chapter 185

Chapter 185

After finishing the raid like that, a corridor meeting right afterward.

Yoo Seongun asked.

“So you went and shared snacks?”

“Was it too hasty an action?”

“Oh, no...”

Drinking the basram tea Gio handed him, Yoo Seongun smiled.

“At this point, what’s new.”

At first, he did have a lot of worries. Gio gave humans gifts far too precious so casually, so it was obvious problems would arise. It didn’t seem good for humans, nor for an existence of the Origin.

But now, he wasn’t too worried.

“You’ve already been handing out countless gifts in the form of the Black Cloak, haven’t you?”

“It isn’t enough to be called countless gifts.”

“Sure, quite a lot of gifts. You’ve spread them around that much, and you’re still saying that?”

Basically, the gifts Gio gave humans were safe in many respects, and ordinary people wouldn’t even realize that ‘Hunter Seo Gio’s’ gifts and ‘the Black Cloak’s’ gifts had the same effects.

“Someone a bit sharp might notice that you give gifts often, or that you always wear a black cloak, or that the spectrum of gifts is similar, but...”

“Then they’ve noticed everything, haven’t they?”

“The world’s prejudice will protect you. A portrait as humanlike as you is hard to find in most dimensions, including Earth. Most people will just think you’re connected in some small way, secretly.”

“So the only thing I can trust is the world’s prejudice?”

“Our Collection Merchant will also do a little work. More than anything, the gifts you gave as the Black Cloak and the gifts you gave as Hunter Seo Gio are a little different, aren’t they? From what I know, even the medicinal effects will differ. And no one knows the Black Cloak stays with the Collection Merchant, so it’s hard to think you’re the same being.”

That much, there was an enormous gap between ‘the Black Cloak’ and ‘Hunter Seo Gio.’ Hardly anyone would think that the Black Cloak—who made you feel awe close to fear just by looking—would be skilled at imitating a human.

At that, Gio asked.

“It seems difficult, but it also seems possible to identify that we are the same person.”

“Honestly, that’s true. At this point, it doesn’t seem like we can deny the relationship itself between the Black Cloak and Hunter Seo Gio.”

“I will prepare an excuse.”

“It’s not to the point of needing an excuse...”

Yoo Seongun laughed mildly.

“Well, you can get past that kind of thing with a bit of storytelling, so don’t worry too much. You’re a mysterious character no one has ever known, so there are plenty of stories we can make up.”

“It feels like I’m glad and not glad at the same time.”

“Actually, even aside from that, I’m not paying much mind to you handing out gifts.”

When he didn’t know Gio well, he had to pour all his attention into handling even a single gift. He thought, ‘He’ll be angry if I share this with others,’ and he was wary that ‘I can’t casually show something this precious.’

But now, Koreans had adapted to the existence of the Black Cloak.

“You spread gifts through portraits like Santa Claus, and people got used to that behavior. There’s no reason to worry again about you handing out gifts.”

Yoo Seongun asked.

“Are those gifts something that will become poison to people?”

“They are not.”

“See? You’re saying they’re safe.”

Even if someone came out who coveted those precious gifts, they were protected by ‘the City of the Void,’ one of Gio’s portrait children.

Even aside from that, it didn’t seem like the Black Cloak’s goodwill bestowed within fate would become poison.

‘Because Gio isn’t a derived child, but the Eye of the Origin itself.’

If he were a typical child of the Origin, he might have bestowed goodwill that became poison, but Gio was different. He was as seasoned in dealing with humans as the hunters’ system itself. And since he was even skilled at imitating a human, it was all the better.

“Man, when we first met, I was scared out of my mind.”

“You did seem tense. But thank you for being kind.”

“You were the kind one, Gio. Me, well, this is my job.”

“You also seemed to worry a lot about my gifts.”

“Probably because I learned some things as a gardener over the years...”

Now that he knew the existence of the Origin he had learned did not include Gio, it didn’t matter. It was just that, at first, he’d been really anxious.

“There are a lot of guys like that among the ones I know. They curse you if you share the gifts you received with others, or they take offense if you’re too proud of their goodwill, stuff like that.”

“If so, does the gift have any meaning?”

“Anyway, I know very well now that you don’t fall into that category. You want the people of the world to get at least a little fatter... right, closer to pigs. There’s no way sharing gifts would be unpleasant.”

“If the gift helps in any way, it’s a happy thing.”

“Yeah, um... I guess you could say it’s become something relatively common, so I don’t feel the need to be so guarded. So I’m not too worried no matter how you shared food in the dungeon.”

Holding his mug, Yoo Seongun shrugged.

“I finished all the fruit syrup you gave me last time.”

“Why did you only finish it now?”

“No, it wasn’t that recent. It’s been quite a while, but...”

It had been after he became certain Gio was the Eye of the Origin.

“It tasted even better when I could eat it at ease.”

“Shall I make you some new ones?”

“Yeah...”

Yoo Seongun smiled bitterly.

“For a human like me whose everyday life is overtime, I need it.”

“Ah...”

Gio grew solemn.

“It seems it was a good decision not to live outside the portrait.”

“Hearing that from the portrait itself feels really strange, you know.”

“But the Earth now is far too barren. I do not want to live there.”

“Still, isn’t Seoul somewhat livable? There’s a lot to see.”

At that, Juhyeon, who had been quietly listening, cut in.

“Why are you trying to drag out someone who says they’ll live peacefully?”

“I’m not trying to drag him out, I was just saying what I feel.”

“Mr. Gio looks happiest when he’s inside the portrait.”

“That is true.”

Yoo Seongun admitted readily.

“Earth will never become as peaceful as the world inside your portrait.”

More than anything, wouldn’t a portrait feel most stable inside a frame?

“Anyway, if you make new fruit syrup for me, I’ll welcome it?”

“I’m glad you welcome it. If it’s okay, there’s a new flower tea I tried this time, and I’ll steep it soon—”

“Stop, that’s enough.”

Yoo Seongun said firmly.

“What are you going to do about my humanity?”

“I do not know if giving a gift is a matter to bring up humanity.”

“How much longer do you think my lifespan has become from what I’ve eaten so far?”

“I think you can live peacefully with me for a very long time.”

“Sorry, but could you let me die on time?”

At that, Gio’s hair turned platinum-blond for a moment.

“Very well, let’s begin from there. Until when is a human’s appropriate lifespan?”

“The more you take interest in things like that, the more scared I get, so stop.”

Gio nodded again with black hair.

“It was a joke.”

“You need to develop your sense of humor more.”

It didn’t particularly feel like a joke.

“Receiving gifts is fine. The snacks you give are really delicious. So... even if you give a lot of small gifts like cookies or chocolate when you run into people on the street, I’m only happy.”

Those usually had effects like painkillers, sleeping pills, or stabilizers for mind and body. Of course, they could be excellent medicine, but in modern society they were effects that could be mass-produced easily.

“But sometimes, the gifts you hand over like this are different.”

“It sounds like you mean fruit syrup or sausages or flower tea—so what is different, exactly?”

“I guess it’s burdensome in the sense that it feels like I won’t be human if I eat them.”

“Isn’t what you’re drinking right now my gift?”

“Don’t be petty and bring up what I’m drinking right now...”

Yoo Seongun hugged the mug dearly.

“You’re not going to take it, right?”

“I am not a vicious person who steals food.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

“Since you seem to like it, I was thinking of giving you a few bags.”

“Sure, and how many bags is that.”

“While I was away, thanks to Father finding a pastime, his affection and love led to an abundant harvest—”

“Get to the point.”

Gio nodded.

“About fifty bags.”

“Rejected.”

“Forty-five bags?”

“I said rejected.”

“Forty-three...”

“Hey.”

When Yoo Seongun shook his head, Juhyeon laughed awkwardly.

“Even normal tea leaves would be a bit burdensome if you received that many.”

“It’s not like I’m giving you a whole box.”

“Still, no.”

“Then about forty bags...”

“No.”

“...”

A rustling sound came from inside the portrait. The familiar sound of paper wrapping. Juhyeon asked.

“Don’t tell me you already prepared it.”

“I only wrapped them for now.”

“Acting like you’re backing down, then having them delivered to the middle of the house in the evening...”

“I will send Dana ahead to deliver a notice.”

“That’s not the point.”

“Yes, it was a joke.”

“I see!”

Juhyeon spoke firmly even as she smiled.

“Gifts that are too effective are difficult.”

“But I cannot make food that tastes bad.”

“Are the taste and the effect of the food you make linked, Mr. Gio?”

“I don’t know, because I haven’t really thought about that.”

“Well... it would be hard to control it consciously, I guess.”

Even an ordinary human, when they cook, makes food that becomes nutrition for the body. Even if you told them to destroy only the nutrients in delicious food on purpose, they wouldn’t have a feel for it. Gio, as the Eye of the Origin, would be similar in that regard.

Gio looked at Yoo Seongun and asked.

“Then it is true that you ate all the snacks I gave you before?”

“It’s been quite a while since I received them, and there was no reason not to eat them, so they’ve already disappeared into my stomach.”

“Hearing it again, I feel proud. I will take this chance to make you new fruit syrup.”

“If you do that, I really would be grateful.”

“You may share the gifts I give you and eat them together.”

“No, well, it’s the gift I received anyway. Do I really have to share it?”

Gio’s gifts were truly delicious, and they were a big help especially to Yoo Seongun, a modern person who lived with overtime. It was only that, regardless of whether it would actually happen, he had once worried about it.

“Sometimes there’s so much that you need someone to share it with or store it...”

The most comfortable counterpart was Visabel, the guild master. He was the one who bought ‘Gio’s portrait’ in the first place, and as an S-rank he was dependable in many ways, and even as a safe there was nowhere safer than that.

Yoo Seongun made an awkward expression.

“Anyway, if I pressured you too much about gifts, sorry.”

“It only meant that you may do so if you wish.”

“If that kind of case comes up within the Collection Merchant, I’ll do that.”

There was no need to take a piece of the work and slip it outside, openly exposing hints about the relationship between the Collection Merchant and the Black Cloak. If he did, doubts about ‘Hunter Seo Gio’s’ identity would obviously grow as well.

Yoo Seongun laughed mildly.

“I keep saying it, but if it doesn’t become a problem for your social life, it’s fine to share gifts with others as much as you want.”

“Is that so?”

“As long as they’re not gifts far too precious for humans.”

“By coincidence, I have something to say about that.”

“Yeah, I heard.”

Yoo Seongun nodded.

“You revived a dead human?”

“He did not die.”

“Isn’t that a bit too much?”

“It seems greatly exaggerated.”

“I heard he almost crossed the river, but lived after eating the elixir you gave.”

“That is correct.”

“Ha ha.”

Yoo Seongun thought inwardly.

‘This is why my heart drops every time I get a gift...’

Because he wondered what bizarre miracle he’d pull next. He knew his place. He didn’t want to receive overly precious gifts and fall into anguish.

In the same context, the elixir Hunter Seo Gio had reportedly spread around this time really needed an excuse.

“I heard you said it was an elixir your god granted, but you also said you made it yourself.”

“That is correct.”

“Ms. Juhyeon.”

Yoo Seongun turned to Juhyeon. Juhyeon did not look at him.

“Ms. Juhyeon, look at me.”

“Do I really have to?”

“We have something to talk about now. I told you so much to take good care of Gio.”

“No... but isn’t he admirable? I told him to use items if possible, and he kept that promise.”

“That item saved someone who was dead, you know?”

Gio cut in.

“He did not die.”

“If it weren’t for you, he would have.”

“Humans do not die that easily.”

“Sometimes they die surprisingly easily.”

It didn’t change that the medicine our precious portrait gave out of nowhere saved someone who should have died.

“First, we’re going with the saint concept.”

“Somehow, it can’t be helped...”

At Yoo Seongun’s words, Juhyeon nodded. Gio expressed doubt.

“Must I become a saint from now on?”

“Honestly, at this point, it’s hard to make excuses otherwise.”

There was no divinity that would bestow an elixir of that level upon a merely faithful believer.

“In the first place, if you can exchange elixirs like that, it means you’re a human who can communicate with divinity. And 99.9% of humans stop being human if they communicate with divinity. There’s a high chance they die or go crazy, and on top of that, you received an elixir?”

“I brushed it off as something like a revelation...”

“That doesn’t seem like it’ll work. Even a simple revelation doesn’t make sense. In the first place, the one who interprets the revelations received from divinity and plays the shepherd role of leading stupid humans is a saint. This can’t be explained unless you’re a saint.”

Yoo Seongun cleared his throat.

“But then we probably need to design exactly what kind of god you serve. We’d have to make it a god who can easily exert influence on Earth enough to bestow an elixir...”

At that, Juhyeon asked.

“For example, the Black Cloak?”

“...Huh?”

“The Black Cloak and Hunter Seo Gio’s patterns of behavior are somewhat similar, and like we said earlier, you’re giving gifts of the same spectrum, and you wear the same clothes too, so...”

“You met your own kind?”

“I studied it, and except for artificial orders like the Moon Church, usually a god and a saint who match well meet. Since Mr. Gio holds divinity, at some point, people might find out the Black Cloak is a god.”

“So considering that, it might be better to strike first. I understand.”

“The Black Cloak is already exerting a gentle influence on Earth, so even if the worst case comes and he’s treated as an evil god, it likely won’t go as far as subjugation...”

“He’s become a fairly familiar image to Koreans too.”

“It seems possible to explain it as divinity the Association is hiding as a monster. In fact, there have been many cases where the Association disguised divinities who enjoy play as monsters or natural phenomena.”

“So there would be less confusion among citizens.”

“Right.”

Juhyeon continued.

“Then what type of saint should he appear as?”

“We probably have to go as the highest-level saint possible, but this...”

“Well, considering Mr. Gio’s essence, it seems better to lay strong groundwork from the start.”

“So people accept it and don’t dig deeper. For that, a top-tier saint fits.”

“Maybe it needs that much impact.”

“Since it’s turned out like this.”

Yoo Seongun said.

“From now on, you’re a saint. Sounds fun, right?”

“That sounds fun. Exactly what kind of saint?”

“Let’s go with a vessel that can hold any divinity.”

“You mean a human with talent who can serve various gods?”

“You understand well—exactly that.”

One of Gio’s identities was the sun god. That meant he would have many chances to interact with various divinities, and establishing him in advance as ‘a vessel of sainthood coveted by gods’ was much more cost-effective.

“For this part, let’s take Priest Kang Seodam’s advice.”

They would repay Kang Seodam’s growing worries with material compensation. It would also be leaving him indebted to the Collection Merchant, so even if he hated it, he probably wouldn’t refuse outright.

“And... you went wild as Argio?”

“Yes, it was nice to loosen up after a long time.”

“Then if it’s at that level, don’t you not really need a battlefield just for you?”

“Mr. Yoo Seongun, are cup noodles eaten as a late-night snack the same as a proper meal you eat three times a day?”

“Ah, that kind of feeling...”

“A late-night snack is a choice, but meals are a necessity.”

“I understand.”

Anyway, this part was also a problem.

“Since people saw you using your body directly, even if they didn’t notice inside the dungeon because they were too distracted, by now they’ll have felt something strange. Even if not, there were probably people who started suspecting things during the raid.”

Juhyeon offered an opinion.

“Should we say he’s a hidden S-rank?”

“Probably a lot of people thought that way.”

“It’s the easiest thing to think of in this day and age.”

“There really are hunters who hide their rank, and especially conspiracy theories like that are pretty common...”

“And the story of an S-rank hiding their rank is a romantic trope too.”

“It’s similar to the story of a hunter who became friends with a monster.”

Since it was an era where hunter idolization was maximized, there were a few kinds of absurd ‘romance’ about that world. Since it was familiar material to people, even if they set the concept that way, people would accept it quickly.

“A top-tier saint, a romantic S-rank, and what else is there to add?”

“Um, it’s a bit cautious to say this, but...”

“Cautious my ass—hurry and give your opinion before Gio gets doxxed.”

“You said you showed Argio’s appearance briefly.”

Gio nodded.

“That is correct.”

“Mr. Argio has red hair and golden eyes?”

“Are you thinking of Guild Master Visabel?”

“Yes, him and...”

At Juhyeon’s hesitation, Yoo Seongun cut in.

“People might suspect a blood relationship with the guild master?”

“I don’t know if there are already people like that, but I think we could push it in a similar direction.”

“Well, that would explain why the entire Collection Merchant coddles Gio so much.”

“And it would explain why he’s hiding the identity of being a saint or S-rank too.”

“Uh... if we do this, does our guild master become kind of a pervert?”

For some reason, he becomes a person who kept his own bloodline hidden within the Collection Merchant, then only sent them outside at age twenty-nine and even attached surveillance personnel.

And the ‘some reason’ you could think of was a bit rough.

“After all, the guild master... you know, right?”

“He’s someone who’s obsessed with works.”

“It’ll be framed like he sees his son as a masterpiece of the ages.”

“But aren’t there already people who suspect that...?”

“I should’ve gone along on this raid.”

“Can’t we just call it Guild Master Visabel’s karma?”

“He’s not really that kind of person, but, ha, yeah, he should’ve taken it easier...”

Juhyeon added.

“Mr. Gio’s lack of common sense can be a basis for that too.”

“I admit my common sense is lacking.”

“Of course, it’s natural that Mr. Gio doesn’t know much about today’s Earth, but other people don’t know that kind of circumstance. And they shouldn’t.”

Yoo Seongun affirmed.

“His common sense became lacking because the Collection Merchant kept him locked up and raised him?”

“I’m truly sorry to say it, but doesn’t it connect quite naturally?”

“Doesn’t look sorry at all, and at this rate, someone’s going to say he’s a child born from having sex with a work.”

“The Collection Merchant is a guild with so many ghost stories already.”

“Even I would be flustered by this kind of ghost story, Ms. Juhyeon.”

But then, it explained all the anomalies shown in this raid.

“...”

“Doesn’t it feel like there are too many settings?”

“...If it’s you, Gio, it’s possible.”

“I do not know if it becomes possible just because you cheer for it.”

“You can pull off all these settings.”

“Am I an actor?”

“I know your potential...!”

“At this rate, I may merge with Actor Gio.”

“But it has to be this excessive to hide you.”

A top-tier saint, a hidden S-rank, and even the setting that he was Visabel’s son raised in captivity—if they added all that, wouldn’t people go, ‘Holy shit, that’s insane,’ and accept it?

“It has to be a shocking setting so they won’t think to dig further.”

“So it means you will numb people’s brains with shock therapy before it is exposed that I am a portrait.”

“Since an identity this insane is revealed, there won’t be many people who can think an even more surprising identity is hidden beyond that.”

“It has already been exposed.”

“Yeah? I see.”

Yoo Seongun accepted reality humbly.

“How many?”

“Will you bury them?”

“We don’t bury people, but we have to bury secrets.”

“If I must say it, about two.”

“I know who one is. It’s Jung Yeongwon—he’s a gardener like me.”

“Yes, he seemed to be guessing from the start.”

“Then who’s the other one?”

“It is Hunter Sanarae.”

“Sanarae...”

Yoo Seongun, who had memorized the subjugation roster, asked back.

“Pinocchio?”

“Is he famous for lying?”

“He’s famous for lying first, yeah. A well-known punk.”

“I became friends with him.”

“No, wait, what are you talking about now.”

“He has a good instinct.”

Juhyeon, who had been listening quietly, asked with a broken face.

“What? But it definitely looked like you two were picking fights and getting picked on...”

“Picking fights? What are you talking about.”

“Hunter Sanarae openly picked a fight with Mr. Gio.”

“I’ll find out the address soon.”

“Mr. Yoo Seongun, sit down again, and Mr. Gio, why did you become friends with someone like that?”

Feeling something strange, Gio asked.

“Rather than being concerned about why my identity was exposed, you are concerned about that? My friendships?”

“He doesn’t seem like such a good person. Mr. Gio, you don’t like rude people, right?”

“He was not exactly someone I would call polite, but he was not a bad person.”

To Juhyeon’s question, Gio answered.

“He seemed afraid of me, so I wanted to help him relax.”

“...In what part did you feel he was afraid?”

“I was not sure either, but I think it was from the beginning.”

“From the beginning... from when he picked a fight?”

“Yes.”

Gio affirmed.

“He seemed to want to see how I would get angry.”

He used himself to confirm Gio’s danger.

Because Sanarae cherished his family.

* * *

“Mm...”

Sanarae, holed up in the guild, picked at his ear.

“My ear itches.”

“You’re fine when I curse you all the time—whose cursing made you like this?”

“Are you jealous right now? Don’t worry, I belong to all of you.”

“Ah, fuck, stop being ridiculous, team leader.”

“Oh... is this you not believing me?”

Sanarae sprawled out on the sofa and laughed.

“So sad, isn’t it?”

“Stop lying so much.”

“Ah, you caught me.”

(To be continued in the next episode)