Chapter 25
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 25
8:00 AM.
Yoo Seong-un blinked his mint-colored eyes, staring at the Black Cloak who stood before the frame.
“…”
Huh.
He feels a bit different.
It wasn’t just his imagination. The pitch-black figure standing before the portrait no longer exuded the same bizarre aura as before.
It was as if a monster had turned into a human.
“Gio.”
“You’ve arrived.”
“Am I late?”
“No, I just came out a little early.”
“Is that so?” Yoo Seong-un replied casually, his mind racing.
…Even his voice is different.
Before, he spoke in a tone so perfectly measured it was uncanny. The current Gio, though perhaps a bit overly polite, didn’t feel strange at all. He had the vibe of someone who might actually be this way if they possessed a completely innocent nature.
Maybe his status changes depending on whether he’s inside or outside the portrait…
But if that were the case, the witness testimonies he’d gathered so far wouldn’t add up.
“…”
Yoo Seong-un’s eyes darted slightly before he asked with a smile, “Are you in a good mood, by any chance?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Hmm… Your aura seems lighter than usual.”
“I have always been light.”
“If you say so.”
He was definitely different.
I can barely feel any pressure from him.
Although Yoo Seong-un had only ever seen his back, he knew just how terrifying Gio usually was outside the portrait. Even without any hostility or murderous intent, his mere presence made it hard to breathe and sent one’s mind spinning—a sensation not easily felt, even in a world teeming with monsters of both the human and non-human variety.
He had heard the sensation was even worse when facing Gio head-on, which made this all the more bizarre. The current Gio felt like nothing more than an ordinary person.
“…”
“…”
As if sensing his curiosity, Gio spoke first.
“I took some measures.”
“Measures?”
“I tried adjusting my resolution so that others wouldn’t be startled when they see me. Judging by your reaction, Mr. Yoo Seong-un, it seems my attempt wasn’t too bad.”
“Ah, I see. No wonder.”
He seemed remarkably human. While Yoo Seong-un nodded casually, his inner thoughts were in turmoil.
Which means… he can adjust the status of his own soul at will?
Previously, Gio’s status was so distorted it defied human standards. Now, it seemed to be around the level of an A-Rank Hunter.
The ability to manipulate the status of one’s own soul at will sounded like a very bad joke.
“…Isn’t that putting too much strain on you?”
If he was forcibly lowering his status, the fatigue must be immense.
It’s basically the same as casting a curse on himself.
He had softened the question by asking if there was “too much strain,” but adjusting one’s status like this would likely cause far more pain than mere fatigue.
At Yoo Seong-un’s question, Gio looked down at his hands, then shook his head.
“I am fine.”
“Well, that’s a relief, but…”
How could he be so calm after doing something so insane? Yoo Seong-un was secretly terrified.
He’s way too calm for someone who just mutilated himself. If you want to act normal, at least be more thorough about it.
Even a ten-year-old would understand the gravity of the situation. To put it in civilian terms, it was like chopping off all your limbs and gouging out both your eyes.
It’s no different from putting a leash and a heavy weight on someone who can only crawl on their belly…
Of course, Gio wasn’t thinking about any of that.
I’m hungry.
As far as his own perception went, he had been living as an ordinary human until very recently. A body that didn’t feel thirst, sleep, hunger, or fullness was certainly convenient, but he felt no aversion to his current state either.
He had always lived like this, so why would he? If anything, it felt familiar.
“…”
“So, where should we go now?”
“…Ah, right.”
Yoo Seong-un forced a casual expression onto his face. It would be rude to show nothing but worry to someone who had come out to enjoy themselves. When dealing with an Existence of the Origin, one had to be careful with even the slightest reaction.
“Since it’s morning, I thought we could grab some breakfast first.”
“What kind of food?”
“I recommend a baekban-jip.”
Gio had previously referred to himself as “Seo Gio,” using a Korean name. Seong-un didn’t know if Gio was truly following Korean customs, but since he seemed to know a lot about Korea, he chose a baekban-jip for breakfast.
Just in case, he added an explanation.
“It’s a meal served with rice, soup, and various side dishes all on one table. You can order fish or spicy stir-fried pork with it.”
“…”
“It won’t be too spicy or heavy, and since it’s morning, I looked for a restaurant that would be easy on the stomach.”
“That sounds good.”
Gio wasn’t a picky eater, but having been raised by a grandmother who always prepared home-cooked meals, he preferred this kind of comforting food. It put both his body and mind at ease.
Yoo Seong-un nodded. “Glad to hear it. Shall we head out then?”
Gio followed behind him.
…I can hear his footsteps.
He thought Gio had been barefoot before, but now he was wearing dress shoes. More than that, Yoo Seong-un was slightly surprised to hear footsteps that carried the actual weight of a human.
Did he really lower his status to a human level? I still can’t believe it.
From the question of how such a thing was even possible to why on earth he would do something so horrific, Seong-un felt a strange mix of emotions.
He probably did this out of consideration for other humans…
Before Yoo Seong-un, who had been plotting how to make excuses if any damage occurred, could even feel embarrassed, a bizarre sense of guilt washed over him. It was overwhelming to be on the receiving end of such absurd kindness—kindness that involved severing his own limbs and soul.
Of course, the very fact that he offered such beyond-common-sense kindness so casually made him feel even less human.
“Hmm…”
Snapping out of his thoughts, Yoo Seong-un led Gio toward the elevator.
“Let’s get in.”
“I believe this is my first time.”
“What is? This elevator?”
“I usually travel through paintings.”
“So you really did travel through paintings.”
He had already guessed as much, but this finally explained the mysterious portraits the night guards would occasionally spot in the hallways. Even so, the ghost story of the “Black Cloak” had already taken deep root in the guild.
“I even gave you an access card, so why didn’t you use the elevator?”
“I thought it would be troublesome if I ran into other people in such a confined space.”
“…I see.”
Indeed. If merely running into him in a wide hallway was enough to force guards to take a leave of absence, they probably would have foamed at the mouth and collapsed in a space this tight.
However, Gio hadn’t meant it that way.
Who knows what kind of people the employees here are? Why would I share a cramped space with them?
Gio, who knew when to keep a low profile, was terrified. Thirty-one years in a fantasy world was more than enough to make him feel an unknown dread even in his own hometown.
I don’t even know how much the culture has changed. It’s dangerous for a haunted portrait to go acting rashly. Besides, traveling through paintings is faster anyway.
It was a choice made purely for his own convenience, but…
“…”
Yoo Seong-un couldn’t help but interpret it differently.
…Isn’t he way too nice? Was I worried about the completely wrong thing?
He was starting to get genuinely concerned.
He traveled through paintings instead of the elevator because he was worried others would be crushed by his status, and he severed his own status just to prevent any unpleasant incidents during our trip…
There were other suspicious circumstances as well.
Come to think of it, his unusual fondness for giving gifts is also a rather concerning trait in hindsight.
He had planned this sightseeing trip worrying that the portrait might cause trouble, but if Gio ended up being harmed by humans instead, that would be a disaster of a completely different kind.
I think I targeted the wrong subject of caution. Instead of worrying about the gentlemanly Gio acting out, I should have been worrying about some human coming along and provoking him…
Yoo Seong-un lamented whether this was even the right thing to worry about, yet he couldn’t shake the thought.
“…Alright, let’s get off.”
“It takes quite a while.”
“That’s because the gallery is deep underground,” Yoo Seong-un explained with a small chuckle. “The works in the Guild Master’s gallery come from all over the world. Some were bought by the Guild Master himself, some were sourced by guild members, and some were entrusted to us for safekeeping because they were too dangerous…”
In short, it was a veritable den of hazards.
“The restricted access is partly to prevent theft, but also because a dozen or so people could easily die if something goes wrong. The Collector’s gallery is famous for being overrun with works of all kinds of bizarre properties. Because of that, whenever a ghost story pops up, the gallery is usually the source.”
“I see.”
“That’s why the gallery is located so deep underground, almost excessively so. It’s designed so that if some unknown bomb goes off down there, it’ll be easier to clean up… or at least minimize the damage.”
Having said that much, Yoo Seong-un turned to look at Gio.
“Right, then.”
“…Is there a problem?”
“Keep your hood on.”
Although his intimidating aura had faded after he’d lowered his status, he was by no means harmless. Above all, Gio’s features were far too striking. If he walked around with his face exposed, he would inevitably get dragged into all sorts of trouble.
As long as his face is covered, I can pass him off as an unofficial Hunter. The Collector Guild has an unusually high number of those anyway, so others won’t suspect anything.
The employee at the first-floor lobby entrance greeted Yoo Seong-un.
“Heading home already?”
“No way. I’m on a business trip. I just got back; I’m not leaving again so soon.”
“I was about to be jealous, but that’s a relief. Let’s suffer together.”
The guard, joking affably, looked at Gio standing behind Yoo Seong-un.
“And this is…?”
“The Guild Master’s guest.”
“Are they joining as a rookie soon?”
“Could be.”
Possessing a highly sociable personality, the guard spoke to Gio in a friendly manner, as if they were old acquaintances.
“Then it might be a good idea to change the color of your cloak. A new ghost story has been going around our guild lately, and as you know… we’re the type to get easily swayed by those kinds of rumors.”
At that, Yoo Seong-un asked, “Are people still getting spooked by the Black Cloak stories?”
“Well, with so many eyewitnesses, what can you do? It seems to actually exist, so everyone is keeping their guard up.”
“Man, that’s troublesome,” Yoo Seong-un muttered with a casual smile, then gave a polite nod. “Well, I’ll see you in a few days then.”
“Is it a long-term trip?”
“We’ll have to see how it goes…”
“Then have a safe trip.”
After a polite farewell, the guard quickly lost interest in them. The massive glass doors of the lobby slid open. Once they stepped outside the Collector Guild, Yoo Seong-un spoke.
“As you can see, rumors about you have spread quite a bit. I already mentioned the inconveniences to the Guild Master, but it might take some time for any changes to be implemented…” Yoo Seong-un said apologetically. “I’ll tell everyone you’re the Guild Master’s guest. How does that sound?”
“I understand.”
“No other questions?”
“I am curious why the guard was so certain that I would become a colleague.”
“Ah, that.” Yoo Seong-un nodded. “It’s a habit of the Guild Master’s to pick up random people from everywhere.”
“Picking them up? The Guild Master possesses a rather uncommon set of beliefs.”
“He even tries to recruit assassins who come to kill him.”
“To win over someone who tried to kill him… he is bold. He must be very broad-minded.”
“His tastes are so unique that if there’s an unfamiliar face in the guild, they’re usually the Guild Master’s guest. It wouldn’t be the first or second time he’s invited someone to the guild just to scout them.”
“…”
There was a limit to how much one could sugarcoat things. Unaware that such sugarcoating only made him seem even less human, Gio quietly resigned himself to the Guild Master’s eccentricities.
My mortal stamina isn’t built to handle such an overwhelming presence.
He didn’t seem like a bad person, but because he was so unpredictable, he was the absolute number one type of person Gio never wanted to talk to.
If we ever became close, he’d probably drag me out of my corner, throw me into a crowd of extroverts, and sacrifice me to the party…
It was a horrifying thought.
“Now, we need to take the elevated train. Is that alright with you?”
“…The elevated train?”
Not the subway?
Thanks to Gio’s lowered status, Yoo Seong-un was able to read his confusion more clearly and quickly explained.
“Yes, it’s a railway that runs above ground. It has fixed routes like a bus, but it’s a bit faster and operates at a fairly high altitude.”
Saying so, Yoo Seong-un raised his finger and pointed to the sky.
“See over there?”
Rails pierced through high-rise buildings or passed between them. The tracks weren’t fully visible; only parts of them could be seen. Perhaps for the sake of the city’s aesthetics, some sections had been made transparent. It thoroughly tickled Gio’s sci-fi sensibilities.
“It is quite high.”
“In terms of buildings, it runs at about the height of the 60th floor.”
Gio nodded to himself.
They say mountains and rivers change in ten years. The world has certainly changed in thirty.
The trend was probably stronger because they were in the metropolitan area, but even so, the buildings and infrastructure had advanced significantly. Gio truly felt like an ancient ancestor. The buildings were almost all over thirty stories high, and the elevated train passing between them looked like a roller coaster.
Though I doubt the tracks or the speed are as extreme as one…
Still, Gio felt a sense of romance in the futuristic design.
“Gio, this way.”
“…”
People’s fashion was also vastly different. There were people wearing armor, carrying massive greatswords on their backs, and even some with wings or tails.
They say fashion goes in cycles, but it looked like an invasive species had disrupted the ecosystem. Everyone was so full of personality that Gio, in his simple cloak, actually looked plain. He even saw people trading gems or weapons on the street. Gems were one thing, but weapons with viciously sharp edges…
“…”
Yikes.
Gio found himself shrinking endlessly, like thinly sliced pork belly on a hot grill.
And here I was, worried that a haunted portrait like me might seem harmful.
Contrary to his thoughts, however, some quick-witted people were stealing glances at him.
His aura is heavy… Is he a Hunter? His movements are so disciplined. Maybe a knight… or a priest?
Is he at least A-Rank? I’ve never felt this kind of presence before. He’s probably an unofficial Hunter.
He’s dressed completely in black. Maybe he has a skill that relies on color, or perhaps that’s a full set item…
Yoo Seong-un was also aware of the glances.
Please, just don’t talk to him.
It was as he expected, though thanks to Gio’s efforts, he was drawing less attention than he otherwise would have. He prayed fervently that no one would try to talk to Gio, who had only just stepped out into human society, and trigger some disaster.
“This is the entrance to the elevated train.” Yoo Seong-un drew Gio’s attention to keep his gaze from wandering. “See here? You can tap your card to pay the fare.”
“Do we pay the fare in front of the elevator?” Clasping his hands behind his back out of habit, Gio looked at the entrance with interest.
It looked like the elevators found at subway stations or on some pedestrian overpasses. Instead of being hidden inside a building, the elevator stood out in the open, stretching high up to connect with the elevated train line.
Is there no separate station?
Looking at the bare rails without any surrounding buildings, there seemed to be no actual station. At best, there were small platforms scattered here and there like bus stops. It seemed they really did use it like a bus.
“I’ll give you my card. If there’s anything you want to buy, just use this. It has no limit.”
“…”
Gio was terrified.
I don’t even know how many times I’ve shrunk back in fear today.
It was dangerous outside the blankets.
Why is he giving me a card with no limit?
Since I’m terrified, I’ll just call you hyung-nim in my head.
Of course, there was no way Gio, a selectively introverted person, would actually call Yoo Seong-un “hyung” when they had only met a few months ago. Maintaining his polite demeanor, he used the card and boarded the elevator.
“…”
“What’s wrong?”
“I have a question,” Gio asked. “I don’t understand why there is only one elevator when its speed isn’t very fast. Won’t the service be delayed if a large crowd gathers?”
“Ah…” Yoo Seong-un smiled awkwardly. “I suppose they only installed one because not many people ride it anyway.”
“It seems like a useful mode of transportation. Why are there so few passengers?”
How could they leave such an interesting new invention alone?
“It’s not for any grand reason.” Yoo Seong-un gave him a reality check. “It’s expensive.”
“…”
Ah.
Of course. That makes sense.
Capitalism. Gio knew it all too well.
So that old bastard is still around, huh? Talk about longevity.