The Artist Who Paints Dungeon-Chapter 309
The anomaly happened quickly.
“...What on earth is this...?”
A garden had been drawn.
“...Wait, this way.”
“Yes, senior. What’s going on?”
“You can see this too, right?”
“Uh... yeah, I see it. What did they draw? A jungle? From the vibe, I’m guessing this is a new piece by Black Cloak! Right? Isn’t it?”
“...You think it’s by Black Cloak?”
“Usually when a picture like this suddenly pops up in a random place, it’s a Black Cloak piece, right? Wow, it’s my first time seeing one in person. It definitely has a different aura than normal paintings.”
“......”
“...Senior?”
Naturally, it was the gardeners who noticed the anomaly first.
One day, strange new forms of gardens began ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) appearing in the world. They were mostly found in secluded alleys, near temples, or in remote areas like mountains and seas.
And they clearly resembled the “works” Black Cloak was known to create. Most people didn’t understand what they meant.
“They were painted in completely different ways, but somehow they all give off a similar feeling. And the sizes aren’t particularly big either. If you consider the scale of his previous works... is this a series?”
“There’s no official title to call them by yet, but it probably is. A series, huh. Well, any artist with a good reputation would attempt something like this at least once. So he truly is a painter at his core.”
“They definitely feel different from his earlier pieces. And that’s not just because they’re smaller. Can’t you feel it? A pure, mysterious energy? Ah... almost like fate....”
People believed it was simply a new experiment by Black Cloak.
“......”
“...This one, Teacher.”
“...Yeah. It’s a garden. We need to inform others about this.”
But the gardeners couldn’t take it lightly.
“Haven’t seen each other in a while, and here we are again.”
“What the hell is going on...?”
For the first time, gardens were becoming visible even to civilians.
Not all gardeners were present at any single gathering. Due to the nature of their work, many lived in seclusion. Still, those who could reach out to other gardeners did so and spread the news.
In the chaos, someone voiced an opinion.
“Could the previous fever have been a preparation for this?”
“You mean it wasn’t just the Origin stretching its limbs?”
“I—I don’t know either... but it’s possible.”
“True, there haven’t been many times when all the gardens trembled like that at once.”
“And since they called that similar period the Great Catastrophe, I’ve been on edge.”
“Ugh, I figured a second Great Catastrophe was still far off, so I thought this might be a different type... but this?”
“Never imagined it’d be something this outrageous. Damn, this is insane.”
Even gardeners—who were supposed to remain calm and rational—were shaken. They felt an undefined fear, restlessness, and even excitement.
The garden had revealed itself to the world.
“W-what’s the state of the gardens?”
“Nothing’s changed. They’re completely lush and green.”
“Same here. And the piece that showed up—no matter how much we look, we can’t find the corresponding gardener.”
“Would it be too far-fetched to say it’s the garden of some recluse who hates socializing? No, I mean, what the hell does Black Cloak have to do with a garden anyway...?”
“Wasn’t Black Cloak aligned with the Sun God’s divinity? No matter how divine he is, opening the entrance to a garden this wide—that’s a disaster!”
“But Earth is far too quiet for this to be called a disaster. Let’s all calm down for now....”
At that moment, Gardener Jeong Hae-Woon spoke.
“Don’t worry, brother. It’s nothing harmful.”
“So the guildmaster knew about this.”
“To some extent, yes. I’ve also been studying the matter.”
Jeong Hae-Woon didn’t reveal that he and Black Cloak were directly involved in “this matter.” That would only worsen the confusion among gardeners. Instead, he stepped in once the commotion died down a little.
“The gardens appearing now are not mystic domains under management.”
“Then... neglected ones?”
“To be precise, they’re the long-abandoned gardens of Earth. Yes, they’re familiar to me. I’ve visited them several times before.”
“Then what does this all mean? What’s Black Cloak’s connection to the gardens?”
“There must have been a mystical stirring unknown to mere gardeners like myself. But if Black Cloak is involved, then yes... he is a mystery of rules—benevolent to those who are kind and polite.”
“What the guildmaster said is true.”
“This may not be something to relax about, but it’s not the beginning of another catastrophe. Compared to the Great Catastrophe Earth once endured, this is far too gentle, isn’t it? I find that rather fascinating.”
What Jeong Hae-Woon said to a gardener in his guild quickly spread to the others. Behind that statement was a man who worked overtime under several identities.
He took precautions to ensure that gardeners around the world didn’t panic and act recklessly. Thanks to the “identities” he’d built goodwill with, the gardeners gradually regained their composure.
They were, after all, people who were always expected to stay calm.
“......”
“...Then how should we understand this situation?”
“...Beats me, but at least it’s not a disaster. That’s a relief.”
“What if the Great Catastrophe just explodes out of nowhere again? Then what?”
“Then we’d be dismembered alive?”
“By who, the garden?”
At the fresh rookie gardener’s question, the veteran shook their head.
“No, by the pissed-off Association researchers.”
“Those bastards always take it out on us, even though they don’t lift a finger themselves.”
“Well, that’s because the funding they were supposed to share goes entirely to individual gardeners...”
“Yeah, can’t argue with that. Still, what now? What do we actually do?”
“I don’t know what to say either. We’ll have to wait and see how this unfolds.”
This was when the “garden” first appeared in the world.
***
As time passed, people began to notice differences about the “garden.”
“It’s not just the size—it reacts differently too.”
“Up to now, Black Cloak’s works always showed some intent to interfere with reality.”
“These ones are just... existing. Ah, how can they be so pure and beautiful? Their passive gaze is just too adorable, don’t you think?”
“I find the depth of the work rather unsettling. Yeah, it really is just... existing. It’s not some creepy tale like the Gray City. It feels like standing before a vast wilderness.”
“Black Cloak always embedded his will into his works. Somehow or other, his pieces always served a purpose. So... what is this one meant for?”
“I don’t know. But just looking at it feels healing. Like being in a peaceful resort, lying there, staring up at the sky.”
“I think I know what you mean. It really is nature itself.”
“Maybe that’s the whole point of this piece.”
The ones most invested in interpreting the work were the fans of Black Cloak.
“Nature, you say? To think such powerful mystery could arise from nature. Not even dungeons manage this.”
“At the very least, it’s something people like us would never get to see. Where in the world could you glimpse such breathtaking nature? God, the subtlety of it all is just....”
“Then surely it can’t be Earth’s nature. This must be nature born of rules beyond this dimension. What kind of flower could cover the sky, wrap around clouds, and shine like the sun?”
“To look at something this bizarre and immediately think of the word ‘nature’—now that’s Black Cloak for you. His grace knows no end.”
“It’s a shame. For some reason, no one’s entered the work this time. If someone did, we could maybe try following after....”
Their conversation spread to others who were following Black Cloak’s activities.
“Hey, Cha I-Sol.”
“Hm? What?”
“You knew about this too?”
“Uh... not really. This is grown-up business. I’m still a kid.”
“Since when do you draw that line so clearly, you precious little child?”
“I-I mean, I do have a few things I’m guilty about... but this really isn’t my business!”
The Church of the Sun’s apprentice priest, Cha I-Sol, looked a bit defensive at her partner Iru Da’s words.
“I don’t know everything the grown-ups do.”
“...? Wait a sec. So you do know something about what’s going on. That’s what you just implied, isn’t it?”
“I really don’t know!”
“Uh-huh....”
“They said he’s selling fish-shaped bread, and I don’t know anything about business!”
“......”
Iru Da finally dragged her partner along to find Kang Seodam.
“...Fish-shaped bread, you say?”
“Yes. Fish-shaped bread.”
“Black Cloak is selling... fish-shaped bread?”
“Cha I-Sol kept calling it ‘grown-up business.’”
“Even chosen apostles struggle to speak about the future decreed by divinity.”
“Ah... was she bound by a vow not to speak? If so, I might’ve stepped out of line....”
“Brother Cha I-Sol just doesn’t seem like he has much reason to go into detail.”
“...??”
“Sister Iru Da.”
Kang Seodam advised her, like an adult.
“Forget it.”
“Thank you.”
With that, Iru Da was freed of responsibility.
But someone else, bound by an unshakable burden, remained—Kang Seodam, who had inadvertently been spoiled about Earth’s fate.
After sending the young priests away, he hesitated for a long time before making a decision.
He contacted Curator Yoo Seong-Woon using the private number he’d been given.
“...Ah, you answered. This is Priest Kang Seodam. Do you have a moment to talk?”
—There’s always time to talk to our dear priest. I can guess what this is about. You heard about the fish-shaped bread too?
“Damn it, so I didn’t mishear. What exactly are you plotting? What’s this talk about fish-shaped bread in a divine future?!”
—Gio’s not quite ready to open up shop yet. But once he does, of course we’ll invite you too. You’ll get the VIP treatment. Sounds good, right?
“VIP treatment down a thorny road, huh?”
—I don’t think the Sun Goddess would disapprove too strongly.
“...How do you even view the sun?!”
She didn’t disapprove.
“......”
—Whoa, why’d you suddenly go quiet?
“...No, it’s just....”
She was deeply intrigued.
“......”
—...Yikes.
Yoo Seong-Woon sympathized. He wasn’t mocking. He genuinely felt bad.
—Sometimes, getting closer to the divine really isn’t such a great thing.
“...Whether that’s something you, of all people, should be saying is debatable, but anyway. Yes. Receiving divine revelation in a mere human body is indeed an honor....”
—You don’t sound too thrilled... but, yeah. Got it...
“...I’ll be waiting for your next message with a hopeful heart. I wish you luck.”
—To you as well, Priest.
After ending the call, Kang Seodam covered his face with both hands.
“......”
Why fish-shaped bread?
Why me, of all people?
As Kang Seodam silently struggled with the undeserved honor, Yoo Seong-Woon stared at Gio with an unreadable expression.
“Priest Kang Seodam seems rather stressed.”
“Oh no, that won’t do. Someone as kind as Priest Kang Seodam should always be happy.”
“The world doesn’t always let good people be happy.”
“But whenever they catch my eye, they must be. That’s what I like.”
“Ooh, that’s a great line.”
Yoo Seong-Woon couldn’t help but laugh.
“How much more are you going to add to my overtime load?”
“But seeing you enjoy it like this makes me happy too.”
With eyes like opal, Jeorgea smiled.
“...Wow. This is hilarious.”
Everything was a complete mess.
***
The bipedal “garden” approached the gardeners.
