The Artist Who Paints Dungeon-Chapter 321

Since that day, Jeong Hae-Woon's daily life had changed—just slightly.

“Hm, I thought you’d sleep in since you worked late last night. How about going back to sleep for a little longer?”

“...The hell is this shit....”

“Hearing you curse so harshly my heart’s all aflutter—does that mean you don’t remember? Gardener Jeong Hae-Woon borrowed me from Guildmaster Bisa Beul. That means I’ve become the portrait of Jeong Hae-Woon’s home. If you pretend to forget me like that, I’ll be heartbroken....”

“...I remember.”

He did, but the presence had been so jarring it nearly knocked the memory from him. By class and appearance alike, this wasn’t someone suitable to be the first thing one saw upon waking.

He was getting older and this kind of thing had never happened before, but his heart was pounding. And it wasn’t in a good way. Hae-Woon’s face was a little pale. Even considering he had just woken up, his reaction was visibly shaken. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

“Feels like I woke up in a horror movie. Opening my eyes under a garden’s gaze in the morning—truly terrifying.”

“I try to be nice and you come at me like that? Have you ever seen such a kind and sweet horror movie? At the very least, I’m not one of them.”

“...Could you maybe go back to wearing black?”

The interior of Hae-Woon’s home wasn’t exactly bleak. He’d decorated it with care to avoid offending any visitor. But even in such a space, the being who had introduced himself as Jeorge stood out. Ostentatiously so.

It wasn’t as if his face emitted light, and yet it made Hae-Woon’s eyes ache. It was absurd.

“I remember having this kind of sensation right before I went blind.”

Hae-Woon had, in fact, come close to blindness more than once. It wasn’t from looking into something bright, or poison, or heat—so why did he feel this way?

No matter how he re-examined it, the being’s presence was undeniably shocking.

“Did I bring you here a bit too recklessly...?”

“I showed up because of your constant talk about trust, and now you act so irreverently. Didn’t you want to build trust with me? Then shouldn’t you put in a bit more effort?”

“...Considering how diligent I’ve been just to stay alive, I’d say I’ve done more than enough.”

“Fair point. Very true. In light of that, I prepared breakfast for the hardworking Jeong Hae-Woon. Aren’t you grateful? You should be. When would you ever get treated this well...?”

“I’ve had breakfast made for me before, you know.”

“By a garden like me?”

“No, I haven’t. Thank you. Truly, you are a merciful garden. All hail Jeorge.”

Come to think of it, this really was quite a luxurious moment. A meal prepared by that finicky garden himself. If you set aside the fear that eating it might kill you, this was a tremendous indulgence for a gardener.

And the breakfast was surprisingly modest.

“...Bread and sausage... and bacon.”

“You don’t see the eggs modestly nestled beside them?”

“I see those too. A very textbook Western breakfast, I’d say.”

“You like this kind of stuff.”

“...And every time you say things like that, my heart drops.”

Even if it was supposedly based on their shared past, Hae-Woon knew nothing. Or rather, he’d forgotten it all. Sitting down, he inspected the meal the garden had prepared.

Perfectly round pancakes, glossy sausages. The egg yolk was a deep amber, almost red, plump like a marble, and the bacon looked crispy yet moist in the fatty parts.

“......”

If there was anything absurd about it, it was probably the sheer volume.

“Expecting an elephant?”

“Puuu~”

“God, what’s a grown man doing acting like that, it’s disgusting.”

“I’m forever a fresh and sprightly 21, so I’m fine. This much is nothing.”

“If you’re gonna share a body, could you at least agree on an age first? It’s confusing as hell. Anyway, you’re seriously planning to eat all this? Can your body even handle that much? Isn’t it physically impossible?”

“Trying to apply physics to a garden—how romantic.”

“You call everything romantic, no matter what.”

Still, Hae-Woon was getting used to it. As Jeorge said, it wasn’t exactly shocking anymore for a garden to ignore physical laws. The portrait sat confidently and elegantly consumed the food.

‘That part still amazes me every time I see it.’

It ate silently, politely, and yet entire pancakes—each not small—slid into its mouth. There was no puffed-up cheek or full mouth. It was a quiet process, but unnervingly fast.

‘So I do get my own portion.’

What was laid before the portrait seemed more like side plates, but Hae-Woon had a normal human stomach that could be satisfied with just one dish. There was also a garnish of boiled broccoli and roasted cherry tomatoes.

‘Maybe because it’s a garden, it’s giving me a pretty balanced meal.’

And naturally, it tasted good.

“This is nuts.”

“Go on, just admit it’s delicious, Student Jeong Hae-Woon.”

“...What exactly am I eating?”

“Wouldn’t it be breakfast?”

“Well, yeah, but still.”

Something about it was unsettling.

‘...Why do I feel so familiar with this moment? It’s bizarre how unawkward this breakfast feels.’

By the time he finished eating, it was 7 a.m. Thanks to the Black Cloak’s help, Jeong Hae-Woon now had the luxury of sitting down for breakfast. It should’ve felt strange, considering he’d never done this before—but food kept disappearing into his mouth.

‘Though that might just be because it’s too delicious for humans to resist.’

He’d heard that sometimes even the Sun Goddess or the God of Death received offerings that weren’t really offerings. It wouldn’t be easy for Hae-Woon to reject food that could entice deities.

Anyway, today was a day to inspect gardens. It had been scheduled in advance, so the two of them began their rounds early in the morning.

“This used to be an ownerless garden.”

“If I recall correctly, it’s work number 482. Am I right?”

“I’ve said it before—I don’t memorize numbers just because you spout them off. But I did hear that, thanks to the Black Cloak’s help, a gardener was recently assigned here.”

“Oh, a very good person. Plays with me often too. The Black Cloak sure does a lot of fun things, don’t you think?”

“I don’t know how long we’re supposed to keep up this act. Anyway, since it’s a new gardener, there are still some rookie mistakes. We’ll fix those and move on.”

Ten thousand “gardens” had been revealed to the world, and many of them had chosen their gardeners. This jungle of tall trees was no exception. But perhaps due to its complicated structure, it seemed the assigned gardener was struggling to manage it.

“They’ve got enthusiasm, but they need to be more meticulous. Otherwise, things end up all crooked. Still fumbling around like a beginner, I suppose.”

“I heard the Hunter Association and your guild are also running gardener training programs. Are they not very effective? Or is it just beginner errors here too...?”

“For now, it’s better than nothing. They made a dedicated academy class for gardeners, but both the teachers and students still seem awkward. I trust it’ll improve in time.”

Next up was a garden without an owner.

“Is this one of your paintings too?”

“Piece number 3,094. This massive lake was absolutely enchanting.”

“A lake with no living creatures is definitely alien to humans. So clean it’s almost unsettling. Seems like it’s been swallowing a lot of people lately, and yet no gardener has been assigned.”

“That’s how love works.”

“You’ve got a bad habit of blaming everything on love.”

The lake was so quiet it swallowed all sound. That eerie silence was probably why no gardener had been chosen. Most humans would lose their minds if they couldn’t hear anything at all.

Hae-Woon stroked his chin.

“It’s a long shot, but it’d be nice if someone who couldn’t hear at all came by...”

“Whoever it is, I just hope they can adapt well.”

“That’s what I mean. It doesn’t matter who, but ideally it’d be someone whose similarities eliminate any reason to fight in the first place. Forget love or whatever—it’s just easier that way.”

“And yet love is the power that can overcome those differences.”

“That’s a very you-like romantic thing to say, but the world is a lot harsher than you imagine. It’s ridiculous, chaotic, and stubborn as hell. Goddamned garden, goddamned mystery.”

“...?”

The garden—also the mystery—gave him a look after being randomly cursed. Hae-Woon ignored the stare like it was second nature. He’d long figured out that this was all part of a “game.” It wasn’t something that would upset his companion.

At that moment, he caught a shimmering, noise-making bug.

“Buzzes like a beetle, doesn’t it.”

A silent lake wouldn’t welcome something like this. But unmanaged gardens always attracted pests. And as he examined it, Honey’s eyes lit up.

“...Oh? Do you want this?”

“Grrrrlk.”

“If the guardian approves, I’d be glad to offer it to your child. Would that be alright?”

Honey, now perched on his shoulder, tilted their head. Cute—but not actually cute. A gardener like Jeong Hae-Woon wouldn’t fail to recognize the dignity of a creature like this waterbird.

‘Still sizing me up, huh.’

More than anything, the way they looked at the bug—and at him—was that of a predator. Hae-Woon couldn’t shake the suspicion that this being was only pretending to be cute in front of its father.

Fortunately, the garden gave permission.

“That kind of thing is just right for Honey. Our kid doesn’t really do picky eating, as long as it’s not spicy. If Honey wants it, and you want to give it, go right ahead.”

“If the guardian says so...”

Honey gulped down the bug.

‘Goes out of their way to mime eating it with that tiny mouth. Their whole body’s made of water, so why bother?’

Sometimes, the mystery’s behavior struck Hae-Woon as fake. The portrait of Gio had a human ego layered over it, sure, but Honey wasn’t that kind of case. Were they just mimicking their father?

‘More likely just pretending to be cute...’

If that was Honey’s rule, he had no choice but to accept it. Cute eldest son. Cute waterbird. Cute child. The fact that they always acted more “birdlike” in front of the portrait gave him a hint about their relationship.

‘He says it’s a family, but in the end, it’s just a mystical being playing house, isn’t it.’

He still couldn’t get used to it. These pretenses. These mimics. Regardless of whether they were nice to look at, there was something deeply strange about it. The unease gave him a lingering sense of discomfort.

“You saw everything?”

“......”

Yeah, that too.

“...Honestly, I didn’t see all of it.”

Those jewel-like eyes shimmered so brightly it blurred his reason. A human without Hae-Woon’s level of experience and restraint would’ve gladly handed over their soul. Its essence was “love.”

‘Horrifying.’

A garden ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) capable not only of receiving love but generously bestowing it. That, without doubt, was a catastrophe. And if that garden took human form, then—inevitably—it would be trash.

“You’re not someone who can be fully read with just a glance, Teacher.”

“...Oh—I meant, did you finish inspecting the garden? Honey’s done eating.”

“...Let’s move on.”

This kind of dodging wasn’t new.

‘How am I supposed to build trust with someone like this...’

The portrait had given him a chance. A chance to build trust. And also a chance to analyze. But the more time passed, the deeper the questions became.

‘Why does none of this feel unfamiliar to me...?’

He tried not to think too deeply, but the questions kept returning. It was instinct—a human drive to fill in empty spaces.

They visited gardens every day like that. Because Jeong Hae-Woon was a special gardener, he could even enter gardens that already had owners. That was the only reason Earth hadn’t completely fallen apart.

“Honestly, this is getting old, Teacher.”

After working for a long while, Hae-Woon let out a sigh.

“I knew it since the moment you told me you’d drawn ten thousand gardens. At that point, I figured you’d captured nearly every garden that exists on Earth. You name each garden as we pass—it seems I was right.”

“There are definitely gardens I didn’t draw. Our game of tag ended quicker than I expected because of my whims. I did eventually complete the ten thousand, but I’m sure there are still others out there.”

“So you narrowed them down to ten thousand truly important ones—enough to threaten Earth’s fate. Or maybe... it was just your taste.”

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“......”

They sat in the middle of another garden, eating paninis.

“Is this really okay in a garden?”

“They don’t seem angry.”

“Wouldn’t you be mad if someone dropped food crumbs on your own clothes?”

“So you’re saying the panini isn’t good?”

“It’s so good I could die.”

“Then that’s all that matters.”

Jeorge laughed brightly.

“My cooking skills are quite something.”

“So they are.”

“Living as a wanderer, it’s harder not to know how to cook.”

“A wanderer... You mean your life as a garden with legs?”

“Even before that, I was a wanderer. I was a musician, loved by many. I cooked well, and I was handsome too.”

“Where does this endless self-confidence come from....”

“An infinite wellspring of my own worth?”

“...Not exactly wrong.”

“That’s how it was. So many people tried to hold onto me. But I never wanted to stay in one place—I usually ran away.”

“Ran away?”

“Even if it’s a golden prison, I don’t like being trapped.”

This was him admitting that he was once human.

“What kind of person were you?”

“I was someone who was loved.”

“That can’t be all there was to you.”

“If that’s all, then it makes sense I ended up like this....”

“...Uh...”

Hae-Woon was caught off guard.

“You don’t like what you are now? That’s... surprising, given how full of self-love you are.”

“I’m someone who loves change. Isn’t that what they call dopamine addiction on Earth? I wandered through countless gardens, and it wasn’t all joy.”

“...Still, sticking around has helped me learn more about you.”

Every now and then, the garden would tell stories about itself. Not every time. Mostly, it brushed things off with jokes. But sometimes—like now—it offered something real.

He wanted to ask more. But every time he did, the garden warned him:

“It’s not time to tell my story yet. Don’t you think?”

He didn’t know exactly what that meant, but it made one thing clear—the garden was seeing the future. Hae-Woon could only nod along.

“Understood.”

A gardener, after all, lived longest when they didn’t know what lay ahead. No need to ruin his mental health by seeking out trouble.

‘He’s probably filtering the info to only tell me what won’t threaten humans or Earth.’

He had once asked Gio’s portrait to reveal only what Jeong Hae-Woon was allowed to know. This was likely an extension of that.

After a long round of garden inspections, Hae-Woon was finally able to return home. His work as guildmaster would resume another day. Nothing urgent today.

“Why are you lying down without washing?”

“...Come on.”

“I’m not someone who insists you must shower after going out, but you look like you’re about to pass out. Do you remember we haven’t had dinner yet?”

“...Feel free to eat alone...”

“Me? Eat? Alone...?”

“Alright, I’m getting up now.”

Once they’d eaten, Hae-Woon’s day came to a close.

“......”

A lot had changed.

‘This wasn’t how things used to be.’

He hadn’t planned for things to change like this.

But Jeorge was a master at coaxing and training people. When he joked, got serious, smiled, or whispered softly, you couldn’t help but follow his lead.

‘No wonder people say that food stall owner is a dangerous monster, even if he’s kind.’

Hae-Woon sat on the living room couch.

“Agh... my back...”

“Is that because you insist on a middle-aged appearance? Are your joints middle-aged too?”

“Just a figure of speech. Just a saying.”

“Did you enjoy today?”

“......”

Every day, this garden asked him that question at the end. Hae-Woon still didn’t understand the intention behind it. What was the point of that question? He didn’t know, but it wasn’t unpleasant.

Still, it made him uneasy.

“...I don’t know.”

Habits remembered by the body and the soul—things he didn’t even know he remembered—kept coming out. Behaviors he didn’t think were his own, he found himself doing naturally beside Jeorge. Realizing that gave him chills.

Error Detected

Awaiting Command

What do I even want to do...?

Timeout Limit Exceeded

Forcing: Switching to Command Execution State

Unlock Progress: 0.02%

“...Why are you staring, Teacher?”

“I feel like something very interesting is about to happen.”

“You saying that really doesn’t put me at ease.”

“So tell me your thoughts.”

The garden smiled like a crescent moon.

“It’s a promise, Jeong Hae-Woon.”

***

That night, Jeong Hae-Woon had a dream.

A terribly nostalgic dream.