Thinking of Jo Dong-beom’s subtle appeal to be taken on as a disciple, a smile crept onto Jang Seok’s lips. At that moment, Jo Dong-beom raised his hand as if blinded by the light.

“Recharge your energy, Master.”

“Thank you.”

It was chocolate. As Jang Seok bowed and took the chocolate, Jo Dong-beom blinked, almost in awe. He had been unusually excited all along, almost giddy.

Just as Jang Seok’s suspicion was rising, Jo Dong-beom looked to the side.

“Master. I brought the butterflies you were working on, as you asked... Are you going to decorate the abandoned building with them today?”

“Yes, I will.”

That was why the items from Jo Dong-beom’s glass studio were prepared in advance. Jang Seok nodded, and Jo Dong-beom’s expression brightened like a flower in full bloom.

With his rugged, bandit-like face breaking into a smile, it was quite a fearsome sight.

‘He must be really looking forward to decorating the abandoned building.’

Thinking back, was it when they went to the ecological park?

At that time, Jo Dong-beom had shown a lot of emotion when he saw the butterflies Jang Seok had drawn with colored pencils. Of course, Jang Seok was happy that Jo Dong-beom felt what he intended. Recalling the event from about a month ago, Jang Seok entered Yongshin Land.

The entrance to Yongshin Land was wide open, either because he had already informed them of his arrival at this time or because other people needed to come and go.

As Jo Dong-beom hurried to follow, Jang Seok walked through Yongshin Land.

Yongshin Land Theme Studio Reopening Remodeling.

A placard caught Jang Seok’s eye.

Most of the rides were still old and worn out, which was to be expected.

‘From the looks of it, the government plans to use the theme studio as it is without repairing any of the rides.’

Jang Seok assessed the situation and looked around. The rides were old and worn out, making the place look quite desolate at first glance.

What had changed? Jang Seok looked around, recalling his previous visit and comparing it to his current surroundings.

There were at least one to several dozen changes.

In short, the place was full of vitality, unlike when he visited the abandoned building.

‘The biggest change is probably the murals.’

The paintings on the surfaces of the rides and the walls were colorful and vibrant, changing the entire feel of Yongshin Land.

It felt like looking at a well-maintained used item.

Jang Seok nodded and slowly walked around, looking at his surroundings.

Then, a voice called out.

“It’s Jang Seok.”

“...Is that really Jang Seok? The one who made ...?”

“Yes, the high school student who painted ... as a fresco.”

“What? He recreated ... as a fresco?”

“...What? You didn’t know that the person who painted ... as a fresco is the same as the one who carved ...?”

“What? Jang Seok, who carved ..., is the same Jang Seok who painted ...?”

“Didn’t you know?”

“...Wow!”

The woman painting the wall opened her mouth wide and stammered. Just because someone excelled in one field didn’t mean they would succeed in another.

The deeper you delve into a field, the more endless it becomes.

Yet, Jang Seok, at the age of nineteen, had not only painted ..., one of the most famous works of the creation of heaven and earth, which he himself had never seen, but also carved ..., which was now being considered for designation as a cultural heritage?

It’s really... unbelievable.

She opened her mouth wide, paintbrush in hand.

She wasn’t the only one.

Most of the people who saw Jang Seok slowly walking through the center of the theme park had their mouths agape. It felt like a scene from an animation. People moved aside or to the walls as if Moses was parting the Red Sea.

‘This is awkward.’

Jang Seok, who hadn’t had a reason to visit such a place since completing ..., felt a strange sensation. It was like suddenly becoming a star. Although he had gone through a process, the level of attention he was receiving now was different.

‘It’s nice to be able to walk without bumping into anyone or being delayed...’

But isn’t this a bit too much? Thinking this, Jang Seok took a step forward.

At that moment, Jo Dong-beom, who had caught up to Jang Seok, looked at his face. Despite feeling awkward and excessive, the corners of Jang Seok’s mouth twitched honestly.

‘He must be happy.’

Jo Dong-beom nodded.

* * * *

Ryu Su-hyun was sipping coffee while waiting for Jang Seok. It was a means to extend his life.

When he was sleepy, he relied on caffeine; when he was tired, on intravenous fluids; when he was sick, on intravenous fluids and fever reducers... Ryu Su-hyun had been managing his body in a haphazard way, and today he didn’t hesitate to drink his fifth consecutive double-shot Americano.

Honestly, he felt he needed caffeine to calm down.

– “I can only trust you!”

– “Ryu Su-hyun, you really hit the jackpot this time!”

– “Ryu Su-hyun! Ryu Su-hyun! Ryu Su-hyun!”

Last week.

When ... was installed at Bongeunsa, the viral process became public. It turned out that the sculptor was the Jang Seok he knew.

‘...Jackpot.’

As Ryu Su-hyun read the news in shock.

The fact that the sculptor of ... was the high school student Jang Seok, whom Ryu Su-hyun had recruited for the reopening of Yongshin Land Theme Studio, also spread rapidly in the cultural and arts community.

Originally, there were complaints about why the ticket rights were given separately, why the building entry tickets were made separately, and why they had to support the construction costs. Now, the issue was that the contract fee was too low, and people were grabbing Ryu Su-hyun and shouting.

The amount of caffeine he consumed that week was probably equivalent to what someone would consume in a lifetime.

Ryu Su-hyun shook his head, recalling the terrible memories.

Now that the other building entry tickets in Yongshin Land Theme Studio were known, the complaints would probably decrease. However, the higher-ups were also complaining that they should have signed an exclusive contract or raised the ticket price to benefit from it.

‘Is there really no job for a rich unemployed person?’

While saying this, Ryu Su-hyun was organizing how to use Jang Seok to create viral marketing and further the success of the project.

He wanted to quit and grumbled, but he was the type who, despite pouring his body and soul into his work, felt a sense of satisfaction only when he did his job better than anyone else. That was the cultural and arts zombie, Ryu Su-hyun.

Just as he lowered his head to review the report he was writing, there was a knock on the door, and a familiar voice came through the gap in the container.

“Mr. Secretary Ryu Su-hyun. Are you there? It’s Jang Seok.”

It’s Jang Seok, the artist!

As soon as Ryu Su-hyun recognized it, he quickly ran out. He endured the pain of his thigh hitting the corner of the desk and quickly opened the door. His posture was awkward, leaning on one leg.

“...Mr. Secretary?”

Jang Seok looked at the awkwardly positioned secretary, unsure of how to react.

“You’re here to start working!”

“...Yes, that’s right.”

“Then let’s go...!”

Ryu Su-hyun walked forward, forgetting the pain. His posture was zombie-like. Jang Seok turned his head.

On the desk, there were at least forty coffee cups, by a rough count. Now that he noticed, the air was filled with the smell of coffee.

Huh.

How can his stomach not be perforated and still be alive?

Jang Seok, who had suffered from health issues in his previous life, couldn’t help but praise Ryu Su-hyun’s iron stomach. Just as he involuntarily stuck out his tongue,

“Artist! Let’s go!”

Jang Seok straightened his head at the sound of Ryu Su-hyun calling him. Thinking that there might be more capable people in the world than he imagined, Jang Seok took a step forward with Jo Dong-beom towards Ryu Su-hyun.

It was time to start working on the abandoned building.

.

.

.

Creak, squeak.

Ryu Su-hyun opened the door in front. The interior, which was expected to be dark, was filled with warm sunlight thanks to a glass dome installed on the second floor at Jang Seok’s request.

The two-story building had a unique shape.

Under the glass dome, the space was open, with a high ceiling, as it originally had a tower of dolls, making it feel like a hotel ballroom.

“Wow... This is amazing.”

Jo Dong-beom looked around.

From the outside, it looked like a two-story building, but without the stairs on one side, it was almost a single-story. It was a style of architecture focused on decorating the entire building with goods, rather than dividing it into first and second floors, as it was used as a goods shop.

While Jo Dong-beom imagined the glass studio being installed here, Jang Seok slowly walked under the glass dome.

In front of the glass dome.

A 16-step mobile large stage staircase was installed, allowing a view of the glass dome. The stage stairs, painted black, seemed to blend into the darkness, with a balcony railing reminiscent of medieval European style.

The stairs were quite high, so Jang Seok had requested a railing to prevent falls and injuries.

Jang Seok slowly ran his hand along the railing and looked around.

It was a position that made him think of a human looking up at a god, or Romeo looking up at Juliet at the window.

Jang Seok tapped the railing, seemingly pleased.

Ryu Su-hyun, who had been quietly watching, asked curiously.

“By the way, artist. Can I ask what kind of work you plan to do here?”

He had designed the building as requested, but he couldn’t grasp its purpose.

If Ryu Su-hyun wasn’t a fan of Jang Seok, he might not have allowed the design. So, he asked Jang Seok about his intentions.

The look in Ryu Su-hyun’s eyes was not suspicion but expectation.

The curiosity he had held for months burst out through his eyes and mouth.

Jang Seok looked at Ryu Su-hyun and said nonchalantly,

“I plan to turn this building into a work of art.”

But the words that came out of his mouth were not trivial.

Ryu Su-hyun and Jo Dong-beom’s eyes widened as they looked around.

Turn this building into a work of art?

...Here?

Ryu Su-hyun and Jo Dong-beom looked at each other.

Creating a space as a work of art.

The scale was so vast, so expansive, it was overwhelming.

They couldn’t help but ask.

“...What kind of work do you plan to create?”

What kind of work requires a 60-pyeong, two-story building?

To this question, Jang Seok casually replied,

“If I have to explain... participatory art?”

“Huh?”

“Participatory art?”

Jang Seok’s expression, usually expressionless, showed a hint of mischief. He climbed the 16-step staircase and looked down at Jo Dong-beom and Ryu Su-hyun, smiling.

With both hands, he grabbed the balcony railing, wider than shoulder-width, as if he were the host