Chapter 24
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 24
[New Employee Notice]
Recently, an unfortunate incident involving a ghost story caused a disturbance within the guild. As the internal confusion has yet to subside, we are issuing this notice. We hope all employees will familiarize themselves with its contents to prevent further disruption.
…….
"What should I write?"
Bisabeol sat before his monitor, pondering for a long time.
"…Should I make it fun?"
His fingers soon flew across the keyboard.
The name of the man in the black cloak is Gio.
Gio is a member of the dawn shift. Do not ask about his identity.
…….
* * *
"Gio."
As always, Yoo Seong-un called out to the man inside the portrait.
"Are you awake?"
"Yes, I am awake."
"Then, I’d like to make a proposal."
While maintaining a calm demeanor, Yoo Seong-un closely observed his counterpart. He was making a proposal to an Existence of the Origin, and he knew all too well the gravity of the situation.
Normally, the beings who inhabited the Origin couldn’t communicate with humans. A distant sneeze could be taken as a grave insult, and a laugh during conversation could plunge them into sorrow.
Existences of the Origin had their own rules. From a human perspective, their principles were utterly irrational and erratic, which meant one must never approach them with human logic.
"Would you, by any chance, be interested in coming outside? Of course, this is only if you wish to…"
Constant observation and analysis were the only paths to survival.
"It seems you don’t know much about the situation outside, especially after that seed incident."
"You are correct, Mr. Yoo Seong-un. I do not know much."
"With that in mind, I was wondering if you’d like to go sightseeing. I’ll cover all expenses and make all the necessary arrangements. And, of course, I’ll be your guide."
"You will guide me?"
"Yes. Literally, all you have to do is show up."
Smuggling an unidentified Existence of the Origin into the outside world. Even though he had Bisabeol’s permission, this was a massive gamble, even for Yoo Seong-un, who was known for his bold leaps of faith.
…Still, no need to borrow trouble. If worst comes to worst, I can just claim he’s a new Hunter from outside the city.
As long as Gio maintained his gentlemanly attitude, no major problems should arise.
Of course, since he didn’t know Gio’s true nature, Gio might interact with something in reality regardless of his intentions, but that didn’t matter either. If trouble was inevitable, it was better to face it head-on and learn from it.
Even if it causes a bit of damage.
As Yoo Seong-un awaited an answer, the portrait with the gloomy yet noble face finally spoke.
"Sightseeing."
Even though Seong-un thought he had grown used to it, goosebumps still prickled his skin. The portrait’s tone remained bizarrely flat.
"Very well."
"…Really?"
"When would be best?"
It was a remarkably quick acceptance.
I thought he might attack me, thinking I was trying to drag him out of his world.
Gio was a portrait. Forcibly pulling a painting into reality could easily have been perceived as an insult from his perspective.
Fortunately, Gio didn’t seem to care.
Is it because he’s already come out on his own a few times? If so, it’s a relief I took measures to let him move around freely beforehand.
Halting his train of thought, Yoo Seong-un replied, "Let’s make it Tuesday morning, two days from now."
"Could you call for me then? Time seems to flow a bit differently here than it does outside, so I require assistance."
"That’s easy enough. I’ll come call for you in two days, so you can take your time getting ready and come out then…"
Pondering for a moment, Yoo Seong-un pulled out a small timer.
"I’ll leave this on the floor here. I’ll set it to ring three times at 8:00 AM in two days. This should make it easier for you to check the time whenever you wish, right?"
"Thank you."
"Don’t mention it."
Yoo Seong-un inwardly swallowed a sigh of relief.
…He accepted the proposal quite readily. As expected, compared to other Existences of the Origin, Gio is capable of communication. Of course, because he isn’t human, he occasionally deviates from the norm… but for the most part, he should be safe.
As if their business was concluded, the portrait closed its eyes.
"……."
Yoo Seong-un didn’t try to hold Gio’s attention any longer.
They would be stuck together all day in two days anyway; there was no need to drain their energy beforehand. Besides, Seong-un had plenty of preparations to make for his sightseeing trip with Gio.
I should book a room at one of those Tamer-exclusive hotels. I don’t intend to treat Gio like a contracted beast, but those places are well-equipped to handle worst-case scenarios.
Since this venture was quite dangerous, thorough preparations were necessary—while ensuring they didn’t cross the line and offend Gio.
"…But then again, when has it ever been different?"
Bisabeol’s stance was firm.
Even if some damage occurred, as long as it wasn’t a massacre of more than fifty people, he would cover it up. His orders were to observe how 'Gio’s Portrait' reacted among humans.
It’s a wise decision.
Gio could step out of the portrait whenever he pleased, without restriction or condition. If an incident was bound to happen, it was far better for Yoo Seong-un, a Curator and Gardener, to be watching from nearby.
"……."
Still, it wasn’t as if he wasn’t sick of this world where human lives were treated as casually as insects.
…Even though these are people inside the city, not outside, Guild Master Bisabeol said he could handle it. As long as the casualties are under fifty, it doesn’t matter. And even if it happens, it’s fine as long as it doesn’t leak to the media.
Of course, it would be infinitely better if the sightseeing trip concluded with zero casualties.
"I’ll just have to hope for a gentlemanly response from Gio on this one," Yoo Seong-un muttered softly as he left the guild. Even if Gio’s reactions were remarkably human-like, he couldn’t let his guard down.
Even humans could act perfectly normal one day, only to throw a massive tantrum over lunch the next. There was no guarantee an Existence of the Origin wouldn’t possess a similar duplicity.
I’ll definitely look into those hotels… and for the route, it would be best to choose a place where we can easily contain any mess. Gyeongbokgung is in that direction, so it’s not like there’s nothing to see.
Since he was specifically using the name 'Seo Gio,' showing him some traditional Korean sights didn’t seem like a bad idea.
I think the Gyeongbokgung night market usually opens after 6:00 PM. Since it’s a tourist spot in Jongno, there will be plenty of Hunters roaming around. If an incident occurs, it’ll be easy to call for help using Guild Master Bisabeol’s name.
Perhaps because he had been working overtime lately, or because he was worrying too much, his head throbbed.
I’ll have to think about how to introduce Gio when the time comes, though…
If an incident did occur, it seemed best to report it to the Association voluntarily. Since the Association President had been targeting 'Gio’s Portrait,' they probably weren’t entirely clueless about it either.
"…Whew…"
Stepping outside, Yoo Seong-un let out a deep sigh.
"What a headache."
No white puff of breath escaped his lips.
"……."
Yoo Seong-un muttered blankly.
"…Man, this is why I love big corporations."
Scratching the back of his head, he started walking again. Overtime was guaranteed, but he had plenty of stamina.
I need to get things ready quickly.
He hoped everything would go smoothly.
* * *
Gio returned to his bedroom after finishing his conversation with Yoo Seong-un.
"……."
Yes, it was Gio.
Fortunately, Gio had returned from being 'Giovanni' and regained his original personality.
"Hmm…"
His state as 'Giovanni' hadn’t lasted long. He had simply been flustered by the unfamiliar change, but once he got the hang of it, reverting to his usual self was easy.
"It’s not that hard."
He found that with a bit of mental effort, he could return to being Gio.
"It’s like blowing your nose."
In this way, Gio came to grasp this new rule.
"So I just need to meet a Compatible, obtain their consent, and carry out quests while traveling through that world."
And one more thing: 'Synchronization.'
This part wasn’t too difficult either.
"Progress is much faster when I assume Giovanni’s personality, but even if I don’t actively adopt his persona, the synchronization rate itself is slowly rising."
Though he occasionally became Giovanni without realizing it, apart from that…
"I guess once synchronization starts, you can’t turn it off."
He had never experienced anything like this before, but it felt like recalling a forgotten past life. Although he told himself they were different people, Gio didn’t feel that he and the man named Giovanni were separate entities.
Thus, Gio had spent the past few days sorting out his thoughts.
"I’ll probably never have such a novel experience again in my life."
"Kkuruk?"
"It’s rare to have an experience where your left and right brains feel like they’re operating completely independently."
He was now capable of being 'Gio' and 'Giovanni' at the same time, and switching his personality depending on the situation and his mood wasn’t difficult.
He could feel Giovanni’s emotions.
Though the memories aren’t complete.
Perhaps because the synchronization rate was low, Gio couldn’t recall all of Giovanni’s memories. It felt like following an amnesiac version of Giovanni, but even that was enough to understand what kind of person he was.
Giovanni was incredibly warm-hearted, gentle, and possessed a soft charisma that could comfort and captivate people. He was a man who harbored ambitions for peace, yet cherished his daily life with those around him even more.
That was 'Bartlan Giovanni.'
"……."
After blinking twice, Gio muttered in a low voice.
"Will I be okay like this?"
Yoo Seong-un had proposed a sightseeing trip.
"But he seemed scared of me."
Gio wasn’t completely oblivious; he just hadn’t given it much thought before.
There’s no way people are scared of me just because I’m a guy dressed in pitch black.
Yoo Seong-un seemed to be beating around the bush to avoid hurting his feelings, but Gio knew. The current Gio was undoubtedly terrifying to ordinary people.
I guess wandering the world in the body of a portrait causes some resolution issues.
Or perhaps this was the true power of a haunted portrait: the power to make even the harmless look harmful, transforming any genre into a horror thriller just by existing.
"People outside seemed to find me scary."
"Kkoong."
"Don’t worry. It’s a bit baffling, but I’m not particularly offended."
He hadn’t intended for it to happen, but it felt like he was pulling a horror prank. He felt a little sorry, but frankly, it was more absurdly funny than anything else.
Still, there had to be a limit.
"It’ll be a problem if it disrupts the sightseeing."
This wasn’t a solo trip; it was a joint excursion relying entirely on someone else’s money and guidance. Looking so hopelessly hazardous would only be a nuisance to his companion, Mr. Yoo Seong-un.
"It’s a sightseeing trip with a reliable guide like Mr. Yoo Seong-un. An experience on someone else’s dime doesn’t come around often."
"……."
"Do you think money grows on trees? I bet inflation has driven prices up even more now. And Daddy has no money."
Ah, oops. Whining to your child about having no money might negatively affect their development. Gio quickly added:
"Of course, Daddy can buy you anything you want, Honey."
"Kkoong?"
"We shouldn’t waste money, but if you buy something and enjoy it, it’s never a waste."
Besides, in this place, money might actually come out if he dug up the ground. If painting could produce roasted sweet potatoes, why wouldn’t digging yield money?
"Anyway, it’s not like that outside the frame. Honey, listen carefully. A true pig is one who runs over and gobbles up delicious food the moment someone offers to buy it."
Personally, he wished Honey would get that plump.
"……."
"……."
Plump…
"…Kkuung… kkeureureuk… keureuk…"
"Is there really a need to get so angry?"
"Kreeeeeee…"
He seemed to hate the idea.
What a pity.
A plump bird was the epitome of cuteness, but this self-disciplined little waterbird clearly had no intention of becoming one.
I thought his habit of decking himself out in jewels was unusual, but he’s just a meticulous child.
In any case, that was what concerned Gio. He needed to project a more harmless impression.
"I want to look harmless enough to pass as an ordinary pedestrian, but I’m already as harmless as a talking potato. I don’t know what more I can do. Surely my harmlessness has already reached its peak."
Back when he was alive—well, he had never actually died, but anyway—back when he worked as a teacher, Gio had occasionally been told he had a stern expression, but never to the point of making people cry and wet themselves.
"After all, I’m nothing without my talent for growing up healthy wherever I’m planted."
Yet now, Gio was being treated like an urban legend, akin to the Slit-Mouthed Woman. He hadn’t heard such feedback directly, but seeing how everyone he met gasped in terror, he had a rough idea.
"Seeing how everyone struggles just to perceive me, it seems to be… a resolution issue first and foremost."
"Kkooreureu."
"I suppose various issues arise when a painting becomes reality, but I’m no engineer…"
Fortunately, Gio had already received a solution from the System.
[Tip]
Resolution Solution
Apply 'Gio'.
"This must refer to the Compatible."
Was 'Giovanni,' who was currently undergoing synchronization, treated as a human rather than a portrait?
Indeed, when he activated Giovanni’s personality, he felt his body grow slightly heavier. Unlike before, he had to use the restroom, felt hungry, and required a regular amount of sleep.
"So, if I go outside as Giovanni, people won’t be afraid of me."
"……."
Feeling Honey’s lukewarm gaze, Gio nodded.
"Let’s call it a split personality."
He had to become harmless first, no matter what.
"……."
"……."
Under Honey’s intense stare, Gio admitted his excessiveness.
"…Yeah, even I think claiming a split personality is a bit of a stretch."
"Kkuruk."
"To make an excuse, I didn’t actually intend to use that as a cover-up."
It was a sightseeing trip kindly proposed by Yoo Seong-un. It was a journey he would enjoy with Seong-un’s help, and since they would be walking around together in plain sight, he didn’t want to cause any unnecessary trouble.
"Even if I don’t actively act as 'Giovanni,' as long as synchronization is in progress, there’s room to utilize it. It means even if I act like my usual self, people might not be so terrified."
"Kkooreu?"
"Of course, I still have to pay attention. If I let my guard down, the resolution issue seems to crop up again even during synchronization. But even this much can be considered a huge harvest."
This was a fact he had verified with the help of the guild’s dawn patrol guards.
"Since I’m putting in various efforts, Mr. Yoo Seong-un won’t be put in too much of a bind."
Like, for instance, his companion suddenly exhibiting a split personality.
"…Well, anyway…"
Gio, who had been lounging on the bed, stood up.
"…Then it’s time to prepare our elder’s meal. Honey, let’s go."
"Kkooreureureureu!"
Honey nodded in enthusiastic agreement. The tiny bird fluttered up and perched on Gio’s shoulder.
Gio picked up the seventy-seven colorful sandwiches he had prepared in advance in the kitchen and headed to the atelier. He stopped right in front of 'Breathing Sea,' the landscape painting of the ocean.
Now, he had to open this tightly shut door.
"Do you wanna build a snowm—"
"Kkuk."
"Right."
After all, copyright was precious.
Recalling his spiritual home, Fro○en, and reminiscing about his childhood innocence, Gio composed himself. There was a non-zero chance that South Korea, having advanced thirty-one years while he slept, had transformed into a nation of lawsuits.
Clearing his throat after his nonsense, Gio prepared to have a meal with his family.
"……."
"……."
A brief silence fell.
His pitch-black hair gradually lightened.
He blinked his water-colored eyes twice.
"……."
In his place stood Giovanni.
"…May I enter?"
The door opened.
"Thank you."
" "
"Yes, this priest is quite late."
" "
"Please understand."
A world submerged in the sea.
"The weather was so pleasant that my body grew sluggish."
The sun was barely breathing.