Chapter 82
Identification Number
0S-761-SS
Response Class
SS
Entity Type
Humanoid_Mermaid(Female)
Entity Name
Aria
Authority
Kingdom of the Deep Sea
A humanoid entity first discovered by the 175th conquest team under the authority of the Collectors Guild.
Unlike the related entity by blood, ‘Mermaid Iseur,’ her dark navy hair is long enough to touch the floor.
She wears a white doctor's or researcher's gown over a blue dress, which is a male's and does not fit her physique, suggesting a connection to the story of the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea.’
The entity revealed herself to be a mermaid and stated her name as ‘Aria.’
It is testified that no falsehood was detected.
The entity name is confirmed as ‘Mermaid Aria.’
As a peculiar trait, it was confirmed that the color of her eyes and hair changes according to her physical and emotional state.
The entity has made several statements identifying herself with the sea, leading to the speculation that she may be able to influence not only the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea,’ where she is set as the owner, but also the seas of any dimension.
Initial Sighting
It is understood that she came out of the dungeon to abduct a prospective priest (Solar Cult) and observe human reactions.
The exploration team, organized under the authority of the Collectors Guild, witnessed her at the entrance of the ‘Temple of the Deep Sea.’
She did not display any particular aggressive tendencies, and although a conversation was requested, she was reported to have a strong aversion to humans.
It has been determined that ‘Aria’ is the owner of the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea,’ and ‘Iseur’ is a false owner to deceive humans.
Both entities have repeatedly engaged in acts to inflict physical and mental pain, such as modifying humans into monsters, out of their hatred for humanity.
It is understood that she has set a target that she finds attractive in the dimension of Earth.
It is expected that she will cease active aggression towards humans until she achieves her goal.
It is advised that special caution be exercised to avoid provoking her, such as visiting the dungeon and causing a disturbance.
Due to the characteristics of a humanoid entity, the response class is set to SS.
Conquest method not found.
The Collectors Guild has requested that ‘Evasion’ be the basic response protocol.
Accordingly, the Hunter Association will also be extending the exploration period indefinitely instead of attempting a conquest, so we ask all Hunters to exercise caution.
All Comments(1,043)
– Are S-Class Hunters not attempting a conquest?
– We request that a precise deadline for the exploration season be set
– Request for reconfirmation of the response class
– Need to confirm attack patterns
…….
….
…….
***
In the end, the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea’ could not be conquered.
“Three A-Class Hunters participated, and yet you couldn't conquer it?”
“I heard the Collectors bought the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea,’ is that true?”
“Please tell us if the monster information confirmed through this exploration is accurate!”
“What resource is it that the Collectors want from the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea’?”
Yu Seong-un, one of the exploration members, had to deal with the reporters.
“Yes, we failed to conquer it. And it is true that the Collectors purchased the S-Class dungeon ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea,’ and the monster information reported to the Association is also accurate.”
“Then the resource is…”
“For detailed inquiries, please contact the Collectors' Admin Team directly.”
“Hey, wait a minute…”
“There's no wait a minute, don't block the way.”
The reporters tried to grab Yu Seong-un, but their words didn't reach his ears, as he had to pull all-nighters for nearly a week to manage the aftermath of this dungeon exploration.
The dark circles under his hollow eyes nearly reached his chin.
Yu Seong-un was a very busy person.
“I repeat, please contact the Admin Team.”
In fact, from the reporters' perspective, Yu Seong-un was probably the easiest target.
Kang Seo-dam, a high-ranking priest of the Solar Cult, which had the largest following in Seoul, had his identity revealed but was not easily accessible for questioning.
In Cha Ara’s case, the Hunter Association and the Collectors were protecting her personal information.
‘And if they tried to approach the other Hunter, Seo Jio, he would have been nowhere to be seen.’
That was only natural, as the ‘Seo Jio’ they were looking for was asleep inside Bisabeol's Gallery.
‘So it’s a natural step for them to grab me, who at least commutes to the company.’
He understood, but he was genuinely tired.
Submitting reports to the Guild and the Association, checking the state of the sea, hiding Jio's information… He had been so busy that he had to postpone his main job as a curator for a week.
“Hunter Yu Seong-un!”
“Not here.”
“You’re right there!”
“I said I’m not here.”
Even though most reporters these days were awakeners, they were no match for Yu Seong-un, an A-Class Hunter.
Yu Seong-un smoothly slipped away and fled to the guild lobby.
An Admin Team employee who had been waiting for him greeted Yu Seong-un.
“Good work.”
“If you were watching, you could have helped fend them off.”
“The Guild gets a bad rap these days if we treat reporters like that.”
“True, the Guild's image is important…”
“It’s difficult for us to respond unless they get excessively aggressive.”
“I managed to shake them off on my own, so it’s fine for now.”
The employee nodded.
“We will take action if we determine that too much attention is being drawn.”
“I guess I’ll have to hole up inside the guild for a while. Is the lounge available?”
“We haven’t had any new recruits for a while, so there should be some room in the dorms. I’ll look for an empty room for you.”
“Anyway…”
Yu Seong-un let out a sigh.
“I don’t know why everyone is so interested in the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea.’”
“Isn't it because it's the first officially appeared humanoid monster dungeon in Korea in a long time?”
“Actually, humanoid monsters have appeared several times, though it’s been hushed up. They were all unofficial.”
“More than anything, it’s a dungeon purchased by the Collectors.”
“……”
Yu Seong-un, rubbing his neck, asked.
“Has it drawn a lot of attention?”
“Buying an S-Class dungeon whose information hasn't even been properly identified, they must be curious about what on earth the Collectors know.”
“They’ll be suspicious that we might be monopolizing some special resource. It’s not like there haven’t been such cases before. Are the ants going to gather soon?”
“The stock price will go up.”
“It’s not exactly the kind they’re expecting, though.”
It was purchased not for a special resource, but based on the judgment that a dungeon so deeply connected with the ‘Black Cape’ could not be left out in the wild.
It would be a good thing for the Black Cape himself, too.
The employee shrugged.
“If only it could be conquered, it could be used as a tourist destination.”
“The fact that you can breathe inside the sea is definitely a huge merit.”
“So, in the end…”
The employee, after glancing over Yu Seong-un, finally asked.
“What was the connection between the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea’ and the ‘Black Cape’?”
“……”
“Based on the identified information, the Kingdom of the Deep Sea and the Black Cape are not very compatible monsters. The Black Cape is too out of place in that verdant dungeon.”
“…Sometimes monsters pop up here and there.”
There were times when completely identical monsters or creatures appeared in entirely different dungeons.
The Gardeners called them the ‘Child of the Source,’ but to Hunters, they were just peculiar monsters.
“That part is something I have to look into.”
“You must be busy.”
“You wouldn’t be willing to take over for me, would you…?”
“I’m not a curator.”
“That’s true, but.”
Yu Seong-un, clicking his tongue, moved to the elevator.
“Then please handle the response.”
“Don’t worry and go check on the condition of the artworks.”
“I should. I haven’t been able to check for a while.”
As soon as he had roughly finished the urgent tasks, the place Yu Seong-un headed to was, of course, Bisabeol's Gallery.
He swiped his employee key for the elevator heading to the gallery and pressed the button for the 5th basement floor at the very end.
Thanks to the Collectors’ building, famous for splurging on cutting-edge facilities, he could reach even the deepest parts quite quickly.
“Hmm…”
Bisabeol's Gallery, which he hadn't visited in a while, had an immense pressure as always.
‘What a suffocating place.’
Even for Yu Seong-un, an A-Class Hunter, it was not a particularly refreshing space.
Should I call it eerie, or heavy?
A strange air that made his whole body shiver as if feeling muscle pain, yet scraped at a person's instincts, lingered in this gallery.
‘Especially since the artworks on the 5th basement floor are mostly ill-tempered…’
With such thoughts, Yu Seong-un stood before a certain portrait.
“……”
Because his face was covered in pitch-black paint, it was impossible to tell whether he had his eyes open or closed.
‘…I even forget his face from time to time.’
He had seen ‘Hunter Seo Jio’ just a week ago, but despite having a decent memory, he couldn't recall the face.
Only the black paint now before his eyes came to mind.
‘Is this also one of the effects of covering the portrait’s face?’
With that thought, Yu Seong-un called out to the portrait.
“Jio, are you there now?”
“I am.”
“Oh…”
It was a quick answer.
“It’s rare for it not to dawn.”
The current time was 3 PM.
For ‘Jio’s Portrait,’ which always insisted on the vicinity of 4 AM, it was a rare time to be awake.
Yu Seong-un, who had been worried he might be ignoring the rules, could feel a little relieved.
‘If there was no immediate answer, I was just going to go back and come again at dawn.’
Of course, it was a bit puzzling.
‘Wasn’t it a rule that we had to converse at 4 AM? For that to be the case, he seemed to be around often at that time, strange…’
Anyway, since things turned out this way, it seemed like a good idea to have a little chat.
“Have you been awake this whole time?”
“I heard Mr. Yu Seong-un coming, so I was waiting.”
“You can hear such things?”
“I can detect the sound of someone approaching the frame.”
“To be able to detect even that, that's impressive.”
“It’s been a while.”
The portrait asked in its characteristic blunt voice.
“Have you been well?”
A week had already passed since he visited the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea’ to rescue the little priest Cha Isold.
‘Jio's Portrait,’ which could be called a painting rather than a real person, seemed to have recalled that fact as well.
“I was worried because you hadn't shown yourself for a while.”
“No need to worry that much. Usually, if I’m not around, it just means I’m overworking somewhere.”
“That sounds like a reason to worry.”
“Just whining a bit.”
Although he had left the management to another curator, he couldn't be at ease.
Yu Seong-un, who was examining the precious, precious portrait for any damage, soon asked.
“How about you, Jio.”
“Please state the precise intent of your question.”
“It’s hard to ask point-blank, but for starters… the mermaid siblings and all that.”
“They still haven't come out of the sea, but they seem to be doing well.”
He heard that the mermaid siblings were still hiding in the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea’ and hadn't shown their faces.
Jio said it was probably because ‘they feel awkward coming to see me after getting a good scolding.’
“……”
Yu Seong-un was at a loss for words for a moment.
“You call that a scolding.”
“Did it seem a bit aggressive?”
“I can't say it wasn't.”
“It was a natural action for Giovanni.”
“Yeah, a teacher scolding a student is, in a way, a natural thing, but… that was… like that…”
Do ordinary teachers scold their students like that, Jio?
‘I thought maybe after the human persona of Jio died and he became a portrait, some strange parts developed, but maybe the things called Jio just have a slightly strange side to them since they were human. Even if they live as humans, is it because their roots are ultimately the Source?’
That horrifying level of indifference often startled even Yu Seong-un.
‘Aside from the mental aspect, Jio was the one who took the biggest hit in that situation. But he seems to have no feelings about that part at all. That level of indifference… he definitely has no intention of mimicking a human.’
He still remembered it vividly.
The intense heat that could evaporate all the seawater, the sacred spears of the sun, and the Black Cape who, despite being a mess because of it, still wore ‘Giovanni’s’ smile…
That beautiful and bizarre sight had captivated Yu Seong-un.
He surmised that the mermaid named Aria must have felt something similar.
‘…Anyway, that was beyond the level of a scolding.’
Or was that a moderate level of discipline from Jio's perspective?
He was already worried about what would happen if a guy like this seriously harbored feelings of anger or hatred.
Jio, perhaps misinterpreting Yu Seong-un’s silence, asked.
“Shall I call them?”
“Huh? Ah… no, I don’t have anything to discuss with them in particular.”
“I believe there is no need to be afraid, as they are now trying to restrain themselves, if only because they are conscious of me.”
“Uh, right…”
Yu Seong-un thought to himself.
‘Since they’re only holding back because they’re conscious of him, I can’t say it’s that safe.’
Having heard the conversation between Giovanni and Aria in the dungeon, Yu Seong-un realized that the only meaning left for the merfolk was Giovanni.
If they were watching their step, trying to restrain themselves, or even pretending to reflect, it was solely a result of Giovanni's influence.
‘The mermaid siblings without Giovanni by their side are just intelligent monsters only capable of mimicking interaction.’
Monsters were universally regarded as the enemy of mankind because they placed no meaning whatsoever on humans.
They paid as much attention as one would to an insect squashed underfoot while passing by.
‘Looking at the dungeon’s story, the context is roughly understandable.’
He could see the source of their hatred for humans from the atmosphere flowing in the S-Class dungeon, the ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea.’
Having had the only human they ever loved snatched away in a gruesome manner by those of the same kind, he could understand.
‘But that’s why I want to talk to them even less.’
He understood that they were furious about having Giovanni, their only meaning, taken from them, but was it really necessary to take it out on humans from another dimension?
It was even more absurd that they seemed to have some awareness that they were doing something childish.
In the end, they were monsters.
Their entire way of thinking was different from humans.
‘As expected, right and wrong are not important values to monsters. They only do things that are meaningful to them. In that sense, it’s also why I can’t see Jio as a monster even more so…’
Basically, you couldn't have a conversation with monsters.
Yu Seong-un smiled awkwardly and asked.
“…Putting the mermaids aside, are you okay? You were badly hurt that day.”
“I am a priest of the sun and a doctor. I can recover from such injuries quickly.”
The portrait asked.
“Were you worried about me, Mr. Yu Seong-un?”
“Would you be offended if I said I was?”
“It is a concern that gives no reason to be offended. I am sorry to have startled you.”
“Well, I was a little startled, but…”
That was being startled by Jio’s choice and the visual shock; strictly speaking, he wasn't worried about ‘Jio’s Portrait’ itself.
It was true that such feelings arose, but his reason judged that ‘there was no need for it.’
‘Even if Giovanni had died on the spot, this portrait would not have been annihilated.’
Beings of the Source had a particularly faint boundary of death.
It didn’t seem like ‘Jio’s Portrait’ would be much different.
He seemed to be a being especially close to the Source.
“You’re a skilled priest, and you have your father at home. I vaguely thought you’d be okay.”
“Returning first without a proper farewell to recover that day was a rude act. I apologize once again.”
“No, it’s a part that I and the others understood. If we had left you injured as you were, we would have been berated by the mermaids instead.”
And they might have received hatred and contempt beyond just being nagged.
“You were badly injured, any aftereffects?”
“None.”
“Did it hurt that day?”
“It didn't hurt as much as I thought.”
“Now that’s surprising news.”
The tattered image of Giovanni he saw at that time came to mind.
‘Does he have a high pain threshold? Or he could just be insensitive to pain. But…’
Recalling the usually neat ‘Jio's Portrait’ in such a broken state made his stomach a little uneasy.
“…Hmm.”
Yu Seong-un quickly added.
“I do think you did it because you could handle it, but from my perspective, I can't help but worry.”
After all, Jio had taken his own life hostage to have a ‘conversation’ with Aria.
‘It wasn't just a threat, either.’
The formless spear, burning hot, pierced Jio’s body.
Perhaps he controlled it with his sun god-like skill, as Yu Seong-un didn’t feel that much heat, but wasn’t it enough to evaporate the seawater in an instant?
No matter how much he knew he was a portrait and not a human, he couldn’t remain indifferent after smelling the scent of blood and flesh burning black.
“That’s quite upsetting, you know.”
Yu Seong-un perceived Jio as a pretty good friend and a splendid work of art and he was still human enough that he couldn't calmly accept such an existence being broken.
“I was worried. It might be a bit funny to say this to you who recovered a while ago, but my heart definitely sank back then.”
“That was a week ago.”
“That’s why I rushed over like this. I was busy and neglected my duties as a curator, and there was no way to ask how you were doing…”
“I should have sent a letter stating that I was well.”
“No, um, anyway. I couldn't come right away, but I was worried in many ways. I’m sorry I couldn't take care of you as soon as my work was done, but I'm glad.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
The portrait, obscured by black paint, continued.
“But I am a portrait. The blood I shed is ultimately paper and paint, so there is no problem in recovering.”
“……”
…Is that so?
Just as he was about to be convinced, ‘Jio’s Portrait’ asked in its characteristic dry voice.
“Was it not fun?”
“Was that a joke?”
As expected of a being from the Source, even his jokes were nothing short of eerie.
‘It’s in moments like these that I really feel he’s not human.’
Yu Seong-un painstakingly changed the subject.
“Come to think of it… wasn't that also the first time you’d seen Aria in a long time?”
“Yes, it was the first time.”
“And yet you managed to converse with Aria so calmly in that situation. I can't imagine it was easy.”
To Yu Seong-un, the persona of ‘Giovanni,’ despite being close to humans, had a twisted side.
From Giovanni’s perspective, the situation at the time was not something he could just brush off so calmly.
A student he had taught in another dimension had appeared as a heinous monster.
Moreover, it happened after he died and experienced a resurrection of sorts and yet, Giovanni treated his students who had become monsters as if it were nothing.
He definitely did not have an ordinary personality.
“That mermaid said things like she was going to eat you up.”
“It was a joke, so it's fine.”
“…It was a joke?”
“Aria as a child often played such jokes.”
“Uh…”
“She used to say she would eat you up if she didn’t like something.”
The portrait continued in a steady tone.
“That was indeed a joke. I believe Aria knew that as well, which is why she specifically made such a remark.”
“…Because it was a joke?”
“If the situation did not go her way, she would have just made it as if it never happened, saying it was a joke like before.”
“……”
“Aria too would have prepared to talk to me in such a way, but I won before she could pull such a trick, so she just couldn’t say it.”
After a moment of hesitation, Yu Seong-un asked.
“What would you have done if it wasn’t a joke?”
“It would not have mattered. They are mermaids.”
“What do mermaids have to do with it?”
“Mermaids are a race that lives their entire lives with the memory of a single moment.”
From that calm and heavy voice, Yu Seong-un was suddenly reminded of the ‘eyes’ of Jio he had once seen.
“Because they are mermaids, I knew they would be unable to give up on Giovanni.”
Those were definitely not the eyes of a human.
“When Aria forced a choice on me, was there an option for me to die?”
“…That’s…”
At that time, if Jio had chosen humans, Aria would have committed suicide and if he had chosen mermaids, she would have continued her life of tormenting humans.
“…But didn’t Aria threaten you, saying you were a human too, that she would eat you up?”
“I just said that was a joke. She, in a sense, admitted that she cannot kill me.”
“Oh.”
“From there, I was certain of my victory. Because I knew that Aria still loved me.”
“…I understand.”
The mermaid princess, who left room to pass it off as a joke at any time, but who set up a banquet hall and pressured humans intensely to seize the initiative.
And Jio, who not only figured all that out in an instant, but also played the suicide card, predicting that because they were mermaids, they would not be able to give up on him.
“…Cunning, both of you…”
“Whether family or friends, people grow closer by fighting.”
Jio continued in a gloomy and calm voice, devoid of any emotion.
“Especially since it was a reunion after a very long time for them and me, resolving the conflict openly seems to have been a great help in breaking the ice.”
“Resolving the conflict…”
Feeling a bit strange, Yu Seong-un asked cautiously.
“Then do you wish for those mermaids to be happy?”
“It’s fine if they are happy, and fine if they are not. I simply wish for them to take responsibility for their actions and their past.”
“So you haven’t forgiven them?”
“Yes, I have not forgiven them, who were my students. The day I fully accept them will not come until they take full responsibility.”
“Don’t be sad, their evil deeds were not your fault.”
“I am very well aware of that. I do not need to take responsibility for their past. But without me by their side, they will ultimately not change.”
“So you gave them a chance?”
“Saying I gave them a chance is not appropriate. I simply took my share of responsibility. The rest is their share, and because of me, they will undergo a minimal change.”
“You’re not playing favorites?”
“I believe I took responsibility equivalent to the affection I invested in my favoritism. If I hadn't loved them, I wouldn't have tried to take even a minimal amount of responsibility.”
“Well, that’s clean, at least.”
They were scary fellows, anyway.
‘…This eerily indifferent attitude is the reason why humans must be wary of beings from the Source.’
It was not easy to grasp.
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