The familiar yet new monster that Yoo Seong-Woon encountered wasn't limited to the "Four-Legged Rainforest Underground."
Clatter.
"...What is that?"
"...A bird...?"
At some point, this monster began appearing sporadically across multiple dungeons.
"No, is it... water?"
It was a living mass of water in the shape of a bird.
Lacking vocal cords, it produced no cries, but it emitted faint sounds using the plants or minerals within its transparent body—usually ripe fruit, fallen leaves, or gemstones.
"What the hell, if it's just water, can't we drink it?"
"You don't even know what kind of creature it is. You shouldn't just mess with it."
"Hey, hold on. What if it's like a living elixir or something?"
"No, wait—"
Chomp.
"...."
"...Huh?"
The hunter saw their teammate trapped inside the transparent body. Their eyes met. The teammate, only just realizing where they were, opened their mouth like they wanted to scream—but not even a single air bubble emerged.
Then, in an instant, they dissolved.
"...Hu—Huaaagh!!!"
Information about this bizarre monster quickly spread among the hunters.
The victims were usually humans harboring ill intent. Even if the malice wasn't aimed directly at the monster, harboring impure thoughts was enough to provoke an attack. Those who heard about this peculiar creature felt a strange familiarity.
"...Isn't that the Black Cloak?"
"Oh yeah, that's it. I just solved that déjà vu."
"No wonder it felt familiar. It was the Black Cloak..."
Some of the hunters who had participated in the earlier raid of the "Four-Legged Rainforest Underground" were able to make additional guesses.
"A bird made of water?"
"Looks kind of like that contracted beast Hunter Sergio travels with."
"Oh, right. That one called Honey... that water-bird thing, yeah?"
"It looks a little different, but even accounting for that, it really does have a lot of similarities."
"Thought he might've just tamed one from some remote dungeon, but turns out it was a whole flock."
It wasn't that uncommon for tamers to raise mysterious monsters. Some dungeons could only be visited once, and tamers often captured monsters from such places.
And especially in a world where even public hunters don't reveal much about themselves, personal privacy had only intensified. Thanks to the Collector's Guild's influence, Hunter Sergio's contracted beast hadn't become widely known—but those who'd actually raided with him were a different story.
Even without having seen it directly, they realized—through information posted on the association forums—that the rumored creature bore a striking resemblance to Hunter Sergio's companion.
"So, has anyone confirmed the species name of this monster? I think Hunter Sergio just called it a 'water-bird'..."
"Appraiser said it's officially just 'water-bird.'"
"Wow, what a half-assed name. I thought that was just a nickname since it's made of water."
"Well, it is a bird that lives in water, so maybe it's not that far off..."
"Anyway, how did he tame it? Judging by its behavior, is it one of the monsters native to the Black Cloak's dungeon?"
Though the traits matched, other opinions were brought up as well.
"Could be they're just compatible and hang out together. You know how there are some monsters that don't have a ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) fixed habitat but are always found in places with similar energy..."
"Yeah, those monsters do exist."
What the gardener called "Children of the Origin," hunters referred to by another name.
"Share Monsters, huh."
This term referred to monsters that "borrow other dungeons," and while technically different from "Children of the Origin," the similarities made them difficult to distinguish without a gardener's insight.
"It's not uncommon for monsters with shared traits to borrow dungeons."
"True, this might be a newly emerged Share Monster."
A dungeon, simply put, is another dimension. Even without a gateway to Earth, monsters can enter one another's realms, resulting in strange new arrivals. So it wasn't unheard of for unfamiliar monsters to just appear out of nowhere.
And as always with new monsters, there were... incidents.
"...Uh, what's that guy doing?"
"Wh-Where's that idiot going? Hey! HEY!!"
"There—There's a tree, there's a tree..."
"What the hell is wrong with him? Stop him! He's about to fall in!!"
This living water mesmerized people.
"Beautiful..."
They would often blend into natural scenes where flowers and trees blossomed gently.
Sometimes they gathered to form a puddle beneath a tree, or perched on branches in rainy forests, gazing down at people.
Unless there were odd gemstones or fruits among them, a group of water-birds would be indistinguishable from an ordinary puddle.
But at night, things changed.
"Look, there's life glowing in there."
They glowed red, blue, and at rare moments, a mesmerizing, blinding golden light that people couldn't look away from.
Still, calling it "mesmerizing" might be exaggerating—after all, a few tiny water creatures barely formed a puddle, and unless they clustered deep, it was just a shallow stream.
However...
"There! That's a whole lake...!!"
"Get him!!"
...that wasn't always the case.
SPLASH!!
Massive numbers of water-birds, impossible to count, gathered in a pit, a lake, or even an existing sea.
In those depths, their glow resembled that of living spirits—almost indistinguishable from water ghosts.
But once again, a person's survival depended on their morality.
Those who lived good or ordinary lives might be pulled under—but would regain their senses in time.
Smack! Whack!!
"Ow!!"
SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK!!!
The water-birds would frantically peck at them, as if to say, "Wake up, dumbass!" They were made of water, yet delivered a surprisingly painful sting.
"Wh-What the hell just happened!?"
"You were about to fall into the water-bird lake!!"
"M-Me!?"
But if someone was evil or sinister, they would simply drown.
The water-birds didn't bite or swallow them, but simply ignored them—as if to say, "So what if a wicked human drowns?"
Seeing that behavior, people nodded.
"They're definitely on the Black Cloak's side."
"They really do look like him..."
And of course, Yoo Seong-Woon was hearing all of this.
***
"I hear your kids are showing up a lot these days."
During a long-overdue hallway meeting, Yoo Seong-Woon smiled faintly.
"Some are calling them Black Cloak's angels."
"I've never painted an angel."
"Hmm... These days, angels are often likened to divine servants. Probably that kind of meaning. Though I doubt you created them with that in mind..."
Could a being of Origin intend to create children?
Would a tree think before blooming?
Unlike divinity, which has intent and is called fate or nature, Gio likely created life simply by existing.
"That's the truly terrifying part."
He was a being who could create life as easily as breathing.
"Do you like the piece you created this time?"
"There's no reason to paint something I don't like."
"As expected..."
Yoo Seong-Woon glanced at the serene-faced Joo-Hyun and the obscured face of Gio.
...So they've already talked, I take it.
The "white frame" that had stirred such quiet ripples—perhaps it was what Gio had once called a tombstone. But Joo-Hyun looked no different than usual.
Their eyes met.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"...Nothing."
If there's no problem, there's no need to meddle.
Joo-Hyun isn't the type to let her own greed cause a disaster.
Yoo Seong-Woon wasn't especially interested in the white frame either. It was another of Gio's creations. Some interest, yes—but not enough to be tempted.
He already carried within himself a mystery large enough to rival purgatory.
"...We finally meet again, and there's no juicy topic to talk about. Speaking of which, do you all know what Cha I-Sol's been up to? I checked, just in case—can I share it?"
"Go ahead."
"Apparently, she got seriously scolded by Iru Da."
"Oh... she got scolded, huh..."
"She apparently admitted that she wasn't kidnapped by the mermaid but went into the frame on her own. Naturally, Iru Da wasn't thrilled that her partner dove into danger without a word."
Cha I-Sol, as always, was good at pretending otherwise, and even wrote an apology. She confessed the truth only to Priest Kang Seodam, who knew Gio's identity.
"Separate from that, she apparently accomplished something too."
"Accomplished?"
"She did well in this latest raid."
At that, Gio nodded.
"She was instrumental in handling Iser. My father specifically sent her into that dungeon to help her properly master the power of the sun."
He likely also wanted her to gain experience in "killing beings capable of communication." From a divine standpoint, there was no better opportunity. The one being killed had already accepted their fate—lessening the psychological burden.
"I think he hopes Cha I-Sol will become an exceptional solar priest."
"Oh... so that's what's worrying you."
"Kids are exhausting enough just by being alive."
"Gio really does seem to understand kids well."
"I was a high school teacher, after all."
"Isn't 17 a little too old to still be called a kid...?"
Modern society had changed. Even fifteen was now considered grown.
"Still, it's a relief that Cha I-Sol didn't seem too traumatized."
"Well, she wasn't alone in that raid. I heard Priest Kang Seodam helped her face Iser. It wasn't all on her."
"No, it was a heavy situation."
"...You're blunt."
Yoo Seong-Woon shrugged.
"...Still, I agree it's good she wasn't shaken. She seemed oddly friendly with Iser—calling him 'Eunha' and all."
To kill someone you once considered a friend—it could have destroyed her emotionally. Yet she remained cheerful.
Gio spoke.
"She seemed to understand that it was a necessary process for Iser. Cha I-Sol and I are alike in many ways. We both treat death as just another state—not something unbearably weighty."
"...You realize how creepy that sounds, right?"
Yoo Seong-Woon gave an awkward laugh.
"You think she'll turn out like you?"
"She's very different. Our thought structures might be similar, but her approach to life and people is nothing like mine. She's extremely sociable."
"She does seem that way."
He scratched his chin.
"That gift you gave Iru Da..."
"Yes. You mean the Bai Bamnil Flower Tea?"
"Did you give that to her on purpose?"
Yoo Seong-Woon and Joo-Hyun shared information. That's how they knew Gio had once gifted Iru Da tea during a visit to the Church of the Sun.
'And thanks to that, she played a major role in this latest raid.'
She had offered the tea, under Seodam's supervision, to the goddess of the sun. Whatever divine emotions may be, it must have pleased her—because Iru Da had shown remarkable growth in using sun powers since then.
'And with that strength, she helped kill the mermaid Aria.'
Gio answered at last.
"I simply thought it might be of use."
"Really?"
Still as unsentimental as ever.
"Would he react like this if I died, too?"
The question passed through his mind with a smile.
"You really are too composed. Are you sure you're okay with all this? Out of all the other Gios, wasn't Giovanni the one you had the deepest connection with?"
"...That's a mean-spirited question."
Gio, as always, responded in a flat, mechanical tone.
"But I'm truly fine. As I said before, I've already sorted out my feelings."
"...Hold up."
"Yes?"
"You said that before too, but now it feels off. You said 'you sorted it out your own way,' right?"
"Yes."
"...Hmm..."
For a second, Yoo Seong-Woon had a strange thought—"Why does this sound like the black-suits from the City of Void?"—and then he realized what he hadn't before.
"...Did you do something? Like... put them inside the white frame?"
"They're not suited to be residents of a diary."
"Then... resurrected them?"
"Dead is dead. It cannot be undone—and it shouldn't be."
"That's... shockingly reasonable."
"I did, however, collect their melted remains."
"...What?"
Yoo Seong-Woon turned to Joo-Hyun.
"Were there even mermaid corpses left?"
"...No? Both of them melted into water..."
Gio nodded.
"Mermaids are born in the sea, and return to it in death. That was likely part of the process."
"Then how did you collect the remains?"
"They were already residents I had taken in."
"Residents?"
"Residents of my palette."
"...Am I the only one getting a bad feeling from this?"
"You needn't worry about anything, Miss Joo-Hyun."
As always, the portrait said it without emotion.
"The mermaids are dead. They can no longer harm anyone."
"..."
After a long pause, Joo-Hyun responded.
"...I see!"
"That is correct."
"But could you maybe explain it more clearly and thoroughly next time?"
These damn mystical beings really needed to attend public speaking classes.
-x-X-x-
What Gio had done was simple.
"I invited them onto my palette."
"I believe I asked you to explain that in a more detailed, ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ fair, and specific manner."
"..."
"And don't make that face like you have no idea how else to explain it."
"I didn't make such a face."
"It's obvious, so don't deny it."
"I'm innocent."
Only after quite some time had passed was Gio able to explain what he had done. By then, he had already taken on the form of the platinum-haired priest.
"...To paint a picture, one needs paint, right?"
"Hard to explain, so you've become Giovanni, huh. Yeah, sure. But?"
"In other words, a painting is made from paint."
"Right?"
"And the same goes for me now. The version of me inside the frame is composed of paint, or at least can be defined as something conceptually equivalent. That's only natural, I think."
It was the same logic.
"The mermaids, and the place that was their root—the 'Breathing Sea'... or the 'Nation of the Deep Sea'—they were linked to my frame. In other words, they could be considered a single frame, a single painting."
Gio spoke calmly.
"Then, wouldn't our mermaid friends be paint as well?"
"...Is that how it works? Why? That's way too sudden."
"But it's only natural that a painting is essentially a combination of paint."
"..."
Joo-Hyun was at a complete loss for words.
She couldn't even muster a simple "...I see!" and looked baffled. But Yoo Seong-Woon, who had grown accustomed to the strange incidents and phenomena of primal beings, understood quickly.
"I get the gist."
After all, Gio himself was a "portrait."
"But in that case, all the beings painted in your frame... they become, what... residents of the palette? If that's the case, both I and Miss Joo-Hyun have been there, haven't we? Even Cha I-Sol."
"You are not palette residents."
"So there's a separate criterion?"
"The root must be connected."
"The root, huh..."
He understood—he was a gardener. Roots played a crucial role in shaping any being. If it was the root of the soul, the most essential concept, then that said it all.
"So simply using the same flowerpot doesn't cut it?"
"Correct. I repeat, they must be 'linked.' In terms of plants, it would be more like not just sharing a pot, but the roots and stems physically joining together."
"In human terms, not just lovers, but conjoined twins?"
"Closer to organs within a single body, I'd say. Like how nutrients chewed and swallowed by the mouth are transformed into fat stored in the body forever."
"So the roots have to become truly the same."
It wasn't just about "sharing" — they had to become "one."
"So what can you do with that? What changes?"
"I can call them back."
"Call what? They're already dead, weren't they?"
"Palette residents are paint, aren't they?"
"...Ah."
Yoo Seong-Woon nodded.
"Yeah, that's not really a matter of life or death."
Even Gio himself had died, but had been taxidermied at his most perfect moment.
The precedent was right in front of them—there was no reason others couldn't do the same, as long as Gio helped.
"So right now, those mermaids... became paint?"
"More precisely, they became color."
"Color?"
"Yes."
Mechanically, the portrait stated the truth.
"Aria became gray, and Iser became sky blue."
"..."
"You'll be able to find them within my shadows and my works."
"...Well, that's..."
Yoo Seong-Woon hesitated, then said,
"...That's beautiful."
And he meant it.
"So it has nothing to do with death."
"Just as with me, it's irrelevant for them as well."
"What do you mean by 'color'?"
"Exactly what it sounds like."
"Can you talk with them? Communicate? Are they capable of interaction?"
"If one intends it, yes."
"And their will remains?"
"If you desire it."
"They are already dead, aren't they?"
"Yes, they've become something far removed from life."
"...Ha, that's genuinely romantic...!"
He couldn't help but laugh.
"I'd really like to see them. Where can I go to view them? If you wouldn't mind, I'd love to see them with my own eyes. If I'm not being rude, would you show me the way?"
"You may visit the 'Temple of the Deep Sea' or the 'City of Void.' You'll also be able to see them easily at my hut."
"Do I need to find the frame?"
"Either way is fine. In the end, color is visible everywhere."
"That really is... something."
At their exchange, Joo-Hyun wore a slightly bitter expression.
"...I'm the only one not understanding this, right?"
"There's a world even Miss Joo-Hyun can't understand."
"Since it's a world that includes Mister Gio, shouldn't I try to understand it too? But there's this strange feeling of rejection I just can't shake. Am I narrow-minded... too rigid..."
"Miss Joo-Hyun is a sincere person."
It was only natural to feel rejection.
"You're just looking in a different direction."
"...I'll try to get used to it, step by step."
Finally, Joo-Hyun let out a deep sigh, breaking her usual courteous smile. With the one she served being a primordial mystery, it was time she began growing in various ways as well.
But...
She looked at the smiling Yoo Seong-Woon.
"..."
"Hmm? What?"
"Nothing."
She smiled back at him.
"Just thinking you're probably going to have a rough time."
"That's always the case with me."
And yet Yoo Seong-Woon still hadn't defined Gio.
***
"..."
Yoo Seong-Woon was now in the "City of Void."
"...The waterbirds are here too."
"One of the homes I built, so naturally."
"More residents since last time too."
He looked around. There were a few silhouettes stained in blotched black, like they'd been splattered with ink. Probably "evil humans" who'd loitered near the City of Void and gotten caught.
'Still, not as many as I'd expected.'
In this age overflowing with wickedness, he'd imagined the place would be packed. Then again, maybe this wasn't the only space—there could be more he wasn't seeing.
'It is a road that seems to have no end.'
The City of Void resembled a highway nestled between towering buildings on both sides. You could slip through the alleys or continue beyond that seemingly endless road.
'What you see through a frame is always just fragmented shards...'
Waterbirds perched on Yoo Seong-Woon's head and shoulders.
"Whoa, what's going on? Why are they doing this?"
"I believe they're the birds that met you at the hut last time."
"Ah... ah, right. Back then."
It had been a while—he was surprised they remembered.
Before entering the hut, I remember seeing them perched in a tree.
These must be those same birds.
"..."
He stretched out a hand, and they hopped onto it.
"...Gray, huh?"
"This place is gray, so naturally."
"True."
Water, after all, is transparent—of course it would absorb the surrounding color.
This too, these little ones too... they're all paintings.
The waterbird on his hand pecked and tilted its head, as if to say, "Why are you here?"
Most humans who come here are evil, I suppose. Should I be thankful they're not treating me like one...?
Then he caught sight of a black silhouette being devoured by the waterbirds.
"Oh."
So that's how they deal with them.
"Your kids must be bursting."
"Not necessarily. It's more play than feeding..."
"When you call that play, it's a bit creepy for us humans."
"You joke a lot."
"You need to learn to take human words more literally."
"Are you enjoying the view?"
"...I'm definitely less nervous than before."
That didn't mean he was comfortable.
I'm not even someone they target with hostility, and still I feel like this.
He'd been here before, and yet it still felt eerie.
Just breathing in and out within this space felt like it could erase the existence of "me." Like his lungs were filling with plaster dust.
I can bear it only because Gio's grace allows it.
There was a reason even skilled hunters couldn't cope with the City of Void. Once caught by the Black Cloak's work, there was no escape unless he granted mercy himself.
"...Hmm."
Yoo Seong-Woon tilted his head.
"...Where are the mermaids?"
"It's hard to call them that now."
"Then... are they no longer even named?"
"No. Death doesn't erase a name."
"Should I call that merciful... or horrifying..."
And then a deep gray caught his eye.
"..."
Ah.
"...An eye..."
"Yes, it's an eye."
"...Is it looking at me?"
"It is."
It was an eye made of color.
One of the mermaid's eyes.
A strange silver, like watery scales—more like pearl.
A shimmering pupil ringed with an aurora-like iris. Not one. Not even a few. Dozens, hundreds.
Then came a hand. Made of color, submerged in color. An unclear shape squirmed within its defined hue. Not one or two—thousands.
He couldn't fully grasp it.
Is it alive?
Or was it taxidermied?
It's far too vivid to be a mere specimen...
But he felt no life.
It was like a thin oil film atop an oil painting. Even without wind, it swayed as if painted by a brush—resembling the tail of a mermaid in life.
Disgusting?
No. It was beautiful.
Am I supposed to say it's grotesque? Even if they were evil, even if they were monsters, isn't mocking the dead still wrong?
It was no different from a portrait.
Literally, it was "color." Gray. Just as daylight and evening seas differ, its shadows were distinct. A mermaid born from the sea—why did she become gray?
"..."
It was the gray sea.
...So color had nothing to do with it.
It flowed softly, like a spring ocean.
"...There doesn't seem to be any will left. Is that right?"
"No, not quite."
"Then why doesn't it show hostility to me?"
"Because it's only color. Paint can't express or possess will."
"...I see."
Yoo Seong-Woon looked up.
"...I understand now."
Twilight flowed across the sky—utterly unfitting for a place named "Void."
So this is the hell the mermaids chose.
They had chosen to remain near Gio as tools.
Once, the mermaids had two paths.
To become evil gods and stay by Gio's side, even if unforgiven for eternity—or to remain in this form as tools, waiting for a day of forgiveness.
They had chosen the latter.
"I was going to ask if you were going to build hell now that you've made a heaven."
"I build neither heaven nor hell."
"I know. You just wanted to make a home for the things you liked."
"I'm glad you understand."
"...Yeah..."
But if this isn't hell, what is it?
"...I keep saying this, but it's beautiful."
If Yoo Seong-Woon ever died, he wanted to go to a hell like this.
A fairy-tale-like, grotesque hell.
"..."
...Will the day ever come when I can see you as human?
-x-X-x-
"I think it's the most beautiful form of death."
"..."
Joo-Hyun, who had been listening the whole time, took a sip of her coffee and nodded.
"Yoo Seong-Woon, you're honestly kind of unsettling sometimes."
"If we're being blunt, yeah, I'm aware of that."
"It's like... you look at something grotesque and incomprehensible and your eyes just sparkle... that kind of discomfort."
"You're oddly specific about how much you hate it."
It wasn't the first time he'd heard this sort of thing, so Yoo Seong-Woon just let it slide.
"Don't you have any sense of romance, Joo-Hyun?"
"Is there anything about this conversation that warrants the word 'romance'?"
"Like, if you could choose an afterlife, which one would you pick? That kind of vibe..."
"No matter how you spin it, that's not really a 'romantic' topic."
Despite her groan, Joo-Hyun answered sincerely.
"Well, I'm not strong or blessed with some grand power like you people. I'm too busy just thinking about tomorrow to spend time wondering about what happens after I die."
"But you're by Gio's side."
"That's something to worry about when the time comes. It'd be a waste to spend the life I was given just waiting for death. There's so much more I can do while I'm alive."
"Should I call you serious or just heavy?"
"I'd say I'm pretty average, actually."
It was only natural—only the living could dream of the future.
"Though I suppose Mister Gio is... a different case."
That truly was an exception. Most ordinary people like Joo-Hyun had little choice but to live as she did.
"If someone had absolutely no will, maybe it'd be different. But I have too many things I want to do. I can't afford to hand them over to someone who'll live longer than me. I have no choice but to keep moving forward."
"It was just a hypothetical."
Yoo Seong-Woon smiled wryly. Maybe it was because he'd just seen the Black Cloak's masterpiece, but he seemed in good spirits.
"It's just idle chatter, nothing more, right?"
"Well, that's fair enough."
If it was just passing banter.
"...Hmm..."
Still, she wasn't so sure.
"...Nothing comes to mind right away. But I guess things will go the way Gio wants. Since I was given a gift, I might end up in the 'white frame' if I'm lucky."
"So that's your guess too."
"Don't think too hard about it. No one knows what the future holds. So what ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) about you, Yoo Seong-Woon? Which afterlife do you think you'll end up in?"
"Most likely? Falling asleep in my own snowy garden."
"Snowy garden...?"
"The garden I tend."
If Gio helped, he might end up somewhere warmer. But if you weighed the realistic odds and his personal preference, this made the most sense.
"Gardeners usually end their lives in their own garden."
"And then go on to live another life, or so I've heard?"
"Not quite. They become one of the elements that make up the garden—like a statue, or a tree, or a flower. I wouldn't call that a 'life,' exactly."
"I heard somewhere that for gardeners, to die as a human is considered the greatest luxury. Is that true?"
"You remember well."
There were exceptions like Healer Jeong Yeong-Won, who wished to become part of the garden she served. But Yoo Seong-Woon wasn't like that. Having been born human, he wanted to die human too.
"In this world, even death can't follow the natural order..."
"A world where evil gods run rampant, after all."
Joo-Hyun gave an awkward smile.
"Even I nearly made a mess of things not long ago."
"Ah, right. So we're talking about Sankallut now like it's no big deal?"
"It wasn't that uncomfortable before either."
When the divine brought down calamities, it felt more like a disaster than an incident. They could mimic humanity, but never truly be human. So there was something silly about resenting them when all Joo-Hyun had ever done was endure.
"Put simply, I was just unlucky."
"Most people wouldn't be able to think like that."
Yoo Seong-Woon cleared his throat.
This one's not exactly normal either.
Being indifferent to life and death was a trait of priests—and also one of the signs of sainthood.
If worshiping a god made everyone detached from life, religion wouldn't be this complicated. In the end, humans are human. There are limits to the vessel.
Strangely, it felt like Joo-Hyun was becoming one of Gio's closest companions.
More precisely, a disciple under the title of "closest companion."
"..."
Yoo Seong-Woon gave a patient smile.
"...Come to think of it, I wonder how that guy Sankallut is doing these days. He didn't get completely obliterated by Gio's exorcism or whatever, did he?"
"I haven't heard anything..."
"Me neither."
The evil god Sankallut was stored as a key specimen at the Association's research lab. If he had really been destroyed, the lab wouldn't be this quiet. Not even Yoo Seong-Woon, who kept his ears open, had heard anything.
Besides, divinity doesn't die that easily.
Even among divine beings, killing one another wasn't simple. That's why they often coexisted, forced to stay in balance. Just look at Earth now—so many conflicting principles and imbalances packed into one small dimension.
"Well, I guess if it's Gio, maybe it really was possible..."
"Might be faster to ask Gio directly about that."
"What if Sankallut is still around? Would you stay back again, not asking Gio for help?"
"No."
"...Huh?"
Joo-Hyun smiled in response to his surprise.
"I've already received Gio's help in that regard. From the very beginning—when he first comforted me, when he made that warm porridge at the hut... and even the pure white gravestone he prepared recently. All of it was the same."
He had rejected that immense kindness, refused it, pretended not to see it—but in the end, he had accepted it anyway.
That's why he wasn't surprised.
"When Gio said he painted that grand piece just for me, I could only be thankful. I'd already received so many miracles before."
"Miracles, huh."
"Of course they're miracles. Who would willingly reach out to someone like me—a failure—without greed or envy, simply wanting to be my friend?"
"...That kind of chance won't come again."
"Gio is a kind person."
Joo-Hyun didn't like receiving help from others. He'd never had anyone to ask, and even when he did, he never got what he truly needed.
But the first being to ever help him was that so-called evil divine being—Argio.
And to this day, he was still helping Joo-Hyun. Even with Sankallut.
"If Gio gives me the opportunity, I want to talk with him."
"Talk...? Is that safe? You're not an Awakened, Joo-Hyun."
"I do rely on the shield of being unawakened, but I don't want to keep hiding behind that. I have responsibilities. Gio has helped me a great deal."
"That's a pretty bold response."
"It's okay."
Joo-Hyun trusted the friend named Gio.
"Even if I can't repay all I've received, I should at least show basic courtesy. That's what relationships are."
He probably wouldn't be able to repay all the kindness Gio had shown—not in a lifetime.
But he had to acknowledge just how much he'd been given—and respond appropriately.
"I don't want to be arrogant. But I also won't be the kind of fool who looks away after receiving such grace. The reason I rejected Gio's help so often was because I'm just an ordinary person who'd be changed by miracles if they came too easily."
"Sorry, but you're really not that ordinary."
Yoo Seong-Woon's comment was completely ignored.
"If I can speak with that evil god named Sankallut, then I will."
"So what would you do?"
"End it."
Like the mermaids—who embraced joy in a sweet reality yet still accepted responsibility in the end.
"My story's been dragging on too long too. I keep saying it, but I'm just a regular person."
"..."
"Do you have something you need to end too, Yoo Seong-Woon?"
"...A gardener wouldn't have such a thing."
He smiled awkwardly.
"I belong to the garden."
If he had a story to finish, it belonged to the garden—not to him. He was a gardener before a human. A servant of the Origin.
"I guess I'll live like this forever, buried in mystery..."
"Why'd you become a gardener?"
"To live."
"I see."
Joo-Hyun nodded.
"So did I."
"Guess we're alike."
They were here because this was the only way they could survive.
***
"Sankallut?"
Gio tilted his head.
"You want to speak with him?"
"Yes. If it's possible, of course..."
"It is possible. I'll simply summon him—if that's enough, then it's yours."
"Of course that's enough."
Who just summoned divine beings? Even evil gods weren't so easily accessed without a price. It was rare to meet one safely like this.
Gio rested his chin on his hand.
"Then let's talk at my house."
So Gio called both Joo-Hyun and Yoo Seong-Woon.
"Wait, why am I—"
"Since you're here, have a meal before you go, Mister Seong-Woon."
"You're not trying to turn me into a pig, are you?"
"You seem to have lost weight from the strain of this recent dungeon..."
"Even with that sad look, it's not convincing."
He'd lost just 0.4kg.
"I'm a hunter who needs to stay fast. If you keep feeding me, even I'll gain weight. That'll ruin my stats—"
"Ah, so the solution is to not gain weight?"
"And this is why you can't let your guard down around mystics. Bring the contract. We'll sort out our terms A to Z."
"Ah, the wisdom of a seasoned curator."
"You're getting more sinister by the day."
Well, whatever.
"Just make sure it's a normal meal."
"I always serve ordinary meals."
"If you're going to lie, don't lie so blatantly."
"Cheh..."
"Oh, now you're clicking your tongue?"
Then Gio brought out a blanket.
"A blanket?"
"Yes, it's sudden, but..."
"Well, yes, that's what startled me—"
"You looked cold."
"Never mind how you knew—but this clearly isn't a blanket. Whose fur is this? Why is it so soft and warm? Is it supposed to be this warm? Oh—it is..."
As Yoo Seong-Woon slowly melted into the plush golden fur, Joo-Hyun gave a dry chuckle.
"So this is how a human possessed by mystery ends up."
"Who said this is the end?"
"You're saying that while clinging to that fur—it's not convincing."
"You don't know what it's like in the snowfields!"
Gio nodded at the sight of Yoo Seong-Woon clutching the fur. His expression was blank as always, but the sentiment of "I knew you'd like it" came through loud and clear.
"I was worried. You looked cold."
"I looked that cold...?"
Yoo Seong-Woon looked to Joo-Hyun, who shook his head.
"...No. Honestly, I didn't notice at all until Gio mentioned it. You didn't look any different from usual—but now that I see it, I guess you were cold..."
"It's fine. Not knowing is normal."
Suddenly, Gio looked confused and pointed to himself.
"Am I not normal?"
"By average human standards, no."
"Well, I suppose a portrait can't be considered normal. You may praise my uniqueness."
Gio accepted it without resistance.
"Guests at my home must always feel at peace."
"That's kind of terrifying in its own way."
"Tonight, that'll be your blanket."
"This house sure treats guests well."
"Thank you."
Gio looked deeply pleased.
"It's been a while since friends came to visit."
That's why he'd prepared the gourmet route ahead of time.
-x-X-x-
After the meal, Joo-Hyun was granted a meeting with Sankallut.
"...It smells delicious..."
"...Do evil gods feel hunger?"
Sankallut had been summoned by possessing the body of a waterbird. The living water, originally colorless and soundless, had shifted into a rapturous crimson glow—but thankfully, Joo-Hyun, under Gio's protection, suffered no harm.
Trapped in a tiny body, Sankallut looked deeply depressed.
"I want to go home."
"Uh..."
Joo-Hyun glanced at Gio, surprised by the unexpected reaction.
"Help, please."
"Ah, may I intervene?"
"I feel like this conversation isn't going well."
"In such cases, I should step in."
For reference, Yoo Seong-Woon was asleep in the guest room on the second floor, hugging the fleece blanket made of Golden Woolstep fur and sipping Basram flower tea that Gio had handed him. Having achieved the satisfaction of pleasing his friend, Gio sat confidently between Joo-Hyun and Sankallut.
The situation resembled a tiny courtroom, and Sankallut looked on the verge of tears. Though the waterbird's face couldn't express emotion, a divine being communicated through its soul, not its appearance.
"You definitely summoned me to scold me."
"Sorry, but I'm here to ensure smooth communication."
"You scolded me last time too."
"Well, you deserved it."
"I even went out of my way to choose a body that wouldn't steal from adults..."
"I believe I told you last time that that wasn't the issue."
"You always use difficult words..."
Hearing the childlike way of speaking, Joo-Hyun turned to Gio again.
"He's... much younger than I expected."
"He's aligned with the soul of the waterbird he borrowed."
"Ah, the waterbird's soul?"
"More precisely, we could call it resonance."
That was how Sankallut's possession worked.
"When he takes over another's body, he imitates it accordingly. That's why he could handle Iru Da's young body so naturally last time."
"That's a kind of forbidden technique, huh..."
Looking back, it was hard to believe that a malevolent god would fit so seamlessly into a fragile child's form—unless, of course, Sankallut had adjusted to it. Not out of consideration, surely, but for his own convenience. Still, it was fortunate in the end.
"Mister Sankallut."
"Yes?"
"We summoned you today because Joo-Hyun here wanted to speak with you."
"Hello."
It was an unexpectedly innocent greeting for an evil god, but Joo-Hyun stayed calm and responded naturally.
"Hello, I'm Joo-Hyun."
"Yes, Ahn Joo-Hyun."
"Uh..."
"Are you not using your discarded name anymore?"
"...Didn't expect you to stab me right at the start."
"It's more comfortable, isn't it?"
"..."
Joo-Hyun had discarded the surname Ahn. It was the only way he could be accepted into Gita Orphanage. For a time, he'd been plagued by guilt over "abandoning memories of his family just to survive."
...He really is an evil god.
To strike so directly at the weak spot...
And all for the sake of convenience.
"...I'm really glad it was you, Argio, who spoke to me that day."
"I'm honored by your appreciation of my fine judgment."
Sankallut's eyes sparkled as Gio's hair flushed red for a moment.
"Such a lovely color! I love it! I love that color!"
Sankallut had once been a mere radiant gem, but after being worshipped with blood sacrifices by humans captivated by that bloodlike color, he became an evil god. Of course he would love Gio's hair.
"What color is your blood? Show me. I bet it's amazing."
"This... really feels like it's not going anywhere."
Joo-Hyun looked helpless, and Gio smiled gently.
"He's just a child."
"...A divine being? A child?"
"This one doesn't know how to hold a conversation, my friend. He knows human language, knows how to form thoughts, but has no idea how to exchange them."
"But wasn't Sankallut once the evil god worshipped by an entire dimension's worth of humans?"
"Would you understand what a bunch of puppies meant if they rushed you wagging their tails and barking?"
"I mean... kind of? Tail wagging usually means they're happy, right?"
"Exactly. One-directional. But can you understand what the barking means?"
"Ah..."
So it really was impossible to communicate properly.
"He doesn't understand humans."
"If anything, he knows how to use them."
"Like how a tamer trains a monster?"
"Close enough."
"Then that makes sense."
Joo-Hyun looked deeply unsettled.
"..."
Just... a bit crushed.
...My family and friends were killed by an ignorant child.
That's all this was. A child who didn't know anything.
"Mister Sankallut, could you speak with me?"
"Show me your blood. Let's make a deal."
"Of course the evil god proposes a deal right away."
Joo-Hyun sighed in exasperation.
"...Gio, sorry, do you have something sharp?"
"Indulging this brat's request may not be a wise decision."
"I know. The more I give, the more terrifying the price will get."
"As long as you know that."
Argio handed him a hairpin that had been tucked into his own hair. It was a lavishly adorned golden jeweled pin—much sturdier and sharper than expected.
"You walked around with this in your hair?"
"Well, technically in my hair..."
"...So it was a weapon."
"Could've been used as a dagger."
"Ah."
Prick.
Joo-Hyun gently pricked his fingertip.
"Here."
"Blood! Big blood!"
"Are you satisfied?"
"I'm satisfied."
The waterbird—Sankallut—tilted its head.
"Can I taste it?"
"That wasn't part of the deal."
"That's disappointing."
Still, perhaps because Gio was watching, Sankallut didn't press further. He pouted a bit and then continued.
"You, Ahn Joo-Hyun, can talk with me. What do you want?"
"I didn't come to make a wish."
"Do you want paradise?"
"I can create my own paradise."
"Humans can't make paradise. Poor things."
"It doesn't have to be paradise."
"I liked you, though."
Sankallut lightly fluttered his wings. It didn't seem like a gesture with meaning—more like the way a waterbird might adjust its watery body.
"Couldn't you have been my son?"
"If you'd approached me with kindness, maybe I could have."
"Kindness doesn't move humans. They become strongest and fastest when driven by rage, hate, and fear. Don't you want world peace?"
"My version of peace doesn't include rage, hate, or fear."
"I still liked you."
"Is that so."
"I liked you, Ahn Joo-Hyun. I want to go home."
The little bird tilted its head again.
"Do you hate me?"
"Yes. I do."
"Do you want to kill me? If you do, will you become my son?"
"Ah... absolutely not."
"...Everyone hates me..."
Joo-Hyun looked once more to Gio, who answered with a laugh.
"He's copying one of my children's mannerisms."
"...Don't your waterbirds lack vocal cords?"
"A dad can hear it all."
"Parents really are amazing."
Let's go with that.
"Phew..."
Joo-Hyun looked up at the ceiling, then back at Sankallut.
"...Recently, there was a major war. It was started by two mermaids, and the front seas of Korea were thrown into chaos. I heard it even spread overseas and almost became a global issue."
"I know them. The strong mermaids. I might've been friends with them."
"They started that war 'to take responsibility.' I don't think that was the right way to do it. But their regrets weren't for those they harmed, but for themselves and for Giovanni. So maybe that was the best they could do."
"You didn't like it?"
"I didn't. But I still learned something. That no matter what sin you've committed, dragging the story on won't leave you with anything. I realized my situation wasn't all that different."
"So you looked at me?"
"That's why I see you, Sankallut."
Joo-Hyun didn't believe that a mere human like him could do anything about Sankallut. He was weak, powerless, and had already failed many times.
But that meant he could still become better.
"I know you were born this way."
Divinity was fate—it was nature. No one could criticize the cruelty of fate or nature. Like a planet born of cosmic chaos, not even human resentment could reach it.
"And that's why I want to drag you down from fate and nature."
"Can't I go home?"
"No."
"You're mean...! I want to go home! I want to be loved!"
"Then let me show you a different kind of home. A different kind of love."
After all, divine beings didn't die—not even when dimensions collapsed.
"How about thinking of this as trying a new kind of game?"
"Are you going to die with me?"
"If I can."
"Impossible."
"Yet the universe is full of impossible things happening anyway."
"I don't like it."
"If you cooperate, I'll send you home."
Joo-Hyun looked to Gio.
"Will you help me?"
"Ah, of course, my friend."
Argio smiled in satisfaction.
"I respect your judgment."
"..."
Joo-Hyun felt immense trust and affection.
All this came from nothing more than a few letters he couldn't even read. This was kindness born from a bond destined to grow distant the moment the portrait withdrew. And yet, because he believed in Gio's humanity, Joo-Hyun felt no fear.
This red and malevolent divinity would deliver an unfair judgment at any time. Because he was a god fated for rebellion, the unfair support and praise that Joo-Hyun received was already predetermined.
It was through this overwhelming favoritism that Joo-Hyun always remembered: Gio was human.
"...If I can use it, then I should use it."
"Of course you should."
Argio shrugged.
"If you're too rigid, you'll break."
That applied to all beings.
"Especially those who call themselves heroes."
"...Can you please stop with the 'hero' stuff?"
"I think it's fun."
"Well, I don't."
"Oh, how tragic. Then I guess I'll just shut up."
"You get sarcastic in the weirdest moments..."
Joo-Hyun glanced sideways at Gio, then turned back to Sankallut.
As if sensing something, Sankallut no longer squirmed or chattered. He simply stared quietly at Joo-Hyun with crimson eyes filled with dazzling, blinding light.
"Are you going to make me human?"
"...Yes."
"That's impossible."
"That's not a reason to give up."
"That seems inefficient, Joo-Hyun."
"You're sounding more desperate and polite now."
He knew—this was authority born from standing behind the divinity called Gio. Like a fox basking in the tiger's aura. But in the end, Joo-Hyun was just an ordinary human.
If he couldn't use what he had, he'd be the one to lose.
"I've already seen the example of Gio. Even this overwhelming mystery retains humanity. So why not you, Sankallut? I'll believe it's possible."
"I don't want to... That path has no blood, no shine. I'll grow dull."
"I see. That sounds wonderful."
This was the greatest responsibility—and revenge—that Joo-Hyun could carry out.
"Mister Gio."
"Whatever you need."
"Can you create a body for Mister Sankallut?"
"Hm, a body..."
Argio smiled slyly.
"I'll make him into a darling little one."
***
When Yoo Seong-Woon woke up, he blinked at the sight of a bright red snake.
"...So this is Sankallut?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"In all my life, I've never seen a god become a snake."
The snake rose upright in a straight line.
"Hello."
"Oh, it talks."
"I have no legs and no arms. A body without wings is extremely inefficient."
"You kind of sound like Gio when you speak."
"I follow the memory of the body."
"Yeah, you really do. That flat tone had me fooled—you were complaining, weren't you?"
"Would you like to observe?"
"If I'm allowed, of course."
As a gardener, Yoo Seong-Woon was naturally resilient to bizarre phenomena. Sankallut wriggled as he was scooped into Seong-Woon's hands. Leaving the two of them alone, Gio returned upstairs to the guest room.
The one Joo-Hyun had once stayed in.
"Mister Joo-Hyun."
"...."
He was sitting on the bed, head bowed.
"Mister Joo-Hyun, are you tired?"
"...I'm very tired."
"Are you blaming yourself?"
"Did I do the wrong thing?"
As if confessing to a priest, Joo-Hyun began to speak.
"I didn't know what the right choice was. But Gio, you were always kind to me, and I didn't want to let that chance slip away. I'm such a selfish person."
"That's called being smart. You didn't cling to opportunity—you took responsibility. And you chose the most effective and reasonable path you could find."
"I'm not sure if what I did was right. But I pushed forward anyway. Because maybe miracles like this will never come again. I kept thinking it was madness..."
The hand that had been covering his [N O V E L I G H T] face trembled slightly and dropped.
"Will my family hate me?"
He was crying.
"Will my friends resent me?"
"You've already seen that they don't."
"I couldn't even bring myself to lash out at Sankallut, my clear enemy. I didn't even vow to make him suffer. All I could do was drag him down into the world of humans... And that's all..."
"All?"
Gio admired Joo-Hyun.
"I thought you were amazing."
"Don't lie."
"I really did. Anyone can lash out in anger and blame. But standing back up after breaking down and choosing to move forward again? That's not something just anyone can do."
"This is just me flailing. Using your power because I didn't want to bear the burden myself. It's an incredibly selfish and arrogant thing."
"If you have something, use it."
"I don't have you. I don't want to mistake what you give for something that's mine. That would be too shameful. And I can't even repay you fully for what you've already given me."
"Does a friend need to repay?"
"..."
Joo-Hyun already knew the answer.
"...No."
The kind of friend he knew—Gio knew—wasn't transactional. Joo-Hyun knew well that Gio's gifts were no different from his casually tossed jokes.
Something welled up inside, and his real feelings slipped out.
"I'm afraid I'll start revering you someday."
"Even then, we'll still be friends."
"..."
"Look."
Gio spoke with certainty.
"I respect you for always being cautious and sharp, seizing your chances. I'm grateful that even while fearing me, you still respect my humanity. And I've gained so much from your kind gestures—pretending they're nothing while holding onto the burdens of my gifts."
That's why they could be friends.
"I don't expect it of you, but if it's too much... you may revere me. That wouldn't be a wound or a slight."
"Then what does hurt you, Mister Gio?"
"When I can't do what I want."
"...That just sounds like whining..."
"Close enough."
Gio spoke with certainty.
"I'm far simpler than you think, Mister Joo-Hyun."
I just want you to spend time with me. These thoughtful people really do make things complicated.
"I'm grateful that someone as calculating and altruistic as you is my friend."
"...I'm glad I don't creep you out or annoy you."
Joo-Hyun's voice grew more composed.
"Am I really not walking the wrong path?"
"Only you can decide that."
"You're right. Even if it's the same path, right and wrong depend on the person."
"Keep struggling and choose the path you want."
That alone made Joo-Hyun someone worthy.
"And eat the food I give you."
"...Why does food come up every time we talk..."
Not that he disliked it.
"..."
He was special. Truly special.
His vessel was vast, and he gave kindness easily. He didn't hesitate to love, didn't collapse in regret—and that made him stronger than anything.
Naturally, anyone would want to lean on someone like that.
Just like I'm doing now.
So Joo-Hyun dared to pity this person.
...The time I spend in your life will be but a fleeting moment.
He feared he might one day fail to treat this dear friend as human, even in that short instant.
That, while leaning on his uniqueness, he might forget that Gio was someone who enjoyed stupid jokes and exchanging silly letters. That he'd forget this friend existed and begin to worship that omnipotence instead.
I'm just a plain, insignificant human...
"...Don't be too kind."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm afraid you'll end up lonely."
"Everyone goes through times like that."
His voice was calm.
"In the end, I'll make more friends again."
"..."
It ached.
...If that sounded like resignation to me, then maybe I really am just an ordinary person.
And still—what a lonely soul he was.
-x-X-x-
Since that day, something had changed for Joo-Hyun.
"Joo-Hyun, that's...?"
"It's a tamed snake, so please don't worry too much."
"Ah, right. But I remember you were a non-awakened civilian... That doesn't really look like an ordinary snake, though."
"Gio tamed it and attached it to me as a companion."
"Aha..."
The snake, only slightly thicker than a child's wrist, flicked its tail as it shimmered with a glorious crimson sheen. Its round, gleaming eyes and cat-like curved mouth made it look harmless and almost cute.
The Collector's Guild employee nodded.
"As expected of Hunter Sergio's tastes—what a flamboyant snake. Sparkling like a gemstone, it looks like the perfect monster to lure people in. Did he make it himself?"
"Mm... something like that, I suppose."
"So there's a reason for your visit today. Like with the waterbirds, if you can give me a rough idea of its characteristics and habits, we'll register it with the Association under an existing monster entry. That should make things easier for your activities, right?"
"I'd really appreciate that. Gio gave me a bunch of snacks, and I was wondering if anyone here might want to share them. There's a lot."
"In that case, the Secretariat would probably be the best place to leave them."
"I'll drop them off when I have time. For now, I'd like to register this friend first."
The crimson snake coiled around Joo-Hyun's neck raised its head.
"Hello."
"Oh—goodness. It talks?"
"Please call me San."
"Um... alright, nice to meet you, San."
As someone used to witnessing bizarre sights, the guild employee wasn't too startled. She merely turned back to Joo-Hyun with more questions.
"What can it do? Since Hunter Sergio assigned it to you, I'm guessing it's special in some way. Is there anything dangerous about it?"
"There are some dangerous aspects, but Gio is keeping it under control, so it's fine. If I had to categorize it, I'd say it's a mental-type monster. It's especially talented in charm and mind control."
"If it's about your safety, I'd think a monster with direct physical combat ability would be better... But well, I'm sure Hunter Sergio has his reasons. Got it."
The crimson snake drooped its head, looking sulky.
"I'm weak."
It wasn't lamenting being assigned as a bodyguard—it was annoyed that the body Gio «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» had given it was too feeble. Joo-Hyun, half understanding, patted the snake's head.
"I'll give you a snack when we get back."
"Oh, I like that. I especially liked that bright red fruit last time."
"I'll ask Gio, so just be patient—"
"Understood."
After registering Gio's new contracted beast, "San," with the help of the Collector's Guild, Joo-Hyun returned home. Gio, waiting in the form of a portrait within the house, greeted him.
"All finished?"
"Yes, thanks to you."
From now on, Sankallut would spend time with Joo-Hyun, trapped within the harmless body of a snake. He would protect Joo-Hyun in daily life and, when Gio permitted it, eventually be returned to "that house" of his.
Sankallut was satisfied just not being destroyed by a higher divinity. Gods don't die easily, but that logic broke down when facing "Gio's portrait." As if used to it by now, Sankallut made a request.
"Fruit, give me fruit."
"You must mean the Mudung berry."
"The sweet-and-sour fruit suits my taste very well."
"I'm glad you've found food you enjoy."
Yes, Sankallut had ultimately become a pig under Gio's care.
"If only I could gain a bit more weight."
"Uh... Won't that make you heavy for me to carry?"
"I've heard of weight-reduction magic."
"If you get any bigger here, you'll draw too much attention."
"That would be inconvenient."
The introverted Sergio quickly understood Joo-Hyun's concern and gave up. Either way, no matter how much he ate, the emaciated body of Sankallut—housing divine essence—wasn't going to fatten up easily.
"Just stop by now and then for snacks."
"I will."
Visiting the hut had become essential just to maintain Sankallut's state.
"Speaking of which, could I visit now? San finished all the Mudung berries and I'd like to collect more. Otherwise, he won't behave properly..."
"Mudung berries are one of the easiest things to find in my forest. You can come in anytime and pick as many as you want. The waterbirds will help you."
As if they heard Gio, translucent waterbirds including Honey fluttered onto the portrait frame. They looked up at Joo-Hyun as if saying, "You coming in?" "Now?" "Come on in now?"
Joo-Hyun chuckled helplessly.
"I'll step in for a moment."
Joo-Hyun entered "Gio's portrait" with practiced ease.
"..."
"Are you alright?"
"...A bit dizzy..."
"I believe it's due to Mr. Sankallut."
The bright red snake lifted its head as if wronged.
"I'm innocent."
"Your very presence can affect things. Especially inside the portrait."
"...Mr. Joo-Hyun is too weak. He needs to be modified."
"Mr. Joo-Hyun will live his life just fine as he is. Don't interfere."
"I feel wronged."
Their exchange left Joo-Hyun slightly exhausted.
"You really do sound like Gio sometimes."
"Well, I'm a physical form partly modeled after him, so it's inevitable."
The two began walking. Mudung berries were the most common fruit in Gio's forest. The waterbirds, having left their nests for the first time in a while, perched on Gio's body. Gio and Joo-Hyun spent quite some time gathering berries.
Once the basket was nearly full, they headed to a stream to rinse them off.
"Who would've thought an evil god would like fruit."
"I like red things. Give them to me. I'm waiting."
"What if you really do turn into a pig..."
"I can go on a diet. Please trust me, Mr. Joo-Hyun."
"...Can snakes even go on diets?"
It hadn't been long, but in just a few days, Joo-Hyun and Sankallut had started adapting to one another.
Of course, Joo-Hyun's mindset was "I'm going to cook this thing, one way or another," and Sankallut's was "Maybe I can find a way to exploit a weakness eventually," so they only seemed compatible.
Still, on the surface, they looked perfectly natural.
"While you're here, would you like to eat something?"
"I was waiting for that."
"Were you looking forward to it?"
"No, I was bracing myself."
As always, Gio's meals gave Joo-Hyun a strange discomfort. It felt like he was eating something no human should consume, though it appeared deceptively familiar.
"What meat is this?"
"Rabbit. Doesn't it have a unique aroma? The texture is pleasantly chewy."
"I thought the rabbits in your forest weren't this big..."
"Lately, animals have been sneaking in from beyond the frame."
"Beyond the frame? You mean, from the painting?"
"Yes, it's called 'The Animal Kingdom.'"
"Straightforward name."
"I didn't name it, by the way."
Straightforward indeed.
"I tried raising a few, but most were in a state of frenzy. I'd need to visit the world beyond the frame to understand why... but I've been putting that off."
"Putting it off enthusiastically sounds contradictory."
"I'm just glad the food suits Mr. Sankallut's palate."
"Avoiding the question again."
The snake, half-listening, perked its head. Tilting it curiously, it crunched rabbit meat—bones and all—before speaking.
"This is delicious. It's full of rage."
Joo-Hyun frowned.
"Rage? Why would rabbit meat be full of rage?"
"I think he's interpreting the spicy sting on the tongue as 'rage.'"
"Shouldn't that be pain then...?"
"..."
"...Gio?"
Instead of answering, Gio looked back at the snake.
"I would've thought Mr. Sankallut enjoyed fear more than rage. Interesting."
"I don't pick and choose."
Then he chomped down a heap of red chili peppers on top of the dish.
"But I do like red things."
"...If the researchers found out the god of pain and terror just liked red, they'd probably faint."
Joo-Hyun spoke with exasperation, but truthfully, if not for Gio's red dishes, Sankallut wouldn't have been this satisfied.
Joo-Hyun knew that too.
'It's just... it's absurd watching an evil god turn into a foodie.'
Humans are creatures of vision. Even if something on the table was a pile of mystery, in the end, it still had the shape of food. Watching a high-ranking divine being gorge itself on nutrients was a weird experience.
"Come to think of it... San, you used to like the blood of children and elders, right?"
"Yes, I like it very much. I favor it."
"Now it seems like you just like red. Was there a reason for picking those ages before?"
"They are the children of principles that stand at the beginning and end."
So it was a kind of delicacy.
"They are also the most suitable to enter my paradise."
"I've read the Sankallut Church's doctrine. That your ideal paradise is a place where victims, after offering their pain and blood, are rewarded with a perfect eternal haven where no one can judge them..."
"That's correct."
"...Does that paradise really exist?"
"Of course."
Apparently delighted with the chili-filled rabbit dish, Sankallut licked his lips.
"It's like Gio's diary."
"That's a stretch..."
Joo-Hyun grimaced, and Argio's eyes lit up with interest.
"A paradise crafted by another god? That's a story I'd like to hear. Would you tell me more?"
"...It's nothing impressive like Gio's..."
"I just want to learn. I'm merely a painter. I'm curious what kind of afterlife a true god would create."
"...Ugh..."
Coiling up with visible discomfort, the snake eventually opened its mouth.
"...I gave them everything they valued. If someone had a lost family, I gave them family. If someone desired a partner, I gave them a mate. If someone hoped for children, I allowed them to conceive."
Joo-Hyun's brow twisted.
"But... they all died, didn't they?"
"In my paradise, they're alive."
"I want to say that's nonsense, but I've never died, so I can't argue..."
"Humans judge life and death based on the biological activity of flesh. I find that a foolish and inefficient standard. I treated their souls very well."
"So where are those souls now?"
"In my stomach."
The snake said it as if it were obvious.
"They are part of me, since I ate them. There's nowhere else they could be. They're enjoying the feeling of happiness and continuing their stories."
"Are you using their souls to craft some kind of evil scheme—"
"That's a hard question. Please simplify it for me."
"Are you dodging the question?"
Gio waved a hand.
"I think he really doesn't understand."
"Was my question that complicated...?"
"Think of it this way. It's like someone asking you, 'Can you plot an evil scheme using the rabbit meat you just ate today?' Doesn't that sound off?"
"Uh..."
"Some questions are too trivial and obvious to dwell on. Young gods still have trouble understanding that. As I've said before, Mr. Sankallut isn't the type to enjoy communicating with humans."
"..."
Joo-Hyun rubbed his chin.
"Yeah... the more I hear about the afterlife, the more uneasy I feel."
"Living people don't need to dwell on the afterlife. It comes with too many side effects."
Argio nodded knowingly.
"That's why most divine beings devalue human life. From their view, flesh is just a shell. A human's life is determined by whether the shell exists or not."
"Do you think that way too, Gio?"
"If I did, would I be here eating food with you?"
"...Fair point."
Once again, Joo-Hyun was left with a complicated feeling.
'...So divine disasters really don't stem from malice.'
Whether something is good or evil—those are simply standards created by humans. Divinity is merely willful nature, or fate. It can't be divided by right or wrong.
Just like how stars in the sky have no top or bottom...
"..."
Of course, the fact that Sankallut tried to spread his brand of 'rightness'—that cruel nature—here on Earth was undoubtedly wrong. Even a god should learn to read the room and adapt.
With that conclusion, Joo-Hyun turned his attention back to Gio.
"This 'diary' you made, Gio—what is it exactly?"
"Just what it sounds like. It can be someone's home, or a travel stop, or a place to rest."
It was like a vacation house with its doors wide open, where anyone Gio wanted to be friends with could enter. They could settle down, stay briefly, or leave whenever they liked.
Sankallut tilted his head at Gio.
"You're not going to eat them?"
"I'm not that hungry, not enough to devour precious guests."
"But it would taste good..."
"That's your perspective, Mr. Sankallut."
As expected, it was interesting.
"...Fascinating."
He may have held a divine essence, but Gio couldn't exactly be called a proper god.
-x-X-x-