Chapter 278

Chapter 278

This time, public opinion mainly held that the “Dream Amusement Park” incident had been a divine prank, and the world, as always, returned to its daily routine. What happened then became a small topic of conversation.

“I heard some people say it helped Korea because it was a chance to remind everyone of how dangerous divinity is, for the first time in a while. Even so, damage is damage, so it seems opinions like that get cursed at a bit...”

“When things blew up, we were too frantic to think, but well—if people have any sense, they’ll all know. That if divinity hadn’t gone easy on us, there’s no way it could’ve ended with so little damage.”

“Come to think of it, the fact that our Guild Master went to go have fun in the first place is... well, that’s just...”

“...Right...”

And Collection worked hard to avert its eyes from all of these facts.

“...”

“...”

If you act like you know, that’s extra work.

“...Anyone have anything else they want to say?”

“...What were we talking about just now?”

“This person’s good at office life.”

“Thank you.”

They weren’t unaware that this “Dream Amusement Park” incident was connected to their black portrait. Even without being guided, they had eyes.

Even so, Collection’s employees succeeded in wiping all those truths cleanly from their minds.

‘We’re busy enough as it is.’

‘If we get involved, we’re screwed.’

Collection’s employees basically had strong immunity. To disease and curses, of course, and even to the mental realm. When something blew up dozens of times a day, you couldn’t do your job if you got startled every single time.

“Ah, lunch break is over.”

“See you later.”

That said, it wasn’t as if they weren’t surprised at all by this incident.

‘Even looking at everything that’s happened so far, the scale was big this time.’

‘Fuck, this shitty world. Guild Master, I believe in you...’

‘I believe you, seriously. I believe you have some kind of plan.’

They were simply leaning on Visabel, their guild master.

“He’s not the kind of person to plan something that would risk scratching his own collection.”

“And he’s not the kind of person to just watch that kind of disaster either—you can trust him on that.”

Collection’s guild members knew the collector’s irrational obsession. They trusted that. And as if repaying that trust, hadn’t things returned to daily life like this? The employees’ “pretending not to know” was built on that trust.

Even so, they couldn’t pretend not to know about “Hunter Seo Gio,” too.

“...”

“Hello, Ms. Binari.”

“...Yes, hello.”

“It’s been a while.”

“It has been a while, yes...”

Binari, an A-rank hunter and curator who had, before she knew it, become a full-time employee of Collection, swallowed down a sigh. It was a sigh that had been about to come out from extreme tension, but she barely held it in. She couldn’t offend the other party.

Binari’s gaze landed on the blond man wearing a black cloak.

‘...I don’t know how to start talking.’

Even brainwashing herself with “He must be a good person” had its limits. Before, at least he was at the level of a monster, but now wasn’t it officially recognized that he was divinity itself? Her attitude naturally grew timid.

‘The fact that things got that bad and they’re still letting this being roam freely—Collection really is Collection. No, from the start, there’s no way there’d be any method to restrict the actions of divinity anyway...’

It couldn’t be helped that she grew even more cautious.

‘What if a calamity comes because of some nonsense I babble without realizing it?’

That matched the worry Yoo Seongun once had. These mysterious beings brought disaster if you slipped even a hair outside their standards—standards humans couldn’t even understand.

After thinking for a moment, Binari spoke.

“...I heard you haven’t been feeling well lately.”

Guild Master, I believe in you.

“Have you recovered now?”

“Thank you for your concern. I’m fine.”

“I asked because it seems I haven’t seen you in the company recently, Hunter Seo Gio.”

“Were you looking for me? I was doing self-reflection.”

“Ah, self-reflection... I see...”

Fortunately, the Earth didn’t collapse just because they exchanged a few words.

‘...Right, if there was going to be a problem with interaction, they would’ve announced it beforehand. Right now, the only rules in the building related to this being are those notices about some prank or whatever. This level should be fine.’

There was no way to stop a being who was practically a god. But you could control people. The fact they hadn’t even done that likely meant it was fine to interact as before.

“Was it a good time for self-reflection...?”

“For me, it was a truly meaningful time.”

The blond man smiled and gestured with his hand.

“Would you like to speak with me?”

“...”

Somehow, his imitation of a human seemed even rougher than before.

“...Uh...”

She shouldn’t point it out, right.

‘I don’t know how he plans to live in human society again with imitation at this level, but it’s not my problem. If it really seemed like this would cause issues, the seniors would have stepped in long ago.’

Binari forced herself to endure the severe sense of dissonance. She wanted to treat this precious work with respect.

“...Excuse me, but in 30 minutes, precisely at 4 a.m., I have scheduled work for ‘Sweet Tea Party.’”

“The sweet porcelain girls, I know. Are you still taking care of them?”

“Yes, I’m still in charge of that work.”

It seemed the other party had recalled what happened before. That a being like this remembered such a paltry human was an impossible miracle. And he even remembered her name.

‘And we didn’t even make a contract.’

Binari looked at the black cloak.

“...”

He was still looking at her with a friendly smile. That stuffed, taxidermied smile befitting the essence of a portrait gave living humans an inescapable sense of alienness.

Even so, friendliness was friendliness, so she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

“...So if it’s after I finish my work at 4, yes, I can talk with you as much as you like. Would that be all right?”

“I worry that I might be getting in the way of your work.”

“To be honest, it would be a lie to say it isn’t in the way...”

Even I thought it sounded insane, but she couldn’t lie. Those tangled up with such powerful mysteries often hated falsehoods. She had to scrape up courage and be honest.

“...However, I have personal curiosity and goodwill toward you. It would be a lie to say I don’t feel fear toward you, Mr. Seo Gio, but I wouldn’t have needed to forcibly accept interacting with you because of that. You are kind to all of us, and if I asked politely, you would step back.”

So this was Binari’s own will.

“So please wait for me a little. After I finish my work, I want to talk with you. When we first met, I was... very confused... and there are many things I couldn’t ask.”

“You are kind.”

“...So are you, Mr. Seo Gio.”

“I will accept your proposal.”

“Thank you.”

“That is the same for me as well.”

“Mr. Seo Gio,” who had been standing in Corridor 1 on the 3rd floor, guided the way.

“Shall you come with me?”

“...If that’s all right.”

“Of course. I am glad, Ms. Binari.”

“...”

Binari cursed herself inwardly.

‘If I end up taking on extra work because of this, I have no right to complain.’

But what could she do? There really were so many things she was curious about. The situation was different from when she had been a rookie.

Binari had adapted to Collection and was a proper curator. It was only natural that she would be curious about the being her “Sweet Tea Party” called “Godfather.”

Holding back a sigh, Binari followed behind the hem of the black cloak.

“...”

There was no shadow, and no footsteps could be heard.

Only the faint, dry sound of withered grass.

* * *

“Oh, my.”

Garasani greeted “Mr. Seo Gio” and Binari with a bright smile.

“A distinguished guest has graced us with his presence.”

“Hello, Mr. Garasani.”

“It’s been a while, Hunter Seo Gio. It’s a great shame I couldn’t meet you in person last time, in that splendid dungeon. I understand you must have been very busy.”

“At the time, I was suffering from a bad cold, so I could not come to see you, Teacher. Would you please forgive me generously?”

“What are you saying—seeing you again like this truly makes me glad.”

At that conversation, Binari quietly took a step back. It wasn’t only because of the unfamiliar smile on the cold-blooded chief butler’s face.

Behind her expressionless face, Binari thought,

‘This is a conversation I don’t want to butt into.’

A perfect work imitating a polite priest, and a chief butler who respected and loved it. A conversation that felt like pure dissonance—one that stirred instinctive human rejection.

Binari checked her wristwatch.

‘Eleven minutes and four seconds until exactly on the hour...’

Then Curator Garasani asked her,

“Were you preparing for your work?”

“...Yes. I’m in charge of ‘Sweet Tea Party.’”

“Ah, I know that as well. Those lovely porcelain ladies who must be served a tea table precisely at 4 a.m., with an error margin within five seconds. They were Rank 6, was it? According to the report, today’s tea was macarons, I believe?”

“That’s correct. I prepared the blueberry, yuzu, and pistachio macarons each of them wanted.”

“Today’s is a high-volume dessert, so the tea party will run a bit longer.”

Garasani stroked his chin and asked.

“And where did you meet ‘Mr. Seo Gio’?”

“I met him in Corridor 1 on the 3rd floor.”

“Did you accept a conversation with him?”

“Yes, after I finish my work...”

“Ah-ha.”

Nodding, Garasani looked at “Mr. Seo Gio” again with a smile on his lips.

“Did that young friend cause you any discomfort, by any chance?”

“No. That person was kind to me.”

“That’s a relief. However, there is still time until 4 on the dot. If you are all right with it, Hunter Seo Gio, how about you speak with me in the meantime?”

Garasani spoke in the tone of a kindly old man.

“That friend is brave and capable, but to treat both his duties and a distinguished guest like you... he still lacks that much experience.”

Only then did Binari realize the 5th-floor head was trying to help her.

‘He’s telling me not to burden myself and just do my work.’

Certainly, carrying out her work while the black cloak watched was nerve-wracking. Binari glanced at “Mr. Seo Gio.” In response to that gaze, “Mr. Seo Gio” smiled gently at her.

“Then I will see you after 4.”

“...Yes, I’ll see you then.”

When Binari bowed her head, Garasani escorted “Mr. Seo Gio.” Once the two disappeared beyond another wall, Binari raised her head. Then she let out a very faint sigh.

It was her own choice to accompany him, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t tense.

“...”

Still, it was a more positive sensation than she’d imagined. That fullness, as if she had managed to contain something immense, if only for a moment.

‘...So that’s why there are people in the world who enjoy thrills...’

Soon, it became exactly 4 a.m., and Binari placed the purple, yellow, and green macarons in front of each porcelain doll. Maybe because they were larger than the tea snacks they usually ate, it took a little longer.

“Good crispness.”

“Good moistness.”

“It was a good time.”

At the words that indicated today’s fortune, Binari tensed.

‘This time, they might cause another anomaly. Prepare to write it down in advance, and steel myself enough not to miss anything...’

Sure enough, there were additional remarks.

“Good fragrance.”

“It was good tea.”

“It was good judgment.”

“It’s good lighting.”

“It was good consideration.”

A total of five positive remarks.

And only one negative remark.

“It will be a bad day.”

“Godfather.”

“Godfather is here.”

“Let’s ask him to hug us.”

And as usual, the dolls closed their eyes.

“...”

Binari let out a deep sigh.

‘...I think I know what that bad fortune tacked on at the end means.’

She had spent quite a long time with these porcelain dolls, too. You didn’t die just because one or two bad fortunes got mixed in. And when you added in the extra good fortunes, the bad fortune they spoke of would be some small misfortune.

‘If it’s just breaking a leg or an arm, I can handle that. I wonder what it’ll be.’

It was then, as Binari turned her head.

“...”

“Did you finish your work?”

“...Yes, Head of the 5th Floor.”

“Then good work.”

For a moment, she doubted her own eyes.

It wasn’t surprising that Garasani approached without any sign. The problem—though she wasn’t sure she should call it a problem—was that Garasani was holding something in his hands. Paper freshly smeared with a great deal of bright red blood. And a thick something wrapped in that thin paper...

No matter how she looked at it, it was a chunk of meat that had just been butchered.

“Then I will be going now.”

“I look forward to seeing you again next time.”

“Ah, please do call for me...”

Carrying an armful of meat in both hands, the 5th-floor head gave a respectful greeting to “Mr. Seo Gio” and withdrew.

“...”

“Did you finish your work well?”

“...Ah, yes.”

Suddenly, Binari began to suspect that the “bad fortune” might start now.

* * *

And then, a curator who had been working the dawn shift with him on the 3rd floor ended up witnessing Binari walking through the gallery, holding a chunk of meat wrapped in paper, blood dripping down.

“W- what the hell, are you crazy?”

“Did you already scream?”

“I thought you were one of your works.”

“I did get worked over...”

“Ah, so it was a sculpture.”

After that, a warning announcing that “Mr. Seo Gio” had begun operating again decorated the homepage exclusive to Collection’s full-time employees. They praised Binari’s courage for personally facing “Mr. Seo Gio.”

And then Binari was summoned by Visabel.

“I heard you received meat—was it lamb? Beef? Chicken? Pork?”

“Please, why are you doing this to me?”

“Or something else?”

“I want to go home.”

“I became guild master so I could stop you from doing that.”

“I really want to go home...”

The porcelain girls’ fortune-telling was excellent.

(To be continued in the next chapter)