The Artist Who Paints Dungeon-Chapter 145
If not for stimulation, what joy is there in living such a long life?
“There! The king of demons!”
“The beasts of the Black Forest have appeared!”
People screamed like animals with their throats pierced.
“Prepare for battle!”
“Argio is here—target him!”
“Kill the wicked beast!”
The sound of steel splitting through rage, fear, and exhilaration.
“Do not let him enter!”
“Kill Argi—kuhhek─...!!”
A scream spilled out through claws driven deep. A faint tremor through the vocal cords, warm blood, torn leather. The vibration that shook the whole body. The wind brushing the skin. The red that covered the eyes. When he pushed off the ground with force, the world trembled. He danced with those who bared their teeth at him, sang, shouted, cheered...
Who will match me today? Who will be the one to take my life? Yes, let’s see together, friends. What kind of painting will we draw with what kind of blood?
“M-Monster....”
“.......”
Ah, truly.
“...Heh-ha.”
Argio loved the battlefield.
***
Kingdom of Beasts_“Argio”
Synchronization Rate: 61.9%
“.......”
Gio awoke from sleep.
“...Oh....”
He murmured in admiration.
“Better than I thought.”
“Meung.”
“This kind of thrill... not bad at all?”
To be honest, Gio had been skeptical about Argio’s preferences.
As Sergio, and even as Gio himself, he’d never been someone who enjoyed combat. From the start, he wasn’t the type to enjoy conflict, nor did he have any particularly active hobbies.
But the more the synchronization rate rose, the more Gio began to feel.
“It wasn’t conflict he enjoyed.”
Argio simply—
“He liked the clarity of a direct clash.”
“Mwung?”
“...Saying it out loud makes me wonder if there’s really a difference.”
Gio chuckled with his now-red hair and hugged Dana.
“But being able to obey instinct... is far more enjoyable than I expected.”
Gio recalled the dream he’d just had.
It wasn’t about dwelling in discord and division. It was about throwing everything in—body and soul. It wasn’t about delighting in slaughter, but playing joyfully with those on the battlefield. That place could be stained with blood, filled with dissonance—it didn’t matter. It was like a blank canvas.
In the dream, Argio painted. He locked eyes with those staring at him, answered their roars with one of his own, and saved the tastiest meal for last...
“.......”
That kind of play—honestly,
“...It’s charming.”
Gio’s eyes curved vividly.
He wanted to dive back into that overwhelming ecstasy, where all human decorum and reason had been stripped away.
***
“Good morning.”
“Good morning to you, diligent friend.”
Black Cloak asked,
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“Ah...”
Not really.
‘How could I sleep after hearing something like that Demon King nonsense?’
Joo-Hyun had been left reeling ever since Black Cloak dropped that bomb last night.
And yet the one who started all this seemed to have slept just fine. Perhaps it was simply human nature to be thrown around by the lightheartedness of such immense mystery.
Joo-Hyun hadn’t been able to sleep at all. The story she’d heard had been too much to handle.
“.......”
But she wasn’t so shaken that she’d openly complain.
“...Yeah, well.”
“Really?”
“I slept well.”
She smiled awkwardly.
“You’re red today.”
“Didn’t I say this was my favorite color?”
“You’re quite expressive right now. It makes talking to you easier.”
“Blunt honesty has long been one of my virtues. Thank you for noticing.”
“Haha...”
Joo-Hyun, watching Argio, cautiously asked,
“You seem to be in a good mood.”
“I had a pleasant dream.”
“What kind of dream?”
“A dream where people called me a monster.”
“...That’s a pleasant dream?”
“At least for me, it is.”
Black Cloak’s eyes curved slyly like a fox.
“Though I suppose it wouldn’t be for you?”
“From my limited understanding, yes... it’s a bit difficult to grasp.”
Joo-Hyun didn’t deny it.
“Don’t insults like that... hurt you?”
“.......”
“.......”
Joo-Hyun’s face quickly flushed.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s a rather fascinating perspective.”
“I... I apologize...!”
She knew it was a foolish thing to say. Black Cloak was no one else but the evil god.
What evil god would be wounded by their own infamy? Even if not an evil god, even if he were just a god of natural law, what humans said would mean little.
‘And yet.’
She couldn’t just let it go.
“.......”
“...Hmm.”
Argio tilted his head and asked,
“You look like you have a lot you want to say.”
“...I do, actually.”
“Then would you care to talk with me?”
“Wouldn’t that be impolite?”
“Conversations with people like you are valuable.”
Black Cloak pulled out a chair for Joo-Hyun at the table, then took a seat across from her.
“I was originally going to prepare breakfast.”
“I’m sorry I made you miss your meal.”
“So many apologies. It’s fine to skip breakfast now and then.”
“Thank you for being considerate.”
“I prefer hearing thanks to apologies.”
“.......”
Argio preferred gratitude over apology.
“.......”
Joo-Hyun clenched her hand slightly.
“Well then, let’s hear it. What are you holding in?”
“...What I say might offend you.”
“When someone starts like that, it usually doesn’t.”
“Then I think I can speak a bit more comfortably.”
“Say as much as you like. I’ll listen.”
“You say that you...”
In a very careful tone, Joo-Hyun continued.
“...consider yourself human.”
For someone labeled as an evil god, Black Cloak had too many peculiar traits.
“You said honesty was a virtue, so I’ll be honest too.”
“I love those kinds of conversations.”
“I’m not sure if calling yourself human is a joke or sincere...”
“It’s always been sincere. That’s a shame to hear.”
“But even considering that, you’re an evil god unlike any other.”
Joo-Hyun took a subtle deep breath. Her fingers trembled faintly in fear. She gripped her hands tight.
“I know that you’ve been considerate to me.”
“It’s because I wanted to call you a friend.”
“If that hadn’t been the case... would you have made things very hard for me?”
“I don’t enjoy such petty hobbies.” freёnovelkiss.com
“If someone’s in pain or struggling... how would you treat them?”
“Not much differently than now.”
Argio answered casually.
“If they were wicked, I’d pass them by. If they were good, I’d offer them a meal. If they needed someone to talk to, I’d offer conversation. If they were lost, I’d show them the way.”
“...Why go that far?”
“Because to me, those aren’t great acts of mercy or kindness. I simply enjoy having someone enjoy my cooking, and I like seeing kind, polite people smile.”
He said it like it was nothing.
“No lofty ideals or convictions involved.”
“...That’s precisely why I’m grateful.”
Because compassion and kindness show their true worth when they’re not grand.
“You really are kind.”
If this was all some trick of an evil god, then Joo-Hyun must have already been ensnared. But even if it were all a lie, she didn’t mind. Whatever his true intent, if this gentle consideration could comfort others, then that alone was enough.
Joo-Hyun did not trust Black Cloak. A vast mystery like him was beyond human comprehension; their mercy was not mercy, and their love was not love. And yet, haven’t we lived our whole lives under the affection of gods?
“What kind of god would cook for a mere human? Who would get their hands wet, stand before fire, and spend such precious time? But you... you so easily lowered yourself.”
“Aren’t you overthinking it a bit for just one meal?”
“You carry no divine arrogance, nor do you possess the cruelty of an evil god. You call yourself human, and you don’t see humans as insignificant. There’s no malice or murderous intent in you—only curiosity.”
That’s what made it strange.
“Who was it... and why... who called you evil?”
“...People did.”
“If you became an evil god simply through slander and false accusation, is that your sin?”
“We all bear sin.”
“At the very least, I know you’re not someone who deserves °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° to be isolated in fear and contempt.”
Though hesitant, Joo-Hyun continued.
“I don’t believe you should... be treated like a Demon King.”
“......”
“...You shouldn’t be.”
Her voice trembled at the end.
‘Of course he’ll be offended.’
Now that she’d said her piece, she feared how he might react.
To say someone who sought to be known as an evil god wasn't suited to be one—what could be more insulting?
But surprisingly, Black Cloak didn’t get angry.
“...I see.”
“......”
“I understand.”
He just looked, for a moment, a little... sad.
“Do you also believe I’m unfit to be an evil god?”
“...No!”
Joo-Hyun, startled, shook her head quickly.
“No, it’s just... a difference in perspective. From a human’s view, it’s not right!”
He felt both awe and wonder.
To her surprise, Argio was someone she could speak with. An evil god she could hold a conversation with. There was no seething malice in him—only the purity of someone seeking enjoyment.
That gave her the will to speak more.
And something else she couldn’t define—hope.
“It might sound ridiculous to you. Maybe you don’t understand. But yesterday you spoke, and today you said you had a good dream... but that dream meant turning someone innocent into a scapegoat named Argio.”
She knew gods had their own perspective. But through her conversations with Black Cloak, she’d come to believe—he had some awareness of being human. He was a god with very human parts.
Though he didn’t fit the image of an evil god, he had been granted a sinister divinity.
“I... I don’t believe this is right. Not even a little.”
“......”
“I understand what you want. I understand what you’re trying to do. And yet.”
He’d said he wished for desperate battles against heroes. That, surely, was sincere. But if achieving that meant the person known as Argio had to be smeared with lies and accusations... then that should not be allowed.
“Please... don’t make people commit sins.”
“Make people commit sins?”
“Isn’t that what you’re trying to do? Making ignorant people treat someone innocent as a criminal.”
“How is that a sin?” Argio asked.
“A wicked beast deserves to be treated as guilty.”
“No one should be treated as guilty if they’ve committed no crime.”
“I get to enjoy fine battles, and people get someone to blame.”
“That might sound rational, but it’s a twisted bargain from the start.”
“Isn’t today’s world full of people desperate to find something to blame?”
“Even so, those people have the right to be angry at the right things!”
Joo-Hyun grew a little desperate.
“I’ve been thinking ever since I heard what you said. I’ve come up with more ways than I can count to make you the Demon King and give relief to the masses. But in the end—what’s left?”
“Well... the people’s relief?”
“That’s not real relief. If they find comfort by blaming the wrong person, then what they feel is resignation born from damage. It’s only easier because they’ve given up.”
“What have they given up?”
“They’ve given up living as humans. They’ve given up the chance to become better. Yes, the world is full of people who aren’t worth the kindness. But if we give up even the smallest bit of kindness, then what’s left for us...”
She hesitated briefly, then said,
“...Nothing is left.”
Only beasts, who must bite others just to survive.
“Maybe I’m exaggerating. But you do have that much influence.”
“You seem to be overestimating me.”
“At least in this country, there’s no one who doesn’t know Black Cloak. That alone proves it.”
Joo-Hyun pleaded.
“Please... don’t turn people who could still be human into beasts.”
“......”
Argio said nothing for a long time. Then at last, he spoke.
“You’re a hero.”
Black Cloak pitied her.
“...How pitiful.”
“...What?”
“......”
“......”
In the short silence, the evil god’s hair turned black.
“Hm. I see...”
“Um...”
“I understand what you’re saying.”
“...Did I offend you?”
“No. It was a reasonable opinion.”
He had the face of someone who didn’t know how to show emotion. For a second, she worried he was angry—but there was no such sign.
He simply continued.
“Then let’s find a compromise.”
“A... compromise?”
“A way for people to remain human.”
“Yes...”
“And one that won’t become a wound for me.”
“...Ah...”
A word she’d said herself—but never imagined would come from his mouth. Black Cloak had said: a wound.
Only after a long silence did Joo-Hyun cautiously ask,
“...When you were called an evil god... did it wound you?”
“It became a powerful weapon and tool for me.”
The pitch-black evil god continued.
“But I was angry.”
He spoke of his pain like an adult reading a fairytale.
“So, I suppose it did wound me.”
“...That...”
“I’m not sure... but maybe that’s what happened.”
Black Cloak said,
“Thank you for telling me.”
“...I... just...”
“Shall we eat?”
“......”
Caught in surprise, her face twisted ever so slightly—and Joo-Hyun couldn’t help it. But then she nodded.
“...Yes.”
She couldn’t tell whether it was kindness or stubbornness.
What a strange god.
