The Artist Who Paints Dungeon
Chapter 197

Gio smiled.

“Did you come to see me?”

“That’s right!”

Cha I-Sol smiled too.

“But... where are we? This isn’t a beach?”

“This is one of the rooms in the ‘Temple of the Deep Sea.’”

“What were you doing, hyung?”

“As you can see...”

Clink.

Gio waved his hand.

“I was tied up.”

“Oh.”

“You’ve probably never seen someone tied up before. Are you okay with that emotionally?”

“W-Why are you tied up? And it’s not my first time—I saw it on the news...”

“Well, this one’s a little different from those people.”

Gio hadn’t committed any crimes or been officially arrested.

“If you want to get technical, my very existence is illegal.”

“What does that mean?”

“Exactly. What does it mean?”

People nowadays lived such complicated lives.

“Back in my day, even if aliens appeared, people just brushed it off.”

“Whoa, really?”

“Of course.”

They would just say it was nonsense and move on. But the current world had grown so strange that even if an actual alien showed up, no one would be surprised. Which meant a portrait like Gio had a harder time surviving.

“How did we even get on this topic?”

“Why are you tied up?”

“Ah, right. That’s it. Some naughty mermaids kidnapped me.”

“Eunha?”

“That’s right, Eunha did it.”

“Uh...”

Cha I-Sol was flustered.

“Why would Eunha do that?”

“She said she wants to live and die with me.”

“That’s... kind of intense.”

“Isn’t it?”

Gio asked with a smile.

“But, are you sure it’s safe to be here?”

The place he was being held was once a residence used by the pope, primarily during visits to the temple. Gio thought of it as being similar to the main or auxiliary halls of the Joseon dynasty.

But of course, it wasn’t nearly as safe as the old temple.

“This may look nice, but it’s still a dungeon.”

“It looks like a dungeon no matter how you look at it.”

“Hmm, fair enough.”

The atmosphere had grown fairly grim.

Though the temple was adorned with gold, silver, and marble, there was a cold air about it. Everything was rusting and falling apart—it might as well have been a haunted house. The deep sea’s signature gloom was unmistakable.

A suffocating pressure like the kind felt before massive abyssal creatures. Skeletons scattered everywhere alongside piles of treasure. A temple within a temple, glowing with cool, shimmering water scales...

Gio was bound in the very center, upon the pope’s throne.

“Iser and Aria probably already sensed your presence, Cha I-Sol.”

“But I came through your portrait?”

“Yes, and I know that very well—it happened right before my eyes.”

“But the mermaids noticed anyway?”

“This is their home, after all.”

It was the mermaids’ sea, merged with them as one.

“Even if you came through a portrait, they’re not the kind to miss my energy.”

Cha I-Sol had drawn the “Portrait of Gio,” and the portrait had accepted him. It had some issues due to being ownerless, but the teddy bear father at home helped resolve that.

And, surprisingly, Cha I-Sol had declared he wanted to see Gio. Gio hadn’t known the details since he couldn’t move, but regardless—Cha I-Sol could return. For now.

“This place is dangerous. You should go back to the Temple of the Sun where it’s safe.”

“But I want to help too.”

“Dear heavens, how precious. But no.”

“Ehh...”

“Children shouldn’t be involved in things like this.”

“You sound just like Ruda...”

“Iru Da is a very wise friend.”

Argio believed children didn’t belong in warzones.

“Children have the right to be protected, but they also have duties. The time that only kids like you can enjoy is very limited. You deserve pure happiness during that time.”

But Cha I-Sol’s stubbornness had pushed him all the way through the portrait.

“So if I don’t get hurt or feel pain, it’s okay?”

“Just seeing me like this is probably emotional damage.”

“But I think I’m getting used to it.”

“That’s exactly what you shouldn’t get used to. That’s how your purity gets chipped away.”

“But I don’t think it’s dangerous if I stay near you. Do I really have to leave? I’ll be quiet.”

“I’d rather you hadn’t gotten involved in the first place.”

“I just want to sit here and chat with you. I was planning to heal people injured at the beach, but I didn’t even get to do that...”

“Am I talking to a wall here?”

“I didn’t want to come all this way and do nothing. If I’m alone I get bored, so at least let me do this.”

“You’re both adorable and exasperating—I’m going to lose my mind.”

Gio grinned brightly.

“Go back.”

“Nope.”

“Now, now. Go back.”

Because he was tied up by the mermaids, Gio couldn’t send Cha I-Sol home. If he could, he would’ve turned him into paint already—but the mermaids had done their homework; nothing worked.

Realizing Gio couldn’t force him back, Cha I-Sol crouched at his feet with a cheerful face.

“You can’t send me back, can you?”

“You’re one of those kids who knows ten things without being told one.”

“But how did I get here, then?”

“Let’s be precise, Cha I-Sol. You came here on your own.”

“But the portrait just opened?”

“Since it was ownerless, my father accepted you.”

“Oh, so that teddy bear grandpa...”

“More importantly, you were the one who opened the frame and stepped inside.”

“Wait, really?”

Cha I-Sol blinked.

“You didn’t open it for me?”

“My will wasn’t involved. Strictly speaking, I just gave you the key so you could express the desire to visit. A house key.”

“A house key...? Oh.”

He rubbed his forehead.

“This thing?”

“Yes, that.”

It was the “fragment” Gio had given Cha I-Sol in his role as the Sun God.

“It lets you share some of my powers, but since I’m a portrait, those traits got shared too. That’s why you can now draw portraits like me.”

“My grandpa helped me come in, though.”

“Because you’re still inexperienced. You can create the frame, but not enter it on your own yet. That’s why my father helped.”

“Wooow...”

“I was planning to share other abilities over time, but if I’d known you were this brave, I would’ve reconsidered giving you that fragment. You’re far bolder than I expected.”

Cha I-Sol tilted his head.

“You didn’t know I’d do this?”

“I’m smarter than average, yes. But I don’t know everything.”

“But you’re a god.”

“Not a proper god. Besides, if I knew everything, where’s the fun in living?”

Gio didn’t wish to be omniscient.

“I really didn’t think you’d come this far, Cha I-Sol.”

Nor did he expect his clueless father to send such a tiny child right to his face. As if this place wasn’t dangerous enough already.

“My father must’ve led you here through the ‘Breathing Sea,’ right?”

“That painting’s name was ‘Breathing Sea’?”

“If you mean the one of the ocean, yes.”

“Then yeah, that sounds right.”

“Tch. I should’ve hidden it better.”

The “Breathing Sea” and “Country of the Deep Sea” were connected spaces. Gio had used it before to wander the temple, so he knew it well enough.

“My father took your words literally and placed the ‘Breathing Sea’ frame in this room. And you happily came through it.”

Fortunately, the “Breathing Sea” frame was still intact. From this side, it showed the peaceful scene of the cottage—so, for now, there was still a path for Cha I-Sol to escape.

“If things get dangerous, run through there.”

“Okay!”

“Actually, it’d be better if you went now. This whole thing is way too risky.”

“Nope!”

“Whose stubbornness did you inherit, I wonder?”

That resolve was tougher than bamboo in winter.

“Thankfully, Iser and Aria don’t seem to hate you. And they can hold a reasonable conversation, so there shouldn’t be a big problem.”

“So I can stay here?”

“You already are here, aren’t you? You’ve got a real talent for ignoring me—I’ll allow it, since I can’t do anything right now. But don’t ever do this again.”

Gio could’ve asked his father to retrieve Cha I-Sol, but the Sun God wouldn’t be thrilled about that. The cute teddy bear grandpa probably had no human empathy.

‘He’ll just say it’s for everyone’s benefit and leave the kid here.’

More importantly, Gio’s homeland didn’t recognize children’s rights. It made no sense for his father—a god from that place—to suddenly care about Cha I-Sol’s safety now.

“What a checkmate.”

“What’s checkmate?”

“It’s a term from a game called janggi. It means a situation where you’ll lose no matter what you do.”

“So you lost?”

“Haha, yes. I lost to you, Cha I-Sol.”

He really needed to fix that lack of self-preservation. Kids these days were far too bold and precocious.

“Did you let Iru Da and the others know you were coming? I doubt you’d have gotten here if you’d said, ‘I’m going to see the Hunter tied up at the beach.’”

Cha I-Sol blinked.

“Uh... I came as soon as I had the thought, then sent a message later.”

“You’re already guaranteed to get scolded, but how did you send it?”

“I got stationery from teddy bear grandpa...”

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t just say you sent a letter.”

“...I sent a letter.”

“Oh dear.”

Gio sighed.

“It probably wasn’t delivered.”

“Huh? Why not? I saw it go out!”

“As I said—you’re not a portrait, so...”

“So?”

“To put it simply: you can’t afford the ‘call charge.’”

“...Call charge?”

“Even I, with more skill, often have my letters smudge when sent.”

It was a problem with turning drawings into reality. During the conversion from fantasy to Earth’s system, things got distorted in translation. Gio’s letters were often unreadable because of this.

“So what about Cha I-Sol’s letters?”

“Oh, they’re probably just gone...”

“They send, but they’re very likely to be lost.”

“...So no reply either?”

“I haven’t received one myself. One-way communication only, for now.”

“Ugh...”

Cha I-Sol’s face finally turned pale.

“I-I didn’t even tell Ruda I was leaving!!”

He had run off thinking Gio would be there and it’d be safe—but even the note he sent—“I’m going ahead to check if it’s safe. If it is, maybe come with me? But only if you want. I’ll wait for your reply!”—hadn’t arrived.

He jumped to his feet and ran toward the portrait.

“Ah?! It’s gone!!”

“O Sun above...”

Giovanni sighed.

‘That was unnecessary.’

Sure, this whole thing could help both Gio and Cha I-Sol grow, but Gio never wanted to force a child to develop. If there’s an easy path, why not take it?

‘I’ll have to talk to him about this later.’

It wasn’t that the teddy bear Sun God meant harm. More like he wanted to raise their “stats” like characters in a game. Sending them into battle to level up.

The Sun believed this path would help them. That was love, in its own twisted way. Then again, if the Sun God had empathy or followed weak human ethics, that’d be a joke.

“I apologize on his behalf, Cha I-Sol. It seems my father closed the door.”

“Why?! It was open just a moment ago!”

“He’ll open it again if things get truly dangerous. Until then, he probably wants you to grow through this experience.”

“Growth is fine, but can I at least explain to Ruda...? I wasn’t even going to stay long—I just wanted to check things...!!”

“If that’s the case, why did you look so determined to settle in at my side?”

“That was because I feel safe with you! I just wanted to wait with you until she replied...!”

“Oh, poor thing. But my father will not open that door.”

Giovanni smiled. As someone who once served a god, he could already sense how this would unfold.

“Ruda mustn’t know what’s happening, or fate won’t go her way.”

The fact that he couldn’t grasp that fate proved he wasn’t a god.

‘So this is the power of a ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ real god.’

Yes, I’m definitely ordinary.

***

“Most likely...”

The priests of the Sun Church came to a conclusion.

“...A mermaid has kidnapped Trainee Cha I-Sol.”

“They say Hunter Sergio is in the same situation...”

“This has happened to Brother Cha I-Sol before too.”

“Could the dark god from the research facility have infiltrated the Sun Church and targeted him?”

“Maybe the divinity of Sankallut and the mermaids have joined forces. Of all things... the apostles of the Black Cloak...”

“It may be a hasty assumption, but it really does look like the mermaids are trying to suppress the Black Cloak.”

“Iser the mermaid was reported to have made a similar statement.”

“What is going on...”

Iru Da trembled.

“...Give Cha I-Sol back...”

“We’ll send word immediately. He might be inside the dungeon.”

“Do you know how low the survival rate is for abducted children...?”

“We do, but we haven’t even received an entry order yet...”

“Then I’ll go!”

She had no intention of staying safe while her partner’s life hung in the balance.

“Send me on the mission!!”

Everything was unfolding as the god intended.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.