chapter 218

Chapter 218

After finishing a modest conversation, Gio requested to pray at the Sun Church.

“Would that be possible?”

“Are you asking us to arrange a private prayer room?”

“Yes, that is correct. There is something I wish to say to the Sun...”

At Hunter Seo Gio’s words, a junior priest who had been called over by Kang Seodam smiled and nodded.

“Will it be all right, Priest Kang Seodam?”

“So long as it does not burden the order, I would like you to grant all of Hunter Seo Gio’s requests.”

“All of them...”

“Hunter Seo Gio won’t make unreasonable demands.”

“Understood. This way, Hunter.”

He was a priest who mainly helped guide visitors, and he was quite used to this sort of work. The Sun Church was an order that pursued a benevolent, harmonious atmosphere where one sought all forgiveness and mercy, so there were quite a few ordinary believers who came to confess their sins.

‘But can Hunter Seo Gio be considered an ordinary believer...?’

The junior priest thought that inwardly.

‘I heard Hunter Seo Gio himself seems to regard himself as half a priest. And his air doesn’t look like an ordinary believer’s, either. There was also talk that he’s the Black Cloak’s apostle.’

He didn’t show it, but he was curious. This man, with a benevolent air as though he couldn’t even kill a bug—what on earth would he talk about in the prayer room?

“Mm...”

Remembering what the elders had said, the junior priest tried to make some light conversation.

“This isn’t your first visit to the Sun Church, is it?”

“That’s right. When I visited last time, I received a proposal regarding the ‘Four-Legged Rainforest Underground.’ Thanks to that, I was able to have a rare experience.”

“We were terribly sorry for hastily arranging the schedule on the order’s side, so I’m glad you say that.”

Unlike its image of being quiet and still, the Sun Church pursued a bustling, warm atmosphere. Laughter and chatter—kept to the point of not bothering one another—filled the passage leading to the prayer rooms.

“Even though I know you awakened as a tamer, I keep wanting to call you ‘Priest.’ It’s not that I’m consciously thinking differently, but if I end up being rude, would you forgive me?”

“Within the Sun’s embrace, where the sunlight is warm and laughter abounds, what could we not forgive? What you mentioned is something others commonly get confused about as well, so you needn’t worry too much.”

“Ah, as expected... so it’s not just me.”

“Even the clothes I’m wearing take the shape of ordinary priestly robes, so I understand your confusion. And it is also undeniably true that I serve another divinity.”

“It may be an impolite thought, but I can’t help regretting what it would have been like if Hunter Seo Gio had awakened as a priest. You could have become a high priest counted among the best in Korea—no, in the world...”

“You flatter me.”

Having spoken with him, Hunter Seo Gio truly was a believer of excellent character.

‘So that’s why there were rumors he was a saint. He’s enough to make you admire him without even trying.’

He even seemed like an ideal all priests should emulate.

‘If he became someone of our Sun Church, I would truly be happy...’

He wasn’t the only one having such thoughts. The Sun’s revival was a priest’s joy. A skilled and kind priest, without any thorny edge to their temperament, was someone any order would covet.

Yes, surely it would be a happy thing, if that happened...

“...?”

The junior priest suddenly flinched.

“What is it?”

“...Ah, no. I’m sorry.”

He smiled awkwardly.

“I think my eyes stung for a moment in the sunlight.”

For a moment, Hunter Seo Gio’s shadow seemed to ripple white, but when he looked again, there wasn’t the slightest trace of it. Feeling embarrassed at something that was natural if anything was natural, the junior priest grew flustered.

“To show such a sight in front of a valued guest—my rudeness was great.”

“Rudeness? In a space where the sunlight comes in so warmly, of course one’s eyes might sting. Perhaps this, too, is a blessing granted by the Sun Goddess.”

“To hear you say that, I can hardly contain my joy.”

He thought this might be what a true believer looked like.

‘What a pity. If a talent like this had been a Sun Church priest from the start...'

But Hunter Seo Gio hadn’t even awakened as a priest, and moreover, he was a guild member of the Collection Merchant, a group infamous for its greed for talent. And since he served a different divinity, he didn’t seem likely to convert easily.

‘Even if he wanted to, the Collector wouldn’t sit still. I heard he was a son kept tightly hidden—if that’s true, that says it all. That Bissabeol fellow really is a nauseating man.’

A slightly displeased thought rose.

‘...Did he recognize from the beginning that this was a vessel fit for sainthood, and hide him so the order couldn’t steal him away? If he hid God’s apostle for the sake of his collecting greed, that’s no different from a sin that would displease the Sun Goddess as well. It leaves a bad taste...'

Forcing down his discomfort, the junior priest resumed the conversation.

“What brings you here today?”

“It is related to the matter of support for the children I hold dear, so I came to seek you out.”

“Ah, you mean the Cha Isol and Lee Ruda pair. It became a small topic even within the Sun Church, how much you cherish the two. They are both excellent vessels.”

“They are adorable children.”

Hunter Seo Gio smiled as if amused.

“I hear updates often, and precisely because of that, I wondered if there might be other help I could provide. I just spoke at length about that with Priest Kang Seodam.”

“As they are clever priests, they are also preparing for early graduation. If someone as admirable as Hunter Seo Gio helps them, then surely those two prospective priests will be able to become proper priests before long.”

“Though I am not a priest, if I can help, I would like to do so.”

“What further qualification could be needed for a talent like Hunter Seo Gio to help?”

In the first place, it was impossible to think of this person before his eyes as not being a priest.

“Now, we’ve arrived. This is the private prayer room assigned to Hunter Seo Gio.”

“Even though it’s so deep inside, sunlight still comes in. That’s impressive.”

“Being greatly loved by the Goddess is one of our Sun Church’s prides.”

His shoulders rose with pride. The Sun Church’s prayer rooms were arranged in a form as close to nature as possible, to harmonize with the Sun, the natural providence—and thanks to the blessings granted accordingly, sunlight would enter even in enclosed spaces.

Green sprouts and flowers blooming in the prayer room, soft sunlight pouring over them. Even the wooden bench holding cool air...

“Whenever we see with our own eyes proof that we are loved by the Sun like this, gratitude wells up. I hope Hunter Seo Gio also has a good time within the Sun’s embrace.”

“Thank you for words as warm as the sunlight.”

“Then I will stand guard in front of this, so please speak as you wish.”

The junior priest quietly closed the door and stood watch before it.

“...”

The silent corridor of the prayer rooms brought peace to his heart.

So that the Sun’s children could offer prayers in peace at any time, it was a rule that the prayer rooms must always maintain silence. Unlike the noisy outer area, this space where shadow and sunlight mixed was also the place the man preferred the most.

‘As expected, it was good that I became a guiding priest. This, too, must be thanks to the Sun Goddess cradling me. I must always keep a grateful heart and offer prayers myself...'

The Sun Church, where warm sunlight always came in, was the space that welcomed spring first in Korea. When he closed his eyes, he could hear birdsong chirping, feel a soft breeze tickling his cheeks, and catch the scent of flowers announcing the birth of life.

And quite a while passed like that.

“...Hm?”

In a place where there should have been no light, there was light.

‘...Is it light leaking out from the prayer room?’

Sunlight was leaking through the crack in the door.

‘...Impossible. How can light of this magnitude...?’

The junior priest’s heart pounded hard.

As a priest of the Sun, there was no way he could fail to distinguish ordinary light from sunlight. Without a doubt, this was the Sun’s light. He knew that, very rarely, this phenomenon appeared in the prayer rooms of the Sun Church headquarters.

‘When the bishop prays...'

And in that moment—that was, when the Sun answered.

“...”

Hesitating, the junior priest moved even closer to the door.

‘...J-just a little.’

If his guess was correct, he wanted to capture even a little of that glorious sight in his eyes.

The prayer room doors had a slot like a serving hatch, and also a small window where one could meet eyes and communicate. They existed because it was common for priests to offer fasting prayers for days.

‘Just a little...'

The junior priest gently lifted the small window that resembled a mailbox.

“...”

...Ah.

The Sun.

* * *

“This is unfair.”

“Please calm down, Hunter Seo Gio.”

Even with an expression like he had a headache, Kang Seodam steadied Gio.

“This is clearly our fault. Someone without the qualification dared to steal a believer’s prayer, and this happened—so Hunter Seo Gio has done nothing wrong.”

Of course, it would have been better if he hadn’t revealed such a vast mystery of divinity so casually in the world. Feeling troubled, Kang Seodam glanced at the priests who were peering at Hunter Seo Gio with feverish eyes.

‘I want to gouge all their eyes out.’

Do they even know who this person is, to dare do something so vulgar?

‘...The situation has become a bit awkward, though.’

The guiding priest who had peeped at Hunter Seo Gio’s ‘prayer’ had fallen into a frenzied state.

“The Sun has seen me! The Sun, ah...! Aaaah...!!”

“Move him to the infirmary, quickly!”

“Ah, please grant me mercy—just a fragment! That small and immense mercy, we are...!”

“This condition is really severe.”

Just from stealing a single ‘prayer,’ a proper priest had gone half-mad. It was a frightening sight, but this was the home of the Sun’s children, who gathered in faith. Seeing it, the priests felt not fear, but awe.

“...What on earth did he see...”

“...He keeps calling for the Sun.”

They always thirsted for miracles.

“...”

In a burst of irritation and anger, Kang Seodam scattered all the onlookers.

“Everyone step back. A patient has appeared—how long do you intend to keep watching? Do you not know that showing such a rude sight before a valued guest is truly wrong?”

“B-but... Priest Kang Seodam...”

“There is no ‘but.’ We were rude to our guest, and we are still being rude. It would be best to recognize your own station and return to your places before you commit any further sin.”

Within the order, Kang Seodam’s authority was by no means small. The priests, still glancing over regretfully, left one by one under Kang Seodam’s reproach. The junior priest who had fallen into frenzy was likewise carried off to a sickroom.

In the end, Kang Seodam led Seo Gio to his office.

“...Truly, I have no words.”

“As it was a rare sight, I think it is understandable. I only hope the priest who guided me will recover swiftly.”

“That will happen.”

He had only gone mad from capturing an undeserved blessing in his eyes, after all.

‘He should have known his place.’

The junior priest had done that without knowing ‘Hunter Seo Gio’s’ true identity, but if he had simply known how to do only his own share of work, this would not have happened. A truly pitiful fellow.

‘I entrusted it, believing he wasn’t someone who would do such a thing in ordinary times...'

It only meant that the light ‘Hunter Seo Gio’ had shown was that great. He understood, yet it still left him displeased.

“...Did your conversation with the Sun end safely?”

“Yes, it was an enjoyable time.”

“Then that is a relief. As for our apology regarding this matter, we will deliver it through Manager Juhyeon. Will that be acceptable?”

“You need not apologize.”

“It is also a matter of the order’s dignity, so please accept it. If we commit a sin and do not reflect or compensate, it is no different from having no qualification to serve providential divinity.”

“If you say so, then, understood. Thank you for seeing to it until the end.”

“Then...”

Kang Seodam called over Cha Isol and Lee Ruda, who had been waiting seated on the sofa.

“Would you like to give a light greeting to the person who has supported Brother Cha Isol and Sister Lee Ruda?”

“Yes! I will!”

“I, I also... for a moment...”

The two of them slipped closer and bowed their heads.

“I’ll graduate early within three years and come find you!”

“Will you not see my face even before then?”

“Thank you for your great kindness.”

“One greeting at each extreme, I see.”

In any case, he liked it.

“May the Sun’s light reach you.”

After blessing their future, Seo Gio faced Cha Isol.

“Do you not have nightmares?”

“Not at all.”

“Does the Sun love you?”

“Yes, very much!”

“Your vessel has grown.”

It was the result of his father, the Sun.

“...”

In the end, he was right.

* * *

Basement level 5 gallery.

“What is the posture a god must take?”

“What kind of conversation did you have with the Sun Goddess to come back asking something like that?”

Visiting ‘Gio’s portrait’ after a long time, Yoo Seongun was dumbfounded.

(To be continued in the next part)