Chapter 43 – 043 – Hyde Confronts Durgien’s Artists # 2

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.

“It is an organization created by artists with great artistic ability and the nobles who support them. Their influence is very great here in Durgien. “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 people like that 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 they thought I really didn’t know the reason.

I was looked down upon quite a bit too.

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

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

It’s humans who mercilessly dump us.

In my opinion, the Daeseongjeon 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 talking about things like, “The paper published this time is…” Or “The art piece was 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 pleased.

“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 place a 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 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 a very funny thing.

“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 a 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 ‘devil’ will be put down 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 we call it 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 in fact, I definitely wanted to see Hyde impressing artists with my masterpiece, “The Village of Back-Alley Nymphs.”

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“Please pay the entrance fee.”

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

It was a furious moment.

Zek-.

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.

Zek-.

I now entered the main sanctuary and looked around.

Compared to the splendid exterior of the building, the interior was so wonderful that there was nothing special about it.

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

“This is—.”

“It’s a pieta. It’s a sculpture created by artist Michelan when he was around the same age as you. He was 24 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. Did you make 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 sanctuary.

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

If this place had been 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, it doesn’t make sense to charge an admission fee.”

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

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

“Oh my god, I thought it would be quiet for a month or so, 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 were probably members of the “Artist Association.”

“Are you members of the Artists’ Association?”

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

Artist Michelan?

The creation of heaven and earth nailed to that ceiling or the genius artist who sculpted this Pieta? As expected, it was a long and 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?

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?”

Sseukseu-.

The men looked me up and down blatantly. Michelan also looked me up and down without holding my hand, and even warned me, “You know that I don’t give autographs carelessly.”

What a brat.

I have an artistic temperament.

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

It was when I added a word.

The expressions on which the artists looked at me seemed to have changed, and Michelan also opened his mouth wide 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!”

Zek-.

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

I feel like the conversation will go well.

Paintings, sculptures and writing.

Although the genres are different, artists have something in common. I said to the artists, feeling like I was 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? “If vagabonds come in and see our art, what will they know?”

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

“We are guarding 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 an artist myself, 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.

“That’s right. “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 author must be 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 them and educate them.

That would be my role.

“The devil is such trash that it can’t even be called a book. The real art is the “Village of Back Alley Nymphs” Written here. For your information, 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. “I’m very interested!”

As Michelan shouted as if catching the wind, the surrounding voices grew louder, saying, “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 printed and given by Psyche herself.

“Okay then, let’s read it. 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 soon started reading from the beginning.

Early stage-.

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

The part I put the most effort into.

Even if you only listen to the first 5 minutes, 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 just sleepy.”

But as I watched people moving 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, don’t call yourself an artist again!”

“Okay! You’re not even an artist! No, this is not the time! Let’s all beat this guy! “Don’t ever write such horrible things 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! I mean literature. It’s noble!”

“You blasphemer of art!”

People flocking towards me-.

Their expressions were very serious, and they seemed furious.

Did I desecrate art?

This is ridiculous!

I was a true 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 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.

Looking at me like that, I said, “This is so funny!” Milione’s laughter spread, saying, “Kyahaha!”

Soon everyone was saying, “Yes!” Get out of here! Get out!” Or “Look at that guy running away!” He burst out laughing, saying, “I guess being Psyche’s husband is also an impersonation!”

Everyone is laughing at me.

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

“You 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?

If you roughly draw your own face with paint, is that art?

“Art is the impact that changes the world.”

I’ll show you what real art is.