Chapter 73
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 73
“It was a miracle,” the woman said, her voice mechanical and detached.
The researcher nodded. “Yes, a miracle.”
“Do you believe the entity Team Leader Jeong Da-un witnessed is a monster?”
“We’ll need to consult more Gardeners, but no. It likely isn’t a monster.”
The researcher shrugged.
“By definition, a monster must harbor a fundamental hatred for humans.”
There was a reason people called them monsters and not just beasts. Born from fear and contempt, the term ‘monster’ was reserved for entities from other dimensions who held an endless, bottomless hatred for humanity.
“This case is entirely different. We examined the surviving Hunters and found no abnormalities. If the ‘Black Cloak’ were a true monster, he wouldn’t have let them go, or he would have brainwashed them at the very least.”
“Still, it would be best to officially classify him as a monster.”
“I agree. To call the ‘Black Cloak’ a god… he’s shown far too much interest in human society. He could be an Evil God, but regardless of his true nature, he has demonstrated the power to directly influence humans. It’s wiser to frame him as a monster for the Hunters.”
“It will keep them on their guard.”
Gods and monsters—though both had become familiar concepts in the modern era, the difference in how they were perceived was vast.
In the case of a god, some would consider it an honor just to catch a glimpse of their form. But with a monster, people would do everything in their power to keep their distance and remain vigilant.
“If this backfires, the idea of a ‘human-friendly humanoid monster’ might appeal to the public’s romantic notions. But for that to happen, he’d need to appear far more frequently and have much greater exposure. The probability of that is low.”
By all appearances, he was an entity closely tied to the Origin. The closer a being was to the Origin, the more ignorant they were of humanity and the less they could conceal their nature. Such beings rarely revealed themselves on a tiny planet like this.
“Of course, the ‘Black Cloak’ could establish a pattern of friendly encounters, which would get people talking. But it would be difficult for the public to accept such an entity’s goodwill at face value. He will never have a friendly public image.”
“We must also consider the possibility that the ‘Black Cloak’ is highly skilled at concealing his nature and possesses a deep understanding of humans. Regardless, the decision to classify him as a monster stands. An existence from the Origin is akin to a natural disaster; we must instill a baseline level of vigilance.”
“In truth, when it comes to threatening humanity, there’s little difference between a god and a monster. But I suppose this is why image is so important. If we tell people he’s a monster, their survival rate will be higher should the ‘Black Cloak’ ever turn hostile in the future.”
The researcher gently stroked his chin as he continued.
“However, those who actually witnessed him won’t believe it, even if we label him a monster. Take Hunter Jeong Da-un. She calls him a monster, but her reaction was more akin to someone who had a divine encounter.”
“Did you detect any signs of worship?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but if we don’t establish countermeasures, a new religion could genuinely form around the ‘Black Cloak.’ Superstitions spread easily in times like these.”
“Then we must cement the public perception that the ‘Black Cloak’ is a monster. Please collaborate with the Information Processing Team. I’ll authorize a project under my name, so feel free to issue the necessary notices.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
The woman nodded.
“Given that the incident was an incredible miracle, Team Leader Jeong Da-un’s reaction is understandable.”
“…That… is certainly true,” the researcher agreed after a moment’s hesitation.
“Whether the ‘Black Cloak’ is a monster, a god, or a being from the Origin, the fact that he saved so many humans without demanding a price is hard to believe. After all, none of those entities are friendly to humanity.”
Monsters hated humans. Gods treated humans as toys. Beings from the Origin were utterly indifferent to them.
It was astonishing enough that communication was possible, but to actually receive help was utterly absurd.
“…This is where we’ll have a problem. Even now, some people fantasize about friendly monsters. The existence of the Tamer class only fuels those delusions.”
“It’s a consequence of poor public education. We’ll have to address it gradually; it’s not a problem we can solve overnight.”
“That’s true, but…”
The Tamer class, which allowed Hunters to form contracts with monsters and borrow their power, only encouraged these fantasies. Fools harbored absurd dreams of taming monsters like pets.
I suppose only time can cure this kind of ignorance.
Only thirty-one years had passed since the Great Catastrophe. South Korea had rebuilt itself as quickly as possible, shedding as much blood as necessary, but public awareness hadn’t kept pace. A new generation had been born, one that grew up ignorant of the true horror and cruelty of monsters. Meanwhile, establishing a comprehensive public education system to teach them about the dangers proved difficult.
“Actually, people in the provinces seem to be much more vigilant.”
“They don’t have the protective walls we have in the cities. They have to be on guard. They never know when a monster might descend on their village and slaughter everyone, or when they might stumble into a dungeon while hiking.”
“I suppose there’s no lesson more effective than firsthand experience.”
But they couldn’t exactly throw every city dweller into a dungeon to learn that lesson, which was a constant headache for the Association. There were always fools who didn’t know their place.
“In any case, I’ll do my best to promote a sense of caution and discourage people from approaching the ‘Black Cloak.’”
“……”
“It sounds ridiculous, but if the ‘Black Cloak’ genuinely shows goodwill toward humans, there will inevitably be idiots who develop delusional fantasies.”
It was the classic case of not knowing when to leave well enough alone. There had been countless incidents where people provoked a reclusive monster that was minding its own business, resulting in widespread bloodshed.
If a monster shows goodwill, there will always be lunatics who develop a stupid chosen-one complex. They’ll think they received this favor because they’re special… and it’s always those types who cause trouble and trigger a disaster.
Not all monsters wanted to kill humans. Some hated humanity, but for that very reason, they chose to live in hiding. Yet, just six months ago, a Hunter underestimated and provoked one such monster, and nearly half of a foreign country was wiped out as a result. Just because they were quiet didn’t mean they were weak. It was a moronic, fatal error in judgment.
“So, we should draft the public information based on the worst-case scenario?”
“Yes, please do.”
“Then I will report back to you later.”
The researcher bowed respectfully to the woman—a Symbol of Eternity that sustained the world.
“Association President.”
“……”
The Association President smiled faintly. It was a mechanical smile, utterly devoid of emotion.
* * *
Identification Number
0S-328-D
Response Rank
S(-)
Entity Type
Humanoid
Entity Name
Black Cloak (-)
Authority
Painter (-)
A humanoid entity first discovered by Search Team 3 of the Korea Hunter Association’s 183rd Division.
Appears as a male with his entire body concealed by a thick black cloak. Face is unidentifiable. Beneath the cloak, he wears a black shirt and suit. Height is estimated to be approximately 185–189 cm, and age is presumed to be in the mid-to-late 20s or early 30s.
The temporary name 'Black Cloak' was assigned based on his outward appearance; the entity name may be adjusted as more information is acquired.
Notably, the first witness, Jeong Da-un, testified that a faint noise was heard when he walked (the sound of dry plants rustling). Team member Kang Eon-seo, who possesses an enhanced sense of smell, testified to smelling a forest scent, leading to speculation that the entity may be a plant-type mimic monster. More information regarding the entity’s type is required.
Initial Encounter Circumstances
Assisted the first witness, Hunter Association Search Team Leader Jeong Da-un, and her team. During conversation, the entity will not proceed to the next action if it does not receive an answer to its question, instead repeating the exact same question in an identical manner. Intelligence is assessed as far superior to human levels.
The identified authority of the 'Black Cloak' is 'Painter,' which allows him to manifest frames in midair or turn humans into paint to create 'paintings.' Members of the initial discovery team are currently reporting some psychological distress.
Although he showed goodwill by rescuing the initial discovery team from the 'Deep Sea Kingdom,' he demonstrated a lack of understanding of human psychological limits, such as by turning the team into paint. The response rank may need to be adjusted as more information is acquired.
Based on the testimony of the first witness, Jeong Da-un, it has been confirmed that the 'Black Cloak' displayed a favorable attitude toward humans. However, the identified rule for interacting with the 'Black Cloak' is to 'respond submissively.' Therefore, there is a high probability he will exhibit hostility if provoked. Extreme caution is required when interacting with him.
Additionally, based on his attire, voice, and behavior, the possibility of him being a high-ranking figure of his dimension is under review. Due to a lack of information, consecutive raids on the 'Deep Sea Kingdom' have been approved, and related requests are being accepted.
Total Comments (1,352)
– Need to confirm attack type
– Verification of the language used is required
– Requesting re-evaluation of response rank
– Please re-evaluate the response rank
– Please confirm the habitat
– Recording is necessary during interactions…
– Precise reactions…
…….
….
…….
* * *
“Ah, hell.”
Yoo Seong-un rubbed the back of his neck as he stared at the holographic monitor.
“It’s up.”
“Is there a problem?”
“No, not exactly…” Leaning against the wall beside ‘Gio’s Portrait,’ Yoo Seong-un kept his eyes on the screen. “Your information was posted on the KHA website.”
“KHA, as in the Korea Hunter Association.”
“Yeah. It’s one of their main functions. They compile and post information on monsters that appear frequently, require special countermeasures, or are a significant threat on their own.” Yoo Seong-un shot an awkward smile at the portrait. “Not that you’re actually a monster, of course.”
Although he had let his guard down a bit while traveling with Gio, it didn’t mean the danger Gio posed as a being from the Origin had lessened in the slightest. Yoo Seong-un vividly remembered how Gio, despite his human form, would sometimes seem to dissolve into nature itself.
A guy who thinks he’s human probably won’t be thrilled to be called a monster.
Yoo Seong-un quickly added, “But from their perspective, it’s unavoidable. Normal people don’t live inside portraits, right? If you can do something like that, they’re going to assume you’re not human, at the very least.”
“That is a sufficient explanation.”
“Good.”
Yoo Seong-un scanned the details of the ‘Black Cloak’ entry on the website. “It says your face is unidentifiable, so it looks like you haven’t been exposed yet.”
“That is a relief.”
“……”
After a moment of thought, Yoo Seong-un asked, “Gio, can you change the face in the portrait?”
“I do not fully understand the question.”
“Right now, the portrait shows your actual face. Like I said before, if you want to live peacefully among humans without being seen as a threat, we need to separate the identities of ‘Black Cloak’ and ‘Seo Gio.’”
The danger posed by a being from the Origin fluctuated depending on the ‘story’ surrounding them. Yoo Seong-un had been trying to create an environment where ‘Gio’s Portrait’ could pass as human, but Gio frequently behaved in ways that made it obvious he was anything but.
I’m starting to doubt he even wants to pretend to be human.
Because of this, Yoo Seong-un had to separate ‘Seo Gio,’ the identity people perceived as human, from ‘Black Cloak,’ the entity seen as an urban legend. This separation was only possible because ‘Gio’s Portrait’ sometimes acted human and sometimes didn’t. By keeping them separate, he could at least minimize the perceived danger associated with ‘Gio’s Portrait.’ But for that to work, the face in the portrait had to remain a secret.
“Since ‘Gio’s Portrait’ shows your real face, even if you walk around as the blonde, blue-eyed Giovanni, people will eventually realize that the Black Cloak and Seo Gio are the same person.”
Your hair and eye color might change, your personality might shift, but your facial structure was always the same. The pale-faced ‘Gio’ always had the same features, no matter which version he was.
“And you travel through portraits, right? If your portrait is hanging in a public place, and the Black Cloak is spotted nearby, people will eventually connect the dots. Once they realize his face is identical to the Collector Guild’s Hunter, ‘Seo Gio’… things will get very complicated.”
“That is a valid point.”
The portrait went silent as if in thought. A moment later, there was a change. A painted hand reached out…
Splat—
“……”
“…Uh…”
“Will this suffice to hide my face?”
The face of Gio in the portrait was now smeared with paint as black as ink.
“…Your face is hidden, but…” Yoo Seong-un felt a pang of disappointment. “…This is a portrait of your own face. Are you sure about this?”
“Mr. Yoo Seong-un, you said the problem was my face being exposed.”
“Yeah, but I thought you’d just paint a hood or something over it.”
It felt like watching someone deface a masterpiece.
If I feel this way, Guild Master Bisabeol is going to have a complete meltdown… The thought was genuinely chilling, knowing how fanatical Bisabeol was about art and aesthetics.
“……”
Yoo Seong-un stared at the paint-smeared portrait with a look of pity. Though a large hand had swiped the paint across the canvas, Gio’s black hair and jawline were still visible at the edges. But even those were slowly being obscured as the black paint dripped down.
“…So, can you still see?”
“I can see perfectly fine from my end.”
“And if a portrait appears elsewhere, will it remain in this state?”
“It will remain like this unless I wipe it off.”
“Then the possibility of your face being exposed is definitely gone.”
“The employees here know my face.”
“Ah, that’s fine.”
The Collector Guild’s employees were exceptionally discreet. There was no risk of the ‘Black Cloak’s’ information leaking through them.
Of course, this means Gio’s ‘story’ will be contained within the guild, where it will only grow stronger. The legend of Seo Gio won’t be diminished at all within these walls. Here, where everyone knows the ‘Black Cloak’s’ true identity, the strangeness of ‘Seo Gio’ won’t be hidden. But that was an acceptable trade-off.
“Those people will absolutely never leak information to the outside.”
“Do you have a reason to believe that?”
“Because this guild is full of people who hate getting involved in trouble more than anything.”
“So they wouldn’t spread it, if only for their own safety.”
“Besides, do you think Guild Master Bisabeol wouldn’t find out? If he discovered someone ran their mouth, they’d probably end up as a specimen in some lab. No one’s going to talk.”
It was a unique trait of the Collector Guild. Perhaps because Bisabeol had personally scouted each of them, the employees were a surprisingly cohesive unit. In other words, they were all a bunch of recluses who just wanted to be left alone.
“There is absolutely zero chance of information leaking from here.”
Yoo Seong-un smiled bitterly.
“If I hadn’t gotten involved with you, I’d be doing the exact same thing—gritting my teeth and pretending I know nothing. Leak information? Not a chance in hell.”
“I see.”
“Even if outsiders offered a huge reward, the guild takes such good care of its people that no one would risk it for a bit of extra cash. Blackmail won’t work either.”
One of the defining traits of the Collector Guild was that everything—from the building itself to every last employee—was considered part of Bisabeol’s personal collection. He took exceptionally good care of his employees, but for that very reason, no sane person would dare touch his ‘collection.’
Unless they wanted to find out what he would do to them.
“So, like I said, everyone will grit their teeth and pretend to know nothing. They’ll do everything in their power to keep it that way.”
These were people who only wanted to finish their work and go straight home to rest. While they were highly responsible, they loathed complications even more, so he could rest easy on this front.
“But…”
“Is there a problem?”
“…It’s nothing major, but…”
“Yes, please speak.”
“You look even scarier now.”
“……”
“Because of the paint…”
Only after a long silence did Gio respond.
“Ah.”
He sounded uncharacteristically disappointed.