Chapter 74

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.

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