The Artist Who Paints Dungeon-Chapter 135

Joo Hyun, now that he had regained his senses, no longer feared the Black Cloak.

“For your first meal since waking up, I prepared porridge.”

“You can make porridge?”

“Though I look like this, I can cook almost anything.”

“The smell is wonderful. Thank you.”

Joo Hyun, having regained his strength during his sleep, gave a bright smile and expressed his gratitude.

‘A monster is making porridge??’

Of course, this thought was separate from his true feelings. Joo Hyun couldn’t help but sweat as he felt a deep sense of confusion and absurdity.

A god, preparing porridge, serving it to a human, and expressing pride in such an act. The main reason he wasn’t scared of him right now was because of how utterly ridiculous it all seemed.

‘Even if he’s a god... this is... if he’s a god, it’s even weirder.’

The association had reported the Black Cloak as a monster, but having spent enough time with the organization, Joo Hyun was aware of the truth. Often, the association hid the truth for various purposes under the guise of a greater cause. It looked like this was another case of that.

But still, it didn’t make sense. It was rare for a god to prepare a meal for a human, but even then, they wouldn’t cook it themselves.

‘And if I think of this world as some sort of dungeon, it becomes even harder to explain. Only monsters who fulfill certain criteria create their own dungeons. But gods... don’t they have a place to stay that could be considered a dungeon?’

Joo Hyun stopped his thoughts there.

“...It’s delicious?”

It was the porridge that was delicious.

“This is the best porridge I’ve ever had.”

“I’m happy to hear that you’re enjoying it.”

“It’s amazing. How could porridge taste like this? Is this really okay?”

It wasn’t just empty flattery—Joo Hyun was truly stunned and astonished.

He didn’t particularly like porridge. Usually, porridge was made from rice that was stretched out to make it go further, or it was something you ate when you were sick. But the porridge the Black Cloak served was so delicious it could make your brain ache.

“I never knew porridge could taste like this.”

“It’s the best compliment I could hear from someone who appreciates the dish.”

“You’re amazing, the flavor and texture... I could eat this every day without getting tired of it.”

For the first time in a long while, his admiration wasn’t out of politeness, but pure wonder.

“It’s really delicious.”

He kept repeating the same words, sounding a bit silly.

The rice grains in the porridge almost melted, giving it a texture similar to a smooth rice soup. But there were still traces of rice grains, like the well-cooked rice in a traditional sweet drink, warm and crumbling softly like a health food.

And the rich flavor of the rice, with its savory and sweet notes, gently spread in his mouth. The vegetables mixed in had a mild warmth, and especially the generous pieces of meat added a comforting depth.

‘This feels surprisingly filling...’

Was it bone broth?

“...Did you use bone broth in this?”

“Good guess, you have a talent for gastronomy.”

“T-talented, you say...”

“Thank you for savoring it.”

A bright smile bloomed on his pale face. For some reason, the Black Cloak truly seemed pleased.

“It was just a small portion since it’s the first meal, but would you like more?”

“Ah...”

When Joo Hyun came to his senses, the bowl was completely empty.

“...If it’s not too much trouble, may I have another bowl?”

Though he felt embarrassed for imposing on an evil god, he shamelessly requested another bowl.

“Would you like more side dishes?”

“Yes, please...”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

Even though the porridge itself was surprisingly filling, the Black Cloak seemed particularly pleased by Joo Hyun’s enjoyment and soon returned with a larger bowl.

“I thought the portion was too small, so I increased it.”

“Th-thank you.”

“I’ve made sure it’s easy on the stomach, but please don’t overeat.”

“Yes... I’ll be careful.”

The porridge the Black Cloak brought felt as if it melted on the tongue like cotton candy. The rice was still there, but it felt like it was dissolving as it touched the tongue, showing how carefully the rice had been prepared.

‘And it somehow feels like a health tonic.’

It almost seemed like there was a slight medicinal scent to it...

“......”

Medicinal?

“...Excuse me, Black Cloak... sir?”

“You can call me Gio.”

“Alright, Gio. Is there any medicine in this?”

“...I didn’t add any medicine.”

“I see.”

“I used ingredients grown here, except for the rice.”

“Aha, thank you for explaining.”

Joo Hyun expressed his thanks with a warm smile, but internally, he couldn’t shake the unease.

‘Ingredients grown here?’

This was information he couldn’t ignore. His smile grew tense.

He thought back to the fairy-tale-like scenery he had seen when he first woke up. That dreamlike sight had shaken him just by looking at it.

‘Is it likely that ingredients grown in a mystical being’s divine land are ordinary materials?’

A time full of monsters and mystery. Among them, Joo Hyun had studied hard to contribute to the world. He knew the significance of ‘eating’ in such a mystical context.

‘Am I... eating something too bold, something that’s shaped like porridge but is actually a mystery I shouldn’t be consuming?’

But it was delicious.

“......”

Nom.

Food wasn’t to blame.

‘...Anyway, I’ve already discarded my body.’

Joo Hyun, who had been ready to become a sacrifice to Sancalut, thought that if he turned into something not human in the embrace of some unknown mystery, he wouldn’t be too hurt by it.

Having finished the meal with a strangely bittersweet feeling, the Black Cloak asked:

“Would you prefer a light tea for dessert, or something sweet?”

“...Light tea?”

“Do you not enjoy sweet things?”

“It’s not that, but I prefer something savory in tea...”

“Savory tea, huh.”

The Black Cloak seemed to be pondering for a moment before blinking twice.

“Tea made from grains is usually quite savory.”

“Indeed.”

“I’ll keep that in mind for the next meal.”

“...Thank you?”

Joo Hyun, suddenly feeling a bit fearful as the Black Cloak seemed intent on improving his guest treatment, found himself thinking, ‘Am I really drinking something I shouldn’t be consuming?’

Soon, the Black Cloak brought out a warm tea with a bluish hue.

“This tea is excellent for boosting immunity.”

“Oh, I see. Thank you for the consideration.”

For a moment, Joo Hyun doubted, ‘Could this really be just for immunity?’ But in his resigned state and his fascination with the intoxicating aroma, he drank the tea. The scent was creamy sweet, yet the taste itself was light.

“...It’s nice.”

“It’s made from dried flowers from this forest.”

“I saw the forest from the terrace of the room you gave me.”

“Isn’t it peaceful and beautiful?”

“Yes, looking at it made me feel at ease.”

As the tea warmed his body, Joo Hyun began to feel his mind clearing.

“......?”

Was it just a feeling?

‘If this is just a feeling, it’s a really dishonest one.’

What am I even drinking?

‘I feel uneasy. If I had awakened the emotional skill, I might have been able to check.’

Though Joo Hyun wasn’t an awakened one, the Bai Bamnil flower tea was capable of reconfiguring cells and ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) making the drinker immune to light illnesses at all times.

The elixir of the source couldn’t leave a human’s brain sluggish. It was no wonder Yoo Seong-Woon, the previous visitor, had feared, ‘At this rate, you might not live to your own age,’ considering the consequences.

But Joo Hyun, unaware of the reality, simply sipped the delicious tea.

“Hmm...”

With his mind clearing, he finally felt like he could breathe again.

“Am I drinking something too precious?”

“There’s nothing precious about food. In the end, it all goes into a person’s mouth.”

“That’s true.”

Joo Hyun didn’t question Black Cloak’s words further, remembering how humans in society risk their lives over elixirs and potions. He didn’t feel the need to argue with Black Cloak’s words.

Now, with a little clarity, he began to assess the situation.

“I was rude when we first met. I was in such a chaotic state that I must have committed a lot of rudeness. Thanks to your kindness, I’ve been able to recover quite a bit.”

Back when he had been swept up in destructive impulses, he had truly given up everything. But now, with his somewhat clearer mind, Joo Hyun started to calculate his current position.

It wasn’t particularly because of any reason; it was just a habit he had developed from living his entire life with a sense of survival. It was a habit that helped him endure even the most disadvantageous situations.

“May I introduce myself properly?”

“Of course.”

“I’m Joo Hyun. I don’t have a family name, and I’m 36 years old.”

“I’m Gio. I have many names, but I’m currently 29 years old.”

“Being helped by someone so young makes me feel a bit embarrassed.”

He said it like a joke, but deep down, Joo Hyun’s thoughts were still chaotic.

‘29...? There’s no way that’s actually true, is it? Is this some kind of game? Or a role? If I think about it, many evil gods enjoy some form of play, so perhaps Gio is immersing himself in the persona of a 29-year-old young man... and the multiple names could refer to the color changes of the Black Cloak?’

He was too busy absorbing and organizing the information about the Black Cloak.

‘If my memory isn’t wrong, he’s currently in black hair, but he’s changed to platinum or red hair before. But even when his colors don’t change, he behaves as though his personality shifts. Is he an actor, like a human? Or is “changing clothes” the right way to describe it?’

Joo Hyun fiddled with the transparent glass teacup, the blue tea swirling inside.

“You may know this, but I worked at the association’s research center.”

“The research center of the association, huh? I’ve heard it’s a rather harsh environment.”

“Yes, although I’ve been suspended now after a few incidents.”

“You must have had a lot of tiring days. You need a rest.”

Nodding, the Black Cloak asked:

“So, what kind of dessert would you like?”

“......”

Did he understand what I just said?

‘...Since my counterpart isn’t human, I’m not sure if this is genuine consideration, or if he’s just indifferent to my situation. He didn’t even respond when I mentioned my misfortune... Why is that?’

An evil god, or rather a god, visits humans with the intention of using them for their own purposes. But the Black Cloak seemed to have no interest in Joo Hyun’s troubled situation.

Joo Hyun, who had thrown a kind of bait out earlier, was now inwardly surprised but managed to smile and respond without showing it.

“Hmm, I’m not sure. What kind of desserts do you have?”

“We have small cakes, fruit pudding, and ice cream.”

“Then, may I have the pudding?”

“Of course.”

Soon, a fluffy teddy bear brought the pudding.

“......”

“Thank you for helping me, Father.”

The teddy bear is... my father?

“Thanks to you, I’ve always received a lot of help.”

“Cuckoo cuckoo...”

Did it just laugh?

‘I feel like I’ve thought about this exact thing before falling asleep.’

With a strange sense of déjà vu, Joo Hyun forced a small smile. He didn’t know that the Sun God was inside the teddy bear, nor was he aware that this was far from normal, but he understood something was off.

When Gio turned around, Joo Hyun quickly put on a clean smile.

“Thank you for the pudding.”

“Cuckoo.”

The teddy bear nodded and then, taking its share of the pudding, left the house with a large cat. Watching the cat’s swaying gem-like tail, the Black Cloak explained.

“There are chairs and tables outside the hut. Since the sun is rising, they’re probably planning to enjoy snacks with Dana while watching that.”

“Ah... Dana?”

“The name of the large breed cat you saw earlier. I brought her from the ‘Gem’s Waterway’ dungeon and raised her. She’s grown quite big by now. I treat her like a daughter.”

“I see, I can feel the affection.”

Once again, Joo Hyun’s inner turmoil continued.

‘If it’s a cat from the Gem’s Waterway... gem fur... a large breed... is it an anti-cat? But the anti-cat is a monster that’s small, just like a kitten... No matter how much time passes, they don’t grow out of that state, and people assumed it was the complete form. But could it have grown more?’

It would’ve been information that could be reported to the association, causing a lot of questions, but Joo Hyun just sighed inwardly. With his suspension from the association, he thought, ‘What am I even worried about?’

“The pudding...”

“It’s made with a fruit called the ‘Mudung Berry.’”

“I’ve never heard of such a fruit.”

“It’s the most common fruit in this forest, and it’s very sweet.”

“It smells wonderful.”

“It’s also aged with the ‘Crying Strand’ fruit.”

“It seems like a lot of care went into it.”

With his habit of maintaining a pleasant smile, Joo Hyun ate a spoonful of the pudding.

“......”

“Is it delicious?”

“It’s so delicious that I’m not sure if I’m allowed to eat it.”

“You don’t have to flatter me like that.”

“No, really...”

The pudding, with its creamy taste mixed with the sweetness of the fruit, melted in his mouth like it was dissolving, leaving behind a slightly sour taste and a perfect creamy flavor.

“......”

And then, he felt healthier.

“...It’s really delicious.”

He wasn’t sure if it was just his mood, though.

Why did his vision improve?