'I'm going to get you today!

I declared, pumping my fist in the air with renewed enthusiasm as soon as I woke up.
I'll do it!
When I say I'll do it, I do it!

'I'm going to use this whole day to get the sculptor no matter what!

All the people in the room looked at me.
I'm sure they were greatly moved by your declaration of determination to fight back. I understand, I understand, yeah.

'Yashiro......'

Estella, who was seated at the table in the sunlit pavilion, stood up and slowly approached me.
Then she puts her hand on my shoulder and turns her quiet gaze to me.

'...... It's already evening.

The light outside the window was a bright red.

'How can you say that you have a full day ahead of you while sleeping until this time?

They're looking at me like I'm a complete idiot.
What is that, contempt?Pity?Like you're looking at a poor child?

I can't help it!
I went to bed at a weird time last night and couldn't sleep at night!
The dark and silent darkness of the night after everyone has gone to bed is also viciously frightening, and I couldn't sleep at all. ...... But when the sun was about to rise, I finally felt sleepy. ...... ...... and it was evening when I realized it.

'It's not my fault, is it?
'I'm just beginning to suspect that your head is sadly bad.

I'm sorry.

'Mr. Yashiro. Would you like to eat for now?You must be hungry.'
'......, if you say so.
'Then, I'll go prepare it.

Ginette quickly disappeared into the kitchen.
Loretta is clearing the table where someone was eating a while ago.
Magda is dusting the wax statues that line the store. ...... You don't have to clean that, do you?
And there's Estella in front of me.

'...... I don't know, this store is always full of the same people.
'There was a customer here a while ago, but you were just asleep.
'Even if there were customers, there were probably fewer than this wax statue anyway, right?
'U............, well, yes...'

There are a total of twenty-five wax statues lined up in the sunlit pavilion,............ and they're growing again.

'By simple calculation, that's five per person.
'I don't need five of them.

It's a metaphor for what you might take home.
I don't want these sculptures either. But I can't throw them away.

It's starting to take up too much space in the store. ...... We need to get the sculptor.

'Sorry, Jeannette!We'll eat another time!
'What?

I called out, and Ginette hurriedly came out of the kitchen.

'Aren't you going to eat?
'Because we have to catch him quickly. Somehow, it's already evening ...... and there's no time to relax.'
'Not somehow, though.
'Then, at least, let's get some lunch ......!I'll remake it right now!
'No, I'm fine.
'No!

Jeannette saunters over the counter.
Unusually, her eyebrows arched in a slightly angry expression.

'You have to eat well. If anything should happen to Mr. Yashiro, ...... I will ............'.
'Oh, no, it's ............ .......'

What a spirit. ......
I can't believe I can't get away with this: ............

'Or is ...... the food I make not enough to help ............ Yashiro-san?'

This is not fair!
This is not fair, Jeannette!

What's with that face that looks like it's about to cry?
You look like a little kid when your parents are getting divorced and your father is leaving you. ......

If you have a face like this and say something like this, ............ no matter how much I ......

'Oniichan!
'Nii-chan!

At that moment, my sisters rushed into the cafeteria through the door.

That's great!
Go ahead and make some noise!
When Jeannette was distracted by you and the air was silent, I seized the sculptor who was sneaking away and ......!

'I caught the person who put the sculpture there.
'You caught him?

'You got him?

'Got it!
'Gotcha!



What do you want me to do with all the effort I've put in and the enthusiasm I have now?
You can't ............ get him while I'm sleeping.

I'm not sure what to make of it.

Estella asks, calming her fussing sisters.
The sisters all point to the entrance, ''Almost there! I'll get him! But he'll get violent! they say.

Soon, the sculptor who made my wax statue will be here. ............ What kind of person will he be? ......

'Be quiet!
'Don't go crazy!

Gradually, the front becomes noisy.
It looks like the underling has arrived.

'Onii-chan!
'The culprit, I've got him!

Four sisters are pulling on the rope.
Then, a man, his body wrapped in ropes, was dragged to the sunny pavilion.

'Hey, you little bastards!Let me go, that I do!I can't let you fail here, that I can't!

...... Samurai!
The man who brought me in was a young man with shaggy hair and potato-like round glasses.
I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm curious about the tone of voice.
I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this. ............ I never thought I'd meet a guy with a samurai tone in another world. ......

I'm sure you'll agree.I'm not sure what to make of that.I'm not sure what to say.I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.

............ Is that you?
I'm not sure what to make of that.

No, wait, calm down, I am!It is strange that Mr. Yashiro is here, that it is!I'm sure he's a celestial being and would never be in this lower realm. ...... No, but the person in front of me right now is undoubtedly the hero, Mr. Yashiro. ...... I'm not sure what is a dream and what is reality.
'Sister, kick her out.
I'm not sure what to do.

Estella put a stop to my honest request.

'No, I thought you would probably react that way, but I can't start unless you listen to me!
'Then you'll have to listen to me.'
'Well, .................. I'm a little ......... ...'

You look very uncomfortable.

'Well ...... it seems that I am being shunned by women, that I am. I'm not sure what to say. I'm not worried about it in the slightest, so please don't worry about it either.
'...... Yashiro'.
I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how to get the best out of it.

Now, as he pondered what to do about this man with too much lye, Ginette stepped forward and stood in front of the man who had spoken to him, that is, she stood in front of him.
She bowed her head.

'Welcome to the Sunshine Pavilion. I'm Ginette, the manager of this store.
'Well, well, well, thank you very much. Thank you very much, that you are.
'If you don't mind, may I ask your name?
'I am not worthy of a name, .......'

Ila: ......

'Identify yourself, Kola.'

I was so irritated that I kicked him in the face, and who can blame me?

'Mr. Yashiro, you can't.'

Oh, ......, I was blamed.

'Hee hee!Oh, my hero!The hero kicked me in the face!I was so excited that every muscle in my body started to move strangely, that I was so excited that every muscle in my body started to move strangely.
'Yeah!Don't move so strangely, say your name quickly!

The sisters who were grabbing the ropes wriggled in such an unpleasant way that they couldn't help but run away, 'Muha!Mu-hah! I'm not sure what to say.
...... What is this? I want to illegally dump it in the mountains right now.

'...... Yashiro. Is this all the people you know?
'I don't know any of them!

We've never met!

'Sorry, sorry, ....... I'm a little distracted, that I am.

The man stops flailing around, sits upright on the floor, and straightens his back.
It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for and what you need to do to get it. ...... The quickness with which you can switch from writhing to calm and the flexibility of your body to quickly get back into position with your hands tied makes it even more unpleasant.
I'm sure you're not the only one who has a problem with that.

'It's rude not to answer when asked your name, that it is. Then, I would like you to remember this trivial name, that it is, in a corner of your memory. ............ In the first place, I was born into this world one rainy day eighteen years ago... ...'
'Come on, say your name!

My face was in a very good position, so I kicked him in the face once more.
What's with this fit? I feel a sense of unity that makes me think that this guy's face is there for me to kick him in the face.



'Yashiro-san . Don't be violent, okay?'
'No, no, Mr. Ginette. I'm a little comfortable with this, that I am.'
'......Wow............'
'......terminal'
'...... big brother......'

Hey, hey, hey, Estella, Magda, Loretta.
Why are you looking at me there?He's the bad one and he's the creepy one, right?

'Gosh,' said ....... So, again. My name is Bekko Neveu, that I am. I'm a simple expressionist. There's nothing more I can introduce. A boring man, that I am.

Becco Neveu.

'Hey, Becco.
'Hee-hee!A hero spoke my name.'Oh, my name!
'Shut up!Don't agonize over it!

He's got his arms bound, but he's still moving around freely. I'm sure he can live happily in any situation.
The way he moves, he must have a lot of flexibility and muscle strength. ...... Perverts with high specs are out of control.

'Becco. Are you sure that the wax statue here is the one you made?
'Mu............ these are my works that I thought were missing......... ...How did you end up here?
'It's a nuisance to leave something like this in the square. I made you bring it here.'
'What?The hero himself is collecting my works?
'It's not a collection!
'I'll sign as many as you want, that I will!
'No thanks!

Talking with this guy consumes three times as much energy as usual.
Why is he so direct?Isn't there a little too much blood?

'Why have you made so many statues of Yashiro and placed them in the square?

Estella asked in a quiet voice, and Bekko calmed down a little, closing his eyelids softly.

'I ...... have always loved to make things. I have made many things since I was a child, starting with mud dumplings, drawing, and clay work, that I have made many things since I was a child.

With his eyelids open, Bekko's eyes look over the wax statues with compassionate tenderness.

'One day, I want to be recognized by people as a sculptor, ...... and it didn't take me long to come to that conclusion, that I did.

In every world, there are always young people who have dreams. ......

'But as you can see, the things I create are ...... not at all acceptable as an artist, that they are.

...... And without exception, the reality is harsh.

'I don't know if it's my lack of sensitivity or my lack of imagination, but I can only give form to what I see ............, and as an artist I'm no better than a third-rate failure, that I am.

Many of those who dream are faced with a reality that is too harsh and are crushed.

'I, too, thought that the age of dreaming was over at eighteen......, that it was.

In this world, you are considered an adult at 15.
You need to get a job by that time and build a foundation for your future life.
If you can't do that, you will be branded a failure as an adult.
Eighteen is the age at which one begins to think about having a family in this world. It is the age when one is ready to take on the life of someone other than oneself.

This is not the age to be talking about dreams.

'But ......'

But ......

'At that time, I met a hero, that I did!A hero!

There is no rule that says you have to give up on your dreams.
It's a great life to live your dreams until you become an old man, or even after you become an old man.

I like people with sparkling eyes like this. regardless of gender.

I saw the big fight on the main street two and a half months ago and heard Mr. Yashiro's words, "Let's try again! I thought, 'Let's not give up, let's keep trying until the end,' that I did!
'So, you made a wax statue of my likeness and placed it in the square.
'How dare you!I can only give shape to what I see as I see it. ...... But even so, I can give shape to the scene that I see so clearly, that I can give shape to it without any deviation.I have put everything I have into that statue, that I have!
'Form what you see, just as you see it......?
'As you see ......, I am clumsy, that I am.

I smile at Becco, who smiles cynically at me.
I smiled cynically at Bekko, who smiled cynically at me. ...... I smiled cynically at Bekko, who smiled cynically at me.

'Did I pose like that?

When I pointed to the statues of "Combustion" and "Rainy Day Holiday" and questioned him, he smiled a carefree smile and said.

'That's it. I'm very good at combining scenes I've seen in my brain, that I am, so I combined Mr. Yashiro's face with the pose another person took, that I did.
'Is there anyone you know who dresses like "I'm going to dye you my color"?I suggest you take him to the hospital.
'Aside from posing, you can also grow Mr. Yashiro's face on radishes and onions, that you can!
'You don't need to do anything else!



Well, I'd say that most of what he does is superfluous.

'Even though it's superfluous ......'.

Lips pursed, Bekko gazed into the distance.
His eyes were filled with a strong ...... will, and there was no longer any sign of hesitation.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it, but I'm going to do it.I want to keep moving forward on the path I believe in, that I did when I heard Mr. Yashiro's words, that I did!

Bekko raised his voice as if he were half barking.
It was as if he was delivering it to himself in the distant future.
It is as if he is scolding his past self who once stood still.

'I want to express in a form the scene of that day which was strongly burned in my heart!And I want many people to share that impression!That is my honest feeling right now, that it is!I really do not want to lose this feeling, that I do!

And then he looks straight at me with a clear face.

'It is because of such feelings that I made a statue of Mr. Yashiro and placed it in the central square where many people come and go, that I did.

He's an extremist.
It's a very annoying way of going over the edge.
But once a person goes over the top, he or she becomes a big deal. Especially if it's in the field of art.

I have a question for you.
'Anything you want!

Becko shows a serious expression.
I also ask with a serious face.

'...... Can I ask you two questions, please?
'You're really uncomfortable, aren't you?

'Shut up, Estella.
You asked 'one question' first, 'can I ask you two questions'.
...... That's it, then there's only one more question you can ask?............ Hmm?

You can ask as many questions as you like. I swear to you that I will answer all of them without any falsehood, that I will answer all of them without any falsehood.
'So, which do you like better, big tits or little tits?'
'What?I'm not sure what to say... ......'

You're covering up. I'll turn you into a frog.

'Yeah!I'm a man too!I'm a man, that I am.In fact, I like my breasts terribly flat, that I do!
'You did it Estella!You're in demand!
'Whose breasts are horrible?

Estella quickly pulls out a knife and places it on my neck. ...... Are you getting any higher?

I'm not sure what to do.I'm more of a demure woman. ......'
'Too bad, Estella. There's an oversupply once again.
'I don't have an oversupply!

The knife presses against the skin of my neck. ...... If it slides even a little, my carotid artery will be sliced clean through.

'Um, Estella. I'm sure Mr. Yashiro will be sorry for what he's done. ...... Let's leave it at that.'
'That's sweet, Jeannette. Have you ever felt remorse for anything in your life?

Yes, I have, I'm sorry!
...... Well, you see, ............ that's it, that's it, ......... ...that ..................
Well, it's not the first thing that comes to mind, but I'm sure I'll reflect on it. It's just not coming up right now.

'By the way, which would you rather have, a mild-mannered pointy one or a slightly strong-willed scamp?
'Mmmmmmm ...... I've never encountered two choices as troubling as this one ............... ...But if I must give an answer,.................. no, but... ...'
'...... It's time for you to get serious, you two.'
'It's strange that you're so in tune with each other, brother, that you are.'
'...... same kind. They smell the same to me.'

Wait, Magda. Who's a kindred spirit? That's the only opinion I'll ever deny.

'What I wanted to ask was how you managed to get under my skin and set up a wax statue in the square.

I couldn't even get a tail on you after all that staking out.
It can't just be a coincidence. This guy might be very good at detecting people's presence.

'......?I'm not doing anything special.I just left it there when I felt like it, that I did.

What a coincidence!
You've been on a stakeout for so long, and this guy just happened to come by when I was leaving?

'Last night, I even carved one up in the square, that I did.

If I had tried my best to get to the square yesterday, I would have met him for sure?
What a coincidence!


There's even a level of divine malevolence!

'............ Yasilo. Don't.'
'Hey, Magda. Is that encouragement?Or are you mocking me?'

Whatever it was, the timing was so perfect that it broke my heart a little.

'Well, that's okay. If it's a coincidence, it can't be helped. It happens sometimes. It's not like all of my actions were in vain. ............ Let's not worry about it. ......... ...'
'You're very depressed ......'

Because ...... we worked so hard on the stakeout, but ...... 'we just didn't meet by chance' ......... ...

'But, but everyone here saw how hard you worked, Yashiro-san.

Ginette encourages me.
...... She's a good girl, isn't she? Can I cry?

'Hey, bro.
'Big brother.'
'Ni ni'.

My sisters gather around me.
I see, so you're encouraging me too.
After all, if your heart is pure, this kindness will come naturally to you.

'It's okay if it's all for nothing!
'It's okay if it's all useless because everyone saw it!
'It's a waste of time!
'............ Loretta?
'Hee-hee!I'm so, so, so sorry!I'll talk to her about it later.

Sometimes a pure heart can be more cruel than anything else.

'Um, Yashiro-san,............, would you like me to make you some tea?
'No, ...... I'm fine.'

I'm fine.
I'm a con artist. I'm not a great detective or a detective.
There's nothing wrong with making a mistake on a stakeout. Because I'm an amateur.
And who can blame an amateur for being wrong?

Just do better at your day job!

'So, Becco.
'What is it?

Here's the thing.

'Can you make something of this quality outside of sculpture?
'Do you mean this quality ............ of workmanship like that hero statue, that it is?'
'Yes.'
'Of course, that I do. To tell you the truth, I have just started sculpting, that I am the least skilled. I'm sorry to say this, but I'm not as good as I am at painting or clay work, that I am.
'Then why did you insist on sculpting this time?
'That's because ............ I don't earn enough money to buy tools for ...... clay and painting... ...'
'What's wrong with this wax?
'It's something we had a lot of left over, that it is, and it didn't cost us anything.

A house with a large surplus of wax?
What is his house doing?

'My father is a beekeeper in this district, that he is.
'Beekeeping: ...... honey.'

That means it's beeswax.

'That's why it's a little yellow.

Beeswax is a substance that bees secrete from their bodies when they build their hives.
It is made by melting the hive of bees that have finished extracting honey by boiling water and removing impurities. The overall yellowish color is due to the presence of pollen carried by bees.

'It is possible to make it white by refining it more, that it is.
'You have a 'large' surplus of beeswax, don't you?
'Very much so!So much that I sell it. ...... There is no one to buy it when you sell it, that I know.

In this world, lights are basically lanterns, and their fuel is oil or alcohol.
You don't see many candles in this world.
So beeswax is probably not in demand.

If you're interested in ............, I'll put it to good use for you.

'Becco!Do you want to be an artist?

I'm going to ask him a question that may affect his life in the future, and that will be very important for 42nd Ward and the Sunlit Pavilion.


Depending on the answer to this question, the future of everyone here will change drastically.


'Is it your dream to become an artist, to be recognized for your work, to be admired by the world?
'Become a ...... artist and get ...... praise from ............... ...'

Becko closes his eyelids and lifts his chin.
Behind his eyelids, he is probably imagining himself creating an artistic work of art and being admired by the world.
However, his expression is not good.

Then ......



'Or is it your dream to continue to make what you really want to make, with all your might, with all your emotions, with all your might, without bending yourself, without being swayed by immediate desires!
'--!Don't bend yourself ...... to what you really want to make ............'

Bekko's whole body begins to tremble in small increments.
I wonder what kind of scene he is seeing behind his closed eyelids. ......

'I'm ............'

A single tear falls from the corner of Bekko's eye.

'I can never abandon myself by pandering to what is called art for money or fame, that I can never do!I don't care what anyone says, I want to keep making things with my own hands that I'm satisfied with!I want to continue to create with my own hands, that I do!That is my one and only dream, that it is!

I think this has cleared up his doubts.
Chasing a dream is hard.
It is because we are aware that we are walking on a different path from others that we become anxious and tend to lose sight of where we are going. We turn away from the first place we set out for, we take the easy way out, and we try to believe that the destination is just a fake.

That is the true nature of frustration.

If you want to catch your dream, you have to let go of your doubts.
Even Becko knew that at first. He knew what his dream was.
But as time passes, the environment changes, and the eyes of those around you grow cold,......, you will lose sight of your destination.
And you begin to think that you can no longer walk this path.
If you get fame, if you make money, if you feel like you can stay here a little longer, you will ...... go astray. You go astray.
And you start making excuses for yourself for running away.
Becko was right in the middle of that.

But now he's waking up.
I didn't start this for the money. It's one thing to be accepted, but it's another to bend and pretend to be something you're not. Absolutely not.

This guy has just realized that. Maybe I should say he's realized it.

He can't go back now.
Now that he's realized it, he has no choice but to move forward.
There's no way he wants to go back to the time when he was troubled, fallen, and lost.

'Becco. I'm going to give you something to live for.'
'...... huh?'

That's right.
It's my fault for making him realize where his dreams were going.
Then I have to do what I can. Don't you think?Don't you?

'I'll show you a ray of light as you go down the frustrating and difficult path of being unrecognized by the world because you have no artistic sensibility and can only form what you see as you see it, but you can't even throw away the skills you've honed.
'Oh ............ oh ............ a hero... ......... will you be my beacon once again, that you will?

I'm not exaggerating.
I'm just asking you to do a little work.

'Yashiro ......, what are you going to do now?

I responded to Estella's questioning eyes with a smile of satisfaction.
It's a smile of victory that exudes the marginality of a winner.

'As soon as we're ready, tell the woodcutter lady that we'll invite her to the 42nd district.
'Preparations, what are you going to do?
'You're to clean and decorate the main street, and arrange for the people of District 42 to do this and that. I'll prepare the trump card myself.
'Are you sure about this?Imelda's inspection will only happen once, remember?If this fails, ......'
'Hey, don't worry about it!

Slapping Estella's wrinkled brow on the back, I said firmly.

'Leave it to me. I'll get it all sorted out.

Ginette's home-cooked meals, flushing toilets, and--

And this underprivileged genius artist, Becco Neveu.