Chapter 76
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 76
"So," Yoo Seong-un asked, leaning against the gallery wall. "This business of turning people into paint… is that also because you’re a painter?"
"..."
"You don’t have to answer if it’s a difficult question."
As a former research team leader, Yoo Seong-un still had deep ties to the Hunter Association. This gave him access to a wealth of information, including the recent rumors about the 'Black Cloak' being spotted in the Deep Sea Kingdom.
"I was just a bit curious, since you’ve never actually called yourself a painter."
Witnesses described the 'Black Cloak' as both a portrait and a painter.
"And the whole turning-living-creatures-into-paint thing is… fascinating."
"It was not as grand an act as you seem to believe," Gio replied in his usual flat, mechanical voice. "To answer your first question, I am merely an ordinary person whose hobby is painting. I am far from worthy of being called a painter."
"But a painter is just someone who paints. Technically it’s a profession, but isn’t it basically the same thing?"
"If you wish to view it that way, I do not mind."
Unlike the human persona he adopted when he stepped out of the frame of 'Gio’s Portrait', the voice from within the painting was jarringly businesslike. In a cold, inorganic tone devoid of emotion, Gio continued.
"The reason I turned them into paint was because I could only affect them by painting from beyond the frame. I reasoned that to paint existing lifeforms with ordinary paint would be an act of creation, not transportation. Therefore, I had no choice but to turn them into paint first."
"...Right. That’s..."
Yoo Seong-un recalled a previous conversation he’d had with 'Gio’s Portrait'.
"Because from your perspective, we’re the paintings, not you?"
"I have not forgotten that you are living beings with a sense of self, not mere paintings or pigments. However, as I considered how I might assist them, this was the method I chose. Was it helpful?"
"Thanks to you, the survival rate definitely went up."
With the frame between them, Gio saw humans as paintings from his world, while humans saw him as a painting from theirs. This seemed to be the principle that allowed Gio, as both portrait and painter, to exert his influence through the medium of art.
"It’s just… how should I put this…" Yoo Seong-un hesitated before continuing. "Everyone is just terrified."
"Are they afraid?"
"Well, your appearance isn’t exactly friendly."
"That is true."
"And being turned into paint while you’re still alive isn’t exactly a common experience."
It wasn’t just 'uncommon'—it was something most people would never experience in their entire lives. While the Hunters were grateful for the Black Cloak’s inexplicable goodwill, they also feared him.
"Anyway, as long as you don’t actually see us as just paint, I guess it’s fine."
"I have never thought of you in such a manner."
"Right. You just wanted to help us in your own way."
Though, of course, that was precisely what made him seem so inhuman.
From a human perspective, the goodwill of an Existence of the Origin doesn’t always feel like goodwill.
It was a pure, albeit naive, way of thinking. Like a young child who doesn’t understand a dog’s biology feeding chocolate to a cute puppy. In the child’s mind, they were just sharing a sweet treat; to the puppy, it was deadly poison.
Maybe it’s because he himself is a portrait, but he has absolutely no qualms about turning people into paint. At least it’s a relief that people recognized it as an act of goodwill…
Perhaps that was why some Hunters had reportedly begun to revere him.
"...Uh…" Yoo Seong-un pondered for a moment before asking, "Are you still visiting the Deep Sea Kingdom these days?"
"I have visited, hoping to meet Iser, but I’ve only encountered humans, no mermaids."
"Oh, dear."
It seemed that Iser, that cunning mermaid, was actively avoiding Gio. Whether he needed time to gather his thoughts or was plotting something else, Yoo Seong-un couldn’t be sure.
"Anyway… thank you for helping people."
"There is no need for thanks. Rather, I wish to apologize, as I believe I have frightened them. Was my conduct rude?"
"It’s not that you were rude, it’s just that quite a few people are terrified."
In truth, "quite a few" was an understatement, but the fact remained that Gio had shown mercy and saved human lives. Since the Hunters seemed to recognize his goodwill, this was good enough.
If the Black Cloak becomes too familiar to the Hunters, that could cause other problems. For now, though, it doesn’t seem like any major incidents will break out.
Ideally, Yoo Seong-un wanted to draw a clear line between the warm, kind Hunter 'Seo Gio' and the mysterious ghost story 'Black Cloak'. However, Gio himself showed no intention of doing so, which was a bit troublesome from the perspective of a greedy human. Did Gio wish to mingle with others even while acting as the 'Black Cloak'?
"Just so you don’t misunderstand, I’m not telling you to stop helping people. I’m sure they’d rather be startled than dead. I only came by because I was curious about how much you knew, so please don’t take it to heart."
"I have not taken it to heart."
"I’m glad to hear that. But…" Yoo Seong-un trailed off. "There’s something else I’m curious about."
His visit to the gallery today wasn’t merely to deliver feedback on the 'Black Cloak' rumors.
"May I ask you a question?"
"If it is a question I am able to answer, I shall try."
"Well… by what standard do you adjust your status?"
This question had arisen from various eyewitness accounts and the testimonies of a select few, including Yoo Seong-un and the Cha family. The difference in status between the rumored 'Black Cloak' and 'Gio' in his human form was so vast that they hardly seemed like the same entity.
The portrait, its eyes obscured by black paint, asked in return, "What do you mean by that?"
"Uh..."
Right. Gio didn’t actually realize how high his status was.
Since he considers himself an ordinary human, bringing up the word 'status' was definitely my mistake. This is the same guy who explained people’s fear of him as a mere issue of 'resolution'...
Organizing his thoughts for a moment, Yoo Seong-un spoke.
"...Of course, the ghost story of the Black Cloak and the person named Gio are the same individual. But even though you’re the same being, there are times when your judgments and way of speaking differ completely. When you’re active as 'Seo Gio'… I don’t think the idea of turning people into paint would even cross your mind."
This was the crux of the matter.
"Even though you’re the exact same Gio, it feels like your way of thinking changes depending on your status."
"..."
"Or perhaps I’m mistaken. If that was a rude assumption, I apologize."
After a brief silence, the portrait replied, "I believe you are correct, Mr. Yoo Seong-un. I do alter my thoughts and tone on occasion."
"Ah."
"Though I strive to live as uprightly and politely as possible, to borrow your terms, I make arrogant and rude judgments when I am the 'Black Cloak'."
It seemed the portrait was also aware of this discrepancy.
"However, I have no intention of harming anyone. I will never bring you harm, so you need not worry."
"I understand what you mean," Yoo Seong-un nodded.
Of course. The thoughts of a human and the thoughts of an Origin cannot be the same.
Even for the same entity, a difference in status could lead to a difference in cognitive patterns.
Gio called it an 'arrogant and rude judgment,' but to him, it was probably just natural behavior. Considering the sheer status possessed by 'Gio’s Portrait', it isn’t strange at all.
It was only natural for a human to look down on an ant.
The very fact that he stoops to try and match our eye level is astonishing in itself. Perhaps it’s only possible because Gio has such a high understanding of humans.
Of course, just because Gio "tried" didn’t mean he could ever become fully human. But the fact that he was reprimanding himself for making "arrogant and rude judgments" was significant in its own right.
"..."
A shiver ran down his spine.
"Do you have any further questions?"
"Huh? No, it’s just..."
He simply felt a chill every time he was reminded that Gio was not human.
"...I just think you’re truly amazing."
Yoo Seong-un still did not know what Gio was.
Other than the fact that he was a portrait.
* * *
"Huuuuuff..."
"Mrow?"
"Huuuuuuuff..."
"Mrr."
Honey peered over at Gio, who was busy huffing Dana’s belly.
"Chirp?"
"Ah, I feel alive."
"Chirp?"
"I’ve been healed."
Indeed, no hobby improved one’s quality of life quite like huffing a cat’s belly.
"Of course, Dana isn’t soft or warm, but..."
"Purrrr."
"...she is still a cat, without a doubt. Thank you for stepping on me, Master."
The two paws pressing firmly against his face couldn’t have been more adorable.
The Sun God-infused Teddy Bear looked rather troubled watching this scene, but Gio, Honey, and Dana remained completely unfazed. In the midst of this cozy family gathering, Gio asked seriously, "So, what do I have to do to see Iser’s face?"
For some reason, he wouldn’t come to see him. "He has to know I’m here, so what’s the problem?"
"Grumble..."
The teddy bear furrowed its brow as if to say, How can you not know? and Gio nodded.
"I do know. It’s a common human instinct to avoid confrontation when they’ve done something wrong and expect to be scolded."
"Grumble..."
The Sun God wondered if it was appropriate to call Iser, a mermaid, a human. It also questioned if the situation truly compared to a puppy or a child avoiding trouble. In the first place, it didn’t seem like Iser was avoiding Gio out of fear of being scolded.
Though his form was unmistakably 'Giovanni', there was a strange sense of incongruity and an inexplicably high status radiating from within him. On top of that, he possessed the Sun’s divinity—something mermaids could only detest. In many ways, he was an entity a mermaid would find incredibly difficult to face.
But Gio was a young man of conviction. He remained steadfast.
"When I was young, if I accidentally wet the bed, I would secretly hand-wash the sheets all night, constantly looking over my shoulder for my grandmother. Even though I knew it was a natural physiological phenomenon for a child, I hid it out of guilt and shame."
"Grumble...?"
"But in the end, I was caught. How well could a child hand-wash sheets, anyway? They were soaking wet and wouldn’t even dry overnight. Therefore, no matter how much Iser avoids me, he cannot escape."
"Gruuumble...?"
The teddy bear expressed its doubt, as if asking, Is that really a fitting analogy? to which Gio let out a small sigh.
"It is true that Iser has chosen too cruel a path for such a simple analogy..."
"Grumble, grumble."
"But in my memory, Iser was just a young student. To hear him called a terrorist now… honestly, it doesn’t feel real."
It lacked any sense of reality. When he was suddenly told, 'Your precious little student started terrorizing religious facilities after you died,' he couldn’t muster much of a reaction beyond, Huh? Oh? Is that so?
"But that is precisely why we must drag Iser back… No, we must meet him."
"Chirp?"
Honey cast a suspicious glance, as if to say, Didn’t you just say 'drag him back'? Naturally, Gio ignored him, and Dana let out a wide, lazy yawn.
"How can we get Iser to come meet me? I can’t help but ponder this."
"Grumble..."
"The Deep Sea Kingdom is not a supermarket. We can’t broadcast a missing person announcement, and Iser is a full-grown adult, so he can hardly be called a lost child. What a cheeky mermaid, refusing to show up even when he knows where the exit is..."
Gio blinked, thinking of his cowardly student who refused to even show his face. He soon continued, "For the record, I’m not entirely without a plan."
"Chirp?"
"If I cause a massive scene right in their home, the Deep Sea Kingdom, they’ll have no choice but to show themselves."
"Chirp-chirp?"
"If all goes well, we should be able to seize the upper hand completely. Yes, so the plan is..."
Upon hearing Gio’s explanation, the bird tilted its head as if doubting it would work, the cat rolled onto her back in utter indifference, and the teddy bear wore a complicated expression that seemed to say, Are you sure about this?
Seeing their reactions, Gio looked at the Sun God.
"Is something wrong?"
"...Grumble..."
Seeing Gio’s nonchalant attitude, the teddy bear nodded as if thinking, I guess so? In truth, the bear hadn’t made that face out of any deep understanding; it had simply figured, If Gio says it’s fine, then it must be.
"Grumble, grumble-grumble."
"Thank you for your support."
It was, indeed, a heartwarming family meeting.