Chapter 7
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 7
After the third day came to an end and the portrait’s eyes closed, Yoo Seong-un stood in silence.
“……”
At 9:00 AM, he went to see the Guild Master.
“It’s dangerous.”
“What is?”
“That portrait.”
He reported calmly.
“Any goodwill the portrait might harbor toward us is irrelevant. It’s true that monsters with benevolent intentions occasionally appear, but it’s also a fact that their goodwill has often proven highly toxic to humanity.”
“Are you saying Gio’s Portrait is like the goodwill of those monsters?”
“No. It’s far more dangerous than that.”
Yoo Seong-un reported what he had observed.
“That portrait knows exactly what he’s doing, how he appears to us, and the influence his actions have. He’s entirely different from the monsters we’ve seen before—the ones that blindly showered humans with goodwill and ended up suffocating them.”
Above all else…
“He perceives himself as a human.”
Therefore, he would try to interact with humans one way or another. He didn’t seem like the type to be averse to conversation.
“But at the same time, he does not view us as human.”
“Then what does he see us as?”
“Gio judges us as paintings. And that is how he appreciates us.”
Yoo Seong-un had felt the immensity of ‘Gio’s’ soul. It was something any thinking creature could sense, even without advanced analytical equipment or skills. This wasn’t just about the power emanating from his disciplined posture, his heavy aura, or his noble appearance. Yoo Seong-un still couldn’t forget the sheer, dizzying vastness he’d felt when their eyes met—when he’d looked into ‘Gio’s’ dark gaze.
It was the sight of something incomprehensibly massive pretending to be a mere human.
“And yet, he calls himself human. Whether he truly believes it or is just trying to convince himself, it felt like his genuine truth. It wasn’t a lie.”
With entities like this, things might seem safe on the surface, but when an incident finally occurs, it will inevitably spiral out of control.
Because he was fully aware of his own actions.
“Furthermore, he is highly sensitive to good and evil. Yet, there’s no telling what his standards are based on. Even if we judge someone to be ordinary, if ‘Gio’ concludes that they are evil… I cannot even begin to imagine the consequences.”
“You really can’t imagine it?”
“Yes. This time… I’m afraid I can’t.”
Yoo Seong-un sighed.
“There’s no precedent, no reference material to consult. A talking portrait is a first for me, too.”
Ego weapons were rare treasures, beloved by countless Hunters. But a portrait with an ego? An entity whose true nature was impossible to distinguish—was it a ghost, a monster, or a human?
No matter how many unique experiences he had under his belt, this case was troublesome.
“Do you have any intention of sending him to the Hunter Association as research material…?”
“Do you think I would?”
“Probably not. I figured as much.”
Yoo Seong-un covered his mouth as if to stifle another sigh, then quickly composed his expression and continued.
“Then I will report to you periodically. It’s difficult to grasp his true identity after only a day or two.”
“Please do. I plan to strike up a conversation with him again soon, but it would be embarrassing to be ignored again. Please find out what Gio likes.”
“That’s a rather personal request, but I understand. It’s my job. You don’t need to ask. This is what I’m here for, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know why all our employees are so aloof.”
“Perhaps it’s because you only hire people like us.”
That was the reason Yoo Seong-un ended up coming to work at 4:30 AM every morning.
* * *
“Aren’t you lonely?”
At Yoo Seong-un’s question, the portrait blinked twice.
“I am not lonely.”
It was a blunt response, as always.
Yoo Seong-un chuckled softly.
“My apologies if that was an intrusive question. But no one comes or goes from this place, aside from the staff who manage the art.”
“……”
“I just speculated… that your occasional trips out of the frame to look around might have been driven by such feelings.”
“I prefer places without people. So this is fine.”
“Do you perhaps find it uncomfortable to converse?”
“It is not that. It is just…”
The portrait continued.
“I have already spoken too many words in my life. I always imagined a future where I wouldn’t have to.”
“……”
“A quiet place where I don’t have to speak too much, don’t have to be bound too tightly, and don’t have to care too deeply… I’ve always wanted a place like that. This location is perfectly suited to my wish.”
At that, Yoo Seong-un asked,
“…Were you a human in the past?”
“I am still a human.”
“Ah, of course. What I meant was… were you an ordinary human outside of a painting? Normal people aren’t usually confined to a frame, after all.”
“Yes, I was.”
“I see.”
Humanoid monsters were divided into two categories.
There were those who were monsters from birth but later evolved to take on human form, and those who were originally human but at some point became part of the 'Origin' and turned into monsters.
In this case, is it the latter?
Monsters with memories of their time as humans were usually highly susceptible to negative emotions.
But this one… actually seems quite peaceful.
Yet, it was not a pleasant sort of peace.
“……”
It was the peace of a funeral.
The man in ‘Gio’s Portrait’ was the very picture of death.
“Well, then… are you not bored?”
“Sometimes I am bored.”
“How do you soothe your boredom? Do you have a particular way?”
“Usually, I eat.”
“……”
Ah, that was a bit surprising.
“…You eat?”
“Yes.”
The portrait replied in his characteristically blunt voice.
“I enjoy eating.”
“……”
He hoped the ingredients weren’t human.
…He doesn’t exactly look like someone who would enjoy eating, though.
If one were to view him as an ordinary human, he didn’t give off the impression of being obsessed with food.
…Rather, he looks like someone who wouldn’t be moved by anything. He shows an indifference bordering on cold-bloodedness.
He was a strikingly handsome man. He wasn’t slender, but not overly muscular either. With his pale skin, the dark hollows beneath his eyes, and a face as motionless as a marble sculpture, he did not seem like the type to find joy in eating.
But there was an even more surprising point.
“This might be an intrusive question, but—”
“I can eat.”
“Right, I’m sorry. I asked something obvious.”
To think a painting could eat.
“May I ask how you go about eating?”
At Yoo Seong-un’s question, ‘Gio’ answered as if it were nothing special.
“I cook. I think of the food I want to eat, bring out the appropriate ingredients to prepare them, place a pan over the fire or put it in the oven… and finish cooking like that.”
“……”
“Because I am an ordinary human.”
Explaining it that way, however, only made him seem less human.
When Yoo Seong-un didn’t reply, the portrait offered another method.
“There is also a way I can enjoy things precisely because I am inside a portrait.”
“Ah, and how is that…?”
“It requires a bit of help, but you can also bring me pleasure, Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”
“…What kind of pleasure are we talking about?”
Bring him pleasure. For a moment, the atrocities of historical monsters flashed through his mind, making him anxious. But the portrait did not demand living sacrifices or warm blood.
Like black paint brushed onto paper, his emotionless eyes gazed at Yoo Seong-un.
“Are you good at drawing?”
“…If it’s just depicting an object, I can manage. Sometimes I have to sketch unfamiliar objects or plants for my reports…”
“Then please draw an apple.”
“……”
“It is not difficult, is it?”
Yoo Seong-un asked back, his face slightly surprised.
“…O-on this portrait?”
“That is correct.”
“…Understood.”
‘Gio’s Portrait’ was an entity with clear rules. Yoo Seong-un was not foolish enough to ignore the demands of such a mysterious being.
He pulled out paint and a brush from the hard case he always carried. Seeing this, the portrait asked,
“Do you always carry art supplies with you?”
“I try to carry a wide range of items. You never know what might happen in this gallery, so being prepared is the best way to ensure my own safety.”
“I see.”
“……”
The portrait’s reaction remained calm, but Yoo Seong-un felt a chill run down his spine.
What would have happened if I didn’t have drawing tools on me…?
The ‘Gio’ he had spoken with so far possessed his own brand of flexibility, but anomalous entities were always fickle.
Yoo Seong-un took a quiet, deep breath and placed his brush on the portrait. He felt a sense of transgression, as if defiling a noble masterpiece.
“I’m not very good at drawing, though.”
“It does not matter.”
“Mmh…”
Before long, he had painted a bright red apple.
“…It’s not a very pretty apple.”
Yoo Seong-un laughed awkwardly.
“Here is the apple you wanted.”
“I see.”
“Can you eat it?”
“……”
At those words, ‘Gio’ reached for the apple painted in the corner of the portrait.
“Thank you.”
He moved.
A pale, broad hand reached out and plucked Yoo Seong-un’s apple right off the canvas.
“……”
And then,
Crunch.
“……”
“……”
The yellow flesh inside the red apple was visible.
Taking a bite of the painted apple, the portrait said,
“It is delicious.”
“…Ah…”
“It is well-ripened and has a nice aroma. The size is a bit small, but it is suitable for a snack.”
“That…”
He had never seen anything like this before.
“……”
“Is it fascinating?”
Yes, it was fascinating.
Enough to make his heart race a little.
“…It is amazing.”
Yoo Seong-un was someone who observed and managed anomalous entities. He had been doing this kind of work since his time at his previous workplace, the Hunter Association. Ever since dungeons appeared and monsters ran rampant, Yoo Seong-un had always taken on the role of exploring and researching the bizarre phenomena that arose and the entities at their center.
He certainly took pride and satisfaction in it. He loved it, which was why he could stand in this position now.
“To be honest, yes, I am surprised… I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“I understand.”
“So, you just ate a painted apple from inside the painting?”
‘Gio’ nodded.
“I am an ordinary human, but I am inside a painting. Therefore, I can also be said to be a painting. In the same vein, I can accomplish many things within the painting.”
“……”
“On days when I do not want to cook, I paint finished dishes like this. It is convenient.”
“…I see.”
“So, I can return your favor.”
The portrait blinked twice.
“I will see you tomorrow, then.”
“Tomorrow?”
“I am not prepared right now.”
“…Understood.”
“Thank you.”
Day 4, complete.
* * *
When the portrait’s eyes opened again, a brush was already in his hand.
‘Gio’ began to paint.
“……”
“……”
It was a deep, intense red, just like the apple Yoo Seong-un had painted the previous dawn.
The shape was a triangle with rounded lines. A structure that was clearly three-dimensional, made even clearer by a transparent light. The light, like soft and warm sunshine, struck the surface, shattering into pieces that scattered across the entire structure.
Its color resembled a pomegranate. It was transparent and red. Yet, it was far redder than that. A red so raw it was like holding freshly spilled blood, so intense that staring at it for too long made one’s eyes ache.
Soon, it took on life.
“……”
Its edges became as sharp as a blade.
“……”
It also embraced darkness, eventually casting a scattering shadow beneath itself.
“……”
“Here.”
The portrait spoke.
“This is my return gift.”
He pushed a red gem—one that looked as though it contained a heart—with his finger.
With a soft clink,
“……”
It fell into Yoo Seong-un’s hand.
“……”
“It is yours.”
“…This is…”
He asked.
“What kind of gem is this?”
“I do not know.”
“……”
“But it must have been deep underground, in a place hot enough to burn.”
‘Gio’ continued the story of the gem.
“Perhaps it stayed in a place hot enough to dwell alongside the planet’s heart, and came to harbor heat, resembling my friend. Then, only after countless ages passed and it was discovered by human hands… did it take on a beautiful shape.”
Whose story was this?
“…That is an interesting story.”
“I am glad it sounded that way.”
“Haha…”
Yoo Seong-un let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.
“What did you paint this gem with? There was clearly no paint on your brush…”
“……”
“This gem looks real.”
The portrait did not answer.
Instead, Yoo Seong-un asked,
“May I keep this?”
“You gave me a gift.”
He was referring to the clumsy drawing of the apple.
“This gem is in return for that.”
The portrait’s words sounded exactly like a devil’s. Though there was no logical reason to think so, the sheer foreignness, the dreamlike quality, and the sense of otherworldliness led him to that conclusion.
And Yoo Seong-un, struck by an unbearable sense of unreality, voiced his honest impression.
“You are right.”
“I see.”
“And that sounds exactly like an answer given by a devil.”
He couldn’t suppress his curiosity. That was the nature of a researcher.
“Why do you always answer in such simple language? You, Gio, speak in a very simple and precise manner that satisfies the desires of others.”
“……”
“I know this is an intrusive question. But I cannot help but ask. Is it because you lack human emotions that you can do this? Or did you choose to become this way?”
The portrait did not answer, merely staring at Yoo Seong-un.
Only after a long silence, and after blinking twice, did ‘Gio’ reply.
“I do not understand what you are saying, Mr. Yoo Seong-un. I have not used overly simple grammar, nor have I given answers to satisfy human desires or wishes.”
“……”
“I have always been like this.”
His voice was still blunt and low, but it seemed slightly warped.
It was not peaceful. It was like a dead man buried in a coffin being dragged back into the world of the living—still quiet, yet somehow bizarre…
“I possess human emotions to such an extent that I see no reason to explain them.”
“……”
“It is not that I lack emotions, nor is it my choice, whatever that may be. I was originally this kind of person.”
The portrait appeared as if he might be angry, or perhaps making excuses after having a sore spot pricked. Or maybe he was genuinely frustrated because he couldn’t understand what the other was saying.
Perhaps all of this was merely Yoo Seong-un’s own delusion, and the portrait felt nothing at all.
I have no idea what he is thinking.
Yoo Seong-un spoke carefully.
“Of course, I understand. I know you are an ordinary human.”
“……”
“It seems you do feel loneliness, joy, and… many other emotions. It’s just that your way of speaking shows no emotion or personal desire. As if you have nothing inside you…”
As if it were all just some kind of automated service.
…I shouldn’t say any more than this.
Yoo Seong-un felt a surge of curiosity. At the same time, he was filled with admiration. Although he was hired as a curator by Bisabeol, his core essence was, first and foremost, ‘exploration.’
“……”
“……”
The portrait spoke again.
“I am an ordinary human.”
He continued.
“Because I wanted to eat an apple, I asked you to draw one for me, Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”
“Indeed.”
“That was my personal wish. Since you drew an apple for me, I gave you a return gift. We exchanged gifts, and that is only natural courtesy between people.”
“I see.”
“I merely observed courtesy.”
“……”
“So I do not quite understand what you are talking about.”
There was no telling whether those words were a lie or the truth. It was difficult to read his inner thoughts from his monotone voice.
“Do you know that your eyes are extremely dark?”
“Quite a lot of people have black eyes.”
“That is true.”
“Black eyes are common. Nothing about them is special.”
“……”
“Do not think of me as too special. It would be best if you did not.”
It was like a colossal whale explaining to a human that it was actually very small.
Was he denying it while knowing his words were contradictory?
Or does he truly not know?
‘Gio’s’ blunt face completely veiled the truth of his inner self.
“…I will be careful.”
Day 5, complete.
After that, the portrait did not open his eyes for a while.
“……”
Ah, seriously.
“I really need to fix this habit of mine…”
Had he driven him away?
* * *
“……”
Trying to socialize after such a long time is exhausting.
…Should I take a break?
Activating the ultimate positive mindset.
Let’s rest.
And so, he returned to his quiet country life.
“Tada.”
That was the reason Gio stayed holed up inside the portrait for ten days.