episode_0043

043 – Hyde confronts Durgien’s artists #2

It was said that Durgien had an organization called the “Artist Association.”

As the name suggests, it is an association formed by artists.

“A group magazine created by artists with great artistic ability and the nobles who support them. Their influence is very great here in Durgien. Because sales are high.”

Durgien’s artists were famous even within the kingdom.

There is even a serious debate about whether the art pieces they sell are a specialty of the Durgien region.

“Why are such people opposed to abolishing the entrance fee to the main temple?”

Artists and the Great Crusade.

Well, is it related?

Archbishop Archibald, who was drinking a cup of tea for breakfast, looked at me in response to my question.

Those eyes are quite sharp.

“Why do you think this is? Tell me what you think.”

Is this like a test of something?

Maybe he thought I really didn’t know why.

I was looked down upon quite a bit too.

“Yesterday, the guards not only asked me to pay the entrance fee, but also warned me about proper attire. This means that you have to be formal to enter the main temple.”

People liked to climb up to the position of top dog, which seemed to be their own. The people below you are trying to climb the ladder?

It’s also humans who mercilessly dump us.

In my opinion, the Great Seongjeon was a kind of ‘gathering place’ for people who could enjoy noble hobbies while paying a high entrance fee.

Wasn’t it a place where everyone dressed up elegantly and enjoyed stories like “the paper published this time─.” or the artwork “drawn this time─.”?

Since the admission fee was abolished and beggars and vagabonds were allowed to come in, artists who were enjoying intellectual entertainment would not be happy about it.

“Am I wrong?”

Archbishop Archibald nodded to my question.

“That’s correct. You figured out a lot in one day. Artists are tricky beings. I also received a lot of help in the construction of the main temple. I can’t do anything about their opinions.”

I thought it was a ridiculous story.

Church is not a place for entertainment.

“I will handle it. Instead, I would like to add one condition this time. If I can resolve this matter, please appoint me as a priest in the Agarpe territory. Also, please dispatch the Temple Knights to the Agarpe territory and one of the six knights.”

The reason I came to see Archibald the Medici was to dispatch troops. Archbishop Archibald stroked his short beard with his hand and nodded.

“Well, I think that much is possible with my authority. Even the fiery Count Dovan would not object if you were the newly appointed priest. But the “Artists Association” isn’t one to deal with easily, right? They are people who do not really obey the words of the Bible.”

Archbishop Archibald asked as if he was truly curious.

How can I, a wooden monk, deal with artists who cannot even relate to biblical stories?

It was very funny.

“Actually, I’m also an artist. Just as snakes know the way of snakes, don’t I know best how to persuade artists?”

I was the man who wrote a masterpiece called “The Village of Back-Alley Nymphs.”

They haven’t started selling it in earnest, so if they put it out there in the world, Rust’s ‘devilness’ will be suppressed right away, right?

Everyone will come to me to get my autograph!

You will hear that Durgien’s specialty is Hyde’s books!

This means that artists will believe in my words and my will.

Should I say I am a trendsetter?

“Let’s leave the artist’s work to the artist.”

“Hoo─.”

I immediately left Archibald Mansion. As I left the unusually large and ornate mansion, I felt a little out of breath.

Milione Archibald followed me.

“Why are you following me?”

“Because I don’t like being in the mansion.”

I see.

That’s what I said, but the truth was that I wanted to see Hyde impressing artists with my masterpiece, “The Village of Back-Alley Nymphs.”

# # #

“Please pay the entrance fee.”

Today, as always, admission fees were charged at Daeseongjeon.

It was a really angry moment.

Sze-.

I paid two precious silver coins and entered the main temple, and Milione Archibald followed me quite quietly.

This guy is perfect as long as he doesn’t open his mouth.

Sze-.

I now entered the main sanctuary and looked around.

Compared to the gorgeous exterior of the building, the interior was so beautiful that it had nothing to be desired.

The marble floor sparkled, the windows had beautiful mosaics, and all kinds of statues of gods were beautifully decorated.

“This is─.”

“Pieta. It’s a sculpture created by artist Michelan when he was around the same age as you. He was 24 years old when he made this.”

indeed-.

The statue of the Savior being taken down from the cross and held in his mother’s arms was beautiful. You made this when you were 24?

It wasn’t that surprising.

When I was in my early twenties, I completed a world-class masterpiece called “The Village of Back-Alley Nymphs.” With that feeling, I looked at the murals and statues displayed here and there in the main temple.

“Indeed, it’s worth the admission fee.”

If this place was an art exhibition hall or arts center rather than a church, the price of two silver coins would not have seemed that expensive.

I thought it would be a good idea to display the draft of my masterpiece, Back Alley Nymph, in this place.

But this was a church.

“No matter what, charging an admission fee is not right.”

As I was thinking about this and burning the flame of the Holy Spirit with a sense of justice in my heart, I heard someone sound very confused.

“Look over there. Didn’t that damned Lady Milione return to Florence!”

“Oh my god, I thought it would be quiet for about a month, but it’s going to be noisy again.”

“Your face is so pretty that it can’t even be captured in a picture.”

Someone was swearing at Lady Milione.

When I turned my head, there were men wearing feathered brimmed hats gathered in groups of twos and threes.

When I saw the paint on their hands and their antique cloaks, I thought they might be members of the Artists’ Association.

“Are you members of the “Artist Association”?”

“That’s right. I am Michelan, president of the Artists’ Association. Who are you?”

The artist Michelan?

The creation of heaven and earth nailed to that ceiling or the genius artist who sculpted this Pieta? Indeed, it was a long, scrawny man with a beard.

You look like an artist.

The impression is somewhat similar to Vincent van Gogh’s self-portrait.

Is this what an artist’s physiognomy is like?

I reached out to the man, thrilled to have met such a great artist as myself.

“My name is Hyde, a monk from the Agarpe Territory.”

“Wooden monk?”

Ssuk seu-.

The men looked me up and down blatantly. Michelan also looked me up and down without holding my hand, and even warned me by saying “signs, so you know that.

What a brat.

I have an artistic temperament.

“The son-in-law of Count Agarpe and the husband of Psyche Agarpe.”

That’s when I added a word.

The expressions on which the artists were looking at me seemed to have changed, and Michelan also opened his mouth in admiration.

“You mean Psyche? Psyche, who is kind-hearted and beautiful like that angel? Oh my gosh, I heard a rumor too. Hyde, what a man he was! Nice to meet you!”

Sze-.

It was Michelan who grabbed my hand and shook it violently.

I feel like the conversation will go well.

Paintings, sculptures and writings.

Although the genres are different, artists have something in common. I said to the artists, feeling off to a good start.

“The reason I came here is none other than the entrance fee to this great temple. A church that should be open to everyone charges an admission fee. Isn’t it a bit strange?”

“Do you think so? I, Michelan, don’t think so. This church is a work of art before it is a church. Aren’t you earning a lot of money? What would they know if tramps came in and saw our art?”

“Yes! You’ll be lucky if they don’t steal or tear the painting!”

“We are protecting the main chapel. It’s definitely going to be a mess!”

After listening to the artists’ arguments, I found some truth to them.

But it seemed like there was room for persuasion.

Since everyone is an intellectual, they will understand what you say.

“I am also an artist, so I understand your feelings. But─.”

“Hyde of Agarpe, are you an artist too?”

Michelan interrupted me.

I could sense that he was interested in me.

“Yes. I write books.”

“Book! I see. Have you read the recently released “Demon Chukdo”? I have never seen such great work in my life. Centimeters, meters, if these are introduced into architecture─.”

“The newly released “Non-Virgin” yesterday was also amazing! Seeing the actions of the female protagonist, Cathy, made me feel hot. I might have a second child soon!”

“The writer is clearly a genius.”

Artists were praising the devil.

It’s just my opinion, but the eyes that judge masterpieces seem to have fallen. Well, what would be the level of an artist in the barbaric Middle Ages?

I thought I had to teach and enlighten them.

That would be my role.

“The Devil is trash that can’t even be called a book. The real art is the “Village of Back Alley Nymphs” written here. For reference, the author is me.”

“Oh, really? Why not read it to everyone! This is a book written by the man who married the Lady Psyche. Very interesting!”

As Michelan shouted as if catching the wind, voices around him grew louder, saying things like “Read it!” or “I’m interested.”.

Before I knew it, people started flocking in one by one, and I took out the books of “Village of Back Alley Nymphs” that I had brought because I thought something like this would happen today.

These were books that Psyche printed and gave to her herself.

“Okay then, let’s read. The title is “Village of Back Alley Nymphs.” Originally, I thought that the main reader age group would be children around 10 years old─.”

The interior of the main sanctuary became so quiet as a ghost.

I immediately started reading from the beginning.

Early-.

The story is about the nymph Oinoi, who is suddenly thrown into an unfamiliar world one day and struggles to maintain her innocence.

This is the part I put the most effort into.

Even after listening to just 5 minutes of this first half, people will already be moved to tears by my artistic sense.

“Leonard, didn’t you say you had plans for lunch today?”

“Okay, I’m starting to get hungry.”

“I’m sleepy.”

But as I watched people walking one by one, I felt puzzled.

What on earth happened?

“Where is everyone going?”

I asked.

Then Michelan, who introduced himself as the president of the artists’ association, looked at me and spat at my book with a frown.

“You use such low-level personal tricks and call yourself an artist? Idiots like you are insulting true artists like us. Wherever you go, never call yourself an artist again!”

“Yes! You’re not even an artist! No, this is not the time! Let’s all beat this guy! I will never write such a horrible article again!”

“Hey, you bastard! Status window? Status difference!? I don’t know what it is, but it can’t be literature where such strange things appear! Literature is that. It’s noble!”

“You desecrator of art!”

People flocking towards me.

Their expressions were very serious and they seemed really angry.

Did I insult art?

Nonsense!

I was a real artist!

There is no way these lowly medieval barbarians can understand my high standards! Yes, it was clear that my novel was of too high a level for people to understand!

“Take away the book! Burn it! Let’s use it as a separator!”

“Hey, that guy is running away! Chase! Hit me hard!”

But first I had to run away from the angry barbarians.

“It’s so funny to see me like that! Kyahaha! Milione’s laughter spread as he laughed.

Soon everyone will say “Yes! Get out of here! Get out!”or “Look at that guy running away! He burst out laughing, saying, “It must be an impersonation to be Psyche’s husband!”

Everyone is laughing at me.

It wasn’t until I hid in the bathroom of the main sanctuary that I finally heard their laughter.

“These ignorant bastards. What and how much do barbarian medieval bastards who don’t know what gravity is or what a computer is when they discuss art? What do you know!”

Then what on earth is art?

If you pound a rock and make it into a human shape, is that art?

Is it art if you roughly draw your own face with paint?

“Art is the impact that changes the world.”

I’ll show you what real art is.