"Brother Cha Isold."
In the end, Cha Isold was called over by Kang Seo-dam.
"I will ask you directly."
"Yep."
"Have you ever been in contact with an evil god?"
"…Yep!"
"I appreciate your honesty."
"But just a moment, teacher."
"Please speak, I will listen attentively."
"Thank you…!"
After taking a deep breath, Cha Isold spoke with grim determination.
"It might not be an evil god!"
"...."
Kang Seo-dam did not bother to deny it.
"It is certainly a ridiculous act to separately classify evil gods from a human perspective."
"He might actually be kind."
"What I can tell you is that most gods are quite evil from a human standpoint."
"That… yes, I remember."
"You are a diligent student. I am also in a position of serving a god, and for that reason, I can say this clearly."
He shook his head.
"A god is not a being to be trusted and relied upon."
"I've been curious for a while now, but does the God of the Sun not get angry or sulk when you speak like that?"
"What is important to a god is not words, but actions and results. As long as one does not commit acts that have a substantially negative influence, they do not hand down punishment."
"Surprisingly, those beings called gods are somewhat… um…."
"Indifferent, aren't they? That is indeed the case. It is due to their low understanding of the individual entity known as a human."
Kang Seo-dam rummaged through the files in his counseling office drawer.
"That is why there are some prospective priests who deliberately hope for an evil god with a high understanding of humans. Once they become official priests and actually serve a god, they won't be able to say such things, but… here it is."
He placed a few documents in front of Cha Isold.
"These are materials on the evil gods recognized domestically. You may take them with you."
"Th-thank you…?"
"However, seeing your reaction, Brother Cha Isold, it seems you already have a god in mind."
"Is it okay to say?"
"Do you know the god's name? That is a very rare case."
Kang Seo-dam stroked his chin.
"Most evil gods probably have a separate name so that humans can call upon them without feeling burdened. Is there no alias that separately refers to the evil god that Brother Cha Isold knows? In the case of our Seoul branch's Solar Cult, we have a second name, the 'Light of Fairness'…."
At that, Cha Isold gestured to Kang Seo-dam.
When Kang Seo-dam obediently leaned his ear toward Cha Isold, the child whispered.
"The Black Cape."
"…Oh…."
Kang Seo-dam, slowly returning to his original position, nodded his head.
"I see."
"Yes."
"...."
"Did I do something wrong…?"
"…I think I will need to think about that a little more to know."
Kang Seo-dam, after some thought, asked again.
"You said you still don't know if he is an evil god or a traditional god, Brother Cha Isold."
"Yes, how can you distinguish between them?"
"You can tell by looking at whether the claims and powers the god puts forth are harmful to humans or not."
"Then he must not be an evil god!"
"However, most evil gods often make false claims."
Kang Seo-dam called for prospective priest Iruda, who was likely waiting outside.
Iruda, who had been about to return to the break room with her partner Cha Isold, quickly came inside and looked at Kang Seo-dam.
"We met several times today, Sister Iruda."
"It seems so."
"I believe it was you, Sister Iruda, who informed Brother Cha Isold that he is an evil god."
"…That is correct."
"I would like to hear the reason why you thought so, if that is possible."
"Yes, I will do so."
Iruda, while wearing a face that seemed to feel disillusioned with everything in the world, explained diligently.
"I saw a picture that Brother Cha Isold drew of something. A black…."
"I have just heard from Brother Cha Isold which subject we are talking about."
"That is a relief. When I saw the drawing of that black figure, I felt a chill and an eeriness."
"Are you not simply mistaking God's intimidation?"
"As far as I know, although it was not blatant, it was indeed the wicked divinity of an evil god."
"Not blatant…."
Soon, Kang Seo-dam asked.
"Did you not feel a warm energy?"
"Pardon? Yes. Brother Cha Isold did mention that it was warm, so it would be fine."
At that, Cha Isold muttered.
"It really is warm."
"I am not optimized for feeling a god's temperature."
"A god's temperature?"
"...."
As Iruda hesitated, Kang Seo-dam explained in her stead.
"Do you remember when I said that a god is nature and fate with a will?"
"Yes, I remember."
"The range of what humans can perceive is very narrow.
So much so that an ordinary person, unless they become a very faithful follower, will not be able to feel a god even if they live their whole life."
"Ah…."
"Thanks to having awakened as priests, we can feel the gods more easily.
That is why each priest has a different way of accepting and interpreting a god."
Kang Seo-dam pointed at Iruda.
"In Sister Iruda's case, she feels a god's volume."
"Volume?"
"How big the god is, where on me they are stroking, how loud their voice is. To put it simply, you could say she can feel the entire size of a god."
"I see…."
"In Brother Cha Isold's case, he seems to be sensitive to a god's temperature. Compared to Sister Iruda, who can easily perceive a god's intimidation and violence, Brother Cha Isold can easily feel the affection or mercy a god sends."
Kang Seo-dam, having explained the cases of the two priests, pointed to himself.
"However, most priests, including myself, find it not easy to feel a god, so we receive orders from the religious order. After all, the longer one stays in the temple, the more convenient it becomes to grasp the god's will."
"...."
"This means that Brother Cha Isold and Sister Iruda have very great capabilities as priests. Other priests will develop their own ways of serving a god when they reach that age, but as of now."
Kang Seo-dam looked at Cha Isold.
"That is why I am all the more concerned about which god Brother Cha Isold will form a contract with. Especially when combined with Brother Cha Isold's personality… there are some unsettling points."
"Am I that much of an unsettling type?"
"To be frank, yes, you are. I know that Brother Cha Isold has a surprisingly seasoned and brilliant side to him, but children of that age are especially prone to being swayed by affection."
"…Uuumm…."
After some thought, Cha Isold asked.
"What should I do?"
"Has that being ever directly suggested a contract to you, brother?"
"No, it was just a few private meetings."
"I, too, do not yet know if that being is an evil god or a traditional one."
He wouldn't say it, but the Black Cape was a being upon whom the fair light he revered had once shone.
As a being affirmed by the traditional Goddess of Providence, it was difficult to simply dismiss it as an evil god.
In the first place, even among gods of death, there were traditional gods who respected human providence depending on their dimension of origin, and there were evil gods who broke the natural order and spread the pain of death throughout the world. It was a truly difficult task to classify gods by human standards.
"As I said in class today, evil gods easily see through human desires and anger. They can turn even a person who was initially rational into an incarnation of greed, or a berserker of rage."
They break humans easily. It was the evil gods who could turn even a hero with conviction into a miserable murderer in an instant.
"There is a subtlety to it that cannot be found in traditional gods. It happens without you knowing, very naturally. This is because evil gods are also a type of nature and fate."
"...."
"Even in our Solar Cult, there have already been several… priests who were bewitched by an evil god and ruined their lives and their surroundings. Even though they made the contract with altruism like a saint or saintess, not selfishness, it ended up that way in the end."
Kang Seo-dam emphasized.
"Do not trust the gods."
"…But then why make a contract?"
"I misspoke. I mean, do not treat a god with human emotions."
"Yes."
"You may believe in and rely on a god as much as you want, but you must not expect humanity from them."
"...."
"Evil gods are especially subtle in that aspect…"
Kang Seo-dam, who was about to say something more, soon closed his mouth.
"...."
"…Teacher?"
"…No, it's just…."
He continued speaking again.
"I would like you to be cautious."
"Yes, yes."
"The subject you mentioned is not a being that has been observed on Earth for very long."
"So I've heard."
"So there isn't much data… hmm."
Kang Seo-dam nodded his head.
"I do not yet feel any negative energy from you, Brother Cha Isold."
"Ah, then is it okay for me to keep meeting him?"
"I would like to tell you to just not be hasty in making a contract. Not doing just that is half the battle."
"Why the contract?"
"No god can make a follower without a contract. That is also the reason why a faithful follower who can use holy power can never be considered a priest."
"Ah…."
"For various reasons, the gods do not influence the human world without a contract. A contract is a kind of Maginot Line."
"So as long as I don't make a contract, it's fine?"
"We'll have to observe the situation more, but for now, that alone is enough."
Iruda interjected into their conversation.
"Is it alright to leave things as they are? Perhaps, he could have been brainwashed so that the evil god wouldn't notice…."
"I was not a genius like you, Sister Iruda, but I have much more experience."
"But even so…."
"My partner was bewitched by an evil god and was executed. I led it myself."
"...."
"I am the person who can recognize the omens of an evil god better than anyone."
He smiled faintly.
"Do not worry, Brother Cha Isold is under the protection of the Sun."
"I was rude, I apologize."
"How could I not know the heart of worrying for one's brother."
"Thank you."
"However, if any unusual event occurs, I ask that you tell me at any time."
"I will do so."
Iruda, who had come out of the counseling office, buried her face in her hands.
"...."
"Ruda-ya?"
"I made a mistake."
"It's because you like me too much."
"The fact that you're not wrong is what makes me angry."
"Thanks to you, I feel super reassured, you know?"
"…If you know, then treat me well."
"How?"
"Let me know every time he makes contact…."
"I will."
The two of them walked towards their assigned room, talking in low tones.
"By the way, the teacher said in class today that scholars summoned evil gods."
"He did."
"So in the end, it means that even non-priests can summon gods? Even if we're ordinary people and not Awakeners like us?"
"Since even ordinary followers who aren't priests can use holy power, it's a natural thing in a way."
"But most people don't even think about summoning a god."
"That's… because knowledge related to the gods hasn't been popularized."
Above all, the civil consciousness of the current chaotic world was too low to handle knowledge about the gods as well.
"Fearing that someone might do something crazy rashly, the government and the Association tend to control knowledge related to the call of the gods. If there are people who know in detail, wouldn't it be the 3 Great Guilds?"
"The Guilds…."
"As long as you don't serve a god of the same lineage, if you come to serve a different god, you can enter a private guild after becoming an official priest. For your personality, Cha Isold, this kind of free-spirited side might be better."
"Then what happens to our partnership?"
"I heard they usually move together. It's not a strict rule, but I heard it's no easy task to find a fellow priest who you're that in sync with."
"Ooh…."
Cha Isold did not say anything to confirm.
"Well, you never know what the future holds."
"That kind of mindset is wise."
"Then is the knowledge related to the gods only known by… um… the higher-ups?"
"Rather than known, you should see it as there being a group that controls some of the knowledge."
"What if a person from that group has bad intentions?"
"…That's…."
Iruda let out a sigh.
"…the sin of a human who trusted a human."
That is why, in the end, we come to rely on the gods.
Because humans are not eternal and immortal, and they are not strong enough for other humans to lean on.
***
He had sinned for the reason that he had believed.
"...."
The diligent man had only hoped that the tragedy would not be repeated.
He loved his family, respected his friends, and was with his colleagues.
The man did not doubt for a moment that the work he was doing would be a help to this precarious world.
But in the end, because of it, the man was left alone.
"…I…."
It was miserably unreal.
"What did I do wrong?"
He had not believed in a god, but in the end, he cried out to one.
There is a person here.
Please listen to me.
Without knowing, I have crawled into the mud. Please save me. Please save me.
But there was no one by his side. There was only the thick smell of burning.
"What did I…."
How long must I endure?
"What should I do?"
He could not endure it.
He had already realized that he was in a deep pit of blood.
"...."
The god did not answer.
"...."
He had already created the mark of the evil god and was holding it tightly in his hand.
This was before a crossroads.
-x-X-x-
Some orphanages sponsored by the government and the Association were a type of public institution, and the man was from such a place.
"Ju-hyeon."
"Yes, Director."
According to the orphanage's rules, his name was Ju-hyeon, without a surname.
"If you have a moment, could you run an errand to the Association for me?"
"I will. What should I deliver this time?"
"It's the roster of the new kids coming in, for them to review."
He was born four years before the Great Catastrophe.
In other words, he experienced the Great Catastrophe around the age of four.
The child, who had even lost his name, was bright and diligent, receiving plenty of love from the adults and surviving under the care of others.
That was also the reason he could be at the orphanage.
"Understood. I'll be right back."
"Ju-hyeon is such a good boy."
"It's what I have to do."
Orphanages affiliated with the Association generally selected smart, healthy, and diligent children.
Children who grew up here either became Hunters and gained independence upon awakening, or they were given the opportunity to be employed by the Association.
Ju-hyeon was one of them, but unlike the other orphans who just went with the flow, he had ambition.
"Ju-hyeon, you said you wanted to go to the Association's research institute, right?"
"Yes, even if I wake up, I prefer the research institute."
He wanted to create a slightly better world.
He wanted to prevent as many tragedies as possible.
"I can help the Hunters, you see."
Having experienced the Great Catastrophe with his own body, he had seen the misery of the world. He had seen how far humans could fall into the abyss.
Among all that, Ju-hyeon was on the particularly lucky side.
He hoped to share the good fortune he had received with others so that the same tragedy would not occur.
"Ju-hyeon, you're so admirable."
"Thank you."
"The research institute is always short on staff, so I'm sure you'll be able to get a job."
"I hope so."
If I can share what I have, there is no reason not to.
"I want to be of help."
That was Ju-hyeon's thought.
It was embarrassing to say, but it was his own kind of belief.
If I can help, I help, and if we can be together, we are together.
With such a mission, the man, even after getting a job at the Association, did not forget to support the orphanage that raised him.
"You must be busy trying to make a living, but thank you always."
"It's all thanks to you raising me, Director."
"That's my job, what are you…."
"I know it must have been hard taking care of us."
Ju-hyeon was a mixed-race child, and his skin was dark.
The 'Etc. Orphanage' he had stayed at was a place where an unusually large number of foreign-descended children like him gathered.
"These days, most people don't care about skin color or what not, but there was a time when you had it really tough."
"It was right after the Great Catastrophe, so people were very sensitive."
"I know, there was a lot of talk about why you had to take care of foreigners when you were busy looking after Korean children. I remember."
"Ju-hyeon, that was…."
"I know I'm Korean, too. I was born here, after all. It was just, as you said, Director, a time when everyone was sensitive."
However, because all records of nationality and what not had been wiped out, people at that time were highly wary of and treated with contempt anyone who looked even slightly different from an East Asian.
The Great Catastrophe was such a time.
"I understand, but maybe because the atmosphere of that time still remains… our orphanage still doesn't receive much support."
"It's because I'm lacking. Say, by any chance, do the people at the Association look down on you or…."
"I can't say they don't. But it's okay, you know me. I'm this smart and capable, so if I conduct myself well, I'll secure a position soon."
There was a degree of discrimination against Association employees who entered through the orphanage track, and the orphanage Ju-hyeon came from was a place that was looked down on even more.
His promotions were slow.
Naturally, he could not participate in any proper projects.
A researcher who could not get promoted was virtually no different from a handyman.
Nevertheless, with his diligence and hidden cunning, Ju-hyeon captured the hearts of his colleagues and, by showing his outstanding abilities, bought the interest of his superiors.
"Why do you work so hard?"
"It's something I can do, so there's no reason not to."
"You're diligent. I hope to see you around for a long time."
While there were people who liked him, there were also those who worried or were sarcastic.
"If you work that hard, you get tired out quickly."
"Thank you for the advice."
It was true, so he accepted it and swallowed it.
Ju-hyeon was not a perfect saint.
But his goal was to create a better world, and he found the most clever ways to contribute to it.
'Since I've set such a big goal….'
Appropriately, so that I don't get tired out quickly.
'I just have to do them one by one.'
He was not impatient.
He did not desire things like honor.
But he had confidence.
Among the researchers, he was exceptionally smart and a fast learner.
He was not an Awakener, but thanks to always managing his health, he was healthier than average.
Such a Ju-hyeon also did a lot of volunteer work.
"From the Association?"
"Hilarious, they must need a test subject or something, right?"
"What makes you so great that you're helping out?"
The people in the outer districts, or those inside and outside of them who needed help, were highly guarded.
Nevertheless, Ju-hyeon consistently contacted them, talked, and interacted with them. After some time passed, they softened.
"Thanks for the treatment last time."
"The kid in that house over there is sick, they say…."
"By any chance, is there any more food? You know, since it's winter."
Some of them were genuinely grateful, and some of them treated Ju-hyeon like an egg-laying hen.
There were those who occasionally acted rudely, but Ju-hyeon was not swayed and steadily continued his service.
"…I'm busy."
But even that was good.
He participated in the Association's research, and in his spare time, he studied or volunteered.
Rude people existed everywhere on both sides, and there were inevitably things that made him angry. Still, it was good.
'If I build up a bit more experience, someday I'll be able to rise to the position of team leader. If I become a research team leader, I'll be given the time and resources to conduct personal research. Then I can also proceed with research on dungeons or monsters.'
It was when he was spending his days busily like that.
"…Huh?"
"Aaaaaaaah…!!"
"What, what's."
A person ran out and grabbed Ju-hyeon's ankle.
"Save me, save me please…!! I was wrong!! I was wrong, I'll never do it again!!"
"Wa-wait a minute…."
"You motherfuckers, I said save me, no!! I don't want to die!! At least not like that…!!!"
"Ugh…!!"
The research institute staff murmured, and not long after, the security team appeared.
No, it seemed they had been chasing the man to catch him in the first place, as they immediately subdued him.
As he stood there dumbfounded, holding his throbbing ankle, a researcher who seemed to have followed along apologized.
"Oh my, is your ankle okay? It's not broken?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes. Ah… no, I think I'll need to receive treatment."
"It's our mistake. The Association will provide treatment, but we'll compensate you separately from that."
"More importantly, that person just now…?"
"Hmm?"
The researcher looked at Ju-hyeon's face and tilted his head.
"Ah, you haven't been on a proper project yet, have you?"
"Is it related to that?"
"He's a response agent, a response agent. He ran out because he didn't want to do his job."
"A response agent…."
He did know of them.
"Are you talking about the people who participate in the experiments?"
"In other words, just a test subject, really."
"...."
"You don't seem to be used to it."
The researcher chuckled.
"Just think of it as something like that, it's no big deal."
"…As far as I know, I heard that the response agents are given proper treatment and compensation."
"There are levels to that, too. Mr. Ju-hyeon, who hasn't been on a project yet, wouldn't know, but that one just now is closer to a lab rat."
"I'm pretty sure I heard him ask to be saved."
"He got scared because he's scheduled to enter the Red Room after meeting the Hourglass. I should have managed him better, I'm surprised he was stronger than I thought."
"…The Hourglass? The Red Room?"
"Since you'll be working with us soon anyway, Mr. Ju-hyeon, I'll let you in on it a bit beforehand."
It was a benefit that seemed to reward all his efforts up to now, but his heart was pounding and cold sweat was flowing, so he didn't have a moment to be grateful.
Ju-hyeon was soon able to see the 'Hourglass' and the 'Red Room' the researcher had spoken of.
"That is a monster that eats a person's time. On the outside, it's an ornately decorated hourglass, but if it doesn't eat a person's time once a week, the decorations become simple. When that happens, an anomaly occurs… you'll learn about that later."
"...."
"You see the room attached to the other side? You've probably seen it once or twice while coming and going on errands, Mr. Ju-hyeon, it's all attached with the flow of movement in mind. The monster that lives in there is a bright red jewel, and it's only satisfied when it eats the blood of the elderly and newborn babies."
It was difficult to understand.
"…Eating time, you mean, so…."
"Since it's difficult to get a newborn or an elderly person these days, we just turn them into an old person and put them in."
"…Then both the monster called the Hourglass and the monster called the Red Room will be satisfied. Right?"
"You understand well. I'm really grateful that you seem like you'll adapt well, Mr. Ju-hyeon."
"Haha…."
In a word, they were a sacrifice to be offered to a monster.
"Is that okay? Is there a problem, or, um."
"The response agent who was just put in was a 5th-class citizen."
The researcher added, as if it was something he should know.
"Don't worry about it too much."
Because he's a murderer who's killed dozens of people. The researcher who said that patted Ju-hyeon's shoulder a couple of times and then disappeared.
Ju-hyeon saw numerous researchers endlessly walking around the lined-up rooms of monsters, talking with each other, or entering certain rooms.
Even though he was in a crowd, he felt like he was left all alone.
"...."
Ju-hyeon soon came to his senses and did what he had to do.
He was faithful to his assigned tasks, went out to volunteer and talked with abandoned citizens, and even had difficulty requesting a conversation with the Association President.
But nothing got better. Everything was the same. The same daily life.
His family at the orphanage, his friends on the street, asked.
"You look very tired these days."
Ju-hyeon was comforted by that.
"The things that happen at the research institute are not as… noble as I thought."
"If a place like the Association was only noble, that in itself would be a surprising thing."
"Yes, you're right."
He gathered his wits.
"Thank you for listening to my story."
He was able to stand up again because he had family and friends.
'I'm someone who survived the Great Catastrophe. I can endure this time too, and I have to find a better way.'
So he tried to do even more.
Ju-hyeon, who had gained authority, even used himself as a test subject and showed results.
But he only saw the endless repetition of the tragedy he so hated to see.
Even though he had done so much because he didn't want to see this repetition of tragedy.
"...."
"You have overexerted yourself. We will give you a vacation, so please come back after a month of recuperation."
"…But…."
"I know what you want, but in your current state, you will only fail to properly carry out even your assigned tasks."
"…Understood."
It was a suggestion made directly by the Association President who had taken notice of the overworking Ju-hyeon since their conversation the other day.
Ju-hyeon was about to be stubborn for a moment, but then realized that his mind and body were very disheveled and soon conceded.
He didn't want to be stubborn without any countermeasures.
"I'll rest for a bit."
But he shouldn't have.
"...."
When he returned after recuperating until his body had roughly recovered, his hometown had been burned down.
Some of his friends on the street were not seen, and something was in disarray.
Ju-hyeon couldn't even compose his bewilderment and ran around here and there to grasp the situation.
"What?"
And he soon learned that the cause was him.
"Because of me?"
"A few people who had a grudge against you must have started something."
"A grudge, what on earth…."
"They were here and there, weren't they?"
Someone from the orphanage he had considered his hometown, someone among the friends on the street he had thought he was close to, and some of the staff at the research institute he had considered capable colleagues, all hated Ju-hyeon, apparently.
It wasn't that Ju-hyeon was completely unaware of those feelings.
Envy and jealousy, or disgust, the conflict that arose from having different ideologies.
Because he knew that, he had been even more careful, but in the end, things blew up.
"To be honest, I didn't see you in a good light either."
"...."
"It felt like you were the only one acting all clean, wasn't it?"
That was a bit.
"…Haha."
It sounded horrifying.
The reason he hadn't heard the news sooner was, apparently, because the research team leader in charge of Ju-hyeon had done it to break the spirit of him, who seemed to harbor strange schemes.
Saying that he couldn't work together with a guy who had strange ideas.
As for whether he had stood out that much, well. He hadn't.
'I thought I was being careful.'
He had tried to understand the ideologies of his other colleagues as much as possible.
There were many times he had conceded.
However, there were also times he had made suggestions.
Perhaps such small, small parts gathered together to result in this ridiculous 'hazing ritual.'
But my family, my friends, were not 5th-class citizens.
They were 'innocent citizens.'
No matter how hard it was to find things like human rights in this world, this was something that made no sense.
'Why did no one stop them? Why is no one suffering from guilt? Why am I the only one in agony?'
Someone said this.
"Just let it go. One wrong move and you could become a response agent too, Mr. Ju-hyeon."
"Can it really be like that?"
"If we're short on manpower, researchers get deployed as response agents too."
"I've heard that the research institute is short on manpower all the time."
"Above all, you've already played the role of a test subject before, Mr. Ju-hyeon."
"Is that a problem?"
"It might not be a problem, but it could be a justification."
"…I understand."
And someone else got angry.
"Fuck, I knew this would happen. This is why you can't trust those Association bastards!"
"No, I…."
"My friends died because of you! What about the ones who are missing, did they get dragged off as test subjects?"
"…It's not like that…."
"You hypocrite bastard, does it feel good to backstab after pretending to be nice? So disgusting, really…."
"...."
He was tired.
"...."
It would have been nice if he was just tired, but he was angry.
It was an order that didn't make much sense, but it was difficult to judge rationally in this tired anger.
He was so angry that he wanted to burn all this anger by sacrificing himself….
'…It could happen.'
Humans were inherently capricious and self-centered, so things like this could happen.
Ungratefulness was one of the characteristics of the human species.
They quickly forget what they have received and are sensitive to losses.
It was something he had started knowing all that.
There had been countless times he had been hurt by such things.
But he had lived with a smile because he wanted to create a better world, because he didn't want to see the same tragedy, because that was his belief.
'It can happen.'
But a thought suddenly occurred to him: he was human too.
"…So…."
When he came to his senses, the mark of an evil god was in his hand.
He had created the mark of Sankalut, one of the evil gods.
"…This can happen too."
He hadn't used it yet.
Sankalut was said to be the evil god of blood and honor.
It was said that if you offered the blood of a newborn, or an elderly person, who died in terrible pain, it would grant your wish and send the soul that died in the process to paradise.
Nevertheless, the reason he had not yet summoned the evil god was not because Ju-hyeon was kind or because he was thinking of enduring this time as well.
It was just that he hadn't thought about who to kill and what wish to make.
'…To think I'm thinking of getting angry first without even having something I want, that doesn't make sense. Have I always been this stupid?'
A feeling of being completely empty.
"…The one who dies can be me."
It felt like being a puppet tied to a thin thread, not by his own will.
He had the authority to approach the 'Hourglass,' the monster that eats human time, but due to various things that had happened, he wasn't sure if he still had such authority now.
"Still, I should be able to summon the evil god."
That was enough.
"As for the wish… hmm."
What should I wish for?
'Should I ask them to bring my dead family back to life.'
Ju-hyeon blankly entered the ruined orphanage that had been burned down.
The bodies had all been collected, but the ruined building in the secluded location had not even been demolished.
Ju-hyeon silently entered the blackened children's room.
In the room that was relatively intact, traces of the children could be seen.
"…This is…."
There was also an unknown drawing that had somehow been scorched without burning up.
"Did they draw the Black Cape?"
It was quite famous for a while.
'There are not a few children who talk about or draw the Black Cape.'
Ju-hyeon, who was staring at the drawing with lifeless eyes, soon dropped it down roughly.
He heard a thud as it hit the floor.
He sat down on the scorched bed with his weary body.
It was then, as he was looking at the mark of the evil god he had created.
"...."
"...."
"Magnificent."
An exclamation filled with wicked interest.
He realized that someone was standing near the entrance of the room.
"It is a jewel that smells of blood and wealth, is it not?"
"…What…."
"If you give that to me, I can give you a prettier and more valuable jewel."
"Where are you right now…?"
"Hey there, gentleman. Shall I guess what you're thinking right now?"
A man in a black suit was leaning against a gold-leaf frame.
"Aren't you hungry?"
"…Pardon?"
It was out of the blue.
-x-X-x-
Although the urban legends about the Black Cape were famous, Ju-hyeon had little interest in them.
'And there was no information I could access.'
The information and traces of the 'Black Cape,' a humanoid monster that had suddenly appeared recently, were managed by high-ranking researchers.
There was no information that Ju-hyeon, who was still just an Assistant Manager, could access.
However, he was well aware that it was a type of portrait.
"...."
"Why, have you lost your words after seeing something so beautiful?"
"…Ah…. You're… brimming with confidence?"
"For someone like me, shouldn't confidence be overflowing."
"That…."
The conversation was so natural that it was bewildering.
"…Are you the Black Cape?"
He was so different from the image he knew.
"They said the Black Cape spoke in a much stiffer tone."
"Then it wouldn't be any fun. I know how to change according to my opponent, that is my talent."
"I'm not quite sure what this situation is."
"Surprisingly, you're not dreaming, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't treat me like a hallucination."
"…It doesn't… seem like… a hallucination."
His mind was still a bit dazed, but seeing his heart pound in surprise, that is.
"Why… why are you here?"
"It felt like someone was calling me."
"At least I have never called you…."
"I'm sure you haven't."
The portrait, wearing its hood so low that its face was not visible, pointed below the frame.
"You give the impression that you'd be better at drawing than this."
"…Ah."
Where he pointed, there was a crudely drawn picture of the Black Cape in black crayon.
"...."
For some reason, the drawing flickered unstably.
"…Did you come out of this drawing?"
"If I had, I would have come out of that paper, you foolish gentleman."
"But that drawing did call you, didn't it?"
"That's how I was able to find this location, and thanks to that, I met you."
"Your way of speaking is really… erratic."
"It's hard for me to stay still for even a moment."
"The image is so different from the Black Cape I've heard about…."
"Hmm."
Although his face was hidden in the shadow of the hood, for some reason, he seemed displeased.
"This kind of conversation is no fun."
"...."
Only then did Ju-hyeon suddenly feel a sense of crisis.
"…I'm sorry."
Whatever the other's identity was, there was nothing to be gained by earning his enmity.
He didn't even remember that just moments ago, he had been debating whether or not to make a wish to the evil god Sankalut.
It was because he was faced with such an absurd situation that his mind wasn't working properly.
Ju-hyeon apologized first.
"If you were perhaps displeased… uh…."
"Are you going to offer me a sacrifice or something?"
"I don't even know who you are, so offering a sacrifice right away is a bit…?"
"Excellent. Prudence is a good virtue for a human to have in life."
"But really, why are you here?"
"I'm pretty sure I already told you a moment ago?"
"Nobody called you."
"Nobody called me, you say."
A brief silence fell, and the portrait gently waved its hand.
"You called me, did you not?"
"...."
Unlike before, it was a gentle and low voice.
"That is why I came."
"...."
"Because you were calling an evil god."
And once more, he became as blunt as a corpse.
"I am looking for a friend to help with my adaptation."
"…A friend…."
Was that 'adaptation' perhaps referring to human society?
Among the gods, evil gods were particularly interested in humans.
It was a completely unexpected aspect, but if the 'Black Cape' was a type of such an evil god, he could somewhat understand the situation of it suddenly appearing and striking up a conversation.
'No, I don't.'
Do evil gods normally appear so randomly like this?
"…I, I was… trying to call… another evil god… sir?"
"Whatever being you were trying to call, there would be no better choice than me."
"Uh…."
It was an incredibly arrogant statement, but rather than feeling repulsed by it, he felt fear and anxiety.
'Its presence is growing stronger.'
He understood that the opponent's way of speaking was erratic.
Most great mysteries of that status couldn't fit into human standards, so many parts of them appeared strange.
'He's probably in the middle of adapting, just like he said earlier.'
But the fact that the pressure he hadn't felt at first was gradually growing was a dangerous sign.
'Does the status become more exposed the more he returns to that blunt tone?'
When he first spoke with a tone that felt somehow cruelly interesting, it was just bewildering, but the status was felt more clearly when the voice became reverently heavy, and even more so with the current mechanical tone.
"...."
"You seem to be confused."
"…I am, a little."
"How may I help you?"
"Your tone… if you could speak a little more, lightly…?"
"Aha."
The tone instantly became higher.
"So you prefer something less formal?"
"…Yes, this is more comfortable."
At the same time, the pressure also eased.
'…Is his personality changing?'
For a moment, the thought that he should report this new information about the 'Black Cape' came to mind, but it soon subsided.
He found it laughable that he, who was holding the mark of an evil god, couldn't escape his usual habits.
The portrait, watching Ju-hyeon's reaction, asked.
"Why did you call the evil god?"
"…That's unexpected, I thought a god would know without being told…."
"That's an invasion of privacy."
"...."
"And right now, I am human."
"…Ah, yes."
It wasn't very convincing coming from a being that had popped out of a frame, but he could tell that it was, at any rate, doing its best to conform to human standards.
The proof was that despite being a being that claimed to be an evil god, there had been no witnesses who had died from their brains exploding just by seeing the Black Cape so far.
If he hadn't been considerate, numerous victims would have been produced just by seeing him.
A god could be a disaster just by being seen.
"You asked why I was trying to call an evil god."
Ju-hyeon, who had been mumbling, soon closed his mouth.
"...."
Well.
"…I'm not sure."
"You have no talent for revenge."
"You really do know all about my situation, don't you?"
"I simply came, having smelled the scent of anger."
"I'm sure you did, you must have…."
There was no way a being called an evil god wouldn't know the circumstances of a mere human, so his playful remark about an invasion of privacy seemed to be a kind of disguise or consideration.
'No, an evil god wouldn't show consideration.'
Then could it be a human imitation to appear as friendly as possible?
Most evil gods were skilled and subtle at digging into the human heart, so such an imitation would have been no problem for them.
He actually felt more at ease.
"I believed in people."
"What kind of people?"
"I believed in everyone."
Ju-hyeon had been about to summon Sankalut without a wish anyway.
He had wanted to resolve his unknown impulse, even through such a foolish method.
So, it wouldn't be a big problem to play along with another evil god now.
If anything, the Black Cape his family used to talk about felt more familiar, so Ju-hyeon continued to speak.
"I believed in my family, I believed in my friends, and I believed in my colleagues."
"Are you the trusting type?"
"I thought I was being suspicious in my own way… it's embarrassing that it ended up like this."
"What ended up like this?"
"Some of my people died because of my foolishness, some of them betrayed me, and the rest of them abandoned me."
"That's a very sad thing."
"I was so angry. I was so angry I wanted to ruin everything, but I don't even know how to ruin it."
"So you called an evil god?"
"I thought if I just called one blindly, something might get better. I thought I might be able to ruin something, so I tried my hand at it. And I made it quite well."
No matter how easy evil gods were to summon, considering that, to have made it this quickly, he must have had a talent for it.
Ju-hyeon sneered at his situation and his talent, and also marveled at it.
"I wanted to do good things."
He didn't need honor.
"Just… something…."
"Yes."
"I wanted to create a better world."
"What a kind heart."
"…That would have been enough…."
It was a path he walked knowing it would be hard, but it was harder than he had imagined.
"Isn't this too much?"
It was a complaint he could make because he was facing an evil god.
"I know that just because I have good intentions doesn't mean I'll only get good results. I knew I couldn't do it alone with just my desperate struggle, so I made a lot of family, friends, and colleagues… but they all died, betrayed me, and left."
"...."
"Look at this, it's a mark that can summon Sankalut. Holding this allows the evil god to gaze upon me more easily. I'm using the knowledge I learned at the Association's research institute like this. I even made it so well. And then I was about to summon an evil god without even a wish to make."
Really.
"It's the worst."
Both the situation surrounding him, and himself.
"It can't get any worse than this…."
"Do you feel better now that you've said it?"
"…Black Cape, are you an evil god?"
"Quite a lot of people used to call me that. Not anymore."
"I know that you were sighted in Korea quite recently."
"That was before I was here."
"I see, that can happen."
"So can your situation."
"...."
"What do you want?"
It was similar to the whisper of a demon demanding a wicked price.
Whether the Black Cape was truly an evil god, or something similar.
Whether it was a god in the first place, or a monster. It was a situation where he truly knew nothing, but….
There was no reason not to answer.
"…In hell… like a village where people die without value, where you lose precious people for no reason, where you helplessly collapse in the face of continuing disasters, where you must live in fear…."
The terrible karma created by humans, monsters, and nature, which indiscriminately breaks everyone without distinguishing between their good and evil.
Making it so that no one can be happy, no one can be at peace.
"I would like for such tragedies not to be repeated."
"Why?"
"Because I no longer have the confidence to watch such a sight."
"Hmm."
"I don't want to see it."
I really tried so hard.
The cruelty of humans and monsters mixed together, and the world continues to create atrocities that are hard to look at.
"Can you grant my wish?"
To that, the Black Cape answered.
"? No?"
"...."
Ju-hyeon silently raised his head and looked at the Black Cape.
"…Wasn't this the timing to suggest a deal, saying you would grant my wish?"
"I'm sorry, but I do not carelessly interact with the mentally unsound. A deal? What a terrible thing to say."
"Isn't it usually more profitable to make a deal with a mentally unsound person? In the first place, is it okay for an evil god to say such a thing?"
"Above all, gods are more trivial and incompetent than you think."
The Black Cape asked, as if it were pathetic.
"You weren't thinking of wishing for something like world peace, were you?"
"…I did think it probably wouldn't work, but still, aren't you being too honest."
"Hey, gentleman. I simply came here to find a friend to exchange letters with. I'm sorry, but you'd better follow your dream of world peace."
"I mean, I wasn't wishing for world peace, but just to contribute in some way…."
"Isn't that the same thing in the end?"
"…I can't say it's not."
Wait a minute.
"…A friend to exchange letters with? You mean, a pen pal friend?"
"Will you do it? I can send them in the prettiest handwriting possible."
"I don't even know why you need such a thing, but… if I do it, what's in it for me, and what's bad about it?"
"The fact that you won't have to go hungry from now on, and the point that you might become a pig by mistake?"
"They sound so much like the same thing that I can't tell which is the advantage and which is the disadvantage."
"You're prickly. Why, you seem to have the personality to have many friends, why not let me in too."
"There are things you should and shouldn't let in…."
More importantly.
"…Was what you asked earlier about being hungry for real?"
"I said it because you had a face that looked like you were about to set off a nuclear bomb in this tiny country called Korea."
"You know about nuclear bombs too? No, but why did you ask if I was hungry? That doesn't explain it."
"Usually, guys who are about to cause trouble without thinking are hungry."
"That doesn't seem very usual?"
"You could call it a human malfunction that occurs when the stomach isn't full."
"I think you've learned about humans wrongly. What does causing trouble have to do with having a full stomach…."
"So I'm asking."
He could feel the portrait smiling from within the shadow of its cape.
"Aren't you hungry?"
"...."
Since it kept asking about his hunger status, it was an evil god that was persistent in a strange area.
'…What's its intention? As an evil god, it can't be seen as the mercy of a traditional god. There must be something it wants….'
Ju-hyeon tried to think calmly.
"...."
He tried, but it was difficult to expect his usual rationality from him, who had not eaten or slept for some time.
Half with a feeling of being swept away, and half bewitched by the sweet voice. Ju-hyeon did not resist and affirmed.
"…I think I might be."
A thought suddenly occurred to him. 'What would happen if I wished for world peace from an evil god.'
In a state of unreality indistinguishable from a dream, Ju-hyeon for a moment had such a delusion, which had no meaning or value.
***
The Black Cape extended its hand.
And Ju-hyeon was invited to the cabin.
-x-X-x-
For the record, 'not interacting with the mentally and physically weak' was Argio's own principle.
"I have a picky palate, you see."
"That sounds rather like something an evil god would say."
"If I'm going to have someone, I prefer a healthy person."
Argio took off his hood and continued.
"Such a person is a sight to behold even when they get angry."
"..."
"Hey, mister. What's the problem now?"
"…Ah, I'm sorry."
"It's because I'm too handsome, isn't it? I understand, it's a common occurrence."
"Why is he so infuriating…?"
"You're quite a fun friend to tease."
"No…."
Ju-hyeon, who was looking around warily with a subtle frown, asked.
"Aren't you angry that I'm being so impertinent?"
"If you want to see me angry, the price will be quite steep. Are you confident you can handle it?"
"It's not that I want to see you angry, it's… I'm asking if you're not annoyed."
Whether the opponent was a monster or an evil being, it might be meaningless to distinguish, but in any case, he had never let an impertinent human be.
Fundamentally, monsters capable of thought had high pride.
In contrast, The Black Cape showed no displeasure, even though he was aware that he himself was acting out of line.
He rather seemed to enjoy such a sight.
"Why should I be angry?"
"Because I'm being impertinent?"
"Then I should die first. Is there anyone as impertinent as me?"
"That… I don't quite understand the standard for that."
"Neither do I."
The evil god smiled, his brilliant golden eyes curving.
"I'm of the mind not to think about troublesome things."
"You truly live so refreshingly."
"In a world with so many things to enjoy, is there any reason to struggle?"
"Ah… that kind of…."
He seemed to be quite the hedonist.
"..."
More than that, the colors were more vivid than I had imagined.
Ju-hyeon's eyes narrowed dubiously.
'It's a color I could never have imagined when he was hidden under that gloomy black cape.'
Vivid crimson hair and golden eyes with a cool light.
"…It's a wonderful color."
"Do you like this color the most?"
"Pardon?"
"I see you like stimulating and honest people."
"I haven't particularly thought that…."
"Then, as a special favor, I shall remain as Argio today to suit your taste."
"…Hmm? Ah?"
Ju-hyeon, who had been seated on the sofa without realizing it, asked.
"Do you call your current appearance 'Argio'?"
"That's right."
"Then… do you have other appearances as well?"
"The form is the same, only the color is different."
"You're not some chameleon."
"A chameleon, you say. You could say it's a distant relative of mine."
"You're joking, right…?"
"I would say the ability to change here and there according to the situation is similar."
Soon, his color changed to a brilliant platinum, as if soaked in sunlight.
"Isn't that so?"
"..."
What is this?
"…Is it something like… multiple personalities."
"It's not that the personalities are different."
"Your tone and expression are so different, yet it's not a different personality?"
"It's literally just changing colors."
"…Ah, I see."
I sort of understood.
'Is it like changing clothes?'
Changing clothes doesn't change the person inside, so from a god's perspective, it could be a similar kind of play.
Certainly, one shouldn't judge mysterious beings by human standards.
Ju-hyeon nodded.
"I understand what you mean."
"Thank you for understanding."
"…But I, uh, feel more comfortable with the red one."
"Is that so?"
In an instant, The Black Cape, who had transformed into a brilliant impression as if a fire was blazing, introduced himself.
"I am Argio. If you promise to be my friend, I will tell you my other name as well. I promise my honorable friends that it will not bring you harm."
"…That…."
There were still parts I didn't understand.
"Why do you need a friend, a pen pal friend, in the first place?"
"Because I'm timid."
"Did you kill all the timid people in the world before you came here?"
"It's too hard to make friends."
"And I was easy?"
If you were to argue, it was obvious that his own difficulty level was higher, having been betrayed by the world and becoming extremely sensitive.
He could have grabbed anyone passing by and it would have been easier to befriend them than him, so it was absurd.
Then Argio spoke.
"You're not afraid of me, are you?"
"..."
"Everyone else is busy looking at me with strange eyes."
"…I, I see."
That was certainly true.
'Most would have been scared or revered him.'
The current status of The Black Cape in Korea was exactly that.
Famous enough for even a child to know, yet with a high degree of danger, and strangely kind so you don't feel repulsed, but you can't help but feel fear....
'It's truly a ghost story.'
Or an urban legend.
Perhaps Ju-hyeon would have had a similar reaction if he had encountered him in a normal situation.
There was no good that could come from getting entangled with a mystery whose identity was as suspicious as The Black Cape.
"..."
It's just that right now, he didn't even have the minimum capacity to act that way.
'…In the first place, I'm not even sure why the situation became like this….'
He was barely holding onto his sanity, but his sense of reality was gradually dulling.
'It would be much more convincing to say that I'm dreaming.'
That was also why he was responding more comfortably.
He had been half out of his mind since he made the mark of Sankalut, and because he had done it with the intention of dying from the beginning, he had been in a daze ever since.
In the midst of that, the appearance of The Black Cape and the invitation into that portrait also added to the sense of unreality Ju-hyeon was currently feeling.
He simply didn't have the energy to react sensitively and normally.
"…This place… it's a very nice place."
Ju-hyeon said, looking around.
"It's much cozier and more peaceful than I imagined."
"I like my home very much too."
"Is this place your home?"
"I can make homes in many places, but this feels like my hometown."
"Is that so, a hometown…."
It certainly had an atmosphere that warranted such a description.
"So what should I do?"
"Eat and play."
"Pardon?"
"Do you go to work?"
"…I was suspended."
"Then you can have a meal!"
"Why does it turn out that way?"
More than that, he didn't know why he was so obsessed with food.
'Come to think of it, I did hear that most of The Black Cape's gifts are snacks….'
Is fattening humans really his ultimate goal?
'Can you even call that an evil god?'
He felt strange.
He thought he was an evil god because he called himself one, but the more they talked, the less he seemed like one.
Is this a high-level deception?
An act to win over a weary human?
Or mercy that a god sprinkles like alms to a begging beggar?
Or a momentary whim?
"…Should I help you prepare the meal?"
"I can't let a guest handle the kitchen."
"Then I just wait quietly?"
"A cup of tea, perhaps?"
"That would be nice, but…."
And then a teddy bear brought the tea.
"…A teddy bear?"
"That would be my father."
"Father?"
"He's soft."
"Why?"
The fruit tea the teddy bear served was ridiculously delicious.
"I'm suddenly not hungry."
"Ah, dear. I've made a mistake again."
"Please don't make mistakes with a weak human."
"You don't look particularly weak."
"So what exactly was the mistake?"
"This tea gives you a feeling of fullness."
"So you shouldn't drink it before a meal?"
"That's about right."
"Aha."
Ju-hyeon nodded his head.
"It must be a dream after all."
"This is reality, though."
"I'm getting sleepy."
"Then you can sleep."
A large hand stroked Ju-hyeon's head.
"Sleep soundly, wake up, have a meal, and even eat a snack."
"..."
"After that, wash up, lie in bed, and I will sit by your bedside and listen to those screams."
"…Yes."
"After we've chattered endlessly, we'll be friends. You just have to talk to me."
"Yes."
"I wonder what your anger will taste like…."
A voice filled with interest and mercy fell from above his head, and soon that hand closed Ju-hyeon's eyes.
"I can be a good friend."
Because it really seemed like he would be.
"..."
"Don't dream."
Letting go of everything, Ju-hyeon fell asleep.
***
"…Hmm, I see."
Yu Seong-un nodded his head.
"So you're saying an Association researcher is sleeping at your house right now?"
"Two days have passed, and he still hasn't woken up."
"Has it been two days already? I only stopped by at dawn, so I didn't know that."
The background in Jio's portrait changed its appearance according to the changes within. Morning for morning, evening for evening.
Occasionally, a new animal would appear, or an unknown flower would bloom.
'To think that two days have already passed inside the painting in that short time.'
Perhaps because he had finally gotten the 'pen pal friend' he had been clamoring for, it seemed Jio was very much welcoming this guest's visit.
After all, the flow of time in the world of that portrait changed according to the mood of its owner, Jio.
'In the past, when I visited, had a meal, and came out of the frame, only about 20 minutes had passed. Based on the time inside the portrait, he said time flows quickly when Jio is happy and slowly when he is resting….'
That means he is very happy right now.
Yu Seong-un smiled with his characteristic easygoing smile.
"I'm very happy that you've made a new friend, but."
"He and I are not yet friends. I will always give my guests a chance. He may become my friend, but he may not."
"I think it's a relief that you have such an open mind."
What a great disaster it would be for an individual if they were forced to become friends with the eye of the Source.
'I don't know how merciful it is that he at least gives them a choice.'
Anyway, there was something else Yu Seong-un wanted to say.
"You said that prospective friend tried to summon an evil god?"
"That is correct."
"Why did you stop him?"
"His features suggested that if he were to cause trouble, it would be a massive incident."
"Oh…."
Coming from the Source, his reading of faces sounded definitely credible.
"You said he's not going to work because he was suspended?"
"That is correct. It didn't seem like he did anything wrong, so I wonder why he received such a disciplinary action."
"I think they probably forced him to take a vacation. Well, it's a common thing to happen."
"Is such a coercive measure a common thing?"
"Yes, it's also a kind of recommendation for resignation. The atmosphere at the Association and The Collectors is completely different."
In fact, on a global scale, the three major guilds of South Korea, and among them, The Collectors, were rather unique. Should I say they are one of the few groups that treat humans as humans?
"We receive various benefits thanks to the Guild Master personally doting on the employees, but the Association… It feels like a den of demons. Since it's such a huge organization, there are places that just work without any personal feelings, and there are also places where factions fight to the death."
"I see."
"That new guest person was probably part of a team that did a lot of reading the room. In the Association, a single team is large enough to be assigned an entire research building, so all sorts of things happen without any uniformity. Because they're disconnected."
As such, there were also many places that were suddenly wiped out.
This is because there are also works that contaminate or infect the mind or the body itself.
It's no wonder that one or two people die trying to research and analyze such things.
"There are an enormous number of people working at the Association, but the work that needs to be done there is far greater and more dangerous than that. Various clinical trials are also being conducted for various projects…."
"Are you sure it's clinical trials and not human experiments?"
"They just call it clinical trials to make it sound better to the public. Well, the team I was in charge of before had a very mild atmosphere, and there were no projects that required human sacrifice. So I don't know for sure either."
The atmosphere of the research labs varies greatly from team to team.
"So… um…."
Yu Seong-un said with a slightly awkward face.
"I guess it's not a rare occurrence."
"That is very frightening."
"Of course, the fact that he tried to summon an evil god is a bit surprising."
"Is that so?"
"Usually, people don't go that far."
Yu Seong-un laughed resignedly.
"But even if he had gone that far, it seems like it would have been handled one way or another. If it was a matter of the Seoul branch research lab, the lab director or the Association President would have heard the news of the incident immediately, and then that person would have stepped in… Even if he had succeeded in making a deal with the evil god, it would have ended well."
To which Jio summarized.
"It sounds as if everything is being maintained by the Association President's mercy."
"That's not wrong. That's exactly the current situation of the Earth right now."
The world is hanging by a thread, sustained by the mercy of a few powerful individuals. It is a peace that would shatter to pieces if even one of them were to harbor ill intentions.
"That's the reason why this country hasn't collapsed despite the overwhelming number of dangerous items being concentrated in Korea. Korea is particularly well-organized, and there are many strong hunters."
"It is a blessing in disguise."
"Anyway, the matter with that guest is unfortunate. I also came to the current Collectors because I was sick of that kind of atmosphere where people are instrumentalized and used as means. It really drives people crazy there."
They had a knack for completely breaking people who were sound in limb and conviction.
What's even funnier is that, because of that, they were able to collect various data, which was a great help for development.
Korea's rapid development was built on such countless sacrifices.
"If you want to survive in the Association's research lab, you need the mindset that you're on your own in life."
You should trust in the abilities of others, but you shouldn't trust or rely on the person themselves.
"Actually, this isn't just a story about the Association."
"Does everyone else live like this?"
"The intensity at the research lab is particularly strong, but, well… I suppose so."
It's a truly unfortunate thing, but in this small country, tragedies even greater than that happen on a daily basis.
"Still, people don't usually think of dealing with an evil god. Did someone egg him on?"
"I am not sure."
"When you're done talking with that guest, could you arrange a meeting for me too? I want to hear his story."
"I will do so if it's possible."
"If you sense any sign of danger, that's a part I'll have to investigate."
It was as unsettling as when he had investigated the turbulent sea before the mermaid siblings appeared.
Yu Seong-un maintained his smile but let out a short sigh.
"…If any problems arise, send me a letter. I'll come right away."
He entrusted the poor man, who had been betrayed by the whole world, not to a human but to the Source.
As a Gardener, the mercy of the Source was far more trustworthy than that of a fellow human.
-x-X-x-
[Safety ★★☆☆☆]
[Would you like to check the history?]
[Yes/No]
[Name: An Ju-hyeon
Age: 36 years old
State: Panic]
He wanted to contribute to the world to prevent the repetition of the tragedy he experienced, but all his blood, sweat, and tears of effort and affection were betrayed, and he himself was isolated.
He knew it was not an easy goal, but misfortune beyond measure befell him.
He is alone.
An Ju-hyeon is wary and suspicious of you but is by no means aggressive.
He is a polite and cunning human.
Even if he harbors hostility, he will be obedient, and if he harbors goodwill, he will be reverent.
As a civilian, he is weaker than an F-Class Hunter. He cannot disobey you.
You can drop him into the clutches of Sankalut to gain awareness as an evil god, or you can watch over the pitiful man and appreciate him moving towards his goal once again.
You may choose or not choose.
An Ju-hyeon may harbor impure thoughts but cannot cause harm.
He is a safe human for you.
***
Jio had struck up a conversation with Ju-hyeon so suddenly thanks to confirming the history above.
"He seems like a good person."
"Kurururu."
"He's safe for me."
It was the best.
"The way the system says it is quite infuriating, but I can clearly tell that this person named An Ju-hyeon is kind. And nothing is more important than that."
In this world, there were unexpectedly few harmless humans who could have a normal conversation with 'The Black Cape'.
That was a very big problem for Jio, who knew nothing but eating and sleeping.
"Finally, I can make a pen pal friend too."
"Arrrr…."
"Dana-ya, your dad needs to have friends too. And I'm human too."
Jio picked up Dana, who was scratching at the door of the room where Ju-hyeon was sleeping, as if about to break it down.
As she grew bigger, Dana actively expressed her rejection of humans.
Her body was practically flashing.
"I heard from Mr. Yu Seong-un that a normal Anticat is just busy avoiding people, but why on earth is my child's confidence piercing the sky? It's a truly interesting part."
She clearly took after her father.
"Father."
"Kkuu?"
"I think we need to soothe Dana a little."
"Kkukukuku…."
"Could you let me know when the guest wakes up?"
"Kku."
"Thank you."
Jio took the tray of food he had brought, thinking 'maybe he's awake,' and went back down with it.
Dana, who had grown quite a bit, shrewdly moved from her dad's arms to his shoulder.
The shoulder felt cozy and heavy.
"A cool gem-furred bundle…."
Wasn't this quite a cute cool mat?
He wondered if he should take Dana instead of Honey when summer came to Earth.
"Honey, let's go."
"Kuru."
"You can eat this."
"Kururururururu."
"I have to eat too."
It was a porridge cooked until the shape of the rice grains was gone, with various vegetables and a little minced meat added.
The Baibamunil and Mangdung Fruit pickles he had made before were also set out as side dishes, giving off a delicious aroma.
And Honey swallowed it all by herself.
"..."
"Kkuk."
"Pig."
"Kkungkungkungkungkungkung…!!"
"Cute."
He hadn't expected her to eat it all by herself, but anyway, she got bonus points for the fact that he didn't have to throw away the leftover food the guest didn't eat.
Jio pulled Dana, who had been drooping on his shoulder, and sat her on his lap.
"How can our Dana be so full of confidence?"
"Ae?"
"Do you perhaps think the world revolves around you?"
"?"
"I see, indeed. The confidence befitting a child of my house."
Still, it would be a problem if she went around biting the head of every person she met.
"Honey used to be like that in the past, too."
"Mmmng?"
"Did you learn from your older brother?"
"?."
"It seems not. Then it must be instinct."
"Gyarurururu."
"Adorable."
Jio gently stroked the belly of Dana, who was lying on her back acting cute.
Unlike other cats who were sensitive about their bellies being touched, Dana was stretched out as if she was just happy.
Since she was a long-haired cat, it felt like a heavy carpet was laid out.
"Your older brother also used to bite people as he pleased at first. It was only a one-time thing, but when I found out, my heart sank to the bottom of my stomach."
"kkyu?"
"For my sake, I hope you won't bite or hurt other people as you please. To put it in terms of your loss as a monster, every time you inflict such an injury, I have to go far away to clean up or pay money."
"...!"
"Dad can draw jewels and gold, but it seems bartering is not yet very popular in South Korea. In short, it means I'm a beggar, so it would be nice if Dana could think of her dad a little, as I could be branded a debtor and publicly shamed."
"Aeae?"
"Pretty, so pretty."
Dana, having learned of her father's poor wallet situation, apologized.
Rebuilding trust with his dependable daughter who promised not to cause trouble, Jio sat Honey, who was poking at the empty tray for no reason, on his hand.
"Honey, come here."
"Kurureuk."
"The tray will wear out soon."
He didn't know who she took after to grow into such a splendid pig.
Of course, he knew very well that she took after Jio himself.
"The guest must have been quite tired, seeing as he's been sleeping for nearly 5 days."
Jio really liked this guest.
He was a 36-year-old adult male, older than Jio, and he didn't get scared or attack even when faced with The Black Cape.
He was even a polite and harmless human certified by the system.
"And he's skinny."
He had to be fattened up immediately.
It had been quite a while since he had met someone who seemed so rewarding to fatten up.
An Ju-hyeon was as good as qualified to be Jio's friend.
"I even prepared lamb skewers to eat together…."
"Kurururureuk."
"Alright, if he doesn't wake up, let's eat it together in the evening."
"Aeae?"
"If he wakes up, we'll all eat together."
Once we eat, we'll become Anne of Green Gables and her friend Diana.
In this harsh world, Jio finished preparing for the hunt to make a new friend.
***
It was early dawn when Ju-hyeon woke up.
"..."
He got out of the soft bed in a daze.
The dawn of a world where spring had fully settled was cool, and a gentle breeze carrying the scent of flowers and the forest was blowing kindly.
Ju-hyeon turned his head in the direction it touched his cheek. Through the wide-open terrace, he could see a world sparkling with dew.
"…Wow…."
It's beautiful.
And it was peaceful.
"…Where is this, now…."
His mind was hazy, and he frowned.
As he fumbled around with his propped-up upper body, his hand caught on a soft blanket that seemed to be filled with only feathers.
The feel of the sun-dried fabric, soft and rustling, brought back the feeling of touching moss as a child.
Ju-hyeon was at a loss for words for a moment at the sensation, then soon looked at the world beyond the terrace again.
It was an instinctive gaze.
"…Was I in The Black Cape's picture frame?"
It was a world that resembled a fairy tale more than he had imagined.
'The sun is just rising.'
The dark dawn clouds were an indigo color reminiscent of a spring cold snap, but the warmth and starlight lingering by the just-rising sun were gentle colors resembling forsythia or cherry blossoms.
If one were to take a bite of that, it seemed it would be as sweet as honey from a flower.
"..."
Trudge.
Ju-hyeon went out onto the terrace without realizing it.
"…Stars."
There were stars in the sky, and there was a moon, and with them, there was the sun.
The stars, which did not fade even in the bright, soft light, showed a clarity that made them seem as if they would fall at any moment.
They were still twinkling.
"The Milky Way…."
At the dreamlike sight, the tips of his fingers suddenly tingled, and his tightly closed lungs ached.
It was a sight he had never seen before, yet Ju-hyeon felt a strange sense of longing along with a heavy air.
"..."
In the place where the morning shadow still lingered, a forest with no visible end and a sparkling lake could be seen.
Ju-hyeon's eyes were momentarily captivated by the lake.
A deep richness was felt from it, which sparkled with a rapturous golden light.
It was cold, and warm.
"…This feels strange."
Muttering to himself for no reason, Ju-hyeon flinched and stepped back.
"…This place is, um, right. That's right…."
He tried to come to his senses.
"Is it a kind of dungeon, I wonder."
It didn't work out well.
He had been in this state for a while recently.
While rationally thinking that he had to do this and that to recover, he lacked the motivation to actually put it into practice. It was as if his brain had hardened, refusing to work.
But a cool breeze blew from the terrace and cooled the heat on his forehead.
"..."
At that gentleness, which seemed to tell him not to be impatient, he found himself ridiculous for even having such thoughts, and Ju-hyeon let out a slow sigh.
"…Haaaah…."
Plop.
He sat on the bed.
"…Let's calm down."
It was okay.
It wasn't okay, but it could be.
He could overcome this time as he always had.
'I feel like my reason is returning a little, maybe because I slept and woke up.'
The terrible lethargy that had been tormenting Ju-hyeon recently had eased considerably.
Yes, he had been lethargic.
An impulse he had never felt in his life had shaken Ju-hyeon violently, and his mind, which had always coolly produced results for his benefit and goals, had become rigid.
'But now… it's not like that.'
He felt like he could breathe properly.
"..."
"Kurureuk?"
"…Huh?"
"Kkuk, kkureung."
"A bird?"
When he came to his senses, a golden bird was sitting on the terrace railing.
"No, water?"
Ju-hyeon soon realized that it was living water in the shape of a bird.
It had an appearance similar to the long-tailed tit, which was said to be extinct, with a much longer tail, and it carried a conspicuous jewel in its body as if it were a treasure chest.
"Why is it here…."
As he stood frozen, not knowing how to react, the bird flew over and landed on Ju-hyeon's thigh.
It had almost no weight, and although it was water, it was warm like a living creature.
"Kuru."
"…Hello?"
"Kkukkureureureu."
As if responding to the greeting, the water bird made a long cry and flapped its wings again to fly up.
It then bit the sleeve of Ju-hyeon's white pajamas with its beak and pulled.
"…You want me to go out?"
"Kurureuk."
"…How strange. Are its vocal organs not in its mouth…."
Perhaps because he was still half-asleep, he was more curious about how the bird, made entirely of water, could still make a cry without it being distorted while holding a sleeve in its mouth.
In a strange sense of unreality, Ju-hyeon followed where the bird led.
There, stood a jet-black man.
"Honey."
At his call, the honey-colored bird landed on the man's hand. It was a soft landing.
The man gave a short compliment, saying 'good job,' and placed the bird on his shoulder, and at his feet was a large cat sparkling with a cold light.
Ju-hyeon realized that it looked quite similar to an Anticat.
As he hesitated, not knowing what to do, the man soon spoke to him.
"Good morning."
"Ah, yes. Good morning."
"I was worried because you didn't wake up for a long time."
"I didn't wake up…?"
"You slept for 8 days."
"..."
Mulling over those words, Ju-hyeon's dark skin turned deathly pale.
"…8 days?"
"In reality, a total of 3 days have passed."
"Ah, ahh. Ah… I see. I understand."
Ju-hyeon let out a sigh of relief.
After being startled once, he felt his mind clear up sharply.
With a clearer sense of reason than before, Ju-hyeon looked at the jet-black man in front of him and thought to himself.
'…Is this The Black Cape's true form?'
There were no witnesses who had seen inside The Black Cape, to the point where a hypothesis circulated that the cape or the suit itself was its main body and the true form of The Black Cape that Ju-hyeon confirmed was a man of unimaginable beauty.
'I think I saw him before I fell asleep, but his impression is completely different from then… What exactly is different?'
As he was contemplating the differences in The Black Cape's transformations, the other person asked politely with calm, sunken eyes.
"Would you like to have a meal?"
"..."
"You're hungry, aren't you?"
Ah, that expression.
'…His entire personality changes with just one expression.'
The Black Cape, when he asked the question 'You're hungry, aren't you?' just now, looked incredibly gentle and affectionate despite his color not having changed.
His gaze was unknowingly captivated by the naturally and softly curving corners of his eyes and lips.
Only a beat later could Ju-hyeon answer.
"…Yes, I'm hungry."
Look at this suffocating peace.
'There's no way such peace can exist in the world.'
From that unrealistic tranquility, he realized that he was inside a painting.