Naturally, It Had Excellent Performance

Actually, it was only natural that its performance was so high. Count Besgo spared no expense when it came to painting. Not only did he use gems pulled from other dimensions, but when he couldn't get the right shade, he literally melted down gold and slathered it over the canvas. It was a good thing Cain was the one witnessing this; if it had been Lee Da-bi, she would have fainted and been carried away on a stretcher.

"..."

Whoa, what kind of madness is this?!

Tae-hyun was utterly dumbfounded by the painting's stats. First of all, the painting itself was a resounding success. It had reached the rank right below Legendary—Heroic—and the quality was so superb that even Count Besgo had shed tears. It was a level of quality that made it hard to believe it had been co-created by Tae-hyun and Count Besgo!

Does Count Besgo actually have a talent for the macabre?

It was a bit ironic that he had awakened his true talent while painting an angel of Archisus, but...

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Overcome with emotion, Count Besgo lunged forward to embrace Tae-hyun. Tae-hyun swiftly dodged and shoved Cain forward.

Crack!

"Argh! Urgh!"

"Wait, why are you the one in my arms?"

Count Besgo tossed Cain aside, picked up the painting, and held it out to Tae-hyun.

"?"

"Please, accept this painting."

"Wait... you're giving this cursed painting to me?"

"Indeed. Only you are worthy of receiving such a precious painting. Come to think of it, I still do not know your name. What is your name, my friend?"

"Uh..."

Tae-hyun's mind raced. This was the Erangs Kingdom. There was absolutely no benefit to having his real identity, Kim Tae-hyun, exposed here. But rather than using just any random fake name, it would be better to use an alias that could serve as a disguise... At that moment, a certain name flashed through his mind.

"I am Deng Xiaoping."

"..."

Cain's jaw dropped as he stared at Tae-hyun. Hey...! You're seriously using that crazy alias from back then again...?!

"Is that so? And what about your name?"

"...M-Mao Zedong..."

It was the alias they had created to disguise themselves back when they were constantly clashing with the Guild Alliance! To think he would drag that name back out now...!

You absolute lunatic!

"Excellent. I shall remember both of your names! Thank you truly for showing me the joy of painting."

"Honestly, I think it would have been better if you had lived the rest of your life without knowing..."

"What was that?"

"Nothing at all!"

Once they received their rewards and were cleared to leave, Tae-hyun looked at the Count and asked, "My Lord, as a devout follower of the Archisus Church, I must ask—is there an Archisus temple in this city?"

"Of course there is a temple."

Temples of the Archisus Church were now relatively easy to find across the Central Continent. This was all thanks to Tae-hyun's grueling efforts to build temples and distribute newly created NPC priests everywhere. A denomination forged from blood, sweat, and tears!

"By any chance, is there a temple that is... a bit more special?"

"A special temple?"

"An ancient temple handed down from the old days, for instance. I wish to offer a proper prayer to Lord Archisus..."

"I knew you were a devout hero. I had heard various rumors about the Archisus Church and thought it was rather suspicious, but it seems those were all baseless rumors."

"...Of course they are! Those are all malicious rumors spread by wicked, evil cults. My Lord, please keep this in mind. The Sadiq Order, the Salavian Order, the Idergo Cult, the Phaitos Church... countless evil cults are conspiring to slander the Archisus Church."

"I feel like there was one very strange name slipped in just now...?"

"And even the demons! A Demon Duke was personally defeated by us, so you can imagine how deep their grudge must run. You must not believe any of the nonsense circulating around the continent."

"I understand. If anyone dares to spread such rumors in the future, I shall deal with them sternly."

Oh...

Tae-hyun marveled at the Count's political clout. What an incredible man!

"I have never heard of an ancient temple of Archisus. However, there are those who worshipped Archisus long before the temples were ever built."

"!"

"I wish to meet them immediately!"

"Very well. I shall assign some soldiers to guide you there."

"..."

Tae-hyun and Cain exchanged glances. Is it really okay to go with soldiers in tow?

—Hey. Are you sure this is okay?!

—We haven't been caught yet.

—Between the fake names and everything else, I feel like we're sinking deeper and deeper into a swamp...

Cain was starting to feel extremely anxious. They were skating on thinner and thinner ice! Meanwhile, Count Besgo wrapped up his business and summoned his soldiers.

"Hear me! The adventurers 'Mao Zedong' and 'Deng Xiaoping' have achieved a magnificent feat for me! Summon the city's bards and have them sing praises of their names for a while!"

"..."

"..."

A quest had been dispatched to all the bards in the city. The quest instructed them to compose songs praising the duo and perform them periodically at the city gates and the central plaza for an entire month! It was a tremendous honor, and it even granted various buffs, so it wasn't a loss for them, but...

—Kim... Kim Tae-hyun. Are you absolutely sure this is fine?! Really?!

—Well, if worst comes to worst, we can just run away.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

—?!?! Your story just changed!

The players in Miriban City listened to the songs with expressions full of jealousy.

"Ugh...! Mao Zedong! Deng Xiaoping! Who the hell are these guys? How did some random rolling stones win the Count's favor like this?"

"The Count is notoriously hard to please, isn't he?"

"Just how incredible of a masterpiece did they create?"

Little did the players know, the key wasn't creating the masterpiece itself, but helping him create it!

"But what's up with their usernames?"

"Who knows. Probably Chinese players."

"Wait, I've heard those names somewhere before."

One of the players in Miriban City happened to be a member of the Guild Alliance. Startled, he quickly messaged his guildmates.

—Hey! That Mao Zedong guy is here!

—What? That fellow who was amazing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at digging holes?

—Oh, he was incredible at digging.

—He's a high-ranking miner, right? A ranker miner.

—But his name isn't on the miner rankings...

—He must be a ranker who hid his name.

While Deng Xiaoping was memorable, Mao Zedong had left an especially deep impression on the Guild Alliance. An expert who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and then vanished! It was to the point where the guild executives had tried to recruit him, only to fail.

—Hey, if you find him, bring him in! We need rankers right now anyway.

—Understood!

"Is this the place?"

Across the wide streets, players wearing paint-splattered clothes were moving their brushes with entranced expressions. These were people who had resolved to paint even inside a video game! Naturally, their determination and willpower were out of the ordinary.

"Anyone want to model for me? No humans allowed. I've painted too many of them."

"Hey, if we detonate a small bomb to scatter the paint, wouldn't that make a painting?"

"You trying to blow yourself up too?"

"Is it true that painting with Orc blood gives a bonus?"

"I'm telling you, it's true. Just trust me."

"..."

Cain took a step back, looking utterly appalled. These people are completely insane!

"We have arrived, adventurers."

"Thank you. We will take it from here..."

"No, please! The Count strictly ordered us to accompany and assist you."

"..."

He had wanted to clear the quest quietly without any interference, but obstacles were popping up from all directions! Already, the painters were whispering among themselves.

—What's that? Is he a ranker?

—His gear looks pretty trashy, though.

—Well, gear can always be swapped out. Look, he came with soldiers.

"We'd better pass through quickly."

"Wait a moment! Please model for me... I won't pay you, but it'll be fun!"

"Buy some paintings! These are guaranteed by the Power Warrior Guild!"

I am absolutely never buying that.

Players rushed forward in a swarm, trying to grab hold of Tae-hyun.

"Hey! Step aside!"

The soldiers quickly pushed them back.

"Adventurers, please hurry inside! You just need to enter the guild building!"

"The... Random Art Guild?"

"Random Art?!"

At the soldier's words, the surrounding players flinched. Then, they slowly began to back away.

"Hey, they're going in there."

"If they're voluntarily going in there, I don't think we need to get involved..."

"..."

The sudden retreat of the players left an uncomfortable feeling.

"Is there something wrong with the members of the Random Art Guild?"

"No, not exactly a problem..."

"There's no problem, but..."

"Aside from them being a bit eccentric and acting like complete lunatics, right?"

—That is the definition of a problem! That's a huge problem!

—Calm down, Cain. I already figured as much the moment I heard they worshipped the Archisus Church. If they've been worshipping Archisus since the old days, they wouldn't just be ordinary crazies.

Tae-hyun was already prepared for the worst.

"Let's go!"

"Oh! O Great Lord Archisus!"

"O Great Lord Archisus! Please aid me in my painting!"

"Spin the swords!"

Whoosh, whoosh—

As they opened the guild doors and stepped inside, they saw NPCs spinning swords in circles. Paint splattered from the blades, dripping onto canvases to form random patterns.

"How is it?!"

"It's terrible!"

"Dammit! I have to paint it again. Tear it up!"

—Kim Tae-hyun. Isn't there a tip in Pan-On that goes like this? 'If you visit a faction's headquarters and see absolutely zero players, only NPCs, do not enter.'

—Yes, there is such a tip.

A faction populated solely by NPCs was always highly suspicious. Why hadn't any players joined? That was the first question one had to ask! And right now, the Random Art Guild had absolutely zero players. They were all NPCs!

"Oh, who is that?"

"I do not know, but this too must be fate. Quick, bring that sloppy-looking fellow over here!"

"What in the...!"

Cain flared up before they could even point at him. The soldiers asked in confusion, "They didn't specify who the sloppy-looking fellow was, though?"

"...What insolent bastards!"

Left speechless, Cain fumed with rage. But the painters activated a skill first.

—Lucky Paint Binding Art!

"Whoa, whoa?!"

Cain was dragged forward. It was a skill that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ignored any resistance and pulled the target, similar to a telekinetic pull.

"Do not worry! We will return ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you once we are done painting."

"Alright. Let's pour paint all over this guy and roll him around!"

"For some reason, I get a strangely divine feeling from this man..."

"Now that you mention it, I think so too?"

—Help me, Kim Tae-hyun!

Tae-hyun sent the soldiers outside. Although the soldiers had insisted on accompanying them earlier, they seemed incredibly eager to leave the guild premises, scurrying out immediately.

—Understood, adventurer!

—We shall wait outside!

"I am the Pope of the Archisus Church."

"...!!"

The painters, who were about to pour paint over Cain, froze.

"To think such an esteemed guest would grace this humble place...?"

"Then who is this person?"

"He is the Slave of Archisus."

"Ohhh!"

"Amazing!"

As the painters marveled, Cain expected them to release him immediately. But he was wrong.

"May we roll him just once?"

"Hmm..."

"We will give you the gems we have gathered..."

"Well, it doesn't drain his HP, so I suppose a little rolling won't hurt."

"Hey!!!"