The next day after telling Ahin to run away from home, he said he had something to do. Since people would worry if he disappeared without a word, he said he would inform his close friends, and surprisingly, things went well when they agreed to his plan.

  Well, that was an unexpected development.

  There was just one minor problem: a few paladins would join our party because they couldn’t stand sending their successor alone.

  “The sword of Agrigient! Something is different about it, in a good way!”


  “Look at the weight of it. So well balanced! Woah!”


  “Military is definitely Agrient’s greatest strength! Such a great sword.”
……

  that was what was going on.

  Valer was excited to show off his sword and brag about it; Assisi felt embarrassed about it, but he liked their compliments.

  Agrigient’s military was well-known. It was evident that Agrient’s prestige and pride in its army had spread all over the world.

  Seeing my frown at them, Ahin tilted his head. I was just silent.

  Suddenly, Ahin smiled.

  “Unlike before, I doubt I can be of any help now.”


  Hearing his bitter words, I spoke.

  “So what if you can’t help? We just wanted to travel with Ahin.”


  Even the one man who had a terrifying gaze behind me wasn’t handy during our travels.

  Ahin fell silent at my answer as if he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say.

  “I…… guess so.”


  “Yes, so don’t worry.”


  Ahin responded with a smile.

  Ahin did have the prettiest smile of all.

  Ugh, such beauty.

  I had met many pretty people before, but Ahin’s beauty was by far the most blinding one. Oh, there was Havel too.

  God, everyone looked so good!

  Even Valer, who had such a simple mind, was handsome. What a dirty world!

  “After going five hours from this village, a border village of Bureti will come.”


  “Should we buy something?”


  “Hmm, well?”


  We needed to move on horseback for five hours. We couldn’t reach our goal at a definite time. It would take a lot of time as we moved slowly.

  “Then, let’s head to the village first.”


  We soon arrived at a village that had been developed so much that it couldn’t be called a “village” anymore. Many places in the countries had an excellent environment and trade, so even the small towns and villages didn’t look so little. Thus, the same logic applied to Belgium. It was a village, but it was as beautiful as Bruges.

  Once we reached the village, Valer dragged both Havel and Ahin with him and disappeared.

  He didn’t even listen to our words and dragged them away as if he had something to talk about.

  Well, it seemed like they didn’t want me around.

  I led Assisi to the alley down the hill.

  “Assisi, shall we take a look over there?”


  There were many artists here, and the place had a natural environment—painters who retired from Bruges art shops or couldn’t go there riddled the village.

  Perhaps because I saw many people carrying paint kits at the town’s outskirts, I was already excited. At first, I only thought of looking around. I moved along the streets without much information, but as I kept watching things, it seemed like I could understand the art.

  I wasn’t sure.

  I wondered if I would ever get to see a picture like these.

  Many painters placed their art on the streets or in front of their houses for other people to behold.

  There were so many pieces of artwork to find.

  Recognized painters might not do it because their environment would make it inevitable for them to garner fame, but it was that for painters to live in an unlavish life. Even if they did have money, they would starve themselves to buy suitable quality paints.

  It felt like only people with money could create real art.

  Even if the village paintings weren’t hanging in palaces or corridors of mansions, such small images had their charm. These depicted the villagers’ ordinary life, and there were so many such paintings of fields and sunsets.

  While I was looking at them, something suddenly caught my eyes. Huh? That picture……

  Without knowing, I looked through the canvas. I was feeling the style of painting. I was staring at the picture with all my heart when I realized that someone was standing beside me. I turned to find Assisi, who didn’t respond much; it was tough to think of him as a dangerous man.

  Why did he look so shocked, though?

  “This is weird.”


  Without a doubt in my voice, I asked.

  “That is your art?”


  “Uh? Yes.”


  It was difficult to see such a painting; Assisi was looking at it in shock. The painter looked thin, and there were a lot of different paints on his clothes. Looking at the painter, it seemed like art was more than just a hobby to him.

  I looked back at the painting. It shocked me to find a picture like this in this era.

  “Incredible. Just my taste.”


  “Yes, it is weird…… huh?”


  Everyone drew a pretty view to show, but this one was grotesque. Although bizarre, it was attractive and weird at the same time.

  The painter was shocked after hearing my answer. He was looking at me as if he doubted what he heard.

  “How much is this?”


  “Wi-will you buy it?”


  “Yes, that’s why I am asking for the price. I don’t have much on me now.”


  Maybe three gold would do

  Three gold would be enough for an ordinary family to live their lives for a month comfortably, but maybe not for a painter.

  A picture like this wouldn’t see fame or the light of day now, but it would undoubtedly be recorded in history one day!

  “Three bronzes would do.”


  “Huh? is that all?”


  “Well, that is a lot.”


  It seemed like the painter was feeling bad for asking that much. I felt terrible at what he asked—asking for three bronzes for this painting? And I liked it to boot. Seeing the town painted in pale colors, I thought for a moment.

  Yes, I would willingly invest in this.

  “I’ll give you this.”


  The painter retreated a couple of steps as I handed him a pair of earrings, the smallest trinkets I brought.

  “Aren’t they gems?”


  “Yes. Very expensive.”


  “I-I can’t accept such things.”


  “But I’m not giving that just for this painting.”


  “Sorry. What?”


  I smiled brightly.

  “Give me every painting in here, including this one.”


  “W-whatttt?”


  I smiled, not realizing how flustered and shocked the man was. After smiling, I spoke to assure him about my purchase.

  “Because of my situation, I won’t be able to take this painting with me, which is why I am asking you to keep this with you until I pick it up.”


  “Ahh……”


  “And when I return later, I will buy more from you, so you need to paint until then; however, if you aren’t well-fed, you won’t be able to produce paintings.”


  The painter was rendered speechless, looking at the pair of earrings in my hand. It was like he was crying; I could feel how much effort he had placed into the paintings. Even if this man went to spend all the money on drinking, it didn’t seem like a waste. I held the hand of the painter, who was teary-eyed.

  “Be sure to keep painting. I really like this one. You need to do more!”


  “Yes, yes, yes……”


  “I will definitely come back later. Until then, cherish my painting.”


  “Yes. Yes, I will.”


  When I smiled, the painter wiped the tears from his eyes.

  I didn’t know it at that time.

  But that man would make a considerable mark in this world of art.