The Artist Who Paints Dungeon

Gio sniffed the food from the night market.

“…….”

“Do you have any questions?”

“No, you eat well.”

“Yes, that's right.”

Gio was a big eater.

“Aren't you full?”

“I usually eat a lot, so it's fine.”

“I think it's impressive.”

“Well, it has to taste good for people to come.”

While that was a valid point, if all restaurants and food were delicious, no business would ever fail.

'Anyway, in 31 years, this tourist spot has become pretty solid. When I visited with our class children, wasn't it almost like walking through history? It was quite a task trying to cheer up the bored kids.'

Gio casually lifted the veil and chewed on rice cake coated with grain syrup, grilled over charcoal. This was the true Korean tanghulu.

'Gyeongbokgung Palace used to be just a typical cultural heritage… it had such a boring feeling.'

It was a place filled with many memories, but what made those memories wasn't the Gyeongbokgung Palace itself, but the communication with the students who wandered around trying to find their self-identity wearing hanbok.

'Seeing the tears coming up for no reason makes me wonder what happened to that idol trainee who used to say he must have been a king of Joseon in his past life. I'm curious if everyone is doing well.'

If it weren't for the students who faithfully stuck to their nonsense like true high schoolers who couldn't live with their right minds, Gio wouldn't have enjoyed Gyeongbokgung Palace so much.

The hanok was beautiful and old-fashioned, but there were few students who protested when they had to come here, especially in the summer.

'But today's Gyeongbokgung Palace has become more practical. There's definitely a lot more to enjoy.'

People wearing hanbok enjoyed role-playing, and they often swapped the lanterns they bought with others. Everyone looked happy.

“…….”

If there was one thing to be curious about.

'What is that?'

He saw something transparent like a shadow, wandering around wearing a hanbok.

'It was like that at the fan shop too, and in the alleys of the Hanok Village… those similar things are wandering around.'

There could be exceptions, but all the ones Gio saw were wearing masks.

There was a group of shadowy figures resembling sadangpae¹ on tightropes, swaying with lanterns attached to their backs, a bunch of children with daenggi hair hopping around among the people, and a group of civil officials going in and out of restricted areas inside the palace….

“…Mr. Yoo Sung-woon.”

“Yeah?”

“What do you call that?”

“What… ah.”

Yoo Sung-woon spoke as if it was something Gio should naturally know.

“They're fairy tales, living stories. It's probably your first time seeing them in a place like this, right?”

“…….”

“They usually prefer places without people, so seeing them in such a bustling tourist spot is rare. Still, they are one of the proper children of the origin.”

This was something he had heard before.

“You mentioned something similar last time.”

“About what? The children of the origin?”

“Yes, could you explain in a bit more detail?”

“…Oh, I guess I did.”

Yoo Sung-woon scratched the back of his neck and continued.

“I think I roughly mentioned it when I was explaining about gardener last time… but it was a bit vague back then. It's hard to sum it up, but I'll explain.”

“…….”

“There's a transcendent being we humans define as the 'origin,' you could call it the god of gods. It's like a system that manages balance and creates various rules across the universe and dimensions.”

“A system is it.”

“And this origin usually creates other children. We call them 'children of the origin.' They're beings that can be classified as part of nature, like waves, wind, or animals and humans.”

“…….”

“These children of the origin can be categorized into a few types….”

Yoo Sung-woon pointed to the figure of the civil officials moving inside the palace. Their faces were obscured by large hats and veils, and their sleeves were so long that no part of their bodies could be seen.

Their collective movements had the precision and allure of a military drill, drawing attention, but for that very reason, they didn't seem like living beings. It was more like shadows wearing clothes, imitating people.

“Those are called 'fairy tales.'”

“What kind of beings are they?”

“Like most children of the origin, they're not interested in humans and don't harm them. 'Fairy tales' are living stories that also take on forms close to humans.”

“Then, are their mind similar to humans'?”

“They don't actually think like humans, they just mimic traces. The children of the origin are skilled at shaping their appearances. It's not something learned later on, it just seems like the nature of their essence themselves.”

Yoo Sung-woon took a sip of persimmon juice before continuing.

“Fairy tales, regardless of their type, all wear masks, but beyond that, there's no face. It's not that they have a human body or the ability to think like one, they're just imitating the appearance.”

“…….”

“Drawing a picture of someone doesn't make that picture a real person, does it? Ah, well, I'm not sure about your case, but … normally, there are limits to the dimensions.”

“I understand.”

A portrait like his wouldn't be common in the world. When Gio nodded in agreement, Yoo Sung-woon continued.

“They have their own stories, and when the story ends, they disappear. Despite the large number of people, Gyeongbokgung Palace is oddly a place where quite a few fairy tales reside.”

While observing the people, Gio asked.

“Can't people see those children of the origin?”

“Not many people can.”

Yoo Sung-woon nodded.

“Most people can't detect the frequencies dolphins or bats use, right? It's similar. The children of the origin exist in the world, but only a few can perceive them. Even though it's not like they're hiding.”

“Ghosts?”

“Well… you could see it that way, but the fact that they don't understand humans at all makes them slightly different. No matter how much they imitate humans on the outside, they're empty inside. Their roots are different.”

He spoke as if something had just occurred to him.

“Oh, right. In the past, there was no one who could see these children of the origin. It's said that because the Earth was greatly influenced by the Origin, leading to the emergence of dungeons… people with supernatural abilities were born… and due to the ecosystem itself changing, we were able to see these things.”

It was a mysterious story, like a fairy tale.

“As you can see, I'm one of the few humans who can perceive the origin that way.”

“I suppose I am too.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

Yoo Sung-woon's expression was slightly awkward, even though he tried to hide it. It was probably because he thought of him as something other than human.

'Anyway, Mr. Yoo Sung-woon would understand that whether I'm human or not, I'm a harmless being who can't even kill an ant, so it doesn't matter whether I'm human or not.'

Fearing he might be dragged out of his portrait, Gio didn't bother correcting him and instead took in the view of Gyeongbokgung Palace again.

'Earth and humanity have become stronger.'

Certainly, he would be eliminated. Gio, who only knew how to eat, sleep, and draw, had no confidence that he could survive in this harsh world.

“How many people can see the beings of the origin?”

“Are you asking for a percentage of the human population? Well, not many.”

“I see.”

The more special you are, the more you tend to get stabbed. Gio once again vowed to dedicate his life in the portrait.

“…….”

Sitting absentmindedly on the bench, Gio soon noticed a small commotion.

“I can hear the sound of fighting.”

“That's rare, in a tourist spot like this.”

Yoo Sung-woon, who had been leaning back in his chair, leaned forward.

“The guards will probably catch them soon, but….”

Sure enough, guards wearing a thick hanbok were grabbing the shouting man. A middle-aged man was making a scene, trying to charge at a rather handsome man dressed in a scholar's robe.

The scholar, who had probably been grabbed by the collar, was fixing his shirt with a troubled expression.

“…….”

The young man clearly had a kind-looking face, but…

Let's create a picture frame to check the safety (0/1)

Reward: Seal

Gio had a hunch.

“Gio?”

“…….”

A picture frame.

Gio raised his hands, forming a camera shape with his fingers, and brought them to his eyes.

Danger ★★★★★

Five stars.

'Very dangerous?'

It seemed like the guards had mistakenly grabbed the wrong person to take out.

Would you like to check the record?

Yes/No

Does he really need to do that?

“…….”

¹: Sadangpae: troupes of street performers that were formed vastly in 17~18th century Korea.

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