Popular Psychopath [Novel] Chapter 33

Chapter 33: What on Earth Did You Do While You Were There?

“Nice to meet you. I am James, a professor in the Sculpture Department at Yale University. I have many questions; may I ask you something?”

“Yes, of course, Professor.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed your piece, which was imbued with the soul of a great artist. If it isn’t rude to ask, could you tell me which university you studied at?”

“To answer your question first, I did not attend university. I am currently working as an actor, simply an ordinary person who loves art.”

The audience gasped in astonishment at Kyuha’s fluent English.

“Oh my God…”

The foreign judges were completely blindsided by the revelation that Kyuha had never attended university and was, in fact, an actor rather than a professional sculptor.

“That makes it even more incomprehensible. This level of detail involves techniques and expressive power typically only seen in the works of world-class masters.”

“What I am most curious about is this: at a passing glance, the majority of the piece appears perfectly symmetrical, but upon closer inspection, it is not absolute symmetry. There are subtly distinct variations. What was your intention in expressing it this way?”

Facing the elderly professor who pinpointed a detail imperceptible to the general public, Kyuha gripped the microphone.

“Through my work, I wanted to convey that the innate symmetry found in the natural state becomes slightly misaligned due to acquired factors. Furthermore, I wanted to state that this subtle asymmetry is far more beautiful than perfect symmetry. Just as our own faces are more natural because they possess subtle asymmetry rather than perfect symmetry.”

“Oho. I see.”

“I have a question as well.”

As if Professor James had lit a fuse, the other judges bombarded Kyuha with questions regarding the sculpting techniques and artistic philosophy he employed.

“Unlike the other sculptures, how did you make the surface as smooth as marble…”

“Would you perhaps consider coming to our university…”

Despite the deluge of questions, Kyuha answered each one earnestly and methodically.

As the Q&A session grew increasingly heated, MC Han Byungwoo received a signal from the organizers and reined in the atmosphere.

“Alright! The allotted Q&A time has officially concluded. Finally, we will hear a few words from our grand prize winner, Mr. Song Kyuha, to wrap up the award ceremony for the Taebaeksan Snow Festival’s International Snow Sculpture Competition.”

Sweeping his gaze over the hundreds of spectators hanging onto his every word, Kyuha delivered his final remarks.

“Snow sculpting is bound by restrictive conditions, rife with variables, and boasts an incredibly short preservation period. Furthermore, despite the brutal weather of Taebaek and the grueling labor of over 8 hours a day, every team participating in this competition continued their work in silent perseverance. For that reason, I believe that not only the finished piece, but the act of sculpting itself is art. Please give a massive round of applause for all the artists who worked so incredibly hard.”

Wow, clap clap clap clap clap.

At Kyuha’s words, the hundreds of spectators showered the participating sculptors with unsparing applause.

Thanks to this, the heavy atmosphere clinging to the teams who had failed to secure an award lightened considerably, and they offered Kyuha grateful nods.

Thus, the competition concluded as a roaring success. The participating teams, having seemingly forged a sense of camaraderie through their shared hardships, commended each other on their tremendous efforts.

Notably, almost every team approached Kyuha to express their profound respect and request a handshake.

“Hey~ Miracle Man. I consider it a stroke of immense luck to have witnessed such a brilliant artist during my first visit to Korea. Obviously, you are an actor, but everyone here knows the core within you is that of a magnificent artist.”

“That is a profound honor, Ilya. I also drew immense inspiration from observing your work.”

Russia’s Ilya, Mongolia’s Ulziibatar, and China’s Kaijun approached Kyuha one after another to shake his hand.

“It was a pleasure, Kyuha. When I return to Mongolia, I am going to watch every single project you have been in. I am a massive fan of K-dramas, you know.”

“Hey Kyuha, will I be able to see you at the Harbin International Snow Sculpture Competition in China too? I would love to see you there.”

Kyuha accepted every handshake, leaving a lasting, positive impression on all the participants.

Finally, Maria from the Royal College of Art lingered nearby, hesitating nervously as if torn between approaching him or not. She seemed deeply shaken and thoroughly demoralized by her failure to win an award.

Noticing this, Kyuha took the initiative, approaching her with an extended hand and speaking in Italian.

“It is a shame you didn’t win an award, but you know better than anyone that art cannot truly be ranked, right? You worked incredibly hard.”

Knowing she had made a massive mistake earlier, she hadn’t dared to approach him and had only hovered on the periphery. Therefore, when Kyuha initiated contact, Maria felt a sudden wave of immense gratitude for his consideration.

Contrasting sharply with her tall stature and sharp features, Maria blushed shyly and offered an apology.

“I am truly sorry for my mistake back then. Even thinking about it now, it is incredibly embarrassing. I am deeply reflecting on my actions.”

“I will accept your apology. Because recognizing your mistake and feeling remorse proves you are worthy of forgiveness.”

Perhaps relieved that Kyuha accepted her apology so readily, the tension drained from Maria’s body, and she looked Kyuha straight in the eyes.

“I agree that art cannot be ranked, but your piece in this competition was overwhelmingly superior to any other team’s work. No one can deny that. Hearing your words, Kyuha, I reflected a lot on myself. Just as you said, I was trapped within the fence that ‘art is special,’ and never even considered looking into the true essence of art.”

“I have a feeling we will meet again somewhere. Regardless, I will greet you as a changed person when that time comes. I also wanted to say thank you for awakening me to a new world. Thank you, Ssong.”

Thus, Maria and Kyuha cleared their misunderstandings in a genuinely warm atmosphere.

The resoundingly successful Taebaeksan International Snow Sculpture Competition concluded with the astonishing outcome of Kyuha’s Grand Prize victory. That very evening, the Ice Lantern Festival—the absolute pinnacle of the Snow Festival—commenced.

Though the Ice Lantern Festival originated during the Qing Dynasty, its immense popularity ensured that similar events were inevitably included in countless winter festivals moving forward.

Worthy of being called the essence of winter festivals, the Ice Lantern Festival heavily accentuates the breathtaking, romantic atmosphere of a winter night.

When hundreds of thousands of lightbulbs project a kaleidoscope of five-colored lights onto the ice sculptures, it truly feels as though one has stepped into an entirely different world.

The theme for this year’s Taebaeksan Snow Festival’s Ice Lantern Festival was ‘Fantasy Winter Kingdom’.

The massive palaces and sculptures forged from ice and snow were constructed so precisely and sturdily that they easily supported the weight of people climbing onto them, offering a plethora of interactive entertainment.

As the sun set, countless people flocked to the Ice Lantern Festival, forging unforgettable memories with their loved ones.

Unsurprisingly, the most popular attraction was ‘Hero Unveils’, the piece that captured the true visage of Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

Illuminated by dazzlingly bright lights shining upward from the base, the nearly 4-meter-tall Sacred Hero, Admiral Yi Sun-sin, appeared profoundly holy and reverent.

People stared blankly up at the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, muttering to themselves.

“Wow… He looks genuinely terrifying. But so cool.”

“They say that is what Admiral Yi Sun-sin actually looked like. If he were on our side, it would feel incredibly reassuring.”

“Ah, right, pictures, pictures! Hurry up and take a picture of me.”

#TrueFaceOfAdmiralYiSun-sin #SongKyuhaWinningPiece #TaebaeksanSnowFestival #SnowSculptureCompetitionWinningPiece #Lovestagram

Countless people posed next to the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, competing to snap the best photos, and these images rapidly spread like wildfire across social media.

Kyuha had invited Director Kang Anna and all the children from the Bluebird Orphanage to the festival, fully covering the costs of transportation, accommodation, and food to ensure they could rest comfortably.

“Wow~~ This is awesome.”

“It is a winter palace~~ I am Elsa~~”

“Kyahaha, I have never seen this much snow in my life.”

Encountering such a massive snowy landscape for the first time in their lives, the children were ecstatic. They spent a joyful time having snowball fights, building snowmen, and riding snow sleds.

“Kyuha. Thank you for inviting us to such a wonderful place. It couldn’t have been easy arranging the accommodations and transportation.”

“Not at all, Director. Seeing the children having so much fun makes me feel proud too.”

“By the way, it is a shame Gyeoul and Seola couldn’t make it.”

Han Gyeoul and Jung Seola, who were originally scheduled to come, had informed Kyuha in advance that they couldn’t attend due to scheduling conflicts.

“It is peak busy season for them, so it is difficult for them to come. Please, if you find anything uncomfortable, let me know immediately.”

At his words, Director Kang Anna offered a benevolent smile and patted Kyuha’s shoulder.

“You have taken perfect care of us. I always feel so reassured having you around, Kyuha. You worked hard.”

Thus, the Taebaeksan Snow Festival, which brought happiness to everyone involved, concluded as a roaring success.

The following day, a single video surfaced on social media, setting the internet ablaze.

[Video of Actor Song Kyuha Single-handedly Devouring Famous Overseas University Teams in Sculpting]

[User1: ??? What is this. He did that all by himself? lolololol]
[User2: What the lol What did I just watch]
[User3: I am an art major, and the fact that he sculpted something of that size and quality all by himself is insane. Is he not just a genius, but an actual monster?]
[User4: Look at the speed he is digging that out. I thought he was an excavator lol. Wow, but that is genuinely insane.]

[Actor Song Kyuha Wins Taebaeksan International Snow Sculpture Competition as a One-Man Team. Submits Piece Depicting the True Visage of Admiral Yi Sun-sin]

[Yale University Professor: ‘Looking at his work, I feel as though I have been transported back to the Renaissance’]

[28th Taebaeksan Snow Festival International Snow Sculpture Competition Concludes in Resounding Success. High Praise from Foreign Media]

The 28th Taebaeksan Snow Festival International Snow Sculpture Competition yielded incredibly successful results, drawing immense praise from foreign media.

Approximately 1 million visitors flocked to Taebaek, Gangwon-do for the festival, and the festival’s revenue reportedly exceeded 10 billion won. Experts evaluated it as a massively successful festival, potentially rivaling the world’s top three winter festivals.

Behind this monumental success lay the dominant roles of solid planning and marketing. Furthermore, the heartwarming news that Actor Song Kyuha, who stood at the center of it all, donated his entire appearance fee to children with incurable diseases…

Stella Entertainment Small Conference Room.

“You worked incredibly hard. But I heard you overworked your body to the extreme again this time?”

Team Leader Han Junghee glared at Kyuha as she spoke.

“Not at all. Honestly, it felt like I finally got a proper workout for the first time in a while. I feel completely refreshed.”

“I am just resigning myself to it at this point. Please just always remember that there are many people who worry about you, Kyuha.”

“Yes, Team Leader. I will always keep that in mind.”

“Because of that sculpture competition this time, the agency has been in absolute chaos for a while. I don’t know where the rumors spread, but we are being bombarded with calls from countries all over the world wanting to invite you to their festivals. And what is this? The Korean Culture Integration Association? The Asan Music Association? The Korean Calligraphy and Painting Education Association? We are getting calls from places like this begging to hire you as a guest lecturer… I heard the rough details, but what on earth did you do while you were there?”

“Haha… It just sort of ended up that way.”

“Ahem, anyway, that isn’t the important part. I have great news! We finally received a commercial offer for you, Kyuha! On the condition that you co-star with Miss Jung Seola.”