One day, a strange rumor began to circulate.
"They say there's a ghost."
At his colleague's words, a curator who was just about to head to the basement frowned.
"…Pardon?"
"You know the gallery on the 5th basement floor."
"Ah, yes. I know it."
There was no way he wouldn't.
"The new piece I'm in charge of is also on the 5th basement floor."
Entry to The Collectors' gallery was permitted only to the owner, Guild Master Bisabeol, about 300 curators, and clients visiting to purchase artworks.
The gallery had a total of 5 floors.
The type and form of the collected works were different for each floor, and among them, the final 5th floor housed only the works that Bisabeol loved the most.
For reference, the degree of Bisabeol's affection for a work was proportional to its danger level.
The fact that the work the curator was now in charge of was on the 5th floor meant just that.
"Did something happen on the 5th floor? It's a floor that's managed thoroughly, as befits its high danger level."
To that question, the colleague answered.
"I told you just now. They say a ghost appears."
"…It's not the first time I've heard that rumor. What I meant was, I was asking if that rumor arose from some kind of incident or accident."
The curator, smiling awkwardly, habitually stroked his neck.
"There have been several ghost uproars in this gallery so far, haven't there."
Bisabeol's gallery, which collected all sorts of bizarre and beautiful works from around the world, had long been prone to accidents.
Because Bisabeol collected everything that was treated as 'art', he didn't care even if its true identity was actually a monster.
And most of the ghost uproars that had occurred in this gallery until now had been caused by monsters.
"What kind of work monster is it? Seeing as they call it a ghost, it seems to be close to a humanoid type."
"They said it was a human."
"That makes even less sense. Are you telling me a humanoid monster has entered our gallery?"
In this situation, for something to be assessed as a 'human', it could naturally only be a humanoid monster.
"Why would such a dangerous monster be in a gallery like this and not in a dungeon. Especially a humanoid type, which would have high intelligence and strong pride."
Humanoid monsters were not only rare, but on average possessed intelligence greater than that of humans, and their hatred for the world outside the dungeon was also intense.
Humanoid monsters, equipped with both intelligence and military might, usually reigned over their own dungeons and toyed with the visiting hunters.
"If that's really true, why would the guild building be so quiet? It would have broken out and killed everyone by now…."
"That's why it's strange. Because every situation we can grasp is contradictory."
The colleague continued.
"There have already been 17 complaints."
"17?"
It had been two weeks since the curator, Yu Seong-un, first heard the rumor about the 'ghost'.
If 17 complaints had been filed in just two weeks, it was hard to dismiss it as a simple rumor.
"That's quite frequent. At that rate, I'd think it wouldn't have just ended as a rumor."
"The HR department is controlling the information. As you know, there's nothing to be gained from a rumor spreading outside that a problem has occurred in the Guild Master's gallery."
"That's also true. For there to be a problem with The Collectors, who hold the purse strings of the Republic of Korea, it's a matter for the President to come running for."
"I can't laugh because that doesn't sound like a joke. Fortunately, the scale of the incident itself is small, so control wasn't difficult."
The HR department employee who said that soon let out a sigh.
"But for them to file a formal complaint with me means it's not something to be overlooked."
"For complaints to come in even though the curators aren't such easygoing hunters…."
"It means they judged that they couldn't handle it on their own."
"This is a bit troublesome."
Unlike general curators, curators with hunter licenses were knowledgeable beings.
Even if their military might wasn't very strong, their ability to appraise and respond to monsters and items was far superior to that of ordinary hunters.
Bisabeol had hired, among them, talents that were counted among the best in the world.
For such talents to be unable to resolve it themselves and to file a complaint with the employee before him, the HR department's assistant manager, meant that this incident was not to be taken lightly.
"…Well now…."
At this point, Curator Yu Seong-un seemed to understand why the HR department had stopped him.
"What do you need me to do?"
"I'm sorry, I know you must be busy."
"No, if an incident occurs, I also have a duty to respond."
He was an employee whose abilities were recognized even among the curators personally hired by Bisabeol.
He was already A-class as a hunter and he had countless licenses related to alchemy and barriers.
Yu Seong-un was often called upon when additional tasks like this arose.
He was used to taking on work in this manner.
"You're reliable."
The HR colleague continued with his characteristic cool face.
"We would be grateful if you would take charge of general management, Mr. Yu Seong-un."
"I appreciate the high praise, but that's a bit…."
Yu Seong-un shook his head.
"Doesn't it look strange for someone who was a researcher at the Association to also take on general management."
"I recall that you were not just a researcher, but a research team leader."
"Right, that's what I mean. I received so many glares when I left the Association. I have no intention of standing out."
"If you insist, I won't press any further."
"Yes, thank you very much."
Yu Seong-un, scratching his neck, asked.
"Anyway, if it's happened 17 times, doesn't that mean the monster has no intention of hiding itself?"
"...."
"If it was a monster with concealment abilities so outstanding that it passed our guild's inspection and was safely displayed in the gallery, it would have been able to hide itself as much as it wanted."
At that, the HR employee nodded his head as if he had been waiting.
"I was just about to give you the information on this ghost."
"That's welcome news."
"Well, it's a paranormal phenomenon that has been witnessed 17 times. We can't be negligent in gathering information."
The employee continued.
"Thanks to the fact that the other curators, while not as skilled as you, Mr. Seong-un, are also competent, we were fortunately able to hear various stories about the ghost."
The HR employee handed a document to Yu Seong-un.
"As you'll see if you read it…."
"Is there a picture too?"
"We've added an illustration based on the witnesses' testimonies."
"Hmm."
As Yu Seong-un looked at the illustration, the HR employee explained.
"In all 17 sightings, the ghost's attire did not change. It wore a large black cloak that covered its entire face and body and the clothing inside was said to be a black shirt and a suit. Its height was about 188cm, which is quite tall for a humanoid."
"In that case, is its built on the sturdy side?"
"Detailed confirmation was impossible due to the large cloak, but most assessed that it was at least not a thin build. However, it was never assessed as being brawny."
"If the inside couldn't be confirmed to that extent, it seems no one would know if it's really a humanoid type. It could be an undead type. What's the reason for judging it to be a humanoid monster?"
"There was exactly one curator who saw its face."
"Oh."
"To describe it…."
The HR employee continued.
"They said he was handsome. It was a curator with high standards."
"...."
"…It may sound absurd, but for someone who scrutinizes the appearance of the opposite sex so meticulously to say he was handsome, it's clear his features were very distinct and well-defined. And we have defined that as human."
"No… handsome or not, what about the characteristics?"
Yu Seong-un asked with a reluctant expression.
"Like hair color, the shape of the eyes, the condition of the skin, or if there was a mole somewhere… those kinds of characteristics. It doesn't seem like you've included a facial illustration, so was there no testimony about this part?"
"Unfortunately, they only saw him for a very brief moment, so the curator was unable to confirm any proper characteristics. However, they said that in that fleeting moment, the thought 'he's handsome' came to mind, but even this was recalled only after they had escaped and regained their proper senses, so there is nothing I can tell you regarding external characteristics."
The assistant manager added.
"For some reason, they all said it was hard to make eye contact. So it's difficult to describe facial features. If you can't look at the eyes, you naturally wouldn't know what the face looks like."
"It might have a skill related to its eyes, or that might be its main body. Then what about parts like its hands or feet, not the face?"
"Fortunately, I believe I can tell you about that."
The HR employee nodded.
"They said his skin was very pale. It was skin as white as someone who had never been exposed to sunlight, so we received testimony that it stood out particularly well against the all-black attire."
"Is that so? Then it might be a monster with a story…. It could have drifted in from some dungeon."
"Furthermore, they said he was barefoot."
"Was it to avoid making noise?"
At Yu Seong-un's muttering, the HR employee firmly denied it.
"That's not it."
"Why are you so sure?"
"'When the ghost walked, there was no sound at all.' All 17 curators testified to this consistently. There would be sound even if he were barefoot, so there would have been no need to take off his shoes."
"Then the lack of sound when walking must just be a characteristic of the monster."
In this case, it was usually one of two things.
'Either it's a monster with a skill that can conceal sound, or it's a monster so light that it doesn't make a sound at all….'
Since they said it was judged to be a humanoid, the probability of it being the former was high.
"...."
Yu Seong-un soon frowned.
"Have you reported to the Guild Master? If it's really a humanoid monster, it's not just newsworthy, it's research material."
"We have already reported this matter, but he only said to investigate it internally and not to let it be known outside as much as possible. Saying he doesn't want it to be taken by the Hunter Association as research material."
"…I understand what you mean. The Guild Master would do that."
Yu Seong-un nodded.
The words 'what if someone dies because of that' did not come out.
Because in a world like today, the life of a person who dies while working was treated like a pebble on the street.
'At least Bisabeol is a person who cares a lot for his employees, so I can trust that he has taken measures in that regard. He's not a boss who recklessly orders dangerous work….'
At that moment, the HR employee spoke.
"Starting next week, we will begin safety enhancement training for the curators. An artifact is scheduled to be presented to all trainees, so please make sure to receive one, Mr. Yu Seong-un."
"Aha."
Indeed.
That made sense.
"Our guild really does work hard. It knows how to value human life."
"Thank you for the kind words. Though all of it was under the Guild Master's orders."
The HR employee continued his explanation.
"The first time the ghost was sighted was 15 days ago, at 4:32 AM."
"If it was 4 in the morning, it must have been a time with very few people. A quiet time when even our 24/7 gallery is empty."
"That's right. This is also one of the ghost's characteristics. I don't know if it's because of people's gazes or if there's a condition like that, but it usually insists on the early morning hours when not many employees visit."
"It sounds like it's either timid or cunning…."
Yu Seong-un, who had passed over the document, tilted his head.
The data that should have been there was not organized. It didn't seem to have been omitted by mistake.
"…There have been no casualties at all."
It was uncharacteristic of a humanoid monster.
"...."
No, it was simply uncharacteristic of a monster.
'…No matter how skilled humanoid monsters are at scheming, just watching people for two weeks is certainly a peculiar case. Even if it's a time-lag attack where a bomb goes off later using some other mental-type skill… there's no way this high-security guild wouldn't know about it.'
In that case, it really meant this 'ghost' had been doing nothing but watching people for two whole weeks.
"There's no such thing as a monster without hostility, is there?"
Yu Seong-un, who was once a researcher at the Association, knew how great the hostility monsters had towards the life forms of Earth was.
It was a level that was unbearable even for a highly intelligent humanoid monster.
Even if that were possible, monsters had absolutely no knowledge or understanding of humans.
Even if they approached humans with goodwill, it would never have a positive effect.
'Is this why it was assessed as a ghost.'
Since at least a ghost would have a high understanding of humans.
As Yu Seong-un thought that to himself, the employee's explanation reached his ears.
"The locations where it is sighted are getting closer to the surface as of late."
"…Hmm…."
"Starting from the first sighting, it wandered the 5th basement floor for a total of 7 times, then the 4th floor for the next 4 times, then the 3rd floor for the next 2 times. Then the 2nd floor for 2 times. And then it was sighted on the 1st floor for 1 time. It came up one floor at a time."
"…Isn't that a bit dangerous?"
"But the last sighting, the 17th testimony, was set on the 5th basement floor."
"Ah, it went back again?"
"And there have been no more sighting reports for 5 days since."
"In that case…."
"It seems to have finished its exploration."
"What a headache."
Finding a monster that had already hidden in its own home was an even more difficult task.
"Are there any other unusual points? Like its behavior. Usually, monsters of this type set their own rules and try to force other humans into that framework. And if it's a humanoid, it seems even more likely to have personal rules."
The employee nodded his head.
"As you said, there was something unusual."
"What is it?"
"They say it gives gifts."
"...."
I don't think I've lived that long, but in all my life, I've never heard of a monster giving a gift.
'…The works in the gallery do sometimes behave in such a way, but if you look at it like that, it becomes a bit difficult to define this thing as a simple monster….'
Yu Seong-un, having organized his thoughts, asked again.
"…A gift, you say?"
"...."
As if sympathizing with Yu Seong-un's disbelieving tone, the employee made a subtle expression, then cleared his throat once and returned to his poker face.
The employee continued his explanation.
"When you first encounter the ghost, he approaches you pretending to be human."
"As if anyone would believe that…."
"It's possible that he really believes he is human. Anyway, next he requests a conversation with the employee he met. What's your name? How old are you? What do you do? Where is this place? Why are you here?"
"...."
"The content is mostly mundane and nothing special. He doesn't ask for deep personal information, and even then, if you're reluctant to reveal your identity, he doesn't press further. After successfully completing the conversation like that, they say the ghost gives a gift."
The HR employee gestured for him to turn over the document.
When Yu Seong-un turned over the document with a reluctant face, a picture of the 'gift' that the employees had supposedly received was visible.
"…This is…."
"Yes, as you can see, it's food."
"What kind of domestic monster is this?"
In the picture, bite-sized snacks like cookies, chocolates, and candies were listed.
Looking at the neat and simple packaging, no matter how he thought about it, this was handmade.
A handmade snack made by a monster, if this came out as a news article, it would be criticized for being an outrageous lie.
"Have you done a component analysis?"
"It was conducted under the Guild Master's orders, and the test results came out a week ago."
"Poison, or…."
"No, on the contrary, it was medicine. The types were for anemia, digestion, pain relief, fever reduction, and diarrhea."
"...."
"The research team couldn't figure out how on earth ordinary cookies or chocolates could have such medicinal properties. Because both the taste and the composition were all ordinary snacks."
Yu Seong-un, flipping through the documents, asked.
"Then how did you detect the effects of the components?"
"As you know, under the full support of the Guild Master…."
"Did they drag them from prison again? In one way or another, that's the cleanest way."
"Because it's a place teeming with useful test subjects."
"That's true. But the research was swift even after having received help from the prison?"
"I don't know why, but the Guild Master happened to have some prisoners prepared."
In an era where the lives of decent employees were treated as pebbles, the human rights of criminals were nonexistent.
The Guild Master of The Collectors was a person who utilized such points very well, so it was roughly guessable that this experiment had probably also used such criminals.
The HR employee continued.
"What's more surprising is that the gift was the perfect medicine for the employee."
"…You mean he gave a snack with digestive properties to an employee with indigestion, and a snack with fever-reducing properties to an employee with a fever?"
"Exactly."
"...."
Yu Seong-un wiped his face.
"It means he also has an appraisal skill that can be used on living things, in which case its rank must be quite high."
"A troublesome opponent. Since he's showing goodwill towards us."
"A rampaging monster would be easier, this one can neither be suppressed nor appeased."
Yu Seong-un, who had let out a long sigh, nodded his head as if he had accepted his fate of soon taking on additional duties.
"I'll take it. This is my specialty, after all."
"Thank you. And there is one more thing I need to tell you…."
"What is it?"
"It's about the date the incident began to occur."
"This sounds ominous."
"It happened after the Guild Master displayed 'Jio's Portrait' in the gallery."
"…Ah…."
At Yu Seong-un's gasp, the HR employee gave him a look of pity.
"...."
"...."
And for good reason, 'Jio's Portrait' was the piece that Yu Seong-un had been newly assigned to manage.
"…Overtime again."
A hollow laugh escaped him.
"Good luck."
"I'll have to."
He was already tired.
-x-X-x-
A pure white gallery.
Pure white lighting.
"...."
A man, jet-black alone amidst the artworks sparkling under the light.
'…He's here.'
Yu Seong-un, who had been lying in wait in the gallery at the request of an HR Department employee, stared at the 'ghost' while hiding his presence.
Whether it was good luck or bad luck.
On the very day he received the request, Yu Seong-un was able to confirm the subject of the rumors.
Indeed, it was a tall man wrapped head to toe in a jet-black cloak, just as he had been told.
'I can't even… hear his footsteps.'
The rumored 'ghost' was barefoot.
'Even for someone barefoot, it's strange to be this quiet.'
But it was not that he could not hear any sound at all.
'It seems the curators until now couldn't hear it because they didn't have hearing enhancement skills….'
Yu Seong-un closed his eyes.
"...."
Rustle, rustle. Crackle….
"...."
It was very. A very light noise.
'…This is….'
He opened his eyes again.
'…It sounds like plants brushing against each other.'
It was a strange analogy, but that was his judgment.
A sound like rolling a sphere made of light vines or dry petals weighing less than 1g.
That faint yet overly hollow sound was not a noise befitting a tall man of 188cm.
"...."
Yu Seong-un continued his observation, hiding between an artwork and a pillar.
'…He's appreciating them.'
The 'ghost' wandered through the empty gallery, occasionally stopping in front of artworks protected by glass walls.
He spent a particularly long time in front of sculptures and paintings.
The surprising thing was the fact that he was truly just 'looking.'
'There are so many dangerous items that just touching one would cause an uproar, but thankfully, he's not doing that. He seems to be a highly intelligent type of monster, which is certainly an unusual case.'
That was not to say he did not appreciate other forms of art.
'Is he interested in art, is he doing that to kill time… or is he looking for an item he can use?'
The actions of the 'ghost,' who strolled through the gallery with his hands behind his back like a noble aristocrat or a trained soldier, were somehow heavy and disciplined.
It was enough to create the illusion that he was the owner of this place, which unexpectedly reminded Yu Seong-un of a tale about a vampire in an old castle.
'A vampire count… a bit childish, maybe.'
Considering the corpse-like pale skin and the inhuman presence, it seemed to fit quite well.
The black cloak that had been wandering the gallery for a long while….
"…Ah."
It stared straight at the hiding Yu Seong-un.
"...."
Their eyes.
Met.
"...."
"...."
Black eyes.
At that moment, Yu Seong-un felt his mind grow distant.
'…What is….'
What is that?
'Black.'
It was too black.
But it was bright.
It seemed warm but was cold, seemed empty but was heavy.
Despite the clear distance, he could not take his eyes off them, to the point where he could see the blood vessels in those eyes.
No, those might not have been blood vessels.
The thin, elegant branches made of gold and silver were as vast as if looking at a forest.
The black center, where the pupil could not be distinguished, was dark enough to be genuinely frightening.
It was too immense.
So immense that it was too deep for human cognition to accept.
He felt his breath catch in his throat.
He felt anger and awe without any basis.
It did not suffocate him, yet there was a power within it that made his breathing stop on its own.
Not hiding, not showing off, just right there….
It existed.
"...."
"...."
Two blinks.
"...."
Rustle….
With a faint noise, the cloak moved.
"...."
A little farther away.
Farther from there.
The presence that stopped at an even more distant place soon disappeared.
"...."
Yu Seong-un moved his feet.
The place where the presence had vanished was none other than in front of 'Jio's Portrait.'
"...."
…As if putting on an act.
It had its distant eyes closed, as if nothing had happened.
"This is crazy."
Day 1, complete.
***
A world with supernatural powers did not explain everything about 'ghosts.'
This was a fact that could be known from the continued existence of the profession of shamans.
Thus, it was also difficult to explain a moving portrait.
"...."
"...."
4:29 AM.
The portrait opened its eyes.
"…Ah."
Yu Seong-un let out an involuntary gasp.
The man with a somber impression, 'Jio,' who was looking at him, opened his mouth.
"Good day."
"...."
"Good morning."
"Morning, you say…."
At those words, Yu Seong-un looked at the portrait's background.
"...."
Ah, indeed.
It was a forest with the sun shining brightly.
"…It's dawn on this side, though."
"I see."
Having said that, 'Jio's' eyes took in Bisabeol's gallery.
"I didn't know it was dawn because it's always lit by white lights."
His voice, which felt somewhat out of place, was more blunt than imagined.
He was clearly speaking and Yu Seong-un was listening, yet for some reason, he could not shake the thought that it was 'quiet.'
How should he describe this sense of incongruity?
It could not be described as machine-like. Rather, it was a little more….
"My apologies."
"…You don't need to apologize for something like that."
"Thank you for your consideration."
A constant tone, as if he knew what he was going to say next.
The clear voice, as if there were predetermined input words, was strangely easy on the ears.
"But I was surprised."
"About what?"
"It is not common for people not to be frightened by a talking portrait."
"...."
The calm voice and blunt face showed no emotion.
For someone who said they were surprised, his reaction was not much of one.
'He's unskilled at lying.'
Or perhaps he did not feel the need to lie skillfully.
Indeed, it did not seem like that grimly set face could pull off a flexible performance.
As he was thinking that, the portrait asked again.
"What is your name?"
"I am…."
Even if Yu Seong-un was a trivial human, the power held by a true name is dangerous anywhere.
'They say the most important thing in all contracts that bind souls in the world is each other's names.'
So this portrait, 'Jio's Portrait,' could make a strange contract upon hearing Yu Seong-un's name.
For bizarre beings from all cultures, a name was that important of a concept.
But he answered meekly.
"Yu Seong-un."
The 17 employees had never suffered any disadvantage from telling this portrait their names.
To suddenly do something bad to Yu Seong-un alone would not fit the pattern of regularity shown so far, so he could at least reveal this much.
The portrait still had a blunt face even after hearing his name.
Even though he was the one leading the conversation, the portrait did not seem to feel much emotion.
Would it be strange to think that was arrogant?
"I see, Mr. Yu Seong-un."
"...."
"You have a look on your face that says you have a question for me."
"That is true."
"Will you converse with me?"
He was invited to a conversation.
'It's the same path as the previous 17 people.'
Yu Seong-un felt a strange weight.
'The weight of the rules, I suppose.'
It was so dense that it was hard to even flail, but at the same time, it was not heavy enough for his feet to sink deep into mud.
This air and this sensation were like a massive whale adjusting the waves out of consideration for a mere human floating in the sea.
"...."
Yes.
This was 'consideration.'
"…Then I'd like to ask a question."
Having come this far, it was not like he could back down, so Yu Seong-un decided to have a conversation as the portrait suggested.
"By any chance, can you come out of that portrait?"
"Yes, I can."
"...."
Monsters hate humans.
He thought there would be some hesitation since he was asking about its information, but the answer was faster than he could have expected.
Perhaps his surprise at that part was obvious. 'Jio,' who was staring at Yu Seong-un without blinking, pointed it out.
"You have a surprised expression."
"I just… didn't think you would tell me so readily."
"There was no reason not to tell you."
"Why?"
"Because you asked."
"What if I asked with impure intentions?"
"That is a lie."
The portrait spoke in a low and soft, yet clear and firm voice.
"Mr. Yu Seong-un is a kind and polite person."
"…Me?"
"That is why I spoke to you as well."
"...."
"Was this a sufficient answer?"
Yu Seong-un decided to be cautious.
'This portrait is sensitive to good and evil.'
And though he did not know the criteria, it also possessed the ability to distinguish the good and evil of others.
It could classify a person it had just met without even having a conversation.
'In that case, if a person judged as evil were to speak to this portrait… would it simply ignore them?'
Or would it attack?
"...."
"Do you have a question?"
"Ah… right."
Yu Seong-un recalled the recent 'ghost commotion' and asked.
"The black cloak I witnessed yesterday was 'Jio,' you, correct?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"Then the 'ghost' who's been said to be wandering this gallery lately, wearing a jet-black cloak and handing out delicious gifts, seems to be you… is my thinking correct on this too?"
"...."
What could he be thinking? 'Jio' blinked twice and then murmured.
"A ghost, you say."
"…I'm sorry if that was unpleasant."
"No, a talking portrait is certainly worth being described as being possessed by a ghost."
The portrait continued in its characteristic blunt tone.
"However, I have never died."
"...."
"Still, the 'ghost' Mr. Yu Seong-un spoke of seems to be me."
"…Was there a reason for wandering the gallery?"
"I was curious about where I am right now."
His voice was very calm and low.
It was a voice from which one could hardly imagine any interest in something.
"The display of rare artworks drew my interest."
"...."
"I was curious about what kind of place this gallery is, I was curious about what kind of people work here, and I was curious about what kind of lives they lead, and what names and what tastes they have."
It was still a dry tone, but the answer itself, showing great interest in the human way of life, was very monster-like.
'No… it's not certain, but perhaps he might not be a monster.'
If that was the case, things would get more complicated.
"...."
"When one is alone, one tends to look for a conversation partner."
As if intending something, 'Jio's' jet-black eyes fell on Yu Seong-un.
It was an artificial shift of gaze, as if to let him know, 'I am looking at you.'
"This is even more so if it is a polite person like you."
"You seem to like polite people?"
"I judged that the employees who manage this gallery are more suitable for conversation than, at the very least, the bright red leader of this place."
"Leader… um, are you talking about Guild Master Bisabeol?"
"He is a talkative person."
The portrait's eyes narrowed slightly.
It was a faint change, difficult to notice, but what it meant was clear.
"He is so talkative, it is hard to even respond."
"...."
Ah, Guild Master.
'You got on his bad side.'
So that human couldn't have a conversation with him.
All the curators on basement floor B5 knew that Bisabeol was very interested in 'Jio's Portrait.'
And that he frequently spoke to 'Jio's Portrait,' saying it was a truly special portrait.
'But I was wondering why that human didn't say anything about this portrait….'
Even though he knew 'Jio's Portrait' could talk and move, he had never actually conversed with 'Jio.'
Because 'Jio,' who judged Bisabeol to be rude, deliberately did not respond to his conversation.
'He reaped what he sowed.'
I knew he'd suffer a loss living like that.
Honestly, I think that human deserve to suffer a loss, but anyway.
Having organized his thoughts, Yu Seong-un bowed his head politely.
"I apologize."
"...."
"I will apologize on behalf of our Guild Master."
His role was to manage the artworks here.
Among those artworks, there were many like 'Jio's Portrait' that possessed a sense of self.
There was nothing to be gained from getting on the bad side of 'Jio,' who was presumed to be a humanoid monster, by breaking his rules.
'Above all, he seems sensitive about politeness.'
Fortunately, the portrait's expression remained blunt.
A face that was neither pleased nor angry.
It was still somber and pale, but only stiff, showing no signs of displeasure.
As expected, the portrait spoke in a neat voice.
"It is alright."
"Our Guild Master is a bit of a peculiar person."
"He did not seem like a bad person. So it is alright."
"...."
Yu Seong-un made an additional mental note.
'If they are not an evil person, he does not become hostile even if they lack manners.'
Even while thinking that, he felt suffocated.
It was because he could not rashly gauge the opponent's abilities.
'Does he have an Appraisal Skill on a level to judge even Guild Master Bisabeol's good or evil…. In many ways, he's a monster that's hard to handle. An Appraisal Skill of that level would be hard to find anywhere in the world.'
No, in the first place, was it even right to define a being with such 'eyes' as a monster….
"...."
"...."
As a moment of silence fell, the portrait spoke again.
"Do you have a question?"
"…Your bluntness surprises me, Jio."
"I was merely observing etiquette."
"Etiquette, you say."
"If one is human, should they not observe etiquette?"
That very point is what makes you seem not human.
'Ordinary humans don't observe etiquette so meticulously.'
Rather, it felt excessively thorough, like monsters who know of human life imperfectly putting on an awkward imitation.
While Yu Seong-un was slightly fed up, the portrait continued the conversation on a different topic.
"This is the first time I have seen you, Mr. Yu Seong-un. Is that correct?"
"That is correct. Guild Master Bisabeol no longer has the time to manage your portrait and the previous curators were assigned to other works. So I came to take over the duties."
"I express my gratitude for managing the portrait neatly. I wanted to greet the previous individuals as well, but I was not ready at the time. I thank you once again, including for their share."
"Managing the artwork is a duty that those people and I must naturally perform, so there is no need for thanks. However, I will let them know that you were grateful."
But a question did arise.
"…Can you tell what the people outside are doing even when your eyes are closed? Were you continuously observing this side from within that portrait?"
To his question, 'Jio' answered with a blunt face that betrayed no intention.
"Since you all are in the frame, I have no choice but to watch."
"...."
"Moving pictures are interesting."
"…Is that so."
For some reason.
It was a little creepy.
'The pictures are not of himself, but the humans outside… is that what he means.'
Yu Seong-un himself could not pinpoint exactly what part was creepy.
It was just that, according to the portrait's words, 'Jio' sees everything outside the painting as a picture.
Even though to us, the picture is 'Jio's Portrait.'
To that picture, we are….
"...."
Pictures.
"Has that become a sufficient answer?"
"…Yes."
Indeed, this is a dangerous being.
"Probably."
Day 2, complete.
-x-X-x-
On the third day, after I confirmed the gallery was empty and closed my eyes, the man named Yu Seong-un went to see his superior.
I wasn't present for their conversation, of course, but I could feel the shift in the way he looked at me afterward.
From the echoes of his concern, I could piece together what must have been said.
He must have stood before his Guild Master with that same calm, analytical face he showed me.
"It is dangerous," he must have said.
"What might be dangerous?" the Guild Master, Bisabeol, would have asked.
"That portrait is dangerous."
I imagined him explaining his reasoning, his voice steady.
"It is unrelated to the goodwill the portrait individually holds for us humans. It is true that there are rare monsters who are favorable to humans, but it is also true that their goodwill has become a great poison to humans."
"Are you trying to say that Jio's Portrait is like the goodwill of those monsters?"
"No, it is more dangerous than that."
He would have reported what he believed he had confirmed about me.
"That portrait knows exactly what it is doing, how it is perceived, and what kind of influence its actions have. It is completely different from the monsters so far that have suffocated people by showering them with goodwill indiscriminately."
And then, the core of his fear.
"He perceives himself as a person."
He was right about that.
I would always try to interact with humans.
I felt no aversion to conversation.
"But at the same time, he does not see us as human."
"Then?"
"Jio has judged us to be pictures and he is appreciating us as such."
He had felt the nature of my soul, something I made no effort to hide.
He saw it not as a part of me, but as a disguise.
A thing of immense size pretending to be small.
He saw my claim of being human not as a simple fact, but as a lie or a desperate effort.
Because of this, he believed me to be a ticking clock.
"Furthermore, he is sensitive to good and evil and yet, we cannot tell where his standards come from. If 'Jio' concludes that someone is an evil person even though we judged them to be ordinary from our perspective… I cannot even imagine what the result would be."
"You really can't imagine it?"
"Yes, this time… it's difficult."
I could picture his sigh, the weariness of a researcher faced with a phenomenon that had no precedent.
No comparison, no reference material.
Just a talking portrait.
I could even hear him suggesting they send me away to the Hunter Association, a suggestion his talkative Guild Master would have immediately dismissed and so, Yu Seong-un's duty continued.
He would keep observing me, trying to understand what I liked at the request of his boss, who simply wanted to get a word in.
That was why he began appearing before me every day at 4:30 AM.
***
"Are you not lonely?"
When I opened my eyes on the fourth day, that was his question.
I blinked twice, considering it.
"I am not lonely."
The answer was simple and true.
He gave a small, polite laugh.
"I apologize if it was a rude question. But this is a place where no one comes and goes except for the employees who come to manage the artworks."
"...."
"I guessed that perhaps your occasional emergence from the portrait to look around was part of such feelings."
"I like places with no people. So it is alright," I told him. It was the truth.
"Do you perhaps feel uncomfortable talking?"
"That is not it. However…."
I tried to explain.
"I have already spoken too much, so I have always imagined a future where I do not have to speak."
"...."
"A quiet place where I don't have to talk too much, don't have to be too tied down, and don't have to worry too much… I always wanted a place like that. This place is suitable for such a wish of mine."
His eyes sharpened with analytical curiosity.
"…Were you, in the past, a person?"
"I am a person now as well."
"Ah, right. What I meant was… I was asking if you were an ordinary human who was not inside a picture. Since ordinary people are not usually contained in a frame."
"Yes, I was."
"I see."
He grew quiet, likely classifying me in his mind.
Comparing me to other beings who were once human.
He probably expected me to be full of turmoil and negative emotions from my past.
But all I felt was this quiet.
A pleasant peace.
To him, I imagined this stillness was unsettling.
Like a funeral.
Like looking at death itself.
"Um, then… are you not bored?" he asked, changing the subject.
"I am sometimes bored."
"How do you relieve such boredom? Do you have your own way?"
"I usually have a meal."
"...."
He looked surprised by that.
"…A meal?"
"Yes."
I answered in my usual tone.
"I enjoy eating."
"...."
I could see the thought cross his face: what does he eat?
He seemed to be reassessing me, his eyes noting my pale skin and still features, concluding that I did not look like someone who would find pleasure in food.
He was right, in a way.
It wasn't about pleasure as he understood it.
It was about the simple act itself.
"This may be a rude thing to say, but…."
"I can eat," I said, cutting off his unasked question.
"Yes, I'm sorry. I asked the obvious."
Of course, eating a picture was not obvious at all.
"May I ask in what way you have your meals?"
I saw no reason to hide it.
"I cook. I think of the food I want to eat, bring the right ingredients and prepare them, place a pan on the fire or put it in an oven… and finish cooking like that."
I added the final, simple truth.
"Because I am an ordinary human."
He remained silent, that very explanation seeming to convince him I was anything but.
So, I offered another method.
"There is also a way I can enjoy it because I am inside a portrait."
"Ah, how is that…?"
"It requires a little help, but Mr. Yu Seong-un can also give me pleasure."
"…What kind of pleasure are you referring to?"
He looked anxious for a moment, his mind likely jumping to dark rituals and sacrifices.
But I wanted none of that.
My request was simple.
I looked at him, my gaze as steady as the paint I was made of.
"Are you good at drawing?"
"…If it's to the extent of being able to depict an object, I can draw. Sometimes I have to draw objects or plants I've seen for the first time in my reports…."
"In that case, please draw an apple."
"...."
"It's not difficult, is it?"
He seemed taken aback.
"…On, on this portrait… you mean?"
"That is correct."
"…I understand."
He was not foolish enough to refuse.
I watched as he took out a hard case filled with art supplies.
"Do you always carry art supplies with you?" I asked, curious.
"I try to carry as diverse an array of items as possible. You never know what might happen in this gallery, so being prepared in various ways is good for my own well-being."
"I see."
"...."
Even though my reaction was calm, I could feel a tremor of fear from him.
He was likely wondering what I would have done if he had been unprepared.
The thought had not even occurred to me.
He took a deep breath and touched his brush to my canvas.
I felt the slight pressure, the strange sensation of being altered.
"I'm not that good at drawing."
"It does not matter."
"Umm…."
In a few moments, a bright red apple appeared in the corner of my world.
"…It's not that pretty of an apple," he said with an awkward laugh.
"Here, I've drawn the apple you wanted."
"I see."
"Can you eat it?"
"...."
In response, I reached out my hand toward the apple he had drawn.
"Thank you."
My painted hand moved, the fingers closing around the painted fruit.
It became solid under my touch.
"...."
I brought it to my lips.
Crunch.
"...."
"...."
The yellow flesh was crisp.
I took a bite and spoke.
"It is delicious."
"…Ah…."
"It is well-ripened, and the aroma is good. The size is a little small, but it is suitable for a snack."
"That…."
He was speechless.
"...."
"Is it fascinating?" I asked.
His eyes were wide, his heart beating a little faster.
He was a researcher, an observer of beings like me and he had just witnessed something entirely new.
"…It's amazing."
The pride and satisfaction he took in his work was plain to see.
"Honestly, yes, I was surprised…. I've never seen anything like this before."
"I understand."
"So you are now, eating the apple in the picture?"
I nodded.
"I am an ordinary human, but I am in the picture. Therefore, I too can be called a picture. In the same context, I can accomplish a great many things inside the picture."
"...."
"On days I don't feel like cooking, I draw a finished dish like this. It's convenient."
"…I see."
"Therefore, I can repay your kindness."
He had given me a gift.
It was only proper to give one in return.
I blinked twice.
"Then I will see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"I am not ready at the moment."
"…I understand."
"Thank you."
And with that, I closed my eyes for the day.
***
The next morning, when I opened my eyes, I willed a brush into my hand.
Then, I began to paint.
"...."
"...."
I drew a shape of deep red, like the apple from the day before.
A rounded triangle, glimmering with an inner, transparent light. I painted the way sunlight would shatter across its facets, filling it with warmth.
I made its color like pomegranate seeds, like fresh blood, so stark it would hurt the eyes to stare for too long.
I gave it life, sharpened its edges like a knife, and gave it a shadow to anchor it to reality.
"...."
"Here."
I spoke to the silent, watching man.
"It is a token of gratitude."
I pushed the jewel, red as a heart, with my finger.
It tipped over the edge of the frame.
Thud, and.
"...."
It fell into his waiting hand.
"...."
"It is yours."
"…This is…."
He stared at the gem, its weight real in his palm.
"What kind of jewel is this?"
"I do not know."
"...."
"But it must have been in the ground, deep enough to be hot."
A story for the jewel came to mind, so I told it to him.
"It might have been in a place hot enough to be with the planet's heart, and perhaps it embraced the heat, resembling my friend. Then, after a very long time, it was discovered by human hands and only then… would it have taken on a pretty shape."
I wondered if he understood whose story it was.
"…It's an interesting story."
"I would be glad if it sounded that way."
"Haha…."
A hollow, bewildered laugh escaped him.
"What did you draw this jewel with? Your brush clearly didn't have any paint on it…."
"...."
"This jewel looks real."
I did not answer that.
He asked another question instead.
"May I have this?"
"You gave me a gift."
His simple, clumsy drawing of an apple.
"This jewel is a token of gratitude for that."
He told me later that my words sounded like a demon's.
I did not understand why.
It was a simple, fair exchange.
But he was caught in a feeling of unreality, and it made him bold.
"You are right," he said.
"I see."
"And that sounds just like an answer given by a demon."
His researcher's curiosity had overwhelmed his caution.
"Why do you always answer in such simple language? You, Jio, well. You speak in a very simple and precise way that can satisfy another person's wishes."
"...."
"I know this is a rude question. But I have to ask. Are you able to do so because you have no human emotions? Or, did you choose to be that way?"
I simply looked at him, trying to process the question.
It made no sense.
Why would he assume a lack of emotion?
Why did he see a choice where there was none?
After a long moment, I blinked twice and gave him my answer.
"I do not understand what you are saying, Mr. Yu Seong-un. I did not use overly simple grammar, nor did I give an answer to satisfy a person's desires or wishes."
"...."
"I have always been this way."
My voice remained steady, but I felt a strange dissonance, as if his words were trying to pull me out from the quiet peace of my coffin-like frame back into a world that had never understood me.
"To the extent that I cannot see a reason to have to explain it, I have human emotions."
"...."
"It is not that I have no emotions, and likewise, whatever it is, it is not my choice. I was originally this kind of person."
Did I sound angry? Defensive? Frustrated?
Perhaps I felt all of those things.
Or perhaps I felt nothing at all, and he was just seeing what he wanted to see.
It was impossible to know what he was thinking.
"I suppose so, I know. I know you are an ordinary human," he said, his voice cautious now.
"...."
"You seem to feel loneliness or joy or something else… many emotions. However, you have a way of speaking that does not show emotion or personal desires. As if there is nothing to you…."
As if I was a service.
He didn't say the last part, but I knew he was thinking it.
This was getting tiring.
"...."
"...."
I felt I had to try one last time.
"I am an ordinary human."
I repeated the simple fact.
"I wanted to eat an apple, so I asked you to draw it for me, Mr. Yu Seong-un."
"Right."
"That was my personal wish. Since you drew me an apple, Mr. Yu Seong-un, I gave you a gift in return. We exchanged gifts and that is a natural courtesy between people."
"I see."
"I was merely observing etiquette."
"...."
"So I do not quite understand what you are saying."
I didn't know if he believed me. My voice gave nothing away.
"Do you know that your eyes are very black?" he asked suddenly.
"Quite a lot of people's eyes are black."
"That is true."
"Black eyes are common. Nothing special at all."
"...."
"Do not think of me as too special. It would be better not to."
It felt like I was a giant whale trying to explain to a human that I was small.
Did I know it was a contradiction?
Or did I genuinely not see the vastness he saw?
My face gave away nothing.
"…I will be careful," he finally said.
On the fifth day, our interactions were complete.
After he left, I did not open my eyes for a long time.
"...."
It was all too much.
He had tried to see complexity where there was only simplicity, and in doing so, he had exhausted me.
Had I made him run away?
Or had he made me?
***
"...."
Socializing after a long time is tiring.
"…Should I take a break."
Ultimate positive mindset: activated.
'Let's rest.'
And so, I returned to the life of an unemployed person.
"Tada."
That was the reason I stayed cooped up in the portrait for ten days.
-x-X-x-
I had no thoughts.
People would imagine all sorts of things because of my stiff expression, somber atmosphere, and overly polite way of speaking.
That I must have lost someone I loved, or that I had done dangerous things in the past….
A misunderstanding.
'What should I make today?'
I, Seo Jio, was simply a gluttonous potato.
"…Cheese fondue…."
A spring breeze blew gently over the bed.
I, who had been lazing about like a cat in my sleepiness, got up.
"Cheese fondue sounds good."
Today's content was fondue.
A pig does not hesitate in the face of food.
I went down to the ice storage and chose the cheese to use for this dish.
"How should I make it?"
Cheese fondue could be easily made by anyone as long as they had the ingredients.
Of course, some people with clumsy hands would argue with this, but I wasn't clumsy, so it didn't matter.
However, cheese fondue wasn't a dish that required such complex techniques, and as such, the recipes for cheese fondue were also varied.
"It would be good to have Brie cheese as the base."
Brie cheese was the most conventional choice among the ingredients used to make cheese fondue.
"Is this Brie cheese?"
The Brie cheese wrapped in white paper had a white mold spreading over its surface like silk.
It was as if a thick layer of sweet sugar powder had been sprinkled on the sticky surface of the cheese.
There was no name written on it, but when I smelled it and cut it in half, it was certainly Brie cheese.
"It's savory and good."
Brie cheese is a cheese that does not have a strong aroma.
It is mild and has a subtle mushroom and nutty aroma, making it perfect for fondue cheese.
It was a very good combination when eaten with bread or fruit.
"If I only put this in, it might get a bit boring."
The downside of Brie cheese was that it was rich and heavy if you ate a lot of it.
Brie cheese melted into a runny state shows a creamy quality that melts smoothly without elasticity and since the aroma is calm and the texture is as well, it had a side that one could easily get tired of.
"...."
I blinked and then muttered.
"I'd like it to be a bit salty."
I was craving a cheese that had a strong aroma, was salty, and had a sharp taste.
Since Brie cheese was on the savory side.
"Parmesan would be suitable."
Its official name is Parmigiano Reggiano.
'Parmesan cheese' is generally known to Koreans as a seasoning sprinkled on top of pizza.
However, this is a degraded version of Parmigiano cheese, and the two have almost nothing in common.
"Here it was."
I found the pre-portioned Parmesan cheese.
"It's a bit much to cut a whole wheel…."
This cheese is an extra-hard cheese that requires more than a year of aging.
This means it is very hard, but nevertheless, the grain within it is distinct.
If it is not cut along this grain, it shatters into pieces.
In that sense, the fact that it was pre-portioned was very welcome.
A whole wheel of Parmesan cheese is larger than a tire and also very expensive, so I had never portioned it myself.
'I'm glad I don't have to waste precious cheese.'
I put the cheese, cut into a suitable size, into the basket.
"...."
The aroma was already strong.
"Nice."
Parmesan cheese, which emits a sharp aroma, has a correspondingly diverse taste.
First of all, it is very salty.
Even if you eat a piece the size of your pinky nail, your tongue tingles and the aroma rushes to your head, and its flavor is very intense.
At the same time, a deep sweetness like honey gently moistens the tongue like a ripe peach, then gives the pleasure of disappearing without a trace.
'That's why it's delicious to eat raw, too.'
Unheated hard cheese retains a much more savory aroma.
For a cheese beginner, I would recommend eating it raw, and in that state, there exists a pinnacle of taste called crystals between the layers of Parmesan cheese.
"...."
I liked that small but crispy texture.
'It has a nutty aroma too.'
It would be overwhelming if I put in too much, but if added in a small amount, it is suitable for enhancing the flavor of the fondue.
"And…."
If I were to add one more.
"Gruyère."
Gruyère cheese would be suitable.
This cheese is a hard cheese like Parmesan, but it is a bit more flexible than Parmesan which is aged for a year, has a stronger salty taste than Brie cheese and is much sweeter.
'One of the interesting points is that it has a subtle walnut aroma.'
The fact that it had a deep nutty aroma was attractive in many ways.
This rich aroma would surely go well with the cheeses I had gathered so far.
"…Should I stop with the cheese here."
If I put in too much, the aroma or taste would become strange.
I went up to the kitchen on the first floor.
"Then now…."
Clatter.
I found a thick earthenware pot from the drawer.
"Let's start cooking."
The cooking method was simple.
First, prepare the ingredients you want to eat with the cheese.
Anything is good.
Cherry tomatoes, asparagus, sweet potatoes, potatoes, onions, broccoli, zucchini…. Besides these, things like soft bread, crispy croutons, or chewy ciabatta.
It was even good to eat with fruit.
'But I'll pass on this.'
Since it was for a meal and not a snack, I was not craving anything sweet and sour.
"Should I just stir-fry them roughly."
I put the ingredients, cut into bite-sized pieces, into a wok and heated them once, then I put all these ingredients into the furnace.
I was going to char the outside short and thick, with strong heat and then take them out.
The ingredients baked in the furnace would have a subtle smoky aroma.
It was worth preparing firewood with a good aroma in advance.
"This is ready."
Next is the cheese.
The cheese I brought is cut into small pieces.
All the cheese must melt at the same time so that it mixes well without separating, but if the chunks are too big, the melting times will differ, and the oil and fat layers will separate.
'When I first made it, I melted it whole, and the cheese oil formed a river. It was a disaster even thinking about it now.'
In the heated earthenware pot, I drizzled olive oil once and added a clove of garlic to release its aroma.
"And wine."
It is a cheat key that catches the pungent smell of cheese and enhances its flavor.
In my underground cellar, there were also wines that were only in bottles without labels.
Among them, I used the white wine with the cleanest taste and it blended well with the aroma of garlic and olive, creating a pleasant fragrance.
"...."
Squeeze.
I thought as I closed the wine stopper.
'I should try making alcohol sometime.'
Time was all I had, so a troublesome process was no big deal.
I resolved to try making everything from wine to distilled spirits, flower wine, and fruit wine.
An unemployed person has the right to waste time.
Around the time all the alcohol had evaporated, I brought the cheese I had cut.
"Put it all in…."
I put all the crumbly cheese on top of the earthenware pot heated over low heat.
"And after stirring."
When it melts moderately and the cheese oil rises to the top, that's when I add a little bit of the starch water I prepared in advance.
It plays the role of emulsifying the oil and fat layers of the cheese that separate no matter how well you melt it.
"A spoonful of liquor."
A liquor with a high alcohol content and a deep flavor, like whiskey or brandy, was good.
"...."
And so, the cheese fondue, which was soft like porridge or soup yet somehow chewy, was completed.
"Tada."
I liked it.
I brought the cheese and various ingredients and sat down at the table.
To keep the cheese in a constantly warm and runny state, a small candle is lit underneath.
'This part is a bit cumbersome.'
If the cheese is left cold, it returns to a hard state, so it has to be continuously heated like this.
Therefore, to eat cheese fondue, a fondue set is essential.
"Good thing I made it in advance."
Anyway, the meal began.
"First…."
I picked up the well-cooked asparagus first.
"...."
When I dipped it fully in the cheese and pulled it out, the cheese, softened with wine and starch, stretched out.
The asparagus, which had been scorched in the furnace, still maintained its deep green color.
The unique aroma of fresh vegetables and the soft and subtle aroma of asparagus itself rose up.
In particular, the fresh flavor of asparagus, which goes well with fat, was something to look forward to.
"Mm…."
Crunch.
The stalk was chewed with elasticity.
'Delicious.'
The sweet juice of the asparagus, flowing out like the juices of a well-grilled meat, contained a subtle bitterness.
To the extent that it didn't grate on the nerves, just like the astringent taste of citron tea, the bitterness of asparagus showed an excellent harmony with the other ingredients.
The surface that had been scorched once was like a thin, crumbling leaf.
The stalk just below it was heated in the pan and furnace, making it soft yet juicy and mushy, and below that, the still-vividly alive plant stem crunched as I chewed.
'It goes well with the cheese too.'
The creamy, soft Brie cheese provides the foundation.
It could have been boring, but the sharp aroma of the Parmesan caught it, and the deep walnut aroma of the Gruyère connected the gaps in between.
The delicate flavor of asparagus goes particularly well with fat.
I'm talking about things like cheese, fresh cream, and butter, and it matched perfectly without any sense of disharmony with this fondue, which had its aroma captured once with garlic.
Moreover, thanks to its juicy and crunchy texture, it was like eating well-ripened spring greens.
"...."
This is life.
"…A life where I feel sleepy even while eating… it can't get any more desirable than this."
As I ate the fondue that gently soothed my stomach while feeling the soft spring breeze coming in through the wide-open window, this was heaven right here.
"After I finish eating, I should go out and take a nap. Where should I try sleeping today."
The next thing I chose was ciabatta.
"It's well-baked."
Ciabatta was a bread famous for its fluffiness and chewiness.
The surface, lightly dusted with flour, had been swept with butter, giving it a flavor like a roux in a soup.
Thanks to being baked in the furnace, the outside was very crispy, and the side with a strong coating of butter boasted a crispy yet soft texture like a crouton in soup.
"Then now for the cheese…."
Dipping it deep.
"...."
Munch.
I put it in my mouth.
"...."
It was very good.
'This is it.'
I placed a well-cooked potato on top of the cheese-covered bread.
"Uuummm…."
As expected, fondue was good because there was the joy of eating it in combination.
Crispy and chewy bread, cheese with a diverse texture, and fluffy potatoes boasting a strong flavor from being cooked in butter.
From texture to taste, it was a composition with nothing to complain about.
'Cleanse my palate with a tomato once….'
Snap!
"…Ah, this is delicious too."
The cherry tomato, heated briefly and strongly so that the inside wouldn't overcook, was still crunchy with a subtly warm broth inside.
Its surface had a delicate snap like a well-cooked sausage.
"It would go well with the cheese too."
After eating it with cheese like that, I became happy with the diverse flavors.
"Should I try adding a crouton this time?"
I ate whatever I could grab.
Dipping a crispy crouton deep into the chewy cheese for one bite, soft broccoli that was well-cooked to not be too mushy with the cream-like spreading cheese for another, sweet and fluffy sweet potato with salty and savory cheese for another….
It was quite a large amount, enough to fill a basin, but I ate it all up quickly.
"...."
I was amazed at the miracle performed by my stomach.
At this rate, it couldn't be Noah's Ark, but it could probably be Jio's Ark.
"Did my capacity increase?"
I was certainly a big eater, but I didn't think it was this much before I came into the picture.
"...."
My ultimate positive mindset activated.
'It's fun, so it's fine.'
Tada.
My rationalization was successful.
Even after eating this much, my stomach didn't feel bloated.
For me, a gourmet and a big eater who truly finds joy in eating, this was a welcome event.
"These days, people even breathe fire from their mouths, so I'm pretty tame."
When people live, they can evolve and all that, can't they?
"Now I should grab some snacks and go out for a nap…."
I put well-dried Mangdung Fruit, Baibamunil tea leaves, and a glass bottle filled with warm water into a cleanly washed basket.
The Mangdung Fruit, with its deep golden color, had shrunk to the size of a raisin, becoming a useful snack.
'The ones I dried outside have become completely hard.
I should be able to make Mangdung Fruit medicine soon.'
I put on my black cloak.
'I want to try upgrading this later too.'
The cloak I made when I first woke up in the picture was still usable.
It was made to avoid being spotted by any scary beasts, and also to prevent my body from being scraped by poisonous plants or my clothes from getting worn out.
For something I had clumsily sewn together from the cloth in the cabin, it was decent.
'It's light, thick, and well-ventilated.'
My body doesn't get very hot or cold, but I couldn't help my back from hurting when I lay on the bare ground.
In such a situation, the cloak would serve as a pretty good blanket.
After adjusting my clothes, I headed to the spring.
As I walked slowly, I soon arrived at the spring, which was still beautiful, quiet, and yet diverse with the murmuring sounds of all kinds of creatures.
So what does that mean?
"...."
Time to sleep.
"Nice."
I was sleepy.
After chewing on some chewier dried Mangdung Fruit, I fell asleep without even taking a single sip of tea.
The cloak, large enough to cover my whole body, became an excellent blanket as expected.
"...."
Hweee― Hweee―….
Soon, upon my sleeping form, butterflies resembling sunlight landed.
"Peep."
"Flutt-rr…."
"K-heung."
Five or six round-bodied rabbits.
A deer with long legs.
Plump cats resembling leopard cats and a few small and large birds that had been chirping.
They gathered together like that and fell into a deep sleep.
"...."
"...."
It was a peaceful nap time.
-x-X-x-
Late evening.
The attic, the top floor of the cabin.
Soft lighting.
The flowing scent of the forest.
A black wooden desk placed in front of a round window.
There, I was organizing the rules I had discovered.
"So…."
I continued.
"You could say it's 1:1."
I could do anything in this picture.
I hadn't really tried 'anything and everything,' but that's what it felt like.
In a world where I could even create a warm corpse, I had to assume there was nothing impossible for me.
'But the story changes when reality gets involved.'
Asking Yu Seong-un to draw an apple was also part of the process to confirm this.
'A picture I draw or a picture someone else draws is the same picture from my perspective, so I can enjoy it without any issue, but the moment it's taken outside, it becomes reality. I thought it would be too much if there were no restrictions at all….'
The suspicion started from there.
"I'm glad Mr. Yu Seong-un is kind."
I was touched that he readily agreed when I suddenly asked him to draw an apple.
"He's a very mature person, playing along well even when a portrait says nonsensical things."
Thus, thanks to the kind consideration of the manager and the trials of the past few days, I was able to grasp my situation.
If I go outside the picture, my form disappears from within it and the frame becomes a simple landscape painting.
If I want to give a gift to someone outside the picture, I must receive something from that person.
For the most part, it was a 1:1 rule of give and take.
"...."
Of course, the snacks I had handed out to the 17 employees I met before were just a gesture of goodwill.
'Everyone was so scared, so I thought giving them snacks might lighten the mood.'
As a result, the mood did lighten.
It changed from fear to bewilderment, I should say.
Yes, I suppose even I would be flustered if a jet-black lump popped out of a picture and suddenly handed me a cookie.
'It's also true that those people helped me.'
In conclusion, I was just being polite.
My grandmother used to say that if I received something from someone or if I had something to apologize for, I should give them a physical object along with elegant words that would captivate them. She said that was the basic etiquette of human life.
'She said that thanks and apologies of only words are corpses.'
Speaking beautifully is a given, and she told me to give a gift, no matter how small, whether I could afford it or not.
For me, Seo Jio, whose facial muscles had degenerated to be worse than a pony's, this was advice that became my flesh and blood.
Therefore, the good potato Seo Jio was still faithfully following the words of his life mentor, his grandmother, even at the age of 29.
If not for that, I would not have been able to become a teacher loved by students.
Anyway, so.
"I can't just receive help."
That was my ironclad rule.
"In that sense, I have to say the rules of this world suit me quite well. It might be a result that reflects my tendencies, like the animals of the forest."
I liked it.
"For me to transfer something to reality while I am a picture, I must also receive something."
I could do quite a lot of things freely.
It was a given within this picture where I enjoyed almost the authority of a creator and I could also act outside in reality without being bound by separate rules.
'I can even create a passage with a picture to go to other floors without taking the elevator.'
However, when I was in a picture and the other side was in reality, I could not break this 1:1 rule.
This was a fact I learned while conversing with the employee who manages the portrait, Yu Seong-un.
"When I asked him to draw an apple, a system explanation appeared."
It was an explanation telling me to give a gift in return, and there was even a time limit.
'Was it about a week?'
I'm still not sure what problem would arise if I don't give something in return to the other person within a week.
But it didn't seem like anything good would happen, so I gave Yu Seong-un a gift the very next day.
"...."
I rolled the trinkets next to the desk with my finger.
A clattering sound was made as they hit the wooden desk.
"Jewels…."
Among them were also jewels of various colors.
"I didn't know I could make these either."
I like various painting styles.
They say that a proper artist has their own worldview, but since I was just a mere teacher and not such an artist, I drew in various styles and so, I, Seo Jio, was also skilled in hyperrealism.
The jewels he was touching now were created in such a way.
"Making paints with these made it easier to draw the jewel I gave to Mr. Yu Seong-un, too."
A feeling as if the paint, the picture, the result itself was a living creature.
"...."
It was a feeling of life dwelling in something that clearly could not breathe.
"This is a specialness that goes very well with this amazing potato who has no limits to his thoughts…."
I had never felt such freedom, as if I had thrown off even my underwear, at the age of 29, but anyway, it was good that there were many things I could do.
As a result, it seemed I had evolved into a potato boasting even more diverse charms.
Having finished organizing to some extent, I continued my thoughts, which were no different from an unemployed person's.
'…Let's sleep outside tonight. It'll feel good to sleep while looking at the stars. What should I make for breakfast tomorrow? Just roasting potatoes and dipping them in salt would be delicious, right? And if I get bored, it would be fine to do some farming. If I ask Mr. Yu Seong-un….'
The weather is good, so the crops will grow well.
It will feel refreshing to find seedlings I like and farm them.
I'll have meals with the crops grown that way, and I should also give a gift to Mr. Yu Seong-un who is outside the picture.
I also had the thought of wanting to bring and raise honeybees if there were any somewhere.
"Let's wander around a lot."
Then I'll come back to the cabin and draw.
If I draw….
"...."
I, who was half-dozing in the languid spring air, quietly opened my eyes.
"I need a pet."
The scale has gotten a bit bigger, but isn't this also country life?
"Having a pet in a house with a yard is like having soju with pork belly. And I am a healthy son of the Republic of Korea who drinks soju with pork belly…. Therefore, the conclusion is that I need a new family member."
The creatures of this forest are favorable to me, but perhaps because the basic wariness of wild animals remains, I could not touch them easily.
'I wanted to knead them like sticky rice cakes, but I was firmly rejected.'
And I, a gentleman myself, did not molest a rabbit that didn't want it.
The friends of the forest were just wild animals that approached me easily and left just as easily. Becoming friends with them would surely be a joyful thing, but I had other methods.
"If I draw a picture…."
I cannot create humans, nor do I have any intention to.
For humans, taking responsibility for this one life was already enough.
But an animal?
"…Can I make one?"
I headed to the workshop on the second floor.
***
Everything I had drawn until now were all objects.
"They had no ego."
I had drawn fruits, vegetables, food, plates, furniture, and many others, but they were not living, breathing beings.
Separate from the life force I vaguely felt from them.
"...."
I was sitting in front of a canvas.
"…Will it work?"
I had failed with humans, but a small animal, would it be possible?
"…There are no other people here, but there are other animals…."
It seemed possible.
"...."
I got up from the chair and approached the small drawers that filled the wall.
It had the form of a medicine cabinet that one might see in an old oriental medicine clinic.
Their number was countless, but I knew what was where.
"…Here, surely…."
Click.
I opened one drawer.
"There it is."
There was a blue and transparent jewel.
I do not even know what the exact identity of this jewel is.
But the jewel was cool.
It was refreshing rather than cold and it was hard to the touch, but its inside swayed fluidly as if water were flowing.
"...."
That which sparkled and flowed within one form was a liquid in a solid state and it was no different from a living creature that clumps together and breathes.
"Let's use this."
Besides this, I, Seo Jio, brought out a few more jewels, dried leaves, and minerals.
I break the jewel with an awl and a hammer.
The leaves, which hold a vivid color despite being well-dried, and the minerals, which hold various colors, are all ground into powder.
That, which was made into a fine powder like flour, was born as paint in my hands.
"...."
I give it substance with the sap of a tree found in the forest.
"...."
And I give it gradations there, to find a suitable viscosity.
"...."
The finely ground paint on the glass plate, where the color is clearly visible, glowed faintly like a firefly.
'…Pale like the Milky Way, but….'
It gave an equally cool feeling.
"Done."
I began to draw.
This forest had no lake.
It was perhaps a natural thing, but I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
I had wished for those things—a small pond, a grand lake or a vast sea, endlessly transparent—to give off the scent of water.
Recalling the cool breeze that would blow from a vast pool of water, I moved my brush.
"...."
A round body.
A small head, large wings.
The beak will only sing songs, so it doesn't need to be that big.
They would build a house where water exists, and that house itself would become them.
"...."
A bird that is water itself.
"...."
What kind of bird would that be?
"…They seem like they would flock together."
They will live in groups.
They can stay anywhere there is water and even where there is no water, they can create a pond, a lake, a sea at any time.
They, who embrace life and breathe, are transparent water and at the same time, birds that create a cool breeze.
"Their colors will each be different."
Because water is transparent, they, who have egos, will think.
'I want to have a color to express myself.'
They will be cute friends.
To decorate their transparent selves, they put all sorts of treasures into their bodies.
Just as all birds preserve their feathers, they will choose treasures that suit their bodies with their small beaks and put them inside their transparent bodies to adorn themselves.
It could be a flower.
It could be a jewel, it could be a fruit hanging from a tree, or leftover food from a person.
Perhaps they might even hold a very old relic or a small fish.
"Everything…."
It is up to you.
You who are water, and a bird, could do anything freely.
It's okay to fall asleep in a flowing stream and it's okay to fly freely in the vast sky.
They had freedom.
"...."
I drew a very small bird.
The body is round, the wings are just the size of that torso, the tail feathers are long and the beak is short.
Small in stature, they can hide anywhere and know that they themselves are water.
Water with life.
"...."
When jewels, flowers and fruits enter that transparent body and shine in various ways….
It was beautiful.
"...."
When I carefully tapped the bird's beak with my fingertip.
"Ah."
—Flutter!
"...."
A bird, holding its own treasure in its body, sat on my shoulder.
"…Hello."
Rustle.
"Nice to meet you."
Rustle, rustle!
"Yes, me too."
Instead of a cry, the bird rustled, making a sound with the flower inside its body.
It was a quiet but noisy friend.
"You were a chatterbox."
The flower petals trapped in the small, transparent body made a faint noise and cried out playfully.
"Amazing."
Before I knew it, my room was filled with transparent, sparkling birds.
They hovered around me for a moment, then flew out in a rush through the open window.
The wind created by the flapping wings of the living water droplets was greater than imagined.
The picturesque scene, like watching cherry blossom petals scatter in a clear spring breeze, was truly beautiful.
"...."
After staring blankly for a moment, I soon moved my feet and stood on the terrace.
"…Ah."
They're there.
"They didn't go far."
They had formed a small pond next to my cabin.
I rested my chin on the terrace railing and leaned my body against it.
"Good creatures."
The pond, or lake, that wound its way long around the cabin, was flowing gently.
Beneath it, countless 'treasures' were laid out like sand on a beach or pebbles by a river.
The lake, with a host of flowers, jewels and fruits sunk in it, sparkled enchantingly in the moonlight.
They would become one and flow gently, then suddenly pop! up to the surface and look around. Then they would hide inside again and form a pond with their friends.
"...."
I closed my eyes.
When the sparkling water, moving here and there with life, disappeared from my sight, I could soon hear the sound of their breathing.
Instead of chirping cries, I heard the faint noise of jewels clattering, flower petals brushing and small stones or sand rustling.
That was how those friends conversed and cried.
It was just like the sound of insects in midsummer….
"…I should sleep."
I grabbed only a pillow and went outside the cabin.
Then I lay down between the cabin and the pond.
"...."
Rustle—.
As I lay down to sleep, I heard the sound of animals approaching.
'For creatures that all ran away when I tried to touch them, they're approaching pretty quickly, aren't they?'
The birds that had been tilting their heads on the tree branches flew down with a flutter and sat on my chest.
The deer that had been sniffing at the shallow, wide pond also moved its long legs and came next to me.
The squirrels that had been flinching among the bushes dropped acorns or small fruits into the pond and then gathered by my side.
"...."
At that sight, I muttered.
"…A toll?"
Is it a tollgate fee?
Anyway, both the squirrels and the birds of the pond seemed satisfied.
'Then that's fine.'
Isn't it peaceful, anyway?
If the friends I created were not beings that deserved to be ostracized, if they could blend and harmonize with the existing ones as much as they wanted, then I was more than satisfied with just that.
Around that point, I thought.
"...."
That it would be fun to decorate this portrait.