Chapter 73

The researcher nodded at the woman’s voice, which sounded like a machine.

“Yes, it is a miracle.”

“Do you think the existence Team Leader Jeong Daun witnessed is a monster?”

“We’d need to ask the gardeners for more opinions, but no.

It won’t be a monster.”

The researcher shrugged.

“A monster is... basically something that must have hatred toward humans.”

It’s not for nothing they call them monsters, freaks.

Humans called other-dimensional existences that hated humans without reason monsters, with fear and contempt.

“This case is too different.

We examined the hunters who returned alive, but we couldn’t find any abnormalities anywhere.

If ‘the Black Cloak’ had been a monster, he wouldn’t have let them go alive in the first place, and he would have brainwashed them and sent them out.”

“Still, it would be better to announce it as a monster.”

“That’s right. For a ‘Black Cloak’ to be a god, he showed far too much interest in human society.

He could be an evil god... but whether he truly is a god, whatever his identity is, now that he has shown he has the power to directly affect humans, it will be wiser to explain him to hunters as a monster.”

“So that they will be wary.”

Gods and monsters have become quite familiar existences in modern times, but the difference in perception is large.

In the case of a god, people might come out saying they’d take seeing even its form as an honor, but toward a monster they would strain to keep their distance and stay vigilant.

“If there is a backlash, the very existence of a ‘humanoid monster favorable to humans’ might touch citizens’ romantic sensibilities, but for that to happen... such favorable cases and exposure would have to become quite high.

And the probability of that is low.”

From the looks of it, it seemed to be a mystery with quite close ties to the Origin, and the closer an existence is to the Origin, the more ignorant it is of humans and the less it can hide its rank.

It also would not easily show itself on this small planet.

“Of course, ‘the Black Cloak’ could create many truly favorable cases, and thus come up in citizens’ mouths.

But it will be hard for citizens to accept such an existence’s favor as-is. ‘The Black Cloak’ will not be able to become a familiar image to people.”

“We should also keep in mind the possibility that ‘the Black Cloak’ is able to neatly contain his rank and has a high understanding of humans.

But the plan to announce him as a monster is valid.

Since an existence of the Origin is close to a natural disaster, we must instill at least minimal wariness.”

“Honestly, when it comes to being a threat to humans, there’s no difference whether it’s a god or a monster, but I guess this is why image matters.

If we tell people it’s not a god but a monster, then even if ‘the Black Cloak’ shows hostility toward humans in the future, the survival rate will go up.”

The researcher lightly rubbed his chin and continued.

“However, those who witnessed him will not believe it even if we say the individual is a monster.

Even Hunter Jeong Daun herself—she says ‘monster,’ but her reaction was practically that of someone who came back after receiving a god’s touch.”

“Did you see signs of veneration?”

“I can’t say it’s to that extent yet, but if we don’t set up any countermeasures against ‘the Black Cloak,’ I think it really could become a religion.

Especially in times like these, superstitions like this can easily catch on as a trend.”

“Then it would be good to firmly imprint the perception that ‘the Black Cloak’ is a monster.

Please proceed in collaboration with the information processing team on this matter.

I will set up a project under my name, so inform them comfortably.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

The woman nodded.

“This incident was an incredible miracle, so I understand Team Leader Jeong Daun’s reaction.”

“...That is... certainly true.”

After hesitating briefly, the researcher affirmed it.

“Whether the identity of ‘the Black Cloak’ is a monster, a god, or an existence of the Origin, saving a large number of humans without any price is something hard to believe.

In any case, there are no ones favorable to humans.”

Monsters hated humans.

Gods treated humans as toys, and existences of the Origin were indifferent to humans.

The fact that he could even converse was already astonishing, but to receive help on top of that—it was an absurd story.

“...This part will indeed be a problem, it seems.

Even now, people still have a fantasy about monsters that are favorable to humans.

And the existence of the profession called tamer is encouraging that fantasy.”

“It cannot be helped when regular education is lacking.

This is something to address gradually by expanding public education, not something that can be solved immediately.”

“That is true, but...”

Among hunters’ professions, tamers could form contracts with monsters and borrow their power.

Because of that, there were fools who dreamed the utterly ridiculous dream that they could tame monsters as their own pets.

‘Maybe time really is the cure.’

It has been only 31 years.

The Republic of Korea has grown as quickly as possible by shedding as much blood as possible, but civic consciousness has not grown to match.

Because enough time has passed for one post-Great Catastrophe generation to pass and be born, more people have come to not know the horror and cruelty of monsters; meanwhile, public education has not been easily established, making it difficult to teach people how dangerous monsters are.

“People in the provinces are more thorough about that, though.”

“Provincial residents do not have protective walls like the city, so they must be on guard.

You never know when monsters will come down to the village and massacre people, and you never know what dungeon you might fall into when you climb some mountain.”

“There’s nothing more certain than learning through your body.”

Even so, you can’t just throw city citizens into dungeons to make them experience monsters, so for Association staff, it was a headache either way.

No matter where you go, there are so many fools who don’t know their place.

“Anyway, taking that into account as well, we will try to shape the atmosphere so people cannot approach ‘the Black Cloak’ easily.”

“...”

“I truly think it’s absurd, but... if ‘the Black Cloak’ is truly an existence that bestows favor upon humans, then there will be people who indulge in impossible delusions.”

There’s a reason the saying exists: be good while someone is treating you well. There were more than one or two cases where people broadly spilled blood because they provoked the temper of an innocent monster quietly minding its own business.

‘There will be crazies anywhere who develop some stupid chosen-one complex if a monster shows favor.

Like, they were treated favorably because they’re special... these guys always cause accidents and bring about natural disasters.’

Not all monsters wanted to kill humans.

They hated humans, but there were definitely monsters that hid themselves all the more because of that.

However, half a foreign country had been split apart only half a year ago because a hunter underestimated such a monster and provoked it.

Just because it stays still doesn’t mean it’s weak, and yet—what idiotic judgment.

“We should upload information assuming the worst-case scenario, right?”

“Yes, please.”

“Then I will report again later.”

The researcher bowed his head with respect toward the eternal symbol that supports the world.

“Chairwoman.”

“...”

The chairwoman smiled.

It was a machine-like smile with no emotion at all.

* * *

Identification Number

0S-328-D

Response Rating

S(-)

Entity Type

Humanoid

Entity Name

Black Cloak(-)

Painter(-)

A humanoid entity first discovered by the Korean Hunter Association Search Team No. 183, Team 3.

It appears as a man whose entire body is covered by a thick black cloak.

Face unconfirmed.

Inside the cloak, it wears a black shirt and suit.

Height is estimated at approximately 185~9 cm, age estimated at late 20s to early 30s.

The temporary name ‘Black Cloak’ was assigned based on outward characteristics, but it appears the entity name will require adjustment after acquiring additional information.

As a notable point, first discoverer Jeong Daun testified that a light sound occurred when it walked (the sound of dry plants bumping).

In the case of team member Kang Eonseo, whose sense of smell is enhanced, they testified that it smelled like a forest, so it can also be suspected to be a plant-type mimicry monster.

More information is needed regarding this entity’s type.

First Sighting Situation

It helped first discoverer, Hunter Association search team leader Jeong Daun and her team.

During conversation, if it does not hear an answer to its question, the entity does not move on to the next situation and repeats the same question in a perfectly identical manner.

Its intelligence is evaluated as extremely high, above human level.

As confirmed, the authority of ‘Black Cloak’ is ‘Painter,’ and it can generate frames in empty air, or turn humans into paint and use that substance to create a ‘painting.’

The first discovery team is reporting some mental distress.

It rescued the first discovery team to the outside of ‘The Country of the Deep Sea’ as a favor, but by turning the team into paint, it displayed ignorance of humans’ mental limits.

It appears the response rating will require adjustment after acquiring additional information.

Based on first discoverer Jeong Daun’s testimony, it has been confirmed that ‘Black Cloak’ displayed a favorable attitude toward humans.

However, since ‘Black Cloak’s’ rule has been identified as ‘respond obediently,’ there is a high possibility it will display hostility if the entity’s emotions turn negative.

Extreme caution is required when responding.

Additionally, based on the clothing inside the cloak, voice, and behavior, it is under review whether it may have been a high-ranking class in that dimension.

As information is lacking across various aspects, continuous raids of ‘The Country of the Deep Sea’ have been approved, and related requests are being accepted.