The Artist Who Paints Dungeon - Chapter 80



Only Noblemtl

Episode 80

Geo saw the mermaid princess grow up to be strong and beautiful.

“… … .”

The hair, strangely colored like the deep sea, the eyes that resemble pearls just like in the legend, and even the dress that resembles waves symbolize the sea… but the doctor’s large white gown that she wears over them stands out in particular.

Back then, we often played pranks like that. They were just trivial pranks.

“… … .”

“… Yes, I am human too.”

So Giovanni could be sure.

“Let’s talk.”

In the end, this was a place where humans had no choice but to win.

The Little Mermaid’s ending (0/1)

I was sure of that.

* * *

Aria didn’t blame Giovanni.

He was the only human Aria could think of. He was the most genuine human among all the humans, and at the same time, he was kind and gentle, like something out of a fairy tale. Rare things deserve to be loved.

“I respect you, Giovanni.”

But it’s been too long.

“There was too much going on to be covered up with the shallow word “respect.”

“Now that I think about it, it seems like the little mermaids were causing trouble.”

“I’m not young anymore, unfortunately.”

Aria loved Giovanni, but she hated humans. She loathed and despised them.

“I have learned so much from you. Human emotions, human life, human judgment… .”

“The human biological structure was also something I taught you.”

“That helped a lot, especially after you died.”

“Do you blame me?”

“It’s probably closer to love and stubbornness. That’s a little different from resentment.”

“Mermaids are such creatures.”

“Aren’t we a foolish race that lives our whole lives with memories of the past?”

To such a mermaid, the existence of Giovanni was too cruel.

“Since your death, I have encountered countless people. Some were sacrificial, some were selfish, some even drove their children into the abyss, and some gave their lives for others whose faces they did not even know.”

“Such diversity is what shows human potential.”

“I agree too. That’s why I couldn’t give up on this life. I’ve analyzed, researched, and studied countless people, believing that it would end someday.”

“It must have been a very long time.”

“I’ve been waiting for this day to come for quite some time. I keep venting my anger without meaning to, and sinking the suns of those countless dimensions…”

“I understand.”

“And now it feels like the end has come for me.”

That was the ending of the name Giovanni.

“The fairy tale of the Little Mermaid of Earth ends with the mermaid turning into bubbles and disappearing. Giovanni, is the ending you are drawing like this?”

“Every child is free to imagine what they want to do. Even if the mermaid in the fairy tale turns to bubbles and is forgotten by everyone, in some child’s head, she is living a happy life with a prince.”

“I’m sorry, but there are no more children here. The only ones left here are the princess, who has shed blood red to see the limits of humanity, and her loyal subordinates.”

“Then what kind of ending does the Little Mermaid Princess want?”

“Human suffering. Human despair. Human annihilation. I never thought I would meet you on this planet that came here to sink one more sun… but for now.”

“Did you eat humans, Princess?”

“The seas of all dimensions have already devoured countless human beings. Even at this moment, the seas are taking away the lives of greedy humans and are also devouring innocent humans.”

Giovanni’s noble face appeared. It was the face of a saint who was called the savior of mankind and the son of the one God.

“Isn’t the sea cruel to humans, as you said?”

“But it’s beautiful. It’s like I, who can’t even swim, built a house by the sea and lived there for half my life.”

“Do you still think the sea and mermaids are the same thing?”

“Do you want to hear that you are beautiful?”

“I can’t say no. I wanted to show you how much I’ve grown, my teacher.”

But this may not be what you were hoping for.

“How do you feel when you see the mermaid you raised with your own hands growing up like this?”

“… … .”

There was sorrow in his blue eyes.

“… It’s sad.”

“okay.”

“I’m glad to see you again, and I’m sad to see you go.”

“Why is that?”

“Because you are a mermaid.”

Who was that mourning for?

“I am human.”

“…Giovanni, you always talk about the differences and limitations between humans and mermaids.”

With a smile that made it seem like he would sing only fairy tales his entire life, Giovanni always spoke of the harshness of reality.

“This is where the main topic starts.”

Aria looked at the white-haired hunter sitting in his seat with a tense expression, then back at Giovanni, who was still smiling gently.

“I am….”

It was a smile she had been trying to create all her life but had never been able to. It was a smile that her sister had tried to imitate but had never been able to create. It was a smile that she had tried to have again but had never been able to create… .

So in the end, it was a smile that was given up.

“… I have studied humans endlessly for thousands of years, trying to figure out their limits. However, I confess my lack of ability, and I could not define it as a clear goal. I just wandered around, not knowing what to do.”

Giovanni said.

“And it is the teacher’s role to show us which way to go.”

“Giovanni, I’m at a crossroads. You have to help me.”

What will you choose?

“This foolish, stubborn mermaid can either spend the rest of her immortal life hating, despising, and loathing humans, or… yes, she can disappear like a fairy tale here on Earth and turn into a bubble.”

Is it the death of a human or the death of a mermaid?

“Okay, teacher.”

“… … .”

“What should I do?”

Aria admired the man named Giovanni. She loved his name.

I find him mysterious in his humanity, and I revere his boundless wisdom and gushing affection. If there was a man who could bring sunlight to the sea, it was Giovanni.

“Teacher, you wanted the land and the sea to become one.”

Aria placed the sea in the sky and devoured the sun.

“Even if our choices were the same, the results would have been different, right?”

Instead of this cold, bloody reality, Giovanni would have created a warm fairy tale that smelled of sunshine.

But Giovanni was betrayed by humans and eaten by a mermaid. Aria saw his kind face filled with warmth.

“… … .”

“Now give me the end.”

You became the sun for that.

* * *

Yoo Seong-un tried to hold his breath as he watched the situation unfold.

‘… things are going a little strangely.’

When the first Chaisol group was kidnapped, and as a result, until they arrived at the ‘Deep Sea Country’ with this group, I thought there would be a big battle. After all, it’s only natural for a battle to break out when a hunter enters a dungeon.

But this mermaid named Aria really seemed to want to talk. This place was created solely for the purpose of debate.

‘That too… is forcing Geo to choose between being human and mermaid.’

I felt sincerity.

‘What would Geo do if he chose humans? Would he rather harass humans because he finds them annoying? Or would he really want to die?’

Depending on what ‘path’ Geo would show her in the future, Aria would either torment humans for the rest of her life or die on the spot.

‘That’s how all monsters are…’

Aria’s hatred for humans also seemed to be extremely strong.

‘It sounds like you’re saying you’re going to liquidate your previous life of studying and researching humans. Of course, thousands of years have passed, so it’s about time for a conclusion to be reached, but does it make sense to leave that choice up to Geo? It’s not something else, it’s something that determines the fate of humans and mermaids.’

There are so many selfish symbols.

“… … .”

Yoo Seong-un looked back at Geo.

“… … .”

“… … .”

He was still smiling, looking at the mermaid named Aria.

‘… I’m curious as to what choice I’ll make.’

First of all, it is true that the entity called ‘Portrait of Geo’ is extremely friendly to humans.

But just as he had worried when he first came to the ‘Temple of the Deep Sea’, Giovanni, who had a deep connection with these mermaids, could have chosen them.

‘Even now, I can’t even call myself human. Even if I choose to be a mermaid who has become a monster instead of a human, I can define that monsters are on the same side… I don’t know what choice Geo will make.’

Besides, it was more reasonable. Objectively speaking, it was much less damaging.

‘If you choose a human, Aria, the mermaid you were close with, will die right away, but even if you choose a mermaid, you can’t suddenly kill all the humans in all dimensions. If Geo chooses a mermaid right away, it would be objectively more beneficial for him to spend time with them and defend the humans a little.’

Clearly, Aria was acting like she would eat Geo if she got upset, saying, ‘You are human after all’, but Geo had his own class and he wouldn’t be easily swayed.

If we were to be that picky, the few humans in this dungeon would die, but wouldn’t the majority of humans and beloved mermaids live? I was even more worried because I knew that Giovanni was not always kind and had a shameless side.

“… … .”

However, since it was not a place where he could step forward, Yoo Seong-un kept his mouth shut.

‘… In the end, it’s up to Geo to choose.’

It was when I waited for some time.

“Phew… .”

Geo laughed.

“To be honest, I thought it was a little funny.”

“…what?”

“They say family members resemble each other, and I guess that’s true for us too.”

Unlike the blunt, black-haired Geo, Giovanni, with his bright colors, even his light smile, which seemed to have a hint of playfulness, seemed natural.

The mermaid named Aria had a blank expression, but her smile seemed to steal my attention.

“… … .”

As if I couldn’t help but recall a time I really missed… .

Geo curved his lips as if he was embarrassed, as if he was troubled, but still found it funny.

“I also thought about it. There must have been a way to get to the ‘Deep Sea Country’ without having to ride a submarine, but no matter how much I searched around and waited, I couldn’t find even a single strand of Isserna’s hair.”

It seems that the reason this portrait visited the ‘Deep Sea Country’ was to meet mermaids.

“Maybe he was avoiding me?”

“I can’t say no, I was too scared that I would be punished by the new sun god.”

“The sun god….”

“I don’t think you were trying to hide it. With such a passionate divinity in your heart.”

“I took it on without thinking, but to be honest, I don’t really know what I should do.”

“Isn’t this to kill me? It’s amazing how there are things you don’t know.”

“Because I’m human too.”

“… … .”

“We always hit a limit.”

Geo smiled his characteristically straight smile.

“So, just as you kidnapped Brother Chaisol and called me, I too have been trying to come up with a way to call our dear mermaid friends together. I hope we can talk without having to run away.”

“So what method did you use?”

“Compared to what you have prepared, this is a very modest plan. I should say it is rough. I am very embarrassed that I have not been able to show you something great in order to save face as a teacher…”

– Kwajijijijijik…!!!

“ruler.”

A spear of light appeared, accompanied by a ferocious roar that did not match the bright light that hurt the eyes.

He spreads out both hands.

“… … .”

“look.”

It totaled over ten.

The window’s edge, embracing the heat of the sun, was pointed at Geo.

“This is how humans communicate.”

“… … .”

Before we knew it, the sea water of the temple had dried up and was filled with a terrible heat like a desert.

“… Human conversation, what does that mean?”

“The good man cannot always be rewarded.”

“… I know too.”

“I should have known better.”

Geo continued speaking as if he was teaching.

“There is no guarantee that favors will be repaid in kindness, and notorious villains cannot always be punished to melt the hearts of their victims. The world is not a fairy tale, and reality is created by overlapping moments.”

“… … .”

“Because humans are always changing. They can grow and deteriorate. It is foolish to expect that all the endings of these capricious creatures, who cannot stay still for even a moment, will always be the same. If you are smart, you will surely know this.”

The banquet hall was engulfed in a sweltering heat that made it hard to breathe.

“But that’s why humans created so many rules. We learned how to face each other, how to talk.”

“… … .”

“And we have decided to punish the horrific murderer who has killed countless people.”

“… You’re going to accuse me of something now? You’re using human rules against me, a person who isn’t even human… .”

“aria.”

The face is warm like the sunlight.

“Humans are diverse. They have no limits, and you are no different. They say that humans are something that cannot stay still for even a moment and is constantly changing.”

“… … .”

“You weren’t like that? You didn’t change at all? You just grew and deteriorated, so you had the illusion that you were the same as you were thousands of years ago… .”

“…I am.”

“We can talk.”

The voice was firm.

“If you get what you deserve.”

Like a teacher teaching young students.

“… What kind of punishment is this? I don’t understand.”

“We use some pretty lethal tactics to get what we want. This time, let me ask the question.”

“I don’t know. I don’t understand.”

“There is no reason for me to stop your hatred towards humans, Aria.”

The teacher who was guiding the students asked.

“Is there any reason why I should not take ‘Giovanni’ away from you?”

“… … .”

Geo chose humans.

And since according to his words, humans and mermaids are no different, it seems that he did not give up or choose anything.

The mermaid’s face crumbled at the greedy adult’s fatal declaration.

“Whether to choose humans, including you and me.”

“…ah….”

“It is up to you whether you choose the mermaid’s wrath.”

What was revealed was not the sea, but a less mature student.

The painter who draws dungeons