23 chapter
23 chapter
Meanwhile, Gio was immersed in a monotonous contemplation. It was truly a boring concern.
"......"
Since coming to this world, he had never painted a landscape.
'No, not never.'
Upon reflection, there had been a time he created a lake for Honey and his kind, the waterfowl, but that was it. Strictly speaking, that was just adding an accessory to this world, not a proper landscape.
A question then arose.
"Fruits, buildings, animals..."
He could draw them all.
"So what about landscapes?"
What happens to the world I create?
"......"
With that question in mind, Gio continued to paint.
For now, about three.
'Breathing Sea'
Searching...
...
...
Dimension exists
Entry possible
...
Suitability confirmed
Synchronization possible
'Kingdom of Animals'
Searching...
...
...
Dimension exists
Entry possible
...
Suitability confirmed
Synchronization possible
'City of Void'
...
...
Dimension does not exist.
Would you like to register?
There are three unchecked notifications.
"What is this?"
Please check the new notifications.
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"......"
Gio sensed it.
'A premonition of enjoyment.'
After finishing farming, new content had appeared at a ghostly timing.
Night work is a sacred act, a companion to artists and a symbol of free spirits. Gio, who had painted all night, completed a total of three landscapes.
"Hmm."
Seeing three notifications, he roughly guessed. He felt as good as if he had received a Christmas gift delivered by mistake at Chuseok.
"Good adults are eventually rewarded."
"Kroong?"
"As if there's anyone as good as Daddy in the world."
"Krrrr..."
"The trust in a father-son relationship is incredibly baseless. It's lamentable."
Gio, with a solemn face, skillfully spouted nonsense while checking the system's notifications.
"......"
And then he asked.
"Where could the help be?"
Indeed, he couldn't understand.
'I can see it's related to the three paintings I completed yesterday.'
First, Gio painted a seascape, then a wilderness, and finally, a cityscape devoid of anyone.
'Breathing Sea, Kingdom of Animals, City of Void... I never named them like this.'
Perhaps the system had automatically assigned these names.
"The system has seized the opportunity to name my works.... But even so, what does 'dimension exists' mean?"
If taken literally, it sounded as if the landscapes Gio had painted corresponded to real existing dimensions.
"Having the ability to discover a dimension, what would it be like for a human?"
Of course, for the evolved portrait Gio, it might be possible. A human evolved into a painting, so human standards might as well be left in Andromeda for a while.
"Ta-da."
Gio, having rationalized brilliantly, continued his Sherlock Holmes-esque deductions.
"If entry is possible, then there is a dimension that exists among the ones I've painted, and I can directly enter it."
Such a large-scale update was unexpected. It seemed life wasn't managed by such a diligent team before, but it was a very encouraging change.
"Nice."
A fresh soul from Gangwon province, not following the same path as others. Gio positively affirmed and supported his own unique challenge, which he hadn't even thought of.
"But there's still something I don't understand...."
He couldn't grasp what 'suitable' and 'synchronize' meant.
"......"
"......"
"What is suitable and what does it synchronize with?"
"Koong?"
It was cute but shouldn't be deceived. That wasn't a 'really?', but a 'how would I know that?'
"Right."
Gio nodded.
Given that look of impure intent, it seemed like puberty had hit, but seeing Honey reliably respond to Daddy's words showed how dutiful a son he was.
There might be bad paint in the world, but no bad paintings. Honey had said that.
'Something to be proud of.'
While checking the system window, Gio soon discovered a new list.
List of Suitable Candidates
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It was obviously the answer.
"Let's see."
Breathing Sea_Giovanni
Assimilation Rate 0%
Kingdom of Animals_Arzio
Assimilation Rate 0%
What's this.
"......"
Explanation: Suitable Candidate
"So there is a conscience."
Suitable Candidate
A method to more conveniently understand unfamiliar dimensions. If the consent of the 'suitable candidate,' a being existing in the specified dimension corresponding to 'Gio,' is obtained, one can easily understand and travel through the dimension by borrowing their spirit and body.
"If you still can't understand, what are you going to do? I'm curious how you'll react."
But he understood.
"So, if there's a 'suitable candidate' in an existing dimension, I can travel around in that person's body...."
These people do their job well. While he wasn't sure what the suitable candidates might think, from a user's standpoint, it was a very considerate structure.
"I won't know about the culture of that dimension, and more importantly, my current body might not be compatible with the bacteria there. Even though I can breathe the air on Earth, in other places, I might breathe gases like nitrogen."
In that sense, receiving help from a 'suitable candidate' was a convenient choice.
"The standard for finding a suitable candidate must be that they are 'Gio'...."
Looking at the names on the list, he got the idea.
Breathing Sea_Giovanni
Assimilation Rate 0%
Kingdom of Animals_Arzio
Assimilation Rate 0%
"Maybe these people were also called 'Gio.'"
Anyway, is it enough that 'Gio' is included in the name?
"...No, if that were the case, they wouldn't use the word 'suitable candidate.' There must be other conditions, so they made a list to manage it carefully."
Perhaps they had checked the sync rate or adaptability with Gio himself.
"Interesting."
He really liked it.
"I won't be bored for a lifetime."
The amount of updated data was so vast that he wasn't sure if he could enjoy it all in his lifetime.
"An update on the scale of dimensions."
It was truly amazing.
"......"
But even after this lengthy explanation and analysis, there was still one step left.
"What is the City of Void?"
'City of Void'
The dimension does not exist.
Would you like to register?
"Did I create a new dimension?"
That was utterly insane.
"I can hear the sound of my life becoming spectacular."
It was very good.
Gio never thought deeply. This time was no different.
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Of course, if it involved world peace, friendship, and love, he might contemplate deeply like a pure-hearted young man from a remote village untouched by time, but this did not particularly motivate him.
Gio had the taste buds of a child, spitting out what's bitter and swallowing what's sweet, as if he only drank espresso every morning.
"Hmm."
His ultimate positive mindset wasn't daunted by something as minor as creating a dimension.
"Just because I created a new dimension doesn't mean a nuclear power plant on Earth is going to explode in a second."
Then it's settled.
"Honey, do you agree?"
"Gururuk!"
"Then it's really settled."
With the family's approval obtained, there was nothing more to hesitate about.
Although he had never experienced such a scale in his lifetime, such trivial information could not hinder the growth of the deeply rooted tree known as Gio. He was a portrait with convictions.
"Life is amazing."
Living always brings new content.
"If I don't enjoy this content right away, I'm not human."
"......"
"I'm not sure which part was silent, but trust this Daddy, Honey."
Gio was confident.
Very confident.
"Life is a hurricane."
Gio, who played with his tongue freely, chose the suitable candidate [Giovanni] from the list. It was a name often used in Italy on Earth, which felt familiar for no particular reason.
And Gio...
—Poof.
"......"
'Poof?'
Left alone in an operating room.
"......"
Honey, who should have been on his shoulder, was also missing. Sadness surged.
'I'm lonely.'
How could such a thing happen?
Caught by the system's trickery, Gio found himself in an operating room that seemed straight out of 18th-century Europe.
'The system's divine management skills and vast content had amazed me not just the other day, but less than 30 minutes ago, and this careless delivery service is just what?'
He was emotionally hurt by the system's inconsiderate behavior. They should have kindly informed him that the move would proceed after asking for Gio's opinion again.
Gio pondered where to file a claim with the customer satisfaction center in this case when he suddenly noticed someone standing in front of him.
"......"
"...Ah."
Startled by the sudden presence, Gio momentarily shied away. The person's stealth skills were on par with a 007 agent.
"......"
"......"
"......"
"...Hello?"
While Gio was locked in a ridiculous thought of 'making a spectacular self-introduction like 101 Dalmatians,' the first to speak was a man in his early thirties, apparently the owner of the operating room.
"Nice to meet you, I am Giovanni from the Bartlan family."
"...Gio here."
"Yes, I know. You can call me Gio too."
The genuine and trustworthy smile suited him well, remarkably resembling Gio. Perhaps if Gio were Western and a bit older, he would look exactly like him.
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And Gio did not hold back his questions.
"You look very much like me."
"Probably in many aspects."
"I can't smile as kindly as you. I'm not good at
smiling, so I've often been misunderstood."
"That's a cute and honest concern, just like my students'. Don't worry, you'll be able to smile like me soon enough."
Giovanni's meaningful words soon turned into an embarrassed smile. He seemed much more cheerful than Gio.
"It seems that Mr. Sergio is very straightforward and affectionate."
"I think the same of you, Mr. Giovanni. The compliments you give ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ to a stranger like me show that you think positively."
"Recognizing the light in others is something a priest of the sun ought to do. It's not about being kind or not."
"...Priest..."
Priest?
"...This place looks like a hospital, aren't you a doctor?"
"I am a doctor as well. Not all priests of the sun need to stay inside temples reciting sacred texts. Many like me are active outside."
With that, 'Giovanni' soon sighed.
"No... there were many."
"I see."
"My world was destroyed by being covered with seawater."
Oh, suddenly?
"The fact that Mr. Giovanni's hometown was destroyed is too deep a story for me, a stranger, to hear..."
"Listen."
"Yes, I will listen."
"Now, the only things left in that world are mermaids hiding under the sea. Our planet has shrunk and become regulated like a game board."
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
"Like a game board?"
"I believe it has become... dungeonized."
"You know about dungeons?"
"In our world, that concept didn't exist until I was about to die."
From his words, it seemed that 'Giovanni' was already a deceased person.
"But Mr. Sergio, you called me, and I knew it then."
"......"
"We are the same 'Gio.'"
He still smiled kindly.
"But we are not the same person."
"Can I consider you as me from a parallel world?"
"No, not really. We just miraculously share many common traits but are completely separate individuals."
"......"
"Similar faces, voices, and skills... However, our souls are never the same color."
After a moment of thought, Gio asked.
"Do you like painting? Since you talk this way, I'm curious if you really share my tastes."
"One of my secret hobbies. I loved painting seas that resembled mermaids."
"A sea that looks like a mermaid..."
They shared the same taste for painting. That alone made Gio acknowledge that they were the same 'Gio.'
"I'd like to see it."
"You will see it soon."
Filled with gentle assurance, the mild voice was not easily broken. Gio had a question.
"Do you know you're being robbed of your spirit and body? Aren't you scared or resentful? I am merely enjoying a new dimension by stealing everything from you."
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"This isn't theft. I had already died, and my soul returned to the side of the sun, while my body turned to dirt and was buried in the ground... Well, it didn't turn to dirt or get buried, really. By now, even that land would have been submerged in seawater."
"This sounds like a dark joke old people make about not needing to buy expensive things since they're going to die soon. You might not mind, but I do. It seems you've forgotten that we've just met."
"Hahaha..."
It wasn't funny at all, but 'Giovanni' laughed as if he had made a really funny joke, then continued.
"My soul will become one with yours, Mr. Sergio. It's a kind of resurrection and rebirth, I suppose. I will merge into you, spending more time, making memories, and living in the origin."
"...Origin?"
"It might be a foreign concept to you now."
He smiled warmly.
"But you are already living there."
"The place I'm staying is called the 'origin'? I heard about it from a new acquaintance recently."
"In fact, even that name was probably given by Earthlings. It's impossible to know what it's really called, what rules it follows, or what form it takes. As a humble soul, I can only respond to your call."
Soon, 'Giovanni' spoke apologetically.
"If possible, please take care of the sun god. To be precise, the sun god of the world I was in."
"It's unbelievable that such a request comes from a humble soul like you. You're making another very funny joke. It's not really funny."
"I thought the same in my lifetime, but in the end, even gods are forgotten if they have no followers. The sun won't perish, but as his son, it bothers me."
"How could I possibly take care of a god? I'm just an ordinary human."
"Remember him, talk to him occasionally, or borrow his power. As a priest crafted by sunlight, I swear on my honorable soul it won't be too burdensome for you."
Gio nodded.
'So it's like visiting lonely old people who live alone.'
Gio, who had been an art teacher, used to volunteer occasionally since his college days. Among those, there were quite a few elderly people with sad stories, growing old alone.
Thinking this way, Gio realized he was experienced. The word 'god' had intimidated him, but he regained his confidence.
"I'm good at that."
"Ha ha, I'm relieved. I appreciate it."
"Is there anything else you desire?"
"Isn't asking to take care of a god burdensome enough?"
"Until a moment ago, it was, but not anymore."
In a deeply aged society in a remote village in Gangwon Province, Gio was the only child. He was confident in entertaining the elderly.
Sensing that confidence, 'Giovanni' hesitated then spoke.
"...Aria..."
"Aria?"
"The name of my student."
"......"
"The story has gotten too long."
Still gentle, but tinged with sadness.
"Please give her an ending."
That moment.
"...Ah..."
Gio returned to the log cabin bed.
"......"
"......"
"Krrrr..."
"...Yeah..."
Breathing Sea_'Giovanni'
"It's okay."
Giovanni's Quest
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"Daddy's okay."
Communicating with the Sun God (0/1)
Bringing an End to the Mermaid Princess (0/1)
"Really..."
Assimilation Rate 1%
"It's okay."
"......"
"No problem at all."
It was a strange feeling.
The chill that climbed his body and the bone-splitting pain, greater than the overwhelming sadness, left Giovanni in tears, not understanding why.
He remembered nothing.
"......"
"......"
Thus, until the moon set and new sunlight came...
"...I don't regret it."
He smiled with swollen eyes.
I was happy.