Translated by: CadmarLegend

Sponsored by: Alvin

Chapter 153 - Selling His Soul to the Devil

　Kyle and Billy told me something, and for the first time ever, I learned that Valkyrie had unique magic.

　This is the first time I learned that the Valkyries' magic is unique.

　I also wondered if this was really possible.

　I don't know what the logic behind it is, but I guess it's not impossible to achieve.

　Because I know of similar technology.

　Through the act of naming others, I can bestow my magic on others and receive mana from them.

　I thought that this pyramid system and Valkyries' spell [Sharing] were somewhat similar.

　Even if the other party is far away, they can communicate with each other remotely.

　However, even if I were asked to create such magic myself, I couldn't imagine it at all, so there was no way I could create it.

　It was while I was thinking about this that I came back from the ranch to Barcan Castle.

"There you are! Barca-sama. I've finally found you."

"Hmm? Oh, what's the matter, painter-san?"

"Today, today, I have to tell you. I can no longer continue this work. I would like to ask for your leave!"

"Again? How many times have you said that line?"

"I'll say it again. I've reached my limit. I came to Barcania with the dream of becoming a painter."

"Isn't that why I gave you the job of painting?"

"You think this work you've given me is really a painter's job, Barca-sama?!"

"Painting is a painter's job, so I can't be wrong. I think it's important for painters to have a good understanding of the structure of the human body. You said that you can draw with your eyes closed, but I think you should practice drawing more, don't you?"

"Do you really think that that's drawing practice, Barca-sama? This is an act of spitting in the face of heaven and will surely bring down evil upon you!"

"Don't worry. I got permission from Bishop Paul of the Church. God will forgive me."

"Oh, my God! Why does God put me through this ordeal...?"

"Just get back to work. Let's go, Painter-san."

"Nooooo, I don't want to go back! Barca-sama doesn't know the horror because he doesn't do it himself. Why do I have to draw up people's organs?!"

"─ It's for the development of medicine, you know. It's important work that affects everyone's life. Let's get back to it, Painter-san."

　The man who spoke to me was a young man named Mosh, a painter who had come to Barcania to paint.

　He had come to Barca to receive Kyle's magic, based on his zeal to create exquisite paintings even with his eyes closed.

　I took notice of this painter.

　At first, I thought I'd give him a job of making maps, but after I hired him, I gave him something else to do.

　The job was to draw pictures of human bodies.

　However, I didn't give him a simple sketching job no, as the artist was very reluctant to do that.

　He was asked to draw a detailed picture of the parts of the human body that had been dissected.

　I knew he doesn't like it, since he keeps coming back to tell me he was resigning.

　The reason why I let the reluctant painter unravel the mysteries of the human body is that the medical science in this world is very underdeveloped.

　There are people who make medicines using herbs, but all of them are like folk remedies.

　Of course, I don't mean to make fun of such medicine, but I have to ask myself, "Is it really effective? Isn't it harmful to the human body?" and there are many things that I wonder such as, "Does it really work?"

　I was particularly shocked by an incident that occurred during a battle this year.

　Naturally, there were many people in the Fontana army who lost their lives or were injured.

　In the midst of this, I saw scenes of medical treatment.

　However, there was one thing that surprised me.

　There was one person who was mixing medicine with animal dung.

　In my mind, animal droppings are naturally unsanitary.

　However, I can't say that it doesn't have the potential to have a surprisingly therapeutic effect.

　After all, there is magic in this world, and there are things I don't even know about, such as magic restoratives.

　Perhaps animal dung could be an ingredient for a special remedy.

　As long as there are animals that use magic, I can't completely deny it.

　But that didn't mean that I wanted to have that kind of medicine applied to me when I was wounded.

　It was with this in mind that I wanted to make even the slightest progress in medicine.

　The first step was the creation of human anatomical drawings by artists.

　First of all, what is the structure of the body of the human race in this world?

　If I didn't know that, I wouldn't be able to explain the effects of treatment.

　With this in mind, I assigned the task to the newly hired painter.

"Dear Barca-sama, please have mercy on me. I'm really at my wits' end. I can't do it anymore! I want to quit!"

"I see. ...... By the way, painter-san, on a different note, I recently came across this stuff. I was told that it's used to make beautiful blue paints. ...... Well, I guess it's none of your business if you quit your job. Forget it."

"Barca-sama, let me see that for a moment... Ah, isn't this what they call phantom ore? This is what I see before me."

"I was told that it was very valuable. It was expensive, and we only have a limited amount. I don't know if I'll ever be able to get my hands on it again."

"Ah..... ah...... But I'm ......."

"Well, that's enough. That's what I got for Barca's resident Painter. May I have it back?"

"No, no, no! I can't give it back! I will use it to paint......"

"What are you talking about? You're the one who said you were leaving Barca. Now I want it back. Give it."

"...Oh, God, forgive me. I am too curious, but I must do this...... and it seems that I have to give my soul to the devil."

"Hey, who's this devil you're speaking of?"

"Barca-sama, I'm going to continue my work under you!"

"Eh? Didn't you say you wanted to quit?" (TLN: *surprised Pikachu noises*)

No, that's not true! I am a painter honorably employed by the domain of Barca, and I will eventually paint a masterpiece that will be recognized by everyone. There is no way I will stop now!"

"I see, I see. Well, let's go back to work. Your work as a painter is waiting for you~."

"Yes....okay......"

　The painter was insistent on quitting, but he seemed to be able to stay.

　I don't know how talented he exactly is from the view of another painter, but even I can tell that his drawings are precise and uncompromising in their detail.

　If I'm going to go to the trouble of drawing human anatomy, I want to leave the work to him who doesn't just do it randomly.

　And so, today, Barca's painter sold his soul to the devil, and with the precious materials of paint in his hands, he continued to draw human anatomical drawings.