NOTICE: Many of the novels have been removed because they might cause violations, which we were not aware of earlier.
Episode 16
“this.”
An exclamation that came out while suppressing a smile as if pretending to be polite.
The visa officer asked.
“You’re saying you weren’t coming out because you thought people would be scared?”
“I didn’t say it that way, but in summary, it’s not wrong.”
Yoo Seong-un nodded.
“It seemed like he knew that a being of such a high level of soul as himself would be in trouble if he encountered an unprotected person. But it seems a bit odd that he insists on being an ordinary human being… .”
Then Visabal narrowed his eyes like a snake and said:
“It’s true that we can’t rule out the possibility that he’s a humanoid monster in the form of a portrait, but he can’t be considered a simple monster either. He doesn’t hate humans at all.”
“… … .”
“If it’s something that even the curator of the meteor cloud isn’t sure about, then it’s probably something related to the source, but since it hasn’t been officially reported yet, I think it’s something I’ve never seen before.”
“Yes, for now.”
It was rare for a gardener like Yoo Seong-un to have an existence whose source he didn’t know.
‘The monsters in the dungeon are also beings born from the veins of the origin, but their difficulty is on a different level from that of the origin’s children. If it were a type of origin child that Geo had never seen before, the story would become much more complicated.’
The so-called ‘Children of Origin’ could be found equally in all dungeons. They cannot be resolved through simple subjugation like regular monsters.
That’s why he needed extensive knowledge about them and the ability to deal with them, and Yoo Seong-un was a veteran who had been working as a gardener since he was 11 years old.
The portrait of Geo, which was unknown to Yoo Seong-un, was clearly a target of caution.
“Anyway, even if you say ‘child of the origin,’ it is certain that he is an unusual being.”
If there’s one thing that monsters and the children of Origin have in common, it’s that they don’t know how fragile Earthlings are.
Even if they knew, monsters hated humans, and the children of the origin were indifferent to humans.
Either way, it was bound to be harmful to humans.
“It is rare for a human to be this friendly.”
“It is indeed something the association would covet.”
“I asked you last time, but are you going to pass it on to me?”
“I have no thoughts.”
The possessiveness of the Visabal is quite considerable, so even if it is only for a short while to inspect, he will never leave his things in someone else’s hands. If it is a clean transaction, it is okay, but he will not handle such a half-assed matter.
“It seems like Curator Yoo Seong-un is managing it well, so is there a reason to hand it over to the association research institute?”
“If Geo is a child of the Origin, he can harm people without any sense of guilt. He may claim that he was just following his own rules, but… I don’t know how much of a disaster that would be for humans.”
An investigation was needed.
“At this point, all I can understand is the story of the portrait. I don’t know exactly what technique is used, how high the level of the soul is, or what role it plays in the source.”
“I’m not the type of person who wants that.”
“… … .”
“Do you remember what I asked you to do when I hired you, Mr. Yoo Seong-un?”
Yoo Seong-un answered with a sigh.
“It was about analyzing, maintaining, and managing the gallery’s works.”
“you’re right.”
“But I am no longer the research team leader of the association. There is no one who can analyze ‘Portrait of Geo’ as well as I do.”
“Why are you saying such sad things? I’m sure Curator Yoo Seong-un knows this, but I don’t want to have a weapon.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I want a piece of work.”
Bisabal narrowed his eyes and smiled. He exuded the natural arrogance of someone who was used to looking down on others since birth.
“That’s why I founded this guild, this company. I don’t have even the slightest bit of pride as a hunter, let alone as an artist.”
“… … .”
“No collector expects a Van Gogh self-portrait to ward off evil spirits or give them good dreams. No one cares about that function. They are just curious about the story contained in the painting, and they want to protect that story with their own hands.”
“It could be really dangerous. He’s the only being that’s been freed from the Guildmaster’s emotional skills, and even if he’s considerate and respectful of humans, his status is too high. Even if he doesn’t feel divine, he’s almost like a god that priests serve. Just because the portrait is careful doesn’t mean humans can rest easy.”
“Did you see those eyes?”
“… … .”
That’s a random comment.
“…yes?”
“Have you ever seen those eyes, Mr. Yoo Seong-un?”
“…Are you talking about the eyes in the portrait?”
“Oh, I guess you’ve never seen that before.”
“No, it’s not that there aren’t any.”
“Then tell me.”
The secretary waved his hands elegantly. Even the gesture that urged him to answer was filled with the nobility of a high-ranking official.
“How was it?”
“… … .”
Yoo Seong-un’s worries did not last long.
“… It was so long ago.”
horror.
Awe and disgust, anger and sadness, joy and ecstasy, despair, loneliness and dizziness.
Towards a being so enormous that it cannot be recognized in an instant… .
“… I don’t really know how to explain it. I have emotional skills, but I couldn’t objectively understand it because the level was so clear even without using the skills.”
It was so far away that it couldn’t even be expressed with a boring word like space. I felt like I was directly reaching a place that was visible but unseen.
“It was clearly black, but it also looked white. It was so dark that it felt brighter, and the pupil and iris didn’t seem to be distinct, but when I looked inside… I could see a narrow path.”
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There was rainwater in it. There was a stream, a brook, a vein.
It was as dense as a tree, yet as delicate as human blood vessels. It was also so vast and colorful that it was too vast for humans to perceive.
It was as if a human had glimpsed something that should not have been seen. Something so large was within those narrow pupils.
“The saying that the eyes are the windows to the soul comes to mind.”
“It’s a good impression. It’s not bad.”
“When you say that, it seems like my impressions are unsatisfactory.”
“There’s nothing we can do about it.”
Visabal laughed as if he was appreciating the mistakes of a very immature child.
Yoo Seong-un suddenly remembered his real age. He was old enough to teach Yoo Seong-un.
“I told you to look at my eyes, but you only looked at the artwork and came back. We are all human beings who can have conversations before we each have our own jobs and tastes.”
“… … .”
“If Geo has an ego, then he also has eyes that can communicate with people.”
He asked again.
“Have you ever seen his eyes?”
“… In the sense you just said, no.”
“Have you ever thought about what emotions Geo feels and how he looks at Yoo Seong-un, other than the intensity of his soul and the torrent in his eyes?”
“No, there isn’t.”
Who could think such a thing in front of that great being?
How dare someone as small and insignificant as me.
“… Something like that… no one but the leader of the Visabal Guild could do it.”
“How can a gardener be so narrow-minded? Be brave, be brave.”
“Isn’t that too much to expect from a mere gardener?”
“Geo is a good person.”
“… … .”
“You are so sweet.”
Bisabal continued speaking as if he was teaching a child.
“They don’t hate others even though they are reluctant to be bothered. How kind of a person would they be if they didn’t resent the inconveniences they experience? They are polite and respectful, but they are also compassionate enough not to force others.”
“That’s a generous assessment.”
“Besides, I’m afraid of hurting someone.”
“… … .”
It was an unexpected story.
“… Are you talking about Geo? At best, it would be like a human stepping on an ant.”
“Yes.”
“Are you afraid of the harm itself, rather than the disgust at the bug bursting out in front of you?”
“Didn’t you say you were affectionate?”
“We couldn’t even have a conversation, and at most we made eye contact… .”
“You need to have this level of ability to be a guild leader. You need to be able to figure this out just by making eye contact.”
“… I see.”
Bisabal is the person who created the top 3 guilds in South Korea with only emotional skills and no separate military force.
Considering that his physical abilities were at the average male level, you could see how amazing his eyes and mouth were.
‘That kind of person may see things differently from me. Perhaps the way he sees the world is different.’
Yoo Seong-un said with a sigh.
“… I understand. So you’re saying we can proceed like this without taking any further action?”
“I’m glad you understand. I’m sure Geo will do his best not to harm humans, so please don’t make him angry. People who are originally kind are more scary when they get angry.”
“So, we’re trying to prevent that from happening… .”
“There is no way to prevent individuals from getting angry, and even if there were, it would probably be something as simple as sealing or destroying the portrait. No matter how harsh the world has become these days, you can’t treat someone who is trying to live a normal life that way.”
“… … .”
Yoo Seong-un asked with a subtle expression.
“… Are you looking at the ‘Portrait of Geo’ as a person?”
“So who has had a conversation with Curator Yoo Seong-un so far?”
“Isn’t it a different level?”
“But it is a being that considers itself a human being, with the will to talk.”
“that….”
“How is that any different from humans?”
The eagle spoke as if singing.
“Even if they weren’t in Geo’s portrait, there are plenty of dangerous people. Right now, there are five hunters with high-risk abilities in South Korea, and they’re all living well on their own. Some people treat them like dangerous dogs and pick fights over everything, but that happened 100 years ago, when there were no dungeons.”
“If you remain so extravagant, something you will regret might happen. Geo is someone who is fully capable of that.”
“Those dangerous hunters are enjoying their daily lives, so why would we oppress their portraits?”
“Not oppression, but investigation… .”
“But what if Geo gets angry?”
“… … .”
“He’s a friend who values manners, but if you pry into his feelings without permission and get angry, it’ll be a bigger disaster. Just be a good conversation partner for Geo.”
He pointed beyond the window that made up the entire wall.
“And often take them outside.”
“…Are you serious?”
“I know what Mr. Yoo Seong-un is worried about.”
Visabal nodded.
“Yes, I know. The children of the Origin are very secretive and cautious beings. They are part of the ecosystem that is not of much interest to humans. They are nature itself, and so we know that they can come as a sufficient disaster. That’s what they are.”
“… … .”
“And humans are also a part of nature.”
He said calmly.
“Geo is no different.”
“…yes.”
“Be nice to him. If there are rules, follow them. If there are childish conflicts, grumble and resolve them.”
“All right.”
“If he said he was 29, then that’s right. He’s not even 30 yet, but as a senior in life, shouldn’t I take care of him?”
“… It’s highly likely that Geo is mistaken. He’s not actually 29 years old, but his memories match that of a 29-year-old, so he probably said that. In fact, he might be well over a thousand years old. If he’s the child of the Origin, that’s possible.”
“What’s so important about that?”
“… … .”
Yoo Seong-un sighed and nodded.
“That’s true.”
He was a gardener.
They put a lot of effort into their garden, pour a lot of love into it, and take pride in it.
Geo is a being related to the root that forms the foundation of the garden. Although he says that he needs to be dealt with, I also want to treat him in a gentlemanly manner unless the portrait side reacts first.
“I finally got to speak to you as a curator of the collection.”
“I am always grateful for the thoughtfulness of our curator, Yoo Seong-un.”
“It’s gross, so let’s stop. Anyway, so…”
Yoo Seong-un asked, glancing at his watch.
“Are you saying I should be Geo’s guide?”
“If possible, please show them around our guild, introduce them to our staff, take them to see a good play when they go out, buy them something to eat, and show them around tourist attractions.”
“You really are a guide. No, but I think it’s a bit strange to introduce you to the staff… The staff would have refused you first. Geo doesn’t like noisy things either.”
“You can decide for yourself. If Geo likes quiet, you can help him go out and explore the company or the outdoors, even at dawn.”
“What on earth do you believe in…?”
“Didn’t I say I saw it?”
It’s a bright smile.
“I saw it.”
“… … .”
The Visakha sees what humans cannot see.
Yoo Seong-un decided to believe that.
“…All right.”
“I ask for your continued support, Curator Yoo Seong-un.”
“Even if an accident happens, I don’t know about it.”
“I’ll take care of that.”
“Anyway, what are you thinking…?”
Despite his grumbling, Yoo Seong-un was in a pretty good mood.
‘I can expand your scope of activity.’
I was already worried about Geo, who was always in the portrait.
Although he himself said it was more comfortable and better inside, it would have been more comfortable for Geo to know that he could still enter officially.
‘I guess it’s because this is the first time I’ve seen a child with such smooth communication, but when I just watch him, I feel like doing this and that for no reason… .’
From the perspective of a gardener and curator, Yoo Seong-un felt special.
If he were to face that huge figure in person, the story would be different, but for now, Geo was just a talking portrait. Since Yoo Seong-un was in the position of managing him, this kind of feeling wasn’t all that strange.
‘… It’s true that this is a sentiment that came out of the stomach. But when we face that situation properly someday, let’s be careful not to stiffen up and make Geo feel uncomfortable.’
Something entered Yoo Seong-un’s field of vision as he came out of the guild.
“… … .”
Bungeoppang shop.
“… This is rare.”
Yoo Seong-un happily approached the bungeoppang cart.
“Are you doing business?”
“Oh, yes, I am doing it.”
“How much for 10 bungeoppang?”
“It’s five thousand won.”
“please.”
“wait a minute.”
The owner of the cart was a young man with a blunt appearance.
“Here it is.”
“It looks delicious… Do you keep coming here?”
“They’ll come before they get caught.”
“Hmm.”
The somewhat blunt tone reminded me a little of Geo.
“… … .”
Oh, right.
“Just give me ten more.”
“thank you.”
“I’m more grateful for this.”
“What are you thankful for?”
“That’s because it’s rare to find a place that sells bungeoppang these days. It’s become harder and harder to find one recently.”
“iced coffee….”
It seemed like it would take some time for the new bungeoppang to come out, so Yoo Seong-un continued the conversation. The young man must have been bored, because he spoke in a friendly tone, unlike his usual tone of voice.
“It’s hard to do business. Even if I sell bungeoppang outside the city, no one will buy it, so I come in here every now and then to sell it.”
“Oh, so you’re coming here from outside the city?”
“Who among the city people would do business like this?”
The young man shrugged.
“Most of you either work in offices or work as hunters, don’t you?”
“Even so, it must be quite a distance. You must be tired, but you’re amazing.”
“There are still a few people who help me out because they like bungeoppang, so it’s still doable. My younger brother is also a hunter around here… .”
“It seems like it would be a bit expensive to find a house around here.”
“It’s hard to afford city rent. Obtaining citizenship isn’t something that just anyone can do.”
“Isn’t it easy to get a short-term permit? That’s because the hurdles are low.”
“I have permission. Sometimes I can’t finish work until the terminal closes… I just don’t look for accommodations. It takes time and money, and there’s no benefit to it.”
The young man who turned over the fish-shaped bread plate said.
“Besides, I have a 10-year-old brother at home, so I have to go back.”
“Ah, that’s for sure… I should go back. If I leave you alone and a monster comes into the village, it’ll be a disaster. It’ll be safer to have my brother here.”
“My younger sister also works as a porter, so she only earns money here. She comes home once every three days and goes out the following week. Right now, my younger sister is at her parents’ house, so I came out to work.”
“That’s amazing.”
“It’s good because it sells well around here.”
“I see….”
Yoo Seong-un tilted his head and asked.
“Then when can I come out?”
“I think it will probably last until early spring… It’s still winter. When the weather gets warmer, then I’ll look for something else to do.”
“It will last quite a while though. I will see you often.”
“thank you.”
The young man took the bungeoppang out of the machine. Steam was rising from the freshly made bungeoppang. It had a savory aroma.
“Eat it while it’s warm.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Yoo Seong-un headed back to the company carrying the bungeoppang.
To be exact, in front of ‘Geo’s Portrait’ on the gallery side of the Visabal.
“Geo, are you awake?”
“… … .”
“Geo?”
Fortunately, Geo opened his eyes quickly.
“What’s going on?”
“They were selling bungeoppang in front of the station, so I bought one.”
“It doesn’t seem to be one.”
“Oh, I see. Not just one. I brought about ten because I thought you might like them.”
“… … .”
The portrait blinked twice and then nodded.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I am receiving bungeoppang for the first time in a long time.”
“Do you know about bungeoppang too?”
“I didn’t know there would still be any bungeoppang left though.”
“…okay?”
As expected, Geo seemed to be someone who had lived in Korea.
‘Or maybe it was a being of a similar dimension… Even if it didn’t live, it may have only received memories.’
As Yoo Seong-un stretched out the bag containing the bungeoppang, it quickly disappeared into the painting.
“Oh… It literally became a painting.”
“Thank you for the gift.”
“It’s nothing special. I hope it suits your taste.”
“I love this kind of street food.”
“That’s fortunate.”
I was worried that he would have a cold expression that not even a needle would go in.
‘He looks a bit aristocratic.’
Geo seemed like a celestial noble who had never touched water, or an AI civil servant created for the busy modern society.
I was worried for a moment whether Geo, who had a sharp and heavy aura that could be felt just by looking at his expression, would like street food. I wondered if he would look down on me and say, ‘How dare you give me this as food?’
“Next time, if there’s something like egg bread or takoyaki, should I buy those too?”
“… … .”
“… Geo?”
Geo, who was silent for a moment, soon took something out of his bosom.
It was a neatly tied white bag.
“…that?”
“These are tea leaves.”
“car?”
“I found a flower that smelled good, so I tried drying it.”
“… … .”
“This is a thank you.”
When he reached out his hand.
Outside the picture, Geo’s hand popped out with a bag of tea.
“… This is something different.”
“Take it.”
“Uh, um, thank you.”
Rustle.
A pleasant scent wafted from the paper bag held in my hand.
‘It’s creamy.’
It was a scent that would come from sweet custard or milk cream.
“… … .”
I felt a little strange.
‘… If I say that I don’t have to repay you like this every time, it might sound rude to the person who has the rules. I feel ambiguous because it feels like I’m being treated excessively compared to what I always give.’
Yoo Seong-un said, putting the bag inside his coat.
“Thank you, I guess I’ll have some tea soon.”
“I hope it suits your taste.”
“First of all, the scent is really good. I will drink it gratefully.”
“And I have a favor to ask.”
“Huh? Please?”
Geo asked.
“Can I ask for some seeds?”
“…What seed?”
“Anything that can be grown in the field is fine.”
“… … .”
What on earth are they doing in there?
‘A field.’
Suddenly, Yoo Seong-un became curious about the scenery inside the portrait.