And then, it was time for a meal.
"Huh? All of a sudden?"
"I think I've asked you at least ten times if you were hungry."
"...I'm sorry. I got lost in thought..."
"Eating will help you think better. I'm sure of it."
"..."
Ather let out a sigh.
"...Thank you."
"No need to thank me."
Gio smiled brightly.
Now I can finally turn this walking skeleton into a pig.
***
"Huh."
Yoo Seong-Woon blinked as he looked at a picture frame he hadn't seen in a while.
"What brings you out to the hallway?"
"I thought I saw you passing by, Yoo Seong-Woon."
"Me? Yeah, it's been a while since I came back."
After a long night shift, he'd barely managed to return home.
"You been resting well at the hut lately?"
"No, recently I've been in the 'Kingdom of Animals.'"
"Ah, now that you mention it, I think Joo-Hyun told me you were making friends over there."
"That's right. I've also started building a dungeon."
"...Ah, a dungeon."
Yoo Seong-Woon, silent for a moment, nodded.
'So there was a reason you were out in the hall.'
It was time for a hallway conference.
***
As always, the hallway conference members gathered, and Yoo Seong-Woon was the first to ask,
"So what do you mean you're building a dungeon? If you're about to cause an incident that'll definitely require cleanup in the future, you should let me know so I can prepare."
"You really do sound desperate..."
At Joo-Hyun's murmur, the Sankallut coiled around her neck tilted its head.
"A dungeon?"
"Yes, a dungeon."
"I too once possessed one."
"I was under the impression it hadn't been destroyed yet."
"I've been driven from that house and now dwell here. Humans are wicked. I want to go home. Do you feel the same, Gio?"
"Home is always a good thing."
Joo-Hyun asked,
"So what kind of dungeon are you trying to make this time? Didn't you already create something dungeon-like before? Like 'The Breathing Sea,' 'City of Void,' and the 'Diary'?"
"This one will be quite different."
"How exactly?"
"I've built a Demon King's Castle there."
When Argio smiled, filled with joy, Yoo Seong-Woon fell silent.
"..."
Yeah, I figured this day would come eventually.
"...I'm ready."
"Are you crying?"
"Never seen a crying curator before?"
"I believe I've seen you cry before, Yoo Seong-Woon."
"Wasn't the cause you that time too? Don't remember?"
"I remember."
"Of course you do..."
With a deep sigh drawn from the pit of his gut, Yoo Seong-Woon asked,
"So this is what you mean? A Demon King's Castle?"
"I'm pleased that you understood."
Gio gave a double thumbs up.
"I once thought about it."
"You could've thought a little less."
"I desire infamy. But in truth, the wrongdoings committed under the name 'Argio' are, from your perspective, nearly nonexistent. Isn't that right?"
"Oh, please..."
"So I considered fabricating new infamy under 'Argio,' but Joo-Hyun strongly opposed it. She said that would make us both guilty."
"Nice."
Yoo Seong-Woon and Joo-Hyun bumped fists.
"I believed in you, Joo-Hyun."
"I don't think this is over yet, but I'm proud to say it's in my top five life decisions."
"Not number one? Now that's surprising."
Then Gio said,
"There are more surprising things yet to come."
"Right, I could've sworn you said you'd hold back, but you went and built a Demon King's Castle? My heart already plummeted to the Earth's core. Let's hear it."
"I plan to become the Demon King."
"...Oh, I see!"
Joo-Hyun smiled brightly.
"Come here, let's have another talk."
"Please remain calm, Joo-Hyun. I haven't dismissed what you said last time. In fact, I found your advice to be completely valid."
"So?"
"I've decided to bring in Evil God Argio."
"..."
Joo-Hyun quickly realized what Gio meant.
"...You don't plan to fabricate a new infamy. You plan to utilize the existing one? Since you were indeed once active as an Evil God in another dimension?"
To be precise, it wasn't the slandered infamy of "Argio," but the genuine atrocities of "Evil God Argio" that he intended to make use of.
Gio nodded.
"I'm glad we communicate so well, Joo-Hyun."
"I didn't want to be this well understood..."
Yoo Seong-Woon smiled wistfully and looked at Joo-Hyun.
"I won't go far."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"If we're already communicating this clearly, I guess it means you're drifting out of the realm of humanity. When you become a bishop someday, make sure to accept my greeting."
"It's not that serious, and I have no plans to go that far, but if it ever happens, I will absolutely not leave you alone. Let's see how well you live after abandoning your comrades."
"Despite how I look, I serve the Snowfield, so juggling two lives is tough."
"You know it's not okay to just say anything that comes to mind, right?"
Joo-Hyun turned back to Gio with a composed smile.
"The infamy of Evil God Argio is largely exaggerated. Even if he committed worse deeds than human Argio, a lot of that reputation was forcibly added on during the spread of the myth, wasn't it?"
"...It's not like I did nothing wrong."
"Why the delayed response? Feeling guilty, are we?"
"Anyway, it doesn't change the fact that this vile divinity wreaked havoc on the world."
"I'm saying the process is very questionable."
"Our Evil God really did do some terrible things."
Yes, it was true that humans had framed him to some extent—but he was still called an Evil God for a reason. Formed from the wrathful souls of saints, "Argio" cursed the world and committed massacres.
"Of course, the plague, the Demon King's Army, the cannibalism—none of that was me."
"See?"
"Still, setting aside the parts blamed on me like disasters and misfortune, Evil God Argio was indeed a grand butcher. That part hasn't changed."
Although the Argio standing before them now was closer to a man who had shed all those vengeful saintly souls, it was also true they had once shared the same body.
"I did commit those crimes, and they are my sins."
So it wasn't false advertising.
"It's not 100%, but it's a solid 81% authentic product."
"Kinda ambiguously full, isn't it?"
"These days, 81% is a great deal."
"Well... I guess..."
It was hard to say whether they should be happy about an 81% pure Evil God. Maybe for Argio, infamy and all, it was a good thing—but it was still a weird feeling.
Joo-Hyun seemed to share the sentiment and wiped her face. Sankallut asked,
"Are you afraid?"
"Yes."
"It feels a little different."
"Feels like I left a baby by the river..."
"..."
"Yeah, this is definitely fear."
Sankallut slithered silently back around Joo-Hyun's neck like a normal snake. He couldn't understand what this sturdy vessel was saying. He'd have to ask for a translation later.
Joo-Hyun, not at all concerned with Sankallut's confusion, removed her hand and looked up.
"...You really understood and accepted what I said before, didn't you?"
"Ah, of course."
Just as Joo-Hyun had said—those past events in the Kingdom of Animals hadn't exactly been commendable.
If it had been truly just to frame an innocent being and paint them as a monster beyond all truth, then those countless saints wouldn't have returned as the wrathful Evil God.
"Letting Earth repeat that same path would be too wicked."
"I'm truly glad you think that way."
Sankallut blinked in confusion at the conversation. What exactly was too wicked, and why was that a good thing? Another thing to ask for translation.
Unconcerned, Gio continued explaining.
"However, I still enjoy high-quality combat. You might call it irresponsible pleasure, but to shoulder at least a minimum of responsibility, I've chosen not a fabricated lie but a grounded history."
"So you're making a dungeon, too?"
Yoo Seong-Woon smiled as he always did.
"What exactly do you plan to do with that dungeon?"
"A holy war..."
"Okay, stop right there."
He crossed his arms and closed his eyes.
"Yoo Seong-Woon?"
"..."
"..."
"...Okay, I've got it now."
Yoo Seong-Woon let out a sigh of full resignation and replied clearly.
"So you really do want to destroy the Earth."
"Oh come on, that's harsh."
Argio chuckled.
"No need to worry."
"About what, exactly?"
"This Earth now has a reliable pillar."
"Wait... are you talking about yourself?"
"Correct. Specifically, the Black Cloak will serve that role."
"Your self-love is truly something else."
"That's just how I am."
Argio was the Evil God of wrath, war, and pain. For such a being to dull in peace was unthinkable. He longed for war with those of rare and genuine value.
Still, Gio understood how selfish that was. He didn't want to act like the petty beings he scorned. So he compromised.
"Incidents that cause a little chaos but no real damage to Earth, me, or those around me. Accidents with inflated consequences that raise my infamy. And settings that allow battles with hero-caliber opponents..."
"You keep circling back to religion, huh?"
"I can't exactly stir trouble from start to finish, can I?"
Even if he tried, it would fall apart halfway. Even the God of Death had said Argio was born an Evil God, but not meant to be evil.
"So I thought about it."
"I get it. You're trying to revive an old infamy and start a fight on Earth."
"I judged it harmless. As a god, I can tell you—blasphemy isn't that serious. I already know multiple Earth religions that would never tolerate a god of rage and greed like me."
"Always with the 'I'm human' talk, but suddenly you're a god again? Whatever, I get it. We've got the Sun Church, the Moon Sect..."
"So we conduct a subjugation war against the Evil God Argio. A justified crusade. The actual fighting will take place in another dimension—the Kingdom of Animals—so Earth won't suffer any harm."
"...If a dungeon's deemed dangerous anyway, hunters always get assigned."
"But that would attract randoms. I don't want that. What I want is a fight with heroes."
"Heroes..."
Yoo Seong-Woon looked at Joo-Hyun. She smiled firmly.
"Why are you looking at me?"
"Well, we've got a hero right here, recognized by Gio and the Guild Master."
"Sorry, but can't you tell I'm non-awakened? I'll die if you so much as breathe wrong around me. You should be protecting the weak civilians."
"You don't sound that weak. For a non-awakened civilian, you're awfully brave."
Anyway, Yoo Seong-Woon nodded.
"So you're planning to wrap it all in religion."
"Yes, they're blind in their devotion."
They knew how to rage purely.
"I want that blind faith."
A true war of rage.
"Because that's what defines my existence."
"...So just using the dungeon for battle isn't enough? You're not planning to go as far as you did with the mermaids, right? You're not going to end it all? A divine being doesn't die like that anyway."
Even with Sankallut, humans could barely manage a seal. Mortals couldn't kill the immortal. That was law and nature.
"What kind of ending do you even want?"
"I've never reached an ending. What I see now is merely the process. As you once said, Yoo Seong-Woon, I'm an immortal being, am I not?"
"...Then what will you do once your war is over?"
"I think I'll rest for a while."
The current Gio wasn't just Argio. There was Sergio, drained from public appearances, and Giovanni, who found bloodshed distasteful.
"So if there is a goal, then yes."
The only true ending he could see through this process—
"I want complete fusion with Argio."
"What, you mean like ascending to the afterlife?"
"Ahaha...! You could say it's quite similar."
He hoped that, as the present Argio, he could bring the Evil God's war to its end.
***
Argio's Quest
Argio's Quest
Evil God's Restraint (1/1)
Rain to the Withered Forest (1/2)
Today's Status — 'Kingdom of Animals'
"Come at me o(｀ᾥ´)o"
Today's Status — 'Diary'
"Another peaceful day! ✧⁺⸜(•⌄•)⸝⁺✧"
-x-X-x-
"Kyuuung."
"So cute."
"Kyeng kyeng kyeng kyeng kyeng."
At present, Gio was surrounded by baby foxes.
"Guys, please...! You can't do that!"
"We're sorry, Master...!"
Their parents—the adult foxes—came dashing over shortly after.
"They haven't learned to speak yet...!"
"It's fine. They were cute."
"Th-thank you!"
"You seem to have adjusted well to the work."
"Ah, of course!"
Among those who ran over was the fox tribe chieftain, Laami.
"We've polished the castle so we can host you comfortably at any time!"
Gio had once dismantled the so-called false world and rebuilt it into an environment where life could flourish. Over the course of 94 years, the races had taken on roles and built a small nation of their own.
That, in essence, was Gio's Demon King's Castle.
'If combat begins, I'll pull them underground, but...'
This place—well.
'Maybe I'll use it as a misdirection trap.'
All the beasts had learned how to take human form. Gio hadn't cared much about that, but since the being they served was shaped like a human, they seemed to feel some sense of duty.
Among them, the fox tribe mainly took on roles as attendants, decorating and cleaning the castle. The wolf tribe acted as guards, eliminating threats in the land they lived in. The crow tribe managed various facilities and administrative tasks.
"I'm glad to see you all doing well."
"We're glad too, since you've been visiting more often lately. Shall I summon Gargar or Valf for you? If you'd like to check on what's happened during your absence..."
"There's no need for me to know all that."
This wasn't a place Argio had created to live in. The small nation had been built by the beasts themselves. Gio had only fixed the searing sun and helped the sprouts grow so they could survive.
'The dungeonization has advanced considerably, and the dimension's getting a bit cramped...'
Well, that was something to think about only if the population increased further.
"If guests arrive, will you be able to receive them properly?"
"...Of course."
Chieftain Laami gave a foxlike smile.
"No matter who comes, I'm confident I can make them fall in love with us."
"Alright. I'll trust you."
"I'll repay that trust."
"No need to try too hard."
Gio smiled back.
"We're doing this to have fun, after all."
They were constructing a pleasure-filled amusement land.
***
One day, a rumor reached the Collector's Guild—that the Saintess of the Moon Sect had gone mad.
"...Hmm..."
Holding the invitation in his hand, Gio tilted his head slightly.
"...I think Aria mentioned this place once. If it's reaching this far, the situation must be quite serious."
"Well, I'd heard something similar from the guild master too, but... I didn't expect them to step out so openly like this. Even the high-and-mighty Moon Sect must've decided they can't handle this without outside help."
"I've wondered this before, but... do saints often go mad? Or is it inevitable?"
"Either way, they're human. Can't be helped."
Yoo Seong-Woon shrugged in response to Gio's question.
"More importantly, the Saintess of the Moon Sect wasn't born with a vast vessel. She expanded it through learning and discipline, so side effects are bound to occur. Cases like yours are rare."
"You're referring to me as Giovanni, I suppose."
"Yeah. Normally, humans can't communicate with gods. But the Moon Sect seems to have found their own way to commune with their divinity..."
If they'd gone so far as to request help from the collectors, even that must've reached its limit.
"But honestly, I'm not an expert when it comes to religious matters. I've done a lot of study since I started managing you, but I'm not qualified to know the inner workings."
"I understand. Some things can only be known by insiders. I've heard the Moon Sect tends to be extremely closed off. I wouldn't expect you, an outsider, to know the details."
"I wanted to look into it since you seemed interested... but I guess I won't get far."
"It's alright."
Wasn't this the perfect opportunity? Gio smiled as he lightly waved the silver invitation shimmering with a blue tint.
"They've invited me."
"...That's why I'm frustrated. I wanted to give you a heads-up. Religious groups being secretive is nothing new, but..."
"I'll go with a joyful heart."
"After the Mermaid Princess incident, I didn't think your next activity would be a Moon Sect visit."
"Since it's unofficial, it shouldn't be a problem."
There seemed to be no issue.
***
"Hunter Sergio?"
"Yes, that's me."
"This way, please."
"Thank you."
The Moon Sect exuded an overwhelmingly quiet atmosphere.
'So this is what they meant when they said it's the opposite of the Sun Church.'
The Sun Church was noisy even deep inside. Not unbearably so, more like the cheerful bustle of a well-maintained garden.
'But the Moon Sect... is more...'
It wasn't quite like the Temple of Death either.
'...cold, maybe?'
There was a sense of chill.
In terms of human temperament, it felt like they prioritized reason over emotion, results over process, the group over the individual. Though this was based on just a brief impression.
'Not bad per se, but maybe a bit too stiff for children to live in.'
From what Gio had heard, even when selecting future priests, the Moon Sect picked promising candidates to train into saints. Those who couldn't grow into a saint-sized vessel became regular followers instead.
"..."
The Moon Sect's temple, made of silver and marble, was cast in cold colors.
'Same color palette, but definitely different from the Sun Church.'
The faintly blue-tinted walls and columns really did evoke the moon. A moon floating alone in the cosmos. The lights were on, but somehow it still felt chilly. Maybe it wasn't just his imagination; even the air felt cool.
'I like this kind of mood too.'
The quiet temple calmed the mind. It was like a breeze clearing out his thoughts.
"This way."
He was led straight to the bishop's chamber.
The bishop of the Moon Sect appeared to be an elderly woman, with hair as white-blue as the temple itself. She greeted Gio without even a polite smile.
"Welcome, Hunter Sergio. I'm Ba Seo-Gyeong, bishop of the Moon Sect."
"It's an honor to be invited, Bishop."
"We're the ones who should thank you for accepting."
She was so thin that her bones showed. In today's society where diversity was cherished, it felt inappropriate to even note it—but from her darker skin tone and slightly different bone structure, she didn't appear to be entirely Korean by older standards.
'Middle Eastern, maybe.'
Whether she had immigrated or was simply of mixed blood, he didn't know. But he found it comforting. Thinking of Kang Seodam, it seemed common for those in religious circles to have foreign heritage.
Only after dismissing all other priests did the bishop begin to speak.
"I believe we sent word through your manager before inviting you."
"I came quietly, so there's no need to worry."
"Thank you. This matter is closely tied to the Moon Sect's reputation, so all our priests are on edge."
The mood was tense enough to warrant a sigh, but the bishop kept her composure to the end. She then revealed the reason behind Sergio's invitation.
"The Saintess is exhausted."
"Could you tell me more about her symptoms?"
"...It's a common result of communing with the divine."
"Have there been similar cases before?"
"It's been a long time since we last had a Saintess, but considering our history of short-lived saints, the reason should be obvious. The vessel can no longer endure."
The bishop glanced at Gio, as if recalling something.
"Come to think of it, you awakened as a Tamer. And while you serve the Black Cloak's divinity, you're not officially registered as a priest in Korea, so you may not know much about our religious systems."
"Yes, I lack that knowledge."
"Then I must explain. You may have heard that the Moon Sect gathers talented priest candidates annually to raise one of them to sainthood."
"Yes, and I found it quite unique."
"...Indeed, the Sun Church has expressed disapproval of our methods. But having a saint when communing with divinity is undeniably beneficial."
"You don't sound thrilled despite saying that."
"There are problems, undeniably."
Raising a saint in itself wasn't the issue.
"The problem arises after one of the candidates is elevated. If the match wasn't perfect from the beginning, a priest still tied to the mundane world will begin to feel enormous strain."
"What do you believe is the cause?"
"They still see themselves as human."
A saint shouldn't think that way. Or at least, it would be fine if they had an immense vessel to begin with. But if they fell short from the start—both in nature and in mindset—it became unbearable.
"They can't let go of their human heart."
A saint is a saint. A child of divinity, a friend, and a vessel for communication.
It meant giving up all human pleasures and pains. That was the Moon Sect's idea of a saint.
"Our current Saintess, in terms of our history, is performing exceptionally well. She communicates with the moon freely, interprets its messages skillfully, and even offers gifts with ease."
"And yet there's a problem."
"There are two paths for a saint. One is to die as a human. The other is to become a divine being. Our Saintess is suited for the latter."
Even the moon they served desired it.
"But... her mind couldn't keep up with the size of her vessel. That became the problem."
"Her mental limit."
Gio nodded.
"She wishes to remain human."
"This is my first time serving a Saintess of such talent. During the era of great catastrophe, there were more gifted saints, but this... this uncertain attitude is unprecedented and undocumented."
"What do you want me to do?"
"Help her choose a path."
"You said she stands at a crossroads—human or divine. Isn't that too much to ask of an outsider like me?"
"The Moon Sect values results."
Once results were visible and their impact felt, there was no reason to deny them. History and tradition were for the future, not hesitation or regret.
"And so, we have chosen to place our hope in you, Hunter Sergio."
"Is that so."
"Forgive me if this is out of line, but we've heard rumors that you are the Saint of the Black Cloak..."
"..."
"...Of course, we don't intend to place everything in your hands. The Moon Sect will manage this directly, but we believe a new perspective is necessary. If things continue as they are, even with time, the issue will not resolve internally."
"I understand what you're saying."
"We'll be counting on you."
Whatever method Hunter Sergio used to help the Saintess was fine.
If she chose to live as a human, it would be a bittersweet loss for the Moon Sect. But it was far better than watching a rare and precious talent waste away in indecision.
Then Gio was led to the Saintess's chambers, where he immediately realized how severe the situation was.
"Uhh... ah... aaah... aaaa..."
"..."
"Aaauh... ha... haaauk..."
"..."
"KYAHAHAHAHAH! Ha, ha, HA! Hah!"
The girl in the center of the room, moaning incoherently, was soaked in blood.
"...Well then."
Had someone summoned Cthulhu?
Did our genre just shift from healing to cosmic horror?
-x-X-x-
Just for reference—
"..."
Giovanni had seen scenes like this several times before.
'Isn't this the kind of spectacle you get when someone's possessed by a demon?'
Gio looked up at the ceiling. The marble, once shimmering coldly like silver, had completely vanished. In its place were black-red masses of flesh and squirming hunks of meat.
And deep within that vast pit that had formed inside—it looked like something colossal was staring back.
"...Mmm..."
"Please, do not look."
The bishop who had accompanied him lowered her gaze and stopped him.
"It may harm your mind."
"Aha."
So it really was Cthulhu.
'The details are a little different, but the broad strokes are strikingly similar.'
Gio had always had a wide range of tastes, including various media genres.
One of those genres was cosmic horror—stories where humans, overwhelmed by incomprehensibly massive entities, mentally fracture in grotesque ways.
'Well, I suppose for those lacking the proper vessel, divinity itself might feel like that...'
As Sergio, he'd never experienced it. As Argio, he was an evil god, so objectivity didn't come naturally. And Giovanni had such a vast vessel from the beginning that nothing ever overflowed.
Only Giovanni, who had once seen countless mysteries with human eyes, could vaguely grasp the gravity of the situation.
'The Moon Sect... was secretly nurturing a little disaster that could devour the world.'
Cute, really.
"It's alright."
"...Are you sure?"
"You may leave if you wish."
"I didn't bring you here expecting you to solve this immediately, Hunter Sergio."
For some reason, the bishop spoke as though telling him not to push himself.
"If anything happens to you, I won't be able to face the Collector's Guild. Just assess the situation, if you would."
"It's alright, Bishop."
There probably wasn't anyone else on Earth more qualified.
"I think I can help, so I'd like to take a closer look."
"...Then I'll stay by the door."
"You won't leave?"
"I can't leave an outsider alone in the temple."
"Understood."
Her words made it sound like temple rules forbade outsiders from being left alone, but in truth, she was likely worried about the safety of the Collector's Guild's distinguished guest. These clergy types really did love talking in circles.
'It's interesting how this trait shows up across multiple dimensions. Perhaps it mirrors how divine speech sounds vague to human ears... like how children and parents share certain quirks...'
After a brief detour in thought, Gio looked around again.
The space the Saintess resided in was heavily warped. The ink-black blood on the floor had formed impressively elaborate patterns, occasionally pulsing like living creatures.
"...?"
Ah, now that he thought about it—wasn't that the Moon Sect's emblem?
'It looked so grotesque I didn't recognize it at first.'
Along the emblem's edges were finger-like growths resembling those of the Saintess. Gio decided to stop his description there—for the sake of those who might be listening to his story—lest it turn into a mental assault.
'Still, looking at the whole picture...'
Taking in the entire room—
'...it resembles space.'
It felt like being inside the moon, floating in the void.
You know those conspiracy theories, right? About aliens living inside the moon, performing all kinds of horrific experiments...
'Or maybe the moon itself is actually a living creature.'
That was the kind of impression it gave.
'Not necessarily wrong.'
After all, all of this had originated from the "Moon" they worshipped.
Centered around what had once been a bed, muscles and veins now stretched like spiderwebs or arched bridges.
The marble pillars that had once adorned the room spiraled like strands of DNA. Stained red as though soaked in blood, they had become translucent and glowed like beautiful crystals.
Even the framed paintings and candlesticks now twitched as if alive.
'A bleeding universe...'
It felt like gazing at a universe of flesh and blood. As if something that didn't quite understand humans had tried decorating a child's room.
'A little over the top.'
But the intention didn't seem malevolent.
"..."
Joo-Hyun would probably object to even this thought. Gio found himself thinking of his friend again.
'In some ways, she was right.'
Divinities who wished to reside on Earth really ought to attend a speech academy or at least get some basic education. Of course, Gio was an exception—he already seemed to do just fine.
"..."
"Hyeh, ha, haha. Hahahaha... ha..."
"She looks tired."
Her hair, bleached ghost-white, had grown so long it filled the entire room. No human could grow it that naturally. Clearly, it was the Moon's influence.
Her nails were long. When he gently touched them—carefully, so she wouldn't startle—they crumbled like chalk. Then immediately grew back.
"So fragile..."
The girl's body was drenched in blood.
'It doesn't look like she self-harmed.'
Blood was leaking from every opening. Even her sweat pores were secreting a slimy red fluid; the backs of her hands were sticky. It felt like severe blood loss, yet she showed no signs of collapse.
'Hmph.'
Where'd the "All Ages" rating go?
'This is getting problematic.'
Before the story fully shifted genres, Gio decided it was time to intervene. He called out the creature hiding inside his hood.
"Honey."
"Purruuu."
"Let's help."
"Purr."
Joo-Hyun always told him—
'Stop performing miracles solo.'
She insisted he rely on his familiars and visibly magical tools, so that no matter what he did, there would at least be a plausible excuse.
Today, Gio followed her advice to the letter. He brought Honey, Dana, and the golden staff that Iser had returned. With this kind of lineup, it would be difficult to suspect Gio himself of anything unnatural.
"Excuse me."
Gio turned to the bishop.
"May I begin the treatment?"
"...Are you saying you can treat her?"
Wait a second—wasn't that why you called me here?
"..."
He almost wanted to ask, Then what exactly was I invited to do? But then it hit him: the Moon Sect had reached a point of desperation, and so had grasped at even a faint hope by calling in an outsider.
'They probably only expected some general advice, maybe a word or two from a fellow saint. In cases of divine mystery, even a single phrase can cause a miracle...'
Still, judging by her reaction, Gio could read the subtext: "That's possible? No way."
'How far am I supposed to humor them?'
Beneath his calm expression, Gio was genuinely baffled. Apparently, the expectations placed on him were far lower than he imagined.
Then again, it wasn't exactly common to reverse a situation that had deteriorated to this degree in an instant.
'But if I don't act now, this girl's life really might be in danger...'
Between hiding his identity and saving the poor Saintess, the choice was obvious. Besides, with his divinity and acting skills, he could manage the aftermath.
So, as always, Gio smiled serenely.
"I'll help."
"..."
"Will you give me the chance?"
"...I don't know much about you, Hunter Sergio."
"You mean you don't trust me."
"But we've been helpless to do anything."
For the reclusive Moon Sect to request help from the Collector's Guild was unprecedented. They'd already exhausted every internal solution. Sergio was the best candidate they could invite.
The bishop stared at the man smiling like a painting.
'The one they call the Saint of the Black Cloak...'
If he truly was a saint—
'Then there's no one more reliable in all of Korea.'
Time was of the essence. The divine mystery had twisted the Saintess's body and was now beginning to warp the space around her. If they didn't act, this curse might spread to the other priests as well.
After what must have been dozens or hundreds of thoughts, the bishop finally nodded.
"I will place my trust in you. If anything happens, it will be my responsibility. But if you succeed, we will honor you as the benefactor of the Moon Sect and accept you as one of our own."
"Is that so."
"If that future moves your heart, then I humbly ask for your help."
"Thank you for your consideration."
Hunter Sergio looked around with theatrical grace and said,
"Would you kindly close your eyes?"
"...Very well."
"Thank you."
With this, I initiate concealment.
'Not that there's much to gain from watching anyway.'
Giovanni wouldn't be affected—his vessel was far too vast. But the bishop, who barely matched the Saintess in endurance, might not fare so well. Gio lightly tapped the shadows of his cloak.
"Meow."
"That's right."
Dana leapt out, her body reduced to the size of a teenage cat after releasing her soul.
"There's work to be done."
"Meow."
"Looks like you understand."
These were the disguises prepared for containment.
Gio looked the girl in the eye—the girl who held the entire crimson-black universe within her. Her eyes no longer had discernible pupils or irises, yet Gio had no trouble catching her gaze.
And he smiled gently.
"Can you see me?"
"..."
"Then, for starters..."
He slowly closed his own eyes.
"Let's practice sleeping."
Lately, it seemed like he was helping a lot of strangers with physical therapy.
***
And so, Gio successfully reclaimed the genre.
"...Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The bishop's voice still trembled with disbelief. All Gio had done was lull the girl into sleep—nothing too flashy—yet that alone had been enough to calm things down.
'I should proceed slowly from here, let them see progress gradually.'
It was easier than restoring Ather, who'd been in a meat-soup state for millennia. But to others, it likely didn't seem that way.
Though he'd corrected the Saintess's grotesquely twisted body, she remained asleep.
Through sleep, her fatigue would ease, and she'd slowly return to the human side. That was a good thing.
"It would be best to move her to a different room. The space she's been in is already warped by divine mystery... If she remains here, she might once again stray toward that path."
"We'll prepare another space for her to rest. We had considered it before, but we were afraid of contagion or further anomalies. Is there anything else we should watch for?"
"No need to worry about meals. Until the divine energy in her body is fully purged, eating anything might be toxic. A nutrient drip might be better."
"Ah, food..."
The bishop hesitated, then said,
"She rarely ate, even before."
"..."
Gio was silent for a moment, then asked,
"...Was there a reason?"
"As you said—she had grown too close to divinity. It wasn't that food poisoned her back then, but she didn't feel hunger or wish to eat."
"Aha."
She skipped meals...?
Unforgivable.
Another potential pig lost... Sun God, forgive this gluttonous priest.
I really did want to respect your lifestyles and values. But if you keep being so casually self-destructive, I can't help becoming a wicked crone.
With a bitter smile toward fate, Gio spoke.
"If she skips meals, she'll walk the divine path again."
"I'd rather she went all the way... but I suppose that's not possible?"
"Not at the moment."
A truly ambiguous talent.
"As you said, her vessel is vast, but her mind remains human."
But then again, that made Gio her senior. He too had a mystical body and a human heart. In that way, he could probably help her.
Gio smiled.
"She won't wake for a while. Her physical and mental wavelengths are stabilizing. You don't need to worry too much."
"Yes, thank you."
"And..."
"Ahem."
Cough.
"Hhk, khk...!"
"H-Hunter Sergio!"
"Cough!!"
Gio coughed up blood.
The bishop, horrified by the sight of their guest spitting blood, ordered most of the priests in the reception hall to clear out. The few who remained seemed to be her most trusted. They stepped forward to help—but Gio waved them off.
"I-I'm fine."
"But you—"
"I think I just overexerted myself a bit."
"...Ah..."
"It's not as impressive as it looks."
Sweating coldly, Gio forced a smile.
"If it's alright... could I rest somewhere for a bit?"
"Of course. You'll need treatment—let me bring you to the infirmary..."
"Sorry, but I'd prefer to be alone."
"..."
The bishop paused, then nodded.
"...So be it."
"Thank you."
And so Gio was escorted to a resting place under the zealous care of the Moon Sect's priests. The bishop repeatedly asked if he needed healing, but Gio refused each time—until all the priests eventually left the room.
"..."
Alone now, Gio thought to himself—
'The bluff worked perfectly.'
With this, he had blocked most of the angles Joo-Hyun could scold him from.
After all, one of the perks of being a portrait was that...
You can do just about anything.
-x-X-x-
Gio hadn't just been sitting still all this time.
'I've looked into the Moon Sect well enough.'
If the Church of the Sun was a sect that valued mercy and life, then the Moon Sect was one that prized knowledge and wisdom. A vast monastery that revered the great mystery called "Moon" as their master.
'Even if the priests of the Moon Sect are academically passionate, they're not about to probe into the mysteries of someone who's a complete stranger... They probably still think I requested a solitary room just to stabilize my mystic condition.'
Gio smiled slyly.
"Well, not that I needed it."
It wasn't as though he'd actually taken a real hit and coughed up blood.
"My son, don't you think Miss Joo-Hyun will recognize my effort now? I followed her advice so faithfully—it's an adorably sincere thing, isn't it?"
"Pff..."
"What? Why? I really did my best, you know? Don't you think this much is enough for the Moon Sect to stop questioning 'Sergio the Hunter' too deeply?"
"Pff pff pff."
"I mean, I'm a portrait..."
"Pff."
"So cute and stubborn."
Argio grumbled under his breath. When it came to day-to-day acting, maybe he wasn't so sure, but dramatic flair? That was definitely Argio's domain more than Giovanni's—thus the dominant personality at the moment leaned toward Argio.
Gio gently stroked the round Honey and blinked.
"..."
And then his face dimmed. With an expressionless face, Gio tilted his head.
"...Right. There's no way the side effects of what I did wouldn't have been reported to the collector. Miss Joo-Hyun is probably worried. I should contact her in advance to ease her mind."
Frankly, aside from her, there was no one else in the Collector's Guild who would worry about Gio's condition. The red liquid—yes, it was technically blood—but to Gio, it was nothing more than paint. And the collector's people understood that perfectly.
And then Yoo Seong-Woon came charging in.
"You said you were hurt!!"
"..."
"Are you really okay? You're not pushing your body too hard? I mean, you never said anything like this before going to the Moon Sect. The bishop there was acting so deferentially, I figured something was off, and now this—!!"
"...Mr. Yoo Seong-Woon."
"Want me to get you anything? I heard you managed everything on your own, but are you sure you don't need medicine?"
"I've just realized something."
"All of a sudden?"
"Yes."
Gio brushed his chin as he looked at Seong-Woon, who had come all the way to the Moon Sect's solitary room.
"You're just as greedy as I am."
This man wasn't easy either.
"Of course, I respect you for that, Mr. Yoo Seong-Woon."
"...Thanks, I guess, but that was so sudden and kind of alarming..."
"But haven't I handled this better than you expected? After all this, no one will suspect my true identity. At most, it'll just reinforce the theory that Hunter Sergio is the Saint in the Black Cloak."
"That's true."
With a sigh, Seong-Woon nodded, as if he'd never come in looking so panicked.
"That part really was well done."
"Greedy."
"Huh...?"
"From now on, you're not allowed to criticize me."
"I don't know what I did, but if I'm being compared to you, isn't that kind of serious?"
"I'm just saying."
He was just as unpredictable as Gio was.
***
Though what he'd expected turned out to be irrelevant, everything else played out exactly as Gio predicted.
The Collector handled the Moon Sect's message—that Hunter Sergio had pushed himself too hard while helping the Saintess—with total composure.
"Ah, I see."
"..."
So composed, in fact, that the Moon Sect priest delivering the news seemed visibly flustered.
"...We're not trying to avoid responsibility for the incident, but you're surprisingly calm despite the news of Hunter Sergio's injury. Has something like this happened often before?"
"I'm afraid we can't disclose too much on that matter. While Hunter Sergio may not react strongly, we still need to protect the personal information of our hunters."
"I understand."
The Moon Sect priest had mixed feelings.
'I thought the Collector cherished him like a precious son.'
At this point, Hunter Sergio held immense value. Even within the Moon Sect, there was whispering about how unusually willing he'd been to accept their request—especially given his notoriously mysterious persona.
Above all, he was the one Bisa Beul was rumored to "lock up in the Gallery." For someone like that to cough up blood helping the Saintess—one would expect at least some visible concern.
'I know the Collector's Guild members don't get overly emotional about each other's injuries, but...'
Something felt off.
"Ahem."
The priest cleared his throat and bowed again.
"It's shameful that such an honored guest has fallen ill under our watch. As a priest of the Moon, my brothers and I will do everything in our power to repay this debt. We'd like to speak with Hunter Sergio directly, so we're here to ask if we might delay repayment for now."
"If that's the matter, we'll gladly accept it. What matters most to us is what Hunter Sergio thinks. Since his closest manager is not from our guild, we'll follow whatever course he deems necessary."
Again, something felt off.
'What kind of attitude is this?'
It wasn't the dry "trust" said to be common among the Collector's Guild—it felt more like neglect, as if Hunter Sergio's condition didn't matter at all. The priest grew increasingly uneasy.
'I was certain he was someone they treated with reverence...'
Even in a professional setting, the Collector could've expressed outrage. If they wanted to extract maximum compensation for Sergio's injuries, showing anger would've been strategically sound.
"..."
The priest felt increasingly uneasy but bowed in gratitude. It wasn't his place to criticize—he was a priest of the Moon Sect, not part of their guild.
"As expected of the guild Hunter Sergio belongs to—so full of grace. But I do worry that we might unknowingly commit a greater offense to him."
"There's no need to worry. The Moon Sect only needs to prioritize Hunter Sergio's wishes. Our Guild Master instructed me personally to say that."
"Thank you for your understanding. Then..."
The two spoke a bit longer, then parted just as calmly as they had met. Yet the Moon Sect priest frowned slightly on his way back.
"Did the Collector get angry?"
"...No, it was fine."
They had managed to resolve a massive issue that had been quietly festering within the Moon Sect. The younger priest, who feared the Collector might pull Hunter Sergio away in anger, was relieved.
"They said they would leave all matters to Hunter Sergio's discretion—his treatment, the debt we owe, everything else as well."
"That's a surprisingly generous arrangement. They say Hunter Sergio holds a high position in the Collector's Guild... I suppose it's true. Thank goodness. The Saintess can finally begin to recover."
"It certainly is fortunate, but..."
Suddenly, the priest realized something.
"...Ah, I see now."
The Collector didn't see Hunter Sergio as human.
'The treatment is lavish, but something always felt wrong... and now I understand why.'
That "lavish treatment" was itself the contradiction. Because they didn't see him as a person, even their intense attachment came off as eerie and unsettling.
'I suppose it makes sense... it's the Collector, after all.'
In any case, the Moon Sect couldn't exactly blame them.
"Let's return to the temple."
"The Saintess should begin to recover now, right?"
"Haha, of course. Didn't Hunter Sergio work a miracle?"
"It would've been better if we could've resolved this internally... but really, thank goodness. If another saintly figure like Hunter Sergio supports us, then perhaps someday, even our Saintess will..."
"This isn't something we should be discussing here."
"...I've said something foolish."
"I understand how you feel. It's fine."
They, too, could no longer see their Saintess as fully human.
'Perhaps this is simply the fate of saints... the road they must walk.'
It would be good to gather more data, but even globally, saints were not common. The priest found himself wishing he could write a paper on their sacred mysteries—but it wouldn't be easy.
With a hint of regret, the priests returned to the Moon Sect.
***
As Yoo Seong-Woon left, Joo-Hyun entered.
"Mr. Gio."
"I was wrong."
"You told me it was okay to let you go alone, and I trusted you."
"I thought the matter with the Saintess would be quite off-putting for your sensibilities..."
"You already said that last time."
Gio hadn't worried much about Joo-Hyun's safety, since he wasn't awakened, but he had worried about his mental well-being.
To someone like Joo-Hyun—who always looked at Gio and Seong-Woon's conversations like, "what kind of nonsense is this"—the Moon Sect's situation would've been unbearably uncomfortable.
That's why Gio had gone alone.
"If I'd known you'd worry this much, I would've brought you along from the start."
"I'm relieved you weren't actually sick... But knowing this was your best attempt at deception still leaves me stunned and bitter."
Joo-Hyun said he felt like his lifespan had been cut short by ten years.
"Well, it was a portrait... a painting... so I guess anything's possible..."
"I only realized how much it would shock you after I'd already done it. I was quite careless. I apologize."
"Uh... This might sound odd, but your tone's gotten really stiff—like Mr. San."
"This started a little while ago. My speech patterns have definitely become unnatural. The assimilation is nearly complete..."
"Ah."
Joo-Hyun understood now how Gio's portrait form mimicked humanity.
The human "Gio" would be followed by the portrait emulating his status and behavior. Once that human dignity was consumed by the mystic, it would be time to find a new "Gio."
So this current stiff tone meant that the portrait-to-human ratio was tipping toward the portrait.
"So, are you looking for a new 'Gio'?"
"Surely not."
Giovanni looked genuinely taken aback.
"I haven't even started the Demon King project yet, Mr. Joo-Hyun..."
"I trust you blocked out sound, but to say that openly inside the Moon Sect—I seriously don't know what to do with you."
"You seem to be doing just fine."
"...Ahem. So what are you planning next?"
"I need to care for the Saintess."
Joo-Hyun nodded.
"Not thinking of coming back right away?"
"Father is taking good care of the hut."
"So no corridor meetings for now."
"I'd like to become friends with the Saintess first."
"Still can't tell if you're introverted or extroverted..."
"Maybe neither?"
He liked his home, and he liked his friends.
"I think I can be good friends with the Saintess."
"She's quite young, isn't she...?"
"Age is no barrier to friendship."
"Usually, it is."
"Oh, come on."
And out came Argio.
"I just want to make a friend—why so many objections?"
"See? In the end, it's all because of that Demon King thing."
"My social behavior is neither crude nor worldly, thank you. And besides, Mr. Joo-Hyun, you're gravely misunderstanding me."
"Let's hear it."
"You've got the order reversed."
Gio declared proudly.
"I'm not making friends to become a Demon King—I'm becoming a Demon King while making friends!"
"..."
There weren't many possible reactions Joo-Hyun could offer to that.
"...Got it."
Just like always.
***
"..."
Hhhh... hhhh...
Steady breaths.
"..."
The bishop of the Moon Sect looked down at the sleeping Saintess.
"...Poor child."
You survived again.
With a cold hand, she brushed the girl's youthful face, then quietly stepped out of the room.
-x-X-x-
Hunter Sergio did not express any intention to return.
"I'm not sure what will happen with the Saintess's condition, so I think it's best for me to stay close and keep watch. If the Moon Sect permits, I'd like to remain in the temple and look after her until she recovers at least somewhat..."
"If you're willing to do that, then it would be an honor for our Moon Sect. With Hunter Sergio by her side, the Saintess will surely stabilize quickly. In fact, we had hoped to ask that of you first."
The bishop, who had come to visit Gio lying in bed, asked,
"More importantly... how is your body?"
"I'm fine."
"I hear that a lot."
"Ah, do you?"
"Our Moon Sect is full of foolish ones."
She suppressed a sigh with practiced grace.
"Even when they're not fine at all, they insist they're fine and throw tantrums. And then there are the ones who try to gloss things over slyly without being outright defiant."
"I said it only because I truly am fine..."
"Hunter Sergio, even if you were part of the Moon Sect, you'd have adapted well."
"That's rather flattering, considering I'm just a tamer."
"No, I meant it sincerely."
He was born with the disposition of a priest.
"..."
Even the foolishness.
'...There's no way subduing that level of mystic power wouldn't have taken a toll.'
Hunter Sergio appeared to possess an unusually vast vessel for a saint. But until one truly sets foot on the divine path, a human is still just a human. The blood he coughed up during their conversation had been proof enough of that.
'If he hadn't been harmed at all from the start, it would be one thing, but after displaying symptoms like that, it's undeniable that it cost him dearly. And for him to still insist otherwise—it can only be called foolishness.'
Above all, Hunter Sergio seemed exceptionally skilled. Not just in handling mystics, but also in dealing with people—as a priest, as a human being.
'Is that why he's still overexerting himself?'
She couldn't be sure.
'He refused treatment.'
And the Moon Sect was a place that always respected the individual's will. With even a hint of intelligence, one had to respect diversity as much as possible if one hoped to reach the supreme realm as lowly creatures.
'Even if that means allowing the priest to harm themselves... it's the right thing to do.'
At least here, it was.
The bishop recalled the report about the Collector's response to Sergio's injury but chose not to dig deeper.
"Please accept this."
"This is...?"
"An access pass."
He had done a great service to the Moon Sect.
"We will treat Hunter Sergio as a benefactor."
"A benefactor... that sounds too grand for someone like me, just an outsider who's only stayed in the temple for a few days."
"You showed us something within that short time."
The Moon Sect always measured results.
"We don't ignore the value of process, but the most important thing is 'what was achieved.' And Hunter Sergio, you accomplished quite a lot. You resolved a matter that the Moon Sect had failed to solve for years."
"...It's been years?"
"Yes. Because of the weight of the Saintess's existence, the Moon Sect did everything it could to conceal it. But now, no matter how much we try to hide it, concealment is impossible. It's been four years since the Saintess began suffering from her affliction."
"..."
Hunter Sergio paused, then asked thoughtfully,
"How old is the Saintess?"
"She turned seventeen this year, but..."
The bishop chuckled softly.
"She probably doesn't look it to you."
The Saintess had stopped growing at fourteen.
"As I mentioned, her problems began four years ago, when she was thirteen. Thanks to her excellent vessel and character, she was chosen as the Saintess at the fairly young age of eight."
"That sounds very young to me."
"A saint's seat isn't determined by age. Still, even considering that, it was unusually early. Most saints are chosen in their early teens..."
But it couldn't be helped.
"The Moon chose her."
Their master had chosen his own child.
"Do you know the core characteristic of the Moon Sect? Fundamentally, we are not children of the Moon—we are students. The Moon offers us vast knowledge and wisdom, which we pursue with devotion."
"And the Saintess is not a student, but a child?"
"On the surface, yes. That is..."
Should I say this?
"..."
She had already made her decision before coming here. Hesitation was meaningless.
"...Hunter Sergio, what I am about to share is a top secret of the Moon Sect."
"...We're getting close so fast, I'm struggling to keep up..."
"I feel the same."
The bishop, too, was a priest raised in a deeply closed tradition and culture. Until just days ago, this man had been a complete outsider to her. Confiding something so grave to him wasn't easy.
But she judged it to be necessary.
"I could say that the reason we now treat Hunter Sergio as a benefactor is so I could share this secret with you. Many opposed it... but I persuaded them."
The title of "benefactor" in the Moon Sect was not given lightly. It meant accepting an outsider as a sibling, a member of the community, and even sharing hierarchical privileges.
"You probably don't understand why we're going this far, but... I saw you bring our Saintess back. At that moment, I knew—it had to be you."
"That's a bit much."
"Please bear with it."
In the end, it had been Hunter Sergio who bore the cost and worked the miracle—despite the bishop's objections. That meant he was also willing to help, even at great expense to himself.
"...If you hadn't performed such a miracle, I wouldn't be so greedy now."
"Ah, am I being scouted again? I recall the Church of the Sun tried to recruit me a few times."
"More like... I'm pressuring you."
Certainly, the miracle Sergio performed was enough to warrant the title of "benefactor." But even considering that, this level of candor was unusually fast. It was because she had seen his foolishness.
"The Saintess... she's pitiful."
"..."
"...That's why I'm doing this."
"You want to use my sympathy?"
"Yes."
She didn't know if this would be enough to hold onto him. But the Saintess needed another saint—a guide. And Sergio, with his wide heart and deep compassion, was the perfect candidate.
'He's not stupid, of course... That's why it's better to lay everything out now and let him decide. More efficient.'
Having made up her mind, she finally brought up the core issue.
"If lucky, a saint of the Moon Sect becomes the next Moon."
"I've heard something like that."
"You probably think it means becoming another Moon—a separate divine being."
"So it doesn't mean that."
"When a saint of the Moon Sect becomes divine... they are devoured."
That was the truth of the "Moon."
"In essence, they're a sacrifice."
The bishop let out a bitter laugh. In that moment, she was no longer a bishop—just an old woman. If she was going to pull on Sergio's compassion to forge a feeble shackle, there was no need to hide her face.
"The Moon we serve is a mass of information. Our master absorbs knowledge and wisdom from all dimensions—even the knowledge he lacks or already possesses. So..."
"He also learned 'how to communicate with humans.' That's why you all revere him as a master—because he grants you wisdom."
"And how do you think such a vast divine being learned how to communicate?"
"By eating them."
"Exactly."
Of course, he couldn't eat just anyone. If he did, the Moon would never have been recognized as a deity of order. He only gathered information—he was still a traditional god.
So in the end, the evil lay with humans.
"During the Great Catastrophe..."
"I'm listening."
"...for the first time, a saint became divine."
"I've heard that as well."
"Through that person, we realized—"
Ah.
"When a saint becomes divine, the Moon may devour them."
For those who knew and served the Moon, that was a blessing. That massive, terrifying being was becoming kinder, gentler.
The cold Moon was growing warm.
"Of course. The Moon absorbs everything about a divine saint—how they treated people, what they thought, their posture and attitude."
"So the Moon Sect keeps creating saints, hoping to make the Moon more human—to gain easier access to his wisdom."
"In short, yes. But please don't misunderstand. Our master has no malice. All this evil—it's our doing."
Divinity was fate. Nature. The Moon was just that—a presence. It wasn't he who insisted on forging saints and sacrificing them. It was humans who did it.
"To make excuses in advance—this is disclosed before initiation. Anyone who can't accept it is given a memory wipe and allowed to leave."
"Then every priest in the Moon Sect consented to their own potential death."
"Yes. Some may have joined thinking they'd never become saints anyway, but most... strive desperately to become one."
"Why?"
"Because if you become a saint, and thus divine... you might become the Moon. Many see it not as death, but as another beginning."
A vast vault of noble knowledge from every dimension.
"We all gathered to enter it."
For our own reasons.
"To become more perfect."
"To me, that sounds terrifying."
"For someone saying that, you look quite composed."
"I've heard similar stories before."
"Have you..."
So this man had seen his share of strange things too.
"...The first saint of the Moon Sect offered herself willingly, hoping the Moon would grant knowledge to save Earth from ruin."
And the Moon learned that saint's mindset.
"Ever since, when our master sees a divine 'child,' he assumes it's okay to absorb them. The Moon Sect could have tried to change that system—but we didn't."
"For supreme knowledge and wisdom?"
"Yes."
"You're confessing to me now."
"..."
The bishop spoke a beat late.
"...Forgive me. I'm saying this here because... there's no one else I could say it to."
"You care for her?"
"I considered her like a daughter."
"That explains your reaction."
"What kind of reaction?"
"One that said: whether she lives or dies, you'll be fine with either. Like you could accept both. It looked ambivalent."
"That's true too."
Why her? she wondered. But no other saint came to mind. Still, she had grown fond of the girl. That only meant she herself wasn't perfect either.
"That's why I'm holding onto you, Hunter Sergio."
"What do you want from me?"
"Make the Saintess perfect."
"Nothing can become perfect."
And with that, Hunter Sergio smiled.
"But I will help you."
"...Thank you."
Even that was more than she'd hoped for.
"The end of Hunter Sergio won't be an easy one, I see."
So it is with saints.
-x-X-x-
From within the void, an eye formed.
"Good, you're still watching me closely."
Then came an ear.
"Are you asleep?"
"...."
"You're doing very well."
A brain took shape.
"Today is especially warm. This room is one of the few in the Moon Sect that gets plenty of sunlight. I thought it was sealed on all sides except the entrance, but... it feels like this space was prepared just for you."
There was the sensation of soft weight.
"Is the blanket too warm?"
Ah, so this is a blanket.
He tucked the blanket around me. He? Ah, right. Judging from the low voice, it must be an adult man. The sound I hear is someone else's voice. Alongside it, I can also hear the beating of his heart.
"Come to think of it, I only taught you how to fall asleep."
"...."
"That's okay, good girl."
Something large and soft settled on my eyes.
"Now, wake up."
"...Ah..."
I opened my eyes, reluctant to lose the sensation of his hand.
"...."
"Good morning."
"...Good morning."
One fine spring day—
At last, the Saintess of the Moon Sect awoke.
***
During that time, Gio had grown closer to the priests of the Moon Sect.
"Ah, Saint!"
"I'm not."
"I heard the Saintess has awakened."
"Are you all just ignoring what I say now?"
"It must be thanks to your presence that everything turned out fine."
"Why are Moon Sect people like this?"
They'd become a bit too familiar.
"You may disregard our trust and friendship if you wish."
"Would be quicker to erase your memories. But I know you won't."
"Yeah, we've definitely gotten too close. Maybe we should try backing off a bit."
It was a feeling somewhere between fondness and exasperation.
They don't listen to a single word I say.
When there was still distance, they'd at least pretend to listen. But now that they'd grown close, their true selves were starting to show. The priests of the Moon Sect had this fatal charm of saying only what they wanted and hearing only what they liked.
"If word spreads that I'm a saint in this tiny country, it's all your fault."
"Hasn't that already happened?"
"That's true."
Still, official recognition was a different matter. The priest seemed to understand and nodded.
"We're not that thoughtless, you know."
"I'll try to believe you."
"Are you heading to see the Saintess?"
"Yes, I've prepared a light porridge."
"As devoted as ever."
"Have you ever thought that maybe you're the indifferent ones?"
After living in the Moon Sect for just over a month, Gio had learned something. These people were indifferent to others—but without malice.
At first, he even suspected the Saintess had been ostracized. But that thought quickly disappeared.
They called each other "brothers," but they all looked at one another like strangers. When a research topic came up, they'd group up briefly and then drift apart, and even after grabbing each other by the collar like enemies, they'd cool down the moment the work ended.
A terrifying world.
Emotionless, indeed.
"I've heard about the harshness of modern society, but your brand of individualism is on another level. Don't tell me your fellow brothers look like rocks to you?"
"They'd be more like squishy, warm things."
"Hah."
And yet he says that with a straight face.
Well, I suppose even asking about the Saintess's wellbeing counts as significant concern around here.
These were priests who wouldn't blink even if someone died in front of them. Giovanni nodded, slowly coming to understand the Moon Sect's unique charm.
"Then I'll be going now."
"If your hair ever falls out later, could I have one strand...?"
"Pick it up yourself."
"Thank you."
"What are you, stalkers?"
Gio walked off with a tray of porridge in hand. The Moon Sect priests were often absorbed in their work, so the hallways were always quiet. Everyone seemed to be introverted like Sergio, which made him feel a sense of kinship.
He soon arrived at the room where the Saintess stayed.
"Aram."
"Ah..."
The girl, reading a book, blinked at him.
"...Hunter Sergio."
"You were reading."
"I wondered if there might be any new theories."
"Diligent."
"I'm not lazy."
The Saintess, Aram, had recovered faster than expected.
Both mentally and physically.
And like the other priests, Aram showed little wariness toward Gio. She seemed to accept it with a mindset of, If the bishop acknowledges him, there must be a reason. Especially since he was the one who had healed her.
After a brief hesitation, Aram asked,
"...Is that food?"
"Porridge."
"I wish I had the right to refuse."
"You always have the right to choose."
"Then I don't want to eat it."
"You don't?"
Gio set the tray on the table and approached the bed where Aram sat. He pulled up a chair and sat nearby.
"Can I ask why?"
"I can't taste anything."
"That's quite serious."
"It's been like this for two years."
"Ah."
That aligned with the period when the Saintess's 'madness' began worsening.
"But you've been fasting for quite a while now."
"You said I had the right to choose, didn't you?"
"The choice is yours. But it's my job to inform."
"That's sneaky."
"I tend to be that way."
"..."
Was it handmade? After glancing at Gio, the girl cautiously reached out her hand.
"...Please. I guess I can manage some porridge."
"I'm sorry if I pressured you, but I'm even more glad that you accepted."
"You say things that are kind of embarrassing, Hunter Sergio..."
"You'll get used to it."
Just like Joo-Hyun and Yoo Seong-Woon had.
"Here you go."
"Thank you...."
Aram blinked.
"...I smell something."
"It's just porridge. There shouldn't be much smell."
"No, I mean..."
"..."
"..."
Taking a spoonful, Aram chewed slowly.
"...I can taste it."
"That's a relief."
"And it's delicious."
"Even better."
Then, still holding the spoon in her mouth, Aram suddenly started to cry—tears dripping down silently.
"How is it?"
Gio leaned against the bed, resting his chin in his hand with a smile.
"Edible?"
"...Yes."
From that moment, the Saintess began to follow Gio quite closely.
After all, nothing wins hearts as easily as good food.
***
The Saintess, Aram, had a strong thirst for knowledge.
A child from the slums, she was able to enter the Moon Sect thanks to the current bishop who recognized her talent. Even having awakened as a priest, it was still an incredibly rare opportunity, not easily granted.
"I'm always grateful to the bishop."
"She was sad when you fell ill."
"She really... cares about me."
The bishop, despite her blunt and stoic demeanor, was matched by Aram in unflinching coldness. In fact, the very fact that someone so emotionally reserved had taken her in and guided her could only be interpreted as deep affection.
"She even gave me a name."
Originally, she had none.
"Aram, she called me."
"It's a good name."
"It means fruit that has ripened on a tree."
In the Moon Sect, there was no name more supportive of one's future. A sect that pursued knowledge and wisdom—bestowing a name that symbolized fruit and results was the greatest affection a cold bishop could offer.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to live up to that love and expectation... but more than that, I just had too many questions. There's so much I don't know about the world."
"And how about now?"
"It's still not enough."
She felt there was much more knowledge waiting to be uncovered.
"Especially when it comes to mystics—there's just so much to delve into. Earth has only acquired basic surface-level understanding of the new world. We still don't know the deeper compositions and structures. I want to learn that."
"So what do you want to do with that knowledge?"
"Knowing is what matters. It's what makes me a more perfect being."
"Moon Sect folks really like the word 'perfect.'"
"Everyone here came because they wanted to become a better version of themselves. Even if we can't become perfect in life, we want to become perfect in death."
Aram fiddled with the blanket and glanced at Gio.
"Does that make you uncomfortable?"
"Not particularly."
"That's a relief."
She added with a slight defense,
"I don't say this to just anyone, you know. Even the other brothers act the part of devout priests when they go outside. We're just a bunch of strange people in a strange house—so we act freely when we're inside."
Then she laughed.
"I become the graceful Saintess the moment I step outside."
"Sounds tiring."
"..."
Her laugh faded a little awkwardly.
"...It is, actually."
"You don't seem like someone who enjoys luxury or pretense."
"It's not that I hate it. I like being admired, I like wearing soft and pretty clothes. But more than that, I want to reach perfection faster... so my priorities are different."
"I see."
"Thank you... for not saying it made you uncomfortable."
"Everyone has the right to follow their chosen path—as long as they don't cross the line."
"Not everyone in the world thinks that way."
The true nature of the Moon Sect wasn't something the public would easily accept. It deviated from conventional morality and ethics. That's why its members adopted the image of scholars or devout priests in public.
Which only made the Moon Sect more closed-off. Very few were capable of truly understanding them. So for a saint with a heart as vast as Gio to help them without judgment—that was nothing short of a miracle.
"I, um..."
"Speak freely."
"I'm glad you don't think badly of us."
Everyone in this house was Aram's family.
"It's probably because of people like you that the bishop gave you the title of benefactor so easily. She really has a good eye for people."
"She brought you in too, didn't she?"
"Mm... yeah, obviously. I mean, I'm really smart."
"Good girl."
"..."
After a pause, Aram asked quietly,
"...How long are you staying here?"
"Until you're fully recovered."
"My body feels much better now."
"You're not good at lying."
Gio smiled.
"Then shouldn't you ask me properly?"
"...Am I allowed to?"
"You called me teacher, didn't you?"
He looked pleased.
"Should I stay by your side?"
"Yes, but..."
I don't want to be alone.
"...Can't you stay?"
"I said I would."
"I know you're a busy person."
"So you were convinced I'd leave, and still made the request?"
"I'd regret it more if I didn't even try to hold onto you."
Gio let out a theatrical sigh.
"Kids these days grow up too fast..."
"That's such an old-man thing to say."
"Compared to you, I am an old man."
"How old are you?"
"Hmm, twenty-nine?"
"Oh..."
Older than she expected.
"...I thought you were in your early to mid-twenties."
"You're the first person to say that."
"Why? It's not like you look old."
"Is it the heavy atmosphere I give off?"
"Ah, yeah. I think I get it."
That made her a little happy.
"I get told that too."
It was a chronic issue for those who carried mystics in human form. People respected them even when they hadn't done anything. Even someone like Aram, whose growth had stopped at age fourteen and remained petite, was no exception.
"Isn't it kind of exhausting? Thanks to it, I was able to go out into the world as the mature and elegant Saintess—but it still felt weird. Honestly, I sometimes wondered if the world was deceiving me."
"I went through the same thing. People were terrified of me even though I hadn't done anything."
"You don't seem scary at all though..."
"I used to look a lot sterner."
"Wow, I can't even imagine."
She laughed.
...Right. They said this person is a saint too.
Every time someone said that, Gio would deny it. But the Moon Sect priests never listened. And Aram, too, had heard the stories from the attendants who changed her bedding and clothes.
That story had struck her deeply.
He's just like me...
An equal.
A truly precious person.