"I never imagined the day would come when I'd be hauling a canvas around to request an art exhibition..."
Every time I glanced at the illustration painted on the canvas, a smile tugged at my lips.
When I'd ruined every canvas except this one, all I could think was that it'd just mean more practice time.
I never dreamed this single piece would turn out so perfectly.
Honestly, this was top-tier quality—back when I was active as Siu, I would've proudly shown it off publicly and bragged about nailing it.
"Yes, it's an errand for my master. He asked to register the artist name as 'Siu'."
"That's a new name on our first-time list... Mind showing me the piece?"
The staff member examined the brushstrokes for a moment, then nodded.
"Looks good to me."
Since they only checked for basic competence before displaying everything, she explained it wouldn't stay up for long.
Of course, there was a visitor recommendation system: the more recommendations, the longer the display time, and hitting certain thresholds bumped it to higher-profile spots.
"For auctions, there's a minimum recommendation requirement based on starting bid. Once met and display time expires, it auto-schedules an auction."
"No auctions planned."
"Got it. Noted."
I'd submitted it under the title Su Baek Hwa.
No special meaning—just the name of the character depicted here.
In this world, it'd probably become something like White Flower de Su, but that sounded lame.
I'd probably tweak the naming scheme later.
Man, they really nailed the setup here.
Mages' hobby or not, accepting anonymous submissions and hanging pieces this easily was impressive.
If it got zero recommendations, it'd come down after a day—but still, free display slots for everyone felt surreal.
Then again, the gallery's owner and operator, Sharon Hu Magius, was always dead serious about art. Made sense.
It wasn't about profit; it was purely to unearth great works.
"Oh, and with so few visitors, no worries about it dropping early. There's a minimum viewer count guaranteed beyond the base period."
"I know. Ugh..."
"You okay there?"
"Sorry. Haven't slept much lately."
Truth be told, I should've napped on the way over.
But clutching this painting made me too anxious.
So after registering, crashing hard at the dorm and sleeping it off would be priority one.
"Not asking for much—just make it past one day."
The worst would be total rejection.
Sure, painting something beautiful by my own off-meta standards and hoping it clicked was a bit entitled.
But grinding hyper-realism when I couldn't even do it right felt worse—and right now, I didn't crave a viral hit. I just wanted someone, anyone, to see my work, nod in approval, and get it.
Wait, actually—no. I don't even need a full day.
Just one.
One person affirming my art would be rocket fuel to keep drawing.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Whoa, insane. I slept a whole day straight?"
Ever since finishing the piece, I'd pushed myself to get it up ASAP.
Ironically, I hadn't even seen it displayed before crashing out.
Even sprinting there now, if no extensions, it'd be gone.
At least it got a bit more time—maybe another day.
I psyched myself up like that, steeling my nerves before leaving the dorm.
Considering how recommendation needs ramped up for longer/more prominent slots, nailing the first extension seemed likely.
Self-delusion carried me there, but sure enough, a new piece had replaced mine.
"Sigh. Figures."
Dumping otaku fanart into a world with zero subculture roots? Hitting big would've been weirder.
Mocking my overblown hopes, I still secretly wished for even one recommendation as I hunted down staff.
No need to linger in the capital—grab the painting, buy more practice supplies, head back to the villa.
Keep submitting steadily, and fans would trickle in eventually. Had to believe that.
"Oh, you're back? Thought you'd just drop it off and report to your master."
"Yeah? Well, had to check results."
"Haven't looked yet? Oh, right—we didn't tell you where."
"Where?"
Not telling me meant it was still up?
I'd assumed she'd guide me to pick it up, but no.
And the spot she led me to? The primo gallery where Rozaria and I had gawked on my first visit.
"This is..."
Home to the hottest recent hits—including stuff I genuinely admired, and the masterpiece World Within the Door.
Oh, that one's still here too.
"It moved here. Actually, multiple times—the recommendation surge was so fast, it shocked us."
"W-wait, what?"
There, amid masterpieces, my jarringly lewd fanart sparkled, demanding attention.
My brain short-circuited from shock.
Hold up—this meant my painting was displaying here right now?
Why the hell?
"N-no way... Does it even have the recs for this spot? Felt iffy..."
"Oh, you didn't know. Recs build numerically, but daily surges can promote too."
"So it legitimately hit the threshold and climbed here?"
"Yep. Artist Siu's incredible. Lucky to have such a mentor. I thought it was mysterious and great myself, but my eye's off so often I hesitated... Glad I was right this time."
Post-sleep headache or sheer bewilderment? Couldn't tell.
Either way, my skull throbbed.
So Su Baek Hwa—my work—had rocketed to the top exhibit tier?
On pure visitor recommendations?
"...Master's gonna flip."
"Really? With skill like that, seemed confident enough."
"He trusted the piece, but it's so stylistically different from the norm."
A scantily clad fanart girl lounging boldly center-stage? Total cognitive dissonance.
Was I dreaming from overhyped expectations?
This couldn't be real...
"Heh, you're off this time. Su Baek Hwa means a pristine white flower blooming over water."
"No, Master's wrong. Look at the hair flowing—it's flames. Pure white fire blazing atop the waves."
An old man and a stunning elf beauty were bickering over my painting.
Neither—Baek Hwa was just the character's name!
And why argue something so absurd?
"Shh, voices down... Oh, sorry—Elder, Professor Rondo."
"Sorry for raising my voice. Didn't mean to disturb with others around. Just got excited—haven't seen a gem like this in ages."
"No, my apologies."
"Sorry. Embarrassing."
"Elder" for the elf prof's mentor? Sharon Hu Magius!
Empire's premier archmage, Rozaria's grandpa, and this gallery's founder/operator.
What a heavyweight...
"And you are...?"
"H-hello."
"Hmm, an artist, eh?"
"Pardon?"
"That thick oil paint stench clinging to you. To reek like that, must've been at oils for over a month straight."
How'd he ID the medium from smell alone? Wild.
But fleeing mid-chat with Rozaria's gramps—a magical society elder—nope, not an option.
Only play: straight answers.
"Yes, practicing oils."
"Fascinating."
"Huh?"
"Such potent mana, yet so pure, untainted by temperament... To smell this strong of oils, are you an aspiring mage?"
"Y-yeah?"
"Nothing major. My granddaughter's around your age. But this gap..."
"W-what do you...?"
Muttering cryptically, Sharon Hu Magius smiled and offered me a pen.
Why me, though?
Spot was awkward; I just wanted back to the villa to paint.
"Has a mentor, but an eccentric one—didn't teach you about wielding mana despite such growth."
The instant the pen touched my palm, it tickled oddly.
He told me to grip it properly; instinctively, I held it like for drawing.
And the nib began glowing faintly.
Flash!
Not light—colors manifesting in midair fit better.
Trembling strokes wove mana trails across the sky, breathtakingly beautiful.
I lost myself in the rapture.