The Artist Who Paints Dungeon - Chapter 132



Only Krnovel

Episode 132

The horror stories about the Black Cloak were famous, but Juhyun wasn’t particularly interested in them.

‘There was no information I could access.’

The humanoid monster ‘Black Cloak’ that suddenly appeared recently had its information and traces managed by high-ranking researchers. There was no information that Joo-Hyeon, who was still only a proxy, could access.

But he knew full well that it was a kind of portrait.

“… … .”

“Why, are you speechless at seeing something so beautiful?”

“… Ah… You’re so confident?”

“If I just do it, I should be brimming with confidence.”

“that….”

The conversation was so natural that I was dumbfounded.

“…Is that a black cloak?”

It was so different from the image I knew.

“I heard that Black Cloak speaks more harshly.”

“Then it’s no fun. I know how to change to suit the other person, that’s my talent.”

“I don’t really understand what’s going on.”

“Surprisingly, I’m not dreaming, please don’t treat me like I’m dreaming.”

“… It doesn’t seem to be a lie….”

My mind is still a little dazed, but I can see my heart pounding with surprise.

“Why… why are you here?”

“I think someone is calling me.”

“At least I never called….”

“I guess so.”

A portrait with its hood pulled down so low that its face could not be seen pointed down the frame.

“You seem like you could draw better than this.”

“…ah.”

Where he pointed, there was a picture of a black cloak drawn roughly with a black crayon.

“… … .”

For some reason, the picture wavered unsteadily.

“…Is this what it looks like in this picture?”

“If so, it would have come from that piece of paper, you stupid gentleman.”

“But isn’t it true that that picture called you?”

“That’s how I found this location, and thanks to that, I met you.”

“Your speech is really… rude.”

“It’s hard to stay still for even a moment.”

“It’s so different from the image of the black cloak I’ve heard of….”

“Hmm.”

His face was hidden by the shadow of his hood, but for some reason he seemed dissatisfied.

“This kind of conversation is not fun.”

“… … .”

Only then did Joo-Hyeon suddenly feel a sense of crisis.

“…sorry.”

Whatever the identity of the opponent, there was no benefit in incurring his enmity.

I couldn’t even remember that I had been contemplating whether or not to pray to the evil god Sankalut just a moment ago. I was faced with such an absurd situation that my mind wasn’t working properly.

Joohyun apologized first and then looked at it.

“If you were offended… uh…”

“Will you offer me a sacrifice?”

“I don’t even know who you are, so it’s a bit much to offer a sacrifice…?”

“Wonderful. Prudence is a good virtue for humans to live by.”

“But really, why are you here?”

“I think I said that earlier?”

“Nobody called you.”

“No one called.”

There was a brief moment of silence, and the portrait waved its hand gently.

“You called me, didn’t you?”

“… … .”

Unlike before, the voice was gentle and soft.

“That’s why I came.”

“… … .”

“To summon the evil spirits.”

And once again, he became as callous as a corpse.

“I’m looking for a friend to help me adjust.”

“…friend….”

Is this ‘adaptation’ perhaps a word directed at human society?

Among the gods, the evil spirits were particularly interested in humans. It was really unexpected, but if the ‘Black Cloak’ was one of those evil spirits, it was somewhat understandable why he suddenly appeared and spoke to me like this.

‘No, I’m not going.’

Is it true that evil spirits just appear out of nowhere like this?

“… I, I… was trying to call another evil spirit… you?”

“No matter what being you were trying to summon, there would be no better choice than me.”

“uh….”

It was a very arrogant statement, but rather than feeling resentment, I felt fear and anxiety.

‘The presence is growing.’

I understood that the other person’s speech was inconsistent. Most of the great mysteries did not fit human standards, so many parts seemed strange.

‘Maybe he’s adapting as I said before.’

But the pressure that I didn’t feel at first was gradually increasing, which was a dangerous sign.

‘Is the level of shame revealed more clearly as I return to that blunt tone?’

At first, when he spoke in a tone that had a somewhat cruel interest, it was rather absurd, but when he spoke in a voice that had a pious weight, and even more so in his current mechanical tone, the intensity felt even clearer.

“… … .”

“You seem confused.”

“… A little bit.”

“How may I help you?”

“Could you…speak a little more lightly…?”

“aha.”

The tone suddenly rose.

“I guess you prefer something more informal?”

“… Yes, this is more comfortable.”

At the same time, the pressure has also improved.

‘… Does personality change?’

For a moment, I felt compelled to report this new information about the ‘Black Cloak’, but it soon subsided. I found it ridiculous that I could not break away from my usual habits while holding the mark of the evil spirit.

The portrait, which was watching Joo-hyun’s reaction, asked.

“Why did you call the evil spirit?”

“… That’s unexpected, I thought God would know without me having to say it…”

“That’s an invasion of privacy.”

“… … .”

“And now I am human.”

“… Ah, yes.”

The being that jumped out of the frame didn’t seem very convincing, but I can tell that it’s doing its best to live up to human standards. The fact that no witnesses have ever died of a brain explosion upon seeing the black cloak, despite the being claiming to be an evil spirit, is proof of this.

If he had not been considerate, there would have been countless casualties just by looking at it. God could be a disaster just by looking at it.

“Why did you try to summon the evil spirit?”

Joohyun muttered and soon closed his mouth.

“… … .”

well.

“… I don’t know.”

“You have no talent for revenge.”

“You know all about my circumstances, don’t you?”

“I just came here smelling the anger.”

“I guess so, I guess so… .”

Surely the author, who is an evil spirit, could not be unaware of the circumstances of a mere human being, so his whining about invading privacy seemed like a kind of disguise or consideration.

‘No, how could an evil spirit show any consideration?’

Then, wouldn’t it be a human imitation to appear as friendly as possible? Most evil spirits are skilled and clever at digging into the human mind, so imitation to that extent wouldn’t have been a problem.

I feel more at ease now.

“I trusted people.”

“someone.”

“I trusted everyone.”

Joo-Hyeon was the one who had tried to summon Sankalut without any wish. He wanted to relieve his inexplicable impulses even in such a foolish way.

So now, it wouldn’t be a big problem to go along with the other evil spirits. Rather, the black cloak that my family talked about felt more familiar, so Juhyun continued talking.

“I trusted my family, I trusted my friends, I trusted my colleagues.”

“Are you a person who is overflowing with trust?”

“I thought I had my doubts… I’m embarrassed that it ended up like this.”

“What happened to this?”

“Some of my people died because of my stupidity, some betrayed me, and some abandoned me.”

“It’s a very sad thing.”

“I’m so angry. I want to ruin everything, but I don’t know how to do it.”

“So you summoned the evil spirit?”

“I thought if I just called it out, something would get better. I tried to show off my skills because I thought I could mess something up. I ended up doing pretty well.”

Even though the evil spirits were authors who were easy to summon, considering that they were able to create something this quickly, it was clear that they had talent. Joo-hyun laughed at his own situation and talent, and also admired them.

“I wanted to do something good.”

There was no need for honor.

“Just… anything…”

“okay.”

“I wanted to make a better world.”

“You have a beautiful heart.”

“… That would be fine… .”

I knew it would be difficult, but it was harder than I imagined.

“Isn’t this too much?”

It was a complaint that could be made when dealing with evil spirits.

“I know that having good intentions doesn’t mean that I will only receive good results. I knew that I couldn’t just struggle alone, so I made a lot of family, friends, and colleagues… but they all died, betrayed me, and left me.”

“… … .”

“Look at this. It’s a symbol that can summon Sankalut. If I hold this, the evil spirit can gaze at me more easily. You’re using the knowledge you learned at the Association’s research institute like this. You even made it so well. And you tried to summon the evil spirit without even asking for it.”

really.

“It’s the worst.”

The circumstances surrounding me, and myself.

“It couldn’t get any worse than this….”

“Do you feel better after saying that?”

“…Black Cloak, are you an evil spirit?”

“There was a time when quite a few people called me that. Not anymore.”

“I believe you were last seen in Korea quite recently.”

“It happened before I was here.”

“I see, that could be possible.”

“Your work too.”

“… … .”

“What do you want?”

It was like the devil’s whisper demanding an evil price.

Whether the black cloak was truly an evil spirit, or something similar. In the first place, whether it was a god or a monster. It was a situation where nothing could be known… .

There was no reason not to answer.

“… A village where people die worthlessly, lose loved ones for no reason, and helplessly fall to the ongoing disasters… A hell where you have to live in fear…”

The terrible karma created by humans, monsters, and nature indiscriminately destroys everyone, regardless of good or evil. No one can be happy or at peace.

“I hope such a tragedy will never happen again.”

“Why?”

“I don’t have the confidence to see that happen any longer.”

“Hmm.”

“I don’t want to see it.”

I tried really hard.

The world continues to create unbearable tragedies as the cruelty of humans and monsters mixes together.

“Can you grant my wish?”

The black cloak answered him.

“? no?”

“… … .”

Joohyun raised his head silently and looked at the black cloak.

“… Wasn’t this the time to propose a deal and grant her wish?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t interact with the physically and mentally weak. Talking about trading is a big deal.”

“Isn’t it usually more profitable to deal with the mentally and physically weak? Can an evil spirit say something like that in the first place?”

“Above all, God is more insignificant and incompetent than you think.”

The black cloak asked with a pitiful look.

“You weren’t thinking of wishing for something like world peace, were you?”

“… I also thought it wouldn’t work, but I think it’s too honest.”

“Look, gentleman. I just came here to find a friend to exchange letters with. I’m sorry, but I think you’d better give up on your dream of world peace.”

“So, it’s not that I want world peace, I just want to try to contribute in some way….”

“Isn’t it the same thing in the end?”

“…I can’t say no.”

No, wait a minute.

“… A friend to exchange letters with? So, you mean a pen pal?”

“Will you do it? I can send it to you in the prettiest handwriting possible.”

“I don’t even know why that would be necessary… but what would be good or bad for me if you did it?”

“That you won’t have to go hungry in the future, and that you might end up like a pig?”

“They all sound so similar that it’s hard to tell which is better and which is worse.”

“You’re so prickly. Why, you’re the type of person who has a lot of friends, so why don’t you include me in some of them?”

“There’s something else to add… .”

Than that.

“… Was it true that I asked you earlier if you were hungry?”

“I said that because you look like you could explode a nuclear bomb in this small country called Korea.”

“You know about nuclear bombs? No, but why did you ask me if I was hungry? That doesn’t make sense.”

“Usually, people who try to buy something without thinking do so because they are hungry.”

“Doesn’t it seem unusual?”

“You could say it’s a human error that occurs when the stomach is not strong.”

“I think you’ve been taught humans wrong. What does causing an accident have to do with having a strong stomach?…”

“That’s why I’m asking.”

The portrait seemed to be smiling in the shadow of the cloak.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“… … .”

He kept asking me if I was hungry, so he was really persistent in a strange way.

‘… What is his intention? Since he is an evil spirit, it cannot be seen as the traditional mercy of God. It is clear that he wants something… .’

Joohyun tried to think calmly.

“… … .”

I tried my best to do that, but it was hard to expect my usual rationality from him, who hadn’t eaten or slept for a while.

Half swept away, half captivated by the sweet voice. Joo-hyun did not rebel but agreed.

“… I guess you’re hungry too.”

Suddenly, a thought occurred to me. ‘What would happen if I prayed to the evil god for world peace?’

In a dream-indistinguishable unreality, Joo-Hyeon briefly had a meaningless, worthless fantasy.

* * *

The black cloak reached out his hand.

Joohyun was invited to the cabin.