Chapter 73

"It was a miracle."

At the woman's machine-like voice, the researcher nodded.

"Yes, a miracle."

"Do you think the entity Team Leader Jeong Da-woon witnessed was a monster?"

"We will need to ask the Gardeners for more opinions, but no. It was probably not a monster."

The researcher shrugged.

"When we say monster... fundamentally, there should be hatred toward humans."

They were not called monsters, called beasts, for no reason. Humans had called beings from other dimensions that hated humanity without rhyme or reason monsters, with fear and contempt in the word.

"This case is far too different. We examined the Hunters who returned alive, but we could not find anything abnormal anywhere. If 'Black Cloak' had been a monster, it would not have let them leave alive in the first place, and even if it did, it would have sent them out brainwashed."

"But it would be best to announce it as a monster."

"Yes. 'Black Cloak' showed far too much interest in human society for us to call it a god. There is the possibility that it is an evil god, but... whether it is truly a god or whatever its identity may be, now that it has shown it has the power to directly affect humans, it would be wise to explain it to Hunters as a monster."

"That way, we can make them stay wary."

Gods and monsters had become fairly familiar beings in the modern age, but the difference in how they were perceived was great.

In the case of a god, there would be people who considered it an honor just to glimpse its form, but with a monster, they would keep their distance with all their might and maintain their guard.

"If it backfires, the very existence of a 'humanoid monster friendly to humans' might touch the citizens' romantic sensibilities, but for it to reach that point... there would need to be a fairly high number of such friendly cases and exposure. And the probability of that happening is low."

From what he could tell, it seemed to be a mystery quite closely connected to the Root, and the closer a being was to the Root, the more ignorant it was about humans and the less able it was to hide its stature. It would also not try to show itself easily on this small planet.

"Of course, 'Black Cloak' may create many actual friendly cases, and because of that, it may come up in conversation among citizens. But it will be difficult for citizens to accept such a being's goodwill as it is. 'Black Cloak' will not be able to become a familiar image to people."

"We should also keep in mind the possibility that 'Black Cloak' is good at keeping its stature under control and has a high understanding of humans. But the idea of announcing it as a monster remains valid. Since a Root entity is close to a natural disaster, we should plant at least a minimal sense of caution."

"In truth, when it comes to being a threat to humans, gods and monsters are no different, but I suppose this is why image matters. Only by telling people it is not a god but a monster will their survival rate increase if 'Black Cloak' shows hostility toward humans in the future."

The researcher gently rubbed his chin and continued.

"However, those who witnessed the individual will not believe it is a monster even if we say so. Hunter Jeong Da-woon herself calls it a monster for now, but her reaction was practically that of a person who had received the touch of a god."

"Did she show signs of worship?"

"I cannot say it was to that extent yet, but if we do not establish any countermeasures for 'Black Cloak' at all, I believe an entire religion could truly be created. Especially in an era like this, such superstitions easily catch on."

"It would be best to firmly implant the perception that 'Black Cloak' is a monster. I would appreciate it if you would proceed in cooperation with the information processing team on this matter. I will create a project under my name, so feel free to notify them."

"Thank you for your consideration."

The woman nodded.

"This incident was an extraordinary miracle, so I understand Team Leader Jeong Da-woon's reaction."

"... That... is certainly true."

After hesitating for a moment, the researcher soon agreed.

"Whether 'Black Cloak's' identity is a monster, a god, or a Root entity, the fact that it saved many humans without asking for anything in return is hard to believe. There are none among any of them that are favorable toward humans."

Monsters hated humans. Gods treated humans as toys, and Root entities were indifferent to humans.

The fact that communication was possible at all was surprising enough, but to receive help as well was absurd.

"... This part does seem likely to become a problem after all. Even now, people still have fantasies about monsters that are friendly to humans. The existence of the trainer profession is encouraging those fantasies too."

"There is nothing to be done, since regular education is lacking. This is something that must proceed gradually as public education expands, not something that can be resolved immediately."

"That is true, but..."

Among Hunter professions, trainers could make contracts with monsters and borrow their power. Because of that, there were fools who dreamed the ridiculous dream that they could tame monsters as their very own pets.

'Time really is the answer, then.'

Only thirty-one years had passed. South Korea had grown as quickly as possible while shedding as much blood as possible, but civic awareness had not grown to match it.

Enough time had passed since the Catastrophe for one generation to decline and another to be born, so there were many people who did not know the horror and cruelty of monsters, but by contrast, public education had not been easily established, making it difficult to teach the danger of monsters.

"If anything, people in the provinces are more thorough about that."

"Residents in the provinces do not have protective walls like the cities, so they must stay alert. They never know when monsters might descend into their villages and slaughter people, or which mountain they might climb only to fall into some dungeon."

"I suppose nothing is more certain than learning through experience."

But they could not shove all the city citizens into dungeons and make them experience monsters, so in one way or another, it was a headache for an employee of the Association. Wherever one went, there were many stupid bastards who did not understand their place.

"In any case, taking this part into account as well, we will try to create an atmosphere that prevents people from approaching 'Black Cloak' easily."

"..."

"I think it is truly absurd, but... if 'Black Cloak' really is a being that shows goodwill to humans, then there will be people who indulge in delusions that have no chance of coming true."

There was a reason people said to behave while someone was still being kind, and there had been more than one case where someone provoked an innocent monster that had been quietly living its life and caused bloodshed on a wide scale.

'There are lunatics everywhere who develop a stupid sense of chosen superiority just because a monster shows them goodwill. They think they received that goodwill because they are special, or something like that... It is always bastards like that who cause accidents and trigger natural disasters.'

Not every monster wanted to kill humans. There were certainly monsters that hated humans, but hid away all the more because of it.

But it had only been half a year since a Hunter who looked down on such a monster and provoked it caused nearly half of a foreign country to be split apart.

Staying still did not mean something was weak, and yet their judgment was truly idiotic.

"We should upload the information while assuming the worst-case scenario, correct?"

"Yes, please do."

"Then I will report to you again later."

The researcher bowed his head respectfully to the Symbol of Eternity that sustained the world.

"Association President."

"..."

The Association President smiled softly.

It was a machine-like smile with no emotion in it at all.

* * *

* * *

"Oh, dear."

Yu Seongun, who had been checking the monitor floating in the air, rubbed his neck.

"This is up."

"Is there some problem?"

"No, it's..."

Leaning against the wall right beside the 'Portrait of Jio,' Yu Seongun looked at the screen and continued.

"Your information went up on the Hunter Association website."

"By Hunter Association, you mean the Hunter Association."

"Yeah. It is one of the main things they do over there. They compile monsters that show up often here and there and require methods of response, or ones that are a threat as a single individual, and post them on the website."

After saying that, Yu Seongun smiled awkwardly and looked back at the portrait.

"That does not mean you are a monster."

He had let his guard down recently while traveling together, but that did not mean the danger posed by Jio, a Root entity, had diminished at all.

In particular, Yu Seongun clearly remembered the sight of him occasionally becoming nature while in human form.

'There is no way a guy who thinks he is human would feel good about being called a monster.'

Yu Seongun added more.

"But from people's perspective, there is no helping it. Ordinary people do not live inside portraits like you, right? If something like that is possible, then they will feel that, well, you are at least not human..."

"That is a sufficient answer."

"Then that is a relief."

Yu Seongun scanned through the contents about 'Black Cloak' posted on the website and opened his mouth again.

"Seeing as they described the face as impossible to recognize, your face definitely has not gotten out."

"That is a relief."

"..."

After thinking for a moment, Yu Seongun asked.

"Jio, can you perhaps change the face in the portrait?"

"I did not properly understand the question."

"The portrait you are in right now shows your face exactly as it is. I told you before too, but if you are to live well among people without being threatened by them, we need to separate the identities of 'Black Cloak' and 'Seo Jio.'"

A Root entity had a danger level that shifted fluidly depending on its 'story.' So Yu Seongun had created an environment that would allow the 'Portrait of Jio' to act as a human, but Jio often acted in ways that anyone could see were not human.

'To the point that I wonder if he really has any intention of imitating humans at all.'

Because of that, Yu Seongun had to distinguish between 'Seo Jio,' whom people saw as human, and 'Black Cloak,' whom they saw as an unidentified ghost story. It was a separation possible because the 'Portrait of Jio' sometimes behaved like a human and sometimes did not.

By separating them in this way, at least part of the 'Portrait of Jio' could have its danger level reduced. And for that to happen, the appearance of the 'Portrait of Jio' had to remain unknown to the world.

"The 'Portrait of Jio' shows your face exactly, so even if you walk around outside as the blond, blue-eyed Giovanni... in the end, everyone will realize that Black Cloak and Seo Jio are the same being."

Even if the color of his hair or eyes changed, and even if his personality changed, his face itself did not. The pale-faced 'Jio' had the same appearance no matter which Jio he was.

It was possible that they had not noticed because his exact body structure had changed a little, hidden under the voluminous cloak, but at least his face had not.

"And you travel through portraits too, don't you? If your portrait is hanging in a public place, and Black Cloak is sighted nearby, and then it becomes known that the face is the same as 'Seo Jio,' the Hunter from the Collector guild, things will get very troublesome."

"I think that is a valid opinion."

As if he was thinking it over, the portrait was silent for a moment before soon showing a change.

He raised his hand and stretched it out...

SPLASH.

"..."

"... Uh..."

"Would this be enough to prevent my face from being seen?"

Jio's face, painted in the portrait, was covered by paint as black as ink and could no longer be seen.

"... Your face cannot be seen, but..."

He felt a little saddened.

"... It is a portrait with your face painted on it, so is this really all right?"

"You said the problem was that my face was visible, Mr. Yu Seongun."

"I just thought maybe you could pull a cloak over yourself or something."

It felt as if someone had painted over a masterpiece that would never exist again in the world.

'If even I feel this way, Guild Master Bi Sabeol would go completely insane...'

He was someone whose eyes occasionally went strange when it came to works and art, so it was a little frightening too.

"..."

Yu Seongun looked into the portrait covered in black paint with a sorrowful gaze. The paint had been applied in a stroke made with a large hand, but Jio's black hair and lower face were still visible.

Even that was gradually being covered as the paint ran down in streaks.

"... So can you see in front of you?"

"I can see well from my side."

"And if a portrait appears somewhere else, it will stay like this?"

"It will maintain this state unless I wipe it off."

"Then the possibility of your face being exposed has definitely disappeared."

"The employees here know my face."

"Ah, that is fine."

The employees of the Collector guild were exceptionally tight-lipped. There was no danger that information on 'Black Cloak' would leak.

'Of course, that means Jio's story will be trapped inside this Collector and grow even larger. If things continue like this, there is a high chance that even Seo Jio's story will not be reduced inside the Collector building or in front of our employees.'

In the Collector's building, where people who already knew the true identity of 'Black Cloak' stayed, even if this portrait went around in the form of 'Seo Jio,' that sense of incongruity would not be hidden.

But that alone was enough.

"Those people will absolutely never leak information outside."

"Do you have grounds for that?"

"Because we gathered only people who truly loathe getting caught up in major incidents..."

"They will not spread it even for the sake of their own personal information."

"On top of that, if they talk about it, do you think Guild Master Bi Sabeol will not know? If he realizes that person ran their mouth carelessly, they might be dragged off to some laboratory, so no one will open their mouth."

It was one of the traits of the Collector guild, but perhaps because Bi Sabeol had personally scouted them one by one, the relationships between the employees were very close-knit. In other words, every single one of them was a reclusive avoidant.

"There is absolutely no chance of information spreading from here."

Yu Seongun smiled bitterly.

"Even I would have gritted my teeth and pretended not to know if I had not gotten involved, so leaking information? Please..."

"I see."

"Even if someone outside promised a reward and demanded a leak, the guild already takes good care of them on an organizational level, so there is no one in this guild who would take that risk to seek profit. By a similar logic, threats will not work either."

One of the greatest characteristics of the Collector guild was that everything from the building to each individual employee was part of Bi Sabeol's collection.

Bi Sabeol took especially good care of employee welfare, but rather, precisely because of that, there were no fools who would touch his 'collection.'

What did they want done to them?

"So I will say it again, everyone will really grit their teeth and pretend not to know. They will put up quite the struggle."

They were people who only wanted to finish their work and go home immediately to rest. They were also people with an extremely strong sense of responsibility, but more than that, they loathed troublesome matters to an extreme degree, so it was fine to feel reassured about this part.

"But..."

"Is there a problem?"

"... It is nothing much."

"Yes, please tell me."

"You got scarier."

"..."

"Because of the paint..."

Only after a long while did Jio react.

"Ah."

He looked regretful, unusually so.