Chapter 249

Chapter 249

Yoo Seongun came flying over as soon as he heard the news.

“Ah, wait a second.”

“Mr. Yoo Seongun, it’s been a while.”

“It’s been so long I’m happy to see you, but I heard something extremely ominous from Ms. Juhyeon.”

“You mean the news that this ‘Portrait of Gio’ will soon be revamped.”

“Does it accept suspending updates, too?”

“This old-fashioned portrait has no such delicate, high-end features.”

“What a terrible shame.”

Yoo Seongun, who had gone overseas for work, had just arrived at the Collection Merchant’s gallery. Shuffling along, he unfolded a folding chair and set it in front of the portrait. A fifth-floor curator passing by greeted him.

“Oh, I heard you were abroad.”

“I flew back the moment the job ended.”

“Then take care.”

“Looks like you’re getting off work? Ah, I’m jealous. You’re getting off work already at four in the morning?”

“I’m going to see Kkyuring at home, so don’t hold me up. I have to feed them.”

“Our friendship forged by overtime can really be this shallow...”

“Yeah, who do you think you are, stopping a worker who’s clocking out?”

After the curator coolly left, Gio asked Yoo Seongun.

“Kkyuring—just hearing the name is cute. Who is it?”

“That person’s goldfish at home...”

“These days, goldfish not only cry, they also go ‘kkyuring,’ I see. I learned something new.”

“Well, no matter how I listen, it seems pretty far from ‘kkyuring.’”

“Then what is it?”

“Closer to ‘rumble-crash,’ I’d say.”

“Isn’t that thunder and lightning?”

“I don’t know why that goldfish’s name isn’t Thunderbolt.”

“I think the name Thunderbolt is too cruel a thing to do to a goldfish.”

“Yeah, I messed up. I’m tired, so nonsense is spilling out.”

A goldfish probably has its own honor, too.

“Uh, anyway, back to the main point...”

Yoo Seongun took out his notebook and fountain pen and asked again.

“Mr. Argio?”

“I’m here?”

“Excellent quick switch.”

Before he knew it, Yoo Seongun narrowed his eyes at the braided hair, red as it had slipped past the frame and fallen down.

“I heard you’ve recently been preparing in earnest to become an evil god—what’s going on? Are you saying the current evil god Argio wasn’t complete?”

“The synchronization is stuck at 99.9%.”

“What, did it start buffering? An error?”

“If it’s an error, it’s an error.”

In other words, it was like a computer refusing to accept the last 0.1% of a file.

“Right now, the protests from the ‘Gios’ are quite fierce.”

“Uh... so that’s how you integrate? You’re more democratic than I thought.”

“If necessary, we can share opinions like that, but ‘Gio’ is, in essence, one. It only feels separate because I’m the only one whose integration is still incomplete.”

“What kind of vibe is this, anyway.”

“In the end, integration means becoming one...”

It was like a human growing by understanding and accepting emotions like love, anger, and sorrow.

This, too, required a process where ‘Gio’ understood and embraced it. If you denied a certain value deep down, how could you become one? You couldn’t.

“Of course, I’ve understood and accepted a lot up to now, so it’s reached 99.9%, but.”

“For some reason it feels like there’d be more decimals after 99.9%, but anyway—so?”

“Well... when you think ‘evil god,’ certain things come to mind, don’t they?”

“Calamity.”

“That’s what ‘Gio’ hasn’t been able to accept yet.”

“Is there even any value that needs accepting and embracing in a calamity?”

“Isn’t that why the Collection Merchant built this gallery?”

“You’re right.”

Yoo Seongun grinned.

“That’s why we’re Collection Merchants.”

A vicious breed that finds desirable value even in calamity.

“So you’ll eventually become a complete evil god someday, too.”

Still, he knew the dominant personality would be on Seo Gio’s side. Just as Giovanni couldn’t become the main personality, Argio would be the same. Maybe because of that, he wasn’t too worried.

‘At worst, a few guilds will be wiped out.’

Hmm.

‘...Since you said an evil god of blood and rage, should I set the damage range a little more generously...? Either way, you said all battles will take place inside dungeons, so reconstruction can be covered by government and Association measures.’

Estimating the extent of humanity’s losses, Yoo Seongun spoke again.

“I haven’t exactly studied your side’s history, so I don’t know for sure... but your personality will be nasty, won’t it?”

“Ather and you both—aren’t you being a bit too harsh when I’m right in front of you? But if I must answer, then yes, probably. Even if a happy pig who avoids conflict and a saint of mercy dilute it, you’d better brace yourselves.”

“Oh dear, is puberty finally coming for our portrait...”

“Aren’t you a bit old to go through that again now?”

“Twenty-four is young.”

“You’re very generous about treating people like kids.”

“I learned it from you.”

Wasn’t he the sort who doesn’t even treat eighteen-year-old adults like adults?

“It’d be good to report this. That said, don’t worry—I have no intention of interfering with your Demon King project. I’m someone who believes I can find artistic value even in pain and death.”

“Good. You’re clearly different from Ms. Juhyeon, who was extremely uncomfortable about it.”

“I won’t be able to beg mercy from you when we meet in a dungeon, will I?”

“I certainly know the value of mercy. The value of acceptance and salvation, and the value of fellowship, too.”

The golden eyes curved deeply.

“But I don’t know whether even the evil god will know that.”

“What do you mean you don’t know.”

Yoo Seongun smiled nonchalantly, unwrapped a lollipop, and put it in his mouth.

“You know it all.”

Everything in the world had value.

The problem was how well it ‘fit the era and the circumstances.’

* * *

Argio said.

“People have to get angry sometimes—how can you live giving only mercy?”

Giovanni said.

“People also have to show mercy—how can you live doing nothing but getting angry?”

“Oh ho, should a priest who serves the divinity of providence be palming cards like this? Giovanni, isn’t it just that you don’t get angry, so you don’t get angry?”

“Who among us hasn’t resented and hated? I simply have a measure of compassion and understanding. It’s something an intellectual community absolutely needs.”

“But how can everyone have ideal compassion and reason? Listen, friend. Most people don’t have patience as good as ours. There’s a saying on Earth that the fist is closer than the law for a reason.”

“I don’t want to solve situations where everyone can improve by keeping the rules with violence. More than anything, Mr. Argio, don’t you enjoy violence itself?”

“It’s not violence—it’s merely the process of me growing stronger and untying the knots in my heart. What fault is there in delighting in that noble means itself?”

“This is why evil gods...”

“What are you even saying, you mercy bomber.”

Seo Gio said.

“Then may we go paint now?”

“Sure.”

“Let’s.”

It was time to complete the ‘Amusement Park of Dreams.’

* * *

“...”

A priest of the Moon Lady Religion looked around.

“...”

Desks and walls piled high with research work. A mobile board. Everywhere was filled with precious knowledge and lovely results, to the point he couldn’t take his eyes off any of it.

“...”

As he paced, the contents came into view. Research on the Origin. It was proceeding very smoothly. It seemed fit to be delivered to the Association. The priest, as if bewitched, became absorbed in it.

Then he came to his senses.

“...Ah, right.”

This was a dream.

“I was in the middle of figuring out the dungeon’s structure.”

The documents he was holding floated softly in midair.

‘It’s already been a month of losing myself to enjoying the dream... I almost repeated the same mistake again. Should I be relieved that I came to my senses now, at least?’

The Moon Lady Religion had received a request from the Association and was continuing its research on the dungeon ‘Amusement Park of Dreams.’ Since it was a virtual dungeon, it wasn’t easy to grasp. That ‘dreams’ come true as you wish—how abstract.

‘What’s astonishing is that all the knowledge you can obtain here has real value. It means this isn’t a realm made based on my knowledge. Well, at the very least, it might be reflected to some degree in dressing the background or adjusting situations... but that isn’t all.’

Even knowledge about the ‘Origin’ had real value.

“...”

He wrote the condition ‘a dream where my research bears fruit,’ put it under his pillow, and went to sleep. With only that act, in just a few days the man achieved many results. It was a hollow yet addictive thrill.

‘To the point it makes me want to live in this dream forever...’

But that was impossible.

‘This dream is a kind of lucid dream. It seems stretching or shrinking that time at the dream owner’s will depends on the dreamer’s personal ability. But even if time in the dream is long, the time you sleep in reality doesn’t increase.’

Everyone goes to sleep at an ordinary time, then wakes. Nothing goes wrong with time or the body. This dream had no side effects except a vicious addictiveness.

‘But I’m here to fulfill the request the Moon Lady Religion received. I mustn’t be seduced by this sweet dream any longer. I can savor even more varied knowledge to my heart’s content after I resolve the Moon Lady Religion’s duties...’

It was as he repeated that to himself.

“Why do you refuse.”

“...”

“Isn’t it truly sweet?”

“...Well...”

He turned around.

“...”

But this was still his laboratory. A dream that had dressed up his own laboratory. There was no reason for a new voice to be heard anywhere here. No matter how he looked around, he couldn’t see the owner of the voice.

This time, a voice came from the right.

“If you’re as clever as you are, you surely know—every piece of knowledge you see and hear here is not an illusion. It’s filled with deep, mysterious knowledge that will contribute to the progress of humanity and the world... all of it is what you have achieved.”

Next, from the left.

“Does it feel hollow because it’s a dream? Sure—if the dream you dreamed was splurging money, it might have. A dream of eating lots of delicious food would be the same. But you know too, don’t you?”

“...”

“Knowledge cannot be an illusion. As long as it isn’t a lie, knowledge is knowledge, and it is noble. Now, look. Here is a great heap of the knowledge you have wanted so badly.”

“...”

“Perhaps you blame yourself because none of this was achieved by your own hands. But there’s no need—I, in particular, permit it. In the end, wasn’t it your strength and choice that brought you this far...?”

And then the whispers came from all sides.

“You don’t have to strain yourself.” “You’re working hard enough.” “Yes, what are you curious about now?” “Poor thing—this narrow well is your entire world.” “Shall I show you the library this time?” “Don’t you want to see the world?” “There is truly a wide variety of knowledge here.” “The Origin is such a mysterious concept.” “You can save more people.” “Who could uncover knowledge of such high value?” “It may be knowledge that is too early, but I’ll permit it, especially for you.” “You’ve been given a very good opportunity.” “Do you already want to wake from this sweet dream...?” “Sleep deeper, deeper.” “Reach out your hand.” “Imagine more.” “What is it that you want?” “What desire do you have?” “All the knowledge that was not permitted to you is here.” “Aren’t you curious?” “This is a dream just for you.” “It is your dream.”

The priest opened and closed his mouth.

“...”

He must not answer.

‘...I must not answer a single word.’

If the other party were a simple monster, it might be fine. But if it was one of the children of the Origin, it would be a headache. An authoritative mystique, like divinity or the dungeon itself. A human could be corrupted in an instant.

The moment he thought that, he sensed a presence behind him.

“My friend... ignoring me like this truly hurts.”

“...”

“It seems this dream doesn’t satisfy you.”

He shouldn’t look, and he had to pretend he hadn’t heard.

“Isn’t it truly bizarre? You don’t even realize your own contradiction. Haven’t you always thought that nothing matters except knowledge? I remember clearly that you wanted that, and so you created this dream...”

“...”

“All the knowledge you want is here. Why not stay a little longer before you go? Don’t you want broader knowledge? And yet you’re trying to tear apart this sweet dream, considering your duties in reality. Reality, reality... what is so important there?”

“...”

“Is it what you left behind in reality that holds you back? Your duties there, your fellow priests, the brothers who trust and follow you? Don’t worry—as you know, this dream is long and reality remains as usual. And yet why try to return to reality? Now, sink into sleep a little deeper. A little deeper...”

Clink—.

With the sound of jewels clashing, his shoulder was grabbed.

“Letting go takes only a moment.”

Whatever it is.

“...”

“...”

The presence vanished soon after.

“...Ugh...”

Even when he turned around with a trembling body, there was nothing left.

There was only the shadow of his dark laboratory. The priest stared for a long time, as if glaring at that empty shadow.

Then he recalled what the voice had said.

‘...What’s so important about reality?’

...Right?

‘Why was I trying to go back again?’

The man stood there for a long time.

(Continued in the next part)