The Artist Who Paints Dungeon-Chapter 296

Waterbirds.

They were monsters that had, at some point, seeped into Earth—living water in the shape of birds. They had the tendency to favor the virtuous and detest the wicked.

People were somewhat afraid of them.

“They give off a vibe... like crows or hyenas.”

“When they show up in groups, it usually means something’s happened, right? Whenever I hear the waterbirds are out, I get this uneasy feeling the whole day.”

“It feels like a critique of modern society. Just their appearance implies that there were evil people who deserved punishment...”

“They’re cute, and I’m thankful—but personally, I’d rather live my whole life without ever seeing one.”

And those very waterbirds... right now, were softly blanketing the night sky like an aurora.

“Wow...”

A child who had come to watch the parade gaped in awe.

“Dad, look at that...!”

“Yeah... that’s amazing.”

The man who’d come with the child also let out a breath of admiration.

“They say Hunter Sergio is the apostle of the Black Cloak...”

He must’ve been deeply favored by his god. To be able to command the subordinates of the Black Cloak as if they were his own—to the point of creating a galactic spectacle no longer seen in cities.

The waterbirds soared high, sparkling like living stars. Though incapable of emitting light themselves, their liquid bodies reflected it from the embedded gemstones.

“Hey, it’s raining.”

“No, this is... not rain...”

“Are waterbirds falling?”

Some of them broke apart and drifted downward like rainfall. It was a breathtaking sight—like stars melting and falling to the ground—enveloping the long line of the parade. The works struck by the colorful rain took on an even brighter hue.

“Mom! The caretaker gave me a flower...!”

“Looks like you’ll have good luck this year.”

“This time, I’ll make sure to take care of it so it won’t wilt!”

“Of course, I’m rooting for you.”

The Collector’s pieces offered more of their “fragments” than in previous years. Flowers, small blessings, hugs, and playful gestures rained down on spectators. Some with sharp eyes picked up on a pattern.

“Mostly children are getting gifts.”

“Some adults too, but...”

“Could this be the influence of the waterbirds’ nature?”

Blessings for the good, punishment for the wicked.

“This is oddly reassuring.”

“This year’s parade feels unusually warm...”

The Collector’s parade was usually a bizarre circus. Beautiful or grotesque works would walk with their assigned curators, dancing, performing, and touring. But this time, the shock value was replaced by gentleness.

The waterbirds that had fallen like raindrops gathered again and rose softly into the sky. With long tail feathers fluttering, they played light pranks like fairies born of a meteor shower.

“It’s like a scene out of a fairytale.”

“So pretty...”

“Please look this way for a photo!”

Hunter Sergio stood atop a massive flower float, led by guild members of the Collector.

He wasn’t the only one on the three-tiered float. But seated at the highest front point, orchestrating the waterbirds, he stood out the most. At his gestures, the birds let out melodious cries like a choir.

The flapping of petals, the clinking of jewels, the rustling of grass and trees. Blended together, the sounds formed a song that perfectly complemented the parade’s music.

“Mom, I want that bird!”

“No way. Birds are meant to fly.”

Hunter Sergio’s procession was especially popular among families with young children.

“I didn’t know the Collector had a hunter like that.”

“I thought they only did creepy circus stuff...”

“Come on, that’s not even scary.”

“Anyone who missed today is gonna regret it.”

“Isn’t Hunter Sergio one of the more low-profile ones in the Collector?”

“Strange to see him at such a public event.”

“Probably won’t see him again next year, huh?”

And some noticed another thing.

“...The way Hunter Sergio handles the waterbirds—it reminds me of someone...”

“...Doesn’t the Guildmaster of the Collector use his pieces like that?”

“Oh, right. Bisa Beul.”

“Guess the rumors about them being family are true.”

Coaxing the birds like singing children, using them to animate the works further. It was a fairytale-like sight, yes—but there was a shared similarity in how they both handled their creations.

People were in awe.

‘The design of those waterbirds is really stunning...’

‘Now I really see they’re the hands of the Black Cloak...’

‘So you can make a scene like this with waterbirds, huh...’

And soon, the birds’ song began to fade.

“Ah...”

“Looks like it’s ending.”

The Collector’s curators were guiding the works back toward the gallery. One by one, each piece moved in its unique way to return safely. Hunter Sergio also stepped down from his float at the front of the procession.

He gave a gentle farewell and exited.

“...He’s gone.”

“The waterbirds disappeared too.”

“Where’d they go?”

And just like that, the parade slowly came to an end.

As if it had all been a dream, the festival drew to a close.

***

The waterbirds returned to their nest.

“Good job, everyone.”

“Coooroo?”

“You too, Honey. Well done.”

Incidentally, Yoo Seong-Woon and Joo-Hyun were also there.

“Gio, could I get some flower tea...?”

“I’ll brew it right away.”

“Ugh, I’m dying...”

“Didn’t you overexert yourself?”

“Work still has to get done.”

Yoo Seong-Woon was thoroughly worn out after spamming ice-related skills all day.

His already low body temperature had dropped threefold. Gio briefly pondered: What even is an Awakened, that they don’t die despite having a body temperature like this?

“This is a gift for you, Yoo Seong-Woon.”

“A gift, huh? Yeah, gifts are nice. At this point I’ve kind of given up trying to understand.”

The scarf and blanket Gio handed him were gratefully received.

Even now, each gift made his heart lurch—but given how things were unfolding, it seemed like some kind of post-life contract had been made using Seong-Woon’s afterlife. So he decided to accept these small offerings without burden.

‘You could say it’s a deferred payment. Still a fair exchange in its own way...’

Joo-Hyun looked on with pity as Seong-Woon sipped the flower tea brought by the teddy bear Sun God.

“Gio, don’t you think you’re overdoing it a little?”

“Well, technically, this is still part of a curator’s job...”

“But I heard Guildmaster Bisa Beul prioritizes the health of his pieces.”

“That’s true.”

Seong-Woon shrugged.

“But in the end, it’s about how the pieces look and function. Guildmaster’s never scolded me personally, but if I don’t pull my weight during events like this, I just feel like a freeloader...”

“Curators in the Collector’s Guild seem too blindly dedicated to their roles.”

Thanks to Joo-Hyun’s presence, Seong-Woon was now bundled in every warm thing imaginable.

“Feels like paradise.”

“You look good.”

“Can I take all this home with me?”

“Even better—stay the night.”

“Then I’ll just eat breakfast and head out...”

“Stay for lunch too.”

Watching the two of them, Joo-Hyun thought:

‘Was Hades clinging to Persephone like this?’

That story was a tragic romance—this one was just a haunted painting enjoying time with friends. Gio never let guests leave easily. Whether it was food, sleep, or gifts, he always sent them off with something.

As if on cue, Dana came padding over to Joo-Hyun’s feet.

“Nyyehh.”

“...Hello?”

“Nyaaahhh...”

The friendly appearance sent a slight chill down Joo-Hyun’s spine.

‘Am I really about to stop being human?’

But her tests came back normal, so she decided to ignore it for now.

Seong-Woon was likely thinking along similar lines—just lying there, passed out. Unless his friends wanted it, Gio’s portrait wouldn’t change them.

Joo-Hyun gently petted Dana and asked Gio,

“By the way, Dana’s size is always changing.”

“It depends on the number and weight of the friends inside her.”

“Since she’s cat-sized now... did she spit them all out?”

“She’s been getting help from another friend lately.”

Gio, who had placed a fluffy pillow under Seong-Woon’s neck, replied:

“Thanks to that, Dana’s burden has lightened.”

“By friend, do you mean the ‘Diary’?”

“More precisely, the one working inside it—the purple one.”

“Purple...”

“That would be Mr. Ather.”

“Ah—got it!”

She wasn’t shocked anymore.

‘Guess you really do get used to this stuff...’

It was surprising. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

“By the way, right before the parade, you were talking to the students, weren’t you?”

“I had a productive conversation. Curious what we talked about?”

“I’d be lying if I said no, but it seemed personal. I was just worried about your state, Gio, so no need to tell me everything.”

“It wasn’t anything major.”

Gio soothed the waterbirds that were asking for snacks.

“Guildmaster Jeong Hae-Woon was under a certain misunderstanding, so I corrected it.”

“...Just hearing that gives me a chill. Could I ask roughly what it was?”

“I told him everyone can live their own lives.”

“Live their own lives...?”

“He seemed to be placing too much weight on the situation.”

That wasn’t what Gio wanted.

“So I just told him the objective truth. That I’m just a haunted painting. If they want to dwell on a nonexistent past, that’s fine... but blaming themselves for it? That’s a problem.”

“Was Guildmaster Jeong blaming himself?”

“He tried to pretend otherwise, but his self-esteem is incredibly low. So when something goes wrong, he acts like he’s blaming others—but in truth, he burdens himself first. Once he hits his mental limit, he lashes out with something random. A strange student, really.”

“Doesn’t sound like a healthy habit.”

“That’s why I gave him a good poke in the ribs—to make sure he could function properly before heading back into society. But since he forgot everything, he’d reset. That was disappointing.”

Not just his memories—but the time itself had been erased.

“It looked like the impact Sergio had left on him was almost completely gone.”

“Are you... bitter about that? I’d be upset if I were forgotten like that.”

“I’m a little regretful, but not bitter or sad.”

Gio released the remaining waterbirds out the window and said,

“We did our best, back then.”

And that was enough.

“I know those kids. Guildmaster Jeong might have forgotten everything, but the last version of him I remember was surprisingly selfless and decisive. Once given a clear path, he’d charge ahead.”

“He has a reputation for being a good person.”

“Even if Hae-Woon doesn’t look it, he was a smart student who could acknowledge the right path. Even if it was a performance—a lie—if you keep doing it, it becomes your true nature. But he seems to have forgotten even that simple truth... Fortunately, the other students are still around, so he didn’t spiral completely.”

“...Gio, what do you think is the worst-case scenario?”

“Going back to being alone.”

Back to when he hated the entire world.

“After all the meals I gave him... and the care...”

“You sound like a parent.”

“That’s why this much is enough.”

Even at his worst, Jeong Hae-Woon had done his best. And that was who he was now. Seeing that student, Gio couldn’t help but feel proud.

Gio smiled softly.

“He really was a student who could do just fine without me.”

Admirably so.

“......”

“Why that look, Ms. Joo-Hyun?”

“...I don’t know. It’s not even my story, but I feel... kind of sad?”

“Sad about what?”

“Even if it’s a forgotten past, it feels like a bond being denied...”

“That’s not quite what I meant to say, but...”

In the end, the teacher’s job was to make sure the students could stand on their own in society. And Gio had succeeded in all that—even in a world where he no longer existed.

“I don’t think it was anything extraordinary.”

“I heard Guildmaster Seo Seo-Hee had a different reaction.”

“Everyone handles specific people in their own way.”

Seo Seo-Hee accepted Gio as a “teacher” and sought his guidance. It was less taxing emotionally and potentially very rewarding.

On the other hand, Jeong Hae-Woon, as a gardener, chose to recognize Gio as a “mystery” and keep his guard up. That way, if the haunted painting caused trouble, he could suppress it.

That was all it was.

“And it looks like Haera chose to remove herself from the equation entirely.”

Gio poured flower tea for Joo-Hyun.

“As for Eun-Hye... I’m not sure.”

“Are you going to keep it that way?”

“I don’t want to trouble my students—especially not when they’ve grown more fearful.”

Those students meant something special to Gio too. They were clinging on desperately. He wanted to be considerate. Like a kitten hissing—you want to let it be until it feels safe.

“There’s no rush for anything.”

“...That’s true.”

“No need to look too far ahead.”

“Also true.”

“As I always say—I like the present.”

Maybe because he was so worried about Seong-Woon trembling in the cold—Gio picked up the teddy bear from under the couch and placed it gently in Seong-Woon’s arms. Then smiled.

“Right?”

[...]

“Now... what should I make for breakfast...”

It was a lovely, peaceful life.