NOTICE: Many of the novels have been removed because they might cause violations, which we were not aware of earlier.
Episode 48
How did things end up like this?
“Let’s go, honey.”
“Gurrrrrrrr.”
“It’s a picnic.”
Nothing much. Geo and Honey were just having a picnic in the novel setting of a dungeon.
“Can I get that jewel?”
“Cur.”
“The one who pegs loses.”
The dungeon that was in the documents that Yoo Seong-un handed over, ‘Jewel Vein’.
Half unable to resist Honey’s urge to go for the word jewel, and half unable to resist Geo himself enjoying this fantastic picnic, he made a passage using the information provided by Yoo Seong-un and visited this place right away.
“… … ?”
Then I discovered something peculiar.
“The assimilation rate isn’t increasing at all.”
“Gulp?”
“Well, I don’t really know why.”
It was the fairy tale rate of ‘Giovanni’ that went up even when he was still in the portrait. But when he suddenly stopped moving, I couldn’t help but be concerned.
“Does the fairy tale temporarily stop when you come to a different dungeon? It doesn’t feel like it stops completely.”
“Gulp.”
“frame?”
“Kkuk.”
“It could be a problem with the passageway, as you said.”
Honey asked if the connection was lost because she came out through a passage she had created herself, not through ‘Geo’s Portrait’. For some reason, Geo felt like Honey was right.
“One thing is not important.”
People must live in the present to be happy.
“Even I, a portrait possessed by a ghost, am no different.”
“Crunch?”
“Portraits are people too.”
When Geo cried out, Honey didn’t say anything anymore. I don’t know if it was out of filial piety or because she was obsessed with the jewel, but either way, that’s how it was.
Leaving the question as a question, Geo took a good look around the dungeon that Korean hunters often visit.
“Good.”
The ‘Jewel Vein’, which was somewhat eerie and dreamy due to the influence of luminous stones, was a great tourist attraction.
“stylish.”
“Kururuk.”
“I like it.”
I think I understand why they call this place the ‘Jewel Vein’.
“It’s all made of jewels.”
It looked like a cave created by flowing lava, like a cave created by flowing jewels.
Big gems. Small gems. Transparent gems. Opaque gems. Gems in the shape of pointed hexagonal columns. Gems in the shape of round spores. Gems that gather and sparkle like chandeliers… .
“Son, don’t eat too much.”
“Kung.”
“I have a stomachache.”
All kinds of jewels were gathered together in a haphazard manner, forming a number of branching paths.
‘Sometimes the protruding end glows.’
Geo recalled the explanation of the data that Yoo Seong-un had given him.
“You said it was a very dark cave.”
“Kkuk.”
“Isn’t it a brighter place than you thought?”
It is said that the air in this cave is teeming with microscopic monsters that devour light.
Monsters that suck the life out of people roam the inside without a trace, and monsters that are too small to be caught absorb all kinds of light.
In this place so quiet that even sound seems to have been taken away, the only thing you can rely on are the self-shining jewel pillars.
“I said so, but….”
Geo’s eyes were wide open all around.
“It’s a little dark, but the glowstone doesn’t block your view that much.”
“Kururuk.”
“Yeah, you too.”
I also thought that this was a benefit Geo could receive because he was a ‘portrait’.
‘I don’t know exactly what the benefit is, though.’
If I can see something that all the other hunters on Earth can’t, then Geo is definitely the weird one.
The only thing that could come to mind as the reason why Geo, who was just a harmless human without even a white belt in Taekwondo, had acquired such strange abilities was the portrait.
“… … .”
It seems like this is getting more and more human with each passing day.
“… It’s okay because it’s funny.”
“Huh?”
“It’s a very interesting life.”
“Kur?”
——————
faqwiki.xyz
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
“It’s because I’m handsome.”
It’s because he’s really ‘good’ looking.
Well, as people live, they may become portraits, and they may even stray from the standards of ordinary humans.
That didn’t bother Geo at all.
“Life is a series of contents, and contents are meant to be enjoyed.”
“Gurrrr… .”
“There’s no reason why I shouldn’t enjoy my life, even if it’s a portrait.”
He did not give in to this level of realization. Geo, who had no other thoughts, toured the ‘Jewel Vein’ with peace of mind.
And I was amazed.
“The tourism industry on Earth has developed so much in 31 years.”
There were monsters that appeared faintly like ghosts, and for some reason, they would express a little favor to Geo and then just pass by. They looked no different from the animals in the forest.
Those guys sometimes kiss my ankles before they leave.
“Because they are like cute darlings.”
Geo nodded, having made his decision based on love, friendship, and peace.
‘Did you know that I’m harmless?’
Anyway, since he knew that even monsters were not a threat, he had nothing to fear. Geo walked around the ‘Jewel Vein’ with a full heart.
As a result, Geo was able to enjoy the amazing tour to 120% with his son… .
“… … .”
There were some things I didn’t like.
There was no one.
“… I should have known from the moment you said it was a sparsely populated dungeon.”
Perhaps because he felt sorry for Geo, who was growing old alone, he even set up a system of letter communication to help him make new friends, but he couldn’t find anyone who was worth becoming a pen pal.
‘I am a dung beetle.’
I have no friends.
Since you can’t just say hello to someone and become friends with them right away, Geo had to try several times to make new connections. It was this hard to make pen pals.
‘I haven’t seen a single hair on a person’s head since the beginning…’
Sergio, the messenger of this age who was full of love, friendship and peace and could fill his stomach without eating, was deeply saddened.
“In my 29 years of life, I have never been a loner without friends.”
“Kur?”
“Except for family. Wouldn’t it be a bit strange to call the child born from my paints a friend?”
“Kung kung kung… .”
“Even if you’re dissatisfied, there’s nothing you can do. No matter how open-minded this dad is, if something can’t be done, it can’t be done.”
As Geo lowered his head, feeling drained for no reason, he saw a cat sitting down near his feet.
“… … .”
Oh, cat.
“… When did you come?”
“What the hell.”
“You’re cute.”
It was a long-haired creature with long, fluffy fur, but compared to the whitish monsters of the ‘Jewel Vein’ that I had seen so far, it had a definite sense of weight and solidity.
“Is the time for selection here?”
Geo, who was checking to see if there was a mother cat nearby, soon died down again.
I mustered up my courage to come out into society and find that my new relationship is with a kitten the size of my palm. Is this okay?
“… I guess there’s nothing that won’t work out.”
Wouldn’t it be better if everything was more complex? Life is something that cannot be lived alone.
Convinced, Geo asked the cat.
“There aren’t many people here, kid.”
“Gyarreung.”
“You’re cute, but you don’t answer.”
The kitten just lay down and didn’t answer. Butler Geo, who was ready for the natural command to immediately stroke his belly, crouched down and gently stroked his tiny belly.
‘Hard and cold.’
A rustling sound was heard. If the master is satisfied, I am also happy. Geo nodded.
“You’re cute.”
“Huh?”
“It’s cute because it’s small and harmless, right?”
“… … .”
“… I don’t know why, but it seems like you’re denying what this father said, but whatever the truth is, it would be best if you didn’t tell me. It’s said that people are happiest when they’re ignorant, and that’s exactly what I am. I don’t want to know the cruel truth, so just leave me to enjoy myself.”
Honey acknowledged Geo’s sincere appeal.
“But it’s really cute.”
The monster, which was as small as a kitten, was not as clean and transparent as Honey. The monster, whose entire body was made of jewels, had a lot of tight crystals and cracks inside, making it look as if it was opaque.
However, when I touched it directly, I could feel the soft fur covering its outer surface. Unlike Honey, its body made of jewels was cold and hard, but the cat’s behavior of lying on the floor and enjoying being touched was very sophisticated.
“Can’t even a monster like this have emotions?”
Anticat
A cat-shaped monster made of jewels that has been acting independently since it was hatched from an egg. It has an extreme hatred for Earth creatures, and the humans who first discovered its existence named it ‘Anticat’.
Etiquette: The jewel hair balls that Anticats spit out very rarely can be stretched out and woven into cloth to create an invisibility cloak. Even more rarely, Anticats shed tears, which are used as an excellent tranquilizer in their own right.
“oh.”
Geo realized.
“Well, I did give emotions to the monsters in Cheonggyecheon, so I guess the monsters in the dungeon aren’t that different. They’re like this honest Speed Wagon.”
And then the second thing I realized was:
“… do you hate creatures on Earth?”
Then what about me?
“Am I not considered a creature of the Earth?”
“Grrrr.”
“Don’t be so noisy, but answer me about my identity, kid. Although I am currently living in a semi-forcible portrait because my identity and real estate have all been liquidated, I am still a healthy, South Korean man who grew up in the mountains of Gangwon Province and received pure energy.”
“Gyarrrrr… .”
“Do you have catnip on your hands?”
I was so happy that I was embarrassed that I liked it this much.
“I found a prepared butler.”
Even though it was a monster, it seemed to be very well-suited to the touch of Geo, a veteran at petting cats, perhaps because it had the nature of a cat.
It was a moment when I felt rewarded for stopping by a cat cafe every now and then while living in a busy modern society.
“… … .”
“… … .”
Anyway, there was no one there.
“hmm.”
Only the cat was cute.
“It’s sad.”
“Oh really?”
“I came here to make new friends, but I came back with only the owner.”
Geo already had his mind set on kidnapping this Anti-Cat. It says that it ‘behaves independently from the moment it is hatched’, so it seems like it doesn’t have a separate family to live with.
‘The cats of Earth should not be touched carelessly, but….’
This guy was a monster, so there was a little less burden.
“There’s an icehouse with a similar environment to this one, and I could draw a house in a similar place for you, so I think it’d be okay. What do you think, kid?”
“Gyarrrrr.”
“I take it you agree.”
But not seeing a single person was a bit of a blow. The timid Geo had to expend a lot of energy just to go outside to make new friends.
“I don’t like having too many people, but I wish there was at least one person.”
“Okay.”
“… … .”
“Grrr.”
“hmm?”
Anticat, who clearly understood what Geo was saying, quietly got up from where he was lying and went away.
“oh.”
Geo intuitively sensed new content and waited quietly in that spot.
‘A friendship brought about by animals? This is a beautiful situation, like a fairy tale… .’
As I waited in anticipation of a heart-warming encounter, the Anticat soon arrived to lure the humans.
I’m talking about a young and pitiful human who is so frightened by the mere sight that he can’t even comprehend the situation, and who is dragged along like a moth by the faint light of the Anticat.
“… … .”
Is it an offering?
‘Sacrifice?’
Hey, no way.
‘I brought you here to make friends, but it’s too bad. You look as young as the students I taught to be my friends… .’
Geo spoke to the person who hadn’t noticed him yet in the kindest voice he could muster.
“hello.”
“Ugh, huh …
This is a bit hurtful.
“What, what what what, what what what… .”
“… … .”
“…Who, who are you…?”
It really hurts.
“Who, who are you…?”
“… … .”
Geo became sullen, not even noticing the other person’s reasonable question. He was really depressed. Honey, who was hiding in the hood, seemed to be angry and said, “Why are you killing my dad’s spirit?”, but he ignored her.
I had anticipated that this would happen. It wasn’t something I had completely forgotten about.
‘Still… I thought I got used to people being afraid of me, but it turns out I don’t get hurt.’
Moreover, the guards working at the ‘Collector’ were not that scared. Perhaps because of the recent rumors about the ‘Black Cloak’, most of them were not overly afraid and talked to Geo.
In short, this was the first time I had ever met someone who was so afraid of me.
‘… Did I surprise a student who looked like a high school student… ?’
Sergio, who was a high school teacher, suddenly felt heartbroken. If he were a student he was teaching, he would have tried to comfort her by giving her a sweet snack, but in the current situation, he thought that would only make her more scared.
Knowing Geo’s feelings, Anticat rubbed his body against Geo’s leg as if he had completed his mission. It was so cute. Geo looked down at Anticat.
“… Anti-cat… .”
“… … .”
“Oh, by the way, are you… a, a trainer? Uh…”
“… … .”
“Which guild are you a hunter from…?”
Geo realized belatedly that the other person was asking very careful questions.
“… … ?”
Oh, that student.
‘Are you the student I ran into in the alley last time?’
A kind-hearted student who kindly donated his scarf to a homeless person on a winter day.
‘It’s still amazing when I think about it again.’
I had to give them a reward right away. Or a store. Or a snack… .
‘A special student who showed us that even in hellish Korea, there are special sprouts.’
As a teacher, Sergio was weak towards young students, and personally, he liked good people very much. There was no one who warmed his heart more than a kind and polite student.
‘What should I do?’
Geo felt even more lost for words when he remembered that his opponent had been a good student at the time.
‘I think you were really scared of me that day… If you found out that it was the same person, wouldn’t you faint?’
Besides, Geo now didn’t have the status to do so. In other words, it meant that he couldn’t answer the questions the other person asked.
No matter how crazy you are, you can’t say something like, ‘Actually, I was an art teacher at a high school 31 years ago, and during a fire, a portrait became possessed by a ghost…’
“… … .”
“… … .”
But it was not the right thing to do as an adult to continue to ignore the student’s questions, saying that my words were lacking.
It was just a coincidence that we saw each other once, but it was nice to see a familiar face, Geo said, putting pressure on his slightly stuttering brain to speak.
“hello.”
“… Ah, yes.”
“… … .”
“Hey, ah, hello… .”
Oh, this is it.
‘I’m sure that all the sociality I had in me during the 31 years I was asleep has dried up.’
As I watched the student looking very awkward, I couldn’t help but feel sorry.
This was the first time someone was so scared of him that he didn’t know how to react, and since the other person was a young student, he became even more cautious, which also played a part in Geo’s attitude.
Geo hesitated for a moment and then spoke again.
“My name is Sergio.”
Grandma said that the most effective way to soften someone’s heart was to speak clearly. Geo firmly believed in the words of his heavenly grandparents.
“… … .”
“What is your name?”
However, even so, this was a bit strange, but Geo, who appeared in the dungeon as a ‘portrait’, had no awareness that he was objectively saying strange things.
Even if he had been aware of it, he would not have been able to deal with the situation in a plausible way.
“… I, I…”
“You seem nervous.”
“… … .”
“Are you scared of me?”
“… … .”
“I promise I won’t cause any harm.”
Geo was just saying it out of good intentions and sincerity. The other student seemed so nervous that he just wanted to say, ‘I’m harmless, so don’t be so scared’…
“Don’t be afraid.”
Life isn’t that easy.
“… … .”
“I wonder what your name is.”
There are already things that have eaten into the ego as a ‘portrait’, starting with overly polite speech.
‘Are you not relaxed?’
In order to prevent the already dangerous ‘Portrait of Geo’ from losing its human personality, Yoo Seong-un and Bisabal never depicted how he was a fearful and distant being to people.
That’s why Geo also thought of himself as ‘a gloomy old man you meet in an alley late at night.’
‘It’ll be better if we clear up the misunderstanding.’
How great would it have been if Geo’s self-objectification had been like that?
“Tea, tea… It’s tea.”
“Nice to meet you, Cha Ara.”
Geo asked with great kindness.
“Would you like to talk to me?”
Look at my open heart. I’ll show you how harmless I am. Well, that was the promise.
“… … .”
“… … .”
“Please save me.”
It’s not like I was completely sincere.