The Artist Who Paints Dungeon-Chapter 298

Had he inadvertently burdened ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) the more sensitive ones with emotional weight? Gio felt compelled to offer an excuse, if only to clear the silence that had fallen over the room.

“There’s a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?”

“I’m not looking for a new ‘Gio’ right now.”

“Then when you said new material, you meant...?”

“Exactly that. I’m looking for new material. I haven’t been able to paint recently.”

“Hm.”

Yoo Seong-Woon asked again.

“So you’re in a slump, in other words?”

“It’s not that serious.”

“But you want to draw, and you can’t.”

“It’s more like I don’t have the energy.”

To that, Joo-Hyun nodded.

‘That makes sense.’

This introverted man hadn’t even taken part in the recent parade. And not long ago, he’d also put effort into absorbing and calming down “Argio.” It was about time he replenished the energy he’d been gradually spending.

‘Besides, lately he’s been visiting his old students more than usual, which is unlike him, so it’s understandable that he’s drained. But more than anything...’

Joo-Hyun glanced at Yoo Seong-Woon, then asked Gio,

“...Was it perhaps a burden for you to be making lunchboxes?”

At that, Yoo Seong-Woon exclaimed.

“As expected of our teacher Joo-Hyun. Very brave.”

“Wanna fight?”

“To think you’d speak so boldly to even an A-rank hunter.”

“They say the only thing that increases with age is groundless confidence.”

“That’s a very good development.”

As always, teasing Joo-Hyun, Yoo Seong-Woon turned to Gio as well.

“I was thinking along the same lines, but you brought it up first. Yeah, I’ve been wondering too. In your not-a-slump slump, was the heartfelt dedication of making those lunchboxes maybe... hm, having a heavy effect on you?”

Yoo Seong-Woon phrased it as delicately as possible. He couldn’t bring himself to speak negatively about preparing meals for one’s students. Especially knowing how special those students were to “Gio’s Portrait.”

‘But as a curator, I can’t help but worry.’

Mystics, whether they liked it or not, were bound by their own rules. The “Gio’s Portrait” had its rule of one-on-one. And that kind portrait had once clearly stated that he was paying the price for the “lunchbox” himself.

So then, what part of Gio was being paid in exchange?

‘Honestly, I wish he’d never started eroding himself that way in the first place... but he was made that way, so I guess there’s no helping it.’

It was something that left one feeling helpless and a little bitter.

“Well, I respect it. Your students are doing incredible work for the Earth. The more you feel that pity, the more you want to help them...”

“I won’t say the lunchbox work had no influence on the current state. But don’t worry, Mr. Yoo Seong-Woon. As I said, it’s not something serious.”

This haunted portrait really did seem to believe that.

“Oh, okay.”

But from Yoo Seong-Woon’s curator perspective, it sounded very serious.

‘Isn’t this practically a denial of his own identity?’

From the beginning, he was one who painted, and was a painting. A mystic like that suddenly saying he had no energy to paint? It made Yoo Seong-Woon regret letting him outside in the first place.

“Hm, anyway... so you want to visit my snowfield?”

“I think I need a change of scenery.”

“Artists always need new inspiration, after all. You know I don’t have the authority to invite anyone to the garden. Is that something you can handle on your end?”

“I’ll try.”

“Well, if that’s the case, it’s not my place to say anything. Do as you wish.”

At Yoo Seong-Woon’s easygoing response, Joo-Hyun looked displeased. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

“Isn’t that too easy of an approval?”

“Like I said earlier, I’m just a gardener. I don’t have the right to invite guests.”

“Still, shouldn’t you at least have a duty to block intruders?”

“That’s something the homeowner and the guest should resolve between themselves, no?”

The Emperor himself had expressed intent to visit. A lowly gardener couldn’t stop him. The garden’s master probably wasn’t much different either. In short, it was out of Yoo Seong-Woon’s hands.

“But, uh... if you do decide to visit, give me a heads-up at least. That way I can mentally prepare myself. As a gardener, that’s about all I can do...”

Yoo Seong-Woon looked at Gio.

“Do you need my help with anything?”

“I’d like to hear about the garden.”

“You mean the scenery and such? Should I describe it like I’m narrating a painting?”

“I can see that through your eyes, so it’s not necessary.”

“Oh, right. You’ve seen the snowfield through my eyes before, haven’t you?”

If that’s the case, a neutral visual description might not be needed. Though he didn’t know exactly what Gio had seen through his eyes.

“Then what about the garden are you curious about? I’m not sure how I can help yet.”

“Could I hear your impression of the garden, Mr. Yoo Seong-Woon?”

“That’s hard to explain. Hard to put into words. Do you need a critique?”

“If that’s difficult, just staying by my side while I draw will be enough. That alone satisfies the condition.”

“A kind of offering? Well, sure. Want me to gouge out an eye or something?”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Firm response.

‘So he’s a mystic who doesn’t accept human sacrifice, huh.’

From a human’s perspective, that was certainly a good thing.

“So, can I go now?”

“Go where?”

“To draw, right?”

“We’re still eating.”

“Wasn’t it more like snacking?”

“Similar.”

“That’s true.”

They were still putting something in their mouths, after all.

“So please, eat up, Mr. Yoo Seong-Woon.”

“I was eating just fine...”

“You need to gain weight.”

“What use is a fattened curator...”

Persistent little portrait.

***

As twilight settled, people began quietly gathering at a secluded café.

They came in all manner of appearances and ages, so varied it was hard to categorize them. There were even cats, crows, and dogs among them. Yet, recognizing each other, they took their seats without a word.

The first to speak was an elderly man with white hair.

“It feels like we’ve come down with a fever.”

That calm heaviness unique to those entering twilight. The café owner spoke with a gentle tone steeped in long experience.

“We’ve all been busy lately, I’m sure. Even just sitting face to face like this had become a burden. I assume you’ve each seen results worthy of that busyness, but...”

“Well, couldn’t we say it was more like side effects from a vaccination than a fever? There was a flare-up once, but it’s been quiet since. And the garden’s much stronger now.”

A young man shrugged and smiled from his chair.

“Something must have happened at the Origin, huh?”

“A mere gardener like me could hardly discover that.”

“We’ve worked together for quite a while now, but you’re still so cold. We work so hard, and our Garden gives no bonuses, announces massive renovations the day of, and that’s that.”

A crow tilted its head.

“You got an announcement?”

“Ah... wait, didn’t your Garden say anything?”

“I just caught a cold as usual...”

“Still as strict as ever.”

“He’s always been quiet, so I understand.”

A cat let out a lazy meow.

“There are pros and cons.”

A chatty Garden exchanged a lot with its gardener but came with burdens. A silent Garden barely acknowledged its gardener but was easier to manage.

And all Gardens inevitably chose the right gardener for their nature.

“But it’s been a while since the Gardens have been this noisy. I’m worried. If it’s to this degree, it can’t be a localized issue. Something must really be wrong at the Origin.”

“‘Wrong’ might not be the right word. ‘Change’ fits better. You know the Origin — it doesn’t really have flaws.”

“But like the cat said, it’s still worrying. Hasn’t it been this noisy only once before, after the Great Cataclysm? If something like that happens again...”

A gardener who looked like a child smiled.

“If it does, I’m hiding in my Garden.”

“Only to turn into a log.”

“My Garden’s nice though. Cozy, warm, breezy.”

“No matter how nice it is, don’t start planning retirement yet. At least leave a successor first.”

A middle-aged woman sighed.

“Same goes for all of you. Don’t let your Gardens seduce you into quitting, don’t lie down just because you’re tired, and don’t quit everything just because you’re mad.”

“But these days, it’s really hard to find a successor...”

“That’s just an excuse. If you really looked, you’d find someone. There are kids out there who have what it takes, just keeping quiet.”

“Bah. Even if you find one, just educating them takes forever.”

“Then live longer, teacher.”

“When can I retire...”

“If we all quit now, Gardener Jeong Hae-Woon might come after us. He’ll grab us by the collar. He’s been on edge lately, so let’s not push him.”

Another middle-aged person chuckled.

“Eh, if we grovel, he’ll let it go.”

“No, seriously, he’s really been looking sour lately.”

“Even someone with a sunny personality like that must’ve hit his limit from all the late nights.”

“It’s honestly heartbreaking to watch...”

A young man who looked just barely into adulthood scratched his neck.

“But really, what happened this time? I’m still new, so I got a lot of help from others, but... that doesn’t mean I wasn’t confused. Is Earth really ending?”

“Let’s hope not, already.”

“But didn’t someone say this only happened during the Great Cataclysm?”

“Maybe the Origin just stretched a bit.”

“Scary, isn’t it? The Origin. Just stretching causes all this?”

The café owner, his face wrinkled, nodded with a slow smile.

“Think of it like the earth itself, student.”

“Uh, yes... the earth...”

“Bigger and deeper than the dirt beneath our feet. If that massive foundation trembles, everything on top shakes. Same here.”

“So it wasn’t a problem at the Origin?”

“The Origin doesn’t have ‘problems.’”

Same as before.

“It’s a change.”

Still, maybe it was fair for humans to be concerned.

“It’s better to stay cautious, just in case. Our Gardens have become lively again for the first time in ages. But hey, there’s nothing bad about a vibrant Garden, right?”

“You’re right.”

A priest with a reverent face spoke up.

“It’s a joy to see the forest so full of life. I was so anxious, thinking the Gardens were slowly weakening. But after the fever, they seem much healthier.”

“That really was a worry. We couldn’t even identify the cause properly. No matter how much nourishment we pumped in, there was a limit to how much the Garden could recover...”

“Wouldn’t Gardener Jeong Hae-Woon know something? About why this happened? We can’t exactly go visit him whenever we want, but this time it feels serious.”

“What would he know? He’s just a gardener like us.”

“He probably has way more info than we do. We only look after a few Gardens, but he practically sweeps across the world’s Gardens...”

The café owner nodded.

“I’ll try to contact him soon.”

“If you’d do that, we’d be grateful.”

The gardeners sighed.

“Anything’s fine, as long as we don’t have to keep doing overtime...”

“Busy enough as it is, and our Garden’s crying like a baby every day.”

“Let’s just hope the recent improvement isn’t a final flare before collapse.”

“We’ll wait for your message, teacher.”

And so they all left the café.

“......”

The café owner, Jeong Hae-Woon, stroked his chin.

“...What really was the problem?”

Though his face had looked like an old man’s before, it had now reverted to that of a younger middle-aged man.

‘Considering Haera and Eun-Hye haven’t reacted either, the issue probably did stem from the Origin. But even for me, direct contact with it is... too much.’

Lost in thought, Jeong Hae-Woon came to a decision.

‘...I’ll need to talk with Yoo Seong-Woon.’

It was time to deal with what he’d been putting off.

***

Watching Gio paint nearby, Yoo Seong-Woon rubbed his neck.

“...?”

“Is something wrong?”

“No, just got chills for a second.”

“Is it the energy of overtime?”

“Maybe.”

It was a similar feeling.