The Artist Who Paints Dungeon-Chapter 331

Dan Haera acknowledged it: the Black Cloak was quite a decent conversationalist and listener. He absorbed and assessed the other’s words without emotional fluctuation and never criticized inefficiently.

Especially for Dan Haera, whose sensitivity to common human emotions had dulled, he was an even more comfortable person to engage with. This one was even friendly toward humans, and gentlemanly.

...Not all mysterious beings with human egos must be like this, surely.

In fact, it was often because they possessed personality that many mysterious beings turned out more twisted. There’s a reason the term “uncanny valley” exists. There’s at least some minimum justification why clumsy imitations of humanity provoke rejection.

And so, the main topic between the two flowed as naturally as water.

“Keep watching, you say?”

“I don’t think I’m capable of persuading ‘Zeorge.’”

“That’s also true.”

Dan Haera hadn’t summoned him to persuade “Zeorge.” Persuading a mysterious being? That was impossible to begin with. This was nothing more than a human’s flailing attempt to prepare for the future.

“As the administrator of the ‘Eternal Promise,’ I feel the system’s instability. Due to Mr. Zeorge’s prodding, the system has been showing frequent errors lately—but in truth, this is no different than something that was destined to happen eventually, simply arriving a little early.”

Of course, that didn’t mean she felt no unpleasantness at all. For example, even if Earth were going to be destroyed in a thousand years, that didn’t mean it had to happen now. But at the very least, Dan Haera wasn’t someone qualified to make that claim.

Bringing the unhappiness and pain of the future ahead of time was something she was also guilty of. Dan Haera had collected accidents and incidents that didn’t need to happen yet and locked them away in her research lab. As long as it wasn’t something as extreme as total destruction, she couldn’t argue much.

“...Hmm, still, it’s unpleasant.”

“Oh dear.”

“I still believe that people need the system. Mr. Zeorge said the time for riding training wheels has passed, but... well, from where I stand, even those are barely keeping things afloat.”

“That could be.”

“But I also know I can’t persuade Mr. Zeorge. Today was just to try and get a sense of the future—I didn’t particularly expect persuasion or cooperation. That alone makes for a significant harvest.”

At the very least, she confirmed that the “Black Cloak” wasn’t hostile. He had the attitude of a bystander, but based on the rules shown by the “Portrait of Gio,” he wouldn’t demand some massive sacrifice either.

“And so, what remains is the responsibility of me and the humans, isn’t it?”

“You still seem strong, and that’s a relief.”

“That’s thanks to the Black Cloak, who gave the Association both the sickness and the cure.”

Dan Haera smiled faintly. It was the same emotionless, mechanical smile as always, and in truth, she didn’t feel any great emotion about this incident either. The absurdity had passed, and the many questions that had followed had gradually settled.

“Thanks to the help you offered, people no longer see the ‘system’ as something so essential. They’ve realized it’s a faulty lifeboat, and now it seems they want to try learning how to swim instead. That’s certainly not a bad approach.”

She could acknowledge that too. Children couldn’t remain on their parents’ backs forever. They had to eventually walk on their own and live their own lives. They say not to give someone money, but to teach them how to earn it.

“But the problem is, the place they’re floating isn’t solid ground—it’s the sea. The young and the weak will die, swimming toward some unknown shore that might not even exist.”

“That’s what you’re worried about.”

“If we’re lucky, not a single person may die. But they all might. So we’ve been trying to lead these refugees not to drift in the sea but to bring them all the way to land.”

Perhaps it was an artificial island created directly by the Symbols of Eternity. If what these poor refugees were floating on was truly an open ocean, what then? Before they could be wiped out, they had to forcibly create land.

Dan Haera had been waiting for the eternal time needed to prepare that. And so had her other friends.

“That way, at the very least, no one would drown simply because they couldn’t use both feet.”

“The sea carries great risk.”

“A newborn baby has no business learning to walk in a place like that. It could be taught more easily, more gradually, and more safely—there’s no need to push them into risking their lives for no reason.”

“Somehow...”

The hooded shadow of the cloak seemed to nod.

“So that’s why you’ve been looking so far ahead.”

“Yes. Because bringing them safely to solid ground had to come first. If you’ve ever spoken with other Symbols of Eternity, you must have noticed. We are always looking very far into the future. In the case of Guildmaster Jeong Hae-Woon, the starting point for his project was a thousand years from now.”

“Were you the same?”

“I hoped it would end sooner than that. Unlike Jeong Hae-Woon’s project, the Association’s work necessarily demands the sacrifice of countless lives. As a result, disregard for life is spreading quickly and deeply.”

Dan Haera clasped her fingers together.

“I do not approve of the value of those sacrifices, but I do approve of the efficiency. If the punishment must come early to finish things quickly, then I believed I had to be the one to wield it, so I could bear the cost. I can only hope that you understand that judgment, Black Cloak.”

She knew she would be recorded in history as a tyrant and a murderer. And still, Dan Haera had built all those laboratories. And she had pushed people into them. Because even the negative emotions and memories that arose during that process—Dan Haera could make use of them efficiently.

For someone like Dan Haera, who had grown numb to all emotions, even guilt, sorrow from criticism, or pain from her own evil deeds became immense rewards. They made her human—and at the same time, allowed her to forge even more “Promises.”

“There won’t ever be anyone more suited to this seat than me.”

Dan Haera, too, would live forever, as long as the Promise remained intact. Who else could be more suited for the position of Association President, the one who holds the whip? Dan Haera simply didn’t let this efficient opportunity slip by.

“But you are trying to ruin all of those plans. I know it’s impolite to say, but for me, this is quite an unpleasant situation. Because the gaps in memory and emotion are so wide, I’ve become the sort who clings to even the smallest lines of a plan.”

“Hmm, no...”

The Black Cloak said as if remembering something.

“You’ve always been like that.”

“...That sounds interesting. Would you tell me more?”

“You’ve always hated when your plans get ruined. Even when it was something small and simple. Like—if you planned to go to the bookstore and then get ice cream, but you ended up getting ice cream first and then going to the bookstore, you’d get stressed.”

“......” 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

After a moment of silence, Dan Haera asked,

“...? Are you saying that’s something I used to do?”

“Isn’t it still the same now? Or did you finally decide to just enjoy life as it comes?”

“I really was just asking because I don’t remember.”

“If it’s about whether it’s true—I wasn’t lying.”

“I was young then.”

“Doesn’t seem that different now...”

“Is that so? That’s a bit surprising to hear.”

“It could be.”

The “head” of the cloak nodded.

“So you’re angry because your plans got messed up?”

“It was partially to forecast the future, but I can’t say it wasn’t also an outlet for anger. I was curious, too—just what kind of person are you, to be standing in the way of our future like this?”

“I admit that Mr. Zeorge is a rather unsettling person to leave unattended. But he’s me too. And I believe he won’t sacrifice innocent people.”

“Is he always sincere?”

“No, he’s a skilled liar.”

“In that case, I can’t trust him.”

“I understand.”

The Black Cloak never took a strong stance. And so Dan Haera also gave up trying to ask for cooperation. This being was merely a bystander and observer who kept to the minimum line.

And then, he asked,

“Then is the main discussion over?”

“Yes. This was only a meeting to offer resentment and thanks.”

“Well, I get the resentment part, but I don’t think I got the thanks.”

“Then let me offer it now. Thank you for taking such interest in Earth’s future. I’m also thankful that your method of amusement wasn’t particularly cruel.”

It might’ve sounded sarcastic—but it was sincere. This portrait had tried to fix Earth out of kindness, and the direction couldn’t be called bad. It was just that Dan Haera couldn’t agree with the process.

And yet the Black Cloak carried everything out stably. With the system’s errors and gaps as evidence, he could have let the citizens bring down the government and Association, but he didn’t. He merely pointed out better paths through light conflict.

“I know how difficult that must have been.”

Especially for someone like him—a bystander and observer.

The Black Cloak could have been much more indifferent. But he ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) still interacted with humans, imitated them, and followed their rules. That was something to be thankful for—as Association President.

“Thanks to that, I’ve been able to revise my plans. You could’ve trampled everything without a thought, but instead you gave me and my friends a chance. You gave us the dignity to debate fairly, to match plans without being humiliated.”

Dan Haera smiled.

“I’m grateful for that.”

“......”

And Gio thought,

...Wait, were we fighting?

He hadn’t really been aware that they were contending over something.

But by this point, Gio had no choice but to learn. If others say it was a fight, then so be it. It was probably something like how his students once called him “the Northern Duke” or “the heir to the mafia.” It wasn’t worth getting angry over.

Feeling good after seeing an old student’s face, Gio decided to enjoy the whole thing.

“...If that’s how you feel, then I’m glad.”

In any case, if the student was pleased, so was the teacher.

***

“So then.”

Gio, for the first time in a while, called a hallway meeting.

“Before I lose face in front of our student Haera, I’d like to try doing something.”

“...Why now?”

“I’m not brave enough to ruin a youth drama moment with a line like, ‘I knew you’d do that all along—let’s both try our best,’ only to have someone reply, ‘What exactly did you know?’ Please understand.”

“So what exactly are you trying to say? What did you and the President talk about?”

At Yoo Seong-Woon’s instinctive response, Joo-Hyun tilted his head.

“Why are you trying to crush Mr. Gio’s confidence?”

“Joo-Hyun, you’re suddenly acting like an overbearing parent.”

“I was joking.”

With a light laugh, Joo-Hyun turned to Gio.

“Is that your idea, Mr. Gio? Or Mr. Zeorge’s? I recall you once mentioned that your opinions sometimes diverge because the fusion isn’t complete yet...”

“It’s my own opinion.”

“Well, then that’s a relief. Personally, I’m still a little afraid of what kind of disaster Mr. Zeorge might unleash. Not that I’m saying Mr. Gio only causes mild disasters, of course.”

“If you’re going to take my side, shameless as I may be, I’d like to request you be a little more definitive about it.”

“In any case, I’m here to support your activities, Mr. Gio. That’s the role of a manager. It’s actually been bothering me that you’ve done practically no work as a Hunter lately.”

A bitter smile crept onto Joo-Hyun’s face.

“I mean, just collecting a paycheck while doing nothing... isn’t that a bit depressing?”

“...Isn’t that... kind of nice?”

“Getting paid for doing nothing might sound great, but I don’t think it’s right.”

He truly was a diligent person. Receiving money without compensation only made Joo-Hyun uncomfortable. That was partly why he had once visited the Cloak Church to spread what was supposedly “the will of God.”

With the same sincere smile as always, Joo-Hyun asked,

“So, what are you planning to do this time?”

“I’m thinking of painting again. It’s been a while.”

Yoo Seong-Woon interjected.

“Sorry, but it hasn’t actually been that long. Your series is still running loose all over Earth. So is this one of those situations again? Like with Mr. Argio...”

“Yes, this time I plan to release a new piece into the world, but under a different name than my own.”

“So basically, you’re planning to hide behind Mr. Zeorge’s name and stir up a proper mess?”

“Well, in the end, we’re the same person now, so doesn’t that mean it’s technically not a problem?”

“I don’t know where exactly you got that idea from, but...”

After a brief moment of contemplation, Yoo Seong-Woon spoke again.

“...Just don’t drag our guildmaster into it.”

“Well, I haven’t quite decided how it’ll go yet.”

“Please, I’m begging you.”

That would definitely be a disaster.