The Master Painter and the Forbidden Room – Part 07
“I’m sorry, Master. I didn’t think my refusal to paint anything would result in an execution or imprisonment.”
I carried the bard, who was unable to move after receiving a full-powered kick from his sister, to the hut, finally taking shelter from the pouring rain.
At first, the painter was wary of me and Zero, but thanks to the bard introducing me as a mercenary who saved her, I didn’t get a kicking.
I thought she was fearless for not getting spooked by a Beastfallen. She didn’t seem timid at all.
The hut was divided into three rooms, one of which was the bedroom. I laid the poet on the bed and went to the living room, leaving him in his sister’s care.
I took off my wet clothes and squeezed the water out of them. Letting Zero’s Magic dry the rain that had soaked my body, I listened to the sibling’s conversation.
“There’s a lot of artists out there, so I thought if I stopped painting, they’d lose interest and forget about me,” the girl began. “Then I would be able to paint whatever I want again, just like old times.”
Burdened by the public’s high opinion of her, she became miserable painting what others wanted.
“Also, they said I was a disappointment,” she continued. “They were expecting a beautiful woman to be behind such beautiful paintings, but apparently I was just some dull girl.”
“A dull girl? Who the hell said that?! Have you seen yourself in the mirror? You’re pretty. That’s an indisputable fact, even without counting my own bias.”
The plain-looking girl was indeed far from breathtaking, but she was pretty like the bard said. Five more years and she would be a beautiful woman.
“I bet it was the daughter of the nobleman who commissioned the portrait that said that. They’re just jealous. They wear dresses and jewelry to hide their ugliness. They were jealous because you were pretty even without the fine accessories.”
“But they said the reason I draw beautiful women is because I want to be one.” Her voice was trembling from frustration. “They said the bard was more beautiful and called me pathetic. Then I just couldn’t paint anymore. I didn’t even want to look at your face.”
“What nonsense!” the bard spat, ice in his voice. “Why didn’t you tell me?! I would’ve composed a poem about them becoming prostitutes and bandits’ comfort women then recited it at the royal palace!”
“Are you stupid? You’ll get hanged! This is exactly why I didn’t tell you anything.”
“But it doesn’t mean you don’t like painting anymore, right? I mean…” There was a pause as he looked around the room. “You can teach kids how to paint. All the pictures here were painted by the children you taught, right?”
“Yes,” the painter replied, embarrassed.
It was the reason why the painter would regularly leave the house. She got sick of staying indoors after a few days, so she slipped out of the house without the bard seeing her. While strolling in the woods, she found a child painting by the lake.
The manservant told us that when she started teaching the child to paint, more children came to her, eventually creating a painting class of some sorts.
“Would you rate children’s paintings based on their physical appearance?” the bard asked in a gentle tone.
“No way!”
“Of course not. Doing that is despicable. You shouldn’t care about looks and the opinion of others. Isn’t that right?”
“Look at me,” he went on. “Do you know what they call me? A man-whore jester who composes worthless poems for his sister’s painting so he could ride on her coattails.”
“That’s not true! I can’t draw without my master’s… my brother’s poems! I’ve always said that my paintings and your poems are one! Damn it. I hate it. I hate that they talk about you like that. Give me a poem right now! Let’s show everyone what we’ve got! That our works are one. We’ll create the best work of art there is and send it to that governor who tried to have me kidnapped!’
“Now that’s my painter! Actually, I already have a subject prepared.”
I sighed and looked at Zero. “There you have it.”
“I cannot wait to see the finished product.”
There was a thud from the room, and the bard and the painter came running out. The painter was wearing a leather apron, her arms folded as she carried a bag of materials slung over her shoulder. She looked as if she was ready to start working right now.
But as soon as she saw me, she let out a very feminine shriek. She jumped, tears in her eyes, and hid behind the bard.
What now? A kinda late reaction, don’t you think?
“It’s a wild dog, Master!” she said. “There’s a gigantic, wild dog in the house!”
“Oh, come on. I carried the bard to the bed just moments ago,” I said. “You didn’t say anything then.”
“She did not see you,” Zero cut in. “It was raining and dark. She was also in a state of confusion after a kidnapping attempt. You had your hood over your head as well. She probably thought you were a man with a big physique.”
I get it. So she wasn’t a fearless girl who’s not afraid of Beastfallen.
But she only screamed for a brief moment. Now she was staring at me with a frown on her face.
“No, wait,” she said. “It’s not a wild dog. It’s got a feline face, so it could be a huge wildcat. It looks bipedal. It’s even wearing clothes.”
“Ah, a master painter indeed,” Zero said with admiration. “You possess a keen eye for observation.”
The painter shot a glance at Zero, and she clung even tighter to the bard. “I don’t like beautiful women,” she mumbled.
The nobleman’s daughter’s words must have hit her deep.
The bard looked at me and Zero. “See? Isn’t she just adorable?”
“It’s okay, Master,” the bard said. “That Beastfallen is a mercenary who saved you, and the lady over there is a real witch. I brought her here to be the subject of your painting. Take a good look. That’s no ordinary human beauty.”
“Ah, you idiot,” the painter said. “I see you got tricked again. There’s no way a witch would wander around these parts.”
Zero snapped her fingers, lighting up a tiny flame on her fingertips. The flame turned into a small snake that crawled up Zero’s arm, then vanished around her shoulder.
“I-It’s a trick!”
“Come examine my hands, then,” Zero said. “If you want, I can blow up this whole forest and create a field for plantation. Though I do not want to do it if possible. It is exhausting.”
The painter’s eyes widened a little. She watched the witch warily.
“But aren’t witches evil? You’re gonna ask for my soul in exchange for painting you, aren’t you?”
“What kind of nonsense is that? It is extremely troublesome to extract and store souls. That is not something I want to do, and I do not have much use for it.”
The painter leaned forward a little and stared at me. “I’ve never seen a Beastfallen before. Do you bite?”
“Good question. I’m kinda hungry right now.”
She was too on edge, so I bared my teeth and roared at her as a joke. The painter screamed again and shrank back behind the bard with teary eyes.
Feeling a sharp gaze from my side, I gave a start.
“Do you like bullying the weak?” Zero asked. “Or do you get excited when you see a helpless lady screaming and scared? I must say, I find that repulsive.”
“No, I was just, uhh… kidding around… I am deeply sorry.”
The painter cautiously stepped out from behind the bard and studied me. “Can I draw him?” She turned to the bard.
My breath caught. I hated my looks. My terrifying appearance made me a mercenary, a job I didn’t want to do.
But before I could say “No,” Zero and the bard agreed without asking for my opinion.
“All right!” the painter exclaimed. “A beautiful witch and a terrifying Beastfallen. Awesome subjects. I can feel the creative juices oozing! Now that’s my master!”
“I know, right? Then let’s get started right away!”
“Whoa there! I thought only the witch would be the subject. Why the hell am I being dragged into this?! I am not doing it!” I stood up, and Zero tapped my shoulder.
“Come now, Mercenary. Would it not be an honor to be in the same painting as me?”
“Hell no! Don’t get too cocky, stupid witch!”
“No, no!” the painter cried in a childish voice. “I want to paint both! I won’t do it otherwise!”
“Stop being selfish, you brat! You were cowering just moments ago!”
“Now, now, Sir Mercenary,” the bard said. “This is all for art. For a piece of work to be truly complete, the beautiful and the hideous must be together. The immoral obscenity of a beast being conquered by a beautiful lady is crucial here!”
I had no idea what he was talking about anymore. I can’t with these people.
I turned around and bolted out of the hut. One night should be enough for them to give up.
Alas, it was hopeful thinking. I heard Zero’s voice coming from behind me. She was reciting an incantation.
“Meeza Ri Qib! Squirm forth and ensnare! Chapter of Capture, Page Eight: Caplata!”
“Damn you! Using Magic is not fair!”
“Say what you will. I am a witch. Grant me power, for I am Zero!”
Ah, there’s no escape.
The moment Zero finished her incantation, countless vines sprang from the ground and wrapped around my body, pulling me down to the ground and rendering me immobile.
“No! I will not be the subject of a painting! Oh, God! Please smite this witch!”
“I did not know you were a devout Church follower,” Zero said with a smile. She sat down gracefully on top of me as I squirmed about.
The bard and the painter efficiently laid out the art materials in front of us, and the arrangement was complete.
“Be quiet, Mercenary. This will be a good memory.”
“Being tied up and turned into a seat makes a good memory?”
“It does,” the bard answered with enthusiasm. “There are countless men in this world who wish for beautiful women to sit on them! Every man out there—me included!”
“You’re too loud, Master,” the painter said. “I can’t concentrate.”
Crestfallen, the bard let his shoulders sag. But he was wearing a soft look on his face, and the way he gazed at the painter, happily watching over the girl, was just like an older brother watching over his younger sister.
Zero chuckled with glee, while I roared, yelled, cursed, and whined with anger, hatred, and sorrow all night.
Epilogue
Thus, a painting of a terrifying beast bound with chains and a bewitching witch sitting comfortably on its back was created.
The graphic obscenity of the piece was praised as a wonderful representation of the corruption of witches and Beastfallen. Everyone deemed it a masterpiece that would be talked about for generations.
The governor who received the painting was so pleased that he gave the siblings an extraordinary reward.
But a perfect work of art can drive a person insane.
The governor was so enchanted by the witch in the painting that he did not want to leave her side even for a moment, so he had many copies made and hung them in every corner of the house.
He also took the painting with him whenever he left his home, and even had it embroidered on his bed sheets.
He commissioned a wide range of derivative works based on the painting, such as sculptures and poems, and even spent his wealth on plays.
The governor lost his ability to love real women. In time, the painting became an object of fear. People said it contained the soul of a wicked witch.
Who the painting’s subjects were, no one would ever know.
Extra Illustration
Comment (0)