The Artist Who Paints Dungeon-Chapter 301

And then Yoo Seong-Woon got off work.

“Can’t believe I lived to experience getting off work.”

“Have you not been getting off work regularly before?”

“Well, close enough.”

It honestly felt like coming home for the first time in a hundred years.

“Alright, what should I do now?”

Yoo Seong-Woon asked with a weary smile on his face. Gio replied firmly.

“Let’s eat.”

“What are you, a hungry ghost? Why are you so obsessed with meals? What’s your problem?”

“I sincerely apologize if you came back feeling excited, but looking like that and saying such things only makes me worry. You should rest first.”

“Do I really look that terrible?”

Yoo Seong-Woon checked his face in a pocket mirror and nodded.

“Yeah. It’s pretty rough.”

“I’m glad you admitted it so honestly.”

“Hah... I tried to finish quickly, but...”

“That might be the very problem.”

Gio looked pitifully at the overworked office drone. It wasn’t like he was going to run away if Yoo Seong-Woon was late. Gio couldn’t understand why he pushed himself so hard with the work.

Worried, Gio carefully asked,

“Did you eat properly?”

“I’ve been eating four meals a day like clockwork.”

“What did you eat?”

“Uh... a sandwich.”

“You called that a meal?”

“There wasn’t any clause in our contract specifying what kind of food counts as a proper meal.”

“Well, how meticulous of you.”

It was food, technically, so Gio accepted it.

‘It’s not a seven-course meal, but it’s a convenient and excellent food one can carry around.’

Gio had hoped he would eat rice with every meal, but even he knew that was too much to expect.

When Yoo Seong-Woon shrugged off his coat like a limp rag, Gio took it for him. He didn’t even look like he had the energy to hang it up.

“What had you so busy?”

“I was busy as a hunter, as a curator, and as a gardener...”

“Sounds exhausting just hearing about it.”

“Even if you remove the salaried work, there’s still all the duties of a gardener.”

“Wait a moment.”

Gio raised a hand to stop him.

“Do gardeners not receive a salary?”

“Huh? Uh... no. Technically speaking, it’s not a salary.”

“Then you receive some other kind of compensation?”

“If I submit a research proposal, the government funds it accordingly.”

“I’m relieved to hear it’s not unpaid labor.”

“Did you just imply the government of our country was in danger?”

Yoo Seong-Woon laughed awkwardly.

‘My former student is the president. I doubt she’d let the place collapse.’

Anyway—

“Still, compared to before, the workload has definitely lessened. I’ve heard that not only my Snowfield but other gardeners’ domains have also stabilized a lot. This time it just overlapped with collector duties—bad luck, really.”

“Then have you been out reorganizing the Snowfield?”

“No. I actually wanted to show you that part... and to catch up with the other gardeners, I’ve been traveling around. I didn’t have anything urgent. You and I agreed to handle the Snowfield together, remember?”

“Thank you for thinking of me.”

Gio thought to himself,

‘It didn’t feel like a formal promise, but hey, who cares.’

Having something to look forward to was a good thing.

“So, no urgent tasks coming up for now?”

“I even handled work waving at me from across the river, so probably not. Unless another cataclysm hits Earth, that is... But for now, it should be fine. Honestly, if you just stay quiet...”

“I have always been quiet.”

“Thanks for the surreal joke. This is exactly why I work—to hear such things.”

“You’re quite modest. The future is uncertain, but as of now, I have no desire to stir.”

“Was that a prophetic double-negative? Like, a veiled declaration that you’re about to cause something? Should I be on high alert?”

“My capricious will to act is irrelevant. What matters is—I’m curious about your garden.”

“In that case, let’s head to my house right now—!”

“Getting you back home is no issue, but as I mentioned earlier, I didn’t mean to go to the garden right now. Please rest first.”

Yoo Seong-Woon had said he would show Gio the process of maintaining his garden. Still, to come back from an intense work marathon and immediately suggest more work... it had to be a brain short-circuit from all the labor.

‘Is this what modern office workers are like?’

The world was indeed frightening.

“Do you need a blanket?”

“No, it’s not that cold today...”

“Are you sure you don’t need one?”

“Well, if you’ve got one, that’d be nice.”

As if waiting for that cue, the teddy bear approached with a blanket.

“Pboo.”

“...My god.”

“Pboo?”

“No, thank you.”

The blanket, made of thick fur, almost obscured the Sun God teddy bear carrying it. It looked like the blanket was walking by itself. Regardless, Yoo Seong-Woon gratefully wrapped it around himself.

“Ohh... warm...”

As Gio helped him melt into the sofa, he asked,

“Do you need flower tea?”

“What are you trying to turn me into?”

“At this point, it’s far too late for suspicion. Just drink it.”

“You really leave me speechless sometimes.”

For the record, the tea was poured by waterbirds that fluttered over.

“I... I feel like I’ve seen this scene somewhere before...”

“Where have you seen something like this?”

“In some archive from before the Great Cataclysm... tsk, I can’t quite remember.”

“Whatever you saw, it must’ve been something adorable and delightful. After all, you were reminded of it by my charming waterbird friends. Don’t you agree?”

“Yeah, it’s kind of similar... like those stories where little animals help someone go about their day—some highly self-sufficient character who lives with small creatures...”

“That’s clearly me, isn’t it?”

“...Yeah. I guess it is.”

Yoo Seong-Woon gave up thinking and simply enjoyed the healing lifestyle inside the portrait.

“What do you think I’ll be in my next life, Gio?”

“A pampered housecat in a wealthy family?”

“The fact that you’ve got it that specific makes me think that is my destiny.”

“Well, it’s a pleasant life—growing up loved and with no responsibilities.”

“At least I wouldn’t have to work overtime... Still, I like being human. Keep that in mind.”

“...? Noted.”

Gio sat on the floor near the sofa where Yoo Seong-Woon was lying and added,

“For reference, in my next life, I’ll be a rich household’s pet rock.”

“You’ve already decided?! Wait, not even a sculpture—just a rock? A rich family’s rock? Why?”

“Because I want to have no thoughts.”

“If you become a rock... that’s not even a rock anymore...”

“Then what would you call it?”

“Something like... the wedge of calamity?”

“Can a single rock become that threatening?”

“You can do it. Believe in me, who believes in you.”

“I didn’t want to be believed in this way.”

Anyway, it was an absurd but amusing conversation.

“How far along are you with eating today?”

“I had up to the second meal.”

“What time was that?”

“About three hours ago... so, lunchtime.”

“Then let’s have dinner.”

“...Am I going to be a pig in my next life?”

“I don’t understand this obsession with your next life.”

“No, it’s not that. I was thinking white, or maybe blue...”

“Is that your preference? If so, I can look for an available position.”

“...Not really.”

“I truly don’t know how to respond to that.”

This man had worked himself into babbling nonsense. His words had no order or logic. Gio, looking sympathetically at the zombie-like Yoo Seong-Woon, turned his gaze to the kitchen.

“How far have you scouted the situation?”

“W-what, are we making a contract? What am I supposed to do?”

“Dinner. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll do my best to prepare it.”

“Anything is fine, as long as it’s edible for humans.”

“Well, technically, humans can eat rocks.”

“Okay, yes. Then something humans normally eat.”

“Hmmm.”

Gio stroked his chin.

“Vegetables, seafood, meat...”

“Meat. I want meat...”

“Meat... whole roast barbecue? Nothing says meat quite like that.”

“No, something like boiled pork... soft and tender...”

“Then I shall show you how a whole roast barbecue can ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) become just as tender. Feel the power of the Sea’s Master and the current Sun God.”

“I have no idea what you’re going to make, but could I just get plain boiled pork with some kimchi or tofu?”

“If you’d said so from the start, it would’ve saved us time.”

People in this house only gave proper answers when pressured. Honestly, there’s no such thing as a menu called “whatever.” Gio rose from his seat with reverence.

He called Dana.

“Daughter.”

“Nyaaah~”

“Let’s go catch a pig.”

“Meow.”

A happy cat could hunt pigs, too.

***

“I can’t believe boiled pork like this exists.”

“I’m glad it’s to your liking.”

“This is seriously delicious, Gio...”

The fat was chewy, the meat flaked like silk along the grain—it was heavenly food.

“Wait, hold on.”

“Yes?”

“I’m still alive, so let’s not call it heavenly.”

“Of course. You’re perfectly alive, Mr. Yoo.”

“Thanks for the confirmation.”

Even though it had been boiled, the meat burst with juice. The flavor and texture were incredible. The spices were rich and deep, but not overwhelming or dizzying.

The solid, savory pork paired perfectly with kimchi.

“Do you make kimchi now, too? This tastes freshly made, with lots of red pepper. Haven’t had red kimchi like this in a while—it’s really refreshing.”

“Ms. Joo-Hyun gave me some napa cabbage recently. I had also dried some chili peppers under the sun and ground them into powder. After making the kimchi, I buried a crock jar in the corner of the garden.”

“Then how come this isn’t fermented? Didn’t she give you that cabbage weeks ago? But this tastes crunchy and sweet, like it was just made...”

“I wanted some to stay unfermented.”

“So you’re not even going to try to explain how?”

“I just don’t know.”

The most plausible guess was: because this place is inside a portrait. Drawing kimchi doesn’t make it age into old kimchi. In the end, it seemed everything followed the will of its owner and painter, Gio.

“The fermented ones were stir-fried and served over there. And this is tofu I made at dawn today...”

“You’re not planning to open a restaurant, are you?”

“I’ve considered it now and then, but I don’t think I have the stamina.”

Gio shook his head.

“I’d probably eat everything before serving the guests.”

“That would be a problem.”

Yoo Seong-Woon nodded.

“You’d be really good at running a side dish shop.”

“I’m good at everything.”

“I know.”

“And Guildmaster Seo Seo-Hee said something similar.”

“What’d he say?”

“He asked if I was planning to open a restaurant.”

“People really all think alike...”

He must’ve been equally baffled.

‘Well, I guess Gio is managing it well enough...’

He no longer thought, “If I eat food from this place, something terrible will happen.” But that was only because it was him—others might still find it terrifying.

Anyway, the meal was great. As always.

“So are we going to see the garden now?” 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

“You should digest and sleep first, then we’ll go.”

“Are you raising me or something?”

And just like that, Yoo Seong-Woon regained perfect condition.

***

“......”

And then Yoo Seong-Woon was dumbfounded.

“Gio, what is all this?”

“It happened.”

“Who are these little guys...?”

His Snowfield now had snow rabbit friends.

“I just kept making them...”

“...What am I supposed to do with your Midas hands?”

“Is that... an appropriate term here?”

“They’re too cute, that’s the problem...”

Intricately crafted rabbits made of snow gazed up at Yoo Seong-Woon and Gio. Caught off guard by their sparkling eyes, Yoo Seong-Woon shuddered.

“...Wait a second.”

“Yes. One moment.”

“Am I supposed to raise these too?”

“I’ll help cover the childcare costs.”

“Please spare me.”

If you want to know how things got to this point, we’ll need to rewind time a little.