Chapter 284

Chapter 284

“Ahhh, I don’t think this is it.”

Juhyeon strongly objected.

“Just why would you think that?”

“I’m not sure exactly where you’re showing such a vehement reaction.”

“I’m sorry, I was a bit rude, wasn’t I? But even so, the idea of being adopted by Guild Master Visabel is something I just can’t accept.”

“I see.”

Gio turned to Yoo Seongun.

“What do you think, Mr. Yoo Seongun?”

“I want to respect everything about you as much as possible, Gio, but this feels a bit hard. Even as someone who’s been through all kinds of disasters and trials, there’s a limit I can’t endure.”

“I didn’t expect you to react this strongly.”

In the corridor meeting for the first time in a while, Gio had run into his friends’ opposition.

“But there are probably already quite a few people who think that way, aren’t there? Those who are quick on the uptake will think I’m Guild Master Visabel’s son.”

“Thinking that and actually putting your name on the family registry are completely different matters. In that case, we also don’t know what kind of changes you and the guild master might undergo.”

For an existence of the origin, “justification” was extremely important. Justification was, in other words, a story. There was no way it wouldn’t affect the ‘family’ that mystery itself acknowledged. Mystery itself, too.

“Guild Master is already someone who’s a burden enough to humanity as it is. When I think about him evolving even more beyond this, I get chills all over and my hair stands on end. I... I’m really against it.”

“Thank you for expressing your opinion proactively.”

“No, I’m the one who’s grateful that you called us like this before you did anything. If you’d gone ahead quietly and then told us about it after the fact, we wouldn’t have been able to do anything, and we’d have had to watch that tragedy...”

“I was half joking too, so don’t worry.”

“So you mean half of it was serious, right? It’s okay, I know.”

Gio often had peculiar tastes while pretending otherwise.

“That’s from the viewpoint of a gardener and a curator, but, um. Even if you asked for Ms. Juhyeon’s opinion—who’s the closest to an ordinary person among us—it probably wouldn’t be that different, would it?”

“Mr. Yoo Seongun is right. I wasn’t stopping you because of objective danger like Mr. Yoo Seongun was talking about. The changes caused by one’s own choices are always something the person themself must bear.”

What he was worried about was something else.

“Guild Master Visabel is not that good of a... family.”

“Ah, that I can agree with too. Our guild master really enjoys his own life.”

Yoo Seongun nodded.

“Guild Master has openly said he has no intention of making a family. It’s true he’s too weak to be confident he can protect a family, but honestly, the bigger reason is probably that he isn’t confident he can fulfill the responsibility and courtesy owed to that family.”

Rather than spending time on family, he was the kind of person who would look at a work one more time.

“He knows it too, doesn’t he? That if he had to choose between a work and family, he’d choose the work. Still, Guild Master isn’t that cruel a person.”

“In some ways, I think it’s a wise decision. Which is why it’s even harder to just watch you, Mr. Gio, go under Guild Master Visabel’s family registry. Above all, Guild Master...”

Hesitating, Juhyeon said,

“...seems like he would like it too much.”

“...Honestly, that was the biggest reason I opposed it.”

Juhyeon and Yoo Seongun made sickened expressions. He’s the kind of person who even likes the quietly circulating ‘Hunter Seo Gio is Visabel’s son’ theory that much. If it became an official registry entry, how much more of an uproar would it become?

“No, of course, there’s absolutely no way our guild master’s family registry would leak, you know? Not only is the guild master’s own power enough to make even birds drop out of the sky, but the world is one where records from before the Great Calamity are basically the same as not existing in the first place. Besides, even if you show something for someone around the guild master’s age, its credibility is low, and...”

“From how long that was, it looks like you’re still fairly worried.”

“If the guild master himself makes it blow up in any direction, it’s a different story. Ah, that’s not it. What I mean is... since there’s no way the real family registry would ever be exposed anyway, why is it necessary to officially put your name on it?”

“That’s true too.”

Juhyeon, laughing awkwardly, continued.

“I also know Guild Master Visabel is someone who won’t cross the line. It’s just that what worries me is that he’s the kind of person who enjoys everything he can enjoy within that limit.”

“In that sense, Gio, you’re a bit unsettling to us. Because if it doesn’t cross the line, and you also think it’s fun, and there’s no reason you mustn’t do it... it feels like you’d definitely join in. Earth is already precarious even without that.”

“I’m also a bit concerned that Guild Master Visabel would see you, Mr. Gio, as a ‘work called family.’ Of course this is my personal impression, but I think even to other people, it wouldn’t look like a properly sound relationship.”

“In the same vein, it’s not very good for the guild master’s reputation either. Like I said earlier, an open rumor and an official recognition are completely different. You could say I’m asking you to consider our guild image too.”

After listening to the two of them, the portrait said,

“Everyone is so desperate that it’s fun.”

“Yeah, if you’re happy, that’s enough.”

“...I’m sorry for the rude remark.”

At Gio’s words, Juhyeon asked,

“Recently it seems like your control isn’t going well—are you all right?”

“That’s right. Lately there are many times I can’t keep even basic manners. I’m trying to be careful, but it isn’t easy for me either.”

“Mm... at this rate, you’ll often have inconvenient things happen while living in society. I know you aren’t using another ‘Gio’ while considering various situations, but would you consider thinking about it again?”

At Juhyeon’s words, Yoo Seongun thought to himself.

‘She’s really consistently brave.’

At this point it was astonishing.

It was something decided by the Eye of the Origin. To urge him to reverse that—Juhyeon wasn’t in her right mind either. Of course, this kind portrait wouldn’t get angry or bring calamity, but still, wasn’t there such a thing as limits?

And as always, the portrait took the remark in stride.

“Until things are sorted out, I won’t do that for the time being. However, I understand Ms. Juhyeon’s concerns, so I will consider them as much as possible.”

“If that’s what you say, Mr. Gio, then that’s that.”

Juhyeon let it pass just like that. His role was to help Gio’s life and choices, not to teach him. Gio wasn’t even a child who hadn’t become an adult.

The portrait nodded.

“As for adoption, I’ll think about it a bit more.”

“Why did you bring that up in the first place? It did seem like you were enjoying the role of Guild Master Visabel’s son before too, but even so, you didn’t feel you needed an official certification.”

“Because Hunter Seo Seohui believes I am Guild Master Visabel’s son.”

“Wasn’t that the case before too...?”

“She seems to have become certain now.”

He rubbed his chin.

“She also knows I was Student Seo Seohui’s teacher. She still seems to be leaving open the possibility of whether it was a tie from before the Great Calamity or after... but at least up to that point.”

“Ah, did you tell her the truth? You acted like you’d just let it slide.”

“It’s a little different from the truth. Since Ms. Seo Seohui believes I’m Guild Master Visabel’s son. So I wanted to make it into something real so she wouldn’t be embarrassed later.”

“Uh... I’m not sure she’d be embarrassed, but...”

More than that, it would probably be a heavier feeling. If Hunter Seo Seohui learned the truth.

“...From what you’re saying, it sounds like you intend to tell her the full truth someday, but why aren’t you telling her in advance? Are you going to wait until Hunter Seo Seohui or the other students discover the truth themselves?”

“There are various reasons.”

The portrait answered curtly.

“First of all, it’s fun.”

“Exactly what about it?”

“Something like roleplay?”

“...”

Soon, Juhyeon laughed.

“...I see!”

“Please listen to me a bit more.”

Gio added, as if making excuses,

“I was those friends’ teacher. Their personalities have changed greatly from then to now, but the fact that I was an adult and they were those under my protection couldn’t change.”

“Was that... something you didn’t like?”

“Rather, I like the current relationship a bit more. Back then, those friends saw me as too perfect an existence.”

“Honestly, it seems like it would still be like that now.”

“I misspoke. I meant that it was a bit uncomfortable that those kids revered me too much. Even though I wasn’t actually such a great person.”

“...They revered you?”

Juhyeon was flustered.

“That’s hard to imagine right now. That a Symbol of Eternity treated someone like that... it feels a bit unfamiliar...”

“Why did it end up that way? Even now, teachers are a profession that receives respect from students, but what you’re saying doesn’t seem like it was just that level.”

After briefly thinking at Yoo Seongun’s question, Gio answered,

“...There was something I could help them with.”

“What kind of help?”

“Just because you’re young doesn’t mean there aren’t painful or difficult things.”

“It’s not something I should pry into in detail, but...”

Shrugging, Yoo Seongun asked again,

“So those reactions were a burden, and that’s why you disliked it?”

“It wasn’t something I would call dislike.”

The portrait shook his head.

“It was simply that those kids thought of me as too ideal a teacher. It’s something to be grateful for that they thought well of me. But it’s embarrassing to be regarded as greater than the truth.”

“What kind of image were you as a teacher, anyway.”

“Anyway, that’s all. Perhaps I helped them sometimes, and received help too, and because the results were all good, maybe some kind of illusion formed. Since it was an illusion, it wouldn’t have been a major blow even if I disappeared.”

“Oh.”

It probably wasn’t.

‘If I say that, will he get angry?’

Yoo Seongun held back, but Juhyeon didn’t.

“I don’t think so.”

“I’m sometimes amazed by Ms. Juhyeon’s courage.”

“Ah, no... why would it take courage just to say something?”

“If you undergo physical or mental changes soon, contact me. I’ll request help from the temple.”

“I’m telling you, it’s not like that, okay?!”

After roughly scolding Yoo Seongun and moving on, Juhyeon looked at Gio again.

“I know the teacher-student relationship from before the Great Calamity. Like you said, Mr. Gio, it wasn’t that great a relationship. It wasn’t a relationship where you could be guaranteed something beyond learning, either.”

“That’s right.”

“But if the students went beyond respect and revered you, you must have been a truly good teacher. To those students. It probably wasn’t an ordinary teacher-student relationship.”

“If you mean dependence or obsession, it didn’t develop into that kind of relationship.”

The portrait nodded.

“In the end, they all found their proper places. A teacher’s role is ultimately to help students go out into society, blend in well, and stand firm.”

“Just from what you say, it sounds like you were an ideal teacher. I think you probably helped them a lot even privately too—am I right?”

“Yes. With only the role designated by the school, I could not fill those children’s deficiencies. Fortunately, the range in which I could help as a teacher was not narrow.”

“...That’s a bit sad.”

It wasn’t her business, but she still felt regretful.

“I think I understand why the phrase ‘they revered you’ came out.”

Even Juhyeon would have been like that.

She couldn’t clearly remember what the world before the Great Calamity had been like. But in any era, pain and blame existed, and at a young age, it was hard to find a sturdy pillar that could support a wavering self.

‘It might just be a needless compensation impulse because I’ve lived a tiring life, but...’

It was only natural not to want to lose such a support.

“But, Mr. Gio, were you uncomfortable with the students’ reactions like that?”

“To tell the truth, yes. I wished those kids would treat me with a bit less hesitation. It would have been a shameless thing to wish for as a teacher, but.”

“It’s hard to wish for comfort in a vertical relationship.”

“Fortunately, those kids forgot me.”

As always, Gio was calm.

“If we build the relationship again now, it will be closer to horizontal than vertical. So I hope Hunter Seo Seohui remains unaware of the deep truth for a long time.”

“Then what changes?”

“They forgot me. It’s a matter of cognition rather than emotion. They’ll need time to accept and adapt to the fact that there was such a tie. And there will need to be a step-by-step process.”

“For you too, Mr. Gio?”

“Of course. As I said again, I like the relationship now. I like it when I give a lunchbox and they simply eat it deliciously. People and the world seem to run most happily when they’re simple.”

“But...”

As if soothing her, Gio said,

“If they had continued to remember me, they would have found a pleasant path in their own way, but even so, isn’t there no need to ignore and disparage the joy of the present?”

“...That’s true too.”

As Juhyeon slowly nodded, Yoo Seongun rubbed his neck and said,

“You must’ve been flustered too. They were students who liked you that much. Even though your name spread through the world, there was no reaction at all—probably you simply thought, ‘It’s because they became fully independent,’ but...”

“It’s not even something to call independence. They weren’t that dependent on me, nor did they show obsession. It’s true it was a good relationship I didn’t want to lose, but it wasn’t a state where someone would break just because one person disappeared.”

“So what did you think, then?”

“Mr. Yoo Seongun is right. I thought everyone was doing well without incident. Like I said earlier, it wasn’t a state where they’d break just because I disappeared.”

They were students who would live well on their own.

“I didn’t know they’d completely forgotten, but...”

The portrait added curtly.

“I expected they would have become ordinary members of society.”

“What does it feel like to see the students you taught become Earth’s saviors?”

“I thought, you’re having a hard time.”

“That’s an impression like you.”

Yoo Seongun, taking his hand off his neck, stared at the portrait.

“...”

“Why is that?”

“...Hasn’t your speech loosened up a bit?”

“Oh.”

The portrait nodded.

“When I talk about students, it becomes like this.”

“That’s good. So when are you planning to deliver the next lunchbox?”

He only hoped he would adapt well to human society again.

(To be continued in the next chapter)

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