It was a world where dungeon raids by hunters weren't always made public, but this time, perhaps due to the number of participants and their ranks, many people were talking about it.
"I heard a rainforest-type dungeon got cleared this time."
"Rainforest-type? What grade?"
"A-grade."
"It's been a while since anything above B-grade got cleared."
"Lots of guilds participated in the raid, but I guess the Church will end up getting the entry rights, right?"
Every time a proper dungeon was cleared, the quality of civilian life improved. It was because countless resources could be obtained from dungeons. Especially with word that an A-grade dungeon had been cleared, people were filled with anticipation.
"If it's rainforest-type, I wonder if something will come out related to vegetation."
"Hm... it'd be nice if it were crops. Like fruits or something."
"Not like it matters. The guilds will hog it all anyway."
"It'll get released eventually."
Clearing a dungeon meant occupying a new dimension. The citizens were excited at the chance to enjoy unknown benefits, and because of that atmosphere alone, guilds were desperate to clear dungeons.
It was an opportunity not just to secure resources, but to win public praise and support.
Thus, this raid became a celebration for the Church of the Sun.
"We were really on edge after that last initiation ceremony incident..."
"We can finally breathe. The public mood isn't bad."
"We'll have to check further, but the resources obtained from this dungeon seem to be of good quality as well."
"If we can't sell poison under the name of the sun, then maybe we should turn it into medicine... should we ask the Association for help?"
"Even if it was a villa-type dungeon, it was quite large. That makes it easier for us to pay the price on our end too."
"The Association's research center really is reliable when it comes to things like this."
The priests of the Church of the Sun were happily discussing how to utilize the resources obtained this time. It had restored some of the church's dignity. They had even considered a prolonged raid, so this result was more than welcome.
"To think we'd be able to clear it in such perfect condition."
"Priest Kang Seodam played a huge part."
"I hear he even built a good relationship with Hunter Sergio?"
Kang Seodam, listening to the senior priests, opened his mouth.
"...It's not such a great relationship."
"Enough with the humility. You did well, Brother."
"It was only thanks to the help of the other hunters."
"Even so, the facts of what happened don't disappear, do they?"
The priests' interest wasn't limited to just the raid.
"Is it really true, that... ahem."
"There's talk going around that Hunter Sergio is a vessel of a saint."
"They say he serves a sun from another dimension, don't they?"
Kang Seodam nearly squeezed his eyes shut.
'Here it comes.'
He too had heard the subtle rumors spreading over the past few days. That Hunter Sergio was actually a saint, or the child of Bisa Beul. Most likely, it was a move by the Collector's Guild.
'They must've blown things up deliberately to make it easier to package him as human before it got out of hand.'
It's just that there weren't yet any divine beings so skilled at mimicking and imitating humanity, so people couldn't imagine it. But anyone who had been involved in this raid had sensed that something was off.
'So in order to protect Mr. Gio, it was a wise and swift decision.'
The only one feeling the fatigue was Kang Seodam himself.
"...I don't know if he's truly a saint, but it's true that he serves a sun from another dimension. He said so himself."
"Even if it's a different sun, the fact that he was given a herb that can nearly bring back the dead is a tremendous blessing. That level of favor... wouldn't that make him family to a god?"
Though Kang Seodam had spoken as vaguely as he could, the priests all began chattering on their own.
"It's hard to explain it as mere grace."
"Exactly. How could a hunter who hasn't even awakened as a priest be loved so dearly?"
"Even the fact that he received that herb and turned it into medicine says a lot about Hunter Sergio's capacity."
"If he were just a human loved by a god, he wouldn't have been able to do even that much."
"No matter how I think about it, it sounds like he's capable of communing with divinity..."
As the priests murmured in low voices, Kang Seodam's expression turned weary.
"...."
And then he saw the elder priest, quietly smiling at him. A priest known to be the next bishop—a man of many years.
"Priest Kang Seodam."
"...Yes."
"Would you come by my room later to speak with me?"
"I will."
He answered obediently, but Kang Seodam thought to himself:
'Filthy religious circles.'
He already felt tired just imagining how much he'd have to say and where to even begin.
***
No matter how much the Haryeong Guild was rumored to be brainless, and regardless of whether it was true, there were always people doing the bare minimum to keep the guild functioning.
"Narae."
"Whose name is that...?"
"Oh, right—Sanarae."
"Yeah? Why're you calling me?"
"Are you out of your mind with this report?"
Usually, those people were the squad leaders, team leads, supervisors, or guildmaster. The team lead responsible for Hunter Sanarae handed him a sloppy report and asked.
"Got a complaint? Then speak. Don't take it out on a precious report like this."
"I even drew pretty flowers on it and all... and all I get is scolding? I'm hurt. I'm crying."
"Even in a guild where insubordination happens like breathing, you're the first I've seen who rebelled through a report."
"Really the first? Hand over your heart and say that again, team lead."
"To be honest... not the first."
And it wasn't the first time Sanarae had submitted a report like this, either.
"Goddamn it."
Riiip.
The team lead tore the report and asked,
"Willing to write it properly this time?"
"You're asking me that after you already ripped it? That's kinda scary."
"You're not scaring anyone saying that with such a calm face."
"Oh, to think my heartfelt report would be treated like this..."
"So when are you turning in the new one? Just tell me. You want me to sit and write it with you?"
"I love you all, but wouldn't that be a little gross?"
"Before I cling to you in a gross way, turn in a normal damn report."
A report that just said "Returned safely" couldn't be called a report.
"If you're going to stage an insubordination, do it with your fists."
"You usually let things slide, so why are you like this today?"
"Don't act like you don't know."
The team lead said,
"You saw Hunter Sergio this time, didn't you?"
Lately, Hunter Sergio had been quite the hot topic.
Skills related to souls were rare. Not only were they difficult to learn, but even if learned, they were hard to use. The most representative example was the necromancer class, but this was different in nature.
"Trainer, healer... I even heard rumors he's a saint."
"Mmm..."
"I even heard he rampaged through the dungeon like a wild boar."
"Maybe more like a demon than a boar..."
"What's that supposed to mean? Anyway, write down every bit of info."
The team lead clicked his tongue.
"You were the one so obsessed with him that you volunteered for the raid, weren't you? Did you lose interest because he turned out to be some pampered noble's kid? What is it?"
"No, he didn't really seem like a noble's kid."
"Yeah... I heard the others saying something similar. Thought he was some pampered noble because the Collector's Guild coddled him, but he turned out to be a surprisingly decent guy."
Saying that, the team lead sat on the sofa across from Sanarae. Sanarae, who was as usual sprawled in his regular spot, smiled playfully.
"Wow, you're gonna hang out with me? Not going to nag me about the report?"
"It's easier if I just hear it all from you and write it myself than wait for you to do it."
"This is why I never got promoted to team lead."
"You better not. You damn sloth, stay where you are."
Click—team lead popped open his pen.
"Now, let's hear your tale."
"What do you wanna know?"
"For starters, Hunter Sergio's personality?"
"He made delicious food..."
"Good guy, then."
The team lead nodded and asked,
"What'd he make?"
"Cream stew on the first day."
"You can make that in a dungeon?"
"Apparently. He even brought a pot as big as his body."
"Doesn't look like the type, but he's wild."
"And he gave us snacks too. Like dried fruits..."
"Bet it tasted good."
"Somehow... it was really easy to digest."
"I could've eaten some too."
"I ate it all."
"I know."
Clearly, Sanarae wasn't the most admirable guy.
"If he cooked for everyone, he's not too prideful. I heard he seemed pretty diligent. Did he ever get angry or annoyed?"
Sanarae shook his head.
"Never."
"Then he's probably not sane."
If he never once showed irritation in that pressure cooker of a dungeon, he wasn't a normal human.
"There's a rumor he's a saint. Think it's true?"
"He did... give off that kind of vibe?"
"Main skill?"
"Food..."
"Not that."
"Hmmm... probably taming?"
"A tamer taming, yeah, no kidding. Why are you still talking in question marks even after seeing him?"
"How would I know someone else's skill window..."
"Fair point."
The team lead groaned.
"Two contracted beasts, right?"
"If you already know everything, can I go sleep?"
"Do you think that's acceptable? Keep your eyes open and answer. What are the beasts' traits?"
"One's a waterfowl. The other's a cat."
"Their abilities?"
"Uh... dunno."
"What do you know?"
"Nothing at all."
"You're proud of that, you maniac."
The team lead decided to dig deeper.
"What did the waterfowl do in the dungeon?"
"Flew around gathering info. Drank water, absorbed heat..."
"And the cat?"
"Meowed and summoned the dead."
"That's insane no matter how many times I hear it."
The team lead jotted some notes and said,
"Back to Sergio himself. We covered personality, taming skills... now there's this nonsense going around that he's a healer who can also deal and tank? Explain that."
"It means he's a healer who can deal and tank."
"Are you deaf? I said explain it."
"You called it nonsense, so I'm correcting you..."
The team lead asked, incredulous,
"Then what is he? Did the Collector's Guild finally succeed in human experimentation? Is Sergio some left-handed fireballer dragged out of hell? Is there anything he can't do?"
"There's probably something..."
"What?"
"How should I know?"
"Because you were there with him, dammit."
"Why are you mad?"
"Damn it, how did I end up supervising a guy like this."
"Mmm... but at least I didn't hit any reporters."
"You think that's something to brag about? Don't start comparing yourself to other morons right now, Sanarae."
The team lead sighed deeply after a light scolding.
"I wanna go do a dungeon run."
"Then go."
"I can't because of bastards like you."
"Aw, poor baby. Want a shoulder massage, team lead?"
"Get lost."
He finished organizing the papers and added,
"This one's too ridiculous, so I'll probably report it informally, but... what's this rumor that Sergio Hunter is the guild master's son? Know anything?"
"His hair sometimes changes color. He had red hair and yellow eyes."
"What the hell—well, yeah, dyeing is real advanced these days. But if he really is the guildmaster's kid, that would explain how a hunter like that popped up with no prior record."
It wasn't rare for famous hunters to hide their family background.
"Still, this one's a bit creepy..."
To hide someone that talented until the age of 29—it was understandable if he wasn't entirely sane.
"Anyway, it's the Collector's doing, so I get it."
"You do?"
"What if I don't? The situation's moving that way."
"True..."
"Anything else to share? Something unusual?"
"Hmmm..."
Sanarae wiggled his fingers.
"Don't think so."
"Damn it. If anything comes to mind later, report it."
"Got it."
"...."
Then, after a pause, the team lead asked,
"...Why'd you mess with Hunter Sergio anyway?"
"He looked fun."
"And yet when you left, you two seemed pretty friendly. For your personality."
"Hunter was just a really good guy."
He smiled, crescent-eyed.
"Isn't that a relief?"
***
Meanwhile, the staff who had gone on the raid with Gio gave their testimonies.
"He was more human than I expected."
It was generous praise, coming from those focused on the work, but the other staff accepted it.
"Considering no one's reported seeing monsters around him, it's probably true."
"The snacks he shared were tasty too."
"And his behavior is exactly like the Black Cloak's, yet he still hasn't been exposed as the same being."
"Isn't that why those rumors started? We probably spread them ourselves."
"When I heard he was the guildmaster's son, I wept."
"Why were you crying?"
'Mr. Sergio' appeared more like a human than they had expected.
"He was too capable, but..."
"At least he's manageable."
"Yeah, nothing happened that we couldn't handle."
It became a kind of indicator.
"He seems fine even without a dedicated curator."
It meant 'Mr. Sergio' could blend in smoothly even among unfamiliar humans.
"We can't control him anyway, so this is good."
"Just knowing that makes me feel at ease."
Even though quite some time had passed since they'd started living with 'Mr. Sergio,' no major incidents had occurred. He might be a ghost story, but the situation offered a strange sort of stability.
And Yoo Seong-Woon, who had finally escaped overtime and wrangled a vacation, said:
"Let's go on a trip."
"Huh?"
"Oh."
And so, a seaside trip was decided.
-x-X-x-
"Is this really okay?"
At Joo-Hyun's voice from the back seat, crammed into the car, Gio turned and asked,
"Is there a problem?"
"There are quite a few things I'd like to say, actually..."
As Joo-Hyun trailed off, Yoo Seong-Woon, who was driving, let out a relaxed smile.
"Well, we did leave without packing a single bag. Don't worry, though. I made arrangements—clothes, food, everything we need is already stocked at the pension."
"That was one of my concerns, but it wasn't the only one."
"Was it the sudden nature of the trip that surprised you? I get it—you might be worried about security, but that won't be an issue either. We're headed to a beach with no people."
Inside the smoothly moving car, Gio asked,
"There are no people at the sea?"
"Usually, there aren't. Not these days."
"So it's not used as a tourist site?"
"It's more often used as a food source... or designated as a danger zone."
The seas of the present age were not particularly suitable for human life.
"But the place we're going is even more deserted. It's an unreconstructed zone."
"What is an unreconstructed zone?"
This time, it was Joo-Hyun in the back seat who answered.
"As the name suggests, it's a zone that hasn't been rebuilt. Simply put, it's a place where the aftermath of the Great Catastrophe still lingers heavily, making it nearly uninhabitable."
"I see. Gangwon Province, which we visited earlier, had a similar feeling."
"Oh, let me clarify—that's a bit different."
To help the still-inexperienced portrait adjust to human society, Joo-Hyun explained further.
"The Samcheok region of Gangwon Province that we visited earlier had been minimally rebuilt. There was even a hotel—just one—and a few restaurants, right? Though the food there felt more like a token gesture, like cheap street snacks in the city... still, it doesn't qualify as unreconstructed."
There was a clear difference between a partially reconstructed area and one completely unreconstructed.
"Unreconstructed zones are generally seen as dangerous. They're environments where people can't live. No infrastructure means they're hard to access, and definitely not the kind of place you'd visit for fun... at least that's what I thought."
Joo-Hyun glanced toward Yoo Seong-Woon at the wheel.
"...Is the hunter world really that different?"
"When you've got the money and the ability, there's not much you can't do."
"So there's a pension in an unreconstructed zone? On the coast?"
Coastal zones, where bizarre monsters might spring up at any moment, were usually restricted unless they'd been thoroughly developed.
"How is that even possible?"
"Through a First-Class Citizen's money and an A-Rank hunter's authority..."
"As a Second-Class Citizen, how exactly am I supposed to respond to that?"
"You don't have to respond. Why are you making it weird?"
"I'm just worried you'll get called an arrogant bastard somewhere."
"I do know how to act in public, you know? I only say this stuff because it's just us."
Joo-Hyun, despite being from an orphanage, didn't carry resentment or rage about class ranks. Yoo Seong-Woon knew she wasn't someone who paid those things much mind, which is why he could speak so casually. But he was well aware of how to read the room in normal society.
"There are service zones where you can stay under the condition that you take full responsibility for anything that happens. There's a considerable risk and cost, but aside from that, you can enjoy the ocean with no one else around in a spacious, peaceful environment."
At that, Joo-Hyun muttered under her breath,
"Money bullshit."
"Hey now."
After all, he'd clawed his way to this vacation. How dare she slander it?
"Apart from the pension, there's nothing else around. Sure, getting there will be a hassle, but once we arrive, everything will already be prepared. And most importantly, we'll be the only ones there."
"That's definitely reassuring. I was a little concerned since Gio's been getting more popular lately. If we don't have to worry about that..."
"Oh, so that's what was bothering you?"
Seong-Woon asked with his signature easygoing smile.
"Felt like we were dropping a bomb and running?"
"To be honest... yeah, a little."
The internet forums were buzzing, thanks to the rumors spread by the Collector's Guild. A saint, an S-rank hunter, a hidden son of one of the Big Three guilds—they'd dragged out every sensational angle they could.
"The city's been pretty noisy."
"Exactly. That's why we need to dip out now. If you stick around too diligently, people think, 'Oh, they're eager to work,' and push even harder. That's how Korea works. I'm not about to let Gio get worked to the bone."
"The more capable you are, the more you're forced to keep grinding, right?"
"I've been thinking—does Gio really need to go through that too? Sure, if he wants to, fine. But he just finished a major operation. Plus, with his usual air of mystery, this is the perfect time to disappear for a bit."
In this world, it was almost a custom for hunters to take a vacation after completing a big project. Of course, in Yoo Seong-Woon's case, that custom didn't always apply. But when someone had everything, there was no reason for them to hunker down and hide from public view.
"You really worry too much, Joo-Hyun."
"Well... that was one thing."
"There's more?"
"..."
"..."
"...Haaah."
Joo-Hyun sighed in resignation and asked,
"...Is it really okay to be walking around with a portrait as dangerously unnatural as Gio?"
"I didn't expect you to say it that bluntly."
"You should've stopped dodging the question when you knew exactly what I meant."
"Yes, I am guilty."
Yoo Seong-Woon turned to Gio in the seat beside him.
"What's your opinion on this accusation?"
"No one can stop me from going to the beach."
"There you have it."
"Precisely."
It might be confusing, but the highest-ranking voice in this group belonged to "Gio's portrait."
"It's been quite a while since I've seen Earth's ocean."
"Just don't say things like that in front of others."
"I'm not that ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) mentally clear, you know."
At that, Yoo Seong-Woon thought to himself:
'He really does have a brain, huh.'
He was genuinely amazed that Gio possessed an actual brain. But as he figured, it wasn't something he should say out loud. Instead, he pointed forward with his usual relaxed smile.
"That right there is the teleport terminal. First time using one?"
"It seems connected by road."
"It is—but only for vehicles. There's a separate zone for transporting people."
"That's convenient."
In that moment, Sergio recalled the idea of a drive-thru. The ability to take care of everything without stepping out of the car appealed to him immensely. Sensing the magic energy, Honey popped out from Gio's hood.
"Kururuk?"
"We're about to teleport."
"Kurr."
Honey quietly went back in. Unlike his father, who was greatly interested in teleportation, Honey seemed completely indifferent. He was a romance-deprived son.
Yoo Seong-Woon checked the terminal sign.
"Let's see... since we're headed to Jeju Island..."
"?"
"Excuse me?"
"Oh. Did I forget to mention that?"
He chuckled.
"We're going to Jeju Island."
"...And you're telling us now?"
"I was in such a rush, it slipped my mind."
"And that's your excuse...?"
Poor Joo-Hyun couldn't bring herself to smack an A-rank hunter. It would've only hurt her own hand.
***
And waiting to greet them at the pension was Aria.
"Long time no see, gentlemen."
"?"
"??"
As the confused Yoo Seong-Woon and Joo-Hyun stood behind him, Giovanni beamed and pulled Aria into a hug.
"It's been a while, Aria! Have you been well?"
"If I wasn't well thinking of you, then that would be a problem, wouldn't it?"
"That news would break the hearts of every dead man in the mermaid realm."
"I'm genuinely pleased that you're pleased."
Joo-Hyun muttered,
"What even is that conversation?"
Regardless of the humans losing their minds, Aria and Gio continued chatting.
"I brought some food with me. Mind if I join in?"
"Shellfish from Edlun Village! It's been a while since we've had tomato stew."
"Grilled works too. There were a bunch of monsters around here that didn't know their place, so I chased them all off. You can relax and enjoy, Teacher."
"As expected, the only one who truly considers me is Aria."
Yoo Seong-Woon thought,
'Isn't that just a typical monster's territorial marking...?'
Still, no one objected to Aria suddenly joining their vacation. After all, Joo-Hyun was human enough to sympathize with even Gio, and Yoo Seong-Woon was used to interacting with non-human beings.
"There probably won't be any women's clothes in the pension."
"You didn't think I'd wear human-made clothes, did you?"
"I was curious how far you'd go for modesty's sake."
"My, such deep concern."
Ignoring whatever conversation Yoo Seong-Woon and Aria were having, Gio called out to Joo-Hyun.
"You must be tired from the journey. Would you care for some lightly grilled shellfish?"
"If someone heard you, they'd think you were the one who traveled alone. I'm fine with it, though. Are you not tired?"
"The teleport seems to agree with my body. I'm not particularly fatigued."
Some people couldn't tolerate teleportation due to their physiology. Thankfully, none of the three—Yoo Seong-Woon, Joo-Hyun, or Gio—had that issue. Smiling as she approached, Joo-Hyun spoke.
"Then shall we prepare together?"
At that moment, Aria chimed in.
"I'll light the fire, Teacher."
"Would you? Fires lit by you always feel warmer."
"You can compliment me all you want, but I won't give you anything extra."
With a playful wave, Aria headed outside. She really did roll up her sleeves to help, leaving Yoo Seong-Woon blinking in surprise.
"She's really going to light the fire?"
"Charcoal prepared by Aria has a better scent."
"She's a princess, though?"
"Princesses still have to eat."
"I thought mermaids were different..."
"That sounds a bit too human-centered."
"...Yeah, okay. I'll reflect on that."
Since it wasn't a time-consuming task, the prep for grilled shellfish didn't take long. Aria had set up a small outdoor fire pit with a metal plate over it. While Yoo Seong-Woon brought out chairs and utensils, Gio and Joo-Hyun cleaned the shellfish.
"We don't need to purge the shells or anything?"
"Aria already did it."
"Ah, I see."
And just like that, the four of them sat in a circle and genuinely enjoyed grilled shellfish.
"..."
Joo-Hyun was a little dumbfounded.
"Why does this feel so natural?"
"What's so unnatural about having a good meal?"
"But we've got such an odd lineup, and yet here we are casually grilling shellfish."
"That's the power of a delicious meal, Joo-Hyun."
"Gio, you're way too much of a food supremacist."
"I'll reflect on that."
As Aria sliced into a long, scallop-shaped piece of shellfish, she spoke up.
"Oh, I learned something recently."
"Please go ahead."
"Did you have anything to do with the Moon Church's saintess going crazy?"
Yoo Seong-Woon choked.
"Cough!! Khh—cough, cough!!"
Gio scolded Aria.
"Why won't you let the man eat?"
"I didn't expect an A-rank hunter to be this fragile."
"Even A-rank hunters need to eat."
"That's exactly why I'm surprised he's this weak."
Suddenly branded as fragile and weak, Yoo Seong-Woon cleared his throat and asked,
"Why are we talking about the Moon Church's saintess out of nowhere...? Gio, what did you do?"
"...I didn't do anything..."
"Right, you're not the one to ask. Princess, would you care to explain?"
Aria shrugged.
"She just seemed like the perfect fit for your Demon King project, so I thought maybe you'd gotten to her already. She seemed too useful, you know?"
Gio looked offended.
"This teacher doesn't drive people insane."
"You do it sometimes when you're bored..."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, nothing."
Aria smiled serenely.
"So, when do you plan to become the Demon King?"
"Did you come all the way to Jeju just to ask that?"
"You think a being like me, the ocean itself, had a hard time visiting an island?"
"You make a fair point. It probably felt as familiar as a convenience store near your house."
Gio grinned brightly.
"It'll take some time."
After all, Argio had yet to return to his homeland.
-x-X-x-
"I shall show you a special skill."
"...Out of nowhere?"
After finishing his meal, Gio dashed toward the shoreline.
"Tada."
"..."
"The miracle of Moses."
"Put it back."
"If not now, when else would I do this?"
"Do it at home."
As Joo-Hyun recoiled from the sight of the sea being split in two, Gio meekly obeyed. The beach near the pension was more rock and stone than sand, and the water was fairly deep. Gio flopped down on top of it.
"I don't have any other tricks prepared."
"What you're doing right now is already quite the trick."
"Can't all hunters do this?"
"Of course not. Hunters aren't water striders."
"Am I a water strider?"
"Well, lying flat like that sure makes you look like one."
"Then I shall lie here for a while. It's comfortable."
"Hm..."
Sitting on a nearby rock, Joo-Hyun looked around with a hint of worry.
"It's getting dark. Will you be alright out here?"
"If it's the darkness that concerns you, there's a solution."
"Wait."
"Yes?"
"What are you about to do?"
"I was going to summon the waterbirds."
"Ah, the waterbirds."
Recalling the small and harmless birds, Joo-Hyun visibly relaxed.
"Apologies. I do tend to worry a lot."
"There is no need to apologize when it's out of consideration for one another."
And then, Gio sat in the sea.
"...?"
"You're sitting now?"
"Yes, I am sitting."
"I know Gio is an unusual case in many ways, but this is just..."
"Is it surprising?"
"Yes."
"I feel the same."
"...I see!"
Though he seemed more adept these days, he was still a portrait clumsily imitating humanity. Just because he constantly forced himself into the human mold didn't mean he was naturally empathetic.
"So, how are you going to summon the waterbirds now?"
"They're already here."
"..."
Something entered Joo-Hyun's field of vision.
"Ah."
Next to Gio's now semi-translucent feet, tiny things—like flowers or fruit—floated gently. It was dark, and with the movement of water, it was hard to see clearly. But it was unmistakably a trace of the waterbirds.
"They've already arrived. Since when?"
"They've been here since I dipped my feet in."
"Aha..."
"You should come up here too, Joo-Hyun."
"I'll probably fall."
"I'll help you."
"...If you insist."
Splash.
But Joo-Hyun didn't sink.
"This feels weird."
He was walking on the surface of the sea. Even though he wasn't awakened.
"You can see them better up here."
"You can see them moving together?"
"Yes, and more of them than I expected."
"They are social creatures, after all."
"Even so... it's still dark out."
"It will be bright soon."
Sitting on the water's surface, Gio swirled his legs in the sea.
"Once they make this place their nest, that is."
And then, the waterbirds clustered and began to glow.
"..."
"There it is."
It was like lights had turned on beneath the ocean.
"...It's like there are fireflies underwater."
"Have you ever seen fireflies?"
"They're extinct, so I've never seen them in nature, but I did participate in restoration research... so I know what they look like."
"There are more extinct species than I expected. It saddens me."
"If you did see them for real... would it feel like this?"
"I thought they resembled bioluminescent jellyfish."
"That too... makes sense."
A calm smile spread across Joo-Hyun's face.
"They're golden."
"I've never seen them shine in any other color."
"They must really like it here."
That golden glow—something only seen from Gio's hut during spring nights on the terrace. When waterbirds clustered like this, it was a sign of their happiness.
"...It's beautiful."
The sea shimmered with gold.
Like a sun forged of gold had melted and soaked into the waves, it was a breathtaking brilliance, as if the cosmos had descended into the sea.
He splashed lightly, and the waterbirds responded with affectionate movements.
"They're cute too."
"That's one of their most charming traits."
"I can see that."
Though Joo-Hyun was not awakened and couldn't fully perceive the waterbirds beneath the surface, what he could see—flowers, fruits, and gems—was enough to feel their affection. They truly liked this sea.
"Technically speaking, they came on the trip with us, huh..."
Golden water scales danced across Joo-Hyun's hand, his retinas, and the jagged rocks around them.
"They're probably even happier being with their family."
"I think so too."
"It's incredibly bright."
Though they sat atop a chilly sea, his whole body felt as if basking in the warmth of spring sunlight.
"..."
"Joo-Hyun."
Gio called out to his friend.
"You mustn't go too far."
"...Ah."
"You can't breathe underwater, after all."
Only then did Joo-Hyun realize his arm had been reaching far too deep into the sea.
"..."
He turned to Gio.
"...This is kind of dangerous, isn't it?"
"My children aren't dangerous."
"This is like... water ghosts."
"Water ghosts drag people into the water, don't they?"
"There are ones that lure you in too, from what I've heard."
"Earth's gotten pretty frightening."
"...Even things this beautiful can be dangerous."
Wearing a helpless smile, Joo-Hyun folded his legs and sat cross-legged on the surface. He let out a short sigh and pressed his fingers to his forehead.
He had been briefly entranced by the waterbirds' wondrous light.
'Probably because I'm not awakened.'
Yoo Seong-Woon wouldn't have been mesmerized so easily.
"Please refrain from summoning these friends in crowded civilian areas."
"Even if I don't call them, waterbirds can find homes they desire."
"...Wait—are you saying they've already scattered elsewhere? Is that right?"
"Being living water, I suppose you could say they have."
"Where did they go?"
"Likely into one of my paintings."
"Into your paintings..."
"There are only a few, so don't worry."
Gio reassured her.
"They wouldn't cluster like this elsewhere."
"...So that means they're less likely to charm people?"
"If you call it being charmed just for enjoying something beautiful, that's a little embarrassing—but yes, it should just appear pretty."
"Well, that's a relief..."
"They probably went to the City of Void or the Four-Legged Rainforest."
"...Why would they go into already cleared dungeons—no, wait. Could you please mention things like that in advance?"
"I'll keep that in mind."
Gio looked down at the water's surface.
"You can see similar sights in the 'Nation of the Deep Sea.'"
"Wasn't that the place you called your homeland, Giovanni?"
"Yes. There, instead of below, you gaze upward to see the Milky Way."
"The Milky Way, huh... I wonder what that feels like."
"It's a Milky Way born from the sea's lifeforms."
Giovanni stirred the golden sea and laughed.
"I'll invite you there soon."
"..."
The affection and pride in that voice made Joo-Hyun nod softly.
"I'll look forward to it."
What a poor, poor man.
***
"What was Giovanni's world like?"
As he gazed out at the golden sea, Yoo Seong-Woon asked the question, and Aria turned to look at him.
"Why are you asking now?"
"There are questions you can only ask now."
"Well, that's a fair point."
Aria nodded.
"It's been a while since I've talked about that man..."
"I asked about his homeland, not him, though."
"Shut it, structure manager. The only world I ever knew was Giovanni."
"Well, then. That makes sense."
These merfolk had a kind of blind faith to them.
"How much can you tell me?"
"As long as you're under the teacher's protection, I can tell you anything."
"That's... impressive loyalty."
As he watched Gio and Joo-Hyun sitting by the sea cliff's edge, Yoo Seong-Woon asked again.
"What kind of person was Giovanni in that world?"
"I thought you already had a rough idea."
Yet Aria explained willingly.
"He was... truly a saint of the century. To the world, he was the son of a god manifest among filthy humans. To his neighbors, he was a noble friend and devoted adult. To the church, he was a precious genius who upheld their prestige."
She continued, expression calm.
"Even so, he died far too easily."
"That's just how humans are. They're not meant for eternity."
"Which is why they're so repulsive and detestable."
It was the kind of murderous urge one felt when finding an insect crawling onto your bed.
"Now then, want to hear how he was executed?"
"If you'll tell me, I'd be grateful."
"First, they tortured him on land. Just enough that his body barely held together..."
"And after that?"
"They threw him into a giant tank filled with seawater."
Aria wasn't looking at the golden sea anymore—she was staring at Yoo Seong-Woon.
"They bound him in chains and sealed the tank shut."
"Why would they do that?"
"The priests of the Sun said that if he truly were the son of the sun, he'd survive even in freezing water."
"And the result?"
"He survived."
Giovanni didn't die for over four months in that tank.
"Yet they never pulled him out."
Some came to believe he was the son of the sun. Others insisted it was the sea's divine power. Either way, they were all deeply terrified of him.
"If he was truly the sun's child, they'd treated him too harshly to redeem. If he belonged to the sea instead, then he was a monster even worse than the merfolk. They said he had to die before he could take revenge."
But it wasn't just fear of revenge.
"Public opinion was a problem too."
"They were a religious group. Why would they care about that?"
"They had more power than kings."
Giovanni had once been the perfect child of the sun, beloved by all. If it were revealed he was actually divine by blood, not even the Church of the Sun could handle the fallout.
"There were factions within the church growing skeptical. It was already spiraling."
"So how did the Church respond?"
"They used my disgraceful little brother, who'd been captured around then."
They starved and tortured him too, and threw him into the tank with Giovanni.
"They wanted to stage a hideous spectacle to silence doubt."
But Iser endured, and Giovanni did not die—divinely protected to the end. Unable to bear their own terror, the priests poisoned the tank.
"And so my brother, driven by hunger, devoured Giovanni."
"Wouldn't Giovanni have been poisoned too? If it was in the tank..."
"Even then, he barely reacted."
Aria's eyes finally turned to the surface of the sea, where Gio sat.
"And so he probably thought Giovanni was already dead when he ate him."
Iser did.
He hadn't leapt to feed himself. But maybe, seeing Giovanni slack and corpse-like, the final thread in his mind snapped. In the end, Iser ate Giovanni.
"...Does your brother know that? Did he really not know?"
"Who knows?"
Aria had never asked.
"After everything happened, perhaps they felt spared from divine punishment. The priests smuggled Giovanni's remains and used them for church operations. Guess how?"
"...I heard something about the Basram Flower."
"Right on."
The legendary panacea that withers unless touched by the sun's loving hand. Giovanni's corpse, having received that love more than anyone, was used to cultivate it.
"Which is why it took so long to find him."
"Where was he?"
"The Pope's residence."
"Wow. Impressive."
"Even then, the sun didn't punish them."
Nor did the deep sea.
"So I decided to do it instead."
Neither the deep that birthed her nor the sun her brother once served had punished the filthy faithful. In the end, Aria turned herself into the deep and drowned the world in sea.
"I know I committed a sin. I know it was petty revenge."
"But you're not a god of wrath. You're just a monster."
"Divinity isn't something you gain just from throwing a few tantrums."
"Gio got it pretty easily though..."
"Don't compare me to him. ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) It's humiliating."
"Doesn't sound like you regret the tantrum."
Yoo Seong-Woon asked,
"So why bring this up now?"
"At first... I didn't think it was a sin."
But after reuniting with her teacher, she realized it was.
"I lost."
Even if she didn't regret it, the merfolk had been swayed by Giovanni. Because their teacher had called it a sin, they had no choice but to see it that way too.
"The only time life felt like heaven was when I was a child, with my teacher."
"So?"
"...Gio told me to take responsibility."
"And he'll forgive you?"
"Of course not."
That wasn't Giovanni's role. He'd say so himself.
"It's just..."
Aria smiled.
"It's time I chose."
Time to decide which hell she would walk.
-x-X-x-
Giovanni loved the sea.
The sun was warm but hot.
The sea was cold but refreshing.
Everything in the world had pros and cons, and this world consisted not only of land but of sea as well.
The wind of the sea had a clear flow.
So, it was only natural that he had come to cherish a mermaid in his heart.
"Aria."
With familiar bare feet, Gio walked across the surface of the water.
"You know I can't swim."
"You're such a peculiar human, teacher."
Splash...
The mermaid's fin made a light splash.
"On that planet, it was rare for a human not to know how to swim."
"Strangely, I just keep sinking."
"You have to relax your body. Only then can you talk to the sea."
"Perhaps it's because I've already found satisfaction in just having all of you."
"You sure know how to say such embarrassing things."
Aria asked,
"Is it really okay to come this far out?"
A pale and slender hand wrapped around Gio's leg.
"A mermaid might devour you."
"Haha..."
Giovanni clasped that cold hand.
"That's fine too."
"..."
"Will you teach me how to swim?"
"...Alright."
Aria, too, grasped that chilly hand.
"Let's do that."
Splash—
Led by the mermaid, the teacher fell into the sea.
***
"We've had moments like this before."
Holding onto the lukewarm body heat, Aria continued.
"You looked like a prince, as if crafted from the seafoam. I thought no child of the sun could be nobler than you."
"..."
"I've always been fascinated by what I didn't have.
That light, sparkling even beneath the surface, felt like it would last forever.
Maybe I wanted to embrace you and take you down to my home in the deep."
"..."
"I still do..."
Even in this dark night, Giovanni's platinum hair was as gentle as spring sunlight.
Aria carefully brushed Gio's cheek as he floated above her.
Perhaps his warmth had been sapped away by the dawn sea, or perhaps he had always been this cold—whatever the case, he did not feel as warm as he looked.
But he was smiling.
"..."
"...Teacher."
Aria, holding that cheek, both smiled and cried.
A pearl dropped.
"I love you."
The child of land I first wanted to claim from the moment I was born.
The one who showed me the world, taught me what a heart was, and gave me the ordinary—my one and only teacher.
A human unlike any other in any dimension.
"I love you, teacher.
I've missed you for uncountable hours.
Without you, the world only looked repulsive to me.
Ah, you loved this world so dearly..."
"..."
"I tried to love it too, but it wasn't easy.
What had once been easier than swimming when you were here became impossibly hard in your absence.
Why didn't the sun save you?
Why didn't the deep punish us?"
"...Aria."
"I know you won't forgive me.
The forgiveness my brother and I need can only come from you—but you don't have any forgiveness to give us.
Maybe it never belonged to you in the first place."
The mermaid, for the first and last time, felt regret.
"If I'd known you'd truly return to my arms, I would have waited more patiently."
"And my regret isn't for the poor lives that died by my hands."
"I know."
"And I'm sure this isn't the kind of regret you would have wished for either.
But what can I do?
I'm this selfish and wicked a monster..."
How can it still be called a monster, if it regrets its sins?
"Even so, am I not human?"
"Why wouldn't you be?"
"..."
"Humans can be as selfish and evil as they like."
"...That's true."
Aria embraced her teacher once again.
"You would know that better than anyone."
It was his teacher, after all, who had died from the most horrific selfishness and evil.
If Giovanni didn't understand the ugliness of humanity, then who possibly could?
"I'm just a bit cold, good at swimming..."
"And when you cry, pearls fall out."
"Everything you say is right, teacher."
"Is that so."
"I wish the sea that day had been our grave."
Aria fantasized about drowning in the sea.
A thought only a 'human' could have.
"There's no undoing anything."
Even if all those she killed were revived,
Even if broken families were restored,
Even if the sun returned to the planets locked undersea,
That day could never return.
Aria blamed herself with her selfishness.
"I now have only two choices left."
"What are they?"
"I could become an evil god and be with you forever."
"And?"
"...Or take responsibility in my own way and wait to be accepted someday."
"Your own responsibility, huh."
A warm voice.
"What will you do?"
"Teacher."
Aria asked, like the young student from that day.
"...Do you love us?"
"Of course."
Gio didn't know how to abandon what he once loved.
"I'll love you forever."
Within that, the mermaid found her answer.
"..."
"When will we see each other again?"
"...When everything is ready."
As she released Gio from her arms, Aria smiled.
"I'll invite the humans."
And with that, Aria disappeared into the deep sea.
Into a darkness Giovanni could not reach.
***
"...??"
Joo-Hyun was dumbfounded.
"Wasn't that a declaration of war?"
"It was."
"...I see!"
Seeing her trying so hard, Yoo Seong-Woon let out a helpless laugh.
"Monsters these days declare war in such romantic ways."
"Was it romantic?"
"Yeah, romantic.
An embrace in the sea at dawn..."
"She must've missed her teacher's warmth."
"That's... strangely not wrong.
It's a weird feeling."
Yoo Seong-Woon continued.
"How long do you think we'll need to prepare?"
"You're asking that to a lowly portrait like me?"
"Still, you know more about the mermaids than any of us."
"Aria is an excellent doctor and researcher.
It won't take too long."
"So do you have a rough estimate?"
"Hmm... about a month?"
"Whoa."
Yoo Seong-Woon whistled.
"We only have a month left to prepare for an S-class dungeon assault?"
"Honestly, all we really need is mental readiness, so it could take even less."
"Looks like it's finally time for Earth to end..."
"As long as I'm here, that won't happen."
"I figured this kind of day would come eventually."
"It won't end."
Joo-Hyun asked incredulously,
"Then shouldn't we not be wasting time like this?"
"Come on, Joo-Hyun.
Do you know how long it's been since I've had a vacation?"
"To be honest, I think Earth's survival is more important than your personal vacation."
"Do you have to be so cold about it, seriously."
Yoo Seong-Woon let out a deep sigh.
"...Let's inform our guild leader first."
"If possible... we should inform the association as well."
"We don't know how the sea will be used, so it's right to give a heads-up to the coastal regions."
"Anyway, once the Collector's Guild and the association find out, the other Symbols of Eternity will too."
"Even then, it's unlikely all of them will step up.
Well, maybe the Justitia side..."
Not knowing guild politics well, Gio asked,
"What is Justitia?"
"It's the name of the number one guild in Korea."
As always, Joo-Hyun explained.
"They took their name from the goddess of justice."
"If the association handles Korea's general administration, and our Collector's Guild holds the funds, then Justitia handles public order and safety."
"The guild leader of Justitia is one of the Symbols of Eternity.
They focus heavily on civilian protection and crime prevention.
They also do a lot of volunteer work and lead major raids."
"Since their guild leader leads by example, if a national disaster occurs, they're likely to act..."
Yoo Seong-Woon rubbed his neck.
"But they probably won't join the actual raid.
They'll be too busy protecting civilians."
Justitia always gave off the impression of being the "last bastion."
"If the nation isn't on the brink of collapse, we can't expect much from them."
"Still, doesn't it reassure you that they can help prevent civilian casualties in case of emergency?"
"They're definitely reliable in that area."
But expecting them to join the assault was a stretch.
"Just because it's an S-class dungeon doesn't mean we need S-class hunters.
It's possible to win with sheer numbers.
Korea, after all, is a country that succeeded with manpower, and hunters are scarce."
"Besides, the fact that S-class hunters move carries symbolic weight.
If they step in directly, many people might panic instead.
Even the association director, who cares deeply about administrative control... will probably try to stay out of it."
"The times when Symbols of Eternity have acted were usually during the aftermath of massive catastrophes.
Given how much people still fear those disasters, they won't be quick to move."
Gio tilted his head.
"What if avoiding action to prevent fear leads to something worse?
Wouldn't it be better to act thoroughly from the start rather than leave a dangerous possibility unchecked?"
"That's the rational stance..."
Yoo Seong-Woon thought for a moment and then said,
"But it's also like this: the Symbols of Eternity are incredibly busy.
You could say they've built too much reputation.
To get them to move, Korea itself has to shake."
"You mean there's too much burden in mobilizing them?"
"It might seem strange to you.
But countries are bound by layers of conflicting interests.
You can think of it as being weighed down by their position."
"Is it a status issue?"
"Hmm... in short, yes."
And this wasn't just a problem for the Symbols of Eternity.
"More importantly, if we keep relying on the few S-class hunters every time something happens, this planet won't last long.
Even now, the world is barely held together by the mercy of a few powerful individuals.
If S-classes keep intervening, it'll ruin people's sense of responsibility."
This had been agreed upon long ago in a summit of global S-class hunters.
Unless the fate of a nation or a dimension was at stake, S-classes should refrain from taking action.
"The rest of humanity must adapt before things reach the worst.
We can't predict when those S-class hunters might change their minds."
"So it's about giving people the chance to adapt."
"No matter how competent an S-class is, a few individuals can't solve everything.
Even if they could, they shouldn't.
So don't expect them to jump in."
They might be keeping an eye on the situation, but they wouldn't act immediately.
"That's why... it's better to form an alliance with other guilds."
"Won't we cooperate with the Church?"
"That depends on the situation.
We might unnecessarily provoke the mermaids."
Joo-Hyun nodded.
"Then, shall we head back for now?"
"I can't even enjoy a vacation in peace.
In my next life, I swear I'll be born unawakened."
"I'm not sure that's something you can choose."
Gio interjected.
"Shall I help?"
"Do me a favor when I die."
"I'll try my best."
"I don't know what you'll try, but okay."
"Even after death, you're all still my friends."
"..."
Yoo Seong-Woon hesitated and asked,
"...Did we just sign some kind of contract?"
"I've lived this long.
You have to stay my friends in the next life too."
"You're so positive it's scary."
"You flatter me."
Perhaps sensing the tension, he smiled gently with Giovanni's face.
"I was joking, so please relax."
"How is that a joke?"
"Why do you think it's not?"
"Joo-Hyun, say something."
Joo-Hyun laughed.
"I'd like to be Gio's friend in the next life too."
"See?
At this rate, we'll be friends in the life after that too."
"A friend who stays by your side even after death is pretty reliable."
"...Yeah."
Yoo Seong-Woon gave in.
'He's already resigned.'
That was the smile of surrender.
"I said it was a joke."
"Yeah, yeah. Got it."
No one actually took Gio's words seriously.
-x-X-x-
The mermaids were children of the sea.
The sea was a part of them, and they too were a part of the sea.
Among them, Aria and Iser possessed the authority to commune with and interact even with seas from other dimensions.
And through that sea, Iser caught a familiar scent.
A trace of a small, delicate child that resembled sunlight...
"..."
"Oh! Eunha!"
"...It's Iser."
When Cha I-Sol greeted him cheerfully, Iser asked, utterly baffled,
"What are you doing?"
"We were doing field training, yo!"
"Trainee priests of the Church of the Sun usually do their field training in large groups. Why are only the two of you left?"
"They all ran off!"
"Haa..."
With a heavy sigh, Iru Da, who stood beside Cha I-Sol, flinched.
Now forced into the absurd situation of having to accommodate a baby human's mood, Iser spoke with a dismal tone.
"As far as I can see, your fellow trainee priests abandoned only the two of you and fled. Judging by the blood scent, it's only the two of you who were injured. That suggests this was a deliberate act to cause you trouble."
"Your words are too difficult."
"If you could decide whether I should use formal or informal speech, I'd appreciate it. To summarize, it seems the two of you were bullied or harassed. I understand Korea uses the word 'wangtta' to describe this."
"Right, it's really petty."
"So you're not unaware."
Iser waved a mermaid's hand to dismiss the sea of the dungeon.
So this was what awaited from the familiar scent that came through the sea connected to Earth.
Had things gone poorly, they could have been seriously hurt.
'Then the teacher would've been saddened.'
That, he did not wish for.
'This might be the first apostle of Giovanni.'
If it was something that could help Gio in any way, there was no reason not to do it.
Iser glanced around the now-calm beach of the dungeon.
It was a dimension with a severely tangled space.
"Aren't there supervising priests assigned to trainee priests?"
"This time, it was a solo practical session just for us."
"Even so, given the Church of the Sun's nature, there should've been someone observing."
"Th-that's... is that so?"
Instead of the stammering Cha I-Sol, Iru Da spoke up.
"...There should be priests stationed in case of accidents, even if they don't supervise directly. But recently, we had to develop an A-class dungeon, so only a few priests stayed behind."
"You mean to say that due to a lack of personnel, there were few priests assigned to this field session? In the Church of the Sun, which was crawling with humans? Well, I suppose the scent of humans in this sea is faint. There aren't that many here."
"It's true the church has many priests, but there are few teachers responsible for trainee priests. At most, maybe two came along. They likely couldn't keep track of us because they were busy managing trainees spread all over the place."
Cha I-Sol grumbled.
"It's because we're too good."
"...That might be part of it."
The Cha I-Sol and Iru Da pair, known for having top-tier talent among the Church of the Sun's entire batch, were often labeled as 'kids who need no watching.'
So the supervising priests likely focused on those with higher injury risk.
Iser thought to himself.
'Barbaric, really.'
No matter the dimension, religion had its blind or absurd tendencies.
As if they believed everything in the world could be solved through faith alone.
They were fools, truly.
'...Or perhaps something more transcendent was subtly reshaping the threads of fate...'
He had his doubts, but such things were not Iser's specialty.
He recalled once more the reason he had come here in person.
"How reckless. If you die, the Black Cloak will be sad, you know?"
"Oh, how's hyung doing?"
"I'm not an informant. If necessary, you should contact him directly."
Iser, making no effort to hide his displeasure, disappeared through the sea the same way he had arrived.
Iru Da, who had been holding her breath in fear at the sudden appearance of a humanoid monster, finally exhaled deeply.
"...Haaaah..."
"What's wrong? Were you scared?"
"If I weren't scared, I'd be insane."
"Wh-what about me, then? Does that make me...?"
"Sometimes you really do seem out of your mind."
"Wait, are you saying I'm crazy?!"
"Quiet down."
Reflexively covering Cha I-Sol's mouth, Iru Da corrected herself.
"No, never mind. Just explain what happened."
"Uh... a monster friend I know showed up and saved us from danger."
"Do you really think that's a complete explanation?"
"If you have more questions, feel free to ask any time!"
"There's one I'm really curious about."
Iru Da asked,
"Are you close with that monster? Are you a tamer or something?"
"I awakened as a priest, remember?"
"Then where does that confidence come from, chatting so casually with monsters?"
"Eunha doesn't like me that much, so I don't think we're that close."
"I'm asking why you act so friendly when it could be dangerous."
"I thought we were close enough to hold that kind of conversation!"
"Cha I-Sol's social skills strike again..."
It was a painfully bright sort of sociability.
A monster showing up just to save a human — how absurd.
"...And there's something else I'm curious about."
"Yeah? What is it?"
"Are you really going to become the Black Cloak's priest?"
"That's sudden...?"
"That mermaid just now, didn't he say it with that nuance?"
He had clearly said, 'If you die, the Black Cloak will be sad.'
"Like he already marked you as his follower."
"I don't think that's it..."
Cha I-Sol tilted her head.
"I just kind of want to, though!"
"Hey... if you ever summon the Black Cloak, promise you'll call me. Got it?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I said I would before. Trust me."
"I don't trust you."
Though Iru Da truly liked how bright and pure Cha I-Sol was, if anything happened to her, it would be a different matter.
'She's not the type to scheme behind people's backs... but sometimes she acts first without thinking, and the people around her get heart attacks.'
Iru Da had no choice but to protect Cha I-Sol, who had such a talent for getting roped into things.
"Ah, my whole body..."
"What's that mean?"
"It means my muscles and joints all ache."
"Why call it that?"
"It's a way of saying my whole body hurts."
"Ooooh..."
"..."
Unlike Cha I-Sol, who remained cheerfully unfazed, Iru Da was on the verge of exploding with rage.
'...Those bastards, how dare they.'
They ran off and left me and Cha I-Sol behind?
She never imagined she'd get betrayed by humans and saved by a monster.
'I still don't know why that mermaid helped us, but if this is the result of Cha I-Sol's insane friendliness... then it's truly a miracle we made it out unharmed.'
Even that monster, who was visibly annoyed by helping humans, had clearly scoffed at the absurd state of the Church of the Sun.
'I'd laugh too, if it were me.'
The Church wasn't some sketchy cult — it was a massive institution representing Seoul.
Even with A-class dungeon development causing chaos, this was no way to manage trainee priests.
"..."
No, perhaps even this was part of someone's political scheme.
"...It's disgusting..."
"What's disgusting?"
"I was wrong, so you don't say stuff like that."
"You mean not to curse? Okay. But seriously, why?"
"The more I think about it, the more I realize I was too complacent."
There was no guarantee the religious world was pure and clean.
In fact, the modern priests, fueled by blind arrogance, grew even more political within their closed environments.
'Even though my mother warned me, to let things reach this point... how pathetic.'
There were two ways to secure power in the religious world.
Be overwhelmingly loved by the divine, or master the politics.
Otherwise, even gaining a voice was impossible.
'I'm not the only one who knows how to play the game.'
A priest with only talent and nothing else would wither under intense scrutiny.
Even more so during these inexperienced trainee years.
She should've navigated it better.
"To think they'd try to crush our spirits like this..."
"Who's crushed?"
"Seems like our peers were really out to break us."
Iru Da let out a hollow laugh.
"No, to be precise, they were targeting me."
Cha I-Sol, with her naturally likable personality and cooperative nature, was rarely hated.
She even had a bit of a pushover vibe, so no one felt the need to antagonize her.
But because she was paired with Iru Da, she got dragged into it too.
"What exactly did they pull... Did they bribe the priests? Or maybe just collaborated to draw the teachers' attention elsewhere. Our pair is known for needing no supervision..."
"Can you summarize that?"
"I... can't really summarize this well."
Even with her maturity, Iru Da was still just a trainee priest.
She had read and heard much, but lacked real experience.
She knew she was disliked, but this exceeded her expectations.
This was outright crossing the line.
"..."
"...Should we get treated first?"
"Let's do that."
Iru Da didn't ask, 'Do you regret being paired with me?'
Because she knew Cha I-Sol wasn't the type to regret things like that.
But still, she couldn't help but feel sorry to her precious natural monument of a partner.
'If we weren't paired, she wouldn't have gone through this. No, if I'd just been more aware and careful...'
The more she thought about it, the more calculated this all seemed.
Some smart classmates must've exploited the church's disarray during dungeon development to hatch a plan.
Or maybe someone acted deliberately with backing.
'Otherwise, this wouldn't have escalated so far.'
The church would never neglect a precious trainee until they were critically injured by monsters and rendered unable to fight.
At least, the Church of the Sun she knew wouldn't.
And yet, here they were.
Sure enough, when a priest finally arrived and found them, he turned pale.
"W-what on earth happened...! Are you alright?!"
"Our teammates suddenly left us behind. So..."
"No, I definitely took precautions... Why didn't I receive any contact...?"
Before the training, the supervising priest had said, 'You're going in without our help,' but that couldn't have been entirely true.
There must have been some magical measure to notify the priests in case of problems.
'If even that failed, then someone must've tampered with it or spent a lot of money.'
Some trainee priests, like Carnation Child, came from poor backgrounds.
But others, like Iru Da, held first-class citizenship in the city.
They likely had connections with hunters or the church, widening the range of tricks they could pull.
'Even so, this went way too far.'
Whoever planned this must've wanted Iru Da seriously harmed and paid a steep price to do it.
But it wasn't something she could just let slide.
The supervising priest's face stiffened as he grasped the situation.
"This was the fault of both myself and the church. I'll contact your guardians and offer both an apology and compensation, but... ha... may I speak to you more after your treatment?"
"Yes, we'll do that."
"I'm truly sorry. I apologize again. Since this was a solo trainee session, I should have been more vigilant. While I was busy with the others, I neglected our most promising talents... No, I'm sorry. Let's head to the treatment room right away."
Perhaps not wanting to spout more meaningless nonsense in front of the kids, the supervising priest quickly ushered them to the treatment room.
And Iru Da saw it.
"..."
"..."
One of their peers glaring at them with a face full of resentment.
'...That bastard?'
Iru Da vowed revenge.
***
The hallway meeting after returning from Jeju Island.
"...Do things really go that far?"
At Joo-Hyun's question, Yoo Seong-Woon gave a sheepish smile.
"Religious politics can get pretty cutthroat."
"But still, we're talking about trainee priests."
"The younger they are, the more people look to exploit the gaps in their defenses."
There had always been mind games among priests, but even accounting for that, this incident had gone too far.
Kang Seodam, overwhelmed by the demands of the A-class dungeon development, had only learned of the situation later and contacted Yoo Seong-Woon in a panic.
He spoke while looking at Gio.
"Priest Kang Seodam said he's really sorry. To the ones involved, and especially to you, since it's his class and he neglected it using busyness as an excuse... that's why this happened."
More than anything, it was the fact that Cha I-Sol wanted to become the Black Cloak's priest, and the Black Cloak himself had a fondness for her.
Avoiding divine wrath meant groveling in advance—a wise move.
"He says he'll accept any punishment."
"Why would I punish him?"
"I'll pass that along then."
At that point, Joo-Hyun ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) asked again.
"I asked this before, but... does it really go that far?"
"Hm?"
"Someone deliberately disabled the safeguards protecting trainee priests. Even if this was a solo training session, there must have been plenty of people observing from the rear. At that level, it sounds like something beyond a mere student's doing. It feels like an adult must've helped..."
"Ah, that part."
"If it were just jealousy from a fellow trainee, the incident wouldn't be this big."
"That's true, but..."
Yoo Seong-Woon scratched his neck.
"The world's just like that, isn't it?"
For a speck of power, people—regardless of age or gender—will trample others.
You have to live desperate and dirty to protect what's yours.
That's what the world considers smart.
"You sound surprised."
"...I guess I'm not really in a position to say that, having already lost in that political game."
"But it's true that this was a pretty extreme move for their age group."
"I get the feeling there's more going on that we're not seeing..."
"There's no way to know every conspiracy in the world."
"So you're calling it a conspiracy now."
"You could say it was a scheme."
Gio nodded.
"It's clear that the other trainees dislike her."
"Who? Oh, you mean the trainee priest Iru Da?"
"Yes. I experienced similar things when I was young."
Gio—Giovanni—knew well the blind fervor of priests.
He'd experienced not just minor injuries, but had drunk poison that burned his organs, been pushed off cliffs, and slandered as an evil spirit.
The reasons varied.
Some couldn't stand his confidence.
Some wanted to break his spirit so they could manipulate him.
Some feared his inevitable rise and wanted to eliminate him early.
"This case likely follows the same pattern."
"And these are people who serve gods..."
"Sometimes it was internal conflict, other times they cooperated with outside forces. I wonder which it was this time."
"You think there might've been some larger plot?"
"Well... not so much a large conspiracy..."
Gio tilted his head.
"...More like a tantrum, perhaps."
"What kind of tantrum is that dangerous?"
"Indeed."
***
The red gemstone in the research lab had grown sullen once again.
"Sankallut-nim...!"
"■..."
It wanted to go home.
But that was proving to be anything but easy.
-x-X-x-