chapter 140

The Painter Who Draws Dungeons - Episode 140

Most well-known hunters had managers.

Yoo Seong-woon said,

“Well, you could think of it as a kind of secretary.”

“Do I really need such a secretary when I don’t even go out much?”

“Of course, a secretary is someone who organizes a busy schedule, but...”

There were other duties besides that.

“The most important job is managing a certain person’s inside and outside, you know.”

In particular, Korean hunters, who had a strong image close to celebrities, often hired managers.

“Korea has such strong admiration for hunters, and because of that, image consumption of hunters flows smoothly.

How that hunter is seen by the public is also one important part.”

“Isn’t a hunter simply a job that catches monsters or criminals?”

“You can think of it as somewhere between a soldier and a celebrity.

Even so, most hunters aren’t government-affiliated, but if you’re only looking at the characteristics of the two occupations, it’s similar to a certain extent.”

After moving to the parking lot, Yoo Seong-woon invited Gio to get in.

“Get in a comfortable seat, I’ll drive.”

“Then may I sit in the passenger seat?”

“Of course.

It’ll be convenient for conversation.”

After getting in the car, Yoo Seong-woon continued the topic.

“So, the reason I’m recommending you get a manager is...”

Rrrrk.

With the sound of marbles rolling, the engine started.

“You don’t really know how the world is running right now.”

“That is correct.”

“If you plan to make good use of the identity ‘Hunter Seo Gio,’ I think it would be better to have a helper at your side.”

“A helper.”

“Like a guide who tells you how you should respond as a hunter.”

In fact, many hunters hired managers in that context as well.

“Depending on what your specialty is, a hunter’s work is very diverse, but basically, the things you need to be careful about include what kind of image you will approach the public with.”

“I would like to hear an example using Mr. Yoo Seong-woon’s situation.”

“I decided from the start that I wouldn’t do image consumption.

I’m more self-aware as a gardener than as a hunter, and more than anything, I used to work as the Association’s research team leader... so it’s ambiguous for me to step out as a public figure.”

“Is it because there is a risk that important information could leak out?”

“That’s part of it, and I also don’t have the leeway to spend on image management.

If I have time to step in front of the public and give hope and smiles, it’s more rational to secure even a bit more sleep...”

Yoo Seong-woon was a capable hunter, a veteran gardener, once an Association research team leader, and now even Visabel’s collectible and a collector’s curator.

If he also had to manage his image on top of all that, even five bodies wouldn’t be enough.

The corners of Yoo Seong-woon’s eyes, driving smoothly, were fine, but for some reason he looked hollowed out.

“I need rest too, you know.”

“Oh dear, if you need sweet snacks, please tell me any time.”

“Rather than snacks... invite me one more time next time.”

“My friend Mr. Yoo Seong-woon may visit as much as you like.”

“Thanks, I feel like I’d really sleep well there.”

There is the minor drawback of a slight threat of racial alteration, but don’t you feel it clearly just by looking at the examples of Cha Ara and Juhyeon?

Gio’s cabin was optimized for humans to rest and recover.

‘Though only for humans Gio likes, I suppose.’

Yoo Seong-woon soon laughed it off calmly.

“Anyway, I’m too busy, so I’m the type who doesn’t want to bother with image.

Besides that, there are plenty of unofficial underground-type hunters who don’t want to step in front of the public for various reasons.

Especially among the Collector, which takes the form of a business company.”

“Could I also remain such an unofficial hunter?”

“I’m the same A-rank hunter as you and I do have various activity history, but I put confidentiality clauses on my work from the beginning.

But you’re already fairly well-known, so it’ll be hard.

For some reason, there are a lot of people who remember you.”

“I’m not confident I can maintain the profession of a celebrity.

I’ll crash to the bottom over a personality controversy.”

“I... I understand how you feel.

If it’s too burdensome, you can also choose to show yourself as little as possible.

People read it like some kind of mystique strategy, but if you keep hiding like this, you’ll be forgotten someday.”

Awakened people keep appearing, and among them, the number who become hunters is even greater.

In a situation where hunters who want public recognition are increasing exponentially, if you stay quiet, you would be forgotten someday.

“But if you keep acting as Hunter Seo Gio, it’ll be hard to completely avoid people’s eyes.”

“Isn’t it fine as long as I don’t step out officially?”

“People have a bad instinct to dig in the more their curiosity is provoked.”

“Am I an existence that provokes the public’s curiosity?”

“You seem to have plenty of star quality, but you don’t appear in the press, and you don’t show up in media.”

What should he call it.

“A kind of... hidden-picture search?

That sort of feeling.”

Because Gio is a portrait, he used “hidden-picture search” as an analogy, but it wasn’t exactly wrong.

“And that also resembles the traits of the ‘Black Cloak’ known to the world.”

“You mean there is a possibility that people realize I am the same person as the Black Cloak.”

“So before someone appears who’s going to investigate you, it’s also a good method to put out the image you want to reveal.

There’s an A-rank handsome hunter with strong star quality who never shows his face in public.

There still aren’t many people who remember him, so it hasn’t become noisy, but the few who did remember him were still looking for the whereabouts of ‘Hunter Seo Gio.’

“If the number of those people increases, it’ll get pretty troublesome.

Paparazzi will stick to you, too.”

“Even if I don’t do official activities?”

“If something like the last ‘Deep Sea Temple’ happens, are you going to keep hiding?”

“Mm, I will quietly help people from behind.”

“If you act like that, people can’t help but keep remembering you.”

A hunter who silently performs good deeds and mercy without showing himself to the public was especially popular.

“To be honest, ‘Hunter Seo Gio’ has too many elements people will like.”

It wouldn’t be easy to be forgotten.

“So I’m saying it might be good to strike first before idiots show up trying to uncover the truth for no reason.

If you reveal Hunter Seo Gio’s personal information and image yourself, people whose curiosity is satisfied won’t bother investigating you.

It would be best if you could completely separate the image of ‘Hunter Seo Gio’ and ‘Black Cloak.’”

“Even if their questions are resolved, will there be people who investigate me anyway?”

“Those kinds of bastards exist everywhere—there’s even me.

In my case, because I used to belong to the Association, information control is very solid, and yet.

So for you, who aren’t managed by the government or the Association, you’ll look like you have even more room to be dug into.”

Yoo Seong-woon laughed calmly.

“Well, it’s only if you want to keep using the identity of ‘Hunter Seo Gio,’ but...”

“I still do not fully understand my role, but I am satisfied with my current identity.”

“Then it would certainly be better to manage your image a bit.

Even monsters living in the mountains come down to villages when they have nothing to eat.”

“Monsters?”

“Yeah, if you’re hungry and there’s nothing to fill it, it’s natural to stir up innocent people.

I meant you should throw out bait.”

“Then I will put effort into at least minimal image management.”

Blond Gio asked with a faint smile.

“Will I also hire a manager?”

“For that part, we will... think hard.”

Yoo Seong-woon laughed awkwardly.

“You can also choose a human you like yourself.”

They said all this and that, but in the end, the most important thing was that ‘Gio’s Portrait’ not be displeased.

Yoo Seong-woon hoped that this gentlemanly source would not hate humans even by a tiny chance.

“It’s not urgent, so you can think about it slowly.”

“I see.”

“And additionally...”

“I’m listening.”

“A manager doesn’t only manage your image.”

“Like you said earlier, they act as a guide.”

“Right, a guide.

And a helper.”

Yoo Seong-woon nodded.

“Unless you learned by watching hunter parents, most hunters are flustered at first.

Even if they want to become famous and appear in mass media, they don’t know how.”

“I understand.”

“What kind of work you should do as a hunter.

Where and what kind of activities raise your recognition.

Where you can build connections with other hunters, and so on... they also help with a hunter’s social life.”

“That definitely seems like something I need.”

Gio put on an expression that looked greatly impressed.

“I’m worried about how to live even as a citizen of the Republic of Korea, let alone as a hunter.”

“Well, there’s a limit to how much I can keep teaching you at your side...”

Yoo Seong-woon gave a hollow smile.

“I’m sorry I’m busy.”

“No, rather, I think it is admirable.”

“...That really is... a grateful thing to say.”

It was also a burdensome thing to say.

‘He says admirable, but it’s closer to expectation, and even that is burdensome.’

Yoo Seong-woon cleared his throat and continued.

“You sometimes have difficulty using modern civilization, too.”

“Mr. Yoo Seong-woon is right.”

“I think it would be good to find a manager who can help you in that area too.”

Gio would suddenly try to pay in physical goods like jewels, or appear barefoot in public places, or have various questions because he couldn’t understand human culture.

“Of course, even now it isn’t a major problem, but wouldn’t it be good for you to learn various things too?”

“That is correct. I considered whether I should enter school and learn knowledge needed for daily life.”

“School?

Mm, I see.

But enrolling in school at your age would stand out...”

It seemed Gio thought that, in that school is a place where humans learn wisdom related to daily life and social life.

Even so, there was no way they could enroll Gio in school.

“Then it would be good for the person who becomes your manager to be quite versatile.”

“It would be even better if they know that I am the Black Cloak and still are not afraid of me.”

“...Someone who isn’t afraid of you—right, I’ll look hard.”

Ah, Yoo Seong-woon exclaimed and asked,

“Have you ever had contact with other gods before?”

“I often interact with Father.”

“N-no... not the previous-generation god, but a completely different god.”

“I have not.”

Gio laughed as if he had heard something funny.

“How could an ordinary person like me often interact with a god?”

“...”

Yoo Seong-woon smiled with strength in his lips.

“I see.”

“Please call me an ordinary person.”

“Our Gio is very ordinary.”

If the source asks, there’s no reason not to comply.

“Didn’t you exchange the fair light and gaze with the Sun Church’s goddess last time at the Sun Church?”

“By fair light, you mean the Sun Church’s goddess.

After that time, I have not met her again.”

“Then this will be your first time meeting as god to god.”

“Mr. Yoo Seong-woon is correct.”

“Mm...”

Letting out a small groan, Yoo Seong-woon asked,

“Do you think an accident might happen?”

“I believe I am past the age of mischief.”

“As Argio?”

“I do not know because I have not fully assimilated, but rather, because of that, it is safe.”

“Because the initiative isn’t on that side?”

“That form is also myself, so it is ambiguous to call it initiative.”

“Is that so?

Anyway, if you have no intention of fighting, that’s enough.”

Yoo Seong-woon also understood how ‘Gio’s Portrait’ becomes the source’s eyes in what way, the mechanism.

Argio, who introduced himself as a wicked god, was merely ‘Gio’ and was not ‘Gio’s Portrait.’

‘Since Gio said he won’t cause an accident, that must be true.’

Even so, to prepare for just-in-case, Yoo Seong-woon opened his mouth.

“The death god you will meet is a traditional wicked god.”

“A traditional wicked god?”

“A god that gives humans a bad influence even though it was born within providence.”

It was Earth’s native god.

“It is also a twin god with the god of birth, and perhaps because it has existed on Earth since very long ago, it is very dignified and not talkative.

It is not a god that actively influences humans.”

“If I visit, it may not respond.”

“It might not, or it might glance at you like the Sun’s goddess did last time.

But the death god is one of the few gods on Earth that has an incarnation body, so the possibility of communication is high.”

“What is an incarnation body?”

“Like a doll a divinity close to a formless existence makes to visit the human world.

It’s a bit different, but it will be similar to the teddy bear your father is inside...”

“Ah-ha.”

Gio smiled and nodded.

“I understand.”

“Then that’s fortunate.”

For Yoo Seong-woon as well, it was quite surprising that he could compare a teddy bear and an incarnation body.

“After passing the tollgate, not long after, there’s the Death Temple.”

“I look forward to it.”

“It’s a temple of a wicked god so it isn’t that popular, but...?”

And as they chatted.

Death opened its eyes.

* * *

“...”

Death looked upon its daughter.

“My... daughter...”

“O Death, for what reason have you opened your eyes?”

“...A cruel... divinity...”

“By cruel divinity, do you mean a wicked god?”

“...An invitation... he... wants...”

“There has been one request for permission to visit.”

The woman bowed her head deeply.

“What should be done?”

“...I will... guide...”

Death whispered from within the veil.

“I will see.”

Would that be a sinner, providence, a hero.

Or if not, then what on earth...

Fantasy, Modern,