The Artist Who Paints Dungeon - Chapter 81



Only Noblemtl

Episode 81

One day the little mermaid said,

“I’m going to eat you.”

“… … .”

Giovanni laughed awkwardly.

“… Are you saying that to someone who has been to the market?”

“I’m going to eat you.”

“I guess you didn’t like the fact that I left Aria alone and went to the market.”

“Yeah, I don’t like it.”

“It was you, Aria, who said you would stay home alone because you were so absorbed in a book.”

“Eat it….”

“Okay. Let’s go together next time.”

Isser kept looking behind Giovanni, wondering if his sister was angry. Giovanni patted Isser and handed him a bag of groceries. It wasn’t that heavy.

“Can you bring it to the kitchen?”

“Oh, yes, I will do that.”

“Thank you for always helping me, Isser.”

Giovanni, who had been watching Isser go into the kitchen, sat down next to Aria.

“Looking at it this way, it doesn’t seem like he’s that angry.”

“Do humans express this as being angry?”

“As expected, mermaids are quite emotional. Maybe it’s because they live among sea creatures with whom they rarely communicate.”

“Sea creatures do communicate. It’s just that stupid humans don’t realize it.”

“That is indeed true. But it would be different from creatures on earth.”

The blue eyes widened.

“Perhaps what you are feeling right now, Aria, is anger.”

“The story about a mermaid getting angry is quite strange.”

“I’ve never seen a mermaid get angry before. Mermaids always have a blank expression on their face, even when they fight humans.”

“I guess so.”

Even when humans killed the mermaid’s baby, the mermaid did not get angry. She just responded with a cold, expressionless face, and people said that they were monsters who did not care if their own children died.

“By the way, I heard that there was a fight between humans and mermaids in the next village. Did you see it, teacher?”

“I haven’t seen it, but the mermaids I’ve seen so far have always been expressionless.”

He laughed.

“As Arya knows, the conflict between humans and mermaids is so old that no one knows who started it first.”

They didn’t even know who started this conflict. The humans simply saw the mermaids as hideous sea monsters, while the mermaids saw the humans as stupid and threatening beasts.

The conflict was escalating. Now the mermaids were drowning innocent humans in the sea, and the humans were drowning innocent mermaids in the square.

They look at it and shout at each other.

“Everyone says, ‘We must kill the mermaids. We must kill the humans…’ How could anyone but the devil create such a terrible situation?”

“… … .”

“I have seen the conflict between mermaids and humans with my own eyes. I have lived as a son of the sun, traveled here and there, and encountered many mermaids along the way.”

“So you pride yourself on knowing a lot about mermaids?”

“It may have been an inappropriate amount of confidence to show in front of a mermaid, but even I am not used to seeing Arya angry.”

“We might see each other more often in the future.”

“Oh my… .”

Giovanni carefully stroked his dark blue hair.

“As far as I know, the idea that mermaids eat humans is just a superstition that exists in some regions, so why did you say you would eat me?”

“When I said it like that, everyone listened obediently.”

“I understand, this is the result of learning.”

Giovanni understood the learning of such mermaids. The indifference of mermaids, who did not even feel the need to choose the means and methods because they could achieve the desired results, further fueled the fear of humans.

But Giovanni hoped that this would not be the result of mere learning, for he wanted the mermaid, who was curious about humans, to become a more friendly and social adult. Giovanni continued.

“Then it must be a joke.”

“joke?”

“You’re not really planning on eating me, are you?”

“Mermaids don’t eat humans, they give them stomachaches.”

“Then let’s just treat it as a joke.”

I didn’t want to put too much weight on the mermaid’s cruel learning. Up until now, humans and mermaids have been giving too much meaning to each other’s ‘incomprehensible actions’, which is why they have come into such deep conflict.

He just gave advice, the kind of advice you might give as a teacher and friend.

“It would certainly be convenient to scare people into obeying orders. But if you just scare them, a lot of them will run away from Arya.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“At least it wouldn’t be a good thing for Aria, who wants to learn about humans. Humans are not creatures that only show colorful reactions when they are afraid. On the contrary, they show much more reactions when they are happy and joyful.”

Giovanni hoped that the mermaid would not be left alone one day, and that the day would come when the sea and the sun would become one, just like her brother had hoped.

Mermaids live for a very long time and stay in one memory. Maybe this young mermaid who likes her current daily life could grow up to be a mermaid who helps humans someday. She would become the beginning of peace.

I don’t know if it will really happen, and I didn’t want to force it. But I definitely hope that this mermaid, who has to live her entire life embracing her short life, will become more gentle.

“If you keep playing pranks like this, there will be no one left by Aria’s side.”

The arrogant mermaid asked him.

“What about my brother?”

“… … .”

“And, what about you?”

“…We will probably always remain by your side.”

“always?”

“As long as I don’t die.”

“You’re going to die.”

The mermaid complained.

“Human lifespan is too short. The sun that created you was stupid.”

“Isn’t it possible that because their lifespan is short, they show more colorful aspects?”

“I don’t understand. Isn’t it obvious that the longer you live, the more you can learn?”

“If you spend time with it, you will slowly understand it.”

“what?”

“Desperation.”

Giovanni knew the limits of humanity, and he also knew the infinite possibilities that came from them.

“Because we are creatures with short lives, humans are the ones who work harder than ever. When humans become lazy, they are easily eliminated, the situation easily worsens, and humans cannot welcome such a situation.”

“Are you going crazy because it’s more desperate?”

“Maybe so. Is there a point here where we can think more? What might it be? Aria, think about it.”

“… … .”

The mermaid princess, who was worrying with her small head, asked.

“So, when mermaids are desperate, do they become colorful like you?”

“Yes. Mermaids are just more familiar with water than humans and have slightly longer lifespans. They’re not that different.”

“So many things look different.”

“If humans were given gills to breathe underwater and live a life closer to eternal life, people would call them mermaids.”

“Are you saying we are the same?”

“No one is wrong. We just have our differences. If there’s one thing I’ve felt while spending time with you, Aria, it’s that you’re just like me.”

Giovanni had no doubt about that fact.

“Aren’t mermaids also creatures that create precious things?”

“What does that have to do with future diversity?”

“Because any living thing evolves to protect what is precious to it.”

“Any living thing?”

“Even four-legged animals that cannot speak and fish that are often eaten by us use all kinds of tricks and become strong to protect their young.”

“It’s an instinct to preserve the species.”

“You could say that innate instincts are also precious.”

The mermaid didn’t seem to understand.

“Then is human greed the same?”

“If it is important to you to keep that greed, then yes, it is.”

Everyone has something precious to them, so they become diverse. However, since humans have a shorter lifespan than mermaids, they try harder to achieve their goals.

“So the mermaid will be like that too.”

“… Then what is the difference between humans and mermaids?”

“The truth is no different.”

We just don’t understand each other.

“So, we don’t need anything great. If only more people could understand each other’s differences….”

“… … .”

“If more people start to speak out for understanding and compromise, this long conflict will eventually come to an end.”

The mermaid complained with a blank expression.

“That sounds strange.”

“That’s what it sounds like.”

“I don’t like it.”

“Is that so?”

“I’m going to eat you.”

“You’re really grumpy, but you wouldn’t do that… .”

“I’m going to eat you.”

“Of course, I understand.”

But there was something you absolutely had to remember.

“Aria, if you’re going to scare someone into eating you, you need to know this.”

“What is that?”

“Whatever Arya’s purpose was, humans will react differently, and Arya must take responsibility for those reactions. A creature that does not take responsibility cannot learn anything.”

“… … .”

It’s responsibility.

“…okay.”

The mermaid obediently agreed.

“I will take responsibility.”

“That’s cool.”

“I will eat you.”

“Oh my… What else did you not like?”

So, it was a joke.

“I’ll put it on my table.”

“This priest has no taste.”

An infinitely light prank.

* * *

“… … .”

“… … .”

The mermaid blinked and saw a dazzling light.

It belongs to the sun.

“…I am….”

Why am I wavering? It was the moment my heart wavered. I never wanted to lose, since I had waited for so long.

But the light was hot enough to dry up even the great ocean. It was the same sharp heat that had once dried up the tails of mermaids on the sea.

My stomach lurched. I felt seasick, something I had never felt before, even in the deep, dark depths of the ocean, or on the surface of the water tossed by a typhoon.

“… I don’t quite understand.”

“What don’t you understand?”

“Well, this is….”

Is this also desperation? If so, what is the desperation directed towards? The mermaid then found something to say.

“Why do you think I would want you not to die?”

“Aria, because you didn’t create me.”

Giovanni’s voice sounded no different than it had thousands of years ago.

“I saw your lab. You were trying to create and combine countless lives. I taught you how to dissect and organize living things, so it was only natural that I could tell.”

Aria suddenly thought that it was so strange. It was a voice that she had chewed on and remembered for countless years, but it was strange because she knew that this voice had been absent for some reason.

You ran away to the sun. Or melted into the cold sea. How can someone who returned to nature come back alive and speak to me in the same way as before?

“Some even succeeded, and some were intentionally ruined.”

“… … .”

“I was wondering if it wasn’t meant to be a life that didn’t feel like a life lived.”

The priest of the sun, who seemed to have been stuffed in his most beautiful time, asked.

“But why didn’t I do that? Why didn’t I revive it?”

“… No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t succeed. Since they were dead, there wasn’t enough material to study.”

“I guess it’s because you respect me.”

“If you had died in a more normal manner, the outcome would have been different. It was not intentional, it was simply beyond my ability.”

“If emotions are also abilities, then they are not false. I know that mermaids feel emotions too.”

Giovanni was sure.

“You love me, Aria.”

“Why do you think that is?”

“Your voice is weak.”

“no.”

It was a meaningful reunion with an old friend.

I never intended to proceed in such a stupid way, but it didn’t work out so well as I had decided that it was the end for me.

I haven’t been this stupid in hundreds or thousands of years. I’ve killed, tormented, toyed with, and…

“… … .”

But I couldn’t say anything because I only saw one face that I missed. The only thing that had changed was your presence, Giovanni.

It was only then that I remembered that you were not only my friend, but also my teacher. An adult I could never defeat, and my milestone.

‘Yes. That’s right, that’s right.’

Surprisingly, Aria had never defeated him before. I realized something I had forgotten for a while.

I opened my mouth with difficulty.

“In the first place… Giovanni, who holds divinity, do you think you will die like this? This is clearly just a trick to embarrass me.”

“If this is a lie, I can die a thousand times over in front of you, and if this is true, ‘Giovanni’ disappears from this place. He is nothing more than a human being.”

“… That’s true too.”

I found myself laughing at myself for not having thought that such a counterattack would come back. Unlike Aria, who couldn’t even touch the fingertips of her teacher whom she had encountered by some absurd miracle, Giovanni could ruin himself as much as he wanted.

‘If he had cared for his own body and life, he would have lived longer than that.’

But Giovanni was a man who could do anything he wanted. For a very long time, Aria had not been able to beat her teacher.

“… … .”

Now that they had come this far, Aria could not lie to Giovanni that she did not love him. Whatever confidence he had, Giovanni was certain of the mermaids’ love, and unfortunately, it was true.

“ah….”

From that moment on, the outcome was already decided. Aria knew it, and that was why she placed her end entirely in Giovanni’s hands. Nevertheless, the teacher chose to torment himself rather than swing the leash.

Because he knew that it would be more effective in punishing Aria. It certainly was.

“Why do you have to be so cruel?”

A reflexive question was answered as is.

“Why were you so cruel?”

“… … .”

“To me, and to the countless people I’ve met.”

“…I’m angry.”

“So you have to take responsibility.”

I know.

“I know.”

He asked me to take responsibility.

“You’ve been telling me that for a very long time. Be prepared to take responsibility for everything you do.”

No matter how much time has passed, there is no way I could have forgotten your teachings.

But she took no responsibility for anything. It was because she didn’t want to take responsibility for the death and suffering of a mere human being. If she was going to measure the weight of her anger, she wouldn’t have even started in the first place.

“If I take responsibility for what I’ve done, doesn’t that mean there’s no point in venting?”

Ah, I hate humans. I hate them. Even this feeling of anger was so precious to Aria that she couldn’t bear to let it go. My resentment and disgust were as heavy as the feeling of love I had for you. It was truly precious.

So it was natural that I should not take responsibility either. If I were to take responsibility, if I were to atone, I would have to decide that this feeling was wrong. I did not want this terribly precious memory to be tarnished and dulled.

“Nobody told me to take responsibility.”

“I think quite a few people would have wanted to take responsibility.”

“That must have been the case, countless people have died and been injured by my hands.”

I would have hoped that this terrible sea monster would suffer the most miserable death in the world, and atone for his sins by living through days more horrible than death.

“But isn’t that a funny story? How can you expect human emotions from a monster like me?”

She looked at the white-haired hunter with a blank expression for a moment. Was he a meteor? Aria asked him.

“Do you hunters want the monsters that inhabit the dungeons to be judged by the law? Or do you want them to apologize and feel sad?”

“… Monsters are just targets for subjugation. I don’t expend that kind of emotion. I don’t have enough resources to bring monsters who aren’t criminals to the bar of justice.”

“Yes, that’s right. Most humans kill monsters without any emotion because it’s their mission. I also kill humans because I hate them.”

Aria looked at Geo.

“Why should I be responsible for this? Giovanni, you taught me to be human… but now I’m just a monster.”

“When you say that, this priest’s heart really breaks. I taught a man to love the sea, but in reality, he was a monster.”

Giovanni said.

“You know this is all just venting.”

“I know, but I don’t know.”

I know it well.

“I didn’t want to justify my actions with your death.”

“thank you.”

“That’s why you, being so… merciful, wouldn’t have wanted something like this.”

“I see.”

“It just wasn’t appropriate to use as an excuse.”

I asked just to confirm.

“Don’t you still resent them?”

“I resent and hate you.”

“Then how can you drive me?”

“Because I don’t resent them enough to take responsibility for their deaths.”

Although he resented it, he did not wish for it to die. It was an answer that Giovanni could give because he believed that if he influenced someone in some way, he had to take responsibility for all of their reactions.

He said.

“Please select.”

“What on earth?”

“Are you human or a mermaid?”

“…what….”

That’s a difficult question to understand.

The sharp light of the sun was visible, ready to pierce Giovanni at any moment.

“Taking hostages? That’s so clever.”

“I am writing this myself, so wouldn’t my responsibility be lighter?”

“You are right.”

There is nothing more cost-effective than consuming oneself. Aria also knew this. That is why she has used herself to instill fear in countless people up until now.

It wasn’t the first time I’d seen a human make this choice. There were countless humans who traded on themselves, and they were just… not Giovanni.

So I was tormented.

“… … .”

Of course, she doesn’t regret it. Aria knew from the beginning that her and her brother’s actions were nothing more than venting anger based on favoritism and injustice.

However, they vaguely hoped that one day their master would come back alive and scold them and punish them so much that they would end this long life. Only Giovanni could do that. Without him, these mermaids had no meaning.

‘… But in the end, it turned out like this. How could it not have changed so much?’

He rarely let his disciples sway him. The reprimand he received when he was truly reunited with his teacher was quite different from what he had imagined, and he was speechless.

“To be honest… .”

“You can be honest with me.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Oh my, how pitiful.”

“I was full of confidence.”

I felt empty.

Until the moment when Giovanni was forced to make a choice, I was certain that the ‘ending’ was right in front of me.

“… I’m not sure what to do right now.”

Kkwaddeok-!!

A window fell out.

“… … .”

“… … .”

Blood flowed from Giovanni’s shoulder.

Whether it was because she was his disciple, or because Aria was simply smart, she instantly understood the meaning of that action.

It meant that it was not the correct answer.

“What should I do?”

Crunch-!!

The second window fell down.

“Should I apologize for my rudeness…?”

Quaz-!!

It was the third window.

“Don’t die.”

“You are wrong.”

bang!!

“Don’t die in front of me.”

“You were wrong.”

Crunch-…!!

“I….”

“Do you think you will respect me now?”

“…Are you angry, Giovanni?”

“Did you expect me not to get angry?”

His voice was still gentle and soft, but Aria could tell that he was very angry.

No, rather than that.

“Did you expect me not to be disappointed?”

He seemed disappointed.

“… … .”

“… It’s pretty creepy.”

With just a few gestures, Giovanni was covered in blood. He had many holes and cuts. His body was weak and unworthy of the honor of the new sun god.

That was scary. There was a terrible smell of flesh roasting in the sun. It was the stench that told the mermaid that her old friend was turning into a mere piece of meat.

“…Was it like this back then too?”

Seeing him so injured under the sunlight reminded me of that day.

“You said you were tortured.”

“Yes, it was.”

“Did it hurt as much as it did just now?”

“It seems more painful now.”

“Then just stop. That’s not smart.”

“Emotionally swayed people are not wise by nature.”

“that….”

“You too, Aria.”

“… … .”

“That’s why you did such cruel things.”

It was so funny and speechless that Aria couldn’t help but laugh.

“…Why me….”

“… … .”

“They still see me as a human….”

But I was crying.

“How can that be?”

Pearls fell to the floor, over the hem of the dress.

“Why hasn’t anything changed?”

This is how we have changed.

“Isn’t this a deception towards the humans who died because of me, because of my brother? How can they be so affectionate?”

“I don’t treat you like humans because I’m kind to you. I treat you like humans because that’s the truth.”

“It’s really funny. It’s a funny story. No one sees us as human. So you’re still being affectionate.”

She didn’t look particularly sad, perhaps because the pearls were still falling from her eyes, which were as pale as wax and not reddened. They seemed to be mere decoration.

“I am not human, Giovanni.”

Aria found that a little unpleasant. She didn’t like it. She wanted to be comfortable even if it meant eating everything.

“But it could be human.”

“It’s natural for monsters to eat and torment humans.”

“It is nothing more than an excuse to say that being called a monster makes it natural for one to commit monstrous evil deeds.”

Giovanni still had a smiling face, and his voice was soft. The smile that remained intact despite being messy and broken was eerie, like a stuffed painting.

It was like looking at a portrait whose expression did not change even when burned. The bloody body containing something that could be alive or dead continued to speak.

“You could have stopped eating humans and stopped tormenting them.”

“… … .”

“You could have avoided being called a monster, Aria. You could have.”

The mermaid, unaccustomed to fear and anxiety, did not know exactly what she was feeling. She had never felt this way even when her teacher, who had been the only meaning in her long life, died.

She just asked. Unfortunately, she looked stupid because the other person was Aria’s only meaning.

“Don’t be mad at me.”

“Aria is my student.”

“…still?”

“It’s still like that.”

If you’re this angry because I’m still your student.

“… Then isn’t that too cruel?”

I know, it’s not right for someone who prides themselves on being a monster to say such things. Those who died by her hand would laugh and despise her. But if I had followed the right path, I would never have thought of becoming a monster in the first place.

Aria repeated to herself that only her heart was precious. You know, I’ve missed you for so long that I can’t even count the number of times.

“Don’t be so hurt in front of me, you can’t do that.”

“If you’re a monster, then this is okay.”

“… … .”

The mermaid eventually had to admit it.

“…I am still your student.”

“Yes.”

“I, who am not a monster, can be confused in some other way?”

“Of course. This is a human conversation.”

Giovanni spoke in the gentle yet firm voice of a teacher.

“I have always treated you as human beings, as beings like myself.”

“… … .”

“I know you’re a mermaid and I know the difference, but that doesn’t mean you’re a monster.”

It was such a long story, I thought it would be the perfect moment to end it, but it seemed like Giovanni had no intention of ending it here.

“Why isn’t killing me the perfect ending?”

“Because that is also a choice to avoid responsibility. It is cowardly.”

“I will never consider my sins as sins in my entire life.”

“But as long as you are by my side, you will consider sin as sin.”

“It is a great honor to be able to remain by my old friend’s side.”

I asked, finding it funny.

“Do you think that would be enough punishment? Giving me back someone precious to me?”

“First, I will not be the subject of your punishment, and second, I will not give you anything in return.”

“But why do you keep me alive if you don’t punish me? How can you stay by my side if you don’t give me anything in return?”

“My existence will be a punishment to you. I like good things, so you will be interested in good things, and one day you will be inspired.”

“That would never be hell for me. If the people I’ve killed and tormented all this time found out, they’d be crying tears of blood. For something like this, there’s no punishment…”

“I tell you again, I am not the one to punish you. I have no responsibility or obligation to do so. Am I not?”

He continued.

“But as time goes by, one day you will see yourself as a human being, not a monster.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“When that day comes, even if no one comes forward, I will go to hell on my own. I will punish myself.”

“How do you know that?”

“I raised you. I taught you. I protected you. I know how good children you are when you are by my side.”

Giovanni spoke calmly, as if discussing the very obvious fact that the sun is hot.

“You guys are so curious and smart. You have the will to improve and you’re not afraid to try new things.”

“… … .”

“That’s who I know. So stay by my side. Take responsibility for what happened.”

Aria surrendered at a banquet hall that was a mess from the blood of noble priests and the fire of the sun.

“… Then it’s fine.”

He admitted defeat.

I have no regrets about the long, meaningless venting, but it was just too long. Still, the hatred and anger were endless, so I couldn’t stop and didn’t want to.

So, if possible, Giovanni, I wish you would come back and give the mermaid’s story an ending. Only you could end the mermaid’s life. Only you were qualified to finish this crazy fairy tale.

“I wanted to win, but I lost.”

“I guess it’s because even in a country like this, there are people who are called teachers.”

“So give me time.”

“It’s time.”

“I need time to think about how I will remain by your side.”

“Me too.”

At that moment, the few remaining windows of light disappeared. Aria looked into the empty space with a face filled with regret.

“…I should have killed the monster.”

“I keep telling you, it’s not my job. Why are you asking me to punish you?”

“Are you going to call me a coward?”

“Yes, don’t be a coward. Don’t stay in the time I died, and behave like a proper adult.”

“What if I keep killing people?”

“That is none of my business either. I have never incited you to murder, nor have I ever tried to stop you.”

“Then how can you call this the ending? Nothing has ended.”

“But now that I’m here with you, nothing will end, but that doesn’t mean nothing will change, right?”

“I won’t deny it.”

“Personally, I think this isn’t such a bad ending. You know what?”

Giovanni laughed.

“In the fairy tales of Earth, mermaid princesses sometimes turn into bubbles and disappear, but sometimes they become human and live happily ever after with princes.”

“Yes, my prince. I thought so from the first time I saw you. So, will you live happily together with me now?”

“If you want to do that, then do it. The end of anger can be reconciliation, forgiveness, or destruction. It depends on how much responsibility you take.”

“It’s probably not a story that has anything to do with you, teacher. I don’t know if you’re being affectionate or indifferent.”

“Oh, no. I’m sorry to say this, but I’ve done enough. I just wanted to cut ties with you and pretend not to know you, but you kept causing trouble on all fronts, so I endured the hardships and came to see you.”

“Please be spicy.”

“So… let’s take our time and think about the rest. From now on, it’s up to you to decide what kind of story to create.”

Geo finished it.

“Because we have a lot of time.”

“… … .”

“yes?”

* * *

The Little Mermaid’s Ending (1/1)

Fairy tale rate 100.0%

Obtain Batlan Giovanni

Links: ‘Deep Sea Kingdom’ and ‘Breathing Sea’

Palette Residents: Aria, Isser

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Achievement: … .

… … .

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The painter who draws dungeons