Chapter 128
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 128
The Gallery, 4:00 AM.
"Gio."
Yoo Seong-un called out to the portrait, just as he always did.
"Are you awake?"
"Yes, I am awake."
"I came because you sent a letter."
"..."
The portrait, its eyes obscured by black paint, seemed to fix its gaze on Yoo Seong-un. From its bloodless lower face, a voice emerged.
"Were you able to read it this time?"
"Nothing’s changed. It was the same as the others you’ve sent."
"I see."
He didn’t sound disappointed.
As always, the portrait’s voice was blunt and hollow. While the calm tone was pleasant enough, it carried a weight that made it difficult to listen to for long.
Yoo Seong-un let the voice, whose meaning he couldn’t decipher, wash over him. Then, the portrait spoke again.
"I can show you something interesting."
"Something interesting..."
Yoo Seong-un nodded, having already guessed.
"Don’t tell me you’ve succeeded in finding another 'Gio'?"
Gio’s ability to imitate humans so perfectly, despite his colossal status, was said to stem from his power to awaken other 'Gios'—his old personalities. By embodying a human 'Gio' before it was fully 'stained' by the portrait, he found it easier to act human.
Gio affirmed Yoo Seong-un’s question and elaborated.
"It is something I painted, not something I found."
"So it’s a painting, then? How is that any different from the portrait you are now?"
"To be precise, I am asking a favor of the Gio from that painting."
"A favor..."
That was a rather mild way of putting it.
"..."
Yoo Seong-un steeled himself, ready to face a catastrophe.
"So, what kind of person is this 'Gio'?"
"He is one of the Evil Gods."
"Ah. So, does this mean Earth is about to be destroyed?"
"I do not destroy Earth."
"I appreciate that, but it’s still a bit terrifying."
Of all things, an Evil God?
"...Wait, if he’s an Evil God... isn’t he not human to begin with? Is it really okay to get help from a 'Gio' like that?"
"It is possible because he, too, is ultimately human."
"How merciful of you. I always get the feeling that your standards for what counts as human are incredibly generous."
He had known as much ever since Gio preached to those terrifying mermaids, telling them, "You are humans too."
And the fact that he considers himself an ordinary human, too...
While it often seemed like a joke or an act, there was no falsehood in what Gio truly believed. His criteria for what constituted a human were, it seemed, remarkably... inclusive.
"So, did you call me here just to tell me that?"
Yoo Seong-un still couldn’t decipher Gio’s letters, but he knew they meant Gio had something important to convey. That was why he’d come at this early hour, on the very day he received it.
"Or is there something you wanted to ask me?"
"Rather than that..."
Clack—
The portrait’s ring-adorned hand gripped the frame.
"..."
The 'Gio' covered in black paint leaned out, nearly enveloping Yoo Seong-un...
"—Peekaboo."
And played a prank.
"..."
"..."
"Why is there no reaction?"
"...Uh..."
As Yoo Seong-un stumbled back, pale and clutching his chest, a pair of bare feet stepped down from the canvas. Before he knew it, 'Gio' had stepped completely out of the portrait.
"...Oh, right."
"What do you mean by 'right'?"
"You startled me for a second."
"I did not mean to frighten you."
"I see."
He really thought he was going to die this time.
Those eyes...
The moment he made direct eye contact with those downward-gazing golden eyes, his mind went blank.
Yoo Seong-un had previously guessed that 'Gio’s Portrait' was the 'Eye of the Origin,' meant to gather a database on humanity.
Since then, he had tried even harder to avoid eye contact, but meeting them head-on like this was suffocating. It was truly...
"..."
Yoo Seong-un took a brief, deep breath and returned to his usual expression.
"You’re still the Gio I know, right?"
"I still remember and acknowledge you, Mr. Yoo Seong-un."
"Hmm..."
It was definitely a favorable response, just like before.
"...You seem to have changed a lot, though. Just like with Giovanni, you really change from one extreme to another."
From the expressionless, blunt 'Seo Gio', he had become the priest 'Giovanni', characterized by a bright and gentle smile.
And now, he’s become an Evil God who knows how to wear a sinister smile...
He’d thought all of Gio’s personas maintained a baseline of goodness. But now that he’d become an Evil God, of all things, could even his fundamental disposition change?
Then again, Gio himself could hardly be called 'good' by human standards. His preference for what was good and polite was likely fixed, but his characteristic courtesy and goodwill toward humans might not be.
Even after organizing his thoughts, he still lacked information. Unlike the previous 'Gios', who were generally gentle, this one was flashy in every respect, from his appearance to his personality.
The first change was his color scheme.
"Are those this 'Gio’s' colors?"
"Quite splendid, is it not?"
"It certainly is. Very flashy."
His eyes were a cool shade of gold, and his hair was a deep red, like aged blood. Yoo Seong-un was immediately reminded of someone with a similar color palette.
It seemed Gio was too.
"The guild master here seems to have similar colors to mine."
"Ah, right. He has red hair and golden eyes too."
They weren’t the exact same shades. Bisabeol’s hair and eyes were a bit more saturated than this Gio’s. His hair was the color of fresh blood, his eyes closer to lemon than gold.
Still, even so.
"They are very similar."
To the point where, at a glance, one might think they were relatives.
Would he find it offensive if I said that?
Since the other party had introduced himself as an Evil God, he had to be careful. Comparing him to a mere human could be perceived as an insult from a god’s perspective. He wanted to avoid that at all costs.
However, Gio’s reaction was quite casual.
"Similar enough to be thought of as family?"
"...Perhaps so."
"Is he good at fighting?"
"Whoa, absolutely not. He’d fly away if you just tapped him."
"Oh dear."
"..."
Yoo Seong-un inwardly bit his tongue.
Is he this type of Evil God?
Among Evil Gods, there were twisted schemers, and then there were berserkers who just swept everything away, schemes be damned. It seemed this Gio was closer to the latter, if he had to choose.
"...So, you enjoy fighting?"
"Do not worry, my friend. I do not run wild unless the opponent is worthy."
"I see..."
Seeing as he called him 'friend' for now, it seemed the rapport they’d built up hadn’t been wiped clean.
So he usually thought of me as a friend.
He was grateful, but it was more of a burden than anything else. Being considered a friend by an existence that was practically the Eye of the Origin was a high honor for a Gardener, but it also put him in a position where he felt he would never be able to die a normal human death.
If I’m not careful, I might not even live out my natural lifespan.
Well, whatever. It was obviously better to have his goodwill than his hostility.
"..."
Scratching his neck, Yoo Seong-un spoke again.
"...You can speak casually to me, you know?"
"A good human like Mr. Yoo Seong-un deserves proper courtesy."
"Even though it’s the same polite speech, it definitely feels different."
The black Gio’s polite speech had been chillingly blunt, while Giovanni’s had been warm and respectful. The polite speech uttered by the flashy Gio in front of him carried a sharp hint of laughter, making it sound slightly sarcastic.
Yet, the reason he doesn’t feel like a common thug is probably because of that elegance of his.
Yoo Seong-un scanned the inside of the Black Cloak. He knew that on the rare occasions 'Gio' changed, his attire changed as well.
The black cloak covering him from head to toe made it impossible to see inside, but if he chose to reveal it, the interior became visible. When he was Seo Gio, he wore a black suit; when he was Giovanni, he wore white priestly robes.
While details like hairstyle and fashion seem to change depending on Gio’s mood at the time, this one is definitely eye-catching.
This Gio’s attire was covered in bones and jewels.
"..."
How was he supposed to handle things if Gio went out looking like that?
The vibe is too ominous to just explain them all away as artifacts.
As if noticing Yoo Seong-un’s thoughts, Gio laughed.
"Do you really think I would walk among people dressed like this?"
"If not, that’s a relief."
"If necessary, I shall wear a suit. It is neat, after all."
"Then what about your current attire?"
"Wasn’t it to show you, Mr. Yoo Seong-un?"
His tone of voice really shifted on a dime.
A highly capricious type...
He had to be careful. Even if Gio spoke like that, he might still walk among people in that attire.
These days, there were so many Hunters with unusual concepts that he wondered if it would even be a big deal, but since Gio had introduced himself as an Evil God, being complacent would be foolish.
"...So..."
Feeling a bit confused, Yoo Seong-un spoke first.
"I’m slowly getting a grasp of the situation."
"Are you?"
"Is there something you want from me?"
"There was something I wanted to ask."
"Something you wanted to ask? Is that the main point?"
"Yes."
Gio asked.
"Am I still scary?"
"..."
It was surprising.
...Is even the current Gio showing consideration for humans?
Although he was the Black Cloak who didn’t treat wicked scoundrels as human, Gio fundamentally showed impartial affection toward humanity.
At times, it was so impartial that it felt like complete indifference, but Yoo Seong-un knew that this was the portrait’s way of showing consideration.
But even as an Evil God, Gio is capable of that?
Since Gio had introduced himself as an Evil God, Yoo Seong-un had prepared himself for the worst. It felt like... looking at something truly foreign.
"..."
After scanning the other party slowly, Yoo Seong-un shook his head.
"No, you’re not scary."
"Really?"
"To be more precise, I do feel a bit overwhelmed by your sheer presence."
Yoo Seong-un smiled gently.
"But that can’t be helped. You’re quite tall compared to other humans, your colors are intense right now, and your gaze itself is intimidating. Your expression... has a fierce side to it too."
But.
"Even so, you still feel human."
Of course, Gio’s eyes were still hard to look at directly.
However, the reason Yoo Seong-un was able to quickly snap out of it even after meeting them head-on at such close range was likely because the current Gio was firmly remaining within the confines of being human.
At Yoo Seong-un’s calm reaction, Gio’s lips curled subtly. He seemed to be smiling.
"Hearing that feels very strange."
"To that extent?"
"The phrase 'looking like a human' is unfamiliar to me."
"Is that... a change caused by your current self?"
"Yes."
As if thinking about something for a moment, Gio’s eyes crinkled.
"Everyone called me Arjio, but you may call me whatever you wish, Mr. Yoo Seong-un."
"Arjio? Is that the word that refers to you?"
"In the ancient tongue of my homeland, it means 'cruel beast'. It is a sort of derogatory term."
"...Then I’ll just call you what I usually do."
There was no need to flatter an already cruel Evil God by calling him 'cruel'.
And it would be rude to call someone who isn’t showing any ill intent by a derogatory term.
As if reading Yoo Seong-un’s thoughts, Gio flashed a sly smile. Only then did Yoo Seong-un realize that the shape of Gio’s eyes was sharper than he had thought.
Smiling like that, he definitely looks even more like the Guild Master.
Usually, his eyes were calmly cast down, so he hadn’t realized they were sharp. Since it was too random a topic, he kept it to himself, and Gio spoke up.
"That is all for today’s business."
"Did you want to check if there were any side effects from merging with another Gio?"
"Something like that. I am satisfied."
He pulled his hood low, concealing his entire body within the dark Black Cloak. Once more, only his pale, bare feet and the cuffs of a black suit were visible beneath the hem.
From within the pitch-black shadow of the cloak, Gio spoke.
"Thank you for responding to my letter."
"..."
That was definitely 'Seo Gio'.
"...Wow..."
This was going to get harder and harder to adapt to as time went on.
Finding this creepy must mean I’m still human.
The erosion of the Garden was growing stronger by the day, but it seemed that contacting the Origin didn’t have much of an effect on him. Yoo Seong-un smiled, feeling a chill at how instantly everything about 'Gio' had shifted.
To this portrait, each 'Gio' was like a set of clothes.
An attempt to blend in with humanity without any sense of incompatibility by finding and wearing an outfit suited to the situation.
Yoo Seong-un understood that attempt and consideration. In its own way, 'Gio’s Portrait' was trying to get along with others by utilizing countless memories and personalities.
Then, does calling me here this time amount to showing off a newly bought outfit to family or a friend to see if it looks good?
It was a bit funny. This behavior of 'Gio’s Portrait' had a somewhat cute side to it, like watching a newly born, immature, yet earnest existence of the Origin.
"I’ll gladly accept your thanks."
"I will be able to help you on another day."
"I’m even more grateful for that."
As a Gardener, help from the Origin could be a lifeline.
Though historically there have been no such cases, so I don’t know what kind of help it will actually be.
The portrait stopped Yoo Seong-un as he was about to leave.
"If you are tired, would you like to stay the night at my cabin?"
"Hmm..."
He was certainly tired, but...
"...It’s not that I’m uninterested."
"Yes."
"But I’d rather visit when I look a bit more presentable."
"I see."
"Would you be offended if I saved the kind offer for next time?"
"I am always waiting for your visit, Mr. Yoo Seong-un."
"That’s a truly wonderful invitation."
It was an invitation like a ghost bewitching a lonely, weary traveler.
"I like that kind of thing."
Yoo Seong-un smiled, his blue-gray eyes crinkling deeply.
* * *
At that same hour, in an abandoned building in the Outer Zone.
"..."
In that place filled with ash and soot, a man who had lost everything sat quietly.
What he held in his hand was the Mark of the Evil God known as Sankalut.