Chapter 15

“I judged it to be a matter of resolution.”

“…Resolution?”

Surprisingly, the portrait easily answered Yu Seong-un’s question.

“When I go outside, it’s a case of a painting becoming reality.”

“That’s right.”

“In that case, wouldn’t there be a difference in the domain of what a human who sees that can perceive?”

Jio, who had opened his eyes for the first time in quite a while, continued speaking with an unreserved attitude.

“I have never seen a mirror outside the painting, so I wouldn’t know for sure, but most of the staff here, even when seeing me directly and conversing, seemed dazed as if they were facing the unknown. If the fear only deepens despite having exchanged names and information….”

“Are you thinking there might have been a problem in the process of perception?”

“That is correct.”

He’s good with metaphors.

‘To think the level of one’s soul could be expressed this way, he would have been quite a good teacher.’

Unaware that Jio was speaking a truthful speculation without a hint of falsehood, Yu Seong-un considered this to be merely the most plausible metaphor the portrait could explain.

The idea of resolution was quite understandable.

‘Come to think of it, has Jio been exchanging names with everyone he meets for the first time?’

A question suddenly came to mind and Yu Seong-un asked.

“Do you consider exchanging names to be important?”

“Intimacy can be increased by exchanging names. I judged that it would be so.”

“Uh….”

To increase intimacy.

Yu Seong-un asked back with a slightly flustered look.

“Have you been deliberately exchanging names to feel more intimacy?”

“That is also a matter of courtesy as a human being. If you wish to know the other person, you must first introduce yourself.”

“I see.”

He seemed unaware that such an act could be even more frightening.

‘…For a being whose soul is so immense that perception becomes problematic even when looking right at it to ask for a name, it would be truly difficult to feel any intimacy from that.’

To a spiritual being, a true name always becomes an item of trade.

Unless one was from a very rural area or an elder—no, even such people knew the dangers of exchanging true names.

‘Besides, the all-black Jio looks like a grim reaper, which would also raise one’s guard.’

Of course, it was a rule that applied between humans.

In reality, exchanging names was a useful technique when drawing out information from others.

A slight bit of trust could be built just by sharing names.

In that sense, it was something he felt every time, but.

‘…Does Jio really think of himself as a human?’

It was a point to be cautious about.

‘If the natural respect and consideration he currently shows, which are based on human standards, come from such a delusion, then I must maintain things so that Jio can continue to think of himself as human, if possible.’

Otherwise, there was no telling what kind of disaster might occur.

“Hmm… right.”

If he thought of himself as human, it was easier to ask about various things.

“Then what is your age?”

“I am 29 years old.”

“…….”

But this was a bit unexpected.

“…29 years old?”

“Yes.”

“You’re young.”

“I have often been told that I look old for my age, but that is a hurtful reaction.”

“Ah, no, it’s not that….”

It was funny for Yu Seong-un himself to have asked, thinking a talking portrait would have an age, but he hadn’t thought that the portrait, which was so overwhelming that one couldn’t even meet its gaze, would be less than thirty years old.

‘Is this also his own delusion?’

If Jio perceived himself as an ordinary 29-year-old human, it was a statement that could certainly be made.

Regardless of how long this portrait had actually existed.

Yu Seong-un smiled awkwardly.

“I really didn’t expect you to be younger than me.”

“I am curious about your age, Mr. Yu Seong-un. Could you please tell me?”

“I’m 33 years old.”

“I thought you would be in your 20s.”

“That’s a very nice thing to say.”

“You look young for your age.”

The portrait added in its characteristic stoic tone.

“In that case, it would be alright for you to speak comfortably.”

“Ah… is that really okay?”

“I believe I have never requested that you must use formal language.”

“That’s true, but.”

He had deliberately spoken formally because it seemed to value etiquette, but it seemed it didn't particularly care about that part.

Perhaps it placed more weight on polite actions than on fancy words.

‘Anyway, it seems it doesn't dislike me.’

It wouldn't tell someone it found unpleasant or was wary of to drop the formalities.

“Then I’ll speak a bit more comfortably.”

“As you wish.”

“It feels awkward trying to be casual after speaking formally all this time.”

“For someone who says that, you are speaking quite naturally.”

“Ah, well… that’s because I’m originally used to speaking informally….”

He had gotten used to the hierarchical life while working as a curator or researcher, but in truth, back when he was a Gardener, he had been a wanderer through and through.

Even so, he wasn't so much of a ruffian as to ignore all etiquette, but in all honesty, speaking informally was more comfortable.

“More importantly, who on earth told you that you look old?”

“It was something I heard often.”

“You don't particularly look old. Are you sure someone wasn't just slandering you?”

“There were people who wouldn't believe me when I said I was in my 20s….”

“Ah, that I can understand.”

Yu Seong-un was convinced.

“You have a heavy aura about you. You don't seem like you're in your 20s.”

“That is also something I used to hear often.”

“Then it’s certain. It was probably because you don't have the air of a young man.”

Whether this portrait was once a human who became a painting or just a painting with human memories, if people said ‘you don’t seem your age,’ it was probably because of its aura.

“Besides, before we talk about looking old or whatever, you’re just handsome.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“When you’re that handsome, the sense of maturity you give off doesn’t matter at all.”

His smooth skin, which looked like fine white powder would rub off, was like porcelain and his facial features within it were sharp yet distinct, giving a strong impression.

His expression, which looked both angry and simply placid, also suited his stoicism well.

“You must have been popular.”

“I have no experience in romantic relationships.”

“…….”

He had never expected to hear this kind of story from a portrait.

“…None? With that face?”

“I have also never been confessed to.”

“Have you ever confessed?”

“I wasn't interested, so I did not.”

“I think I know what the situation was.”

Yu Seong-un laughed in vain.

It was the same context as before.

Either his aura was too heavy, so people couldn't confess even if they had feelings, or they assumed he already had a partner with that face and backed off.

‘…Seeing him say these things, was he really once a human who became a portrait?’

Considering his remarks seemed to indicate experience with social life.

“Well….”

But still, it probably wasn't the time to ask about such things.

‘I did make him run away last time.’

Yu Seong-un decided to change the subject.

“More importantly, you don’t seem to come outside much these days?”

“Are we not conversing right now.”

“Not like that, there was a time when you really came outside.”

Thanks to that, a grim rumor was still circulating among the curators.

Because Bisabeol had ordered a gag on the matter, Yu Seong-un couldn't explain the reality of the rumor either.

“Back then, it seemed like you were about to leave the gallery.”

“I apologize if I caused a misunderstanding, but even then I had no intention of leaving.”

“That's surprising. Your range of activity kept expanding, so I thought you wanted to go outside the gallery.”

“I was simply curious about how far the place I was in extended.”

“So now that you’ve checked all the way to the first floor, there’s no need to go out?”

“There’s that, and….”

The portrait looked down at Yu Seong-un.

“I am originally the type to refrain from active adventures in crowded places and I am restraining myself as much as possible because I thought it would trouble all of you.”

“…Wow, that’s a reason I really didn't expect. So that's why you haven't been coming out? That's an overly considerate judgment.”

He wished that other monsters or Ego Weapons would see this side of Jio and learn from it.

‘I never thought I’d receive such consideration from a non-human. If I report this to the academy, all hell will break loose.’

Should he call it strange, or amazing?

It was a portrait whose true identity was still not properly understood, but as a Gardener, he was thankful for the good fortune of meeting such a special being.

Though all this consideration was probably possible because it thought of itself as human….

“Then will you not tell me your story now, Mr. Yu Seong-un?”

“…My story?”

“It seems that until now, we have only talked about me.”

“Ah, that's right.”

Yu Seong-un was convinced.

‘Could this also be considered a 1:1 rule?’

It was a portrait that really liked fairness.

Well, he had been prying into the portrait's story all this time, so this was a natural flow, regardless of any rules.

“Where should I start….”

Yu Seong-un blinked and chose a topic.

“…First of all, I’m a curator. I’m in charge of maintaining and managing this gallery of the guild master, Bisabeol, and there are many other curators here besides me.”

“If it is a gallery, do you also sell the works?”

“Sometimes. This gallery is a place where the world’s most precious and dangerous things are collected, so sometimes there are people who want to buy the works here for the purpose of subjugation or research.”

Yu Seong-un would deal with such clients and explain the works to them.

“Therefore, any work that no curator can explain is designated as not for sale without exception. Even though it's a gallery that collects only the most dangerous things in the world, if a customer buys it and gets harmed, the responsibility inevitably falls back on us.”

“Do you not feign ignorance?”

“Even if we wanted to pretend not to know, we can't. It can lead not just to simple legal battles but also to armed conflicts, making things twice as complicated. Even if we get a signature in advance saying ‘we have notified you of the danger and the loss is your fault’… we can’t quell all the customers' complaints.”

Moreover, if things went wrong, direct retaliation could be inflicted on curators, who were not very proficient in combat as Hunters.

In fact, at other companies, assassins were hired and several curators had been killed.

“The guild master here is terribly fond of his employees, so it’s an impossible scenario, but curators elsewhere are frequently retaliated against.”

“Does the company there not provide any countermeasures?”

“Why would they bother? There are plenty of people who want to work. The cost of hiring someone new is cheaper than the cost of protecting an existing employee, so most just leave it be.”

“That is cold.”

“That's how the world is.”

From the perspective of a monster that seemed to like good things, it might be disillusioning, but in the world of humans, it wasn't a big deal.

“People are already dying outside the cities. There's no manpower to protect them, monsters keep crawling out… and the countryside, without proper infrastructure, is almost nature itself.”

“…….”

“The level of civilization between the city and the countryside differs by about a century. Well, some people say they prefer the countryside because they don't have to deal with all the petty troubles and oppression.”

The portrait said stoically.

“It is tiring.”

“Did I talk too much?”

“I meant that I prefer being inside the painting.”

“I agree with you there.”

He didn't know what it was like inside that painting, but it seemed much more peaceful than this world where one had to live dirtily and pettily.

Soon after, the portrait asked.

“In that case, have you been working as a curator continuously, Mr. Yu Seong-un?”

“Ah… that’s, no. I was only hired a few years ago.”

“If it is not rude, could you tell me what you did before?”

“…….”

Is it okay to talk about this?

After pondering for a moment, Yu Seong-un readily confessed.

“I used to be a researcher.”

“That is an unexpected answer.”

“And before that, I was a Gardener. In fact, I’m still a Gardener.”

“A gardener who manages a garden overgrown with grass and flowers?”

“No, we manage the Source.”

The Source existed in this world.

“I’m not sure how much you know, but there are things called dungeons on Earth. They are lairs of monsters created with various themes….”

“…….”

“Even though they are clearly different dimensions, sometimes the same vegetation is found in separate dungeons. We call them the ‘Children of the Source’.”

The same type of plant is found in a dungeon full of fire, and in a dungeon made of caves.

Such things happened in completely unrelated dungeons, and some researchers said it was possible because they were plants derived from the Source.

“Could you explain the Source to me?”

“We don’t know the details either.”

But the Source was that kind of existence.

The very bottom of all dimensions, the most fundamental concept.

“If you compare it to a tree, the dungeon is the fruit, and the monsters inside are the seeds. The Source is the root of the tree.”

“…….”

“In other words, we suspect… that the power of the Source might be what creates the dungeons.”

“Thank you for telling me such a fascinating story.”

“Though I find you fascinating as well.”

Yu Seong-un, who had laughed carefreely, continued.

“Gardeners analyze, manage, and share the events that arise from the Source. We’re similar to the researchers who analyze the names and powers of new monsters when they appear. We’re also similar to the geography Hunters who travel through dungeons and redraw maps.”

“It doesn't seem related, so why is it called a Gardener?”

“Hmm, well.”

Yu Seong-un blinked his blue-hued eyes.

They soon took on a slightly brighter color.

“Part of it is because we see the Source as a single garden.”

“…….”

“…And because we are actually managing a ‘Garden’.”

The portrait asked.

“A garden.”

“Yes, a Garden.”

“Is it different from the Source?”

“You could say it's a part of the Source.”

Yu Seong-un answered faithfully.

“If you were to call a single person the Source, then the Garden we speak of is a part of that person, like their blood vessels, fingernails, heart, or eyes.”

“…….”

“It is immensely vast and numerous. A very small number of Gardeners with high aptitude are put in charge of one such Garden each, and that’s quite a difficult job….”

Yu Seong-un laughed like a sigh.

“Many end up dead. It's a job where it’s hard to afford to be leisurely, one way or another.”

“Is it a job that someone must do?”

“In the first place, once you’re chosen by the Source, you have to do the work and if you neglect that work, the difficulty of various dungeons skyrockets.”

“That is frightening.”

“…It doesn’t feel real hearing you say it’s frightening….”

Yu Seong-un, who scratched his ear at what sounded like an absurd statement, continued.

“I’m still a Gardener. Becoming a Gardener isn’t something an individual can choose to do, so even though I’m working as a curator now, I can’t cast off the title of Gardener.”

“Is it difficult?”

“A little?”

Yu Seong-un shrugged.

“But it’s manageable.”

When he closed his eyes, he could see a vast, snowy mountain.

He could see a glacier. Its magnificence was captivating.

“Having my own Garden is pretty neat.”

“…….”

Soon after, the portrait replied.

“I understand.”

“You do?”

“I am the same.”

“I see.”

The conversation of that day ended there.

He didn't know what it was like for the portrait, but at least for the Gardener, it was quite an enjoyable time.

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