Yoo Seong-Woon, who had heard the entire story, felt conflicted.

“......”

No, it was more like his stomach was just upset.

‘...I didn’t expect the existence of the source to allow humans. Was there a situation like this in the past?’

No matter how much of a gentleman Gio was, he was born from the source. If Seong-Woon had to find something similar, it could only be roughly guessed as ‘the child of the source,’ but at this point, it didn’t really matter anymore.

The problem was probably what Chara had seen...

“…You said it was a hut in the forest?”

It was suspected to be a ‘garden,’ a kind of source. If he had to find something similar, that was probably the case.

‘...That's not a place anyone can visit. If someone without qualifications enters, they'd just die. It's not even a typical dungeon.’

At Seong-Woon's question, Chara Hunter fidgeted with her fingers, nodding her head defensively.

From what Seong-Woon could tell, Chara seemed to have a rather sensitive and irritable personality, but what stood out even more was how much she seemed to shrink, as if he could understand the kind of treatment she had endured.

“Yes, I’ve never been outside my house... but I think that’s what it was.”

“I see.”

Seong-Woon rubbed the back of his neck.

‘This is troublesome.’

He had heard that the air had changed to match Gio’s mood.

Chara Hunter hadn’t thought that far, but among humanoid monsters, there weren’t many boss monsters that were so integrated with their dungeons.

‘At this point, the monster and the dungeon should be considered as one.’

Chara Hunter had, after all, gone in and out of Gio’s belly.

‘And not just any dungeon, but a garden... Is this even a logical story?’

As someone who knew how terrifying things could get when an unqualified person entered the ‘garden,’ Seong-Woon found it to be an impossible and poorly thought-out lie.

‘Even if Gio allowed it, a fragile F-ranked hunter like that wouldn’t survive such a merciful space.’

If what Chara had seen was truly a garden, even if Gio was a different kind of gardener, Chara wouldn’t have been protected. A mere gardener didn’t have that kind of authority.

It was like a piece of gimbap entering a human stomach and not being digested but instead making a hole through the chest. It was impossible, and that’s why Seong-Woon found it hard to define the current situation.

“......”

Then, Gio... was really...

“...You must have been caught off guard by the sudden situation, but thank you for answering sincerely.”

Fortunately, Bisa Beul just smiled without interrupting, which made it easier for Seong-Woon to regain his composure.

Seong-Woon decided to wrap up this conversation and allow his counterpart to rest, continuing the discussion.

“We’ve been the ones asking questions all along, but if you have anything you’re curious about, feel free to ask.”

“…Is it okay to ask?”

“......”

There was still a sharp edge to her tone. She was clearly someone with a lot of caution.

She seemed to measure her words, but even so, Seong-Woon couldn’t hide the fact that this young hunter had a very sensitive nature. It seemed like she had survived with a certain kind of survival instinct, but her personality wasn’t the most flexible.

‘And yet, Gio managed to melt her like that and even fed her.’

Seong-Woon had never thought about it, considering how many people feared Gio, but maybe Gio had the ability to break down people’s defenses.

With this thought pushed to the back of his mind, Seong-Woon slowly nodded, wanting to make his counterpart as comfortable as possible. After all, she was an important witness to the history of the earth, and it was right to show her consideration.

“Of course, it’s fine.”

Seeing that it would be better for him to provide the explanation first, Seong-Woon continued speaking.

“What you met, Chara Hunter, is the artwork called ‘Gio’s Portrait.’”

“…An artwork? Not a monster...?”

“We are still investigating the exact identity of it, so I ask for your understanding. However, to help with your understanding, it’s better to think of it as a humanoid monster.”

“That... makes it even harder to understand…”

“You can think of it as a monster with a lower hatred toward Earth compared to other monsters.”

In reality, Seong-Woon believed it to be something of a much higher level, but he couldn’t reveal that to Chara. She seemed to be someone who wouldn’t be easily tricked, but the world had many unpredictable variables.

“The title of ‘Gio’s Portrait’ defines an entity called ‘Gio,’ which can travel through frames like the way you saw it during the snowy night, and can even come out of the picture to interact with the world.”

“…That... and so…”

“It’s highly friendly toward humans, and since there’s no way to stop it from traveling through frames and moving, the collector has left it unattended, considering it a matter of persuasion.”

“What? Wait, huh?”

Chara shivered.

“Then why leave such a dangerous person unattended…! It’s an artwork, so it should be stored in the collector’s gallery, right? Why can’t it be caged?”

“......”

Seong-Woon was taken aback.

‘Did she just say... person?’

It was strange, hearing such words despite feeling the intimidating presence of the black portrait. It didn’t seem like something that would easily be said.

‘She’s treating Gio almost as if he’s a person. This is certainly peculiar. If Chara Hunter wasn’t special, could it be Gio’s ability?’

Even as Seong-Woon entertained that thought, he wore his usual calm smile.

“In Korea, there are exactly two places that store dangerous items like ‘Gio’s Portrait.’”

“…Ah, besides the collector’s gallery, is there another place?”

“There’s an association’s research facility, though it’s not well-known. It’s a much more secure place than the collector’s gallery.”

“Then why not send it there…”

“There was a strong opinion from the guild master. The ownership of ‘Gio’s Portrait’ belongs to the highest bidder in the auction, Guild Master Bisa Beul.”

The guild master prioritized ownership and time for appreciation over any risks of people dying from dangerous artwork. Chara seemed to be left speechless by the bluntness of the answer.

Perhaps she understood the harshness of the world despite the dangers of the artwork and her own situation. Seong-Woon, noticing her quietness, continued.

“We will offer compensation for the inconvenience Chara Hunter experienced because of this.”

“...Is it just to make me shut up?”

“...That would be appreciated. Is there anything specific you would like as compensation?”

“......”

“If you haven’t thought of anything yet, feel free to ask any other questions you may have during this time. Chara Hunter, you must have been very distressed by the situation.”

Hesitating, Chara looked confused between frustration and embarrassment before she finally opened her mouth.

“That... that person...? Anyway, it’s not human, right?”

“As I mentioned earlier, you can think of it as a humanoid monster. It’s not truly a monster, but I can definitely confirm it’s not human.”

Bisa Beul added.

“Think of it as a playful god. I’m not sure about the exact identity, but it’s probably not lower than the deities that priests serve.”

“Guild Master, isn’t spreading this uncertain information to a first-time hunter a huge source of anxiety?”

“But wouldn’t it be easier to understand? It’s not easy for a hunter to hear the word ‘humanoid monster’ like this. However, a god who enjoys playing isn’t entirely unheard of.”

Chara murmured with a strange expression, clearly uncomfortable.

“They cook too, you know...?”

“......”

“A god who cooks…?”

Seong-Woon almost sighed as he tried to hold in his laughter. Gio, are you a grandma or what?

‘You like fat humans, but why are you so obsessed with feeding people whenever you see them?’

Unable to give a real answer, Seong-Woon nodded in agreement.

“Yes, one of the traits of ‘Gio’s Portrait’ is that it gives gifts like that. Many people in our guild have received Gio’s gifts, such as cookies, chocolates, and candies.”

Looking at Bisa Beul, who still had a faint smile, Seong-Woon continued.

“As someone who manages ‘Gio’s Portrait,’ I’ve also received fruit tea and sausages. The tea Gio served in the hut is probably the same thing. I think the type of food varies depending on Gio’s perception of the other person’s favor or relationship.”

“Ah... I see…”

“By the way... I have a question.”

Seong-Woon asked Chara.

“Before you had the meal in the hut, did you give Gio something?”

“…? No... I’m poor, so I didn’t give anything…”

“It doesn’t have to be something special. Did you give Gio something, even a small stone? Or did Gio seem to feel any strong emotions toward you?”

“......”

Chara looked confused, unsure whether to be annoyed or embarrassed. She seemed to realize that this wasn’t just a pointless question meant to bother her, and after thinking for a while, she finally replied.

“...I don’t think so. I can’t recall giving anything, and as for emotions... I didn’t feel any…”

“Really? Didn’t Gio ever say anything about considering you a friend?”

“Well, he did say he came to look for a friend in the ‘Gem’s Stream,’ but... no. He said I was too young and weak to be his friend.”

“I see.”

That was a strange standard.

‘...It’s definitely odd that Gio thinks 18 is too young, but maybe he thought an 18-year-old and a 29-year-old couldn’t be friends. Was he worried about crushing the other person’s ego, or was it just a conclusion based on human perspectives? I’m not sure, but…’

Seong-Woon nodded.

“It seems you didn’t receive anything after all.”

“Then, does that mean I shouldn’t have?”

“We haven’t encountered such cases.”

One of Gio’s rules was one-on-one transactions.

“‘Gio’s Portrait’ always exchanges something when dealing with humans. If it gives something, it expects something in return. It doesn’t have to be material, but the principle is the same. Gio always gives an apology gift to those it thinks it surprised.”

“Ah, oh...!”

“......?”

“An apology gift!!”

Chara quickly rummaged through her clothes.

“Th-this...! This is what I got, the gift from when I was surprised...!!”

“Please calm down and speak slowly.”

“Grrr...”

Taking a deep breath, Chara pulled out a small black gem from her pocket.

“I... I got this. When I was startled and sat down, I found it.”

“......”

“I forgot for a moment, and I wasn’t sure if it was really from Gio...”

“May I take a look?”

“Ah, sure.”

Seong-Woon, wearing gloves, picked up the gem and examined it closely.

“......”

The gem had a faint, fluid-like structure, but it was solid.

“...This is definitely from Gio.”

“Really?”

“Yes, only Gio can create such gems.”

From what Seong-Woon had learned up until now.

“If it’s okay with you, may we purchase this gem from you through our collector?”

“What? This?”

“This gem has a structure not found on Earth. If it’s auctioned, there will be many rumors, and at worst, you and your family could be affected.”

“...”

“It would be better for us to store it.”

Seong-Woon shrugged lightly.

“I’m not forcing you.”

“You’re totally forcing me... you’re even threatening me by bringing up my family...”

“I’m just stating the facts. The choice is still yours.”

“Well…”

“I’m not saying I’ll buy it right away. If Chara Hunter at least agrees to the minimum protection measures, we can proceed.”

“Protection measures? Do you mean surveillance?”

“We can’t leave such a mysterious gift from ‘Gio’s Portrait’ just lying around.”

“No…”

“As I said, I’m not demanding it right away. We don’t want to forcibly take the gift from Gio either.”

Since the other party had yet to fully understand the situation, Seong-Woon wasn’t going to forcibly take the gem. He wasn’t about to act like a thug with a young, inexperienced hunter.

“You can contact us when you’re sure about your decision.”

“You’re not taking it?”

“The structure of the gem is unique, but it’s of no value on its own as a gem. If you want to sell it, feel free to contact us. The association’s research facility would also be an option, but we do have a team that can study pieces of artwork and their fragments.”

While the collector’s guild wasn’t as secure as the association’s research facility, they still had teams that could research and study pieces of artwork.

‘It’s not like it’s totally safe, but... it’s not dangerous enough to steal from a scared young hunter either.’

The reality was that Chara, who had received such a rare gift from ‘Gio’s Portrait,’ was a special hunter. She had received not just simple gifts like cookies or fruit tea, but even a meal personally prepared by Gio.

‘It’d be a shame to make an enemy of someone like that. She’s a naturally cautious person... let’s not make her feel uncomfortable.’

As a gardener, Seong-Woon was also curious about the effects of Gio’s gift on an F-rank hunter. He continued.

“We don’t know much about ‘Gio’s Portrait’ yet, but since you’ve received Gio’s favor, Chara Hunter, there’s a possibility that you’ll meet it again someday.”

“......”

“So, let me share some important information.”

It was to prevent Chara Hunter from inadvertently angering the portrait.

“As I said before, Gio prefers one-on-one transactions. From what I gathered, this rule only applies when the frame is involved. Since you ate inside the picture, there were no issues even though you didn’t give anything.”

“Ah, yes, that’s right. I didn’t give anything…”

“If you meet ‘Gio’s Portrait’ again, a conversation should be fine. But if you give or receive anything from Gio, you should be prepared for the corresponding cost.”

“Uh... what kind of cost?”

“We confirmed that giving ten fish-shaped pastries is an acceptable cost.”

“......”

It was a humble cost.

Chara made a peculiar expression, like she had seen a panda speaking. It seemed like she thought Gio, with all his stature, would give something far grander, but Seong-Woon could relate.

“Yes, giving Gio something like a name or personal information isn’t a problem either. Some of our guild members have exchanged names with the portrait, but no one was forced into a one-sided contract.”

“...That’s a relief.”

“And…”

Seong-Woon, suddenly hit by a wave of fatigue, suppressed a sigh.

“......”

No matter how the situation unfolded, the existence of the source being friendly to humans was still draining.

He probably wouldn’t meet such beings again in his lifetime.

“......”

 

“What is this...?”

“These are the rules the guild master personally compiled.”

“Is it okay for me to read this?”

“Actually, I’m not sure…”

Seong-Woon, exhausted, answered.

“But since the guild master himself asked me to show it, it should be fine.”

“Should it be fine...? This looks like it’s just been half-heartedly handled... How can a big company operate like this? The artwork management is all weird.”

“It’s a set of rules meant for our employees, so you can just overlook things like the terminology.”

“Uh... okay…”

After scanning ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) through the rules, Chara tilted her head and asked.

“By the way, what’s with Rule #4 and #5? It sounds like it was written by two different people. Is this some kind of urban legend?”

“Oh, those parts were added by Gio himself after he saw the rules.”

“Can a monster just change the rules? Why was it left like this?”

“The guild master thought it was funny, so he left it as it was.”

“......”

“If you’ve read them, can I take you home now?”

Seeing the face of a tired worker, Chara cautiously nodded.

“P-please do…”

It was a moment of realization.

Not everything from big corporations was good.