Chapter: 528
“That’s it! Young Lady! Hold that pose a little more primly! Hahaha! The inspiration is flowing!”
The perverted apostle, dripping with blood from his nose, looked as if he was gambling on who would finish the painting first—the artwork or him passing out from blood loss.
Ugh. This is exactly why I didn’t want to get caught by a perverted apostle. It was all too obvious that it would end up like this.
Plus, the situation has only gotten worse since the last time.
When I allowed that pervert to paint last time, the only audience was that clumsy fox. But now, everyone on Academy Street has turned into a spectator!
Why are there so many people today? Since vacation has started, can’t everyone just hurry home?
Why are you even bringing the maids along to pack up things while forming a wall of people as if being possessed by something!?
[Think about it from their perspective. Do you think they wouldn’t be curious?]
‘What’s so interesting about a cute little girl in pretty clothes striking a pose? Are all the people in this world just pedo perverts?!’
[That’s an understatement…]
‘What are you hiding, Grandpa? Are you more lecherous than that clumsy fox? That’s just disgusting! I’m getting my gloves and mace ready!’
To think that the grandpa I’ve trusted to fight alongside me was more of a creep than that clumsy fox!
Damn it! I should’ve known ever since he started being favored by that pathetic God!
[Isn’t that a rather offensive statement?!]
‘But!’
[And listen! Look around you! How can you not notice what’s happening right next to you?!]
Hearing Grandpa’s words, I sneaked a glance around. It goes without saying that the perverted apostle in front of me caught my eye.
“…Isn’t that Apostle from the Art Guild?”
“Do you think that beauty is common?”
“Still, I’d never expect such a face to be making that expression.”
Even a handsome man who could have been an idol worldwide had blood streaming from his nose while he crazily moved his brush like a deranged artist right out of a movie.
Among the women gasping at the sight of the perverted apostle, a few couldn’t even hide their joy, covering their mouths with both hands.
“The Saintess maintains her elegance even in such chaotic circumstances.”
“She looks even more noble beside the Apostle of the Art Guild.”
“How fortunate we are that such a person is the Saintess of the Church of the Lord.”
And behind that perverted apostle was Phoebe, holding her ground.
As soon as the painting was about to get underway, her eyes lit up, and she naturally followed us, positioning herself right behind the perverted apostle.
Of course, she was merely spectating, not doing anything, but just her presence was enough to turn heads.
Wait. On closer inspection, she’s twitching a bit. It feels like she’s suppressing her instincts with her reason. Is that artwork from the perverted apostle truly that impressive?
…Huh? What’s this holy aura flowing from Phoebe?
Why is her holiness being directed at the perverted apostle?
Aaaah! No wonder the perverted apostle isn’t collapsing! Phoebe has been healing him right next to him!
Phoebe! You too! Betraying me!
“Well, well. This is quite different from the pieces contained in those accessories. It feels as if Lucy is alive within the painting.”
And next to him, Benedict was admiring the artwork.
Damn it! I should have known he’d be bought out the moment he said he’d hand over the original!
I have to stop that perverted bastard from doing anything weird while he paints!
And you call yourself my father?! Protect your daughter, damn it!
Feeling utterly disoriented, I began to hurl accusations at everyone around me when suddenly a shiver ran down my spine.
I flinched and slowly turned my head in response to the sense of danger.
And there, on the rooftop of a building, I made eye contact with that clumsy fox, who was gripping the chimney with an expression that could only be described as animalistic.
Right. Today, that furry beast seems oddly quiet.
When I captured the deep-seated disdain bubbling in my heart within my gaze, the clumsy fox stiffened for a moment, then melted into laughter and stumbled backward.
The body of the helpless clumsy fox rolled along the rooftop and crashed to the ground.
There was quite a lot of noise involved, but people’s gazes didn’t budge from where I stood.
No matter how I think about it, this world is a mess.
My suspicions had risen the moment that God started acting like a pathetic pedo, but I never expected the average people to be this… ugh.
Was that pitiful idiot actually a Dark Knight trying to overthrow this messed-up world?
…No. I may be rambling due to losing my mind, but this is just too disgusting.
I cannot accept that the so-called God is just a petty, troublesome little creep!
“What’s the ruckus? Oh, it’s Lucy Alrn.”
“Wow! Lucy is super pretty.”
“That guy looks fine when he keeps his mouth shut. The problem is when he opens it.”
Following the familiar voices, I turned my head to see Arthur and Frey happily chatting side by side, and I screamed internally.
Ahhhh!
When is this painting going to wrap up?
How long am I going to be doing this?
Why is that perverted bastard furiously moving his hands when there’s no hint of the painting being done!?
Honestly, tell me! Are you just flailing around!?
Are you doing this just to enjoy watching me suffer with that sly grin of yours!?
Right?!
*
“Seriously, what’s with all this commotion? Why are all these people gathered just to watch a painting being made?”
The classic embodiment of a grumpy old man—Inuki, grumbled at the wall of people surrounding us, causing his disciple beside him to chuckle.
“They’re not ordinary people, you know. The one painting is the Apostle of the Art Guild, and the model is the Young Lady of the Alrn family, who recently gained fame with the guild’s accessories.”
Lucy Alrn’s beauty has been a legendary story told for ages.
Even when she was acting like a brat, there were no naysayers about how cute and beautiful she was.
However, it was only the nobles from the kingdom who gossiped about her beauty. Those who stood back assumed her beauty was exaggerated.
Even if she had someone else paint her portrait, they would simply scoff and say, “Where’s this person?”
However, the situation has changed recently. Apostle Frete, a renowned artist in the kingdom and beyond, has begun to praise Lucy’s beauty daily.
Him saying she looks like a goddess has piqued the curiosity of many a gossip monger.
The tales of accessories adorned with Lucy’s painted likeness spread quickly, spurring curious buyers to acquire the guild’s goods, and soon they began testifying to their effectiveness—a sure-fire way for the guild’s accessories to sell out!
Even those in the kingdom’s high society who looked down on Lucy have begun to follow the trend and purchase the accessories.
In such an environment, it would be abnormal if the Apostle of the Art Guild didn’t start painting her.
Actually, upon further thought, what people display right now can only be called madness.
The Saintess of the Church of the Lord. The Apostle of the Art Guild. And the monster known as Benedict Alrn.
Given the presence of these three, how could one expect to see sanity?
“If the scene were more chaotic, I might consider getting involved, but as it stands, there’s really no opening.”
“Is that so…”
As Inuki squinted at his disappointed disciple, he shifted his gaze away from the crowd.
His line of sight locked onto a woman climbing up the wall.
Huh? Just from a glance, she doesn’t seem like an ordinary person. Why is such a person climbing a wall in an alleyway?
Noting the unusual air about the woman, Inuki immediately followed her with his eyes as she climbed onto the roof.
And then…
Ahh, is she here to see the Young Lady?
How remarkable. I thought Lucy’s beauty was astonishing, but that person looks ethereal…
“Hmm?”
When he saw the woman hugging the chimney and smiling as if she were about to melt, Inuki blinked rapidly before hastily looking elsewhere.
Is it true that the beauty of Young Lady Alrn is enough to melt even such a being?
Am I the only one here who’s oblivious?
Inuki, filled with self-doubt, decided he would see for himself and draw a conclusion.
“Disciple, keep your mouth shut.”
“Uh? Master. What? Ahhh!?”
Inuki grabbed his disciple by the scruff of his neck, lifting him off the ground as he leaped onto the roof.
Leaving his dazed disciple behind, he turned his head toward Lucy, surrounded by countless admirers.
“…Indeed.”
After a few seconds of being rendered speechless, he believed he could vaguely understand the thrill displayed by the crowd.
Lucy, playful while balancing on the bridge of a stream, held a mischievous smile that brought to mind the dance of the fairy queen he’d seen in a dream about a year ago.
“I need to change my words.”
The plan to forge armor according to Young Lady Alrn’s taste has been canceled.
How could I ignore the inspiration that crossed my mind? I could never call myself a blacksmith otherwise!
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