chapter 135

The Painter Who Draws Dungeons - Episode 135

Now that he’d come to his senses a bit, Juhyeon wasn’t afraid of the Black Cloak at this point.

“Since you’ve just woken up after a long time, I prepared porridge for your first meal.”

“You can make porridge too?”

“Even if I look like this, I can cook just about anything.”

“It smells really good, thank you.”

Having recovered his strength while he slept, Juhyeon smiled brightly and expressed his thanks.

‘A monster cooks porridge??’

Of course, that was separate from what he truly felt.

Inside a vivid bewilderment and a mental image of sheer absurdity, Juhyeon was sweating coldly to himself.

A wicked god who cooks with his own hands, serves it to a human, and even expresses pride in the act itself—what kind of existence was that?

The reason he wasn’t afraid right now was largely because this absurdity was drowning out everything else.

‘No, even if you call him a wicked god... this is... it’s even weirder if you say he’s a wicked god.’

The Association had reported the Black Cloak as a monster, but Juhyeon, who had accumulated a certain amount of experience, knew the reality.

Often, the Association hid the truth for various purposes under the banner of the greater good.

This seemed similar.

Even so, he still couldn’t understand it.

Very rarely, a god might serve a meal for a human.

But even then, no matter what, they did not cook it themselves.

‘Besides, if you think of this world as a kind of dungeon, it becomes even harder to explain.

Among monsters, only those that meet the qualifications can create their own dungeons.

But a god... a god shouldn’t have anything that could be called a dungeon where they stay, should they?’

Juhyeon stopped thinking there.

“...It’s delicious?”

It was because the porridge was delicious.

“It’s the most delicious porridge I’ve ever eaten in my life.”

“It makes me very happy that you’re eating it with joy.”

“Why is porridge this delicious?

Is this okay?”

This wasn’t some worthless flattery—he was genuinely shocked and aghast.

Juhyeon didn’t really like porridge.

Porridge was usually something you ate to stretch a small amount of rice into more, or else something you ate when you were sick.

But the porridge the Black Cloak served made his brain ache with how good it tasted.

“Porridge can be this delicious, huh.”

“As someone who cooks, that was the happiest praise to hear.”

“You’re amazing, this flavor and texture... I don’t think I’d get tired of eating it every day.”

For the first time in a long while, admiration came out purely, not as social maneuvering.

“It’s really delicious.”

Uncharacteristically, he kept repeating the same words like an idiot.

The rice grains in the porridge had almost melted away, the softness close to thin rice gruel.

But traces of the fluffy rice still remained, giving a texture as though the rice in a well-cooked sikhye had been simmered warm like a tonic food—softly crumbling apart.

And with that, the savory sweetness unique to rice spread faintly in his mouth.

The vegetables nestled in between chewed with a gentle warmth, and in particular, the generous amount of meat added to the hearty feeling.

‘Somehow the fullness is strong...’

Bone broth?

“...Is there bone broth in this?”

“You guessed well. You have a talent for gastronomy.”

“T-talent is a bit...”

“Thank you for savoring it so deeply.”

A bright smile blooming on a pale face.

For some reason, the Black Cloak really did look pleased.

“Since it is your first meal, I served a small portion—would you like more?”

“Ah...”

Now that he came to his senses, he could see the bowl was empty.

“...If it wouldn’t be too rude, I’d like to ask for more.”

It was terribly embarrassing, like he was being a nuisance to a wicked god of all things, but shamelessly, he accepted another bowl.

“Do you need more side dishes as well?”

“Yes, please...”

“It’s good to see you eating well.”

Even though it was porridge, it was an extremely filling dish, but separate from that, perhaps it truly pleased him to see Juhyeon eating well—because the Black Cloak brought a larger bowl filled to the brim with porridge.

“What I served at first seems to have been too little, so I increased the amount.”

“Th-thank you.”

“I made it as easy to digest as possible, but it would be best not to overeat.”

“Yes... I will.”

The porridge the Black Cloak served melted in his mouth like cotton candy.

Even while the shape of each grain was felt intact, it had a texture like it was melting away on the tongue, and he could tell how carefully he must have rolled the rice.

‘And it feels kind of like a tonic dish, too.’

It almost felt like there was a faint medicinal scent...

“...”

Medicinal herbs?

“...Um, Black Cloak... sir?”

“Mr. Juhyeon may call me by the name Gio.”

“Yes, Mr. Gio.

Is there, by any chance, medicine in here?”

“...?

I did not add medicine separately.”

“I see.”

“Other than the rice, I used ingredients grown here.”

“Ah-ha, thank you for explaining.”

Juhyeon’s pleasant-looking face thanked him, but his insides were not so calm.

‘Ingredients grown here?’

It was information that made him sweat coldly inside.

Strength went into his smiling lips.

Juhyeon recalled the fairy-tale-like scenery that had filled his eyes the moment he woke.

That dreamy sight that shook a person just by looking at it.

‘What is the probability that ingredients grown in the mysterious abode of a being with divinity are ordinary ingredients?’

An era overflowing with all kinds of oddities and mysteries.

Among them, Juhyeon had studied a lot in order to be of help to the world.

And he, in particular, knew the influence the act of “eating” carried within mystery.

‘Right now... did I... too boldly shovel down something that is too mysterious, in the form of porridge?’

But the porridge was delicious.

“...”

Food wasn’t guilty.

‘...I’m a thrown-away body anyway.’

Juhyeon was someone who had been swept along by impulse to the point he was going to become Sankalut’s sacrifice.

Even if he now became something non-human in the arms of some unknown mystery, well, it didn’t seem like it would be too big a blow.

With a strangely cool and bittersweet feeling, when he finished the meal, the Black Cloak asked,

“For after-meal tea, would you prefer something plain, or something sweet?”

“...Plain tea?”

“Do you not enjoy sweets?”

“That’s not it, but I like my tea on the savory side...”

“Savory tea.”

The Black Cloak made a show of thinking, and Juhyeon saw him blink twice.

“Tea brewed from grains tends to have a strong savory taste.”

“That’s true.”

“I will keep it in mind for the next meal.”

“...Thank you?”

Seeing him show a will to improve when it came to treating a guest, Juhyeon suddenly grew afraid.

Even now, he’s thinking, ‘Did I eat something beyond what a human should eat?’ after all.

Soon, the Black Cloak brought him a cup of tea with a warm tone and a bluish hue.

“It is a tea excellent for restoring immunity.”

“Ah, I see.

Thank you for your consideration.”

For a moment, he doubted, ‘Is it really just immunity restoration?’ but with half being resignation that his body was already half thrown away, and the other half being bewitched by this intoxicating aroma, Juhyeon took the tea into his mouth.

The fragrance was sweet like cream, but the taste itself was plain.

“...It’s nice.”

“It is tea brewed by drying flowers from this forest.”

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

“Is it not peaceful and beautiful?”

“Yes, looking at it, my heart felt at ease.”

The moment the tea warmed his body, Juhyeon felt his reason gradually clearing.

“...?”

Is it my imagination?

‘Calling this imagination feels like something with no conscience.’

What am I drinking right now?

‘It makes me uneasy.

If I’d been an awakened person with an emotion skill, could I have checked?’

Juhyeon, who wasn’t awakened, didn’t know, but for an ordinary human body, bybamnile flower tea reconstructs cells and turns you into a constant immune state against minor illnesses.

A mere human brain couldn’t slump while consuming a mere elixir of the source.

There’s a reason the previous visitor, Yoo Seong-woon, had been afraid, saying, “At this rate, I won’t be able to live out my lifespan in a different sense.”

But not knowing the reality, Juhyeon only sipped the delicious tea.

“Mmm...”

With his head clearing, only then did it feel like he could breathe.

“Am I not drinking a tea that’s too precious?”

“Where is there anything precious in eating, when in the end it goes into a person’s mouth?”

“That’s true too.”

It reminded him of human society, where people bet their lives on a single elixir or potion, but Juhyeon didn’t bother bringing up that greed and desperation to refute the Black Cloak’s words.

Juhyeon was the owner of excellent social skills.

Only then did Juhyeon gradually gain the will to grasp and sort out the situation.

“When we first met, I was very rude.

I think I caused such rudeness because I was in such a chaotic situation.

Thanks to your consideration, it seems I was able to recover a lot.”

At the time he’d been swept up in destructive impulse, he had truly given up on everything.

But having regained a roughly clear reason, Juhyeon began calculating the situation he was in.

It wasn’t because there was any special reason—this was simply the habit of someone with the social skills of having lived their whole life measuring everything.

A habit that had let him endure everything even in unfavorable circumstances.

“May I properly introduce myself?”

“As much as you like.”

“I’m Juhyeon.

I have no family name, and I’m thirty-six this year.”

“I am Gio.

I have various names, but right now, I am twenty-nine.”

“It’s quite the blow to my pride, receiving help from someone so young.”

He said it as if making light banter, but Juhyeon’s insides were still a mess.

‘Twenty-nine...?

There’s no way it’s really that, so is it some kind of play?

Or a role?

If you think about how most wicked gods enjoy a kind of amusement, he might be immersing himself in the setting of a twenty-nine-year-old young man named Gio... and having various names—does that refer to the Black Cloak’s colors changing?’

He was absorbed in gathering and organizing as much information as possible about the Black Cloak.

‘If my memory isn’t wrong, right now it’s black hair, but there were times it changed to platinum blond or red hair.

But even if the color didn’t change, there were times it acted as if its personality changed.

If you compare it to a human, is it an actor?

Or maybe the expression that it changes clothes is more accurate.’

Juhyeon ran his fingers over the transparent glass teacup where the greenish tea rippled.

“You may already know, but I worked at the Association’s research institute.”

“The Association research institute—I understand it to be a place with quite a harsh working environment.”

“Yes, although after various incidents, I was suspended.”

“You must have had many tiring things.

You must need rest.”

Nodding, the Black Cloak asked,

“Then what would you like for dessert?”

“...”

Is he even listening to what I’m saying?

‘...I can’t tell if this is some sort of consideration because he isn’t human, or if he truly isn’t interested.

He introduced himself as a wicked god, so I recited my misfortune, and yet there’s no reaction... why?’

A wicked god—no, any god—comes looking for humans because they want to use a toy they like for the purpose they like.

But the Black Cloak didn’t seem to have the slightest interest in Juhyeon’s unfortunate circumstances.

Juhyeon, who had thrown out bait, was flustered inside, but as always, he didn’t show it and answered with a bright smile.

“Well, hmm?

What kind of desserts do you have?”

“I have small cake, fruit pudding, and ice cream.”

“Then could I ask for pudding?”

“Of course.”

The pudding was brought by a fluffy teddy bear.

“...”

“Thank you for helping, Father.”

A teddy bear is Father?

“Thanks to you, I always receive much help.”

“Coo-coo-coo...”

Did it laugh, going coo-coo?

‘Feels like I had this same thought before I fell asleep.’

Feeling a strange déjà vu, Juhyeon forced his face, which wanted to twist subtly, back into place.

Not being awakened, he also didn’t know that the sun god was inside the soft-looking teddy bear before him, but in any case, he could tell it wasn’t ordinary.

When Gio turned back, Juhyeon quickly put on a neat smile.

“Thank you for the pudding.”

“Coo-coo.”

The teddy bear nodded, then took its own portion of pudding and went outside the house with the huge cat.

At Juhyeon’s look as he watched the cat’s swaying jeweled tail, the Black Cloak added an explanation.

“There are chairs and a table outside the cabin.

The sun is rising, so I believe he intends to enjoy a snack with Dana while watching it.”

“Ah... Dana?”

“The name of the long-haired cat you saw earlier. I brought her and began raising her after I brought her from a dungeon called ‘Gem Vein,’ and before I knew it, she has grown quite a lot.

She is also a child I am raising like a daughter.”

“I see, I can feel your affection.”

As always, Juhyeon’s inner thoughts were noisy.

‘If it’s a cat from Gem Vein... jeweled fur... long-haired... so it’s an anti-cat after all?

But they said anti-cats are monsters as small as kittens.

They thought that state was the completed form because even after time passed, they didn’t grow from there.

But could it grow further?

Was there room for more growth?’

If it were reported to the Association, it would be material that would get him grabbed by the collar with, ‘How did you see such precious information on your own,’ but Juhyeon soon swallowed a hollow laugh.

With him suspended by the Association, what was the point of worrying about this now?

“The pudding is...”

“It contains a fruit called mudskipper fruit.”

“So there are fruits like that too, I’ve never heard of it.”

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

“It has a nice fragrance.”

“I also aged and added a fruit called weeping fringe.”

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

With a habitual, good-natured smile and social skill, he scooped up a bite of pudding.

“...”

“Is it delicious?”

“It’s delicious to the point I don’t know if I’m allowed to eat it.”

“That is not to the extent of the excessive praise you are giving.”

“No, really...”

The pudding, savory as if it contained milk and full of fruit’s sweetness, melted in his mouth and vanished as if seeping into his tongue.

It was a pudding with a superb creamy 풍미, even though a faint tartness remained.

“...”

And he felt healthier.

“...It’s so delicious.”

He didn’t know whether it really was just in his head.

Why did my eyesight get better?

Fantasy, Modern,