Chapter 149

Although it was the meeting with the portrait that Bisabeol had so eagerly awaited, unfortunately, it could not last very long.

“It seems the important conversation is over, so I’ll be taking my friend.”

“It’s a shame that you’re leaving already.”

“I’ll be waiting for the next invitation.”

This was because, not long after, ‘Jio’s Portrait’ took Ju-hyeon and disappeared into the painting.

“…….”

Yu Seong-un was a little surprised by that part.

‘They’ve built up a pretty strong relationship of trust.’

Ju-hyeon obediently entered the portrait’s embrace at a single gesture from Jio.

Though he smiled amiably, he didn't seem like the type to easily let his guard down, so either way, it was quite a surprising event.

‘Both the emergence of a human that Jio treasures this much, and the fact that a person like Ju-hyeon accepted Jio.’

It seemed Bisabeol had felt that part too.

“As expected, Mr. Seo Jio seems to have the power to soften people.”

“He doesn’t seem to have good social skills, but I’ve often thought from long ago… that he has a strange friendliness to him.”

“It was his long-standing ability, shown since the ‘Temple of the Deep Sea’ incident.”

Generally, the portrait, without the help of ‘Jio’, has a somewhat stiff and overwhelmingly burdensome atmosphere.

It’s funny to say this about the Source, but Jio wasn’t particularly sociable.

‘He’s also uncomfortable being outside the frame for a long time or interacting with a large number of humans. It’s an unavoidable part since Jio lowers his own stature to adjust, but from the humans’ perspective… Jio doesn’t have a friendly image.’

It was even so when he was ‘Giovanni’, who had the gentlest and softest impression.

People were always a little intimidated by him, no matter how much kindness he showed.

It was likely especially due to his strong noble impression.

Separate from the great consideration he showed, his high stature couldn't be helped. But for someone with such an intimidating atmosphere….

“…….”

Yu Seong-un stroked his neck.

“Should I really see this as Jio’s ability?”

“There’s no reason not to.”

“I don’t know whether to be happy or troubled.”

To a strange extent, Jio easily bought trust and goodwill.

It was the same with Hunter Cha Ara, who had perceived him as a monster when they met, and with the dungeon refugees who were sensitive because their lives were in danger, and even Ju-hyeon, whose first meeting with him was in the form of an evil god, was showing such an attitude.

“It probably hasn’t been just a day or two since they met. Especially since time in the world inside the portrait would have passed quickly, as it changes according to Jio’s mood. But even considering that, it’s a surprising thing.”

Yu Seong-un recalled the information he had investigated.

“Mr. Ju-hyeon is not the type to trust someone easily.”

“He seemed quite cunning. To Mr. Ju-hyeon, time and trust probably have no correlation.”

“He certainly didn’t seem like the type of person to trust someone just because he had known them for a long time.”

“And on top of that, Mr. Seo Jio is an evil god and the existence of the Source.”

“Entrusting oneself to such a being requires a minimum level of trust….”

“To go into the portrait voluntarily says it all.”

“I don’t know if it was a conscious action or an unconscious trust.”

“I see it as both.”

Bisabeol let out a small laugh.

“First of all, the timing must have been exquisite. He was an evil god encountered in a state of despair, to the point of attempting a deal with Sankalut, so he probably thought, ‘whatever happens, happens.’”

“Is it that it was difficult for him to be on guard after receiving all sorts of care from Jio in that state of having let everything go? I didn’t get the impression that he was someone who would be moved, but rather someone who would repay a favor if he had to.”

“Well… I suppose his basic fondness for the Black Cape had some influence.”

He clicked his tongue, a rare occurrence.

“From the looks of it, he seems to be dreaming of a utopia, so it wouldn’t have been easy to reject a great mystery that affirms the good and denies the evil.”

He looked quite displeased with the person named Ju-hyeon.

“Given his personality, he will continue to try to doubt its essence, but to that friend, ‘Jio’s Portrait’ is a very ideal being. Mr. Seo Jio has already proven his nature several times in the form of the Black Cape, and he must have felt a fondness for that.”

“Won’t Mr. Ju-hyeon’s taste be harmful to Jio?”

“That ‘harm’ is a very subjective thing. To me, the very thought of judging and using my work of art as one pleases feels like an insolent pest, but as you saw earlier, Jio will be very pleased. Our standpoints are different.”

At Bisabeol’s words, Yu Seong-un smiled awkwardly.

“So that’s why you disliked him so much.”

“They are a type of human that really doesn’t get along with me.”

He wore an expression that said he was quite fed up.

“Heroes are voracious. They can’t distinguish between courage and recklessness, and they are greedy but always make foolish choices. I can’t tell if they’re really that stupid or if they’re pretending to be stupid on purpose.”

“Aha….”

“Whether they’ve grasped their place or not, people like Mr. Ju-hyeon often do things that are beyond their station. If that person named Ju-hyeon comes to fully believe in Mr. Seo Jio’s essence, he will try to use him. I really don’t like that.”

“Ah, yes.”

That darn love for his works of art.

‘He must have gotten the name Collector because he shows a love that’s close to obsession.’

Bisabeol generally managed his collection with love and a free-range approach.

That’s why he tries to grant his collection’s wishes as much as possible, but this time, it seemed he didn’t like the part where Jio wanted a ‘friend’ named Ju-hyeon.

‘In any case, it means there was nothing for me to worry about.’

In the end, wasn't it that he was annoyed because his precious collection piece was being managed by a guy he already disliked?

It was just unfortunate for Ju-hyeon, who had suffered an indignity due to the Guild Leader’s narrow-mindedness.

“…Still, calling him a hero, isn’t that a form of high praise in its own way?”

“It was probably closer to an objective evaluation than a compliment.”

Bisabeol gave a sly smile.

It was a smile he only showed in front of his collection.

It was an intention to be considerate of Yu Seong-un, who was trying to lighten the mood.

“I may be acting this childishly, but I don’t hate that person named Ju-hyeon. But you know, there are people like that in the world, types you come to dislike automatically because you just don’t get along, even if neither has done anything wrong.”

“Ah… that kind of….”

“I have no other resentment or complaints. When people see a house centipede in their house, they think, ‘ah, that will eat the pests in our house,’… but they still find it creepy. It’s something like that.”

“Are you comparing a person to an insect right now?”

“It’s just a metaphor. Mr. Ju-hyeon will be a pretty good guide and helper for Jio, and I am grateful for that part. It’s just that he and I don’t get along very well.”

Bisabeol asked.

“In that sense, don’t you need a roommate?”

“I think I misheard you?”

“It would be nice if you had a friend too, Mr. Yu Seong-un.”

“I’m telling you I misheard you.”

Yu Seong-un, his face scrunched up, asked back.

“Who is this roommate?”

“Well, Mr. Ju-hyeon and….”

“Please, what did that person do to deserve this?”

“Additionally, Mr. Seo Jio?”

“…….”

He’s finally lost it.

Yu Seong-un wiped his face.

***

“I apologize.”

Ju-hyeon started with an apology.

“I feel like I unnecessarily made the atmosphere heavy….”

“You don’t need to apologize to me for that part.”

“You introduced him to help me, but I acted rudely.”

“If you’re truly sorry, could you tell me why you did it?”

As he said that, Jio, with a pop, instantly transformed into a platinum-blonde priest.

He smiled a holy smile, as if soothing a lost lamb.

“Now, brother. I am ready to listen.”

He really looked the part.

Although the place the two were in was a wooden table filled with the scent of phytoncide, the long, flowing platinum-blonde hair and the pure white priestly robes were quite reminiscent of a temple’s prayer room.

It was the image of an ideal priest.

“…….”

Ju-hyeon, as always, was smiling but looked a little fed up.

“So this is how you prepare to listen….”

“I thought it would be more comfortable for you to speak this way.”

“W-well… I suppose that’s true.”

It felt like he was in a confessional.

“Hmm….”

After pondering for a moment, Ju-hyeon finally opened his mouth.

“I thought he was someone who didn’t get along with me.”

“Why did you think that?”

“It’s an embarrassing story, but I wasn’t a big fan of collectors in general.”

“Is there a reason for that?”

“That person… has no interest at all in the safety and well-being of others.”

The Guild Leader of the Collectors, one of the three great guilds of the Republic of Korea.

He was a tycoon with great influence, but he decided and acted on everything solely based on his own interests.

“I don’t think a life that follows only one’s interests is entirely bad. However, from that behavior, I felt that Guild Leader Bisabeol didn’t worry about others one bit. That was a bit… off-putting.”

To Bisabeol, the world was his gallery and a playground where his works of art could run wild.

He generally seemed to stay within the lines, but that kind of individualistic personality made Ju-hyeon fed up.

“Even though he is a person with great influence, he has acted like someone who doesn't know responsibility. Of course, you don’t know a person’s circumstances unless you see them and talk to them directly, so you could call it a kind of prejudice.”

“So you felt you didn’t get along in that regard.”

“It’s truly embarrassing. The me who says this is not a particularly good person either, yet I made a hasty assumption about another person and even acted rudely. But that absolutely does not mean I hate Guild Leader Bisabeol.”

Ju-hyeon added with an awkward smile.

“I am grateful to that person. The Collector is one of the sturdy pillars that maintains the precarious Earth. Separate from my personal feelings, he is certainly a person to be respected.”

“Mr. Ju-hyeon, you are already well aware of your actions and their consequences. Still, I don’t want to see you blaming yourself, so I hope you will show an attitude of not having regrets next time.”

“Thank you for your considerate advice. It seemed that Guild Leader Bisabeol also didn’t hate me as a person. It’s just that, we both… acted childishly.”

He stroked his mouth as if in reflection.

“He probably doesn’t like me being by Mr. Jio’s side.”

“…….”

For a moment, Jio’s eyes sparkled gold, and his hair turned red.

“Is this the so-called ‘this thieving cat’ remark I’ve only heard about…?”

“I don’t know in what part you find this so exciting, but that’s probably not it.”

Ju-hyeon’s expression became subtle.

“No, more than that, you even know the term ‘thieving cat’?”

“That’s all thanks to my wisdom.”

“Well, it is something you could find out easily enough if you wanted to….”

It felt a little strange.

“…….”

It wasn’t just because this situation was funny.

‘…How should I put this….’

Would it be too insolent to think that he really feels human?

Because the way he played such a trivial prank and made a fuss felt just like an ordinary young man of that age.

In fact, Argio’s face was youthful enough to be called a ‘young man.’

Of course, it would be difficult to call an existence with such a great stature, whose personality and color change in a flash according to its purpose and will, an ‘ordinary young man’, but still, for some reason….

“…….”

“Mr. Ju-hyeon, what are you thinking?”

“…I wonder.”

I don’t know what this thought is.

“…As I understand it, the Black Cape likes good people.”

“How many people are there who dislike good people?”

Before he knew it, he had returned to having black hair.

It was a color like a shadow that had lost all color and become exhausted, but the Black Cape’s face merely calmly subsided and still held warmth.

He added nonchalantly.

“I think it’s a normal preference.”

“Giving gifts to good and polite people?”

“I’m the type who can’t leave people who have moved me alone.”

“So those are the kinds of people who move you.”

If that was true, it was a truly surprising thing.

“That is really….”

Ju-hyeon felt it anew.

“…an amazing thing, I think.”

“What is amazing?”

“That someone like you is merciful.”

This being is, in truth, peaceful.

“It resembles the world inside this portrait.”

That was why he longed for it.

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