The Artist Who Paints Dungeon
Chapter 244

“So you popped the balloon after all!”

Bisa Beul grinned brightly.

“This was bound to happen eventually.”

“You expected it?”

“Of course. It would’ve been harder not to know.”

These were people who had spent nearly their entire lives without doing what they actually wanted. Odds were, they didn’t even know what they wanted. And now, they were being handed “happy dreams with no side effects.”

Of course they’d lose their minds, ignoring even the government’s warnings.

“You seem unusually optimistic about it.”

“Oh, I’m always watching over my son. So I can capture with these eyes whatever performance you put on, wherever, whenever.”

“So how was this performance, Father? Did it suit your taste?”

“Of course!”

He looked thoroughly pleased.

Argio lounged across the long sofa in the guild master’s office, gazing up at him. Bisa Beul stood leaning on his cane, staring down at Argio. Those bright yellow eyes glowed with persistence.

“Hmm.”

He liked those eyes.

Seong-Woon and Giovanni both winced at Argio’s thoughts, but Argio ignored them. He had always liked people who were fanatically passionate. Those were the ones who inevitably caused at least one major incident.

“Good. I’m feeling generous. I’ll grant you an audience with this precious body of mine.”

“Oh my, how gracious.”

Bisa Beul didn’t bother moving to sit across from him.

“I was impressed.”

That was his first line.

“You see, the world is terribly boring. Everyone is so desperate to survive they no longer know what truly matters to them. They scramble to gather things that resemble happiness rather than actual joy. And all the while, they suffer.”

“Because that’s the only way they know how to live.”

“Exactly. They don’t know how to do anything but endure. It’s a ridiculous world. Crammed into their little molds, they don’t know what they like or hate, what they want or want to avoid. They waste their lives like that.”

“Were you bored?”

“Oh, so bored. If it had at least descended into complete chaos, that might’ve been entertaining—but no. Just rows of toy soldiers crawling around, barely holding in their dissatisfaction.”

“Tame people can’t rebel.”

“Right, because there’s no reward for doing so.”

Bisa Beul’s lips curled faintly.

“But now, you’ve given them a reward.”

The Black Cloak gives gifts to the kind.

“Look at the world the Black Cloak has created! Those empty-headed, arrogant moneybags have begun to think. The beggars trembling in the slums have started to hope. They’re discovering courage.”

“Because I offered them a gift.”

“That was the beginning.”

People who had only ever known suppression were learning how to be bold. Instead of hiding, they were starting to step forward. Even just one foot. This current situation was connected to that as well.

“They learned virtue... and now they’re learning sin.”

At Bisa Beul’s words, Argio laughed.

“Are you trying to say I caused a disaster?”

“Disaster? Didn’t I just say—it’s a performance.”

Everything was merely one scripted play.

“Those who opened up to virtue through the Black Cloak will find a better path even as they experience evil. And those who resisted or rejected the Black Cloak? They’ll begin with evil first.”

Still, Gio would never allow this play to actually create wicked people.

“In the end, Argio, I know you’re a mystery who loves heroes and affirms goodness.”

“And yet I’m called an evil god.”

“Of course! You simply adore joy too much, don’t you? Argio, the cruel beast who cherishes righteous fury more than anything. You don’t shun the weak.”

“You know me quite well.”

“I have good eyes.”

Eyes even a divine being would envy.

“In the end, things will improve. Yes, the world should be like this to be interesting! What joy is there in living like machines, suppressing both goodness and wickedness? Watching people ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) drift like rats in dirty alleys with no self—that disgusts me.”

“So in the end, you’re also chasing your own pleasure?”

“A society without change is nothing but a disposable tool, used and discarded. Where’s the value in that? Without virtue or sin, there is no change. No resistance. No conflict. But if you teach them well this time... Professor Sergio.”

As Gio returned to his black-haired Black Cloak form, Bisa Beul’s eyes curved like crescent moons.

“Imagine how much more fun the world will become.”

“......”

Looking up at him, Gio exhaled and said,

“I was wondering where that expression came from.”

“My expression?”

“That smile on your face.”

“Ah, yes.”

Straightening his back, Bisa Beul chuckled.

“My curators likely smile just like this.”

That occasionally unsettling smile that outsiders recoiled from—its origin was Bisa Beul himself. It hadn’t been intentional, but over time, the curators had all come to resemble it. He quite liked it, so he simply let it be.

“By the way, you didn’t deny the title of ‘professor’ just now.”

“Because I am a professor.”

“Even though your school is now rubble?”

“Seems you know about me.”

“I’ve learned your name and face. It took a lot of work verifying your identity since it was from before the Cataclysm, but I picked up some small stories.”

“From whom?”

“From your former students.”

After a pause, Gio said,

“They’re alive.”

“Of course. But you didn’t go to see them.”

“I’ve been thinking.”

“May I ask—thinking about what?”

“What I should do.”

Whether they should consider him dead or alive. Whether his sudden reappearance would terrify them. Whether showing himself was the right thing... or a mistake.

“I haven’t found an answer yet.”

So he had buried it, for now.

“Guild Master Bisa Beul, you might not realize it, but I can be this pathetic sometimes.”

“I’m awed by your thoughtfulness.”

“You sure are comfortable saying burdensome things.”

“And yet, you’re the one who came all the way to my office, aren’t you, son?”

“That’s true.”

As Gio ran a hand through his hair, it instantly turned red.

“I do enjoy teaching, Father.”

“So you’d like to educate the entire Republic of Korea? That’s quite the plan. I like it.”

“There’s something I realized through my time with the Moon Sect.”

“Would you like to share?”

“People in this era... they’re basically newborns.”

He rubbed his chin.

“They don’t know even the most basic things. Not knowing what you want is one thing, but... they don’t know how to be angry, or cry, or laugh, or sing, or eat, or sleep, or walk, or see, or listen... Some of them have even forgotten how to breathe.”

It wasn’t like this in his time.

“So I’m teaching them slowly, step by step. I don’t think it’ll be much of a problem. You needn’t worry. The ones who learned the value of connection from the Black Cloak won’t crumble at the arrival of Argio, the so-called evil god.”

“You seem so certain, but I wasn’t worried in the slightest.”

“That was me asking you to pretend to worry.”

“What’s the point in that?”

At last, Bisa Beul sat across from him on the sofa.

“So why did you come see me, specifically?” _{f\ree webn ovel(.)com}

“To look into those eyes again.”

“Oh? My eyes?”

“Yes.”

Gio’s golden gaze fixed on Bisa Beul’s.

“How did you come to possess them?”

“Oh dear, no comment.”

“Are you getting along well with those eyes?”

“Of course! We’ve become horrifically close.”

“How do I appear through them?”

“Hm, let’s see...”

Bisa Beul feigned deep thought, then replied.

“Ah. How unexpected.”

“How do I look?”

“You appear as a winged beast.”

“Bullseye.”

Argio smiled.

“Good to know your eyes are still intact.”

He’d been ready to help if they weren’t—but it seemed they were doing just fine.

***

“‘Amusement Park of Dreams’ is, indeed, a dungeon.”

The bishop of the Moon Sect explained.

“From what we’ve gathered so far, there’s truly a massive park-like space involved. Based on the condition—‘write your wish on a note and place it under your pillow before sleeping’—we’ve classified it as a virtual dungeon.”

If the condition was met, participants were pulled into the dungeon.

“Since the condition can’t be fulfilled without the person’s own will, there’s no coercion involved. However, when we consider the appeal this offers to citizens exhausted by reality—the ability to safely do anything they want in a dream—it’s not exactly reassuring.”

“Is there any indication of people not waking up? Or taking longer to wake?”

“No such reports yet.”

The Moon Sect had a close relationship with the Association. In events like this, they shared intel and cooperated. After a short briefing at the Association, the bishop addressed the senior brothers of the Moon Sect.

“It’s too large in scale to be a personal or group skill. The space is also highly structured. Please review the documents we’ve distributed for more details. Our objective is to understand the structure of this dungeon—‘Amusement Park of Dreams.’”

In other words, they were the lab rats.

“You may use any method you wish, so long as it satisfies you and doesn’t cause major problems. As with the ‘Nation of the Deep Sea’ incident, we await your active research and reports.”

“So we’re allowed to try what’s written on the flyer? It seems like the easiest and quickest method. And it says there are no side effects so far...”

“If anything poses a danger to your health or life, report it before attempting. Otherwise, proceed as usual. Please conduct your research discreetly to avoid public controversy.”

“Understood.”

The Moon Sect was, on the whole, quite excited. To them, dungeons and monsters were nothing more than fascinating research subjects. And a virtual dungeon with such kind conditions? Worth every bit of effort.

Amidst them, Hunter Sergio stood awkwardly, smiling.

“I just hope none of you try anything too dangerous...”

“Don’t worry, Saint. If I really feel like I’m dying, I’ll pray to my teacher...”

“If you pray, will the Moon save you?”

“He’ll at least hear about my noble achievement before I die.”

“I don’t usually say this, but please show some restraint.”

“It’s all for the future of humanity...”

“Enough.”

“Yes, sir.”

The bishop cleared her throat, stepping in awkwardly.

“This situation must be rather uncomfortable for you, Hunter Sergio.”

“The Collectors have a similar disregard for their own bodies, but maybe because of the guild master, they don’t do anything too reckless. Still, it’s hard to get used to. You’re all such brilliant people...”

“They’re good at thinking, but the Moon Sect isn’t really made up of clever individuals. Still, if you set boundaries, they’ll follow them. So there’s no need to worry too much.”

“I think you’re the one who worries more than I do, Bishop.”

“......”

A beat passed before she asked,

“...Me?”

“You haven’t looked well lately.”

“I haven’t been sleeping well.”

“Nightmares?”

“No, more like...”

She hesitated, then answered.

“It feels like I’m half-awake.”

Lately, she had been dreaming of the evil god.