Chapter 239

Chapter 239

Eyes formed within the void.

“Good, you can still see me well.”

Soon after, ears formed as well.

“Are you sleeping?”

“...”

“You’re doing very well.”

A brain formed.

“Today is very warm. This room is said to be one of the places in the Moon Lady Religion where sunlight comes in especially well. I thought everything would be blocked because I can’t see any openings except the entrance, but... it feels like it might also be a room prepared for you.”

I felt a soft weight.

“Is the blanket too hot?”

Ah, so this is a blanket.

He covered me with a blanket. He? Ah, right. Judging by the low voice, the other party seemed to be an adult man. What I hear in my ears is another person’s voice. Along with it, I hear the pounding of my own heart.

“Come to think of it, I only taught you how to fall asleep.”

“...”

“There, good girl.”

Something large and soft was placed over my eyes.

“Now, wake up.”

“...Ah...”

I opened my eyes because I regretted that hand pulling away.

“...”

“Good morning.”

“...Good morning.”

One day when full spring had arrived.

At last, the Moon Lady Religion’s saintess awakened.

* * *

In the meantime, Gio had become close with the Moon Lady Religion’s priests.

“Ah, Saint.”

“No, that’s not it.”

“I heard the saintess has awakened.”

“Am I being ignored?”

“As expected, it seems nothing happened thanks to you staying with her, Saint.”

“Just what is with the Moon Lady Religion people?”

He had gotten quite close.

“I think you may subtract some of our trust and friendship.”

“It would be faster to erase your memory. But I know you will not do that, Saint.”

“Seems we really did get too close. Shall we try being a little less close?”

It was a feeling somewhere between liking it and disliking it.

‘They don’t even listen to what I say.’

When there was distance between them, they at least pretended to listen, but once he thought they’d gotten close, their natures started coming out little by little. The Moon Lady Religion people had a fatal charm: they only said what they wanted to say and only heard what they wanted to hear.

“Just know that if I become rumored as a saint in this small Republic of Korea, it’ll all be your fault.”

“Was it not already?”

“It kind of was.”

But officially acknowledging it was a separate matter. The Moon Lady Religion priest seemed to understand and nodded.

“We are not so thoughtless as to go that far.”

“I’ll try believing you.”

“Are you going to see the saintess now?”

“Yes, to make some thin porridge.”

“As expected, you are devoted.”

“Do you think you are being indifferent?”

After staying at the Moon Lady Religion for a little over a month, Gio learned it. The people here were indifferent to others without malice.

At first he even thought, ‘Was the saintess being ostracized?’ But that thought soon disappeared cleanly.

They only called each other fellow brothers and sisters, but these people looked at one another like dogs looking at chickens. If there was research to do, they’d gather with those who matched them, then separate, and even if they grabbed each other by the collar like they wanted to kill each other, once the work ended, they separated again.

‘A scary world.’

So cold.

“I knew well how harsh modern society is, but you all have severe individualism in a different context. You’re not seeing your fellow brothers and sisters as stones, are you?”

“Rather than that, they will be soft and warm.”

“Haha.”

Do you even call that an answer.

‘Well, does asking about the saintess’s well-being count as immense interest here?’

Aren’t they the kind of priests who don’t even blink if people die left and right? Giovanni nodded as he came to understand the Moon Lady Religion’s charm.

“Then I will be on my way.”

“Later, if your hair falls out, just one...”

“Pick it up yourself.”

“Thank you.”

“Bunch of stalkers.”

Gio walked with a tray holding thin porridge. Perhaps because the Moon Lady Religion priests tended to focus only on their own work, it was very quiet. He felt a sense of kinship, thinking they all seemed like introverts like Seo Gio.

He soon arrived at the room where the saintess was.

“Aram.”

“Ah...”

The girl who had been reading blinked.

“...Hunter Seo Gio.”

“You were reading.”

“I wondered if any new theories had come out.”

“You’re diligent.”

“I’m not lazy.”

The saintess, Aram, recovered faster than expected.

‘Mentally, too.’

And like the Moon Lady Religion priests, Aram also had almost no wariness toward Gio. She seemed to accept it as, ‘If the bishop approved, there must be a reason.’ And there was also the fact that he had treated her.

After hesitating for a moment, Aram asked.

“...Is that a meal?”

“It’s thin porridge.”

“I wish I had veto power.”

“You always have the right to choose.”

“Then I don’t want to eat.”

“Is that so?”

Gio set the tray he was holding on the table and approached Aram, who was sitting on the bed. Then he brought over a chair and sat nearby.

“I’m curious why—can you tell me?”

“I can’t taste anything.”

“That’s quite serious.”

“It’s been like this since two years ago.”

“Aha.”

The time when the saintess’s ‘madness’ was said to have worsened.

“But you left your stomach empty for a very long time.”

“Didn’t you say I have a choice?”

“The choice is yours; informing you is mine.”

“That’s petty.”

“I am that kind of person.”

“...”

Was it homemade? The girl, checking his mood, reached out her hand.

“...Give it to me. Thin porridge is at least bearable.”

“I’m sorry if I made you feel pressured, but I’m even happier that you’re being considerate.”

“Hunter Seo Gio says embarrassing things a lot...”

“You’ll get used to it and accept it.”

Just like Juhyeon and Yoo Seongun do.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you...”

Aram blinked.

“...There’s a smell.”

“It’s thin porridge, so it shouldn’t smell much.”

“No, not that...”

“...”

“...”

Aram put the thin porridge into her mouth with the light spoon, then worked her lips.

“...There’s flavor.”

“That’s a relief.”

“And it’s delicious.”

“That too is a relief.”

Then Aram began to shed tears in drops, spoon still in her mouth.

“How is it.”

Gio leaned against the bed, propped his chin on his hand, and smiled.

“Is it edible?”

“...Yes.”

After that, the saintess followed Gio quite a bit.

As expected, nothing buys a person’s heart as easily as delicious food.

* * *

The saintess, Aram, had a strong thirst for inquiry.

A child from the slums, she had been able to enter the Moon Lady Religion thanks to the current bishop, who recognized her aptitude. Even if she had awakened as a priest, it was a rare chance not easily obtained.

“I’m always grateful to the bishop.”

“She was saddened that you were sick.”

“She... pays a lot of attention to me, the bishop does.”

The bishop had a blunt and cold personality, but Aram, too, did not lose to that lack of warmth. Rather, the fact that even with such a personality she accepted her and guided her could be called tremendous affection.

“She even gave me a name.”

Originally, she had no name.

“Aram.”

“It’s a good name.”

“It means fruit that has ripened enough while hanging on a tree.”

Within the Moon Lady Religion, there was no name that cheered on the future more than that. It was a sect that pursued knowledge and wisdom. The name fruit, meaning achievement, was the greatest affection the blunt bishop could give.

“If I said I didn’t want to repay that affection and expectation, it would be a lie, but more than that, I had a lot I was curious about. There was so much in the world I didn’t know.”

“How is it now?”

“I’m lacking.”

She felt she could awaken even more knowledge.

“Especially with mystery, there’s so much to dig into. For now, Earth only has basic common sense about the new world, but it doesn’t know more detailed components and structure than that. I want to know that.”

“So what do you want to do?”

“Knowing is what matters. Because it makes me a more perfect being.”

“The Moon Lady Religion people really like the word perfect.”

“Everyone came here because they want to become a better being, so it’s only natural. We may not become perfect while alive, but if so, we want to become perfect even in death.”

Aram, kneading the blanket, stole a glance.

“Does it make you uncomfortable?”

“Not particularly.”

“That’s a relief.”

She made an excuse.

“It’s not like I say this to just anyone. Even the other fellow brothers and sisters, when they go outside, take on the image of a priest that people expect. It’s just a unique house where unique people gather... so at least when we’re at home, we act comfortably.”

Then she smiled.

“I become an elegant saintess when I go outside too.”

“That sounds tiring.”

“...”

Her smile faded oddly.

“...Honestly, it is.”

“You don’t look like the type who enjoys luxury and pretense.”

“I don’t hate it. I like it when people look up to me, and I like wearing pretty, soft clothes. But more than that, I want to become perfect faster... so my greed has a different priority.”

“I see.”

“Thank you for not saying it’s unpleasant.”

“A person has the right to go the path they want, as long as they don’t cross the line.”

“Not everyone in the world thinks that way.”

The reality of the Moon Lady Religion isn’t something people would welcome. It is far removed from common morality and ethics. So the Moon Lady Religion, outside, also took on the image of a pious priest rather than a scholar.

That was why the Moon Lady Religion became even more of a closed culture. Because there were very few people who would understand them. That a saint of a great vessel, who did not scold the Moon Lady Religion, had helped them this time was like a miracle.

“I... well...”

“Call me comfortably.”

“I’m glad you don’t see us as bad people, Teacher.”

Everyone in this house was Aram’s family.

“Because you’re this kind of person, the bishop must have readily yielded the position of benefactor. She really has a good eye for people.”

“Yes, so she brought you in too?”

“Mm... yes, of course. I’m very smart, you know.”

“Admirable.”

“...”

After hesitating, Aram asked.

“...How long will you stay here?”

“Until you’re all better.”

“My body is much more comfortable now.”

“You can’t lie, can you.”

Gio smiled.

“Then wouldn’t you make a request?”

“...Can I do that?”

“You called me teacher.”

He looked pleased.

“Shall I stay by your side?”

“Yes, but...”

I don’t like being alone.

“...Can’t you not go?”

“Even if I stay?”

“I know you’re a busy person.”

“You asked while being sure I would leave.”

“If I don’t even try to hold on, I’ll regret it more.”

Gio let out a deliberate sigh.

“Kids these days grow up too early...”

“Isn’t that a really old-man thing to say?”

“Compared to you, I am an old man.”

“How old are you?”

“Hm, twenty-nine?”

“Uh...”

It was more than she thought.

“...I thought you were in your early to mid twenties.”

“You’re the first person to see me that way.”

“Why? You don’t look old.”

“Did they say my atmosphere is heavy?”

“Ah, I think I get what you mean.”

She grew a little happier.

“I get told things like that too.”

A chronic problem for those who hold mystery in a human body. People revere you even when you’ve done nothing. Even for her, whose growth had stopped at fourteen and who was small, it was the same.

“Isn’t that a bit tiring? Thanks to it I could go out into the world as a mature and elegant saintess, but it also feels a little strange. Honestly, I even wondered if the world was being fooled by me.”

“I had a time like that too. People were so scared of me even though I hadn’t done anything.”

“You don’t really look scary...”

“My impression used to be much stiffer.”

“Wow, I can’t even imagine it.”

She laughed.

‘...Right, they said this person is a saint.’

Whenever that came up, Gio denied it, but the Moon Lady Religion priests didn’t listen. Aram was fully influenced by that as well. The attendants who changed her bedding and dressed her had told her about it.

That story struck Aram deeply.

‘This person is the same as me...’

An equal person.

Too precious an existence.

(Continued in the next part)