The Artist Who Paints Dungeon-Chapter 113

Yoo Seong-Woon stepped out of the frame.

“It's unbelievable that I’m alive and back on this land.”

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Ah, it was incredibly enjoyable, beyond words.”

When he even came face to face with the mermaid princess, he couldn’t bring himself to speak.

“Please tell her I apologize for causing any displeasure...”

“It’s not your fault, Yoo Seong-Woon. That’s just one of Aria’s usual complaints. Don’t worry about it.”

“I don’t think I was at fault either, but I don’t want to build any ill will with mermaids. There's no need to make enemies with humanoid monsters, right?”

“Thank you for understanding her childish tantrum. You’re quite the adult. I hope my disciples can learn from your example.”

“A monster that emulates humans? That’s still pretty terrifying in its own way, though.”

Yoo Seong-Woon chuckled lightly and checked the gallery clock.

“So it’s... 4:41 AM?”

He also checked his phone.

“...”

“Did I take up too much of your time?”

“No, not really.”

It had only been about 20 minutes.

“Time inside the frame really flows differently from time on Earth.”

“Time inside the painting changes depending on my mood. It can go fast or slow.”

“Oh... When is it fast and when is it slow?”

“When I’m enjoying myself, time passes quickly. When I’m resting, it moves slowly.”

“Hmmm.”

Well, then I could interpret that as it being a good mood this time. It was an honor, both as a gardener and as a curator.

“What about when you're in a bad mood?”

“I’ve never been in a bad mood, so I don’t know.”

“Such a positive attitude, I like it. Keep living that way.”

Although, as the origin, he probably wouldn’t even know what it means to feel displeasure.

‘...Gio definitely has an ego close to that of a personality, so even if he is the origin, there might come a day when he gets angry. I shouldn’t be careless when dealing with the origin.’

Yoo Seong-Woon picked up the small white box containing the dessert.

“Can I just take this with me?”

“If you had eaten it here, it wouldn’t have been a problem...”

“Tomorrow, fish-shaped bread?”

“That sounds good.”

“I’m really disappointed that I couldn’t explore the forest.”

Although it had been hectic inside, now that he was outside, there was a strong sense of regret left. It was a gardener’s desire.

“I also wanted to visit that spring you mentioned.”

Yoo Seong-Woon remembered Gio’s water, which had been defined as [Water of the Origin].

“I heard it’s quite a magnificent place.”

“If you come again next time, I’ll be happy to welcome you.”

“Then I’ll visit when I have time.”

By then, it would be after more preparation had been made.

‘I entered without any preparations at all.’

Not just anywhere, but the origin itself.

‘To be precise, it didn’t feel like the origin itself, but more like a form of the origin that was easier for humans to comprehend... something like a part of the origin, or a dish prepared in a way humans could eat easily...’

Humans, in the first place, cannot even recognize the existence of the origin. The scale of it is so vast that the human mind cannot comprehend or analyze it. In that sense, Gio felt like a part of the origin.

‘So, is that why it felt like a garden?’

If that was the case...

“...”

“Is something wrong?”

“...It’s nothing.”

Perhaps Gio was in charge of the ‘eyes’ of the origin.

“I think it was a bit of a shame that the eyes were covered with paint.”

Gio had many things about him, but his most distinctive feature was his ‘eyes.’

It seemed as if those eyes contained everything that existed and did not exist in the world.

“You did it at my request, though?”

“Do you want it back to its original state?”

“No, it’s just more convenient this way.”

“I see.”

“It was just a curator's little complaint.”

It was also a gardener’s complaint.

‘If Gio truly is the eyes of the origin, the reason he takes a human form is...’

For a moment, a complicated emotion welled up, and he almost choked.

“...”

Yoo Seong-Woon had never thought of avoiding or despising Gio.

What remained for him now was awe, a depth he couldn’t measure, and the relief that came from it.

“Yeah...”

He, being a gardener, knew how closely the origin was tied to nature’s fairness.

“Thanks for treating me so kindly.”

“It was my pleasure.”

“Right, you’ve always been a gentleman.”

If this were a disaster, it wouldn't have been a calamity.

“We have to be more careful, don’t we?”

“Who are you referring to?”

“No, just... reminded me of something I have to do.”

“Seems like working people are always busy.”

“They say you can’t eat if you don’t work.”

With a sigh of laughter, Yoo Seong-Woon asked:

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, ask away.”

“Well...”

There were many questions he wanted to ask, but Yoo Seong-Woon held himself back.

‘It’s too soon to ask about the origin.’

Gio thought of himself as a normal human, and even if he was aware of the truth, he was probably still disguising himself to be closer to it. So asking about that would have to wait a long time.

Instead, he brought up the most efficient topic he could address right now.

“Park Eun-Gyeom, the Hunter.”

He had been curious since he heard that he had come out.

“Exactly what price did he pay?”

“Price?”

“We don’t know what’s changed for him.”

Yoo Seong-Woon had reported everything that happened in the City of Void to the association. Based on that report, the association had analyzed Park Eun-Gyeom, who had come out of the frame.

But aside from the fact that he was somewhat frightened, there was nothing particularly different about him.

“Could that fear be the price? Like, the loss of peace?”

“I left the decision to my children.”

“To your children... I see.”

Now even the term ‘my children’ sounded meaningful.

‘The children of the origin come to mind.’

No, wasn’t that actually accurate?

‘...With a Hunter’s skill, it’s not something that can be fully dealt with. They’re not monsters, but resemble them... living stories that can appear anywhere, across dimensions...’

Everything Gio had painted, from the jewels and birds to the black-suited figures in the City of Void, seemed to match that description. They had cognitive abilities.

“...Well...”

His thoughts wandered, taking the conversation in a different direction.

“Sorry, I was thinking about something else.”

“You seem tired, are you alright?”

“I’m always fine.”

Yoo Seong-Woon returned to the original topic.

“So, if I want to know what the price was, I should ask your children?”

“If you wish, you may.”

“...Do you already know the price?”

“Of course, I do.”

“Can I ask you about it?”

“No problem at all.”

Gio answered from beyond the black paint.

“Park Eun-Gyeom lost his ‘evil’ as the price.”

“...”

“My children wanted that.”

“...That’s impressive.”

How exactly did they take ‘evil’ from a human?

“Humans are creatures capable of evil at any time.”

“Paying the price is Park Eun-Gyeom’s responsibility. I don’t know the result.”

“I understand for now.”

It sounded abstract, but there had been many such abstract prices taken by the origin before: memories, love, happiness, friendship, sadness, even sorrow...

‘This isn’t all that different.’

The exact answer wasn’t something that could be found by probing Gio.

‘And it shouldn’t be.’

Don’t ask the gods.

While Gio couldn’t be called a complete god, the term ‘god’ also referred to beings of such high rank that humans couldn’t comprehend them.

Humans analyze nature and destiny, but they are not beings who can demand things from them.

‘It’s not polite when dealing with them either.’

Having gathered this much of a clue, finding further answers was the job of Seong-Woon and other humans. That was the proper etiquette in an age where humans, gods, and nature coexisted.

“Then I’ll bring fish-shaped bread tomorrow as the price for this dessert.”

“Please give my regards to Cha Eun-Hyeok.”

“Don’t worry, I often talk with him.”

Before leaving the gallery, Yoo Seong-Woon glanced back at Gio.

“...You’re not fighting with the mermaid princess because of me, are you?”

“As I said before, that was just a little childish tantrum.”

The black portrait was firm.

“She can’t be angry with me.”

It was an answer like that of a prophet speaking of fate.

“Master.”

When they returned to the hut, Aria called out to Gio.

“Did you see him off well?”

“I confirmed he left safely.”

“Such a kind person.”

“He’s angry.”

But Gio knew.

“I’m not the one he’s angry with.”

Aria couldn’t be angry with Giovanni.

“We’ve been apart for too long for that.”

“...Even if we hadn’t, I wouldn’t have gotten angry at you.”

“If you have too much anger, life isn’t enjoyable.”

“My life has no reason to be enjoyable.”

The mermaid smiled gently. It was a smile different from the one she had when she couldn’t hide her sharp, sensitive nature as a child.

“I hate humans.”

“I understand.”

“I know how much you embrace them.”

“It’s not about embracing them; it’s about giving them the proper respect they deserve.”

“Such excessive respect, for those with such short lives...”

Gio sat beside Aria, who was lying on the sofa.

“Aria.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Were you scared?”

“......”

“So you’re angry?”

“...Master...”

Aria muttered as she felt his hand caress her cheek.

“You go too far sometimes.”

Yes, there was no denying it.

“You’re right, I was quite scared.”

“Why?”

“I don’t think that human can harm us.”

The entity known as Yoo Seong-Woon wasn’t capable of such things.

“He’s deeply connected to the origin, so he’s thoughtful and careful. Though sometimes he takes risks, most of the time he seeks coexistence. While strong for a human, I’d win if we fought.”

“I didn’t think Yoo Seong-Woon looked weak.”

“That’s why I said he’s strong for a human. If we fought, I’d win, but it’d be a tough fight. There’s power in being a gardener... it wouldn’t be easy to interfere with him.”

But that wasn’t why she feared him.

“I’m afraid, Master.”

Aria rested her head on Gio’s hand.

“I was scared that humans being here might set things on fire again.”

Humans were fickle.

“I’m afraid the day will come again.”

For a mermaid, who lived her entire life with a single memory and unchanging identity, the human tendency for drastic change was something difficult to understand.

Humans were like traditional gods who valued peace, then like miserable beggars hoping for the end of the world.

So, the belief or personality of a single individual wasn’t important right now.

“......”

“I don’t trust humans.”

Despite her hatred, this remained an unchangeable truth for Aria.

“We’ve lived too long to be any different. Compared to us, humans live short lives and change a hundred or more times during that time...”

“That’s called growth.”

“Yes, growth. The way humans grow is as innate to them as our unchanging nature. I know that. I know it. And that’s why I curse it.”

Mermaids and humans had a hard time understanding and harmonizing.

“How could I know how Yoo Seong-Woon would ‘grow’ and let him in here?”

Humans were easily corrupted.

“Good and evil standards vary in each dimension. Even within this narrow dimension, just by the boundary of a country that can’t even be seen. It changes depending on the environment humans live in. So, Master, our peace could become a disaster for them.”

A human facing disaster would resist.

“...Mermaids, too.”

Who hasn’t rebelled against fate while alive?

“If your resting breath becomes a disaster for them, Yoo Seong-Woon will side with my race. He’s human, so he will, with his beliefs, because he’s not evil.”

“......”

“They keep changing.”

Humans don’t make promises.

“......”

“......”

Aria hugged her master.

“I know you won’t forgive us. I know you’ll never accept us. You won’t be our god.”

“Is that so?”

“I’m always ready to accept fate. I know that we won’t be heard if we try to stop it.”

Do you know this? Gio did not rebel against fate.

He was a being capable of enjoying and accepting everything. That’s why Aria could hold him now, because of his vast capacity.

“Thanks to your great capacity, Master, you took us as disciples, but sometimes, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) I feel uneasy. I fear that this peaceful, calm hut could disappear at any moment.”

The mermaid felt fear for the first time in thousands of years.

“When I get too scared, I get angry.”

“That’s proof that we’re all human.”

“Master, you always try to teach.”

“You all worry too much.”

“It’s true.”

There was no greater foolishness than fearing the future that hasn’t come.

“We worry too much...”

Humans say that fate can’t be avoided. In the end, Aria felt miserable for realizing that she wasn’t different either.

Because she too was human.

“......”

“......”

And that was why they feared repeating the same actions, the same tragedies.

No matter what, even without rebellion... once again...