The Artist Who Paints Dungeon-Chapter 333

It was easy to forget due to his lack of interference, but in a way, “Hunter Sergio” could be considered the sponsor of the Cha I-Sol and Iru Da pair. After all, he had been supporting them from time to time.

“I was a little surprised when Priest Kang Seodam contacted me.”

In other words, “Hunter Sergio” was also the guardian of the two children. On top of that, they were individuals the Church of the Sun openly paid attention to. If anything were to happen to these young priest candidates, Kang Seodam had no choice but to reach out.

“I know it's a difficult task for a priest-in-training, but I heard you were granted leave.”

“Ah, yes. I was lucky enough to earn some merit in this subjugation....”

“I’ve heard you’re participating in various fieldwork for early graduation.” 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

“Thanks to the priests viewing me favorably, I was able to secure a spot.”

Iru Da treated her guardian with utmost courtesy and humility.

‘Mother also told me to be especially careful.’

Even though he hadn’t appeared in dungeons or media lately, the person before her was Hunter Sergio. An unofficial asset of the Collector. Talented, with a good personality—many would want him.

‘They say his only downside is that he’s the Collector’s son.’

In short, there was absolutely no harm in building a relationship with him. For a priest-in-training like Iru Da, who held nothing but first-class citizenship, he was someone she normally wouldn’t even get the chance to meet.

More importantly, based on reports, he was a stable all-rounder. While Iru Da and Cha I-Sol had no immediate reason to enter dungeons with him, the future was uncertain. Iru Da understood her mother’s advice—he was someone she should make a good impression on if possible.

“I also received decent scores in this round of exams.”

“Mm, I heard about that too. Since I receive your transcripts quarterly.”

“Oh, despite being so busy, you checked them... I know guardians receive reports on grades and conduct, but I’d heard not many personally review them... so I assumed you wouldn’t know.”

“No need to be so flustered. Sister Iru Da, you’ve done nothing to offend me. Still, a vacation, you say...”

As Gio trailed off, Cha I-Sol, who had been lounging around, suddenly sprang up and shouted.

“This stuff is rare! Hardly any kids go for early graduation, and even fewer get vacation time during fieldwork! The teachers really praised us a lot!”

“You’re already standing out like this—how admirable. Are you hurt anywhere? Are the seniors treating you well, Brother Cha I-Sol?”

“Why are you speaking formally to me?”

“Well then, I-Sol, are you doing okay?”

“I’m totally fine!”

“Adorable...”

Gio approached and gently pinched Cha I-Sol’s cheek, the child clinging to his leg. Cha I-Sol entrusted his cheek’s fate to Gio’s large hand. Seeing this lack of distance, Iru Da felt a bit flustered.

“Cha, Cha I-Sol... you shouldn’t do that...”

“Why not?”

“He’s our guardian. We need to be respectful.”

“But Gio hyung doesn’t get mad about that stuff.”

“Even if he doesn’t get mad, it could be tiring or uncomfortable for him.”

As Iru Da fretted, Gio smiled and shook his head.

“Would I get upset just because a child is being affectionate? I’m neither troubled nor uncomfortable. Sister Iru Da, I hope you’ll also feel at ease.”

“B-but...”

“The term ‘guardian’ may sound grand. But have I ever asserted myself under that title in your activities?”

“...No.”

Both Iru Da and her mother had found that peculiar.

The guardian system generally existed to stake a claim on promising young talents. Guardians usually protected the child while interfering in every little thing.

‘A form of networking, an investment to recruit a good priest. It’s not just charitable giving.’

In that sense, someone like Sergio—who merely sent money and otherwise left them alone—was rare.

From the recipient’s side, it was awkward to question why he did that. For a priest-in-training, a guardian was an unfathomably high figure. For someone practically a puppet in the system, even sending a message required immense courage.

After some hesitation, Iru Da asked,

“...Would you prefer us to be more relaxed around you?”

“I would prefer that, yes. Hm. I think it’ll improve with time.”

“O-okay...”

Iru Da pondered.

‘What does it even mean to treat an adult comfortably?’

As she thought, she looked at Cha I-Sol. But no matter how she looked at it, that wasn’t the way. Iru Da knew she couldn’t act as innocently as Cha I-Sol. Besides, those two were already close.

‘It looks like he drops by this house often too.’

In many ways, their situations were different. Then how was she supposed to treat him? A deep crease formed between Iru Da’s brows.

‘...It’ll work out somehow.’

If there were a problem, surely he’d tell her. Sergio wasn’t the type to use such things against them. What would someone like Hunter Sergio even gain from exploiting a priest-in-training’s weakness?

Only after thinking that far did Iru Da nod her head.

“...I’ll do my best.”

“...So we’re supposed to treat you casually, right?”

“Ah, I think so?”

“Let’s do that, then.”

As always, Gio smiled gently and looked at Cha Eun-Hyeok, who had a reluctant expression.

“I think it’s about time for dinner.”

“Then... shall we start preparing?”

“This time, may I borrow the kitchen for a bit?”

“....”

At that, Cha Eun-Hyeok thought,

‘This lunatic mystery being?’

What’s he planning to feed the kids?

Cha Eun-Hyeok clamped his mouth shut while Cha Ara stared at Gio with a horrified face. Cha I-Sol lay limp without a care in the world. Seeing the adults’ expressions, Iru Da unwittingly understood.

“Ah, um, is Hunter Sergio going to cook himself...?”

Call it a prejudice if you like, but it was a surprising notion.

Unless they had a skill related to it, high-ranked hunters like A-rank rarely cooked. Unless it was for personal consumption, cooking was usually an act of service—and a form of labor.

Sure, Gio had once cooked and sold food during the Collector’s parade, but that rumor hadn’t reached Iru Da’s ears. So this situation was naturally shocking.

‘They say he’s such a precious young master the Collector doesn’t even want to let him outside...’

Plenty of hunters cooked as a hobby. But this clearly wasn’t that. He was planning to cook for the group gathered here. Iru Da found that incredibly odd. The person of highest status here was preparing to serve the others.

But Hunter Sergio still wore his immaculate smile.

“Yes, despite appearances, I’m quite confident.”

“Well, I did expect you’d be exceptional...”

“Embarrassingly enough, even Hunter Seo Seo-Hee has complimented my cooking.”

“Huh? Oh... even Hunter Seo?”

That was even more flustering.

‘He’s friends with one of the Symbols of Eternity?’

She’d never heard of that.

‘I knew he was committed to mystery, but this level of information control is unexpected. The fact that his friendship with the Symbol of Eternity isn’t public must mean Hunter Sergio and his associates are very good at keeping secrets.’

Out of habit, Iru Da began to think, “How can I use this?”—but quickly bowed her head. He wasn’t someone to play such shallow games with. Ashamed of her calculating thoughts, Iru Da said to Hunter Sergio,

“I—I won’t tell anyone. I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but I’m good at keeping things to myself...”

“You don’t need to go that far, but... if you’d help, I’d appreciate it.”

“Y-yes.”

Seeing he didn’t reject her, it seemed the right move was to keep her mouth shut. As Iru Da quietly breathed a sigh of relief, Cha Eun-Hyeok crept over and asked in a whisper,

“Are you really going to cook?”

“Give me the kitchen.”

“What are you making? I’ll decide based on that.”

“Geez, why don’t you trust me at all?”

“Should I?”

The way he whispered right back made it clear to Cha Eun-Hyeok—this man was Zeorge. Thankfully, at least his appearance still matched “Hunter Sergio.”

“You’re not going to make anything weird... right?”

“Everything I make tastes good.”

“You know I’m not talking about taste, Zeorge.”

“I was just going to make something simple.”

“Like a simple seven-dish banquet or something?”

“Can I?”

“You swear it won’t affect the human body?”

“All food affects the human body...?”

“Then can you at least pretend it’s normal food?”

“Ah, like the stuff at our food stall?”

“God, you...”

Cha Eun-Hyeok clamped his mouth shut. Then nodded.

“...It’d be hard to do it alone. Let me help.”

“Uh, oppa, are you sure?”

“I can’t just let a guest do all the work.”

“Well, um, yeah...”

In this household, the only one who enjoyed cooking was Cha Ara, but she stepped back quietly. She was one of the few who knew what her older brother did to earn money these days.

‘I trust you.’

She didn’t know how things had spiraled into this madness, but she trusted her brother. Even after all that hell, he still looked human. Believing he could handle it, Cha Ara stepped back.

“Then I’ll go peel some fruit or something?”

“No, we’ll take care of that... just watch the kids for us.”

“Okay.”

Seeing her older brother try to swallow his sorrow, Cha Ara felt a tinge of pity.

‘Seriously, how did he end up in this mess?’

To wield divinity and cook in a non-awakened body—what a pitiful man.

***

After the meal, Iru Da lay peacefully.

“...You’re not supposed to lie down right after eating...”

“Why not?”

“...It’s impolite.”

“As long as you’re not in pain, isn’t it fine?”

“...Still, it’s not polite...?”

Awakened beings didn’t struggle with digestion just because they lay down after eating. Besides, both Iru Da and Cha I-Sol were exceptionally gifted. They weren’t so fragile that it’d hurt them.

But adults always seemed to dislike lying down right after eating. So Iru Da figured it must be bad manners. In other words, she didn’t have a solid argument.

“Maybe it’s a kind of tradition?”

“What kind?”

“For regular bodies, lying down after digesting everything is best?”

“I don’t get it.”

“You’re pretending not to understand because you want to lie down, huh.”

“Hehehe!”

“I ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) give up...”

After all, Iru Da was already lying down. The house wasn’t very well insulated, and the weather was chilly, yet she felt cozy and drowsy.

‘It was really delicious...’

Iru Da was recalling the meal prepared by Hunter Sergio.

She’d grown up in wealth. She’d eaten at nearly every fancy restaurant, tried all kinds of health foods and delicacies. But the seven-dish banquet prepared by Hunter Sergio was, honestly, unreal.

‘Did he bring those herbs himself?’

Especially that richly fragrant dongpo pork—ah, it was just...

“...He’s not going to open a restaurant, is he?”

“He’s thinking about it.”

“When’s he planning to open?”

“...Huh...?”

Cha I-Sol looked at her partner with a rare sour face. He said he was considering it, not preparing for an opening. That was skipping a few steps too far.

“Sometimes Ruda just breaks.”

“I’ll reflect on it.”

“No, well... yeah, sure...”

Gio, who had been silently observing them, offered,

“Would you like some fruit?”

“Ah, thank you.”

Iru Da sat up and received the neatly cut apple slices. Her mother had prepared the fruit basket, so they must’ve been excellent quality—but oddly, it didn’t taste as delicious as it used to.

‘What the...’

Probably because her taste buds had been ruined by the insanely good meal.

“...So about that restaurant...”

“I’m only thinking about it.”

“Do you have a location in mind...?”

“I haven’t thought that far. Still deciding whether to do it at all.”

“Our house has a really great spot for it, actually.”

“Ha-ha, if I seriously get started, I’ll reach out.”

He really should start one.

‘Wouldn’t not opening a restaurant with that talent be a crime against humanity?’

Of course, starting a business was his choice—but it still felt unfair. Cha I-Sol’s whole family had ties to Hunter Sergio, so she’d likely have more chances like this. But not Iru Da.

‘I feel deprived.’

Iru Da had matured once again.

***

And so, the two diligent children fell asleep by 9 p.m., their digestion complete.

“.......”

“...Hm.”

Gio stroked his chin and asked,

“So this is what a pajama party is usually like?”

“Uh, well... we’ve never had one either...”

“Wasn’t it supposed to be more chaotic and noisy?”

“Kids sleeping early is for the best.”

“True, but... why do I feel so empty...”

Cha Eun-Hyeok delivered a sharp jab to his superior.

“That’s dopamine addiction, Zeorge.”

“I’m telling you, that’s not what this is!”

“Let the kids sleep, please.”

“I feel so wronged I could cry.”

Zeorge was deeply disappointed.

He had no intention of letting the night end so quietly.