4話:生きた石膏像*3
「おい、トウゴ。まさかこっちで決めたのか?」
僕に追いついてきたフェイに、鉄格子の奥に居る石膏像の人を示して、言う。
「あの人にする」
フェイは、じっくりと、鉄格子の奥の生きた石膏像を見て......僕を見て......それからまた石膏像を見て......言った。
「......お前の趣味どうなってんだ?」
「描きたい」
僕は自分の欲望をそのまま伝えた。そしてこれが僕の趣味です。
「いやいやいや、描くにしてももっとあるだろ!可愛いのも綺麗なのも!」
「うん。この人にする」
「正気か!?男だぞ!?」
正気だよ。何言ってるんだ、フェイは。
「だって、折角奴隷買うんだぞ!?女だろ!女を選ぶだろ!」
「......女の人のヌードデッサンは、ちょっとまだ......うん」
「待て!お前、男のヌードデッサンするつもりなのか!?正気か!?」
うーん......うん。この人のデッサンだったら、勉強になる気がする。まるで筋肉のつくりというものを標本にしたみたいだ。
別に、裸が描きたいわけじゃないけれど、この筋肉のかんじは何枚も描きたい。いろんな角度から見て、何枚も描きたい。
大体、石膏像だ。石膏像って、鉛筆デッサンのモチーフの代表みたいなものなんだ。
そして僕の目の前には、生きた石膏像がいる。これはもう描くしかない!
「......もしかしてお前、男が好きなのか......?」
「そんなことはない」
そんなことはない。でも石膏像はずっと欲しかったので。
それから僕は、フェイに石膏像について説明し始めた。
石膏像は優れた彫刻のレプリカだっていうこと。デッサンをする人が、絶対に一度は描くモチーフだっていうこと。僕は石膏像を頭の中で明確にイメージすることができないから、イメージだけで石膏像を描いて実体化させることはできないだろうということ。
それから......ずっと、石膏像のデッサンが、憧れだった、ということ。
......憧れだったんだ。石膏像のデッサン。美術部の人が石膏像のデッサンを描いているのを見て、羨ましかった。
文化祭か何かで美術部の展示をほんの少しだけ見に行った時も、何枚か石膏像のデッサンがあった。
僕もやってみたいと思った。でも、石膏像は高い。高校生の昼食代で買うには、ちょっとあんまりにも高い。油絵のキャンバスや水彩用の画用紙を買ったり、絵の具や鉛筆を買い足したりするのでいっぱいいっぱいで、だから、石膏像なんて買えなかった。
......だから、石膏像のデッサン、やりたい。
生きた石膏像が居たら、買いたい。
この人、描きたい。
僕がそう滾々と説明する内に、フェイはなんとも言えない顔になってきた。多分、『こいつ馬鹿だなあ』って思いながら、『でもそこまでやりたいなら止めたくはない』っても思ってるんだと思う。そんなかんじの顔だ。
......そしてフェイは、唸って、唸って......鉄格子へ近づいていった。
「あーもう......おい、そこのお前!お前、家事はできるか!?」
そして、鉄格子の向こうの生きた石膏像に、話しかけ始めた。
......生きた石膏像が、動いた。
ゆるり、と首が動いて、目がこちらに向けられる。
すごい。体が動くと、筋肉も形を変える。それに引っ張られて、皮膚も伸びたり縮んだりするし、あと、やっぱり角度によって印象が変わる!すごい!描きたい!
「俺を買う気か」
「らしいぜ!んで、お前、こいつの世話はできるか!?この、浮世離れしててすぐに寝食を忘れる、どっかフワフワ飛んでいきそうな奴の世話はできるか!?寝食の世話と、あと1日1回の用事を思い出させる仕事だ!」
......とんでもないご紹介に与っている気がする。寝食は確かによく忘れるけれど、浮世離れはしてないだろうし、フワフワ飛んでいきそうでもないと思う。いや、フワフワ飛んでいきそうって、なんだ。僕ってそういう風に見られてるのか。なんか......うーん。
「正気か?俺にできるのは戦うことだけだ。......その札を見ろ」
生きた石膏像はそう言って、それから、顎で軽く、鉄格子に取り付けられた札を示した。
「......げっ」
そして、札を見てフェイは呻く。......何が書いてあるんだろう。
「見ての通りだ。俺は人を殺している。だからここにぶち込まれた」
......あ、もしかして、罪状......?
どうやらこの石膏像は人を殺したことがあるらしい。そっか。大変だ。
「な、なあ、トウゴ。流石にちょっとこいつはやめておいた方が......よくねえか?」
「嫌だ。絶対にこの人にする」
罪を憎んで石膏像を憎まず。
「いや、お前、当初の目的忘れてねえか?封印具の魔石の交換と生活の補助、だぜ?交換は誰でもできるとして、とりあえず家事とかやってくれる奴隷、探しにきたんだぜ?......おい!奴隷さんよ!お前、戦う以外に家事できねえの!?なあ!できるって言ってくれ!言ってくれたら俺も折れられる!」
「家事をさせたいなら他の奴隷を選ぶんだな。力と体力には自信があるがそれ以外に期待は掛けるな。見れば分かるだろう」
「うん。見れば分かる。すばらしい。よろしくお願いします」
見ればわかる。見れば見るほど石膏像だ。その通りだ。
それに、モデルになってもらうなら、体力は必要だ。体力がある、生きた石膏像。......うん。条件にぴったり。
「い、いや駄目だ!トウゴ!正気に戻れ!別のにしよう!な!」
フェイはそう言うけれど、石膏像は欲しい。
「大体トウゴお前、生活は?生活はどうするんだよ」
生活。生活......。
......ちょっと考えてから、僕は、鉄格子に近づいた。
鉄格子の向こうの生きた石膏像は、ちょっと怪訝そうな顔をしたけれど......僕が言うことは、決まっている。
「......僕、頑張ってあなたの健康を保てるようにする」
石膏像が、ものすごく不可解そうな顔をした。あ、表情が付くと石膏像っぽくなくなる。けれど、これはこれで......。
「......買われる俺が言うのもなんだが、あんた達、本当に俺でよかったのか」
「俺はよくねえよ。よくねえけど......トウゴが折れねえんだもん、しょうがねえだろ、もう......」
ということで、僕は生きてる石膏像を買うことになった。大満足。
やったぞ。生きてる石膏像を手に入れた。
すごいな。見れば見る程石膏像だ。彫りが深い、っていうのかな。そういう顔立ちといい、鍛えた体つきといい。あと雰囲気。あんまり喋らなくて、あんまり動かない。そういうところがますます石膏像っぽい。すごい。
どうしよう。楽しみだな。この人には僕の家に住んでもらって、それで、モデルをやってもらうんだ。
あ、もしかして、同居じゃない方がいいだろうか。なら、彼のための家をもう一軒建てた方がいいかな。
それから、彼を綺麗にしなくては。やっぱり犯罪奴隷だからか、手入れされていない......要は、髪を切ったり、お風呂に入ったりはあまりしていないようだ。折角モデルをやってもらうんだから、そこはしっかりしていこう。
ということはお風呂を建設した方がいいかな。生きた石膏像に水浴び場って、ちょっとあんまりにも失礼な気がする。彼にはちゃんとお風呂に入ってもらって体を温めて、血流とかよくしてほしい。
僕が彼に世話をしてもらうんじゃなくて、僕が彼の世話をするぐらいの気持ちでいよう。うん。
「......トウゴ。お前、お前......いや、何も言わねえ。親友の選択だ。俺が口出すところじゃねえよな......!」
うん。フェイがそういう人で本当によかった。
......ちなみに、この生きた石膏像の代金は、レッドガルド家持ちになっている。僕は辞退しようとしたのだけれど、『なら町に別荘を1軒』とか言われてしまったので、ここは大人しくお世話になることにした。
「なあトウゴ。もう1人、奴隷、買うか?ちゃんと世話してくれる奴。こいつ犯罪奴隷だから、予算より大分安かったんだ。もう1人雇おうと思えば雇えるぞ」
「ううん、いい。他に描きたい人、居なかったから」
「......あの、ここにはモデルじゃなくて、お前の世話してくれる奴隷をだな、探しに......ああもういいや」
うん。そういうことだ。
ということで、僕は生きた石膏像を手に入れたのだ。フェイにも許可は貰ったから大丈夫だ。やったね。
「まあ......今ここで色々言っても分かんねえだろうし。とりあえずうちに帰るか」
もうそろそろ日暮れだ。今日はこのまま、レッドガルド家に泊めてもらうことになりそうだ。お世話になります。
Volume 2 - Ch 4.1
"Hey, Tougo. Don't tell me you decided on him?" (Fay)
I show Fay, who has caught up with me, the plaster figure behind the bars and I say,
"I choose that person." (Tougo)
Fay took his time, looked at the living plaster statue behind the bars... looked at me... then looked at the plaster statue again... and said,
"...what's going on with your hobbies?" (Fay)
"I want to draw him." (Tougo)
I told him exactly what I desire. And drawing is my hobby.
"No, no, no, there's more to drawing! There are cute things and beautiful things!" (Fay)
"Yes. I'll take this one." (Tougo)
"Are you insane!? He's a man!?" (Fay)
I am sane. What are you talking about, Fay?
"Because we're buying a slave! It should be a woman! You should choose a woman!" (Fay)
"...nude drawings of women are still kinda... yeah." (Tougo)
"Wait! You're going to do a nude drawing of a man! Are you insane!?" (Fay)
Well... yeah. If it is a drawing of this person, I think I could learn a lot from him. He is like a specimen of how muscles look.
It's not that I want to draw nudes, but I want to draw many pictures of these muscles. I want to draw it from many angles.
He is mostly a plaster statue. Plaster statues are a typical motif for pencil sketching.
And I have a living plaster figure in front of me. I have no choice but to draw it!
"...so, you like men...?" (Fay)
"No, I don't." (Tougo)
No, I don't. But I've always wanted a plaster statue.
Then I began to explain to Fay about plaster statues.
A plaster statue is a replica of a good sculpture. It is a motif that every sketcher must draw at least once in his or her life. I could not visualize a plaster statue clearly in my mind, so I would not be able to draw a plaster statue and materialize it with just my imagination.
More than that... I always dreamed of drawing plaster statues.
...It was a longing. Drawing plaster statues. I was envious when I saw people in the art club making plaster statue drawings.
When I went to see the art club's exhibition at a cultural festival or something, there were several plaster statue sketches.
I wanted to try it, too. But plaster statues are expensive. It was a little too expensive for a high school student to buy with his lunch money. I was too busy buying oil canvases, watercolor paper, paints, and pencils, so I couldn't afford a plaster statue.
...That's why I want to draw plaster statues.
If there is a living plaster statue, I want to buy it.
I want to draw this person.
While I was explaining the situation in unusual flowing words, Fay's face became indescribable. I think he was thinking, "This guy is an idiot," but at the same time he has an expression like he is thinking, "But if he wants to do it that badly, I don't want to stop him if he wants to go this far".
...and Fay groaned and groaned some more... as he approached the grate.
"Ah, fine... hey, you over there! Can you do housework!?" (Fay)
And he began to speak to the living plaster statue behind the bars.
...Then the living plaster statue moved.
The head moved, and the eyes turned toward us.
It was amazing. When his body moves, the muscles also change shape. The skin also stretches and compresses, and the impression changes depending on the angle! Amazing! I want to draw it all!
"Do you want to buy me?" (Living Statue)
"It seems so! So, can you take care of this guy!? Can you take care of this ready-to-fly, fluffy, head-in-the-clouds guy who is so detached from life that he forgets to eat and sleep?! Make sure he is sleeping and eating, and remind him to do one more thing a day!" (Fay)
...I feel like I'm being given a ridiculous introduction... Sure I forget to eat and sleep a lot, but I don't think I have my head-in-the-clouds, and fluffy. No, what do you mean by "ready-to-fly"? Is that how they see me? I feel like... hmmm.
"Are you insane? All I can do is fight... Look at the tag." (Living Statue)
The living plaster statue said, and then, with a flick of its chin, indicated the tag attached to the bars.
"...geez." (Fay)
And Fay grunted when he saw the tag. ...what does it say?
"You see. I kill people. That's why they locked me up in here." (Living Statue)
...Ah, could he be a criminal...?
Apparently, this living plaster statue has killed people before. I see. That's terrible.
"Hey, hey, Tougo. Don't you think it's better not to use this guy as your plaster statue...?" (Fay)
"I don't want to. I'll definitely choose him." (Tougo)
Hate the sin, don't hate the plaster statue.
"Exchange the magic stone of the sealing tool and assist in living, right? Anyone can change them, but we're here to find slaves to do housework for now, right? ...Hey! Slave! Can't you do any housework besides fighting? Hey! Tell me you can! Tell me or I'll break down!" (Fay)
"If you want someone to do housework, choose another slave. I'm confident in my strength and stamina, but don't expect anything else. You'll understand looking at me." (Living Statue)
"Yes, I understand looking at you. I can see. It's wonderful. I look forward to working with you." (Tougo)
I knew it when I saw him. The more I look at him, the more I see him as a plaster statue. That's right.
And if I am going to have a model, he needs to be physically strong. A living plaster statue with physical strength. ...Yeah. That fits the bill.
"No, no, no! Tougo! Come to your senses! Let's try another one! Let's find others!" (Fay)
Fay says so, but I want this plaster statue.
"Look, Tougo, think of your life? How are you going to live?" (Fay)
Life. Life...
...After thinking for a moment, I approached the bars.
The living plaster statue behind the bars looked a little doubtful... but I knew exactly what I was going to say.
"...I'll do my best to keep you healthy." (Tougo)
The living plaster statue looked extremely puzzled. Oh, it looks less like a plaster statue when it has an expression on its face. But this is it...
"...I know I'm the one who's being bought, but are you guys sure you're happy with me?" (Living Statue)
"I'm not alright. I'm not alright at all, but... I can't stop Tougo, it can't be helped..." (Fay)
So I ended up buying a living plaster statue. I am very satisfied.
I did it. I got a living plaster statue.
It's amazing. The more I look at him, the more he looks like a plaster statue. I wonder if you could call it deeply chiseled. The face, the body. And the atmosphere. He doesn't talk much and doesn't move much. That makes him look more and more like a plaster statue. It's amazing.
What should I do? I'm looking forward to it. I'm going to ask him to live in my house and model for me.
Oh, maybe it would be better if he doesn't live with me. Then I should make another house for him.
Then, I need to clean him up. After all, he's a criminal slave... He's unkempt and doesn't seem to cut his hair or take baths very often. Since we are going to have him model for me, let's make sure he gets that done.
So, I think I should build a bath. I think it is a little too rude to bathe a plaster statue of a person. I want him to take a proper bath to warm up his body and improve blood flow.
I feel as if I am taking care of him, not that he is taking care of me. I'll take care of him.
"...Tougo.... You, you... No, I won't say anything. It's my best friend's choice. It's not my place to say anything." (Fay)
Yeah. I'm really glad Fay is this kind of person.
...By the way, the Redgarde family is paying for this living plaster statue. I tried to decline, but they said, "Well, then, we'll give you a villa in town," so I decided to be the bigger man and take this.
"Hey, Tougo. Do you want to buy another slave? Someone who will take good care of him. He is a criminal slave, so he was much cheaper than I had budgeted. If you wanted to hire another slave, we could..." (Fay)
"No, it's fine. Because there was no one else I wanted to draw." (Tougo)
"... Um, we are not looking for a model, we are looking for a slave to take care of you... Ah, I should stop." (Fay)
Yes. That's how it is.
So I got a living plaster statue. I got permission from Fay, so it's okay. I did it.
"Well... I don't think you'll understand what I'm saying here. For now, let's go home." (Fay)
It's almost nightfall. I guess I'll be staying at the Redgarde house for the rest of the day. Thank you for your help.
The Picture Perfect Mochi I Drew Tastes Good
今日も絵に描いた餅が美味い
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-picture-perfect-mochi-i-drew-tastes-good/
Adventure Fantasy Shounen Slice of Life Supernatural
Adapted to Manga Artists Caring Protagonist Fantasy World Friendship Loner Protagonist Male Protagonist Mythical Beasts Naive Protagonist R-15 Selfless Protagonist Spirits Stubborn Protagonist Transmigration Transported to Another World Weak Protagonist
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7921gj/
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