Chapter 103
He wondered if it was really related, but the ‘Vein of Jewels’ was one of the dungeons Yu Seong-un had told Jio about.
“Did I just hand over information for nothing?”
‘Jio’s Portrait’ could already move freely anywhere.
Giving him, of all people, information about several interesting and sparsely populated dungeons connected to Earth might have been the same as telling a hungry tiger the location of a village.
“…Still, it would have been a matter of time.”
Yu Seong-un did not regret his actions.
‘Bisabeol agreed to it as well.’
Above all, although he was human, he was not entirely on the side of humans.
There is a saying that the best gardener is an onlooker.
While one shouldn't just be an onlooker, their mission was to balance the Source and their world.
Yu Seong-un, who was chosen as a Gardener from a very young age, knew how to be stoic about the events of life and death.
‘Besides, Jio knows Earth well.’
Yu Seong-un had only hastened the timing of Jio’s activities; the portrait’s actions of appearing all over the Earth and surprising people were already a scheduled event.
“I’m not even done investigating Gyeongbokgung yet, and now another incident happens before I can wrap anything up, my goodness….”
Yu Seong-un sat on a bench covered with fallen snow and scratched his chin.
“…Is it Christmas today?”
Originally, he had intended to visit Jio and ask if he was interested in enjoying the year-end.
“That’ll be difficult now.”
Yu Seong-un, who had his overtime confirmed on a holiday like this, was truly a sad representation of a modern person.
Massaging his stiff neck, Yu Seong-un slowly let out a sigh.
In accordance with the will of the garden he served, his breath did not fog.
“Alright.”
The first thing to check was the interview with the witness.
***
An F-Class Hunter.
An Awakener who was slightly stronger than a healthy adult male civilian.
These people, who received their Hunter licenses knowing they would most likely die if they entered a dungeon, often took on the position of a ‘porter.’
“Ah, hello.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Hunter Lee Seon-hu.”
“I received a call that you would be coming today.”
The ‘witness’ Yu Seong-un sought was a porter with a kind-looking face.
“You… I believe you said you wanted to hear about The Black Cape.”
“Yes, to be precise, I came because I wanted to hear a detailed account of the situation you witnessed that day.”
“As I said on the phone, I already relayed the situation that day to the Association staff.”
“What I’m curious about is, strictly speaking, information about the picture frame that you saw, Hunter Lee Seon-hu.”
“…I understand for now.”
Though he seemed troubled, he let Yu Seong-un into his house.
“It’s a bit shabby, isn’t it? I apologize.”
“Not at all, what are you saying? I’m the one who came unannounced.”
Yu Seong-un understood the witness’s slight reluctance.
For the most part, 3rd-class citizens tended to feel awkward or burdened when they saw citizens of a higher class.
‘It is also an era of great class conflict.’
Despite that, the witness served Yu Seong-un, even bringing out warm green tea.
‘He has a face Jio would like.’
He was reminded of the portrait that liked polite and good-natured humans.
The reason for causing this incident surely must have included the fact that he liked the character of this person named Lee Seon-hu.
“It’s warm, thank you.”
“I feel somewhat sorry that I have nothing more than this to offer.”
“Just agreeing to talk is more than enough.”
Yu Seong-un continued with light conversation, easing the witness’s tension.
Fortunately, he didn't seem to be the type to hold a grudge against 1st-class citizens, as the witness soon lowered his guard toward Yu Seong-un and steadily continued the conversation.
The main topic came up only when the green tea had almost cooled.
“You said you were curious about the picture frame I saw that day?”
“It is The Black Cape’s new work, following the ‘Breathing Sea,’ after all.”
“Ah, I was surprised about that part too. I didn't know he would create a new work like that….”
“I became interested while researching various things for my curator job.”
Yu Seong-un deliberately did not mention that he was looking for the missing Park Eun-gyeom.
‘My purpose is more to confirm how The Black Cape expressed its hostility rather than to save the man named Park Eun-gyeom… but in any case, it wouldn’t sound very pleasant to the person involved.’
If Hunter Park were alive, rescuing him was also one of Yu Seong-un’s duties.
It would do no good to tell the person who was abandoned and even abused by this missing person about Yu Seong-un’s duty to save him or recover his body.
‘…However, what is interesting is his very favorable attitude toward The Black Cape.’
The witness was smiling as he said, ‘I didn't know he would create a new work again.’
He looked just like someone who had heard the news that their favorite artist had opened a gallery.
“…….”
I didn’t expect to be reminded again that ‘Jio’s Portrait’ is a painter like this.
‘Jio, you’ve got a fan.’
He was aware that a group of people who strangely idolized The Black Cape was forming.
He hadn't thought of meeting them or talking to them, but seeing it firsthand like this felt strange.
Unaware of Yu Seong-un’s thoughts, the witness asked.
“Will The Black Cape continue to create works like that?”
“…As of now, I believe there is a high probability of that.”
“That’s amazing.”
The witness, who nodded, continued.
“The work I saw that day was a painting of a grayish city. Seeing as the colors were very transparent, I was thinking it might be a watercolor….”
He really spoke as if he were talking about an artist’s work.
“Actually, I judged it to be gray at first glance, but it wasn’t entirely gray.”
“What was it then?”
“It would be more accurate to say it was a completely monochrome work. It was fascinating, the building shapes of the painted city were diverse, and the glass windows and what not… it was a very vivid depiction.”
“A vivid depiction with watercolor, which has colors that smudge and blur easily, is surprising.”
“It was completely black and also white. There were no strong colors like red or yellow, but I don’t know how it caught my eye so strikingly.”
The witness seemed to have some knowledge of art. It couldn't be called an expert level, but it was to the extent that he could view and enjoy a work in his own way.
‘That might be why he’s even more favorable to The Black Cape.’
Organizing his thoughts, Yu Seong-un asked.
“I’m envious that you saw such a work. Have you by any chance seen it again in a place other than the ‘Vein of Jewels’?”
“Ah… that is, unfortunately, no. That one time in the dungeon that day was all I encountered. Even that disappeared quickly.”
“I see.”
He didn't sense any lies.
“I wanted to see it with my own eyes, what a shame.”
Yu Seong-un had to find that picture frame and confirm what had become of Hunter Park Eun-gyeom.
“I guess there’s no choice but to wander around the dungeons myself….”
“Um, excuse me.”
The witness hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Among my friends… There's a guy who is an Awakener, but since he’s an F-Class like me, he hasn’t been issued a Hunter license.”
“Ah, yes.”
“I heard that my friend has also seen the same picture frame as I did.”
“…The same picture frame?”
“Actually, that friend was the one who saw the picture frame before I did. I was out of it at first so I didn’t know, but when I was left alone in front of the frame… I realized it was the same one he had talked about.”
“…….”
No matter how much of an Awakener one was, if they weren’t issued a Hunter license, they were just a civilian.
‘Especially if they’re F-Class.’
Unlike Hunters, who were required to write reports, making it easy to obtain information, if it was a civilian, it also explained why the Association didn't know about this fact.
But there was a strange point.
He was curious why this fact wasn't reported to the Association, but more importantly….
“Civilians can’t enter dungeons, can they?”
“Yes, that’s right. He said he saw it near Gyeongbokgung Palace, not in a dungeon….”
“Gyeongbokgung Palace?”
“So I think it probably doesn’t only appear in dungeons.”
“Oh….”
If that was true, it meant there was no pattern to when the ‘City of the Void’ appeared.
‘I’m doomed.’
It seemed there was now no choice but to do the legwork.
***
“Pardon?”
Jio was startled, in a way that didn’t match his gloomy and calm face at all.
“Are you saying my child has been running away from home all this time without my knowledge?”
“It might be a bit much to call it running away, especially your choice of words.”
Aria, fiddling with the sleeves of her oversized doctor's gown that were hanging down, continued.
“Since your affection for Earth is so profound, what could we do but study it in various ways. Last time, we only thought of throwing Earth into chaos and leaving, so we didn't know anything properly.”
“For that, you did a pretty good job of wrecking the place, Aria. I heard the Temple of the Sun's Seoul branch is still busy with the cleanup. Doesn’t that mean our mermaid students caused quite a big mess?”
“That is a most glorious testimony, mister. As a child of the deep sea who despises the sun and its children, nothing could bring me more joy. Anyway, I found something out while studying the situation on Earth….”
Aria shrugged her shoulders.
“It seems the ‘City of the Void’ has been very rarely sighted in the area called Seoul recently.”
“This father has not heard such a thing from the Void….”
“The Void, is that your dungeon’s pet name? You have a very peculiar taste, teacher.”
“I don’t see what’s so peculiar about me calling my own child by its name.”
“If you don’t know, then fine. In the end, what I wanted to tell you was the news that your dungeon is roaming the planet called Earth without your knowledge.”
“It is news that is just as bewildering to hear again.”
Beyond parental responsibility, he even felt a sense of guilt.
“This must be because I haven't been paying attention to the Void, causing the child to go astray. The one who is a parent was too busy enjoying his own life, not even knowing his child was born. Just because I started paying a little attention recently doesn’t mean that lonely heart would have gone anywhere.”
“…….”
“This is why I should have been good to him from a young age…. The existence of a home isn’t that stable and peaceful for the Void, so he must be wandering outside. But even so, I truly couldn’t have imagined that a picture frame, which I had stored safely in the warehouse, would go out on its own.”
While considering even a dungeon as his child, why couldn’t he imagine that a picture frame would escape on its own?
‘With that level of creativity and tolerance, it seems entirely possible.’
Aria was momentarily puzzled but soon answered Jio’s words.
“…It’s certainly not the typical aspect of a dungeon. Nor is it a behavior that a normal item or artifact would show. The master of the dungeon isn't inside, so maybe its body feels light, so it’s wandering around here and there.”
Jio lamented.
“It’s because dad wasn't home.”
“Didn’t you say this place was your home.”
“But I did confirm that the Void was safe in my warehouse….”
“Then it’s a clone or another entrance.”
Just as a dungeon is a world, it didn’t have only one entrance.
“There isn’t just one way to invade Earth, you know. If the dungeon’s master intends it, they can create as many entrances as they want.”
“I have never intended to do so.”
“That's why I came to ask. I was wondering if you finally decided to crush the humans and opened up the entrances.”
“I have never had such a terrifying thought. Above all, if the humans are crushed, who will chat with me? Who will roast sweet potatoes for me?”
“We can do it for you.”
“I refuse. As I told Iseur, you all need to develop your independence. Any more excessive attention and affection will make your teacher’s life difficult.”
“I do try to restrain myself.”
Aria nodded her head.
“Even if you had no such intention, it’s not that I don’t understand why the ‘City of the Void’ is acting this way.”
“Is it because it’s going through puberty…? Because it has a worthless dad…? Because I had a harsh childhood…?”
“I keep telling you that a dungeon is a world. Any place can become an entrance, and besides, you, the master, are constantly inside this portrait and at the same time very interested in Earth.”
Moreover, the place it was frequently seen was Seoul.
“Speaking of Seoul, isn’t that the area you’ve been frequenting lately, teacher?”
“I am trying to find a pen pal friend.”
“A dungeon and its master have a nature of trying to become one, so it wouldn’t be strange for it to try to visit the dimension where the traces of its master are most abundant.”
“Are you saying it’s wandering that wide and harsh Seoul alone to find its worthless father…?”
“…Yeah, if you understand it that way, the context is more or less correct.”
Of course, the situation was lighter than that. If the dungeon truly had a self-consciousness, it was closer to a spoiled child who barges into their dad’s workplace and pesters them to play, rather than a ‘boy head of the household who left to find his father who doesn't come home often.’
‘But if the teacher puts this much effort into the dungeon, it’s all the better for us.’
In the end, a dungeon was a dungeon.
It was a game board for devouring something.
As long as Jio was interested in Earth, humans would be endlessly devoured, so the more the dungeon was managed, the more at ease the mermaids could be.
‘The teacher’s work and this cabin are connected, after all.’
However, there was one curious point.
“About that ‘City of the Void’.”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever connected it to Earth separately?”
“…Pardon?”
“You haven’t.”
Aria had felt that somehow, on the day Jio came to talk to the mermaids at the risk of his own life, the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea’ and the ‘Breathing Sea’ had been connected.
Since then, a picture frame connected to the ‘Breathing Sea’ began to float around in the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea.’
Well, since the ‘Breathing Sea’ was part of the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea’ to begin with, it wasn't that strange.
But it was certain that, at least on that day, the mermaids' temple and Jio’s ‘picture frame’ were connected.
‘But even without such measures, the teacher’s picture frame is wandering around in the area called Seoul on Earth.’
What was the reason?
“…You must really like Earth, teacher?”
“There was no reason to hate my hometown without a particular cause.”
“Aha, so it’s your hometown.”
Then it made sense.
“It was connected from the very beginning.”
Since the roots of his soul were on that planet, it was natural that there was no need for a separate connection like between the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea’ and the ‘Breathing Sea.’
For the ‘City of the Void,’ Earth was like the hometown where its father was born.
“But that makes me a little jealous….”
“Oh Sun, the jealousy of a mermaid. May I refuse?”
“Even if you refuse, what can I do, it’s my one-sided emotion.”
For some reason, Jio’s roots were in that dimension teeming with humans.
‘Strictly speaking, the Kingdom of the Deep Sea is our hometown too.’
What on earth happened in the meantime for Jio’s roots to move to that narrow and barren dimension.
Aria inwardly clicked her tongue while stroking her chin in thought.
“…Can’t the roots be moved?”
“Move the roots, are you thinking of doing bonsai?”
“Hmm, perhaps.”
“I have a talent for that sort of thing. Do you need help?”
“For now, I’ll try to handle it myself.”
“Such an independent attitude is very admirable.”
“It’s an honor, master.”
She thought she would have to consider how to move the roots of his soul to her sea.
Giovanni was most beautiful when he was in the sea.
‘Of course, before that, I need to think about how I can take on that damn thing called responsibility and be fully accepted by the teacher….’
As if she hadn't been thinking at all, Aria continued to speak nonchalantly.
“Anyway, pay some attention to the ‘City of the Void’.”
“I suppose just creating residents for it wasn't enough.”
“That's not bad either, but you know.”
Aria knew instinctively.
‘The world the teacher paints with Earth as the subject will have a gate open there.’
In that case, the more a painting Jio drew was reminiscent of Earth, or the more it was a complete work of his that did not belong to another dimension.
The roots of those works would also be planted in Earth and torment humans.
‘Since the master of the dungeon has no hostility, the speed might be very leisurely, but….’
When did natural disasters ever torment humans because they had hostility?
“When will you paint the next picture?”
“…On a day I feel like painting?”
“I see.”
Aria smiled with satisfaction.
‘In the end, is it just a matter of time.’
She hoped that dimension teeming with humans would one day be in Jio’s stomach.
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