chapter 157

Chapter 157

Gio always knew everything.

He knew that he had long ago surpassed the standards of humans, that the anti-cat Dana was filled with dead spirits gathered together, and he knew how he appeared to others.

“It’s just that I don’t place much meaning on it.”

Aria said as she shook a glass flask.

“That’s why even though you know everything, you look like you don’t know anything.”

“Your teacher’s strangely indifferent attitude has surprised those around him since long ago.”

“Seeing that, it doesn’t seem like it’s a trait that appeared only after he became a portrait.”

Even when he had been a complete human, hadn’t Gio been consistent in that attitude?

“What a strange thing, isn’t it.”

“Teacher was always special.”

“I don’t know whether to call it special or peculiar...”

“His way of thinking is unique.”

“It’s a nature you can’t easily find among humans.”

Now Gio was no longer human, but a portrait, divinity, and a vast mystery that couldn’t even be compared to any of that. He was loved by the Structure and had become one with it.

“If he wanted, my teacher could do anything.”

But those various authorities held no value for Gio.

“That he can accept it as merely one trait is the surprising part.”

“Didn’t he even recognize the previous Sun God’s divinity as a trait?”

“And it’s the divinity of the god I served, too. It’s so absurd I can’t even...”

If he were someone who simply didn’t know its value, Aria could have accepted it easily. But Giovanni had once been a priest who received the most love, a promising talent of the Sun.

Such a person wouldn’t be ignorant of the value and position of divinity, so it could only be an impossible level of boldness—or indifference. As she arranged the flasks filled with assorted liquids, Aria continued.

“If you wanted to make him think he isn’t human, what in the world would be necessary?”

And to make him become disillusioned with humans, that is.

Despite those countless powers and that enormous rank, Gio firmly believed that none of it could make him anything other than human. That belief was as natural and solid as believing in his own existence.

“No matter what you bring to him, he’ll think there’s no reason that makes him not human.”

“Even without testing it, I can clearly tell how he’d react.”

“And to think even the reason he hesitated to use divine authority at all was simply a matter of etiquette.”

Aria, who had suspected that he couldn’t accept activity as a divinity because he regarded himself as human, found herself ridiculous. Regardless of whether he was human or not, to Gio, authority itself had no meaning.

“Yet the moment you mentioned salvation, he accepted it right away?”

“He wouldn’t use such a grand word as salvation himself, but yes.”

Iser wore his usual smile.

“Wasn’t Teacher like that from the start?”

“Isn’t he someone who values the value of salvation more than the value of respect?”

“And yet, that he prefers good and well-mannered beings is truly...”

“Isn’t his preferred image of humans separate from his own disposition?”

Just because he likes good and well-mannered humans doesn’t mean he himself must be good and well-mannered. Gio kept goodness and respected others, but if salvation was involved, the story changed.

If there was a wish someone couldn’t bring themselves to say because of assorted circumstances, if they said no with their mouth but inwardly asked for help, if he truly refused salvation but those around wanted it... Gio did that.

“Truly the smiling tyrant of the sea village.”

“He still seems to dislike that nickname.”

“If it was tyranny, the results were always good.”

Watching from his side, there were times you’d think, ‘Isn’t that not salvation but violence?’ But those Gio reached out to always ended up gaining happiness. That was the power Gio held.

“Seeing that, he’s definitely not a stupid person.”

Gio always knew everything, but he accepted it only as information, not emotion. He took a stance so far removed from worldly interests that he only looked as if he knew nothing.

Which also became excellent image management that made him look like a mysterious sage.

“So he probably has a plan of his own, in his own way.”

“Calling it a plan makes it sound like you’re referring to some grand mastermind hidden in the shadows.”

“Even when he looks like he has no thoughts, Teacher is always preparing something.”

“It’s just that you have to be far away to see that plan.”

“If we go by that, then this time... mm...”

Having finished tidying up, Aria adjusted the large white coat she wore.

“...”

And then she said,

“Teacher will also know the identity of your pretty daughter.”

“You mean the monster filled with dead souls gathered together?”

“Yes, that monster taking the shape of a cat.”

It was something made from spirits of the dead killed by humans.

“Since Teacher truly regards her as his child, she was able to grow that much.”

“In a Structure’s world where all sorts of deaths are gathered, for her to have grown that much, that does seem plausible.”

“There are various other reasons behind that child’s growth, but... will Gio use that child?”

“He was 고민 what gift to give the human named Juhyeon, so won’t he?”

Gio always knew what he had to do.

“There would be many reasons to give such a gift.”

It was the wish the human named Juhyeon couldn’t bring himself to say, he would have needed to adapt to his position in accordance with the previous god’s desire, and he would have wanted his daughter to have the chance to become wholly his own child.

More than anything, won’t Gio live in humans’ world?

“He’ll also want to solidify the image of ‘Mr. Seo Gio.’”

“Whenever I confirm an intent that shrewd, I end up with cognitive dissonance.”

Behind that spotless, gentle smile, he had already long ago finished thinking through everything. No one around him had any way to realize when he began thinking such things, or what he knew.

“Teacher does not accept results that do not please him.”

In the first place, he does not let a future that displeases him come to pass.

“And that’s why he died that way.”

“...He is alive now.”

“Can that be called alive?”

“Well.”

“I get scared sometimes.”

Aria continued with her characteristic smile.

“Because I don’t know when he’ll do something absurd again.”

Gio was an uncontrollable variable.

“If so, he could at least be lovable.”

“...”

“It feels like I’ve made a terribly unfair contract.”

“...Noona...”

“Yes, Iser.”

The mermaid asked her younger brother.

“What should we do now?”

They cannot be forgiven by their teacher.

“There was a time I even hoped he might come to hate humans. That he might become distant from humans and oppose them... but it seems Teacher has once again decided to love humans.”

For time close to eternity, it would be so.

“I think we, too, need to make our stance clear.”

“Noona is correct.”

“...At least his roots...”

“...”

“...Well.”

Aria muttered.

“Responsibility.”

The end of their 고민 was approaching.

* * *

“Ugh...”

Early February in Korea was still cold.

“Why is it so damn cold.”

The woman sniffed.

“Is it worse because it’s dawn...”

The current time was a little past 1 a.m.

In truth, 1 a.m. wasn’t that late. Saying the quitting time is 8 p.m. was only if you took an “average,” and there were plenty of office workers who left after that.

‘If it were like before, there would’ve been a few more people on this street.’

The woman looked around the deserted street.

The signboards jutting out between alleys occasionally crackled, and most of them were already off. Somewhere on the asphalt, soggy from snow that had fallen and melted, it felt like she could hear rats squeaking.

“...”

Between old, rusted buildings, the city center could be seen. Cleaner and more refined than the woman’s hometown closer to the outskirts, it was still glittering with neon signs, unlike this commercial district that had already closed.

For no reason, one corner of her heart felt empty.

‘...Maybe because of that terror incident, it feels like there are even fewer people.’

There had been an incident where a dungeon gate opened inside the Sun Church and every human inside was dragged away. The woman, who had been involved in that incident, still vividly remembered the situation back then.

After that day, she avoided crowded places as much as possible. It seemed other citizens who heard about the terror incident felt similarly. That was why the streets were so empty.

‘And because it’s a mix of residential and commercial area, it’s a street that was sparse at this hour to begin with.’

Sniffling from the cold, the woman shoved herself deeper into her padded coat.

“Damn it, of all things, because of the company dinner...”

If it was 1 a.m., they’d at least ended it early, but it was still upsetting. She had to go to work again at 6 a.m., and she didn’t know why those drunken whales had such stamina.

It was as the woman walked while looking at the ground.

“Meow.”

“...?”

A cat’s cry.

‘...No, that’s a little strange.’

It was a perfectly accurate “meow,” as if a person had recorded it. The woman, who liked cats quite a lot, knew most cats cried ‘aeeaek’ or ‘miyaak.’

No matter that the city was protected by the Association and the government, this place was an outer district fairly close to the city’s slums. With a slightly tense feeling, the woman looked around the street blanketed in darkness.

“...Oh.”

And she found it.

“A cat.”

It was a big cat glittering with a deep bluish light like the Milky Way in the night sky.

“Whoa, what is it? A monster...?”

“Meow.”

“It doesn’t look dangerous.”

It was immensely beautiful.

Of course, there is no monster that truly isn’t dangerous just because it looks harmless. Still, since there was a fair chance it was an indigenous monster she didn’t know, the woman slowly stepped back, putting distance between herself and the cat.

And then, thump!

“W-w-w-wait, oh my god—!!”

“Oh dear.”

“Huuuuaaaack...!! Huooaeaeak!!!”

It was when the woman convulsed as something hard touched her back.

“I frightened you.”

“H-huh...!”

Stumbling and turning around, she saw a man looking down at her.

“Please calm yourself.”

“...”

“Excellent. Well done.”

“...Uh...”

At the gentle voice that came out as though teaching a young student, the pounding heart gradually settled.

She still panted, her startled chest rising and falling, but soon the woman could tell she wasn’t in such a dangerous situation.

“...Ah...!!”

And she realized.

“Hunter Seo Gio?!”

“Oh, you remembered me.”

“T-that’s... you left an impression.”

“I’m glad you seem to have thought well of me.”

“No, uh, yes...!”

Thinking he was too close, the woman stepped back once. Then she could clearly see what kind of face the tall hunter had.

Platinum hair like the sun or moon, blue eyes that looked as though light were breaking apart, and the sacred smile unique to believers...

“Ugh.”

“Why is that?”

“I was startled, so.”

Even seeing him again, he had a face that was practically a masterpiece of the century.

‘Can’t they recognize that as a cultural asset.’

It was a face worth preserving.

“Why are you here? I remember you’re active as an unofficial hunter—did you come out for work today too...? I’m really glad to see you again. You don’t show up on TV either, so there was no way to know how you’ve been.”

“I can tell very well that you are truly glad.”

“Am I... getting too excited? I’m sorry. I really wanted to see you again and greet you, but there was no way to contact you... though it would be terribly rude to contact a hunter privately, but even on the Collector side there wasn’t anything in particular.”

Now that they’d met like this by chance, she was so glad.

“Then what brings you here...?”

“I came to help a friend.”

“Friend?”

“Yes.”

Hunter Seo Gio looked around between the alleys and said,

“Dana.”

At the call, the cat answered.

“Muaang.”

“So cute.”

“Ack.”

Letting out a fairly catlike cry, the cat walked out of the darkness and went to Hunter Seo Gio’s feet. With a body as big as a Maine Coon, the cat rubbed its body against Hunter Seo Gio’s calf.

After briefly acting cute, the cat sat at his feet.

“Mmm.”

“Good girl.”

Hunter Seo Gio stroked its head, and the cat closed its eyes and enjoyed his touch.

“...Ah, right. So that’s how it is.”

Having barely accepted the situation, the woman nodded.

“You said you were a tamer, right? So that was true.”

“I suppose I didn’t look like a tamer.”

“It’s because you have such a strong priest-like image...”

“That can happen.”

Seo Gio smiled and continued.

“Honey, whom you saw last time, is also here.”

A small, round honey-colored bird no bigger than a child’s fist peeked its face out from the cloak’s hood. The little bird tilted its head after looking at the woman, then went back into the hood.

“It seems it’s shy.”

“I-I understand. Monsters don’t like humans originally.”

The woman, who had tried stanning hunters before, also knew a little about their “profession.” Taming was an extremely rare job, but just because you succeeded in taming didn’t mean the contracted creature and its master would necessarily be close.

“I heard most contracted creatures don’t like their masters, but you two look really close. As expected of the Collector’s hunter...”

“It seems it’s because I raised them like children.”

“It must not have been easy to take care of monsters that much—seems amazing. Ah, um... am I taking too much of your time?”

“That is not the case.”

Hunter Seo Gio tilted his head and asked,

“Do you happen to know where the Other Orphanage is around here?”

“The Other Orphanage?”

His voice was far too calm and stable for someone asking for directions, making it feel as though he already knew everything and was only asking.

‘...If it’s work, the Collector would’ve given location information, but he said it was for a friend... did he come in a hurry? Or maybe it’s a surprise, and he came without telling his friend?’

The woman briefly fell into thought, but soon a difficult smile—unique to someone asking a passerby for help—settled over Hunter Seo Gio’s perfect sculpted face. Only then did the woman come to her senses.

‘I shouldn’t be thinking about other things with someone right in front of me. Am I out of it because I’m tired? Thinking strange thoughts...’

Pushing away her foolish impressions, the woman returned to reality and thought.

“Ah, the Other Orphanage...”

Someone who often moved around this area, she answered with an awkward face.

“It burned down a while ago.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

Hunter Seo Gio spoke with a pleased face like that was exactly it.

“I’m looking for that building.”

“That building?”

Since it was a closed-off abandoned building in a secluded place, maybe monsters lived there. Perhaps he came after receiving a tip for his friend.

‘Maybe he came without hearing the details from his friend. Could be he’s trying to solve it quietly without his friend knowing, so the friend won’t feel burdened.’

The Hunter Seo Gio the woman remembered was a person suited to the proverb, ‘Let not your left hand know what your right hand does.’ Wasn’t he the hunter who helped people at the ‘Deep Sea Temple’ and still didn’t put out even one article?

‘They said he’s shy. I thought it was just something they said, but seeing this, maybe he’s the type who feels burdened by receiving thanks for helping.’

Thinking that, the woman nodded.

“Yes, I know. Should I tell you?”

“It seems you were on your way home from work. I’m sorry. I’ll shamelessly ask for some help.”

“This neighborhood is pretty confusing, and more than that, if not for you, Hunter, I’d probably already be dead, so this much...”

“It must be thanks to your good heart in cooperating that we could all escape together.”

“Wow, how can someone make you feel this good with just words?”

The woman felt a little regret.

‘If you were an official hunter, I would’ve made an account ages ago.’

Chewing on her regret, the woman guided him. No matter how sparse and secluded it was, this was still part of a city where people lived. With sparse streetlights and signboards giving off light, it wasn’t so dark.

Soon, the woman led Hunter Seo Gio to the Other Orphanage.

“I think this is the orphanage you mentioned.”

Seeing the burned building made her mood feel a little strange.

‘I heard people died, and it’s giving me chills.’

She wasn’t doubting the Hunter Seo Gio who’d saved her, but coming to a place this empty and secluded was dangerous. Looking at the abandoned building, the woman forced an awkward smile and asked Hunter Seo Gio.

“C-could I wait until you’re done? I’m scared to go back alone...”

“Of course. I was planning to do that as well. Going home alone late at night is dangerous.”

Hunter Seo Gio readily nodded, curving his eyes softly.

“It won’t take long.”

“Ah, really? So, as expected, you came to catch a monster, or...”

“No.”

He said,

“I came to make friends.”

“...”

Maybe it was just her imagination.

His voice felt as though it had sunk into the sea.

“...? Ah, um...”

Was he here to tame a new monster? As the woman tried to think within the bounds of common sense, Hunter Seo Gio stroked the cat’s head with a gentle touch and said,

“Dana.”

The cat answered.

“Meow.”

The answer continues.

“Meow.”

“Meow...”

“...Meow...”

The moonlike eyes of the cat curved.

“Meow.”

And voices, unripe and young.

‘...Like the sound of bells.’

As that strange impression came to mind, something entered the woman’s vision.

Unfamiliar children, imitating the cat’s meows, walked out of the abandoned building.

“Meow...”

“The kitty called.”

“It meowed.”

“I did too, I meowed too, kitty.”

“Meow!”

Childlike, rambling sentences continued one after another.

A girl with her hair tied into one ponytail. A boy with a mischievous impression. A child who moved carefully as if scared. A child who walked with sniffles for some reason. A child who hugged the big cat as if glad to see it...

“...Oh.”

At the end, the woman saw the person who revealed herself.

“...”

“...”

An elderly woman who awkwardly smiled as she led the children out.

When her eyes met Hunter Seo Gio’s, she, wearing an apron, bowed her head deeply in greeting.

“...I ask that you take care of them.”

“Would you like to come with us?”

“I serve another god.”

“I would like to hear the name.”

“My god shines moonlight upon the world.”

“Soon I will come to see you together with the children.”

“...Yes, if you do that...”

“You will not be lonely.”

The old woman, who had been without words, burst into tears.

“...Thank you.”

And when the woman blinked once—

“...”

“...”

There was no one there.

“...Uh, uh... uh?”

“Since we’ve finished our business, I will escort you to your home.”

“Uhuhuh?”

“Oh dear, are you all right?”

“Uhuh??”

Only then did the woman realize belatedly that she had seen a ghost.

* * *

At the window of the abandoned building.

“...”

Juhyeon, who had watched everything, collapsed.

His waterlogged voice trembled pitifully.

“...I’m sorry...”

“No.”

“I’m sorry. If I had done a little better...”

“It’s fine, Juhyeon.”

“I’m truly sorry.”

“It isn’t your fault.”

“I-I was wrong...”

A reunion within twisted laws and providence, by the mercy of a wicked god.

“...I’m sorry I hurt you...”

Juhyeon received his friend’s gift.

(To be continued in the next episode)