The Stand User Of The Daily World

Chapter 167: A Dead Man's Work is Most Valuable

"The only reason I agreed to let you come to Jaoan and give it a try was to show you, Mashiro, that becoming a manga artist isn't as easy as it seems. You have talent for oil painting, but not for manga. Once you realized that, I planned to take you back. But, but…"

Rita never would have imagined that Mashiro, who lacked both common sense and the ability to express emotions, would make such remarkable progress in her manga skills in such a short time after coming to Japan.

Now, she was already publishing in one of the world's most prominent manga magazines, and there were even signs of her becoming a major hit. This made Rita panic.

"Mashiro…"

"In any case, I can't stand by and watch you waste your time and talent on something like manga anymore. Please, come back to England with me!"

Rita pleaded, holding Mashiro's hand. Mashiro, however, only looked at her with a heartbroken expression.

To Mashiro, who had thought of Rita as her only supporter and closest friend, such a complete rejection of her dreams and goals was devastating.

For someone like Mashiro, who didn't care much about what others thought, Rita's opinion carried tremendous weight. Because she cared about so few people, each one's significance was magnified all the more.

Although Shunsuke understood the relationship between Mashiro and Rita, and was aware that Rita genuinely believed she was "doing what was best for Mashiro," he still felt a surge of anger when he saw how upset Mashiro had become—despite having anticipated this moment.

"Smack!"

Suddenly, Shunsuke extended his right hand and planted it against the wall beside Rita, leaning in close and effectively pinning her in what resembled a classic "kabe-don" pose.

"!"

Rita startled and instinctively tried to back away, only to realize she was already in a corner and had no room to retreat.

From a purely visual standpoint, it was the kind of scene you could call the authorities over.

Maintaining a stiff expression, Shunsuke's cold gaze fixed on Rita. "Miss Ainsworth," he said evenly, "aren't you Mashiro's friend? Is this how you treat a friend's dreams?"

Rita took a deep breath to steady her nerves and looked back at Shunsuke. If she could convince him to help talk Mashiro into coming back, perhaps Mashiro might reconsider.

With that thought, she spoke earnestly: "Mr. Fujii, have you seen Mashiro's paintings? Not her manga, but her true works."

"Ah, of course I have. They're incredibly moving."

Despite her reserved demeanor in everyday life, Mashiro's artwork was brimming with emotion that struck a chord deep in the viewer's heart.

It wasn't just a casual compliment from Rita; even those closest to her—like Mrs. Izumi and Eriri—had been moved to tears upon seeing them.

Not the kind of tears brought on by uncontrollable sobbing, but rather those that flowed silently, almost subconsciously, when the soul was stirred by something profoundly beautiful.

"Since you've seen them," Rita continued, her voice taking on a reverent, almost theatrical tone, "then consider this: just how much potential is contained in Mashiro's fingertips? She has the ability to create masterpieces that will be remembered not just for decades, but for centuries, even millennia! Works that would leave an indelible mark on history. Knowing that, can you truly stand by and let her squander that talent on meaningless manga? Would you really let those priceless, timeless masterpieces vanish forever?"

"If Mashiro really could create those kinds of paintings, I'd naturally hope she would…"

"Exactly! I knew you'd understand me, Shunsuke!"

Before Shunsuke could finish with the crucial "but," Rita eagerly clasped both of his hands, feeling as though she had suddenly bridged the gap between herself and him.

Mashiro looked at Shunsuke with eyes full of sadness and disbelief. Within just a few minutes, she felt betrayed by the two people she trusted most, leaving her shaken.

Shunsuke pulled his hand back, visibly annoyed. "Miss Rita, aren't you supposed to be a refined English lady? Could you let me finish before you speak?"

"Ah, please, go ahead."

"First of all, Rita, do you really think it's still so easy in this day and age for someone to become a world-class painting master?"

"If it's Mashiro, I think it's possible!"

"Alright, let's assume that's true. Then let me ask you this: whose artwork tends to hold the greatest value these days?"

Rita hesitated. "...Naturally, those of artists with extraordinary talent who have worked tirelessly to hone their craft."

"Wrong. The correct answer is those who are no longer alive. Living artists can keep producing new works, but deceased artists cannot. Their original pieces become finite, and their value only increases over time. That's why collectors tend to prize the works of artists who have passed away."

"I don't even need to bring up someone as universally famous as Van Gogh. Instead, let's talk about a more recent example: Jean-Michel Basquiat, the first and only American artist to break the hundred-million-dollar mark at auction. Do you know what made that possible?"

"Besides being a Black artist in a politically correct era in the United States, I personally think another crucial factor is the fact that he died young, at just 27 years old in 1988. Otherwise, why was it that, while he was still alive, his works—despite being well-known—couldn't fetch high prices, yet starting around 2000, their value soared and became a cornerstone of the current art market? A few thousand paintings—neither too many nor too few—just the perfect number."

Shunsuke smirked mockingly. "At the end of the day, this isn't about artistry. It's just about collectible value. If we're talking pure artistic talent, I think Mashiro's no worse than Basquiat. But if that's the case, why is it that Mashiro's art, despite her widespread acclaim, still doesn't sell for much?"

"Rita, by now you should understand. The reason Mashiro's work isn't fetching high prices is simple: she's young. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, she could easily keep producing art for several decades. And with every new piece she creates, the value of her earlier works diminishes. In that context, it's no wonder her prices aren't going up."

"Art... the value of art isn't something that can be decided by money!" Rita, who still lived comfortably in her academic ivory tower, couldn't accept Shunsuke's blunt, cold perspective.

"Oh? If it's not determined by money, then what is it determined by?"

"Well... that is..."

Born and raised in one of the bastions of capitalism, Rita found herself at a loss for words.

"Alright, let's set that debate aside for now. The more important thing is this: I, humble as I am, happen to be one of those 'useless manga artists' you just mentioned. The manga Mashiro is currently drawing is a collaboration with me. So, were you just saying that everything I do is a waste of talent, that making manga is a waste of life?"

"...What?!"

Seeing Rita's dumbfounded expression, Shunsuke couldn't help but roll his eyes.

For someone who cared so much about Mashiro and knew her so well, couldn't she have paid a little more attention to her supposedly excellent housemate?

Did she really think of me as just some guy like Kanda Sorata, whose only purpose was to take care of Mashiro and mope around?

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