Chapter 457: The Sequel(4)
Chapter 457: The Sequel(4)
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I stared at the man sitting before me, who wore a dazed expression. Perhaps flustered by my sudden summons, his eyes darted around, unable to meet mine.
His hands were folded neatly on his lap, and I noticed a single bead of cold sweat trickling down his cheek from the tension.
His overall appearance was, in a word, 'Mario' personified. He had that distinctive mustache and a generally round, innocent face.
Even his outfit consisted of overalls, making the resemblance to Mario uncanny. His hat was a beret, the kind painters often wear, making him a total dead ringer.
This man’s name was Carls Zvasa. He was one of the painters whose fame had skyrocketed since participating in the Xenon Festival a year ago.
He was the one who had drawn the famous 'Hectopascal Kick' exactly in the composition I wanted. I had been so impressed that I even mentioned his name in a letter.
Apparently, after that mention, he was swamped by all sorts of artists and nobles. I hadn't heard about it at the time, but I found out after looking him up.
"Your name is... Carls Zvasa. Correct?"
"Ye-yes! That, that is correct."
When I asked to confirm, Carls answered loudly in a trembling voice. He looked exactly like a private facing a division commander.
Given that my current reputation was reaching the heavens, such a reaction was, in a sense, only natural.
It was a situation I needed to get used to, but it still felt awkward. A person doesn't change overnight; I still possessed the heart of an ordinary citizen.
Furthermore, perhaps due to the influence of my past life, it didn't sit well with me to have someone older than me bowing so deeply.
Of course, if the other party were rude, I would respond in kind, but Carls was different. Since we might have to work together, I needed to approach him as an equal.
"There's no need to be so tense. You can relax."
"Th-thank you."
Even though I said that, it wouldn't be easy for Carls to treat me casually. This atmosphere would likely persist for a while.
Just as my single mention of his name had caused his fame to explode, the opposite was also entirely possible.
So, from Carls's perspective, he had to be careful with every single word.
"How have you been? I heard you've been quite busy since the Xenon Festival a year ago."
"Ah, yes! Yes! Thanks to you mentioning my work, Sir Xenon, my life has become much more comfortable. I don't know how to express my gratitude..."
"It's not that much of a favor..."
His tension vanished for a moment, replaced by sparkling eyes as he poured out his thanks. I let out a hollow laugh.
It was true that his name became known because I mentioned him. However, his subsequent success was entirely his own doing.
Upon investigation, I found that he used a rather unique painting style compared to the current era.
Technically, this era could be considered the Renaissance, and most paintings reflected the styles of that period.
However, Carls's paintings were somewhat removed from that. Should I say it was a style very familiar to my eyes, which held memories of my past life?
Though there were differences due to the use of paint and brushes, it was a style that suited 'illustrations' perfectly.
Did he say other painters looked down on him?
Even if he gained fame through my mention, Carls's style was far from what was considered fine art. It was a style that could be popular with the masses but was insufficient to gain prestige as a 'high artist.'
Crucially, he didn't paint for himself and seek evaluation; he took commissions first and then painted.
In other words, he was close to what my past life called an 'illustrator.'
Because of this, there were quite a few people who ignored Carls, claiming he was devaluing the essence of art.
Carls seemed aware of this, as he said nothing and simply focused on his work. On the flip side, the demand for his work was clear, so he was doing quite well financially.
"Mr. Carls, unlike other painters, you take commissions for your work, don't you?"
"Yes. Unlike others, I lack artistic sensibility, so..."
Carls scratched his head with a bashful smile. With his appearance, he gave off the strong vibe of a simple country uncle.
It wasn't that painters never took commissions. Didn't nobles and royalty invite famous painters for portraits?
But aside from those cases, most preferred 'Art' for art's sake. Cases like Carls, who took commissions—or rather, freelance work—were almost non-existent.
I'm not sure if it was like that in my past life, but I know it wasn't the case in the 1900s.
The anecdote about Hitler living off his paintings alone was very famous. It was just that he failed to get into the most important art school.
"Instead, you're confident in depicting characters and situations, right? Provided you're given sufficient payment and explanation."
"Yes. That is correct."
"Could you show me what you've painted since the Hectopascal Kick?"
The Hectopascal Kick alone was enough to prove his skill. The composition, the characters, the expressions—everything was perfect.
Honestly, looking at that one painting, I wondered if there was another reincarnator like me, as it was a perfect match for what I had in mind.
"As you might expect, the most frequent requests were related to the Xenon Biography. Since you mentioned me personally, Sir Xenon, people have been very interested in that."
"For example, which scenes?"
"Sacran's End, Kair's Past Recollection, Jin's Awakening, and so on. There are too many to list."
I couldn't tell just by hearing about them. But I couldn't exactly go and take back paintings that someone else had already purchased.
In anticipation of this, I asked him to show me the paintings he had done so far—his portfolio.
The concept of a 'portfolio' didn't exist yet, but since he had sketches he'd done for fun, it wouldn't be hard for him to prepare.
And as I expected, Carls began to show me the drawings he had prepared, one by one.
"This is..."
"It's a steam locomotive. It was already described in the Xenon Biography, but I supplemented it."
Among the works that lived up to my expectations, the steam locomotive stood out. It was a drawing several times more advanced than what had been included in the Xenon Biography.
I had attached a steam locomotive illustration for the readers' understanding, but since I was an amateur, it had many shortcomings.
However, Carls had supplemented it to create a drawing that felt much more real. The acrid smoke billowing from the chimney and the wheels turning via the steam engine.
It was exactly the format I wanted, something my clumsy drawing skills could never hope to achieve.
"And this is... no, not this one."
While I was admiring the steam locomotive, Carls, who was about to pull out another drawing, hesitated and tucked it back in.
Did he realize that doing so only made it stand out more? I set the drawing down for a moment and spoke to him.
"What is that drawing?"
"That is... it's a bit inappropriate to show you right now..."
"It's fine, please show me."
"..."
Whether my words sounded like pressure or not, Carls hesitated before reluctantly pulling out the drawing. I took it without much thought.
And then I realized why he had tried to hide it.
"..."
"Ahem. Ahem."
While I stood there speechless and dumbfounded, Adelia, standing behind me, let out an embarrassed cough.
Carls also couldn't meet my eyes, merely fiddling with his mustache.
If you're wondering why they were reacting like this, it was because of the drawing I was looking at.
It was a drawing of Jin and Lily's First Night. It depicted Lily's naked body as seen from Jin's perspective.
Her golden hair was spread lusciously across the bed. A faint blush colored her cheeks as if she were shy, but her gaze was fixed straight ahead.
Finally, one hand barely covered her ample breasts, while the other was placed on the bed.
Naturally, her secret place was exposed defenselessly. To anyone's eyes, she looked like a new bride eagerly awaiting her first night.
...He really was born in the wrong era.
Carls's style was a perfect blend of realism and a comic-book aesthetic. As you know, this kind of art style wouldn't emerge for several eras.
What was even more amazing was that all of this was done with only brushes and paint. To create such a masterpiece(?) without computers or tablets was truly incredible.
I don't know much about art, but I was certain he was a case of being born in the wrong time.
"...Mr. Carls."
"I'm sorry. If I've offended you..."
"Since when have you used this kind of style, Mr. Carls?"
"Pardon?"
Carls stopped mid-apology and widened his eyes. He must have thought I was going to be angry.
I subtly set the drawing aside (flipping it over just in case) and spoke in a gentle voice.
"It's rare to find a style like yours, Mr. Carls. I'm asking because I'm curious where you learned it."
"It's not that I learned it... it's just how I've always been. As I said earlier, I lack the originality of others. Especially with realism, the moment I don't draw it perfectly, it feels unpleasant. So I tweak it a bit."
"Isn't that what originality is?"
"I-is it? Other artists told me I lacked originality..."
Carls gave a clumsy laugh, as if my praise didn't quite register. I nodded as I looked at him.
The more popular culture—specifically comics, novels, and animation—developed, the more Carls's style would be preferred.
The problem was that this wasn't that kind of era. It was hundreds of years ahead of its time, making it difficult for him to be appreciated.
It was a good thing I was reincarnated here and, furthermore, wrote the Xenon Biography; otherwise, he likely would have been buried as just another mediocre painter.
I should have met him sooner.
I could have included appropriate illustrations in every volume of the Xenon Biography. It was a real shame. It was a mistake to dismiss the Hectopascal Kick as a fluke.
It didn't matter if the original drawings were large; I could just use shrinking magic to make them small. After that, it was just a matter of printing.
Looking at the lewd art... no, no. Looking at the drawing, I could see it was incredibly detailed. He was exactly the person I wanted.
But depicting characters and depicting situations are strictly different. I have to keep that in mind.
In World War II, the depiction of situations is just as important as the characters. Armored divisions sweeping across the land and fighter planes fighting fiercely in the sky.
And finally, the intense naval battles unfolding on the vast ocean. I had to see if Carls could express all of this.
Fortunately, I could draw the drafts myself. He would just need to supplement those drafts to create the illustrations.
"Then, let's get down to business. Actually, the reason I called you, Mr. Carls, is for a commission. It's similar to what you've been receiving, but also different."
"How is it different...?"
Was it because I, the one praised as Xenon, was the one asking? Carls asked quietly, his expression full of surprise and curiosity.
Taking a commission was just a matter of a good contract. But hearing that it was 'different' seemed to have piqued his interest.
I looked at his face, which looked like Mario no matter how I saw it, and gave my answer.
"You may or may not know, but I plan to release another work in the future. However, it's a completely different world, so illustrations—drawings—are essential. Do you remember the steam locomotive I put in the Xenon Biography?"
"Of course."
"It's similar to that. Drawings to further enhance the reader's understanding. However, my specialty is writing, not drawing. So, I would like you, Mr. Carls, to draw the illustrations I want."
"...Pardon?"
Whether he finally understood or not, Mario—no, Carls's—eyes went wide. It was phrased as a request, but it was essentially an offer to work together.
"I can draw the drafts and send them to you. The draft is a kind of skeleton, so you just need to add the flesh, Mr. Carls."
"If that's the case, wouldn't it be better if you did it yourself, Sir Xenon...?"
"No. My drawing skills aren't that good. The steam locomotive was relatively easy because it was more of a structure."
I couldn't say my drawing skills were good, even as a white lie. While not at the level of mere scribbles, I wasn't even an amateur.
I could draw features roughly, but that was it. If I were better, I would have attached illustrations to every volume.
The same went for characters. To be blunt, the faces were okay, but the bodies were just logs.
"So, I want you to draw them instead, Mr. Carls. Your style is just right, and furthermore, it's suitable for the kind of work you've been doing. Anyone else would have dragged their feet."
"Anyone would have accepted a request from you, Sir Xenon...?"
"But you're the most certain choice, Mr. Carls. So, will you accept?"
"..."
Carls fell into deep thought at my question. Seeing him gently tugging at his mustache, his thoughts seemed complicated.
While he was organizing his thoughts, I looked at Adelia behind me. At my signal, she nodded and brought over a pre-prepared item.
And while the item was being prepared, Carls, having just finished organizing his thoughts, spoke quietly.
"......I'm sorry, but I think it will be difficult to accept."
"Why is that? Is it because I'm too much of a burden?"
"It's not that, but rather that it's realistically difficult. You release a new volume almost every ten days, don't you, Sir Xenon? Even if you provide the drafts, I think it would be overwhelming just to keep up with that."
"Hmm."
I nodded at his valid explanation. It was uncertain whether his working speed could keep up.
"Then, if you have a draft, how many days does it take?"
"A week at the earliest. If I take my time, it takes about fifteen days."
What? That's incredibly fast. In a world without computers and tablets, that's impossibly fast.
Furthermore, this work was planned to be released at a somewhat slower pace than the Xenon Biography.
I had to explain the social and political situations of each country, not just the flow of the war.
Not only that, but I also had to describe the suffering people endured due to the war and, furthermore, what war crimes occurred.
Even I didn't remember everything, so I was in a position where I needed Mora's help. Naturally, the working speed would be slower than the Xenon Biography.
"That's actually better. This work is planned to be written at a slower pace than the Xenon Biography. You don't need to feel pressured."
"I-is that so? That's a relief. I will gladly draw the illustrations you requested, Sir Xenon."
"Understood. Finally... Adelia?"
As soon as I called her, Adelia placed a square box on the table. Carls's gaze naturally drifted toward the box.
It looked like an ordinary box on the outside, but I knew the identity of the contents inside.
Then, before opening the box, I looked at the bewildered Carls and asked softly.
"Mr. Carls."
"Yes?"
"How much do you usually receive for a commission?"
"Usually, it's about 5 gold per piece..."
In terms of Korean Won, that's close to 500,000 won. Since illustrations in my past life cost about that much, it was a reasonable level.
However, compared to Carls's talent and skill, it was quite low. Again, he was a man born in the wrong era.
A monster who could create drawings no less impressive than the illustrations of my past life using only paint and brushes. The drawing lying neatly beside me was a testament to his skill.
"5 gold... that's more expensive than I thought. Actually, I don't have any cash to give you right now."
"Then with what...?"
As soon as he said that, I opened the lid of the box. As the lid opened, Carls's gaze naturally fell inside.
"How about gold bars instead?"
The contents of the box were none other than gold bars—and not just one, but a large quantity of them.
Adelia had carried it easily, but for an ordinary person, it was an amount they would have had to struggle to drag along.
Carls looked as if he had lost his soul at the sight of the heap of brilliantly shining gold bars. The golden bars were reflected like mirrors in his blue eyes.
"I'm not giving you all these gold bars right now. We need to sign a contract, and there's something I want to test."
"..."
"I will give you one draft and an explanation. Please complete the drawing within fifteen days. If I like it, you can take one of these gold bars. After we sign a formal contract... I believe you know what follows."
No matter how much people say artists are a hungry profession...
"I will offer you my loyalty."
There's no business like money.
About fifteen days passed after that...
[The original art for the new protagonist, Adolf Hitler, appears!]
[A middle-aged man with a rather unique mustache. How will this man save the world?]
[What does the mark on his arm mean? Most people say it represents the group he belongs to...]
I spread the pre-prepared original art of Hitler for the pre-release to the world. Naturally, people all over the world showed interest.
[The unique mustache is gaining sensational popularity. Even among the nobles currently...]
[The number of people trying to imitate the character presumed to be the protagonist is steadily increasing...]
[Another 'motive' incident? However, since this is a different fantasy world from the Xenon Biography, it is judged that it won't have much effect.]
I have sown poison upon the world.