The Artist Who Paints Dungeon-Chapter 59

“Was he a foreigner?”

“Huh?”

Yoo Sung-woon asked in response to Gio’s words.

“What do you mean by that?”

On their way back after finishing the first initiation ceremony and parting with the Cha family. Yoo Sung-woon tilted his head at Gio’s sudden muttering. He couldn’t grasp exactly what Gio was asking.

“What do you mean by foreigner?”

“The blonde priest we saw earlier at the initiation ceremony briefing…”

“Ah, that’s what you meant.”

Gio was strangely old-fashioned. He had outdated common sense like a grandfather, and it seemed he was worried that he might have unknowingly committed racial discrimination.

Despite always being polite and gentlemanly in every way, he still worries about the strangest things.

“He’s probably Korean too, right? You might just be confused because his appearance differs from the traditional Korean looks?”

“So he was Korean. With blonde hair, blue eyes, and a bone structure slightly different from the Koreans I know, I thought he might be a Westerner. Was that assumption perhaps rude?”

“It is a rather old-fashioned mindset.”

“I’ll be more careful.”

“You’ve been trapped in the frame all this time, so it can’t be helped that there are things you don’t know.”

Moreover, from the perspective of a being of origin, distinguishing human nationalities might have been challenging. Just as a human without expertise would struggle to differentiate every species among countless ants.

‘Above all, beings of origin tend to take human rules they’ve learned at face value…’

Beings of origin struggle to understand human exceptions.

Some couldn’t comprehend why humans skipped even one of their three daily meals, while others failed to understand why hair was absent in some people when it should naturally exist.

‘They would insist: ‘Shouldn’t humans naturally be like this?’’

Ironically, it was impressive that Gio had distinguished them enough to label him as ‘Westerner’. In this case, however, his half-baked knowledge might have backfired…

“Of course, traditional Koreans generally have black hair and black or brown eyes. Their bone structure is also slightly different. But in this day and age, determining nationality based on hair colour or bone structure is… not exactly straightforward.”

To help beings of origin understand humans, it was best to explain the flow originating from its source. Yoo Sung-woon began another story from the past.

“You seem to know about the Great Catastrophe. Well, during that time, the Earth was turned upside down. Although it wasn’t my generation, so I don’t know exactly how it felt, it must have been far more chaotic than now. Literally like an apocalypse, I imagine?”

“…….”

“…Do you know what an apocalypse is…?”

“I do.”

“Oh, impressive.”

It was likely one of the memories from the personality of the human named ‘Seo Gio’.

“Back then, the concept of national borders grew faint—or to be precise, it became faint. People began migrating everywhere to escape the disasters plaguing their own countries, and as a result, the entire Earth started mixing races like a giant salad bowl.”

Because of this, the existence of ‘pure-blooded Koreans’ has now become rare.

“If we’re talking about pure-blooded Koreans, in our country you might only find them very rarely in remote countryside areas with minimal interaction with other regions. Some old-fashioned elders even feel extreme aversion to the idea of their children mixing bloodlines with foreigners….”

“Such people exist everywhere, I suppose.”

“There will always be people who abhor change. So, it’s difficult to determine someone’s nationality simply by their appearance. Still, given that the blonde priest you mentioned is even presiding over an event like this, he’s probably Korean.”

“Do they not entrust events to foreign priests?”

“No, rather than that… to be in charge of such a major event, he likely holds a high position in Seoul’s Sun God Temple. Then he must be living in Korea—wouldn’t it be harder to think of someone like that being a foreigner?”

“Aha.”

He understood.

‘So racial distinctions have essentially disappeared.’

No matter where their blood originated, no matter their appearance—ultimately, if they hold Korean nationality, they’re Korean. Even before the Great Catastrophe, that was an obvious fact, but the atmosphere then and now differed slightly.

‘It’s like nationality is treated as lightly as a driver’s license—just another trivial certificate.’

Yoo Sung-woon had argued that the priest’s ethnicity must be Korean simply because he commuted to work here. It wasn’t about where or to whom one was born—if someone was registered as Korean, they were judged as Korean.

“…….”

Truly a unified Earth.

‘…It seems good.’

This felt somewhat ideal.

‘Though a bit unfamiliar.’

Gio was still distinguishing between his homeland and foreigners. He wondered if he might not even be able to order food at a hamburger restaurant now.

To Seo Gio, the living ancestor, this world was advancing too rapidly.

“I suppose issues like racial discrimination wouldn’t occur anymore.”

“That’s the kind of conflict you’d only read about in textbooks now.”

Yoo Sung-woon shrugged.

“Though I’ve said all this, I can’t say it’s entirely gone.”

“Didn’t you say there’s no distinction between nationalities?”

“No, it’s not that kind of problem….”

He glanced around, then continued after confirming no one was listening.

“There’s class discrimination, you know.”

“Ah.”

“Though it may sound like an excuse… I don’t have strong opinions on it, but first or second-class citizens seem particularly haughty. Especially first-class hunters find interacting with third-class or lower citizens unpleasant….”

“…….”

When he first heard citizens were classified by class, it did feel ominous. Had the caste system truly been revived?

“…Is this like the difference between nobles and commoners?”

“Ah, is that easier to understand? I suppose you could say it’s a similar perspective.”

“I’m surprised the classification and treatment seem clearer than I thought.”

“Well, anyway.”

Yoo Sung-woon gave a small smile.

“So if you start categorizing ethnicity based on appearances, you’ll be labelled a crazy old man, so watch out. I understand where you’re coming from, but others might perceive it as absurd discrimination.”

“Thank you for letting me know.”

“I wonder if there are any real pure-blooded Koreans left these days. Take me, for instance—I’m not purebred either….”

The wording felt a bit awkward, but Gio decided to let it slide and asked another question he had been wondering about.

“Is the diversity in hair and eye colours also because of mixed ethnicity? I know pure genes don’t naturally result in blue hair, but I thought I’d ask just in case….”

“Ah, in my case, it’s just the influence of awakening.”

When he mentioned ‘awakening’, it was probably related to how he became a hunter.

“Does awakening alter your colour?”

“Not all cases are like that, but if there’s a particularly compatible attribute, the colour tends to change accordingly. Something like blue hair you mentioned isn’t a colour that can occur naturally, so it must indeed be the influence of awakening.”

“I see.”

“Attributes aren’t something the system clearly displays like rank or profession—they’re more like something you roughly define as you understand your own abilities. To add, the attribute I possess is ‘Frost.’”

Only then did he notice Yoo Sung-woon’s snow-white hair and glacier-cold blue eyes. The colour was similar to those of ‘Giovanni’s,’ but the hues distinctly carried a cold aura, unlike his.

“I used to have brown hair and brown eyes, but they changed like this after I awakened.”

“…I see….”

And here he thought hair dyeing was just trendy these days.

‘Was I being too open-minded?’

To be honest, even after becoming a haunted portrait and seeing unusually flashy hair or eye colours, he didn’t pay much attention. This was because Gio was an open-minded person who respected human diversity.

‘The world turned upside down once, and fashion changed incomprehensibly, so I thought dyeing wasn’t impossible…’

Or maybe he just vaguely accepted it as some kind of evolution without giving it much thought. Even to himself, he was quite a careless person.

“I can change colours too.”

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.

“Huh? Suddenly? You were originally black. Wasn’t that your identity?”

“The idea that colour can define a person’s identity sounds intriguing, but I am not black. I merely mentioned it since Mr. Yoo Sung-woon said your colour changed.”

“No… Actually, your black is a bit… um… to be considered that of a native Korean, it’s ….”

Too pitch black, isn’t it?

‘Like an abyss or obsidian.’

It was hard to describe Gio’s colour as merely simple. That blackness, as though embodying death or silence, often left people’s minds disoriented.

‘Even now, with his status lowered to that of a human, making direct eye contact still feels slightly burdensome.’

Perhaps puzzled by Yoo Sung-woon’s reaction, Gio asked again.

“Isn’t it just ordinary black?”

“…If that’s what you think, then sure.”

Yoo Sung-woon returned to the earlier topic.

“So, you can change colours too?”

“If I focus a little, I can change it. With this, could I call myself a modern person?”

“A 29-year-old talking like some outdated old man who can’t keep up with the times… Wait, could it be? Platinum blond and blue eyes?”

“So you knew.”

“You changed to that colour before, back at Cheonggyecheon stream and when you took the water taxi, didn’t you?”

“Could it be that I’ve evolved into a chameleon, unlike others?”

“Rather than that….”

He suspected it might be a personality change.

“…….”

“What were you going to say?”

“…Just that it’s fascinating.”

By now, Yoo Sung-woon had pieced together his understanding of Gio.

‘Gio likely… has countless personalities.’

Centred around the personality named ‘Gio’s Portrait’ by the origin, numerous other personalities branched out like branches around it.

Typically, he acted as the personality called ‘Gio’, but when specific situations arose, corresponding personalities seemed to take over.

‘He’s truly difficult to deal with. Though the guild leader and I hastily sent him into society due to our greed… If a personality hostile to humans emerges, things could spiral into chaos.’

Even if that happened, Bi Sa-beol would likely preach his hard-to-sympathize-with tastes, claiming that ‘dying while appreciating an artwork is part of art’—but unlike him with his irrational collecting obsession or a gardener like Yoo Sung-woon, it would be nothing short of a catastrophe for ordinary people.

‘I’m at least aware that much.’

Though his conscience had been smoothed out through various experiences, there still remained a baseline he wouldn’t cross. After briefly pondering how to handle Gio, Yoo Sung-woon spoke up.

“By any chance, you know…”

“Yes.”

“…….”

Perhaps this wasn’t the place to touch this topic.

“Can you tell me more about yourself? Not here, but once we’re back at the hotel.”

“I believe I’ve already shared much about myself up to this point.”

“I’d like to delve deeper into certain matters. Once we return to the hotel, I’d like to hear you out—if you’re comfortable answering, that is. It’s part of my responsibilities as a curator, after all.”

“I will do that.”

“Thank you, I truly appreciate that.”

Perhaps thinking this topic wouldn’t resurface before reaching the hotel, Gio abruptly brought up an unrelated story.

“I’m worried about the cat I left at home.”

“… Cat? You keep a cat at home?”

“It’s called an Anticat. I first met it recently at the Gem’s Water Vein.”

“…….”

“But since the teddy bear is watching over it, it should be fine.”

“…Since earlier, I’m not sure how to respond to this….”

Yoo Sung-woon asked with a subtly puzzled expression.

“Anticat… well, I’ll let it slide since it’s you.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“But what do you mean by the teddy bear ‘watching over’ the Anticat?”

“It’s exactly as I said, the teddy bear is watching over Dana.”

“Did you make it?”

“An elder entered a doll that had been abandoned in the sea.”

“And who is this elder who decided to enter a teddy bear of all things?”

“He’s the Sun God I serve.”

“…….”

After a brief silence, Yoo Sung-woon decided not to ask any more questions.

“Hmm, I see.”

He was already confused enough.

***

A soft, stubby hand.

A doll covered in fur similar to Giovanni’s colour slowly stroked the back of the kitten that had curled up into a round shape in its lap with its hand.

Perhaps finding the lap comfortable, the gem cat’s body spread out comfortably.

“…….”

The teddy bear continuously caressed that small gem brimming with dead spirits.

Patting, stroking, and occasionally covering it to share warmth. Though now it had no divinity, leaving only a trace of the sun, it could still perform a miracle enough to warm this cold body.

After all, they were simply holding each other tightly.

“…….”

With its fixed smile, the teddy bear gazed into the frame depicting the blue sea. It exuded a calm vitality—as though a living entity had been deliberately painted into it.

His child had called this the ‘Breathing Sea’.

“…….”

And surely, this must be connected to the world of mermaids.

“…….”

Gio would meet the mermaids.

The teddy bear earnestly wished that Giovanni would once again embrace the mermaid princess.

“…….”

For that, even its own divinity was not too precious to sacrifice.

Since without such grandeur, this place… was sufficiently bright and warm.