"Sister."
"Yes, my foolish little brother."
"Yes, your foolish little brother has come. Is your research going well?"
"Not bad."
After gracefully writing something with a quill pen carved from emerald, the sister finally put it down and raised her head.
Her hair, dark and coldly shimmering like the deep sea, scattered like a wave. She smiled a smile like that of the savage deep sea.
"As expected, of all the dimensions I know, the species called human is the most diverse. The skill of utilizing the brain also varies greatly from individual to individual, and the range is wide, from their appearance to their emotions."
"You truly do like humans, Sister."
"What are the limits of humanity? Just when I think this is the end, a crazy individual who surpasses those limits pops up in another dimension… so I cannot stop my research."
"If that's the case, then doesn't it mean that the species called human has no limits?"
"There are humans who have become gods in some dimensions. But one cannot affirm that a god is the final point for a human, so wouldn't it be important to collect various specimens?"
"That is certainly true."
Iseur's sister wanted to find out everything about humans.
She even personally crafted a creation of the sun with her cold mermaid hands.
Of course, it more often than not deviated from the human form.
It was because she, too, hated humans, making it difficult to craft a complete form.
"But it is truly strange."
"...."
"That one person, and only one, I cannot recreate…."
Iseur knew.
His sister was a genius who made the impossible possible, but there was only one person.
She could neither revive Giovanni nor create a replica of him.
In Iseur's opinion, it seemed she herself was rejecting it.
"...."
A created Giovanni could no longer be called their teacher.
"…The name of this dimension seems to be called Earth. To be precise, it seems to be the name of a planet."
Iseur smiled his usual calm smile.
It was a benevolent smile that was very similar to the human named Giovanni, who occasionally brought both longing and displeasure to the two siblings.
"Will there be a role for me to play this time?"
"If things go well, probably not. I will create a separate vassal from Earth for the role of opening the gate, so you do not need to worry too much."
"I was not worried."
He smiled faintly.
"If I had been, I would have been worried about you, Sister."
"The same goes for me."
Over her dark blue dress, the sister, wearing an incongruous doctor's gown, narrowed her eyes deeply.
"What do you think is the end of humanity?"
"How would I know what even you do not, Sister."
"Sometimes I feel out of breath. It is because I have run too much."
"Even if you say so, you will never rest."
"I can't help what I'm curious about, but still…."
Her red lips parted.
"One day, I will be able to stop."
From a very young age, she had wanted to see the limits of humanity.
Now, it seemed a purpose had been added to that.
"...."
"Isn't that right?"
If she knew the limits of humanity.
Within it, Giovanni, who was a more noble human than anyone else, would surely exist….
"…Yes."
We were missing him in silence.
"I, too, think so."
We ask the world to see our dead teacher, but if we were to see him again, he could not be called Giovanni in the end.
That was why the siblings never brought up his name.
It was because they knew that making him their purpose was a terrible contradiction.
"...."
"...."
And yet, they grew greedy.
"...."
"Good morning."
Just like when they had trapped the sun in the deep sea.
***
"...."
"Hey, wait…."
"Do not come any closer."
"Sorry, but Jio is with me."
"I said, do not come closer."
"We're getting nowhere."
Yu Seong-un forced an awkward smile.
He didn't know how to react to this difficult situation.
'It's not like he's a mother bird trying to protect her chick.'
In terms of size, it would be the complete opposite, but Eun-ha, who had the body of an elementary school student, was for some reason tightly hugging the fallen Jio.
'No matter how hard he tries with that small body, there's no way he can cover everything.'
He looked truly desperate.
"...."
Yu Seong-un soon finished assessing the situation.
'…Judging by that kid's hypersensitive reaction, this is probably a situation related to one of Jio's personalities.'
He had already expected that there would be numerous personalities of his in many dimensions as offshoots of the center that was 'Jio's Portrait'.
Considering that, this kid baring his teeth while absurdly shielding Jio also seemed to be a humanoid monster from another dimension.
'Seeing how his teeth are transforming, he is definitely not human. If so, that means some personality of Jio and this monster before me know each other….'
He didn't know whether to call this fortune or misfortune.
'Is it fortunate in the sense that he's not attacking at all, even though he seems to be the master of this dungeon?'
Yu Seong-un looked at Eun-ha, who was hugging the fallen Jio with a reluctant gaze.
"You don't seem to have any intention of explaining this situation. You, what's your name?"
"I am sorry, but you are unpleasant. Do not talk to me, you insignificant human."
"Right, this is the correct reaction for a monster. Thanks to you, I feel like my sense of reality is returning."
Monsters were fundamentally creatures that hated humans, so Jio, who had always shown a gentlemanly response to humans, was the strange one.
'Even Eun-ha's current state of responding to my words is on the very moderate side.'
For a bewildering situation where he was suddenly captured in a virtual dungeon, there seemed to be a way out.
Yu Seong-un had hope.
"Anyway, the name Eun-ha must be a pseudonym. What should I call you?"
"It is not a pseudonym."
"Then it's your real name?"
"I borrowed Earth's format and made it based on the meaning of my name, so…."
"That's what a pseudonym is."
The contradictory reaction of diligently answering every question while baring his teeth was extremely interesting.
'It doesn't seem to be because his hatred for humans is low. If so, is he answering because of Jio?'
Yu Seong-un, who was once the research team leader of the Association, scanned his opponent just enough not to be unpleasant.
Feeling such interest in a situation where his own life and the lives of others were at risk was a chronic habit of Yu Seong-un the Gardener.
'I don't know what kind of relationship Jio and this monster had, but….'
This kid had eyes too, so he would know that Yu Seong-un and Jio had been acting together on Earth.
'We showed a level of closeness that wouldn't seem strange even to an unknowing passerby.'
It seems he is enduring with that in mind.
'In that case, it means this monster is trying to read Jio's mood.'
In a word, it meant that Jio was higher in rank in their relationship than this monster.
"…Ah, I'm tired."
He desperately wanted to go home.
'Some time has passed and people are gradually calming down, but the anxious atmosphere remains as they know they've been dragged into a dungeon. A considerable number of people I saw at the event are missing too….'
Yu Seong-un, who had surveyed his surroundings, asked.
"Did you bring everyone who was at the event?"
He wouldn't pretend not to know at this point.
'He did say some pretty monster-like things for a human.'
As if he intended to reveal his identity right after causing the incident, Eun-ha was blatantly giving off the vibe that he was the master of this place.
'The other people seem to be too confused about being suddenly dragged here to even think of checking this way.'
But at the very least, he could not deceive the eyes of an A-class Hunter, Yu Seong-un.
The master of this virtual dungeon and the main culprit who had suddenly dragged the people from the event hall here, was the blue-haired kid in front of him.
"The condition was everyone who was inside the Temple of the Sun?"
"...."
"…Oof…."
Is a monster a monster after all.
'The killing intent is enormous.'
It was a killing intent so strong that it made him wonder how he had acted like such a gentle child on Earth.
His pearl-white eyes were so bloodshot that they looked red, and just making eye contact was enough to tire out Yu Seong-un's mind.
He felt at a loss.
'I don't want to provoke the temper of the master of such a terrifying dungeon….'
Unfortunately, the hunters in this cavern were only Yu Seong-un, an A-class, one C-class man, and one woman who was slightly below C-class.
It wasn't that Yu Seong-un, an all-rounder, couldn't cover for them if he tried, but….
'No, I can't.'
They're all going to die.
'I could probably escape alone, but I can't leave Jio behind.'
Of course, he wasn't worried about Jio's well-being. Yu Seong-un was in no position to worry about the well-being of this unconscious portrait.
He just didn't want to see Bisabeol's cry of despair over losing a piece of his collection, didn't want to lose Jio, a special piece of data related to the Source, and finally, he was worried about what kind of absurd disaster 'Jio's Portrait' might cause while he had left it unattended.
'I can't just run away and ignore the existence of an immeasurable, extraordinary Source being in this crazy dungeon. It's like planting a bomb.'
If there was one fortunate thing, it was that the killing intent of this monster had clearly subsided after confirming face of Jio.
'The unique pressure of the dungeon seems to have lessened a bit too….'
He had to find a way out of this dungeon, but he couldn't disturb the master who had just found some stability.
"...."
Since it was difficult to expect cooperation from the monster, Yu Seong-un used Jio as a weapon and spoke a little more indirectly.
"…You seem to know Jio, did you know? Jio despises evil and rude beings."
"...."
"I don't know how you and Jio know each other, but that's how the current Jio is. If Jio had that kind of nature in the past as well, then it probably means that back then, you… were not so evil or rude."
"But now I am evil and rude."
The monster continued with a deadpan face that was chilling to look at.
"I do not think that this person will affirm the current me. I am not as arrogant as you are."
"Uh, right. It seems Jio was like that back then too, but since things have turned out this way, do you have any thoughts of being a little kinder to humans?"
"...."
The monster, who had answered with silence, raised his head to face Yu Seong-un.
He saw the monster's eyes, which resembled a pearl in some way.
Those eyes, telling of a predator, had pupils that were slit vertically, and were also distorted like a diamond hit by sunlight.
'Ah, this is.'
Should I call it a hunter's intuition?
Yu Seong-un instinctively realized what it meant.
'He's contemplating whether to kill.'
It was clear that he was thinking of killing everyone before Jio woke up, that is… causing trouble first and then worrying about cleaning it up later.
'That's peculiar.'
It was like that just a moment ago, but now those pearl-colored eyes were glistening even more vividly.
It was similar to the eyes of a beast glinting in the evening.
Perhaps the monster had a habit of its eyes shining like water scales when it got angry or harbored killing intent.
'…If that's the case, this side too.'
Can't just sit here and die.
'No matter how many die, all I need to do here is to secure Jio.'
As he foresaw how many people would die here from now on, it was when Yu Seong-un gathered cold energy in his hand.
"…Eugh…."
"! Jio."
"! Teacher!"
Teacher?
"Ah, that…."
Eun-ha was stammering, as if flustered by his own words.
He had a look on his face that showed he had belatedly realized he was in no position to call Jio 'Teacher' in any sense.
'What is this sloppiness?'
On a face that was so different from the venomous one just a moment ago, a face that looked clueless but sincere, Yu Seong-un felt what little trust he had hit rock bottom.
"J-Jio-ssi."
"...."
"Are you alright? You just lost consciousness…."
Is this monster feigning innocence?
'…Humanoid monsters do have a basic tendency to feign innocence towards humans, but that's part of a scheme to catch and kill their prey by making them let their guard down….'
Looking at the child's face, as if he were a devout priest, Yu Seong-un felt his already low energy drain away.
The suddenly subsided killing intent completely deflated him.
Jio, who had sat up unsteadily as if his head was hurting, looked around.
"...."
"...."
"...?"
It wasn't clearly visible because of the hood, but seeing a glimpse of black hair, the current Jio was definitely 'Seo Jio'. He seemed to be wondering where he was and why he had collapsed.
As if Eun-ha had noticed that as well, he asked Jio with a child's face.
"Jio-ssi, this is a dungeon. Do you happen to remember what happened before you collapsed?"
"…Before I collapsed…."
Surprisingly, Jio nodded his head.
"I was speaking to Student Eun-ha."
"Ah…."
Eun-ha seemed a little disappointed, but also partly relieved.
Yu Seong-un also roughly grasped the situation.
'…It seems there's confusion in his personality.'
Jio remembered the fact that he had spoken to Eun-ha, but he called Eun-ha 'Student'.
This was Seo Jio's way, so it probably meant that while the memory was there, the personality was not the 'Jio' that Eun-ha knew.
"...."
Jio sat for a long while with his head in his hands.
It was a highly exceptional situation for a being whose essence was a portrait to show, and Yu Seong-un asked with concern.
"…Does your head hurt?"
"…Yes."
Jio answered in a rarely faint tone.
"My body and mind are both dizzy."
In those words, Yu Seong-un recalled the situation from just before when they were being pulled into the dungeon.
'…The Jio of that moment had the high status that was seen in the portrait.'
Had the status he had limited been released in the process of moving from one dimension to another?
'And now it's been limited again?'
Since he hadn't even figured out his true identity yet, it was of course difficult to accurately interpret Jio's state, but still, there was one clear fact for Yu Seong-un.
"...."
"...."
Yu Seong-un's and Eun-ha's gazes crossed.
'…This little kid, or the dungeon environment, seems to be affecting Jio's personality….'
To be honest, it was not a welcome story for Yu Seong-un.
'I don't know what kind of bond Jio and Eun-ha had in the past.'
How could he welcome the fact that Jio's personality, who was a disaster in himself, was changing due to a heinous dungeon where a humanoid monster was lurking.
'At this rate, people might break Jio's rules because he's become sensitive and get attacked, or even if not, Jio, who favors an old acquaintance, might take the side of the monster Eun-ha. Either way, it will be a very disadvantageous situation for humans.'
It was clear that Eun-ha had a similar thought.
"...."
"Well now?"
Eun-ha used his small body to burrow into Jio's arms.
It was clear that he knew Jio was particularly weak to small creatures and was trying to use that to his advantage.
"Eun-ha-gun, won't you get off? I thought you were a gentle friend, but your act is no joke."
"I do not know what you are talking about."
"I've never had the back of my neck pulled like this fighting guys like you."
"That is very immature of you."
"I'm going crazy."
Anyway, this one thing was for sure.
'The longer we stay here, the closer we keep this kid… Jio's personality will change.'
A goal was set.
He had to escape with the time bomb named Jio, as quickly as possible.
-x-X-x-
Iseur prided himself on not being stupid.
'…Of course, compared to my sister, I am closer to an insignificant microbe, but there is no way I, who have learned so much under brilliant geniuses, could be stupid. My reason is sufficiently solid and therefore worth boasting about.'
Especially because he had spent such a long time crossing dimensions with his cold-blooded sister, her coolness and dryness had rubbed off on Iseur.
He had developed a nature where he could prioritize reason over emotion.
So a situation like this was the first in a very long time.
"…I apologize, I was out of my mind for a moment."
"No, you must have been surprised by the sudden situation as well, Jio-ssi."
"Thank you for your consideration."
"Don't mention it."
Inside Iseur, reason and emotion were fighting fiercely.
Even in the brief moment of his response, he repeated a similar line of thought dozens of times.
'…I can feel the energy of the Sun God very strongly from this man. If so, could it be that the Sun God, who knows of my sister's and my existence, has fashioned our only weakness into a human form and bestowed upon it the divinity of the sun? To meet my dead teacher so suddenly is an absurd event. It is too coincidental.'
However,
'This face, this presence, these habits, this voice, and every sensation I feel points to my dead teacher. And how on earth could the Sun God have achieved my teacher's resurrection, something even my sister, who trapped the Sun God in the sea, could not do? This person before me is my teacher, reincarnated through a natural process.'
Both were plausible, which made it all the more confusing.
'If there is one thing that is certain, it is that there will be no existence closer to Giovanni than this person.'
Whether the being before him was an incarnation of the Sun God imitating his teacher, or the reincarnation of his teacher who had not yet established his own personality.
It was clear that he was an existence Iseur could not afford to miss.
"My mind went blank for a moment when the wave rushed in. I apologize for showing you such an unsightly appearance due to the confusion."
"...."
"My head still hurts, so could you tell me exactly where this place is?"
"That…."
He seemed to know that this was a dungeon, but he didn't seem to know what kind of place this was a representation of.
'Should I call this a relief?'
While once again feeling that his teacher was not complete, Iseur couldn't help but feel relieved.
"...."
For both Iseur and Giovanni. It was fortunate for both of them that he could not remember the terrible things he had experienced here.
'…His teacher's personality is definitely not in a complete state.'
But the longer he stayed here, the more certain Jio's memories might become.
Recalling the reaction he had shown as soon as he came to the deep-sea laboratory, after showing no reaction at all in the Temple of the Sun….
"Eun-ha-gun mentioned it once before, but this is a virtual dungeon, Jio."
"...."
"…I haven't figured out the situation for long myself, so I'm not sure, but I think it's a dungeon related to the sea."
Yu Seong-un glanced at Iseur and continued.
"I don't know how many of the people who were in the Temple of the Sun were dragged here, but the number of people we can confirm right now is quite large, and they're scattered all over, making it difficult to grasp the exact situation."
"Where are the prospective priests?"
"At least, they're not visible in this cavern. Seeing as it blew up during the closing ceremony of the initiation, it's a virtual dungeon that seems highly intentional, so there's no way the prospective priests weren't dragged in."
"Then we must gather the people first. Isn't that right?"
"Easier said than done…."
He didn't know how it would look in Jio's eyes, but uniting people who were scattered in fear like this was no easy task.
If there was one fortunate thing, it was that the threat had lessened a bit thanks to the dungeon master's mood subsiding.
'The chimeras that looked like they were about to pop out and attack people at any moment are now completely quiet and limp, and if we play our cards right, we might be able to get out of the dungeon with minimal casualties… is it possible?'
It was then.
"―Honey."
"Kkuk?"
Something small and yellow popped out of Jio's hood with a flick.
"Kkururururu!"
It was Honey, a young bird of a new nation who sleeps early and wakes up early.
Honey, who flew into the center of the shadows tinged with a chilly light, soon began to glow brightly.
"…Oh."
Almost… as much as a small sun.
"Are you kidding me??"
Yu Seong-un was dumbfounded.
'He was with Honey this time too? Why do I feel the energy of the Sun God from a monster with a small body like Honey? Why? Is this right?'
Whether he was dumbfounded or not, the people who had been wandering and frightened began to calm down one by one in the light filled with warm energy.
After all, it was as if a light had been turned on in the dark and eerie laboratory.
"Wait a minute, what is this light…?"
"Is that a bird?"
"F-first, let's all gather over there."
The people scattered in the cavern, which was wide enough to be described as vast, instinctively gathered under Honey, following the comforting light. Some were already sniffling with relaxed faces, feeling relieved.
Watching this, Jio looked back at Yu Seong-un.
"There."
"...."
Yu Seong-un felt as if he could hear a voice saying, 'See? It's easy, right?'.
"…Good job…."
"Yes, I did a good job."
"Oh, so competent."
Just don't get caught being a portrait while you're at it.
'In this already chaotic situation, if your identity gets revealed, I don't think I'll be able to handle it.'
He was 'Jio's Portrait', whose identity even Bisabeol, who had become an S-class with a single appraisal skill, could not fully grasp.
He could be a human, a monster, a child of the Source, or even a god.
'If that fluidity is revealed to the people now, hostility could suddenly be directed this way.'
There were people who had excitedly shouted at even a C-class Hunter of no consequence to take responsibility for this situation.
If they were to see something non-human in the midst of that, and even if it possessed divinity, there was no telling what kind of ruckus they would cause.
"...."
Yu Seong-un, who had been staring intently at the unexpectedly gentle light, soon called out to Jio.
"Jio."
"Yes, I am listening."
"I couldn't tell you beforehand, but you were scheduled to receive an A-class Hunter license soon."
"Am I a Hunter?"
"It's better for operating on Earth, isn't it? It seems the Guild Master wanted to provide you with some convenience."
So.
"It was a Hunter license you were going to receive anyway, so when you introduce yourself to people, explain that you are 'Seo Jio', an unofficial A-class Hunter belonging to the Collectors Guild."
"I see."
"Your job is a Tamer. Since you have Honey with you, that will make it more convenient for you to get along with others."
"Thank you for your consideration."
"It's nothing."
So there was a small wish that he would please act human.
'I am aware that it's an excessive expectation.'
The risk level of a Source being changed depending on the size of its 'story', so Yu Seong-un wanted to cram Jio into the category of a human as much as possible.
He himself was pretending to be human, after all.
But recently, Yu Seong-un felt that Jio didn't seem to have the will to pretend to be human.
Whatever his true intentions were, Jio could never act like a complete human.
'So I was thinking of separating Jio as a human and Jio as a mystery.'
This was part of that work.
'…Jio's unique heavy atmosphere is still there, but I've lowered his status to the level of an A-class Hunter, so unless someone is exceptionally sensitive to energy, they won't be able to confirm their sense of unease about Jio.'
Of course, it was at the level of not being able to confirm, so anyone could feel a strange sense of foreignness, but that 'not being able to confirm' part was important.
That much could be passed off as part of his holy power or skills.
"...."
"...."
Yu Seong-un's and Eun-ha's eyes met.
"…Anyway, since it turned out like this, are you going to continue feigning innocence?"
"I do not know what you are talking about."
"This situation is turning out to be pretty funny. It's completely different from what I thought…."
Watching Jio approach the murmuring crowd, Yu Seong-un asked in a voice that the group would not hear.
"It seems you've lost the will to step up and commit a massacre, am I right?"
"I simply no longer wish to stain my hands with blood. That is all."
"That's very grateful to hear. I know what you're talking about."
"...."
"You don't want to be seen as a bad kid by Jio, do you?"
Yu Seong-un whistled.
"That's more than enough."
The fact that the monster's behavior changed according to Eun-ha's emotional state, and the fact that the atmosphere inside the dungeon was being controlled.
This was an integrated-type dungeon that lived and breathed according to the master's mindscape.
It was obvious that the difficulty of this dungeon would also be lowered to match Eun-ha's psychology of not wanting to be a 'bad kid' to Jio.
"As long as you're cooperative, I'll keep your identity a secret, so don't worry."
"Humans have a terrible habit of hastening their deaths. It would be wise not to act presumptuously, Hunter Yu Seong-un."
"How scary."
Honestly, it was really scary.
"Wouldn't it be nice to live an easy life."
He did not want to die in a place like this.
'If I die, it will cause problems in managing the garden.'
Among the 'gardens' that could be called the bloodline of the Source, Yu Seong-un was in charge of a position roughly equivalent to the aorta.
He didn't have the luxury to just die when he would be busy training a successor for a while even if he found one.
"...."
Iseur, who had glanced at such a Yu Seong-un, turned his sunken, pearl-colored gaze to take in the man draped in the black cape.
Soon, a dream was reflected in those eyes.
'…Truly….'
They're the same.
'There's no difference.'
Even if the color was different, that benevolent appearance, imbued with warm holy power while soothing and pacifying the creations of the sun, was certainly Giovanni's.
No matter how suspicious it was, he could not deny even that.
"It's such a sacred sight I feel bad watching it for free. Doesn't he look just like a saint?"
"…I have no response to your worthless words, but he was actually called a saint."
And yet, he had to die so cruelly.
In a water tank full of cold, his breath was cut short by the teeth of a student he had taught….
'…As expected, humans are a disgusting existence.'
At the sight of Jio embracing the vulgar monkeys and bestowing mercy, Iseur felt the smile that was always on his lips twist faintly.
He still did not know if that person was truly his teacher.
But the sight of an existence that looked so much like him bestowing mercy upon humans of all things displeased Iseur.
'Why am I seeing this sight?'
Suspicion towards a sudden stroke of luck.
Longing and anguish towards the repeating memories and nightmares. Impatience to separate the black cape from those bug-like creatures. Desperation.
The mermaid, searching for a way to define this emotion, muttered inwardly.
'As I thought, I wish they would all just die.'
The moment he thought that.
"...."
"Student Eun-ha."
"…Yes."
"Do not be alone, come here."
That now-cold, large hand reached out towards Iseur.
"You look lonely."
"...."
He couldn't bring himself to answer the words that seemed lonely to him.
The hand of Jio, which he held without a word, was as cold as expected.
Compared to the hand of his teacher, which was always warm in that long-faded memory, its temperature was no different from that of a corpse.
But it was still gentle.
"…It is cold and dark, so it is scary. This space is very barren."
"You are honest, Student Eun-ha. In that case, I will stay with you."
"Will you do that for me?"
It's a lie.
"I feel relieved."
Even if you are a child of the deep sea, I will be by your side. You said that to me before.
'…Saying something like that now only twists my insides. Now that everything has become cold….'
When nothing can be undone.
He wanted to resent him for something without realizing it, but the turmoil in his heart gradually subsided with the grip of the large hand that clasped him.
As if waiting for a forgotten habit, a voice as calm as a quiet evening spring breeze, yet filled with warmth, was soon heard.
"Are you alright?"
"...."
Giovanni was not a suitable person to be resented by a cold thing like him.
"…I don't think I'm okay."
"…Are you sick somewhere?"
"It is because I am scared."
He wanted to kill all the bug-like humans here.
He still did.
But he couldn't bring himself to reveal such feelings.
Whether the person holding his hand was an imitation of his teacher or his reincarnation, the fact that he had to hold onto him was certain.
'…What should I do?'
Deep killing intent and anxiety came at the same time.
'I have to save this person, at least.'
And so I have to have him….
***
Meanwhile, Jio.
'The world has developed so much.'
I had no thoughts at all.
"This is my first time experiencing a virtual dungeon in person, it's truly fascinating."
"Haha, you are very bold even in a situation like this, Jio-ssi."
"Isn't it fascinating?"
"Usually, people are more scared than fascinated."
"I see. I understand."
He opened his eyes and closed them and it felt like he had been transported to a haunted house, so Jio was just intrigued.
'Can something like this be considered part of an adventure?'
And it was an adventure to be enjoyed intimately among a crowd of people, a situation quite welcome for Jio, who had been alone often recently.
'Even if it is a bit tiring….'
As soon as the huge program called the Solar Cult Initiation Ceremony ended, a new piece of content called a virtual dungeon had walked right into Jio's arms.
'Nice.'
No matter how he thought about it, the current situation was very far from such an 'intimate adventure' or 'new content', but Jio's ultimate positive mindset did not yield in the face of a mere threat to his life.
'Perhaps because it's not a situation where I'm on the verge of death, to be honest, it just feels like I've come to a well-made movie set. I don't think I have enough tension, how was I supposed to get tense again.'
They say there's a way to escape, so isn't this just a well-themed escape room?
'Tada.'
Jio, who had come to a clear conclusion on his own without anyone's consent, was a little excited by the bustling feeling of being among people that he hadn't felt in a long time.
He actively responded to the people who asked him various things or struck up conversations to show their friendliness.
"Then are you a Hunter of the Collectors Guild, Seo Jio-ssi?"
"It turned out that way."
"Wow, I didn't know there was such a handsome Hunter in the Collectors…."
At that, Yu Seong-un interjected.
"There are many Hunters like me who don't show their faces to the media. The Collectors is a guild whose main focus is on collecting and managing the Guild Master's collection rather than dungeon clearing, so there are many Hunters like Jio who don't reveal their faces."
"No, but with such a handsome face, why…? If you just showed your face on TV once, a fan club would form just like that, wouldn't it? It's a crime, a crime to not show a face like this to the world while working as a Hunter, of all things."
"Haha…."
Yu Seong-un forced a laugh.
"…Jio is shy."
Jio felt very wronged by those words, but Yu Seong-un thought he hadn't said anything wrong.
Recalling 'Jio's Portrait', who had shown a reluctance to encounter people at all, it was a natural judgment.
While worrying that Jio might make a mistake by showing that he wasn't human, Yu Seong-un meticulously observed the reactions of the people murmuring in the distance.
"As expected, Hunters from the top 3 guilds are different. It's my first time seeing a Tamer…."
"But isn't he a little scary? I feel like he'd look at you with contempt if you misspeak."
"His actions and gait are aristocratic, could he be from the Royals? Then there's a reason to hide even with that face."
"Judging by his holy power, he seems to be a follower of the Sun God…. Since he's a Tamer, he wouldn't be a priest."
"He's kind, but for some reason, it's hard to talk to him. Is it because he's too handsome?"
They were pretty much the reactions he had expected.
'…I was worried about how the existence of Jio would be perceived by civilians, but their reactions are more friendly and favorable than I thought. At this rate, I'll be able to cover for him without much trouble even when we get out.'
In that case, they would have to formally acknowledge the existence of the Hunter named Jio now, but both Yu Seong-un and Bisabeol had already anticipated it to some extent.
'A status of that level can't be hidden just by locking it up in a gallery, and even if it could be hidden somehow… that's not in line with the Collectors' motto.'
Besides, the conclusion had been reached that it would be impossible to cram the 'story' of this portrait into the category of a human.
Since he himself couldn't hide it, whether Jio wanted it or not, people would eventually feel the distant status of 'Jio's Portrait' someday.
If so, it was better to distinguish between Jio as a human and Jio as an anomaly.
'Jio, who treats himself as a human, will try to get along with others somehow. If we have to have a Jio as a human anyway, we need to separate the more dangerous stories in advance.'
That was what the identity of 'Seo Jio', an unofficial Hunter of the Collectors, was for.
'With this identity, a part of Jio who pretends to be human… will be able to significantly lower the risk of that story. It will be a much safer choice than revealing the entirety of Jio's Portrait to the world.'
It was just that Jio's social life had been moved up a bit due to this sudden dungeon exploration.
It was only a matter of timing, nothing to be flustered about.
Yu Seong-un thought to himself as he sorted things out.
"...."
It seems everyone has calmed down.
'It's definitely not a normal situation, but should I see this as Jio's power too?'
Like the case with Hunter Cha Ara before, Jio had a strange ability to coax people well. Despite not being able to fully hide that terrifying status.
He didn't know if it was the effect of his status or his personal ability, but….
"Jio, I think it's about time we moved to check if the Cha family or other survivors are around."
At Yu Seong-un's words, the people became anxious again and started murmuring.
"C-can't Hunter Seo Jio stay here?"
"Including Yu Seong-un-ssi, there are already three other Hunters."
"While we are here… you could clear the dungeon among yourselves and come back…."
"Don't tell me we have to move too?"
"What if we all die in the process? Someone has to stay behind."
They were expected reactions, but the smile of Eun-ha, who seemed to despise humans, gradually deepening was a danger signal no matter how you looked at it.
'At this rate, we'll all die.'
Just as Yu Seong-un was about to sigh and appease the people, Jio stepped forward.
"Then I will leave Honey here."
"What? But, Hunter Seo Jio's summoned beast is too small…."
"Honey is stronger than me."
"No, don't joke around."
"It is true."
Jio waved his hands as if to say he was innocent.
"I will be back soon, so do not worry too much. I will help you."
"...."
"Since you are so strong-willed, everyone will be able to return safely."
In reality, the content of his words was nothing special, but the sound of sniffling was heard again from among the people.
It seemed they were comforted and reassured by Jio's words, and Yu Seong-un was a little dumbfounded.
'They wouldn't have listened if I had said it. How come there are no people grumbling that it's empty words.'
In the meantime, Jio approached and said.
"Let's move now."
"...."
The nuance was to escape before they held on any longer, which made Yu Seong-un feel strange.
He didn't know if the words just now were sweet talk or a sincere comfort, but Jio's appearance, which seemed to have a clear distinction between public and private affairs, created a strange impression.
'To be able to sway people's hearts so easily with just a few words.'
This is a real talent.
"You… would do well as an idol. Or an actor, you know, something like a celebrity."
"It is an undeserved compliment, but I believe I have sufficient aptitude."
"I think so too."
"Thank you for playing along with my joke. How could a timid person like me become a celebrity."
"...."
If he could sway the crowd with his words and face, shouldn't he really become a celebrity or start a cult?
'…I need to pull myself together.'
Yu Seong-un felt an even greater sense of responsibility at the dizzying talent shown by Jio's new personality.
***
"...."
"…S-sis…."
"Shh."
Cha Ara covered Cha Isold's mouth and warned him and Cha Eun-hyeok nodded in agreement.
"Be quiet."
Now was the time to even hold their breath.
Cha Eun-hyeok glanced at his two younger siblings hiding behind him, then turned his head forward again and surveyed his surroundings.
In a situation reeking of blood, cold sweat naturally flowed.
"H-h-hungry… hungry… h-h-hun…."
"Kkeuaaaaak…!! Aak, aaaaak!! S-save…!!"
"H-h-hun…."
The sight of people tearing at and eating each other.
It seemed clear that there was an infection-type monster here.
Fortunately, Cha Eun-hyeok and his younger siblings were able to hide under a desk safely before the situation worsened.
Though they were still trapped and unable to escape, Cha Eun-hyeok pushed his frightened and frozen siblings further into the corner.
"...."
He could see prospective priests hiding here and there, exchanging glances.
"…Hoo…."
Perhaps because of their small size, all the survivors in this cavern were young priests.
If there were any adults, it was only Cha Eun-hyeok and Cha Ara.
'This is fucked.'
He didn't know if they could survive.
-x-X-x-
It was perhaps only natural that the Cha family's situation had turned out this way.
'Of all things, a virtual dungeon with no choice in participation?'
Cha Eun-hyeok's expression, who was hiding under a desk while protecting his two younger siblings, contorted with disillusionment toward the world.
'Among the people left, I, the only semblance of an adult, am not a Hunter, and this flower pig, Cha Ara, will obviously be of no help. But it's also not a situation where I can ask the remaining prospective priests to save us….'
He didn't know what the condition was this time, but a virtual dungeon forcibly dragged in everyone who met the corresponding condition.
Cases where all participants were annihilated in a situation without a proper Hunter, like now, were common.
"..."
"..."
Cha Eun-hyeok and Cha Ara, drenched in cold sweat, exchanged glances in silence.
Cha Eun-hyeok nodded his head.
'You're the only hunter here.'
'Ah, I'm fucked.'
'That's how it is.'
But there was nothing to be done.
Weren't they called 'prospective' priests for a reason?
The young priests here were no different from civilians, not a single Hunter among them.
This meant that the only Hunter in this cavern was Cha Ara.
After confirming there were no monsters nearby, Cha Eun-hyeok whispered in a faint voice that couldn't be heard from a distance.
"Hey, F-Class porter."
"The fuck do you want."
"Isn't there some kind of countermeasure for times like this? Something Hunters learn…."
"I think this is the best we can do right now."
The Center advised not to gather in one place in very bad situations.
That way, even if the worst happened, they wouldn't be easily wiped out, and spreading out here and there would increase the survival rate.
"…Isn't that just a bait tactic…."
"Anyway, objectively, it's the method with the highest chance of survival."
"That's true, but."
It felt shitty as hell.
'It's telling us to scatter and pray that people other than me get caught.'
For the Cha family, who had the thick blood of pushovers, it was a countermeasure they didn't like at all, but they didn't move rashly either.
Without any abilities, the only way to save people was to bait themselves.
"..."
Newly realizing how screwed the situation was, Cha Ara pushed the youngest, hiding behind her back, further inside.
"Hey, Cha Isol. Get in deeper. Deeper."
"There's no more room to go in…."
"You're so small, what are you whining about, hurry up and squish yourself in."
"Ngggh…."
"Don't make a sound."
The place they hid was under the stainless steel desks installed at regular intervals throughout the cavern.
Perhaps thanks to the considerable number of desks installed, the prospective priests who were still alive also seemed to be hiding under them, just like they were.
Even if they hid like that, he didn't know how long they could remain undetected by the monsters roaming freely in all directions, but….
'Still, while I or my brother are causing a ruckus, at least Cha Isol will be safe.'
The youngest one, so tiny there was nothing to eat on him, would probably die instantly if bitten once.
It was a selfish thought, but wanting her own sibling to live longer than the other children was an unavoidable wish.
"Noonaaa…."
"Ah, seriously, stop acting cute."
"Wow, no, it's not cute, I'm being wronged here."
"Tsk."
Cha Eun-hyeok, positioned at the very edge of the desk, glanced at his bickering siblings in disbelief.
'Look at these tension-less things.'
In truth, it wasn't that they lacked tension; he already knew they were acting fine because they were too nervous.
With a hardened face, Cha Eun-hyeok broke out in a cold sweat and looked around.
A monster was approaching, making a sloshing sound.
"..."
"Hu, hun, hu-hu-hu, hun… gry… hun…."
"..."
Was it possessed by a ghost that died because it couldn't eat?
'This is why you have to set up a memorial service table. If we die here, it's all because the world has become so heartless that it won't even set up a single memorial service table….'
It was nonsense, but Cha Eun-hyeok engraved the wisdom of his ancestors in his heart and pressed his siblings further back.
The youngest, already crumpled at the very end, had no more room to move, but that didn't seem to be the case for Cha Ara, as the sound of her rustling as she was pushed down could be heard.
It was commendable that she managed not to make a sound, likely having heard the monster approaching.
"Hungry? Hungry. Hun. Hun, hun, hun, I'm hungry. Hungry…."
"..."
The monster, whose form he hadn't even properly seen yet, came close.
Thanks to that, Cha Eun-hyeok got to see the monster's damp legs to his heart's content, something he never wanted.
'Is it my time to die?'
At the very least, I will save our flower pig and the youngest.
Please remember me, the one who baked the cheapest and most delicious pastry in the Republic of Korea.
It was just when he had steeled his heart.
"—You vermin!!!"
Fwoooosh!!!
The monsters burned one by one, turning to ash.
"Uh, uh…?"
It was so instantaneous that it felt surreal.
Instead of the sloshing sound, the sound of crisp ash pattering down could be heard and the cavern's eeriness was forcibly consumed by the heat of the fire.
"..."
"..."
The Cha family, bewildered, turned to look at the cavern entrance they hadn't even known was there.
"Vermin…??"
"Vermin…."
"Ah, wait a minute."
Cha Eun-hyeok belatedly realized who the owner of the 'vermin' that had resounded thunderously through the cavern was.
"…Priest Kang Seo-dam?"
The priest with long, wavy blond hair and pale green eyes that stood out, Kang Seo-dam, was panting heavily, looking completely disheveled.
Their eyes met—Kang Seo-dam, his face flushed with veins bulging, so angry for some reason, and Cha Eun-hyeok, quietly breaking into a cold sweat.
It felt like he had encountered a taboo that should not have been seen.
"..."
"..."
Kang Seo-dam, his face returning from that of a demon to a priest's, asked in a neat tone.
"Are you alright?"
"No, just now, you said vermin…."
"What else would you call a vermin but a vermin?"
"Wow."
"I apologize that you had to hear my profanity so suddenly when you must have been frightened."
Had he not heard that clearly accentuated 'vermin,' Priest Kang Seo-dam continued to speak calmly with a response so kind it would have been purely touching.
"I too was in a state of chaos, having been dragged into a virtual dungeon out of the blue, but I am glad to see that many survivors remain."
Priest Kang Seo-dam, whose clean priestly robes had become tattered as if he had been through quite a lot, looked around.
Only then did Cha Eun-hyeok also look around the cavern, but not a single monster remained, whatever Priest Kang Seo-dam had done just now.
"Hmm."
Kang Seo-dam quietly made the sign of the cross with his characteristic cool, expressionless face.
"The Goddess has watched over us."
"..."
I'm pretty sure you were the one who did the watching over.
'Are there really no sane people among Hunters, except for our flower pig?'
A priest who officiated an initiation ceremony had to be at least a B-Class Hunter.
Judging by his skill in burning all the monsters in the cavern to death in an instant, he seemed to be A-Class or quasi-S-Class, which made Cha Eun-hyeok feel a little relieved.
Since he had no strengths other than a sturdy body, it was a relief that even if he died, he had found a strong person to whom he could entrust his siblings' safety.
'…What a relief.'
Cha Eun-hyeok let out a long breath and wiped his face.
He could finally breathe a little.
"Pr, Priest-nim…."
"Hwaaaang…."
"Priest Kang Seo-dam…!"
Only then did the prospective priests who had been hiding in various places crawl out.
"Yes, Priest Kang Seo-dam is here. If there are any surviving brothers, please gather by my side."
As if accustomed to the tearful clinging of such survivors, Priest Kang Seo-dam expertly organized the situation.
He looked back at Cha Eun-hyeok and Cha Ara and added.
"The same goes for the guardians of Priest Cha Isold over there."
"Ah, yes…."
Led by the stable voice that was hard to find in a dungeon, all the survivors in the cavern gathered in front of Priest Kang Seo-dam, but their number was not very large.
Most had been bitten to death by monsters, or had eaten each other afterward.
"..."
Priest Kang Seo-dam, grimacing as if holding back a heavy sigh, opened his mouth.
"I apologize for making you experience such an incident at an event I was officiating."
"N-No. It was an accident…."
"It is also my role to prevent such accidents beforehand. Formal compensation for the damage will be arranged as soon as the situation is resolved."
The priest, who bowed his head to express his apology, continued.
"I will create a barrier for you, so the survivors, please go inside and rest. I will collect the remains of the others."
"…I will help you as well."
At Cha Eun-hyeok's words, Cha Ara raised her hand.
"Ah, then I do too…."
"If you insist, I will only accept Hunter Cha Ara's help."
Priest Kang Seo-dam looked back at Cha Eun-hyeok.
After a moment of thought, he opened his mouth.
"I am grateful for your sentiment, Guardian Cha Eun-hyeok, but this is not a task that should be entrusted to a civilian and above all, you are the only adult remaining, Mr. Cha Eun-hyeok."
"Ah…."
"I would like to ask you to comfort the young brothers so they do not become more afraid. Your willingness to offer a helping hand even in a difficult situation will be rewarded later in the name of the Sun."
As she approached the vicinity of the corpses that had turned into monsters and then into ash by the light of the Sun, Cha Ara asked.
"Um, but you know all of our names…? Is that normal?"
"This is an event that I am officiating, so I must not be negligent in my responsibility. I have memorized the names of all those who formally participated after putting their names on the list."
"Woooow…."
After meeting nothing but shitty Hunters for a while, a person so full of responsibility felt incredibly unfamiliar.
'If I had only met Hunters like this, I wouldn't have been abandoned in that damn cave, fuck.'
Feeling an unwarranted sense of relief, Cha Ara continued to speak while collecting the light corpses that looked like they had just come out of a crematorium.
"It feels like it's been a long time since we've seen you after being dragged into the dungeon. Where have you been until now?"
"I apologize."
"Ah, no, I'm not scolding you for not coming sooner…."
Fuck, my words.
'Let's think before I speak.'
Cursing her own intelligence, Cha Ara continued speaking despite stammering.
"This cavern itself is quite large and a lot of people were dragged here, so we thought this was everyone who was brought in."
"…I was dropped alone in a different cavern from this one."
Priest Kang Seo-dam replied, making the sign of the cross toward the ashen corpses and bestowing a blessing of rest.
"The number of monsters was large, their skills were considerable, and the escape gimmick was complicated, so it took time."
"Alone in a place like that…?"
"If you think about it that way, it seems the people who gathered at the initiation ceremony were randomly scattered."
"…What? Ah, if that's the case…."
"It did not seem to be completely without a standard."
Saying he had faced a large number of monsters, Priest Kang Seo-dam wiped the blood flowing down his forehead and continued.
"In my case, as the most threatening force to the dungeon, I was dropped alone in a place swarming with monsters. On the other hand, all the prospective priests are gathered in this cavern."
"All of them? You confirmed that already at that time?"
"They are the brothers I am in charge of, so I remembered their faces."
"…Huh? No, but as I recall, surely…."
"Yes, I understand what part you are finding strange."
Kang Seo-dam swung his wand, which was as long as he was tall, and bestowed a blessing on the entire cavern.
The corpses, which had taken the form of ash, soon transformed into the appearance of whole people.
"..."
Priest Kang Seo-dam, who had shown a small miracle with the power of the Sun, soon opened his mouth.
"…Brother Eun-ha is not in sight."
In this place where all the prospective priests had gathered, only that one boy could not be found.
"I did not find the body of a prospective priest here, so I believe he is likely somewhere else."
"..."
"We can figure out why he was dropped off alone later. Hunter Cha Ara, do you still have stamina left? Visually, you don't seem to be injured, is there anything wrong?"
"Ah, no, there isn't."
"Then let's get moving. I came here because this was the closest cavern to where I was dropped, but there are probably survivors in other places as well. There weren't many Hunters who attended this event, so if we don't respond in time, it will become dangerous."
"The other kids and my brother are…."
At Cha Ara's words, Kang Seo-dam confirmed the survivors by the barrier and nodded.
"We can't leave them here, so it seems they will have to come with us. The barrier is difficult to maintain if the distance is great, and there is also a time limit. It would have been better if there was a more skilled priest, but I do not specialize in barriers."
"It certainly seems like you don't specialize in protection…."
The expression on Priest Kang Seo-dam's face, who had turned all the monsters to ash with a single swing of his wand, was truly that of a demon that had crawled up from hell.
If he had specialized in protection or healing with that impression, it would have sounded rather strange.
Without adding anything else, Kang Seo-dam nodded his head.
"The bodies have been collected and blessed, so they will not be further disturbed or rot."
"Then what do we do now…."
"Fortunately, I have subspace skill. I will place them in here, so I believe there will be no major problems with the collection afterward."
"Yes, yes."
"If we delay any longer, we don't know what might happen, so Hunter Cha Ara, please help the prospective priests move."
"Ah, I understand."
"Hoo…."
Kang Seo-dam, wiping his blood-soaked face, looked around.
'…Could it be the mischief of that black god I saw at the initiation ceremony?'
That man who was wearing a black cape pulled down low. He had definitely felt divinity, but even if it wasn't a monster from the corresponding dungeon, a god could open a dungeon at will.
If so, that would mean he had quite strong authority for an evil god, and the aura he felt was close to death, which made him suspicious for a moment.
'…No, but that being was one the Goddess had looked upon with such a favorable gaze. A god who has a high understanding of humans and seemed moderate in building relationships would not suddenly commit such a massacre.'
Rather, the suspicious one was Eun-ha, that blue-haired prospective priest.
"..."
Even though he felt a cold aura, he had just thought, 'Is he a child who intends to serve a god who harbors coldness?', but with the situation having come to this, he had no choice but to be suspicious.
'The coldness I felt from Eun-ha-gun is remarkably similar to the coldness filled with the aura of this deep sea. If I can recognize it at a glance, it means that Eun-ha-gun had no intention of hiding his identity even after creating the incident.'
Either he planned to kill everyone here from the start, or he planned to visit Earth just once and then leave.
'In this case, it seems to be both. It is a very dangerous dungeon….'
It was when he was looking around, worried about the situation that would follow.
"...?"
The air changed.
'…In a positive way.'
Unlike the previous air, which seemed desperate to kill anyone, a strangely warm energy subtly enveloped the entire dungeon.
"One moment."
Kang Seo-dam entrusted the survivors to Cha Ara and went out into the corridor.
Not long after he began to survey the surroundings, he saw something far down the corridor that resembled a temple submerged in the deep sea.
"..."
"..."
The man wearing a pitch-black cape took off his hood.
'…Ah.'
From within the deep shadow that felt as if nothing should be there, platinum blond hair resembling sunlight was revealed.
"..."
"Brother Kang Seo-dam."
It was the god presumed to be favorable to humans, 'Seo Jio.'
"The temple was wider than I imagined, so I was lost, but I am pleased to meet a child of the Sun like this."
"..."
"Do you perhaps know where the other survivors are? You seem to be injured, so I can help you."
"..."
"Brother Kang Seo-dam?"
"My apologies."
To find out what kind of god he was like this.
'So there was a reason the Goddess gave him her gaze. They were of the same lineage….'
Although it seemed they were not of a completely identical lineage, judging by the strangely serene atmosphere, Kang Seo-dam was relieved by the familiar light of the sun and thought.
'It was an ambiguous situation to ask for help, but it seems you have wrought some kind of miracle before I could even ask.'
'Seo Jio' must have played a large part in the dungeon becoming gentle.
In truth, it was a bit much to call it a miracle, but it was not an incorrect guess anyway.
-x-X-x-
For the air of an entire dungeon to change was no easy feat.
'That's only possible when there's a change in the state of the dungeon's owner, and an owner who can synchronize with the dungeon as if it were a part of themselves would most likely be a monster stronger than average….'
Thinking this, Kang Seo-dam looked at the 'Seo Jio' before him.
"May I ask you a question?"
"Yes, of course. What are you curious about?"
"…Are you currently in the situation of being a Hunter?"
It was a question asking if cooperation was possible, now that he was imitating a human.
'…I hope that didn't sound too arrogant.'
Kang Seo-dam still couldn't meet Jio's eyes, and was only looking at his lips.
The lips, forming a perfectly gentle curve, parted calmly, holding a kindness that was almost alien.
"Come to think of it, my introduction was late. I am Seo Jio, a Hunter from the Collectors Guild."
"…Is that so?"
Come to think of it, he remembered that the white-haired Hunter who had been stuck to his side throughout the initiation ceremony was definitely from the Collectors.
It was rare for a Hunter to be from the underground rather than a public figure, so he had left a deep impression.
'In that case, is this person currently receiving help from the Collectors Guild? It's rare for a god to go to such lengths to blend in among humans.'
Even for a being who became a god from a human, gaining divinity meant abandoning humanity.
In many ways, receiving help from a capable group like this to adapt to humans and their society was one type of a god's amusement.
'Above all, if it's the Collectors… is it the guild with the gallery of the collector Bisabeol? As a group that pours affection, not control, over mystery and strangeness, it can be said to be perfect for aiding a god's amusement.'
He was inwardly relieved.
'Then the conversation becomes easier. If he's gone so far as to have a proper identity created with the help of a human group, he won't cast humans aside easily. It would mean he has that much of an open mind towards humans….'
Kang Seo-dam asked, still without meeting his gaze.
"Are you perhaps a priest?"
"Yes, I am… hmm."
The Black Cape, who seemed about to affirm, paused his answer for a moment.
Then, with a slight smile, he continued.
"If you are asking about my profession as a Hunter, I am a Tamer, not a priest."
"How should I understand your holy power?"
"It is merely a power gratefully received as a child of the Sun, it's nothing grand."
"So you are a follower, not a priest. Thank you for helping me understand."
Seo Jio, a Hunter from the Collectors Guild.
Platinum blond hair and blue eyes. Profession, Tamer.
Judging by the fact that the pressure he felt wasn't so alien, he must have adjusted his grade to be between A and B, and the reason he could handle holy power was that he was a devout follower of the Sun….
"..."
He committed it to memory.
'…Judging by the level of presence I feel, it seems closer to having been cut off rather than hidden. Your way of enjoying your amusement is quite extreme. There's also the possibility that you are in a cursed state.'
Of course, there was no need for a mere human like Kang Seo-dam to analyze and ponder a god's story.
He simply asked cautiously to do his part.
"Could you perhaps help in finding other survivors?"
"I came here precisely for that purpose."
"Ah… thank you."
Was he truly a god favorable to humans?
Since a death-like aura could be felt, the possibility of him being an evil god was non-existent, but he couldn't not seek the help of a god who was being so polite.
'I don't know exactly what kind of god you are, but you care a lot about humans. Since you are using a Korean-style name, Seo Jio is probably not your true name… I'll have to offer a prayer to your divine statue later.'
For now, he decided to ask about that later.
From a god's perspective it might just feel interesting, but the situation for the humans was very urgent.
"Did you see any other survivors on your way here?"
"There were quite a few people where I was. My contracted beast, whom I consider a son, is guarding the place, so you don't have to worry about that side. I was trying to check if there were survivors in places other than the cavern I was in."
"My situation is similar. I was dropped alone in a cavern full of monsters, and there were no other survivors there besides myself. In the cavern I just came from, there were more people, but…."
"Was there harm done?"
"..."
"I see."
That was, surprisingly, a tone filled with sorrow.
Kang Seo-dam quietly hid his own agitation.
'Is there a god who grieves over the death of a mere human? A very rare case.'
In the first place, that's what gods were.
Beings who became part of nature and fate.
Even if such gods felt emotions at a human's death, they would only feel a level of interest akin to a toy breaking.
But the 'Seo Jio' before him truly seemed to be mourning a person's death.
On an equal footing, as if dealing with the death of a friend.
"..."
"Have you bestowed a blessing?"
"…I have tried to handle it, albeit inadequately."
"Would it be rude if I took another look?"
"If so, the dead souls would be able to return to the Sun's side with a lighter heart."
For a god to personally bless the dead.
It might sound a bit strange for those pitifully killed by monsters, but it could only be described as a truly miraculous stroke of luck.
"Please lead the way."
"This way, then…."
Leading 'Seo Jio', Kang Seo-dam felt a little relieved.
Not all gods could be trusted, but a god who put in the effort to even feign mourning was trustworthy.
'The Goddess also sent a favorable gaze, so it is not for me, her servant, to doubt. I will empty my thoughts and follow God's will. That is the demeanor a priest should rightly show.'
Kang Seo-dam decided to play along with the name 'Seo Jio'.
This was the historical moment when the secret human identity, 'Seo Jio', of the ghost story 'The Black Cape' was created.
***
"You know,"
Yu Seong-un stared blankly at the bonfire.
"..."
"I thought, of all places to be dragged into a virtual dungeon while in the Temple of the Sun, I was about to film a desperate survival story full of blood splatters and flowing tears."
Listening to him, Kang Seo-dam nodded his head as if in agreement.
"Even when I first fell into the cavern, I had similar thoughts."
"Is that so?"
"It looked like a cool dungeon where the light of the Sun could hardly reach, so I was even prepared to die and take responsibility for this situation."
"Wow, that's cool. Not all who awakened as priests would be as cool as you, Priest Kang Seo-dam."
"I am merely doing my best in what I must do."
"Doing your best, you say…."
Yu Seong-un nodded his head.
"So is that why you're cleaning fish right now?"
"..."
That's right, Kang Seo-dam was currently cleaning a fish.
"…I cannot let that person clean it himself, can I."
"Jio likes that kind of thing."
"That is irreverent."
"No, really…."
A campsite was being set up here out of the blue. With makeshift tents and a bonfire, plus the cleaned fish, the atmosphere of the people gathered around was truly peaceful.
'Jio, for god's sake.'
He did have an expectation that Jio, being quite gentlemanly towards humans, might help out in this virtual dungeon.
But he hadn't wished for this level of full-scale comfort.
'To you, this situation might feel like a fun picnic or a game, but it's not like that for normal humans… what am I supposed to do if you start enjoying it seriously.'
The only fortunate thing was that almost no one found this situation strange, swept up in the peaceful and heartwarming atmosphere that Jio was giving off like sweet water.
Only Yu Seong-un was on pins and needles, worried that the fact that Jio wasn't human would be revealed.
'The fact that most of them are civilians with hazy experiences of dungeons or monsters must have also played a part in this situation.'
Yu Seong-un muttered.
"For a dungeon, is it really okay to be like this?"
"If you don't like it, why don't you go out and hunt some monsters?"
"Eun-ha, you're quite harsh."
You're the owner of this dungeon in the first place.
"Are you okay with this?"
"..."
"…You yourself think this is going a bit strangely, don't you."
Despite having a picturesque smile, the way he subtly avoided eye contact made it seem like he had something to be guilty about.
Well, from a monster's perspective, how absurd must this situation be.
'It seems like he's fidgeting like that because he doesn't want to be branded as a bad kid by Jio, but thinking about it again, this situation is absurd. Is it really okay for things to become peaceful in such a haphazard way?'
Fortunately for the kid, the only ones who knew Eun-ha's identity right now were Yu Seong-un and, probably, Kang Seo-dam, who was a high-ranking priest.
The other survivors were treating Eun-ha as just another prospective priest.
Jio approached.
"Is the fish cleaning done?"
"It's almost finished."
"If it's difficult for you, perhaps I should join you…."
"You don't have to worry, I can handle cleaning a fish just fine."
"That's not what I meant, but I understand."
He spoke refreshingly with the face of 'Giovanni'.
"There's no reason to refuse free labor when you offer to help!"
"..."
To say something as worldly as 'free labor' with that noble face that purifies just by looking at it.
'And for some reason, Eun-ha is looking on with a nostalgic face.'
Was the person named Giovanni originally like that?
'Even if he says that, he still looks like a devout and noble priest, but something, somewhere is a little… should I say shameless… or does he have an oddly headstrong side….'
Yet, it was truly strange that his unique dignity didn't disappear.
"Jio."
"Yes, Mr. Yu Seong-un."
"Should I just stay put like this?"
"I believe checking to see if any monsters are approaching is also a necessary task."
"That's true, but…."
To say it again, this place had become a campsite.
With the dungeon owner himself keeping his mouth shut because he doesn't want to be a bad kid, what kind of audacious monster would come looking for them?
"Are you sure we don't need to check if there are any other survivors left?"
"We all searched together, but we didn't see any others, did we?"
Eun-ha answered Yu Seong-un's question naturally.
He could practically hear him saying, 'There are no other survivors besides the people gathered here, so stop digging,' which sent a chill down his spine.
'Seeing him make threats so furtively like this, it seems he's concerned about his story getting out. Dungeons are originally constructed based on the owner's past and psyche… Is he worried that I might find out about him and Giovanni while investigating the dungeon?'
And yet, he seemed to be savoring the situation where Jio was acting like 'Giovanni' to the fullest 120%.
'As expected of a humanoid monster, he's full of emotions and thoughts.'
Jio stroked Eun-ha's head.
"Student Eun-ha, you are very bold."
"Ah, that…."
"I was worried, but I'm glad you seem to be okay."
"..."
Watching that scene, Yu Seong-un thought to himself.
'It's a landmine.'
He didn't know the exact circumstances, but the reaction was obvious. Jio was tap-dancing on Eun-ha's landmine without a care in the world, yet Jio himself seemed to have no awareness of what he was doing.
'Well… considering the safety of the humans, it's better for his attention to be diverted this way.'
Yu Seong-un looked around.
"..."
The people were quite stable.
'I can't say that few people died from the aftermath of the dungeon opening, but the fact that this many survived a dungeon that was deliberately set off in a temple is close to a miracle. Besides, the expressions of the survivors don't look so bad either.'
There were, of course, people who were still anxious, but after Jio approached and said a few words, they quickly calmed down.
In a chilly dungeon like this, Jio's presence, which was calming just to look at, would be a great comfort.
"Still, even so…."
Yu Seong-un said to Jio, who was moving around without a single break.
"Aren't you working too hard? Aren't you getting tired?"
"Thank you for your concern."
"You said your head hurt earlier, is that not a problem anymore?"
He knew Jio wasn't a pushover who would just be busy getting bitten, but no matter how formidable he felt, if he acted too benevolently, it actually made him more anxious.
If he exhausted himself and became disappointed in humans, what kind of situation would unfold?
Fortunately, Jio's expression wasn't too bad.
Giovanni, with a smile as gentle as a painting, replied.
"It feels like things are slowly getting sorted out, so I'm fine."
"Oh… sorted out…."
That shouldn't be happening.
'…If Giovanni's personality really gets established here, wouldn't that be a bit troublesome? I don't know exactly how close Eun-ha and Giovanni's relationship was, but it seems they weren't on ordinary terms. If he regains all his memories, he might take Eun-ha's side….'
For now, he had no choice but to rely on Jio's goodwill.
"Still, take it easy. I know you want to be good to people, but sometimes there are people who take kindness for granted. No, actually, it happens quite often, not just sometimes."
To that, Jio surprisingly nodded his head readily.
"I know that too."
"Ah, you do?"
"But the sun shines on everything, does it not?"
"Uh, huh…."
"If the sun does so, then I must do the same."
"..."
Just hearing his words, he sounded like a truly devout priest.
'…Is it just my imagination, or do I hear him saying, 'I'm just doing it because it's my job'?'
Yu Seong-un had been worried that Jio might trust or pour too much affection into humans, and then cause a major incident after being betrayed.
But looking at the way he was talking now, it seemed he didn't have to worry about that.
'What should I call this.'
Ah.
'He's like a service industry employee.'
He was the model of a capitalist smile.
'It's not like Jio can gain any capitalistic profit in this situation, but for some reason, it feels like watching a skilled employee, like a civil servant at the Center, who is adept at responding….'
He roughly got the feeling.
'So the person named Giovanni wasn't just a benevolent priest after all.'
The fact that his expectations for humans seemed quite low was strangely reassuring.
If he was showing such kindness despite not trusting humans that much, he probably wouldn't get angry right away even if some clueless idiots acted up.
Though Yu Seong-un would have to block it before that happened.
"But how did you manage to catch a fish? It happened while I wasn't looking so I'm not sure, but where on earth did you catch a fish? Was there a pond in a desolate place like this?"
"There was a deep pit of water near the edge of the third cavern we found. The water quality was actually better than Earth's, and the fish living there didn't seem to be poisonous…."
"So you decided to catch and eat them?"
"Isn't everyone hungry?"
"Aside from being hungry, people don't normally think of casually grilling and eating fish in a dungeon like this."
"I think it's because you're not hungry enough."
"You're so blunt. Not that you're wrong, though."
He had been a little worried, but the personality called Giovanni seemed to be a pretty decent guy.
'Though Jio said it's not a personality, but a change in character.'
It's just so peaceful that it's absurd.
If Yu Seong-un felt this way, how absurd must the owner of this dungeon feel….
***
"..."
Inside the deep sea, crimson lips drew a hollow smile.
"…Ha."
So there are people who don't change even after dying and coming back to life.
That person is you, Giovanni.