The Artist Who Paints Dungeon
Chapter 171

A luxurious hotel in Samcheok, Gangwon Province. The event room.

“......”

“......”

A strange silence drifted between the noisy cluster of people. The one to speak first was Gio.

He spoke plainly, as if delivering a simple fact.

“I will be the one preparing the meals, so I’m not concerned about the food being unappetizing.”

“...Ah, you’re going to cook, young master?”

“My cooking skills and digestive capacity are excellent. So even in a dungeon, I’m confident I can enjoy a proper meal.”

“That’s... a refreshing answer.”

“Thank you for your concern, but you’re standing a bit too close. Could you take a step back?”

“Ah, my apologies.”

The hunter with black eyes curved like a crescent moon raised both hands with a grin. It was a classic gesture of surrender—and of mockery. He took a small step away from Sergio.

“I’ve heard so many stories about Hunter Sergio, I think I imagined we were already friends.”

“Ah, so that was a gesture of camaraderie just now. I understand what you meant.”

“Our young master is very open-minded, isn’t he? And funny, too. I’m really glad to meet you like this.”

Many other hunters were pretending not to listen but were secretly intrigued by their exchange. Yet Sergio didn’t seem to care, and neither did the blond hunter who had initiated the conversation.

“I have a bad habit of saying things without thinking. You’ll forgive me, right?”

With long, straight blond hair and a well-shaped physique, his face resembled that of a noble knight from a fairy tale. As he walked up, radiating a provocative energy, Sergio responded with a smile.

“You are truly humble.”

“Oh? I look humble? That’s the first time I’ve heard that. Surprising, really.”

“This was an enjoyable conversation.”

“Would you consider continuing it a bit longer?”

“I was only planning to make a brief appearance and return. I ask for your understanding.”

“Hmmm....”

The hunter let out a long, vague hum with a face unreadable in its expression, then backed away with a grin. His retreat was as absurdly casual as his approach.

“Let’s talk again sometime.”

“That would be welcome news.”

At that moment, Curator Garasani, who had been observing the situation, approached.

“Hunter Sergio.”

Just like this random provocation, it seemed that due to the current team composition of the Collector’s Guild, some people viewed Sergio as a greenhouse flower.

Aware of this perception beforehand, the Guild members had deliberately kept some distance to avoid giving the impression that they were overly guarding or coddling Sergio—but this case was different.

“Is there anything I can assist you with?”

“Well... how about an explanation of the situation?”

“Yes. It must have been a bit startling.”

Garasani spoke with a look that suggested he sympathized with the trouble.

“For something like that to happen the moment you arrived...”

Indeed, Gio had been dragged into provocation as soon as he entered the room.

To understand how the current situation came to be, we must rewind a little.

***

“A hotel?”

Gio tilted his head as he echoed the word, and Joo-Hyun nodded.

“Yes. Since the event is hosted by the Church of the Sun, it looks like they’ve put in a lot of effort.”

“Could I ask what you mean by ‘a lot of effort’?”

“Actually, I figured you might not be familiar with hunter customs, so I came prepared.”

Joo-Hyun, who had returned to the Collector’s Guild after a long absence, sat with Gio in a small meeting room.

“It’s ideal if the dungeon being targeted is close to the guild involved, but in most cases, it’s located in a completely different region.”

“That seems likely.”

“This time, for example, it’s in Samcheok, Gangwon Province. So, when conditions allow, especially among the larger groups that care about appearances, hunters are not immediately dispatched into the dungeon.”

“Then...”

“They try to secure a base near the dungeon entrance where hunters can rest. Think of it like a rest stop. It’s one of the common customs in hunter culture.”

Not fully grasping the ways of Earth, Sergio asked,

“So they don’t head into battle right away?”

“They want hunters in optimal condition before dungeon entry.”

“Because traveling drains stamina?”

“That’s the biggest reason.”

Joo-Hyun nodded.

“Some hunters can teleport using their skills or equipment, but usually it’s only the individual who can move. Even then, it consumes stamina, mana, or gear durability.”

Even with a professional teleport hunter assisting—one not involved in the raid—the same limitations applied. The person being teleported still experienced stamina loss.

“Such professional teleport hunters are very rare. They’re high-value assets, in demand everywhere, and hard to book.”

“So it’s not a method that can be used commonly.”

“Exactly. Although large guilds like the Collector’s may already have a few such hunters, most other guilds can’t rely on that luxury.”

“Are there no public teleport stations? I remember someone named Cha Eun-Hyeok who sold fish bread mentioning something similar.”

“Those only exist in a few places. They’re extremely limited. Cha Eun-Hyeok must live in a fairly developed area. Especially in Gangwon Province, there are no terminals.”

“...There are no terminals in Gangwon Province?”

Sergio was shocked. Joo-Hyun continued.

“It means there’s no transportation infrastructure installed by the government. There’s no teleport terminal, no non-magical railways, and not even properly paved roads for buses or cars.”

Yet most hunters still had to use those unpaved roads to reach Gangwon Province. The region’s dungeons were infamous for being physically taxing just to reach.

“There’s a stark gap in infrastructure between cities and rural areas. Gangwon Province still bears the scars of the great catastrophe. The only area set up for habitation is Samcheok. It’s a harsh region.”

“I understand.”

“That’s why, for this operation, it’s especially important to provide hunters with a proper place to rest. Even when not as far as Gangwon, resting before dungeon raids is essential.”

Joo-Hyun smiled gently.

“To ensure hunters can perform at their best.”

“You make it sound like there’s another reason.”

“Gio, you’re correct. As I said earlier—it’s also about appearances.”

Gio glanced up at her, surprised.

“Appearances?”

“Particularly among Seoul-based guilds.”

“They care about appearances?”

“Well, this is a trait of Korea in general...”

Joo-Hyun explained with a slightly embarrassed look.

“Korea is known for having excellent personnel, but it’s small geographically. Only Seoul and Busan are significantly developed and populated.”

Gio thought to himself,

‘...How is this different from before the catastrophe? Just a matter of survival difficulty...?’

Her explanation continued.

“Seoul especially values popularity among its citizens. SNS is deeply ingrained in the culture, and people are tightly connected. Many guilds thrive on the support of the public.”

“You mean they’re selling an image?”

“Exactly. The better they appear—strong, flawless—the safer the citizens feel. It’s tied to Seoul’s civic pride.”

“I don’t understand what kind of pride that is.”

“It’s a common human instinct—to mistake something external for their own. Even if it isn’t theirs, they associate themselves with powerful guilds. People aren’t like you, Gio. They don’t just focus on themselves.”

“Oh...”

Sergio, who was technically human, felt oddly insulted.

Was this really how people saw him? Apparently, yes. Though he did enjoy the VIP treatment he received as a living artwork.

With a flowing stream of self-justification, Gio nodded.

“I understand.”

“Do you? You really are clever, Gio.”

Joo-Hyun smiled as if explaining to a younger sibling.

“That’s why large Seoul-based organizations care so much about appearances. Major raids are the perfect opportunity to show off. And this includes the custom I mentioned earlier.”

“You mean securing a resting place near the dungeon?”

“Yes. Even a poor guild will go out of its way to follow that tradition. If they don’t, it gives the impression that they don’t care if their members live or die.”

Which wasn’t entirely wrong.

“A hunter’s survival rate is heavily influenced by their condition that day. Unless they want to advertise that they’re killing off their own, guilds provide rest stops.”

There were exceptions, of course.

“Illegal guilds, for instance. Since they don’t care about public scrutiny, they’ll send their hunters to die without hesitation. They don’t bother with customs.”

“All illegal guilds are like that?”

“Maybe there are exceptions, but all the ones I know of are. Customs are only followed by groups that care about keeping up appearances.”

“I’ve heard illegal guilds are numerous.”

“Yes. This world’s overflowing with people. There’s no shortage of labor from slums, third-tier provinces, or even criminals.”

“Overflowing with people...”

Considering Korea once feared collapse from population decline, the reversal was shocking. And grotesque. Sergio was at a loss.

Unaware of Gio’s inner turmoil, Joo-Hyun continued.

“The Church of the Sun, your Collector’s Guild, and other participating groups are all reputable. With so many eyes on them, they’re planning a small party to wish for the raid’s success.”

Gio blinked.

“A party to wish for success?”

“It’s not a strict tradition, but it’s common. Depending on resources, they may hold a brief, joyful gathering to lift the mood.”

She explained like a human enlightening a clueless cat.

“A short celebration to boost morale—without exhausting the hunters. After enjoying such a festival and rest in a nice space, people feel mentally and physically recharged.”

“I don’t find the idea of a festival appealing.”

“I know you’re not fond of noisy settings. Reporters and press will be there too, so there will be many humans. I wouldn’t recommend openly skipping it, but just showing your face and returning to your room is fine.”

“That’s allowed?”

“Not every hunter enjoys these events. Some are shy. Some think they’re pointless. And with so many people, there’ll be someone who doesn’t get along with you.”

Still, such parties had positive perceptions.

“The main purpose is social. Especially when multiple groups are involved—like now—it helps break the ice. Hunters get to understand each other’s fighting styles.”

“That’s a good intention.”

“There might be friction, sure. But that’s also part of it. It’s a way to identify compatible and incompatible teammates before going in. Composition matters in raids.”

“...I have one question.”

Introvert Sergio asked,

“You said ‘team composition during the raid’—don’t they just group guildmates together?”

“Ah... That must be unfamiliar and uncomfortable for you, Gio.”

Joo-Hyun nodded sympathetically.

“While ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) guilds try to keep their members together, the most critical factor is role balance. If one guild sends only healers, they’ll be scattered among other groups.”

It was a valid point.

“......”

Gio felt himself shrink a little.

‘I might just end up avoiding everyone the entire raid...’

Then what was the point of all the socializing he’d forced himself to do at the Collector’s Guild?

Joo-Hyun tried to comfort him.

“There’ll probably be reporters at the venue, but don’t worry. At least one Collector’s Guild member will stay near you... and like I said, you can just show your face and leave.”

“Wouldn’t that be rude to others?”

“Plenty of hunters don’t enjoy these things. If you step out early, the hosts will just remember you as someone who dislikes crowds. It’s not considered rude.”

“That’s a relief.”

Gio was reassured by her gentle encouragement.

“If it’s just making an appearance, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

And so, Gio headed to the only hotel in Samcheok with members of the Collector’s Guild. The moment he stepped into the event room from his designated suite... someone picked a fight.

***

Back in the event room of the hotel.

“If you wish, I can file a formal complaint with Haryeong.”

At Garasani’s words, Gio asked,

“The person I just spoke with—is he affiliated with the Haryeong Guild?”

“Yes. Were you greatly offended?”

“No, not as much as you’re imagining.”

“I see. That’s good.”

“...Haryeong...”

It was one of the guilds Joo-Hyun had mentioned.

“......”

Gio’s eyes settled on the man he’d just spoken to. Their eyes met. The man gave a small wave, and Argio pulled his hood over his head.

“...What a shame.”

There was no malice.

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