The picturesque rice cakes are delicious today

Then the next day.

We all went to Argent's house.

Ms. Argent was surprised that Faye came with us, but she thought there was no reason to say no, so she let me through.

I sit on the sofa in the reception room that was passed by. [M]

Faye and Claire are next to me. Laocles is a little far away.... it's okay. They're all here, and I can say what I want to say.

"Have you come to a conclusion?

Mr. Argent stares at me as he does. [M] As I feel like I'm under pressure in that gaze, I have to tell you right now.

"I think I'm mistaken for you. Maybe what I want is different from what you want....."

I have to tell them that you and I are different creatures.

"So let me check that. Make sure we're thinking differently."

Argent looked surprised and strange. It also seems interesting. Or maybe they're all acting, and they're just annoying.

"Hmm. Confirm. I suppose it is necessary to remove your anxiety. [M] What do you want to know?

"First of all, what do you want from me?"

When I said so, Argent answered with a slight inclination. [M]

"If you're asked what you want, well, you want me to paint as a painter. And hopefully, I will become a famous painter and decorate the royal castle... and hope to succeed as a painter."

Argent smiled and said so.

Perfect goodwill. Probably.

... that's why we're crossing paths.

"Well, I don't want to sell the painting or sell the name."

When I said so, Mr. Argent clearly showed a cowardly expression. [M]

"... don't you want to sell it?

He didn't say 'I want you to sell the painting'. However, he only talks about status and visibility... and apparently, as expected, Argent thinks' selling pictures' is' natural '.

Perhaps the painting is good enough to sell if it sells, and nothing else matters.

"If I could eat dinner about once a day and paint while living in the woods... otherwise, I wouldn't have to sell it. I just want to paint."

When I said so, Mr. Argent looked a little out of tune. [M] While pretending to listen to me seriously, behind it, I am desperately thinking about the meaning of my words. [M] That's what I think.

"... and if you can say more about yourself, I'd like to paint for someone who likes my paintings. Because I like drawing, and I like drawing. That's why I'm glad you bought the painting you drew, but I'm not drawing it for sale... the way you evaluate the painting is just money."

Is it conveyed? I'm very anxious.

Argent is probably thinking, but is that what you're thinking? I wonder if you understand my words. [M]

Or are you just thinking about what to do with me? [M]

"And I don't really want my place."

"... why is that?

I don't know why. But I don't need a position. That's probably because you're uncomfortable, or because you've found a way to live happily without status.

... but after all, I wonder why 'status' is a 'chunk of evaluation'.

"I think gaining a position means being valued."

"... that's right."

"My teacher taught me that rating is a permission to 'stay here'. I think so, too."

When I said so, Argent began to understand my words again. So I'll wait a bit before I go on.

"It's a pleasure to have a place to stay, and I appreciate it. I got a place in Red Gard territory, and then I got a place in Faye's heart, and it's so cozy."

"... I see. Wouldn't it be better to have more" whereabouts "?

"But no matter where you are, it doesn't seem like you want to be there again. I... don't seem to like high places very much... if you get a status, maybe it'll be all about" high places ", and that's not for me."

I like narrower places than higher places. [M] It calms down when it enters the gap.... like a tube fox. Me.

"It might be better to have a variety of places. Maybe it's not too much trouble. But I don't really need it... 'It doesn't have to be', 'it doesn't have to be', in other words, I don't feel attracted to something called status."

Argent's expression seemed a bit impatient. As if to deceive him, Argent told the maid in the corner of the room to prepare the tea. As the maids prepare their tea, I say what I want to say the most.

"Then, there's something I'm not convinced of."

"... what is it?"

"I don't know why you rated me."

"... you heard the reason yesterday."

"Yes"

"You mean you weren't convinced by the response at that time?

Nod at Argent's words.

That's right. I wasn't convinced.

"I'm a painter. Because I was a painter, I naturally thought that my rating was for painting."

When I say so, Argent nods with a 'naturally' look.

"But your rating wasn't the rating of the painting..."

"... wasn't it a painting evaluation?

Maybe this was the biggest gap.

Argent looks like he's confused. It's like I did mention the evaluation of the painting.

... but that's not what I wanted to hear.

"When I asked, 'Why did you tell me this story?', he told me how my painting would be appreciated by others, but he didn't tell me about the painting itself. I didn't know what they thought was good about my painting or what they liked about it."

So Argent finally noticed the confusion between us.

"I missed it a bit. Argent looked at my painting and thought," I can do this. "But it wasn't the" evaluation of the painting "I wanted to hear... it was the" story of selling the painting ", not the" evaluation of the painting itself "."

When I said that, Argent's eyes clearly ran upset. [M]

... maybe it conveys my feelings much better than what I said yesterday: "It's a heavy story for me."

"Whether it's 'calming when I look at it' or 'I like the colour', 'I don't know' is fine, so I want you to think about the painting. I want you to look at the picture, not the one at the front of the picture. That's what I want."

"Um, please tell me again. What did Argent think of my paintings?

Mr. Argent remained silent for a while. It seemed like there was plenty of room to tilt the tea cup gracefully, but behind it, it also seemed like I was desperately thinking about something.

... while I waited for Argent's words.

"... Argent. I can't seem to offer you that."

There, Faye sandwiched her mouth.

"You haven't seen a picture of corn, have you?"

Argent freezes. Don't blink, stare at the facade... and then notice my gaze, glancing at me.

... I see. Has this man ever seen my paintings? [M]

I was convinced. In that case, I don't know... well, I know what you've been dealing with. I was thinking desperately because I was thinking a lie. Yeah, because I can't tell you what I don't see.

"I'm sure you've only heard the rumors. There's a painter who paints a little unusual. That's all I had to say to the corn."

Fai said that, but Argent didn't say anything negative.

However, Argent kept quiet and time went by...

"... if so, what is it?

The words that were finally uttered seemed rather irritable, and I felt frightened.

But you shouldn't be scared here.

"I'm a painter. I want the rating for the painting.... if you can't get that kind of rating and that kind of place, this is not the place I want to be. Because I'm a painter, not a decorator."

Argent had a slightly awkward look. For not seeing my picture. [M] You may regret not being able to say it well. But if he thinks something, my words are not for nothing. [M]

"I didn't want everything that you gave me. I'm not satisfied with money or status."

I am not satisfied rather than dissatisfied.... that. Is this what you call dissatisfaction?

... Argent sinks on the back of the chair and looks at the fake.

"Did you blow something from the Redgards?

"No, nothing in particular.... but I thought it would be rude if none of the Redgards were present when our painter spoke."

Faye answered without a clue... and then she broke her face a little.

"And then my best friend said no to big stories, so I thought, well, I might get hungry too. I asked him to say no by himself."

That expression cheers me up. [M] Argent looks like he's been sucked up.

Um, Mr. Argent.

I'll manage to use the energy I received and tell you.

"After all, let me refuse this conversation. It's not too heavy for me. [M] It's too heavy to walk."

Then Argent remained silent.

... and when he opened his mouth again, his voice was so cold.

"... I'm really sorry. I thought you'd be smarter."

"Yes, I'm not very smart. It's not the kind of creature you want."

I'm a little glad you're disappointed.

To be disappointed means to be understood. What kind of creature I am... you understand that Argent doesn't have the shape he wants.

That's why I'm happy.

I didn't have the courage to be disappointed.

... it's not a bad thing for you to give up. It must be necessary for me to live. [M] I can't seem to get the shape I wanted.

Mr Argent may have been a little surprised at my response. [M] Perhaps I was expecting to be 'disappointed'. [M]

"Remember that. There are as many of you as there are. Your painting is not worth much either. [M] I didn't mean to slap it in the mouth like a big painter. It's a good place to be."

The first thing I said has changed, but maybe this is what Argent meant.

Now that you're telling me the truth, this is a step forward.

"Yes, I think there are plenty of alternatives for you. I don't think I'm that good at painting. [M] At least compared to the people who do it properly as professionals, of course."

When I answer, Argent laughs with his nose. [M] Yeah. Well, my painting arms are like laughing at my nose. [M]

"That's why I want to go to someone who says, 'There are plenty of substitutes for you' rather than someone who says, 'There are no substitutes for you.'"

But there are people who will like it, even if it's an arm painting that makes you laugh with your nose. And I'm happy about that.

"Then stay on the edge for the rest of your life.... you'll regret it. You will never succeed."

"I prefer someone who laughs and regrets me when I fail to succeed."

Next to me, Faye reacts a little.

Fay looked at me gently... and then smiled a lot. My face relaxes because I'm happy about it. [M]

Then Argent sighed at me with his' incomprehensible 'eyes.

"Hmm. You think you can live with that?

"If you can't live, I think you can die."

And when I answered, Mr Argent burst out for a moment. [M] The eyes that looked at me changed from "eyes that looked at things I didn't understand" to "eyes that looked at things I didn't know well". Because it might have been "the eyes to see things that are not human."

... it's not a bad thing that you can look at me like that. I don't know what I'm talking about, I'm not human... and you know I don't understand you at all, so that's the right answer.

"I want to live where I can live. So let me decline this conversation."

Once again, I bowed deeply to someone I could never understand.

"... hmm. I don't mind. Because I don't have time to put my hands on people who don't have the will to succeed."

Argent said so in a mood, then stared at Faye.

"You said it was Red Gard, you..."

"Yes"

Fay corrects his posture and expresses himself nervously.

"You know that, right? You....."

"Um..."

I raised my hand slightly to break between the two of them in a tight atmosphere. [M]

"... what is it?"

Argent was a little slow, as if I had suddenly interrupted and killed the momentum. Fay has a soft face. Yeah. If the tension is resolved, above all.

"Well, Mr. Argent."

So I decided to say something Faye couldn't say instead.

"If I refuse to tell you this story, you won't do anything mean to the Redgards."

"....."

Argent finally looked like he had been poked in the face.

"You're not going to try to keep the Red Gard family out of the company, or embarrass the Red Gard territory."

As I continued to ask, Argent opened his eyes without saying anything.

"... um, please don't do that.

When I was worried and checked, Mr. Argent...

"... then, this is ridiculous. What the hell are you doing?"

"I heard that some people do such things....."

It's important to check. And then, I think it's important to convey the request, "I don't want Faye to do anything mean even if I refuse." Mm-hmm.

... when I looked next door, the fae was plump. He seems to be experiencing a laugh.

"Nah... hey, Faye Brad Redgard! This is...."

"No, I'm sorry! Dear Argent!"

Eventually, Fay lowered his head with a smile. Then he pushed my head down. [M] That's why I'm going down honestly.

"This guy, when I told him that before, he got worried!... hey, Corn! Only third-class guys do that, don't they? You know, there's no way a super top-notch guy like Argent would harass you like that, right? Huh?"

"... I see."

Oh, my God, is that so? Am I glad I didn't have to worry?

Great. I'm relieved. That's what Faye says, and Argent won't harass the Redgards... Good, then.

"Good."

"Oh, good. I can't thank Argent for his generosity."

"Yes, thank you."

... Mr. Argent, somehow, looked in trouble. Mm-hmm.

Um... thank you. Mm-hmm.

Mr. Argent remained silent. He stared at us with a slightly troubled face, standing still and hard.

I feel a little scared, but I can't change my mind, so I have to stare straight back.

... at that time.

"That's right. Master Argent, you haven't seen a picture of corn, have you?

That's what Faye suddenly says. Argent then looks as unhappy as he deserves. Well, I'd hate to hear you say that over and over again.

... but Fei didn't care about Argent and started messing around with the luggage behind the sofa. It seemed like they were asking if they would release anything suspicious, and the guards around them all stood up at once.... but it was the frames that Faye gave me.

"It's a corner, so I thought I'd take a good look. I brought it!

Fay smiled at me, and it was a picture I painted. The one in the forest. The guy who decorated Faye's house.

... maybe for the first time here, Argent saw my painting.

It's a watercolor painting of the forest, so I don't think it's very unusual. 'There are many substitutes' is also correct.

But... well, I felt the expression of Argent who was looking at the painting moved.

... Mr. Argent didn't say anything after all. But that's enough.

I moved my expression a little. You took my picture seriously. [M] If you pulled me in for a second, that would be enough.

... you got what you wanted. I'm glad.

We left Mr. Argent's house with the same momentum.

So I went back to the inn... and Laocles checked out the window and the hallway, and Claire checked the room... and Claire laughed.

"I used to say the smartest lie in the world is innocence! Really!"

I wondered what that meant, and all of a sudden, Mr. Crowe hugged me.... eh.

"Ah, uh, Mr. Crowe."

Soft. Warm. Don't calm down!

"Fufu, what a lovely spirit! Go straight to authority, turn right in front of an open gate, and come back!

As it stood, Mr Crowe began to circle around me.... this guy looks like a woodland.

"... I can't believe I'm leaving."

Laocles looked at me and had a stunned, unconscious smile. [M] Laocles became softer than when it first appeared. It doesn't look like a plaster statue, but this is good.

"I didn't think Argent would have expected that. I've been in a lot of trouble."

Yeah, I was kind of in trouble. Maybe he was going to do something terrible. If that's the case, I'm glad I said, "Please don't."

"... Argent, will you do something terrible to Redgard territory?"

"Oh no... well, it's hard to harass you in a prominent way. Ahhhhhhh....."

I see. Good. It's important to speak properly. Mm-hmm.

"... that. Is it possible that you will be harassed in a discreet manner?"

By the way, if Fai was rebelling against what he just said, it caught me there.... no, I don't think so.

"Well, I guess so... yeah"

It seems so. They will harass you in a discreet way.

That's not good. I don't know what kind of harassment is, but it's not good!

"Well, that can't be helped. Yeah, I've been ready since the Red Dragon got here."

"But...."

"What, it's not your fault! Originally, the Argents would have been interested in the Red Dragon. There are plenty of lines to say that he was trying to destroy us in the middle of nowhere. It just so happens that this thing might be triggered and manifested."

... I see. Yeah. Red Dragons are unusual. Looks like I want everybody. Maybe you want Argent, too. Dragon.

"So, Red Gard's guards aren't doing very well. I don't know what you're going to do. Mr. Crowe, do you have anything in mind?

"Well, isn't it going to be a needle banquet at a social gathering?

I see. Then you'll be fine if you take me to Tokyo. "

It's not okay. Why do you think it's okay, Faye?

"Can you curse me later?

I can't expect the Spirit to protect you.

I can't! Don't expect too much!

"... now, let's go out and fight. If you get hit with all kinds of things, it's then. Why don't you come with me? Corn"

"Yeah, I'll do whatever I can."

If Argent has done something, we'll take action. Let's worry about it together.

Yeah, we'll figure it out. I feel like I can do anything now.

... it's not very good, but there's something I might enjoy.