The Artist Who Paints Dungeon - Chapter 76



Only Noblemtl

Episode 76

“That’s why.”

Leaning against the wall of the gallery, Yoo Seong-un asked Geo.

“Is it because you are a painter that you turn people into paint?”

“… … .”

“If it’s a difficult question, you don’t have to answer.”

As a former research team leader, Yoo Seong-un had a deep connection with the Hunter Association. As such, there was a lot of information he could find out, including the recent rumors of Geo being seen in the ‘Deep Sea Country’.

“You never said you were an artist, so I was just curious.”

Witnesses said ‘Black Cloak’ was a portrait and a painter.

“It’s also amazing that living creatures are made with paint.”

“It wasn’t as great an act as you thought.”

Geo answered in his usual, mechanical, low voice.

“To answer your question, I am just an ordinary person whose hobby is drawing. I am not qualified to be called a painter.”

“After all, an artist is someone who draws pictures, as you said. Well, to be exact, that’s a job… but isn’t it something similar?”

“Then it’s okay to think that way.”

Unlike when he stepped outside the frame of ‘Portrait of Geo’ and imitated human behavior, Geo’s voice in the portrait was strangely businesslike. Geo continued speaking in an inert voice that showed no emotion at all.

“I made them out of paint simply because I could draw them beyond the frame. However, I judged that if I were to draw existing life forms with ordinary paint, it would be closer to creation than movement, so I had no choice but to make them out of paint.”

“… Yeah, that’s… .”

Yoo Seong-un recalled the conversation he had previously had with ‘Portrait of Geo’.

“Isn’t it because from your perspective the painting is not you but us?”

“I have not forgotten that you are not ordinary paintings or paints, but living beings with egos, but I have been thinking about how I can help them, and I have chosen this method. Do you think it will be helpful?”

“Thanks to that, the survival rate has increased.”

With the frame between them, Geo and humans see each other as paintings in Geo’s world and in the human world. So Geo, as a portraitist and a painter, seemed to be able to exert arbitrary influence through his paintings.

“Just, what should I say… .”

Yoo Seong-un hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“That’s because everyone is scared.”

“Are you scared?”

“You don’t look friendly.”

“Yes.”

“It’s not common to be painted alive.”

It wasn’t just something that was ‘uncommon’, it was something that was hard to experience even once in a lifetime. The hunters were grateful for the ‘Black Cloak’s’ unknown kindness, but they were also afraid of him.

“Anyway, as long as you’re not treating us like mere paint, that’s fine.”

“I didn’t think of it that way.”

“Yeah, you just wanted to help in this way.”

That’s what makes it so inhuman.

‘From a human’s perspective, the favor bestowed by the Source Being does not necessarily feel like favor.’

If it’s pure, it’s a pure way of thinking.

It’s like a child who doesn’t understand dog physiology feeding chocolate to a cute puppy. He may have wanted to share a sweet treat, but the puppy ended up eating poison.

‘Perhaps it’s because he himself is a portrait artist, but he has no qualms about turning people into paint. The only good thing is that people seem to think it’s a favor… .’

That’s probably why there are hunters who feel awe.

“…uh….”

Yoo Seong-woon said after thinking for a moment.

“Are you still going to the ‘Land of the Deep Sea’ these days?”

“I went to see if I could meet Isser, but I only encountered humans, not mermaids.”

“oh my.”

Perhaps Isser, that sly mermaid, is avoiding Geo. I’m not sure if she needs time to gather her thoughts or if she’s hatching another plan.

“Anyway… thank you for helping people.”

“No, you don’t need to thank me. I would rather apologize because I think I surprised them. Was my behavior rude?”

“It’s not that I’m being rude or anything, it’s just that there are a lot of people who are scared.”

In fact, it may not be to the extent of being called ‘a little’, but it still doesn’t change the fact that Geo showed mercy and saved the humans. The Hunters seemed to know that it was a favor, so this was fine.

‘If the existence of the Black Cloak becomes too familiar to the Hunters, there will be problems, but for now, it is not a situation where a major incident will occur.’

If possible, I would like to thoroughly distinguish between the affectionate and kind hunter ‘Sergio’ and the mysterious ghost ‘Black Cloak’, but it seemed like Sergio himself had no intention of doing so, so it was a bit difficult for me as a greedy human.

Does Geo want to be intimate with other people even while in his ‘black cloak’ state?

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t help people, just in case you misunderstand. I’m not saying you shouldn’t help people. It’s better for them to be a little surprised than to die. I came here because I was curious about how much you know, so don’t be too offended.”

“I’m not hurt.”

“Well then, that’s good. But… .”

Yoo Seong-un trailed off.

“I have a question.”

The reason he visited the gallery today was not simply to tell the story of the ‘Black Cloak’ ghost story.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“If it’s a question I can answer, I’ll try to answer it.”

“Then, you know, by what criteria can you adjust your level?”

It was a question that arose based on eyewitness accounts heard here and there and a small number of witnesses such as Yoo Seong-un and the Cha family. The ‘Black Cloak’ in the rumor and ‘Geo’ when he was human were so different in status that they could not be considered the same being.

A portrait painted in black ink with no eyes was returned.

“What does that mean?”

“uh….”

Actually, Geo doesn’t know how high his own rank is.

‘I guess it was my mistake to bring up the word ‘class’ since he thinks of himself as a normal human being. He’s the guy who explained that people being afraid of him was just a resolution issue… .’

After gathering his thoughts for a moment, Yoo Seong-un opened his mouth.

“… Of course, the ghost story of the Black Cloak and the person called Geo are the same person, but even though they are the same being, there are times when they show different judgments or speech patterns. When you were working as ‘Sergio’… I don’t think you even had the idea of ​​turning people into paint.”

This is the part that’s problematic.

“Even though you’re the same Geo, I think your way of thinking changes depending on your status.”

“… … .”

“Maybe I was mistaken. If I was being rude, I apologize.”

After a moment the portrait answered.

“I think what Mr. Yoo Seong-un said is right. I often have different thoughts and tones.”

“ah.”

“I try to live as uprightly and politely as possible, but when I am, as you say, ‘black cloaked,’ I make arrogant and rude judgments.”

The portrait also seems to have been aware of this part.

“But I have no intention of harming anyone. I will not harm you, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“I understand what you mean.”

Yoo Seong-un nodded.

‘But human thinking and the original thinking cannot be the same.’

Even if they are the same being, there may be differences in their way of thinking depending on their status.

‘Geo said it was an arrogant and rude judgment, but in reality, it was probably a natural behavior for this guy. If you think about the dignity that Geo’s portrait holds, it’s not strange.’

It was natural for humans to look down on ants.

‘It’s amazing that he’s even trying to bend down and meet my gaze in this way. It must be possible because Geo has a high level of understanding of humans.’

Of course, even if Geo ‘attempts’, he won’t be able to become completely human, but it seemed meaningful that he was chastising himself for his ‘arrogant and rude judgment’.

“… … .”

A shiver ran down my spine.

“Do you have any further questions?”

“Huh? No, just….”

Every time I feel that Geo is not human, I get goosebumps.

“…I thought you were really amazing.”

Yoo Seong-un still doesn’t know ‘what’ Geo is.

Except that this is just a portrait.

* * *

“Ssuhhhh… .”

“?”

“Tsuhhhhhhhhhh… .”

“Yeah.”

Honey tilted her head at the sight of Geo sucking Dana’s belly.

“Crunch?”

“I think I’ll survive.”

“Huh?”

“It was healing.”

There is no hobby that improves the quality of life as much as sucking cat pears.

“Of course, Dana is neither soft nor warm….”

“Krrrr.”

“I’m still a cat. Thank you for stepping on me, Master.”

Two cotton bats pushing against your face couldn’t be more adorable.

The teddy bear sun god who was looking at the sight looked a little disturbed, but neither Geo, Honey, nor Dana were affected at all. Geo asked seriously in the place where the whole family was gathered together.

“So, what should I do to see Isser’s face?”

The subject was Isser’s deviation.

“For some reason, he doesn’t come to see me. I’m sure he doesn’t know I’m here, so what’s going on?”

“Kkuu… .”

The teddy bear furrowed its brow as if to say, “Don’t you know that?” and Geo nodded.

“I know that too. I think it’s similar to how a dog that has been hit by an accident avoids its owner’s eyes. Humans have a bad instinct to avoid things when they do something wrong and are likely to get in trouble.”

“dream….”

The sun god wondered whether it was right to call Isser, a mermaid, a human, and whether it could be compared to the avoidance of a puppy or a child. It didn’t seem like Isser was avoiding Geo because she was afraid of getting scolded.

The form is clearly ‘Giovanni’, but strangely enough, there is a strange sense of alienation and an unidentifiable, lofty status within it. In addition, the deity of the sun, which cannot be helped but be hated, has been added, making it an object that is difficult for mermaids to encounter in many ways.

But Geo was a young man of conviction. He was steadfast.

“When I was little, I would draw maps on the blanket and secretly wash my clothes by hand all night long, keeping an eye on my grandmother. I knew it was a natural phenomenon for a child, but I felt guilty and ashamed so I didn’t tell anyone.”

“dream…?”

“But I got caught in the end. Even if the child tried to wash the clothes by hand, how good would it be? It would get soaked in water and wouldn’t dry overnight. That’s why no matter how much Isser tries to avoid me, the child won’t be able to escape me.”

“Kuuu…?”

The teddy bear expressed its doubts, saying, ‘Is that really the right metaphor right now?’, and Geo let out a small sigh.

“It is true that Isser chose a path too cruel to be justified by such a simple metaphor….”

“Kuk kuk, kuk.”

“In my memory, Isser was just a young student. Now, it doesn’t seem real to call him a terrorist or anything.”

It was inevitable that Giovanni would feel nervous just from the fact that he had been implicated in the terrorist incident, but more than that, he remembered his young disciple. It didn’t feel real.

Even if you were to suddenly hear, “Your precious little student has been terrorizing religious facilities since your death,” the only reaction you would get would be, “Huh? Oh? I see?”

“But that is why we must catch Isser… no, meet him.”

“Crunch?”

Honey looked at me with suspicion, as if to say, ‘Didn’t you just say you were going to catch me?’ Of course, Geo ignored me, and Dana yawned loudly.

“How can I get Isser to come see me? I couldn’t help but worry.”

“dream….”

“The ‘Deep Sea Country’ is not a large mart. You can’t turn on the Mia broadcast, and you can’t call Isser, who is a fully grown adult, Mia. She’s like this cute mermaid who knows where the exit is but doesn’t come looking for it… .”

Geo blinked a couple of times at his disciple who had become a coward and was not even showing his face. He then continued.

“Let me tell you in advance, I don’t have no plans at all.”

“Kung?”

“If you cause a huge accident in the ‘deep sea country’ that can be called the home of those children, they will show you their faces.”

“Kururuk?”

“If things go well, I think we can definitely take the initiative. So, what is the plan…?”

The bird who heard Geo’s story tilted its head as if to say, “Is that okay?”, the cat flipped over as if it wasn’t interested, and the teddy bear made a subtle expression as if to say, “Are you sure that’s true?”

At that sight, Geo saw the sun god.

“What’s wrong?”

“…dream….”

The teddy bear nodded as if to say, “Is that so?” at Geo’s calm appearance. It wasn’t that he made a subtle expression because he knew what was going on, but rather, he thought, “If Geo is okay, then that’s what it must be.”

“Kuu, kukukukuku.”

“Thank you for your support.”

It was truly the scene of a warm family meeting.

The painter who draws dungeons