Do you know how much rage is buried in that forest?
The child was suffering from hunger.
There's nothing to eat here.'
Looking here, looking there—nothing but weeds. The colors were pitch-dark, and no matter how hard the child looked, nothing seemed edible. The smell was strange. And even the soil those weeds had rooted in was a muddled color.
The clever child endured the hunger as best they could. If they ate something just because they were hungry, they'd immediately get sick. There was no medicine, no one to care for them. They didn't want that.
But eventually, they reached their limit.
Just one sip of water.
'If I drink it just once, maybe it'll be okay.'
They would sip it slowly, so they wouldn't get indigestion. It would taste horrible, surely, but if they didn't drink even this stagnant black water, they felt like they'd die right away. And they didn't want that.
The child held their breath and walked to a small puddle. Trembling, they reached out. Tsssk—an unnatural sound came from their fingers as they touched it, not a sound normal water would make.
But there was no pain.
What could be scarier than dying right now?
'Just wet my throat... just enough for that...!'
"...! Ugh, aaack...!!"
It burned their throat with pain.
Tears welled up. The child screamed in agony, unaware that monsters could hear them. They cried out ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) loud until they realized the monsters had noticed—then they ran. They clutched their throat and ran for a long time.
But it wasn't enough. For some reason, their senses dulled more and more. Their vision turned red, black, and blue. Their ribs felt like they were being squeezed tight; they couldn't breathe properly. It wasn't until they collapsed that they saw themselves.
Their body was rotting alive.
"...Ugh, uaaah... Aaaaaaah...."
Is this my hand? Is this my arm? What's wrong with my legs? What's going on with my feet? I'm not made of ice, so why am I melting? It hurts. It hurts so much. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts...!
"Mother... Mother! Huaaah...! I-It hurts so much...! Please save me! Father, big brother! Where are you! Dalia, I'm in pain! I'm scared! Help me...!!"
Their voice gradually became grotesque. Hating that sound, they scratched at their throat—and the sensation was wrong. Looking at their hand again, they saw revolting flesh squashed like cheese, wedged between their fingers.
'This can't be real.'
It must be a nightmare. This has to be a dream. Human skin couldn't possibly be this fragile. I've scratched myself before when it itched, but nothing ever happened. Yeah, that's right. I'll wake up from this nightmare soon.
'Then Dalia will come wake me up, right?'
I'll get up from my soft bed and go see Mother and Father. I'll hold onto my big brother and cry. I'll tell him I had such a scary dream. I'll cry and ask him to comfort me.
'Yeah, that's right, so...!'
Before they knew it, their vision darkened.
The child lay for a long time on the rotting ground.
They couldn't move their legs. Couldn't lift their head. Couldn't scream. Even twitching a finger was impossible. They could see nothing. Hear nothing.
All they could sense was their body slowly being torn apart or melted away.
A monster must be eating me.
'...Mother really did abandon me.'
Father too. Brother as well. Everyone in the family had abandoned them.
They'd known it from the start, since arriving here, but had tried to deny it. Now they had to admit it. There was no way their family would come to this place swarming with monsters. The child had to slowly rot here and be eaten alive.
'Death wasn't the scariest thing after all.'
They had no idea how much time had passed. The monsters took bites and then left. Was it because the body had melted? Please, someone, anyone—just kill me. May God take my breath away.
The fear of a child trapped in eternal emptiness soon turned into rage.
The child was unbearably lonely.
"...What time is it now, anyway...."
They looked up blankly at the sky, but they couldn't tell the time.
Black sky. Black trees. Black monsters. Black flowers. Black weeds. Black earth. Black puddles. Everything was just black.
'At this rate, will I turn black too?'
The child curled up as small as possible and held their breath. They'd learned how to avoid the monsters' attention. Just stay still, like they were dead. But it was too lonely. There was no one to talk to, no one to look at them.
'Did I really do something so horrible that I deserve to be punished ?'
With wings adorned in rich feathers, the child wrapped their small body as tightly as they could. Their family had screamed when they saw those wings. They should've hidden them. Shouldn't have boasted about having something cool.
No one likes the one thing they never wanted. That's all their family had done, too. They felt regret. If only they'd hidden it well, maybe they could've stayed with their family. Now it was just a dream.
It was cold. It was hot. It was dry. It was humid. This forest, with its insane weather, had no normal life forms. Soon, the child would be the same. That thought made them so depressed they felt like losing their mind.
'I don't want to be alone.'
But the monsters were terrifying.
'I want to feel sunlight. I want to see clouds. I want to see a starry sky.'
No—truthfully, anything would do as long as it wasn't black.
'I want to talk with friends from the village. If not them, then at least family members. Even the old folks who wander the streets when they're bored would be fine.'
Really, anyone would do—as long as they were human.
'There's nothing here....'
It wasn't just color or people that were missing. There was no time, no will. In this place, the child was rotting alive. Like milk forgotten in the back of a storage room. Like a broken item no one bothers to fix.
The timid child hid for a very long time like that. Avoiding the monsters, in a place utterly silent, eating nothing, drinking nothing, slowly dying. And for a long time, they missed many things.
The longing of a forgotten child soon turned into rage.
The child wanted, more than anything, to survive.
"What are you waiting for, throw it in already!"
"You think you'll be fine after this?! Cowards, hypocrites! You worshipped me once and now you dare treat me like garbage?!"
"We have to throw it into the Black Forest if we want to live...!"
"A curse upon all of you, all of you!!"
The child struggled not to be dragged into the Black Forest. But it was useless. The adults were much bigger and stronger than the child. The heavy, sturdy gates around the forest closed shut. The child was abandoned.
"May God bring judgment down on you, you wretched demons!!"
Fuming, the child cursed those who had forsaken them. But no one on the other side of the wall responded. Now, the only place left for the child was deeper into the forest. The child gnashed their teeth.
"...I'll never die ...."
They were afraid. Their body trembled with betrayal, and the hopelessness made their vision spin. But they didn't want to die quietly. They wanted to live. To do that, they had to become strong. They had to be brave.
The child desperately built strength. Learned skills, gained wisdom. Sometimes they became a swift fox and ran. Sometimes they became a bird and flew to escape monsters. It was a rare ability—what had made humans abandon them.
Through that, the child discovered a small truth.
"Yeah, you bastards! I was the son of God sent to save you all!!"
A cruel truth that only made them angrier.
"If God has any conscience, he'll bring punishment to this world...!"
So they decided to grow up inside the Black Forest. The child worked diligently. In a world where everything wanted them dead, they scraped and clawed to survive. To live was to grow stronger. It was something to be proud of.
But in the end, the child met death.
The reason wasn't anything special.
"...Ngh... urgh... bleeegh...."
While sleeping, they inhaled spores from a poisonous mushroom.
They woke in a panic, but it was already too late. The child wept tears of blood from sheer unfairness. After everything they had endured to get here—what a meaningless death. They hated it. Hated it so much it twisted their guts.
But death crept closer, slowly.
"Huuuuh... aaaaaaaaang, huaaaaaaaang...!!"
The child sobbed, overcome by unbearable sadness.
They had tried so hard. They had worked so hard—but no one had recognized them. They'd just be discarded, forgotten in history like a speck of dust. It was unreasonably tragic.
The child prayed to God.
"Please save me, I beg you. My noble father...! Please, save me...!!"
And during that prayer, the child died.
As always, the desperation of a faithful child turned into rage.
A good child. A bad child.
Some children loved their families, and some didn't. Sometimes the child was a boy. Sometimes a girl. Some were hungry, some lonely, some angry...
Some never even had the chance to scream before being eaten by monsters. Some were crushed to death while tiptoeing away. Some felt deep betrayal. Some felt only despair.
Some gave up on life. Some didn't.
But in the end, the result was always the same.
They died, hating humans and filled with rage toward the world.
"That must've been scary."
"...Yeah, it must've hurt a lot."
"They look really young."
"We're pretty young too, aren't we...?"
Silhouettes shining like pure white moons each added their thoughts. There weren't that many of them. These young or youthful figures gently stroked the memories of the crimson dragons.
They were inside a giant library built of silver and marble.
"I hope our juniors don't end up ."
"Honestly, me too...."
"...This wasn't what we meant to see."
They—once saints of the Moon Sect—gathered the little dragons' memories. They understood, remembered, and analyzed them in their own way, then etched them onto hard white paper.
"So let us remember."
"We can be of help to one another."
"Our juniors will learn so much from the rage, sorrow, and pain of those children."
"And those of us here inside this place will walk even more carefully and attentively."
"So not a single letter, not a single second must be recorded incorrectly."
"That's our courtesy to the little dragons who gave us their lessons."
One by one, pure white books were made. It was the noble record of their library, bound with moonlight. The saints of the Moon Sect placed them on the Moon's shelf to preserve the memories. The vast bookshelf quickly filled.
The little moons spoke in unison.
"We'll remember you."
"You remember us too."
"Let's talk about what the right path is."
"We can always do that..."
One of the moons hugged a pure white book tightly.
"Because it's a dragon?"
"With so many dragons, the moon's bound to get warm fast, right?"
Their library was cold and lonely. But it was filled with all the knowledge and wisdom they loved. The saints of the moon loved their teacher—the Moon. Such a pitiable and lovely being.
"Of course. Our junior is hugging the moon right now."
"I hope they hug it tighter."
"They will, eventually."
"They seemed much smarter and kinder than us."
"Let's believe in Aram."
The small white silhouettes leaned against the dragons' bookshelf in a row. The shelf, when touched, was warm—so much so it radiated heat. A faint, hard-to-detect vibration pulsed from within.
"...It really feels like a living animal."
"I forgot everything, so I'm not sure..."
"But yeah, I think hugging a cat or something felt ."
"Let's each hug one of these kids."
"That's a great idea."
The saints smiled softly and gathered around the books.
They stroked the books.
The emotion that comes after rage varies greatly.
So not every ending can be a happy one—but those who belong to nature and fate instinctively know how to accept the end. Even the smallest and most foolish beings in the universe.
At last, the little dragons quietly closed their eyes.
Among the dragons that had become earth, Aram simply kept silent.
-x-X-x-
The whole world fell silent. The strange and beautiful fragments of the universe disappeared from the sky. What remained in the "Dream Amusement Park" was a portion of a floating castle and the broken decorations of the park. No trace of the curses that once gnawed at mind and body could be found, and the air was now...
The hunters momentarily lost themselves in the dreamlike scene.
"...Is it... really over?"
A middle-aged hunter collapsed to the ground.
"I swear I'll never fight an evil god again...!!"
"To be honest, we didn't really fight the evil god this time either, Captain."
"Did you really have to say that right now?"
"We pretty much just cleaned up the scraps that came from the evil god..."
"Damn it, you clueless bastard."
Thanks to their bickering, the atmosphere gradually lightened. One by one, the exhausted hunters sat down. They exhaled deeply. The air felt fresh and light—unbelievably welcome. It tasted sweet.
"Ah, damn... I'm starving..."
"...Now that I think about it, yeah..."
"I'm really alive? This is insane."
Time passed a little more.
"...Hey, wait a sec."
Someone raised a question.
"Then why hasn't the clear message appeared yet?"
"Please don't say that."
It was a completely reasonable question.
Aram looked out at the dungeon that had turned into a dreamlike landscape. All that remained were pieces of land floating in the air like islands. It was impossible to tell what was up or down anymore. And scattered around were the bony graveyards of small dragons...
Yet it looked peaceful. The curses and poisons that once gave the place its oppressive mood had vanished, leaving only tranquility. It was like a dream.
"It's still a fact that we defeated the evil god."
Aram opened her mouth.
"...Most of what made up the evil god in the first place was rage. Rage born from the young dragons that had been sacrificed over time in the Black Forest. Thanks to the efforts of my seniors within the Moon, we were able to release that rage."
"You mean all those dragons forgave the humans?"
"That's not quite it. The end of rage isn't always forgiveness. It could be resignation. It could be enlightenment. It could be loss. But maybe... yes, maybe it was forgiveness."
The Moon, inscribed with the stories of the little dragons, gave off a lukewarm warmth.
"But that's not the important part right now. Or—maybe it is important—but people are probably more curious about why we still haven't seen the clear message."
"Yes, for some reason..."
The vice-guildmaster of Justitia, Kang Eun-Seong, who had been staring into the void, continued.
"...Normally by now the system would've sent out a notification, but nothing's come. Even after defeating the evil god, there's been no reaction at all. Isn't that strange?"
Then he went "Ah," and added,
"Of course, we didn't destroy the evil god, right?"
"That was indeed what the evil god wanted. But no, we didn't destroy him."
Aram, holding the Moon in her arms, held great authority. Her seniors within the Moon had granted her permission to wield its divinity. And divinity can only be killed by divinity. The evil god had desired that.
But Aram had gone to such lengths precisely to avoid that.
"The little dragons let go of their rage and returned to nature. They did not disappear within their own providence. The death of divinity results in annihilation... and if that had happened, there wouldn't have been any dragon bones left like now."
Aram looked at the bones of the sleeping dragons resting on a floating piece of land. Bathed in the dungeon's sunlight, the pure white remains gleamed like polished marble. Like ivory. Like jewels.
And nearby, soft flowers and grass had bloomed.
Life belongs to providence.
It was proof that those corrupted by rage had returned to the order of things.
"If I had used the Moon's divinity to continue a violent struggle, we couldn't have arrived at this outcome. But I didn't want to repeat the tragedies of this world. So..."
"You empowered the people, used the creatures of this place to turn the tide, and turned Hero Ather into a part of the evil god to guide the dragons back to order."
"It was a precarious plan that required many people's help and mutual trust. But in the end, it led to this beautiful result. I think sometimes, you just need the courage to go through with it."
The vice-guildmaster looked at Aram with a subtle expression.
"But in the end, didn't we defeat the final boss of this dungeon? And yet the dungeon isn't marked as cleared. That's odd. Usually, that only happens when there's something left to do."
"I think so too. And I have a guess. This was an evil god's dungeon, wasn't it?"
Kang Eun-Seong nodded knowingly.
"Dungeons made from divinity sometimes don't work properly with Earth's system. They're great mysteries governed by a different providence—something Earth's laws can't fully handle..."
"I was thinking the same, Vice-Guildmaster. In that case, even if we've cleared it practically, the system might not send the notification. Or maybe the notification is just delayed."
"What do you think, Saintess? Do we still have some unfulfilled condition, or is the dungeon cleared and the system just bugged? It's got to be one of the two."
"I think it's both..."
Aram stopped mid-sentence and gently stroked the Moon. As the noble sphere shimmered faintly in response, Aram blinked slowly, as if holding a conversation with it. Then she spoke again.
"...We'll find out if we keep going. Will you come with me?"
"I'm listening. What should I do?"
"First, let's move to the ruins of the underground Black Forest. There lies the evil god's tomb..."
Adjusting his glasses, the vice-guildmaster asked,
"...Didn't we just face the final boss?"
"Are we going to have another fight?"
"I don't think so. Please trust your Saintess."
"If it's a saint's prophecy, I'll believe it."
Seo Seo-Hee, who had been silently listening, stepped forward.
"Then I won't have to take up arms again, Saintess?"
"All the corrupted rage has returned to the order of things. Violent methods will no longer be necessary. The dragons here have already let go of all their rage."
"Then what we need is a conversation."
Aram, holding the now-warmer Moon tightly, said,
"...If we don't seek it out, we might miss something important."
And so they headed for the ruins of the Black Forest.
"I'm glad to see you've all been continuing your work while I was away."
"...That's one of the things we Moon Temple priests are best at."
The priests of the Moon Temple who had been staying at the ruins warmly welcomed Saintess Aram.
"That... could it be...?"
Aram lifted the Moon, holding it like a baby.
An elder of the Moon Temple smiled awkwardly, as if on the verge of tears.
"...You no longer call it Master."
"The Moon was merely a repository of knowledge and wisdom."
"Of course, of course. Still, it feels warm now."
"Because it wasn't alone all this time."
The elder slowly bowed his head.
"...I greet the Master."
"I greet the Master."
Following the elder, all the Moon Temple priests bowed their heads.
They were speaking to their Saintess, Aram.
"Will you do that for us?"
"Of course. That's why I embraced the Moon."
Aram smiled brightly.
"But it seems we still have something left to do."
"Yes. Earth's system hasn't declared this dungeon cleared. Have you come to the ruins to finish that task?"
"Yes. Only a small number will come with me."
"The Moon Temple will follow the Master."
"...Only those who still have stamina, please. The rest should rest."
Leaving behind the Moon Temple, who immediately began a ruthless rock-paper-scissors game full of dirty tricks, Seo Seo-Hee called out to his friend, the vice-guildmaster.
"The Saintess seems to be preparing to show us something."
"Looks like she's gathering spectators."
Both were seasoned, experienced hunters, and they were beginning to suspect what was happening. Some of the hunters who still had strength rose from their seats. As the crowd grew, Aram nodded. Any more would be unnecessary.
When Aram released the Moon, it gently floated toward the underground tomb.
"Oh, that's really..."
"There won't be any danger."
The path to the underground tomb was smooth. All the curses and even the magic that had once enveloped the ruins were gone. Seo Seo-Hee looked up at the ceiling of the ruins.
Then he murmured in awe.
"It's the night sky."
A ruin without even torches—it was a night sky densely filled with stars. It wasn't as dazzling as the universe the Saintess had shown earlier, but there was a quiet calm that brought peace to the heart.
Soon, they arrived at the underground tomb. The priests of the Moon Temple looked slightly surprised.
"It wasn't just a while ago..."
"Even the blood has vanished."
The blood that once formed a shallow pool inside the tomb had vanished. The priests who had studied the ruins in place of the Saintess remembered how horrific it had been. A space full of curses and madness—nothing like now.
But now the tomb carried a calmness—not silence, but peace. First-time visitors were stunned that such tranquility existed in what had once been the evil god's tomb.
The stone floor, walls, and ceiling were a little weathered and mossy. Faint torchlight flickered and lit the tomb. Inside the once-ominous giant coffin, unfamiliar children now lay asleep atop a bed of flowers.
The Moon Temple recognized them immediately.
"They're young dragons."
"...Fortunately, they look peaceful..."
"That's truly a relief."
They didn't seem very old. Unless, like the adults of the Moon Temple, they had stopped aging after a certain point, they looked just as old as they appeared. Most didn't even seem to be in their mid-teens.
And at the end of them sat a man.
A male figure wrapped tightly in bandages, not a single patch of skin visible. Emaciated like an old tree, he sat on the cold stone floor, gently stroking the body of a deer with its throat torn out.
In a hoarse, ragged voice, the man asked the visitors,
"Did you come to see me?"
"Yes, we came to see you."
Aram, glancing once at the Moon floating between them, continued. She had to tell the story of this man to those around her.
With silent permission, Aram began to speak his tale.
"You, the last dragon, knew how to forgive from the very beginning."
-x-X-x-
Despite the sudden appearance of the evil god, the world remained calm.
"Uh... well, I guess it's a relief that everything ended well, right?"
This was largely because ordinary citizens had seen and experienced almost nothing directly. The only thing they considered serious was that "a lot of people were unusually addicted to dreams." And no one had died from that. At most, a few had been injured due to overdosing on sleeping pills.
People didn't even consider that "harm."
"Wasn't the evil god supposed to be the final boss of that dungeon break?"
"I heard that too, but maybe it was just a slightly stronger monster pretending to be an evil god...?"
"There's no way there'd be so little damage otherwise."
"They say no one even died in the dungeon."
"Come on, that can't be true. How do you clear a dungeon and not lose a single person?"
"I mean, I just heard it from someone else, so I'm not really sure either..."
Compared to civilians, the hunters maintained a certain level of vigilance.
"People are just letting their guard down. They'll only snap out of it after getting completely devoured by the evil god, head to toe. Isn't that right, Guildmaster?"
"You're absolutely right."
"...But was that really an evil god's dungeon?"
Still, even among the hunters, most who hadn't participated in the battle found it hard to believe.
"Two of the Symbols of Eternity got involved, so it must've been dangerous, but still... how could there be so little damage if it really was an evil god?"
The only thing that made people believe the danger was real was the presence of the Symbols of Eternity. They didn't show up just anywhere—they knew the weight of their names.
But the evil god's notoriety wasn't baseless. Any seasoned hunter knew how dangerous they were.
With some bad luck, humans could be wiped out not even by their breath—but just a glance.
"Compared to past incidents, it didn't really feel like that, did it? Not that I think all those people are lying or anything..."
"There are some conspiracy theories floating around."
"What? Damn, people sure don't fear the Association President."
"That just shows how exceptional this situation is. It's nearly impossible for something involving divinity to end this peacefully. Even traditional divine beings tend to cause minor disasters..."
"Exactly. And this was an evil god. You know what kind of disgust they harbor toward the pitiful creatures of providence known as humans..."
So, most people had no choice but to realize the way things were going. There had only ever been one case where an evil god caused so little damage.
"You mean the God of Death? I think so too."
"Well, anger isn't inherently evil."
That mysterious force felt negative from a human moral perspective, and so it was called an "evil god."
But if it wasn't outright rebellion, then such a situation wasn't impossible. It was rare—but it had happened.
Malice without hatred or corruption—simply existing.
"But wasn't it a corrupted dragon this time, according to the information?"
"There must be more to the story that hasn't been revealed yet."
"Ugh, see? That's why the Association President is scary. She doesn't tell us everything."
"If it's okay with you, should we request cooperation from the Association? I'll ask formally."
"No, no. That'll just drag us into trouble."
Those with sharp minds drew their own conclusions.
"So it was just a prank by the evil god."
"We could've all died, you know. Maybe we should call it a trial instead..."
"As if that changes anything. It was closer to being indulged. Thank goodness it was a kind-hearted evil god. I heard even the divine beings of various religions commented on it..."
"...I never imagined even the Sun Church's divinity would humor an evil god's joke."
"That's what's scary about evil gods. They make even traditional gods who love providence speak falsehoods. And honestly, the atrocities the evil god supposedly committed... They were worth condemning regardless."
"Yeah, at that point, you can't even call it a lie... Still, their comments seemed oddly passive."
"Humans were toyed with by a god, but stopping at just that was a miracle. When evil gods act up, it's rare not to have casualties. In that sense, it's a relief."
No one felt grateful. But it was something to be grateful for, at least for now.
"...Honestly, calling it a prank might be underselling it."
A guildmaster squinted at the view beyond the glass wall.
"Yes, I heard it's a protest about labor law reform."
Most workers went to work at 7 AM and returned at 9 PM. Overtime was the norm. Many began to argue that the "Dream Amusement Park" incident had been worsened by these conditions.
And now, people were protesting not just anywhere, but at the government complex and the Korean Hunter Association headquarters. Many were afraid to express themselves, but many others supported the protests. It was like the dungeon incident had kicked over a hornet's nest.
"I haven't seen something in a long time."
"You mean the protest?"
"Protest or whatever, just people saying what they want to say."
The guildmaster chuckled.
"Maybe the world won't feel quite so suffocating anymore."
"You getting mad and making everyone else mad too isn't exactly a great solution, Guildmaster..."
"Tch. You say that 'cause you're young. Back in my day, everyone lived ! A person's got to let off some steam!"
"Maybe if you didn't only let off steam all the time..."
And then, labor law was actually amended. The government and the Association accepted the demands of the people as if they'd been waiting for it. The maximum weekly working hours were drastically reduced. The new default: 9 AM to 6 PM.
Of course, it didn't take effect right away. The whole society ran on grinding down humans as a resource—what were they supposed to do now? In a way, it was like legally banning the use of one of their most valuable assets.
"I don't know... This seems like too much, doesn't it? What if companies just find a way to replace people entirely?"
"That'll reduce jobs. And it's already hard enough to find work with the population bursting at the seams..."
So the law was amended, but only for a trial period. With support from the government and the Association, a few companies would test it out. Then it would expand gradually after review. So in practice, nothing had changed yet.
But for citizens, things felt very different. They were stunned.
"...This actually worked...?"
"...Seriously? No way."
They couldn't believe first-class citizens had actually listened to them.
But the government and the Association didn't take back their words. And once the companies sensed their intent, they played it safe. If you fell out of favor with ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) both of them in Korea, there was nowhere left to go.
"Whoa, should we try protesting for something else too?"
"Hey, maybe let's just be satisfied with this one win..."
"Y-yeah... If we push our luck, we might get our throats slit on some dark street."
"...What were you gonna say?"
"Reinstating mandatory education...They say it existed before the Great Cataclysm."
It wasn't a bad idea. One of the older protesters nodded—he'd lived through the era of mandatory education. And frankly, he knew life was better with schools than without.
But maybe because they'd just secured a guarantee for rest, people were more worried than angry. They'd already pushed enough—speaking up again might make them hated.
"...Then how about this?"
"There's more than one way to make a suggestion to those in power besides protesting, right?"
"...Oh, right. That's true."
They'd chosen protest because they thought nothing else would work. The world had nearly flipped, and their rage had boiled over. But now that they'd gotten it out of their system, they wanted real rewards.
And one day, Association President Dan Haera smiled.
She fluttered a sheet of paper from her secretary.
"This time, it's not a protest?"
"No, it's just a pure suggestion."
"Maybe it's time to revive the national petition system. I'll bring it up at the next meeting."
"I'll add it to your schedule."
"Anyway, this is a relief. I was worried people would get addicted to protesting after tasting victory..."
Dan Haera gently set the suggestion letter down, like it was a precious gift.
"Maybe now I can expect this much from people."
She smiled—softly, rarely. And she kept that smile for a long, long time. Her secretary was genuinely happy to see her in such a good mood. It was rare.
"I think the followers of the Black Cloak helped a lot too."
"Right. They've got drive, money, and direction."
A large portion of the so-called "Black Cloak Enthusiasts" were first-class citizens. Most had approached it as a hobby of viewing mystical art—then awakened to public service.
They worked together to protect Earth, which the Black Cloak loved. Even in the outskirts far from the cities, their effort showed. Thanks to them, people slowly started seeing each other as "neighbors."
"We got a lot of help from them when the dungeon chaos was at its peak..."
The government and Association had tried carrots and sticks to pull people from the dream. But what really brought them back to reality were the connections in their lives.
No matter how good the dream was, no one could abandon their family, friends, or lovers. Through the Enthusiasts, the belief in community was restored, and people returned to their everyday lives for those they loved.
"At this point, maybe we should officially recognize the Black Cloak as a religion."
"Should we prepare any measures?"
"Let's adjust things like we did for the God of Death."
"If they decide to build a temple, well..."
Dan Haera tilted her head.
"I'm sure Guildmaster Bisa Beul will take care of it."
It seemed best not to interfere.
The Moon Temple closed its gates, leaving only a small number inside.
"For an indefinite period, the Moon Temple will not be accepting new brothers. Instead, we will focus on internal reorganization. When we can once again stand before all people as true priests, we will return."
The bishop appeared in public with a gaunt face and announced the state of the Moon Temple—their past wrongdoings, and what had happened in the dungeon.
But people didn't quite know how to react. Should they be angry? Should they be afraid? Or should they just let it go since it wasn't their problem?
"If we can be Earth's cautionary tale, that would be good."
And with that, the Moon Temple truly locked its doors. They had always run through requests from the government, the Association, or research institutions, so even a long disappearance wouldn't be a problem.
At least, that was the official line.
Aram had unofficially visited the Collector.
"I'm always healthy."
"You say that even after causing something like that?"
"Starting big trouble with a sound body and mind—that's my specialty."
"That's kind of terrifying when you say it like that."
Hunter Sergio's platinum hair was now dyed a deep crimson.
He stroked Aram's cheek and smiled.
"You managed, didn't you?"
And soon after, Aram's scream rang out.
Despite the sudden appearance of the evil god, the world remained calm.
"Uh... well, I guess it's a relief that everything ended well, right?"
This was largely because ordinary citizens had seen and experienced almost nothing directly. The only thing they considered serious was that "a lot of people were unusually addicted to dreams." And no one had died from that. At most, a few had been injured due to overdosing on sleeping pills.
People didn't even consider that "harm."
"Wasn't the evil god supposed to be the final boss of that dungeon break?"
"I heard that too, but maybe it was just a slightly stronger monster pretending to be an evil god...?"
"There's no way there'd be so little damage otherwise."
"They say no one even died in the dungeon."
"Come on, that can't be true. How do you clear a dungeon and not lose a single person?"
"I mean, I just heard it from someone else, so I'm not really sure either..."
Compared to civilians, the hunters maintained a certain level of vigilance.
"People are just letting their guard down. They'll only snap out of it after getting completely devoured by the evil god, head to toe. Isn't that right, Guildmaster?"
"You're absolutely right."
"...But was that really an evil god's dungeon?"
Still, even among the hunters, most who hadn't participated in the battle found it hard to believe.
"Two of the Symbols of Eternity got involved, so it must've been dangerous, but still... how could there be so little damage if it really was an evil god?"
The only thing that made people believe the danger was real was the presence of the Symbols of Eternity. They didn't show up just anywhere—they knew the weight of their names.
But the evil god's notoriety wasn't baseless. Any seasoned hunter knew how dangerous they were.
With some bad luck, humans could be wiped out not even by their breath—but just a glance.
"Compared to past incidents, it didn't really feel like that, did it? Not that I think all those people are lying or anything..."
"There are some conspiracy theories floating around."
"What? Damn, people sure don't fear the Association President."
"That just shows how exceptional this situation is. It's nearly impossible for something involving divinity to end this peacefully. Even traditional divine beings tend to cause minor disasters..."
"Exactly. And this was an evil god. You know what kind of disgust they harbor toward the pitiful creatures of providence known as humans..."
So, most people had no choice but to realize the way things were going. There had only ever been one case where an evil god caused so little damage.
"You mean the God of Death? I think so too."
"Well, anger isn't inherently evil."
That mysterious force felt negative from a human moral perspective, and so it was called an "evil god."
But if it wasn't outright rebellion, then such a situation wasn't impossible. It was rare—but it had happened.
Malice without hatred or corruption—simply existing.
"But wasn't it a corrupted dragon this time, according to the information?"
"There must be more to the story that hasn't been revealed yet."
"Ugh, see? That's why the Association President is scary. She doesn't tell us everything."
"If it's okay with you, should we request cooperation from the Association? I'll ask formally."
"No, no. That'll just drag us into trouble."
Those with sharp minds drew their own conclusions.
"So it was just a prank by the evil god."
"We could've all died, you know. Maybe we should call it a trial instead..."
"As if that changes anything. It was closer to being indulged. Thank goodness it was a kind-hearted evil god. I heard even the divine beings of various religions commented on it..."
"...I never imagined even the Sun Church's divinity would humor an evil god's joke."
"That's what's scary about evil gods. They make even traditional gods who love providence speak falsehoods. And honestly, the atrocities the evil god supposedly committed... They were worth condemning regardless."
"Yeah, at that point, you can't even call it a lie... Still, their comments seemed oddly passive."
"Humans were toyed with by a god, but stopping at just that was a miracle. When evil gods act up, it's rare not to have casualties. In that sense, it's a relief."
No one felt grateful. But it was something to be grateful for, at least for now.
"...Honestly, calling it a prank might be underselling it."
A guildmaster squinted at the view beyond the glass wall.
"Yes, I heard it's a protest about labor law reform."
Most workers went to work at 7 AM and returned at 9 PM. Overtime was the norm. Many began to argue that the "Dream Amusement Park" incident had been worsened by these conditions.
And now, people were protesting not just anywhere, but at the government complex and the Korean Hunter Association headquarters. Many were afraid to express themselves, but many others supported the protests. It was like the dungeon incident had kicked over a hornet's nest.
"I haven't seen something in a long time."
"You mean the protest?"
"Protest or whatever, just people saying what they want to say."
The guildmaster chuckled.
"Maybe the world won't feel quite so suffocating anymore."
"You getting mad and making everyone else mad too isn't exactly a great solution, Guildmaster..."
"Tch. You say that 'cause you're young. Back in my day, everyone lived ! A person's got to let off some steam!"
"Maybe if you didn't only let off steam all the time..."
And then, labor law was actually amended. The government and the Association accepted the demands of the people as if they'd been waiting for it. The maximum weekly working hours were drastically reduced. The new default: 9 AM to 6 PM.
Of course, it didn't take effect right away. The whole society ran on grinding down humans as a resource—what were they supposed to do now? In a way, it was like legally banning the use of one of their most valuable assets.
"I don't know... This seems like too much, doesn't it? What if companies just find a way to replace people entirely?"
"That'll reduce jobs. And it's already hard enough to find work with the population bursting at the seams..."
So the law was amended, but only for a trial period. With support from the government and the Association, a few companies would test it out. Then it would expand gradually after review. So in practice, nothing had changed yet.
But for citizens, things felt very different. They were stunned.
"...This actually worked...?"
"...Seriously? No way."
They couldn't believe first-class citizens had actually listened to them.
But the government and the Association didn't take back their words. And once the companies sensed their intent, they played it safe. If you fell out of favor with both of them in Korea, there was nowhere left to go.
"Whoa, should we try protesting for something else too?"
"Hey, maybe let's just be satisfied with this one win..."
"Y-yeah... If we push our luck, we might get our throats slit on some dark street."
"...What were you gonna say?"
"Reinstating mandatory education...They say it existed before the Great Cataclysm."
It wasn't a bad idea. One of the older protesters nodded—he'd lived through the era of mandatory education. And frankly, he knew life was better with schools than without.
But maybe because they'd just secured a guarantee for rest, people were more worried than angry. They'd already pushed enough—speaking up again might make them hated.
"...Then how about this?"
"There's more than one way to make a suggestion to those in power besides protesting, right?"
"...Oh, right. That's true."
They'd chosen protest because they thought nothing else would work. The world had nearly flipped, and their rage had boiled over. But now that they'd gotten it out of their system, they wanted real rewards.
And one day, Association President Dan Haera smiled.
She fluttered a sheet of paper from her secretary.
"This time, it's not a protest?"
"No, it's just a pure suggestion."
"Maybe it's time to revive the national petition system. I'll bring it up at the next meeting."
"I'll add it to your schedule."
"Anyway, this is a relief. I was worried people would get addicted to protesting after tasting victory..."
Dan Haera gently set the suggestion letter down, like it was a precious gift.
"Maybe now I can expect this much from people."
She smiled—softly, rarely. And she kept that smile for a long, long time. Her secretary was genuinely happy to see her in such a good mood. It was rare.
"I think the followers of the Black Cloak helped a lot too."
"Right. They've got drive, money, and direction."
A large portion of the so-called "Black Cloak Enthusiasts" were first-class citizens. Most had approached it as a hobby of viewing mystical art—then awakened to public service.
They worked together to protect Earth, which the Black Cloak loved. Even in the outskirts far from the cities, their effort showed. Thanks to them, people slowly started seeing each other as "neighbors."
"We got a lot of help from them when the dungeon chaos was at its peak..."
The government and Association had tried carrots and sticks to pull people from the dream. But what really brought them back to reality were the connections in their lives.
No matter how good the dream was, no one could abandon their family, friends, or lovers. Through the Enthusiasts, the belief in community was restored, and people returned to their everyday lives for those they loved.
"At this point, maybe we should officially recognize the Black Cloak as a religion."
"Should we prepare any measures?"
"Let's adjust things like we did for the God of Death."
"If they decide to build a temple, well..."
Dan Haera tilted her head.
"I'm sure Guildmaster Bisa Beul will take care of it."
It seemed best not to interfere.
The Moon Temple closed its gates, leaving only a small number inside.
"For an indefinite period, the Moon Temple will not be accepting new brothers. Instead, we will focus on internal reorganization. When we can once again stand before all people as true priests, we will return."
The bishop appeared in public with a gaunt face and announced the state of the Moon Temple—their past wrongdoings, and what had happened in the dungeon.
But people didn't quite know how to react. Should they be angry? Should they be afraid? Or should they just let it go since it wasn't their problem?
"If we can be Earth's cautionary tale, that would be good."
And with that, the Moon Temple truly locked its doors. They had always run through requests from the government, the Association, or research institutions, so even a long disappearance wouldn't be a problem.
At least, that was the official line.
Aram had unofficially visited the Collector.
"I'm always healthy."
"You say that even after causing something like that?"
"Starting big trouble with a sound body and mind—that's my specialty."
"That's kind of terrifying when you say it like that."
Hunter Sergio's platinum hair was now dyed a deep crimson.
He stroked Aram's cheek and smiled.
"You managed, didn't you?"
And soon after, Aram's scream rang out.
-x-X-x-
A few hours later, Aram had come to accept the situation on her own.
"...Is this some sort of side effect? A personality overlaying another...?"
"To be precise, since we are all the same being, there's no need to be too surprised."
"...Doesn't it make you dizzy, though? Shifting so rapidly like that, teacher?"
"Living with both your left and right eye isn't particularly difficult, is it?"
"I understand what you mean."
She seemed to believe that Hunter Sergio had fused with the evil god during the sealing process. Which wasn't exactly wrong, so Gio simply nodded. His student was smart, as expected.
But Aram still had many questions.
"Then... essentially, aren't you using two divine powers at the same time now?"
One, the Black Cloak, known as the Sun God. Two, Argio, known as the Divinity of Wrath.
"...Yes, that's right!"
That wasn't incorrect either. Gio never lied. He was innocent.
"But you don't need to worry. Through this process, we've become a single, unified body. There's no risk of losing control of the power or reason, so please rest assured, Saintess."
"...Still, I hope you're not pushing yourself too hard."
"That goes for you too, Aram. I heard you shut the temple doors this time. That must have taken resolve. Then again, you can't look to the future without first solving the problems inside. You made a good choice."
"Ehem... thank you. But still, there's no precedent for wielding different divine forces within one body. I know you're not an ordinary Saint, but... I can't help worrying."
Officially, "Hunter Sergio" was in seclusion due to health reasons. Aram had come with that same suspicion in mind—something like a hospital visit that wasn't quite one. She studied her teacher's condition a little longer before nodding.
"But... you're not the type to be swayed by what I say anyway."
"Have I really been that indifferent of a teacher to you?"
"I just know how stubborn you are."
Well, of course he was the one who turned the Saintess of the Moon Sect around. Accepting that, Aram brought up another curiosity—this one aimed at the Divinity of Wrath now sharing a body with him.
"...Then, is Argio...?"
"That is also me. The Black Cloak retrieved the Divinity of Wrath."
"So we'll be seeing that face now and then too, like earlier?"
"I'm glad to have made a good friend."
Gio's list of friends only continued to grow.
"Now that it's fully stabilized, we'll likely be seeing the Divinity of Wrath more often in Korea. The 'Dream Amusement Park' that was created before has been closed for now. It's a shame for the hunters who worked hard in it, but we can't expect resources from there for the time being."
Aram smiled knowingly.
"Usually, you can't obtain anything real from a virtual dungeon anyway."
"Right. I believe the reward was limited to skill acquisition or something like that..."
"And this time, the system was incredibly generous with the rewards."
The so-called "Little Dragon Summoning Ticket" left most hunters clueless. It supposedly granted a "modest wish," but nothing about it seemed modest. So they'd all decided to seek the Association's advice.
"I doubt any hunter will act rashly before the Association gives an answer, but maybe because of that, there doesn't seem to be much resentment over what happened at the 'Dream Amusement Park.'"
"That's quite surprising."
"The fact that no one actually died had a big effect. In a world where people live risking their lives, this was considered a peaceful ending. The opponent was an evil god, but people seem to be treating it more like a mild disaster."
"I thought for sure people would be angry."
"Some are, I'm sure. But no one's been especially vocal. The system gave good rewards, and both the government and Association were quick to help with recovery and support."
Aram played with the end of her long hair.
"...There were quite a few people who welcomed a more honest society."
She asked cautiously.
"Will the Divinity of Wrath ever dwell in this dimension permanently?"
"I don't think a temple will be built, of course... but I still hope it chooses to stay. He was annoying and spiteful, but... he helped me more than I can say."
"Even though he made you witness such immense suffering and death?"
"...So you don't like the Divinity of Wrath either, do you, teacher?"
Aram laughed awkwardly.
"I went through a lot... but in the end, none of it turned out badly. Besides, the people of this world... they wouldn't have changed this fast just by being gently coaxed."
"...Have you forgiven him?"
"...Maybe? It just feels like one day the anger was gone. Maybe I exhausted all my strength throwing that meteor shower party, and it all drained out afterward."
Giovanni smiled his usual smile.
"You look well. That's a relief."
"...Were you angry with him, teacher?"
"I got over it at some point, too. You don't need to worry."
Aram rose to her feet.
"Please visit our sect next time, teacher."
"Take care of your health."
She bowed deeply and left Gio's private room.
Giovanni lay back on the luxurious bed that Bisa Beul had prepared for him, narrowing his eyes with a faint smile.
"...Maybe I should have been angry."
But Giovanni simply couldn't do it.
He hadn't been born with the capacity for wrath. That was his laziness, his fault.
Yoo Seong-Woon rubbed his neck and asked,
"You're fully merged now?"
"Yes. Argio is satisfied."
The man in the portrait continued.
"If you need an easy comparison, 'ascension' would be an appropriate word."
"I mean, not that you actually disappeared or died or anything... but yeah, that makes sense."
"I feel great satisfaction. I no longer want to be angry. I simply want to enjoy the peace it left behind."
"Peace is good, yeah. That's all good, but..."
Seong-Woon lowered his hand and cautiously asked,
"...didn't your speech pattern get stiff again?"
"Please understand, Mr. Yoo. Since I've completed all integration with the human stored in this portrait, I can no longer behave as I used to. Do I seem unnatural to you?"
"More like a polished urban legend that can hold a conversation. Doesn't feel human, though. If you're planning to return to human society later, maybe take note."
"Understood. I'll try to avoid awkward behavior around others. It's just that I occasionally forget what I'm supposed to do, say, or look like. But I will do my best."
Seong-Woon hesitated.
If I say he clearly won't be able to pull that off, will he get mad?
The portrait now housed even the Divinity of Wrath. Gone were the days when you could expect only warmth from it. Seong-Woon decided not to say what didn't need to be said. He didn't want to provoke the painting.
He smiled his usual laid-back smile.
"But that means... you're not going to look for a new 'Gio' for a while? Didn't you say getting help from them made it easier to live like a regular person?"
"You're correct, Mr. Yoo. However, in my experience, every time I integrate with 'Gio,' an enormous event unfolds on Earth."
For reference, that last sentence—"an enormous event unfolds on Earth"—was actually a mistranslation that occurred as Gio's language passed through the painting. All he meant was, "I think something big happens every time I merge with Gio."
But the nuance in translation had accidentally made Gio sound like a prophet.
"What's happened before has become trauma for me."
Seong-Woon wondered. Does he even know what 'trauma' means?
Probably. But it still feels like he's using it wrong...
Still, he understood what Gio meant.
"You didn't like causing incidents on Earth."
"...Then I guess we should thank you for being considerate toward this fragile planet."
Bisa Beul, who had joined the dungeon raid, had said something similar. He mentioned that "Gio's portrait" seemed to be educating Earth in the form it desired. It made sense in hindsight.
Right. Gio probably knows too—you can't train someone by constantly pushing them.
Maybe Gio just wanted to give Earth a little break. The sparks had already been thrown. The straw was catching fire. Now, he would simply watch until the whole field was ablaze.
Suddenly struck by the thought, Seong-Woon squinted and smiled.
"You really are a teacher, huh."
"I told you so before, Mr. Yoo."
"No, I mean... I think I finally get what that means."
Creepy and delightful—just as one would expect from something the Origin had set in motion.
"Oh, right. Did you hear? The Association officially recognized the 'Black Cloak' as a religion."
"A formal religion requires systems, buildings, and capital, does it not? I have none of those. Nor do I possess doctrines or scriptures befitting a faith."
"You're speaking a little fast now. Anyway... your fans will probably make all that themselves."
"Maybe it's because you used to be a teacher on Earth before the Catastrophe, but religions today are more diverse and casual. As long as you're recognized on a national level, you're officially a religion."
"This is extremely burdensome. Please retract it."
"I can't retract it. As long as there's divinity and followers, it counts. The rest—institutions, temples, money—will come in time."
"I'm well aware of how religions are formed. Still, I don't believe the 'Black Cloak' is fit to be a deity. I'd prefer not to be part of that gaudy, rowdy party."
"Why not? Most gods in religions don't appear in person, give miracles, or talk to people. Even if you hide away for a hundred years, this religion won't disappear."
"...I'd prefer not to be included in that gaudy, rowdy party..."
"Didn't you say making friends is a good thing, Gio?"
Whether it was due to his affinity or something else, it was hard to tell. Maybe he was just mimicking humanity, or maybe he wasn't even shy at all. That, too, was proof Gio wasn't human.
He just picks whatever demeanor he wants at the time.
A paradoxical trait, both light and heavy—fitting of an Origin.
"So what now? Will our fragile little portrait take a well-deserved rest after all this? Or are you off to inspect the might of your newly certified religion?"
"No. I plan to visit a dungeon."
"...Didn't see that coming. The 'Dream Amusement Park'? Well, you do have creatures there you care about. You even said they were Argio's children."
"That's a nice thought, but no. I'll be going to the Four-Legged Rainforest underground."
"...The 'Four-Legged Rainforest' down below? I mean, as Hunter Sergio or even as just a painting, you can go there, but why all of a sudden?"
Caught off guard, Seong-Woon asked. The portrait answered from beyond its layer of black paint.
"That is my brother."
Seong-Woon unwrapped a piece of candy and popped it in his mouth.
"So... if I want you to explain that, what do I need to offer?"
"A delicious strawberry will ensure your comfort, Mr. Yoo."
"Strawberries are great. They're in season right now."
"At this point, even your breathing is a lie."
As Seong-Woon let out a tired sigh, Gio explained.
"That is another world created by Argio's father—the one who abandoned the red dragon."
-x-X-x-
After hearing Gio's explanation, Yoo Seong-Woon double-checked.
"...So you're saying the original creator of the 'Dream Amusement Park' was cast out... and then created the 'Four-Legged Rainforest' underground?"
"I always thought those spaces felt oddly similar..."
They were both forests. They both held all kinds of dangerous toxins and creatures. They both mirrored human selfishness. And many more elements one could point to and say "yeah, that's the same." But their histories were completely different.
That's why Seong-Woon had always considered them separate worlds, even if they looked alike.
I'm pretty sure Gio even said back then... ah.
Gio had never said they were unrelated—he'd only ever said things like "a separate dimension" or "not my hometown." Maybe even Gio's portrait had only recently figured it out.
Either way, it was surprising—and a little awkward.
"...So how do you feel about this, Gio?"
"I feel a certain... responsibility."
"Responsibility? Why?"
"I need to prepare to welcome a new family."
"So that's why you called it your sibling."
"At the time... I didn't recognize them."
"Because you hadn't fully merged with Argio yet?"
"But... I think they may have recognized me."
Seong-Woon blinked. He thought of the wisteria sea dragon, who had shown an unusual fondness for Gio. That had been during a time when the 'Argio ratio' had been high—so maybe Gio was right.
But he didn't really know what to say.
"...Take care, I guess?"
As always, the portrait responded stiffly.
Something about this...
Seong-Woon's eyes shifted sideways.
It feels like nothing happened.
It felt like daily life had returned.
Not long after that, sightings of the Wrath Dragon began appearing in the Four-Legged Rainforest.
"And so, today, I'm thinking of having a meal."
At Gio's announcement, the teddy bear sitting in the dining chair tilted its head.
"It's a happy day. We've welcomed new family members."
The bear clapped its cottony paws. It clearly didn't mind—if Gio was happy, that was enough. The same went for the other residents.
Honey was watching Gio with eyes that plainly asked, "So where's the food?" Dana was rubbing against the baby wisteria sea dragons, clearly fond of them. The sea dragons were busy sniffing around the unfamiliar house.
It was, in every way, an adorable scene.
Leaving the house always turns out to be a hassle.
If only Mr. Argio weren't so damn stubborn...
Time to finally rest for real.
In truth, Gio had been busy because he'd brought this all upon himself. But after the whole Argio incident, Gio had realized that "if I'm not careful, my precious lazy life could fall apart." He resolved to be more cautious.
No more merging for a while—sealed.
Who could say the next Gio wouldn't be a workaholic?
In response to a question from the teddy bear father, Gio nodded.
"The parent is also here. No need for concern."
For reference, the massive sea dragon that sustained the entire Four-Legged Rainforest dungeon was now also present in Gio's cabin.
Gio reached into his cloak and pulled out a small potted plant.
"My naming sense has always been terrible, Father. That can't be helped. You already know this, given that your first grandchild's name is Honey. It's a painful truth, but please accept reality."
"With the wisteria dragons and Ulimi here, I think we should dine outdoors today. This table is too human-centered—it'll be uncomfortable. The weather's lovely. I think we're in for a fantastic lunch."
To facilitate conversation, Gio placed Ulimi on the table.
Ulimi looked... uncomfortable.
"Is something wrong, Mr. Ulimi?"
"I don't quite follow. Why would I eat you?"
"Just because I put you on the table doesn't mean you're dinner."
Just like with Sankallut. Ulimi was wondering if he'd been placed on the table to be eaten. Gio emphatically denied it. He was not that kind of person.
"I'm not the kind of scoundrel who eats delicate trees like Mr. Ulimi."
"Mr. Ulimi? Why the silence?"
"...You're asking if I eat non-delicate trees, then? That... that was just a figure of speech, I swear."
"Larger trees sometimes make good medicine or tea, that's why I said that—it doesn't mean I'm going to chew on your tiny newborn body like a snack..."
Currently, Ulimi—planted in the flowerpot—was closer to a sprout than a tree.
"Above all else, I would never eat family."
But Ulimi didn't drop the suspicious gaze. Well—he didn't have eyes, but still. He clearly didn't trust Gio.
Argio wasn't a traditional divinity. He could lie all he wanted.
"I'm so heartbroken you don't trust your family. It makes me want to water you out of grief."
"Well, I'm glad you're okay with that. Today's meal for Mr. Ulimi will be spring water from the forest."
"What's wrong?! It's sweet, it's cold—this water is amazing! I swear on my three daily meals, you'll be healthy in no time!"
"In this cruel world, you need to grow strong to protect our little friends, Mr. Ulimi...!!"
Dana watched with fascination as the baby plant twisted its whole body in a frantic protest—a rare sight she could never have seen in her plant-less cavern.
Eventually, Gio and Ulimi compromised: his meal would be iced tea instead. Made from melted pearls stored in the ice cellar.
Gio was terribly disappointed he couldn't serve a proper meal.
"I could feed you so well..."
"You too? You don't trust your own dad either?"
Honey looked up at him with affection... but no faith. That hurt Gio deeply.
He had once wanted to turn the whole world into pigs.
"...Alright, open to food suggestions."
Thankfully, the wisteria sea dragons had mouths—they could eat.
"Mr. Ulimi could eat too, if we just opened one. But he refused."
The teddy bear laughed like it made perfect sense. Beings born of providence resisted change. Like humans, who suffered both physical and mental agony when a limb was cut off.
It was no different for trees once beloved by gods. That's probably why his creator had cursed him to become a sea dragon.
A very effective punishment, no doubt.
"Let's see... stew's probably out."
"Dana, you agree? Right, we've had it too often. Sure, your dad could make 340 varieties of stew and never tire of it, but that sounds... absolutely terrible."
"Thanks for agreeing, sweetheart."
Stew was a fine dish—but making only stew again and again, when you had options? Even Piggy Sergio would call that a sin.
"Then how about dongpo pork, made with Father's divine power..."
"Right. We gave that to the Moon last time."
Surprisingly, the Moon had quite an appetite. Probably because of all the beings housed inside him.
"Which means we don't really have anything left to eat."
The Moon treated cuisine and flavor as sweet knowledge—he constantly pestered Gio to offer more. And Gio had to cook every dish he knew.
The Moon becoming small enough to carry came at the cost of a terrifying trade, after all.
That's why there was no food left Gio hadn't already offered him.
"But dongpo pork was fairly recent. Maybe we could go back a bit. How about tacos? Wraps made with corn tortillas, meat, and veggies."
"Yeah, that might be hard for Dana to eat. She's lost weight while I wasn't paying attention... so she needs something hearty. Smaller portions won't do. Maybe meat, then..."
Gio tilted his head in thought.
"Your dad can roll pulled pork like nobody's business. Sure, roasting whole is different from slow-cooked pulled pork, but as the Sun's son and the Sea's benefactor, you can trust me. I've got temperature and juice control down."
"You can look forward to meat so tender it melts like tofu."
And with that, Gio headed toward the Animal Kingdom.
"So you're here to hunt, sir?"
Chieftain of the Fox Tribe, Laami, rubbed their hands and smiled.
"I just wondered if you needed extra workers. Thankfully, things have stabilized a lot since the war, thanks to your mercy. Look—beautiful, isn't it?"
Just as Laami said, the Dream Amusement Park was still mesmerizing. The ground floated like clouds, suspended in the air. Each cloud-island held its own unique flora and fauna.
That wasn't all. Shards of the once-luxurious amusement park drifted through the sky. Carousel horses, candy and chocolate, shimmering ivory rails weaving everywhere.
"Oh, of course—we're maintaining the surface and the underground realms too. The Black Forest, the ruins... Even the wild beasts seem calmer. They don't leave their territories anymore."
"Hmm... then what should I hunt..."
"Anything but one of us foxes, sir!"
The fox wagged their tail and smiled brightly. Laami, mimicking human mannerisms again, pointed toward a wolf.
"They're just as big-bodied as we are. What do you think of them?"
The wolf who'd come to greet his long-absent master now looked like he'd bitten a lemon.
"Don't offer others as tribute out of nowhere."
"Oh? So you lack even that much loyalty?"
"How are you still immature after all these years?"
"Isn't that a wolf thing? Small brains?"
"That bite-sized thing keeps running his mouth..."
Wolf Tribe chieftain, Gargar, gritted his teeth—then sighed.
"...If it's alright with you, I'll go down and bring back some suitable prey. If word gets out that you've asked, all beasts will help. How much meat do you need?"
Argio thought, then answered:
"Five plump sheep should do."
"? Who's going to eat that?"
Wolves the size of houses usually needed more than that.
"Not to argue, but I do have a question."
"What happens to this world now?"
"It's yours. Don't you remember our promise?"
"I do. I just wondered if you had any plans to use it again."
"This place won't be used as a battlefield anymore."
"That's reassuring... but also, a little sad."
"I'm not leaving forever. What's there to miss?"
This was Argio's birthplace. It couldn't be separated from him.
"Still... thinking about it makes me worry about Ather..."
"...Ather? Wasn't he dead?"
"Oh, not quite. But he still needs rest. Let him be."
"I'll go hunt, then."
And so, Gio returned with 58 sheep, 42 cows, 10 pigs, and 95 chickens.
Gio added, half-defensive:
"It's fine. Most of them will be used to create us. Or we'll release them into the forest."
"Yes, they're a bit large, I know. Even one yields a lot of meat, but we still need to eat, right? We can do it."
"If there's too much, we'll share with Mr. Seong-Woon and Joo-Hyun."
As always—a peaceful ending.