Chapter 5

Give me a break.

That was a bit of a harsh statement.

‘It’s best to stay still at a time like this.’

If I respond poorly, I will only ruin my image, so I sat still and waited, and Director Jeong Gwang-chae soon continued,

“I’m sure you know as you’ve seen it yourself, but most of the students here are still in the rudimentary stage.”

I quietly nodded.

Maybe it’s because it was right after the entrance exams had ended and the academy’s most talented students had already left.

The average skill level of the students here wasn’t good.

Objectively speaking, I hadn’t seen a single person who I felt could pass the Han Yewon’s exam.

“There are still some students who are not yet fully mature. However, there are some students who have fallen into clumsy arrogance or are stuck in a rut, repeating the same routine every day. I can’t even dream of getting accepted to college with their attitudes. They’re looking down on the entrance exam.”

“You mean you want to raise the students’ awareness about it through us.”

“Yes, please show us clearly what level a Han Yewon student should be.”

The atmosphere of his smile became serious for the first time in a while.

“Both of you are excellent students that were chosen by my senior, so I believe there is nothing to criticize your skills for. However, there is one condition.”

“What is the condition?”

“I want you to draw a picture that our students can see and learn from.”

“·······Hmm.”

I put my chin on my hand without realizing it.

An annoying condition was attached.

There was nothing difficult if it was just about showing off my skills since I had more than 10 years of experience in the industry. It’s enough if I just drew what I used to draw.

However, it was different if it was a picture used to observe and learn from.

‘I mean, considering the level of the students…’

We came to this academy for the sake of the students.

So I had to put them first.

Somehow, I thought I knew why Professor Lee Jong sent us here.

Perhaps he was trying to select talented people who can consider others’ level as well, something beyond just simply drawing well.

‘Let’s see.’

I turned my head around to look at Seo Ji-won, the girl who used to be a recognized genius.

What is she thinking now?

Are you nervous about this difficult task?

“…”

She was expressionless.

I feel like this conversation doesn’t matter.

It was boring.

So that was more of a problem.

‘It won’t be easy.’

This test was not just a test.

It could be a high-level test beyond the difficulty of a college entrance exam.

Professor Lee Jong said he would write a scholarship recommendation letter to one person here.

In other words, at least several millions of won are at stake on the painting that was to be painted next.

Nevertheless, there was no tension.

That was the problem.

There’s no one more terrifying than a person who has no ups and downs before a big test.

‘I have strong confidence in my skills. I’ll probably be the one to paint the best picture.’

If that was the case, then I had to go one step ahead of the best picture she could draw.

Is there any way to do that?

I thought about it for a while and asked Director Jeong Gwang-chae.

“If you’re asking me to do a practical demonstration in front of the students, is there a time limit?”

“It’s two hours per student.”

“Then…”

I continued with a smile on my face.

“Am I allowed to do my own demonstration within that time?”

“Yes?”

Director Jeong Gwang-chae tilted his head as if he was puzzled, and asked, “Basically you can, did you have something in mind?”

“Usually, you only draw one piece to demonstrate a practical skill, right?”

“That’s right.”

“I was thinking of drawing several.”

“Well……”

Director Jeong Gwang-chae crossed his arms and pondered for a moment, then said, “As long as you can draw it within the given time, that’s fine.”

“Yes, sir.”

It looks like you could draw whatever you want.

Then I had my own way.

‘I didn’t make a living as an entrance exam instructor for nothing.’

I had two weapons.

How to teach others and information from the future.

It was when I thought of a few drawings I could do by mixing the two.

Seo Ji-won glanced over the glass wall of the director’s office with a bored gaze and said,

“It seems that the mock exam is ending soon.”

“What?”

Director Jeong Gwang-chae had a puzzled expression on his face, and Seo Ji-won continued.

“Can’t we get started sooner? I have an appointment for dinner tonight.”

“Oh, yes. I see. Let’s go.”

“…”

‘Am I being too precocious? Or is this what all students at this age do?’

I thought as I listened to her bold words.

However, I was in favor of the idea of starting early.

*

“Come on, come on, time’s up. Stop drawing and lay everything on the floor here one by one.”

“Yes.”

When Director Jeong Gwang-chae clapped his hands and said to stop, the students stopped their respective paintings and began cleaning up.

Within a few seconds, there were almost 20 paintings on the floor of the academy.

It was a magnificent sight.

However, the level of each individual here was like the mountain behind the neighborhood.

‘As expected, it’s just so-so.’

My thoughts haven’t changed.

If you score the pictures from A to D, the pictures of the students here hovered from C to D.

It wasn’t enough.

Han Yewon’s passing cutline is A.

Considering that they require a fairly high A to remain in the school, the level of the students’ who were here was below even the normal range for students in the beginning of the year.

‘It’s going to be hard to enter in just a year.’

Meanwhile, Director Jeong Gwang-chae picked up two of the paintings on the floor.

“These two are the worst drawings today.”

Then he placed the two paintings on the middle of the floor and stepped on them.

“······!”

There was a stir among the students at the sight of the paintings, which had been painstakingly drawn, and were reduced into a footrest at the end.

In the entrance exam artworks, talent was everything, but it was hard to find respect.

A bitter smile appeared on my face as I watched the scene.

‘It’s blatant.’

However, it was also a trend that prevailed in private institutes during this period.

Director Jeong Gwang-chae held a long stick and tapped the paintings.

“This is a C. And…This is still a little better. B. I didn’t give you a B because you drew it well. I’m giving you this score because it looks like a proper painting, so keep your mind straight.”

A small amount of time for such a harsh evaluation.

Director Jeong Gwang-chae moved away from the pile of paintings and said,

“Students who received a D, stay after school today and clean.”

“Yes…”

The students nodded helplessly.

They did their best, so it’s sad to see them receive this kind of evaluation.

After the evaluation, Director Jeong Gwang-chae came out with Seo Ji-won, and said with a smile.

“Children, you all want to go to Han Yewon, right?”

“Yes.”

There was nothing to ask about.

Han Yewon is in the top 2 with the Korea National University of Arts.

If you aim to enter an art college, then it is a school that everyone would dream of attending.

“Now. These are students from Han Yewon, the very place where you want to go to. What do you think? Let’s give them a round of applause.”

It was when those words came out.

A brief vigor returned to the eyes of the tired students, and sounds of an applause comparable to that of an idol concert hall poured out.

For students during this time, a prestigious college student was better than an idol on TV.

“Today, Han Yewon’s students gave up their precious time for you. They are going to demonstrate their skills from now on, so watch them and  learn as much as you can.”

After speaking, Jeong Gwang-chae slipped into the back.

It looks like it’s up to us from now on.

It was Seo Ji-won who took action first.

“Hello.”

After nodding dryly, she took an easel and placed a sheet of paper on it.

Then she borrowed some pencils from the students and said, “I’ll show you a walkthrough of my painting.”

“What about an eraser?”

“I don’t need one.”

Sketches.

Drawings made only with a pencil and an eraser.

It was a genre that was often called the basis of painting, and also a basis that should take a long time to complete.

But the students seemed to be wondering, ‘Why do you have to draw a sketch?’

There was nothing I couldn’t understand.

‘There are a few people who take practical tests by sketching.’

Han Yewon’s practical test was special.

The students were given drawing papers and test topics, but they were left to the applicant’s autonomy to decide how they were drawn with any tool.

Whether it was pencil, watercolor paint, or acrylic or colored pencils, it was all up to the student.

If it looks good, it’s great.

That was Han Yewon’s way.

For reference, this was the topic when I took the exam.

[Describe vulgarity.]

I passed by drawing swarms of grasshoppers that attacked cornfields.

The painting tool I chose was, ironically, a pencil like Seo Ji-won’s.

‘Why do we overlap? This won’t be easy for me.’

I was thinking of doing sketches too.

The drawing was honest.

The skill of the person who drew it could be seen clearly.

From texture to volume and density, it was a painting that honestly revealed the basic skills.

Therefore, Seo Ji-won’s choice of drawing was no different from a declaration that she would cut me down on the basis of her skills.

‘Earlier, you said you didn’t need an eraser.’

What did that mean?

It was like saying, ‘I’ll never make a mistake’.

‘Or maybe she’s just exaggerating.’

While I was thinking, Seo Ji-won started painting.

Her pencil moved without hesitation.

Scritch. Scribble.

The technique of drawing what was only necessary was impressive.

First of all, drawing was something that could be done in an instant if you had a knack for it, so it didn’t take long for the results to come out.

One hour.

After a short period of time, there was a painting that I would’ve believed to be a black-and-white photograph.

A sketch depicting a subway view.

I laughed when I saw the picture.

‘There’s nothing in the world to envy about one skill.’

Okay.

I admit it.

You’re better at drawing than I am.

*

“Wow…”

“It’s the same as the picture.”

“You drew this without a sample picture.”

“You have to draw like this to go to Han Yewon.”

The students couldn’t hide their admiration.

It was understandable.

‘Who would look at a painting like this and think it’s an undergraduate’s drawing?’

It would’ve been surprising to the past me, who was in the industry, and it might seem like magic to students who have only seen pictures as simple as their own.

In fact, the person who performed the magic did not seem to be very impressed.

She stepped back from the easel as if she had just done her job.

Then she asked, “I have an appointment, can I go first?”

“Sure.”

Director Jeong Gwang-chae said with a pleased expression.

She doesn’t seem to care about her bold attitude.

Well, just looking at the students over there with their mouths open will make you full.

‘You’ve all just received shock therapy, so you’ll be able to grow more now.’

I don’t know if those students know, but their eyes must have rolled up in shock a few times in the past hour.

Seo Ji-won packed her bags and left the academy.

“See you.”

Now I’m the only one left.

‘This is an outlier.’

She did so well that my burden only increased.

I have to draw well enough to make it look like I’m going to rub it in, openly betting on my skills.

‘It’s also a tricky subject to draw.’

The view of a subway.

It was a subject that others avoided because of the high level of difficulty.

Not only the speed outside the train’s windows, but also the portrayal of characters is difficult.

As such, it was also a subject that could show the difference in skill if one drew it well.

‘Maybe it was intentional.’

The effect was clear.

There was a huge expectation in the way the academy students looked at me.

Their eyes seemed to say, ‘You can draw like this too, right?’

However, to put it bluntly, I’m not good at these kinds of paintings.

With that said, I had no intention of giving up.

“I’ll show you a slightly different picture.”

Like Seo Ji-won, I also chose the pencil and eraser.

I was thinking of facing it with the same drawing.

But there are many different kinds of drawings.

It was obvious that I would be the only one who would be robbed if I fought honestly.

So I came up with another plan.

‘I’ll show you that my art academy instructor experience didn’t go anywhere.’

Do you know that, if you work for a design company, you will receive a lot of training for successors?

That sort of thing was mainly my job.

In other words, I’ve been a specialist in teaching since I was 20.

In my experience, I could say two things for sure.

Drawing and teaching are a bit different.

And…

Geniuses are weak at teaching.