Having inhaled the food of the night market.
"...."
"Do you have a question?"
"No, you just eat well."
"Yes, I do."
I was a big eater.
"Are you not full?"
"I've always eaten a lot, so I'm fine."
"It's to the point of being amazing."
"If it didn't taste good, I would have held back, but everything was so delicious."
"Well, it has to be delicious for people to come."
Though it was a sound argument, if all restaurants and food were delicious, no store would ever go out of business.
'Anyway, in 31 years, the tourist spot has become quite substantial. When I visited with my classmates, wasn't it almost like walking into history? It was quite tiring trying to soothe the bored kids.'
Having roughly lifted my head covering, I chewed on a rice cake grilled over charcoal and coated with rice syrup.
This was the Korean Tanghulu.
'Gyeongbokgung used to have this typical cultural heritage… a sort of old-fashioned feeling.'
It was a place full of memories, but what created those memories was less Gyeongbokgung itself and more the communication with the students who, wearing hanboks, wandered around searching for their self-identity.
'I wonder what happened to our idol trainee who said she must have been a king of Joseon in her past life since she cries for no reason. I wonder if they're all living well.'
If it hadn't been for the students who were faithful to their nonsense, as high schoolers who claimed they couldn't live sanely, I would not have enjoyed Gyeongbokgung so much.
The Hanoks were beautiful and quaint, but was it just one or two students who protested when told they had to come here, especially in the summer?
'But now, Gyeongbokgung has substance. There's definitely a lot to enjoy.'
The people in hanboks each enjoyed their role-playing and they often traded the types of lanterns they had bought with others.
Everyone looked happy.
"...."
If there was one thing I was curious about.
'What is that.'
I saw something like a transparent shadow wearing a hanbok and strolling about.
'At the fan shop, and in the alleys of the traditional korean village too… things similar to that were wandering around.'
There might be exceptions, but the ones I saw were all wearing masks.
A bunch of shadows in the guise of a sadangpae, sauntering on the ropes where lanterns were hung, a bunch of children with braided hair, hopping and skipping among the people, a bunch of civil officials coming and going inside the restricted palace grounds….
"…Mr. Yu Seong-un."
"Hm?"
"What do you call those?"
"What… ah."
Yu Seong-un spoke as if he naturally assumed I would know.
"They're Donghwas, living stories. First time seeing them in a place like this?"
"...."
"They're guys who usually prefer places without people, so it's rare to see them in a bustling tourist spot like this. Still, they're one of the proper children of the Source."
This, I had heard before.
"You've mentioned something similar last time."
"What? Are you talking about the children of the Source?"
"Yes, could you please explain in a little more detail?"
"…Ah, right."
Yu Seong-un scratched the back of his neck and continued.
"I think I mentioned it briefly while explaining the Gardeners last time… but I just glossed over it then. It's hard to summarize simply, but I'll explain."
"...."
"There's a transcendent being that we humans have defined as the 'Source,' you could call it the god of gods. It's a kind of system that manages balance and creates various rules throughout the entire universe and all dimensions."
"A system, I see."
"And this Source usually creates other children. We call them the 'children of the Source.' They are beings that can be classified as a part of nature, like waves or wind, or beasts and humans."
"...."
"These children of the Source can be categorized into a few types…."
Yu Seong-un pointed to the figure of a civil official moving inside the palace.
Its face was not visible, hidden by a large official hat and a head covering and its sleeves were strangely long, making it impossible to see any part of its body.
Their synchronized movements as they moved in a group were captivating, like watching a group dance, but that very quality made them seem not like living creatures.
It was as if shadows were wearing clothes and mimicking people.
"Those guys are called 'Donghwa.'"
"What kind of beings are they?"
"Like most children of the Source, they are not interested in humans and do not cause harm. 'Donghwa' are living stories and at the same time, beings close to human form."
"Then aren't their minds close to humans?"
"They don't really think like humans, they simply imitate traces. The children of the Source are skilled at adorning their outward appearance. It's not something they learned later; it seems to be an inherent trait of their nature."
Yu Seong-un took a sip of his ripe persimmon juice and continued.
"All Donghwas, regardless of their type, wear masks, and beyond them, there is no face. They don't possess a human body or the equivalent capacity for thought; they are merely imitating the appearance."
"...."
"Just because you draw someone in a picture, it doesn't mean that picture becomes a real human, right? Ah, of course, I don't know how it would be in your case… but usually, there's a limit to dimensions."
"I understand."
A portrait like myself was probably not common in the world.
As I affirmed, Yu Seong-un continued.
"They have their own stories, and when those stories end, they disappear. Gyeongbokgung is crowded, but it's a place where a fair number of such Donghwas inhabit, strangely enough."
Observing the people, I asked.
"Can people not see those children of the Source?"
"Few people see them."
Yu Seong-un nodded.
"Ordinary people can't detect the frequencies used by dolphins or bats, right? It's similar. The children of the Source exist in the world, but there are few people who can perceive them. That's the case even though those guys aren't particularly hiding."
"Ghosts?"
"Uh… you could see it similarly, but I guess it's a bit different starting from the fact that they don't understand humans at all. No matter how much they mimic a human appearance, they're empty inside. Their very roots are different."
He spoke as if he had remembered something.
"Ah, right. They say that in the past, no one could see such children of the Source. It's said that because Earth was greatly influenced by the Source, things like dungeons appeared… Awakeners were born… and the ecosystem itself changed, making it possible to see them."
It was a story as mystical as a fairy tale.
"As you can see, I am one of the few talented individuals who can perceive such a Source."
"I suppose I am too."
"Well, I guess so."
Though he tried to hide it, Yu Seong-un had a slightly awkward expression.
It was probably because he thought of me as something other than human.
'Anyway, Mr. Yu Seong-un would know that whether I'm human or not, I'm a harmless being who can't even kill an ant, so it doesn't matter.'
Not bothering to correct him, concerned I might be dragged out of the portrait, I once again took in the view of Gyeongbokgung.
'The Earth and humanity have grown stronger.'
I was certain I had been left behind.
I, who only knew how to eat, sleep, and draw, lost confidence in my ability to survive in this harsh world.
"How many people can see the existence of the Source?"
"Are you asking for the percentage of the total human population? Well, not many."
"I see."
Being special tends to get you stabbed. I once again resolved to dedicate my entire life to my portrait.
"...."
As I sat blankly on a bench, I soon noticed a small commotion.
"I hear fighting."
"That's rare, in a tourist spot like this."
Yu Seong-un, who had been leaning back on the chair, leaned his upper body forward.
"The guards will probably catch them soon…."
Sure enough, guards dressed in thick hanboks grabbed a person who was shouting loudly.
It was a middle-aged man who was making a scene, trying to lunge at a rather handsome man dressed in a scholar's robe.
The scholar, who was adjusting his top as if his collar had been grabbed, had a troubled expression.
"...."
He was clearly a young man with a kind impression, but….
Create a frame to assess the safety level (0/1)
Reward: Seal
I had a hunch.
"Jio?"
"...."
A frame.
I raised both hands, formed a camera-like shape, and brought it to my eyes.
Danger ★★★★★
Five stars.
'He's very dangerous?'
It seemed the guards had grabbed the wrong person to be dragged out.
Would you like to check the history?
[Yes/No]
Do I really have to?
"...."
My eyes met with the young man in the scholar's robe.
'Was I staring too intently.'
Yu Seong-un seemed to have sensed something strange about my sudden action but didn't say anything.
The scholar scanned me up and down as if to size me up, then gave a slight nod and passed by.
Though his expression seemed to suggest he thought I was picking a fight.
"Kuruk."
"Whoa, you startled me."
Yu Seong-un jumped in surprise at Honey's sudden appearance.
"…Huh? A water bird? Wait a minute, Jio, this fellow, you showed me last time…."
"This is Honey."
"You could bring this guy out?"
"I've never tried with the other birds, so I'm not sure."
"Hmm, right, uh… I see."
Yu Seong-un had a somewhat enlightened expression.
"It's about time for the world to end anyway."
"I don't know why you're suddenly saying something so absurd when it seems to be holding up just fine."
"Because it was clear it was a sandcastle that would crumble with a single touch…."
Yu Seong-un, who had been smiling with a look of resignation, soon returned to his usual expression and asked.
"So, why that person? Does he bother you?"
"He seemed dangerous."
"…Really?"
"I think he didn't like me."
A scary person.
"I didn't want to pick a fight."
I had momentarily forgotten that making eye contact for more than three seconds was a choice between 'Does that bastard like me?' or 'Does that bastard want to fight me?'
'I should have spoken politely and kindly before the three seconds were up, but his history was so magnificent that I missed the timing to act friendly. The intuition of Seo Jio, once called the Po○mon trainer of the 21st century, must be completely dead.'
In other words, if eyes meet, it's a battle.
Whether in a good sense or a bad one.
'I think that man just now interpreted it in a bad sense.'
In this tough era where businessmen in suits beat down monsters, what did he expect to happen by picking a fight with a guy who has a danger level of five stars.
'No, the danger level of a random passerby shouldn't be this high in the first place.'
Resenting this crazy Hell Korea, I said with all my heart.
"I'm scared."
"Even if you say you're scared, it's hard for me to take it seriously… Are you being sarcastic?"
"It would be best to return to the hotel."
"If you wish."
I gently tucked Honey, who was trying to peek out from between my scarf, back inside and left Gyeongbokgung.
The bird, seeming to like the sparkling fish lantern, had already stored it in its belly.
And at 3:32 AM, after passing out and waking up in the hotel bed.
"...."
I confirmed that Honey was gone.
"Please."
Can't you just leave me in peace.
I'm going to cry.
***
"...."
A dark, deserted alley in a slum.
"…So what the hell was that bastard earlier?"
The man, now out of his scholar's robe, roughly swept his hair back.
'It felt strange.'
It was some man dressed in a pitch-black hanbok.
He was so bundled up that his face wasn't visible.
His height seemed to be around 190cm, but it was hard to guess who the person was based on gender and height alone.
"This is unsettling."
Normally, he would have just passed it off as some weirdo picking a fight.
However.
"That time, the gesture was somewhat…."
A hand gesture that seemed to mimic something like a frame.
It was for a brief moment, but he felt as if his personal information was being laid bare.
"...."
The man scratched his head vigorously.
"…This won't do, fuck, it's definitely strange. That bastard must have been an Awakener, right?"
The person sitting next to him was Hunter Yu Seong-un. Since Bisabeol's curator was personally guiding him, he was probably a rich young master who had recently awakened.
'He had that damn annoying courtesy ingrained in his body.'
But this was troublesome.
'If what I'm plotting gets revealed…'
It wouldn't end with just him being demoted to a 5th-class citizen.
The number of Awakeners who possessed skills to freely check someone's thoughts or memories, or to peek into their past, was greater than one might imagine.
It wasn't that rare of a skill, it's just that everyone kept quiet about it, worried they might get stabbed somewhere.
Therefore, the man in black he saw at the Gyeongbokgung night market might have peeked into his thoughts with that kind of skill.
Considering that sudden hand gesture, it was a very plausible conclusion.
"...."
Hoo….
A sigh escaped.
"The event is about to start soon, what is all this?"
Considering the future consequences, he couldn't let this slide.
The work he was currently doing was that dangerous, and it was an act of betraying humanity.
He had never felt a shred of guilt, but he couldn't help but be troubled by being caught.
No matter how he thought about it, yes.
"I'll have to kill him."
How much time and effort had he invested to secure a position in the Temple of the Sun?
He couldn't afford to leave a risk factor unattended now just because of a bad aftertaste.
It was just as he had made up his mind and was about to trace the man he saw at Gyeongbokgung.
"...."
"...."
"…What is this?"
A squishy-looking bird was sitting on a pipe.
Inside it, a tourist-souvenir fish lantern was swimming, making it quite bright.
So bright that he couldn't understand why he had only just noticed it in this dark alley.
"...."
It was strange.
'…It's a form I've never seen before for a city monster.'
Besides, monsters in bird form, especially small ones like this, usually moved in flocks.
Solitary beasts or monsters all had the power to protect themselves, which is why they were alone.
Then what was the probability that this insignificant-looking bird was an ordinary monster.
"…This, fuck, don't tell me…."
Is this a surveillance monster sent by that bastard I saw at Gyeongbokgung?
'Was he a Tamer?'
He hadn't expected him to be a Hunter with a profession.
No wonder that sly bastard Yu Seong-un was treating him so well; it meant he was an Awakener of that much worth.
The man gripped his staff tightly.
"…Well, I guess this is for the best."
It seemed the owner of this bird was a novice.
Wasn't the owner's scent blatantly emanating from the bird?
He seemed to have not considered that he himself would be discovered when sending a spy.
The man forced a smile.
"If you noticed something strange, you should have immediately reported it to Yu Seong-un."
He felt no threat from this bird that was just staring blankly.
It seemed to be a surveillance camera, which, if so, actually made it easier to track in reverse.
'He didn't have enough conviction to report it to Yu Seong-un.'
Not reporting one's suspicions to a superior in advance.
A common mistake made by rookie hunters.
'How foolish.'
He didn't know what this bird's exact identity was, but he had to deal with it now.
Thinking so, the man reached out his hand to grab the bird that was not even a mouthful….
—Crunch.
"...."
"...."
"Huh?"
His hand.
It disappeared.
"...."
Inside the bird's transparent body, his hand was visible.
The slithering fish lantern wrapped around the severed hand.
Soon, the two of them slowly melted away.
"…Ah."
"Kkuk."
"Fuck."
It wasn't that the man was incompetent.
"Kuruk?"
"This, this kind of dogshit…."
"Kururururuk?"
"…No way."
"Kkukkuruk."
He was a Priest of the Sun, a by-no-means-easy grade, a position where he was allowed to be arrogant.
However, this whole situation was a catastrophe where impossibilities, by common sense, overlapped more like a disaster than a miracle.
It was not a crisis that a single individual could handle.
The small bird's body began to swell bizarrely.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck."
"Kururuk?"
Feathers that glittered with a light indistinguishable from the moon or the sun.
Hard claws resembling hooks and long legs.
And, a large beak.
"No…!"
Gurgle—.
The sound of flowing water was heard.
"Ugh, oop…!"
Then the sound of stirring again.
"…! …!!!"
"...."
"...!!"
"...."
"...."
And then,
Silence fell.
"...."
The man was nowhere to be seen.
"Kuruk."
Only a very small bird, leisurely flew away.
***
"Honey."
I like things that are small and harmless.
However, the children of the Source were skilled at adornment.
"Where did you go?"
"Kuruu."
"You're cute, so it's fine."
If so.
What might their true nature be?
"There's Bungeoppang over there."
"Kkuk!!"
"You really are my son."
"Kurureung?"
"You have a love for delicious things."
That, even the children of the Source themselves probably wouldn't know.
-x-X-x-
From a young age, he could see strange things.
"What? A person?"
"Yeah, over there. Can't you see?"
"…What are you talking about, it's just an empty lot."
"...."
"Did you see a monster or something?"
"It's not a monster…."
It sometimes took a form similar to a human.
"…Sorry, I must have been mistaken."
"Oppa, are you really okay?"
"Maybe I'm just not fully awake."
Like a squirrel or a stray cat, its long tail would hang from between the bushes, or it would stand tall like a tree and emit a strange scent, or it would float leisurely high in the sky as if it were a cloud….
He knew that it was a fundamentally different being from the plants and animals he was familiar with.
Sometimes it was quite similar, but at other times it was bizarrely crude.
"You might be overworking yourself lately. How about you get some rest?"
"I can still handle it."
Like most wild animals, they did not acknowledge him.
"I have to work while I can."
So Cha Eun-hyeok also pretended not to see them.
'Am I the only one who can see them?'
He thought hard about their identity.
'…Are they ghosts? But ghosts would normally be like people, whereas those things definitely have animal features. Sometimes they only mimic parts like ears or a tail. Then, are they hallucinations? But to be just hallucinations, they leave actual traces. Then are they monsters? But monsters aren't usually that indifferent to people.'
They sometimes danced.
They sang songs, admired flowers, or floated on the water.
Cha Eun-hyeok intuited that as long as he didn't bother them, they would do him no harm.
However, very occasionally, dangerous ones would appear.
"I heard there was a fire at their house."
"No wonder, the lady of that house has been so forgetful lately…."
"They said the whole family burned to death in that house."
The villagers attributed the cause of a certain fire to a housewife with dementia.
That might have been true, but Cha Eun-hyeok knew there was a different, fundamental problem.
"...."
That lady had been followed around by 'that thing' carrying a bundle.
'Ah, I see.'
That thing must have killed the lady.
He didn't know exactly what it had done.
But since then, Cha Eun-hyeok became aware that there could be dangerous ones among them.
He didn't feel any malice from them, but their mere existence could be a threat to people.
'Are they a type of monster after all.'
Cha Eun-hyeok came to that conclusion.
"Brother, are you going to keep selling Bungeoppang?"
"They sell pretty well."
"Do the city people say anything? I heard citizen grade discrimination is especially bad in places like that…."
"Everyone's been kind. I haven't met anyone who's given me a hard time for being a 3rd-class citizen yet."
In truth, he had neither the time nor the energy to worry about monsters or unidentified things.
"Of course, there are people who give you looks, but our youngest has his initiation ceremony soon."
"...."
"We have to buy his priest robes, pay his dormitory fees and give him money for when he's living there, right?"
"…Of all things, he had to awaken as a priest."
"Well, I think it's great and reassuring to have two Hunters in the house."
His two younger siblings were both Awakeners.
His younger sister was the lowest F-Class, so the only job she could do was as a porter.
The pay wasn't great and she also needed to buy equipment to increase her chances of survival when entering dungeons.
His youngest brother had awakened as a 'Priest,' a useless profession unless one contracted with a god.
But it was said to be nearly impossible to serve a god on one's own and that one could only barely receive grace with the help of a temple.
"Still, we were lucky. The Solar Cult in Seoul called for our youngest."
"...."
"Our little brother will soon be a 2nd-class citizen and besides, how can I rest when you're working too. I have my pride as the eldest son."
"Well, I'm an Awakener… and I have more stamina than you, you know?"
"I know, so don't worry and get some rest."
"…Should I go to work with you? If people in Seoul give you trouble, I can protect you…."
"We need someone to look after the youngest at home."
They were short on money.
"Don't worry."
So he had no time to spare for unidentified beings.
'Anyway, as long as I don't get close, there's no danger.'
Those beings seemed to have their own lives.
Just as you wouldn't get hurt if you didn't touch a poisonous toad on the roadside, those things, playing well on their own, were harmless as long as you didn't pick a fight.
'It's not like I can't avoid them because I can't see them. Since I can see them clearly, there's no way I'd get into trouble. There's no problem, so it's fine.'
However, if there was a problem.
"...."
"...."
There comes a moment when avoiding them is not enough.
He just didn't expect it to be when he had sold all his Bungeoppang and was about to clean up.
"...."
What should I do?
'He's been staring only at the Bungeoppang for a while now.'
'It' that had approached at an odd time of day was a man wrapped in a pitch-black cape.
He was very tall, and the clothes he wore were of high quality.
But because it was all black, he looked like a guest at a funeral.
The surrounding air became heavy and suffocating, sending a chill down his spine.
It didn't feel like a grim reaper or a god of death.
It seemed more like something closer to nature than those beings, who had egos and collected souls….
He could tell for sure that it was 'it.'
"...."
Should I talk about this thing, or not.
'I've never seen anything good come from interfering with these guys.'
But to ignore it when it was staring so blatantly was, in its own way, frightening to think of the consequences.
'I want to see my little brother.'
He tried to act nonchalant, not wanting to provoke it, but cold sweat was pouring down his back.
Cha Eun-hyeok had surmised that these things were a type of monster.
They were generally docile compared to the ones usually seen.
But the sight of them nonchalantly destroying a person, sometimes without any malice, couldn't help but be terrifying.
'…He's still just looking at the Bungeoppang….'
If I give him this, will he go away?
It was then.
"How much for one bag?"
"...."
It talks?
'A monster?'
He didn't show it, but he was startled.
He had often seen beings in human form until now.
They often mimicked the lives of humans, but there was no substance to their actions, and until now, not a single one had actually spoken.
'And it asked how much?'
Is it going this far to imitate a human?
"Ah…."
But he couldn't ignore it after it had asked a question.
"5,000 won for 10 pieces."
"Do you only take cash?"
"Cash would be good."
"...."
The Black Cape, who had been silent with his hands behind his back, put a hand inside his hood.
He wondered what he was doing, but soon, a jewel sparkling with a transparent light was in his hand.
Even Cha Eun-hyeok, a country person, knew that the beautifully cut jewel was incomparably more valuable than 10 pieces of Bungeoppang.
"Will this not do?"
"...."
Just when he thought it was a pretty decent human imitation, for it to pull a stunt like this, it was getting to the point of being resentful.
'Who buys Bungeoppang with a jewel?'
A chill ran down Cha Eun-hyeok's spine.
The attempt at barter, the ignorance of the conventional value of the desired item; no matter how much the opponent imitated a human, it only felt out of place.
'But the fact that it feels so convincingly human makes it even more unsettling.'
He barely managed to answer.
"…That's too much."
"I have no other goods in kind."
"Do you perhaps have a card…."
"Can I use a card?"
"Uh… yes."
"I see."
He couldn't believe it, but it really did present a card.
"...."
"...."
"…I was just cleaning up, so I'll have to bake a new batch, is that alright?"
"That is fine."
"It will take a little while."
Cha Eun-hyeok, having quickly resigned himself, began to make the Bungeoppang.
'What a disaster.'
Because business had been unusually good today, he couldn't get to the terminal even after the last bus had left.
He had gotten permission in advance, so there was no worry of being caught.
He had planned to sleep outdoors for the day, but then a new customer arrived like this.
And an unidentified monster of a customer at that.
"...."
Clatter.
The hand closing the Bungeoppang mold trembled slightly.
'…It won't suddenly kill me, right?'
Like monsters do, these guys also seemed to have their own rules.
Opening their eyes only when the sun is up, sticking by a blind person their whole life, only stepping on white stones.
There were many rules like a child's game, but among these rules, some were threatening to humans.
'But this is the first one that can talk, so I can't judge.'
This was the first time he had seen one that mimicked a human so well.
The problem was the sense of unease felt in every aspect, but aside from the strangely chilling atmosphere, its words and actions were quite similar to a human's.
'It even has a card.'
Suddenly, Cha Eun-hyeok realized.
'…If it didn't steal it from someone else, it must mean someone lent it to him.'
If so, could it be that this being has a guardian somewhere?
"…Do you not have any other companions?"
"I did, but not right now."
"...."
"They are probably sleeping by now."
For a moment, he thought it meant he had killed them.
'This is the first time I've felt so resentful toward someone I don't even know.'
In a world where you can't even walk a dog without a leash, what was one to do if they let such a dangerous being, no matter how much it resembled a human, just roam free?
"...."
No, wait a minute.
'Giving it a card must mean they thought they would be able to use it.'
There was no way a monster that wasn't even visible to other people could use a card.
Then could it be that the person before him was not a monster but a human?
"…Is this your first time…."
Cha Eun-hyeok carefully began to speak.
"In Seoul?"
"It is not my first time. But it is true that I am sightseeing."
"Ah, sightseeing. Have you been to Gyeongbokgung?"
"Yes, it was enjoyable as there was a variety of food."
The conversation was somewhat disjointed, but he had gathered enough information.
'It's visible to other people too?'
Then did that really mean he was an ordinary person, just with a chilling aura?
Or could he be a humanoid monster, the kind that was mandatorily introduced in textbooks….
"...."
"Kuruk."
Cha Eun-hyeok flinched.
'A bird?'
It was because a faintly glowing bird had popped out from between the hood of The Black Cape.
"Honey, get back inside."
"Kurureung…."
"I'll give you some later, so stay inside."
"Kkukkung."
"Alright."
The sight of him commanding the small monster was like that of a 'Tamer,' commonly known to the public, but well.
For some reason, Cha Eun-hyeok didn't think that The Black Cape before him and that bird were a pair of human and monster.
That sense of incongruity became more certain the moment he made eye contact with the bird.
"...."
"Kururuk."
"...."
Cha Eun-hyeok couldn't hold his gaze and lowered his head.
'…Dangerous.'
Cold sweat was not just flowing, but his hands and feet felt like they were turning cold.
'That thing is a really dangerous being.'
The bird, with its honey-sweet color and petite body, would be called pretty and cute by anyone who saw it.
But to Cha Eun-hyeok, who could vaguely sense its essence, it was nothing but a laughable deception.
Was it a name given by its master?
The essence of the bird called 'Honey' was like a stormy wave. Spontaneous, rough, and strong.
The reason it took on that fragile form was probably because its master wanted it to.
"...."
Then what kind of being was its master, The Black Cape?
'Damn it, I didn't know it would turn out like this.'
Among the beings only Cha Eun-hyeok could see, there were certainly those who were very interested in human food.
They would savor the rice that villagers sprinkled out for ghosts or steal side dishes one by one from restaurants.
But there had never been one that ordered food so openly.
Most of them merely took on human form to imitate daily life, and did not try to actually interact with humans like this.
'I was careless.'
I should have been more careful.
'That bird doesn't even seem to like me very much….'
The bird, hiding deep inside The Black Cape's hood and watching him, was even intimidating.
"…Here, 10 Bungeoppang are ready."
"Thank you."
The Black Cape, having received the Bungeoppang, paused for a moment.
"...."
"It is a gift."
"Pardon?"
"You have worked hard so late at night."
"No, wait a minute…."
As Cha Eun-hyeok tried to refuse, The Black Cape continued.
"I apologize if I frightened you. I came because of the smell of the Bungeoppang, but I must apologize and thank you for stopping your cleanup and making a mess again."
"It's alright."
"Thank you."
He left behind one of the blue-glowing jewels he had shown just before and disappeared leisurely.
"...."
Cha Eun-hyeok stared at The Black Cape until his retreating figure was out of sight.
As soon as even the edge of the cape was no longer visible, he slowly collapsed.
"…Ha, haha…."
Fuck.
I'm alive.
'I thought I was going to die.'
From the moment he realized he could see beings that others couldn't, he had sensed such an end.
That I would die so bizarrely that other people wouldn't even be able to guess the proper cause of death. That's what he had thought.
But still, dying while selling Bungeoppang is not it.
"Wow…."
Cha Eun-hyeok frantically wiped his face with both hands.
"That scared the hell out of me."
He still didn't know the identity of The Black Cape.
If others can see him, is he a person? But for that, his essence was too distant and sinister.
Then is he the same kind as those things I usually see?
But for that, communication was too smooth. A humanoid monster?
There aren't even any dungeons nearby.
If it's neither, then is it a type of monster I don't know about.
"...."
And either way, it was terrifying.
'Is it possible to be alive after meeting a humanoid monster.'
It was when he thought that.
"Kuruk?"
"...."
A sound he had heard earlier.
"Kuruk…."
"...."
"Kuruk, kuruk, kurukkurukkuruk."
"…Uh…."
"Kuruu."
When he raised his head, he saw a large beak.
He saw the teeth filling the space beyond the uvula.
He saw a pitch-black tongue.
"Kkung."
The beak, hard like metal, half-swallowed Cha Eun-hyeok's head.
"...."
Tap, taap.
After pretending to bite a few times, it finally spat him out.
"Kurureung."
"…What, what…."
"Kkuk."
When his vision cleared, 'Honey' had returned to the petite form he had seen earlier.
"...."
That looked like such a nauseatingly terrible pretense.
"What the hell are you?"
The bird flew away.
"What really was that…."
He truly knew nothing, but what was certain was the fact that he had almost died just now.
The bird of a honey-sweet color seemed to be saying this.
'This much is fine.'
it said.
"...."
It was as if it was saying, you pass.
He got goosebumps.
"…I should move spots tomorrow…."
He hoped he would never meet them again.
***
And the next day at 2 PM.
"Are you selling Bungeoppang?"
Like a ghost, Cha Eun-hyeok met The Black Cape again.
"…Yes…."
"10, please."
"Understood."
What am I to do if the world is this small?
-x-X-x-
"Oh."
Yu Seong-un's face lit up with recognition upon seeing the Bungeoppang youth.
"Aren't you the one who was doing business in front of The Collectors' building before?"
"Ah… that's right."
"I haven't seen you lately, you must have moved spots."
"I'll get caught by the patrols if I stay in the same place."
Street food like Bungeoppang wasn't usually subject to harsh crackdowns.
But he couldn't stay in the city continuously without a citizen ID.
Besides, if a civil complaint was filed, he would be advised to clear out immediately, so Cha Eun-hyeok tended to move his spot frequently.
It was wiser for his future business to be careful of himself when they were willing to let things slide.
"Though I haven't received any complaints recently."
"It's a shame, you'd get more word-of-mouth if you stayed in one place."
"Can't be helped, it's not an officially permitted store."
"True, they don't easily give permits for Bungeoppang carts."
"Still, I've gotten permission to stay for a few days at a time."
In a typical case, if one stayed for more than ten days without a city citizen ID, they would be fined.
But in a world where people lived, how thoroughly could things be enforced?
If you applied under various pretexts, you could stay in the city for about a week even if you weren't staying at a lodging facility.
"…And, um, more than that…."
Cha Eun-hyeok's gaze fell upon The Black Cape, next to Yu Seong-un.
"...."
"…Hm?"
"…No, it's just…."
That's not human.
'…What is this, does this person not know The Black Cape's true identity either?'
The figure of a man, his face hidden by a pitch-black hood, staring intently at the Bungeoppang.
It was definitely the same Black Cape he had seen at dawn, but the intimidating aura was somewhat less than before and the customer's reaction was so nonchalant.
'Was he really just a person…? I heard that some Hunters have trouble containing their energy, maybe he was just one of those types….'
As Cha Eun-hyeok was thinking that, a bird the color of honey came into his view from deep within the hood.
"...."
"Oh, is there a problem?"
"…Just out of curiosity…."
Cha Eun-hyeok, who was about to brush it off vaguely not wanting to get into trouble, hesitated for a moment before asking.
"…Is the person next to you a Tamer?"
Logically speaking, the probability of him being a Tamer was the highest.
"Since he has a monster with him."
"…He is a Tamer. He has a permit to have it out, so don't worry."
"Ah, I see."
In any case, hearing that he had a permit put him at ease.
'Now, even if someone dies, it won't be because I was a bystander.'
The Black Cape's identity was still unclear, but no, didn't that white-haired Hunter say with his own mouth that he had a permit?
'He also said he was a Tamer.'
Then he didn't want to dig any deeper.
With a family to take responsibility for, it was only natural that he didn't want to attract the attention of 'something' that seemed like his life would be in danger with the slightest involvement.
But it seemed The Black Cape had other ideas.
"Thank you for your help at dawn."
"...."
"Huh? At dawn?"
Yu Seong-un turned to me in surprise.
"You went out at dawn?"
At the startled reaction, Cha Eun-hyeok felt his stomach churn again.
It seemed the white-haired customer hadn't expected The Black Cape to be wandering the streets alone at dawn.
'In other words, he's a being that shouldn't be allowed to act on his own….'
If a 1st-class citizen who clearly belonged to a respectable guild was being this cautious, just how dangerous of a being was he?
"Yes, Honey disappeared, so I went out to find him."
"I told you to tell me if you want to go out."
"I found him quickly."
"That's not the problem…."
The white-haired customer, who was about to say something, soon calmed down.
"…Right, it's not like I can do anything about a natural disaster."
"I am not a natural disaster."
"A typhoon probably thinks so too."
Yu Seong-un felt warmed.
How could he lack so much self-awareness?
"...."
Yu Seong-un, after taking a deep breath, asked the Bungeoppang youth.
"Did anything happen at dawn?"
"…He bought some Bungeoppang."
"Anything else other than that…?"
"...."
After hesitating, Cha Eun-hyeok answered.
"That bird…."
"Ah, yes."
"It bit my head twice and left."
"...."
Yu Seong-un was at a loss for words.
"…Pardon?"
"Ah, it didn't really bite, more like how cats play-bite…."
"Oh."
Yu Seong-un, speechless, turned to look at me.
"What do you think?"
"…I am sorry."
"Say it like you mean it."
"I am sincerely sorry."
Though my facial muscles had long since died, so it didn't look like it, I was also quite surprised by the Bungeoppang youth's words.
This dizziness was like my pet parrot had just screamed 'You fucking bastard' in someone's face.
"Were you not hurt?"
"Ah, yes. It bit me gently, so I wasn't hurt."
"Nevertheless, I am sorry. My son…."
Was it a side effect of sleeping for 31 years?
The words just came out in front of a stranger.
I equipped my social skills and corrected my words again.
"Our family's companion bird has caused a nuisance."
In my mind, it was something that came out because I always joked around in the cabin, saying 'Oh, my son' and 'Kurukkurukkkukkuruk,' but to Yu Seong-un and Cha Eun-hyeok, it sounded anything but ordinary.
'Son…? I heard he drew it, but does he see the beings he creates as his own children? I'll need to be careful about this.'
'…He just said son. They look like a completely different species, but if he casually called it his son, does that mean he's not really human, just as he appears….'
I didn't know their inner thoughts, but I sensed their expressions had turned peculiar, but I ignored it.
'What's wrong with me calling Honey my son.'
Even 31 years ago, there were plenty of humans who would call their pet dogs and cats 'my baby' or 'my little girl' and kiss them all over.
I could flatter myself that I was on the more moderate side.
"...."
"Would it be alright if I take a look at your forehead for a moment?"
"I wasn't hurt."
"I am a doctor, so I know how to check wounds. I'm doing this out of an apology, so I would be grateful if you could just let me take a look."
Yu Seong-un was blindsided once again.
"A doctor?"
"Yes."
"Uh… I see."
In what universe do you look like a doctor?
'…Even if he has human memories, I didn't think he'd be a doctor. With such a heavy atmosphere, how many patients would mistake a doctor like him for a grim reaper….'
But surprisingly, and very shockingly, I was indeed a doctor.
"Excuse me."
And a priest.
"It will be a little warm."
"Pardon? Oh, uh…."
"I have purified it, just in case."
"Purified?"
"Your scalp was a little scratched… it would be a big problem if you were to get sick."
Watching the bewildered youth and the portrait mimicking the youth's appearance, Yu Seong-un simply resigned himself.
'Will the day ever come when I know all of Jio's identities?'
He was like an onion.
"…Um, 10 Bungeoppang, please."
"Thank you."
"No, and about what the companion bird did, I'm really fine…."
"Ah."
With an 'oh, right' expression on my face, I rummaged inside my cape.
"This is compensation."
"...."
"…A gift?"
"The purpose of you giving it is not the issue."
Why would he give a jewel when there wasn't even any blood.
"This is too much for me. I was already troubled because the jewel you gave me yesterday was too much for me."
"But it is a fair price."
"That's…."
As Cha Eun-hyeok tried to retort, Yu Seong-un, from behind me, frantically shook his head.
"...."
"That's?"
"…No, I will gratefully accept it."
Cha Eun-hyeok realized upon seeing Yu Seong-un nod with a relieved face.
'There will be consequences if I don't accept this….'
He didn't know what kind of misfortune would befall him, but having seen a face so desperately trying to save someone, he couldn't ignore it.
Cha Eun-hyeok gratefully accepted Yu Seong-un's earnest advice.
But he wasn't as scared as before.
"...."
Cha Eun-hyeok, who had been fidgeting with the sparkling tangerine-colored jewel, lifted his head.
"I heard you were sightseeing."
"Ah, that's right. Do you have any places to recommend?"
"There will be an event in the plaza in a few weeks."
"An event, you say…."
"An initiation ceremony."
Yu Seong-un nodded as if he knew.
"Ah, is it that time of year already."
"They usually hold them in the dead of winter."
"Which temple's initiation ceremony is it? If it's an event around here, the Moon? Or the Sun?"
"The Temple of the Sun."
Cha Eun-hyeok unknowingly glanced back at The Black Cape.
"…I didn't know you were a believer of that side. Usually, Tamers don't serve gods…."
He had sorted things out in his own way.
'He must have been such a high-class Hunter that I mistook him for a monster.'
When The Black Cape swept his forehead and infused his energy, he had felt a warm sensation he had experienced at the Temple of the Sun.
If he was at a level where he could perform a purification ritual on his own, wasn't he a very devout believer?
'He said he was a Tamer, so he's probably not a priest.'
An Awakener can have at most one profession.
Since the white-haired customer had clearly said he was a Tamer, he wouldn't be a priest, which was a little disappointing.
With that much talent, it would have been great if he had manifested as a priest.
A person who could use such warm energy couldn't be bad. Above all, he had never heard of a mere monster using holy power.
'I must have gotten scared for nothing because it was the first time I saw such a high-class Hunter. Priests tend to not contain their energy well, and that energy itself is said to be very different from a human's….'
It was clear that Cha Eun-hyeok himself had been frightened by the divine energy.
Cha Eun-hyeok, who had a constitution sensitive to others' energies and had no experience seeing ordinary priests or high-class Hunters, judged it so. It was a relief born from ignorance.
"My youngest brother awakened as a priest, so he's having his initiation ceremony this time."
"Oh, he has a profession. And a priest at that, that's amazing."
"Although if a god doesn't choose him, I worry about how he'll make a living."
"If he awakened as a priest, his basic divine affinity will be exceptional, so an office job at a temple should be possible."
"That would be nice."
Perhaps because he thought everything was his own misunderstanding, Cha Eun-hyeok, a little more relaxed, chuckled.
"I heard it's going to be quite grand this time, so it'll be fun if you come and watch."
"We'll definitely have to stop by. Thanks for letting us know, it's hard to know the schedule for initiation ceremonies unless you're an insider…."
"Well, the more people at my brother's initiation, the better."
Just as it is easier to see ants clustered together than scattered ants, the more people gather, the easier it is to receive a god's gaze and the more one is exposed like that, the higher the probability of receiving a god's grace.
"Enjoy your food."
"Let's see each other again at the initiation ceremony."
"Yes, thank you."
When they had gotten some distance away, Yu Seong-un asked me.
"Did nothing really happen yesterday at dawn?"
"As you heard, Honey caused some trouble."
"Any other accidents besides that?"
"I am not sure."
A crying sound was heard from inside the hood.
"Kururuk."
"He says he is innocent."
"Right… I see."
Though he didn't know if a Source being's definition of 'innocence' was the same as a human's.
'Jio is especially sensitive to good and evil and manners, so it's concerning.'
Honey was a being I created and was my son.
Then my disposition would have had a great influence, but to hear that he flew around on his own while I had my eyes closed made his heart drop.
'He could have been going around killing people he considered evil.'
Seeing as there had been no commotion so far, he could only hope that he hadn't caused any major trouble.
"And, um, about the jewel…."
"Yes."
"How about changing it to a different kind of gift?"
No matter how sorry one was, suddenly giving a jewel was an absurd act for a human.
"Normal people don't really give and receive goods in kind like that."
"…They do not?"
"I don't know what you were thinking, but it's probably a no."
"...."
I was shocked.
'In this macho world that seems to be a manifestation of hell itself, there isn't even that much toughness?'
In a world where office workers catch monsters, flowers made of cheese bloom from the ground, overground trains fly in the sky, and there's a stream with a vibrant spring in winter, is it strange to pay with jewels?
"I saw people walking around with accessories all over their bodies like crows, so I thought it would be fine."
"That's just individuality. Or it's for the purpose of adding to their abilities, or a type of armor called an Artifact."
"I understand what you mean."
Realizing I had gotten too ahead of myself, I decided to reflect.
'Maybe I was thinking too much with Giovanni's senses because of the synchronization.'
After all, in Giovanni's world, that kind of payment in kind was prevalent.
I, who had been gradually securing my memories as Giovanni lately, thought I needed to keep myself centered.
Perhaps because I had been in the cabin for too long, my modern senses seemed to be dulling.
The way I reacted in certain situations, too….
"…Ah."
"Why is there a problem? Or did you find a place you want to go?"
"What is a Tamer and what is a Priest?"
"…That… uh… right…."
Yu Seong-un's face was one of resolve.
"Now that it's come to this, I have no choice but to call you a Hunter."
"Am I a Hunter now?"
"Since it's come to this, I'll tell you about the Hunter system and classes. Do you know anything?"
"No."
"I thought so."
"...."
I, who had been unconscious and stuck in a painting for 31 years, felt a little sorry.
-x-X-x-
"There are three main things that determine a Hunter's class."
Yu Seong-un explained to me in a completely enclosed Chinese restaurant.
"Job, Aptitude Skill and Level."
"...."
"The Hunter class I've been talking about is assigned by comprehensively evaluating these three things."
"Are classes evaluated by people, like a civil service exam?"
"No, a 'System,' presumed to be with the help of the Source, evaluates it. That's why sometimes an Awakener who looks incompetent to human eyes can manifest as an A-Class."
Yu Seong-un chuckled softly.
"Back when the system was chaotic and there was a lack of common knowledge about Hunters, there were people who faked their classes. But since class itself isn't something humans can bestow, those who faked it were quickly found out and…."
"They must have been criticized."
"It didn't end with criticism. Hunters back then were like powerful figures you couldn't carelessly challenge. In an era when force was much closer than law, even more so than now, superhumans who could even hunt monsters were treated well in many ways."
They had deceived others about their class to receive special treatment for themselves when everyone was going through a hard time.
"There was no way it could have ended well for them."
Yu Seong-un returned to the main topic.
"Classes are usually indicated by the alphabet."
"Is there a reason?"
"I think it was probably a hassle to standardize it by country. You might think numbers would have much more global uniformity, but apart from that, it was confirmed that the first Awakener came from the United States, so…."
"So it was tailored to the American perspective."
"It's not like the entire system is in English, though. Anyway, the lowest class is F, and from there it goes up through D, C, B, A, with the highest class being marked as S."
After saying that, Yu Seong-un's eyes shifted for a moment.
"…Well, the current opinion of scholars is that this probably isn't the whole story. In the case of the F-Class, they're already a bit tougher than ordinary people, so they wonder what the point would be of going any lower, but it's only been 31 years since the Great Catastrophe."
"You mean it's too early to be certain."
"Right, and there are actually rumors that the association president of the Republic of Korea is hiding a higher class."
Even Yu Seong-un, who was the research team leader at the Association, didn't know the exact truth.
"Surprisingly, there aren't that few S-Class Hunters. That's probably another reason why rumors are circulating that a higher class is being hidden. Because it's obvious to anyone that one S-Class is far superior to another S-Class, yet they're marked as the same class."
This class system also affects social perception.
"First of all, there's a law that S-Class Hunters must become public figures."
"Public figures… Do you mean they disclose their personal information?"
"Not their full personal details, but they mostly show their faces or appear on TV programs, so you could see them as a type of celebrity. An S-Class can, if they put their mind to it, devastate a whole country, so they are restricted in many ways."
"That must be inconvenient."
"There are plenty of people who enjoy that popularity."
Though, as I said, there were also many Hunters who found it inconvenient.
"That should be enough about classes, now shall I explain the Job you asked about earlier?"
"So the Priest and Tamer the student mentioned earlier are classified as such Jobs."
"That's right."
Yu Seong-un nodded.
"Manifesting a Job isn't a requirement."
"Then there are people who get jobs and people who don't?"
"Correct. Not everyone can have one, but it has a considerable effect on one's class, so a culture of giving preferential treatment to Hunters with Jobs emerged."
"That's fascinating."
"Because an Awakener with a Job gains the influence to manipulate the rules of the world. To a mere human, that feels very attractive."
Even if it wasn't a matter of class, a 'Job' has a major image associated with it.
"There are a total of 10 jobs."
"That's fewer than I thought."
"I think this is plenty… if there were any more, it would have been difficult to distinguish them."
Doctor, Priest, Knight, Teacher, Spy, Architect, Artist, Magician, Chef, Tamer.
"Now that you've heard them, doesn't it seem like a lot?"
"Not really, if you consider the jobs that exist in the world…."
"That's true, but these are very different from those jobs."
"That is true."
"The Priest and Tamer you heard about earlier are not very common jobs."
A Priest uses the power of a god to influence reality and a Tamer exerts influence over intelligent beings.
Both are considered tricky jobs because they require the help of a contracted party to begin full-fledged activities.
"But the praise they receive when they succeed is that much greater."
This tendency is especially strong for Priests.
"A Tamer can train a target as much as they want by developing their own capabilities, but a Priest can't. They have to patiently wait for a god to notice them and bestow grace. The initiative is not their own."
"But didn't you say that a Priest who doesn't serve a god cannot operate in earnest?"
"It's a job with that kind of unreasonable aspect. But in the first place, it's about wielding the power of an alien god on Earth, so I see this frustrating aspect as a stroke of luck for humanity. It could easily become a disaster."
Of course, the people who awakened as Priests were probably quite vexed.
"Still, once you manifest as a Priest, your divine affinity increases. Even if you can't wield the god's influence on their behalf, you can still use holy power as a single believer."
"Holy power, you say."
"The Bungeoppang youth you saw earlier mistook you for a 'Tamer who is a believer,' right? The only Job that can openly walk around with a monster like this is a Tamer, but holy power can be used by any devout believer, not just a Priest. That's why he made that mistake."
"Then it seems that the Job is not the only thing that is valid."
"Right, there's no need to evaluate a Hunter solely on that. In the first place, Jobs can manifest innately upon awakening, but they can also be obtained through later efforts, so they're quite fluid."
The remaining Jobs also had their own rules.
"With just this Job, that Awakener can exert influence on the rules of the world. To put it simply, a Priest's divine affinity improves, and a Tamer gains affinity towards things other than humans."
"Is it all affinity?"
"Well, unlike a skill, awakening a Job doesn't just suddenly grant you a new ability. However, you do gain a potential that would be impossible for an ordinary person, and shouldn't that usually be expressed as affinity?"
Yu Seong-un moved on to the next topic.
"But an Aptitude Skill is not like that."
"In what sense is it not like that?"
"This is an element you basically get when you awaken, and it doesn't increase with individual effort. Of course, your proficiency with it will increase as you use and understand it, but…."
That said, there are no Awakeners with no Aptitude Skill at all, or with more than one Aptitude Skill.
"At least until now? I don't know what kind of exceptions will appear in the future, but even if there are such exceptions, this regularity is quite universal among Awakeners."
You can think of an Aptitude Skill as the hand you're dealt. In that an Awakener has no choice, but with that one thing, you could roughly predict how that Awakener's life would turn out.
"Because with that skill alone, you can get a rough idea of Awakener's tendencies and abilities."
"Can you also know their future?"
"Wouldn't it be roughly similar? An Aptitude Skill, once manifested, is something you have to live with for the rest of your life, so there's no way it wouldn't affect the Awakener's own life."
Most people who have awakened first study this Aptitude Skill. A Job is something you're born with if you're lucky, but an Aptitude Skill becomes an inseparable community of fate.
"There are many people who cry their eyes out because it doesn't match their own aptitude."
How absurd would it be to awaken, only for your skill to be picking up trash.
"Right?"
"…Does such a skill actually exist?"
"Such a skill really does exist, and there are even cases where it's an Aptitude Skill. I heard he's currently working as a city beautification public servant, but I don't know the detailed circumstances."
"Still, he made good use of his Aptitude Skill."
"He's a positive fellow."
For reference, skills are divided into 'Aptitude Skills,' which one is born with upon awakening, and 'General Skills,' which are acquired through later effort.
The content of the skills themselves isn't vastly different, but….
"Naturally, the Aptitude Skill is valued more highly."
"If the content is the same, why is one valued more highly than the other?"
"An Aptitude Skill is a benchmark for evaluating a person's soul and qualities, so it can't be helped."
For example, there are Hunters 1 and 2, and an identical skill, A.
Even with the same skill A, for Hunter 1 it's an innate Aptitude Skill, and for Hunter 2 it's a postnatally learned General Skill.
"Then the starting point is different from the beginning."
"I see."
"Above all, an Aptitude Skill has no level. It means you can use the skill from the moment it manifests with the highest proficiency, but proficiency is something that actually increases the more you use it. Even with the same skill, there's bound to be a big difference depending on the user."
And here lies a petty side of humanity.
'It's a kind of class system, but….'
Perhaps the fact that it was innately inherited tickles a corner of people's hearts.
Awakeners who manifested highly useful or rare Aptitude Skills became arrogant and people had a strong tendency to look up to them.
'I don't really want to tell him this.'
He didn't want to corrupt me, who, despite having an aristocratic and intimidating aura, still had a pure side like a child who believed in Santa Claus from a fairy tale.
For the sake of humanity's peace, it was better for me to know a little less about human ugliness.
"You can learn General Skills by applying at the Center. Even an Awakener without a Job or a good Aptitude Skill can raise their class through postnatal effort."
"There is flexibility."
"And as I've been mentioning little by little, the thing that evaluates the proficiency of all of this with a visible index is the 'Level.'"
The level evaluates Job, skills, and physical ability.
"The lowest level is 1, and the highest level is 10. I do wonder why they didn't use the alphabet for this… but since the level can be expressed down to the decimal point, I guess that detailed fellow was necessary."
"Is it expressed down to the decimal point?"
"Well, like 2.8, 4.9…."
"Are you like that too, Mr. Yu Seong-un?"
"Uh…."
Yu Seong-un, after a moment's hesitation, added.
"The class is fine, but for your information, people usually don't ask each other for the specific details of their system."
"Is that so?"
"There's a strong perception that it's polite."
"...."
Though my expression was still blunt and chilly, Yu Seong-un thought I seemed a little shocked.
"…I am sorry."
Sure enough, I soon apologized. Indeed, I had a side that valued politeness.
"I was not aware of these things, so I have been rude."
"It's fine, you didn't do it knowingly. It's not like we curse each other for asking."
There was no actual harm, but it was just a kind of culture.
"Just like how you don't ask what color underwear someone is wearing today…."
"I am truly sorry."
"I was a bit over the top, so don't try to shake a jewel out of Honey. Put Honey down. Uh oh, he's getting squashed. I don't think trying to give a jewel every time you do something wrong is very normal."
Only then did I gently put down Honey, whom I had been shaking.
Honey was pecking and swallowing the jewels that had already fallen out.
It was so natural that my mind went dizzy.
"Honey will get sulky if you act like that."
"We play like this sometimes…."
"Just how on earth are you two playing."
It didn't seem to be a lie, as Honey looked quite satisfied.
'Where did I even find satisfaction in that round face.'
They were both expressionless, yet their emotional expressions were very clear.
It was certainly fitting to call them a father-son relationship.
Is this what they call a child born from the heart?
Though it would be more accurate to say a child made from a brush.
'…But certainly, much more than when he was inside the portrait….'
He was like a human.
"…Anyway, people usually don't ask about the details related to a Hunter's system. Should I say it feels like prying for the exact numbers of one's height or weight. It's personal information, so people tend not to disclose it openly."
"I will be careful from now on."
"Oh, then I'd be grateful."
Being of the Source this cooperative was like a miracle, more than just a welcome sight.
As a Gardener, his heart felt warm.
"Since you seem curious, I'll tell you. I don't have a job. My Aptitude Skill is 'Emotion,' and I've learned several General Skills. My proficiency with the General Skills is maxed out. My overall class is A."
"Is it alright for you to tell me?"
"What does it matter if the person themselves tells you?"
"I see."
"Well, I don't tell people easily. Jobs are so obvious on the outside that such a cautious culture doesn't apply, but if someone tells you about their class, that's a huge sign of goodwill."
To explain it simply, it's like this.
"I trust you. You are my friend, my lover, my family…."
"...."
"Well, it's something like that."
"That is romantic."
"You like this kind of thing, huh."
He really was a creature with a pure side.
"Did you tell me with the same meaning, Mr. Yu Seong-un?"
"Of course, I told you about my system as a sign of goodwill and trust."
And the fact that the other party wasn't human also had a big influence on his ability to confess so freely.
Since it was ignorant of human culture, there was no awkwardness in telling it anything.
If anything, dealing with humans was more uncomfortable.
"If you're curious about anything else, I'll get you a book separately. There's a textbook used at the Awakener education center. There are also textbooks for beginners who have just awakened, so tell me if you need one."
"I think I will be fine thanks to your good explanation, Mr. Yu Seong-un."
"If you say so… hmm."
Yu Seong-un asked.
"Are you thinking of returning to the portrait soon?"
"Yes."
I nodded as if it were a matter of course.
"The outside world has many people, many fun toys, and many things to see and feel, but…."
"...."
"I do not think this is the place for me."
Yu Seong-un understood those words.
'It's amazing that he's maintained that state for this long.'
A normal Awakener wouldn't have been able to endure it for even a second.
My stature was not something that could be compared to a human's.
A being who enjoyed god-like authority, at least within the painting, had suppressed his stature, cut off his arms and legs and hung weights on his torso to wander through the noisy world of humans.
It was a very terrible thing.
"Of course, it was enjoyable."
"I'm grateful for that. By any chance, are you thinking of seeing the initiation ceremony the Bungeoppang youth mentioned?"
"Yes, I would like to see it."
"I'll let you know when the time comes, so rest in the portrait until then."
And so, I returned to the portrait.
***
Having returned to the cabin, I slept for a whole day.
"It's dangerous outside the blankets."
"Kyurureung."
Completely drained, I needed time for myself.
-x-X-x-
It wasn't that I hated playing, but the energy permitted to me was rather limited.
"...."
"...."
"…Honey, if your dad is sprawled out, you should at least nag him."
"…Kkungkungkungkung…."
"There's no hope if we're both sprawled out, you know."
The 'busy, busy modern society' that I had met again had completely drained my stamina.
'I wouldn't be this tired even if a vampire sucked my blood.'
I think it wasn't exactly a peaceful and gentle country to begin with.
But after 31 years, the Republic of Korea had turned into Hell Korea.
A frail person like me got scared.
Sprawled on the bed like a 29-year-old rag, I kneaded Honey, who was spread out like a liquid monster.
"As far as I know… I should still be synchronizing with Giovanni."
"Kuruk?"
"That feeling is much less pronounced when I'm inside than when I was outside."
"Kururu?"
"The synchronization speed has slowed down too."
Synchronization Rate 14.8%
"I think I filled up about 6% when I dipped my feet in Cheonggyecheon."
"Kkuk."
"And it was almost 4% when we moved to the restaurant through the waterway…."
They had the commonality of being water-related actions.
"I wonder if it's because he has a strong connection with water."
It was Giovanni's story.
Anyway, the synchronization speed was much faster when I was in reality than when I was just sitting still inside the painting.
"It must be a characteristic of the world inside the portrait."
"Kurururu…."
During synchronization, I felt my old life patterns exactly.
I would get hungry at the right time, I had to sleep after working hard, my body that had been strangely light became heavy….
But I felt this after returning from sightseeing in Seoul; inside the portrait, that sensation became a little duller.
"It might be because even during synchronization, inside the portrait I'm treated as a painting, not a human. Here, even the emotions I feel are treated as a 'painting'."
When I was the subject, even if the object was something formless, it seemed to be judged as a 'painting' for now.
Just like it wasn't a problem for the 1:1 system when I felt grateful to Yu Seong-un and arbitrarily gifted him fruit cheong.
"...."
Do I go back to being a 'portrait' once the synchronization is over?
"I wonder what a human who can only be a portrait unless they synchronize with someone else would be like."
"...."
"That's just so cool."
"Kuruu…."
"There probably isn't a portrait like me anywhere else in the world. I shall be confident."
Today, too, my self-esteem soared to the sky.
"As expected, I'm amazing."
My humanity did not yield to the mere identity of a haunted portrait.
My sense of self was too strong for such a trivial problem to cause confusion in my identity.
"Let's just get something to eat."
"Kururuk."
The topic of their conversation eventually shifted to food.
They were no different from pigs.
"Heave-ho."
It was only after exactly 29 hours and 36 minutes had passed that I lifted myself from the bed.
Honey, however, seemed to have no intention of doing so and was still sprawled out.
He was a precious young master who knew very well that I would pick him up and carry him.
"Do you have any idea how annoying and cute you are when you act like that?"
"Kkung."
"You think being cute is everything? You're right, that's all that matters in this world."
"Kururururururu."
"You have already fulfilled your purpose with your cuteness."
In my opinion, there seemed to be no emotion that brought more peace to humanity than cuteness.
"I shall be in charge of today's meal."
As always.
"Should we go to the garden after a long time and check how much it has grown?"
"Kkungkungkung…."
"To think you're too lazy to even fly there, your laziness has reached the heavens. I'll put you in a basket, so just stay still."
"Kkuuuuungkururu!"
"Where do you think you're sending me alone, hey. Tsk. No, we go together. Dad will be lonely."
I swept the slithering liquid monster into a basket.
Honey cried out with a dissatisfied 'kkungkungkung' but was poured in and with a satisfied face, I carried the basket and left the cabin.
And witnessed Mother Nature.
"What is this?"
Where did my humble garden go and has the Amazon moved in?
"Where on earth did my small and precious garden go?"
"Kku, kuru…."
"My garden wasn't like this."
I had expected to see some sprouts at most, but far from cute sprouts, only the cherry tomatoes had grown to be about 3 meters tall.
"No, wait, can you even call a 3-meter-tall cherry tomato a 'cherry' tomato."
No.
"Is it even a tomato in the first place?"
The tomatoes I knew weren't the size of a small watermelon.
I, who had tried my hand at all sorts of farming, was thrown into confusion by a result I had never experienced before.
Not only had I not neglected the garden for that long, but they were definitely normal seeds and seedlings when I planted them, so why was a monster patch, not a garden, born?
"The state of the lettuce is…."
"...."
"It is the second coming of Cthulhu."
"Kururuk?"
"There's such a thing."
There's an octopus monster god that can make even a perfectly sane person who can buy Bungeoppang for 5,000 won go insane.
"It looked just like that."
And I knew that this was the spot where I had planted the lettuce.
"I must have planted an octopus, not lettuce."
"Kuruk."
"Don't agree, Honey. Your dad gets hurt easily."
The lettuce, with leaves more substantial than autumn cabbage, had shot up to the sky.
Its appearance was so majestic that I felt like I had been rejected without even confessing.
"A reality I couldn't have imagined."
And the corn.
"...."
"...."
"I'm scared."
I got scared.
"Is it a tree?"
The stalk was too thick, and the kernels were even thicker. It was very scary.
The horror of the potatoes and sweet potatoes hiding their forms underground was even greater.
Even though they hadn't revealed their full form, the stems that had crawled out above the ground were like watching a horror movie.
"This strong life force… it's alive."
"Kuruk."
"Don't be a buzzkill by saying it was originally alive, Honey. Your dad knows that much."
"Kkuk?"
"I meant that it looks like it's about to start crawling on its own. It's not supposed to do that."
What was this if not a horror movie?
"The peas are…."
"...."
"…Even a zombie that crawled up from hell wouldn't be this obsessive."
The pea vines, which had attached themselves almost parasitically to the nearby plants, were long and thin, doubling their grotesqueness.
They looked like they would start eating insects soon. Like spiders.
"So what on earth is this?"
What have I done?
"As expected, I'm amazing."
No, not this.
"At this point, it's just funny."
"…Kkuk?"
"Yes, that's what I wanted to say."
When such an unexpected situation arose, it was simply amusing.
"I doubt the taste would have changed."
Then it's fine.
"It's become a garden so mighty it looks like it could start a conversation with me soon, but…."
"...."
"Still, let's call this place a garden. I was embarrassed saying it myself, but we who know its humble beginnings must protect its identity."
"Kuruu…?"
"Think carefully, Honey. Those things look like they're about to start moving, and we need to make a good impression beforehand so we don't get eaten."
Half of it was a joke, and half was serious.
'In a world that evolves even a human into a portrait, wouldn't a plant with a sense of self be about average?'
My grandmother used to say, a mere human cannot know when disaster will strike, so one must always live humbly and wisely.
Today, too, I became a good grandson and faithfully followed the wisdom of my elders.
"...."
But it is human instinct to want to blame someone else when an accident occurs.
"…Could it be that Mr. Yu Seong-un gave me monster seeds from the start?"
"Kkung."
"Right, the seeds themselves looked normal even when I saw them. It must be a problem with this world."
So I was very curious about how they would taste.
"Let's have a taste…."
"...."
"...."
"...?"
Entering the monster patch, I doubted my eyes.
'Are my eyes getting old?'
Or is this a hallucination?
"If this is reality, wouldn't our safety be in danger, Honey."
"…Kurururuk…."
"Why is there a dead deer here?"
I was very scared.
"Oh, gods of heaven and earth."
Please look after this pitiful portrait.
"So really, why is it here?"
"Kururuk, kuruk, kuruk."
"You can do it too? No, don't compete. So who on earth caught this and put it here. Where did this deer even come from? Dad is very confused right now so please, Honey, don't come out of the basket and do your self-PR…."
The monster patch was so overgrown that I hadn't seen it well, but upon going inside, a clearly dead deer was lying there in a very fresh state.
Judging by the deer's mighty and dependable appearance, it was not one that originally lived in my cabin forest.
The animals here were small and cute to suit my taste.
"...."
Tree-Horned Deer
An herbivore that camouflages itself by blooming flowers or autumn leaves on its horns according to the season.
It usually avoids fights with other animals, but if its camouflage is discovered, it falls into a state of extreme excitement and rampages.
Its metallic horns, teeth, and hooves can easily break animal bones. As part of its camouflage, it emits the scent of nuts, flowers, or fruits.
Elixir Recipe: The processed meat, deboned and dried in the sun, gives a strong sense of satiety and heals minor abrasions.
Habitat: The Ruined Abilas Rainforest_Animal Kingdom
I shuddered.
"I've finally gone and done it."
In this life of ours where we can't know what a single moment ahead holds, I had expected the final day to come someday if I lived so thoughtlessly, but that end came sooner than I thought.
"The day of ruin will come soon."
"Kkung?"
"An invasive species has entered."
I, who had no means to protect myself other than the ability to draw a potato, was sure not to last.
"Kururuk, kururururururu."
"Honey?"
"Kkukkukkuk. Kuruu, kkuk."
"...."
At Honey's appearance, who seemed to want to tell me something, I carefully examined the situation and realized.
"…This…."
"Kkuk!"
"It has a hole in its forehead."
And I confirmed that there was blood on a nearby sweet potato vine.
"...."
"Kururuk?"
"Are you trying to tell me that the sweet potato vine came to life, pierced the forehead of an invasive species that popped out from beyond the dimensional gate I made, and killed it instantly."
"Kkuk."
"I see."
I pondered.
'Which one should I be afraid of?'
A violent invasive species that flowed in from an unknown dimension
VS
A sweet potato that moves on its own and pierces a hard skull in one go
"Good heavens."
Both were scary.
This was the third time today I got scared.
"Honey, can a frail being like me survive in this wilderness?"
"...."
"Don't be so serious, Dad is being serious. I think I am too weak a person to survive in this great nature."
"Kkung."
"Where do you think you'd find a person as pitiful and insubstantial as your dad?"
After a long conversation, I was assured that all the life in the monster patch would be favorable to me.
Just as all the plants and animals in the forest are to me, the crops I raised were similar, he said.
It was a story without any concrete evidence, but….
"Then that's settled."
My ultimate positive mindset allowed me to escape from a paltry fear.
Above all, I wasn't just about to prepare a meal.
"We've got meat."
"Kururuk."
"Meat…."
Come to think of it, the Elixir Recipe did say 'processed meat.'
"…Nice."
And so, today's content was decided.
For reference, I have learned how to butcher.
***
Clack, clack….
"...."
Thud.
"…That's strange."
A quiet alley in a slum.
A woman with indigo hair that swayed leisurely like the deep sea muttered.
"For the trace to be cut off here."
She was so worried that the presence of her dear human collaborator had been cut off, but what an absurd thing this was.
"There are no signs of a battle."
She had carefully selected a suitable fellow and sent him under the sun.
He was supposed to be a guy whose infiltration and combat skills were not bad, but it was unacceptable that there was not even a trace of escape, let alone a battle.
But she did not deny what had already happened.
"He was taken down."
She didn't know by whom.
"I'll have to investigate that further."
The woman hummed and recited as if singing a song.
"The temple seems to be in a tight spot, it hasn't been reported to the press, and it happened in a slum yet no one knows the details, just how ridiculous this situation is…."
She understood the temple's position.
"Where would the caution of those who have always loved to hide things go. So sly."
The event was about to take place soon, so it was understandable that they would be in a difficult position.
"I was planning to ruin the Festival of the Sun."
"...."
"But the person who was supposed to ruin it has disappeared."
The woman said to the child.
"Iseur, my only galaxy by my side."
"Yes."
"I'll need you to do the job."
"I will not disappoint you."
"Don't be like that."
The woman smiled, revealing teeth like a shark's.
"This is for all of us to have fun."
A dress that resembled the sea fluttered.
"...."
Soon, in that spot, only a child with blue hair remained.
The child was wearing a benevolent smile.