The Artist Who Paints Dungeon-Chapter 57

“-Oh, look, an initiation ceremony.”

“Should we watch for a bit?”

“Perfect, I was getting cold anyway.”

“Which religion’s event is it?”

“Looks like the Sun Religion….”

“lf it’s the Sun Religion, it’s worth watching.”

For any religion’s initiation ceremony, even non-members weren’t barred from spectating. After all, the more participants the ceremony had, the higher the chance of attracting a god’s attention.

“Thanks to that, we managed to get seats too.”

“There are more people than I expected.”

“lt’s difficult to earn a god’s gaze with just one or two attendees.”

Of course, there might be cases like Gio.

‘Not all gods are like you, though.’

Even if Gio’s identity hadn’t been fully confirmed yet, it was certain by now that he was the vessel of some divine entity. Additional factors had muddied the waters, but there was no reason to deny the facts.

The Cha family had already moved to the event organizers’ area. After glancing around the scene, Yoo Sung-woon, offered Gio a seat. It was a table moderately distanced from the murmuring crowd.

“Shall we sit here?”

“Sounds good.”

Whether being too close to humans was troublesome or perhaps burdensome-seemingly pleased, Gio gladly took the seat Yoo Sung-woon had offered.

Thanks to that, it was easier to have a conversation.

‘…Most here aren’t hunters but civilians, so they probably won’t be able to hear our conversation here.’

Yoo Sung-woon, who had moistened his throat with water from the table, spoke up.

“Can you handle divinity?”

“By divinity, do you mean the authority of a god…?”

“Similar, or perhaps… you could say it’s like a certification.”

“Ah, so it is a certificate after all.”

“After all…?”

Though briefly puzzled, Yoo Sung-woon soon added.

“That’s not a strange way to put it. You could see it as a god’s certification.”

Divinity differed from what was commonly referred to as divine power.

Divine power was the force that humans chosen by a god wielded with their aid, while divinity was the divine status itself possessed by a god and the authority derived from it. They were entirely different in rank.

“……”

Gio, who seemed to have recalled something, spoke.

“lf you’re referring to the certificate, then yes, l’ve received it.”

“…You received it?”

“Because I was the only follower.”

“……”

Yoo Sung-woon instinctively realized.

‘…ls this related to the golden-hair, blue-eyed Gio I saw in Cheonggyecheon Stream before?’

He had guessed that when Gio’s personality underwent significant changes, his appearance would also transform. The image of how Gio’s hair had turned platinum blonde like fallen leaves that had changed colour as he dipped his feet into the water still vividly came to mind.

‘But since he was so closely associated with water, I thought he might be something like the sea god, rivers, or ponds….’

It was unexpectedly intriguing that the sun came up out of nowhere. If Bi Sa-beol had been here, he would probably have felt the same. What kind of story lay behind this?

“Receiving a god’s certification, that’s amazing. lt’s not something that happens often.”

Though he expressed admiration as if it wasn’t a big deal, to Yoo Sung-woon’s knowledge-it was something that never happened at all. No god would ever bestow their rank upon a mere human.

‘Why would anyone deliberately commit an act that would bring suffering to both gods and humans?-

’

However, Gio’s voice remained blunt and businesslike.

“He said he didn’t want to be alone anymore.”

“…The previous Sun God?”

“As the sole follower, I interacted with him, shared meals, conversed… As we spent more time together, he seemed to develop a fear of being alone as before.”

“……”

“Then he gave me the certificate. He said he wanted to share what he saw and heard, and that it was half a gift. Although it’s called a certificate, it doesn’t seem to be something with a physical form.”

Yoo Sung-woon pursed his lips.

‘This … should I say the previous Sun God was too weak, or that Gio is extraordinary…?’

It was probably the latter.

Usually, gods wouldn’t feel loneliness even when alone since they are unique beings, but perhaps during their interactions, Gio made the god feel such emotions.

That would mean Gio was indeed extraordinary.

‘Besides, if he had been an ordinary human, such a burden would never have been passed to him in the first place.’

Thinking along the same lines, it would make more sense to say that Gio was a being with a status close to a god’S from the very beginning, which made the Sun God recognize Gio as an equal, feel loneliness and ultimately give away his divine status as a gift.

“…….”

Yet, this only makes Gio’s true identity even more incomprehensible.

If the Sun God deemed him equal, didn’t that mean he was simply another type of god? At the very least, it implied he was a being of high enough status to contain divinity.

How should that be defined?

‘What the hell are you?’

The deeper he dug, the more mysteries surfaced. He desperately wished someone would just give him a straightforward answer.

•k'k'k

The preliminary briefing proceeded swiftly.

“lt didn’t take as long as I expected.”

“Is their schedule that tight?”

“That could be the case, they’ll need time to educate the prospective priests.”

Simple hierarchy. The definition of a priest. How such priests should behave, what virtues were required…

After a brief explanation about those who serve the god, the discussion shifted to matters related to the initiation ceremony. The content would mainly focus on the education and benefits that prospective priests would receive.

“After you’ve all spoken with your families, prospective priests should follow me. Those prospective priests without guardians may come to me in advance.”

As the dark blonde priest spoke, several children hesitantly approached him. The priest-whose bold features looked like he had come out of a fantasy movie-began guiding the children. His distinct Western facial features and curly hair left a strong impression.

Though such Western features were common in today’s Korea, his aura felt uniquely solemn-perhaps due to his role as a priest. Gio’s gaze, which had been examining the head priest, fell on the children below him.

“lt seems those children didn’t have family accompanying them.”

“Well… while family is the most common form of human organization, in this day and age, there are more humans who aren’t part of such blood-related groups.”

Yoo Sung-woon nodded as if he knew what Gio was curious about.

Gio, whose knowledge of humans was somewhat vague, probably understand that ‘humans form family communities’but there are always exceptions.

“Do you see how most of those children look unusually unkempt?”

“I see.”

“They’re likely Carnation children who awakened as priests.”

“What are Carnation children?”

“You could say they’re orphans who actively seek out guardians.”

On the outskirts of the city, there were fourth-class citizens-the poor-and a significant number of intentionally abandoned children. There was even a saying that it was the dumping ground for discarded humans, so to speak.

“Among them, Carnation children are those who promote themselves on the streets to find guardians willing to take them in.”

“They promote themselves?”

“Yes. Children who want someone to take them in carry flowers. Children in slightly better circumstances carry real carnations. If not, they fold flowers from tissues or paper… As long as they have the form, the meaning will be conveyed.”

The so-called ‘Carnation children’ culture was created right after the Great Catastrophe, during the peak period when orphans were rapidly increasing.

“The Great Catastrophe happened in spring. After that, Parents’ Day came around-a day when children would give carnations to their parents. So, children made carnations to honour their deceased parents, but there was no one left to give them to.”

Adults who felt sorry for this situation began taking in children holding paper carnations one by one.

Seeing this, clever orphans who originally had no intention to make carnations started folding them and stood on the streets holding them, which marked the beginning of‘Carnation children.’

“To be honest, I don’t know much about it either. It happened about a generation or two before me…”

“I see.”

“Anyway, it started from there-and even now, orphans who wish to be adopted still prepare carnations in that way. Whether folding them from tissues or coloured paper, plucking flowers blooming on the streets or working hard to earn money to buy a single carnation… it all means, ‘Please take me in.’ ”

“lt doesn’t seem like they go through proper adoption procedures. lsn’t there a risk of being abandoned again?”

“Why wouldn’t there be? lt’s one of the social issues even covered in elementary school textbooks. They say that right after the ‘Carnation children’ culture began, there were so many kids getting abandoned that it caused an uproar. There’s no way things have improved now.”

No one seriously considers adopting Carnation children.

“Not even the Carnation children themselves think so. Right after the Great Catastrophe, people might have adopted them out of pity and tried to treat them like family, but now it’s more like… hiring free labour? That kind of feeling.”

“…….”

He didn’t know why he keep hearing such shocking news every time he visit this damn hometown.

‘The world has become so much scarier.’

It felt like one could have their eyes gouged and nose sliced open if one wasn’t careful. Literally.

“But couldn’t those children just be ordinary orphans instead of Carnation children?”

“Even if they’ve awakened as priests, usually temples only take responsibility for Carnation children.”

“Whyisthat?”

“Because they’re good labour?”

“…….”

Where have children’s rights gone?

“…Don’t look at me like that. Judging me with your eyes like that is intimidating, you know. To begin with, fourth-class citizens-neglected without proper poverty relief policies-are even rarely hired by regular companies. Unless it’s some back alley production labour, maybe.”

“Is it difficult for fourth-class citizens to get formal jobs?”

“From the beginning, fourth-class citizens have been labelled as ‘pests who recklessly flock into the city without the ability to contribute, just planting their butts here.’ Not everyone’s like that, but most lack the will to work anyway.”

“…….”

“Even if you hire them at fair wages, their efficiency is low, and the public perception is bad-so unless you want to be cursed out by customers, no one’s willing to take them in. Fourth-class citizens are perceived that poorly. lt’s because they’re seen as receiving the city’s protection without putting in proper efforts.”

Companies that hire fourth-class citizens are viewed negatively by the public. Why give opportunities to these vermin who, like bedbugs, laze around doing nothing but trying to leech off the city’s benefits?

“Similarly, even if a child from the slums manifests as a priest, temples don’t necessarily accept them. The chances of being chosen by a god are low, and they don’t have the capacity to endure the public’s disdain while consistently caring for children from the slums… That’s the general idea, I suppose.”

“The calculation is quite precise.”

“Carnation children, unlike other fourth-class citizens, have their willingness to work confirmed through ‘Carnation,’ and since they’re still young, the public’s perception isn’t entirely negative. Unless they’ve already been chosen by a god, if a mere awakened orphan is in a place like this, they’re likely a Carnation child.”

“…….”

Gio made up his mind.

‘I’II just watch the initiation ceremony and then jump back into the frame.’

This harsh world. It was unbearable-terrifying enough to bring tears.

It wasn’t that he lacked sympathy, but Gio who was just an adult who had grown older-he wasn’t prepared to single-handedly overturn such a social atmosphere.

Wishing for the world to grow warmer, Gio glanced around. Though his intention was to distract himself, surprisingly-his heart quickly settled.

“…….”

“What is it? Do you feel a connection because it’s the same Sun God lineage?”

“I was just thinking it feels good because it’s warm.”

He didn’t know why, but he felt welcomed.

“Especially that god statue….”

“…….”

“……?”

He’d clearly locked eyes with the goddess statue.

Gio blinked twice.

‘What was that, an urban legend?’

His judgment was swift.

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‘Still, nothing happened.’

He decided to dismiss it as a trick of the eye.

“The statue is impressive.”

“There seemed to be a blank moment just now, but I’II let it slide. I don’t want to meddle in gods’ affairs with this mere human body.”

“Thank you.”

It wasn’t that Yoo Sung-woon understood Gio’s discomfort, but as a mere human, he gritted his teeth and avoided the miracle thrust before him. After all, he too was a member of the Collection guild.

Yoo Sung-woon had clearly seen it too-the blatant gaze poured forth when Gio praised the temple’s ambience and the goddess statue’s beauty. He had never felt such a direct divine gaze before.

‘Please, let such miracles happen when l’m not around.’

He didn’t want to get involved in the slightest.

“Our dear Cha family seems to be having a conversation too. How about we join in?”

“Sounds good.”

Thus, the two pretended not to notice the divine gaze with all their might, but the priest who served her could not do the same.

There was a priest staring wide-eyed at the two approaching the Cha family.

‘We’re screwed.’

Yoo Sung-woon found himself thinking that subconsciously.

The priest, with his deep golden hair, was clearly the high-ranking priest overseeing the event. Given his appearance here, he must have been among those serving closely under the bishop.

In other words, he was someone who couldn’t possibly be unaware of where the sun god’s gaze was directed.

“…….”

“…….”

An odd tension hung in the air.

“…….”

With an expression as if he’d noticed something, the blonde priest gave a faint nod. Perhaps due to his striking features, it made the gesture seem peculiarly sacred.

Yoo Sung-woon realized the meaning behind that nod.

‘He caught on.’

It seemed he had realized that Gio possessed divinity.

“Gio.”

“Yes, please continue. l’m listening.”

“Maybe we should go back now?”

“lf there’s a problem that could be solved by doing so, then okay.”

“Probably not…?”

Yoo Sung-woon wanted to leave work.