The Artist Who Paints Dungeon
Chapter 191

Sankallut, the god of pain and blessing, was a typical evil deity who was subjugated when the gateway to Earth first opened.

But in principle, divine subjugation usually meant sealing.

No matter how naive a god might be, divinity was divinity.

Even among equals, harming one another was difficult for divine beings — let alone for mortals.

As a result, Sankallut was imprisoned in a research facility on Earth.

“■...”

There was no malice in it.

This wicked divinity, born by human hands, understood why Earthlings had confined it, but never once thought its ways ❀ ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) were wrong.

It had simply been made that way.

Driven by a pure desire to return to its former state, Sankallut slowly began to seep into the research facility.

“Ah, Lord Sankallut...”

“Please bestow your blessings upon us.”

“We beg for your salvation!”

Humans already mentally cornered accepted its salvation with ease.

“■...”

Pitifully.

Sankallut only wanted to return home.

There was a sense of stability that could only be found in familiar places.

And for a new beginning, it raised its children.

The research facility slowly turned into Sankallut’s domain.

The process was quiet — eerily so — and secretive.

“ ”

Sankallut knew that the master of this facility’s master was aware of everything and chose to turn a blind eye.

No matter how long it waited, no suppression came.

Sankallut took this as permission.

In the end, it succeeded in claiming one entire facility as its own.

Sankallut accepted offerings from its children and observed the area.

However, the seed of a new cult leader — one who could return it to its rightful place — did not appear easily.

“■”

And before it could extend its influence beyond the facility, it found a human called ‘Joo-Hyun.’

That child’s vessel was vast and warm.

It wanted to be held by those hands.

Sankallut knew what made humans accept it easily.

“Yes, I see.”

“■...”

“That person... Yes, I understand.”

“■...”

“I will do so.”

To narrow the vision of a vessel so broad, it had to show them the limits of their kind.

When the kindest human is disappointed in other humans, they accept faith more readily.

That was what Sankallut had learned.

It planned to do the same with ‘Joo-Hyun.’

“......?”

But it failed.

It happened too quickly.

Something far greater seized ‘Joo-Hyun.’

Sankallut was saddened by the loss of such a promising vessel, but there was nothing it could do.

A divinity bows to one greater and more brilliant.

Having lost that precious vessel, Sankallut widened its gaze.

Since finding gems in a dust pit was so difficult, it decided to mine directly from a gold vein.

“■...”

Evading the eyes of other gods to target the seeds within their gaze was extremely difficult.

But amidst chaos, Sankallut found a very promising seed.

The vessels named ‘Cha I-Sol’ and ‘Iru Da.’

“■.”

One was already in another god’s embrace, so Sankallut chose to take ‘Cha I-Sol.’

Aside from her, there was no other seed on this land capable of safely containing Sankallut.

The vessel was enormous, and still young — its potential was limitless.

Before it was taken again, Sankallut extended its hand.

Among its pawns in the research facility, it selected one with a child nestled in the arms of the Sun.

Preparations were complete.

“■...”

“Ah, this is...”

“■...”

“Thank you, Lord Sankallut! With this, my child will receive your greatest blessing...!”

“■...”

“I will raise your child within the arms of the Sun, believe me!”

When trying to make the kindest human disappointed in others, the most effective way was to have those they cherished be hurt by fellow humans.

They are often numb to their own pain.

Sankallut looked around.

She had many friends and family.

But within the Sun’s arms, the one she could see most closely was ‘Iru Da,’ a servant of another god.

That was what Sankallut targeted.

“ ”

That background had already been set.

Precious sprouts are always rejected by rotting ones.

Sankallut whispered to the servant’s child, and the young sprout who heard it began to interpret their long-held anger and jealousy as pain.

This ultimately drove ‘Cha I-Sol’ and ‘Iru Da’ into a corner...

“■”

But oh no.

“■¿”

Who would have thought the sky-blue being, who hated humans, would help a human child.

“...■...”

Sankallut grew dejected.

Its luck was just too poor.

It felt the weight of a vast fate.

Well, with so many divine beings crammed onto this tiny land and so few desirable vessels, fierce competition was inevitable.

Still, the plan hadn’t been entirely fruitless.

“ ”

If it retreated now, who knows when it might return home.

“ ”

Little ‘Iru Da’ now harbored thoughts of revenge.

Its pawn’s child still writhed in jealousy and pain.

Breaking the fragile heart of the vessel wouldn’t take much longer.

Most importantly, Cha I-Sol’s distrust had already begun.

Sankallut opened its mouth and whispered.

***

Iru Da had been severely injured.

“......”

Cha I-Sol stared quietly at her unconscious friend.

“Ruda-ya...”

“......”

“Iru Da.”

She was a little angry.

“How could you get hurt alone, without me?”

The Church had said the partners they assigned were bound by fate.

Last time, it had been sad but bearable.

But this time wasn’t like that.

Cha I-Sol leaned against the bed where Iru Da lay and fidgeted with her fingers.

She poked at Iru Da’s callused hand, then gently held it.

“......”

It was covered in wounds.

“This makes me sad.”

They said Iru Da had confronted the mastermind behind the last field training incident.

That too, inside another practical dungeon.

They fought together, but only Iru Da lost consciousness.

Because the ringleader had teamed up with others in a cowardly move.

And because they had borrowed the power of fearsome tools with their parents’ support.

Cha I-Sol thought it was truly vile.

‘He always smiled so well at me, but he tormented Ruda.’

Cha I-Sol understood.

They thought she was easy, and Iru Da wasn’t — so they attacked the harder target first.

Maybe they even blamed Iru Da for her refusal to cooperate.

‘How stupid.’

She hadn’t joined hands with him simply because she didn’t like him.

“......”

She was a little angry at everyone.

Iru Da should’ve been a bit more cold-hearted.

The mastermind shouldn’t have been so greedy from the start.

And the adults should’ve paid more attention to the trainee priests.

‘Then we wouldn’t have been hurt like this.’

No — maybe if she had been a better partner, this wouldn’t have happened.

“...What do I do...”

She was starting to hate this big white house.

‘I miss hyung. And noona too...’

She thought of the family who had loved her the most.

Even this house, filled with petty people, had been joyful thanks to Iru Da’s affection.

But now, even that was becoming too much.

She felt stifled and sorrowful.

‘I want to go back to my real home.’

A house where winter wind leaked through, and rain dripped in during monsoon season.

Where they couldn’t eat proper meals every day, but still sat around laughing as they shared what they had.

She missed her village friends too.

“...Why is everyone...”

Cha I-Sol buried her face in the bed and murmured,

“...so desperate not to be loved?”

She was scared.

‘It’s scary here, noona.’

Everyone acted so unfairly.

Back in the village, even if you were born on different boats, everyone was family.

When crops or food were left over, they shared.

Even awkward kids were welcomed into play just because it was fun.

It was a place where the sky was always open.

But not here.

The buildings were too big — the sky couldn’t be seen.

There were friends and neighbors, but no one looked at each other.

If you didn’t play well, you were excluded for “not being qualified.”

‘Why does it have to be like this?’

In her village, people were busy coming together.

Here, they were busy biting and tearing each other down.

As if they would die otherwise.

Maybe they really would.

That must be why Iru Da got hurt like this.

“...Ruda...”

She was sad.

“I want to go home.”

She missed home.

“Home was better. This place is too scary...”

“You’re right.”

“......”

“It’s scary, isn’t it?”

Cha I-Sol lifted her face from the bed and looked at Iru Da, who was supposed to be unconscious.

Why?

“I understand.”

It was strange.

Something in her friend’s shape comforted her.

It held her hand.

“I want to go home too.”

“...Home?”

“Yeah. Being trapped in a lonely place is scary, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Shall I help you get out?”

“......”

Cha I-Sol went quiet.

‘Iru Da’ smiled.

“You’re more suspicious than you look.”

“Who are you?”

“I want to be your friend.”

“Friend?”

“We can help each other.”

“That might be true, but...”

Having grown up with older siblings who always said, “There are lots of con artists in the world, so if a stranger speaks too well, trust a reliable adult,” Cha I-Sol pulled out a scribbled piece of paper from her pocket.

“I think I need to talk to my guardian first.”

“...Huh?”

“You talk too well, so it’s suspicious.”

The paper she pulled out had a drawing she made before — of the Black Cloak.

“Help me, Gio hyung—!!”

And just like that, Cha I-Sol and Iru Da were sucked into the picture.

***

“You’re so mean!!”

A fragment of Sankallut, using Iru Da’s body, began to whimper.

“I’m the one who talked to you, so why’d you ask some other oppa for help?!”

“I already said, you were talking too well, it was suspicious!”

“I didn’t even say a quarter of a quarter of a quarter of what I meant, and you brought in another divinity!!”

“Then I did the right thing, because I got help before your quarter of a quarter of a quarter could charm me!!”

“I was trying to help you, so why bring in another adult...!!”

In the now chaotic house, the mermaid Iser smiled bitterly.

“Teacher, may I throw them all out?”

“Of course not.”

Giovanni, with his usual cheerful smile, approached the two children.

“What did you call me for, Cha I-Sol?”

“He kept trying to seduce me!”

“My goodness.”

Sankallut flinched as Gio drew near.

“...You... you’re the one from before...!”

“The gemstone that tried to tempt Joo-Hyun, yes.”

“Why do you keep stealing every vessel I pick?!”

“I didn’t steal anything.”

Giovanni declared boldly.

“A great divinity simply draws people in by existing.”

“Th-that’s...!”

“Bees are drawn to the flower with the most nectar. In short, it means I’m better than you.”

“I worked really hard too!”

“Well, working hard is just the baseline. No matter how hard a flower tries to bloom, it’s up to the bee to choose it, isn’t it?”

“Urgh...!!”

Sitting on the sofa sipping tea, Joo-Hyun thought,

‘He just compared himself to a flower.’

Such incredible confidence.

‘So this is how divinities argue.’

Having come to talk to the mermaid before the all-out battle, Joo-Hyun felt a strange sense of resignation.

A kind of acceptance.

With her sincere smile, she turned to Iser.

“Would you like another cup?”

“Yes, this is my first time trying this tea.”

“Gio said he got it with help from a dungeon he cleared.”

“It has a very pleasant cooling scent.”

As the peaceful conversation continued, Gio called out to Cha I-Sol.

“Cha I-Sol, would you mind joining those two over there?”

“What about you, hyung?”

“I need to speak with this uninvited guest.”

“Will it be dangerous?”

“It’s been a while since I spoke with a divine being. I’m a little excited.”

“Wow, who else have you talked to?”

“I’ll tell you later, after you’ve had tea over there.”

“Sorry for interrupting while you had guests!”

“You’re so considerate.”

Sending Cha I-Sol to Joo-Hyun, whom he trusted, Gio looked at Sankallut.

“Let us have our conversation.”

“A-are you going to scold me?”

“We are equals as divine beings, so that wouldn’t be appropriate.”

“Liar...”

“Think whatever you wish.”

And with that, Gio disappeared upstairs with Iru Da.

“Oh.”

“Iru Da hasn’t woken up yet.”

“She was already sleeping to begin with.”

“I see.”

Soon after, Gio returned, holding Iru Da just as she was.

Cha I-Sol asked curiously,

“Exorcism?”

“More like spiritual communication.”

“Aha, I see.”

And Joo-Hyun thought to herself:

‘Even a wicked god like Sankallut is treated like a minor spirit here.’

It was so surreal, it made her laugh.

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