The Artist Who Paints Dungeon - Chapter 133



Only Noblemtl

Episode 133

By the way, ‘not associating with the physically and mentally weak’ was Argio’s opinion.

“I’m a picky eater.”

“You are saying some pretty evil things.”

“If possible, it’s better to be a healthy person.”

Argio took off his hood and continued speaking.

“That kind of person is also fun to watch when he’s angry.”

“… … .”

“Hey, gentleman. What’s the problem now?”

“… Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Is it because I’m so handsome? I understand, it’s common.”

“Why am I so unlucky…?”

“What a fun friend to tease.”

“no….”

Joo-hyun asked, frowning subtly as if on guard while looking around.

“Aren’t you angry that I’m acting so arrogant?”

“It’ll be expensive to see me angry, but are you sure you can afford it?”

“It’s not that I want to see you angry, it’s just… I’m wondering if you’re not annoyed.”

Whether the opponent’s identity was a monster or an evil being, there may not be any real meaning in distinguishing between them, but in any case, he would not leave an arrogant human alone. This was because monsters who could think fundamentally had high pride.

On the other hand, even though he was aware that he was going out of his way, Black Cloak did not show any discomfort. Rather, he seemed to enjoy that sight.

“Why should I be angry?”

“Because you’re arrogant?”

“Then I guess I’ll be the first to die. There’s no one more arrogant than me.”

“That… I don’t really know the criteria for that.”

“so do i.”

The evil spirit laughed, his golden eyes gleaming.

“I’m just trying to be careful not to think about things that will cause headaches.”

“You really live so coolly.”

“In a world with so many things to enjoy, why must it always be difficult?”

“Ah… that kind of thing… .”

He had the appearance of a considerable hedonist.

“… … .”

Rather, the colors were more splendid than I had imagined. Joo-Hyeon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

‘It’s a color I could never have imagined when I was covered in a dull black cloak.’

Bright red hair and cold golden eyes.

“… What a nice color.”

“Do you like this color the best?”

“yes?”

“It seems like you like provocative and honest people.”

“I’ve never really thought about that….”

“So, today I will try to be Argio, especially to suit your taste.”

“… Hmm? Huh?”

Joo-hyun, who was sitting on the sofa without realizing it, asked.

“Is that what you call your current appearance ‘Argio’?”

“yes.”

“Then… there are other appearances too?”

“The shape is the same, only the color is different.”

“It’s not like I’m a chameleon.”

“Chameleons, you could say they’re my distant cousins.”

“Are you kidding…?”

“I guess the ability to change this way and that depending on the situation is similar.”

Soon his color changed to a brilliant platinum, as if bathed in sunlight.

“Isn’t that so?”

“… … .”

What is this?

“… Split personality… Is that the same thing?”

“It’s not that our personalities are different.”

“The way you speak and your facial expressions are so different, but aren’t they different personalities?”

“It literally just changes color.”

“… Oh, I see.”

I kind of understand it.

‘It feels like changing clothes.’

Changing clothes doesn’t change the person inside, so from God’s perspective, it could be said to be a similar game. Certainly, we shouldn’t judge mystical beings by human standards.

Joohyun nodded.

“I know what you mean.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“… But I, uh, I feel more comfortable with the red one.”

“Is that so?”

The black cloak, which had suddenly changed into a splendid impression as if it were burning fire, introduced itself.

“I am Argio. If you promise to be my friend, I will tell you my other name. I promise on the honor of my friends that it will not harm you.”

“…that….”

There were still some parts I didn’t understand.

“Why do you need friends or pen pals in the first place?”

“I’m shy.”

“Have you come here after killing all the timid people in the world?”

“It’s so hard to make friends.”

“Was it easy for me?”

Strictly speaking, it was natural that Joo-hyun’s level of difficulty was higher because he had been betrayed by the world and was extremely sensitive. It would have been easier to make friends with anyone passing by, but it was absurd.

Then Argio said,

“Aren’t you afraid of me?”

“… … .”

“Everyone is busy giving me strange looks.”

“… Oh, I see.”

That was definitely the case.

‘Most people were probably scared or in awe.’

The status of the Black Cloak in Korea right now is exactly like that. He is famous enough that even children know him, but he is actually quite dangerous, and he is strangely kind, so you don’t feel a sense of rejection, but you can’t help but feel fear…

‘That’s a real horror story.’

Urban legends and such.

Perhaps, if Joo-hyun had encountered him in a normal situation, he would have had a similar reaction. There was nothing good about being entangled with a mysterious person with a suspicious identity like the Black Cloak.

“… … .”

It’s because I don’t have the minimal capacity to act like that right now.

‘… I don’t even know why things got like this in the first place… .’

I was barely able to keep my wits about me, but reality was slowly starting to fade away.

‘It would be much more convincing if I were dreaming.’

So there were also some things that I could respond to more comfortably. I had been half-mad since I made the sign of Sankalut, and because I had done it with the intention of dying from the beginning, I was in a daze afterwards.

In the midst of all this, the black cloak appeared and the invitation to enter the portrait also contributed to the sense of unreality that Joo-hyun was feeling at the moment. He was sensitive and had no energy to react normally.

“… This place… is really nice.”

Joohyun said, looking around.

“It’s much more cozy and peaceful than I imagined.”

“I really like my house too.”

“Is this your home?”

“You can build a home in many places, but it feels like home.”

“I see, since it’s my hometown….”

It was certainly an atmosphere that could be said like that.

“So what should I do?”

“Eat and play.”

“yes?”

“Are you going to work?”

“… I was honest.”

“Then I guess we can eat!”

“Why does it happen like that?”

I don’t even know why I’m so obsessed with food.

‘Come to think of it, I’ve heard that most of Black Cloak’s gifts are snacks… .’

Is it really the ultimate goal to fatten humans?

‘Can you call that an evil spirit?’

I felt strange. I thought it was because he called himself an evil spirit, but the more I talked to him, the less he seemed like an evil spirit to me.

Is this a sophisticated deception? A play to appease a weary human? Or is it the mercy of God, bestowed like a favor on a beggar? Or is it a momentary whim?

“…Can I help you prepare the meal?”

“You can’t leave the kitchen to the guests.”

“Then just wait quietly?”

“Would you like a cup of tea?”

“It’s good, but….”

And then a teddy bear brought tea.

“… A teddy bear?”

“He is my father.”

“father?”

“You’re so soft.”

“why?”

The fruit tea the teddy bear gave me was so damn delicious.

“I’m suddenly not hungry.”

“Oh, no. I made another mistake.”

“Please don’t make mistakes with weak humans.”

“You don’t look that weak.”

“So what kind of mistake was it?”

“Because this is a filling tea.”

“You can’t eat it before a meal?”

“That’s what it is.”

“aha.”

Joohyun nodded.

“Is this a dream?”

“It’s reality.”

“I’m sleepy.”

“You can just sleep.”

A large hand stroked Juhyun’s head.

“Sleep well, wake up, eat, and even have a snack.”

“… … .”

“After you wash up and lie down on the bed, I will sit by your bedside and listen to your screams.”

“…yes.”

“After we talk endlessly, we will be friends. Just talk to me.”

“yes.”

“I wonder what your anger tastes like….”

A voice full of interest and compassion fell over his head, and soon the hand closed Joo-Hyeon’s eyes.

“I can be a good friend.”

I really think that’s true.

“… … .”

“Don’t dream.”

Putting everything down, Joohyun fell asleep.

* * *

“… Hmm, I see.”

Yoo Seong-un nodded.

“So there’s an association researcher sleeping in your house right now?”

“It’s been two days and he still hasn’t woken up.”

“Has it already been two days? I didn’t notice it because I only stopped by at dawn.”

The background in Geo’s portrait changed according to the changes inside it. Morning was morning, evening was evening. Occasionally, a new animal would appear or an unknown flower would bloom.

‘By the way, in that short time, two days have already passed in the picture.’

Perhaps because he had a ‘pen pal’ that he had been calling for all along, Geo seemed very happy about the visit of this guest. In the world of that portrait, the flow of time changes depending on the mood of its owner, Geo.

‘When I visited and ate before and came out of the frame, only about 20 minutes had passed. According to the time inside the portrait, when Geo was happy, it passed quickly, and when he was resting, it passed slowly… .’

It seems like he’s really happy now. Yoo Seong-un smiled his characteristically innocent smile.

“I’m so glad you’ve made a new friend.”

“He and I are not friends yet. I will always give my guests a chance. He may become my friend, but he may not.”

“I’m glad you have such an open mind.”

How great a disaster would it be for an individual to be forced to become friends with the Eye of Origin?

‘You don’t know how merciful it is to at least give us a choice.’

Anyway, Yoo Seong-un had something else he wanted to say.

“That prospective friend was trying to summon an evil spirit?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you stop it?”

“If there was an accident, it would be a huge accident.”

“oh….”

Since it was a prediction from the source, it certainly sounded credible.

“You said you wouldn’t go to work because you were working hard?”

“Yes. I don’t think I did anything wrong, so I wonder why I was punished like that.”

“I think he was probably forced to take a vacation. Well, it’s a common occurrence.”

“Is this kind of coercive action common?”

“Yes, it’s a kind of recommendation. The atmosphere of the association and the collector’s shop is completely different.”

In fact, when compared to the world, the top three guilds in Korea, and among them, the Collectors’ Guild, were somewhat unique. You could say they were one of the few groups that treated humans as humans.

“We get various benefits thanks to the guild leader stepping up and sucking up to the employees, but the association… feels like a den of cards. Because it’s such a huge group, there are places where people just work without any selfish motives, and there are places where blood is spilled over into factional fighting.”

“okay.”

“That new guest was probably part of a team that was quite the battle of wits. The association is so large that each team is assigned a single research building, so there’s a lot of disorganization and things like that happen. It’s because they’re so disconnected.”

There were also many places where they were wiped out right away. This is because there are works that contaminate or infect the mind or body itself. It is impossible for one or two people to die while studying and analyzing such things.

“There are a lot of people working in the association, but the work that the association has to do is much more than that, and it’s also dangerous. There are also various clinical trials being conducted for various projects…”

“Is this a clinical trial rather than a human experiment?”

“They just call it a clinical trial to make the citizens feel better. Well, the team I was in charge of before had a very moderate atmosphere and there were no projects that required human sacrifice. So I don’t know much about it.”

The atmosphere of the research lab varies greatly from team to team.

“So… um… .”

Yoo Seong-un said with a slightly awkward expression.

“I guess it’s not that rare.”

“It’s really scary.”

“Of course, it is a bit surprising that he even tried to summon an evil spirit.”

“Is that so?”

“I don’t usually go that far.”

Yoo Seong-un laughed hollowly.

“But even if it had gone that far, I think it would have been handled somehow. If it had been something at the Seoul branch research institute, the research institute director or the association president would have heard the news of the incident, and then they would have stepped in… Even if they had succeeded in making a deal with the evil spirit, it would have been resolved well.”

Geo sorted it out for him.

“It sounds like everything is being maintained by the grace of the association president.”

“That’s not wrong. That’s exactly the situation on Earth right now.”

It is a situation where order is occasionally maintained by the mercy of a few strong people. It is a peace that will be shattered if even one of them has a bad intention.

“That’s the reason why this country doesn’t collapse even though so many dangerous goods are concentrated in Korea. Korea is particularly well organized, and has many strong hunters.”

“It’s a blessing in disguise.”

“Anyway, I feel bad about that customer. I came to this collection store because I was sick of the atmosphere where people are treated as tools and instruments. It really drives people crazy.”

He had the talent to ruin people with intact limbs and beliefs. What’s even funnier is that he was able to collect various data and it was a great help in development.

Korea’s rapid development was based on countless sacrifices.

“If you want to survive in the Association Research Institute, you need to have the mindset that you will be alone in life anyway.”

Believe in the abilities of others, but do not trust or rely on the people themselves.

“Actually, this isn’t just a story for the association.”

“Is everyone else living like this?”

“The lab is particularly strong, but… well, I guess.”

It is truly a shame, but in this small country, even worse tragedies happen all the time.

“But I don’t usually think of making a deal with an evil spirit. Who instigated me to do so?”

“I don’t know.”

“If the conversation with that guest goes well, would you mind giving me a seat too? I’d like to hear your story.”

“If possible, I will do so.”

“If you feel that there is a danger, I have to investigate that part.”

It was as unsettling as when he had investigated the turbulent sea before the mermaid siblings appeared. Yoo Seong-un let out a short sigh while maintaining his smile.

“…If you have any problems, send me a letter and I’ll come right away.”

He entrusted the poor man, betrayed by everyone in the world, to the Source, not to humans.

As a gardener, I trusted the mercy of the Source more than my fellow humans.