The Artist Who Paints Dungeon

Chapter 116

There were usually two ways for new recruits to enter the collection.

“I saw a new face today.”

“Really? Who else did the guild master seduce?”

First, the guild master, Bisabal, picked up one person on the street.

“No, there were several.”

“Then where did you come from again?”

“You looked so happy....”

“That’s the guild master’s long-standing hobby.”

Second, raiding illegal guilds to pick up talented people.

“I didn’t see it on the news.”

“I guess it wasn’t that big of a guild.”

The collection usually recruited new members through the collector’s skills in picking up people. Since the guild itself was like Bisabal’s display case for collection items, it was natural in a way.

When there was only one new face, there was a high probability that Bisabal had seduced someone on the street, but if there were multiple people at the same time, it was more likely the latter. In this case, it was like they were blatantly raiding a guild.

“You’re still an intern, right? I’d like you to join our team.”

“You look sturdy, so I think you’ll go to the gallery.”

“No, is that something that can be done just because you’re sturdy?”

“I think I’ll let you work as a curator for a taste.”

“The company has grown so much these days that it’s a bit tough....”

“The gallery is basically our company, so what can I do?”

The first thing a collector does is manage the gallery, the second is managing funds, and the third is exploring dungeons. The collector’s biggest business, which has a strong image of a company that handles numbers and makes money, is definitely the gallery.

A different world filled with beautiful and bizarre works. Those who know its essence are captivated by its rare power, and those who are intoxicated by romance praise the gallery’s splendor. The gallery in Bisabal is the face of the collector.

“It seems like there’s a good chance that you’ll become a full-time employee.”

“But if that happens....”

The existing employees were muttering at the appearance of the new faces.

“Do the new recruits receive that official document too?”

The ‘official document’ mentioned here was the ‘Black Cloak Safety Rules’.

“.......”

“.......”

“...No, no matter what, this is a bit....”

“...If the new recruits don’t become regular employees, it might spread outside.”

“Honestly, are you telling us this story about the Black Cloak?”

“But if they’re assigned to the gallery, I think we should at least let them know for humanitarian reasons.”

“I still don’t think this is right. It won’t end with one or two people dying.”

“Rather than South Korea being shaken up by monsters, it’s cheaper to have a few new recruits die.”

“No, the new recruits might provoke ‘Mr. Sergio’ and cause damage to us.”

People who don’t know much about it or who feel friendly towards ‘Black Cloak’, but those who think a little, have a wary feeling that ‘they are monsters after all’. In this day and age, humanoid monsters are undeniably objects of fear.

This was especially true for the staff of the collection who knew a little more about Black Cloak than the average citizen. Only the curators would treat those crazy works as ‘their babies’ and suck them up, but the ordinary staff were still wary and fearful of Black Cloak.

“I heard they’re quite high-ranking.”

“I heard that evil spirits are also considered monsters, but is that...?”

“They seem to be quite gentle, but I can’t be at ease.”

“Anyway, it’s hard to know what’s on the mind of monsters.”

“What’s on the mind? They probably just hate humans.”

“There hasn’t been much damage yet, but it’s not bad to be cautious.”

The more this happened, the more important it became to recruit curators.

“I think the reason we brought in new recruits this time was because of Black Cloak.”

“It would be hard for one person to handle such a huge being. Mr. Yoo Seong-woon is trying to die.”

“Our curators risk their lives to make money.”

At the Collector’s Gallery, accidents and incidents occur several times a month, with some dying, others getting injured, and others becoming permanently disabled. Since the job involves managing beings that are difficult for ordinary people to handle, it is said that mental power is greatly consumed.

“The Association’s research institute is said to be more controlled, so shouldn’t we also go in that direction?”

“There is an image of the Collector’s Gallery. The guild leader himself has set up a household with the works, so how can we just sit back and watch?”

“I can clearly see a future where people will make a fuss about how cruel they can be. Actually, I don’t think this kind of atmosphere is bad.”

“Well, the color of our gallery is so provocative. We benefit a lot from it... We are well-known.”

“There will be a parade in the spring, but that’s definitely not something that can be done in a boring place like a research institute. It’s only done by our curators.”

“I think there are pros and cons. It’s unstable because it relies on social interaction and trust rather than control, but it’s highly utilized.”

The employees’ awareness of the significance of the existence of the Bisabal Gallery was once again solidified, and this time it was passed on to the new freshmen who joined.

“Looking at the state of the curators these days, it’s about time to change things up.”

“When new people come in, the existing ones take a vacation.”

“Isn’t it something that can’t be done unless you’re crazy about money or art? Poor people, they work overtime all the time. They can’t even leave work.”

“They’re probably more hands-on than newborns, so how can they have time to rest?”

“Newborns don’t kill people just because they’re not being handled as much. Every time new people come in, someone gets hurt in the gallery, so it’s going to happen again.”

“For the time being, it would be better to keep an eye on the gallery. It’s inevitable that people will die or get hurt, but it’s not good if the entire company suffers damage.”

“You’re a newbie, so why are you sending me to the 5th floor? It won’t be a big deal. Hey, I thought someone from our team was coming in....”

“Let’s give it a break. The curators need to rest too. Anyway, the newbies who don’t fit in with the gallery will be hired as office workers.”

As the employees had guessed, the newbies were indeed selected to manage the gallery.

“.......”

“.......”

“.......”

They were looking awkward.

“Oh, you’re new faces. Are you curators?”

“...Oh, yes, you’re in charge of the gallery....”

“You’re a newbie, so you’ll be moving around the 1st floor, but take care.”

“Thank you.”

The newbies were hesitant as the existing employees greeted them casually as they came and went.

‘This is the collection... The building is really nice.’

‘Can I be here?’

‘Curator? I’ve never done anything like that before.’

‘I have to seize this opportunity somehow.’

‘I don’t want to go back to that guild... .’

This was the attitude that Bisabal usually showed in the new recruits he brought in from illegal guilds. They have the conscience and will to develop themselves to work in a proper guild, but they are bewildered by the opportunity that suddenly fell upon them.

A person approached these new recruits.

“Hello, interns.”

It was Yoo Seong-woon, who was going to give them their first curator training at Bisabal’s request.

“I’m Yoo Seong-woon, and I’ll give you some brief information about the collection gallery.”

“Oh, hello.”

“Hello....”

“You must have received basic training, so let’s go right away.”

The new curators, led by Yoo Seong-woon, got on the elevator and went down. The elevator for curators was only big enough to fit six people, but since there were exactly six people, including Yoo Seong-un, it felt crowded.

Despite the cramped space, Yoo Seong-un explained.

“Today is the first day, so we’ll all be moving together, so it’ll be a bit cramped, but starting tomorrow, each person will have a curator in charge. They’ll be assigned different times, so it won’t be as cramped as it is today, so don’t worry.”

A new employee asked.

“Um, is there a reason why it’s smaller than the elevator for general employees? Shouldn’t it be bigger to move things in the gallery?”

“That’s a good question. If there were any disadvantages, such as being in the company of dangerous artwork or being cursed by the artwork, everyone inside the elevator would die, so we set the maximum number of people to a small number.”

Yoo Seong-un answered coolly.

“For the same reason, only 2 to 4 people usually ride the curator-only elevator. For works that are too big to be transported by elevator, freight elevators or moving skills are used, but the more experienced curators are in charge of this part, so you don’t have to worry about it yet.”

“...Considering that everyone will die, how about this small...?”

“It’s not common, but it does happen often. Most of the accidents and incidents happen because people don’t follow the gallery’s instructions and act rashly, so if you just follow the curator’s instructions, the probability of such an incident occurring is low. Above all, works that you have properly developed a relationship with tend to be safe.”

“Oh, yes, I will be careful. Thank you.”

“It takes a long time to go down because the gallery is located deep underground. We are headed to the first basement floor, which is the safest place among the collection’s galleries. There are also works that play tricks on the elevator, so it would be good to get used to the time it takes to descend for each floor.”

The elevator arrived, and Yoo Seong-woon, who had come down to the first basement floor, looked around at the newcomers.

“Welcome to the gallery of collectors.”

The voice was still calm, but none of the new recruits opened their mouths.

“.......”

“.......”

My breath caught in my throat.

They were the ones that Bisabal had brought in because he thought they had the qualities of a curator, and they had a high tolerance for danger and pain, but they still felt intimidated.

The gallery was filled with confusion, heaviness, and a sense of grandeur that made it hard to breathe.

Yoo Seong-woon spoke to the new recruits who were looking around the white space with pale faces.

“I think you’re all at least Class C.”

The new recruits who came to their senses answered one by one.

“I’m Class C.”

“Me too....”

“I’m Class B.”

“Class B.”

“...Class A.”

Yoo Seong-woon nodded.

“There are exceptions, but usually the higher your rank, the deeper you are assigned to the underground gallery. I don’t know about B-rank hunters, but I think it would be good to keep in mind the hunter who said A-rank.”

“...Yes, thank you for the advice. I will work hard.”

“The further underground you go, the more pay and benefits you receive. If you don’t want it, you can consult with the HR team and adjust the assignment, so don’t risk it. You don’t have to worry about being forced to do it.”

Yoo Seong-woon slowly led the newbies and explained the gallery.

“You don’t have to remember all the works in the gallery, but at least you should memorize the basic locations and characteristics of the works on the first floor and the floor you’re assigned to. You should be able to deal with basic issues if they arise.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“In the case of works that are actively being worked on, they are often stored separately, and although they are usually not managed by newbies, they may arise later. There are areas that require identification, so remember them... You should also become familiar with the rescue request devices installed in the gallery.”

Yoo Seong-woon continued with the most basic training.

The structure of the gallery, the places where dangerous works are placed, the tasks that new curators must do, etc. Because the gallery is so large, it took quite a while to go around just one floor.

Yoo Seong-woon returned to the elevator and opened his mouth.

“You don’t have to remember in detail the works other than the ones I explained. Of course, if you remember, your survival and safety will be more assured, but the most important thing is how to deal with works that show initiative.”

“Yes, Curator Yoo Seong-un.”

“Your curator will tell you about works that you have a deep understanding of or need to build rapport with. If your ability is recognized, you will be assigned to more than one work, but keep in mind that it may be difficult to exercise your right of refusal in this regard.”

A newbie asked.

“You can suggest floor layouts, but why is it difficult to suggest works?”

“It’s because the gallery lacks management personnel.”

“Oh... maybe because everyone is dying?”

“That’s also true.”

It was hard to say no. This gallery, which did not have as perfect a control as the association’s research institute but increased the usability and intimacy of the works to the limit, usually sacrificed the curators’ longevity and health in exchange for its glamor.

It was a gallery that literally forced people into it, but it was a system that could be maintained because the value of the works was much higher than the average manpower. It was a structure that was commonly seen in the world these days.

“The work of a curator requires considerable mental and physical fatigue, so even if you are assigned to one work, you need to take regular breaks. You need to rotate frequently, but if you don’t, as I just said, the number of works you are assigned to increases.”

Yoo Seong-woon laughed indifferently.

“However, we don’t assign curators tasks that they cannot handle at all, or tasks that are blatantly life-threatening, like human sacrifice.”

It was a world where their lives were never more valuable than the works here, but that didn’t mean that Bisabal neglected the safety of the curators.

There were only injuries and deaths, but Bisabal cherished what was his. He wanted his employees to die inevitably, and for the end to be noble and artistic.

“You must remember that this is a country of collectors.”

“.......”

“You have come here because you have shown the potential to become the guild master’s collection. The guild master cherishes his collection considerably, so if you are promoted to a full-time employee, you will have no problems with your personal safety.”

“Ah....”

“As long as you don’t slack off or do stupid things. Our guild master likes honest and competent people. You can use it as a reference for your personal development.”

Yoo Seong-woon’s eyes widened as he said that.

“Always remember that what you will be dealing with from ? N?v?l?ght ? (Exclusive on N?v?l?ght) now on is the most dangerous and sensitive being on Earth. “This gallery requires the attitude of thinking about things dozens or hundreds of times and making careful choices, but also making bold choices based on intuition at some point.”

It’s contradictory advice, but that’s the reality. Curators who have to care for their own works with affection and sincerity couldn’t survive by simply following the manual.

Yoo Seong-woon shrugged.

“If both the curator and the company decide that the job of a curator is not suitable for them, they will be assigned to other jobs. Since the gallery is short on manpower, everyone is receiving this training as a priority, but it’s not mandatory.”

“Oh, then, what other jobs do you have?”

“Processing company documents or exploring to find works to display at auctions or galleries. If you want a stable life, an office job would be good, and if you want to work to the best of your ability and receive compensation for it, a field job would be good.”

Curators are also paid according to their abilities and results, but they are out of the question because they are much more dangerous than general field workers. If my life is precious, it would be better to take on the company’s general work.

“This concludes the essential training I will give you today. If you have a strong will to work as a curator or if you still have questions about this place, you can look around a little more.”

“.......”

“Hmm, there aren’t any. In that case, I will record everyone leaving the gallery with me in the list. The curator in charge will tell you, but let’s make it a habit to write the gallery entry list every time we get on the elevator.”

Yoo Seong-woon nodded and asked.

“That’s all I will ask you.”

“...Is there anything different when you become a full-time employee?”

“Whether you work as a curator or do something else, the benefits will increase.”

Did he classify the information that he could tell the interns? Yoo Seong-woon, who was thinking about something for a moment, continued speaking.

“In addition to that, you will have your own identity on a portal that only full-time employees can check.”

The ‘own identity’ mentioned here meant that their citizenship level would go up. If they were officially employed, they would be issued a 2nd-grade citizenship card instead of the current 4th or 5th grade.

If they were lucky and worked harder, a 1st-grade citizenship card would not be a dream but a reality. The new recruits’ eyes were filled with anxiety and desperation.

“What is this portal that only regular employees can check?”

“You can think of it as similar to a portal for general companies. There is information and a community that only the employees of that company can see.”

“Is it possible that interns will be disadvantaged due to such differences in information...?”

“To be honest, I can’t say that there aren’t any. However, it’s not as big of a disadvantage as you think, and I can definitely say that there is a difference in treatment.”

Yoo Seong-woon paused for a moment after saying that.

“.......”

“...Curator?”

“And let me give you one piece of advice.”

He continued with the same innocent smile as before.

“Our company has a person called Sergio who works in the early morning shift.”

“... Early morning shift? What is that? Is it like part-time?”

“It’s a similar concept, a kind of special force. He’s an unofficial hunter who hasn’t even debuted in the media. He often shows up at the company, so you might run into him.”

“What kind of person is Sergio... Is there anything we should be careful of since you’re telling us this separately?”

“He’s a kind and polite person. As long as you don’t do anything rude first, he won’t get angry, so I hope you won’t be too surprised when you meet him.”

“...Does he look a little scary...?”

“Um, that’s about right.”

Yoo Seong-woon nodded.

“He’s wearing a black cloak.”

“... A black cloak?”

“I’m having trouble because his image overlaps with the famous black cloak these days. You usually like to wear black cloaks, but I heard that you look like a dangerous monster... .”

“Oh, I see. Similar images... .”

“... ... .”

Yoo Seong-woon, who had been silent for a moment, soon opened his mouth.

“... This is an unofficial special force of the collector. I’m checking the overall atmosphere of this company, so you might run into me in the hallways or galleries. I’m telling you in advance so that you don’t mistake me for an intruder.”

The two new recruits’ expressions hardened at Yoo Seong-woon’s words. It seemed like he had guessed something, but Yoo Seong-woon didn’t say anything more and ended his explanation here.

“It was nice meeting you.”

“Yes, Curator Yoo Seong-woon.”

“I hope we can meet again as a family again without any problems.”

He smiled slightly.

The gallery of the collector was solely for management, sales, and exhibition. This place, which was created solely to cherish the collection of Bisabal, required socializing rather than controlling the works.

Will these new recruits be able to develop an irrational affection for those crazy works?

“I hope you adapt well.”

The new recruits’ first training was over.

“.......”

“Hello.”

And so the day went by.

“Are you okay?”

“...Ah...?”

“I’m glad you don’t seem to be hurt.”

One of the new recruits ran into a blond man.

He said.

“My name is Sergio.”

“.......”

“What is your name?”

“.......”

“I wonder what your name is.”

The eyes that contained the sea smiled.

“Would you like to talk to me?”

It happened at 5:13 in the morning.