"I judged it to be a matter of resolution."
"…Resolution?"
Surprisingly, the portrait easily answered Yu Seong-un's question.
"When I go outside, it's a case of a painting becoming reality."
"That's right."
"In that case, wouldn't there be a difference in the domain of what a human who sees that can perceive?"
Jio, who had opened his eyes for the first time in quite a while, continued speaking with an unreserved attitude.
"I have never seen a mirror outside the painting, so I wouldn't know for sure, but most of the staff here, even when seeing me directly and conversing, seemed dazed as if they were facing the unknown. If the fear only deepens despite having exchanged names and information…."
"Are you thinking there might have been a problem in the process of perception?"
"That is correct."
He's good with metaphors.
'To think the level of one's soul could be expressed this way, he would have been quite a good teacher.'
Unaware that Jio was speaking a truthful speculation without a hint of falsehood, Yu Seong-un considered this to be merely the most plausible metaphor the portrait could explain.
The idea of resolution was quite understandable.
'Come to think of it, has Jio been exchanging names with everyone he meets for the first time?'
A question suddenly came to mind and Yu Seong-un asked.
"Do you consider exchanging names to be important?"
"Intimacy can be increased by exchanging names. I judged that it would be so."
"Uh…."
To increase intimacy.
Yu Seong-un asked back with a slightly flustered look.
"Have you been deliberately exchanging names to feel more intimacy?"
"That is also a matter of courtesy as a human being. If you wish to know the other person, you must first introduce yourself."
"I see."
He seemed unaware that such an act could be even more frightening.
'…For a being whose soul is so immense that perception becomes problematic even when looking right at it to ask for a name, it would be truly difficult to feel any intimacy from that.'
To a spiritual being, a true name always becomes an item of trade.
Unless one was from a very rural area or an elder—no, even such people knew the dangers of exchanging true names.
'Besides, the all-black Jio looks like a grim reaper, which would also raise one's guard.'
Of course, it was a rule that applied between humans.
In reality, exchanging names was a useful technique when drawing out information from others.
A slight bit of trust could be built just by sharing names.
In that sense, it was something he felt every time, but.
'…Does Jio really think of himself as a human?'
It was a point to be cautious about.
'If the natural respect and consideration he currently shows, which are based on human standards, come from such a delusion, then I must maintain things so that Jio can continue to think of himself as human, if possible.'
Otherwise, there was no telling what kind of disaster might occur.
"Hmm… right."
If he thought of himself as human, it was easier to ask about various things.
"Then what is your age?"
"I am 29 years old."
"...."
But this was a bit unexpected.
"…29 years old?"
"Yes."
"You're young."
"I have often been told that I look old for my age, but that is a hurtful reaction."
"Ah, no, it's not that…."
It was funny for Yu Seong-un himself to have asked, thinking a talking portrait would have an age, but he hadn't thought that the portrait, which was so overwhelming that one couldn't even meet its gaze, would be less than thirty years old.
'Is this also his own delusion?'
If Jio perceived himself as an ordinary 29-year-old human, it was a statement that could certainly be made.
Regardless of how long this portrait had actually existed.
Yu Seong-un smiled awkwardly.
"I really didn't expect you to be younger than me."
"I am curious about your age, Mr. Yu Seong-un. Could you please tell me?"
"I'm 33 years old."
"I thought you would be in your 20s."
"That's a very nice thing to say."
"You look young for your age."
The portrait added in its characteristic stoic tone.
"In that case, it would be alright for you to speak comfortably."
"Ah… is that really okay?"
"I believe I have never requested that you must use formal language."
"That's true, but."
He had deliberately spoken formally because it seemed to value etiquette, but it seemed it didn't particularly care about that part.
Perhaps it placed more weight on polite actions than on fancy words.
'Anyway, it seems it doesn't dislike me.'
It wouldn't tell someone it found unpleasant or was wary of to drop the formalities.
"Then I'll speak a bit more comfortably."
"As you wish."
"It feels awkward trying to be casual after speaking formally all this time."
"For someone who says that, you are speaking quite naturally."
"Ah, well… that's because I'm originally used to speaking informally…."
He had gotten used to the hierarchical life while working as a curator or researcher, but in truth, back when he was a Gardener, he had been a wanderer through and through.
Even so, he wasn't so much of a ruffian as to ignore all etiquette, but in all honesty, speaking informally was more comfortable.
"More importantly, who on earth told you that you look old?"
"It was something I heard often."
"You don't particularly look old. Are you sure someone wasn't just slandering you?"
"There were people who wouldn't believe me when I said I was in my 20s…."
"Ah, that I can understand."
Yu Seong-un was convinced.
"You have a heavy aura about you. You don't seem like you're in your 20s."
"That is also something I used to hear often."
"Then it's certain. It was probably because you don't have the air of a young man."
Whether this portrait was once a human who became a painting or just a painting with human memories, if people said 'you don't seem your age,' it was probably because of its aura.
"Besides, before we talk about looking old or whatever, you're just handsome."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"When you're that handsome, the sense of maturity you give off doesn't matter at all."
His smooth skin, which looked like fine white powder would rub off, was like porcelain and his facial features within it were sharp yet distinct, giving a strong impression.
His expression, which looked both angry and simply placid, also suited his stoicism well.
"You must have been popular."
"I have no experience in romantic relationships."
"...."
He had never expected to hear this kind of story from a portrait.
"…None? With that face?"
"I have also never been confessed to."
"Have you ever confessed?"
"I wasn't interested, so I did not."
"I think I know what the situation was."
Yu Seong-un laughed in vain.
It was the same context as before.
Either his aura was too heavy, so people couldn't confess even if they had feelings, or they assumed he already had a partner with that face and backed off.
'…Seeing him say these things, was he really once a human who became a portrait?'
Considering his remarks seemed to indicate experience with social life.
"Well…."
But still, it probably wasn't the time to ask about such things.
'I did make him run away last time.'
Yu Seong-un decided to change the subject.
"More importantly, you don't seem to come outside much these days?"
"Are we not conversing right now."
"Not like that, there was a time when you really came outside."
Thanks to that, a grim rumor was still circulating among the curators.
Because Bisabeol had ordered a gag on the matter, Yu Seong-un couldn't explain the reality of the rumor either.
"Back then, it seemed like you were about to leave the gallery."
"I apologize if I caused a misunderstanding, but even then I had no intention of leaving."
"That's surprising. Your range of activity kept expanding, so I thought you wanted to go outside the gallery."
"I was simply curious about how far the place I was in extended."
"So now that you've checked all the way to the first floor, there's no need to go out?"
"There's that, and…."
The portrait looked down at Yu Seong-un.
"I am originally the type to refrain from active adventures in crowded places and I am restraining myself as much as possible because I thought it would trouble all of you."
"…Wow, that's a reason I really didn't expect. So that's why you haven't been coming out? That's an overly considerate judgment."
He wished that other monsters or Ego Weapons would see this side of Jio and learn from it.
'I never thought I'd receive such consideration from a non-human. If I report this to the academy, all hell will break loose.'
Should he call it strange, or amazing?
It was a portrait whose true identity was still not properly understood, but as a Gardener, he was thankful for the good fortune of meeting such a special being.
Though all this consideration was probably possible because it thought of itself as human….
"Then will you not tell me your story now, Mr. Yu Seong-un?"
"…My story?"
"It seems that until now, we have only talked about me."
"Ah, that's right."
Yu Seong-un was convinced.
'Could this also be considered a 1:1 rule?'
It was a portrait that really liked fairness.
Well, he had been prying into the portrait's story all this time, so this was a natural flow, regardless of any rules.
"Where should I start…."
Yu Seong-un blinked and chose a topic.
"…First of all, I'm a curator. I'm in charge of maintaining and managing this gallery of the guild master, Bisabeol, and there are many other curators here besides me."
"If it is a gallery, do you also sell the works?"
"Sometimes. This gallery is a place where the world's most precious and dangerous things are collected, so sometimes there are people who want to buy the works here for the purpose of subjugation or research."
Yu Seong-un would deal with such clients and explain the works to them.
"Therefore, any work that no curator can explain is designated as not for sale without exception. Even though it's a gallery that collects only the most dangerous things in the world, if a customer buys it and gets harmed, the responsibility inevitably falls back on us."
"Do you not feign ignorance?"
"Even if we wanted to pretend not to know, we can't. It can lead not just to simple legal battles but also to armed conflicts, making things twice as complicated. Even if we get a signature in advance saying 'we have notified you of the danger and the loss is your fault'… we can't quell all the customers' complaints."
Moreover, if things went wrong, direct retaliation could be inflicted on curators, who were not very proficient in combat as Hunters.
In fact, at other companies, assassins were hired and several curators had been killed.
"The guild master here is terribly fond of his employees, so it's an impossible scenario, but curators elsewhere are frequently retaliated against."
"Does the company there not provide any countermeasures?"
"Why would they bother? There are plenty of people who want to work. The cost of hiring someone new is cheaper than the cost of protecting an existing employee, so most just leave it be."
"That is cold."
"That's how the world is."
From the perspective of a monster that seemed to like good things, it might be disillusioning, but in the world of humans, it wasn't a big deal.
"People are already dying outside the cities. There's no manpower to protect them, monsters keep crawling out… and the countryside, without proper infrastructure, is almost nature itself."
"...."
"The level of civilization between the city and the countryside differs by about a century. Well, some people say they prefer the countryside because they don't have to deal with all the petty troubles and oppression."
The portrait said stoically.
"It is tiring."
"Did I talk too much?"
"I meant that I prefer being inside the painting."
"I agree with you there."
He didn't know what it was like inside that painting, but it seemed much more peaceful than this world where one had to live dirtily and pettily.
Soon after, the portrait asked.
"In that case, have you been working as a curator continuously, Mr. Yu Seong-un?"
"Ah… that's, no. I was only hired a few years ago."
"If it is not rude, could you tell me what you did before?"
"...."
Is it okay to talk about this?
After pondering for a moment, Yu Seong-un readily confessed.
"I used to be a researcher."
"That is an unexpected answer."
"And before that, I was a Gardener. In fact, I'm still a Gardener."
"A gardener who manages a garden overgrown with grass and flowers?"
"No, we manage the Source."
The Source existed in this world.
"I'm not sure how much you know, but there are things called dungeons on Earth. They are lairs of monsters created with various themes…."
"...."
"Even though they are clearly different dimensions, sometimes the same vegetation is found in separate dungeons. We call them the 'Children of the Source'."
The same type of plant is found in a dungeon full of fire, and in a dungeon made of caves.
Such things happened in completely unrelated dungeons, and some researchers said it was possible because they were plants derived from the Source.
"Could you explain the Source to me?"
"We don't know the details either."
But the Source was that kind of existence.
The very bottom of all dimensions, the most fundamental concept.
"If you compare it to a tree, the dungeon is the fruit, and the monsters inside are the seeds. The Source is the root of the tree."
"...."
"In other words, we suspect… that the power of the Source might be what creates the dungeons."
"Thank you for telling me such a fascinating story."
"Though I find you fascinating as well."
Yu Seong-un, who had laughed carefreely, continued.
"Gardeners analyze, manage, and share the events that arise from the Source. We're similar to the researchers who analyze the names and powers of new monsters when they appear. We're also similar to the geography Hunters who travel through dungeons and redraw maps."
"It doesn't seem related, so why is it called a Gardener?"
"Hmm, well."
Yu Seong-un blinked his blue-hued eyes.
They soon took on a slightly brighter color.
"Part of it is because we see the Source as a single garden."
"...."
"…And because we are actually managing a 'Garden'."
The portrait asked.
"A garden."
"Yes, a Garden."
"Is it different from the Source?"
"You could say it's a part of the Source."
Yu Seong-un answered faithfully.
"If you were to call a single person the Source, then the Garden we speak of is a part of that person, like their blood vessels, fingernails, heart, or eyes."
"...."
"It is immensely vast and numerous. A very small number of Gardeners with high aptitude are put in charge of one such Garden each, and that's quite a difficult job…."
Yu Seong-un laughed like a sigh.
"Many end up dead. It's a job where it's hard to afford to be leisurely, one way or another."
"Is it a job that someone must do?"
"In the first place, once you're chosen by the Source, you have to do the work and if you neglect that work, the difficulty of various dungeons skyrockets."
"That is frightening."
"…It doesn't feel real hearing you say it's frightening…."
Yu Seong-un, who scratched his ear at what sounded like an absurd statement, continued.
"I'm still a Gardener. Becoming a Gardener isn't something an individual can choose to do, so even though I'm working as a curator now, I can't cast off the title of Gardener."
"Is it difficult?"
"A little?"
Yu Seong-un shrugged.
"But it's manageable."
When he closed his eyes, he could see a vast, snowy mountain.
He could see a glacier. Its magnificence was captivating.
"Having my own Garden is pretty neat."
"...."
Soon after, the portrait replied.
"I understand."
"You do?"
"I am the same."
"I see."
The conversation of that day ended there.
He didn't know what it was like for the portrait, but at least for the Gardener, it was quite an enjoyable time.
-x-X-x-
"Well, I'll be."
An exclamation that slipped out, with laughter suppressed as if to feign composure.
Bisabeol asked.
"He said he wasn't coming out because he thought people would be afraid?"
"He didn't say it exactly like that, but if you were to summarize it, it wouldn't be wrong."
Yu Seong-un nodded.
"It seemed he understood that a problem would arise if a being with a high level of soul like himself encountered a defenseless person. Though I still wonder what kind of harmony it is for him to insist he is an ordinary human despite that…."
At that, Bisabeol's eyes curved thinly like a snake's as he spoke.
"While we cannot truly rule out the possibility that he is a human-type monster in the form of a portrait, it is also clear that he cannot be seen as a simple monster. He does not hate humans at all."
"...."
"If he is a being that even Curator Yu Seong-un cannot be certain about, he is likely someone related to the Source and seeing as you haven't officially submitted a report yet, he must be a type of being you've never seen before."
"Yes, for now."
It was rare for there to be a being of the Source that Yu Seong-un, a Gardener, did not know.
'The monsters in the dungeon are also beings born from the vein of the Source, but in their trickiness, they are on a different level from the Children of the Source. If Jio is a type of Child of the Source I've never seen before, the story becomes much more complicated.'
The so-called 'Children of the Source' could be found identically in all dungeons.
They could not be resolved by simple subjugation like common monsters.
Therefore, vast knowledge and the ability to deal with them were necessary, and Yu Seong-un was a veteran who had worked as a Gardener since he was 11 years old.
'Jio's Portrait', being unknown to such a Yu Seong-un, was a clear object of caution.
"In any case, even if we assume he is a 'Child of the Source', he is certainly an exceptional being."
If there was one commonality between monsters and the Children of the Source, it was that they did not know how fragile Earthlings were.
Even if they did know, monsters hated humans and the Children of the Source were indifferent to them.
Either way, it was bound to be harmful to humans.
"A case this friendly towards humans is rare."
"I see the Association would indeed covet him."
"I asked this last time, but are you going to hand him over?"
"I have no intention of doing so."
Bisabeol's possessiveness was considerable, so he never left his things in the hands of others, even if it was just for a brief inspection.
Unless it was a clean transaction, he would not handle things in such a half-hearted manner.
"It seems Curator Yu Seong-un is managing him well, so is there any reason to hand him over to the Association's research lab?"
"If Jio is a Child of the Source, he could harm people without any sense of guilt. He himself might claim he was just acting according to his own rules… but you don't know what a great disaster that could be for humans."
An investigation was necessary.
"At the current level, all I can grasp is what the portrait tells me. I have no way of knowing what exact skills he uses, how great the level of his soul is, or what role he plays in the Source."
"I am not a person who wishes for such things."
"...."
"Do you remember the tasks I requested when I hired you, Mr. Yu Seong-un?"
Yu Seong-un answered like a sigh.
"Analysis, maintenance, and management of the gallery's works."
"Correct."
"But I am no longer the research team leader of the Association. There is no place that can analyze 'Jio's Portrait' as well."
"What a disappointing thing to say. As you know, Curator Yu Seong-un, I do not wish to possess a weapon."
"Yes, that's right."
"I want a work of art."
Bisabeol's eyes curved into a thin smile.
The natural arrogance of one accustomed to looking down on others from birth seeped out.
"That's why I established this guild, this company. I have not a shred of pride as a Hunter, though perhaps as an artist."
"...."
"No collector expects Van Gogh's self-portrait to ward off some evil spirit or grant them good dreams. No one is interested in its function. They are simply curious about the story contained in this painting, and I just want to protect that story completely with my own hands."
"It could become truly dangerous. He is the only being that has escaped the Guild Master's Appraisal Skill and even if he is considerate and respectful of humans, his level is too high. Even if I don't feel a divinity, he is probably on the level of a god served by a priest. Just because the portrait is careful doesn't mean humans can be at ease."
"Have you seen those eyes?"
"...."
It was out of the blue.
"…Excuse me?"
"Have you seen those eyes, Mr. Yu Seong-un?"
"…Are you talking about the portrait's eyes?"
"Oh my, it seems you haven't."
"No, it's not that I haven't."
"Then tell me."
Bisabeol waved his hand elegantly.
Even the gesture urging him to spill his answer was tinged with the refinement of a high-ranking person.
"How were they?"
"...."
Yu Seong-un's deliberation was not long.
"…Overwhelming."
Fear.
Awe and revulsion, anger and sorrow, joy and ecstasy, despair, loneliness and dizziness.
Towards a being so immense that it was impossible to fully perceive in a single moment….
"…I don't quite know how to explain it. I have an appraisal Skill myself, but even without using it, the level of his soul was so vivid that I couldn't grasp it objectively."
It was so overwhelming that it couldn't be expressed with a cliché word like the cosmos.
It felt as if I was directly touching a place that was visible yet unseen.
"It seemed to be black, but it also looked white. It was so dark that it felt bright, and while the pupil and iris seemed indistinguishable, if you looked inside… you could see a dense path."
There was rainwater in it.
There were streams of water, a brook and an aquifer.
It was dense like that of a tree and also delicate like human blood vessels.
It was also so vast and diverse that it was too immense for a human to comprehend.
It was enough to make one feel as if they had peeked at something a human should not have.
Such a colossal thing was inside those narrow pupils.
"It reminded me of the saying that the eyes are the windows to the soul."
"A decent impression. Not bad."
"The way you say that makes it seem like you are unsatisfied with my impression."
"It can't be helped."
Bisabeol smiled as if appreciating the mistake of a very immature child.
Yu Seong-un was suddenly reminded of his actual age.
He was old enough to teach Yu Seong-un.
"I told you to look at the eyes, but didn't you just come back after appreciating a work of art? Before our respective professions and tastes, we are humans capable of conversation."
"...."
"If Jio has a consciousness, it means that he too has eyes that can communicate with people."
He asked again.
"Have you ever seen his eyes?"
"…In the sense that you just described, no."
"Have you ever thought about what emotions the person named Jio is feeling and with what kind of gaze he is looking at you, Mr. Yu Seong-un, instead of the level of his soul and the torrent within his pupils?"
"No, I have not."
Who could think of such a thing in front of that immense being?
How dare, something as small and insignificant as I.
"…That kind of thing… no one but perhaps Guild Master Bisabeol could do it."
"A Gardener shouldn't be so narrow-minded. Think big, big."
"Aren't you expecting too much from a mere Gardener?"
"Jio is a kind person."
"...."
"Very affectionate."
Bisabeol continued as if teaching a child.
"He dislikes troublesome things, yet he does not hate them. If one does not resent what makes them uncomfortable, how affectionate a person must they be? He is also full of mercy, enough to be polite and respect the other person without forcing it upon them."
"That's a generous assessment."
"Furthermore, he is afraid of hurting someone."
"...."
It was an unexpected story.
"…Jio? It would be at the level of a human stepping on an ant, at best."
"That's right."
"Is he not feeling disgust for the bug that exploded in front of him, but fear of the act of harming itself?"
"Did I not say he was affectionate?"
"You've barely had a conversation and at best, made eye contact once…."
"You have to have this level of ability to be a guild master. You have to figure this much out just by making eye contact once."
"…That's true."
Bisabeol was a person who had created one of South Korea's top three guilds with only his Appraisal Skill, without any particular combat prowess.
Considering his physical abilities were at the level of an average male, one could tell how incredible his eyes and mouth were.
'A person like that would see things differently from me. The very way he sees the world is probably different.'
Yu Seong-un swallowed a sigh and said.
"…I understand. You mean I can proceed as is without any other measures, right?"
"I am glad you seem to understand well. Jio will probably do his best not to harm humans, so please just make sure he doesn't get angry. Gentle people are always scarier when they get angry."
"That's what I'm trying to prevent…."
"Not only is there no way to prevent an individual from getting angry, but even if there were, the course of action would obviously be to seal or eliminate the portrait, wouldn't it? No matter how harsh the world has become, you can't treat someone who is trying to get along just fine like that."
"...."
Yu Seong-un asked with a subtle look on his face.
"…Are you seeing him as a… person? 'Jio's Portrait'?"
"Then who is the person Curator Yu Seong-un has been conversing with until now?"
"His level is different."
"But he is a being with the will to converse, who considers himself a person."
"That's…."
"How is that any different from a human?"
Bisabeol said as if singing.
"There are plenty of dangerous humans even without Jio's Portrait. Right now in South Korea alone, there are 5 Hunters with high-risk abilities and those people are all living their own lives just fine. Some people treat them like dangerous dogs and pick fights over every little thing, but that's something that happened even 100 years ago before there were dungeons."
"If you are that complacent, something regrettable might happen. Jio is capable enough of that."
"Even those dangerous Hunters are enjoying their daily lives, so who are we to oppress a portrait?"
"It's not oppression, it's an investigation…."
"What if Jio gets angry in the process?"
"...."
"He's a friend who is said to value etiquette; it would be a greater disaster if we incurred his wrath by prying into his thoughts without permission. Just be a good conversation partner for Jio."
He pointed beyond the window that made up the entire wall.
"And occasionally take him outside."
"…Are you serious?"
"I know what you are worried about, Mr. Yu Seong-un."
Bisabeol nodded.
"Of course, I know. The Children of the Source are very secretive and cautious beings, aren't they? They are a part of the ecosystem with little interest in humans. They are nature itself and therefore, I know they can be a sufficient disaster. Because that's what they are."
"...."
"And humans are also a part of nature."
He said nonchalantly.
"Jio is no different."
"…Yes."
"Be good to him. If there are rules, accommodate them and if you build up childish conflicts with each other, resolve them by bickering."
"Understood."
"If he himself said he is 29, then that's correct. He's a young man who hasn't even turned thirty; as a senior in life, shouldn't you look out for him?"
"…There's a high probability that it's Jio's delusion. It's highly possible that he isn't actually 29, but said so because his own memory is set to that of a 29-year-old man. In truth, he might be well over a thousand years old. If he's a Child of the Source, that's certainly possible."
"What's so important about that?"
"...."
Yu Seong-un sighed and nodded.
"That's true."
He was a gardener.
He poured his heart and soul into his garden, showered it with affection, and felt pride in it.
This was Jio, a being related to the Source that was the foundation of the garden.
Although he said that countermeasures were needed, as long as the portrait didn't show a reaction first, he wanted to treat it in an equally gentlemanly manner.
"And here I was, talking to you as the curator of the Collectors."
"I am always grateful for the thoughtfulness of our Curator Yu Seong-un."
"That's cringey, so let's stop. Anyway, so…."
Yu Seong-un glanced at his watch and asked.
"So you're saying I should be Jio's guide?"
"If possible, please give him a tour of our guild, introduce him to the staff, take him out to see a good play if there is one, buy him food, and guide him to tourist spots."
"So a real guide. No, but still, introducing him to the staff seems a bit much… In the first place, the staff will refuse first. Jio doesn't like noisy things either."
"You can decide that for yourself. If Jio likes quiet things, please help him see the company or the outside, even if it's at dawn."
"What on earth are you trusting…."
"Did I not say that I saw?"
A vivid smile.
"I saw."
"...."
Bisabeol sees things that humans cannot see.
Yu Seong-un decided to believe that.
"…Understood."
"I look forward to your continued good work, Curator Yu Seong-un."
"If any accident occurs, I know nothing about it."
"I'll take care of something like that."
"Honestly, what is he thinking…."
Although he was grumbling, Yu Seong-un's mood was quite good.
'I can expand his range of activity.'
He had been concerned about Jio, who was always inside the portrait.
Although Jio himself said he was more comfortable and preferred it inside, it would probably put Jio's mind more at ease if he was officially told that entry and exit were possible.
'Maybe it's because this is the first Child of the Source that communicates so well, but when I just watch him, I feel like I want to do all sorts of things for him….'
From the perspective of a Gardener and a curator, Yu Seong-un was feeling a sense of pride.
The story would be a bit different if he were to directly face that immense level, but for now, Jio was nothing more than a talking portrait.
Since Yu Seong-un was in the position of managing him, such a sentiment wasn't too strange.
'…Though it is a sentiment of someone with a lot of nerve. Let's be careful not to freeze up and cause Jio discomfort when I eventually face that level properly.'
Something came into Yu Seong-un's field of vision as he came out of the guild.
"...."
A bungeoppang (Korean Fish-Shaped Pastry) shop.
"…This is rare."
Yu Seong-un approached the bungeoppang cart with a happy heart.
"Are you open for business?"
"Ah, yes, I am."
"How much for 10 bungeoppang?"
"That'll be 5,000 won."
"I'd like that, please."
"Just a moment."
The cart owner was a young man with a stoic impression.
"Here you go."
"Looks delicious…. Do you come here often?"
"I'll probably come until I get caught by the crackdown."
"Hmm."
His somewhat stoic tone reminded him a little of Jio.
"...."
Ah, right.
"Please give me 10 more."
"Yes, thank you."
"I should be the one thanking you."
"What are you thankful for?"
"It's rare to find a place that sells bungeoppang these days, that's why. It's gotten even harder to find recently."
"Ah…."
It seemed like it would take some time for the new bungeoppang to be ready, so Yu Seong-un continued the conversation.
The young man, perhaps bored as well, responded warmly despite his curt tone.
"It's hard to do business. But if I try to sell bungeoppang outside the city, no one buys it, so I come in and sell like this from time to time."
"Oh, so you come all the way from outside the city?"
"Who among the city people would do this kind of business?"
The young man shrugged.
"Don't most of them work office jobs or as Hunters?"
"Even so, the distance must be quite far. You must be tired, that's amazing."
"There are a few people who help me out, saying bungeoppang is nostalgic, so it's still manageable. My younger sibling is also working as a Hunter around here…."
"Finding a house around here would probably be a bit too expensive."
"It's hard to afford the city rent. Getting citizenship isn't something just anyone can do either."
"Isn't it easy to get a short-term permit? I heard the hurdle for that is low."
"I do have a permit. Sometimes I can't finish work by the time the terminal closes… so I just don't get a place to stay. It takes time and money, so there's no benefit in it."
The young man who flipped the bungeoppang mold said.
"Besides, I have a 10-year-old sibling at home, so I have to go back."
"Ah, that's definitely… you have to go back. It would be a disaster if a monster appeared in the village while they were alone. It would be reassuring to have their older brother there."
"My younger sister also works as a porter, so I only earn money here; I come back home once every three days and then leave the next week. Right now my sister is at our family home, so I came out to work."
"That's amazing."
"It sells well around here, so it's good."
"Is that so…."
Yu Seong-un tilted his head and asked.
"Then until when will you be able to come out?"
"It'll probably continue until early spring… since it's still winter. When the weather gets warmer, I'll look for another job then."
"That's still quite a long time. I'll see you around."
"Thank you."
The young man took the bungeoppang out of the machine.
Steam was rising from the freshly made bungeoppang.
It had a savory scent.
"Eat it while it's warm."
"Oh, thank you."
Yu Seong-un took the bungeoppang and headed back to the company.
To be precise, to the front of 'Jio's Portrait', which would be in Bisabeol's gallery.
"Jio, are you awake?"
"...."
"Jio?"
Fortunately, Jio opened his eyes quickly.
"What is the matter?"
"They were selling bungeoppang in front of the station, so I bought some."
"It does not seem like just one."
"Ah, right. It's not one. I thought you might like it, so I brought about 10."
"...."
The portrait, which had blinked once or twice, soon nodded its head.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, it has been a long time since I have received bungeoppang."
"You know what bungeoppang is?"
"Though I did not know that bungeoppang would still exist."
"…Really?"
As expected, Jio seemed to be a being with experience living in Korea.
'Or he was a being from a similar dimension…. Even if he didn't live there, he could have just received the memories.'
When Yu Seong-un held out the bag containing the bungeoppang, it soon seeped into the painting.
"Oh… it literally became a painting."
"Thank you for the gift."
"It's nothing. I hope you like it."
"I like this kind of street food."
"That's a relief."
He had been worried because of his cold impression that wouldn't let a needle pass.
'His impression is a bit aristocratic.'
Jio seemed like a born aristocrat whose hands had never touched water and also like an AI civil servant created for the busily turning modern society.
He had been worried for a moment whether Jio, whose very expression exuded a sharp and heavy atmosphere, would actually like street food.
He had thought, what if he would scornfully say, 'How dare you give me such a thing and call it food'….
"Next time, if there's gyeranppang (Korean Egg Bread) or takoyaki (Grilled Octopus Dumplings) , should I buy those too?"
"...."
"…Jio?"
Jio, who had been silent for a moment, soon took something out from his bosom.
It was a neatly tied white pouch.
"…What's that?"
"They are tea leaves."
"Tea?"
"There was a flower with a nice fragrance, so I tried drying it."
"...."
"It is a return gift."
As he held out his hand.
From outside the painting, Jio's hand popped out with the tea pouch.
"…This is something different."
"Please take it."
"Uh, um, thanks."
Rustle.
A nice fragrance flowed from the paper pouch placed on his hand.
'It's like cream.'
It was a scent that would likely come from sweet custard or milk cream.
"...."
He felt a little strange.
'…If I tell him he doesn't have to return the favor like this every time, would it sound rude from the perspective of a Source being with rules? I feel awkward because it seems like I'm being treated excessively compared to what I'm giving.'
Yu Seong-un put the pouch inside his coat and said.
"Thanks, I should have some tea for the first time in a while."
"I hope it suits your taste."
"The scent is very nice, at least. I'll drink it gratefully."
"And I have a request."
"Huh? A request?"
Jio asked.
"May I ask for some seeds?"
"…What kind of seeds?"
"Anything that can be cultivated in a field would be fine."
"...."
What on earth was he doing there?
'A field, he says.'
Suddenly, Yu Seong-un became curious about the scenery inside the portrait.
-x-X-x-
[Forest Butterfly's Flower Tea]
[Grade: - ]
A tea made by drying flowers that grew from the corpses of forest butterflies that inhabit the water veins of fate.
It has a pale blue hue and an excellent, soft cream fragrance.
Personally processed by Jio, the master of the forest, so it can be accepted by the human body.
The moment it is drunk, blood vessels are regenerated, making it excellent for severe injuries, and cells are reconstructed, resulting in a constant state of immunity from minor illnesses.
[Duration: 6 months]
"...."
Having finished the appraisal, Yu Seong-un pressed his lips together and wiped his face upwards.
"…That Jio kid…."
What on earth did you give me?
"This isn't a tea that can be exchanged for 10 bungeoppang."
***
It was something he had always thought, but 'Jio's Portrait' was an absurd existence.
'I still don't know its identity.'
Whether it was a monster, an item, or, as Bisabeol and Yu Seong-un had speculated, a Child of the Source.
'But it has a human form… and it knows humans and society well in its own way.'
Whatever its identity, the fact that it was personally bowing to the rules of humans was close to a miracle.
Probably, a being like this would never appear in the world again.
At least not in this narrow dimension called Earth.
'I guess Guild Master Bisabeol, who is renowned for his good eye, didn't pour that much money into it for nothing.'
And what such a 'Jio's Portrait' had requested was….
"Will this be enough?"
Seeds.
Crop seeds.
"I've gathered what I could for now."
Yu Seong-un smiled awkwardly and showed the seed packets in his arms.
It was the dawn of the day after receiving the tea leaves, and he had done his best to gather them in just a few hours.
Tomato, corn, potato, sweet potato, lettuce, cabbage, cucumber, pea, pumpkin, chili pepper, carrot, radish, watermelon, eggplant, and so on….
"I wanted to get you some more proper seeds, but there are almost no shops around here that sell that kind of seed. I barely managed to clean out a shabby shop tucked away in an alley, so I'm not sure if you'll like them."
"Of course, I like them. Seeing the amount you've brought, I understand how hard you worked in such a short time. Despite bringing such a large quantity, you have a look on your face as if you are sorry."
"It's because getting just some seeds isn't a balanced trade for receiving such a precious tea…."
Yu Seong-un said as he poured the seed packets in a shower through the frame.
"Even if the seeds aren't exactly cheap, the tea you gave me was just too much."
"...."
Jio, who was checking the seeds, asked.
"Are seeds not very cheap?"
"Huh? Oh, right. Usually, one bag of seeds like the one you're holding costs about the same as a meal out… so on average, I don't think they're that cheap."
"...."
"…Don't tell me you asked for them thinking they'd be cheap?"
"Yes."
The portrait still had a stoic and emotionless face, but looking into those black eyes, he could feel that Jio was sorry.
He was indeed an affectionate fellow, just as Bisabeol had said.
Jio, who blinked twice—whether he was thinking something or it was just a meaningless habit—spoke.
"My apologies. I did not think they would be that expensive."
"I don't know what you're apologizing for. I'm telling you, it can't be compared to the tea you gave me."
It was becoming clear that Jio's unassuming and pure goodwill towards humans was quite destructive.
Yu Seong-un laughed awkwardly and waved his hand.
"From the very fact that you made it yourself, the value of that effort can't be measured and with all those effects attached… to be honest, it was such a precious gift that I wondered if I was even allowed to drink it."
Even looking at it on a primary level, the tea Jio gave was of high value.
Didn't he say it was tea made by a haunted portrait itself?
'Whether Jio's identity is a human-type monster or a Child of the Source, the fact that he is rare remains unchanged.'
And on top of that, its effects seemed like they could bring a dead person back to life….
"…I'm really grateful for your kindness. But…."
After a moment of thought, Yu Seong-un continued.
"…I'm a little worried. I plan to enjoy the tea you gave me at my leisure, but don't give such precious gifts to other people."
"...."
"Most humans don't know how to accept goodwill as it is. They aren't as big-hearted as you think."
First of all, the probability of them perceiving goodwill as a threat was the highest.
Unless one was extremely greedy or indifferent to everything, it was hard to be purely grateful for such an excessive gift.
'Someone will surely perceive it as a threat and get angry or fall into a panic and even if a greedy person receives such a gift, it will still cause problems.'
Although he thought it was a waste, from what Yu Seong-un saw, the tea Jio gave seemed to carry a stronger meaning of enjoying a cup of tea rather than treating an ailment.
Yu Seong-un, who was familiar with the rules of the Source, had no intention of getting on Jio's bad side by selling the tea or using it for other purposes.
"It would feel bad if the tea leaves you gifted ended up in an auction you didn't even know about, right?"
"An auction, I did not think that such meaning would be granted to a simple tea."
He acted as if to say, 'Humans perform incomprehensible actions, such as placing value on meaningless things'.
"So that's how you see it."
Yu Seong-un laughed in bewilderment.
'…For someone who insists he is a human, that's a pretty blatant lack of understanding.'
But for Jio, who never thought deeply, it was an unavoidable judgment.
His system had clearly stated it was at the level of a fatigue recovery potion, and Jio had no reason to doubt it.
At best, it had the value of a vitamin supplement, so Yu Seong-un's words could only feel like an overreaction.
"...."
"...."
At Jio's indifferent reaction, Yu Seong-un could only think, 'As expected, he has some aspects that are a bit different from human common sense.' Just as gold nuggets were no different from stones to most monsters.
"Um, so…."
Yu Seong-un continued.
"You may have given it as a gift seeing only its value as a tea, but for ordinary humans, that's not the case. It would be best to refrain from giving gifts that would make greedy people's eyes spin."
Surely Jio, the master, wouldn't be unaware of the effects of the 'Forest Butterfly's Flower Tea'.
In the first place, since he himself said, 'I made it into tea because the fragrance was nice,' he probably had no interest in its use other than as tea.
Such indifference was certainly like that of other beings of the Source.
'Monsters and Children of the Source alike are often ignorant about human greed. No matter how well Jio knows human physiology, the fact that he shows such plainness, which is clearly non-human… there's certainly no excuse for it.'
Even a simple pebble to a monster could become a valuable resource for humans.
The beings born from the vein of the Source did not understand such facts well.
They often expressed it as humans making a fuss.
"…Well, right, if you call it a fuss, I don't have much to say either…."
He just wanted to prevent any potential accidents in advance.
"A gift you give with no intention, out of goodwill, can come across as very significant to us. Isn't that so? What should I say, it's a gift from a portrait."
"...."
"To be honest, you seem too tough to be hurt by such human greed… but there are plenty of unexpectedly persistent people. Be careful not to let your goodwill be taken advantage of."
Jio stared at Yu Seong-un.
'…He's scarier when he says nothing. The pressure should be less because he's inside a portrait, but is it still this much? This is scary.'
No emotion could be found on Jio's face inside the portrait.
That inorganic expression sent a chill down Yu Seong-un's spine.
Bisabeol had said to 'escape that pressure and see the essence of Jio himself,' but how could that be an easy task?
It was just as difficult for an ordinary person who suddenly found themselves falling from 50km above ground to appreciate the scenery of the sky.
The weight of the gaze from 'Jio's Portrait' was immense.
"…Was that presumptuous of me?"
Jio had a particularly well-established ego, and being a being of the Source, his own rules would be firm.
The ramblings of a mere human he had just met might be grating.
'But I couldn't pretend not to know. It is our job to eliminate any potential for problems as much as possible.'
That was what Gardeners did.
Wandering from place to place and taking measures so that the Source and the Earth could coexist.
Furthermore, since 'Jio's Portrait' was a special case, he had to make this request.
Because humans were beings who easily abandoned their identity for greed.
"...."
"No."
A little cool, and very heavy, but gentlemanly and calm.
Fortunately, the portrait's expression was the same as ever.
"Thank you for the advice."
"…Thank you for taking it as advice."
"Honestly, I think the word 'peculiar' is more appropriate, but the world outside the painting must be different from the world I know."
Jio continued in a voice that was polite to a strange degree.
"It could have been bothersome, but thank you for speaking out of consideration for me."
"…Still such a sharp way of speaking…."
Did Jio know that such aspects made him seem less human?
'Though it seems he thinks of himself as an ordinary human. I wonder if he's ignoring that contradiction while knowing it, or if he's acting this way because he truly doesn't know….'
Around that time, Jio asked.
"By the way, why are seeds expensive?"
"…Huh? Ah, seeds?"
Realizing the topic had returned to the previous one, Yu Seong-un nodded and answered.
"Well… they allow you to farm. Be it tomatoes or lettuce, once you start farming, you can be responsible for your own day's meals. If not that, you can sell them to others at the market, and that in itself becomes money, so you can buy meat and other daily necessities…."
"...."
"Most households that want to farm would probably prefer wild seeds that can be found for free in places like mountains, rather than refined seeds like these. Anyway, the seeds sold in stores seem to be expensive in many ways."
"I see."
"Hmm, it might be hard for a being who lives close to nature like you to understand."
"No, I understand."
"That's a relief, then."
Yu Seong-un continued.
"In any case, it's very cumbersome to produce seeds or seedlings yourself, and the quality is lower. That's why there are specialty shops. Unless it's seeds made through cottage industry, the seeds sold by professionals like these are quite pricey."
He heard the portrait mutter softly.
"Farming…."
"Did you ask me for them because you're also interested?"
"Yes."
Jio nodded his head.
"I have done it a few times before."
"Really? Before, you say…."
"And time in the portrait is abundant, so I also thought that I did not want to leave my hands idle."
"Painting, and now this, you have many hobbies. Life won't be boring for you."
"To live a joyful life, there must be no time to be bored."
"That's true."
He understood.
'To spend that infinite time, you'd need a lot of hobbies.'
Jio maintained his ego so cleanly that he mistook himself for a human.
There was none of the hostility and madness a monster might have and it was different from the excessive indifference shown by the Children of the Source.
To maintain an intellect that made him appear human, despite being overly stoic.
'That can't be an easy thing to do.'
In a way, it was pitiful.
'…Living the life of the Source with a human mind must be quite overwhelming….'
It would be easier if he just abandoned his humanity.
"...."
But from a Gardener's perspective, that shouldn't happen.
'And from a human's perspective as well.'
He would have to take measures to ensure that delusion lasted as long as possible.
Yu Seong-un shrugged and shook off all his emotions. He asked Jio with his usual unassuming smile.
"So are you going to start farming now?"
"It seems so."
"I guess there's a place to farm inside the portrait? That's amazing."
"It is an ordinary cabin."
"Hmm…."
A cabin, he says.
"That sounds very peaceful."
"It is, in fact, peaceful. It is a quiet and cozy forest where the weather is always mild, the ground is soft with moisture, and a clear stream flows."
"…That really…."
It sounded just like a story from the Source.
"…It's a place I'd like to visit."
"I will invite you someday."
"It's impossible right now?"
"The house is messy, so it is impossible right now."
"I guess so."
Given Jio's personality, the statement 'the house is messy' was likely a lie, but in any case, he couldn't enter without the homeowner's permission.
Yu Seong-un, of course, had that much decency.
"Well then, have a good time farming."
"Will I be able to see you again tomorrow?"
"Ah, that… are you asking because of the return gift?"
"I have received so much, so I must give a gift in return."
"I told you it was nothing."
"Besides, you have given me good advice, Mr. Yu Seong-un."
"…Did I?"
If he refused any further, he might actually incur his wrath.
'Beings of the Source have their own rules.'
The monsters in the dungeons, created by the influence of the Source, had consistent habits and behaviors, and there were separate methods for interaction.
In the case of the 'Children,' who were even closer to the Source, the rules were stronger, not weaker.
'He's already being judged to be a Child of the Source. He will have high pride in his own rules, and even if not, it would be physiologically impossible for him to break them… so I can't refuse.'
The Source was nature itself.
Just as a mere human could not stop a disaster, to coexist with nature, humans had to learn humility and adapt to the other party.
"Um…."
Yu Seong-un smiled awkwardly.
"Please make it something not too grand."
"The tea leaves were not grand either."
"I guess that's right…?"
From the position of a Child of the Source, it would be difficult to discern what items were valuable to humans.
After a moment of thought, Yu Seong-un spoke with difficulty.
"…Something delicious?"
"Are you requesting a dish?"
"Something like the snacks you gave to the employees you met before would be fine. You said you gave them things like chocolate, cookies, and jellies."
"Yes, that is correct. They were all kind people, so I gave them gifts."
"Really?"
Hearing him say this, it seemed true that Jio gave gifts to 'kind people'.
Perhaps he judged all acts such as being polite, making conversation easy, and giving him gifts as 'kind'.
"A snack of that level should be fine."
"I will take that into consideration."
"Ah, and one more thing."
Yu Seong-un relayed the words he had heard from Guild Master Bisabeol.
"He said it's okay for you to come out."
"...."
"You used to come out of the portrait occasionally before, right? Because the employees were scared, you mostly opened your eyes at dawn. And I've been your only conversation partner so far."
"There was no particular need to go outside."
"But you might feel cooped up, so if you want, you can come out and look around the company building, that's what Guild Master Bisabeol said. Here, an access card."
"I have not been employed by the Collectors Guild. Other than you, Mr. Yu Seong-un, I do not know anyone, so would it be alright for an outsider like me to wander around?"
"Important areas will be off-limits, but we've made it so you can go to the spaces where general staff walk around. Later, if you come out and run into another employee, you can show them that card and it should smooth things over to some extent."
Though it would only be at the level of a vague explanation.
'Because the level of his soul is so high.'
Still, having it was more convenient for future clean-ups than not having it.
The guild members of the Collectors were quick-witted, so they would be careful on their own.
The portrait looked at the white necklace card that Yu Seong-un held out.
"Well, it seems you have a way of moving around here and there even without something like this. But it would be more comfortable for you too to be officially permitted access, right?"
"...."
"I do have a wish that you would come out during times when there are no people, like now… but if you're okay with it, you can come out during the day too."
"That is a sufficient answer."
"Uh… and please don't harm other people or anything."
"What should I do in the case that I am attacked first?"
"That can't be helped."
If a foolish human deliberately stepped on the tail of an angry tiger and got eaten, that was a natural death.
"I'm not on anyone's side."
Yu Seong-un helped the Source and humans coexist as much as possible; he was not unconditionally on the side of humans.
A Gardener always had to maintain neutrality.
"You attack too."
"I do not have the stomach for that, so I will try to run away."
"I'd appreciate it if you did."
So, this was a sign of trust that humans could show.
He could only pray that 'Jio's Portrait', with its 1:1 rule, would repay it properly as it had always done.
***
One month later.
A strange rumor began to circulate in the Collectors.
"It was a black cape."
There were no fatalities.
Bisabeol's gamble had paid off.
-x-X-x-
If there was a most important place within the Collectors building, it was Bisabeol's gallery.
Since it was a collection of only dangerous and sensitive items, incidents and accidents were frequent.
On top of that, there were people who targeted such rare works.
Therefore, to prepare for casualties, guards would patrol the inside of the building no matter how late the hour.
That day too was just an ordinary day of patrolling the building at dawn.
"Huh?"
A pure white wall.
Pure white lights.
A pitch-black man standing alone in the long, clean hallway.
"...."
He was cloaked in a black cape from head to toe.
His face was not visible.
"...."
One could only tell that he was wearing a black suit beyond the open front of the cape.
"Who are you?"
"...."
"Excuse me, but please identify yourself."
There were a total of eight members in the dawn patrol team within the building and he was in charge of the 1st to 10th floors.
No other guard was assigned to the same floor.
Therefore, that black cape was either an employee who had stopped by the guild for some business at dawn, or an unidentified outsider.
But the feeling was strange.
"…Please identify yourself."
Truly, it was strange.
And yet, he couldn't explain exactly what was strange about it.
"...."
"...."
A bizarre shiver ran down his spine.
'…What is this?'
The guild building's lights were always on brightly for the patrolling guards or the employees working overtime.
The hallway was cleaned frequently and was spotless, and the pure white marble walls were elegant and beautiful, just as Guild Master Bisabeol liked them.
So there was nothing to be afraid of.
There were no shadows anywhere under the bright lights, which were like broad daylight, but that uniquely conspicuous pitch-black being….
"…Who are you?"
It felt as if it shouldn't exist.
"If you are an outsider, please show me your access card."
"...."
"Why have you come here at this hour? I was not informed that another client would be visiting from the 1st floor. Trespassing within the guild is treated as a serious felony…."
"...."
"…It may be applied unfavorably in a trial… you may experience difficulties in appointing a lawyer, and you may be subdued by force without a separate process, so please be mindful of this and answer the question… I ask you."
Isn't it strange?
The strangeness that was very small at first gradually grew.
The longer he observed, the more he saw, the greater the sense of unease he felt.
The guard soon realized.
'Why?'
Why did I think that it shouldn't exist?
'No, in the first place, why.'
Why am I thinking 'that thing' while looking at a being in human form?
The thought that something was wrong did not leave his brain, and confusion clung to his whole body, muddling his mind.
A desolate sense of dissonance brushed up his spine and slowly tickled his heart.
It was at a very slow and natural pace, like breathing in one's sleep.
"...."
"...."
Under the hood of the pitch-black cape.
From under the dreadfully black cloth, as if it was right that there should be nothing there, a voice flowed out.
"Hello."
"...."
"My name is Seo Jio."
A distinct voice that seemed to embed itself in the brain and an upright pronunciation that was impossible to misunderstand.
Without a moment to resist, he thought it was a nice voice.
It asked politely.
"What is your name?"
"...."
"I am curious about your name."
He couldn't bring himself to answer that nice voice.
"Will you speak with me?"
He could tell.
"…I am."
This is not human.
"…I, I'm…."
It was not a monster, an item, or a hallucination.
'…What should I do?'
His breath caught heavily, as if he never had the ability to breathe in the first place.
It was the Collectors guild where numerous incidents and accidents occurred, and he was an experienced guard, but even so, he had never encountered such a being before.
A non-human, immense something was wearing human skin and mimicking a human.
It would have been better if that mimicry had been clumsy.
Like the ball-jointed dolls with bizarre movements he had seen so far, or the monsters that spouted nonsense with a remarkably low level of mimicry.
"...."
"Sir."
"...."
"What is your name?"
But that thing.
It was perfect.
"My name is Seo Jio."
It looked just like a perfect human.
And yet, paradoxically,
He knew it could never be human.
'What nonsense is this….'
To be convinced that the other party was not human even though it looked like a completely whole human.
Without any basis, he was defining the other party as neither human, nor monster, nor item, nor hallucination.
Then what on earth was that thing?
"Can you not hear me?"
"…Why are you asking for my name?"
"The basic etiquette when conversing is to exchange names."
"...."
"I am simply observing etiquette."
Etiquette?
He couldn't tell what on earth was mimicking human etiquette.
"…Park…."
"...."
"It is Park Na-gil."
He had spat out the name as if possessed, but he didn't feel his soul being snatched away. However, the black cape seemed satisfied.
That point, more than anything, was creepy, but he didn't even have the energy to show it.
His breath was catching in his throat.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Seo Jio."
"...."
Did this person know that he had just said he was 'Seo Jio' several times?
'As if to emphasize that he is a human just like you….'
Soon after, the black cape took out an unexpected item.
"I have an access card."
"…This is… a client access card."
"I have been permitted a tour by the Guild Master Bisabeol of this place."
"…Is that so."
At the very least, the Guild Master knew about the existence of this thing.
'And he is condoning its actions.'
Why on earth?
The guard lifted his head and looked at the black cape again.
"...."
"Is this a sufficient answer?"
"…Of course."
It was an extremely business-like voice.
The voice, with its formal cadence, seemed to have a moderate pitch, but if you listened closely, it also seemed to fluctuate between high and low tones.
'Even if he has an access card, I need to identify the basic personal details….'
What he was hearing was clearly a man's voice, but as time passed, it became ambiguous to guess its age and gender.
He couldn't perceive it even though it was right in front of him.
All he could see was a pitch-black cape and a form with a neither thick nor thin build.
"...."
Inside the shadow of that black cape, was there really something in the shape of a person?
"Mr. Park Na-gil."
"…Yes."
"May I look around this place?"
"...."
The Guild Master had permitted it.
So he, a mere guard, also had to utter words of affirmation, but the words did not come out easily.
It was because of an ominous feeling, as if he were accepting a promise from a demon to cause a disaster.
In front of the gloomy and heavy, or perhaps cool, form, the guard nodded his head with difficulty.
"…Of course… you may."
"Thank you."
"If the Guild Master has permitted it, there is no problem with you touring as much as you like."
"I see."
"…How long do you plan to be here?"
The black cape answered after 2 seconds.
"Until the sun rises."
It was a chilling answer.
"...."
"…I see."
He felt like throwing up.
He couldn't understand why he was getting the chills, what exactly he found bizarre, and where this indescribable silence was coming from even though they were conversing.
The sensation of his cognitive abilities breaking down and his judgment being buried in a fog swayed as if inducing motion sickness.
It felt like he was facing something he couldn't handle.
'No, I am actually failing to handle it.'
It was overwhelming, as if he were interacting with something that 'should not' be perceived.
"...."
"Mr. Park Na-gil."
Every time it called his name, his spine trembled.
How should he describe that sensation of his body temperature dropping by one degree, that sensation of all the blood vessels in his body being squeezed by someone's hand?
"Yes, yes."
"Thank you for your kind response."
"…It was my job."
"You are very responsible."
"...."
"I believe it is something worthy of praise."
It was a strange thing.
When the black cape praised him, despite the nauseating fear, he was so happy he could fly.
'Am I going crazy? Or did that thing make me go crazy?'
He felt moved and proud of himself even though it was a situation where he absolutely shouldn't.
He couldn't even interpret why he was feeling this way.
Watching him, the black cape held out its hand.
"It is a gift."
"...."
"Please take it."
The black cape handed him a small pouch, neatly wrapped in paper.
It had a scent so sweet it was enchanting.
"It is yours."
The bizarrely business-like voice strangely felt friendly.
"I apologize for the trouble."
"Ah, no."
"Then I will see you next time."
Is it leaving?
The moment that premonition struck and he lifted his head, their eyes.
"...."
"...."
Their eyes met.
That eye.
The eye.
The pupil.
The iris, the pupil, that round sphere.
Inside it. It. That round thing. That. That is. Black and white color.
The pitch-black thing, the pure white thing.
Was it black? Was it white?
Was it dark or bright? A shadow or light?
Death or life? A connection or fate?
The inside was too deep.
Too deep. Too deep.
It was so deep, it was scary, the inside was so deep.
Deep. I feel like I'm falling. I'm plummeting.
Can I get out? Impossible. It won't be possible.
That's not an eye. It's not a pupil. It's not an iris and it's not a pupil.
No, it's not, it probably isn't. It has to not be.
It was clearly not. It's not. No. No, no.
But it's not.
"Mr. Park Na-gil."
The moment he heard the dreadfully business-like voice.
"Please continue your hard work."
"...."
…He was pulled out.
"...."
For a long while, he stood on the spot.
Even as the pitch-black cape moved, not a single sound of rustling was heard and the bare feet without shoes did not even make a sound on the smooth floor.
Only the rustling sound of a tiny creature is heard, but how strange.
That black thing could not be called a tiny creature….
Soon, the sound fades away.
"...."
There is only silence.
"…Where to…."
Where did it go?
The guard moved his feet.
He follows the hallway where the black cape had moved, towards the place where the sound had cut off.
It wasn't long before he could reach that 'place where the sound had cut off'.
There was a portrait hanging in the hallway that he hadn't seen before.
"Ah."
It was a painting of a man with a serene face as if he were asleep, against the backdrop of a forest depicting a peaceful cabin, but.
His stomach churned.
"...."
He fled with slow steps.
It was just his usual pace.
He didn't have the confidence to touch it.
If he were to fulfill his duty as a guard, he should definitely report the unidentified work and deal with it, but he didn't even think that far.
As if possessed, the guard simply left the place.
And the next day, the portrait was not in the same place.
***
"Did you hear?"
The guild Collectors was a place that had many ghost stories to begin with.
It was all because of Guild Master Bisabeol's collecting habit; because he kept picking up strange items, various incidents and accidents would occur.
Because of that, employees who had worked at the Collectors for over two years were not very surprised by such ghost stories.
"The black cape?"
"Yes, there's a rumor going around lately."
"It's probably just one of the Guild Master's works causing trouble again."
"I thought so too."
It was a world where most ghost stories could be explained away as monsters or items.
In an age where fellow humans were more frightening than ghost stories, the rumor about the 'black cape' was just a story to be enjoyed for fun.
"I'd like to see it, they say it's so handsome."
"Didn't they say you can't see the face well because of the cape?"
"For a work brought in by the Guild Master, it's quite embarrassing."
"At least it's not causing any trouble. No one's been hurt, right?"
But as time passed, even that light atmosphere gradually became heavier.
"...."
"I heard this witness took a leave of absence too."
"…Is it that scary…."
"I heard they were originally going to quit, but the Guild Master coaxed them into taking a leave instead."
"If it's serious enough for the Guild Master to step in, isn't the situation more serious than we think?"
Usually, this kind of 'ghost story' was resolved within a week.
That's because the identity of such ghost stories was usually a monster or item that had popped out of Bisabeol's works, or a mental-type skill activated by it.
It would be strange if it wasn't resolved within a guild teeming with Hunters.
But now that 'strange thing' was happening.
"No, why is this monster so hard to subdue? What are the curators doing?"
"There's a story that it's a monster that they can't handle either."
"Then wouldn't it be better to just throw it outside the guild…."
"...."
"…I just said something stupid."
The Collectors guild operated a special gallery that could never be replaced by any other.
Dangerous items from all over the world, to the point where the government directly regulated who could enter, were gathered there.
Where on earth could they discard an item that the Collectors couldn't handle? Another disaster would surely occur.
Until now, before it became such a disaster, all incidents and accidents had stopped at the level of a 'ghost story'.
"But for it to be this difficult to subdue…."
"There's also talk that they aren't even trying to subdue it in the first place."
"Why is that? Wouldn't it be better to destroy or seal it?"
"They know they won't succeed anyway, so they're thinking it's better not to get on its bad side…."
"Can it get its feelings hurt? That means it has that much intelligence… So does that mean it has a consciousness too?"
"The rumor that it's a human-type monster is being accepted as the most credible, so wouldn't it have a consciousness?"
"Wow, this is crazy. To bring in a human-type monster of all things."
"How many years ago was the last time a human-type monster was witnessed?"
Not once had Bisabeol ever neglected a 'ghost story' to this extent.
He was a man who knew well how much efficiency increased when his employees felt secure.
And yet, this was the situation.
"Has anyone been hurt?"
"Not really…."
And as this situation continued.
"...."
"...."
"…Then isn't there no problem?"
The employees began to accept it on their own.
"No injuries, no deaths. Then why on earth is it a ghost story?"
"Essentially, a ghost story means a bizarre story… so if it's really just a story, then that makes sense."
"It was just a story? It seems to exist since there are witnesses, but it's really strange."
"I know, right."
This was the guild 'Collectors'.
All employees of the guild were collectibles that the collector Bisabeol had personally gathered.
The realistic and cynical employees who suited his taste gradually calmed down on their own.
"Eh, it must have been a lie."
"But they said there were people who saw it?"
"Then it's a hallucination skill."
"I guess so."
"Anyway, it's not dangerous, right?"
"Maybe the Guild Master hired an employee without telling us."
"True, it's not like we know all the employees. Wasn't there a similar incident before?"
"There was a rumor that a quiet employee was a ghost. Looking at it that way, it's a plausible story."
"It would be nice if they gave us a notice about these things in advance. Don't you think?"
"The Guild Master's personality is so unique, isn't it? Let's all just understand."
"That's true. I wonder when he'll introduce the new recruit…."
The Guild Master, Bisabeol, was a person who cared terribly for his employees.
If it was a 'ghost story' that such a person would leave alone, it was surely not a very dangerous existence.
Whether it existed or not, whatever its identity may be.
The employees trusted Bisabeol.
"...."
"...."
Bisabeol himself knew that.
"…Did you expect this?"
"What do you think?"
The Collectors had regained their peace.
Even though nothing had been resolved.