The Artist Who Paints Dungeon-Chapter 129

Unlike other traditional gods who are difficult to contact and interact with, most evil gods are not difficult to summon and have a high probability of responding.

This is because evil gods actively seek out their fallen followers.

“Or they may intentionally cause misfortune in order to make the humans they like their followers. Some humans are loved by evil gods because they are fallen, while others become fallen because they are loved.”

Any god who watches over humans has a way to summon them. That is why, in the numerous dungeons created in the ruined dimension, there were many cases where intellectuals with wrong intentions brought disaster upon themselves.

“The most common case is revenge.”

“Revenge?”

“There are also those who summon evil gods simply because they want destruction.”

Kang Seo-dam continued his explanation in the classroom of prospective priests.

“Do you know about the seven deadly sins?”

“Pride, greed, envy, anger, lust, gluttony, and sloth.”

“Okay, Sister Iruda. This is a concept that existed even before the Great Disaster, when there was no close relationship with God.”

Kang Seodam nodded.

“After the Great Disaster, there were many changes in perception on Earth. If the concept still exists despite this, it is because it has shown its worth.”

In the religious world, this was the Seven Deadly Sins.

“The arrogant do not learn. The greedy do not share. The jealous lose the opportunity to grow, and the angry do not tolerate. Lust easily blinds people, gluttony makes people forget how to respect, and laziness rots one’s own value.”

Kang Seodam looked around at the students.

“Humans are social creatures who cannot survive alone. In particular, humans on Earth before the Great Disaster were considerably weaker than other creatures on Earth.”

“.......”

“Even so, the Seven Deadly Sins still existed at that time. Can any of you guess why they were considered sins regardless of whether they were before or after the Great Disaster?”

The girl with the low tail, Iruda, raised her hand.

“I can explain.”

“Please explain in front of the brothers.”

“As you said, humans are weak social creatures, so they must form a community, and in order to survive and develop sustainably, they must not commit such sins.”

“That was an exemplary answer.”

Kang Seodam looked around again.

“Is there anyone who understood what Sister Iruda said?”

“Me.”

“Yes, Brother Chaisol. I would like to hear your opinion.”

“I think it means that if you are selfish, you cannot live together, so you must live well.”

“That was an accurate summary.”

He agreed.

“Just as good and evil are, the world is vast and humans are diverse, so when someone acts according to their own desires, someone else will be unhappy. This is because resources are limited and not everyone has the same personality and desires.”

This is the method that humans, as social animals, have chosen to survive.

“Some brothers might say this. When dungeons are overflowing and monsters are pouring out, is it really right to protect others instead of protecting yourself in such a critical situation?”

Kang Seo-dam shook his head.

“It’s not about judging the good and evil of human behavior. Humans exist, think, and act for themselves, so such human behavior can easily face evil. It’s extremely rare for a choice to satisfy everyone, so in the end, someone will criticize even your good deeds.”

That’s why the important thing wasn’t the good and evil of humans.

“If we were faced with a great disaster, I would have said this. Let each of you figure out how to live well.”

“Uh... uh....”

“Does it sound strange? But priests are also human, and humans exist for themselves.”

“.......”

“If even preserving oneself is considered evil, then humans should not exist in the first place.”

I will not consider selfishness when life is threatened as a sin. However, acts of giving when one has the means to do so will strengthen the survival of humanity.

So, now.

“Good and evil are not important in the subject of this lesson.”

They had to look at the world.

“Look at the flow of the world.”

They had to broaden their perspective.

“Is this a great disaster? Are you now in a place where monsters are overflowing? The world is gradually becoming more organized and is running toward peace, and the faster it gets, the higher the average number of people who receive the grace of life.”

“.......”

“For priests who serve traditional gods, the most important thing is the balance of dimensions. This dimension, the world, and the country must be maintained so that they and we can enjoy the grace of life as long as possible. So don’t be stupid, but think about good and evil.”

Kang Seo-dam stroked his chin.

“I know how absurd it may sound to tell people to do good in this world. But if you want to live and enjoy more, if you are one of those ordinary people, it would be better to become a faithful servant of the word of God.”

He looked around at the students again.

“Then another question arises. What if you become a priest of an evil god who loves destruction and imbalance, not a traditional god? What if you are not an ordinary person who desires the grace of death, not the grace of life, and wants to enjoy everyday life by chatting with friends and enjoying a delicious meal... Is it okay for you not to become a faithful servant?”

Kang Seo-dam nodded.

“This is how we return to our original topic.”

He looked at the students.

“In the dungeons of countless ruined dimensions, hunters see the consequences of the misfortunes brought upon themselves by wrong-minded intellectuals. Many gods can be summoned with only the slightest qualification and simple knowledge.”

Even the weakest scholar can summon an evil spirit. If he knows what the evil spirit he wants to summon wants and how to do it, or if he simply wants a disaster that will fulfill his wrong desire, the evil spirit will respond.

“Some evil spirits even engage in trade with humans through very simple materials and rituals. Some have summoned them by sacrificing a single rat, others by drawing a simple picture, and others by reciting a short prayer.”

Evil spirits respond quickly to even the weakest groans of humans.

“Hatred and disillusionment reach the gods faster than gratitude and praise.”

Evil spirits speak to humans when they are at their weakest, and disaster strikes in an instant.

“Traditional gods are born under providence, so they are often immature in dealing with such negative prayers. Most gods do not even recognize the small entity called humans, so how can they understand their wishes, and is their understanding really correct? The probability of that happening is low.”

“Then how can we receive a response from God?”

“The easiest way, as I said earlier, is to summon an evil spirit. Most evil spirits who seek to exploit human negative emotions or blatant greed are experienced and, thanks to that, are skilled in dealing with humans.”

Kang Seo-dam pointed to the numerous data that appeared on the screen.

“That can also explain why most gods who enjoy playing are evil spirits.”

The evil spirits who have the most experience directly interacting with humans are likely to be skilled in understanding and imitating such humans. That is why they can respond immediately to human calls.

Kang Seo-dam clicked his tongue.

“First of all, let me say this. In Korea, all evil spirits except those recognized by the government and religious circles are considered targets of subjugation.”

“Oh, so evil spirits are monsters....”

“Yes. So even if you see an evil spirit that seems very gentle and kind, you shouldn’t easily make a contract with them or rely on them. They are very knowledgeable about humans.”

They especially enjoyed corrupting young priests.

“Quite a few evil spirits enjoy corrupting humans.”

“Why is that?”

“I’m guessing it’s because it’s literally fun.”

“...Well, because it’s fun....”

“Don’t forget that humans are just toys to God, no matter how well you treat them.”

Even if the grace they bestow can be objectively considered ‘love’ to humans, that ‘love’ could ultimately be just a glance from God. The standards of God and humans were completely different.

“No matter how much they love and care for you, they won’t cry for you like family when you die. They won’t build you a gravestone, and they won’t prepare you a warm meal when you’re sad and tired. That’s something you can only expect from a fellow human being.”

Kang Seo-dam looked at his brothers with slightly tired expressions.

“That doesn’t mean you have to be afraid to serve God.”

“But then, aren’t we being used in the end?”

“If you go by that, we humans are also using God.”

“Isn’t that a little different...?”

“What would you do if a passing ant followed you?”

The priests spoke one by one.

“I think I’d take it in and raise it.”

“I wouldn’t I feed it?”

“It’d probably run away because it’s following me.”

“It’s so small that you can’t see it, right?”

“I think I’d look inside to see if there’s a problem.”

Kang Seo-dam asked in turn.

“How are you going to raise the ants?”

“Uh... Should I give them a home? There’s an ant-raising kit.”

“What kind of food do you want to give them?”

“...I don’t know, maybe rice grains? Star candy? Something like that?”

“Why did you think they’d run away?”

“How do the ants recognize me and follow me? It’s strange. They’re not even human. Someone must be doing something sinister.”

“Would you ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) care if they couldn’t see it because they’re small?”

“You wouldn’t know that... in the first place? You wouldn’t even know it was there.”

“How are you going to check if there’s a problem?”

“Just catch them...? Or look around their bodies, or something...”

Kang Seo-dam asked one last time.

“Are you sure you won’t burst a small ant in your hand?”

“...If you’re unlucky, it might burst.”

“Please tell me what you feel at that time.”

“A little... sorry? Feeling dirty?”

“I see.”

He said to the priests.

“It’s a way of feeling.”

“... ... .”

The faces of the children who didn’t know turned pale, and those who had guessed what was being said sighed. Kang Seo-dam, who had been looking at their faces, continued to speak.

“If God loves you and takes you in, you will be imprisoned in a safe and peaceful shackle. If God misinterprets your cries and gives you more power and wealth than you can handle, you will easily be ruined.”

“... ... .”

“Some gods may find it incredibly disgusting and repulsive that humans have come to them. Other gods may not even recognize you no matter how desperately you call them. That can happen.” frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

He looked at the child who had answered last.

“If there is a god who tries to understand and care for you, you can die by his hands. And no god will be sad if a human dies like that.”

If that incident had made him interested in humans, he would have sought out other believers, and if he had developed antipathy, he would have never even looked at humans for the rest of his life. That was the existence of God.

“In very rare cases, there are humans who receive the normal affection of God. We call these beings saints and saints, and they become the medium that connects humans with the great existence of God for their entire lives.”

“I heard that the saint of Dalnim Church communicates with God! They say that she is a living God, the next Dalnim.”

“Yes, she is a very important person. And because of that, the saint of Dalnim Church will never be able to leave the church for her entire life, and she will always be trapped in the hands and eyes of God. She is the only person who can treat God normally because her vessel is so great.”

“.......”

“That is far from the happiness of humans that we usually talk about.”

Kang Seo-dam said firmly.

“Don’t try to understand God. Don’t expect anything from God, and don’t try to use him. The enmity of God is an easy disaster to understand, but the favor of God is also a disaster that is comparable to it.”

“... ... .”

“God is nature and destiny with a will. Just as we humans find food in nature and do not question the fate that is coming, do so. Then you will avoid disaster.”

He added.

“That is how to coexist with God.”

“... I am more afraid... .”

“A priest can open the possibility of communication with God just by existing.”

“But... .”

“Someday, a god that fits you well will come.”

Kang Seo-dam said with his characteristically blunt face.

“But if you serve a god that does not fit you, there is no greater disaster than that.”

“... Yes.”

“So what I want to say is, try to be as kind as possible.”

“Yes?”

“As I keep saying, the god that responds the fastest to human negative emotions is usually an evil god.”

And the evil gods are gods.

“In that case, you will face a disaster you could never have imagined.”

Haven’t I told you about the dangers of gods so many times?

“One day, you may find something you have devoted your life to. It may be gold and silver, a dreamy lover, or revenge on those who have made you miserable. Or you may be overcome by a simple impulse and want to ruin everything.”

But.

“If you hear the voice of god at that time, don’t respond.”

It could have been that god who had thrown you into the pit of misfortune. Humans who are easily tempted by sin and ruined hold on to it without even realizing that it is a rotten rope.

In the first place, the god who speaks to humans when they are most distressed and struggling, the god who gives them a chance, could never be called a god of benevolence and abundance. It was more likely an evil god who was waiting for that person to completely collapse.

“Rather, express your anger with your own power, use someone else to cause chaos in society, and wield madness in the hands of humans. Kill pedestrians, set fire to the houses of those who sleep, and take out their entrails while they are alive.”

“...That, that is too much....”

“That is cheaper than responding to an evil god. Those who express their greed by using an evil god will not be able to properly resolve their own greed, and they will devastate those around them. It would be better for you to step forward yourself, and it will be less damaging to those around you.”

When an evil spirit that is good at dealing with humans intervenes, no one can be saved. Whether the instigator or someone else. Whether there is sin or not, such things would not be of much importance to the evil spirit.

“No one can be satisfied or happy if they are caught up in an evil spirit. That is why it has been confirmed that the intellectuals who summoned evil spirits for revenge all wrote words of regret and died. The same goes for the summoners who only wanted destruction.”

That soul would still be left in the clutches of the evil spirit.

“Beware of the gods and reject the evil spirits.”

“.......”

“Then you are halfway there.”

To that.

“.......”

“.......”

Chae Sol was sweating profusely.

Kang Seo Dam and Iru Da looked at that sight with very subtle eyes.