Chapter 90: The Exhibition(2)
Chapter 90: The Exhibition(2)
As I’ve mentioned before, being an artist is a starving profession. To create a masterpiece, one needs tools, and even the cost of those tools is far from cheap.
Furthermore, artists tend to have such unyielding convictions and philosophies that they often scrap a finished work on a whim. This creates a vicious cycle where money is drained and the quality of the work remains stagnant.
Because of this structure, art became perceived as a culture reserved for the nobility. For a noble, unless they are heavily into gambling or extreme extravagance, money is something they have in excess, so engaging in the arts is trivial.
Consequently, if you look at famous artists, most are either middle-class nobles or from wealthy merchant guilds. For a long time, art was the exclusive domain of the aristocracy, and the same was true for orchestras and theater troupes.
However, after the Jayros Revolution broke out in the Ters Kingdom, culture spread to the entire nation. Despite being commoners or even from the lower classes, the number of people throwing themselves into the world of art increased.
Of course, unless one possessed extraordinary genius, success was nearly impossible, and most ended up quitting after squandering their fortunes.
It was an ironic situation: you need money to continue making art, but you can only make money if there are people who recognize the value of your work.
Yet, even in such circumstances, there are always artists who steadily produce their own creations. Since many artists choose honor over wealth from the start, they find it impossible to let go.
Because of this, artists from commoner or lower-class backgrounds are invariably tenacious, possessing ironclad convictions and philosophies. Add to that an inexhaustible supply of patience and physical stamina.
These types usually fall into one of two categories: those who endure until they eventually collapse from exhaustion, or those who persevere until they successfully carve their names into the public consciousness.
People in this world praise the latter as having a "craftsman’s spirit" or something of the sort, but with the memories of my past life, I could summarize them in a single word.
"Perverts."
"...What is this?"
And as soon as I entered the village, I was able to experience firsthand exactly what kind of results those perverts could produce when given time, money, and inspiration.
As I stared blankly at something that stood proudly right at the village entrance, Cecile, who was beside me, let out a short remark.
"It’s a statue."
"I know it’s a statue. But what... why is it so big?"
Mari chimed in, responding to Cecile’s observation. However, like me, she seemed captivated by the statue’s overwhelming presence.
I stood there for a while, rooted to the spot, observing the sculpture in detail.
To describe the appearance of the statue I was looking at: a young man was being pummeled by a middle-aged man holding a club.
The youth was huddled in a defensive posture as if begging the man to stop, while the middle-aged man swung the club with an expression of pure delight.
What was remarkable wasn't just the meticulously detailed musculature, but the expressions.
I wasn't sure if I should call it lifelike or say it looked like they had carved the expressions of actual people.
Above all, the quality was so terrifyingly high that it made me doubt if this was truly all 'carved.'
"There’s a plaque here too. It says... 'Xenon being trained by his Master'?"
While we were admiring the statue, Cecile found the plaque and explained it to us.
I had a hunch the moment I saw it, but I never imagined someone would perfectly depict a scene from the beginning of Volume 1.
I scratched my head as I looked at the unnecessarily high-quality work, muttering in a bewildered voice.
"Of all the scenes, why this one..."
"That’s written here too. The sculptor said that learning while being beaten by a master didn't feel like someone else's story, so they carved it."
Thank you for the kind explanation, Cecile.
Still, the absurdity of it remained, and I couldn't easily tear myself away. The expressions were truly a masterpiece; it was hard to look away from their faces.
"So, how does it feel as the original author? It’s a direct adaptation of the very first scene."
"Eek!"
While I was fixated on the work, Cecile whispered into my ear. Her rich, sultry voice tickled the inside of my ear.
Her voice was already incredibly sexy, so having her whisper right against my ear made me jump. It wasn't just an itch; my whole body shivered.
"Y-you startled me. That was a surprise."
"Hehe. So, what’s your answer?"
Regardless of my shock, Cecile asked me with a beaming smile. Covering my ear with my hand, I turned my head back toward the artwork.
As I’ve mentioned before, I have a bit of a talent for drawing, so I tend to include illustrations in my work. Thanks to that, readers have a general idea of what the characters look like.
Furthermore, I put a lot of effort into describing appearances within the story, not just the drawings.
Perhaps that was why the depictions of Xenon and his Master in the statue were the spitting image of what I had in mind.
How many months did it take to carve this one piece...
I felt like giving the sculptor a round of applause. This wasn't just fan spirit; it was a level that commanded respect.
Though I am not a sculptor, I could tell how much effort and devotion had been poured into creating a result of this caliber.
Moreover, sculptors in particular find it almost impossible to grow without a master's help, and the final product is heavily dictated by innate talent.
"I feel proud, but I also feel a sense of respect for the sculptor. I only had to write the words, but this person carved them into reality."
"Aren't you being too humble? You changed the world with those words."
"It’s just a different perspective. Anyway, let’s look around at the other things. Mari, let’s go."
"Huh? Oh, right. Let’s go."
I called out to Mari, who had been quiet for a while as she admired the statue, and we moved on to find other works.
Before long, we found another statue; it seemed the entire street was lined with them.
"Is this Jin and Lily?"
"Given the horns, it definitely is."
"It’s beautiful."
There were many pedestrians and tourists passing through the streets, but it wasn't difficult to enjoy the statues.
Occasionally, people would cast glances at Cecile or Mari, but they too were focused on viewing the artworks.
"Isn't that woman a Demon?"
"Yeah. Was there a Demon who said they were attending?"
"They look like nobles, so let’s not mess with them for no reason."
But this was still the Middle Ages, after all. Occasionally, the whispers of the crowd reached my ears.
What bothered me the most, without a doubt, were the lewd comments directed at Mari and Cecile. Even if I wanted to ignore them, I couldn't, and it made me scowl.
Of course, both women possessed their own unique beauty and were wearing dresses that accentuated their figures, so it was only natural for eyes to be drawn to them.
In moments like this, I resented my exceptionally sharp hearing. I wished I couldn't hear anything at all...
Snap!
As I was looking around with a frown, Cecile silently snapped her fingers. Then, something amazing happened.
The noisy bustle of the village vanished instantly, and the surroundings became deathly quiet. It was so silent it felt as if we were the only ones left in this space.
I blinked and looked at Cecile, who spoke with a bright smile.
"It’s a Silence spell. It was a bit noisy around here, so I took measures. Since you looked uncomfortable, Isaac."
"...Was it written all over my face again?"
"Yes. I’m used to hearing things like that, so I don't mind, but seeing you uncomfortable made me feel bad too. And isn't this much better?"
I gave a bitter smile at Cecile’s consideration. Using magic just for my sake felt like the height of being a nuisance.
It might not be a problem for a Demon who uses magic as naturally as breathing, but I still felt sorry.
But she said she felt bad too...
Did she really need to add that last part? I stared at Cecile’s kindly smiling face for a moment before setting the thought aside.
What mattered now was the exhibition, not Cecile’s feelings. Besides, with my girlfriend right next to me, having such thoughts was disrespectful.
I turned my gaze away from Cecile toward Mari. Mari seemed completely absorbed in the exhibition, staring intently at a statue.
"You’re okay too, Mari?"
"Huh? With what?"
"Um... never mind."
Her reaction was so cute that I pinched her cheek. When her cheek was pinched, Mari tilted her head in confusion.
"Why are you pinching my cheek? Do you want a kiss or something?"
"Maybe later. Shall we look around elsewhere first?"
"Okay. By the way, why did it suddenly get so quiet?"
"It was a bit noisy, so Cecile used magic."
After that, we headed deeper into the village and began to truly enjoy the festival disguised as an exhibition. Thanks to the various support provided by the Imperial Palace, there was plenty to eat as well as plenty to see.
What was particularly noteworthy was that the pedestrians weren't just humans; various races were coming and going. Naturally, humans were the most numerous, but Elves, Dwarves, Beastkin, and even 'Demons' were viewing the exhibition.
Demons, with their jet-black hair like Cecile’s, red eyes, and finally, the horns that symbolized their race, couldn't help but stand out even more.
"...There are Demons here too."
"You’re right... I wasn't the only one attending. It feels like a dream..."
Cecile’s surprise at seeing other Demons enjoying the exhibition was short-lived, replaced by a voice slightly choked with emotion as she shared her feelings.
Until Xenon's Life was published, Demons were treated like ticking time bombs, making it impossible for them to walk the streets openly. But now, they were enjoying a festival.
As someone who had always worked to fulfill the wishes of the Demon race, she couldn't help but be moved to tears.
I was just as surprised as she was, but soon I watched the people enjoying the exhibition with a satisfied smile.
Because of a single exhibition, all races had gathered to enjoy a festival together. This was something unimaginable before Xenon's Life came out, and it was proof of how much the world had changed.
I’m starting to get even more ambitious.
My father had said that this exhibition itself had the potential to be exploited politically, but seeing it with my own eyes, I couldn't help but feel a sense of greed.
How wonderful would it be if there were festivals like this where all races could enjoy themselves happily?
Of course, the deep-seated conflicts between races would remain, but those could be narrowed down over time.
I watched the Demons mingling with the crowd and viewing the exhibition before turning my head.
Cecile had her hands clasped tightly and her eyes shut, as if she couldn't tell if what she was seeing was a dream or reality.
"Thank you, Lady Mora... for granting such a blessing to me and my people..."
"..."
Seeing her pray to Mora, the god primarily worshipped by Demons, made my own heart swell. She had entered the Academy because of her status as a princess, but that wouldn't have been the case for other Demons, so she must have been even more moved.
Feeling a bit bashful, I rubbed the back of my neck and turned my gaze, locking eyes with Mari.
Mari must have seen Cecile praying as well, as she let out a small chuckle and whispered to me.
"Our cute Author. Do you realize now how amazing you are?"
Since she was being playful, I simply pinched her cheek in response. Her cheeks, white and soft like rice cakes, were incredibly addictive to pinch.
I wanted to knead them to my heart's content, but it was a shame I couldn't do so with so many people watching.
I pinched Mari’s cheek and waited quietly until Cecile finished her prayer. Eventually, Cecile slowly opened her eyes, revealing her moist red gaze, and I made a suggestion to her.
"Cecile. Why don't you try going over to that person?"
"Huh?"
When I made the suggestion, Cecile turned to me with a puzzled expression. For some reason, her red eyes seemed to have deepened in color.
"You’re curious too, aren't you? How those people came to be here. Seeing them with humans, there must be an interesting story behind it. Why don't we go ask?"
"Mmm..."
After hearing my explanation, Cecile looked toward the Demons who were viewing the works while mingled with a group of humans.
If they were nobles from Helium, they would be wearing formal attire, but the Demons currently mixed with the humans were uniquely clad in adventuring gear.
This meant there was a high probability they were wanderers or adventurers who had left Helium to travel the world. Since Xenon's Life had only been out for a year, one couldn't help but wonder how they had been living until now.
Eventually, Cecile watched a Demon having a friendly conversation with a human woman, then nodded and replied.
"Alright. Let’s go see."
"Great. Mari?"
"Hmph. I’ll let it slide this once."
Let what slide? I wondered at Mari’s coy attitude for a moment before moving my feet.
Cecile also seemed to have a racing heart, as she approached the Demons viewing the artwork with a brighter expression than before.
"Endure. Just endure... I can't lose it here..."
As we approached, Cecile lightly tapped her chest and muttered softly to herself.