Vol. 4 Chapter 2

Translated by Mlzkzr Edited by Mlzkzr

——I, Hiiragi Seiichi, helped Ranze-san, and it’s been a month since I was supposed to have Louise and the others see my skills, and training magic.

I spent the month shopping with Saria and Al, and taking requests to collect and kill slimes and other simple things.

I didn’t tell Saria and Al about what happened in the royal castle. Since that’s what I promised them.

However, I did tell them that as a prize for the Royal Capital Cup, they were going to help me train my skills and magic.

At that time, for some reason, Al had a rugged expression, and Saria had a complicated look on her face. I wonder what happened.

Rurune, hasn’t gone back to being a donkey since then, and she often eats at street stalls with me …… I don’t have to worry about money, but Rurune’s appetite is scary. She ate more than twice as much as I do……. Not that I’m getting an upset stomach either, but even so, I think I was still modest as a 『human』. As a 『human being』!

At any rate, I was having a fulfilling day, but today I had to go out for a certain business.

That business, was the charasty painting competition.

Since both Clay and Mei, would be participating in this competition, I couldn’t help but go see them.

When I told this to Saria, Al, and Rurune, they said they would come with me, so we headed to the venue together.

“Painting …… is a world that I don’t quite understand, so …….”

Al spilled out as she folded her hands behind her head.

“No …… I don’t understand it well either. How about you, Seiichi?”

Saria, in response to Al’s words, asked me, so I answered honestly.

“No, honestly, I don’t really understand it either. Rurune also don’t understand it, right?”

“Eh? I know it, you know?”

“Hah!?”

Her unexpected reply made me shout out. Although she’s a donkey…… she can understand art……!?

Then, Rurune says with her chest out.

“Art…… in other words, is a food.”

“Alright, you don’t know it”

I’m relieved to see Rurune as usual.

After that, as we walked around talking about other things, we arrived at the venue of the competition.

“They’re doing it here huh……”

The place where the Charasty Painting competition was going to be held, was the square where I first met Mei.

Usually, there would be many stalls open, but today, not a single one was open. Instead, there was a huge stage and a lot of people were flooding it.

“Amazing…… I’m sure not if all of these are participants, but I wonder how many painters are in this group.”

“Hey, Seiichi. Are you sure you don’t want to see Mei?”

When I was surprised at the large number of people gathered at the venue, Al asked.

“It’s okay. Besides, with all these people, it’ll be hard to find her, right?”

“Certainly……”

Al also smiles bitterly at the large number of people.

However…… it is really crowded. Perhaps, that’s why there are so many strange people here, though.

For example, there’s a person dressed like a clown. Though he can’t really perform in such a densely populated area.

There were also others, such as those who wear clothes with indescribable designs, and those who carry weird sculptures, etc.; there were a lot of weirdos in the crowd that I hadn’t seen in this city.

“As expected of artists …… they have an insatiable appetite for self-aggrandizement……”

When I was terrified by the people around me, suddenly, I heard an announcement, like the one at the Royal Capital Cup.

『———— Thank you very much for your patience. We are pleased to announce that we will now be holding the Charasty Painting Competition』

“““Ooooooooooooooooooohhh!!”””

After the announcement of the young man, everyone at the venue got excited.

“Uwahh! That’s a lot of heat!”

“That’s right …… I didn’t expect that it was such an exciting tournament ……”

I agree with Saria’s impressed voice.

Al and Rurune were similarly confused by the cheers from the people in the surroundings.

『Now then, let me introduce the judge of this competition. The judge for this year’s competition will be the genius of painting, who have established a number of painting methods———— Leon Berger-sama』

After hearing the voice of such an announcement, I heard surprised voices from the surroundings.

“A,are you kidding me!? That 【Painting Saint】 Leon!?”

“Not only did he popularize the abstract paintings that have become famous now, but he also pioneered perspective and shading techniques……”

“That person, is said to have advanced the modern painting by at least 100 years ……”

At what they were muttering in a small voice, I was surprised.

Even the technique that is commonplace for painters on Earth, is different in this world, so if he’s created a technique in this world that even I know about, then he must be a pretty amazing person.

Or rather, I’ve heard the name of Berger family from somewhere before…….

When I couldn’t remember where I’d heard it before, like the Royal Capital Cup, an old man was projected in the air by the magic projector.

The old man with a gentle smile on his face must be the one called Leon-san. He is old, but I can tell from his face that he used to be handsome.

Then, Leon-san said something in a gentle voice.

『I’m looking forward to seeing the best work you’ve put your passion into. 』

“““Uooooooooooooooooooooooohhhh!!”””

The heat which became even greater than before, enveloped the venue.

Amazing. That’s how much this old man must be admired by painters.

『Leon-sama, thank you very much. Well then, I would like to move on to the judging immediately. The no. 1 person, could you please』

In this way, the charasty painting competition began.

However, one unfortunate thing, is that there are so many people that I can’t get close to the stage and I can’t appreciate the work properly, so I have no choice but to confirm it with the image projected in the sky.

I’ll just have to accept that this is inevitable.

Somehow, when we were looking at the image in the sky, various paintings appeared. They ranged from paintings that portrayed landscapes that were so realistic that they could be mistaken for the real thing, to paintings that depicted things that couldn’t be understood well, such as that of Clay’s.

Leon-san then carefully evaluated each of these works, and was telling both the good and the bad about it.

All the participants who were evaluated seemed to be very impressed, as he did not only point out the bad points, but also the good points.

『————Now, there are only two people left. Then, the next one. Could you please show it』

And, after the announcement said so, Clay with a majestic gait appeared on the stage.

……Ah, that’s right! As I think that it’s a family name I’ve heard somewhere, it turns out that it was the same as Clay’s family name!

As I was surprised to realize this now, I heard voices from the surroundings.

“He, is the grandson of 【Painting Saint】……”

“His imposing figure is amazing as expected.”

“Umm …… what kind of work is he going to show……?”

Everyone, is paying attention to Clay’s work.

I don’t understand Clay’s painting well, but for the artists around me, it would be different.

With this thought in mind, I looked at the image of Clay projected in the sky.

Then a work of art, about twice Clay’s height in both length and width, appeared with cloth covering it.

“I,isn’t it big? The other paintings were smaller, right?”

Al asked next to me because it was so big.

…… For a short time, I wasn’t too surprised in my opinion because I know Clay has great confidence in himself.

『Clay Berger-san, please give us the name of your work』

When the announcer urged him to do so, Clay proudly removed the cloth that was covering his work.

『The name of my work…… is 【Art】! 』

What came out from under the cloth, was a bright red sun painted on a plain white drawing board.

Yes, it was a 『sun』.

“Tha,that painting of Clay…… you’re saying that it’s decent……!?”

『…… I wonder why. It feels like I’ve just been made a fool so much just now…… 』

I was truly surprised to see Clay on the video, muttering with a complicated expression on his face.

At any rate, this is the same guy who called a mere triangle 『A picture of a maiden staring at the setting sun on the beach, thinking of him in the sunset』, you know?

But the picture that was being projected in front of me now was a huge sun, burning bright red.

“Seiichi. Your friend, draws amazing pictures, doesn’t he”

“Yup, yup! It’s a beautiful sun!”

Al and Saria were also surprised by Clay’s painting.

“Hmm…… it looks like an apple to me ……”

Rurune-san. That’s just you.

Even so, the sun drawn on the white drawing board …… is like a Japanese flag.

I suddenly had such a thought, but there would be no one here who would understand it.

『Clay-san. Well then, please introduce your work』

『Alright! First of all, what I put into this work is my passion for art! This hot and burning feeling …… It’s just like a lighted match, you know? 』

What a tiny feeling ……!

I mean, isn’t that the sun!? Is it a match fire of that size!? Looking at it, it’s the sun, though!?

Even though you carefully paint the sun flare!

『That’s why, my painting was different from everyone else’s, and I didn’t draw anything extraneous. This blank drawing board is my body, and the fire of the match in the middle, is my enthusiasm for art. 』

『I,I see…… To my eyes, it looks like the sun, though……? 』

『It’s a fire of a match! Don’t make a mistake there』

『Ha,hah』

Clay. You are you, as ever……

I thought it was a decent painting, but in the end, I was relieved to see that Clay hadn’t changed a bit.

Then, it was time for Leon-san’s review.

Leon-san was silent for a few moments, but he then slowly opened his mouth.

『————I too, think it looks like a lighted match. 』

You too!

I quipped Leon-san’s comment in my heart.

Even though you’ve given a decent review so far, you don’t have to show the same blood as Clay here!?

When I looked aghast, I heard the voices from the surroundings again.

“……It’s abstruse”

“Ah…… it’s esoteric”

“As expected of the grandson of 【Painting saint】 …….”

“To declare that a match fire ……”

Why are you terrified!?

Am I crazy for being a normal person? Artists are scary.

When I was by myself and frightened of the artists, Leon-san said in a gentle tone of voice.

『Clay …… you’ve always been a honest child when it comes to painting. Certainly, all your works were difficult to understand to the people in your surroundings, but even so, every painting you drew had one thing in it, a feeling. Even in this work, the reason why you called it a lighted match instead of the sun is because you wanted to express that moment when the sun will eventually burn out someday, right? 』

『As expected of grandfather …… My life, is not as big as the sun. But even in that little life, my feelings are burning so fiercely that I can mistake them for the sun …… That is, my art. 』

Deep……!

It’s so deep, both of you!

No, Clay, who drew that painting, is amazing.

After receiving Leon’s explanation, I felt like I understood what Clay was trying to express somehow.

…… As I thought, it was an area that I, an ordinary person, couldn’t understand.

Does that mean that the triangle painting, which I don’t even know if I can call it a painting, was really 【A picture of a maiden staring at the setting sun on the beach, thinking of him in the sunset】? …… Oh lord, I don’t understand it at all.

『Fufu. Clay …… Your passion, has been well communicated. Therefore, you should try to convey those feelings to more people, not just me. ……That’s, my challenge to you』

『! Yes!』

Thus, the judging of Clay’s work ended.

That means that the next person will be the last one————

『…… Well then, it’s time for the last one. May Cherry-san, please show your work. 』

————It’s Mei’s turn.

After the announcement, Mei, looking nervous to say the least, appeared on the stage. …… Mei, your hands and feet are coming forth at the same time, you know ……

Following Mei’s lead, a work of the same size as Clay, appeared with cloth covering it.

Seeing Mei looking stiff and nervous, Al next to me makes a worried sound.

“O,oy…… is she okay? That girl. Isn’t she so nervous that I’m getting worried for her?”

“Ah…… yeah, that’s right. But there’s nothing we can do about it……”

Yes, there’s nothing we can do about it.

That’s why, Mei must do her best on her own.

I looked at Mei, while cheering her on in my heart.

『So, Mei-san. Please introduce your work』

『Ye,yesss!?』

She’s getting all nervous.

When the announcer called out to her, Mei’s dog’s tail stretched out, and she stiffened even more.

However, Mei broke her rigidity on her own and took a slow, deep breath to calm herself down.

And————

『Thi,this is…… my work! 』

The moment Mei removes the cloth, in there was ————

“Eh!?”

It was a painting of me straddling the donkey Rurune in the same pose as Jacques-Louis David’s 【Bonaparte crossing the Alps from Mount Saint-Bernard】, which is the famous portrait of the hero Napoleon……!

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