Chapter 107
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 107
"One thing is certain," Yoo Seong-un concluded. "Gio harbored no ill intent."
"What kind of blind, doting-parent logic is that, Curator Yoo Seong-un?"
"Please don’t say things like that. It gives me the creeps."
Yoo Seong-un shuddered at Bisabeol’s thoughtless remark.
"You wouldn’t be talking so casually if you were standing in front of Gio yourself."
It was no easy feat to act so nonchalantly before such a vast, unfathomable being. Only because Yoo Seong-un was a Gardener, accustomed to the Origin, could he maintain his composure. Plenty of employees still couldn’t even manage a proper sentence when they crossed paths with Gio.
Seeing Yoo Seong-un’s reaction, Bisabeol asked in a sly tone, "You really think I wouldn’t act this way in front of him?"
"...Damn it. Just make sure you never meet Gio for the rest of your life. Understood?"
"How unfair! I bought 'Gio’s Portrait.' I emptied my own wallet for it."
"Then I suggest you fix that personality of yours."
It was the best way to ensure the peace of mankind.
"Gio doesn’t like you, Guild Master."
"What did I even do...?"
"You have too much energy. Far too much."
"Is that a crime?"
"Well, seeing as you haven’t been dragged away yet, I suppose not."
A part of him wished that big mouth would get him dragged away, but it felt wrong to dump such a terrible chore on Gio. Composing himself, Yoo Seong-un returned to the main point.
"Gio truly had no ill intentions. If he had dragged Hunter Park Eun-gyeom away out of hostility or malice, he would have shown at least some displeasure when I tried to retrieve him. My actions would have been a direct defiance of his will."
But 'Gio’s Portrait' had shown no resentment whatsoever.
"Instead, he had a tolerant attitude, as if telling me to do as I pleased."
"Is there no possibility he was just putting on an act?"
"Why would he go to such lengths to put on an act for someone like me? Especially inside his own stomach, of all places..."
He didn’t know the limits of Gio’s abilities, but he knew the master of a dungeon could wield near-miraculous authority within his own domain.
"The fact that he treated me so gently despite that means we must conclude he truly harbored no ill will."
"Our Hunter Seo Gio is quite good-natured, isn’t he?"
"You have the warm smile of a grandfather looking at his grandson... Please don’t do that in front of Gio."
Even as he said it, Yoo Seong-un was half-resigned.
"Since I’m the only one who witnessed it, I can’t say for certain, but from what I saw, the reason 'Gio’s Portrait' attacks humans is because they are wicked and disrespectful."
And.
"Its ultimate purpose was to maintain the quality of the human race."
"To maintain the quality of the human race..."
"I don’t know if this is the most accurate analogy, but you know how it is. Sick chickens are culled before they can spread disease... and overly violent animals are isolated in zoos..."
"Oh, that sounds like a perfect analogy to me. Makes it easy to understand. Does that mean Gio views us as livestock or beasts?"
"..."
Yoo Seong-un laughed awkwardly.
"...I’m not sure."
When they had toured Seoul together, Gio had been extremely human—kind and respectful of others. Yet, it was confusing because his behavior as the 'Black Cloak' wasn’t entirely different.
"If his treatment of humans changed based on a shift in personality, it would be much easier for us to comprehend... but from what I saw, there was no such clear distinction."
Yoo Seong-un looked troubled.
"One thing is certain: he is favorable toward the human race."
"We knew that before, but now it’s become a bit clearer."
"Indeed, it has."
Through this incident, Yoo Seong-un had learned one of Gio’s habits.
"Gio treats wicked and disrespectful humans as if they are an entirely different species from other humans."
It was impossible to know if 'Gio’s Portrait' viewed all humans as livestock, but it was clear that he viewed the wicked and disrespectful ones that way. His attitude was just that indifferent and merciless.
"Right in front of me, he conversed with an unseen man in a black suit, as if to show me, 'This is how little I care about the human named Park Eun-gyeom.' I don’t know if he truly didn’t know who I was, or if he was just putting on a show despite knowing..."
Yoo Seong-un recalled the Black Cloak he had seen in the 'Void City'.
"He truly placed no value on him whatsoever."
"So that’s why you said there was no malice. Literally no murderous intent or hostility."
"Whether the human he dragged away died trapped in there, escaped, or struggled desperately, Gio didn’t seem to care at all."
"Literally isolation or disposal. And an attitude bordering on complete indifference. Gio’s interest is focused solely on good or ordinary humans."
"Yet, he doesn’t exert himself to eradicate all wicked people, either. It’s just that whenever someone who doesn’t meet his standard of a 'human' catches his eye, he seems to deal with them."
"How terrifying."
Bisabeol wore a thin smile.
"And that’s all it is."
"...You are correct, Guild Master," Yoo Seong-un nodded. "It’s not an action that poses a major threat to humanity."
If he had tried to eliminate every wicked person on Earth, or openly exerted his influence to show unconditional favoritism toward the good, the story would be different.
But the actions of 'Gio’s Portrait' didn’t cause great chaos for humanity.
"It almost seems like he perceives it as a trivial game to pass the time."
"Though he doesn’t seem to derive much pleasure from it for it to be a game, nor does he seem to feel any sense of responsibility or duty."
"Indeed. From the start, there was no enthusiasm that would make it feel like a game or a punishment."
"There is no disaster more threatening to humanity than the enthusiasm of an Existence of the Origin."
"In that sense, Gio’s habits cannot be considered a major disaster for Earth."
This was closer to an occasional, random event.
"At the very least, as long as people behave themselves in front of the frames, no one will get dragged away. So, at this rate..."
"We can coexist," Bisabeol continued, his tone decisive. "With humanity having no choice but to coexist, this is indeed fortunate news. Since this coexistence isn’t too demanding even from our perspective, the Association will also be able to breathe a sigh of relief."
While not denying Bisabeol’s words, Yoo Seong-un didn’t let his guard down completely.
"It’s still too early to make such a definitive conclusion. It hasn’t been that long since we began analyzing 'Gio’s Portrait'."
"Curator Yoo Seong-un is right. There is nothing more foolish than letting one’s guard down, thinking they have 'fully understood' an Existence of the Origin. Especially someone like Gio, whose true identity we still don’t even know."
"...That is the most concerning part. If we could at least obtain accurate information, I would feel a bit more at ease. But with unknown facts constantly popping up like this..."
They could believe that the habits Gio had shown so far wouldn’t cause great harm to humanity, but they knew nothing beyond that. 'Gio’s Portrait' could display another aggressive habit at any moment.
"..."
Yoo Seong-un rubbed his neck.
"...This has been dragging on for too long."
"Isn’t it better to approach this cautiously and carefully?"
"That only applies when you at least know their identity."
He was a curator, and a Gardener to boot.
"Yet I still don’t know what Gio is."
Even now, as the year was coming to an end.
"The new frame that appeared this time—that gray city—was an abnormal dungeon. Because its basic foundation was so similar to a normal dungeon, it felt even more uncanny. It strongly felt as if it were mimicking a dungeon."
And.
"It is closer to a Garden."
"I believe you know exactly what that means," Bisabeol said.
"Yes, I know. A Garden is also the veins of the Origin."
The 'Garden' that Gardeners literally ground down their own lives to cultivate was, in a word, an 'organ of the Origin'. Managing the blood vessels, heart, lungs, muscles, and bones of the Origin was the duty of a Gardener.
"I’ve never heard of a non-human entity managing a Garden, but..."
"Then again, we know so little about the Origin to begin with."
"That’s the problem. Every Gardener I know is human, but it’s only been thirty-one years since we even learned of their existence."
"It’s only natural that there are things we don’t know about the limitless Origin."
"Even so, it’s also a stretch for us to judge Gio as a Gardener rather than a human."
Even if there were monsters that managed Gardens, or even if such a diligent god existed, creating a Garden directly was a completely different story. It was an impossible feat that could not be expected of anyone.
"...A Gardener cannot do that."
Yes, a Gardener could not do that.
In that case...
"..."
"I’ve had a thought before," Bisabeol said, continuing for the silent Yoo Seong-un.
"What if the Origin itself is a sentient being?"
Yoo Seong-un did not rebuke him for speaking nonsense.
* * *
"My babies."
After Yoo Seong-un left, Gio, now alone, fully enjoyed his life as a portrait while hugging the Black Suits in his arms.
"I am so happy that you’ve grown up so well, even though your father couldn’t pay much attention to you."
"Yes, thank you for liking us, Father."
"How did you grow up into such fine gentlemen? I’m truly blessed when it comes to children."
The combination of a faceless Black Cloak and faceless Black Suits was a spine-chilling sight to behold, but there was no one here to point that out.
Gio repeatedly muttered, "My admirable babies," as he cradled his new children.
"How can you be so adorable?"
His children, who recognized their father—well, technically, since they were monsters from inside the 'Void City', he was closer to a grandfather, but anyway—and obediently snuggled into his arms, were nothing short of lovely. They were like a sweet and sour dose of vitamins in this harsh world.
"I didn’t particularly intend for it, but you resemble me a lot."
"Yes, we wished to resemble you, Father."
"Is this that 'I want to grow up to be just like Dad' thing? It has a nice ring to it."
"Yes, thank you for creating us in a form that pleases you, Father."
"I don’t know how you can be such diligent and clever children."
Even as Gio said this, he knew that objectively, these 'Black Suits' had a terrifying appearance. Perhaps because they clumsily mimicked Gio, who was naturally blunt, their actions carried an uncanny, awkward vibe despite being human-like.
Park Eun-gyeom had felt a suffocating terror just by looking at them, and even the experienced Gardener Yoo Seong-un had felt an unbearable chill. Gio wasn’t entirely unaware that others would react this way.
'But that’s none of my business.'
Personal impressions couldn’t be helped, but no one should be allowed to criticize his kids when they had done their absolute best to dress up just to look like their dad.
"This emotional father is moved to tears by his children’s admirable efforts."
"Please pat us, Father."
"Father, we love you."
"Father."
"My admirable babies."
Gio was already wearing thick, sturdy, rose-colored glasses of affection.
"I hope you won’t care even if people call you scary."
"Yes, as long as you love us, Father, nothing else matters."
"Even if you don’t look very human-friendly, you look nothing but cute in my eyes."
"Thank you, Father. Please hug us."
"To think I’d be blessed with children at my age..."
What absolute sweethearts.
They were a truly heartwarming family, deeply caring for one another.