Chapter 93

"Why, could it be... a forgery?"

The boss put his hand on his head.

His face showed that he realized he had said something he shouldn’t have.

However, the kid flipped through the workbooks and answered casually.

"What’s a forgery?"

"No, it’s nothing, hahaha."

The boss narrowly avoided the crisis.

The kid suddenly stopped his hands and stared blankly at the painting.

Then he slowly opened his mouth.

With a frightened look and a trembling voice, he said,

"I still like that painting, but... it’s scary."

The kid shivered all over and turned his head away.

"Huh? Scary? You used to say it was cool. You said it looked like a handsome captain."

The boss’s counter-question only made the kid frown.

"That was then! Now it’s scary, and I don’t like it. Last night, when I tried to sleep, the painting kept staring at me. So I closed my eyes tightly and tried not to open them, but when I peeked, it was laughing creepily..."

"R-Really?"

"Even when I’m alone at home during the day... it feels like that guy is watching me. It’s like his eyes are following me. So lately, I only go into my room when I’m playing games."

"Is that so? Then I’ll talk to your dad. I thought you liked it, so I kept it hanging."

The boss knelt down to be at eye level with the kid, but the kid zipped up his school bag and stood up.

"It’s okay. I can just flip it upside down when I sleep."

"......What?"

"So, if you want to sell it, you can."

No, kid.

No matter what, you can’t just sell Dad. What if Dad gets sold? They don’t teach ‘Dad goes into the bag’ anymore, do they?

"Then I’ll go to cram school."

The kid, who said he would sell Dad, bowed politely and ran out of the room.

Looking at his back, I thought,

'......He likes it but finds it scary?'

That was the definition of awe.

Awe was a feeling that only the greatest works of art could evoke.

'I can’t stand this.'

I made up my mind and asked the boss.

I was determined to get that painting no matter what.

"Have you changed your mind?"

"Well, now that you’re growing up, I can’t understand what you’re thinking at all."

The boss muttered and stood up, nodding.

"Let’s do it. It’s better to get rid of it quickly."

"You’ve made a good decision."

And so, our second deal was sealed.

*

A little later, at the Namdaemun Market public parking lot.

I carefully arranged the interior decorations I bought at the market and got into the back seat.

Of course, I was holding the canvas of "The Smiling Knight" with both hands.

'Hehehe.'

The boss’s initial price was 1 million won.

Even that seemed too much, but he said he would take 800,000, which I refused.

[ No, I’ll buy it for 2 million. ]

I even offered double.

I had been feeling guilty about buying the porcelain for only 730,000 last time.

[ In return, please contact me if you come across any unusual items. ]

I was also considering partnering with him from now on.

This boss might not have a discerning eye, but he had an incredible knack for finding things.

From then on, I would share the profits appropriately.

Of course, if we hit a big one this time.

I would also give him a special gift as a deposit.

Just then, Coco flew over.

She hopped around the canvas I was holding.

──Kororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororor