Chapter 55: 55

“Painting?” 

“Yeah, you promised to draw me last time.”

Did I say that?

Although I could not remember very well, Alan rang the small bell that called the attendant. It was as if he had been waiting to do this.

“Nike.”

As soon as Alan called, Nike opened the door and came in and answered loudly.

“Yes!” 

Really, he was like a ghost. Since when was he in the hallway? 

“I’m going to paint with Lily, so bring the tools. Of course, we don’t use cheap ones.”

“I’m going to contact all the art studios in the empire!”

I knew this was gonna happen. 

It was just a picture, but Alan even tried to fit a new desk for me.

After hard persuasion that there was no need for that, in the end, I received colorful chalk and white paper.

All of a sudden, as I was about to spread the paper on Alan’s desk, he took me and flopped down on the carpet.

“…Dad?”

I tilted my head, wondering why this was happening.

Alan was also puzzled like me.

“Aren’t you comfortable here? In the fairy tales I read to you, all the children were lying on the floor and drawing…”

Alan, who learned family games from books, somehow had a strange prejudice.

It didn’t matter either way, so I flopped on the carpet as he wished.

Alan sat next to me and stared piercingly at the paper.

His gaze was so burdensome that it was difficult to hold the chalk properly.

“Umm… I’ll tell you in advance, but I’m not good at drawing pictures.”

“Draw it first.”

Alan smiled softly. 

I humbly drew with black chalk. But somehow my confidence plummeted.

Even when I was living in the ant cave, I used to paint. 

I used to pick up smelly dyes from the garbage dump and paint them around on the walls.

However, no one looked at my paintings and praised them.

What I heard was, ‘I’m busy making a living, what a luxury thing you’re doing.’

‘My real father didn’t like my drawings either.’

One day, I drew a picture of my crying face and gave it to my real father.

I wanted him to know how much it hurts me when he hits me.

But my real father tore my paintings to shreds on the spot, and told me that I should earn even a penny more with the time I had to paint these things.

Thinking about that time, I felt somewhat depressed.

I shook my head to shake the old memories away and looked at Alan’s face.

‘It’s hard to draw because you’re so handsome!’

What I had to draw was this handsome man.

Instead of drawing Alan’s face on the white paper, I rubbed the chalk with my hand.

It didn’t come out the way I wanted, so I kept rubbing.

This caused a hole in the paper.

At this point, Alan could have scolded me, but he just stared at my actions.

Somehow, I became more and more embarrassed and put down the chalk.

Should I show it recklessly like this?

“Did you draw everything?”

“…Yes.”

I slid the picture toward Alan and lowered my head.

The black chalk was all smeared, and the shape could not be recognized.

Alan probably didn’t even know I painted him.

Alan looked at my drawings one by one, and suddenly picked up red chalk.

‘What? Are you trying to cover it up because you don’t want to see it?’

“…This is difficult.”

Contrary to what I expected, Alan pressed red chalk on areas a little further away from my drawing.

His hands were so large for the chalk that he looked like an adult playing with a toy.

As if Alan had drawn everything he wanted to, he passed the paper to me.

I couldn’t tell at a glance what the little red, little thing he drew.

“Uh… Is it a red sponge?”

“It is you.”

“Yes?”

“Lily, you drew me.”

Alan touched the nape of the neck as if embarrassed. His black hair glided down and lightly covered his beautiful jade-colored eyes.

“I thought it would be nice to draw together.”

I blankly raised my eyes.

Alan was the first person who did not swear at my paintings.

Perhaps he interpreted my reaction differently, Alan picked up the scissors without hesitation.

“If you don’t like it, I’ll cut it. I was planning to order a frame that fits the size of the paper anyway.” 

Were you thinking of putting it in a frame? My painting?

“It’s okay! I really like it.” 

As I shook my head vigorously, the door swung open.

“Huh? Father, what are you doing with Lily without me?!”

I expected it from how there was no knocks – it was Pedro.

Pedro approached me like a five-year-old child and sat down next to me without hesitation.

Hugo pushed his face through the open door.

“I came here because you said there’s an important issue about the family, so it’s Lily’s time to draw.”

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Oh no. Do they think they were tricked?

“I understood. There’s nothing more important than this.”

No, what did you mean you understand?

“Everyone, come and see Lily’s painting.”

Alan pointed to the black mass I drew, and ordered sternly.

As soon as Hugo looked into my painting, he was in awe.

“That’s great. Does it represent the unstoppable chaos of the world?”

…It’s understandable that he misunderstood it like that.

Even before I said no, Pedro said something unexpected.

“Are your eyes strained? This is Father.”

How the hell did he recognize it?

“Is that possible? On the contrary, the one who didn’t recognize Lily’s intentions is…”

“This is Dad.”

“…Not brother –but it’s really well drawn.”

Hugo was a little embarrassed, so he coughed a few times.

“I was mistaken for a moment. There’s no way I can’t recognize Lily’s painting.”

“Hmm, really? Lily, draw one more thing.”

Pedro lay flat on his back and held out a new piece of paper.

I hesitated and drew three animals.

One was black, one was white, and the last one had a red tail.

Hugo confidently said as if he would match it at once this time.

“The great three musketeers from <The Devil’s Lover>, one of the four great tragedies of the Empire. That’s great.”

“This is a dog. Those hounds that Lily received as a gift when she was born. Right, Lily?”

It was fascinating. I wouldn’t recognize it either. How did Pedro get it right?

“That… Brother Pedro got it right.”

Seeing Hugo’s expression hardened slightly, it looked like he had a sore throat.

“Let’s try again.”

It started as a means to kill time, but somehow it turned into a picture matching game.

“Is this Igdrasil Bell Tower, a work of art that has endured a thousand years and the pride of the capital?”

“It’s a candy bar.”

“Is it an unknown monster that haunts the Western Continent?”

“It’s Brother Hugo’s face.”

“The statue… No, is it the pork we ate yesterday?”

“Ah, this is the statue I saw in the South.” 

Hugo seemed to be running his archmage’s brain at full power, but he was wrong every time.

It seemed like he was thinking too much. 

Every time he came up with an outrageous answer, Pedro burst into laughter.

“Haha, I’m going crazy. How can you call yourself an Archmage when you can’t even recognize the things in a child’s paintings.”

I glanced back at Alan as the quarrel seemed to escalate into a fight.

I was hoping that he would cool off the overheated competitive spirit…

“It would be a good idea to decorate the frame with red diamonds.”

I leaned into him in vain. Alan was too busy looking at the drawing of the father-daughter we drew together earlier.

At that moment, when the glowing magical power slowly rose from Hugo’s hand, I quickly changed the subject.

“Dad, what’s the important story?” 

Alan then took his eyes off the drawing and spoke casually.

“On the last day of the carnival, Benimus’ power will be revealed.”

The noisy office became quiet as if cold water had been poured on it.

Tomorrow was the last day of the carnival.

Pedro wasn’t very agitated, but Hugo retorted vigorously, seemingly surprised.

“Father, are you crazy?”

No matter how much Hugo raised his voice, Alan was as calm as usual.

“It has to be done someday.”

“It’s too fast to reveal it tomorrow. In the first place, are you going to let the residents know that there is a monster lurking in the Duke’s Castle?”

I glanced at Alan and Hugo in turn, then swung over.

“Umm… Brother Hugo. What if you get caught by the wrong person while dragging out time?”

I agreed with Alan’s opinion. It seemed difficult to hide Benny’s power forever in the midst of the uproar in the stadium.

Perhaps, today, rumors about Benny were spreading in the duke’s territory.

In that case, it would have been much better for House Bauner to come forward and announce it as soon as possible.

I was just trying to help Alan a little, but Hugo kept his mouth shut with a puzzled look.

My heart sank. 

‘Ah. Did I go overboard?’

My biological father said that the biggest mistake a child could make was interrupting an adult conversation.

I was confused, but Pedro stroked his head.

He looked very proud of me.

“As expected, Lily is a genius. I agree too.” 

Pedro laid on his back and put his hand… No, he raised one foot. 

When everyone but himself agreed with Alan, Hugo seemed absurd.

“Brother too…!”

“Hey, think about it. Because the barrier has been broken, everyone is afraid of evil spirits.”

“Yes, that’s why I’m against it.”

“Why? Everyone wants a powerful force to defeat the terrifying evil spirits.”

Hugo was speechless. Pedro took the opportunity and added quickly.

“Even if he gets insulted right now, later on, they’ll praise Benibeni. Isn’t that something that happens often?” 

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