Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 81

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Infinite Talent Reset Life Episode 81

 

 

”….”

Near Silver Lake, LA’s largest water source.

Johann looks up at a five-story building.

“This is… my second building?”

The first was the three-story building in Manhattan Beach currently being used by Flash’s father and other developers.

“We bought this building with your modeling fees and diabetes medication contract money.”

Larry and Ada smile warmly.

“We should look inside too, right?”

“Yeah….”

The spacious first floor is littered with trash, desks, chairs, and other furniture.

It looks much more spacious from the inside than it did from outside.

There’s even an elevator, but Johann walks up the stairs to check out the 2nd floor, 3rd floor, 4th floor, and all the way up to the top 5th floor.

Standing in front of a small window on the 5th floor, he gazes at the vast Silver Lake and blue sky.

“You bought this with that money?”

The money from his stock investments was only about $500,000.

Even with three times that amount, he wouldn’t have been able to buy this building.

“The rest is a loan.”

It’s an amount that can be paid off sufficiently.

“The area is a Hispanic neighborhood, so the prices are lower.”

Hispanic neighborhoods don’t have the best security, but this place is far enough away that it’s fine.

“Ah.”

“How is it? Do you like it?”

Larry had suggested that since they couldn’t paint in the lobby where many people pass by, why not try painting in a building under Johann’s name instead.

“Very much.”

Even more so because he can see the Griffith Observatory in the distance.

Here, he feels like he could paint all the murals that the ‘artist Hugo Ballin’ had wanted to create.

‘Starting from the first floor and going up….’

Inspiration explodes in Johann’s mind as he looks up at the 4-meter-high ceiling.

“Larry, I need a mural specialist.”

“…Weren’t you going to paint it yourself?”

‘How can an 11-year-old say he needs compressed cement and such materials.’

“I mean a specialist to prepare the walls for murals.”

Larry and Ada blinked their eyes.

 

* * *

 

“Johann? He just went home.”

Johann had turned the school upside down today after receiving news that he won first place in the Ballin competition.

As soon as class ended, he rushed out of the classroom.

It was behavior unthinkable for Johann, who usually didn’t run around school. So the students wondered if something had happened at home.

“Oh no….”

Robert Burton looked at Johann’s neatly packaged artwork.

 

* * *

 

“Wow.”

The building with all interior materials perfectly removed, leaving only the cement framework.

Even the cleaning was neatly finished.

Plus, materials like compressed cement were stacked on each floor.

‘They found the right person!’

All the materials he wanted were there.

‘Ada really is capable.’

He had to admire Ada’s ability to finish everything from interior removal to finding mural specialists and procuring materials in just one day.

“Wow!”

“Johann! This is your building?”

“Yeah. My second building.”

“Awesome!”

Emily, Flash, and other friends who came along because Johann said he’d be painting murals in his building starting today and wouldn’t be able to play with them for a while, look around the building interior with sparkling eyes.

The adults who came with the children also look around the building with bright eyes.

“Johann, what are you going to decorate this place with?”

“Well?”

He hadn’t thought that far ahead.

He had only thought about painting murals.

“Let’s make it our hideout!”

“Then let’s make the 3rd floor a game room!”

“The 5th floor can be a movie theater!”

“Great!”

Johann nods at the sight of the children spreading their wings of happiness.

“That wouldn’t be bad.”

‘Then should I make my studio on the 4th floor? Hmm. But then I’d have to build walls….’

He doesn’t like that idea much.

It might interfere with the murals.

Johann, who had been letting his imagination run in a different direction from his friends, suddenly realizes.

“This isn’t the time to play around.”

Johann rolls up his sleeves and approaches the cement bags.

He didn’t know when the mural specialist would arrive, but he should at least untie the strings. That way they could build the walls a little faster.

“I’ll help.”

Rick Bottom quickly approaches.

Johann shakes his head.

“It’s fine. There’s plenty of labor right there.”

Johann grins and claps his hands.

“You want to decorate this place as a hideout?”

“Yeah!”

“Then you guys work too.”

“…Huh?”

The children’s bottoms quietly moved backward.

Thud thud!

“As expected….”

“Huh?”

People become wary at the appearance of a stranger.

But Johann’s eyes widen.

“Mr. Burton?”

“I came to deliver your submitted work….”

Richard Burton scans the construction materials piled in the center of the first floor and looks at Johann intensely.

“So this was indeed the first piece of a series, no, a practice piece?”

“Oh?”

He’s been found out.

‘So what?’

Was he trying to overturn the award or something?

Richard Burton, who wouldn’t have brought his artwork unless he was an official or judge of the Ballin competition.

Johann became curious about what he would say next.

But then…

“What’s the name of the work? What’s the concept?!”

Eyes burning hot as if ready to devour him.

Johann instinctively took a defensive stance.

 

“You’re going to paint the LA night view as seen from the observatory on all floors from the first to the fifth?”

“Yes.”

‘Though it’s a bit different.’

Still, he planned to paint three constellations on each floor, along with the elements and seasons that each constellation symbolized.

“And on the final fifth floor, I’ll paint the observatory’s ceiling mural, the march of science transcending time.”

That’s why he planned to build the fifth floor with octagonal walls.

“Good heavens.”

Such a massive undertaking.

‘If a mural were painted with the same quality as this painting?’

Lightning struck his crown.

“W-wouldn’t it be better to paint at Griffith Observatory instead?”

With his reputation, he could persuade the city government.

“I don’t want to.”

December 16, 1896, Griffith, a tycoon who succeeded in mining. When Griffith donated his land to LA, he left a request to build a park, museum, performance hall, and observatory. In honor of him, the city put his name on everything built on that land, which became Griffith Park where Griffith Observatory is located.

In other words, the world-famous Griffith Observatory was created by the city government of that time, and because it was made by the city government, the budget and space allocated to ‘artist Hugo Ballin’ was inevitably insufficient. It was all the city government’s will that made ‘artist Hugo Ballin’ leave the march of science transcending time unfinished.

‘Go through that humiliation again?’

Absolutely not.

There was another problem.

“Who would entrust such a massive project to an 11-year-old kid?”

No one would make such a decision unless they were crazy about ten times over.

‘I could deceive them by saying Mr. Burton is leading the work, but…’

It would be troublesome if discovered later.

And decisively, he didn’t want that either.

Rather than not painting at all, he couldn’t tolerate his work being recorded under someone else’s name, cried ‘artist Hugo Ballin.’

‘I hate it too.’

“How about reconsidering?”

He had to change this genius’s mind.

The ceiling mural that already made millions of tourists visiting Griffith Observatory gasp in admiration.

This was an opportunity for it to become more perfect and magnificent.

“Starting with the copyright issue of the ceiling mural…”

“That’s something I can permit.”

Startled!

Everyone turned their heads toward the direction of the voice.

A woman in her mid-twenties, wearing work clothes covered in paint and cement dust, who had somehow entered the building, was staring at Johann’s painting set up in a corner.

“…Jamie?”

“Hm? Oh, it’s been a while, Uncle Burton.”

“How did you come here?”

“I came on a business trip because I got a work commission.”

That wasn’t what mattered now.

The woman who strode toward Johann pointed at his painting.

“Kid, who did you hear this from when you painted that?”

“Pardon?”

“I might be mistaken, but that painting seems exactly the same as the concept written in my great-great-grandfather’s notebooks. Oh, my name is Jamie Valin.”

Hugo Ballin’s great-great-granddaughter, Jamie Valin.

Johann’s eyes widened greatly.

 

* * *

 

For Jamie Valin, her great-great-grandfather Hugo Ballin was an idol.

At age 7, after visiting Griffith Observatory holding her father’s and grandfather’s hands and seeing the ceiling mural, it became imprinted in her mind.

Not just the ceiling mural.

The industrial mural and Four Freedoms mural at Burbank City Hall.

The fresco mural at LA County General Hospital.

The mural in the Globe Lobby of the LA Times Building.

The mural at El Rodeo Elementary School in Beverly Hills.

The commemorative mural at Wilshire Boulevard Temple.

The water, power, and light mural at Burbank Water and Power.

Besides these, her great-great-grandfather Hugo Ballin’s many works made her decide her future self.

She wanted to resemble him.

She wanted to paint such pictures.

She wanted to become great like her great-great-grandfather Hugo Ballin.

Fortunately talented, she entered Art University and majored in mural painting.

However, there were many geniuses greater than her in the world, and many who had already captured the market first.

She boldly opened an office to become like her great-great-grandfather Hugo Ballin, but very few people commissioned her.

That’s why she immediately accepted despite it being a sudden commission.

‘It’s been a while since I got a commission, so I rushed over without thinking…’

Though it wasn’t a mural commission but a commission to build walls for murals, she still rushed over.

But why was the picture from her great-great-grandfather Hugo Ballin’s notebooks there, a picture that only Ballin family members could know?

One of her great-great-grandfather Hugo Ballin’s regrets.

The rest of the painting that had to remain unfinished due to pressure from the city government at the time.

The painting that even Jamie Valin had only imagined from the notes written in the notebook.

“It just came to mind.”

Looking at the LA scenery from Griffith Observatory, such inspiration struck him.

Johann decided to brazen it out.

“…What’s the title of the work?”

“The View from the Observatory, Winter Constellations.”

“Ha!”

What kind of coincidence could this be?

Even the title was similar.

‘Could it be that great-great-grandfather was reborn as this kid… no way.’

That was too occult a thought.

“This is why geniuses…”

Whether young or old, they shatter common sense.

Johann looked at her and expressed his doubt.

“But hasn’t the copyright already expired?”

“It hasn’t been 70 years since great-great-grandfather passed away yet.”

Great-great-grandfather Hugo Ballin died in November 1956.

The copyright wouldn’t expire until 2026.

“And the copyright is completely owned by us Vallins.”

The city government, having run out of money from spending a massive budget of 95 million dollars to fulfill tycoon Griffith’s requests including observatory construction in the 1930s, had made that choice.

In other words, to paint the observatory’s ceiling mural on the fifth floor, her permission was needed.

“Aha.”

“I’ll allow it. But I want to draw together too.”

A genius who came up with the exact same concept as great-great-grandfather Hugo Ballin just by looking at the ceiling mural. She might also complete the drawing in the sketchbook that had only existed in imagination.

‘I was planning to ask the city government later to let me paint at the observatory once I gained fame, but…’

Come to think of it, it was infuriating.

The city government that had reduced great-great-grandfather’s painting due to budget constraints.

The city government then and now were different entities, but it was still the city government.

Even if she gained fame in the future, there was no guarantee she wouldn’t face the same treatment as her great-great-grandfather.

‘In that case, this is better!’

Griffith Observatory was visible too.

“If that won’t work, I’ll give you permission…”

“Yes, then.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s draw together.”

‘Because Hugo Ballin wants that too.’

Completing an unfinished painting together with blood relatives.

Hugo Ballin was pleading, “Please.”

“But I have a condition too.”

“What is it? Anything…”

“The commission fee stays as originally requested.”

“Uh…?”

Jamie Valin’s eyes wavered.

 

* * *

 

In the end, Robert Burton had no choice but to give up.

“But can I join too?”

This was Johann who had made him feel as if his son Benjamin had returned alive. He wanted to try painting together with his child—a parent’s dream that he couldn’t fulfill during Benjamin’s lifetime due to his son’s stubborn nature.

“No payment needed.”

“What should we start with?”

The ‘Art Student’ Benjamin cheered with joy.

 

Clatter! Screech!

Another quiet day on the streets after the subprime mortgage crisis.

Julio, who had turned his head at the faint noise from the distance, enters the cafeteria.

Murmur murmur.

“I’m back!”

“You’re here?”

“Oh! The pride of Silver Lake Hispanics! Our hope! California West’s number 2 pitcher! Julio Rodriguez!”

“You’re really going to get in big trouble drinking like that, Mr. Dominguez.”

“Uhahahaha!”

Julio shakes his head, goes inside to put down his bag, and comes back out to hear his parents’ conversation.

“Doesn’t that sound seem like it’s been a while?”

“Right. There’s actually a place doing construction in times like these.”

Must be outsiders.

“You know that five-story building that used to have a cafeteria and dental clinic?”

“Ah, that place?”

How inconvenient it had been when the nearby dental clinic disappeared.

Of course, a dental clinic wasn’t a place you’d visit unless your teeth hurt like they were about to fall out, but there was still a big difference between having one and not having one.

“What kind of construction is it? It would be nice if something like a Dollar Tree moved in…”

Dollar Tree, which sells all kinds of miscellaneous goods at low prices.

Having something like that in the neighborhood would make it easy to get necessary items, and people from neighboring areas would come over too, which would be tremendously helpful for revitalizing the local economy.

“Hmm. Isn’t it a bit small for Dollar Tree to move in?”

Since Dollar Tree sells almost all products for one dollar, countless people visit it. Because of this, a large parking lot is essential, so they tend to be built on the outskirts of the city or in places where land prices are relatively cheap and large spaces can be secured.

“That’s disappointing…”

Julio’s Mother smacks her lips thinking about the bus fare for going back and forth to Dollar Tree.

“Huh? You washed up again today?”

“I washed up at school before coming home.”

He even seemed to have changed his underwear, as there was a scent of fabric softener.

“Why is our son only doing pretty things these days? Are you dating someone?”

“Cough! N-no! Mom, your son hasn’t even held a girl’s hand yet!”

“…That’s not something to be proud of.”

“My goodness. A Hispanic guy at that age… Are you impotent?”

“Ah, Father! You used to tell me not to date just any girl!”

“That and this are different things. Tsk tsk tsk. Don’t go around saying you’re my son.”

“Ugh!”

“Hoho. You’re doing well. So who is she?”

The girl you have your heart set on.

“It’s not like that. It’s because of Johann.”

When shown photos of athletes covered in pockmarks and acne versus handsome athletes famous for their looks, how could he not wash up?

“Bring him over sometime. Really, you must.”

This was the child who had accomplished what they couldn’t do in 12 years.

They wanted to feed him lots of food from their hometown.

“Okay. I have a game next week, so I’ll contact him.”

With 2 wins and 1 loss so far, California West was sailing smoothly.

“Hoho. Are you hungry? Hurry and sit…”

Clang!

The door opens roughly and a young man in his early thirties with dreadlocks enters.

‘Who’s that person?’

A painter famous in this neighborhood.

“Hey! Hey! Big news! Big news! Richard Burton is in our neighborhood right now!”

“What?! Really?!”

His friends jump up from their seats.

People who formed a team with the painter.

The team name was El Condor.

A famous painter team that even gets commissions from wealthy neighborhoods.

“Where?”

“In that five-story dental building down there! Ah! Hello, sir! You’ve been at the cafeteria often lately?”

“Must be a famous person?”

“Super famous! His works start at a basic 500,000 dollars, no questions asked!”

“Wow…”

Julio’s parents’ eyes turn toward Julio.

“Son. You should go see too.”

“…I don’t want to.”

“Do you want to starve today, or will you go and come back?”

“I’ll go and come back…”

“Take your time going and coming back.”

Their son Julio already possessed tremendous talent and skill in baseball.

But that’s how parents’ hearts are.

They hope their child will work a little less hard while earning a lot of money.

Of course, becoming a Major Leaguer would mean earning tremendous money, but who knows.

Julio might have been born with the same talent for art as he has for baseball.

“I’m counting on you to take care of our boy.”

“Understood! Hey, Julio! Follow me!”

“I’ll be back!”

The artist teams had rushed ahead first, but Julio quickly caught up.

When they arrived near Silver Lake, Julio was shocked.

Murmur murmur.

“Wow.”

‘It looks like all the artists from our neighborhood are gathered here?’

Painters and sculptors, even people who made a living drawing portraits and caricatures at beaches and other places where people gathered, were all assembled.

‘This Richard Burton person must be quite remarkable.’

“But why can’t they get in… huh?”

Julio was puzzled when he spotted a large, intimidating white man guarding the building entrance.

“Isn’t that person Johann’s manager?”

He remembered seeing him when California West’s Spring Camp ended.

“Why is that person here…”

That’s when it happened.

The door that Rick Bottom was guarding opened, and Johann walked out.

“Jo, Johann?”

Johann had paint smeared on his face and body from whatever he’d been doing inside, and was sipping on a beverage.

Behind him, Flash walked out with a tired expression.

“Fl, Flash?”

“Huh? Who’s calling me… eh? Julio?”

“Julio. Oh, you know this kid?”

“Yes. They’re my friends… just a moment.”

Julio pushed through the crowd to approach Johann and Flash, and El Condor, rolling his eyes, followed behind.

“What’s going on, why are you in our neighborhood?”

“Well, that’s… hmm.”

Flash, who had been speaking, looked Julio up and down.

For some reason feeling uneasy, Julio stepped back hesitantly.

Flash chuckled and put his arm around Julio’s shoulder.

“Julio, my friend. You’re done with training today, right?”

“I think… so?”

“How about it, Johann?”

For using as labor.

“Good.”

“Hehehe. Follow me. We’ll have something delicious for dinner.”

“…I’m suddenly getting a bad feeling about this?”

“Lobster!”

“Yes!”

Julio quickly crossed the entrance and froze at the scene spread out on the first floor.

“…A field?”

A lake and field with cool breezes blowing stretched out before his eyes.

 

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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