Chapter 3
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 3
At a prestigious auction house.
“Huh…?”
“What is it? Is something wrong?”
“I-I think… this painting just moved.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
One of the managers snorted.
“There’s no way a normal portrait would end up in an auction house like this. It must be an item from some dungeon.”
“Ah…”
“They say it was found in the art storage room of an abandoned school. Since its origin is unclear, the price will drop significantly. It’ll go up early in Part 1, so get it ready.”
“Yes, sir.”
Despite his boss’s reassuring words, the employee’s expression remained uneasy. He looked at the portrait before him with lingering discomfort.
“…”
Just now.
He could have sworn they had made eye contact.
“…I just hope it’s not a cursed item.”
It had probably already cleared safety inspections before coming in, but the world was vast, and items came in all shapes and sizes.
Its mysterious nature—with neither its origin nor its function properly identified even by Appraisal Skills—was likely the very reason it had made it to this auction house. Yet, that was precisely why the employee felt a sense of foreboding.
“Isn’t this how horror movies usually start? An ominous piece of art and a bunch of oblivious people… It’s a perfect match.”
He could only pray he wouldn’t end up as the first victim.
“Ugh, creepy.”
“…”
‘Gio’s Portrait’ watched him in silence.
He closed his eyes.
*
Thirty-one years ago.
The world ended.
The day that cliché opening line became reality, sci-fi movies vanished from the face of the Earth.
After all, what film could compare to the reality of people being dragged into other dimensions and torn apart by absurd rules, or monsters crawling out of pitch-black dimensional rifts?
“Holy shit…!”
“E-Excuse me, are they filming a movie over there?”
“Does that look like a fucking movie to you?!”
And then, as if they had been waiting for this moment, people with superpowers appeared.
“Uh… isn’t this a game window?”
“Oh, wow. I got one too.”
“What does yours say? Mine says I awakened as a Priest.”
“I don’t have anything like that… just a skill list. But if you’re a Priest, are you religious?”
“Yeah, I go to a Christian church. Is that how it’s decided?”
“I wouldn’t know either…?”
They changed the landscape of the Earth.
“Ah, DPS! What are you doing?! Deal some damage!”
“How am I supposed to deal damage when you’re blocking the way, hyung?!”
“Are you kidding me?! A tank is supposed to block the front, not the back!”
“Wow, this raid is totally screwed…”
“Waaah…!”
They hunted monsters as if they were playing a game.
This phenomenon, defined as ‘Awakening,’ manifested randomly. No matter how much it was researched, there were no exact rules or criteria. The only common thread was that a System window, just like in a video game, appeared before those who awakened.
Of course, that didn’t mean hunting monsters was as lighthearted as a game.
“…”
“…Hey, just gather his belongings. Even if there’s no body, we still have to hold a funeral.”
“Our team’s damage dealer is gone… This is depressing. How old did you say he was?”
“Eighteen. He said he wanted to go back to high school.”
“Dragging out a kid who just wanted to study… Is this country going mad?”
“What can we do? They’ll put a ten-year-old to work as long as they’ve awakened…”
“True. An eighteen-year-old damage dealer is practically a luxury.”
“…”
“This is fucking bullshit.”
Because the number of ‘Awakened’—the ‘Hunters’ who hunted monsters—was strictly limited, they could hardly escape the threat of death from overwork. In the face of global-scale changes during a chaotic transition period, individual lives were treated as mere numbers.
However, South Korea was a nation that had rapidly suppressed the chaos, centered around three heroes. Through successive waves of upheaval, they quickly established a solid foundation.
“Honey, can you hear me? They say Ye-rin awakened…”
As a result, citizens in the organized cities began to find some breathing room.
“The teachers at her kindergarten told me today.”
[What? Ye-rin? Oh dear… Does she have a class? What about skills? What rank is she?]
“I don’t know. Ye-rin says she doesn’t have a class, and her skill is D-Rank. I think we’ll have to go to the Center to find out for sure.”
[Then let’s not make her a Hunter. Ask her what she wants to do, and if she says no, don’t force her.]
“I thought so too. Yeah, thanks. I’ll hang up now.”
The dimensions came to be called ‘Dungeons,’ and a distinction was made between ‘Awakened,’ who simply possessed abilities, and ‘Hunters,’ who hunted monsters as a profession. Guilds and Centers were established, bringing order to the system.
“Right. Just because a kid awakened doesn’t mean they have to become a Hunter.”
“Mom, do I have to fight monsters…? I’m scared… I don’t want to.”
“No, it’s okay. Our Ye-rin doesn’t have to fight monsters.”
At some point, the Awakened began pursuing other careers.
Although the Awakened, possessing power qualitatively different from ordinary people, had been strictly managed by the state, their treatment improved over thirty-one years as the country underwent various incidents and dozens of government changes. For Awakened of C-Rank or below, the range of career choices became much broader.
“Wow, that person must be a Hunter.”
“Yeah, wearing a guild emblem like that, they’re definitely a Hunter.”
“Amazing… Who is that? A rookie? Have they been on TV?”
“Those black wings look so cool. Man, now that’s a real Hunter.”
“I heard flight-type skills are incredibly rare…”
“That person is set for life.”
Accordingly, the public’s envy and admiration for Hunters grew even greater.
“I want to be a Hunter too if I awaken.”
“Eh, I’m not really into dangerous stuff.”
“But it’s so cool. They make tons of money and they’re super popular.”
Eventually, they came to be treated almost like celebrities.
“…”
“Uh… hey, I think he heard us. Let’s go.”
“W-We just thought you looked cool. We’re sorry…”
Whether the Hunters themselves wanted it or not, that was the way of the world.
“…Sigh…”
Some Hunters grew weary of the excessive attention.
“Are we soldiers or idols? Why are there so many requests for photos? Are we going to have to dance on stage next? In any other country, this would be unthinkable.”
“The other day, a sasaeng fan broke into our rookie’s room. Does that even make sense? Aren’t they worried about getting their throats slit by a Hunter? A Hunter’s job is to hunt monsters, not manage fans.”
“There’s a limit to popularity; this is practically obstruction of business. It’s incredibly distracting. I came here to hunt monsters, not perform tricks for the public. Korea’s perception of Hunters is far too frivolous. This needs to change.”
There were opposing views as well.
“Huh, I actually like it. And what do you mean, ‘performing tricks’? Are you looking down on celebrities?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Now, now, let’s not fight. Still, it’s better to be popular than not. I’m not defending sasaengs or obstruction of business, but once a proper system is in place, these inconveniences will decrease.”
“Right, the Association will handle it. If it bothers you that much, just file a complaint.”
Thus, the perception of Hunters evolved from superhumans and monster slayers to soldiers, and finally, to celebrities. Over time, this perception became deeply ingrained. To city dwellers, at least, monsters and dungeons were downgraded to the level of natural disasters—something like a fire that firefighters could easily put out.
And among the Top 3 Guilds that emerged in South Korea…
“Guild Master.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“Even if our guild’s name is literally ‘Collector’…”
The nation’s third-ranked guild, ‘Collector’.
“Isn’t this a bit much?”
“Telling a collector not to collect is rather insulting, don’t you think?”
“Do you have any idea how much money went into buying this portrait?”
“I’m buying my own things with my own money. Why the fuss?”
The Guild Master of that very guild, ‘Collector’ Bisabeol.
The middle-aged man offered a thin smile. He looked elegant, like a polite gentleman, but his smile left a somewhat unpleasant aftertaste.
“This is a piece that even the Association President coveted. What do you think? Isn’t that surprising?”
“The Association President? That is indeed surprising.”
“A man whose only hobby is raising monsters offered up to 2,000 for this piece.”
“Two thousand…”
The ‘2,000’ mentioned here did not mean twenty million won, but two hundred billion won. While not in the trillions, it was by no means a small sum.
“…My Appraisal Skill is too lacking to see this piece’s true value. I apologize for my hasty judgment.”
“You were scolded for my little hobby, but of course, it’s understandable if you didn’t know the circumstances.”
“Thank you for your immense understanding. In that case, what kind of function does this portrait have?”
“I don’t know either.”
“That makes no sense…”
When evaluating a Hunter, there are three crucial factors: the ‘Class,’ which can interfere with the laws of the world by its mere existence; the ‘Aptitude Skill,’ granted the moment one awakens; and the ‘Level,’ which indicates proficiency. If one wanted a detailed explanation of their class or other skills, they would need the Center’s assistance. However, a Hunter’s rank—S-Rank—was initially displayed by the System after comprehensively evaluating these three factors.
And Bisabeol was a man who had become an S-Rank Hunter solely through his Aptitude Skill, ‘Appraisal.’
For such a person to be unable to decipher a piece… what a bad joke.
Unaware of—or perhaps simply ignoring—his employee’s deep bewilderment, the Collector merely smiled with amusement.
“That’s why it’s all the more desirable.”
A unique aspect of ‘Collector,’ one of Korea’s Top 3 Guilds, was that every single member possessed an Appraisal Skill. And the Appraisal Skill of their leader, Bisabeol, was so outstanding it could easily be called the best in the world.
Yet, even he could not determine the exact function of this piece.
“I think I understand why the Association President offered 200 billion.”
It was almost chilling.
Maybe it’s just my imagination, but the atmosphere of the piece feels heavy. Even though it’s just a portrait of a single person…
The desk-bound guild member nodded. “It seems more suited for research than appreciation.”
“Isn’t that exactly why the Association President wanted it so badly? Though in the end, I was the one who won.”
“If you’ve said everything you wanted to say, I’ll be on my way. Getting caught in the crossfire of giants isn’t my cup of tea.”
“I don’t know why all my guild members are so aloof.”
“I believe it’s karma for the Guild Master gathering only these kinds of people.”
“How sad.”
The guild member grimaced at Bisabeol, who grinned with a face that looked entirely unsad, and left the office. He looked as though he had merely come to deliver documents, only to be subjected to an ordeal.
“…”
Left alone, Bisabeol lifted the portrait with telekinesis and headed toward the hidden elevator in his office.
“…”
Clunk.
The elevator, narrow enough that barely three people could fit inside, descended deep underground. This was the vault of the ‘Collector’ guild, a restricted area designated by the government. No one could enter or exit unless they were authorized staff or clients.
Simply put, it was a gallery solely for Bisabeol.
“…”
He arrived at the vault.
“Haaah…”
Bisabeol let out a sigh of overwhelming emotion. The veins on the large hand clutching his lower face bulged with ecstasy.
“Exquisite.”
His yellow, snake-like eyes gleamed with fanatical obsession.
Bisabeol’s collection vault was his personal space. Rather than displaying items brought back by guild members from dungeons, he, the Guild Master, purchased them himself before putting them on display. As such, his vault was filled with dangerous artworks and items.
“Very good.”
Unable to give up on art, Bisabeol had done his best to install every possible safety device. Recognizing his efforts and achievements, the government often entrusted him with problematic items.
“This spot should be perfect.”
The same went for ‘Gio’s Portrait,’ which Bisabeol had just purchased.
Click.
“Magnificent.”
It was a painting of a man. Pale skin that suited his blunt, gloomy impression. Pitch-black hair that didn’t reflect a single speck of light. Yet, rather than being dreary, he possessed a sharp, chilly aura and a restrained arrogance, all of which harmonized beautifully with the peaceful forest landscape behind him.
“I wonder who this is a painting of.”
It was a portrait that made one curious about both the artist who painted it and the model who posed for it.
“If this is merely human skill, it’s incredible. And even if it isn’t, it’s just as amazing. It’s as if a truly living human has been captured inside…”
At that moment.
“…”
“…”
The man before his eyes.
The pale portrait opened its eyes and looked at Bisabeol.
“…”
Bisabeol stopped breathing. It was as if every single organ and muscle had been seized by something massive; he couldn’t even utter a word.
“…”
…What is this?
What is this?
It was black. Utterly black. An abyss where, despite the distinction between sclera and pupil, the boundary could not be discerned at all. Its center was so deep it was unfathomable. It was shadow. It was the night sky.
“…”
Did it resemble the universe?
It is black.
Deep. Multifaceted. It resembled life, where warmth and coldness coexisted.
“…”
The blood vessels and threads of fate spread thick within it.
As Bisabeol unconsciously reached his hand toward the pitch-black eyes of the man in the painting…
“…”
“…”
Soon, the portrait…
“…Oh.”
…closed its eyes.
“My word.”
At that moment, Bisabeol instinctively knew he had hit an unexpected jackpot.
“So you’re no ordinary painting, are you?”
He was in an exceptionally good mood.
*
“…”
Meanwhile, the man inside the painting, Gio…
Was totally freaked out.
“Hmm…”
With a rare look of disgust on his face, he quietly stepped back and stared at the frame hanging on a tree. It was none other than the frame he called his ‘front door.’
Confirming that his only exit was blocked, Gio muttered in frustration.
“I’m a perfectly normal painting, as far as paintings go.”
He was desperate enough to unconsciously make an excuse that no one would ever hear.
Is this what they call a threat to one’s life? I thought such things would never happen in this peaceful cabin, but I guess things don’t always go as planned. What a harsh world.
Before he could start making medicine in earnest, Gio had wanted to check on the outside world, only to realize his frame was being moved. Checking occasionally, he saw it had been put up for some auction. And the place it finally arrived at was none other than a massive vault…
Or perhaps it’s more accurate to call it a gallery or a museum.
The pristine white building and well-designed interior indicated that only carefully curated pieces were on display. It seemed to be a gallery showered with its owner’s love. And the more love was poured into it, the more troublesome it became for Gio, who had been deprived of his only front door.
“Now, every time I go outside, I’ll be trespassing. Why is this happening to me, a model citizen who sleeps early and wakes up early? Is it because I didn’t brush my teeth before going to bed yesterday?”
He had already startled an employee earlier just by trying to take a quick peek outside. He had never died before, but he certainly didn’t want to be burned at the stake as a haunted portrait.
“And I don’t know what would happen to this painting world if the portrait gets damaged…”
Indeed, the Earth must have grown much tougher over the past thirty-one years. It was undoubtedly a far too harsh and rugged world for a timid, weak, freshly harvested potato from Gangwon-do like Seo Gio to survive.
It’s dangerous outside the blankets.
Gio once again accepted his identity as a portrait and resolved to stay put.
The very next day, just as he was thinking he needed to be even more careful to survive in this harsh world, on his honor as a haunted portrait…
“Hello.”
“…”
Beyond the frame on the tree, the man from yesterday was peeking in.
Oh.
Not that he meant to be discriminatory, truly, but his corneas objectively reported: those yellow, reptile-like eyes were downright creepy. For some unknown reason, they were even glistening. Why? He didn’t want to know. It was a far too cruel dilemma for Gio, who had stepped out into the yard expecting nothing but a refreshing morning.
“A pleasure to meet you, Teacher. I do not know if it is a good morning, a good afternoon, or a good evening for you, but for us humans, it is a fine morning. Did you sleep well?”
“…”
“I believe I was too rude yesterday. Would you perhaps be willing to converse with me? What is your name? My Appraisal identified you as ‘Gio’s Portrait,’ so I assume your name is Gio…”
“…”
“Teacher? Are you listening? Since you keep opening and closing your eyes, it is incredibly tantalizing for someone starved for conversation. You certainly have a knack for captivating people.”
Damn gods of heaven and earth.
Since the first person to speak to me in thirty-one years is like this, surely something wonderful must happen tomorrow. But even taking that into account, an utterly unacceptable misfortune has befallen me.
Modern society. What a terrifying beast. Gio desperately hoped the person beyond the frame would maintain a reasonable distance and show a moderate amount of interest.
…He’s too much…
The introverted potato, Seo Gio, was completely intimidated in front of a man who didn’t bother to hide his massive energy. Of course, he was grateful that someone was willing to talk to a loner like him. It didn’t feel like thirty-one years, but regardless, it was his first chance to communicate in a very long time.
The fact that the other party seems quite favorable also indicates this is a decent situation in its own way.
But still…
“Teacher? Are you there? Teacher? If it is because I came empty-handed, I can prepare whatever item you desire to suit your tastes.”
“…”
“Hmm, perhaps I must offer a sacrifice after all… What kind of sacrifice is usually accepted in these cases? The most common would be a sinful human, or perhaps an entirely pure one… The latter would be too difficult to obtain…”
“…”
“I should contact the prison for the first time in a while. Finding a sinful human in today’s world is a piece of cake. I wonder how many heads will do?”
Ugh.
This is too much.
Even for Gio, the idol of a mountain village, this was an opponent he couldn’t bring himself to communicate with.