It seemed like some deep conversation had passed last night, but.
"...."
Tada.
Jio's ultimate positive mindset was not bound by such things.
'It seems Aria has hit puberty.'
It was also a time when one worried about all sorts of things.
'I should respect that.'
It wasn't that I didn't know Aria was worrying a lot due to my identity and the surrounding environment.
However, to me, it wasn't a very serious problem and I just hoped that Aria could get used to my situation.
But even for someone like me, worries were bound to arise.
"…Hmm…."
"Teacher, is something wrong?"
"It seems I've created a dungeon."
"Oh."
Aria, who hadn't gone home yet even though the sun had risen, let out a heartfelt exclamation and spoke politely as if she were a gentleman.
"So you did possess a desire for revenge against the sources of your pain and death, my human teacher."
"I don't have anything like that."
"If it wasn't for the purpose of tormenting humans, why did you create a dungeon?"
"I painted it because I wanted to."
"Aha."
Aria nodded.
"If it's you, Teacher, that's possible."
"I'm not sure what kind of being you think I am."
"There's just something about you."
In many ways, Jio was an unpredictable being. Even for Aria.
He could have created a dungeon from fragments of hatred and resentment towards humans, driven by his subconscious, or a dungeon could have just popped into existence after he engaged in his hobby with truly no thought or worry.
Aria's gaze joined Jio's on the picture frame he was looking at.
"Are you talking about this painting?"
"It's something I painted a while ago, but no matter how I think about it…."
"You're saying it seems like a dungeon?"
Aria asked, looking at the painting of a city filled entirely with achromatic colors.
"Its name?"
"...."
Jio answered.
"City of the Void."
The System definitely said so.
"Though it's not the name I gave it."
"Then we'll have to assume the structure gave it the name."
"What is a structure?"
"Ah… on Earth, they call it the Source."
"The Source, you say."
It was a name I had heard from Yu Seong-un from time to time.
Unlike how he called himself a Gardener, Yu Seong-un didn't readily share knowledge related to it, but I knew at least a little about the Source.
'The boss of the Systems….'
I had understood it to be the parent body of all systems and the manager of all fates.
"I see."
"What do you want to do with this, Teacher?"
"I didn't want to do anything."
Jio felt a little wronged.
"I just painted it because I wanted to."
What kind of painter paints a picture hoping for practicality?
"A painting on a canvas is for viewing, not for chewing, tearing, tasting, and enjoying."
For example, one doesn't paint a picture to beat someone up.
While it might be traded here and there for its monetary value or additional factors, a painting fundamentally existed for appreciation.
Aria, who had been silent for a moment at Jio's words, asked.
"Are you trying to say you created a dungeon without any intention?"
"Is there some problem?"
"There are quite a few…."
A dungeon could not be created without intention.
It was the act of creating a world, a set of laws, nothing less.
No matter how diverse the methods of a dungeon's formation were, it was thought that one could not be created without the will of the dungeon master.
'But he created this just because he wanted to paint it.'
The shimmering gray city enters her vision.
"...."
Soon, Aria showed her characteristic languid smile.
It was a smile so perfect and beautiful that it could capture the hearts of many ladies if she were to enter high society right away.
"Well, that could happen."
"Right?"
"Of course, of course."
Wasn't this the same Aria who had already given up on fully understanding Jio?
'I thought he wasn't ordinary even when he was human, but to think his essence was like this.'
If it was the incomprehensibly high-statured Jio, he could create a world with a single brushstroke.
After all, it was perfectly natural for a painter to create a world called a painting.
"So what exactly is the problem?"
"I was wondering if it's okay to just leave it like this."
"Hmm…."
"I don't want to throw the painting away."
"Why would you throw this away? What a waste."
A dungeon is, after all, a dungeon, a world that is bound to draw something in.
'If left like this, people from Earth might get eaten.'
What could be done even if Jio had no such intention?
When a human steps on a bug while walking down the street, do they intend to do so?
Even if it was a world Jio painted meaninglessly as a hobby, someone was eventually bound to be pulled into the dungeon.
'But I don't think I need to tell him this right now….'
This painting, too, was ultimately a world that Jio had painted.
'Which means a world like this is unlikely to do something that displeases the Teacher, who can be called its master and parent.'
What kind of laws and tastes it possessed would become known naturally over time.
"…I think we'll have to leave it be for now to find anything out."
"Is that so?"
"It's also a dungeon that was made not too long ago."
Aria scanned the gray painting up and down.
"You haven't created any separate children of your own, right?"
She was referring to the dungeon's monsters.
"A dungeon that was just born doesn't work actively. Unless you personally egg it on, Teacher, its growth will be slow as long as you leave it alone, so you don't need to worry too much."
"...."
"Teacher?"
"…Am I a parent?"
Jio's heart sank.
"Is this painting alive?"
"…It wouldn't be wrong to see it that way?"
Aria explained lightly.
"Not all dungeons are like that, but the more closely a dungeon is connected to its master, the stronger its tendencies as a living being become. It has a sense of self, in its own way, and it grows…."
"Is the 'City of the Void' that closely connected to me?"
"Its appearance as a living being also becomes clearer depending on the master's capabilities, and from what I can see, this is more than enough to be in that situation."
"How could this be?"
I had become a shameless parent who gave birth without a single thought and didn't even know they had a child.
"I am trash."
"I understand what you're thinking, but calm down, it's not like that."
Looking at it broadly, one could call it a living being, but strictly speaking, it would be a stretch to say a dungeon was a true life form.
"In Earth terms, it's like artificial intelligence. It's a vast nature, so if you look closely, you can see its detailed flow and structure, and it's just that such an emotionless system looks like a single life form from a distance."
It did not possess life in a practical sense.
"I'm saying you don't need to be so shocked."
"I understand, but still, a corner of my heart aches."
"It's amazing that a corner of your heart can still ache even after becoming like that."
Jio was of a stature that was ambiguous to be called a complete human anymore.
The fact that he maintained this unique sensitivity was a miracle that was difficult for even Aria to explain.
"Hmm…."
Aria, who had examined the painting a little more, continued.
"…It's definitely a recently created dungeon, so it's immature in many ways."
"How did you raise your dungeon, Aria?"
"I'm telling you, it's not a child…. Let's see, should I say I raised it? It's closer to creating contraptions here and there."
"Creating contraptions?"
"Creating a game board."
Aria, having observed various dungeons until now, could explain a little.
"In the case of my dungeon, it grew naturally as I simply stayed inside it. The environment was created according to my mental image, monsters came into being as I conducted research inside, and at some point, foreign substances came in, and in the process of finding ways to deal with them, various traps were installed…."
It meant that they grew together over a long period of time.
To Aria, her dungeon was closer to a dear friend than a child.
"I've also seen a dungeon master who set out to build the board with a clear purpose."
"If they set out to build the board, for what purpose?"
"He was a fellow who prioritized how to express his hatred for humans in the most systematic way."
Aria nodded.
"What's most important in managing a dungeon is ultimately the master's sense of purpose and their mental image. When what the master wants from the dungeon is clear, these things will grow more naturally."
Of course, this dungeon had many exceptions.
"I'm not sure if your dungeon, Teacher, will be the same as the others. Originally, a world like this has a strong emotion towards something as its foundation and the dungeon master naturally has some kind of purpose…."
"I have no thoughts whatsoever."
"That, I guess you could say, is the problem, if it is a problem."
In many ways, it was different from the situation of other dungeons.
"Unless you intend it, Teacher, this dungeon will likely be different from any other. There might be no rules, there might be no monsters, the possibilities are diverse."
"Does that become a problem?"
"Whether it becomes a problem or not, I don't know for sure, but it's a clear fact that how you utilize it is entirely up to you, Teacher. If you've created a world, it's bound to be that way."
No structure exists that would try to go against the will of its creator.
"It's the same with Honey, whom you created, Teacher."
"Ah, is he a child of the same case?"
"Come to think of it, on Earth, they see things like this and call them children of the Source…."
"Honey is Jio's child, though."
"...."
Suddenly, Aria realized.
"…Then I guess you're the Source, Teacher."
This person could be the Source.
"Isn't that right?"
A pitch-black drawing paper that could become anything.
"...."
"If that's the case, I won't have to worry about food expenses anymore."
"…You really have no sense of tension…."
"Above all, being able to escape from the shackles of taxes is a great stroke of luck."
"Is that really all you have to say?"
And so, she felt a little relieved.
"You really don't change."
Perhaps because he has changed so much and can change further, it seems as if he is staying in the same place.
Aria felt a foreboding sense of peace and slowly tilted her head.
"So how do you plan to utilize this?"
"A vacation spot?"
"Are you serious?"
"Wouldn't that be nice?"
"…Well, it is up to you, Teacher."
She had thought that among emotions, the most intense and vivid were anger and hatred.
That was why numerous monsters with deep hatred for humans could create worlds like this, and because they were its masters, a world that suited their tastes was created.
'So if it's a world not made from such emotions at all.'
However he utilized it, it was up to Jio.
"...."
However, a thought did cross her mind.
"If you've created a proper world that isn't a game board, can you still be called human?"
Jio answered with his characteristic blunt face.
"These things can happen in life. Aria, you have too narrow-minded a way of thinking…."
"Right, I knew you'd say that. I was a fool for asking, knowing the answer."
He was so consistent it was almost creepy.
***
Jio visited the 'City of the Void' for the first time.
"...."
"I see, so this is the world you created, Teacher."
"…Isn't Iseur busy?"
With his disciple Iseur, who had grown up so much since he last saw him.
"Is it okay for the master of a dungeon to leave their post so freely?"
"In reality, I am the second master, so my presence or absence doesn't have a big impact."
"I see."
Well, a homeowner can be away from home, of course.
In the first place, Jio, the master of the 'City of the Void,' was visiting for the first time now; to think that a dungeon master must always be busy might have been Jio's own narrow-minded thought.
"...."
But the feeling was a bit strange.
"…Is this the heart of a concerned parent whose children of marriageable age just stay cooped up in the family home…?"
"Since when do merfolk have a marriageable age?"
"I feel restless. I certainly wanted you to visit home often, but now that you seem to be settling in too much, my heart is complicated."
"And what about the time you came to fetch me, saying your neighbor never comes to visit…."
"That is true, but."
Still, I was a little worried.
"A dungeon is also a workplace that doubles as a home, so you won't be leaving it empty all the time, will you?"
"We also thought that it would be a bit of a problem for both of us to be away at the same time…."
Iseur nodded his head.
"We decided to take turns coming home."
"I hope you don't feel the burden of having to visit your parents' home."
"We come because we want to, so you don't have to worry about that."
Iseur, having said that, smiled bittersweetly.
"I'm also a little scared that the place where you are, Teacher, might suddenly disappear."
"Even though the door is wide open."
But Jio didn't say any more. Separate from the fact that he was still resentful, weren't they students he had raised with plenty of affection?
'Above all, the longer Iseur stays at my house, the more peaceful his heart will be and the peace of mankind will be protected.'
In many ways, there was no reason to dislike them visiting his house often.
"As long as it doesn't interfere with your own lives, I don't mind either."
"Ah, then we will see you often."
"It would be even better if you could bring some clams when you come."
"Clams… How about fish?"
"That is also good. Since the place I live is a forest, I find myself craving seafood."
Jio, who had nodded, turned his head to look at the gray world.
"So."
"...."
"What are your impressions?"
Iseur, who had taken in the City of the Void, slowly opened his mouth.
"…There's nothing here."
It was, true to its name, an empty city.
-x-X-x-
There were three paintings that Jio had drawn before.
"One was the 'Breathing Sea'."
Iseur nodded as if he understood.
"It's the space connected to the 'Kingdom of the Deep Sea'."
"It's also a door in the form of a picture frame."
"Though I feel it moves too actively to be called a door…."
Currently, in the 'Temple of the Deep Sea', one could find the landscape painting named 'Breathing Sea'.
A visitor wouldn't be able to find the flowing landscape painting at once, but Iseur, as a master of the dungeon in his own right, albeit the second, could clearly sense its presence.
"Anyway, that too was one of the dungeons you painted, Teacher."
"Yes, is it not inconvenient? The part where they connected was a situation I hadn't expected either."
"It didn't seem to be much of a problem."
Visitors, like moths to a flame, continued to challenge the 'Kingdom of the Deep Sea', but they were of a truly insignificant level and not a very threatening variable.
As outsiders, they would be too disoriented to notice the existence of the door, so there was really no problem at all.
"Above all, it doesn't feel out of place."
"Perhaps it's because I was subconsciously thinking of the neighborhood we lived in together when I painted it."
"Are you referring to Edlen village? It's true that the atmosphere is similar."
The one who painted the picture back then was 'Seo Jio', but even considering that, the 'Breathing Sea' was too similar to the atmosphere of the village where 'Giovanni' lived.
Perhaps the soul of 'Giovanni' had actually possessed Jio's body as he painted the landscape as if entranced.
Of course, it wasn't certain.
Since becoming a portrait, Jio's life had completely deviated from common sense and Jio wasn't a diligent enough person to interpret it all one by one.
To say it again, Jio had no thoughts.
"I can't say it's exactly the same. I just wanted to paint, and it was just a coincidence that a dimension fitting it existed."
The world where Giovanni lived was destroyed and under Aria's lead, it became a dungeon called the 'Kingdom of the Deep Sea'.
Jio had simply happened to paint a place that coincided with the scenery of the 'Breathing Sea' within that massive dungeon, large enough to be called a 'Kingdom'.
"Anyway, what I'm saying is that the 'Kingdom of the Deep Sea' and the 'Breathing Sea' aren't practically different spaces."
"Perhaps because of that, it didn't feel foreign even though it was newly created."
Iseur continued as if muttering to himself.
"I was also relieved that there was now a space where I could visit you at any time, Teacher."
"I was sorry for unintentionally meddling with the interior, but it's a relief if it doesn't bother you that much."
"Interior."
"You don't know it because it's an English word?"
"Words from Earth are basically translated, so I understood."
He just thought that for the scale of the things he did, Jio used a rather modest word.
"In any case, the 'Breathing Sea' is currently being used in that manner."
The 'Breathing Sea', where the Sun God had been trapped, was well worth its existence just by the fact that it had brought in a new family and he could bring in as much seafood as he wanted.
The oily fish from there was absolutely delicious no matter how it was cooked.
"The two remaining paintings after that were the 'Animal Kingdom' and the 'City of the Void'."
They were ones that had been painted quite a while ago.
"Among them, the 'Animal Kingdom' sometimes connects with the forest I live in, and occasionally, creatures from there cross over."
"Creatures, you say, not monsters? There are monsters that take the form of completely ordinary beasts…."
"They certainly weren't monsters. Just like the clams that can be found in the 'Kingdom of the Deep Sea'."
"In that case, it's highly likely that an existing world already existed, and a dungeon was overlaid on top of it."
"I'm expecting that's probably the case."
And to visit such a place, I would need the help of another 'Jio'. In that case, the synchronization would proceed again, and I felt like I would get disoriented again, so I was refraining from visiting for now.
"In contrast to those two dungeons, this 'City of the Void' seems to be a world I created from scratch, so I couldn't help but be concerned. I'm worried because I feel that creating something like this and then leaving it neglected is a sign of an unqualified parent."
It was completely different in nature from the 'Breathing Sea', where I had already played to my heart's content, or the 'Animal Kingdom', which I hadn't visited yet.
It was such a new type of child-that-wasn't-a-child that I didn't even have a clue how to treat it.
"As you can see, it's empty…."
"…That is true."
Iseur couldn't help but agree.
"It's very empty."
Even though the dense urban forest was so stark, it was empty to the point of making one's mind go blank.
'Is it a characteristic of the dungeon?'
For beings of a strong stature like him or his sister, it would only make their hearts feel a little empty, but if a human were to enter, they wouldn't be able to endure it unless they were considerably strong.
'…A dungeon greatly reflects the master's mental image.'
Here, Iseur completely jumped to a wrong conclusion.
'This must mean that the Teacher's mental state is like this.'
That wasn't particularly the case.
A dungeon, by principle, follows the master's mental image, but the dungeons Jio painted were closer to just 'paintings' than such a community of fate.
He might have been deeply immersed in that emotion and delusion at the moment of painting, but his mental image itself was not reflected.
However, no one had ever heard of such a case, except for Jio.
The vast experience he had gained following his sister became a poison and Iseur had no choice but to pay close attention to Jio's condition.
"Are there no monsters here at all?"
"As far as I can feel, there are none."
"I can't even feel the slightest creature…."
"This painting is of a city; I did not paint any living things."
"I see."
As long as the master of a dungeon was something with a self, it was actually difficult for there to be no living creatures inside when the dungeon was created.
Even in a dungeon mastered by an undead, it was filled with related monsters.
'…But this is too empty.'
Iseur looked at the world filled only with achromatic colors.
The towering buildings were a neat and clear gray.
Even though their entire bodies were made of transparent glass, the glass was also gray because the whole world was achromatic and the sky was obscured by thick fog, with only a faint light barely falling through.
There were uninteresting, rectangular buildings, and there were also buildings with the characteristic curves of a bustling city, but… despite being filled with such diverse shapes, nothing could be felt.
"...."
He didn't care that it was a space vulnerable to humans.
However, he couldn't help but worry about Giovanni, the master of this world.
"…Do you like this space, Teacher?"
"It is like my own child, so how could I not like it."
"I see. I understand."
The fact that Jio had such a mental image was something to be wary of.
'Considering he has that much stature while still thinking of himself as a human, perhaps this is only natural.'
If the beings called gods were to create a dungeon themselves, it would feel more filled than this, but wasn't Jio in a state where he couldn't even be called a god?
Exceptions were bound to occur.
'I don't know if he created it consciously or subconsciously, but according to my sister, he is a portrait that can become anything… so even this nonsensical void could have been born.'
He was worried.
"...."
"Iseur?"
"…It might sound a little strange for me to say this all of a sudden, but…."
Iseur hesitated for a moment before asking.
"Are you happy right now?"
Perhaps as expected, the answer came immediately.
"Of course."
"Really?"
"Because I don't make choices that won't make me happy in the first place."
"…I see."
Then, on the day you died. That choice, too, must have been for your happiness.
'It's a fact I had already guessed, but it hits hard.'
Iseur, who had been at a loss for words, forced himself to speak.
"…So why did you visit this dungeon?"
"Because I don't want to be a terrible parent who creates something and doesn't even pay attention to it."
"You are probably the only one who treats a dungeon that way, Teacher."
"Aria said that a dungeon is a community of fate with its master, so isn't that a family?"
"So that's what family means to you, Teacher… A community of fate."
Iseur, who was muttering with his lips, asked.
"Then how about creating some monsters?"
"Ah, increase the number of family members first?"
"…It would have a similar meaning."
In the first place, dungeons were usually created to kill humans.
This was because they were born from the powerful emotion of immense hatred towards a single race, but since Jio was not ordinary, this dungeon lacked the hostility or killing intent that should have been there by default.
"How you will cultivate this dungeon is up to you, Teacher, but if you still want to care for it in some way, then it would be good to increase the number of residents. Because after a god creates a world, the thing they care about most is the residents…."
At Iseur's words, Jio tilted his head.
"Don't I have quite a few problems to be called a god?"
"Well… you're not a traditional god, but, hmm, if I were to use an analogy."
It seemed Jio was underestimating himself.
'He really hasn't changed from the old days.'
But he had no intention of correcting Jio's misunderstanding.
The more indifferent he was to his own extraordinary aspects, the further Jio's limits would recede and in the end, he would be able to spend a longer time with them, the merfolk.
'The period he thinks of himself as human will lengthen by that much, but….'
That didn't matter much either.
'It's not like he's wrong.'
According to his sister, her teacher was a black drawing paper.
No one knew what it could become.
"Have you thought about how you will utilize this place?"
"I still need to think about it a little more, but…."
"Yes."
"It would be nice if the family grew, for sure."
***
Painting family members wasn't a special task for Jio.
"But the family member I'll be painting this time is going to live separately from us."
"Kurururuk?"
"I'd like it to be a child who doesn't feel lonely even when alone."
The water birds Jio had painted before were creatures that lived in groups.
Looking at the water bird lake, which had become even more crowded as if they had bred among themselves, you could tell, 'Wow, this is what group life is,' and Honey also quite disliked being separated from his family.
"So this time, I hope it's a friend with strong independence."
But he didn't want to just draw anything either.
"I have my pride as a painter, you know…."
"Kkung?"
"It's a bit grand to call myself a painter, but anyway, the 'City of the Void' is one of my works too."
"Kururu."
"I hope a resident that suits it comes into being."
But a resident that suits the 'City of the Void'.
"...."
Jio, who was sitting in his workshop chair and thinking quietly, soon opened his mouth.
"…An invisible man?"
An unseen office worker.
"That fits."
"Kuruk?"
"Don't you think so?"
To Jio, a born-and-bred country person, that was what a city was.
The air was murky, and people swarmed about.
They all looked similar, and they moved in herds on the subway and the streets.
No emotion was visible on their inorganic faces.
"When I first came up to Seoul, it was a little creepy."
It was a living, breathing horror movie.
For Jio, who had a delicate sensibility contrary to his appearance, it was excessively bleak.
Now he could think, 'The cogs of society, weary from another day, are heading home,' but he couldn't in his younger days. He had even felt fear.
"But that doesn't mean I can draw a person…."
"Kkungkung?"
"What do you take your dad for, son? Your dad can't create people."
No matter what, he had no desire to be that special.
Even if he could have, he never would have, but since he couldn't do it anyway, there was even less need to worry about it.
"In that sense, an invisible man."
To be precise, a man in a suit.
"If it's just the clothes floating around…."
"Kuru."
"Yes, that certainly couldn't be called a human."
It was closer to a doll.
"...."
Just like how the people in the city he first saw had appeared.
"…Let's see…."
Jio placed his brush on the 'City of the Void' in front of him.
"Still, it would be too lonely with just one."
"Kurururu."
"It would be nice to have a few more, but it would be too hard for me to draw them all by myself, right?"
"Kkuk?"
"It would be fun if they could come into being on their own."
It would be very fun.
The scale was excessively large for something done for simple pleasure, but for Jio, who was facing new content, the scale of the project was not a very important issue.
-x-X-x-
At some point, the 'Black Cape' disappeared.
"H-Hey, they said it was here…! They said the Black Cape was here!"
"Fuck, look for a picture frame! Isn't there a frame somewhere?!"
"They say it's not easy to see…! S-So if we look, surely…!"
"Arrrggghhh!!!"
The Hunters who visited the 'Kingdom of the Deep Sea' believing solely in the 'Black Cape', who was said to purely help humans, died helplessly.
As complaints flooded in about the suddenly vanished Black Cape and the Association that had provided information on it, an official statement was released.
"The Association has not included any phrase in its public information urging reliance on the 'Black Cape'."
Rather, they emphasized.
"Even if it shows unexpected behavior, it is ultimately a monster. The Association has clearly maintained its stance of caution and has never once stated that the 'Black Cape' is a safe and helpful monster."
In the first place, the strangely distorted rumors were largely to blame.
"What kind of monster in the world would help humans?"
"But there are cases where the 'Black Cape' has helped humans escape dungeons on numerous occasions."
"However, the 'Black Cape' categorized and limited the humans it would help. This means it cannot be a monster that is solely beneficial to humans."
The Association employee, with a straight, emotionless face, spoke as if it were all utterly absurd.
"It seems many Hunters have forgotten the fact that the 'Black Cape' is a monster."
It was a remark mocking the absurd judgment of the Hunters.
With the Association responding in this manner, the Hunters could no longer protest.
Leaving aside the fact that the Association's authority was considerable, there was nothing incorrect in their words.
"No, but still…."
"Didn't they say the Black Cape helps humans?"
Though many people still had complaints.
"Did you guys not even read the official notice? There was nothing wrong with what the Association said."
"The Association repeatedly said to keep a close watch on the Black Cape."
"Aren't the ones who went to an S-Class dungeon swayed by baseless rumors the stupid ones?"
The situation soon calmed down.
"If it weren't for that rumor…."
"What are you talking about, it's the fault of the morons who attempted the conquest without even reading the official notice."
"Kugh…."
This was because the conclusion was reached that 'the Hunters who tried to use a monster for their own convenience from the start were stupid'.
"Don't they teach you when you get your Hunter license? To be wary of monsters?"
"A monster isn't a vending machine drink…. What on earth were they thinking, entering a dungeon trusting a single monster?"
"Hunters of the past weren't like this. You can really feel how much the standards of the current generation have dropped."
"What kind of hunter who doesn't even know to fear monsters acts like a hunter."
"Even morons like these are running wild, calling themselves Hunters. This is the end of the world."
If they had merely considered the possibility of coincidental help based on the monster's characteristics, the criticism would not have been so harsh.
But hadn't the problem arisen because the majority of Hunters were those who jumped into a dungeon rated as S-Class, relying solely on the mercy of the 'Black Cape'?
Even the Hunters who had been seriously considering the 'Kingdom of the Deep Sea' for a long time showed a negative reaction.
"It makes no sense to rely only on a monster to conquer a dungeon."
"Aren't they taking the conquest too lightly? No matter how long the exploration season was."
"Interest was focused on it because the Collectors bought the entry pass, but this is a bit…."
Just as the atmosphere seemed to be settling down.
"...."
Yu Seong-un was watching.
'…Is it getting sorted out?'
It wasn't a bad flow.
'The situation was getting a little strange. I should be glad it ended at this point.'
Yu Seong-un, who was watching the Hunters and the ordinary citizens chattering about the incident, took a piece of candy from his chest.
His sugar was running low from running around here and there to check how the aftermath of the 'Black Cape' was concluding.
"Hah…."
"...."
"So, what is it?"
Yu Seong-un asked, sensing a presence from the bench behind him.
"You seem to have business with me."
"You look tired."
"If you're not tired after working overtime for over a week, you're not human."
"I agree."
The Association employee, who nodded his head, was wearing a black padded jacket, disguised as an ordinary citizen.
Sitting on the bench behind the one Yu Seong-un was on, he looked at the park, which had taken on the appearance of spring despite it being winter due to government measures and spoke.
"I don't intend to take up much of the busy Hunter Yu Seong-un's time. I would like to ask a few questions, would you be able to answer them?"
"Hmm… I would appreciate it if you could finish within 15 minutes. I need to take a train later to check the condition of the sea."
"Thank you for your cooperation."
The Association employee's question followed naturally.
"The Collectors seemed to know about the 'Black Cape' incident this time."
"There are many things that are suspicious, but what is the basis for your statement?"
"Because the source of the interesting urban legend that 'the Black Cape gives gifts to good people' seems to be the Collectors."
"That is correct."
Yu Seong-un continued his answer nonchalantly.
"There were quite a few of our employees who encountered the Black Cape."
"Then it seems the information on the homepage needs to be corrected. Could you provide testimony from the first witness?"
"I'll ask when I have time. You're not going to drag them away by force, are you?"
"Of course not. We simply felt the need to correct the information about the Black Cape."
"Anyway, our employees have encountered the Black Cape a few times, so we know its rules. It really dislikes rude and bad people."
Even as he said this, Yu Seong-un had no intention of revealing the exact circumstances of the 'Black Cape'.
This was because if he openly revealed the fact that it was the 'Jio's Portrait' that even the Association President had coveted, there was a high possibility of becoming publicly entangled by the Association approaching for research purposes.
'Jio wouldn't want that either.'
Since he lived in a peaceful cabin, he wasn't the type to like troublesome things.
"And I'm not sure if it should be called a 'gift'. The Black Cape is said to give gifts to good people, but it's closer to a form of goodwill rather than something material…."
"Can we assume it has a rule of showing goodwill to polite and good humans?"
"Yes, well. I'm sorry for not reporting it beforehand. But I don't have the right to order my employees to immediately report a monster they happened to encounter, do I?"
At that, the employee asked.
"Is it a monster?"
"...."
"I'm asking you, Yu Seong-un the Gardener."
"…In that case, I'll have to answer no."
"I see. Do you have any intention of returning to the Association's research institute?"
"It seems to be an order from the Association President, but please tell him I have no intention of doing so."
"Understood."
The employee returned the topic to the original one.
"Can I understand that you did not intentionally spread the rumor about the Black Cape?"
"It was half-intentional, but…."
Yu Seong-un mixed in a moderate amount of truth.
"Separate from that, I had no intention of causing confusion like what happened this time."
"Then for what purpose was the rumor amplified?"
"The Black Cape dislikes rude and bad people, so I wanted to prevent them from causing unnecessary trouble by doing stupid things in front of it."
"The Collectors wanted to emphasize the 'good person' part, but the Hunters were enchanted by the 'gift' part, I see."
"Even the Collectors didn't know the Hunters would be that stupid."
"I understand."
"...."
Even by doing this, he didn't expect to be able to completely hide the 'Jio's Portrait' from the Collectors.
'…The fact that the Association didn't call me in directly and only confirmed things this way must mean that they've already figured some things out but have no intention of digging deeper.'
The Association President was a renowned hunter who was evaluated to be hiding a rank higher than S-Class.
Since such a person had seen the 'Jio's Portrait' and coveted it himself, he might have already guessed that this 'Black Cape' was highly related to it.
'In the first place, there was the huge commonality of it being a portrait.'
The fact that the Black Cape was witnessed in the form of a portrait was already a known fact.
At this point, he had no choice but to think that they knew all they needed to know and were just asking for formality's sake.
Therefore, the purpose of this deceptive conversation was only twofold.
'Based on this rumor and the chaotic situation, does the Collectors intend to misuse the Black Cape? If not, do they have any intention of handing over the Jio's Portrait to the Association for research….'
Well, he had denied both.
"...."
Yu Seong-un opened his mouth.
"Is there anything else you want to ask?"
"Gardener Yu Seong-un, have you identified the true identity of the Black Cape?"
"…No."
It would have been great if he had.
"I don't know."
"…I see."
"So I ask that the Association also pay special attention."
"Are you saying there's a need to raise the response level?"
"That might be better."
It was a being of the Source that even Yu Seong-un couldn't grasp.
Even if the Black Cape had no malice, there was a high probability that it would become a disaster for humans in some way, so it would be advantageous for the survival of the weak humans to be on high alert.
"We will also submit a report if we identify anything on our end."
"…We'll be counting on you."
The employee moved away naturally, as if he had never had a conversation with him.
"...."
Feeling the presence move away, Yu Seong-un closed his eyes.
'It's been a while since I've received the Association's attention like this.'
Still, it seemed his response wasn't awkward, as the scene in the park was not much different from before.
There was no one pretending not to, while focusing on this side.
'I guess I didn't act awkwardly.'
As he quietly closed his eyes, he could hear the chatter of the people gathered in the park with its mild air.
"In the end, what was the Black Cape…?"
They were also experiencing confusion.
"They said it was a monster that didn't fit in with the 'Kingdom of the Deep Sea' from the start."
"I heard that sometimes monsters from other dungeons cross over, could it be a case like that?"
"The Black Cape might have its own separate dungeon."
"But they said it's a humanoid monster. Are there cases where a boss monster crosses over from a dungeon?"
"I heard that you can sometimes see it outside the dungeon too…."
"No way, then it's a monster that roams around freely without a set area."
"That's too much. It definitely seems like a baseless rumor."
Yu Seong-un soon opened his eyes to the voices that sounded like the fluttering of a small bird's wings.
All talk of the Black Cape.
"…So it turned out like this."
It was a planned confusion.
'Still, this is a pretty good defense.'
Jio was a being who could go anywhere.
He could become anything because he was a painting, and he could create anything because he was a painter.
Since there was no way to stop such a 'Jio's Portrait', what the Collectors chose for the sake of national stability was, in the end, the control of information.
'If people can slowly get used to the existence of the Black Cape this way….'
It was clear that there would be less confusion than revealing the 'Jio's Portrait' on the front lines.
The urban legend that wasn't an urban legend spread by the Collectors and giving Jio a Hunter license as a human, were all in the same context.
To classify and regulate the 'story' of the Source.
"...."
Nevertheless, Jio's identity was still a mystery.
'What kind of being is he to make these things possible?'
Even a god could not perform such bold acts in succession.
"Not a god, not a human, and certainly not a monster…."
Yet a being that could be all of those things.
"How should I define this?"
It's too contradictory.
Even Yu Seong-un, who had set foot in the Garden from a very young age, could not adequately explain that existence.
This was because its very standard was completely different from the beings of the Source he had seen and studied so far.
"...."
Sighing, Yu Seong-un got up from his seat.
"Time to work."
The feeling of fumbling for the way with his hands after losing his sight.
A strange eeriness towards the being that still remained a mystery despite having seen and heard so much, quietly crept up the nape of his neck.
-x-X-x-
It was late dawn.
"...."
She had tried wearing all the rags she could stuff herself into, but there was no way a poor, 4th-class citizen could be properly dressed.
The 18-year-old woman, who had just become an adult, touched the scarf that seemed to be made of animal fur.
"Hah…."
A white breath spread out.
"…Still, it's not too cold."
It was the time when Christmas was approaching.
Recently, it has barely snowed.
Was it gradually becoming spring?
Thanks to the rising temperature day by day, the number of poor dying from the cold has decreased.
The woman had almost died that way too, but thanks to a scarf someone had given her, she was able to get through the winter.
'Spring will be here soon.'
Though it was still very cold.
'Still, if I just wait a little longer….'
From the perspective of a 4th-class citizen, the situation in the place where the woman was staying was not too bad.
Since it was a city, it was safe from the threat of monsters and especially in this neighborhood, the people were generous, so she could sometimes receive help.
'When spring comes, I won't have to worry about freezing to death, and as for food, I can survive somehow since weeds or something will grow. If I'm lucky, I might even be able to have a meal provided by the city….'
Grumble.
She was hungry.
"...."
Should I try eating some snow?
Winter was truly harsh for the poor.
Unlike other seasons where they could at least forage for plant roots, there was nothing to eat, and it was even cold.
If there was any consolation, it was that there was plenty of snow, so she could get drinking water.
'If my body were very cold, it would be hard to eat, but….'
This winter, she was lucky and was able to maintain her body temperature in various ways.
"…Is it thanks to the scarf?"
After receiving the scarf from someone she didn't even know, small bits of good fortune had come her way.
The woman gathered the clean, untrodden snow and put it in her mouth.
Since it was snowing from the ground, she occasionally chewed on dirt, but it didn't matter.
Fortunately, the woman was quite resistant to the cold.
"...."
Looking for a place where the wind didn't blow, she went a little deeper into the alley and saw other poors.
"Did you hear?"
"Hear what? I'm freezing to death…."
"No, I mean the Black Cape."
Black Cape?
'…Come to think of it, all the city people were talking about that too.'
While it was common for poors to hide in alleys to avoid the contemptuous gazes of the city dwellers, the woman liked the clean and orderly atmosphere and would sometimes hide outside the alley.
The name the poor had just mentioned was one that people strolling in the park had also brought up.
'They were saying something about how the Black Cape was a monster after all.'
It was an unfamiliar name to a poor person who was bound to have little information, but she had heard it once or twice, so it was also intriguing.
The woman carefully settled down in the alley and eavesdropped on the poors' conversation.
"Why the Black Cape all of a sudden? They say it's a monster."
"But from what I heard… it grants wishes and stuff."
"That's ridiculous. Where would you find a monster that's beneficial to humans."
"But, there are harmless monsters that live in places like parks… so there could be beneficial monsters too. Right?"
"So why did you bring that up?"
"I was thinking of looking for the Black Cape."
Another poor scoffed.
"Give it up. You want to get eaten in one bite by a monster?"
"They said it's the type of monster that doesn't eat people…."
"Then it'll tear you to shreds. Does it make sense for a monster to leave a person alone?"
"R-Really…?"
"The city's been noisy about that lately, anyway."
Unaware that the woman was listening intently, the poor continued.
"Didn't a bunch of Hunters die because they believed in that Black Cape or Red Cape or whatever?"
"Huh? Something like that happened?"
"That's what I hear. An S-Class dungeon opened somewhere, and a creature called the Black Cape appeared there often. It even rescued people in danger…."
"Then isn't it a monster that's beneficial to humans after all?"
"They say it suddenly disappeared. And then, some guy appeared who said he saw the Black Cape in some other alley."
"A monster that was in a dungeon suddenly appeared in an alley…? Does that make sense?"
"It's a nonsensical story."
The poor clicked his tongue.
"It's probably just a baseless rumor made up by city people with nothing to do, or 4th-class maggots like us. If not, then it's a dangerous monster that can pop up anywhere."
Monsters basically had a fixed area of activity.
The poor didn't receive separate education, so they didn't know the details, but they at least knew that there were some set rules for monsters.
But the Black Cape was a monster that didn't even follow such rules.
"It might have saved a few hunters by chance. But don't you get a feeling from the fact that it suddenly disappeared? It's just an evil monster that doesn't care what happens to human lives. Or it was a scheme to lure the hunters into a trap."
"But they said it grants wishes…."
"Don't be ridiculous. Even the gods only show mercy to the believers who are useful to them. A traditional god might be able to offer a favor without expecting anything in return, but… this is a monster."
The poor told him not to hold onto useless hope and hunched his body.
As a cold wind whipped through the alley, the poor shivered and huddled together with those they knew.
"Ugh, it's cold. Stop talking nonsense and just get closer."
"Ah… I was thinking of asking for a set of clothes if I met the Black Cape."
"You're still talking nonsense to the end."
It was a common sight in such a winter for the poor who knew each other to huddle together like penguins.
The larger the cluster, the greater the power of the group was sometimes evaluated to be, but the woman had no such friends left.
Her only poor friend had died during the winter.
"...."
If she had been alive, would it have been warmer than now?
"Ugh…."
In the chilly winter wind, the woman clutched her scarf tighter and curled her body into a ball.
It seemed like a good idea to make a new companion when spring came.
It was difficult to be active because it was winter, but new friends would come with time.
'…The Black Cape.'
So that's what it was.
'I was wondering what people were whispering about these days.'
She had heard that it was a humanoid monster that had appeared for the first time in several years.
She thought she had also vaguely heard the absurd rumor that if you do good deeds, the Black Cape gives you a gift.
'Though I don't believe it.'
The poor from before were right.
There are no monsters that are beneficial to humans.
The woman, who had lost her village, family, and friends to monsters and fled to Seoul, knew this very well.
Monsters were an object of fear for many.
"...."
The skinny woman quietly slipped out of the alley and roamed another alley close to the brightly glittering city.
There was no other reason.
She just thought she might be lucky enough to find leftover food from the city people.
This terrible hunger wouldn't be solved by just sitting still.
Even if her body got more tired the more she moved, if she didn't act, she would likely starve to death.
While wandering around like that for a bit, the woman came across a certain poor.
"...."
"…Uh…."
With a much smaller frame than her, she looked younger than 18 at least.
'A child born here?'
If she was this young, she would usually be a child born between people of the slums, but no guardian was in sight.
No matter how heartless the slums were, it was rare for such a young poor to be left alone.
'But it's a bit much to act like I know her….'
After being demoted to a 4th-class citizen, the woman, who had lived an individualistic life, had no desire to go out of her way to acknowledge the child.
The woman knew very well that acknowledging a child in such difficult times would only mean another mouth to feed.
The city people might call it dirty and lowly, but what made up the woman now was what she had painstakingly scraped together to survive.
If she gave that away easily, it would be hard to last even a single season.
"...."
But.
"…Hmm…."
At least this scarf was not something the woman had scraped together.
"D-Do you want to use this?"
"...?"
"Use this. This…."
It was a stroke of luck that had come by chance.
"You use it."
It had been a long time since she had spoken to someone, so the words didn't come out well, but the meaning itself was delivered clearly.
The young poor, while glancing with wary eyes, must have been cold because she tentatively took the scarf.
Her neck felt a bit bare, but it was okay.
The woman was good at enduring the cold, and she wouldn't die without one scarf.
It wasn't something that was hers to begin with, just a passing piece of luck, so she wasn't disappointed.
"Here."
"...."
Perhaps not understanding the situation, the young poor didn't answer and just clutched the scarf tightly.
Seeing that, the woman's face turned red from an unknown embarrassment, and she hurriedly left the place.
Trying to talk to someone after such a long time, the words just wouldn't come out.
The woman, who had moved far away, soon thought with a sense of pride.
'Still, I did a good job.'
Her parents had taught her to share if she had enough.
Those people were gone now, but doing a good deed according to her parents' words after a long time felt quite nice.
'Later, when I meet mom and dad….'
I'll be praised, right?
It was when she slightly raised the corners of her lips with that thought.
"...."
"...."
A pitch-black picture frame came into the woman's sight.
The frame, as if carved from a golden tree, was neatly and luxuriously sculpted.
Inside it, a scene of lush greenery was painted with calm colors, but when she pondered where she had felt the 'blackness', she saw its essence.
"...."
A portrait of a man in a pitch-black suit, painted with soft, deep ink-like paint, his face invisible.
A black portrait.
"…Huh?"
She instinctively realized that it was the 'Black Cape'.
"Uh, uh uh… uh…."
"...."
"M-Monster…."
Her breath caught in her throat.
'It's a monster.'
The monster that had taken everything from her was right in front of her.
Her breath hitched as if she had been punched in the solar plexus.
Her heart pounded wildly as if it were struggling right before death, and the blood that rushed with it made her whole body tremble.
So many organs were moving, but why wasn't her brain working?
As she unknowingly flinched before the disaster with its gloomy and heavy atmosphere, the crimson lips in the frame opened.
"...."
"I apologize for startling you."
What… should I call this.
It was an incredibly polite voice that she, a poor and a coward, would never have had the occasion to hear.
"I offer my apologies."
"...."
That benevolent voice gave her the creeps.
No emotion could be felt in the Black Cape's voice.
It was just as quiet as if it were embodying a funeral, it was so silent it could hardly be called a 'voice', and it was as clean and clear as a machine's voice.
Despite having such a voice, despite speaking without any emotion, this bizarre and beautiful cape was imitating benevolence from within the shadow of its hood.
'…W-What do I do.'
Her feet were frozen and wouldn't move.
'I'm scared….'
The woman was a natural-born coward, she had always been afraid of monsters, and even more so after her village was annihilated.
It was only natural that her whole body trembled upon encountering a humanoid monster she had only heard about in stories.
She had hidden alone in that chaos because she didn't want to die.
She had survived like that and came to the city. She had been living stubbornly, clinging like a parasite to this large city.
"Ah, ahh…."
"...."
"…D-Don't, don't come… Don't come here…."
"...."
"Heuk, kkeup…."
It was just too sad.
"I-I, I did a good deed todayyyy…."
Wasn't her luck just too bad?
The various good things people said about the Black Cape flashed through her mind, but it was truly for a fleeting moment.
Even so, to the woman who knew what kind of beings monsters were, this situation of encountering the Black Cape was terribly frightening.
'How am I going to die?'
Will I be swallowed whole into a large mouth like her parents were that day?
Or will I be pierced by countless teeth and die?
Or will I be trampled and crushed to death, or, or, or….
As she was just crying sorrowfully, the Black Cape asked.
"Did you do a good deed?"
"Kkeup, heuuu…."
"I imagine you must have been very surprised by the frightening situation."
"…Sniff…."
"I promise I will not harm you."
Even as she cried, she thought it was a voice with a strange resonance, yet full of mercy.
No, in fact, at some point, her crying had stopped. The woman herself didn't notice it.
"...."
"Here."
The Black Cape held out its hand and gave her something.
Normally, the woman would never have accepted something given by a monster.
She would have been too busy being shocked speechless or crying her eyes out, but as if possessed by something, her heartbeat calmed down, and she found herself listening to the steady voice.
She unknowingly held out her hand and received something.
"...."
"It is a cookie."
Rustle.
A savory smell came from within the thin, Hanji(Korean traditional paper)-like envelope.
"I once again apologize for frightening you."
"...."
"I affirm you for your good deed."
The Black Cape, like a gentleman from a fairytale or a nobleman from a faded film, placed a hand on its chest, clasped its hands behind its back, and bowed.
After the short and slow bow, the Black Cape's low voice followed.
"Thank you."
For what?
"...."
When she lifted her head, the picture frame was nowhere to be seen.
Only the freshly baked cookie remained.
"…Huh…?"
It was the day the name of the 'Black Cape' spread among the poor.
***
The portrait, still unable to make a new friend, cried pitifully.
"I couldn't find anyone to be my pen pal friend today either…."
"Ah, if you're so inclined, shall I catch one for you?"
"How dare you try to take away this teacher's pleasure."
"...."
…If the Teacher says so, then it must be so.
Iseur nodded gravely with a benevolent smile on his face.
-x-X-x-
I continued to check the situation on Earth through the picture frame, searching for a human who could become a 'new friend'.
Eventually, Iseur asked.
"What is the reason you don't just pass by the humans you happen to check on, but instead talk to them or give them gifts?"
I answered with a gentle yet confident voice.
"If they hadn't seen me, it would be another matter, but they saw me too. Originally, if eyes meet, it's a battle. I can't help but strike up a conversation."
"To think you must have a showdown when your eyes meet. The people of Earth have more aggressive tendencies than I thought. Are there specific rules?"
"The longer the eye contact, the more likely it is to be taken as a temptation or a duel."
"Truly amazing. When I previously disguised myself as a child of Earth, I was in too much of a hurry to study properly, but to think such a culture existed."
"Perhaps that's why this teacher, too, cannot simply let go of someone whose eyes he has met."
It wasn't that I didn't think the people I met like that would be surprised, but couldn't there exist a perfect match for me as well?
And that was something I wouldn't know unless I tried talking to them.
I had no idea how long it would take to happen upon someone who wouldn't be frightened by the name 'Black Cape' and would greet me with a cheerful hello, but this young man from the mountains of Gangwon-do, who had never even dated because he pursued a natural encounter until that age, had a strange sense of romanticism.
"If I waste time recklessly like this, I will eventually be able to find a new connection."
"Ah, yes."
"And as I go around talking to people, don't you think I'd also want to give them gifts?"
"Aha…."
"It's not like I have nothing, not like I have no time, and it's not like parents will complain if I give out some presents."
With the three elements perfectly aligned, there was truly no reason not to give.
No one could stop Jio, who was going wild with the desire to share joy, love, peace, affection, and happiness.
"Above all, aren't they admirable?"
"Do you give gifts to everyone who is admirable?"
"This is what it means to have the heart of a teacher."
"The child from just now was not your disciple, Teacher… but I see. I understand."
"Don't jump to conclusions as if you're about to kill someone. Being hasty at your age is grotesque."
"Yes, Teacher."
"Must they be my disciple for me to give them a gift?"
People who did cute things always needed a sweet reward.
It was a thought typical of Seo Jio, who, even during his days as a high school teacher, always carried snacks in his pocket to give to students.
"Besides, what I have in abundance right now is time."
I was not in a hurry.
"I have Honey here, and Dana, and Father, and even Iseur and Aria, don't I."
"...."
"That look of yours, pretending not to be but being very satisfied, is suspicious. Do you really not like that I am searching for a human to be my friend?"
"Yes, I do not."
"I see. But no matter how admirable a disciple you are, Iseur, you cannot stop me from making a pen pal."
Yu Seong-un, suffocating from the overwork of a modern man, was too busy to be the only one I held onto for exchanging letters. I needed a new friend.
"No matter how much I live inside a picture frame, I feel like I'm not communicating with the world enough."
In my opinion, my current position was that of a grandfather living alone in some remote countryside.
I had come to be treated like an ancestor in just 31 years, and this was a household where I couldn't communicate with the young people at all, even if I tried to learn about the world these days.
"So I have no choice but to take the initiative to make friends myself."
"Would it not be better to have the vulgar humans who don't know their place crawl to you on their own?"
"Stop trying to confine your teacher to this small cabin, Iseur."
"It is not particularly small."
"It is infinitely small to contain a being like me."
"...."
Iseur, still with a benevolent smile, nodded his head.
"Then until when do you plan to enjoy this search for a friend?"
"I think I'll do it whenever I'm bored."
"…And after you have obtained this 'friend'…?"
"I'll continue. What good is just one friend?"
"Ah, you plan to stick them to your nose?"
"I meant that it is far from enough."
The more friends, the better.
"How boring would this long time be if not spent with friends?"
"We, your faithful disciples, will be by your side."
"Iseur, you need to develop your independence. How long will you protect this worthless teacher?"
He's cooped up at home for thousands of years, so the kid becomes strange like this.
If he made some friends and went to a karaoke or something, I couldn't ask for more.
'Though I don't think a timid child like Iseur would enjoy such an active hobby.'
I nodded my head.
"Still, I will continue to look for friends."
"Speaking from an objective standpoint, not my personal feelings, if you continue to show yourself like this, the recognition of the 'Black Cape' on Earth will rise considerably."
"Iseur is right. The 'Black Cape' is known to the public as a monster, so there will be confusion one way or another. I am aware that I am doing something I should be sorry for."
"…I do not care what becomes of the humans' confusion, but I am afraid that you, Teacher, will receive attention in a negative way. Their nature is selfish and fickle. They cannot be trusted."
"There can be people like that. How many humans are there on Earth? Of course, that can happen. But I already have many good friends to imagine such an unfortunate future. I believe you all will protect me."
Above all, I intended to create an image for the 'Black Cape' that would not be easily targeted.
'That's why I continue to wander around and show myself openly, and why I don't bother to explain even if they misunderstand me as a scary person.'
There might be minor incidents related to me from time to time because of that, but….
"I am not a person who thinks deeply."
Anyway, as long as it was fun, that was enough.
***
Hunter Association Meeting Room.
"With this, we will conclude this discussion."
"Yes, Mr. President."
"And next…."
The Association President with a neat smile continued.
"Is the agenda item regarding the 'Black Cape'."
The Association President's lips opened smoothly.
"This is the first time it has been formally put on the agenda, so I am looking forward to what kind of discussion will come out."
"...."
"The reason this agenda was proposed is for the stability of the city, so we should hear about the overall atmosphere of the city related to the topic. Team Leader Seo."
"Yes, Mr. President."
The team leader of the Information Processing Team, which collects and organizes city information, opened his mouth.
"According to our current findings, a large number of citizens have witnessed the Black Cape. The number of people from whom we have secured witness testimonies so far is 26, with 9 1st-class citizens, 11 2nd-class citizens, 2 3rd-class citizens, and 4 4th-class citizens confirmed."
The 5th-class citizens, who were not even considered human, were excluded.
Even if they had contacted the Black Cape, the Association had no means to confirm it.
They were all criminals living in hiding somewhere.
"The common testimony is that it shows goodwill when treated politely, or when one performs a good deed even if it's not related to it."
"By goodwill, do you mean the snacks that were reported previously?"
"What has been confirmed so far are baked goods like cookies, and snacks like candy and chocolate. Although they appear to be handmade, the ingredients themselves are almost identical to Earth's food, but…."
"It was said that even if the taste is the same as regular snacks, their effects are different."
"Yes, that is correct. They produced effects like medicine, such as nutritional supplements, anemia medicine, and painkillers, tailored to the recipient."
"Side effects?"
"We have confirmed that if someone other than the recipient consumes it, the effect is reduced by more than half. No other side effects have been detected."
At the Information Processing Team Leader's words, another employee received permission to speak and asked a question.
"Where was it mainly sighted?"
"The only identical sighting location is the slums in the border zone, and even then, it has never been found in the exact same place."
"It sounds like there are no restrictions on its spatial movement. It seems its very standard is different from a typical being of the Source. In that case, has it ever been discovered overseas?"
"Since the opening of the 'Kingdom of the Deep Sea', the first place the 'Black Cape' was sighted, we have been requesting cooperation and receiving information from the associations of various countries, but so far, nothing has been reported."
"Is there a possibility that the overseas associations did not share the information?"
"According to the Korean Association branch's findings, they have reported that the Black Cape has not been sighted overseas. However, considering the characteristics of the 'Black Cape', we cannot rule out the possibility that it has shown itself overseas but simply has not been witnessed."
At that, another employee asked.
"The most important thing would be whether it harms the safety of the citizens. You said you obtained testimonies from 26 witnesses; were there any cases among them of being attacked by the 'Black Cape'?"
"There was a case among the testimonies, not from the witness themself."
The Information Processing Team Leader displayed the organized information on the monitor in front of each team leader.
"For 25 of the citizens, the contact ended with them receiving a gift from the 'Black Cape' and parting ways, but as you can see, for just one person, the situation was markedly different. This was the case of a 3rd-class citizen who encountered the 'Black Cape' in the 'Jewel Water Vein'."
The dungeon called 'Jewel Water Vein' was not very famous in public, but it had a high preference among Black Hunters who tried to sell monsters through illegal routes.
This was because it was the habitat of the 'Anticat', which was popular for its beautiful and cute appearance, and the 'Black Cape' was sighted in that 'Jewel Water Vein'.
"The witness who cooperated with the Association's Q&A is Hunter Lee Seon-hu, with a rank of F-Class, and team position identified as a porter. He is not the one who was attacked by the 'Black Cape'."
"Then what are the personal details of the person who was attacked by the 'Black Cape'?"
"The victim attacked by the 'Black Cape' is Hunter Park Eun-gyeom, with a rank of B-Class and team position as leader. The witness stated that the victim, Hunter Park Eun-gyeom, tried to abandon him in the dungeon and leave."
"These kinds of incidents never get old, they just keep happening…."
Conquering a dungeon consumes a significant amount of resources in itself.
Especially in the case of porters, they are not helpful in combat, and when they reach a state where they cannot even carry luggage, they are often easily abandoned.
Because they're not helpful, but they add another mouth to feed.
"This rarely happened in the past."
"A lot is different from our time, it seems."
"They don't see their comrades as comrades…."
Seeing the somewhat weary expressions of the elders, the Information Processing Team Leader continued.
"…The 'Jewel Water Vein' is a dungeon not frequently visited by other hunters, so the witness, judging that he would starve to death if abandoned, clung to Hunter Park. In the process of shaking off the witness, Hunter Park Eun-gyeom used violence."
And.
"It is judged that the 'Black Cape' witnessed that scene."
The witness practically worshipped the Black Cape.
"In the testimony, the 'Black Cape' was said to exist in the form of a picture frame. Due to the nature of the dungeon 'Jewel Water Vein', visibility was not well secured, so neither of them noticed the frame at first, but when the now-missing Hunter Park Eun-gyeom used violence, it intervened and exerted its influence."
"Wait a moment."
An elder, who was close to being an old man, asked.
"A missing person? Not injured or found as a corpse, but completely not found?"
"Yes, the witness testified that Hunter Park Eun-gyeom was dragged into the picture frame."
"This is the first I'm hearing that a person can enter a picture frame…. How was he dragged in? Did the 'Black Cape' personally grab him by the collar and pull him in?"
"He said he could not directly observe the form of the 'Black Cape'. Just that from inside the frame…."
The Information Processing Team Leader unconsciously frowned slightly.
It was because he had to report ambiguous information, which was unbecoming of his position.
"The testimony is that a number of transparent hands crawled out and abducted the missing person."
"…A number of transparent hands?"
It was a voice laced with doubt.
"If they're transparent, how did he know there were many, and how did he know they were hands? If he was F-Class and a porter, it would have been difficult to identify such a form."
"The witness was only explaining what he felt, and it seemed he himself had difficulty with a logical expression. However, he said he clearly saw that it was wearing a suit."
"A suit… So it was wearing clothes, but the hands were transparent. Is he going to say he saw an invisible man or something."
At that, the Association President opened his mouth.
"It is not impossible. It has only been 32 years since the era of Hunters began, so we should not be arrogant in thinking we know everything. We will acknowledge the possibility and classify it as a monster."
"Yes, Mr. President."
"Yes, Mr. President."
As immediate words of acceptance came out, the Association President looked at the Information Processing Team Leader again.
"Was the 'Black Cape' not witnessed in that process?"
"That is correct. However, based on the characteristics of the frame and the witness's strong insistence, we judged that this incident is related to the 'Black Cape'."
"Is there anything more to report?"
"The report on the phenomena exhibited by the 'Black Cape' is now complete. No exceptional situations other than the Hunter Park Eun-gyeom case have been identified. Please check the report for detailed information."
"I see, you've worked hard."
The Association President nodded his head.
"You may offer your opinions freely without restriction."
At that, one of the employees gathered in the meeting room gained the right to speak.
"So, I think it would be good to discuss what to define the 'Black Cape' as."
"It is showing out-of-spec characteristics in various aspects."
An elder took that opinion and continued.
"Regarding this, I would like to hear the thoughts of Kang Woo-ri, a Gardener and the Research Team Leader of the Seoul 1st Branch."
"…Before attending this meeting, I investigated and researched in many ways because I wanted to reach a conclusion, but unfortunately, I have not yet been able to define it."
"…That must mean it is not an easy being to deal with…."
"That is correct. It is a contradictory existence that cannot be judged."
The Research Team Leader displayed information on the monitor in front of each participant.
"This is a table summarizing typical gods, monsters, and children of the Source. As you can see, the 'Black Cape' can belong to any of these categories, and conversely, it may not belong to any."
To be a god, it has too many impurities other than divinity.
To be a monster, it has a complete lack of hatred towards humans, and to be a child of the Source, it is too interested in humans.
Yet, it embodied all those characteristics in one body.
"If there is one thing we can be sure of, it is that the 'Black Cape' is a being that belongs to the Source. It also has its own rules."
"Its own rules… is it that again?"
"Yes, it is that it affirms the good and negates the evil."
"The standard for that good and evil is probably set by itself."
"It certainly seems that way, but there is still nothing certain. However, based on the circumstances so far, it seems that its standards are not so different from ours, the humans'."
However, its radical nature could be evaluated as being typical of a being of the Source.
It had abducted a perpetrator somewhere just for witnessing an act of violence.
This proved that even if the 'Black Cape' were favorable to humans, it ultimately had no interest in the rules made by humans.
It was a high-risk course of action, as the current state of the missing person was unknown.
"What is worth noting here is that these actions of the 'Black Cape' do not seem to symbolize punishment."
"If rewarding the virtuous and negating the wicked is not punishment, then what is it?"
"It seemed closer to a personal preference. It means it's not authoritarian or elitist like other humanoid monsters, but simply a creature that is built that way."
At that, the Association President added his words.
"It is certainly a characteristic close to a child of the Source."
"Yes, that is correct."
If the 'Black Cape' had dealt with the wicked with the meaning of 'punishment', it would have shown itself.
But in the Hunter Park Eun-gyeom case, the 'Black Cape' remained as a picture frame and did not reveal its form until the end.
As if it were simply getting rid of something unsightly from its sight.
"Among the actions of the 'Black Cape' so far, there has been no part where a clear intention was revealed. We can only surmise that it has a rule of affirming the good and negating the evil, based on the direction of its actions."
In fact, the actual situation was a little different.
Jio, in the first place, didn't even know that a picture frame like the 'City of the Void' was roaming around on its own, nor the fact that someone had been dragged into his picture frame.
It was closer to the 'City of the Void', which had a sense of self in its own way, getting rid of 'something' that its parents would dislike.
It was the same principle as when Honey, who had first come out to modern society, had swallowed the man of evil nature he saw at Gyeongbokgung.
Jio's children wanted their parents to see only good things and always be happy.
"...."
"...."
Of course, to those who didn't know such circumstances, everything just felt like the 'Black Cape's' intention.
The fact that the 'Black Cape' had no malice even though it had made a person go missing made some of the Association's employees feel a chill and a sense of caution.
"…There are no restrictions on its movement either."
Moreover, given that it was also sighted in dungeons, the 'Black Cape' could truly go anywhere.
"It is very interesting in the lives of humans."
"...."
"It gives blessings to the virtuous and despair to the wicked."
An employee with a smiling face continued in a light tone.
"It's just like an Easter egg in a game, isn't it?"
If you were to compare life or dungeon conquests to a game, that is.
An Easter egg refers to content that the creator hides in various media for fun.
Since it is something the 'creator' 'hides' for 'fun', it may or may not be related to the content of the game, and if you find it, you're lucky, and if you don't, it doesn't affect the game's progress.
"Doesn't it seem like a rare and interesting event that appears from time to time?"
"It will be difficult to call it an 'interesting event' as long as a clear missing person has appeared."
"From the looks of it, he seemed to be quite a piece of trash… so if everyone just lives nicely, there won't be a problem."
"Creating good people and punishing the wicked is the job of the Association and the government, so we should not rely on an unidentified being of the Source."
"Yes, I will be more prudent. I admit it was a careless remark."
"And at this point, the question that comes up again is…."
One of the elders continued.
"What happened to the hunter who was dragged into the picture frame?"
The dangerousness of the 'Black Cape' could be determined accordingly.