NOVPUBEven though Gio had made a new pen pal and Joo-Hyun had befriended Black Cloak, the peaceful routine of the hut remained unchanged. Black Cloak still cooked their meals.
“Please, let me do some chores too.”
“Guests do not do chores.”
“But you said I’m a friend.”
“A friend who is a guest.”
It did make her feel a little uneasy, but it was true that everything was peaceful.
“Then, perhaps you could look after Dana. The child seems bored.”
“Wouldn’t she set me on fire if I got too close? Would she? They say Anticat’s fire is extremely hot.”
“She doesn’t seem to dislike you as much as she used to. Perhaps you could gather a little courage?”
“This morning alone she bared her teeth at me just for walking past her...”
“That’s definitely an improvement, considering she once tried to turn you into ash.”
Three warm meals a day, a comfortable and private room, and the view beyond the veranda looked like something out of a fairy tale.
Joo-Hyun was enjoying benefits far beyond what she felt she deserved, without having done anything to earn them.
But that didn’t mean the situation had actually changed.
“......”
Joo-Hyun was lost in thought over the true identity of her new friend.
It had started with curiosity about how paint or brushes were made, which led her to the attic.
There, she began with a careful tone.
“I mean no offense, but I’ve been thinking...”
“I’m listening.”
“If we’re friends, I think I should be able to ask this.”
“Go ahead.”
She called him.
“Mister Gio.”
“Yes.”
“...Sergio?”
“Yes.”
“Argio?”
“Yes.”
“So... what should I call you?”
“Ah.”
Gio acknowledged his mistake.
“I failed to properly introduce myself.”
Indeed, Joo-Hyun knew almost nothing about Gio.
‘He never explained it to me.’
That strangely detached manner was, in a way, typical of the great mysteries when interacting with humans.
“I wouldn’t want to accidentally offend you.”
“I don’t think there’s much you could do to offend me, but...”
“I mean, I don’t think I’d do something like that either, but still.”
“True, failing to properly introduce myself isn’t very polite.”
Glass instruments clinked as they were set down.
Inside them were strange-colored liquids and vividly pigmented paints scattered without order.
Dana and Honey lay buried in a box beside the worktable.
Among all these mysterious things gathered in the attic, Gio began an unexpected self-introduction.
“I am Sergio.”
“Ah, yes, I’ve heard. The members of the Collector’s Guild know you by that name.”
“And I am Batlan Giovanni.”
“...Batlan Giovanni?”
“I will soon become Argio as well.”
“......”
Joo-Hyun thought this habit of cutting all the context and only stating the core message in a cryptic way should be made illegal.
‘Even the oracles, the most representative form of interaction with these beings, are like this. These vast, transcendent entities are always too vague when giving information.’
It was frustrating for the human listener. Joo-Hyun gave an awkward smile.
She understood there were reasons for it. With oracles, divine language could harm the faithful, so the message was reduced as much as possible, resulting in sentences that were nearly impossible to interpret.
‘It’s not my field of expertise, so I wouldn’t know for sure.’
In any case, because of that, Joo-Hyun wasn’t easily rattled by Gio’s curt and fragmented speech. After a moment of thought, she quickly picked up on a pattern.
“All your names contain ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) ‘Gio.’ So that’s why it’s ‘Portrait of Gio’?”
“I believe so.”
“So the changing appearances of Mister Gio seem tied to the names.”
She asked in her usual gentle tone,
“What does Sergio look like?”
“That’s the form with black hair.”
“Hmm... Argio was when you had red hair, right?”
“Thank you for remembering.”
“Then Batlan Giovanni must be the blonde version.”
“You understood well.”
Perhaps it was surprising to him that a mere human could understand the logic of a great mystery.
Something about her insight seemed to strike the portrait’s emotional chord, and soon, golden light spread over him like paint.
Giovanni smiled brightly, in his own dazzling way.
“This is the first proper introduction I’ve done since Yoo Seong-Woon.”
“......”
It seemed that Giovanni was the form he took when trying to express joy or comfort humans. If that was the case, then ‘Sergio’ and ‘Argio’ each had their own specific uses as well. As she organized her thoughts, Joo-Hyun gave a slightly bashful smile.
“...Ah, the first time, huh. I think I can understand why.”
“Most people get too tense just looking at me, so I never had the chance for small talk. I often worried when I’d ever make a friend... I’m very fortunate to have met you, Miss Joo-Hyun.”
“It’s truly an honor.”
Though she smiled politely, inwardly she thought:
‘Well, unless someone’s as out of their mind as I am, how could they not be afraid?’
At a glance, he looked like a humanoid monster at best, a demonic god at worst.
While rumors of “Black Cloak” had become familiar and even comforting to some, there were very few who could interact with him in a truly friendly way.
“......”
Being one of those rare few made Joo-Hyun feel bitter.
She had once thought of herself as a perfectly sane person living a normal life — and now she was friends with a demonic god.
‘I need to be careful not to get carried away. Even if he says he wants friendship and I respond, I must be careful about what that means.’
Things like mistaking his goodwill as her own strength, or relying on him too much... or getting drunk on borrowed power without gratitude and becoming greedy...
The contractors of evil gods who ruined the world in history had all failed because they didn’t know their place.
She had no intention of being recorded in history like that — she’d rather disappear quietly as a cog in society.
“...Then may I hear your story, Mister Gio?”
Since he had shared his names, it seemed he might be willing to tell more.
“Of course, if you’re uncomfortable, you don’t have to.”
“No, they’re not particularly special stories.”
The black-haired Gio folded his arms, seemingly deep in thought, and then spoke.
“Argio was born with a natural ability to transform into a beast. He was expelled from his family because of it, lived like an animal in the forest, and was ultimately branded the source of all evil, becoming a demonic god.”
Joo-Hyun reflexively said,
“That already sounds pretty special.”
“Does it?”
“Well, maybe not special, more like... negative.”
“He lived joyfully and passed away well.”
“That’s some pitch-black humor.”
Nodding, Joo-Hyun asked again,
“What kind of person was Giovanni of the Batlan family?”
“He was a priest of the Sun and a doctor. He cared for mermaid students, but was beaten to death.”
“...How am I supposed to respond to that?”
“You can laugh. He also lived joyfully and passed away well.”
“If I laugh, I’ll feel like I’m less than human.”
There was no room for laughter — she was too busy hiding her shock.
“I feel like I’ve heard a similar story somewhere...”
“Then perhaps you read the report on ‘The Kingdom of the Deep.’”
“I’m amazed it wasn’t just my imagination.”
As a rare case of a humanoid monster officially recognized by the association, Joo-Hyun had studied the report on “The Kingdom of the Deep” carefully.
It also included the broader dungeon-related story.
“......”
No matter how you looked at it, that didn’t sound like a joyful or peaceful death.
“...I had a feeling.”
“I’m curious what gave you that feeling.”
“Ever since I learned that Black Cloak belonged to the Collector’s Guild.”
“And what’s the issue with that?”
“That report on ‘The Kingdom of the Deep’ was authored by Yoo Seong-Woon.”
“I believe so.”
“And Yoo Seong-Woon is, well...”
Joo-Hyun carefully chose her words.
“He’s quite well-known in the research center community of the association.”
“And why is that?”
“Because he was a former team leader who transferred to the Collector’s Guild — not just any place.”
“What’s so special about transferring to the Collector’s Guild?”
“Their motto is. The Collector’s Guild values preserving ‘artworks’ — it’s a very protective atmosphere.”
“I’ve heard that’s one of their guiding principles.”
“And among researchers, that motto creates resistance.”
Which made sense.
“They’ve seen too many horrors at the research centers.”
They knew just how dangerous the objects the Guild called “artworks” could be.
“There’s even a saying among researchers: ‘You’re not a real researcher until you’ve lost something to one of those things.’ That’s how strong their wariness is, and everyone has their own scars.”
“I am safe.”
“Of course, I wasn’t talking about you, Mister Gio. Compared to the dangerous items, you’re far too precious. You’ve also given me so much kindness.”
She gave her usual bright smile.
“But most dangerous objects aren’t like that. The Collector’s Gallery and the association’s research centers are practically opposites in every way. So employees moving from one to the other... it’s extremely rare.”
Yoo Seong-Woon had effectively been the first to make that leap.
“It takes an almost fanatical love for dangerous artifacts to even consider it. That report on an S-class dungeon was written by someone like that — no wonder so many researchers were curious about what caught his interest.”
“I see.”
“One of the names listed in that mission was Hunter Sergio. He was also known for playing a major role in rescuing civilians during the Temple of the Sun incident. But the fact that you, known as Black Cloak, had the name Sergio...”
Joo-Hyun gave a sheepish smile.
“It made me suspect a deeper connection between you, as Sergio and Black Cloak, and ‘The Kingdom of the Deep.’ Especially since portraits of Black Cloak are known to appear often in that dungeon.”
It was a guess she had put together while staying in Black Cloak’s hut.
“Above all, the ‘Kingdom of the Deep’ contains a record of Batlan Giovanni. It’s rare to find, but when you introduced yourself with that name...”
“You suspected a connection.”
“I wouldn’t have realized otherwise. That dungeon doesn’t include a clear image of Giovanni, and even if it did, blond hair and blue eyes aren’t uncommon.”
“They weren’t common in the Korea of the past. Interesting.”
“...Speaking of the past, you once said that ‘Sergio’ was the name you used while living on Earth, right? What kind of life did you lead then?”
“Nothing remarkable.”
Gio answered bluntly.
“I became a portrait because of a school fire.”
“Ah... I see!”
She acted as though she had been mentally prepared — it was so unsurprising at this point.
“How did that happen?”
“Are you asking about the fire, or about becoming a portrait?”
“Both, I guess.”
“To be honest, I don’t know what caused the fire.”
He blinked twice.
“The alarm suddenly went off, and as soon as I heard the sound, I went to check — the first floor was already in flames. It spread quickly, so I doubt it was a natural fire.”
“...So someone set it intentionally...?”
“It would have taken something like oil to spread that fast. But that’s just my guess. At the time, I was too busy getting the students out of the building.”
“You didn’t escape with them?” 𝑛𝘰𝘷𝑝𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝘮
“I had to check if any students or teachers were still inside. Unfortunately, it was break time, and everyone had scattered. Some students had a habit of hiding in odd corners....”
His black eyes stared calmly at Joo-Hyun.
“Thankfully, I was the only one left in the building, and I couldn’t get out in time. It wasn’t a situation where I could hope to survive until the fire was extinguished. So I entered the storage room I cherished most.”
“A storage room?”
“The art storage room. I did wonder whether I should’ve just jumped out the window instead, but I was on the very top — the fifth floor. And our school had especially high ceilings. So I chose the place that seemed the best for dying.”
“......”
“And then I became a portrait. Isn’t that fascinating?”
Joo-Hyun gave a strained laugh.
“...It is fascinating.”
Black Cloak didn’t seem to feel any negative emotion about “Gio’s” death.
Of course, he hadn’t directly said that Sergio died that way, but given the earlier stories of Giovanni and Argio, Joo-Hyun assumed the same applied to Sergio. That he, too, had died like that.
“May I ask... how old were you at the time?”
“I was twenty-nine.”
“Do all the ‘Gios’ have different ages?”
“Giovanni died at thirty-two. Argio at twenty-four.”
“...None of them lived long.”
A pang of sadness hit Joo-Hyun.
“You were younger than I am.”
Was this portrait a collection of young and early deaths?
‘Maybe that’s why I can talk to him like this — one-on-one, without difficulty.’
Sure, behind all these Gios must lie the vast mystery called “Portrait of Gio,” but still, they had once been ordinary humans.
Yet every death of a ‘Gio’ felt steeped in bitterness.
‘Even if he became a demonic god... Argio died at twenty-four...’
And no matter how much he called himself evil, Argio never seemed like a truly evil person. He appeared capable of great kindness.
‘People like that...’
Why did their lives always end in tragedy?
“......”
Joo-Hyun gave him a gentle, smiling gaze.
“I don’t know how something like that could happen, but... it really is surprising.”
“I feel the same way.”
“Come to think of it, I heard the two mermaids still residing in the ‘Kingdom of the Deep’ haven’t been subjugated yet.”
“They’re dangerous enough that subjugation isn’t a simple matter.”
“So... you’re not against the idea of subjugating them?”
That was unusual.
“And about that... does it not trouble you?”
“What part are you referring to?”
“...They were once your beloved students, weren’t they?”
If Joo-Hyun were in his place, she’d be overwhelmed with emotion.
“If it were me, I think I’d be sad for a long time. I’d blame myself, thinking it happened because of me. I’d want to forgive them because they were once dear to me... but as a human, I don’t think I’d be able to. Am I being too presumptuous?”
The man — now platinum-blonde — smiled.
“My friend, you are in no way presumptuous to me.”
“Then I’m glad.”
“But I’m not someone who reflects as deeply as you do.”
“You think I reflect deeply...?”
“I’ve never blamed myself. Not even once.”
Giovanni blinked his blue eyes as if to say, Why should I?
“I loved my students with all I had, and I lived with the virtues befitting my role. As a son of the Sun, I acted in a way that brought no shame. As a teacher, I walked the path meant for those who guide others. That path was not one of self-flagellation — it was how I showed respect to myself.”
His voice was soft, measured.
“My students may have resented me. But I did everything I could to protect them, and gave them the affection they deserved.”
“So you don’t regret it? Because you did your best?”
“I did what I truly wanted to do, and that was a righteous path — justifiable before both the Sun and myself. I won’t entertain the absurd guilt that says my lack of cunning led my students to commit sins.”
“Your lack of cunning...?”
“If I had catered to the whims of the church or the village, perhaps I could’ve lived longer. But that would’ve been a betrayal of my students, of my father, and of myself.”
His lips curved into a smooth smile.
“I simply didn’t want that.”
“Why not?”
“There are many reasons, but most of all — I made a promise.”
“With whom?”
“With my students.”
His ocean-colored eyes curved with gentle fondness.
“I promised them that who I am now would never change.”
“......”
Joo-Hyun finally found her voice.
“...Do you still love those students?”
“I do.”
“Then... have you forgiven them?”
“I have not.”
“Then... will you punish them?”
“That is not my place.”
The priest chuckled softly. It was the laugh of a spotless youth.
“The only sin they committed against me was betraying my faith in them. And that, they’ve already been punished for in time past. Any further punishment is not mine to give.”
“I see.”
“You may think this: Giovanni is in the best position to punish those sinful mermaids. But that would be a ridiculous notion.”
“Because it’s not your place?”
“Also because... they want me to punish them.”
Giovanni let out a faint, dry laugh.
“My mermaid students spent an awfully long time releasing their fury. Though they clung to their memories and scattered sins they could never retrieve, in some corner of their hearts, they kept a place for me.”
“......”
“Even though they believed I never would, they hoped — hoped that I, the only meaning left to them, would one day return like a miracle... and end it. That’s an incredibly irresponsible and indecisive wish. For me to punish them... would be a reward, not a sentence.”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“Would you say that’s right?”
“...I... I’m not sure.”
It was a perspective that gave her a lot to think about.
“...But I do hope that no similar tragedy repeats itself because of those mermaids.”
“I feel the same. And that hope — that’s the reward of my affection. The proof of my favoritism.”
“You truly do love them. And yet you haven’t forgiven them.”
“Even if eternity were to pass, I wonder if I ever could.”
A man imbued with the mercy of the Sun said—
“No matter what my students do, the sin grows, and responsibility accumulates. The pain of those they hurt won’t disappear. Even if they somehow restored the world of those they killed to its perfect state, that wouldn't erase the sins already committed.”
“...Then...”
“I’m not a particularly deep thinker, so I can’t say if such sin could ever be redeemed — with time, with pain, with devotion. Maybe it’s impossible. Maybe it’s not. But even if a few thousand years pass, who’s to say it’ll be enough?”
Giovanni, now free of his youthful aura, spoke with the gravity of a priest.
“But don’t worry. As long as I exist, they will continue to grapple with their sins. I am still fulfilling my duty as their teacher...”
“So the tragedy I fear won’t repeat itself either.”
“One thing is clear — I haven’t forgiven my mermaid students because I love them. And as long as I exist, they will never again become the disaster they once were.”
“...Hearing you say that brings me relief.”
And she meant it.
“After all, humanoid monsters are, well... they can be concerning...”
“You seem uneasy.”
Giovanni asked, with a curious tilt of his head.
“Shall I introduce you?”
“...Excuse me?”
Introduce what?
***
“Ta-da.”
Gio made a sound effect as he gestured toward two mermaids. Joo-Hyun blinked in disbelief.
“That was not a moment for ‘ta-da.’”
“These are my students.”
“Yes, I figured that out.”
Aria smiled faintly as if she already knew the nature of Giovanni’s relationship with Joo-Hyun. She looked over at her teacher. Her smile was flawless.
“So now you raise humans too, huh?”
“Raise? She is my friend.”
“You’re quite sociable... in strange ways, teacher.”
“Such flattery is making this teacher blush.”
“Blush? Looks more like a snowstorm’s about to hit.”
To that, Gio offered the gentle smile of a priest.
“Would this do?”
“That’s still my favorite face of yours.”
Aria nodded and glanced between her sister, Iser — who was awkwardly eyeing Joo-Hyun — and the new human friend herself, who was still trying to process it all.
“You little ones...”
Aria chuckled softly and bowed with formal grace.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, gentleman beloved by the Sun. I am Aria, disciple of the priest Giovanni of the Batlan family. May the Earth’s blessings be upon you.”
“...Likewise, I am Iser, second disciple of Giovanni of the Batlan family. May the warmth of the Sun reach you.”
Though he glanced at his sister, Iser returned the greeting a beat late. As a researcher for the association, Joo-Hyun already knew they were humanoid monsters — but under these circumstances, she had to show corresponding sincerity. She reflexively put on her polished, social smile.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Joo-Hyun, newly appointed as Mister Sergio’s manager while he operates as a hunter outside the portrait. Though lacking, I have the honor of being his friend.”
And then, all eyes — mermaid and human alike — turned to Giovanni.
“......”
“......”
“......”
In the thick silence, Gio finally spoke.
“Shall we eat?”
And so, an unexpected mealtime was declared.
