Of course, exchanging names was a common and convenient method of socializing.
"But, that… how should I put it… do you know the feeling of something that isn't human at all, perfectly imitating a human?"
"Monsters often attempt to mimic in order to lure humans. In the case of the Jangsanbeom, a monster that still hasn't been subjugated, it mimics human voices. Among monsters overseas, there are also individuals that wear human skin or learn human languages."
At the researcher's words, the hunter shook her head.
"It wasn't that clumsy of a feeling. As I said before, I told you that even though it was obvious it wasn't human, I was inwardly convinced that it was."
"Yes, you did say that."
"It's in a similar context to that."
The hunter explained with a troubled look on her face, as if thinking, 'How can I say this so they'll understand.'
"The 'Black Cape' was definitely not human. But there was nothing superfluous about how it acted like a human. In the case of the monsters you just gave as examples, a fragment of them might seem perfect… but they don't look like a perfect human, do they?"
"...."
"In contrast, the 'Black Cape' didn't have that kind of disharmony. The sense of unease was strong, but it was certainly a perfect human. It was…."
"A perfect human, you say."
The researcher stared directly at the hunter.
"Humans cannot be perfect."
"That's the problem."
The hunter nodded her head.
"It was too perfect."
The actions of the 'Black Cape' she had seen that day certainly had no disharmony to be called human, but the sense of unease was significant.
"As if it wasn't born human, but became human later on…."
"That's not a concrete description."
"You know, a hunter's intuition. Should I say it felt off? There was no clear evidence, but I felt this strong hunch, like, wow, this is really strange. I can't just let this slide…."
The hunter let out a hollow laugh.
"Actually, it's probably not something that could be called 'intuition' when anyone could see it wasn't human."
No matter if they were old or young, man or woman, if you threw them in front of it, they would think, 'Uh, that's not human,' so it shouldn't be defined by a vague sense like intuition.
It was exceedingly polite.
The voice that seeped into one's ears as if teaching someone seemed to whisper not from a mouth but through the brain, and that voice was so quiet it felt embarrassing to even call it a 'sound'.
He was like a peaceful grave.
"It's just, um, I meant that the senses I felt were that contradictory and ambiguous. It's too difficult to explain concretely. You'd probably know what I'm talking about if you witnessed the 'Black Cape' yourself."
"Hmm…."
The researcher asked, looking puzzled.
"You're surprisingly favorable towards the 'Black Cape'?"
"…Pardon? Me? Was I?"
"It seems you weren't aware of it, but what you just said had a strong feeling of 'I want to introduce you to it too,' rather than 'You should suffer it too.' Am I misunderstanding?"
"...."
After hesitating for a long while, the hunter spoke with difficulty.
"…I think it's right that I'm probably favorable."
"I'm not criticizing you, it's a genuine question, so you don't have to worry. I'm just curious how you came to hold such favor for an obvious object of fear."
"Ah… this is so difficult…."
The hunter, letting out a sigh, continued.
"…I don't know if this will be a sufficient answer, but I think it was because it was extremely kind to us."
"A monster, to humans?"
"Didn't I write it in the report?"
"I know how it works, but I can't quite understand it. Could you explain?"
"...."
The hunter, after some thought, nodded her head.
"It would be best to talk about it from when we first met."
She recalled what had happened in the 'Land of the Deep Sea.'
That black, large cape.
***
"Team Leader."
It was when they had escaped from the humanoid monster 'Iseur' and the monsters he had brought with him.
"There are no other monsters in the vicinity."
"Are you sure? Any traps?"
"There's nothing like that either. We all checked together, so I'm sure."
"This is a little strange…."
The team leader, Hunter Jeong Da-un, knew that the situation was strange.
"The master of the dungeon isn't unaware of our location, so it makes no sense for there to be no monsters only in this area. This can't be a safe zone."
"You can tell just by looking that it's not…."
A safe zone was, as the name implied, a 'safe area' that existed in some dungeons.
It was an area that sometimes formed when monsters avoided a place to not cause conflict with other individuals, in cases where a dungeon had multiple masters.
'There are exceptional cases where there's a lone safe zone that isn't a matter of territorial dispute, but this doesn't feel like that kind of atmosphere either.'
Besides, there was objective evidence.
"For a safe zone, there are too many traces of monsters having passed through."
"Monsters suddenly disappeared from a place that was originally crawling with them?"
It was not a good sign.
"Then the only possibility is that a stronger monster has intruded…?"
Thinking about it that way, the reaction of 'Iseur,' whom they had just confronted, was also strange.
"He seemed confused because something was wrong with the dungeon."
"Yes, considering how the air of the entire dungeon shook, it's probably right that a problem occurred. This dungeon seems to be closely connected to its master."
"For a humanoid monster, of all things, to be agitated, it has to be a much stronger monster for it to make sense. But if that's the case…."
"…We wouldn't be safe either."
"Ah, we're properly screwed."
It seemed they hadn't even realized this place was dangerous, having been so busy running away.
"To walk right into the tiger's den on our own two feet."
The place where a monster strong enough to agitate the humanoid monster 'Iseur' had intruded was probably the space they were in.
"It must be nearby at the very least."
"…We were in such a panic…."
"Right, we would have died if we hadn't come here anyway."
It wasn't that they hadn't thought something was strange on the way here, but they had to come.
In their condition, which had deteriorated to the absolute worst, they wouldn't have been able to defeat the other surrounding monsters and succeed in their attack.
"…Hoo…."
Jeong Da-un forced a smile.
"Well, you never know, it might be a monster we can talk to."
"That's true."
Even knowing the probability of that was close to nil, the hunters chuckled amongst themselves.
They had realized a long time ago that they could die here, and thanks to that, they were mentally prepared.
"Who knows? Maybe it'll spare us if we beg."
Joking like that, the hunters took a break.
"Hey, hey, rest up. It's war again once we leave here anyway."
"Yeah… I mean, if we don't rest now, when will we?"
"Ugh, my legs… anyone got a potion?"
Thanks to that, they were able to have some time to regroup, but as time passed, their anxiety grew.
"…Why aren't the monsters coming here?"
"…Just how strong of a monster appeared for them to turn down a ready-made meal…."
The time when monsters attacked the most was, of course, when hunters were semi-forcibly regrouping.
Hunters who were almost at their limit and had weakened defenses made for a good snack for monsters.
"And yet they're not coming, even now?"
Even the humanoid monster they were confronting had been flustered and had fled.
It was to the point where they had no idea what had happened to this dungeon.
"I don't think we can just stay put."
"But if we move rashly, we could get on the nerves of both monsters at the same time."
"But just staying here is a problem in its own right."
"You have a point, but…."
"...."
"…Ah."
Hunter Jeong Da-un's gaze, which had been placating her team members, landed on something.
"Team Leader? Why…."
"...."
"...."
Something pitch-black entered the hunters' field of vision.
"A, a person?"
"Is it a survivor?"
"No, that's…."
It was a man wearing a black cape.
"Greetings."
"...."
"I am, a portrait."
"…Uh…."
"What might your name be?"
"Uh, uh…."
"I am curious about your names."
That was their first meeting with the Black Cape.
"Will you speak with me?"
***
"...."
The researcher shrugged.
"Just from what you've said, I don't feel any favorability at all?"
"That's true. In the first place, something that isn't human asking for a human's name is a frightening thing in itself. It was the same for me and my team members."
"...."
"But maybe we were a little relieved by the fact that it seemed possible to have a conversation."
In contrast to 'Iseur,' from whom the will to tear humans to shreds was felt as clearly as a color, the 'Black Cape,' which approached silently and requested a conversation, didn't have even the slightest hint of hostility.
"If you ask if the being itself wasn't frightening, that's absolutely not the case, but…."
And yet, he was relieved.
"…Should I say it felt like receiving the favor of something of a… very high class."
"…Of a very high class, are you referring to a god? If so, it becomes difficult to call it a monster. Though rare, there are gods who visit dungeons in a form that humans can perceive, so please keep that in mind when you answer."
"No, I also know what kind of beings gods are. They are beings close to a will-invested fate or nature. But speaking as a follower of the Sun myself, that was definitely not a god. I felt divinity from it, but it wasn't a god."
If anything, it might have been a higher being than that.
"I felt the energy of the sun from him. It was truly warm. But it was as cold as a corpse. I definitely felt the aura of death too. But it wasn't rough, and all of that was just a simple outer shell…. No, no, rather than something… something like that, it was just…."
"...."
"…Things like rank or authority seemed completely useless to the 'Black Cape.' We speak of gods as will-invested fate and nature, but it seems to lack even will. It thinks and moves… but can you call that will?"
"What do you mean?"
"It seemed to simply exist."
It had no intention to save anyone, nor to harm.
It seemed to have no will to be righteous, nor to be greedy.
But It was clearly thinking and was able to converse.
"...."
"...."
"…I don't know how to explain this either."
Birth and death. The living and the inanimate.
A massive presence and sense of being that made trying to find 'will' in its thinking and actions feel impure.
A sensation that couldn't be explained from a human perspective, but was terribly vivid.
"Besides that, the, the eyes…."
Ah, that.
"…That was…."
"…What was it?"
"...."
She answered after a long pause.
"It felt like it could become anything."
I don't know what kind of immense and vast things were contained in those small eyes.
It couldn't be expressed with the cliché word, universe.
The connections, nature, and fate, like stars densely scattered through that endless black and blue space, would sometimes move as if they had a will, and at other times become as still as a mere inanimate object.
How could a person express that?
It was impossible and it shouldn't be done.
"At least, I can't."
A domain that humans should not see.
"It seemed to be that itself."
"...."
"So, you couldn't… call that a god, could you? Probably."
It was closer to a structure.
"…Or maybe a system? If not that, then… no, I don't really know."
"…I see."
The researcher nodded.
"But in the end, it was thanks to its favorability that you all were able to return alive."
"That's right. It didn't seem to know we were scared, but it was still quite the gentleman. It would have been difficult to perceive human emotions from the perspective of something that isn't human, so I understand."
"The 'Black Cape' introduced itself as a portrait…."
"I felt that was the most fitting introduction."
A portrait that is a person but not a person, that could be real or a delusion, and that might contain someone's death or life.
The 'Black Cape's' introduction was very appropriate.
"Um, and…."
"And?"
"It also used that kind of method."
They returned alive through a painting.
***
The 'Black Cape' asked the hunters, who had calmed down a bit.
"Then you must want to leave. Is that not so?"
"Th-that's of course…."
"I will help you."
It brought a picture frame from somewhere and held it up to the hunters.
"...."
"Do you know this place?"
It was a landscape painting that seemed to depict an alley deep in a city.
It looked like a slum, but there were no hunters here who were familiar with the complex, ant-tunnel-like structure of a slum.
"...."
"Do you know this place?"
"Ah, no. I'm sorry."
Perhaps it disliked it if they didn't answer in time, as it asked twice in the exact same tone, making it impossible not to answer.
Jeong Da-un sent a look that said, 'Do you guys know?' but they shook their heads.
She was anxious.
They would only be able to get out alive if they solved this unknowable riddle.
No, even if that wasn't the case, for some reason Jeong Da-un wanted to meet the expectations of being before her.
She wanted to be in its good graces.
"...."
And that was why she couldn't lie.
In the midst of an awe and fear that made such an act unimaginable, Jeong Da-un shook her head.
"…I'm sorry, we… we don't know."
"You do not need to be sorry."
It was a stable voice in which no emotion could be felt, but it didn't feel cold either.
The 'Black Cape' swept its pale, long hand over the picture frame.
And the landscape painting changed.
"Do you know this place?"
"Ah."
This time, she definitely knew the painting.
"Yes, yes, I know. That's… The Collectors' guild station… the overground train, yes, it's the overground train station."
"Correct."
"Haa…."
Jeong Da-un was greatly relieved.
Although its hands were visible, the opponent, whose entire body was covered by a black cape, leaving only a shadow, didn't even feel like it had a physical form.
"Th-then… will you let us go?"
"You do not need to be afraid."
"...."
"Yes, I will help you."
The black cape, as if personifying a funeral, that thing resembling a grim reaper, stroked the painting.
"May I paint you?"
The 'Black Cape' dissolved the hunters into paint, and painted them into the landscape, and.
"...."
"…Uh…."
"…No way…."
When they opened their eyes, they were at the overground train station.
It was an out-of-the-blue return.
***
"...."
"...."
"Is this a sufficient answer?"
"…Yes, for now."
The researcher nodded.
"I will report this to the Association."
It was the moment the 'Black Cape' was officially registered with the world.
-x-X-x-
"It was a miracle."
At the machine-like voice of the woman, the researcher nodded.
"Yes, it is a miracle."
"Do you think the being that Team Leader Jeong Da-un witnessed is a monster?"
"I'll have to ask the Gardeners for more opinions, but no. It's likely not a monster."
The researcher shrugged.
"A monster… fundamentally has to have hatred towards humans."
It's not for nothing that they are called monsters.
Humans called these beings from another dimension, who hated humans without rhyme or reason, monsters, with fear and contempt.
"This case is very different. We examined the hunters who returned alive, but we couldn't find anything wrong with them. If the 'Black Cape' was a monster, it wouldn't have let them go alive in the first place, and if it did, it would have at least brainwashed them before sending them out."
"But it would be best to publicly announce it as a monster."
"That's right. For the 'Black Cape' to be a god, it showed too much interest in human society. There's a possibility it's an evil god… but whether it's a real god, whatever its true identity is, as long as it has shown it has the power to directly influence humans, it would be wise to explain to the hunters that it is a monster."
"That way, we can make them be on their guard."
Gods and monsters, though they have become quite familiar beings in modern times, the difference in perception is huge.
In the case of a god, there would be people who would consider it an honor to even see its form once, but they would try their best to keep their distance from a monster and be on guard.
"If there's a counter-effect, the very existence of a 'human-friendly humanoid monster' might touch the romantic sensibilities of the citizens, but for that to happen… there would need to be a significant increase in such friendly cases and exposure. And the probability of that happening is low."
From the looks of it, it seemed to be a mystery closely related to the Source, and the closer a being is to the Source, the more ignorant they are of humans and the less they can hide their stature.
They wouldn't easily reveal themselves on this small planet either.
"Of course, the 'Black Cape' could create many actual friendly cases, and thus become a topic of conversation among the citizens. But it would be difficult for the citizens to accept the goodwill of such a being as it is. The 'Black Cape' will not be able to have a friendly image to people."
"It seems we should also consider the possibility that the 'Black Cape' manages its stature well and has a high understanding of humans. But the plan to announce it as a monster is still valid. As beings of the Source are akin to natural disasters, we must instill a minimum level of caution."
"In truth, when it comes to being a threat to humans, there's no difference between a god or a monster, but I suppose this is why image is important. We must tell people it is a monster, not a god, so that even if the 'Black Cape' shows hostility towards humans in the future, the survival rate will be higher."
The researcher gently stroked his chin and continued.
"However, those who have witnessed it will not believe that the entity is a monster. Even Hunter Jeong Da-un, right now, calls it a monster, but her reaction itself was that of a person who had been touched by the hand of a god."
"Were there signs of adoration?"
"I can't say it's at that level yet, but I think a religion could really be formed if we don't formulate any countermeasures against the 'Black Cape' at all. Especially in an era like this, such superstitions easily catch on."
"It would be best to firmly implant the perception that the 'Black Cape' is a monster. I would appreciate it if you could proceed with this part in collaboration with the information processing team. I will create a project under my name, so please feel free to make the announcement."
"Thank you for your consideration."
The woman nodded her head.
"This incident was a great miracle, so I understand Team Leader Jeong Da-un's reaction."
"…That… is certainly true."
The researcher, who had hesitated for a moment, soon agreed.
"Whether the 'Black Cape's' identity is a monster, a god, or a being of the Source, the fact that it saved a number of humans without any cost is hard to believe. In any case, none of them are friendly to humans."
Monsters hated humans. Gods treated humans like toys, and beings of the Source were indifferent to humans.
The fact that they could even hold a conversation was surprising enough, but to even receive help was an unbelievable story.
"…As I thought, this part will be a problem. People still have fantasies about human-friendly monsters. The existence of the Tamer profession is fueling such fantasies."
"It's unavoidable due to the lack of formal education. This is something to be addressed by gradually expanding public education, not something that can be resolved right away."
"That is true, but…."
Among the Hunter professions, Tamers could borrow the power of monsters by making contracts with them.
Because of that, there were idiots who dreamed the absurd dream of being able to tame monsters as their own pets.
'Is time really the only cure.'
Only 31 years had passed.
Although the Republic of Korea had grown as quickly as possible by shedding as much blood as possible, civic consciousness had not grown to match it.
Enough time for a generation to pass and be born after the Great Catastrophe had gone by, so many people were unaware of the horror and cruelty of monsters, but in contrast, public education was not easily established, making it difficult to inform them of the dangers of monsters.
"On the contrary, people in the provinces are more thorough in that regard."
"The residents of the provinces don't have the same protective barriers as the cities, so they must be on guard. They don't know when a monster might come down to the village and massacre people, or what mountain they might climb and fall into what dungeon."
"It means there's nothing more certain than learning through experience."
That's not to say they could just throw all the city's citizens into dungeons to experience monsters, so it was a headache for the Association's employees in many ways.
It's because there are many stupid people who don't know their place wherever you go.
"Anyway, taking this into consideration, I will try to create an atmosphere so that people do not easily approach the 'Black Cape'."
"...."
"I think it's a completely ridiculous thing… but if the 'Black Cape' is truly a being that bestows favor upon humans, there will be guys who start having absurd delusions."
The saying 'be good while you can' doesn't exist for no reason; there have been more than a few cases where a wide range of blood was shed by provoking a harmless monster that was living quietly.
'If a monster shows favor, there will always be psychos who develop a foolish sense of superiority from it. Like they're special to be receiving such favor… It's always these guys who cause trouble and bring about natural disasters.'
Not all monsters wanted to kill humans.
There were certainly monsters who hated humans, but because of that, hid away even more.
But it was only half a year ago that nearly half of a foreign country was torn apart because of a hunter who underestimated and provoked such a monster.
Just because it's still doesn't mean it's weak, but one could say that's some really moronic judgment.
"We should upload the information assuming the worst-case scenario, right?"
"Yes, please do."
"Then I will report back again later."
The researcher bowed his head with respect to the eternal symbol that supported the world.
"Association President."
"...."
The Association President smiled faintly.
It was a machine-like smile, devoid of any emotion.
***
Identification Number 0S-328-D
Response Level S(-)
Entity Type Humanoid
Entity Name Black Cape(-)
Authority Painter(-)
A humanoid entity whose first discoverers were the 183rd Search Team 3 of the Korean Hunter Association.
It is in the form of a male completely covered in a thick, black cloak.
Face is unidentifiable.
Wore a black shirt and suit pants inside the cloak.
Height is estimated to be around 185-189cm, age is estimated to be mid-to-late 20s to early 30s.
The temporary name 'Black Cape' was assigned based on its external features, but it seems necessary to adjust the entity name after acquiring additional information in the future.
As a peculiar feature, first discoverer Jeong Da-un testified that there was a light noise when it walked (the sound of dry plants rustling).
Team member Kang Eon-seo, whose sense of smell is enhanced, testified that it smelled of the forest, so it can also be suspected of being a plant-type mimic monster.
More information is needed regarding the type of this entity.
First Sighting Situation
It helped first discoverer and Hunter Association Search Team Leader Jeong Da-un and her team.
During conversation, if an answer to a question is not heard, the entity does not move on to the next situation and repeats the same question in a perfectly identical manner. Its intelligence is estimated to be extremely high, beyond that of a human.
The identified authority of 'Black Cape' is 'Painter,' and it can create a picture frame from thin air or turn humans into paint and use that substance to create a 'painting.'
The first discovery team is reporting some mental distress.
It showed favor and rescued the first discovery team to the outside of the 'Land of the Deep Sea,' but it showed ignorance of human mental limits by turning the team into paint.
It seems necessary to adjust the response level after acquiring additional information in the future.
Based on the testimony of the first discoverer, Jeong Da-un, it has been confirmed that the 'Black Cape' showed a favorable attitude towards humans.
However, as the 'Black Cape's' rule is determined to be 'respond submissively,' it is highly likely to show hostility if the entity's emotions turn negative. Extreme caution is required when responding.
Additionally, based on the clothing inside the cloak, voice, and behavior, the possibility that it was a high-ranking class from its dimension is being reviewed.
As there is a lack of information from various fields, a continuous assault on the 'Land of the Deep Sea' has been approved, and we are accepting related requests.
Total Comments (1,352)
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***
"Oh, my."
Yu Seong-un, who was checking the monitor floating in the air, rubbed his neck.
"This is up."
"Is there a problem?"
"No, it's just…."
Yu Seong-un, leaning against the wall right next to 'Jio's Portrait,' continued to speak while looking at the screen.
"Your information has been posted on the Hunter Association's website."
"The Hunter Association, I presume."
"Yeah, it's one of the main things they do over there. They organize and post on their website information about monsters that pop up frequently and require countermeasures, or those that are a threat as a single entity."
Having said that, Yu Seong-un smiled awkwardly and looked back at the portrait.
"That's not to say you're a monster, though."
Although he had let his guard down while spending time together recently, that in no way lowered the danger of Jio, a being of the Source.
In particular, Yu Seong-un clearly remembered the sight of him, in human form, sometimes becoming nature itself.
'A guy who thinks he's human isn't going to feel good hearing that he's a monster.'
Yu Seong-un added.
"But from people's perspective, it can't be helped. Ordinary people don't live inside a portrait like you, do they? If that's possible, then you're at least not human, well, that kind of feeling…."
"That is a sufficient explanation."
"That's a relief, then."
Yu Seong-un, who was scanning through the contents about the 'Black Cape' posted on the website, spoke again.
"Seeing as they described your face as unrecognizable, your face definitely wasn't exposed."
"That is a relief."
"...."
After thinking for a moment, Yu Seong-un asked.
"Jio, can you possibly change the face in the portrait?"
"I do not fully understand the question."
"The portrait drawn of you now shows your face as it is. As I've said before, for you to live well among people without being threatened, there is a need to separate the identities of 'Black Cape' and 'Seo Jio'."
The danger level of a being of the Source changes fluidly according to its 'story.'
Therefore, Yu Seong-un had created an environment so that 'Jio's Portrait' could act as a human, but Jio often acted in a way that was clearly not human.
'To the point where I doubt if he even intends to imitate a human.'
Because of that, Yu Seong-un had to distinguish between the 'Seo Jio' that people saw as human and the 'Black Cape' that they saw as an unidentified ghost story.
This separation was possible because 'Jio's Portrait' sometimes acted human and sometimes didn't.
By separating them like this, he could reduce the danger level of at least a part of 'Jio's Portrait.'
And for that to happen, the appearance of 'Jio's Portrait' could not become known to the world.
"Since 'Jio's Portrait' shows your face as it is, even if you go around outside as the blonde, blue-eyed Giovanni… everyone will eventually realize that Black Cape and Seo Jio are the same being."
Even if his hair or eye color, or his personality changed, his face itself didn't change.
The pale-faced 'Jio' had the same appearance no matter which Jio it was.
It's possible they didn't notice because his exact body structure was slightly different, being hidden by a baggy cape, but his face, at least.
"And you also travel through portraits, right? If your portrait is hung in a public place, and the Black Cape is witnessed nearby, and it becomes known that that face is the same as Hunter 'Seo Jio' from The Collectors guild, it will get very troublesome."
"I believe that is a valid point."
The portrait, which was silent for a moment as if in thought, soon showed a change.
He raised his hand and reached out….
Splat―.
"...."
"…Uh…."
"With this, my face should not be visible, correct?"
The face of Jio drawn in the portrait was now obscured, covered in paint as black as ink.
"…Your face isn't visible, but…."
He felt a little upset.
"…It's a portrait with your face drawn on it, is it okay to do this?"
"Mr. Yu Seong-un said that my face being revealed was the problem."
"I was just thinking maybe you could wear a cloak or something."
It felt like someone had thrown paint on a priceless masterpiece.
'If I'm feeling this way, Guild Leader Bisabeol is going to go absolutely crazy….'
He was a person who sometimes lost his mind when it came to works and art, so it was a little chilling.
"...."
Yu Seong-un looked at the black-painted portrait with a regretful gaze.
The paint had been applied with a stroke of a large hand, but Jio's black hair and the lower part of his face were still clearly visible.
Although even that was being slowly covered as the paint dripped down.
"…So, can you see?"
"I can see just fine from my side."
"And will it stay this way even if portraits appear in other places?"
"It will maintain this state unless I wipe it off."
"Then the possibility of your face being revealed is definitely gone."
"The employees here know my face."
"Ah, that's fine."
The employees of The Collectors guild were exceptionally tight-lipped.
There was no risk of the 'Black Cape's' information being leaked.
'Which means Jio's story will be trapped inside The Collectors and grow even larger. If things continue this way, it's highly likely that even Seo Jio's story won't be diminished within The Collectors' building or in front of our employees.'
In The Collectors' building, where people who already knew the 'Black Cape's' identity stayed, the sense of unease from this portrait would not be hidden even if it went around in the form of 'Seo Jio.'
But that alone was enough.
"Those people will never leak information to the outside."
"Do you have grounds for that?"
"Because I've only gathered people who truly detest getting involved in big trouble…."
"So they won't spread it for the sake of their own well-being."
"Besides, if they did say something, would Guild Leader Bisabeol not know? If he finds out they ran their mouth carelessly, they could be dragged off to some laboratory, so no one would open their mouth."
It was one of the characteristics of The Collectors guild; perhaps because Bisabeol had scouted each and every one of them, the relationships between the employees were very strong.
That is to say, they were all reclusive avoiders.
"There is absolutely no chance of information spreading from here."
Yu Seong-un smiled bitterly.
"Even I would have clenched my teeth and pretended not to know if I hadn't gotten involved, what leak…."
"I see."
"Even if someone from the outside promises a reward and demands a leak, the guild already takes good care of them, so there's no one in this guild who would take such a risk for profit. In a similar context, threats won't work either."
One of the biggest characteristics of The Collectors guild was that everything from the building to each and every employee was Bisabeol's collection.
Bisabeol takes exceptionally good care of his employees' welfare, but because of that, no fool would touch his 'collection.'
What kind of trouble would they be asking for?
"So to say it again, everyone will really clench their teeth and pretend not to know.
They'll probably struggle desperately."
They are people who just want to finish their work and go home to rest immediately.
They are also people with a very strong sense of responsibility, but more than that, they extremely loathe getting into troublesome situations, so he could be at ease in this regard.
"But…."
"Is there a problem?"
"…It's nothing major, but."
"Yes, please speak."
"You've gotten scarier."
"...."
"Because of the paint…."
After a long pause, Jio finally reacted.
"Ah."
He looked unusually regretful.
-x-X-x-
However, Jio did not wipe the paint off again.
"They were already scared of me even without the paint."
"I suppose that's… probably true."
"Most of all, I do not wish to reveal my face."
Getting his personal information exposed was a scary thing.
Seo Jio, who was timid and had no ability to fight back, did not want his face to become known.
'There are already a lot of problems just from the fact that it's a haunted portrait.'
Seo Jio prided himself on having lived a truly upright life, but now that he had become a haunted portrait, he had to be fully prepared.
Being sold with his face covered and being sold with his face and name revealed were two completely different things.
"Wow, you and we are on the same page."
As such, Yu Seong-un also felt at ease.
'He could have gotten annoyed, asking if he has to consider the circumstances of humans, but when I see things like this, Jio is definitely gentle. Even if it's a consideration that comes from forcing himself into the human mold, it's still exceptional.'
Should he call it a truly miraculous mystery?
As a Gardener, Yu Seong-un felt an unbearable gratitude and affection.
A being of the Source that was so rewarding to take care of, all the Gardeners in the world would envy him.
'Well, anyway….'
Now that he had his consent, the scope of what the guild could do had widened.
"There might be records of your face left at the auction house where you were before, but either I or the Guild Leader will take care of that part."
"Yes, thank you."
"That won't do anything about the memories of the guests who were there, but… it's better than nothing."
"I will be in your care."
"Don't mention it."
And so, he left the gallery.
Yu Seong-un, who had started working to erase the information about 'Jio's Portrait' that had been up at the auction house, blinked his eyes upon facing an unexpected situation.
"...?"
Yu Seong-un, who was examining the monitor, went up to the Guild Leader's office.
"Guild Leader."
"Ah, I was just about to call for you."
"…Were you also in the middle of checking, Guild Leader?"
"Were you, Mr. Yu Seong-un, perhaps in the middle of erasing the records about 'Jio's Portrait'?"
"Because that's my job. I didn't know you were also taking action, Guild Leader, but anyway, since you were checking, this conversation should be quick."
Yu Seong-un said, handing over a thin document he had hastily prepared.
"Jio's face has been erased."
The records remaining at the auction house had changed.
Into a portrait with its face obscured by black paint.
"I wasn't sure if only the online information was altered, so I went to check in person, but it wasn't just those records that changed. From the paper-documented records to the memories of the customers who participated that day, everything is in an unclear state."
"...."
Bisabeol wore a rare, expressionless face. He rolled his sharp, reptile-like golden eyes.
"What did Jio do?"
"…I asked if he could possibly cover his face in the portrait, and after a moment's thought, he completely covered the screen with black paint. He also said that the portrait would remain in this state unless he wiped it off himself."
"This could also be one of the characteristics of the portrait."
"If you say, a characteristic of the portrait…?"
"In the first place, a portrait is a painting of a person, is it not?"
The document Yu Seong-un brought also contained a printed image of 'Jio's Portrait.'
As expected, its face was covered with a thin, ink-like paint and was not visible.
"In that case, should a photograph of that portrait, not the original portrait itself drawn with paint, not be called a portrait? What about the paper it's printed on?"
"…Since it's not directly drawn, couldn't you say it isn't?"
"Or you could say it is. In the end, it's a 'painting' of a 'person'."
A painting is, in other words, 'something that represents the shape or image of an object on a flat surface using lines or colors.'
"So my point is, whether it's a printed image like this, or a photograph taken of the portrait, or what have you, couldn't it also be called a painting in the end?"
"If you think about it in a very broad sense, that's not wrong, but…."
"At the very least, it appears Jio thinks so."
Bisabeol narrowed his eyes and smiled wryly.
"To be able to have such a direct effect on the entire world just by thinking, what a tremendous portrait it is."
"...."
"…Ah, as I thought…."
Bisabeol, erasing his smile, muttered in a low voice.
"This is why I like art."
The Great Catastrophe came, the world changed, and as unbelievable abilities emerged, the scope of 'art' also expanded.
If there was a most interesting and diverse field in the world, Bisabeol dared to be certain that it would be art.
"It is certainly a shame that the face is covered. I'll have to go see his face at least once later, but still, it's such a shame. But when I think of this as one of Jio's performance arts, a corner of my heart swells up."
"You're saying some rather perverted things with such a serious face…."
"I'm serious, so of course I'd have a serious face, no? My goodness, performance art done by the portrait itself is something you can hardly expect from other artifacts. It's hard to even see this as a fragment of a work."
"In the first place, there aren't that many objects with an ego."
"I have a good feeling about the new year."
Soon winter will pass and spring will come.
"It feels like something is coming…."
It felt like very interesting things were about to happen.
***
"...."
"What are the results?"
"Well…."
Her wavy hair flowed down like a wave.
"The examination isn't going well."
The mermaid, Aria, said as she adjusted her large doctor's gown.
"I've been trying various experiments with the hair left by the human named Seo Jio as a sample, but the results aren't consistent. Not only is the examination itself difficult because it's constantly changing and moving… it can't be fixed in place either."
To that, Iseur said.
"He's definitely not human, then."
"Right, he's not human."
"...."
"But it's not that he isn't human either."
There were times when it exhibited clearly human cells. Literally, it could become anything.
"Interesting."
Contrary to her words expressing interest, Aria's face was as inorganic as a mineral.
Even though she wore the same smile as always.
"Of all things, traces of Giovanni also remain among them."
"…Then is he really our teacher?"
"At the very least, there's a very strong connection."
It wasn't just a material examination of cells.
They had passed through several dimensions and had firmly established themselves as the masters of this place.
Aria's abilities as a doctor and researcher had long since broken their limits.
'And yet, this is the first time the results have been so unclear.'
Aria said to her younger brother.
"Iseur, my brother. I need your help."
"Please speak."
"Bring that person back here. I need to have a conversation with our teacher."
"...."
At the sight of her silent brother, Iseur, Aria smiled faintly.
"Of course, I know how difficult a request this is."
It was only a few days ago that the 'Black Cape,' presumed to be Giovanni, had visited their dimension and spirited away the humans.
It would be a difficult task to hold down that ghost-like being, who was so quiet it was hard to sense his presence, and who disappeared in an instant.
"We've also been avoiding him on our end. We couldn't talk to Giovanni without any certainty."
There were too many uncertain parts to just face him without any preparation.
But now, she was certain.
That being was the only human teacher in their lives.
He was Giovanni.
It was just that for some reason, he had changed a lot, had become vast, and had grown so strong that he couldn't be carelessly stolen.
He couldn't be rashly captured.
"And he doesn't seem to have much memory of this place, does he? You said he couldn't remember this temple."
"He seemed to have recalled some parts, but perhaps…."
"Then it would be hard to appeal to his emotions. Well, he always had a cold side to him."
Aria muttered.
"He probably isn't human anymore."
"...."
"That part is definitely… how should I say it, it feels a little… strange…."
It was Aria and Iseur who had studied knowledge about humans because they couldn't understand human emotions and their way of thinking.
Now, thinking that Giovanni, their dear teacher, had lost all of that, a strange feeling washed over them.
It was close to a sense of deprivation.
Over the fact that the dearest memory of the mermaid's life had been resurrected from death and was flowing in a form they didn't know….
"...."
"Still, I'm asking you."
The two siblings did not lose their smiles.
For hundreds, thousands, or perhaps even more years, they had never once not smiled.
"Bring that person here, somehow."
"...."
"And hold him down."
"…Yes."
"I trust you to do it well."
"You do not need to worry."
The hunter in the black cape, 'Seo Jio,' had shown a particular tendency to cherish and be considerate of children.
"There are plenty of ways."
Iseur thought of a certain child who had approached him in a friendly manner.
Was her name Cha Isold?
***
A new Entry Dungeon, 'Land of the Deep Sea,' was officially opened.
"Land of the Deep Sea? Its name has 'Land' in it?"
"If the Hunter Association made the name official and it has 'Land' in it…."
"Fuck, it's going to be damn huge."
Entry Dungeons were already called the biggest grind among dungeons, and if the Hunter Association used a clear word like 'Land,' it meant that among Entry Dungeons, its map was considerably large.
"But this is difficult, wow… it's really…."
"It's connected to that virtual dungeon that blew up at the Temple of the Sun last time? Is it crazy?"
"It seems even the Hunter Association staff couldn't explore it properly."
"They were lucky they didn't die and go missing. I mean, it's the first official entry team."
Naturally, the difficulty was set quite high at S-Class, but.
"Still, they said no one died. Maybe it's not that dangerous?"
"Hey, it's just about fetching a single piece of information. Isn't it?"
The purpose of opening the 'Land of the Deep Sea' this time was for exploration, not conquest.
"Is there a main list?"
"Uh, there are two. They even have names."
"Wow… is this a humanoid monster?"
"Isn't it the first in years? It's worthy of being called S-Class."
"So what monsters are there."
"Let's see…."
The main list requested by the Hunter Association had a total of two individuals.
"Iseur the Mermaid, and…."
"'Black Cape?'"
A freelance hunter tilted his head.
"Seeing as it has no name, only a nickname, is this their way of telling us to pay more attention to this one?"
When the Hunter Association determines that it cannot quickly conclude a matter within the Association, it opens the entrance to the identified dungeon after a certain period.
In that case, it's called an 'Exploration Season,' and a bounty is placed on information about that dungeon.
"It's been a while since I got to stretch my legs."
"No, still, it's S-Class, it's a bit much to step up…."
"It's just an exploration season. If it were for conquest, an S-Class would have to step up, but even we can handle fetching information."
"Well, the bounties the Association puts up are pretty lucrative."
"It doesn't have to be information just about these monsters, right?"
"It's a newly opened dungeon, so probably?"
Even if it wasn't information for which the Association had put up a bounty, in the case of newly opened dungeons, they also gave monetary rewards depending on the importance of the information.
If you got caught by a dangerous monster, you could lose your head in an instant, but it was worth a try.
"Besides, no one has bought this dungeon yet, right?"
"Honestly, who would buy an S-Class… other than the 3 great guilds."
"Plus, it's a dungeon with not a single piece of conquest information yet, so the risk is high in many ways."
"We don't know what kind of resources are inside either."
"Anyway, a dungeon that no one has bought doesn't cost money to enter."
If a dungeon contained some useful resources, or if it was judged to be for the self-development of affiliated hunters, guilds with some money would sometimes purchase the ownership of the dungeon.
Such dungeons required a fee for each entry.
"Compared to something like that, this dungeon is, well…."
"Fuck, don't let your guard down. You think S-Class is some dog's name?"
"You think I don't know that? Don't worry, you bastard."
Not all hunters were affiliated with a guild.
So dungeons like this, with bounties put up by the Hunter Association, also served as a major source of income for freelance hunters.
"Wow, there's already a waiting line…."
"Can't we go in without waiting?"
"They say the entrance is in the deep sea, how are you gonna get there?"
"Swimming would be a bit much."
"Whatever, it doesn't cost money to wait."
No matter how much superhuman strength hunters had, it was difficult to reach an entrance located deep enough to be called the 'deep sea' with their bare bodies.
They had to travel by a submersible prepared by the Association, so the line quickly grew long.
And a short while later, a strange rumor began to spread.
"Hey, are you planning on going to the 'Land of the Deep Sea'?"
"It's still exploration season. The bounty hasn't gone down, so I'm going to go make some money."
"I heard it's dangerous there… then you have to remember this before you go."
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"No, for real. They say that's the only way to return alive."
The hunters whispered.
"If you don't want to die, go to the portrait and beg for your life."
"What…? A portrait?"
"The Black Cape likes kind and polite humans."
『The Black Cape gives presents to good people』
"...."
"Got it? Make sure you remember."
It was the moment the name 'Black Cape' spread among the hunters.
"...."
"...."
"Ah, we're screwed."
The Association, which had tried to instill a sense of caution about the being known as the 'Black Cape' by publicly declaring it a monster, was now suffering from a headache.
It was because the image of the 'Black Cape' that had spread among the public was quite favorable.
"The romanticists are going to come out again."
"Ah, I'm already tired…."
They were the Association employees, already picturing the hunters who would act out, believing in a single monster that was said to be friendly to humans, and cause all sorts of creative damages.
-x-X-x-
He was lost.
"Fuck, where the hell am I…."
It wasn't for nothing that the word 'Land' was attached to it; even for an Entry Dungeon, the 'Land of the Deep Sea' was damnably vast.
And if you asked if the monsters were weak, that wasn't it either.
He had somehow managed to get through Stages 1 and 2, but from the entry into Stage 3, where the form of the temple began to appear, it was hard to even breathe.
"Map, the map is… the map is…."
Unfortunately, this was a new dungeon whose basic structure had not even been figured out yet.
"...."
All of the hunter's companions, who were now lost, were dead.
"…What do I do…."
What was there to do? Was there any other way but to die?
The hunter mocked himself inwardly and collapsed onto the ground.
The water scales shimmering coldly on the ceiling of the cavern felt like the shadow of a monster, and it was so eerie.
"…I shouldn't have insisted on coming."
Being left alone, all sorts of thoughts came to mind.
In fact, it was his team leader, not him, who had strongly insisted on coming here, but with all his colleagues dead and him left alone, he couldn't help but blame himself.
The man tried his best to swallow his tears and moved his feet.
"Fuck, is this a temple or a cave… the paths are so complicated…."
Everything looked similar, yet he had never once found the same path.
He was definitely moving, but it felt like he was heading deeper, not towards an exit.
But if he stopped and hid somewhere, there were dangerous monsters and traps everywhere.
"Sheesh…."
He huffed and puffed for no reason, holding back his tears.
'At least I have to get out alive to file an application for recovery.'
When a hunter belonging to a guild died in a dungeon, the respective guild would mostly step up to recover the remains, but freelance hunters and civilians were not so fortunate.
If a freelance hunter wanted to recover the remains of a colleague, he had to prove his identity and then apply to the Hunter Association.
'I, I don't have the ability to recover them….'
The only reason he was still alive was thanks to a stealth skill among the man's skills.
"First, I have to get out alive, right, to get paid too… whatever…."
It was when he was trying to steal his heart by thinking of the benefits after escaping.
"...."
A single portrait came into the man's view.
"...?"
It was a portrait whose face was not visible, smeared with black paint.
It was eerie.
"…Wh-what is this?"
If it had been any ordinary object, he would have guessed it was one of the dungeon's decorations, but such a portrait was too out of place against the backdrop of the temple, which until now had seemed to be a repetition of the same picture.
A portrait from which he felt a gaze, for some reason, even though the area around the eyes was covered and completely invisible.
"...."
He walked right past it.
'It could be a dangerous item. A monster in the form of a portrait, or something….'
In the first place, its appearance itself was that of a portrait with a chillingly heavy atmosphere.
Unlike the pure white stone of the temple or the cavern, it was in a wooden frame.
It seemed to be gilded, but it exuded a certain warmth that was contrary to the dungeon's atmosphere, and that warmth, ironically, made him want to avoid it even more.
The sense of unease was too great.
"...."
But when he came to his senses and looked around, the frame was there again.
"…It, it wasn't here…."
It wasn't just once or twice.
"It was in the hallway just now."
He could still feel the gaze.
It felt as if the portrait was following him.
"...."
Perhaps that was correct.
His hands and feet were trembling, and his breath hitched, but nevertheless, a glimmer of hope rose in the mind of the hunter who had been pushed to his limit.
He knew it was a strange train of thought, but he couldn't help it.
It was a phenomenon that no one could call a positive situation, but he thought of it in a forced way. It seemed he just wanted to believe it.
'Could it be… something, an item that's a crucial key to escape?'
In dungeons where the story was important, a single item like this could exert its power and help in the conquest.
That wouldn't necessarily increase his chances of survival, but the hunter, with his diminished thinking ability, approached the portrait.
"It would have been nice if I had an Appraisal Skill… this is…."
"Greetings."
"...."
Flinch.
The hunter backed away.
"…Uh, uh uh…?"
"I am a portrait."
"Uh…?"
"What might your name be?"
"...."
"I am curious about your name."
The lips of the lower face, not covered by the black paint, asked again.
"Will you speak with me?"
"…Right now…."
What is this?
'The portrait is talking? A portrait?'
Even in a world where supernatural powers were steeped in daily life, a talking portrait was not something one could see often.
At least, the hunter currently trapped in the 'Land of the Deep Sea' was seeing such a portrait for the first time in his life.
"Wh-who…."
"I am a portrait."
The same voice, the same line.
"...."
He got goosebumps.
The voice, so perfect that it sounded wicked, was incredibly sweet and smooth.
It was to the point where he wondered if this was how a demon would sound if it spoke, but the hunter barely came to his senses and answered.
"Park Yun-shin… it is…."
It wasn't that he didn't know the dangers of speaking his true name, but he was too out of it to care about such things.
The only thought in his head was that he had to be obedient to the being before him.
He felt fear and mercy.
"Yes, th-that's right, it's Park Yun-shin. Park Yun-shin…."
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Park Yun-shin."
"…You're… a portrait, you say?"
"That is correct."
The pale lower face continued to speak.
"I am a portrait."
"...."
Only then did the hunter realize that not a single monster was approaching him.
'…The situation, it's taking a strange turn….'
He felt as if he was bewitched by something.
The portrait, which was merely a painting, was exuding an atmosphere so heavy it could be considered bizarre.
It was qualitatively different from the atmosphere of the temple. It felt like being invited to the Pope's funeral.
He had such a strange feeling.
"...."
It was around the time he was spacing out like that.
"Pardon the intrusion."
"Yes, yes?"
The black-painted part began to protrude as if it were enveloping something.
As the hunter jumped back in fright, a human figure cloaked in a pitch-black cape appeared right in front of the portrait.
The portrait was hanging in the middle of the wall, so the figure descended as if falling, yet not a single sound of it landing on the floor was heard.
"Ah…."
Just a rustle, and.
"...."
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Park Yun-shin."
He heard footsteps.
It was really like a human.
"...."
No, the footsteps sound like that, so why do I think it's human?
'Am I crazy? Am I under a mental-type skill?'
It was around the time he was experiencing confusion that the hunter remembered something.
"Ah, ah, ah…!"
Black Cape.
"Th-the, Black, Black Ca… Cape."
"Yes, I am wearing a black cape."
"…Black Cape…."
It was definitely a monster for which the Association had put up a bounty on information.
'…This is a monster?'
A question suddenly arose.
'This…?'
The hunter hesitated and looked at the Black Cape again.
It was wearing a pitch-black cape pulled down low, just like a grim reaper.
The shoulder area of the cape was slightly peeled back, revealing the body inside, which was also wearing a pitch-black suit and shirt, and it was strangely dark.
"...."
It definitely has a shape, so that's why its head looks round like that when it wears the cape.
'…The hands too… They're pale, but I can see skin. That means there's a human body inside….'
And yet, it didn't feel like there was a face inside.
'No, just.'
It felt like there was nothing at all.
"...."
"Mr. Park Yun-shin."
"…Um, yes, I…."
If this being called my name three times, will I die?
'They say you die if the grim reaper calls your name three times.'
He didn't particularly think that the Black Cape and a grim reaper were the same being, but it was also true that an atmosphere fatally close to death was wafting from it.
Confused by the sense of awe, as if he were in front of a being he dared not look at, the hunter bowed his head low.
"S-sorry for waking you. I was just…."
"You are a good person."
It was a kind of declaration, as if bestowing something. It sounded vaguely divine, feeling like a prophecy delivered by a god.
"...."
"Therefore, I will help you."
The Black Cape held something out.
"…Th-this is…."
It was a round orb that seemed to be made of gold.
It was quite heavy, and a strong, sweet scent that seemed to enchant the brain wafted from it.
"What is this…?"
"It is an apology for having startled you, and a gift for you who have suffered."
"A gift…?"
"It is yours."
"…That…."
"Eat it."
Eat it?
'This?'
It didn't look edible at all and yet, an urge to put it in his mouth and make it his own welled up inside him.
The orb was that beautiful in form.
I want to eat it.
"...."
Enchanted by its scent, the hunter put the orb in his mouth.
'Ah.'
An ecstatic sweetness gently swept through his entire body.
The sensation of every single cell stabilizing was vivid.
He even felt a sense of bliss, a feeling that resembled the spring breeze of a fading afternoon.
The freshness, as if a fruit brimming with juice had been fully condensed, went very well with the gentle, golden orb.
"…Uh, uh?"
"Has the bleeding stopped?"
"This, this is… yes, how is this? Why."
"I see."
"...."
The Black Cape looked down at the hunter with the inorganic gaze of a researcher who had expected a set value to appear.
He flinched at the sense of unease that was by no means human, but at the same time, for some reason, he felt honored.
He was glad that he seemed to have shown the value it had expected.
It was a feeling he himself couldn't recognize, nor understand.
"Do you wish to leave?"
"…Leave?"
His bowed head lifted on its own.
"C-can I… leave?"
"I can let you out."
"Ah…."
Only then did he remember the information that had been posted on the Association's website.
'The first discoverer also escaped the Land of the Deep Sea with the help of the Black Cape.'
It was when he looked up with a glimmer of hope at the place where a face should be.
"...."
"...."
Their eyes met.
Eyes?
Yes, eyes. He saw pupils and irises.
But it was not a sphere. Was it a flat plane?
No, it might be three-dimensional.
But he saw lines. He could see those elegant lines.
It wasn't just one.
Several were intertwined like the roots of a tree, but at the same time, they looked like one.
What color was it? Gold? No, it's dark. It was so dark it looked bright.
Then is it black? But it's close to silver. Where did the idea of silver even come from?
It's so dark. It's so bright. What in the world am I looking at right now?
'Is this even something I should be looking at in the first place?'
It was when he was so entranced by the vastness that he couldn't even feel fear.
"Mr. Park Yun-shin."
"...."
"I have a question for you."
"…A question…?"
Ah, right, there was something to ask.
"Yes, yes yes. Yes… anything."
"May I paint you?"
"…You'll paint me…?"
He didn't remember much after that.
His mind went far more blank than it had been when he first witnessed the Black Cape.
His awareness of being a living creature disappeared.
His whole body melted away, but there was no fear in it, and he felt a coziness as if he were lying in the middle of a forest where a spring breeze was blowing.
And when he came to his senses, he was in the middle of the city.
"...."
Only then did he realize that this was a miracle.
***
"…That is all…."
Park Yun-shin continued in front of the researcher.
"That I experienced."
"He turns people into paint and paints with it."
"At the time, I rarely thought it was strange."
Park Yun-shin said in a dazed voice.
"In the first place, the fact that you can even talk to a monster is… a very rare thing, and I know that, but I felt almost no surprise about that. It's just that it felt like a wise and sagacious being that probably knew everything in the world, including me…."
The researcher asked.
"Do you feel the urge to worship him?"
"…A little. That person showed me a miracle."
"It was the miracle of turning a person into paint. You said there was no pain."
"After I came to my senses… I was very confused."
A human with a proper ego had become paint and a painting, and then returned to being a human.
He had been forced to perceive the perspective of an inanimate object, which was completely unimaginable, so the after-effects could not have been minor.
"…But I don't have any bad feelings about the Black Cape…."
It was just frightening, vast, and wondrous.
"It was so, so beautiful…."
Even though he had lived a life that couldn't be said to have been close to art, he could tell that this was art and a work of art.
The vast presence that felt sacred and noble and its geometric and brilliant structure were enough to make his heart pound.
"The Black Cape is definitely favorable to humans. No, it was closer to mercy than favor. He bestowed mercy. He didn't receive any compensation."
"Yes, thank you for agreeing to the interview."
The researcher nodded.
"Providing information about the Black Cape has been a great help. You can receive your compensation immediately at the Association lobby counter. If you have any more information to share or need to make an inquiry, please contact the counter at any time."
"Excuse me."
"Yes, Hunter Park Yun-shin."
"Is that person really a monster?"
"...."
The researcher asked.
"Hunter Park Yun-shin, you refer to it as a 'person'."
The conversation ended there.
-x-X-x-
"So, here's the thing."
Leaning against the gallery wall, Yu Seong-un asked Jio.
"Is turning people into paint also because you're a painter?"
"...."
"You don't have to answer if it's a difficult question."
As a former research team leader at the Association, Yu Seong-un had deep ties to the Hunter Association.
He could find out a lot of information and the recent rumors about Jio being witnessed in the 'Nation of the Deep Sea' were no exception.
"It's just that you've never called yourself a painter, so I got a little curious."
Witnesses said that 'The Black Cape' was a portrait and a painter.
"It's also fascinating that you made a living creature into paint."
"That was not as great an act as you think."
Jio replied in his usual machine-like, subdued voice.
"To answer your earlier question, I am an ordinary person whose hobby is painting. I am not worthy of being called a painter."
"In the end, a painter is just someone who paints, as you said. Well, more accurately, it's someone whose profession is painting… but isn't it a similar context?"
"If so, you are welcome to think that way."
Unlike when he was out of the 'Jio's Portrait' frame and imitating a human, the voice of Jio inside the portrait was dissonantly business-like. With an inorganic voice devoid of any emotion, Jio continued.
"The reason I turned those people into paint was simply that I could draw them from beyond the frame. However, I judged that painting an already existing life form with ordinary paint would be closer to creation than transportation, so I had no choice but to make them into paint."
"…Right, that's…."
Yu Seong-un recalled a previous conversation he had with 'Jio's Portrait'.
"From your perspective, the painting is us, not you, right?"
"I have not forgotten that you all are living beings with egos, not ordinary paintings or paint, but while wondering if there was a way I could help them, I ended up choosing this method. Was it helpful?"
"Thanks to you, the survival rate did increase."
With the frame between them, Jio in his world and humans in their world see each other as paintings.
Therefore, it seemed that Jio, being both a portrait and a painter, could exert an arbitrary influence through his paintings.
"It's just, what should I say…."
Yu Seong-un hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"Everyone is just scared, that's all."
"Are they scared?"
"You don't exactly have a friendly appearance."
"That is correct."
"And becoming paint while still alive isn't a common occurrence either."
It was not just on the level of 'uncommon'; it was something most would never experience in their lifetime.
The Hunters were grateful for 'The Black Cape's' inexplicable kindness, yet they feared him.
"Anyway, as long as you're not treating us as mere paint, then it's fine."
"I have not thought of it in that way."
"Right, you just wanted to help in this particular way."
Though that was precisely what made him not seem human.
'From a human's perspective, the kindness bestowed by a being of the Source doesn't necessarily feel like kindness.'
It was a pure way of thinking, if one could call it that.
It was similar to a young child, not understanding a dog's physiology, feeding chocolate to a cute puppy.
The child may have intended to share a sweet snack, but for the puppy, it was akin to ingesting a deadly poison.
'Perhaps because he himself is a portrait, he has no qualms about turning people into paint. The fortunate thing is that people at least recognized it as an act of kindness….'
Perhaps because of that, it seemed some Hunters were even beginning to hold him in awe.
"…Uh…."
After pondering for a moment, Yu Seong-un spoke.
"Are you still going to the 'Nation of the Deep Sea' these days?"
"I have visited in the hopes of meeting Iseur, but I am only encountering humans, not merfolk."
"Oh dear."
It seemed that Iseur, that cunning merman, was avoiding Jio.
Whether he needed time to sort out his thoughts or was plotting something else, it was hard to say.
"Anyway… thank you for helping people."
"No, there is no need for thanks. Rather, I wish to apologize as I seem to have startled them. Was my action rude?"
"It wasn't rude or anything, just that a lot of people found it scary."
In truth, it was probably beyond 'a lot', but the fact remained that Jio had saved people out of mercy.
The Hunters seemed to know it was an act of kindness, so this much was not a problem.
'It would be another problem if the existence of the Black Cape becomes too familiar to the Hunters, but for now, it's not a situation where a major incident is likely to erupt.'
If possible, he wanted to keep the kind and friendly Hunter 'Seo Jio' and the mysterious urban legend 'The Black Cape' strictly separate, but Jio himself seemed to have no intention of doing so, which was a bit troublesome from a greedy human's perspective.
Did Jio wish to interact intimately with others even while being 'The Black Cape'?
"I'm saying this beforehand just in case you misunderstand, but I wasn't telling you not to help people. They'd probably prefer being a little startled over dying, right? I just came because I was concerned about how much you knew, so don't be too upset."
"I am not upset."
"That's a relief. But…."
Yu Seong-un's words trailed off.
"I have a question."
His reason for visiting the gallery today was not merely to relay the aftermath of 'The Black Cape' legend.
"May I ask?"
"If it is a question I can answer, I will try to provide a response."
"Well then, on what basis are you able to adjust your stature?"
It was a question born from the eyewitness accounts heard here and there, and from the testimonies of a few witnesses like Yu Seong-un and the Cha family.
The difference in stature between the 'Black Cape' of the rumors and the 'Jio' in his human form was so immense that they were not considered to be the same being.
The portrait, painted over with black paint, its eyes unseen, asked back.
"What does that mean?"
"Uh…."
Right, Jio did not know how high his own stature was.
'He thinks of himself as an ordinary human, so bringing up the word stature was definitely my mistake. This is the guy who explained people's fear of him as just a resolution issue….'
After organizing his thoughts for a moment, Yu Seong-un finally opened his mouth.
"…Of course, the urban legend of the Black Cape and the person named Jio are the same individual, but even as the same being, you sometimes show different judgments or ways of speaking. When you're active as 'Seo Jio'… I don't think you would have even had the idea of turning a person into paint."
This was the problem.
"You should be the same Jio, yet it seems your way of thinking also changes depending on your stature."
"...."
"Or perhaps I'm mistaken. I apologize if my judgment was rude."
After a moment, the portrait replied.
"I believe what you are saying is correct, Mr. Yu Seong-un. I do often vary my thoughts and tone."
"Ah."
"I try my best to live correctly and politely, but to borrow your words, when I am 'The Black Cape', I make arrogant and rude judgments."
It seemed the portrait, too, was aware of this.
"However, I have no intention of harming people. I will not cause any harm to you all, so you do not need to worry about that part."
"I understand what you mean."
Yu Seong-un nodded.
'Indeed, the thinking of a human and the thinking of a Source cannot be the same.'
Even if they were the same being, there could be differences in their thought processes depending on their stature.
'Jio called it an arrogant and rude judgment, but in truth, for him, that must have been a natural action. Considering the stature held by the being known as Jio's Portrait, it's not strange at all.'
It was natural for a human to look down on an ant.
'The very fact that he's trying to bend down and meet our eye level like this is astonishing in itself. Is it only possible because Jio has a considerably high understanding of humans?'
Of course, just because Jio 'tried' didn't mean he could become completely like a human, but the fact that he was admonishing himself by calling it an 'arrogant and rude judgment' seemed to hold significance.
"...."
A chill ran down his spine.
"Is there anything else you wish to ask?"
"Huh? No, it's just…."
He just gets the creeps whenever he feels that Jio is not human.
"…I was just thinking how amazing you are."
Yu Seong-un still did not know 'what' Jio was.
Only that it was this, a portrait.
***
"Suuuck…."
"Myalk."
"Suuuuuck…."
"Meu-eung."
Honey tilted its head at the sight of Jio inhaling Dana's belly.
"Kuruk?"
"I feel alive."
"Kkuk?"
"I'm healed."
Indeed, there was no hobby that improved the quality of life as much as sucking on a cat's belly.
"Of course, Dana is neither soft nor warm…."
"Krrrr."
"That doesn't change the fact that you're a cat. Thank you for stepping on me, master."
The two cotton-paws pushing against his face were just so adorable.
The teddy bear sun god watching the scene looked a bit disturbed, but it had no effect on Jio, Honey, or Dana.
With the whole family gathered cozily, Jio asked seriously.
"So what must I do to see Iseur's face?"
The topic was Iseur's delinquency.
"For some reason, he isn't coming to see me. He should know that I've come, so what could be the matter."
"Kuuu…."
The teddy bear narrowed its eyes as if to say, 'You don't know?', and Jio nodded.
"I know, too. I suppose it's similar to how a puppy that has caused trouble avoids its owner's eyes. Humans have a bad instinct to first evade when they've done something wrong and think they're going to be scolded."
"Ku…."
The sun god pondered whether it was right to call the merman Iseur a human, and also whether it was comparable to the avoidance of a puppy or a small child.
In the first place, it did not seem like Iseur was avoiding Jio out of fear of being scolded.
The form was clearly 'Giovanni', but the strange sense of disharmony felt from within and the unknowably lofty stature, coupled with the detestable divinity of the sun, had turned him into a being that was difficult for the merfolk to face in many ways.
But Jio was a young man of conviction. He was steadfast.
"When I was young, if I drew a map on my blanket, I would watch my grandmother's mood and secretly hand-wash it all night. Even though I knew it was a natural physiological phenomenon for a child, I didn't tell her out of guilt and shame."
"Ku…?"
"But I was eventually caught. How well could a child do hand-washing on his own? Soaked in water, it wouldn't even dry overnight. Therefore, no matter how much Iseur avoids me, that child will not be able to escape me."
"Kuuu…?"
The teddy bear expressed its doubt, as if asking, 'Is that really the right analogy right now?', to which Jio let out a small sigh.
"It's true that Iseur chose a path too cruel for such a simple analogy…."
"Kuku, ku."
"In my memory, Iseur was just a young student. It's a fact that it doesn't feel real to hear he's a terrorist or what have you now."
He couldn't help but feel daunted by the fact that he himself was implicated in that terror incident, but more than that, Giovanni remembered his young disciple. It didn't feel real.
Even if someone suddenly told him, 'Your small and precious student has been terrorizing religious facilities after you died,' the only response that came out was, 'What? Oh? Is that so?'
"But that is all the more reason why we must capture Iseur… no, meet him."
"Kuruk?"
Honey sent a suspicious gaze, as if to say, 'Didn't you just say capture?'. Naturally, Jio ignored it, and Dana yawned languidly.
"What must I do to make Iseur come to meet me. I could not help but ponder."
"Ku…."
"The 'Nation of the Deep Sea' is not a large supermarket. I can't make a missing child announcement, and Iseur, a grown adult, can't be called a missing child. This adorable merman, who knows where the exit is but refuses to come…."
Jio blinked a couple of times at his disciple, who seemed to have become a coward, refusing to even show his face. He continued shortly after.
"To tell you in advance, it's not that I have no plan at all."
"Kkung?"
"If I cause a grand incident in the 'Nation of the Deep Sea', which can be called their home, they will surely show their faces."
"Kururuk?"
"If it goes well, I think I can definitely gain the upper hand. Yes, so the plan is…."
The bird, upon hearing Jio's story, tilted its head as if asking if that would work, the cat, as if uninterested, flopped onto its back, and the teddy bear wore a peculiar expression as if asking, 'Are you really sure about that?'
At that sight, Jio looked at the sun god.
"Is something wrong?"
"…Ku…."
The teddy bear, seeing Jio's composed demeanor, nodded its head as if thinking, 'Is that so?'.
It wasn't that it had made a peculiar face out of any deep understanding itself, but rather the thought, 'If Jio is fine with it, then it must be so,' had occurred to it.
"Kuu, kukuku."
"Thank you for your support."
It was truly a heartwarming family meeting.