If not for stimulation, what joy is there in living this long life?
"There is the king of demons!"
"The beasts of the Black Forest have come out!"
People screaming like beasts with their throats slit.
"Prepare for battle!"
"Argio has come, aim for him!"
"Kill the wicked beast!"
The tearing sound of steel trembling with anger, fear, and excitement.
"Do not allow him entry!"
"Kill Argio, keoheok─…!!"
The final scream leaking through the inserted claws.
The faint vibration through the vocal cords and the warm blood.
The tears hide.
Vibrations shaking the whole body.
The wind brushing against the skin.
The red that covers the eyes.
If I put strength into my feet and kick the ground, the world shakes, and I dance, sing, clamor, and cheer with those who bare their teeth at me….
Who will be with me today, who will take my life.
Yes, let's see together, my friends, what picture shall we paint with what blood now.
"Mon, monster…."
"...."
Ah, truly.
"…Hah ha."
Argio loved the battlefield.
***
Animal Kingdom_'Argio'
Synchronization Rate 61.9%
"...."
Jio woke from his sleep.
"…Oh…."
He was impressed.
"This is better than I thought."
"Meung."
"This kind of thrill is quite…?"
To be honest, Jio had been doubting 'Argio's' tastes.
As Seo Jio, and as Giovanni, the existing Jio was not a person who enjoyed combat. In the first place, his personality did not particularly enjoy conflict, and he did not have any particularly active hobbies.
But as the synchronization rate increased, Jio began to feel more.
"It wasn't that he enjoyed conflict."
Argio simply.
"Liked to clash head-on."
"Mwaang?"
"…Now that I say it, I wonder what the difference is myself."
With his hair turned red, Jio chuckled.
He hugged Dana.
"But being able to be faithful to my instincts… it seems to be a much more enjoyable thing than I thought."
Jio recalled the dream he just had.
It wasn't about lingering in conflict and discord.
It was about giving one's all, body and mind.
It wasn't about enjoying slaughter, but about playing joyfully with the things on the battlefield.
That place was like a blank canvas, where it was fine to be stained with blood and for dissonance to arise.
In his dream, Argio painted a picture.
Making eye contact with the gazes directed at him, responding when the opponent roared, and enjoying the most delicious food last….
"...."
Playing like that is quiet.
"…Charming."
Jio's eyes curved distinctly.
He wanted to be soaked once more in that fulfilling ecstasy of having let go of all human dignity and reason.
***
"Good morning."
"A good morning to you, my diligent friend."
The Black Cape asked.
"Did you sleep well last night?"
"Ah…."
He hadn't particularly slept well.
'How could I possibly sleep well after hearing talk of a Demon King and all that.'
Ju-hyeon couldn't come to his senses from the bomb the Black Cape had dropped last night.
And yet, it seemed the man himself had slept very well, but it must be a species-specific trait of humans to be swayed by the smooth talk of a great mystery, so Ju-hyeon hadn't been able to sleep all night.
It was because he had heard a story he couldn't handle.
"...."
But he wasn't so out of it as to grumble about it openly.
"…Yes, well."
"You did?"
"I slept well."
Ju-hyeon smiled awkwardly.
"You are red today."
"Didn't you say you liked this color the best?"
"I did think that you are good to converse with now as your emotional expression is distinct."
"An honesty that is almost grating to the ear is my long-standing virtue. Thank you for recognizing it."
"Haha…."
Ju-hyeon, who was observing Argio, asked cautiously.
"You seem to be in a good mood."
"Because I had a good dream."
"What kind of dream was it?"
"It was a dream where people called me a monster."
"…That's a good dream?"
"It seems so, at least for me."
The Black Cape's eyes curved thinly like a fox's.
"Though it would be far from it for you?"
"It is true that it is difficult for my short insight to understand."
Ju-hyeon couldn't deny it.
"Such insults… do they not hurt you?"
"...."
"...."
Soon, Ju-hyeon's face turned bright red.
"I'm sorry."
"No, that is quite a surprising perspective."
"I'm sorry…!"
Ju-hyeon knew well that it was a foolish thing to say.
The Black Cape was none other than an evil god.
What evil god would be hurt by looking at the infamy piled upon them?
Even if it wasn't an evil god but a god of traditional providence, whatever humans chattered about would not have much meaning.
'But.'
He couldn't just let it go like that.
"...."
"…Hmm."
Argio, tilting his head, asked.
"You have a face that has much to say."
"…In fact, I do."
"Then will you converse with me?"
"Would it not be an imposition?"
"A conversation with someone like you is valuable."
The Black Cape sat Ju-hyeon down at the table, and he himself took a seat opposite him.
"I was originally going to prepare a meal."
"I am sorry to have delayed your mealtime."
"You have so much to be sorry for, it's fine to skip breakfast sometimes."
"Thank you for your consideration."
"Those words are much better to hear."
"...."
Argio says he prefers 'gratitude' over 'apologies'.
"...."
Strength entered Ju-hyeon's hands.
"Now, let us speak. What is on your mind?"
"…My words may make you uncomfortable."
"Usually when that is said, it doesn't sound particularly unpleasant."
"Then I can speak a little more comfortably."
"I will listen to you with all my attention."
"You… yourself…."
In a very cautious tone, Ju-hyeon continued.
"…Call yourself a human, don't you?"
The Black Cape had too many strange points to be called a typical evil god.
"You say honesty is a virtue, so I too will speak honestly."
"I very much like such conversations."
"I am not sure whether you are joking or being serious when you call yourself a human, but…."
"I have always been serious, what a pity."
"Even taking that into account, you are an evil god unbecoming of an evil god."
Ju-hyeon took a deep breath without letting it show. The tips of his fingers trembled faintly with fear. He clenched his fists tightly.
"I know that you have been considerate of me all this time."
"That is because I wanted to make you my friend."
"If it hadn't been for that, would you have made things very difficult for me."
"I do not have such a clumsy hobby."
"If there was someone in pain and struggling… how would you treat them?"
"Not much different from now."
Argio continued nonchalantly.
"If they are an evil person, I will pass by, and if they are a good person, I will serve them a meal. If they need a conversation partner, I will ask for a conversation, and if they are lost, I will tell them where to go."
"…Why do you go so far?"
"Because for me, that is not such a great consideration and benevolence. I very much enjoy it when someone eats my cooking deliciously, and I like to see a good and polite person smile."
He said it as if it were all nothing.
"There is no grand cause or conviction."
"…I am rather grateful for that."
Because consideration and benevolence show their greatest true value when they are not grand.
"You are kind, after all."
If this were a ploy as an evil god, Ju-hyeon would have already been bewitched, but it was fine even if it was all a lie.
Whatever the true intention, the gentle consideration he felt now could comfort many more people.
Ju-hyeon did not trust the Black Cape.
Great mysteries were beings that humans could not fully comprehend, so their benevolence was not benevolence and their love was not love.
Nevertheless, have we not lived our lives receiving the affection of the gods?
"What god would cook for a mere human. Who would wet their hands and spend that precious time in front of a fire. But you easily lowered yourself."
"Aren't you thinking too grandly of a single meal?"
"You have no godly arrogance, nor the cruelty of an evil god. You call yourself a human and do not consider humans to be insignificant beings. There is no malice, no killing intent, only interest."
So it was strange.
"Who, and why, called you evil?"
"…People called me that."
"If you simply became an evil god amidst false accusations and insults, is that your sin?"
"We all commit sins."
"At the very least, I know you are not one to be isolated in fear and contempt."
Ju-hyeon, though hesitant, continued his words.
"I think you, being called a Demon King…."
"...."
"…Should not receive such treatment."
The end of his sentence trembled.
'He'll be displeased, surely.'
Having said what he wanted to say, Ju-hyeon worried that the others would get angry.
To a god who pursued his infamy to the point of spouting nonsensical things like being a Demon King, the words 'unbecoming of an evil god' would be a great insult.
But surprisingly, the Black Cape did not get angry.
"…You do?"
"...."
"I see."
He just looked a little sad.
"Do you too think I am not qualified to be an evil god?"
"…No!"
Ju-hyeon, who had been dazed for a moment, hurriedly shook his head.
"No. It's just a difference in perspective, from a human's perspective, such a thing is not right!"
He felt reverence and joy at the same time.
Surprisingly, it was possible to have a conversation with Argio.
He was an evil god with whom it was possible to share opinions.
He did not possess a surging malice, only the purity of one who seeks pleasure.
From that point, Ju-hyeon gained the will to converse.
An indefinable hope.
"Certainly, what I am saying may sound absurd to you. You may not understand. But the dream you spoke of yesterday and said was good today ultimately means using an innocent person named Argio as a scapegoat for insults."
He knew that the gods had a separate perspective, but Ju-hyeon, through his conversations with the Black Cape, had felt that he had a certain degree of self-awareness as a human.
He was a god with quite a human-like side.
Argio had gained a wicked divinity despite being unfit for an evil god.
"I, this… at the very least, do not think this is a desirable act."
"...."
"Even though I properly understood what you want and what you are trying to do."
He had said he wanted a desperate battle with a hero.
That would be sincere.
But if, for that, a 'person' named Argio had to be slandered by the people of the world and have all sorts of false accusations piled on him, then that was something that should not happen.
"Please do not make people commit sins."
"Commit sins?"
"Are you not trying to make ignorant people treat an innocent person as a sinner?"
"How is that a sin?"
Argio asked.
"A wicked beast deserves to be treated as a sinner."
"If they do not commit a sin, no one should be treated as a sinner."
"I can enjoy a quality battle, and people can find a place to direct their resentment."
"That certainly may feel rational, but it is a transaction twisted from its very foundation."
"Aren't there many people in the world today who are looking for someone to resent?"
"Those many people have the right to be angry in the right direction!"
Ju-hyeon became a little desperate.
"I have been thinking all night after hearing your words. I have thought of countless ways to make you a Demon King and give so many people a breather. But in the end, what is left?"
"Well, a breather for many people?"
"That is not actually a breather. If one becomes comfortable by turning the arrow of resentment towards an innocent person, that is close to a resignation one can only feel because they are broken. It would be because they have given up that they become comfortable."
"What have they given up?"
"They have given up on living as humans. They have given up on the chance to become better. It is a world full of humans who are not worthy of consideration, but if there is not even a minimum of consideration, for us…."
Hesitating, Ju-hyeon finally continued.
"Nothing will be left."
Only beasts who can only live by blaming others will remain.
"I may be exaggerating. But you have that much influence, don't you."
"You seem to be overestimating me."
"At the very least, there is no Korean who does not know of the Black Cape. That is the proof."
Ju-hyeon pleaded.
"The people who can become human, please do not turn them into beasts…."
"...."
Argio was silent for a while.
He finally said.
"You are a hero."
The Black Cape pitied Ju-hyeon.
"How pitiful."
"…Pardon?"
"...."
"...."
In the short silence, the evil god's hair was dyed black.
"Hmm, is that so…."
"Uh…."
"I understand what you mean."
"…Were you displeased?"
"No, it was a valid opinion."
He had a stoic face, as if he didn't know how to make an expression.
For a moment, he wondered if he was angry, but there was no sign of it.
He simply continued.
"So let's find a point of compromise."
"A point of compromise… is it?"
"Where people can remain human."
"Yes."
"A point of compromise that will not hurt me."
"…Ah…."
A word he had uttered himself but never thought would come from that mouth.
The Black Cape said 'hurt'.
After a long while, Ju-hyeon asked cautiously.
"…When you were called an evil god, were you hurt?"
"It became a great weapon and tool for me."
The jet-black evil god continued.
"But I was angry."
He spoke of his pain like an adult reading a fairy tale.
"So I must have been hurt as well."
"…That is."
"I don't know for sure, but probably so."
The Black Cape said.
"Thank you for letting me know."
"…I, just…."
"Shall we have a meal then?"
"...."
Ju-hyeon, unable to do anything about his face which was subtly distorted in bewilderment, soon nodded.
"…Let's do that."
He couldn't tell if this was consideration, or stubbornness.
He was a truly strange god.
-x-X-x-
The conversation with Ju-hyeon made Jio reflect on himself.
"I guess I was only thinking about what was convenient for me."
Even in a deal that seemed like a win-win, people had the freedom not to accept it.
I couldn't ignore the opinions of those who would not agree to making me a Demon King.
"My desire to create my own battlefield is immense, but that's my selfishness, and sacrificing others for that selfishness would leave a bad aftertaste. The war I want isn't like that."
Above all, Ju-hyeon had said this.
"My precious Demon King project is…."
"...."
"Something that hurts both people and me at the same time."
Every word of it was right.
"...."
"...."
In the quiet attic.
Jio held Honey in his hand and enjoyed its soft, squishy texture.
The way it slapped and clung to his palm was a true textural delight.
After enjoying that sloshing yet chewy sensation for a good while, Jio finally nodded his head.
"I admit it."
He opened his mouth.
"I do tend to be a bit thoughtless."
"Kuruk?"
"Should I say my brain is exceptionally clear?"
But not everyone in the world could be like Jio.
"Until I was about 21, I thought everyone lived as thoughtlessly as I do."
Seo Jio, with his infinitely high life satisfaction and self-esteem, rarely paid attention to what others thought.
That was why it took him a year after becoming an adult to realize that his mental structure was quite different from others.
"No wonder the characters in movies and dramas were always suffering from anguish."
Jio thought it was a characteristic exaggeration of creative works.
But it wasn't.
Surprisingly, people in the world tend to live with so-called worries and anxieties.
"They regret the past and fear the future."
"Kkung?"
"Exactly, I don't know why they do it either. What could be the reason for abusing their own brain cells?"
He was different in many ways from Jio, who only lived in the present and, even when he occasionally recalled the past and future, had only beautiful memories.
He couldn't understand at all why people lived so arduously.
They clung to things that had already passed and were frightened by situations that hadn't come.
They couldn't see a situation as just a situation, constantly assigning meaning to it and suffering because of it.
"They can't let their emotions flow, they keep linking them to reality and creating problems."
"Kkung…."
"Honestly, I wonder why they torment themselves. Doesn't that count as self-harm?"
"Kururuk."
"That's not to say I don't understand at all."
Jio knew that 'ah, not everyone is like me'.
Although he didn't even know that much back when he was in compulsory education, it wasn't that he lacked empathy, just that he enjoyed life too thoughtlessly.
"So…."
Jio mumbled, hesitating for a rare moment.
"Argio must have had his hard times too."
"...."
"He must have, right? Have there been times like that?"
Because of the case of 'Giovanni', who enjoyed life to the fullest without a single regret before he died, it was hard to be sure.
Honestly, from Seo Jio's perspective, it was a situation that made him think 'wow, how did he live like that', yet he had been perfectly fine.
But Jio also acknowledged that objectively, 'Argio' had also been in a tough situation.
"He seemed so completely fine that I thought, 'ah, he's okay,' but yes. In fact, if you think about it, it wasn't such a comfortable and peaceful life. It was a life steeped in hardship and adversity."
After being adored by the family as a multitalented prodigy, he was treated like a beast for manifesting a single ability at a young age.
After being thoroughly tormented, the place he was kicked out to was a den of demons where no sunlight reached and dangerous creatures gathered.
"...."
"Kkur?"
"…But honestly, that place was more fun…."
"Kkungkkungkkung."
"You're right, Honey. It's not a matter for me to assert when I'm not even fully synchronized."
"Kkuk."
"But it was really much more fun than that damn house."
Anyway, as a portrait containing 61.9% of Argio, it wasn't something to be declared.
He shouldn't be certain until he becomes 100% pure.
Jio tried to objectively grasp 'Argio's' unfortunate life.
"In any case, it's a fact that he was angry."
Hadn't he vowed to wring the necks of the pig bastards from the house who dared not recognize his value?
Perhaps 'Argio' was angry because he had been hurt in his own way.
"Even if he wasn't aware of it himself, it could have been a wound."
"Kururu…."
"Just because I'm simple doesn't mean Argio was too."
So Jio decided to reflect.
"I must take care of my own wounds myself."
"Kkung?"
"I pledge to cherish myself, not treat myself carelessly, and live with honesty and good manners."
"Kkungkkungkkung…."
"In that sense, I'll have to reconsider the Demon King project."
He would try to create a project where everyone is happy, without any unfair sacrifices, just as Ju-hyeon had advised.
As Jio made that resolution, he recalled his conversation with Ju-hyeon.
Specifically, those brown eyes that held warmth.
"He definitely seemed worried about me."
"Kuruk."
"I feel sorry for Mr. An Ju-hyeon."
Though Jio had ended up with all sorts of strange titles like portrait, evil god, and immortal, he was nothing more than a single human being with a tender heart.
He was deeply moved by Ju-hyeon's concern.
"He's a good person, after all."
How very grateful.
An unseasonal warmth filled the attic.
No matter how extraordinary Jio appeared, hadn't Ju-hyeon strongly insisted, 'Nevertheless, it is not right for an innocent person to be blamed'?
He even paid great attention to the word 'wound' that Jio had mentioned.
"It feels a bit awkward, like I was whining unnecessarily."
"Kurururuk?"
"Well, I suppose the one Mr. Ju-hyeon was comforting was 'Argio'."
"Kkung, kkuruk."
"…Right, let's just sleep for now."
After the short reflection, his whole body felt drowsy.
As always after a meal, sleepiness came to him.
The chair he was leaning against was comfortable.
In the spring breeze blowing softly through the attic window, Jio enjoyed a short nap with Honey.
And he woke up from the dream.
"...."
Synchronization Rate 94.2%
"...?"
Jio, his hair now red, muttered.
"Was I really unhappy?"
The 'Argio' in his dream seemed so utterly unbothered that Jio was a little dumbfounded.
This beast of a guy had enjoyed his life to 120% and then passed on in the way he wanted.
Jio's golden eyes trembled slightly.
"No, if it's like this… then I…."
"Kuruk?"
"It's going to be embarrassing to see Mr. Ju-hyeon's face."
"Kkung?"
"It makes me look like… such a crybaby, doesn't it?"
He had received concern for nothing.
Jio had suddenly become a pathetic 24-year-old who whined and made a fuss.
***
Around the time Jio was feeling a regret that wasn't quite regret, Bisabeol laughed.
He completely burst out laughing.
"Ahak, ahahahahahahaak!!"
"...."
"Keub, keuheu… heuheuheuhup…!"
Bisabeol asked, catching his breath.
"A Demon King?"
"Yes, the Demon King."
"Ha, truly the vitamin of my life, never a dull moment."
"Guild Leader, it would be more helpful for world peace if you were a bit duller."
"Have I ever threatened the peace of humanity first?"
"You do have a problem of openly enjoying others' misfortune."
"In any case, it was not my fault."
Seuheup.
Bisabeol, having composed himself, spoke.
"A Demon King and a Hero, it would be hard to find a more fitting analogy."
"It's not exactly a joking situation, though."
"But the Earth's lifespan is in danger if we unleash a new Demon King right now."
Bisabeol generally lived for his own amusement, but that didn't mean he didn't know right from wrong.
If he had to choose, he was closer to the side that wished for humanity's peace and the Earth's longevity.
In other words, the world was so precarious that even a hedonist like Bisabeol had to worry, or it was in danger.
So even Bisabeol couldn't just pursue what he wanted to see.
"Personally, I would love to keep the Demon King on Earth and admire him up close, but."
"Please, restrain yourself. I'm not exaggerating when I say the Earth will really be destroyed."
"I know that, which is what makes it so difficult. Has there ever been a time I've been this disappointed…."
He was genuinely disappointed.
"Since this is a work that has entered my collection, I wish the event would take place in my hometown."
The work he had bought for a large sum of money, and one he was so fond of, was offering to perform its cute antics.
He would prefer it if those antics were performed in front of him, but the lack of a suitable stage seemed to make it a difficult wish.
"I understand why you requested a meeting; it is certainly a dangerous request."
"The very nuance of the term Demon King, of all things, doesn't sit well either."
Yu Seong-un let out a sigh.
"What he desires is a bloody battle where everything is at stake."
He wanted a sincere duel where he wagered his own destiny, his life, and everything from the trivial things to the beliefs that made him who he was.
Argio, who showed his greed, reeked of blood.
"So I thought about finding him another battlefield, but it seems he's not interested if it's not his own war."
"He probably wants all the gazes and emotions to be focused on Argio himself."
"It seems he wants a stage where he is the protagonist."
"So he wanted to become a Demon King, where heroes would come crawling to him even if he did nothing."
"That would also be the most familiar sequence of events for Argio."
Yu Seong-un had heard Argio's story.
A great mystery who was condemned as a beast, became a target of subjugation, and eventually obtained the wicked divinity of an evil god and was sealed.
He is the evil god of wrath and greed.
"Jio seems to wish to relive the joy of that time."
"Are you saying that wasn't painful for Argio?"
"That sort of sign… I did not feel it."
It was a surprising thing.
"Considering that evil gods of the same path were all steeped in hatred and contempt, it's a truly rare and unusual case. Jio even pitied and loved those who sealed him."
Argio described the heroes who sealed him as pitiful and admirable.
"So even if Jio does become a Demon King, I believe he would devise a way to cause less damage if possible. As for the Argio side, I'm not exactly sure, but…."
"In the first place, 'Jio's Portrait' likes what is good and polite, so he himself tries to adopt such an attitude. In reality, regardless of how that will is manifested, isn't that ultimately the case?"
"The Guild Leader is right. Jio enjoys the battle itself; he doesn't particularly desire the influence or wealth derived from it. Those seem to be just additional income."
"He welcomes wealth and fame, but he does not covet them. I understand. He probably considered that wealth and fame as a kind of spoils of war. It's hard to see it as greed for the things themselves."
"Yes, apart from showing a considerable preference, his desire for them is not great. As the Guild Leader said, they are probably just a means to prove his victory in battle."
Yu Seong-un had already reported on Argio's appearance on the first day they met.
Gold, silver, and treasures adorning his entire body, long, dark-colored red hair braided down, and the hide of a beast.
He certainly preferred flashy things.
From his appearance to his attitude towards life.
But if Argio had been obsessed with wealth and fame themselves, 'Jio's Portrait' would have been flashy from the start.
He wouldn't have forgiven Yu Seong-un for daring to treat him so familiarly, either.
"The only thing Argio truly wants is battle."
"It's as if he wishes to act like a beast."
He doesn't care about face or position, and wants a battle where he throws away everything that makes him up, or perhaps bets everything.
He clearly wants a battlefield where he can be completely immersed in the fight.
"Then, first…."
Bisabeol organized the sequence of events.
"We need to show 'Mr. Seo Jio' to the world."
"…Suddenly?"
"Suddenly? Wasn't this something we were already preparing for?"
"That's true, but."
"There is an order to everything."
Bisabeol's long, slit pupils dilated slightly.
His gaze was not on Yu Seong-un before him but fixed on the empty air, yet it moved constantly as if he were seeing something.
His lips parted.
"…Yes, first, when Hunter Seo Jio comes out into the world…."
"...."
"His place will be established. A small opportunity will arise… mm, yes."
"...."
"The mermaids… right, there is still an unfinished story remaining…."
Soon, Bisabeol nodded his head.
"…After revealing Mr. Seo Jio as a Collector's Hunter, I will entrust him with the conquest of a suitable dungeon. And I'll also need to see what he's like in a spar, which is not the battle he wants."
"I will look for a suitable dungeon."
"I think I can create the battlefield that our Hunter Seo Jio wants. But for that to happen, I must first see his skills, and I'll need to talk to him directly to prepare a suitable place."
Yu Seong-un, who was staring at his superior, finally asked.
"Shall I ask Jio to have a conversation with you, Guild Leader?"
"There is no need for that."
Bisabeol's eyes curved deeply.
"It's not polite to rush a guest who will come on their own."
"...."
Yu Seong-un said with a fed-up face.
"…How about you change your skill name to 'Prophecy' already?"
"My skill is Appraisal, not seeing the future, I keep telling you."
"There are times I really don't want to talk to you."
"And here you are, always hating to talk to your boss."
"That's a virtue of a modern person."
"This is why I like you, Mr. Yu Seong-un."
He smiled happily at the insolent antics of his collection piece.
Although Yu Seong-un's expression grew even more fed up with that, Bisabeol simply returned to the original topic by himself.
"Then it seems we first need to get a secretary for our 'Mr. Seo Jio'."
"Ah… I did make a list for that, but…."
"You said the name of the person currently recuperating inside the portrait is Ju-hyeon, right?"
"For crying out loud."
Yu Seong-un shoved the documents he had been rummaging for back into his bag.
The fragile papers crumpled without a care.
"I knew this would happen."
"If you knew, why did you go through the trouble?"
"Because it is the virtue of an employee to go through the trouble to show sincerity."
"My employees are all so diligent."
"Somehow, Jio talks a lot about that person named Ju-hyeon too."
"He seems happy to have made a friend, doesn't he?"
"He himself says not yet, but…."
"That's just a matter of time."
Bisabeol wore a rare, crooked smile.
"A hero cannot dislike Jio."
"…A hero?"
"Oh dear, my praise was too lavish."
He was being openly sarcastic.
"I mean an idiot steeped in recklessness."
"...."
Yu Seong-un wiped his face with both hands.
"…Please, don't say that in front of him."
"I have my own sense of decorum."
"I looked into it, and he lived his life quite earnestly, so why are you like this?"
"I know he is a diligent person."
It's just that.
"I just dislike him."
Bisabeol didn't get along well with the ilk of heroes.
"How wonderful would it be if everyone in the world were like you, Mr. Yu Seong-un?"
"I think that would be a disaster in its own right."
"Well, anyway, Jio and Mr. Ju-hyeon will become friends soon."
"You're completely certain."
"That's because a great mystery is fond of heroes."
In other words, they liked pushovers.
"And since Jio is the most human-like mystery among mysteries, it won't be too difficult for that person named Ju-hyeon to accept him either."
"But won't Mr. Ju-hyeon feel a sense of rejection due to his overwhelming presence?"
"For that to happen, 'Jio's Portrait' has a proven taste so far. He is a divinity that is perfectly suited to a hero's heart."
Bisabeol laughed lightly as always.
"They will become good friends."
Within Bisabeol's pupils, for some reason, Yu Seong-un was trapped.
"Yes."
"...."
"This will be fun."
His eyes curved even more narrowly.
-x-X-x-
It was because he lived thoughtlessly, not that Jio was a stupid person.
"...."
Rather, Jio's brain worked faster when he wanted something.
Seo Jio did not want his hometown to become more unforgiving.
Giovanni did not want people to commit sins without even realizing it, and Argio did not want to engage in petty and cowardly actions unbecoming of a warrior.
"...."
How could I satisfy my greed while protecting this precarious peace?
How could it get better without getting worse?
Jio suddenly recalled his memories from when he was a priest.
He recalled the information he had encountered when he went to Earth and the faces of the heroes who had come to subjugate him.
Because it was not just 'Seo Jio', he conceived and discarded numerous plans in an instant.
"…Yes."
Soon, his lips parted.
"Nice."
A plan he liked had emerged.
"I think it's good."
A clean plan, without any burnt offerings.
A satisfied smile spread over Jio's face like a solar eclipse.
***
Meanwhile, Ju-hyeon.
"...."
Unlike the homeowner, he had many worries.
"…I'm confused."
It was much better than in the beginning, but unlike his body, which was becoming more comfortable by the day, his mind was not.
Ju-hyeon's troubled insides, which were noisy every other day, would sometimes unravel and sometimes get tangled.
Sitting on the bed and staring blankly outside the terrace, Ju-hyeon muttered softly.
"Did he say he wasn't having lunch?"
Because their conversation had been long, it took place between breakfast and lunch.
The Black Cape suggested that he seemed to need time to digest and recommended they have dinner later, and Ju-hyeon accepted.
"…Really…."
The mystery, the Black Cape, wouldn't have a problem with digestion, so that must have been purely out of consideration for Ju-hyeon.
Thinking about it again, he was a god unlike any god.
When dealing with such mysteries, humans had to conform to their rules.
A mystery yielding its rules for a human like this was, no matter how he thought about it, something unheard of in history.
"...."
And so, he fell into thought once more.
"…Slowly, one by one…."
Don't look at it narrowly, look at the big picture.
"Let's take our time and sort it out."
He already knew that he could do it.
"I can do it."
First, he sorted out the situation he was in.
If he requested it, he could probably move to another research institute, but one research institute was no different from a kingdom.
It would take a long time to adapt and blend in.
'That said, it's also strange to remain in the current research institute.'
All the allies he had painstakingly made were gone.
Now, only people busy pushing Ju-hyeon away remained there, so it was a worse move than transferring to another research institute.
'Should I aim for an administrative position at the headquarters instead of a research institute?'
Ju-hyeon was used to researching mysteries, but for that very reason, it wouldn't be difficult to become an administrative staff member at the Association's headquarters. As the Association President resided there himself, the headquarters had an open environment.
"There, even someone like me from the 'Etc.' orphanage would likely be accepted without difficulty."
As he had muttered without realizing it, Ju-hyeon was from an orphanage and the employees who came in through the orphanage's special admission track were generally disliked, and Ju-hyeon was in a position to be particularly disliked among them.
"...."
But this method didn't appeal to him much either.
"…The Association might not be the only way."
He grew up in an orphanage sponsored by the Association, and he chose that path because he knew the Association, which collaborated with the government on an equal footing.
He believed that the Association was the best choice for creating the world he wanted.
'But the Association might not have been as good a choice as I thought.'
The Association was already in a state where many things were settled.
'That means there's less room for a guy like me to step in and have an influence.'
The Association maintained and had to maintain a stable state.
More than Ju-hyeon had imagined, the Association was intricately structured like a spider's web, and each organization maintained a very close relationship.
"Trying to bring about some change in a place like that…."
It was only natural that it wasn't looked upon favorably.
"...."
After pondering for a good while longer, Ju-hyeon soon opened his mouth.
"…In that case, would a private guild be better?"
He wasn't unaware that it was practically a recommendation for retirement, though it was called a leave of absence.
In reality, Ju-hyeon was in a position of being kicked out of the research institute, so he would have to find another path, but as of now, there were no options he could be sure of.
"No, even in a private guild, you strictly follow orders. The possibility of the same thing happening is much higher…."
Ju-hyeon suddenly thought of his family from the orphanage.
"...."
He couldn't help it.
His stomach churned.
'…It would have been better if I had conducted myself more properly.'
Perhaps he had been too hasty.
The ideal he pursued was grand, but Ju-hyeon was humble.
He would have to move these small legs quickly to even step on the very edge of it in his lifetime, but each and every step was so slow.
Was that why he couldn't look around his surroundings carefully?
Or had he been possessed by an evil god? It could have been both.
As a result, because Ju-hyeon had been impatient, he had pushed his family and friends into death and suffering.
"…That…."
Ju-hyeon wiped his face.
"How am I supposed to repay that sin?"
To the people who were already dead.
He couldn't move on to the future if he couldn't sort out the past.
But how could he pay the price for the people who were sacrificed because he had not acted wisely?
"I hope they at least found peace, but I don't know if I dare to make that happen…."
A bitter smile appeared.
He knew well enough that he couldn't turn back the past.
From the moment they were born, humans had to move forward, and it was the same even after making a huge mistake.
Since a mere human body couldn't scoop up spilled water, he had to at least clean up the mess meticulously.
"…Hmm…."
The problem was that a person's death was not something that could be cleaned up as easily as spilled water.
This was especially true for Ju-hyeon, a non-Awakener with no powers.
'If I had been a priest of a religious order like the Solar Cult, would it have been more helpful?'
He couldn't grant rest to the dead, nor could he beg for mercy since he didn't serve a god.
'It would have been better if I had been more diligent… but regretting that now would be meaningless.'
Ju-hyeon suddenly thought of the Black Cape, who must be somewhere in this cabin.
"…Hmm, no matter how I think about it, this is…."
Ju-hyeon smiled sheepishly.
"Too shameless of a thing to do."
For a moment, he had thought about asking the Black Cape to pray for the peace of his family and friends, but Ju-hyeon quickly erased that thought.
The fact that his opponent was an evil god was also a concern, but above all, Ju-hyeon was not brazen enough to demand such a privilege.
How could he, who was not even its follower, ask for the mercy of peace?
'Such a privilege is something even a priest who has served a god for a long time can rarely receive, not something an unbeliever like me can recklessly demand.'
It would probably be difficult unless Ju-hyeon suddenly awakened as a priest at this late age, but he decided to do his best for the souls of those who died because of him.
"If I don't forget my mistake, reflect on my sin, and live with a constant heart of gratitude and apology towards those people…."
He thought that maybe, just maybe, it could reach his family and friends who were already dead, even if just a little.
"…Yes."
That was the starting point.
"First, should I make a grave."
The bodies of the dead had been collected, but that was a 'cleaning,' not a 'funeral.'
He had been so out of his mind that he hadn't even prepared a place to mourn them.
'Was it because I thought I would soon be going to the same place?'
It was too big of a failure, and too great a price.
He had committed such a huge sin that he couldn't even think about recovering; he was just sorry.
He had no face to make amends and move forward.
"...."
Ju-hyeon smiled awkwardly.
"But that would be a more cowardly thing to do…. It's no different from running away because I don't want to take responsibility."
There was nothing certain.
He thought that joining the people who died because of him was the right way to atone.
But that could just be running away. The current Ju-hyeon couldn't know which was the 'right path.'
But one thing had become clear.
"Yes, let's make a tombstone."
The bodies had already been 'cleaned' and couldn't be recovered.
He had tried to get them back belatedly, but he was only told that they had already been disposed of.
That was why he hadn't thought of a tombstone even more, but now, he felt he had to make one. He had the presence of mind for it.
"I'll need a space to mourn."
That was how humans, not gods, prayed for the peace of dead souls.
Let's draw the faces of the people I remember, carve their names, and record the stories I had with them. At the very least, no one would call such an act 'bad' or 'not right.'
"And then…."
And then, what should he do?
"...."
Ju-hyeon pressed his lips together firmly.
'At the very least, dying with them would not be the right path.'
And he didn't want to do that either.
Until he received the Black Cape's help, he had been in a state of despair, but not now.
The current him had the leeway to contemplate and choose a better path.
But he couldn't think of what that 'better path' was.
'…Should I go to the Temple of Abundance, which values relief for the poor? No, the religious world doesn't accept change easily. It's as bad a choice as the Association. Then should I start a business with the money I've saved up until now? I have a few items in mind, and based on that, I can try to change the social atmosphere little by little….'
He pondered for a very long time.
"...."
"Kkureung."
"…Ah."
When he came to his senses, the day was already getting dark.
"Is it time for dinner?"
The Black Cape would be waiting.
***
After another blissful meal.
"You seem to have a lot on your mind."
The Black Cape showed interest in Ju-hyeon's condition.
"...."
"...."
Of course, he knew he would be found out.
"…I do have a lot…."
No, in the first place, the expression 'found out' was not appropriate.
A mere human wracking his brain in front of a great mystery would be like being on Buddha's palm.
Above all, it was the Black Cape in front of him who had brought Ju-hyeon, who was hesitating whether to summon Sankalut or not.
Since even this situation could have been its intention, Ju-hyeon did not bother to hide his state.
"I'm worried about what to do now."
"I heard from my father that you are considering a new career path."
"A new career path…."
It was a very clean and normal term.
"…I suppose you could say that."
If you thought about it, it wasn't wrong.
The path he had been on so far had failed, and he had judged that it would be better to find a completely different path than to try to go back.
If one were to put a cleaner spin on that 'different path', the expression 'considering a career path' was correct.
"I was trying to divine how my life would unfold from now on."
"Do you have a talent for divining fate?"
"…Th-that's… that's absolutely not what I meant."
Ju-hyeon's face turned red for having uttered the word 'divine' in front of a living, breathing destiny.
How ridiculous must it have sounded?
It was like teaching a fish how to swim, what on earth had he said?
'I seem to become unusually honest in front of the Black Cape, is this also one of the effects of its divinity?'
Ju-hyeon, having composed his embarrassment, glanced at the Black Cape.
"...."
"It's a tea brewed from grains."
"Ah, thank you."
Before he could observe any further, he was being fed again.
At times like this, it was really like a grandmother.
"…Is this corn tea?"
"You mentioned last time that you like savory things."
"Ah, so you were being considerate."
"It was just when the corn I was growing was loudly demanding to be eaten."
"I see, the corn was demanding…."
Wait a minute.
"…Demanding?"
Ju-hyeon looked down at the corn tea with a suspicious gaze.
"…Keuheum."
The aroma was too good to not drink it.
'The food is not at fault.'
After taking a sip, his mind and body felt strangely at ease.
'This time it was a mental and physical stability effect.'
Dozens of times, he had ingested food that had an immediate beneficial effect on his health just by eating it.
Ju-hyeon was no longer surprised.
However, with a clearer mind, he once again looked at the Black Cape.
"...."
The world teaches not to look into the eyes of a god.
"What is it?"
"…It's just…."
It teaches us not to expect anything from them.
Ju-hyeon knew that too.
"…Could you give me some advice?"
Nevertheless, as humans have always done, he was desperate for the help of a great mystery.
In the first place, it was Ju-hyeon who had tried to talk to none other than Sankalut. Compared to a typical evil god that tormented and devoured the weak, the Black Cape was certainly a worthy opponent to seek advice from.
"What does Mr. Jio see in my future?"
"I cannot see the future."
Just when he thought it was a refusal, it continued.
"However, I have often seen people like you, Mr. Ju-hyeon."
"…People like me, you mean…."
"Simply put, a natural-born hero."
"...."
Ju-hyeon's face crumpled in embarrassment.
"…You said that last time too, but why do you say I'm a hero?"
"A hero is someone who always chooses the greater good over selfish desire."
The Black Cape gave a gentle smile.
"They are people who value what is outside of themselves more than themselves, intangible concepts more than what they can hold in their hands, and an eternal foundation more than a single moment. You are such a case, Mr. Ju-hyeon."
"...."
"I know the stories you have told me and the ones you haven't. Right now, Mr. Ju-hyeon, you are saddened by the sacrifices caused by your mistake, but what is more important is your conviction."
The evil god's smile seemed to hold interest, and was somewhat playful.
"I'm not saying you shun the deaths of your family and friends. The point of this explanation is that while you are as sad and pained as anyone else, you still think about moving forward."
"…Am I someone who sacrifices the few… for the many?"
"No, that's not it. Mr. Ju-hyeon, you are someone who gives your heart even to small tragedies that have nothing to do with you. Even if you saved 99 out of 100 people, you would still grieve over the death of that one person. I know very well that the only card you can sacrifice is yourself."
"That's not really…."
"Mr. Ju-hyeon, you are a hero. You have a gentle nature, and you treat everyone you meet with good manners. I think you are an excellent talent."
For a moment, the Black Cape's hair flared up red like a flame.
"So I was thinking of trying to coax you a bit."
"Ah, yes? Me? Why?"
"If I got on your nerves, you might become a decent hero…."
"Please count me out, I beg you."
Ju-hyeon was horrified.
He never thought it would readily withdraw that Demon King project, but he had no desire at all to join the ranks of those deceivers called heroes.
As if it knew he would say that, the Black Cape smiled slyly. It looked like a pleased fox.
"I don't do such cowardly things."
"I-I see…."
"But I want to make you my friend."
"Why are you so obsessed with friends?"
"The more friends, the better."
"That's true, but."
He didn't know it was a story that applied even to gods.
'I don't really understand why such a great mystery would want to befriend a mere human.'
But since he had experience dealing with the Black Cape, he wasn't easily flustered.
Ju-hyeon let out a slightly awkward sigh, but he didn't freak out at every single word.
"So… I, that…."
"Hero."
"Ugh."
"Why do you hate it so much?"
"It gives me the creeps."
Anyway, let's say that's that.
"So what were the endings of people like me?"
"They became gods, became history, or disappeared cleanly without a trace."
"That's more unforgiving than I imagined. Isn't it too extreme?"
"Is it not too shameless to walk such a path and hope the outcome isn't extreme?"
"No, do we really need to bring conscience into this…?"
"Anyway."
Argio laughed lightly.
"What do you plan to do from now on? Do you have a job in mind?"
"Well, I'm thinking about handling the minor loose ends, but… I haven't found a job."
"So you're thinking of leaving the research institute. In that case, you won't be doing anything for a while."
"Now that you say it, it does sound quite like I'm a bum, but yes, that's what happened."
"If that's the case, do you have any intention of playing with me?"
"…Wait a minute, play? Did you say play?"
"It would be like monitoring and supervising the natural disaster that is me."
"What is that…."
"Doesn't it sound fun?"
"...."
Ju-hyeon closed his mouth.
"...."
"...."
After a long while, he spoke.
"…Maybe?"
And so, Ju-hyeon, at the request of Jio, was led by the hand of Yu Seong-un and dragged before Bisabeol.
It was a future that the person in question had not anticipated at all.
-x-X-x-
Yu Seong-un knew very well what Bisabeol's tastes were.
'He likes dry and selfish people.'
Extremely individualistic, and fundamentally sincere and competent talents.
People who, even if someone died right in front of them, could think, 'Ah, it's pitiful, but I'm glad it's not me.'
And yet, people who tried to maintain a minimum of goodness and conscience.
That was Bisabeol's standard for collecting people.
'In that sense, a person like Ju-hyeon is far from Bisabeol's taste.'
In truth, Yu Seong-un only knew about 'the kind of person the Guild Leader likes,' but he didn't really know what type of person he disliked or how he would react.
It was natural, since he wouldn't collect them in the first place if they didn't suit his taste.
And now.
"...."
"...."
In a silence that rose from hell, Yu Seong-un tightened his clasped hands.
'Someone, please say something.'
Yu Seong-un was withering away, stuck between Bisabeol and Ju-hyeon.
'I thought he wouldn't be his type since he (Bisabeol) is always so sarcastic, but….'
Bisabeol looked like he genuinely hated Ju-hyeon.
He was smiling, but his lips were twisted; unlike his usual sly, eel-like self who never lost a smile, his eyes were cold; and his gaze towards the other person was arrogant and extremely uncooperative.
Yu Seong-un had never seen Bisabeol like that before.
'And this one too….'
It wasn't like Ju-hyeon's side was perfectly fine either.
This gentleman didn't even smile at all.
He had a strong impression of being very affable and sincere, but for some reason, in front of Bisabeol, he didn't even pretend to engage in social niceties.
His narrowly opened eyes were clearly filled with contempt for Bisabeol.
'Why on earth?'
You two just met for the first time.
'And you haven't exchanged a single word.'
He couldn't have even imagined such an atmosphere up until he took over Ju-hyeon from Jio.
This was because the Ju-hyeon he had spoken with on the way to the interview room was a very gentle and amiable person.
"...."
"...."
"…I'm sorry."
And Yu Seong-un finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Could someone please say something."
And stop making an innocent person like me uncomfortable.
Perhaps they sensed Yu Seong-un's feelings, or perhaps they too were planning to wrap things up around this point.
The two instantly changed their expressions and returned to their usual selves.
"Ah, my. My apologies. The impression of Mr. Ju-hyeon, whom I had only heard about, was so wonderful that I unknowingly lost my gaze. Would you please forgive my rudeness?"
"Forgiveness? What are you talking about, Guild Leader Bisabeol. I think I was the one who was rude, being so nervous to meet the famous Collector. I'm truly sorry."
During the conversation between the two sly eels, Yu Seong-un inwardly smacked his lips.
'I want to go home.'
Of course, it was too early to leave work.
"Guild Leader."
"Yes, Mr. Yu Seong-un."
"Shall I take my leave now?"
"Don't do that, please have a seat."
Bisabeol offered a seat with his characteristic sly smile.
"We're going to talk about 'Mr. Seo Jio,' so shouldn't Curator Yu Seong-un, who is in charge of him, be present as well?"
"If that is the Guild Leader's will, then I understand. Thank you for your consideration."
If there were no outsiders, he would have said, 'Please, stop bothering me,' but for the sake of the guild's image, Yu Seong-un was in a position where he had to yield a step.
He obediently sat in the spot designated by Bisabeol.
Finally, a proper conversation began.
"Let me introduce myself formally, Mr. Ju-hyeon. I am Bisabeol, the Guild Leader of the Collectors."
Bisabeol smiled lightly with a fairly composed face.
"I have heard about your situation, Mr. Ju-hyeon. It was a very rude thing to do, but I learned of it through Mr. Yu Seong-un. I believe you have heard the basic details from our curator…."
"That's right, thanks to that, I also heard about 'Jio's Portrait.' I was truly surprised to hear that the identity of the famous Black Cape was a collection of Guild Leader Bisabeol."
"I feel sorry that this old collector seems to have startled a good young man. So, the fact that you came through the Collectors, does that mean you are willing to care for Mr. Seo Jio?"
Bisabeol added in a natural and smooth tone.
"Ah, of course, if you feel burdened, you are welcome to refuse."
"I do think it's a role beyond my station, but I have no intention of refusing."
The sentences Ju-hyeon uttered were also extremely smooth.
"I have also received a great deal of help from 'Mr. Seo Jio' until now. You've given me a chance to repay that, so for me, it is a great honor."
At that moment, Yu Seong-un heard Bisabeol's voice, sneering in a whisper, "So you do know." Since his lips didn't move, it was ventriloquism, and it was a kind of indicator to let Yu Seong-un know that 'I'm in a bad mood.'
It was at a level that Ju-hyeon, a civilian, would not be able to hear. But….
'So what am I supposed to do about it?'
To be honest, Yu Seong-un wanted to side with Ju-hyeon rather than Bisabeol.
Of course, he didn't feel good about Ju-hyeon openly glaring at his superior, but it was Bisabeol who had started the fight with his expression first.
'I wish you would act your age.'
Regardless of Yu Seong-un's thoughts, the conversation continued.
"'Jio's Portrait,' known to the world as the 'Black Cape,' is currently registered as an A-Class Hunter belonging to the Collectors. That is the identity he uses when he moves about in the human world."
"The role I will be taking on will be that of 'Hunter Seo Jio's' manager."
"Since Mr. Seo Jio is officially part of the Collectors, it's fine to see it as a secretary role. You will be helping 'Jio's Portrait' adapt to human society without a sense of disharmony and live as a Hunter."
Bisabeol showed the smile for public display that people of the world would be familiar with.
It was a smile that gave a sense of trust and stability, while also faintly exuding the characteristic arrogance of an S-Class Hunter, who was said to be closer to a monster than a human.
"As I understand it, Mr. Seo Jio introduced himself to you as an evil god. Is that correct?"
"That's right, by the name of Argio…."
Having said that, Ju-hyeon gave a gentle smile.
"For someone like that, I was surprised at how very affectionate and merciful he was."
"That is precisely the charm that 'Jio's Portrait' shows. He is very colorful and has tens of thousands of faces, but he is fundamentally friendly towards humans and very gentlemanly."
The smile on Bisabeol's face as he described Jio became sincere for a moment.
He loved works of art, and he loved his collection even more.
He truly wished for the convenience and happiness of 'Jio's Portrait.'
"I understand that you were wary of him, having first met him as an evil god. But if you show goodwill, Mr. Ju-hyeon, 'Jio's Portrait' will also show goodwill in return."
"…There was a rumor that the Black Cape gives gifts to good people."
"It's true. He genuinely likes good and polite humans. And he despises evil and impolite humans. To the point of isolating them from other humans."
Bisabeol's eyes curved into a sly crescent.
"Is that not a quality that you find agreeable, Mr. Ju-hyeon?"
"…Haha…."
Ju-hyeon returned that smile exactly as it was given.
"I wouldn't dare to judge whether it pleases me or not."
"Ah, what a humble thing to say. Unlike the boldness you harbor."
"I was born with nothing, so I am insignificant and a cowardly person."
"Such excessive humility doesn't suit you, Mr. Ju-hyeon."
Bisabeol's smile twisted.
"What suits you is voracious greed, isn't that right?"
"...."
Ju-hyeon smiled even more deeply.
"…I never thought I'd hear I was greedy from the Collector."
"We are in different fields, but we are quite greedy people."
Soon after, Bisabeol returned to his usual face for public display.
"Though I'm sure you won't admit it, Mr. Ju-hyeon. Mr. Yu Seong-un will inform you of the exact duties."
At that, Yu Seong-un, who had been quiet all along, nodded his head.
"I will explain to you separately later."
"Ah, thank you. I was worried about what to do…."
"It won't be difficult, so you don't have to worry."
At Yu Seong-un's words, Bisabeol looked at Ju-hyeon once more.
"Do you wish to belong to the Collectors?"
Ju-hyeon gave a prim smile.
"No?"
"Haha! I thought as much."
"I don't think I am the kind of talent that suits the Collectors."
"Regrettably, that is the truth."
Only Bisabeol's 'collection pieces' could occupy a position in the Collectors.
In other words, it was a mess of a company where one couldn't even get hired if they didn't become a work of art that Bisabeol liked.
In that sense, anyone could see that Bisabeol was shunning Ju-hyeon.
Even Yu Seong-un, who prided himself on being somewhat favored by Bisabeol, was seeing such a reaction from his superior for the first time, which said it all.
"Mr. Ju-hyeon will be a secretary personally hired by Hunter Seo Jio, so you don't have to worry about taking my orders. Just think only about taking Mr. Seo Jio's orders."
"I will do that."
"I know that things with the Association are not fully settled yet, so I will pull some strings in that regard. I will help you leave cleanly without any trouble, but do you have anything you left at your workplace? Any items you need to bring back."
"No, I don't."
"Then it seems only the relationship needs to be sorted out. Fortunately for our Collectors, that part is not difficult. We will help so that the matter can be settled without any friction."
Soon, Bisabeol asked with a smile.
"Do you have any other questions?"
"It seems that you have something you want to say, Guild Leader, rather than me."
"Oh, my. You've seen that quite accurately."
The smile vanished from Bisabeol's face.
"I don't particularly like people like you, Mr. Ju-hyeon."
He added, "I imagine you feel similarly."
"Humans like you, Mr. Ju-hyeon, chase after illusions too seriously."
"Chasing such illusions could be said to be the right of foolish humans."
"Is there really a need to do something you know is foolish?"
"People who don't have good eyes like you, Guild Leader, have to grope their way forward."
"…I really don't like people like you…."
He fiddled with the rings in his hand.
"...."
Yu Seong-un, realizing that this was a habit that came out when Bisabeol perceived the other person as an enemy, quietly gazed at Ju-hyeon.
It wasn't a flow of events he could understand, but it was worth paying attention to.
In what aspect did his esteemed superior feel wary of and loathe this person?
'Judging by the circumstances… Does he see him as a human who will harm his work of art?'
Since Bisabeol hadn't given a separate signal, it didn't seem to be a situation where even Yu Seong-un had to perceive him as an enemy, but he inwardly kept a sense of caution towards this civilian researcher.
He trusted Bisabeol's eyes.
'Certainly, a civilian whose spirit isn't broken even in front of an S-Class Hunter and an A-Class Hunter….'
Just as he was thinking there was a suspicious part, it happened.
"-Hey."
A long arm stretched out from behind Bisabeol.
"...."
"The air is heavy."
It made a jangling sound, showing off all sorts of accessories, and soon, fingers adorned with flashy jewels lightly wrapped around Bisabeol's shoulder as if in play.
Yu Seong-un saw the owner of that arm.
Pale skin as if it had never seen the sun, a vivid smile, and dark red hair.
"You shouldn't play pranks on a hero."
"...."
"Instead of treating a precious talent with respect…."
It was the portrait.
"Isn't that right, Guild Leader Bisabeol?"
A portrait that appeared in mid-air, not on a wall.
"...."
"...."
"Those eyes."
The two monsters' gazes met.
"They belong to a dragon, don't they?"
Bisabeol's pupils split into long slits.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Jio's Portrait."
"I have gladly accepted your invitation."
"That is quite…."
Filled with ecstasy and greed, Bisabeol smiled.
"…An honor."
It was the first meeting between the Collector and the Portrait.
-x-X-x-
Although it was the meeting with the portrait that Bisabeol had so eagerly awaited, unfortunately, it could not last very long.
"It seems the important conversation is over, so I'll be taking my friend."
"It's a shame that you're leaving already."
"I'll be waiting for the next invitation."
This was because, not long after, 'Jio's Portrait' took Ju-hyeon and disappeared into the painting.
"...."
Yu Seong-un was a little surprised by that part.
'They've built up a pretty strong relationship of trust.'
Ju-hyeon obediently entered the portrait's embrace at a single gesture from Jio.
Though he smiled amiably, he didn't seem like the type to easily let his guard down, so either way, it was quite a surprising event.
'Both the emergence of a human that Jio treasures this much, and the fact that a person like Ju-hyeon accepted Jio.'
It seemed Bisabeol had felt that part too.
"As expected, Mr. Seo Jio seems to have the power to soften people."
"He doesn't seem to have good social skills, but I've often thought from long ago… that he has a strange friendliness to him."
"It was his long-standing ability, shown since the 'Temple of the Deep Sea' incident."
Generally, the portrait, without the help of 'Jio', has a somewhat stiff and overwhelmingly burdensome atmosphere.
It's funny to say this about the Source, but Jio wasn't particularly sociable.
'He's also uncomfortable being outside the frame for a long time or interacting with a large number of humans. It's an unavoidable part since Jio lowers his own stature to adjust, but from the humans' perspective… Jio doesn't have a friendly image.'
It was even so when he was 'Giovanni', who had the gentlest and softest impression.
People were always a little intimidated by him, no matter how much kindness he showed.
It was likely especially due to his strong noble impression.
Separate from the great consideration he showed, his high stature couldn't be helped. But for someone with such an intimidating atmosphere….
"...."
Yu Seong-un stroked his neck.
"Should I really see this as Jio's ability?"
"There's no reason not to."
"I don't know whether to be happy or troubled."
To a strange extent, Jio easily bought trust and goodwill.
It was the same with Hunter Cha Ara, who had perceived him as a monster when they met, and with the dungeon refugees who were sensitive because their lives were in danger, and even Ju-hyeon, whose first meeting with him was in the form of an evil god, was showing such an attitude.
"It probably hasn't been just a day or two since they met. Especially since time in the world inside the portrait would have passed quickly, as it changes according to Jio's mood. But even considering that, it's a surprising thing."
Yu Seong-un recalled the information he had investigated.
"Mr. Ju-hyeon is not the type to trust someone easily."
"He seemed quite cunning. To Mr. Ju-hyeon, time and trust probably have no correlation."
"He certainly didn't seem like the type of person to trust someone just because he had known them for a long time."
"And on top of that, Mr. Seo Jio is an evil god and the existence of the Source."
"Entrusting oneself to such a being requires a minimum level of trust…."
"To go into the portrait voluntarily says it all."
"I don't know if it was a conscious action or an unconscious trust."
"I see it as both."
Bisabeol let out a small laugh.
"First of all, the timing must have been exquisite. He was an evil god encountered in a state of despair, to the point of attempting a deal with Sankalut, so he probably thought, 'whatever happens, happens.'"
"Is it that it was difficult for him to be on guard after receiving all sorts of care from Jio in that state of having let everything go? I didn't get the impression that he was someone who would be moved, but rather someone who would repay a favor if he had to."
"Well… I suppose his basic fondness for the Black Cape had some influence."
He clicked his tongue, a rare occurrence.
"From the looks of it, he seems to be dreaming of a utopia, so it wouldn't have been easy to reject a great mystery that affirms the good and denies the evil."
He looked quite displeased with the person named Ju-hyeon.
"Given his personality, he will continue to try to doubt its essence, but to that friend, 'Jio's Portrait' is a very ideal being. Mr. Seo Jio has already proven his nature several times in the form of the Black Cape, and he must have felt a fondness for that."
"Won't Mr. Ju-hyeon's taste be harmful to Jio?"
"That 'harm' is a very subjective thing. To me, the very thought of judging and using my work of art as one pleases feels like an insolent pest, but as you saw earlier, Jio will be very pleased. Our standpoints are different."
At Bisabeol's words, Yu Seong-un smiled awkwardly.
"So that's why you disliked him so much."
"They are a type of human that really doesn't get along with me."
He wore an expression that said he was quite fed up.
"Heroes are voracious. They can't distinguish between courage and recklessness, and they are greedy but always make foolish choices. I can't tell if they're really that stupid or if they're pretending to be stupid on purpose."
"Aha…."
"Whether they've grasped their place or not, people like Mr. Ju-hyeon often do things that are beyond their station. If that person named Ju-hyeon comes to fully believe in Mr. Seo Jio's essence, he will try to use him. I really don't like that."
"Ah, yes."
That darn love for his works of art.
'He must have gotten the name Collector because he shows a love that's close to obsession.'
Bisabeol generally managed his collection with love and a free-range approach.
That's why he tries to grant his collection's wishes as much as possible, but this time, it seemed he didn't like the part where Jio wanted a 'friend' named Ju-hyeon.
'In any case, it means there was nothing for me to worry about.'
In the end, wasn't it that he was annoyed because his precious collection piece was being managed by a guy he already disliked?
It was just unfortunate for Ju-hyeon, who had suffered an indignity due to the Guild Leader's narrow-mindedness.
"…Still, calling him a hero, isn't that a form of high praise in its own way?"
"It was probably closer to an objective evaluation than a compliment."
Bisabeol gave a sly smile.
It was a smile he only showed in front of his collection.
It was an intention to be considerate of Yu Seong-un, who was trying to lighten the mood.
"I may be acting this childishly, but I don't hate that person named Ju-hyeon. But you know, there are people like that in the world, types you come to dislike automatically because you just don't get along, even if neither has done anything wrong."
"Ah… that kind of…."
"I have no other resentment or complaints. When people see a house centipede in their house, they think, 'ah, that will eat the pests in our house,'… but they still find it creepy. It's something like that."
"Are you comparing a person to an insect right now?"
"It's just a metaphor. Mr. Ju-hyeon will be a pretty good guide and helper for Jio, and I am grateful for that part. It's just that he and I don't get along very well."
Bisabeol asked.
"In that sense, don't you need a roommate?"
"I think I misheard you?"
"It would be nice if you had a friend too, Mr. Yu Seong-un."
"I'm telling you I misheard you."
Yu Seong-un, his face scrunched up, asked back.
"Who is this roommate?"
"Well, Mr. Ju-hyeon and…."
"Please, what did that person do to deserve this?"
"Additionally, Mr. Seo Jio?"
"...."
He's finally lost it.
Yu Seong-un wiped his face.
***
"I apologize."
Ju-hyeon started with an apology.
"I feel like I unnecessarily made the atmosphere heavy…."
"You don't need to apologize to me for that part."
"You introduced him to help me, but I acted rudely."
"If you're truly sorry, could you tell me why you did it?"
As he said that, Jio, with a pop, instantly transformed into a platinum-blonde priest.
He smiled a holy smile, as if soothing a lost lamb.
"Now, brother. I am ready to listen."
He really looked the part.
Although the place the two were in was a wooden table filled with the scent of phytoncide, the long, flowing platinum-blonde hair and the pure white priestly robes were quite reminiscent of a temple's prayer room.
It was the image of an ideal priest.
"...."
Ju-hyeon, as always, was smiling but looked a little fed up.
"So this is how you prepare to listen…."
"I thought it would be more comfortable for you to speak this way."
"W-well… I suppose that's true."
It felt like he was in a confessional.
"Hmm…."
After pondering for a moment, Ju-hyeon finally opened his mouth.
"I thought he was someone who didn't get along with me."
"Why did you think that?"
"It's an embarrassing story, but I wasn't a big fan of collectors in general."
"Is there a reason for that?"
"That person… has no interest at all in the safety and well-being of others."
The Guild Leader of the Collectors, one of the three great guilds of the Republic of Korea.
He was a tycoon with great influence, but he decided and acted on everything solely based on his own interests.
"I don't think a life that follows only one's interests is entirely bad. However, from that behavior, I felt that Guild Leader Bisabeol didn't worry about others one bit. That was a bit… off-putting."
To Bisabeol, the world was his gallery and a playground where his works of art could run wild.
He generally seemed to stay within the lines, but that kind of individualistic personality made Ju-hyeon fed up.
"Even though he is a person with great influence, he has acted like someone who doesn't know responsibility. Of course, you don't know a person's circumstances unless you see them and talk to them directly, so you could call it a kind of prejudice."
"So you felt you didn't get along in that regard."
"It's truly embarrassing. The me who says this is not a particularly good person either, yet I made a hasty assumption about another person and even acted rudely. But that absolutely does not mean I hate Guild Leader Bisabeol."
Ju-hyeon added with an awkward smile.
"I am grateful to that person. The Collector is one of the sturdy pillars that maintains the precarious Earth. Separate from my personal feelings, he is certainly a person to be respected."
"Mr. Ju-hyeon, you are already well aware of your actions and their consequences. Still, I don't want to see you blaming yourself, so I hope you will show an attitude of not having regrets next time."
"Thank you for your considerate advice. It seemed that Guild Leader Bisabeol also didn't hate me as a person. It's just that, we both… acted childishly."
He stroked his mouth as if in reflection.
"He probably doesn't like me being by Mr. Jio's side."
"...."
For a moment, Jio's eyes sparkled gold, and his hair turned red.
"Is this the so-called 'this thieving cat' remark I've only heard about…?"
"I don't know in what part you find this so exciting, but that's probably not it."
Ju-hyeon's expression became subtle.
"No, more than that, you even know the term 'thieving cat'?"
"That's all thanks to my wisdom."
"Well, it is something you could find out easily enough if you wanted to…."
It felt a little strange.
"...."
It wasn't just because this situation was funny.
'…How should I put this….'
Would it be too insolent to think that he really feels human?
Because the way he played such a trivial prank and made a fuss felt just like an ordinary young man of that age.
In fact, Argio's face was youthful enough to be called a 'young man.'
Of course, it would be difficult to call an existence with such a great stature, whose personality and color change in a flash according to its purpose and will, an 'ordinary young man', but still, for some reason….
"...."
"Mr. Ju-hyeon, what are you thinking?"
"…I wonder."
I don't know what this thought is.
"…As I understand it, the Black Cape likes good people."
"How many people are there who dislike good people?"
Before he knew it, he had returned to having black hair.
It was a color like a shadow that had lost all color and become exhausted, but the Black Cape's face merely calmly subsided and still held warmth.
He added nonchalantly.
"I think it's a normal preference."
"Giving gifts to good and polite people?"
"I'm the type who can't leave people who have moved me alone."
"So those are the kinds of people who move you."
If that was true, it was a truly surprising thing.
"That is really…."
Ju-hyeon felt it anew.
"…an amazing thing, I think."
"What is amazing?"
"That someone like you is merciful."
This being is, in truth, peaceful.
"It resembles the world inside this portrait."
That was why he longed for it.