Chapter 121

“…….”

“…….”

In the space where only the two of them remained, it was Yu Seong-un who spoke first.

“Jio.”

“Yes, Mr. Yu Seong-un.”

“Your shadow has disappeared.”

“…….”

At Yu Seong-un's point, Jio's head slowly lowered.

“Ah, dear.”

It was a very contrived reaction.

‘Did he decide that such a reaction was appropriate in this situation?’

As soon as that thought crossed my mind, a shadow blossomed beneath Jio's feet.

Yu Seong-un was inwardly impressed.

‘It looks alive.’

He thought the word ‘blossomed’ was very accurate.

It took on a vibrant and diverse form, too much to be considered a mere shade created by an object blocking the light.

The shadow spread across the retina.

‘…A school of fish?’

A school of small fish swam in a group, waves swayed in the wind, and it seemed he had seen a long-horned deer walking on the ground or a beast with thick claws.

Or perhaps it was the large wing of a gliding bird.

The diverse shapes that flashed by in an instant soon grew lush like a vast forest, then became neat again to form the shape of a human.

“…….”

The long, stretched shadow settled into a dark, small spot under Jio's feet, as if finding a ‘realistic’ position.

The process of a clumsy shape gradually becoming a complete form, as if drawing a picture.

Considering Jio's characteristic as a painter, it was an interesting change.

‘In that case, can the Jio outside the frame still be called a painting?’

Soon, Jio opened his mouth.

“I should have been more careful, I’ve shown you an unseemly side of myself.”

“These things happen in life.”

“I thought there wouldn’t be any problems, but to think there was such a flaw….”

Jio trailed off his words.

“I am embarrassed.”

“It's nothing to be embarrassed about.”

He had clearly said, ‘I thought there wouldn’t be any problems.’

That was no different from saying he had anticipated the possibility of problems arising.

‘In other words, Jio is aware that he is imitating a human.’

Having organized his thoughts up to that point, Yu Seong-un muttered inwardly.

‘Was he surprisingly capable of self-awareness? I thought Jio considered himself human, but if this is the case, what attitude should I take?’

Were his past statements, where he considered himself human, also part of the imitation?

If so, Jio was performing an imitation of a high level, unimaginable for a human.

‘It’s a trait sometimes seen in the gods who enjoy their amusement. What feels like the truth to us humans is sometimes, in fact, a lie. Even Jio’s way of thinking, of considering himself human, could be one of those imitations….’

If a human thinks something with all their heart, it becomes a belief, but for beings of a different class, like gods, even that can be an act.

Even though he had intentionally kept various possibilities open, he felt a little blindsided.

Should he call it surprising? Yu Seong-un inwardly swallowed a difficult laugh.

‘I shouldn’t measure a being of the Source by human standards.’

Especially if the one Yu Seong-un was dealing with was the Source itself.

“…….”

After quietly composing his breath, Yu Seong-un asked in a calm voice.

“Unlike before, you have some clumsy parts now, don't you?”

“It would be a great help if you could tell me in what aspects that was the case.”

“In what aspects, you ask….”

Does he want to know how much humans can perceive?

The scope of a being of the Source and the vision of a human were different.

It could be surmised that the flaws in Jio's imitation just now stemmed from such a difference in vision, or that this too was part of an act.

‘It might be a similar principle to humans inserting a robot to understand the ecology of a monster.’

In the case of monsters or beasts that are wary of humans, robots that mimic their form are sometimes deployed to observe their daily behavior.

From the human's perspective, they know it's a robot, but to the monster, it would feel like one of their own kind with some strange aspects.

‘The situation between Jio and us humans probably isn't too different from that.’

Yu Seong-un nodded his head.

“It’s not difficult.”

As a Curator, and as a Gardener, he could explain such differences in vision anytime.

“As I said before, the fact that you didn't have a shadow was a bit surprising.”

“It’s something that should naturally be there, but I forgot for a moment.”

“Above all, the lighting is falling from above our heads.”

Bisabeol’s Gallery was particularly clean white, and the lighting was bright.

This was to help visitors appreciate the works fully, but it was also a measure to allow the Curators to quickly notice anomalies like the one that just happened.

“Both I and the new curator had shadows at our feet.”

Only Jio did not.

“Next, if there's another strange part, it would be the sense of weight.”

“Sense of weight.”

“I can't hear any sound when you move.”

“You can’t hear it?”

“If I had to pinpoint it, it’s about the sound of dry grass rustling?”

In fact, this was a chronic problem with Jio's human imitation.

“You were quite light when you were touring Seoul before, too.”

“I thought I had gotten heavier, in my own way.”

“Still, an ordinary person doesn't get blown away just because the wind is a bit strong.”

“I remember that I was not blown away.”

“Right, your body floated up.”

“Wasn't it that the wind was particularly strong?”

“The winds on Earth don't pick and choose people to blow away.”

Yu Seong-un, who was right next to him, was fine, yet hadn't Jio alone almost been blown away?

“Similar to that, your sound is very light right now.”

“It is light.”

“You don't have the sound that I make when I walk.”

“That was certainly a part I didn't pay attention to.”

Thud….

Jio, who tapped the floor with his bare foot, tilted his head.

“This is difficult to fix.”

“It’ll be hard to fix it all at once, so don’t be too hasty.”

From the humans' perspective, the less detail Jio had, the faster they could grasp the situation.

“And to tell you one more thing….”

“Is there more?”

“I’m not sure if this will be interpreted well, but.”

What Yu Seong-un pointed to was a work hanging on the wall of the corridor where they stood.

It was large enough to embrace a standing person, and like most of the paintings on display, it faced people as if it were a mirror.

“You’re reflected a bit strangely.”

On the cleanly managed glass, a mass that could be called nature was reflected.

“Maybe because the gallery lights are so bright, but we’re a bit visible on that glass.”

“Why does that look strange?”

“In your eyes, are you reflected in a sufficiently human form?”

“Yes, I am. I hear you saying that it does not look that way to you, Mr. Yu Seong-un.”

“It’s embarrassing that you point it out, but it’s true.”

The ‘Jio’s Portrait’ reflected in the glass was not in a human form.

“I see a forest.”

In truth, it couldn't be called a forest.

The lush trees, grass, and flowers that symbolize a forest.

The living creatures like wolves or rabbits playing within it and the ecosystem where they are preyed upon and live on.

It was not simply a representation of nature, but a huge form with will and destiny….

It was similar to what he had seen in Jio's ‘shadow’ a moment ago.

‘I can’t just call this a forest.’

It was clearly staring at Yu Seong-un and the world.

It was the ‘eye’ of something very huge.

‘I can feel its gaze.’

Even though the Jio standing next to him was not looking at Yu Seong-un through the glass of the frame.

‘Could it be that Jio doesn't know about this either?’

Or does he know and is pretending not to, in order to ‘imitate’?

From a human's standpoint, his truth and lies were indistinguishable, so in reality, it didn't make much difference either way.

There was no point in distinguishing.

As if he hadn't seen that colossal thing, Yu Seong-un spoke calmly.

“Should I say I can feel that you’re of a different class?”

“I do not quite understand your words, Mr. Yu Seong-un.”

The blond portrait smiled gently.

“From what I see, my form reflected in the glass looks sufficiently like a person.”

“…Is that so?”

“Does it still look that way to your eyes, Mr. Yu Seong-un?”

“…….”

When Yu Seong-un checked the glass again, he could confirm the form of ‘Giovanni’.

There was no ‘forest’ anywhere.

“…Oh.”

So this is how it comes out.

“You're right, I can definitely see a person reflected there.”

“Perhaps the painting stored behind the glass confused my form?”

“That could be. The works here are all quite assertive.”

Yu Seong-un did not bother to persuade him by saying, ‘You are not human.’

‘If he himself knows it well and still comes out like this, it must mean I shouldn’t dig any deeper.’

He had no intention of earning the resentment of the work he managed.

‘If Jio wants to appear human, it's better to leave it that way.’

The Source itself wishes for it, after all.

Jio himself was trying to act like a human, and since he knew that Jio wanted to do so, there was no reason not to play along.

Jio could be human as much as he wanted, he just wasn't one.

“Hmm….”

Yu Seong-un, rubbing his cool neck, asked.

“I asked the same question earlier, but wasn't it the case that there were fewer anomalies when you were touring Seoul before? A few flaws have appeared since I last saw you, has there been some kind of change of heart?”

“I’m not sure if this is the right way to express it, but there was certainly something similar to a change of heart. It was the matter of me becoming perfect as Giovanni, and these anomalies seem to have stemmed from that.”

Jio smiled and continued.

“It will be difficult to hope for Giovanni's help any longer.”

What a peculiar way of speaking.

‘Speaking in this manner makes it seem like he really has no intention of imitating a human.’

He might not have realized that his way of speaking was strange, or he might just be revealing his true feelings because Yu Seong-un was a comfortable person to be around.

Either way, it wasn't too bad of a situation.

Soon after, Yu Seong-un asked.

“What do you mean it will be difficult to hope for Giovanni's help?”

“It is as I said. Until now, I could expect help because Giovanni was not a portrait, but now I can no longer do so.”

“Because the Giovanni in front of my eyes has become a complete portrait?”

Is that what he meant by ‘the matter of becoming perfect as Giovanni’?

“So you were able to receive that kind of help from the Jio who wasn't a complete portrait.”

Things that a human should naturally have are bestowed upon a ‘portrait’ that cannot be called human.

‘…I once speculated that the identity of this portrait was countless deaths and lives.’

That this portrait was constantly reviewing the life and death of ‘Jio’ in countless dimensions somewhere.

Now that he knew he was the Source, Yu Seong-un could be certain.

This being called ‘Jio’ was likely an ‘eye’ for the Source to experience, understand, and ultimately apply to humans.

‘If so, it also explains how a colossal being like the Source can grant a system according to human standards.’

Therefore, the numerous ‘Jios’ that Yu Seong-un still didn’t know about.

“…….”

When he, whose essence is the Source, acts as a human in one dimension, it seems they also play a role in helping him adapt and function smoothly among other humans.

Listening to the use of this personality called ‘Giovanni’ suggests as much.

‘…It seems that too, after a long time, it gets colored by the class of the portrait.’

Just as a piece of korean paper placed in an ink bowl gradually turns black, the ego called ‘Giovanni,’ which could have been called human, was eventually swept away by the class of the Source.

Having lost his reference point like that, Jio would become unable to be sure of the conditions of being human.

This was how a colossal being like the Source imitated a tiny human.

“…Then….”

Yu Seong-un asked.

“What are you going to do from now on? Are you going to discard your current status as an A-Class Hunter?”

“No, I find great charm in being active as a respectable resident of this world.”

“But it’ll be hard to live comfortably with so many chilling flaws like now.”

“Therefore, I think I will have to receive the help of another ‘Jio’.”

The portrait was still smiling.

“I will send a letter if I have any results.”

“Yes, that sounds good.”

Yu Seong-un suddenly noticed another flaw.

‘…His expression is the same.’

Like a portrait that has already been drawn and cannot change, Jio was always smiling with the same expression.

‘It’s like being taxidermied while still alive.’

It was a very romantic affair.

***

“Kuruk.”

“…….”

“Kururu?”

“…I thought there were no problems.”

“Kururururu.”

“But there were more flaws than I thought.”

Having returned to the cabin, Jio kneaded the squishy Honey.

The plumply fattened water bird was softly mixed in Jio's large hands.

Feeling the bouncy texture of his son, who could be flexibly squashed at will, Jio candidly confessed his mistake.

“If Mr. Yu Seong-un hadn't told me, I really would never have known.”

He thought it was fortunate that the new curator he met today didn't notice his abnormality.

The new curator had noticed all of Jio’s ‘flaws’ but had gritted his teeth and pretended not to, but anyway, that’s what Jio thought.

Because he considered his conversations up to that point to be quite successful.

“It was too complacent of me to think that there would be no problem operating as a fully synchronized Jio.”

“Kkung?”

“No, this father does not give up. No matter how scary it has become, my hometown is Earth, after all.”

“Kurururu.”

“One must sleep in the portrait but also feel the stimulus of one's hometown from time to time.”

Moderate stimulation of the brain was good for preventing dementia.

“I'm going to live a long and healthy life.”

“Kuruk.”

“Well then, now I need to find another Jio….”

As it happened, there was a suitable friend.

List of the Apt

Animal Kingdom_Argio

Synchronization Rate 0%

“…Is it time to take out the ‘Animal Kingdom’ that was shoved in the warehouse?”

It was time to merge with the second Apt, ‘Argio’.

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