The Artist Who Paints Dungeon - Chapter 77



Only Noblemtl

Episode 77

“We ate rice cooked with various vegetables from the garden and grilled fish with a spicy sauce,” Geo said.

“Ghost story?”

“Kururuk.”

“It wasn’t bad.”

Honey was worried about Geo’s rumor about the ‘Black Cloak’, but Geo was okay with it. It was partly because of his originally calm personality, but it wasn’t the only reason.

“If you think of me as a ghost story, you’ll probably be less worried about being attacked.”

This was the reason why Geo tolerated the collector’s non-manipulative works.

“I’ve come to realize after going back to Earth a few times that even if the Earth were turned upside down and the environment was reorganized worldwide, a haunted portrait is still a rare thing. It’s not a joke. It’s not strange if you take it to a laboratory and torture it.”

He considered himself to be a ‘slightly unusual case of an awakened person’.

It couldn’t be said to be completely wrong since he was directly connected to the source, unlike regular hunters who access the source through the system, but the problem was that the people of the world wouldn’t see it that way.

“I feel like in the 31 years that South Korea has not seen, it has gotten even closer to hell. A boneless chicken like me will fall into the abyss without lasting even a day.”

“Crunch?”

“Yeah, I’m not chicken, but that’s not what Dad’s argument is about. The problem is that a weakling like me will soon be dragged into a lab full of mad scientists and experimented on.”

In that sense, the ‘Black Cloak Ghost Story’ wasn’t bad.

“At least it won’t look easy. There’s a lot of room for imagination.”

Not only did the Black Cloak seem to have significantly higher fighting power than the main character, Geo, but his name itself was also quite cool. There was something about nicknames like this that filled a man’s romanticism.

“First of all, if you call it a ghost story, it’s something that can be observed but not studied… It feels like an intangible smoke. I don’t know what it would be like in today’s harsh world, but I think the probability of being attacked by a dog or cow would be lower.”

“Kku, kkuruk… .”

“As expected, Mr. Yoo Seong-un. You are truly an all-rounder, suggesting this path after recognizing my weaknesses. You are the kind of person I should emulate. I should become closer to you by giving you food and snacks. And then I will kidnap you someday.”

Geo, who had been nonchalant about saying something that would make Yoo Seong-un faint if he heard it, continued talking while giving Dana some fish meat that was splitting apart softly, not a freshly made castella.

“So, the emergence of horror stories about the Black Cloak is actually a welcome thing. Should we call it a bluff for survival?”

It wasn’t that I introduced myself as ‘I am a portrait’ to the hunters I met in ‘The Land of the Deep Sea’.

“At first, I couldn’t bring myself to introduce myself by my real name, so I used a portrait instead, and it worked well.”

“Curr… .”

“To survive in this crazy world, I too will have to get involved in these horror stories.”

“Huh?”

“I think I need to think a little more about how to help….”

It would be nice if it lived up to the reputation of being a haunted portrait.

“Don’t portraits of ghosts often hang in schools?”

“…? dream…?”

“Well, I guess you don’t know much about Earth’s culture. Or maybe it’s because I was a teacher and I can only think about school.”

“Ku, kukukukuku.”

“Oh, is there anything you can advise me on?”

The teddy bear nodded. In the world he originally came from, there were few school-related ghost stories because public education was not active, but there were a few stories about ghost stories related to the mansion.

“It’s a mansion….”

Geo listened with interest and nodded.

“Surely, subjects like portraits hanging in abandoned mansions are also popular as ghost stories. I understand what you’re saying.”

“Kyuuu.”

“Yes, each piece of information like this will later help me be reborn as a great ghost story. The ‘Black Cloak’ that is known to the world right now is lacking in many ways to be called a ghost story….”

Geo nodded.

“If we keep trying like this without giving up, one day we will be able to create a great ghost story that will instill fear in people.”

“dream…?”

“That’s how we can make a living, Father. People these days are so scary that without some kind of bravado, it’s hard to survive in that niche.”

It didn’t seem like something Geo, who was a harmless portrait, should say, but the Sun God said he understood and let it go anyway. He knew that he was not a great man who would actually harm humans, even though he only said things like that.

Anyway, Geo promised to solidify the concept as a ghost story.

“I’m glad that the first person I met was the leader of the Bisabal guild.”

Even though I still refuse to talk to him because just seeing his mouth talking like a machine gun makes me feel so discouraged, Bisabal was a good person.

The fact that he treated Geo, the portrait of a ghost, as a person proves his noble character.

“… … .”

“What’s wrong, honey?”

“Kung.”

Honey thought, ‘That might be a matter of taste rather than personality,’ but she didn’t say it out loud. She knew that although Bisabal was not a harmless person, he was a person who was extremely devoted to works of art.

If nothing else, the Visaval had become extremely harmless to his collection. That much was true.

“Kururu, kkukkung.”

“You wanted to eat fish too. Should I spread it on you?”

“Gurrrrrrrr.”

“Cute guy.”

“Geo said, cutting off a thick piece of flesh that was steaming hot.

“Anyway, I plan to proceed with the plan I mentioned soon. I’m tired of wandering around the ‘Deep Sea Country’ without any results and creating silly ghost stories.”

“Muuuung.”

“Can you eat thorns? Here, here. Eat carefully.”

Geo continued, giving Dana a fish bone.

“Do you have anyone to accompany you?”

“Kururuk.”

“There’s no one else like you, Honey. Do you know that Daddy loves you so much?”

“Kkuk.”

Honey had no intention of showing Geo, who was soft and fluffy, to the world alone.

“honey…!”

“Gurr.”

Geo, who was moved by the warm heart of the son he gave birth to, covered his mouth to show the depth of his emotions, and the Sun God decided to eat the fish in silence. Dana was already not interested.

I keep saying this, but anyway, they were a good family.

* * *

And Geo wasn’t the only one planning something for their meeting.

Coincidentally enough, the mermaids had also prepared themselves.

“Hey, piglet.”

“What is it?”

“Where did the youngest go?”

“Not in the garden?”

“I can’t see it.”

“Are you crazy?”

Chaisol was kidnapped.

“No, he didn’t even get to rest….”

Normally, the prospective priests who had completed the initiation ceremony would have entered the dormitory temple, but due to the recent ‘Temple of the Deep Sea’ incident, they had a short break. In short, they were kidnapped while at home.

“Is it important to rest now?”

“That’s right.”

This news was immediately relayed to Yoo Seong-un, who was in the office of the Collectors’ Guild.

“Huh? Kidnapping?”

“yes.”

“Why…? Who? Where, how…?”

“We don’t know what their intentions are either….”

Cha Eun-hyeok, the eldest son of the Cha family, offered a bungeoppang (fish-shaped bread) as a bribe and said:

“There was sea water sprinkled on the garden.”

“If you say it like that, anyone who hears it will know that the culprit is a mermaid. But what is this fish-shaped bread?”

“I see, right?”

“You don’t have to give me any more bungeoppang. Stop it, it’s overflowing.”

“Please give some to Mr. Geo too.”

“uh….”

“I received an official document from Cha Ara and looked at it together.”

Cha Eun-hyeok continued speaking with a blank expression.

“I heard that Sergio has a 1:1 rule. If you receive a favor from someone, respond with a favor, and if you receive a rude response, respond with a rude response.”

“…so….”

Yoo Seong-un asked seriously.

“Should I offer you a fish-shaped bread and ask you to save my little brother?”

“… I thought that there would be a higher chance of Isul-i returning alive than if I offered nothing… I thought that I would feel better if I did this even if Sergio didn’t actually step forward.”

“It’s almost like offering a sacrifice to a god. And it’s a bungeoppang.”

“I have nothing to say.”

“No, Geo really likes bungeoppang. Sometimes he gives me something a bit scary as a gift, that’s why…”

In today’s world where religion is popular, many people visit temples and make small offerings. Even if nothing comes in return, it makes them feel better.

“I know it’s a bit odd to say this, but Geo isn’t a proper god. He’s just something with the characteristics of a god. Unlike traditional gods who sometimes show mercy to their followers, there’s a high chance that he won’t live up to your expectations.”

“That doesn’t matter. I brought it as a gift.”

“I’ll tell you first… .”

Yes, Geo had rules.

‘I wonder if I can get hired as a fish-shaped bread seller.’

When he thought about the reaction he had shown once, Geo knew that he was bound by rules. Even so, when he cooked and shared food, he tried to find a ‘price’ from Yoo Seong-un.

Cha Eun-hyeok said.

“It doesn’t matter if it wasn’t for Sergio and the Black Cloak. But if the seawater we found really is the trace of a mermaid from the ‘Deep Sea Country’… ”

“okay.”

“Isn’t this an interesting story even from the perspective of a large guild like a collector?”

Cha Eun-hyeok desperately tried to persuade Yoo Seong-woon with his characteristically blunt face.

“No monster from the ‘Deep Sea Kingdom’ has ever come out of the entrance. I think this could be a sign, and I could use this to find out more information. So… .”

“Calm down, Eunhyuk Cha.”

Yoo Seong-un consoled the young man.

“Even without saying that, I was planning on going to rescue Chaisol. The ‘Deep Sea Country’ is a dungeon that has a lot to do with me, and Black Cloak also seems to be interested in it… I was planning on visiting it soon.”

“… … .”

“I think you can think of it as going a little earlier.”

“…thank you.”

“Okay, then… .”

Yoo Seong-un, whose voice was trailing off, looked back at Cha Ara, who was pale and exhausted.

“Would you like to come with me, Hunter Chaara?”

“… Um, um… Can I come with you? I’m only an F-class…”

“I can take you as long as you sign a contract stating that you are prepared to die.”

“… I’m shameless, but I’m asking you to do something.”

Bringing an F-class hunter into a B-class or higher dungeon, unless it was intended to be used as a meat shield, was a huge burden to other hunters. In effect, they ended up becoming manpower to protect the F-class hunter.

So this was Yoo Seong-un’s consideration. Even though he knew that it would be of no use to Cha Ara if she went anyway, he still asked her to accompany him.

“sorry.”

“It’s a family matter, so I understand how you feel. You don’t have to feel sorry.”

Fortunately, the Collector’s Guild had a high degree of freedom for its member hunters, so no one said anything even if Yoo Seong-un was away for a while.

It’s just that Yoo Seong-un has more days to work overtime. And for the sake of peace on Geo and Earth, Yoo Seong-un endured it.

“I want to go too, but I guess it would be a bit too much??”

“What are you talking about when your physical abilities are at the F-class level? Please stay.”

“It’s a pity.”

The support itself was plentiful, although the visa was used in a different sense.

“… … .”

“…? Why is Priest Kang Seo-dam here?”

“The Collector’s Guild Leader has requested assistance from our temple.”

“They are providing better support than I expected.”

“Even if it wasn’t a request, I should have stepped forward. Brother Chaisol is my student and I have to take responsibility for him.”

Kang Seo-dam said with a tired face.

“Even if I am not taking formal classes yet because of the accident, that fact remains.”

“Wow, that’s trustworthy.”

“Rather than that… .”

Kang Seo-dam saw ‘Sergio’ gathered in front of the port.

“… Sergio Hunter… was he going with you too?”

“Because I have a connection with student Chaisol. In the ‘Temple of the Deep Sea,’ thanks to the energetic student Chaisol, many people have received help mentally. This is a way to repay the burden she has eased for me as a doctor and a believer.”

“aha….”

“The parents of student Chaisol also gave us bungeoppang (fish-shaped bread).”

“Bungeoppang.”

Kang Seodam also received an official document from the Collector’s Guild regarding the ‘Black Cloak’. He also knew that his rule was simply ‘1:1’, so he was able to quickly understand Geo’s participation this time with the word ‘compensation’.

But I was also worried.

‘This part could be exploited by humans.’

It may sound nice, but if we were not careful, many humans could end up forcing a price on ‘Black Cloak’.

‘And if this person gets angry… then… .’

Kang Seo-dam, who was worried about future disasters, nodded.

“I understand. Thank you for your company.”

“There’s nothing to be thankful for. I’m just doing what I can.”

“I see. Where is the yellow bird I saw last time?”

“Here it is.”

Just like in the previous ‘Temple of the Deep Sea’, Honey’s face peeked out from under Geo’s hood, who was wearing a black cloak. Honey looked closely at Kang Seo-dam, who felt the strong energy of the sun.

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … ?”

When Kang Seo-dam started to express her doubts, Yoo Seong-woon noticed something and stopped Honey.

“No, honey, I’m not eating it.”

“…Are you eating?”

Geo shook his head.

“I don’t eat.”

“But just now, Mr. Yoo Seong-un… .”

“Why would you eat unseasoned meat when the food I make for you will be more delicious?”

“… … .”

“Honey is a gourmet, she doesn’t eat just anything.”

Kur.

A cries of affirmation were heard from inside the hood.

“…okay.”

I didn’t feel particularly reassured.

‘You were looking at me with such sparkling eyes.’

Kang Seo-dam felt even creepier as he recalled Honey’s greedy gaze.

“… … .”

“Then shall we go?”

“…yes.”

In this way, the rescue team for Chae Sol was formed, led by the A-class Yoo Seong-un, Kang Seo-dam, Cha A-ra, and Sergio.

Actually, this portrait doesn’t need anyone’s help… .

‘… Helping Geo with his social life… .’

Yoo Seong-un thought it was a bit funny.

“… … .”

Sarcasm is correct.

The painter who draws dungeons