The Artist Who Paints Dungeons [Novel] Chapter 316

Chapter 316

Before losing his ‘memories’, Jung Hae-woon had visited the abandoned school.

Let us briefly tell the story of that time.

“…….”

At the time, Jung Hae-woon harbored doubts about the simultaneous fevers of the Source. Because of that, he had spoken with Curator Yoo Sung-woon, but that alone wasn’t enough to reassure him.

‘A Mystery of that caliber could become capricious at any moment.’

Just because they were Mysteries didn’t mean one should obediently trust all their rules. It was a world teeming with Mysteries whose very ‘rule’ was to deceive humans. And the more massive a Mystery was, the more anomalous it became.

Therefore, Jung Hae-woon had to step forward himself this time as well. He had to see, hear, and verify it for himself before making a judgment. Otherwise, a massive disaster that couldn’t be contained later might strike.

‘They said the fever and the changes started after that damn portrait settled into the abandoned school….’

So he went to visit.

The reason was simple. ‘Ji-oh’s portrait’ was said to be a part of the Source. He had plenty of room and authority to be involved in the Gardens’ simultaneous fevers. He had to know exactly what was going on.

And Jung Hae-woon found his breath catching in his throat.

“…What the hell is this…?”

This crazy Mystery had created a spring in this remote abandoned school.

Originally, after the Great Cataclysm, things known as the Veins of Mystery were spread across the Earth. To compare it to a human, they were like blood vessels. And what was created when those blood vessels, flesh, and bones gathered was the ‘Garden’. An entity that could be compared to a human’s hands, feet, or organs.

But for such direct Mystery to undulate in reality, on Earth, over this rough land… it was something Jung Hae-woon had never seen in his life. This was definitely worthy of being called a ‘Spring’.

‘It’s on a completely different level from the tiny Springs I’ve seen so far.’

It was too dense.

“This is driving me crazy. With that blank face of his, I wondered if he wouldn’t cause trouble. Trust, my ass….”

Jung Hae-woon grumbled profusely.

‘This is why Mysteries can’t be trusted.’

Even so, ‘Ji-oh’s portrait’ wouldn’t perceive this as an ‘accident’. It was more like he was incapable of doing so. It wasn’t uncommon for such a massive Mystery to cause disasters without even realizing it.

Letting out a deep sigh, Jung Hae-woon studied the Spring created in the abandoned school. As it was his first time seeing such a case, he needed some time to analyze it. No wonder a ridiculous amount of Children of the Source had flocked here; it would have been stranger if they hadn’t, given how abundant the Mystery was.

“…….”

And it was something he realized after a long time had passed.

Something he realized, something he found out. Something he came to see.

Ah? Ah, I see. Is that so? Is, that so? Really?

“…….”

After an even longer time passed, Jung Hae-woon harbored only a single question.

“…Why?”

How?

And for what reason?

“Why has such a….”

Why did this happen?

Jung Hae-woon knew himself.

Error occurred

He was soon going to do something foolish. He might actually commit a truly crazy act.

He had to prevent that at the very least. That absolutely could not happen. That would be sheer madness.

Error occurred

It would have been better if he hadn’t come here in the first place. And Jung Hae-woon knew someone who could make it so. His friend, his colleague, and the wedge of the pitiful Earth.

Error occurred

He needed Dan Hae-ra’s help.

Would you like to proceed with the restoration?

[Yes/No]

“…I have to erase it.”

…Yes

By erasing it.

“Let’s forget.”

Only then.

Only then, what?

“I….”

What can I even do?

What could possibly get better, what was I originally trying to do, and what happens if I don’t?

What will happen? Isn’t it fine if I don’t? Do I really not have to? Do I absolutely have to erase this? Why? For what reason? Why do I have to do that?

Stop for just a moment, okay? Just a brief moment is all I need. If I think a little more, I might be able to remember something. I’m forgetting something very important right now. I, I can’t be without it.

I can’t be….

Restoration in progress_0%

…No, that’s not it. No. No, no, no.

‘…Da, Dan Hae-ra… Dan Hae-ra right now, no. I need to go see Seo Seo-hee first and….’

Let’s not think.

Let’s not think.

Restoration in progress_0%

Let’s not, think.

Restoration in progress_1%

Then it would be fine.

Thinking that, Jung Hae-woon ran away. Yes, describing it as running away would be the most appropriate. He hid, leaving his memories behind, and evaded using their promise as a shield. It was a truly pathetic and unsightly display, but Jung Hae-woon fled.

Even so, because you will always be here.

***

Restoration in progress_99.9…9%

Restoration complete_100%

…….

Ta-da

***

Cha Eun-hye was the only person who remembered ‘that day’.

“…….”

“Are you really going to go in alone?”

“…Yeah.”

“And you’re going to see ‘Hunter Seo Ji-oh’ all by yourself?”

“Well, I guess I’ll only know who I’m seeing once I see him for myself.”

“…Then again, if you were just going to see him, there wouldn’t have been a reason to come here.”

“The ‘Hunter Seo Ji-oh’ you’re talking about is at the Collector.”

Smiling at Seo Seo-hee, Cha Eun-hye nodded.

“It’s fine. It’s not like I don’t have artifacts protecting me.”

“I’m worried because I know he isn’t someone you can deal with using those things.”

“…I understand.”

However, it was Seo Seo-hee herself who was worried about Cha Eun-hye because she didn’t know what kind of entity he was. Cha Eun-hye couldn’t bring herself to say that out loud and simply cast her eyes downward.

She saw the floor heavily overgrown with weeds. It was very different from what she remembered.

“This place has become quite a mess, too.”

“It can’t be helped since nobody lives nearby.”

“We never even thought of making this a habitable place for people, either.”

“Because it wasn’t exactly a place with good memories left in it.”

Seo Seo-hee added in a light tone.

“Except for you, at least.”

“Right.”

“…I didn’t know because you didn’t seem all that thrilled to be here either.”

“Now that I think about it, there were quite a few fun things that happened here.”

Cha Eun-hye looked at the weed-choked playground.

“When it snowed a lot, we even built a snowman over there.”

“…Hmm, I do remember that. All the kids rushed out to build it.”

“Do you also remember the giant snowman that was several meters tall?”

“…….”

Seo Seo-hee shook her head.

“No.”

“I see. Okay.”

“Did he build that? The Teacher?”

“That’s right.”

“He’s definitely unique.”

“We all built it together.”

“…….”

“Just saying.”

It was a little disappointing, but it was fine. In fact, she was grateful that she remembered this much. Even though everyone had forgotten the ‘Teacher’, she was thankful that at least traces of him remained.

Staring quietly at the playground, Cha Eun-hye asked.

“You’re going to stay here, right?”

“I have to see you off. You’re the president, after all.”

“True. If you hadn’t been here, our people wouldn’t have let me go.”

“The situation has changed now. This isn’t the chaotic South Korea from the beginning of the Great Cataclysm. You’re the great president who stabilized that chaotic country. You aren’t hoping to retire through death at this point, are you?”

“When you guys are working so hard, how could I run away?”

“…Don’t try to die early.”

Seo Seo-hee’s face contorted awkwardly.

“You’re….”

“You aren’t included in the promise.”

“…Exactly.”

Cha Eun-hye could not live forever, and she had a fragile body that would easily break if she suffered a major injury. Unless they were in a case like theirs, even Awakened couldn’t stay far away from death.

Eventually, you will die someday too. Or perhaps you will be killed. Imagining the distant future time and time again, Seo Seo-hee grieved over that fact. The loneliness and misery always came over her like it was the first time.

Seeing her friend like that, Cha Eun-hye’s smile also awkwardly contorted.

“Seeing you make that face makes my heart weak.”

“If I say I’ll include you in the promise right now….”

“Do you think that would work? How long has it been since that promise was made. And where would we even find a price equal to that.”

“I know. I know, but I just said it anyway, because I’m sad.”

“What are you talking about….”

Letting out a deep sigh and rubbing her face, Cha Eun-hye smiled brightly.

“I’ll be going now.”

“They say it’s practically a haunted house in there.”

“I guess I’ll just have to scream a few times.”

Despite being as old as she was, Cha Eun-hye was still terrified of horror movies. When reviewing dungeon footage, she would startle easily like a scaredy-cat. She couldn’t handle jump scares, terrifying elements, or gruesome scenes very well.

But even so, Cha Eun-hye was an adult. She had become an adult to the point where she wondered when she had turned out like this. She had to take responsibility, and she had to perform duties equal to the power she held. She was not in a position to stop and cry out loud because she was scared.

Now was one of those times.

“…I felt like I couldn’t pretend not to see it anymore.”

Should she spit out words of resentment, or extend a loving hand? She couldn’t know what kind of reaction he would show. But she felt she had to hear what exactly that person was thinking.

“I couldn’t put it off.”

“Since you’re not putting it off, pass on a message for me.”

“Hmm, what message?”

“That I want to eat his packed lunch.”

“…….”

Cha Eun-hye merely smiled.

“Yeah, I’ll let him know.”

Seo Seo-hee really loved the packed lunches the Teacher made for her.

***

“Right, she did.”

“…….”

“She really did.”

Seo Ji-oh admitted.

“For some reason, Seo-hee’s parents didn’t pay much attention to their son’s meals.”

It always bothered him.

Her family was like that. They wanted Seo Seo-hee to always be a reliable and polite son. They wanted her to always rank first in the school and remain a good child who was respectful to adults and listened well.

Yet, despite that, they wouldn’t properly prepare meals for her.

“Seo-hee, huh. She asked for a packed lunch?”

“…That’s what she said.”

“Maybe it’s because I’ve been feeding her so well lately, but she asks for things pretty easily.”

“You taught us to be that way, Teacher.”

Cha Eun-hye said with a smile.

“You told us to make a habit of asking for help when things are hard. That even if there are hundreds or thousands of reasons not to trust the people in this world, we should look for just one reason to trust them. To live together so we won’t be lonely.”

Her voice cracked a little.

“So I did exactly that.”

Her hands trembled. Even when she clenched her fists tightly, they trembled miserably.

“I did well, right, Teacher…?”

“You did well.”

“…….”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“…….”

She opened and closed her mouth, but no words came out.

She felt so suffocated, as if she were filling up with hot water inside, making it hard to even breathe. That intense heat gathered in her head, making her eyes sting. She lowered her head.

In the end, no words emerged.

“…….”

Because if she made a sound, it felt like it wouldn’t be words.

“…….”

“Why have my students become cowards while I wasn’t looking?”

“…We were… always cowards.”

“I’ve never thought that.”

“I still can’t watch horror movies. I need someone next to me.”

“You still went to the movie theater often, even though you screamed because it was scary. Didn’t you always come out smiling in the end?”

“I really can’t do anything by myself….”

She choked up, her throat tightening.

“…Teacher, why did you come?”

Why am I so miserable?

“Why, why, why… why? How? For what reason…?”

Did I really want to say these things? After coming all the way here, really?

“Are you angry because of us? Th-That day, did we do something wrong? Were we wrong?”

“…….”

“No, not this. What state are you in right now, Teacher? A ghost? A monster? A Child of the Source? I really don’t know. I always read through overflowing stacks of report documents, but that’s just memorization. It’s just looking and remembering, so I don’t know if I’m doing things right. Ah, ah, this isn’t it, seriously… I didn’t mean to say these things.”

“…….”

“What do you want? What should we do? If you tell me, I’ll have to consider various situations and conditions, but I’ll try my best to fulfill them. There’s no way you would do something bad to us, Teacher. Right? Or is it? Is that not the case anymore?”

“…….”

“…Now….”

Is it not?

“…….”

“Eun-hye.”

It was the exact same voice she always heard in her dreams.

“Why are you so terrified.”

“…Th-There were… so many scary things here. There’s a weird CRT TV and… just….”

“People seem to be quite afraid of me.”

“…You really do look scary, Teacher. Looking at you here makes it even worse, you’re absolutely terrifying.”

“Am I still your Teacher?”

“Yes, yes. You’re our Teacher.”

She had aged this much and become an adult. She didn’t want to act like a stubborn child, but she felt so aggrieved that the words just tumbled out.

“You’re our Teacher….”

The Teacher who always wore a pitch-black suit.

The Teacher who, despite having such a handsome face, didn’t even know how to buy and dress in proper clothes. The Teacher who, despite having a blunt expression, would give them sweet snacks, counsel them on their career paths, and do home visits. The Teacher who was scary and strange, but was always a help to them.

No matter what happened or what would happen in the future, Seo Ji-oh was their Teacher. It had to be that way. That was the one thing she could not yield.

“…….”

It might be a shameless act, but that much at least.

“…Are you not?”

“Of course I am.”

“You said you would always be here.”

“I probably did.”

The Teacher draped in a pitch-black cloak approached. He approached without a single footstep, sound of breathing, or the usual trace of presence. He didn’t even seem to have any intention of hiding that he was not human.

And then he asked.

“Why are you scared when you know I’m your Teacher?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Why are you trying to be more of an adult than me in front of me?”

“…W-We….”

“You remember me, Eun-hye.”

“…….”

“Then I am your Teacher. Because that’s what you want.”

No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t call him a human, but he was still gentle.

“Do you want a macaron?”

“…Yes.”

He was still our Teacher.

***

Oops, I made her cry.

– To be continued in the next chapter –