Chapter 51
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 51
Having been raised by his grandmother, Seo Gio couldn’t stand to see anyone go hungry.
A kid who looks high school-aged at best, working on an empty stomach?
To him, it was more horrific than any natural disaster. A force of nature was just that—an occasional whim of the planet. But a starving child? That was a human failure.
Unforgivable.
As a former teacher, Gio felt a heavy sense of responsibility.
"Does it taste alright?"
"It’s so delicious...!"
"I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Excellent."
Just look at her eat.
I hope she gains about five kilograms before she leaves.
There was nothing more satisfying than seeing a young student happily devouring a meal he had prepared.
She eats so heartily.
Gio didn’t notice, but in response to his mood as the master of the forest, the air inside the cabin grew warm and cozy.
Cha Ah-ra, already thrilled by this feast—the likes of which she had never experienced in her life—noticed the change immediately.
...Oh, the air feels lighter somehow.
It felt as though the atmosphere had lightened from a funeral to something more like an intensive care unit.
Anyway, this is incredibly delicious...
Had she been what one might call an "educated Hunter," she would have been terrified by this bizarre phenomenon.
She had a vague suspicion that this cabin was a dungeon and that the man in the black cloak sitting before her was its master. However, dungeons where the environment shifted according to the boss’s mood were extremely rare.
A dungeon that changed based on the boss’s emotions was practically a living organism. In other words, Cha Ah-ra was currently eating a meal inside the stomach of a monster named "Gio." If she had been slightly more knowledgeable, her thoughts would have reached that far.
But Ah-ra was too overwhelmed by the miraculous kindness suddenly bestowed upon her to think of such things.
"Even the rice by itself is so good. Um, is it... because the rice is high quality? Or are you just an amazing cook?"
"The rice is ordinary."
After all, it was just rice he’d created by drawing the packaging of a brand he used to eat back on Earth. The process had felt novel, like practicing for a college entrance art exam for the first time in ages.
Anyway, there’s nothing like delicious food to help kids relax.
Actually, this didn’t just apply to kids. Even the people terrified of him by the portrait’s influence had relaxed after he gave them tasty snacks. It was the same principle, he figured.
Gio solidified his resolve to fatten up this scrawny student.
"If there’s anything different, it’s that this rice was cooked in broth."
"In broth...?"
"I used broth instead of water. It might be a little different since I used deer bones instead of the usual pork or beef, but to be precise, this is rice cooked in bone broth."
"...Bone broth..."
Isn’t that incredibly expensive?
City folk might buy it at a restaurant, but for country folk like us, we only tasted it if we were lucky enough for the village to slaughter a whole cow...
To use something so precious just to cook rice felt incredibly extravagant.
What on earth am I eating right now?
She had been so hungry and the food so delicious that she’d just started eating without a second thought. But wasn’t this entire situation completely over the top?
As Cha Ah-ra broke into a cold sweat internally, Gio spoke.
"Even if it isn’t bone broth, cooking it with anchovy broth, chicken broth, or vegetable broth also tastes wonderful. If you dislike greasy food, those would actually be better."
"Oh, no, well..."
"There is plenty, so please eat as much as you like. However, be careful not to get indigestion. I wasn’t going to say anything since you seem to be chewing thoroughly, but overeating will upset your stomach."
"...Thank you."
Anchovy or chicken broth still felt out of reach, but she could probably manage vegetable broth at home. She did have vegetables growing in her garden, after all.
I should make rice like this for my youngest sibling before they head off to the dormitory.
Living hand-to-mouth made even eating white rice a luxury. Their usual staples were baked potatoes or sweet potatoes, and a few eggs occasionally gifted by the village head were considered a feast.
Vegetable broth would be easy enough if I harvest some things from the garden, but how am I going to get the rice...
Muttering to herself, Cha Ah-ra quickly gave up on the thought.
"..."
Let’s just focus on enjoying my own meal first.
I thought I was going to starve to death or get drained by ghosts, but to think I’d stumble into such good fortune.
With a full stomach, Cha Ah-ra found herself relaxing considerably.
She couldn’t let her guard down completely since her host was a humanoid monster, but she took comfort in the thought that a monster wouldn’t go through the trouble of poisoning her food unless it was part of its rules.
In times like this, monsters are actually more trustworthy than humans.
At least monsters never denied their own rules. Compared to humans who lied as easily as breathing, she felt more inclined to trust this monster, who hadn’t threatened her once and had remained polite from start to finish.
Of course, she shouldn’t trust him. There were monsters that feigned goodwill to deceive humans and catch them off guard. If she truly considered Gio a monster, this was a mistake she shouldn’t be making.
"...?"
"Is there a problem?"
"No, it’s just... my leg feels... healed..."
"Ah."
Gio nodded.
"Have you broken a bone before?"
"Huh? Oh, yes. A while ago, I ran into a monster while carrying luggage in a dungeon, and my leg was broken."
"The bone broth in the rice has an effect that heals bone abnormalities."
"Oh... ah... oh..."
"Once you finish your meal and before you head home, I will check if the bone has set properly. If not, I can pack some soup for you. I didn’t prepare this meal expecting such an effect, but I’m glad it helped."
"I-I see..."
Who cooks rice with potions?
He really can’t help but show he’s not human.
She hadn’t realized it because it looked like a perfectly normal meal.
To think my bone would heal completely after just a few spoonfuls of rice.
With her limited knowledge, Cha Ah-ra couldn’t be sure, but this had to be a top-tier recovery potion.
The fact that it took the form of bone broth was absurd enough, but cooking rice with it was simply mind-boggling. It was clear his way of thinking was fundamentally different from a human’s.
Still... I never thought I’d say this, but he seems like a good monster.
Ah-ra thought as she chewed the perfectly cooked rice, which was sticky yet fluffy, each grain distinct. Bad guys couldn’t even cook rice properly.
They say monsters have their own rules, so as long as I don’t break them, I should be fine.
Cha Ah-ra decided to ask him directly.
"Um... Mr. Seo Gio, is there anything I should be careful about? So I don’t offend you?"
"Something to be careful of?"
"Uh, like... not making a mess of the house, or anything you particularly dislike or want me to keep in mind."
"Hmm."
The monster blinked twice before replying.
"I would appreciate it if you just maintain basic manners."
"Really?"
"As long as you don’t commit any crimes, I have no issue."
"Ah, crimes..."
She had sensed it back in the Vein of Jewels, but what this monster loathed was clear.
He hates rude and bad humans.
And when it came to that, Cha Ah-ra was confident.
I’m always the one getting pushed around; I’m not strong enough to mess with anyone else.
She was an F-Rank porter, the absolute bottom of the Hunter hierarchy, often openly referred to as the slave class. She didn’t even have the capacity to commit a crime in the first place.
Learning the monster’s rules made Cha Ah-ra feel much more at ease. These were things that a weakling like her would never be involved in.
"..."
Not that she could completely let her guard down, though.
...His actions are incredibly kind and polite...
Yet, strangely, she found it hard to feel comfortable around him.
I know he’s trying to be considerate. And he hasn’t done anything intimidating, so I don’t understand why I’m shrinking back so much. There’s just this subtle pressure...
Still, Cha Ah-ra persevered.
"...Could I have one more bowl of rice, please?"
"It is good to see you eating well."
"Ah, thank you!"
But the rice really was delicious.
Did my late grandmother send this monster? His cooking is no joke.
Our village head needs to come here and take cooking lessons.
* * *
"..."
Yoo Seong-un felt dizzy.
"Thank you for helping me when I was in a bind."
"...Uh, no, it’s fine. It was nothing."
"I am not very familiar with South Korea’s geography, so I needed assistance."
"I should be the one thanking you for calling me."
He never expected a perfectly intact human to emerge from that gloomy frame.
"What did you say your name was, Hunter?"
"Ch-Ch-Cha Ah-ra..."
"Oh dear, you’re incredibly tense."
Though he said that, Yoo Seong-un was just as tense. Had they not rashly let Gio loose out of his and the Guild Master’s greed?
...I’m glad I prepared myself mentally beforehand. And the situation is much more peaceful than I imagined.
Even if it was part of their effort to coexist, he had just given Gio a list of safe dungeons to visit—an act that could have been incredibly detrimental to humanity.
Thinking some unexpected emergency might occur, he had been staying awake, chugging coffee. News of a dungeon break in some remote area could have broken out at any moment.
I thought the Association might have to step in if things went south, but it doesn’t seem to be that big of a deal. Only one person was spat out of the frame, after all.
Still, it was astonishing.
I had my doubts... but to think it would connect so directly like this.
Gio had spoken to Yoo Seong-un, who had come after receiving yet another uninterpretable letter. Gio explained that he had found a young human while visiting the Vein of Jewels, and since he was worried about letting her leave alone, he asked if Seong-un could escort her home.
When Gio said "young human," Seong-un had initially pictured a child around ten years old, so he was relieved to find that wasn’t the case.
Then again, from Gio’s perspective, it might be hard to gauge what counts as young.
Just as humans find it difficult to estimate a dog’s age, Gio seemed to have gotten confused.
Even though eighteen is considered a legal adult.
Even if Gio didn’t know that Hunter Cha Ah-ra was considered an adult by Earth’s standards, calling an eighteen-year-old "young" was a bit of a stretch.
Yoo Seong-un rubbed the back of his neck.
"I should take Hunter Cha home first. Is there anything else I need to know?"
"I don’t believe so."
"Alright, then. We can talk more when I get back. Thank you for calling me first."
With Seong-un’s farewell, the portrait closed its eyes.
Since that meant Gio had nothing more to say, Yoo Seong-un turned to Cha Ah-ra without hesitation. He had to escort this young Hunter home to complete this unofficial request.
"Hunter Cha..."
"Y-Yes?!"
"...Ah."
Yoo Seong-un was slightly taken aback by her intense reaction, but he quickly realized something.
"If you don’t mind me asking, what rank are you?"
"..."
"I apologize if asking for personal information so suddenly makes you uncomfortable. I don’t mean any harm."
"...I’m F-Rank..."
"Ah, I see."
No wonder she was so excessively tense; she was definitely too weak of a Hunter to be here.
There’s no way an F-Rank Hunter could easily endure Guild Master Bisabeol’s gallery. Especially since this is Basement Level 5.
Bisabeol’s Gallery was packed with all sorts of dangerous items. Entry was restricted to C-Rank Hunters and above; anyone weaker was barred for their own protection.
I didn’t think to accommodate someone this weak because they usually have no reason to come here. The atmosphere is very different from the Association’s research institute, where overall control is maintained so that even ordinary researchers can enter.
As the former research team leader of the Association, Yoo Seong-un couldn’t help but compare the two, though each had its pros and cons. From a Gardener’s perspective, he sometimes felt the Association’s research institute excessively mistreated Existences of the Origin.
In any case, only employees who could tolerate and even slightly enjoy communicating with such dangerous works became curators. An unrelated F-Rank Hunter would find it agonizing to endure.
"I’m sorry. This is the first time a Hunter below C-Rank has entered this place, so I wasn’t considerate enough."
"No, no, it’s... it’s fine..."
"Shall we head out first? I have a few things I’d like to ask, but it might be difficult to talk here."
"Yes, yes, yes, yes..."
"I’m the curator here, so you don’t have to worry too much. As long as you stay close to me, you won’t get hurt."
There were a few works that occasionally attacked first, but since he had no intention of going near them, it wouldn’t be an issue. Yoo Seong-un led the trembling, terrified Hunter Cha Ah-ra toward the elevator.
It was when they reached the first floor.
"..."
"..."
For a split second, Yoo Seong-un almost closed the elevator doors again, but he managed to restrain himself, exercising the patience demanded of a worker in a capitalist society to keep his hand from moving.
Standing before them was a grinning Bisabeol. Seong-un couldn’t help but ask.
"...What are you doing here, Guild Master?"
"I was watching the CCTV, and didn’t a most fascinating scene catch my eye?"
Did he really have to say that right in front of a pitifully trembling F-Rank Hunter? It was truly impressive how he could be so blatantly amused.
Guild Master Bisabeol’s empathy, which should have been directed toward humanity, had clearly all gone to his collection.
Even in a world where human rights had hit rock bottom, this was too much. To protect their guest, Yoo Seong-un shook his head.
"I don’t want to hear any more. It’s only right that I interview Hunter Cha first. She’s extremely tense after just escaping the gallery, so it’s troublesome for you to pop out like this."
"Regrettable as it may be, Curator Yoo Seong-un, you don’t have the authority to block my amusement. No matter how much you all nag, aren’t I still the Guild Master?"
"Maybe I should get a promotion."
"No matter how much you’re promoted, you’ll never match the Guild Master. You should have accepted it when I offered."
"Sigh."
Yoo Seong-un felt like biting his tongue, but he couldn’t hand over this pale, terrified young Hunter to this crazy hedonist. If he did, he wouldn’t know what to say to Gio.
"...I know this is a highly exceptional situation that has piqued your interest, Guild Master. But wouldn’t it be enough for me to verify things first and then report back to you? After all, you are the face of our guild. If you handle such trivial matters yourself..."
"It would make things easier, wouldn’t it? For all of you?"
"Your dignity. Please, for the love of God, maintain your dignity."
What a great display in front of a Hunter he was meeting for the first time.
We’re supposed to be one of South Korea’s Top 3 Guilds, yet he’s making our image look so cheap.
Hunter Cha Ah-ra was completely frozen, unable to process the unfolding situation.
It seemed she would rather turn into a puff of air than accept this reality, but Bisabeol was not one to leave such a tempting prey alone.
"Very well. You are Hunter Cha, correct? What is your full name?"
"Ch-Cha Ah-ra... I’m Cha Ah-ra... Please spare me..."
"Oh, dear. You’re far too frightened! No one is going to kill you, Hunter!"
His face practically screamed, Why would I kill such an interesting subject? His gaze was less like a human looking at another human and more like an audience member looking at a wondrous artifact or a profound movie.
It wasn’t just Yoo Seong-un who noticed; Cha Ah-ra slowly shrank back and hid behind Seong-un.
...She was wary of me too since we just met, but I guess she figured I’m safer than that guy. Should I call this wise, or...
Yoo Seong-un shielded her out of pity. Not that it would help them escape the situation, especially with the Guild Master himself holding the elevator button of his own building.
"..."
Since things had come to this, it was going to be difficult to sneak this poor Hunter away.
"...We were planning to head to the interview room..."
"Shall we go together?"
"...Lead the way."
It seemed his only option was to shield her as much as possible.
Gio, I tried my best.
* * *
Bisabeol was thrilled.
"Now, Hunter Cha Ah-ra."
"Yes, yes, yes."
"Would you mind telling us what you experienced?"
"I, just, nothing..."
"I am not trying to accuse you of any wrongdoing, Hunter Cha."
This was truly marvelous.
"I am simply in awe."
To think an Existence of the Origin would harbor a human. And a weak F-Rank, at that.
Unlike Curator Yoo Seong-un’s claim that he prefers overweight humans, Hunter Cha Ah-ra is on the thinner side. No, wait, was she chosen specifically to be fattened up? On the surface, she’s just an ordinary porter with nothing special about her other than being rather naive, but perhaps that very simplicity caught Gio’s interest.
Bisabeol’s yellow eyes gleamed.
So he really needed an innocent lamb rather than a sinner. Given Gio’s pure nature, there was no need to offer pure blood like one would for traditional Evil Gods, but if we had offered a good, young human from the start, we might have gotten a more definitive reaction...
Bisabeol recalled Yoo Seong-un, who had given a face-to-face report after touring with the portrait. He had been slightly disappointed because Gio’s first experience with human society had ended too uneventfully, but this bait—visiting Earth’s dungeons—seemed to have been a spectacular success.
Is it because he is an Existence of the Origin that he acts more proactively in dungeons? Since Gio harbors an impartial goodwill toward humanity as a species, it might be inevitable that he becomes more active in places where there are fewer humans easily frightened by his status. That in itself is a delightful prospect.
In any case, a portrait that could pull humans into its frame and spit them out at will was nothing short of intoxicating to a collector.
Bisabeol’s smile widened.
"You only need to explain how you passed beyond the frame of the painting, what happened inside, and how you came to meet the monster wearing a black cloak."
He was already looking forward to the fascinating tale she would tell.
"You will do that for us, won’t you?"
"...Y-Yes..."
"Thank you."
Bisabeol was dying to know what kind of artistic miracle had allowed this insignificant Hunter to emerge alive.
