The Artist Who Paints Dungeon-Chapter 345

There was once a person whose vessel was so vast, he became a calamity.

On the day the world was shaken by a great upheaval, Sergio was supposed to simply acquire a skill called "Painting"—and yet, he became something else entirely.

Whether by good or bad fortune, through a series of absurd coincidences stacked atop each other, he ultimately reached the Origin. And thanks to that power, he was able to escape the fire on the day of the Great Calamity.

Together with his disciple, into the very landscape painting he had once drawn.

“...T-Teacher?”

“......”

“This place is...”

“Haera.”

Before reacting with confusion, he checked on his student.

“Are you alright?”

“...I’m okay.”

“Then that’s enough.”

Perhaps, from that very moment, Sergio should have been prepared. From that first class, when Dan Haera had looked at Sergio with such visible reverence.

But Sergio had been just as flustered at the time. Contrary to what Haera believed, he was not a flawless, perfect being. Sergio was thrown off when he looked around and saw only a fragment of a forest suspended in space, with a cabin placed in the middle.

The sky didn’t exist—it was just black. Beyond a certain point in the forest, there was only darkness, and the inside of the cabin was a hollow, white void. A world filled with something dissonant, out of place.

‘...How interesting.’

Maybe that’s why he tried even harder to fill it in.

But that was a story for later. Once the fire seemed to die down, Sergio took his student and left the school. And that’s when he realized the world had ended. It sounded absurd, but he slowly adjusted to the changed world, bringing the people around him along.

In that process, Sergio inevitably stood out.

“Please, just hug me °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° once.”

“Please, perform a miracle. Have mercy.”

“I need your flesh and blood.”

There was once a person whose vessel was so vast, he became a calamity.

Among the “neo-humans,” Sergio's power was especially overwhelming. People often called him not a man, but a god, or nature itself, or even a demon. And the effects of that power extended not just to Sergio but also to his three closest disciples.

At the time, Sergio had thought of it as a tragic thing.

“Why are you letting those bastards go?!”

“Teacher, wrong is wrong. That was way out of line.”

“C-Couldn’t we just exile them...?”

“I have a request.”

Eventually, Dan Haera smiled and said:

“Could you pretend not to notice, no matter what we do?”

“......”

At that moment, Sergio nearly fainted. What kind of request was this from a student to their teacher? It felt like a scene out of a thriller film. It was genuinely terrifying.

“You might as well have not said anything.”

“But you always know everything, Teacher.”

“I don’t have that kind of ability...”

“You always say that.”

“......”

“But you still care about us the most, don’t you, Teacher?”

To see that young student, with such an innocent face, say she would commit murder—or something worse—nearly sent Sergio into unconsciousness.

‘Have I lived my life completely wrong?’

It was so horrifying, he practically had a near-death flashback. His face might have looked calm, but internally he was screaming. Deep down, Sergio understood that the students' changes were his fault.

Of course, it could have been the altered environment, but the greater influence had come from Sergio. More precisely, from his power. They were gradually transforming into “neo-humans,” or perhaps something beyond that.

“...It’s frightening.”

Their abilities were strengthening even without awakening. They began to see others as primitive beings—or to make spontaneous prophecies. It was hard to write it all off as “just the world changing.”

They were gradually slipping away from “human.”

‘Because of me.’

Maybe even those who had begged him for miracles had been shaped into such beings by his own hand.

And so Sergio recognized the danger of his existence. If things continued as they were, he’d become a disaster worse than any calamity—a natural catastrophe beyond his own ability to contain. His very gaze could trigger divine ruin, like the gaze of a deity.

Realizing that much became overwhelming. He tried to hide it somehow. He really did try...

“But you think hiding it will work, Teacher?”

“You’re right, Haera.”

Even if you built a dam over the overflowing waters, could you really hide the aftermath?

That was an entirely different matter from Sergio firmly believing himself to be human. He inevitably revealed things that seemed like “miracles,” and due to his uniqueness, all kinds of absurd rumors spread among the people.

“Shit, do you know what those vermin said?! They said you were the cause of the Great Calamity! Those lunatics said it was you!!”

“Oh... I didn’t realize I was such an influential being. Fascinating.”

“They said eating you would give them power, that they could become gods, that sacrificing you would return the world to the way it was...!”

“No matter what they say, that’s a stretch. You really think offering up one guy could restore an entire planet?”

Sergio was just speaking with perfect logic. Even a stray cat would know that one person couldn’t possibly fix the end of the world. Nothing in the world came with such good cost-performance.

But to his disciples, that just made him all the more infuriating.

“...Why is it only us who are suffering? Why are you fine, Teacher?”

“Because I understand it’s an age where nonsense spreads easily.”

No, that was a huge misunderstanding. As if Sergio weren’t scared of the whole situation?

“I’m struggling too.”

“That’s a lie.”

“It’s really not.”

He was truly terrified. He was so afraid, he could barely live. Plenty of people stared him down with glowing eyes, mumbling about eating his flesh and achieving immortality. There were even some who showed disturbing madness, hoping for an improper relationship.

If he wasn’t scared of that, he wouldn’t be human. But he just... understood. Why things had come to this, and what he could do about it.

Still, his students never believed a word of what he said. They saw him as a flawless, infallible being.

“Let’s run away.”

“You’re not planning to set this place on fire before we go, are you?”

“Of course not, Teacher.”

“...I’ll believe you.”

I really will, kids.

‘Even the kids have gotten scary.’

Inside, Sergio trembled. He shrank inward as much as he could.

Those four students were the ones Sergio felt most comfortable with. They had been the most influenced by him, which meant he was the one most responsible for them. That’s why he always kept them close. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t afraid of them. At some point, they’d started to twist.

Anyway, they ended up fleeing the small village. It was your classic runaway-by-night situation. Many people chased after them, but escaping wasn’t difficult. The real problem came afterward.

“You never know. People might see you again, Teacher... and act the same way.”

“Still, hiding in the rear while you all fight doesn’t seem right for a teacher.”

“You’re not just sitting around back here, though. We’re just worried you’ll get hurt again, or collapse again... or be treated like something strange, like before.”

“So you really want me to just stay here? Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

The students had gone mad. Sergio wasn’t sure they even remembered he was their teacher. But like all lunatics, they insisted confidently.

“We just want you to stay here.”

“Hmm, that’s...”

“You’re too kind, Teacher. That’s why we’re worried. It’s not just the injuries—we’re scared you’ll just die one day. And once you die, there’s no way to bring you back.”

“...What do you even think I am?”

They were treating him like cotton candy that melts in water, or a sandcastle that crumbles at a touch—but truthfully, he’d always known it would end up like this.

‘I ran away with them knowing full well.’

And he was already mentally prepared. He didn’t even feel the need to talk them out of it.

Because Sergio was extremely introverted, and he’d been drained of energy to the point of negative reserves.

So, honestly, it was fine. A life of hiding away in a room, cooking and crafting weapons, never seeing another person’s face—it was perfect for someone like Sergio, now that he had the power of “Painting.”

“......”

He was just a little worried about his students. When they came to their senses later, would they be able to endure the shame?

They were trying to protect what they saw as a fragile sunfish, one that might get into trouble or die the moment they looked away—but Sergio was a fully grown adult.

‘When they finally realize how ridiculous it is to treat a shadowy old guy like me that way, the embarrassment won’t be small...’

Still, he cared for them, so he asked like a generous adult:

“You won’t regret this?”

“Of course not, Teacher.”

“You sure?”

They said they’d be just fine.

So the black history of the far future would not be Sergio’s responsibility. He felt lighter just thinking that.

“Alright then, let’s go with that.”

“Will you be okay?”

“How could I possibly overcome your stubbornness?”

Ah, I really was trying to live a diligent life, but now my students are telling me to take it easy. Guess I have no choice.

With that thought, Sergio quietly retreated to his room. The students were happy. Sergio was even happier. It was the ultimate win-win situation.

But that didn’t mean he only focused on food and weapon supply.

‘I need to fix their mental state.’

Looking at them, he realized it was impossible to know when, if ever, they’d return to normal. Intervention was necessary.

Their breakdowns were indeed Sergio’s fault. Even if he was hiding away like a shut-in, that was that, and this was this. So, in his spare time, Sergio began researching ways to covertly bring his students back to “human.”

‘They’re already heavily influenced by me, so cutting them off completely might not be possible...’

But at the very least, he wanted them to function in society.

‘If things continue, my peaceful little shut-in room will turn into the Demon King’s Castle.’

And those punks would become the Four Heavenly Kings who serve their kind Demon Lord.

It might be fine as a joke, but if they kept roleplaying like that into their twenties, it was a real problem. Late-onset chuunibyou had no use and no cure.

‘I have to find a way for both me and my students to keep our sanity.’

So what I mean is...

This was necessary.

The system was originally created out of Sergio’s necessity.

My existence is beneficial to humanity.

The system could serve as a great teaching tool.

The system is a righteous being.

That was Sergio’s judgment.

In other words, Teacher was not angry with his students.

***

...Incidentally, Gio knows none of this!

“Teacher? System Teacher?”

.......

“Don’t we have a few things we need to share? The situation’s turning quite bizarre, and you’re really telling me you have nothing to say to me? Still?”

.......

“I’m thoroughly enjoying this full-stomach, warm-bed life, so I don’t really care if I’m a clone or have a split personality or whatever—but if things have gone this far, surely someone doing this much deserves something, don’t they?”

.......

“Oh gods above, how can someone be so silent?”

Gio was already sure the system was “Sergio.” He poked persistently at the system’s side, but received no reply. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

It had been so eager to explain the creatures in the portraits and native Earth monsters—what a fickle man.

Why was he like this?

“Hm. Could it be that what my students did back then was so terrible that I shouldn’t know? That if I found out, I’d lose all affection for them?”

“Ggung?”

“But even if my students committed crimes, that wouldn’t change how I feel. I know myself, System Teacher. My indecision doesn’t shift based on the severity of someone’s sins.”

“Gurrr...”

“Really, what is this? What’s going on? Do you just hate me?”

Well, the system was basically the Earth’s teacher. Maybe it found Gio’s comfortable life inside the portrait offensive.

As “Sergio,” the thought “Is that seriously enough to be offended by?” came to mind, but perhaps the “System Teacher” thought differently.

“If you keep this up, I really will do as I please.”

“Gurrrrrk!”

“Alright, don’t regret it.”

In the end, Gio painted.

“Is this really the right move...”

Once again, it was the “Garden of Pleasure.”

***

The Collector was happy to feign outrage over the “Happy Clown” incident.

“I enjoy interesting variables—but I do not want this jewel box called Earth to be destroyed. In that sense, the ‘Happy Clown’ is a detriment to my enjoyment.”

With such honeyed words, Bisa Beul extended a hand to the Association.

“We can assist you, Chairman.”

“I cannot express how grateful I am for your swift willingness.”

“It’s truly an honor to hear that.”

“In that case, could we request help from Hunter Sergio?”

Dan Haera said it was the right time to fight.

“I would like to request an audience with the Black Cloak.”

And it wasn’t just the divine entity known as the Black Cloak they reached out to.

The staff from the Association visited the Church of the Sun, the reclusive Moon Sect, and even the God of Death—who was said to abhor meddling in worldly affairs.

And among all this movement, one person remained strangely silent.

“...Has anyone seen the Guildmaster lately?”

“He’s always been the elusive type.”

“No, there’s a strange rumor going around.”

“A strange rumor?”

“It’s serious...”

One of Jeong Hae-Woon’s guild members said nervously:

“...There’s talk that the clown... was created by the Guildmaster.”

The beginning of conflict.