The Artist Who Paints Dungeon - Chapter 105



Only Noblemtl

Episode 105

The moment I came to my senses.

“… … .”

The meteor cloud was inside the ‘City of Emptiness’.

“… I still can’t remember the moment I entered the painting.”

At one point, Geo had a record of turning people he encountered in the ‘Deep Sea Country’ into paint and helping them escape.

I think I went through a similar process this time, but I don’t remember much about the time when the meteor cloud turned into paint, just like those people testified.

‘I guess it felt like I was a living, inanimate object.’

It was not a very clear impression as it was a very contradictory expression.

“By the way, did Geo check on me?”

Yoo Seong-un remembered the situation just before entering the ‘Empty City’.

‘A transparent hand reached out to me.’

Something that could be recognized as a ‘transparent hand’, although not visible, greeted Yoo Seong-un, with the sleeves of a pitch-black suit standing out. Unlike the Park Eun-gyeom Hunter incident that was mentioned in the official document, it was a very polite gesture.

‘It was a gesture that somehow resembled Geo’s actions… .’

Geo’s demeanor was that of someone who had received strong education or training. His movements were similar to those of a nobleman or a soldier, and the gesture made by the ‘Empty City’ was exactly like that.

“… It wouldn’t be Geo himself.”

It didn’t feel familiar.

“Did the ‘Empty City’ reach out directly?”

I thought about that for a moment, but it seemed more reasonable to think that it was the hand of a monster belonging to the ‘City of Emptiness’. In the official document, many of the hands that had kidnapped Park Eun-gyeom looked like that.

“… … .”

Yoo Seong-un exhaled once.

“… It’s more bearable than I thought.”

The pressure from the ‘Empty City’ wasn’t as great as I had imagined.

“Considering that I’m a Class A Hunter, it’s a pretty comfortable level.”

There was a bit of a stuffy feeling. It felt like someone was pressing down on my forehead, and there was definitely a creepy part, like someone was tracing my spine with a finger.

‘But that’s about it.’

The kidnapped hunter was a B-class. I don’t know exactly what level of B-class he was, but he was quite strong. Considering that the hunter was taken to a dungeon without any contact, the burden felt by Yoo Seong-un, who was an A-class, was less than expected.

“Are you being taken care of?”

The route taken to enter the ‘Empty City’ was different from the beginning.

‘That guy was dragged in, and I was escorted here.’

Since the treatment itself is like heaven and earth, there may be a difference in the burden felt.

“… … .”

Yoo Seong-un muttered without realizing it.

“How is that possible…?”

People often say that they are the ‘lords of the dungeon’, but in reality, there are few lords who can control the dungeon as they wish. In Yoo Seong-un’s view, even the mermaid siblings, who are humanoid monsters, cannot completely control the ‘Deep Sea Country’.

In particular, the dungeon owner, the monsters in the dungeon, and the environment were completely separate entities.

The greater the master’s ability, the greater the authority, but I have never heard of a master who can control a monster’s actions and even regulate its pressure to this extent.

‘I guess it’s hard to call it a monster.’

Then I wondered how I should explain this dungeon.

‘Unless they are evil gods who are treated as monsters, no matter how powerful they are, they cannot create dungeons. They are beings that do not have emotions great enough to create dungeons.’

It was the same for the children of the origin who could not create dungeons.

‘They are just children who can exist anywhere, but they don’t have the ability to create dungeons. Those who are almost incapable of physical events and can’t even think properly would be able to create such a huge game board.’

As expected, Geo was an out-of-the-ordinary being.

“… … .”

A meteor cloud with a scratchy neck looked around.

“… It’s just like the picture.”

A wide open street and buildings of various shapes lined up on both sides. Although it didn’t seem like they were limited to a single color, the colorless objects gathered together to create a gray world.

“The fog was so thick that I didn’t notice it when I looked through the frame.”

It wasn’t bad enough to block my vision, but if it got any worse, I could have major issues with my vision. I sniffed around, but there wasn’t any smoke that you usually get in the city.

“Just steam…?”

Maybe it was because of my mood, but it felt like I could feel the phytoncide unique to the forest.

‘Is it because Geo lives in the forest?’

I wasn’t sure.

‘It’s ironic anyway.’

It looks like a definite city, but the scent coming from the fog reminds me of a forest. It was a harmony that didn’t feel out of place at all, and instead, it felt uncomfortable.

“… Are there no monsters?”

Thump… .

Yoo Seong-un moved his feet slowly.

“I thought there would at least be a monster to escort me in here.”

Besides, basically, there are monsters in a dungeon.

Even though there may not be any traps or additional elements, monsters that rush to kill intruding humans are an essential part of the dungeon.

‘Well, it would be difficult to compare the dungeons Geo drew with normal dungeons.’

The fact that the monster invited Yoo Seong-un himself in the first place was far from ‘normal.’

“Aren’t there any other rules…?”

Some scholars have defined dungeons as monsters, and gardener Yoo Seong-un agrees with this to some extent. Just as there are no monsters without rules, the same should be said of dungeons.

“I’m sure you all have different tastes.”

Virtual dungeons. Entry dungeons. Villa dungeons. All of these guys swallowed humans under certain conditions.

In addition to virtual dungeons that mainly have specific conditions, there were also examples of entry dungeons that had the condition that ‘you must find the entrance’ and villa dungeons that had the condition that ‘you must be in the location where the villa is located’.

‘Other detailed conditions vary from dungeon to dungeon.’

So, if this had the form of a dungeon, there would definitely be such conditions and preferences.

“… … .”

Well, the dungeon owner did have his own tastes.

‘Affirm good and deny evil.’

If that’s a rule, then you could call it a rule.

“… Then what happens when a bad guy comes in?”

For a moment, I thought of the black dot that seemed to have become completely one with the picture, presumably Hunter Park Eun-gyeom.

Yoo Seong-un seemed to have a rough idea of ​​how this ‘city of emptiness’ would deny the wicked.

‘… Are you denying that I am a living human being?’

By making humans into pictures.

“It’s creepy.”

I found myself whistling without realizing it. It was an attempt to relieve the chills by doing something light.

‘It is certain that those who belong to the source will form and break ties.’

Humanoid monsters with advanced thinking abilities and the ability to feel intense emotions might be a little different, but for most beings without such abilities, the rules were simple and clear.

As a gardener, Yoo Seong-un was able to appreciate the appearance of such a source with satisfaction.

‘If I hadn’t met Geo, when would I have encountered a dungeon like this again?’

If you didn’t enjoy the thrill, you weren’t worthy of gardening.

“… … .”

However, even such a gardener felt his life was in danger.

“… Oh, no.”

Yoo Seong-un turned around.

“I guess I’m not the only one.”

“… … .”

“Should we call this an invisible man…?”

What caught his eye was a black suit standing in the form of an adult male.

Long limbs that matched his body type, which was neither too thick nor too thin. The detailed shape of the suit was a little different from what Geo was wearing, and the shoes he was wearing were the same.

However, Yoo Seong-woon felt a sense of awkwardness at the sight of the man carrying a backpack in his suit.

“… He really does look a bit like Geo.”

“… … .”

The empty suit bowed with a noble gesture. Yoo Seong-woon could sense the gratitude in the gesture, and for a moment he pondered over what part he was grateful for.

‘Is it because he looks like Geo?’

They were guys who were full of true love and respect for their master.

“Is… communication possible? I’ve never met a monster with which I could communicate peacefully, other than Geo, so I’m not sure, but is it possible to have a conversation?”

“… … .”

The man in the black suit took a pose as if he was resting his chin on his hand, and then formed a triangle with his arms.

“… So it could be true and it could not be true. Is that correct?”

“… … .”

“Yeah, that’s right. I feel like I’m going through twenty questions.”

If it was a monster in a normal dungeon, I wouldn’t have even thought about trying to communicate with it, but this was a very abnormal dungeon. Yoo Seong-un tried to communicate with the black suit with as open an mind as possible.

“Why not? Are you suddenly going to rush at me?”

“… … .”

“That’s not it. If not… Are you saying that another entity other than you could attack?”

“… … .”

“Oh, that’s good to hear. So are there a lot of those aggressive entities?”

This time, the suit drew a circle with its arms and answered ‘yes’.

Perhaps because his fingers were not visible, he bent his arms high above his head as if he were making a crude heart sign. Seeing this, Yoo Seong-un silently handed over the gloves he had in his hands to him.

“Could you please put this on and mark it with your finger?”

“… … .”

The black suit made an X with his arms, meaning ‘no.’

“…ah.”

In his eyes, Yoo Seong-un could tell that this wasn’t something transparent inside, but rather just a living, moving black suit itself.

As if to show the evidence, the man in the black suit tapped the glove on Yoo Seong-un’s hand with the sleeve of his clothes. If he had a real hand, it would not be visible.

‘Then how do I explain the transparent hand I felt?’

It was a bit rude to say that to someone in such a nice suit, but honestly, it gave me goosebumps.

Yoo Seong-un continued speaking, trying hard not to reveal his true feelings.

“I see, excuse me.”

“… … .”

“I’m glad you don’t mind.”

“… … .”

“Then, are there any other non-aggressive entities besides you? Suits that can communicate peacefully with me like this?”

“… … .”

“I see… That’s fortunate.”

Some individuals seemed aggressive, while others seemed peaceful.

‘… Let’s think about how that’s possible later.’

It was obvious that the conclusion would be, ‘It’ll work out because it’s Geo.’ Through repeated learning up until now, Yoo Seong-un had already anticipated the end of his agony.

He put his gloves back on and looked around.

“… … .”

Before I knew it, the number of black suits had increased to three.

“… Are those two suits non-aggressive entities to me?”

“… … .”

“Oh, no. But they’re not attacking right now. Are they the type that aim for a time-lag attack?”

“… … .”

“Triangle… Yes, thank you for your kind reply.”

It seemed like they were going to attack in some way.

‘It’s dangerous.’

Perhaps the suit that kindly reached out from the ‘Empty City’ frame was this guy in front of me, or a similar peaceful entity.

But, it seemed that the number of black suits was gradually increasing, making it difficult to rely on them.

‘The longer you stay in the dungeon, the more black suits you wear.’

Although the speed was quite slow, Yoo Seong-un gradually felt a strange restlessness.

“… … .”

“… … .”

Everyone in black suits was staring at the meteor cloud.

‘… It’s not just those two suits that are out in India.’

A gaze that had not been felt before was felt even inside the building.

I felt it in the alleys, and I felt gazes from cars rolling down roads where there had been nothing just a moment ago.

Yoo Seong-un instinctively felt it.

‘These are not guys I can deal with by fighting with my skills.’

It felt like a child of the root, a situation that could not be resolved through simple killing, and that reconciliation had to be achieved only in accordance with the opponent’s rules and habits.

But he had no idea how much these would grow, or what effect they would have on Yoo Seong-un at that time. And that ‘not knowing’ aroused fear in Yoo Seong-un, who had a calm personality.

‘… the fear of the unknown is quite dangerous when dealing with the source… .’

As a gardener, I could tell.

‘This is a dungeon, but it’s also not.’

I wonder if the ability of a hunter that the source kindly gives to anyone can actually have any effect. Even such a basic thing felt like a kind of ‘garden’ where I couldn’t guarantee my life or death.

And you shouldn’t enter someone else’s garden unless you are the owner.

“…this….”

I was thinking that I should run away before it got any worse.

“Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”

“… … .”

“Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”

“…Uh, Geo.”

Yoo Seong-un really almost ran away.

‘He looks even scarier from here.’

My heart, which had almost fallen, began to pound strongly at the appearance of the black cloak.

Since he was doing something against Geo’s will, he wanted to resolve it without seeing him if possible. Unfortunately, the situation has gotten this bad because he failed to rob an empty house, so Yoo Seong-woon quickly gave up.

“Please save me.”

He tried a custom deal.

“I’ll bring you some seedlings next time.”

“Nobody kills Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”

“That’s really solid.”

What could be safer in a dungeon than the protection of the dungeon master?