Chapter 128

The gallery at four in the morning.

"Jio."

Yu Seongun called to the portrait as usual.

"Are you awake?"

"Yes, I am awake."

"I came because you sent a letter."

"..."

The portrait, whose eyes were hidden by black paint, looked at Yu Seongun.

The bloodless lower half of his face spoke.

"Were you able to read it this time?"

"Nothing really changed. It was the same as the ones you sent before."

"I see."

He did not seem disappointed.

As usual, the portrait's voice was blunt and hollow.

The calm tone was certainly pleasant to hear, but its weight was not light, making it difficult to dwell on for long.

Yu Seongun let that voice, whose meaning he could not read at all, pass by as it was.

Then the portrait spoke to him again.

"I can show you something interesting."

"When you say something interesting..."

Yu Seongun nodded as if he had guessed.

"Don't tell me you've succeeded in finding another 'Jio'?"

He had said that the reason he had been able to imitate humans so well despite possessing such an immense class was that he awakened another "Jio," an old personality of his.

Until the human "Jio" was dyed by the portrait, it would be easy for him to act as a human.

Jio affirmed Yu Seongun's question and added an explanation.

"That is something I drew, not something I found."

"So in the end, that is a painting too? Then is it any different from the portrait?"

"To be precise, I am asking the Jio beyond the painting for help."

"Asking..."

That was quite a mild way to put it.

"..."

Yu Seongun composed himself without letting it show.

He finished preparing himself to face a calamity.

"So what kind of person is this 'Jio'?"

"He is one of the evil gods."

"Aha, so does that mean it's time for Earth to be destroyed?"

"I do not destroy Earth."

"I'm grateful, but that's a little scary."

Of all things, an evil god.

"... No, wait, if he's an evil god... isn't he not human to begin with? Is it all right to receive help from that kind of 'Jio'?"

"It is possible because he, too, is ultimately human."

"How truly merciful. I always feel this, but your standards for what counts as human are really loose."

He had known as much ever since Jio preached to those terrifying mermaids, telling them, "You are human too."

'And there's also the fact that he considers himself an ordinary human...’

In truth, that seemed like a kind of joke or performance, but in any case, there was no lie in the fact that he "believed" it.

Apparently, Jio's standards for treating someone as human were quite... inclusive.

"So did you call me to tell me that story?"

Yu Seongun still could not interpret Jio's letters, but he knew at least that Jio had something to convey.

That was why he had visited like this at dawn on the day he received the letter.

"Or is there something you want to discuss with me?"

"Rather than that..."

CLACK.

The portrait's ringed hand gripped the picture frame.

"..."

That "Jio," covered in black paint, sprang out as if to envelop Yu Seongun...

"—Peekaboo."

And played a prank.

"..."

"..."

"Why is there no reaction?"

"... Uh..."

When Yu Seongun staggered back, pale bare feet settled into that space.

At "Jio," who had completely slipped out of the portrait at some point, Yu Seongun clutched his heart.

"... Oh, I see."

"What do you mean, you see?"

"I was scared for a second."

"I did not intend to frighten you."

"I see."

This time, he had really thought he was going to die.

'His eyes...’

The moment he met those golden eyes looking down at him head-on, his mind went distant.

Yu Seongun had once guessed that Jio's Portrait was The Root's "eye" for collecting a database on humans.

After that, he had tried even harder not to meet its eyes, but seeing them head-on like this made his breath catch in his throat.

That was truly...

"..."

Yu Seongun took a short, deep breath and returned to his usual expression.

"You are the Jio I know, right?"

"I still remember and affirm you, Yu Seongun."

"Hmm..."

It was certainly a favorable response, just as before.

"... It does feel like a lot has changed. It was the same with Giovanni, but you really change from one extreme to the other."

From the blunt "Seo Jio," who had no expression to be found, he had become Priest Giovanni, characterized by a bright and tender smile.

'And now he's turned into an evil god who knows how to wear a sinister smile...’

He had thought every Jio basically knew how to maintain kindness, but seeing that he had become an evil god of all things, perhaps that degree of disposition could change?

'Then again, Jio himself couldn't exactly be called good by human standards. His preference for things that are good and polite is highly likely to be fixed, but maybe his distinctive courtesy and goodwill toward humans can change.'

Even after organizing his thoughts like that, he still lacked information.

Unlike the previous "Jios," who had generally been gentle, this one was flamboyant from his appearance to his personality at a single glance.

The first of those changes was, for now, color.

"Is that this 'Jio's color?"

"Is it not quite splendid?"

"It certainly is. It really is splendid."

His eyes were gold with a cool temperature to them, and his hair was a deep red like aged blood.

Yu Seongun could quickly think of a similar color palette.

It seemed Jio could as well.

"The Guild Master here seemed to have colors similar to mine."

"Ah, that's true. He has red hair and golden eyes too."

They were not completely the same color.

Bi Sabeol's hair and eyes were slightly more saturated than Jio's were now.

His hair resembled freshly drawn blood, and his eyes were closer to lemon than gold.

Even so.

"They are very similar."

Similar enough that, at a glance, one might think they were relatives.

'Would he be displeased if I say that much?'

Since the other party had introduced himself as an evil god, he had to be careful about what needed caution.

If he described him as being like a mere human, from a god's position, it could feel like an insult.

It was best to avoid that, at least.

But Jio's reaction was quite easygoing.

"Are we similar enough to seem like family?"

"... Maybe so."

"Is he good at fighting?"

"Uh, absolutely not. If you tapped him, he would go flying."

"Pity."

"..."

Yu Seongun inwardly bit his tongue.

'So he's this type of evil god.'

Among evil gods, there were twisted schemers whose personalities were knotted up, and there were berserkers who simply swept everything away without bothering with schemes.

Apparently, if one had to classify this Jio, he seemed closer to the latter.

"... So you've come to enjoy fighting, then?"

"Unless my opponent is worth that much, I will not run wild either, so do not worry, my friend."

"Riiight..."

For now, seeing as he called him "friend," it did not seem the goodwill they had built up until now had been reset.

'So he had thought of me as a friend normally.'

He was grateful, but more than that, it was burdensome.

Being regarded as a friend by an existence that was none other than The Root's eye was extremely honorable as a Gardener, but it also seemed like a position where he would absolutely not be allowed to die as a human.

'If things go wrong, I might not even get to live out my natural lifespan.'

In any case, good was good.

It was only natural that earning goodwill was better than earning hostility.

"..."

Yu Seongun scratched his neck and spoke again.

"... You can speak casually to me, you know?"

"A good human such as Yu Seongun deserves that much treatment."

"Even though it's the same formal speech, the feeling is definitely different."

Black Jio's formal speech was chillingly blunt, and Giovanni's formal speech was gentle and courteous.

The formal speech uttered by the flamboyant Jio before his eyes had a sharp laughter soaked into it, making it sound a little mocking as well.

'And yet the reason he doesn't feel like some common thug must be because of that dignity.'

Yu Seongun looked over what lay beneath this version of Black Cloak.

He knew that, with rare probability, Jio's outfit changed whenever "Jio" changed.

The black cloak that covered him from head to toe made it impossible to see inside at all, but if he himself revealed it, the inside could be seen.

When Jio was Seo Jio, he wore a black suit, and when Jio was Giovanni, he wore white priestly attire.

'Detailed parts like hairstyle and fashion seem to change depending on Jio's mood at the time, but this one definitely stands out.'

This Jio's attire was full of bones and jewels.

"..."

How was he supposed to smooth things over if he went out like that?

'The atmosphere is too unusual to explain all of that as artifacts.'

Perhaps noticing Yu Seongun's thoughts, Jio laughed.

"Surely you do not think I would walk among people like this?"

"If not, that's a real relief."

"If necessary, I will wear a suit. It is neat."

"Then what is your current attire for?"

"Could it not be for the sake of showing Yu Seongun?"

His manner of speech really changed all over the place.

'A considerably capricious type...'

He had to be careful.

Even if he said that, he might still walk among people dressed like that.

These days, there were so many Hunters with unusual gimmicks that Yu Seongun wondered if it would become a big problem, but since he had introduced himself as an evil god, taking an easygoing attitude would be foolish.

"... So..."

Feeling a little confused, Yu Seongun spoke first.

"I'm starting to get a grasp on the situation."

"Are you?"

"Is there something you want from me?"

"There was something I wanted to ask."

"Something you wanted to ask? Is that the main point?"

"That is right."

Jio asked.

"Am I still frightening now?"

"..."

It was surprising.

'... Is the current Jio also being considerate of humans?'

Although Black Cloak did not treat evil sorts as human, Jio fundamentally showed impartial affection toward humans.

It was so impartial that it sometimes felt like outright indifference, but Yu Seongun knew that was this portrait's consideration.

'But that was possible for Jio as an evil god too?'

Because he had introduced himself as an evil god, Yu Seongun had braced himself for very many things.

What should he call this? It truly felt like looking at something unfamiliar.

"..."

After slowly looking the other over, Yu Seongun shook his head.

"No, you're not frightening."

"Truly?"

"To put it more accurately, there is some sense of being pressed down by your presence itself."

Yu Seongun smiled evenly.

"But that can't be helped. Compared to other humans, you're quite tall, and right now your colors are intense, and your gaze itself is intimidating. Your expression also... has a fierce side."

But.

"Even so, you seem human."

Of course, Jio's eyes were still very difficult to meet directly.

But the reason Yu Seongun had been able to pull himself out of it quickly even after meeting them squarely from such a close position was likely because the current Jio was definitely staying within the bounds of a human.

At Yu Seongun's calm response, Jio's lips twisted ambiguously.

He was probably smiling.

"That feels very strange to hear."

"To that extent?"

"It is unfamiliar to be told I look human."

"Is that... a change caused by the current you?"

"Yes."

Jio seemed to think about something for a moment, then curved his eyes.

"Everyone called me Arjio, but Yu Seongun may call me whatever he wants."

"Arjio? Is that the word that refers to you?"

"In the old language of my homeland, it means cruel beast. It is a kind of derogatory name."

"... Then I'll just call you the usual way."

There was no need to exalt an evil god, who would already be cruel, by calling him "cruel."

'And I would feel bad calling someone who isn't showing me malice by a derogatory name.'

As if he knew Yu Seongun's thoughts, Jio drew a prim little smile.

Only then did Yu Seongun realize that Jio's eyes were sharper than he had expected.

'When he smiles like that, he definitely seems to resemble the Guild Master more.'

Normally, they rested calmly downward, so he had not thought they were pointed.

Since it was too sudden a subject, he did not mention that much, and Jio opened his mouth.

"That is all for today's business."

"Were you checking whether there were any side effects from becoming one with another Jio?"

"You could say that. It was satisfying."

He pulled the hood of his cloak low and covered his whole body with the deep black cloak.

Only his pale bare feet, and above them, the black suit showed again.

From within the pitch-black shadow of the cloak, Jio spoke to him.

"Thank you for responding to my letter."

"..."

That was unmistakably "Seo Jio."

"... Wow..."

This was going to get harder to get used to as time went on.

'Seeing as I find this creepy, I suppose I'm still human.'

The garden's encroachment was growing stronger day by day, but it seemed that even coming into contact with The Root had no particular effect.

Yu Seongun smiled as he felt a chill at everything about the "Jio" that had been swapped out in an instant.

To this portrait, "Jio" was a kind of clothing.

'It must be an attempt to find and wear clothes suited to the situation so he can mingle with humans without feeling out of place.'

Yu Seongun understood that attempt, and that consideration.

In its own way, Jio's Portrait was using countless memories and personalities to try to fit in with the other party.

'Then does that mean calling me this time was like showing off new clothes to family or a friend and asking whether they suited him?'

It was a little funny.

This behavior of Jio's Portrait had something cute about it, like when one saw a newly born, immature, and passionate Root entity.

"I'll gratefully accept your thanks."

"I may be able to help you on another day."

"I'd be even more grateful for that."

As a Gardener, help from The Root could become a lifeline.

'Historically, there have been no such cases, so I don't know what kind of help it would be.'

As Yu Seongun was about to leave, the portrait stopped him once.

"If you are tired, would you like to stay the night at my cabin?"

"Hmm..."

It was true that he was tired.

"... It's not that I'm not interested."

"Yes."

"If possible, I'd like to visit looking a little more presentable."

"I see."

"If I postpone the consideration you've shown me now until next time, will you not be displeased?"

"I am always waiting for Yu Seongun's visit."

"That is a truly wonderful invitation."

It was an invitation like that of a ghost luring a lonely and weary traveler.

"I like that kind of thing."

Yu Seongun curved his blue-gray eyes deeply and smiled.

At that time, in an abandoned building in the outskirts.

"..."

In that place filled with ash and soot, a man who had lost everything sat quietly.

What he held was the mark of an evil god called Sankalut.