Chapter 105

The moment he came to his senses.

“…….”

Yu Seong-un was inside the ‘City of the Void.’

“…As expected, I don’t really remember the moment I entered the painting.”

Jio once had a record of turning people he met in the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea’ into paint to help them escape.

It was probably a similar process this time, but just like the testimony of those people back then, Yu Seong-un couldn't remember much of the time he had become paint.

‘Though I do think it felt like being a living inanimate object.’

As it was a very contradictory expression, it wasn’t a very clear impression.

“By the way, did Jio notice me?”

Yu Seong-un remembered the situation right before he entered the ‘City of the Void.’

‘A transparent hand reached out to me.’

Something that stood out with its jet-black suit sleeve, something that wasn't exactly visible but could be recognized as a 'transparent hand,' had greeted Yu Seong-un. Unlike the case of Hunter Park Eun-gyeom mentioned in the official document, it was a very polite gesture.

‘Somehow, it was a gesture that resembled Jio’s actions….’

Jio’s posture was well-ordered, like someone who had received intense education or training.

It was a movement similar to that of a nobleman or a soldier, and the gesture made by the ‘City of the Void’ was just like it.

“…It’s probably not Jio himself.”

It wasn't a familiar feeling.

“Did the ‘City of the Void’ extend its hand directly?”

He thought that for a moment, but it seemed more plausible to see it as a hand extended by a monster belonging to the ‘City of the Void.’

After all, the multiple hands that had abducted Park Eun-gyeom in the official document had the same appearance.

“…….”

Yu Seong-un let out a breath.

“…It’s more bearable than I thought.”

The pressure from the ‘City of the Void’ wasn’t as great as he had imagined.

“Even considering that I’m an A-Class Hunter, it’s quite a comfortable level.”

There was a slight sense of stuffiness.

He felt a sense of unease as if someone were pressing down on his solar plexus and there was definitely a chilling part, like a finger tracing down his spine.

‘But that’s about it.’

The abducted hunter was B-Class.

He didn't know exactly what level of B-Class he was, but it was a fairly strong level.

For a dungeon where such a hunter was helplessly dragged away and all contact was lost, the weight Yu Seong-un, an A-Class, felt was less than expected.

“Am I being given special consideration?”

The route through which he entered the ‘City of the Void’ was different from the beginning.

‘That guy was dragged here, while I was escorted in.’

The treatment itself was worlds apart, so maybe there was a difference in the pressure he felt.

“…….”

Yu Seong-un muttered without realizing it.

“How is that possible…?”

People often spoke of the ‘master of the dungeon,’ but in reality, there were almost no masters who could control a dungeon at will.

In Yu Seong-un’s view, not even the humanoid monster mermaid siblings could completely control the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea.’

In particular, the dungeon master, the dungeon's monsters, and the environment were completely separate entities.

The greater the master’s capabilities, the greater their authority would be, but he had never heard of a master who could control the monsters’ actions and even adjust the pressure like this.

‘I guess it's hard to call him a monster after all.’

Then it was a question of how to explain this dungeon.

‘Unless it’s an evil god on the level of being treated as a monster, no matter how powerful a god is, they can’t create a dungeon. Because they are beings who do not possess emotions large enough to create a dungeon.’

It was the same for the children of the Source; they couldn't create dungeons either.

‘They are just children who can exist anywhere, they don’t have the ability to create a dungeon.

There’s no way those guys, who are almost incapable of physical action and can’t even think properly, could create such a huge game board.’

Jio was, as expected, an entity beyond the standard.

“…….”

Scratching his neck, Yu Seong-un looked around.

“…It’s just like the painting.”

A wide-open main street and a long line of variously shaped buildings on either side.

Even though it didn't seem like the colors were intentionally restricted, only monochrome objects were gathered, creating a gray world.

“And the fog, which I didn't know about when I looked through the frame, is thick.”

It wasn't to the point where he couldn't see ahead, but if it could get any thicker than this, it seemed there would be a major issue with his vision.

He took a slight sniff, but he couldn't smell the exhaust fumes commonly found in a city.

“Just water vapor…?”

Perhaps it was his imagination, but he felt like he could sense the phytoncide unique to a forest.

‘Is it because Jio lives in a forest?’

He wasn’t sure.

‘Anyway, it’s ironic.’

It looked like a definite city, but the scent from the fog was reminiscent of a forest.

It was a harmony that felt so natural that it was paradoxically unsettling.

“…Are there no monsters?”

Thud….

Yu Seong-un slowly moved his feet.

“I thought there would at least be the monster that escorted me inside.”

Besides, dungeons were fundamentally supposed to have monsters.

There might not be traps or various additional elements, but monsters that rush to kill invading humans were an indispensable part of a dungeon.

‘Then again, it would be difficult to compare a dungeon drawn by Jio with a typical one.’

In the first place, the fact that a monster had personally invited Yu Seong-un was already far from ‘normal.’

“Are there no other rules…?”

Some scholars defined dungeons as a type of monster themselves and Yu Seong-un, as a Gardener, agreed with that to some extent.

Just as there were no monsters without rules, dungeons had to be seen in the same way.

“It must have its own preferences.”

Virtual Dungeons. Entry Dungeons. Villa Dungeons.

All of these swallowed humans under certain conditions.

Examples included Entry Dungeons, which had the condition of ‘the entrance must be found,’ and Villa Dungeons, which had the condition of ‘one must be at the location where the villa is placed,’ in addition to Virtual Dungeons, which were mainly based on specific conditions.

‘Other than that, the detailed conditions are different for each dungeon.’

So, if this thing took the form of a dungeon, it must certainly have such conditions or preferences.

“…….”

Then again, the dungeon master did have a preference.

‘Affirming good and negating evil.’

That could also be called a rule, if it was one.

“…Then what happens when an evildoer comes in?”

He recalled the black dot, which seemed to have become completely one with the painting, presumably Hunter Park Eun-gyeom.

Yu Seong-un thought he had a rough idea of how this ‘City of the Void’ would negate an evildoer.

‘…Does it negate the fact that they are a living human being?’

By turning a human into a painting.

“Creepy.”

A whistle escaped his lips unconsciously.

It was an attempt to erase the eeriness with a lighthearted action.

‘As expected of those who belong to the Source, they are decisive and clear-cut.’

Humanoid monsters with advanced cognitive abilities and the capacity to feel intense emotions might be a little different, but most beings who weren't like that had simple and clear rules.

As a Gardener, Yu Seong-un could appreciate such a state of the Source with a sense of satisfaction.

‘If I hadn’t met Jio, when would I have ever encountered a dungeon like this again.’

If one couldn't enjoy that thrill, one was not qualified to manage the garden.

“…….”

However, even such a Gardener felt a threat to his life.

“…Ah, dear.”

Yu Seong-un turned around.

“Looks like I wasn’t alone after all.”

“…….”

“Should I call this an invisible man….”

What came into his sight was a black suit standing in the form of an adult male.

Long limbs befitting a physique that was neither too thick nor too thin.

The detailed shape of the suit was slightly different from what Jio wore, and the shoes it was wearing were also different.

But seeing the suit's hands-behind-its-back posture, Yu Seong-un felt a sense of déjà vu.

“…It does resemble Jio a bit.”

“…….”

The empty suit bowed politely.

From that gesture, Yu Seong-un could feel a sense of gratitude, and he briefly wondered what it was grateful for.

‘Could it be because I said it resembled Jio?’

They were fellows filled with affection and respect for their master.

“Um… is communication possible? I’ve never met a monster other than Jio with whom peaceful communication is possible in my life, so I’m not sure, but is conversation possible?”

“…….”

The black suit took a pose as if stroking its chin, and then formed a triangle with its arms.

“…So it could be, and it could not be. Is that right?”

“…….”

“Yes, it’s right. This feels like I’m playing twenty questions.”

If it were a monster from a typical dungeon, he wouldn’t even have thought of trying to communicate, but this was a very abnormal dungeon.

Yu Seong-un continued to communicate with the black suit with as open a mind as possible.

“Why might it not be? Are you suddenly going to rush at me?”

“…….”

“That’s not it. If not that… does it mean another entity other than you might attack?”

“…….”

“Ah, I’m glad that’s correct. In that case, are there many of those aggressive entities?”

This time too, the suit drew a circle with its arms to answer ‘yes.’

Perhaps because its fingers weren't visible, it bent its arms high above its head as if drawing a clumsy heart, and seeing that, Yu Seong-un silently handed over the gloves he had in his hand.

“Would it be possible for you to wear these and then signal with your fingers?”

“…….”

The black suit made an X with its arms. It meant ‘no.’

“…Ah.”

From that, Yu Seong-un could tell that this was not something with a transparent being inside, but simply a living, moving black suit itself.

As if to prove it, the black suit tapped the gloves in Yu Seong-un’s hand with the sleeve of its clothing.

It was a sight that couldn’t be seen if it had real hands.

‘Then how should I explain the transparent hand I felt?’

It was a rude thought to have about the kind suit, but honestly, it was a little creepy.

Yu Seong-un tried his best not to show his inner thoughts and continued.

“I see, my apologies.”

“…….”

“I’m glad you don’t mind.”

“…….”

“In that case, are there other non-aggressive entities besides you? A suit like you with whom I can have a peaceful conversation like this.”

“…….”

“There are… that’s a relief.”

It seemed some entities were aggressive, while others were peaceful.

‘…Let’s think about how that’s possible again later.’

It was obvious that the conclusion would be ‘it’s possible because it’s Jio’ anyway.

Through repetitive learning up to this point, Yu Seong-un had already predicted the end of his anguish.

He put on his gloves again and looked around.

“…….”

Without him noticing, the number of black suits had increased to three.

“…Are those two suits not aggressive towards me?”

“…….”

“Ah, they aren't. But they aren't attacking right now, are they perhaps the type that aims for a delayed attack.”

“…….”

“A triangle… Well, yes, thank you for the kind answer.”

It seemed to mean that they would attack in some way or another.

‘This is dangerous.’

It seemed that the suit that had kindly extended its hand from the ‘City of the Void’ picture frame was this one in front of him, or a similar peaceful entity.

But to rely on them, he could see the number of black suits gradually increasing.

‘Does the number of black suits increase the longer one stays in the dungeon?’

Although the speed was quite slow, Yu Seong-un gradually felt a strange sense of anxiety.

“…….”

“…….”

All the black suits were gazing at Yu Seong-un.

‘…It’s not just those two suits on the sidewalk.’

Gazes he hadn’t been able to feel before were now felt from inside the buildings.

He felt them from between the alleys, and he felt gazes from inside a car that was rolling on the road where there had been nothing just a moment ago.

Yu Seong-un instinctively sensed it.

‘These are not guys I can handle by fighting with my skills.’

It couldn't be solved by simple slaughter, and he had to make peace by matching the opponent’s rules and habits; it felt just like a child of the Source.

But he didn't know how much they would multiply, nor what effect they would have on Yu Seong-un then and that point of ‘not knowing’ awakened a fear in the usually stoic Yu Seong-un.

‘…The fear of the unknown is quite dangerous when dealing with the Source….’

As a Gardener, he could tell.

‘This place is a dungeon, but it’s also not.’

Whether the abilities of a Hunter, which the Source kindly bestowed upon anyone, would have any real effect.

Even such a basic thing, he couldn't guarantee his own life and death; it felt like a kind of ‘garden.’

And one was not supposed to enter another’s garden unless they were the owner.

“…This….”

Just when he thought he should run before they increased any further.

“Mr. Seong-un.”

“…….”

“Mr. Seong-un.”

“…Oh, Jio.”

Yu Seong-un really almost ran away.

‘He’s even scarier seeing him here.’

His heart, which had almost dropped at the appearance of The Black Cape, pounded vigorously.

Because he was doing something against Jio’s will, he had wanted to resolve it without seeing his face if possible.

Unfortunately, he had failed at burglarizing the empty house and the situation had come to this, so Yu Seong-un swiftly resigned himself.

“Please save me.”

He attempted a customized deal.

“I’ll bring you seedlings next time.”

“No one is going to kill you, Mr. Seong-un.”

“That’s very reassuring.”

What could be safer in a dungeon than the protection of the dungeon master?

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