The Artist Who Paints Dungeon-Chapter 211
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“...This is a follow-up report.”
“Before we begin, I want to make it absolutely clear that this content is restricted to personnel with Level 0 clearance.
If you are listening to this file and do not have Level 0 authorization, the Association and I will take no responsibility for any consequences that result.
This is your last chance to leave.”
“Continuing with the report.
...Ha, it was truly incredible.
I made direct contact with Black Cloak.
The contact location was in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province.
As with the previous file, it happened during an investigation into the entity ‘White Frame.’
And I saw his frame.
A portrait, to be precise.”
“He looked utterly perfect.
The peaceful forest he lived in was breathtakingly beautiful.
It was clear to me—this was Black Cloak’s ideal world.
He seems to favor peace and beauty.
You could see it in his eyes, those eyes, they...”
(Content Deleted)
“......”
“I’ll prepare separate documentation about the danger Black Cloak poses later.
But just being in his presence makes it hard to stay sane.
It’s honestly a mystery why a religion hasn’t formed around him yet.
I nearly got terminated too...”
“Please refrain from adding irrelevant information, sir.”
“Ah, right.
Even after treatment, I’m still like this.”
“If the hospital bed is uncomfortable, shall we relocate?”
“To the interrogation room, right?
Let’s just do it here.
Now, picking up from last time—continuing the report on the ‘White Frame.’
To make it easier to summarize... hmm... let me isolate just this section...”
“In order to be integrated into the entity, certain conditions must be met.
The deceased must have lived a virtuous enough life to earn Black Cloak’s favor, or they must be very young souls, not yet taught the concepts of good and evil.
Since no similar cases have been found abroad, it’s presumed that soul collection only happens in certain parts of Korea.”
“Black Cloak said it’s not a ‘work’ meant to be appreciated.
He described it more like a home.
When asked to explain some of the special cases recently reported, he said those weren’t functions of the artwork itself.”
“If not a function of the artwork, then does it involve external factors?”
“Yes.
He said that when the soul within the ‘White Frame’ resonates with the living, certain interactions can occur.
As expected of a divine anomaly, the explanation was vague and fairy-tale-like...
But in essence, it means this.”
“The soul inside the frame always has the initiative.
If the living desperately wishes for it, that resonance can be sensed, but if the soul doesn’t respond, the living will never perceive the ‘White Frame.’”
“Additionally, it seems that if the balance between life and death is at risk, the frame will not appear, regardless of resonance.
It appears there are limits to what the residents inside are permitted... but I didn’t receive a clear answer on this.”
“Do you have any speculations?”
“I’ll explain that part shortly.”
“Thank you.”
“Black Cloak said this place isn’t a prison—it’s just a home.
He said the residents can go anywhere they want.
That’s very different from the typical concept of an afterlife.
If they can go anywhere, then maybe it’s heaven, or the road to reincarnation, or possibly... even possession of someone else.
Of course, that’s just speculation.
No confirmed cases.”
“Now, in response to your previous question about what’s permitted to residents inside the frame...”
“I interpreted it as this: it’s only to the extent of helping the living finish their remaining lifespan.”
“From all the cases gathered so far, direct encounters with the ‘White Frame’ are extremely rare.
Such exceptions only occur when the living is mentally stable enough not to disrupt the balance—even after recognizing the resonance.”
“Could you give an example?”
“People who accepted their impending death: terminal patients, the elderly, or those with strong enough willpower to remain indifferent to life and death.”
“There seems to be a pattern.”
“Yes.
The more meaning the living attaches to the death of the dead, the harder it becomes to meet the frame.”
“Among these, if a living person is accepted into the domain of the dead—into the ‘White Frame’—they receive a ‘diary.’
No one can actually read what’s inside.
But judging by the reactions of those who received it, it’s likely a kind of life-flashing-before-your-eyes montage.”
“What is certain is that the ‘diary’ helps those on the verge of death transition peacefully and stably.
Perhaps it’s a reward or a gift for the life they lived.
In such cases, it would mean the living person was favored by Black Cloak, and since he especially likes good people, it may be his way of affirming that their life was worthy of reward.”
“There aren’t many known cases, but this would be among the rarest.
If ‘White Frame’ spreads internationally, it could yield even greater insight—shame it’s so localized.”
“According to him, even the living can enter the ‘White Frame.’”
“...Are you certain?”
“He said it was possible for those he permits.
But he didn’t specify who.
If I had to guess, it might be his apostles—like Hunter Sergio or Acolyte Cha I-Sol.
Black Cloak values balance too much to endanger the Earth directly...
Still, it’s something we need to keep a close eye on.”
“That’s all I can explain in words.
The rest will be submitted in writing.”
“Thank you for your report.”
[Additional Report]
In a later interview, Hunter Sergio, one of Black Cloak’s apostles, said,
“I can only open the door through my contracted beast (presumed to be Anti-Cat ‘Dana’), but I can’t enter myself.”
Acolyte Cha I-Sol, another apostle, showed no recognition of the ‘White Frame’s’ existence.
Not all apostles seem to receive the same amount of information or authority.
Among the residents of the ‘White Frame,’ some can briefly take physical form in exchange for good deeds.
These manifestations are uncommunicative but can be seen in secluded places.
Each one differs in form, behavior, and intellect, but none show intent to interact with the living.
Some Gardeners speculate they are “Children of the [N O V E L I G H T] Origin.”
There is an ongoing debate on whether they should be classified as monsters.
Until official records are published, they will be referred to as “Residents of the White Frame.”
Strict control of this record is required.
***
“......”
“Would you like to visit?”
Joo-Hyun blinked at the White Frame that appeared before her.
“...Is this heaven?”
“As I said—just a home.”
“That’s lovely.”
This house I’m in now... feels so lonely.
She was deeply thankful to the Collector who lent her this large, luxurious home, but it also reminded her of the noisy, messy orphanage she grew up in.
She only lived there until she was sixteen, but it was always her home.
They said the kind and young reside inside here, didn’t they?
She gently brushed the frame with her hand.
“......”
Joo-Hyun had received a letter from Gio today.
“...So that’s why you gave me the invitation.”
It was still hard to decipher, but within the tangled patterns resembling a drawing, she could pick out the word “invitation.”
Does this mean ‘Gio’s portrait’ is becoming more human?
Perhaps.
With a flutter of nerves and a fair bit of anxiety, she waited—and then, the pure white frame appeared.
Not the peaceful forest where Gio usually dwelled, but a blank frame, utterly empty.
That’s where he was waiting.
“Gio, do you want me to visit inside?”
“The choice is always yours.”
“Now that I think about it... you’ve always been like that.
You never forced anything.”
“I saw no need to.”
“Even though it’s a gravestone you made for me.”
The day Gio summoned the friends Joo-Hyun had lost.
“...Haha...”
So that’s where the family Dana had swallowed ended up.
“...They were all here.”
“Would you like to visit?”
The exact same words.
The exact same tone.
The exact same voice.
“...No.”
Joo-Hyun felt something deeply distant—but at the same time, the situation just seemed... absurd.
“I’m fine.”
“Is that so?”
“It’s too big a gift.”
Gio made this just for a friend.
How naïve he was. How simple and pure his intentions were.
Whenever he handed her gifts she couldn’t possibly handle, Joo-Hyun always found herself laughing.
“You’re something else.”
She felt a childish kind of gratitude for his painfully transparent goodwill.
“When did you even make this?
I never heard anything about a new piece from Black Cloak.”
“It’s been a while.
But Yoo Seong-Woon said important people in the government and association are keeping the information suppressed due to its... implications.”
“Well, of course.
I mean, creating an afterlife of all things... what are we supposed to do with that?”
Gio folded his arms, as if he had his own complaints.
“But I couldn’t keep your family inside Dana forever.”
“Don’t get serious about weird things.
Every time you do, something catastrophic happens.”
“I’ll take that under advisement.”
“Is that all my words are to you?”
“Everyone keeps teasing me about that.”
“It was a joke.”
Joo-Hyun always found strength in this massive enigma’s very human kindness.
This direct gift was a bit twisted in presentation—but sincere in its essence.
And she was someone who always looked beyond appearances. Even Gio’s portrait.
So even as she felt overwhelmed, she was still grateful.
“Thank you.
It’s a truly beautiful house.”
If he were truly a being of pure mystery, there would’ve been no gift like this.
“...You’re not going to cause trouble with this, right?”
“Of course not.”
“I trust you, Gio.”
“Then I’ll live up to that trust.”
“Alright...”
Her mind had been a mess, but now it felt just a little clearer.
“......”
When I’ve used up all the time I’ve been given... maybe I’ll enter that place too.
If Gio allows it.
...That would be enough.
The living have no need for heaven.
I can still walk quite a bit farther.
***
Meanwhile, in the “Four-Legged Rainforest of the Underground.”
“......”
Rustle.
“...Uh...”
Clatter-clatter-clatter!!
“Ugh...”
Yoo Seong-Woon blinked.
“Hunter Yoo Seong-Woon, is something wrong?”
“No, it’s just...
I saw a new monster here that felt oddly familiar...”
“What are you talking about?
Are you heat-struck?
How can something be new and familiar at the same time?”
“It happens.”
Seeing the “Waterbird’s Nest” in this strange place, Yoo Seong-Woon gave a hollow laugh.
Nice to see you again, I guess.
Seems like Gio really is planning to swallow the whole Earth.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢
