Chapter 61

The Painter Who Draws Dungeons — Episode 61

Long ago, there were two mermaids who called each other family.

The older sister wanted to analyze the limits of humans, and the younger brother wanted to learn about human culture.

Among them, the younger brother, Iser, wished that someday a world would come where humans and mermaids lived together in harmony.

It was a truly empty wish to hope for in an era where fear and contempt between the two races was rampant.

The mermaid knew that too.

“A world where sky and sea are joined—what a wonderfully splendid wish.”

The one who said that was the first human Iser had ever met.

Long blond hair that curled like waves.

Blue-green eyes brimming with wisdom.

The man, who always liked to wear white clothes, said he was a priest and a doctor.

“Just hearing it makes me feel good.”

“...”

He was born with colors that mermaids could not help but follow with their eyes.

The mermaid adored the white human.

“...Humans are lovely, but fickle creatures.

Would it still be difficult to hope such a day will come, after all?”

“I won’t say it will be easy.

Humans and mermaids have that many differences.”

He offered realistic advice.

“Even humans hate one another because they cannot understand each other.

All the more, would conflict between humans and mermaids not be worse?”

And then he added gentle words.

“But if more people share the same thoughts as you, Mr. Iser, then one day such a day will come.”

“...”

“In the end, it is a matter of perception.

I believe hatred is an emotion that can be overcome as much as one wishes, if one understands the other.”

“...Hearing you say that brings me great joy.”

It was like a dream.

“I like the sun.

I think it is as wonderful as humans, who live short lives each holding their own splendid colors.”

“I understand mermaids serve the god of the deep sea.

And yet you say you like the sun, Mr. Iser.”

“That’s right. Of course, I serve the god of the deep sea, but... sunlight is warm and gentle.

It has a dignity different from the deep sea.”

“I understand what you wish to say.

Sometimes, when I sleep under sunlight, it feels very good.”

“It is difficult in the sea.”

Iser longed for land.

“That is why I want to take in human life with my own eyes all the more.”

“As a son of the sun, I affirm your courage, Iser.”

“Thank you for not denying the descendants of the deep sea.”

With the help of the human named Giovanni, the mermaid siblings lived pretending to be human, nurturing the older sister’s dream of becoming a doctor and the younger brother’s dream of becoming a priest.

“You serve the god of the deep sea, and yet you wish to become a priest of the sun?”

“I am not an apostle of the deep sea, so I am not abandoning my duty.

More than that, if we serve both gods, would assimilation not become faster as well?”

“A simple thought, and yet a good one.

I pray that the sun will see your heart, acknowledge you as family, and grant you holy power.”

Giovanni was the only one who did not criticize Iser’s futile dream.

He was kind and gentle.

With a bit of playfulness, he would toss pleasant words to Iser and his older sister, and as a priest and a doctor, he was also so capable he could save countless people while staying up through the night.

Sometimes he spoke nonsense, and there were even times he became shameless to the point of being absurd, but...

“I want to become like Gio.”

“Then should you not also study medicine diligently?”

“T-that isn’t what I meant.

I don’t want to see blood.”

Giovanni was someone worthy of respect.

Even in an era overflowing with conflict and condemnation, he alone was always calm.

He was pleasant, and gentle.

“Even blood can flow amid peace and mercy, Iser.”

“...”

Amid time where everything was changing violently, only Giovanni always held his place.

“Teacher, you will keep staying here, right?”

“I cannot.”

All the siblings worried about was Giovanni’s lifespan.

“I am human, so I will die much sooner than you mermaids.”

“I already know that well.”

“So I cannot clearly tell you I will stay by your side forever.”

“...”

“But aside from that, I promise everything will remain the same.

No matter how I am swept up in the conflict and pain of the era, I, the human called Giovanni, will not change.”

“...Teacher, you are not a mermaid but a human—can you still do that?”

“Even if I die one day, I am certain that when you recall me, I will always be the same.”

Parting with him would be a very sad thing, but with just this short conversation alone, Iser could find comfort.

“Even if your flesh returns to the soil, can you promise you will still be the same human as now?”

“Rest assured, Iser.

You are my admirable student—how could I betray that expectation?”

“Thank you for calming my foolish worries.

Watching humans repeatedly leave and change, my heart must have hurt.”

“I understand your feelings.

As a human myself, I too often feel bitterness at the flow of the world.”

“I’m glad it wasn’t only me.

Because I’m not alone...”

He wished Giovanni would not be easily corrupted or collapse like other humans.

But soon, Iser regretted it.

“...”

“Run away.”

Why did I make him promise that.

If only he had made a selfish choice like other humans, perhaps things would have ended better.

“G, Giovanni...”

“Never come back here again, alright?

This is no longer a home, and it is no longer a school.”

“Gio, just a moment.”

“Don’t think of saving me.

You are young, and you have no reason to suffer under the flow of the era.”

“...Teacher...”

“Promise me.”

That you will become selfish.

“There’s a bastard hiding mermaids here!

The traitor is here!!”

Unable to overcome the fear of a future where pain and death were assured.

“It’s here, set it on fire here!

Burn them with those horrible mermaids!!”

“Drag that traitor out right now!!

Raising mermaids—how dreadful...!”

“Why did you hide mermaids, you, who have saved so many humans all this time?!”

So if he had abandoned us and run away, or betrayed us, like other humans, how much... would my wicked heart have been at ease.

“They have not committed sins enough to bear your anger.

They are only children.”

“He’s clearly mad, calling monsters like mermaids children.

He is humanity’s traitor!!”

“If that can end this village’s nightmare, then you may call me that.”

“This hypocrite...!

So while pretending to do good with that kind face, you were raising mermaids behind our backs!!”

“I hope that one day this painful relationship will come to a peaceful end.”

Giovanni remained noble to the very end.

“...”

Even when I was trapped in that narrow fishbowl made of human cruelty.

Even until the moment I could not endure the savage hunger that made my organs melt, and sank my sharp fangs into that rotting, festering flesh.

You were kind.

“...”

Why is it so cold?

* * *

“...”

“Are you okay?”

A human child asked me.

Only after that young face entered my eyes did the mermaid realize he had awakened from a wicked dream.

“You looked really awful.”

“...I must have had a nightmare.”

“Yeah?

Should I tell the priest?”

“It’s not that big of a problem.”

With a smiling face, he refused the kindness.

‘Right after having a dream like this, I don’t want to receive help from humans.’

Why did he suddenly dream of Giovanni?

‘Because I’m in the sun god’s embrace...?

Or because of that human named Seo Gio I saw yesterday?’

The mermaid rolled his pearl-colored eyes and recalled the one he had seen at the event.

The man, his entire body covered by a black cloak, certainly had a striking atmosphere.

Only the area around him was quiet, as if all life had died.

Mana shrank as if reading a king’s mood, and the air flowed, somehow cowed, holding its breath.

He was likely a hunter so strong he could no longer be called human.

‘Of all things, his name is Gio...’

No, in truth, perhaps it wasn’t a matter of a name at all.

“...”

It was unpleasant.

That he had recalled the image of his noble mentor from a fickle, selfish human like that.

Even more disgusting than his own current conduct of imitating humans and participating in his sister’s slaughter...

“...”

“Eunha, does your head hurt?”

“...A little.”

Don’t be kind.

“It’ll get better soon.”

Please, stop, be horrible.

‘There will be no time now for me to bestow mercy upon humans.’

No matter what, Iser hated humans.

He hated selfish humans because they reminded him of that dreadful nightmare from that day, and he hated altruistic humans because it felt like, what do they think they are, imitating his mentor.

The mermaid’s anger was not something that could be erased even after a lifetime.

‘A vulgar creature that will writhe like a mere worm before pain and death.’

Even the mere fact that a human had spoken to him was disgusting enough.

“...”

And yet, he smiled.

That was the greatest good deed this wicked mermaid could do.

“I’m sorry. You woke up because of me, right?”

“No?

It’s not that—it’s just that I’m not used to sleeping here...”

“Then we can sleep together now.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“No need to be grateful.”

Even though he was sick of himself for blindly hating a race and joining his sister’s slaughter, he could not stop.

Watching the human child lying comfortably beside him, Iser twisted his lips.

“...”

As much as my mentor.

‘Exactly that much.’

I hope everyone dies horribly.

Me, and you too.

* * *

The day of the main ceremony.

“Huh?”

The priestly procession began.

“That’s that, right?”

“It is, a priest procession.”

“Since they’re all so young, I guess it’s an initiation ceremony...”

“It’s about time the Sun Church held its initiation ceremony.”

“Wow, look at how cute the kids are.”

8 p.m.

Because the event was held around the time most office workers got off work, there were many spectators.

To receive a god’s gaze, initiation ceremonies were usually held in the late afternoon.

“Even though they’re young, since they’re all priests, the sanctity is different.”

“Just watching feels like being purified.

Is it because it’s the Sun Church?

It’s warm, too.”

“Should we call more people over?

You never know—who might be chosen today.”

Even if gods had become more familiar than before the Great Catastrophe, the dignity of gods remained.

People were excited, wondering if they might witness the miracle of one of these young priests being embraced by a god.

Even if it weren’t that calculating desire, the priestly procession was enough to draw people’s eyes.

Censers that swayed and jingled like bells, and, as the Sun Church, the symbol of the sun held in the preliminary priests’ hands.

“Ah, it’s warm...”

“Sun Church really is something.”

On such a bitterly cold winter day, the gentle and majestic procession of the sun stirred a special emotion.

“...Wow...”

“...”

It was the same for Yoo Sungwoon and Gio’s group.

“I haven’t seen initiation ceremonies often, so I couldn’t get a feel for it, but so this is what it’s like.”

“Haven’t you seen them often?”

“It’s not like initiation ceremonies are always happening... and you have to consider the day and everything.”

Among weaker sects, there were places that might or might not hold an event once every ten years.

“Especially to prepare a flashy initiation ceremony like what we’re seeing now takes quite a bit of capital.

An initiation ceremony for a sect without money or influence isn’t grand like this.

More like you just pray in the temple and that’s it.”

So it was true that this kind of event was quite a good spectacle.

From the standpoint of city citizens, it was a fairly special event.

“They’re starting to go inside the temple.

We already reserved seats, so let’s go in ahead of time.”

Yoo Sungwoon looked back at Gio.

“If we wait a little longer, too many spectators will crowd in, and it’ll be hard to find our seats and get inside.”

“I understand.”

“Won’t it be hard because there are too many people?

Even last time when you went out, it didn’t seem like you enjoyed noisy things.”

Even though the last sightseeing trip ended safely, Yoo Sungwoon still didn’t know much about ‘Gio’s Portrait.’

He didn’t know what random part might act as a trigger and provoke an aggressive reaction.

‘The guildmaster would not only let a few deaths slide, he’d enjoy it, saying there’s something to watch now... but the more so, I should pay attention.’

Bisabeol is kind only to his collection; objectively, he cannot be called a good person.

Even Yoo Sungwoon himself only feels bitterness at people dying, but still.

Around then, the work spoke.

“I am a little tired, but not enough for you to worry.”

“...Yeah, then that’s a relief.”

It really was a work with strong patience.

‘Still, we should be careful.’

As the procession gradually entered the temple and people began to settle, the priest standing at the very front placed the incense he held upon the altar and stopped the preliminary priests’ steps.

Like a choir conductor, he gestured to the child priests and arranged them.

“...Goddess who brightens heaven and earth with gentle light, send down fire upon this place today where your servants have gathered.

These young priests are like sprouts grown following your light, and...”

The priest who recited the prayer announcing the initiation ceremony, Kang Seodam, soon brought it to a close.

“Receive small light.”

“Receive small light.”

With the final prayer of the Sun Church, Kang Seodam bowed his head to the altar, then turned and once more bowed his head to the preliminary priests standing in their places holding the symbol of the sun.

After confirming the preliminary priests bowed in return, Kang Seodam opened his mouth.

“This is the temple of the sun, but the sun will not be forced upon the preliminary priests.

With the Sun Goddess’s help, you will learn how to face gods and how to become their servants.

With today’s initiation ceremony as a turning point, I hope you gain yet another parent.”

Clink—.

Ringing a silver bell, Kang Seodam continued.

“Before cultivating mind and body to serve a new parent, preliminary priests will take time to give thanks to their ties to the secular world.

Until the closing event begins, preliminary priests, exchange your greetings.”

The initiation ceremony is divided into Part 1 and Part 2, and in between there was a kind of rest period so they could spend time with their families.

Not every religion did so, but the Sun Church’s initiation ceremony did.

Thanks to prior education, the preliminary priests all moved to find their own places.

“Mom, Mom...!!”

“Oppa, I’m a priest now!”

“This outfit is cool, right!”

Some hurried away with quick steps to spend time with their families, and others moved to take a rest in the waiting room.

“...”

He too was about to move to take a rest.

“...?”

In Kang Seodam’s eyes, for some reason, one preliminary priest who could not go anywhere and only lingered came into view.

‘...It was a child named Eunha, I believe.’

A child with blue hair that somehow brought the sea to mind.

In fact, perhaps he was hoping for that sort of line, because his holy power itself had a strong chilly energy.

‘He’s from carnation kid origins, so I understand he has no family to talk with separately—so why is he standing there?’

He could not manage even one priest under his jurisdiction carelessly.

Kang Seodam looked around.

‘Who is he looking at right now?’

Following the child’s gaze, he moved his eyes and saw a black-haired preliminary priest receiving hugs from family.

‘That child is...’

It was probably named Cha Isol.

“...Ah.”

The black cloak was among them as well.

‘It’s the person I met last time.’

Kang Seodam remembered that he had watched the event like a non-god and left neatly.

‘The initiation ceremony itself is quite long—if he showed up today too, then as expected, is it to receive new believers?’

Watching with that question, he could tell Eunha’s gaze was fixed on that black cloak.

“...”

He might want to join that group.

‘Well, that side is unusually lively, so if he’s a carnation kid, it’s understandable he’d feel envy.’

Fortunately, not long after, Cha Isol took Eunha and brought him over.

Perhaps he was quick-witted; he was naturally introducing his partner to his family.

Mindful that such consideration might prick the child’s pride, Kang Seodam observed, but Eunha, being led along like that, did not seem to be in a particularly bad mood.

“...Then it should be fine now.”

The black cloak also seemed like a god with a high understanding of humans, so there likely would not be a major problem.

Only then did Kang Seodam move his feet to take a rest.

Fantasy, modern,