Chapter 8

008-1

Wow!

Teacher Jusa is the best!

In front of Seoul City Hall, a loud cheer echoed. At the same moment, a flock of pigeons took flight.

The pigeons flew in a V formation toward the gray sky. Other students from different schools looked on in surprise. Teacher Jusa let out a chuckle. The children hugged each other in celebration.

The black padded jackets the children wore revealed the uniform of Cheonghua High School of Arts.

"Cheonghua High School of Arts..."

A member of Jinho High School's art club muttered nearby. Then, as if on cue, nine tour buses appeared in front of City Hall.

It was the moment the High School Mural Competition began.

* * * *

The evaluation project for the national funding of visual arts.

The High School Mural Competition.

The beginning of this project was the public art initiative Art in City 2006, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, managed by the Public Art Promotion Committee, and sponsored by the Lottery Committee.

The Art in City 2006 project aimed to improve the living cultural environment in marginalized areas through public art. Among these, the Naksan Project became the predecessor of the High School Mural Competition, as Kang Seok heard.

"It was Ewha Village."

Ewha Village, located between Hyeonhwa Station and Dongdaemun Station, was a run-down area. The project aimed to improve the visual environment of Ewha Village with murals, revitalize the village with relatively low costs, and prevent residents from leaving.

To protect the village.

To ignite the spark of life in Ewha Village.

This was their goal, and in 2010, when a variety show introduced the wing mural in Ewha Village, the small spark placed by the Naksan Project caught fire.

The following year, Ewha Village became famous as a mural village, and the trend of painting murals on village walls spread across the country like wildfire.

"The beginning of the three-generation mural village, Ewha Village."

However, just as fire does not always bring hope, the light that illuminated the marginalized darkness grew wildly and burned the land.

In 2016, the residents of Ewha Village, who had sparked the nationwide mural painting craze, began to suffer.

Ewha Village, which had become a mere mural village due to garbage, noise, and unwelcome visitors, had become an undesirable place to live.

Now, with placards demanding consideration and the smooth adjustment between tourists and residents, it has become a popular dating spot. However, at the time the issue emerged, it caused significant trouble for the government.

The public art was criticized for losing its meaning, and the government was urged to find solutions, making the future of the new national industry uncertain.

At that time, the SanKang Group proposed something to the government.

That was the High School Mural Competition.

If the problem was garbage, noise, and unwelcome visitors, then the solution was to reflect this in a place where such issues would not arise. It was a proposal to change the direction.

Thus, a public art project was established.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism organized it, the Public Art Promotion Committee managed it, and the SanKang Group sponsored it, launching the public art project.

Again, Art in the City (Art in City Again), ACA.

Commonly known as the High School Mural Competition.

This was an unusual long-term project among the annual new projects of the Art in City series.

Although it was inspired by 2006, the goal of the High School Mural Competition was not to improve the run-down Changsu Village.

Their goal was to improve the visual environment of marginalized bustling areas in the city.

Places where people should gather but do not. Places that have lost their function and are gradually disappearing from society, to which they wanted to bring a small spark.

This was their business goal.

"And we are the cheapest labor hired to achieve their business goal."

Kang Seok scanned the approaching commercial buildings with a cold eye.

The High School Mural Competition provided a giant sketchbook and coloring tools in the form of city buildings to qualified high school art club teams every year, using very cheap labor to carry out the project.

High school students gained a line of experience for their life records and self-introductions, and the government succeeded in improving the working conditions of citizens without a large investment, making it a win-win industry.

"Without having to renovate the building, for free, and by just vacating the building for a short time during the winter, there are no complaints from the local residents."

The tour bus, which had stopped due to a traffic light, sped up. A wall covered in graffiti flashed past Kang Seok's eyes.

"Currently, the average price of murals is 30,000 to 60,000 won per square meter, and for areas less than 30 square meters, the minimum cost is 1.4 million won, excluding options..."

Kang Seok rolled his eyes for a moment to do some calculations.

This year, 17 high school teams are participating in the High School Mural Competition. Ten buildings are being used, and each building has at least twenty mural works.

The winning team gets 10 million won, the runner-up gets 5 million won, and the remaining teams get 2.5 million won as participation prizes. It's an unbelievable windfall.

"Kids, let's get off."

While Kang Seok was shaking his head at the absurd way the project was proceeding, the tour bus carrying the largest participating team, Cheonghua High School of Arts, arrived at the destination.

Glancing out the window, he saw a tall building. It was clearly the building assigned to the Cheonghua High School of Arts Mural Club.

Kang Seok stood up from his seat.

At the front, students were getting off the bus under the guidance of Teacher Jusa and the graffiti team with whom she shared a studio.

Kang Seok followed the line and slowly got off the bus.

The first thing he saw upon getting off was a sign.

Renaissance. It read Renaissance.

The large sign above the entrance of the gray building's first floor exuded confidence from its opening day. The Renaissance Complex Shopping Mall. This was the building assigned to Cheonghua High School of Arts.

Kang Seok, looking up at the Renaissance Complex Shopping Mall from behind the students, furrowed his brow.

"Renaissance... What a name."

Renaissance.

It was the name of the era when Michelangelo lived in his previous life.

While Kang Seok was lost in thought, Teacher Jusa, standing in front of the students, pulled out a pencil from her ear and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear before speaking.

"As you can see, this complex shopping mall, Renaissance, is the building assigned to us for coloring. It's the largest scale in this year's High School Mural Competition, and unlike most teams that are assigned to the same building in pairs or threes, we are the only team assigned to this building."

She smiled sweetly.

It was a proud smile reflecting her seven-year consecutive winning record in the bizarre and hastily organized public art project, Again, Art in the City (Art in City Again), ACA, since its inception.

Teacher Jusa, after reminiscing for a moment, turned around. The 8-story Renaissance Complex Shopping Mall, with its 1 basement and 8 above-ground floors, came into view.

The Renaissance Complex Shopping Mall, where 30 students from the mural club and 30 mural spaces were allocated, was to be completed over a period of 16 days, including 2 weeks.

Only students who had been active in the club for more than 3 months could participate in the mural painting. In other words, each student from Cheonghua High School of Arts had to take charge of one wall to complete the project neatly.

Looking at the Renaissance, which would take up almost half of the winter break, Teacher Jusa took a deep breath.

"Alright... Let's go in!"

Teacher Jusa took a step forward. It was the first step toward lifting the 8th trophy for Cheonghua High School of Arts.

.

.

.

The complex shopping mall, empty due to the suspension of operations during the High School Mural Competition. The personal exploration time given to confirm the mural locations.

Ding— Ding.

Kang Seok, who was inspecting the 7th floor alone, lowered his head. More precisely, he looked toward the source of the vibration coming from his pocket inside his padded jacket.

Pulling out his phone from his pocket, he saw KakaoTalk notifications continuously appearing at the top of the screen.

It was from Kang Chae-young.

She must have seen the cradle left in the studio. Imagining her jaw dropping in surprise, a deflated laugh escaped Kang Seok's lips.

Ding—

Ding—

Keep wondering, he thought. After sending a message saying he was busy, Kang Seok put his phone back and scanned the 7th floor again.

He seemed to have seen everything. Without hesitation, Kang Seok stepped onto the escalator heading to the 8th floor.

As he slowly ascended, the noisy voices of the children began to reach his ears. Most of the children had already quickly inspected their assigned areas and were now on the 8th floor.

Listening to their buzzing conversations, Kang Seok fell into thought.

Everyone would want to be the MVP. They must have noticed that the MVP-worthy mural locations were already decided.

Not necessarily, but there were a few large-scale mural locations that would be hard to ignore if the team won. Kang Seok recalled them one by one.

The massive wall in front of the central square on the 1st basement floor.

The exterior wall visible from the opposite side of the 1st floor.

The wall in the lobby accessible through the entrance on the 1st floor.

The massive pillar visible when moving from the 1st to the 8th floor via the central escalator.

The sliding wall leading to the 3rd floor duty-free market ceiling.

The wall of the 4th floor manga cafe.

The massive wall in the 6th floor movie theater lobby.

'To get 5 million won, it would be best to be assigned to one of these 7 locations.'

Thinking this, Kang Seok realized he needed to correct his thoughts. It wasn't seven but eight. Kang Seok took a step off the escalator.

8th floor.

The massive wall immediately visible upon exiting the escalator.

'This wall makes a total of 8.'

Kang Seok slowly inspected the final wall that seemed to lead him to MVP status.

The massive white wall occupying one side of the 8th floor was impressive. To approach the white wall, one had to climb half a floor of stairs, and in the center of the wall was an arched passage.

The arched passage was large enough for two or three people to walk through at once, yet it looked small compared to the massive wall.

Beyond the passage, greenery was visible, suggesting it led to the 8th floor rooftop garden. With everything blocked, the passage stood out prominently, perhaps to focus the viewer's attention.

'Incredibly large.'

After dismissing his thoughts on the final wall of the Renaissance Complex Shopping Mall, Kang Seok turned around.

He headed toward where the Cheonghua High School of Arts students, Teacher Jusa, and the Jusa Crew were gathered.

It seemed they were preparing to assign the murals by posting a white notice on the wall next to the elevator. Kang Seok approached slowly.

Just then, Teacher Jusa straightened up from her crouched position.

"Everyone's here."

Teacher Jusa roughly counted the number of people and pointed to the notice with a nod.

The graffiti crew moved in unison. In their hands was a single paper box with holes.

"If we leave it, you'll all stick to a few walls. Let's do a simple lottery for the mural assignments this time."

A few students complained about the unfairness of the lottery. Teacher Jusa, scratching her head with a pencil, muttered as if it were a bother.

"It's better for my mental health to assign good walls and then scold the students who paint them poorly."

Any complaints? Teacher Jusa's black eyes turned toward the students who had complained.

Her eyes were so dark that no light seemed to penetrate them.

Swallow. The students who met her gaze shook their heads vigorously from side to side. The corners of Teacher Jusa's eyes curved up in an instant as she glared at them.

"If there are no complaints, let's start. The order is..."

Her gaze landed on Kang Seok, who was at the very end. It was a rare encounter. As Kang Seok's eyes sparkled, her pale pink lips formed a curve.

"Let's do it in reverse alphabetical order?"

Reverse alphabetical order. Kang Seok would be the last.

.

.

.

"B1-1."

B1-1.

The massive wall in front of the central square on the 1st basement floor. The main wall. Another person had been assigned to the main wall.

The students' gazes turned to the male student holding the paper. He was the ace of the mural club and a second-year Western painting major at Cheonghua High School of Arts.

'Good luck.'

Kang Seok's bitter rival, Kim Dong-hui, was assigned B1-1.

While the students' envious gazes were directed at Kim Dong-hui, Kang Seok counted the remaining spots. The lottery was still ongoing.

"4F-6."

"Next."

"2F-3."

Now, only the 8th floor main wall was left. Kang Seok couldn't touch it, and the spots were being assigned one after another.

Teacher Jusa nodded in satisfaction. A few strands of her bright yellow hair fell.

If this continues, all the good walls will be gone before Kang Seok's turn. Teacher Jusa's eyes flickered with calculation.

'Kang Seok has been a sculpture major for two years.'

Kang Seok's paintings were rarely seen and hard to expect. Mr. Jeong Byung-gwon wouldn't feel sorry for him for no reason. Just working hard won't help in the High School Mural Competition.

So, the reverse alphabetical order was a good choice. It was a clean way to ensure Kang Seok wouldn't get a good wall. This way, an eighth consecutive victory was almost guaranteed.

Despite this, Teacher Jusa's expression was peculiar.

The space for the 8F-1 mural, the top line on the notice, was still empty.

The massive partition wall leading to the rooftop garden entrance on the 8th floor.

The only mural spot on the 8th floor and a crucial main wall location was still unassigned. Surely, it wouldn't be left unassigned. One of Teacher Jusa's eyes furrowed.

The situation was not in Teacher Jusa's favor.

The lottery order, which had quickly decreased after Kim Dong-hui, was almost over. Only four people were left. Teacher Jusa's anxiety was becoming a reality.

"5F-2."

"Next."

Now, only three people.

"Oh, 6F-5."

No, another person had just been eliminated, leaving only two people who hadn't participated in the lottery. One was a first-year, and