#678 An Artist in the Snow Festival

Genius artist Pisocchoooo!

Has arrived at the Snow Festival!

It’s been a while since I traveled; my legs feel sore!

Thanks to the cold, I feel even worse!

“Well, the Maestro hasn’t been summoned anywhere lately since you haven’t sold a single art piece. Your hermit period was quite lengthy, wasn’t it?”

Don’t ask me such a thing, Mr. Art Dealer!

You brought me here to revive my motivation, didn’t you?!

Then praise me more!

Flatter me!

Get me in a better mood!!!

“So annoying...”

Let’s not waste another second here; let’s go ridicule those amateur-made snow sculptures!

I, a pro, will gaze at those rubbish works, revel in my superiority, and regain my confidence!

“Artists are always nothing but trouble... More importantly, Maestro, let’s look over there. Doesn’t that giant snow tower look impressive?!”

You think I care about that?!

No matter how big it is, architecture is not art!

Therefore, it doesn’t qualify to pique my interest!

Only paintings and sculptures are considered art!

“Again with the offensive statements...!”

Let’s proceed to the Snow Festival’s venue!

The sculptures on display are... theseeeeeeee?!

Hyaaah?!

“Ooh, these are splendid! They don’t appear to be an amateur’s work at all!”

In front of me are two towering snow sculptures.

One is a snow sculpture of a burly man, and the other is also a snow sculpture of a burly man.

They both look the same.

One, then, might wonder, “Why bother describing them separately?”

“It’s understandable these sculptures are creating a stir. Their craftsmanship is neat, and their impact appeals to the soul. You cannot create a spiritual piece like this just because you are good with your hands.”

Shut up, art dealer!

However, what he says is valid...!

After all, he’s a savvy businessman who has made a killing dealing with my artworks. He has a discerning eye and can evaluate beautiful things with reason.

But I don’t want to hear him lavish praise on others’ artworks in front of me; it’s discomforting.

“This idol is the god of war, Velesares, and that one is the dwarves’ guardian deity, Hephaestus—surprisingly, both are celestial deities. These statues’ motifs are way past their trend, but it’s impressive how they’re attracting so much attention. It’s really got to be the power of the sculptures themselves.”

Hey! Watch your tongue!

Are you saying that my Zeus and Athena figurines don’t have any power?!

E-Enough!

Although they’re celestial gods, Velesares and Hephaestus are minor gods! It’s evident that they’re trying to attract attention by novelty! 

You can’t acknowledge such things as art!!!

“Oh? Are you trying to criticize our work? Is that it?”

W-Who are you?

Uoooooh!

A visage akin to a nocturnal fairy with deeply hued skin!

A gorgeous woman has appeared! Following her is an oddly stout and small-statured man!

“Are you an elf, by any chance? And is the person beside you a dwarf?!”

Do you know them, art dealer?!

Don’t just proceed with your conversation, leaving me utterly disregarded, as if I don’t exist!

“To think I’d meet an elf in a crowded place like this! Are you perhaps the sculptor behind this snow sculpture? Velesares is the guardian deity of the elf race, and it’s a well-known fact that the dwarves worship the god of crafting, Hephaestus!”

“Hm, you seem to know a lot,” replies the petite man.

So, he’s a dwarf?

“You’re renowned as the world’s best in making things, so it comes as no surprise this statue of Hephaestus is high-quality!”

“This is nothing. Sculpting is no more than one of our livelihoods, so it’s inconvenient when people think they understand dwarven technique just from this.”

Nghhhhh!

What’s with that way of speaking that implies, “Oh, I’m not even serious yet.”

“The craftsmanship of the elf who worked on the Velesares statue is nothing short of impressive too! If you’re interested, would you like to sign a long-term contract with me?!”

“I’m already in an exclusive contract with Pandemonium, so it’s impossible.”

“The biggest trading firm in the Demon Kingdom?!”

What, are you taking this opportunity to brag about yourselvesssss?!

You think you’re some hot shot because a big company favors you, huh?! Don’t you think it’s nasty to profit from art?!

“You look like you two deal with this kind of craft. Would you like to see something more interesting with us?” says the dark-skinned woman.

She’s an elf, right?

As for the dwarf...

“Mieral and I are about to go see it right now. That young boy makes new things every day, so we go daily to check. We can’t take our eyes off him.”

What do you mean?

Who could create artistic pieces that pique even the curiosity of the sculptors behind these magnificent divine statues?! 

As a genius artist, I am starting to get curious myself.

Oh, all right, I’ll go along with them!

“I wonder what kind of sculpting that kid is making today.”

“I heard it’s a Buddha statue.”

Following the dwarf and the elf, we walked for a while, and then...

* * *

“What are thoseeeeeee?!”

Upon arriving at a section of the snow sculpture exhibition, an array of snow sculptures stood with unique designs!

Never before seen designssssssss!

“Little Junior’s snow Buddha statue is progressing well today.”

“Wasn’t it called the thousand-armed Kannon or something?”

What is that snow statue with countless arms extending from its back?!

Why does it have so many arms?!

I don’t understand!

I don’t understand at alllllllllllllllll!!!

“Alllll right, all right, not one step closer than the line drawn here. If you break the statue Junior has put his heart into making, I’ll burn your village as retaliation.”

“Lady Veil, we appreciate your efforts in accompanying the young boy and guarding his snow statues. When it comes to little Junior, you’re always so serious.”

“Of course. These are the snow statues Junior made with all his heart. I won’t allow them to be destroyed! Not on my watch! I’ll stop time with dragon magic and preserve them forever!”

Who is that kid?!

It seems like she’s guarding those strange snow statues from being destroyed...

...No, but more importantly!

Who made that snow statue with all those hands growing out of it?!

That kind of artistic sense is anything but ordinary!

Surely it must be a genius on the same level as me!

I must see with my own eyes what kind of person they are!

“Break timeeeeee.”

“Well done, Junior! Are you hungry? Want a biscuit?”

Huh?

Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh?!

It can’t be that kid, right? Right?!?!?!

That little boy, who could easily be mistaken for a baby, made that snow sculptureeeeeeeeeeee?!

“Next, I will make the Statue of Miroku Bosatsuuuu.”

“Yeah! Sculpt whatever you want, Junior. There’s still plenty of snow; if there’s not enough, I’ll manipulate the weather and make it snow as much as you want!”

That’s just crazy...!

Did this child really create an ultimate art masterpiece that rivals the genius artist Pisoccho...?!

And at his age? If he continues to grow as he is now, what kind of great artist will he become as an adult?

A genius artist that surpasses even me?

For the first time in my life, I feel...fear.

In the face of talent that may surpass my own!

“Uu...Uooooohhhh!!! As if I’ll loseeeeee!!!”

The talent of the genius Pisoccho has not yet run dry!

I won’t be defeated by a child like hiiiiim! I will continue to grow! I will use this eye-opening experience as inspiration and create new boundaries!

Can I use the snow around here? Once I create a snow sculpture...!

“Don’t make it here. If your work gets mixed up with Junior’s, it will make things confusing.”

“We have an open creation corner; you can make it there.”

Okay, let’s go thereeeee!

Let my creative juices burst foooooooorth!!!

* * *

Yes, it’s done!

It’s a sculpture of Zeus with a thousand arms!

“This is just a complete rip-off.”

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we are back!

the author also announced that volume 14 of the light novel is scheduled to release on the 25th.