"Guildmaster!"
"..."
"I'm reporting in! Currently, among Korea's middle-aged and elderly population—!"
"Stop."
"Guildmaster?"
"I said stop."
"..."
"You don't need to say it... I already know."
Seo Seo-Hee murmured, clutching his face, which for once was visibly contorted.
"This is fucked."
The "Promise of Eternity" had broken.
***
The impact of that broken promise didn't just affect those still on Earth.
"Ah... of course."
Even someone as senior as Bisa Beul was obviously among those affected.
"Now that you mention it, yes... there was something like that. It flared up once, then disappeared."
"...The system seems almost completely non-functional, so I guess the 'Promise of Eternity' really did collapse. But what was it exactly? Everyone's been murmuring since earlier—can someone explain this to me?"
"Well, this is something you'd have to be middle-aged or older in today's Korea to understand. Especially in your case, Yoo Seong-Woon—I wouldn't expect you to know. Your age, your childhood environment..."
Bisa Beul blinked his lemon-yellow eyes, fingers resting on his chin. For once, he wasn't smiling. His expression was unreadable, and his tone flat as he began to explain the situation.
"There was a well-known god in the early days of the Great Catastrophe."
"...One god? Please don't tell me it's that person."
"Apologies, but yes. No one ever figured out the god's actual name, but the religion itself was relatively famous."
"You're calling it a 'religion,' so I guess it wasn't just some small cult?"
"Back then, it wasn't exactly a time when people could afford to distinguish between cults and religions. But yes, this one was fairly organized and decently scaled."
It wasn't one of the problematic ones either. At a time when torture, cannibalism, and live sacrifice were shockingly common in many faiths, this group simply revered their god with sincere devotion and love.
"I've heard they did community service. Handed out food to refugees, helped rebuild villages. They even volunteered to hunt monsters. The fact that they had the means to do all that tells you they were pretty well-funded."
"..."
"The unusual part, though, was that they didn't worship some abstract divine being—they revered a living human. That alone is enough to get them labeled a cult..."
"...Don't tell me it was..."
"Most likely, it was a religion started by the Symbol of Eternity. It was popular at the time. No one knew who the god they worshipped was, but the Association President's face was front and center on ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) all their materials."
Bisa Beul tapped beneath his eye, as if thumbing through old memories.
"What was it again? They had a well-known prayer..."
"There was a prayer?"
"Told you they were organized. Ah, right."
He snapped his fingers.
'"Let it be painted upon the canvas."'
"..."
Yoo Seong-Woon gave the weary smile of a man about to collapse.
"Just hearing that is enough to guess who they meant."
"I never said you were wrong about your suspicions, Yoo Seong-Woon. But yes—it seems that's how it is."
"If he tries to argue he's just an ordinary person after this, I really don't know what I'll do."
"That's the paradox every curator must learn to endure when it comes to dealing with mystics."
"Seriously, I don't even... I don't know what to say."
"At this point, I imagine the outside world's in quite a stir as well."
At the very least, both Yoo Seong-Woon and Bisa Beul knew what the Symbol of Eternity had sacrificed.
No one had imagined that just regaining memories of a guy who always insisted, "I'm just a normal person," would cause this kind of ripple effect.
"Now that I think about it, I can see what the Symbol of Eternity was trying to do back then. They were probably trying to turn a living person into a god. Making a god to your own liking—what a fun little project."
"I don't think it's very fun, Guildmaster."
"That's because to you, it's just part of the job you're stuck doing late into the night. But anyone who lived in the central region at the time probably knows. The religion's primary activity zone was a forested area, and of course, it was centered around that region..."
"That region had a huge population. You're saying half of Korea's population back then might've known about it?"
"I remember being a little interested in it myself. Maybe annoyed. Anyway, the very idea of turning a living human into a god is fascinating, isn't it? The religion wasn't loud about it, more like... subtly pervasive."
"Did it even have a name?"
"'Portrait.'"
Bisa Beul smiled faintly.
"Yes, it was called 'Portrait.'"
It was a name that clearly expressed a desire to preserve a living person. Even back then, Bisa Beul thought it was quite obsessive. There was a definite sense of fixation.
"...Hm..."
"...What are you thinking so hard about?"
"I was just wondering how this would be interpreted on modern Earth."
"How do you think people will take it?"
"If we manage the narrative well, it could pass quietly without too much fuss."
"After all this?"
"Well, Earth already has the Black Cloak Enthusiasts, doesn't it?"
They were even formally recognized as a religion. More importantly, their object of worship—Black Cloak—was kind to humans, and humans returned that kindness.
"Now that it's all out in the open, people are bound to realize that the god of 'Portrait' and Black Cloak are essentially the same entity. Still, most will probably just treat it as a quirky, feel-good religion created by the Symbol of Eternity."
"A feel-good religion...? What even is that?"
"I admit the drop in credibility lately is a concern. But overall, public trust in the Symbol of Eternity is still solid—at least in the capital area. I'd say we can frame the religion as something originally created for Earth's protection and prosperity."
"You realize that ending just made everything sound worse, right?"
"Well, President Dan Haera did once establish it, and now it's been 'revived.' It's a familiar trope—an old faith brought back because of a broken system."
"...Wait..."
Yoo Seong-Woon frowned.
"Then doesn't this basically reveal that the system was Black Cloak all along? It's pretty clear they weren't enemies, and the timing of his return and the system's collapse is just too perfect. Won't people start blaming him? Saying he caused the system failure?"
"Well, at least we don't have to worry about being labeled a cult. 'Portrait' was ethical and moderate—even back then, it was hard to find any faults. People won't resent it for coming back. As for those concerns... let's see... most people have already figured out how to live without the system."
"Still, you're telling me they actually turned a living person into a god. That's at least... morally gray."
"Considering all the things the Association already does, and how most people just accept them—honestly, it'll probably just be seen as, 'Ah, our Association President really had great foresight.' Sure, people might ask why such a wonderful god was hidden for so long..."
Then Bisa Beul tilted his head and corrected himself.
"No, no. If we spin it right, we can say it was a necessary condition for creating the system. That the god had to be sealed to maintain order. Since the system really did help humanity, people will accept it."
"..."
"When you think about it, that's not even far from the truth. Right now, it just feels chaotic because an unexpected religion popped up, but with the Symbol of Eternity's influence and power, it's not unmanageable."
"...There will still be issues."
"In the end, everything comes down to presentation, doesn't it? No need to act too naïve, Curator Yoo. Big or small, anything can be quietly handled—that's what our government and the Association are for."
"Does 'quietly handled' count as 'honorably' now?"
"It's just a figure of speech. As always."
It wasn't like some completely unrelated religion had randomly popped up. Black Cloak had already naturally taken root—like one of Korea's older faiths.
Maybe there would be some grumbling from the Black Cloak fans or the original Portrait followers, but it wasn't anything too hard to deal with. Who would complain about a religion that rewarded good deeds with tasty treats?
"What we really need to worry about isn't the media."
"Then what about Gio? Is he okay?"
"Ah, finally asking the right question."
"I was thinking about it from the start. I just didn't say it out loud while trying to process the situation."
"Oh, you poor thing."
"Do you think this is why he went off on his own?"
"I can't say it's not."
"Aaah, Gio...!"
Even the breeze through the leaves made Yoo Seong-Woon groan in distress. Truly, a proper curator.
"..."
Before long, Aram approached the group.
"...Guildmaster of the Collectors."
"Oh, Bishop. What brings you here?"
"I'll skip the pleasantries. I believe we've all grasped the basics of the situation."
"Yes, by all means."
"We had a discussion among the priests."
Aram hesitated, then spoke.
"They say the god worshipped by 'Portrait'... met a very gruesome end."
"That matches my memory as well."
Not many knew the full story. Bisa Beul estimated that the Symbol of Eternity must've enacted the 'Promise of Eternity' almost immediately after the incident to erase everyone's memories.
But Bisa Beul had placed informants within Portrait and had connections with their followers. That's how he knew how it all ended.
"He became... a walking corpse, didn't he?"
The god of Portrait, turned into a living corpse by beasts who sought to consume him.
"I've heard... that his state was something no human eye should have witnessed."
"And now that god has returned—should we be worried?"
"Judging by the Black Cloak's actions, he doesn't behave like an evil god."
"That may be so... but I can't shake the image of how he died as a human."
"The lives of gods who were once human are almost always horrific."
Bisa Beul smiled faintly.
"To suffer so terribly... and still show this much love—how could he not be a god?"
Even after becoming a corpse, the god hadn't been able to die. Turned into a speechless hunk of meat... how many days had he survived like that?
'...Well. Who really pays attention to a god's suffering?'
***
"Teacher."
"Yes."
"What if I... said I wanted to suffer the same pain?"
Covered in blood, Dan Haera asked as she lay in the warm grass.
"If I said I wanted to endure the same pain as you..."
"What would that change?"
"..."
"...This isn't scolding. Or, well... maybe I should scold you, but I'm genuinely asking out of curiosity. I mean it. I just don't think it would change anything."
"...Maybe it would at least give someone a little peace of mind?"
"Doubt it. Not for me, anyway."
How refreshing—such perfect nonsense.
Even though he always looked like that, Gio's expression stiffened. What use was it to watch someone else suffer? The most pointless thing in the world. He could understand why she was saying it, but he didn't like it.
"Hmm. Well, anyway..."
Even with all his memories returned—
"Did you think I'd be angry?"
"...Why? Doesn't seem like you wouldn't be."
"You've become a coward since I last saw you."
"We met just recently."
"Exactly. Since then."
Why did they all turn into frightened rabbits just by breathing around him?
"What was going through your head back then?"
"..."
"...I am genuinely asking."
"..."
"..."
The conversation wasn't going anywhere.
Gods above, he thought.
He felt like he was going to explode.
Maybe she was acting a little too lightly for the severity of the situation.
But really, honestly—everything other than the food she'd eaten was none of Sergio's concern.
And above all...
There wasn't anything to be angry about.
"..."
Truly.
The teacher looked down at his student.
-x-X-x-
Inside the quiet cave, the quill pen that had been dancing across the long sheet of paper in search of the "correct answer" came to a halt.
For quite some time.
"..."
"Bishop?"
"...Ah."
When Aram, who had suddenly stopped calculating for some reason, didn't move, Cha Eun-Hyeok called to her, prompting her to lift her head and look at him. With a slightly embarrassed face, Aram gave a small cough.
"I'm sorry. I was just lost in thought."
"You don't need to apologize to me. But when you say you're thinking..."
"Things have gotten complicated in many ways. At first, I thought we'd just be dealing with a slightly unusual dungeon structure. But then, aside from the damage, so many secrets have come to light."
Aram spoke with the gentle smile characteristic of a priestess.
"But you don't need to worry on my behalf, Mr. Cha Eun-Hyeok. I've always been prone to overthinking anyway. Still, thank you for your concern."
"I haven't done anything much, really."
"Just enduring this situation so well is already impressive. You're a bit of a special case, Mr. Cha Eun-Hyeok, so even as a civilian, you're able to act in a dungeon. But that doesn't mean you're not tired, does it?"
"...I don't want to be a burden in a situation like this."
Cha Eun-Hyeok smiled awkwardly, as if unsure how to respond.
"My younger sibling caused trouble too, so I'm being extra careful."
"Ah, your sibling's..."
Aram briefly wondered which sibling he meant, then noticed the slight ease in his demeanor. He wouldn't be talking about the sibling who had become a "happy clown" with that kind of face.
Aram continued.
"Hmm, I heard Priestess Cha I-Sol asked Hunter Sergio for help? She's young, so I think it's perfectly reasonable."
"But because of that... Hunter Sergio went off on his own."
"That part surprised me too. It's not something one can easily decide in a situation like this. But I suppose the Collector judged it was safe enough to allow him to act independently."
"...That may be so, but..."
"..."
"...No, I'm sorry."
"I understand that it's a burdensome situation."
Aram gave a small nod.
'At least Mr. Cha Eun-Hyeok seems to have calmed down a lot. That's a relief.'
Even in an era where people die easily and familial bonds have faded, the siblings seemed unusually close. If someone like that had something happen to their family, Aram wouldn't have been able to fault them for breaking down far more than this.
After a moment of thought, Aram said,
"If I'm not mistaken, you've seemed a bit more at ease since Hunter Sergio began acting independently. Did you perhaps have a conversation with him?"
"...Unlike me, no. Our youngest went to ask him for help, and that was it. But even that alone seemed to be enough comfort."
"I understand what you mean. I'm sorry if my question was out of line. Did it make you uncomfortable?"
"No."
"Thank you."
So then, was it because Hunter Sergio hadn't turned away from the pain of their family, but rather responded with direct action, that Cha Eun-Hyeok felt reassured?
Reassurance... yes, it did seem like that kind of reaction.
'But to feel reassured by just that?'
No, she understood too—having listened to the prayers of countless believers.
Aram had once been a Saintess. People could be comforted by earnest prayers and sincerity, but they wouldn't be truly reassured unless there was a tangible outcome.
'In other words, Mr. Cha Eun-Hyeok and Priestess Cha I-Sol believe the teacher will bring a good result. But it's hard to explain such a deep level of trust based on their relationship alone.'
Maybe Cha I-Sol, but Aram didn't see the relationship between Hunter Sergio and Cha Eun-Hyeok as close enough to be family or friends. More like acquaintances. So where had this absolute trust come from?
"...You must trust Hunter Sergio quite a bit."
"...More precisely, I believe in his mercy and capability."
"That's a rather unique answer."
In a way, she could understand.
'The teacher is a Saint, after all.'
A Saint, as known to the world, was a child of God, an apostle. Someone who stood with one foot in the divine. So maybe it was natural to believe in him the way one believed in a god.
"..."
With a smile still on her face, Aram pressed her lips together.
'...There are definitely parts that remain a mystery.'
But the conclusion to all those questions always ended with: Because Sergio is special.
That he was a special being—Aram also knew. He seemed like a Saint, like her, but it wasn't just that. He gave off a presence that didn't feel entirely human.
'Is that why he can hold the divinity of wrath? I also hold the moon, but that's something else entirely. That was an evil god. And wrath... is a concept humans can't easily bear.'
Aram had a few lingering doubts.
Why did the Collector treat Hunter Sergio like a work of art?
Why did the teacher accept that so naturally?
How had he grown into such a strange, unique existence?
And then suddenly, she noticed a pattern.
'Every time something went wrong on Earth... he stepped in.'
It hadn't happened often, but when the mermaid monsters appeared, even if it was technically an abduction, he had entered the heart of that dungeon. When the evil god of wrath appeared, he had absorbed him into his body and tried to purify him.
'Come to think of it, during the mermaid incident, they found something resembling Hunter Sergio inside the dungeon... It wasn't widely known, but he must've done something back then too.'
Around that point, she finally understood the Collector's perspective.
"..."
Hunter Sergio seemed like a tool crafted by a god to save Earth from threats. His abilities, the timing of his interventions, even his innate disposition—everything seemed to have been made that way.
He resembled a servant who took the punishment in place of others. Like a seawall blocking the waves before they touched the land. Or like an artifact sealing a curse. Or water diluting poison.
'If I'm this affected, the Collector, who's stayed by his side, must be even more so.'
Was that why?
'Is that why they see the teacher not as a human, but as a work of art? They say once you become S-rank, you stop being human... maybe it's something like that? Or maybe it's really something I don't know...'
The religion that appeared during the Great Catastrophe—the Portrait.
'Maybe there really is something unknown about this person called Sergio.'
The Black Cloak was likely the god of portraits who had been famous at the time. Sergio was the priest who served the Black Cloak. A Saint. But maybe that wasn't all.
"..."
"..."
Aram looked at Cha Eun-Hyeok, who had his hands clasped together like in prayer, staring at the floor. Feeling that desperate yet dry gaze meet her own, Aram asked:
"...Are you close with Hunter Sergio?"
"I think we have some connection, but I wouldn't dare say we're close."
"You treat him almost like a god."
"Well... who knows..."
"..."
She had thought about this for a while. Maybe Sergio really was a child of a god. Or a replica, or an incarnation. Or perhaps simply a visible embodiment of divine benevolence. A part of a god, borrowing the form of a human.
'The Collector, having experienced it directly, is more ethical than I expected. They're not a group that treats people as tools or disposable pieces. But if they act that way only toward the teacher...'
Then perhaps the anomaly wasn't the Collector. It was Sergio.
"Well, it's not something I should be wondering about."
"..."
"It's not important."
Even as she said that, questions lingered. Was he truly not human? A divine mystery molded by godly intention? But this man would sincerely smile just for being offered a clumsily made snack.
To Aram, Sergio was human. He could smile, show kindness, and engage with others. Maybe that was why it bothered her more—as someone who had lived a life meant to be sacrificed any day to the Moon's Mortar.
'...This isn't something I should be saying to Mr. Cha Eun-Hyeok.'
Aram let out a breath inwardly.
'If anything, this kind of talk should be had with the teacher himself or someone close to him. If the teacher likes living that way, then it becomes even harder for someone like me to interfere.'
Was that why Sergio had cared for her so much and helped her become more human? The more she thought about it, the more it weighed on her—but right now, those questions weren't the priority.
"I just hope there won't be any sacrifices."
"...I hope so too."
"Really is a damn troublesome place, isn't it?"
Aram resumed her calculations.
"It should be about time for the location to show up..."
But every time it seemed the coordinates would solidify, they scattered again. Over and over.
The particles in this place, which resembled the Gem's Waterway, were unusually chaotic. Maybe it was too vast, or maybe the pattern was too subtle.
'I've been unsure since earlier, but it really feels like someone's interfering.'
No, it was more than a feeling.
Though not her specialty, it felt like two hackers were battling. An invisible artisan, skilled in gardens and mysticism, was working in secret.
Maybe it was the owner of this garden.
Or maybe...
'Gardener Jeong Hae-Woon?'
As her thoughts reached that point, Aram suddenly felt the pain and rage she'd been putting off come flooding in.
'Ha.'
Some people had been crunching calculations until their brains boiled for months—meanwhile, the so-called hero of Earth had been leisurely strolling through gardens?
She couldn't help but fume.
'No, no. Maybe both of them are messing with me. The gardener and the dungeon master—just taking turns making life miserable.'
While the Moon Sect priests calculated, the Collectors were searching the field. But so far, there were no results.
All she'd learned firsthand was that this "Gem's Waterway"-like zone was horrendously vast.
"...Phew..."
Still, blood runs thicker than water.
Having experienced the garden herself, her hatred leaned more toward the dungeon master than toward Earth's first gardener. Now she understood: Yeah, after all that, anyone would lose their mind.
Thus, humanity's enemy was clear. Aram imagined grabbing the dungeon boss by the collar and smiled.
'If I catch you, I won't let you die easy.'
And then—
Pop—!
"?!"
Something responded to Aram's enormous rage and suddenly popped into existence.
"A-Ah, what is this...!"
"What is that!!"
"Sorry, I'm not sure ei—oh...?"
It was... a dragon. Something shaped like a dragon she'd seen before.
A dragon?
"Uhhhh?"
"Peep."
"Did it just chirp??"
It even cried like a chick, as if it had swallowed something wrong.
Aram, who had always been calm since becoming a bishop, was genuinely flustered for once.
For a moment, she even wondered if it was the resurrection «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» of the evil god—but the long-furred dragon looked up at her meekly.
And in front of Aram, the system appeared and asked:
Did you call for a baby dragon?
"I didn't!!"
Your baby dragon is here!
"I said I didn't call it...!!"
Permanent Summon
Reason: Resonance from Rage
Please raise it with care!
"...Th-This...!!"
And so, Aram became the first person on Earth to summon a baby dragon through rage.
"...Why does this man never like anything I do―!!"
Aram roared, and the baby dragon loved it. Truly, a match made in chaos.
***
"Ooh."
"...?"
"No, just felt like someone was talking about me."
Argio smiled.
"Honestly, she's adorable."
"...What are you talking about...?"
"There's someone like a niece to me. Her reactions are hilarious. So precious."
"..."
"Even with closed eyes, I can sense things like that. Truly a mystery."
Dan Haera, seated on the sofa, made something like a smile.
"...I don't know the details, but you've really changed."
"Well, some things should change, right?"
"I never imagined I'd see you smile like this."
"Why? Isn't this face familiar?"
"If you say it like that, it just makes you seem like an evil god who stole the teacher's body..."
"More of a fusion than theft, really."
Gio pointed at the cup in Dan Haera's hand and asked,
"Is the tea to your taste?"
"...Yes, it's good."
"Feeling calmer now?"
He'd brewed everything rumored to be good for mental strength. There was a moment when she received the cup and asked, "Am I about to die?" But in the end, it was proven to be harmless to humans.
"Then shall we have a conversation now?"
Like civilized people.
"..."
"..."
"...Why are you handing me a knife?"
"...Is this not what you meant?"
"You think it is? Do you not know what 'conversation' means?"
"I thought... this was a fine conversation."
"The world really has changed, huh."
It was more absurd because she was serious.
'I know this is wrong but... it's kind of funny.'
With her usual expressionless face, Gio half-covered his lips.
Normally, he'd just say "it's funny so whatever," but something told him that wouldn't fly in the current situation.
He focused his brain. I'm a teacher. This is a serious moment. But God, everything she did was just so funny. Can't I let it slide this time?
...No, I can't. Gio knew that. He knew...
He knew. But—
"You know, I always knew this day would come."
"...I'm sorry."
"I tried to hold it in, but it's still hilarious. The pacing is just so perfect. This is fated dopamine from the heavens, so before you die, make sure to write an autobiography. Remember when you locked me in a room and snuck in offerings while making your disciples pray for me?"
"..."
"I asked at the time, right? 'Are you sure you won't regret this?' You were all so sure. I figured you were just building up a dark past at your age. This is the price you pay for teenage immaturity, isn't it? As a former high school teacher, let me tell you: getting a teenage phase during your teens is a blessing."
"...Um..."
Dan Haera hesitated and asked,
"...Are you teasing me?"
"Don't make me out to be such a bad teacher."
"..."
"...Okay yeah, I'm teasing you."
"..."
"Why is your face making me laugh too...?"
But seriously, is it just me who finds this funny?
Grrrk.
Ha... it's unbelievable.
-x-X-x-
Wrapping his hand around the fuming Honey—who clearly seemed to be thinking "Dad, is that really the right reaction?"—Gio looked wronged.
"Objectively speaking, this is funny, isn't it?"
Wasn't this the situation where the dark past of a former disciple, once seen firsthand, had now come back to hit them with harsh reality? Honestly, he felt like he had the right to laugh a little, as a true teacher. This was a dark past aged a whole thirty years.
Unfortunately, not just Honey, but also student Dan Haera didn't seem to agree.
"You don't look like you're agreeing."
"...No, if that's what you want, then whatever..."
"I should've recorded this and spread it all over the faculty office."
"..."
"Why do you keep making me laugh?"
It was funny watching someone who now acted like a dignified robot as the President of the Association squirm like this. Come to think of it, even when this kid had been a cult leader or a third-year high schooler, he'd never seen her so undone.
"I thought our Haera had grown into a fine adult, but turns out you're still a kid. I still remember so vividly that imposing image when I first met the President of the Association. Don't you have any advice to give to this clueless junior hunter here, President?"
"..."
"I know, I know we should get serious now... ah... but this really is too good to keep to myself... Honestly, I'd love to have the kids write reflection papers about this, but I'll hold it in. I wouldn't dare assign such a trivial task to a Symbol of Eternity."
Her face clearly showed she didn't know how to react. Dan Haera seemed completely at a loss, a tangle of guilt and confusion. After hesitating for quite a while, she asked,
"...You're really not angry?"
"Well, it's obvious you weren't listening to a word I said."
"No, but... I..."
"Actually, I've been thinking about it a bit too."
Gio asked seriously.
"Is this something that deserves punishment?"
"...Pardon?"
"I mean, I'm an adult, and you're all adults too—so is it really appropriate for me to scold you ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ as your 'teacher' at this point? Back then, you were adults too. Strictly speaking, I'm not even your teacher anymore..."
"...I'm sorry."
"..."
"...I-I was wrong..."
Haera dropped to her knees and clutched Gio's leg. Her hands were trembling.
"I was wrong, Teacher..."
"..."
And just like that, the whole scene turned into a documentary.
...My big mouth...
He should've teased her more gently.
At the peak of that thrilling dopamine rush came a crashing weight, and Gio's gaze blurred. He hated these heavy, serious vibes. He wanted to suggest, "Why don't we just agree we both messed up and move on?"—the words rose to his throat, but he barely held them back.
Gio tried to peel off the student clinging to his leg like a cicada.
"..."
"..."
No, my dear student.
"Please don't do this."
I'm the one who messed up.
Gio coaxed and calmed her, managing to defend the fate of his pants. He wanted to live life like a comedy, but the people around him just wouldn't let him. Feeling unjustly burdened, he grew more and more exhausted as he poured a fresh cup of tea.
Gio offered the tea once more.
"Drink this and get your head straight."
Dan Haera drank in silence. She'd been following all his suggestions—or orders—without a word since earlier. A moment ago, it had been funny, but now it was just draining. Why couldn't life just be a comedy sketch?
After a pause, Gio crossed his arms.
"...Well, then..."
"...Yes."
"Shall we hear your real thoughts now?"
Giovanni smiled gently as he looked at Dan Haera, steeped in guilt.
"I've always been good at listening to people's stories."
Dan Haera stared blankly at him, then slightly parted her lips.
"...Is this... confession?"
"If you think of it that dramatically, that's a problem, Sister."
"So this is why 'Hunter Sergio' is so popular... I see now."
"Well, I doubt that's the only reason, but—goodness, even that gets reported to you?"
"You're one of our primary observation subjects, for various reasons..."
Dan Haera wiped her face.
"..."
After a long silence, she finally spoke.
"...To be honest, I thought offering up emotions and memories wouldn't be a big deal."
"Wouldn't be a big deal?"
"Yes. There were many cases of memories being erased and later restored. Thinking of that, I assumed there would be little to no side effects."
"I see."
"But I was wrong. I misunderstood."
Once she started, her words flowed gently and steadily.
"Emotions and memories made for a rather convenient price. Honestly, offering them didn't even feel like a loss. I only felt the emotions I wanted to, and I only kept the memories I wanted to keep."
That was what backfired.
"Even when those things came back to me, it was the same. I made new 'Promises' using them, and even if the corresponding emotions and memories lingered for a short while... it wasn't a big problem. Just a momentary discomfort or irritation."
Dan Haera let out a hollow laugh.
"I didn't realize. Without emotions, I had no immunity. Without memories, I had no experience. And all of that slowly ate away at me. But I treated it like some cliché, obvious truth—pretended not to know and just lived that way."
"Humans are easily seduced by convenience."
"I had no real possessions, but I had power, and I had authority, so I thought I could never lose anything. I just kept repeating what I'd learned. I interpreted the future through data my past self had left behind, and in the end, I became arrogant."
"Arrogance, too, is a sin humans easily fall into."
"But I didn't realize it was arrogance. I just... I thought that was what I had. That it was who I was. That I, as a person, had power and authority—and so I had to act accordingly, had to behave a certain way."
Because she approached everything rationally, lacking emotion, she didn't recognize it as arrogance. Because she had no memory, she didn't know what sins she had committed—and so, she became a presumptuous person.
"What I have now... all of it was given to me by you, Teacher."
And yet, she'd forgotten that fundamental truth just to make her life easier.
"...I didn't know there were ranks to emotion and memory. I guess it's because I tried to understand the world only through numbers and data. So as the emotions began to pile up... as the memories returned, I think I became very, very confused."
Feelings so unpleasant they made her want to tear them out surged up. Still, she endured. She had to let that "price" accumulate—so that someday, the President of the Association could build a new system just the way she wanted.
But as time passed, and she recalled Sergio, she just... couldn't bring herself to erase it. That time, that existence—it was too precious. The very idea of forgetting it again was unbearable.
How insane had they been when they made the Promise of Eternity?
"...I don't know anymore. It's too complicated..."
"How about just saying whatever comes to mind right now?"
"...I missed you."
"That's good. I missed you too."
"I wanted to say... I-I'm sorry... to you, Teacher."
"That's good too."
"If I could go back to before the Great Catastrophe, I wouldn't... have done that. I..."
"Right. You regret it."
"..."
"There's more, isn't there?"
After hesitating, Dan Haera continued.
"...Maybe... I could've done better."
"That's possible."
"If we had really succeeded in making you into a god, how wonderful would that have been? If we had just hidden you somewhere safer... You could have become Earth's new god."
"And I still would've loved you all."
"Wouldn't that have been a utopia? A world where kind people are praised, evil is punished, resources are abundant... where everyone is loved under a merciful god."
"With the way the Catastrophe hardened people's hearts, they must have desired such a life all the more."
"I still want it. I still wonder if maybe we could try again. Then maybe we could govern Earth peacefully. It would be the most beautiful world imaginable... don't you think it's possible?"
With eyes no longer human, Dan Haera looked at her teacher.
"That would be perfect. You're such a wonderful teacher, so even as a complete god, you'd still be able to teach foolish humans well. The works you paint are so beautiful. If everyone were held inside those beautiful pictures, they would grow wise. All of creation could be happy."
It was an obsession with utopia.
"Earth is still unstable. All the more so without a system. So we gave up on offering equal kindness to everyone and decided to end as many karmic debts as we could in this era. That's why we built the Association's research lab. Jeong Hae-Woon mistreated the gardeners. Seo Seo-Hee allowed everything but the bare minimum of safety to be neglected."
"..."
"I won't make excuses. We're definitely villains. Especially me. But even so, is it really impossible to hope for a utopia? Strangely, I still calculate that it's possible. I want a safer Earth. A more perfect world..."
"..."
"...So..."
Clutching her hands together, Dan Haera spoke in a blank, ghostly voice.
"...why don't you just kill me...?"
She was crying.
"I-I know... I know this isn't how it's supposed to be. You taught us that, Teacher. I know the value of kindness. I know the consequences of evil. And yet I turned out like this. Life no longer feels precious. Sacrifice doesn't feel tragic..."
Her voice shook terribly.
"How can someone who treats even themselves as a tool treat others as people? I don't see them that way to begin with. The things that break apart without a trace from a mere gesture or word... I don't see them as human. I'm a bad person. I am."
Her appearance still resembled a vibrant youth, but inside, that wasn't the case.
While she had been called a Symbol of Eternity, something monstrous had grown within her—an obsession with utopia. Even now, standing before Sergio Teacher, she still wanted to turn him into a system, into Earth's teacher, into a new god.
It had taken just a little over thirty years for her to become something no longer human.
"I'm not saying this because I think I deserve to die for being a villain. It's all because of you, Teacher. I just... don't want to be hated by you anymore."
"..."
"So, Teacher, isn't it right for me to die here and now? Shouldn't my life be in your hands? Because I... I'm no longer the student you remember..."
"And what of it?"
Gio, who had been listening, asked.
"Aren't you still Haera?"
"...I must be different."
"Right, you are. No doubt about that."
"But still..."
"Don't run away."
The teacher looked at his student with black eyes.
"This version of you is still you, isn't it?"
"..."
Dan Haera couldn't tell what those eyes held.
Was it anger? A lack of emotion? Disgust? Or affection, compassion, love?
She couldn't interpret it. It could be none of those, or all of them.
But it had the power to pull her gaze and steps toward it.
"At this point, I guess I should tell my side of the story too."
"...If you'd be willing, I'll listen."
"No need to be so stiff."
Sergio shrugged his shoulders.
"It's kind of overwhelming."
It was nothing special.
***
Time rolls back to just before Sergio became a bona fide god.
-x-X-x-
This was the era of Sergio's stay-at-home loser phase.
"Aaah, this isn't it...!!"
He was deeply immersed in his "Demon King Prevention Project."
In truth, by that point, the word "prevention" no longer suited the situation. Maybe he'd gotten too comfortable in his cozy little corner—while leisurely roasting sweet potatoes of every variety, the group had already turned into a full-blown Demon King army.
'Sure, my students may have founded a cult, but at least they haven't fully crossed the line yet...!'
Well, actually, considering they were already worshiping some nobody as a god, it might be fair to say they'd at least grazed that line. But still.
'I need to show some results before they spiral completely out of control.'
At first, Sergio had simply chuckled, thinking "They're really going to regret this dark history someday"—but now, he was starting to feel the crisis himself.
Looking closer, it wasn't that the kids were staying in line of their own volition—they were just watching his reactions. And even that was weakening. As absurd as it sounded, their project of turning an ordinary man into a god was actually progressing.
Fueled by that urgency, Sergio threw himself into his artistic efforts...
"I wish a ninja would pop out and teach me Shadow Clone Jutsu, then disappear."
...but it wasn't easy.
'Dear heavens above.'
At the time, Sergio was trying to find a way for both himself and his students to stay sane. For himself, so he wouldn't get careless and cause accidents due to the overwhelming power he held. And for the students, so they wouldn't go off the rails with their excessive role-playing.
That's how he came up with the idea of a "clone technique."
"Please, heavens, help me..."
It had been a deranged idea from the start. A second self that was still him? Like a hot iced Americano—a fundamentally contradictory nonsense concept. And yet Sergio was serious about making it happen.
This "teacher"—this clone—was like a savings account. Just like how Sergio had tucked away tiny amounts during peaceful times, he was trying to store a version of himself he could withdraw in a crisis.
He thought about giving up. But he couldn't.
'...My students only listen to me, so it has to be something like this to even work. I'm the type to half-ignore others, too, so no matter how I think about it, it has to be another Sergio to at least pull some weight...'
Along the way, he tried a few crazy things.
"...? Is this... a parallel universe?"
He nearly summoned a different world's "Gio."
"Why is Sergio so cold-hearted?"
He almost created a totally ruthless AI Sergio.
"Ooh, this one's kind of fun..."
He even nearly split like a planarian.
"No—snap out of it, Sergio."
Slap slap.
Every time, Sergio had to slap himself to reassert control over his own brain.
'If this keeps up, the future's in danger.'
He nearly gave in several times, thinking "Well, this could kinda work..." But no. This wasn't about split personalities. It wasn't something you could just delete or leave untouched—it was a precarious balance. He had to recognize that just because it was interesting didn't mean it was okay.
Eventually, he did manage to produce something resembling a result.
"..."
Hm.
'So I actually went and did it, huh.'
Even after pulling it off, he found it hard to believe. But that "somewhat" qualifier gave him a little leeway. The rush of events had left some rough edges.
Anyway, the result was what came to be known as "Gio's Portrait."
"..."
And maybe because of those rough edges, there were a few oddities.
"...What's going on here?"
His peaceful "portrait" began to experience anomalies.
"I never painted anything like this..."
The so-called "Gio's Portrait" was drawn on top of the "forest hut." The "forest hut" had been useful in many ways—he'd taken it with him when he fled the school, and it had helped significantly with the cloning technique.
Thanks to that, "Gio's Portrait" also carried the functions of the forest hut. Naturally, the interior of the hut and the nearby flora and fauna remained as he had painted them. But then something strange occurred.
Things appeared that he had neither drawn nor ever seen before.
"This is..."
For example, a flower bud sparkling like a star.
'...Milky Way Merry?'
Plants from another world that he'd never painted.
And more: unfamiliar obsidian trees, incomprehensible fruit with unknown growth cycles. These hadn't just appeared all at once. They settled in naturally, over days or weeks, like an incoming tide.
Before long, Sergio figured out the reason.
"..."
He had become something enormous.
'I've gotten too big. These must've been pulled in just by being inside me.'
"Gio's Portrait" was a world that manifested himself in a different form—so it made sense that strange things would start appearing within it. Maybe incomprehensible to a human, but the conclusion was clear.
"...Well, it's fun, so who cares."
It was like he could hear life getting more dynamic.
'At least I'll never starve to death.'
In this bleak apocalyptic world, he felt quite proud of his survival instincts. On closer inspection, everything blooming near the hut was either edible or drawable. Even in chaos, he still had his priorities straight.
While Sergio had drawn some of the flora and fauna himself, most had drifted in naturally. When he finally discovered a spring as beautiful as a gemstone, he realized the "portrait" was nearing completion.
That is—both the literal portrait, and the cult named Portrait.
"..."
The way the spring sparkled so dazzlingly made it clear: the students were dead set on turning Sergio into a god. And they were dangerously close to succeeding.
'I need to reflect on this.'
This is why I suck at multitasking.
While he'd been focused on creating the clone, he'd neglected the outside world. At that point, Sergio started wrapping up the remaining work. Now that he had made the most important "Gio," all that remained was refining the details in his students.
"Too many branches..."
It was a kind of pruning.
'Being too talented just makes life harder, kids.'
He was preparing to divide his abilities and distribute them among his students. One as "Promise." One as "Friend." Another as "Punishment."
Once again: he didn't want to become a god.
'Haera's already had something like an awakening. Eun-Hye is just a civilian, so I'll need to restrict her power... But Seo-Hee and Hae-Woon seemed more than willing to share my burden.'
This way, Sergio wouldn't become unnecessarily powerful, and the students would only change within a limited range. Adding "Gio's Portrait" on top of that made his main profession fully safeguarded.
'If I stop here, I shouldn't end up turning into some grandiose "god" like they want. Same goes for them. If this works, maybe their warped minds will settle a little...'
The only problem was... he hadn't told them.
"..."
"There he is, there he is!!"
"...Ah, crap."
"The god of the Portrait is here!!"
He hadn't expected to face death before even explaining things.
'If I'd known, I would've °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° briefed them.'
He hadn't said anything because he was sure his students wouldn't like the plan—but that turned out to be his mistake. He knew there were superstitions forming about him, but he hadn't realized it had gone this far.
And in hindsight, it made sense. His students controlled quite a bit of information. Sergio had been pretty relaxed about that, but yeah... of course it'd come back to bite him. Watching them now bring hostages to confront him, he could only sigh.
"O divine one, enshrine us in your canvas!"
"Please, let us dwell in a happy painting...!"
"Grant us eternal life!"
Some sought blessings.
"That thing brought Earth's downfall!"
"He's a twisted devil—he'll drag us all into ruin!"
"If we kill the god of the Portrait, Earth can return to what it was...!"
Some sought punishment.
"Come to us! Grant us a perfect utopia...!"
"You owe it to us, don't you?"
"If you don't want to see these children die—then hurry!!"
They'd all gathered, yet even among themselves, their goals were wildly different. Sergio paused, wondering whether he even belonged here.
"...Hmm. What should I do."
He could resist.
But these people, while petty and wicked, had prepared meticulously. After some quick calculations, he figured it was better to just let them win this round to avoid worse consequences.
'I won't be able to hold out until the kids return... But it won't take too long either. Even if I end up half-dead now, I should still be able to reach my goal in the end.'
As long as he didn't die, it was fine.
Sure, the plan was getting a bit twisted—but life never goes exactly as planned. That's what makes it interesting. So even now, Sergio wasn't particularly shocked.
He simply accepted it.
"...Happiness, eternal life, utopia. That's what you want?"
"Yes, please, give it to us...!"
"You all have peculiar tastes."
He understood them.
They were afraid. The world had changed so suddenly—their desire for safety had become obsession. Even before all this, people turned to gods when things got hard. How many fanatics must've been born in this new world?
These people were clearly villains, but both their origins and their goals were predictable.
"Honestly, I've always thought that kind of stuff sounded boring."
So yes, he understood—but being mean was a separate matter.
"If it gives you indigestion, I take no responsibility."
"...Into the canvas..."
"If there's a hell, I'll see you there soon."
"Enshrine us in your canvas..."
"Ah, since we've met like this anyway, let me just say..."
There was one thing he had to get off his chest.
"That line is so cringe."
Why is the embarrassment always my problem?
***
"..."
"You look like you've got something to say."
"Didn't you... resist more than that?"
"Me?"
Well, from the start—
"I didn't have the strength to."
He was nothing more than a stay-at-home loser with zero muscle.
"I guess since I've been living as 'Hunter Sergio' with help from all those 'Gios,' I forgot. But the Sergio you all knew—your teacher—wasn't built for fighting. I was a guy who gave lectures and drew pictures. What were you expecting?"
"Ah..."
"Sure, I had some fancy abilities. If I'd used them well, maybe I could've won. But telling a guy who spent his whole life drawing snacks to suddenly fight? I'm not that amazing."
Even if a bread knife is made of metal, it's still just for slicing bread—what else could it do?
More importantly, the opponents were way too well-prepared. He was a support-type producer with a broken unlimited-materials skill. The ones who stormed in were professional fighters. And there were hostages. A fair fight wasn't even possible.
So he just made the least damaging choice.
"Anyway, once I became a half-corpse, things got kind of tangled."
Gio continued.
"You guys made a few mistakes. Some of you also absorbed my abilities. And because of that, 'Gio's Portrait' got corrupted into a 'system'—and it took over 30 years to regain its identity."
"...It was corrupted..."
"I guess what you thought of as 'Teacher' and what I thought of as 'Teacher' weren't the same. Because of that, you ended up absorbing more of my power than I'd planned. I didn't raise you to become such boring adults..."
Still, it was lucky he had restricted the powers using "Promise," "Friend," and "Punishment." If unchecked versions of Sergio had spawned, Earth would've been doomed. He was glad he'd prepped in advance.
"At least my students all became major political figures. That part made me proud."
"...Were there other parts of the plan that went wrong?"
"Oh, sure. Like how the system was created through your Promise, and how the memories got erased as a result?"
"...That..."
"I tried giving away snacks for free, but while I was gone, you all decided to pay for them. I was just going to give them out."
"..."
"And it's kind of funny that you ended up taking more than I meant to give."
Dan Haera, silent for a moment, spoke again in a quiet voice.
"...Then, does that mean your memories too... were paid as part of the Promise?"
"Ah, that's true. But it's fine—I got refunded."
"...Sorry?"
"You heard me right."
"...Wait. Are you saying... the Promise of Eternity has been broken?"
"That too, yes."
Gio, back in full teacher mode, calmly explained.
"See this?"
He pulled out a seal.
"If you were really keeping tabs on me, I wonder if this was in your reports."
"...I heard people around you sometimes received letters with that seal."
"Yeah, this is what I got in return."
He placed the seal on the table.
"To put it another way—it's like getting a tax refund after overpaying. But instead of cash, it came in the form of a gift voucher... with interest..."
"I think I get what you're saying..."
"That's how reality and mysticism work. You can only exchange equivalent gifts and payments. But with this seal, I could give out gifts from within the portrait freely."
Without the seal, all gifts demanded repayment. He hadn't tested it, but he had a strong feeling that breaking this rule wouldn't end well for either side. That was how mystic rules worked—any imbalance would trigger a penalty.
"And honestly... I think I got a little extra in the refund."
That's probably why the system—better attuned to the mystic laws than memory-wiped Gio—had gifted him the seal. Or more precisely, it had shaped his "refund value" into that form for easy use.
"I guess you could say... even the system became a kind of teacher for me. Once I got used to the mystic rules, it started talking to me a lot less."
"..."
"We got along decently well."
"...Yes. I suppose so."
"Still kind of ridiculous, though."
With his usual blank face, Gio looked at Dan Haera.
"Can you believe all the stuff I was trying to avoid ended up happening anyway?"
He'd tried not to link with an alternate-dimension Gio. Tried not to become a heartless AI. Tried to avoid splitting his ego.
And yet he'd experienced all of it firsthand.
"Plus, the system version of Sergio had zero empathy. Wouldn't merge with me at all. I guess that was your influence too... But yeah, I guess in practice a textbook-like system was more useful than a snack-dropping portrait that showed up in alleys..."
"Please don't say it like that."
"Anyway, maybe the system agreed, since it refused to merge. I thought a second Sergio would be born from my split ego—but no, I got an AI Sergio instead. Our clashing perspectives slowed down my recovery, too."
Of course, there were other reasons as well.
"But, well..."
Gio blinked slowly.
"...In the end, some of what I wanted still came true."
"..."
"That's probably why I'm not angry."
"...We were..."
Dan Haera said in a flat, emotionless tone,
"We were completely out of line."
"Everyone lives like that."
"To create the system, we tormented you for days without letting you die. It was all out of selfishness. You taught us so well—and yet we became such bad adults."
"Yeah. That's how it seemed."
"Weren't you the Black Cloak who punishes the wicked?"
"Well, there were a few events like that, but it's kind of a distorted rumor."
"I'll accept my punishment. Please, give it to me..."
"..."
Gio hesitated, then finally spoke.
"...Do I have to?"
Do I really have to be the one to do this?
"I've already worked hard as a system for over 30 years. What more do you want from me?"
"...Huh?"
"Listen, Haera."
Punishment... was emotional labor.
"I mean, what is ideal punishment? If someone hits you, is hitting them back justice? If someone ruins a family, is ruining their life justice? Even deciding those standards is presumptuous, isn't it?"
Gio got a little more honest.
"Mostly, I'm just tired."
"I... I understand, but..."
"There's nothing in this for me. We've already talked it out. Do we really need to bring up punishment now?"
"I know this doesn't align with your temperament, but still..."
"You're seeing me as too soft. This isn't about temperament—it's about mood. And right now, I'm just not in the mood."
"But you do believe in justice, don't you?"
"Specifically, the kind of justice where I don't have to get blood on my hands. Like when a bad guy gets struck by lightning in the street..."
"...Ah, so it's more... specific taste."
"I'm a cowardly adult who avoids unpleasant things whenever possible. Even if it's righteous, I don't like being the one to hand out punishment."
Gio asked,
"You want me to do all that high-effort, zero-reward emotional labor?"
Are you serious?
"I know you've done wrong. I know bad adults need to be scolded eventually. I just don't want to be the one to do it."
"..."
"Even just imagining it drains me. Is that petty?"
"...No, I... I don't know."
"I believe in karma."
He trusted that the laws of mysticism would deliver punishment at the appropriate time.
Probably.
***
Is this... death?
"Meow?"
A soul?
***
"...!"
Back on Earth, Joo-Hyun suddenly shivered from a creeping chill.
'Something... feels ominous...'
Someone approached him.
"Apostle, is something wrong?"
"...No, Ms. Canary. Also, I'm not an apostle..."
"Our followers are waiting."
"No, I..."
"The disciples of the Portrait have submitted a new request."
"...Let's go."
The answer came almost reflexively.
He hadn't meant to do this. But Joo-Hyun couldn't stand to watch these conscience-less leeches suck his poor friend dry anymore. Ignoring the faint regret in his heart, he moved.
And regretted it again.
"The Apostle is eating!!"
"Ahh, the Apostle of the Portrait...!"
"Enshrine him in the canvas!!"
Again, and he meant it—
"...Everyone, please take your seats."
—he really hadn't meant for this to happen.
-x-X-x-
Unlike Yoo Seong-Woon, who was in no condition to hear stories of the past, Joo-Hyun had heard the name "Portrait" before.
"...?"
No—he hadn't just heard of it. He had even received help from it.
"...!!"
Which is why, when the "Promise of Eternity" was broken and his memories returned, he couldn't help but be even more shocked.
"Mr. Gio, what the hell is going on...!!"
Joo-Hyun, who had instinctively shouted at someone who wasn't even there, winced and let out a groan. Judging by the absence of a letter, it seemed Gio couldn't easily use his powers inside the "Garden of Pleasure." And since this was Earth, inside a house no less, there was no way he'd respond to being called.
Without another moment of hesitation, Joo-Hyun headed for the Collector's Guild.
"Ah, Mr. Joo-Hyun."
"Sorry for the sudden visit, but have you all also...?"
"If you mean the memories from about thirty years ago, yes, they've returned. It seems the general population is in a similar situation."
"No wonder the streets were in chaos on the way here."
"The only silver lining is that the returned memories seem mostly focused on the 'Portrait' religion. Since it was one of the few favorable religions back then, we're unlikely to see the Black Cloak or the Association getting stoned in the streets."
"Right, the fact that even someone like me remembers receiving help speaks for itself."
At the time, Korea had a strongly xenophobic atmosphere. Joo-Hyun, with his foreign appearance, had been severely ostracized even at a young age. Yet the group that had generously shared food and saved ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ people from monsters, even people like him, was none other than the religion called "Portrait."
Not long after Joo-Hyun's visit, the few remaining members of the Collector's Guild immediately convened for an emergency meeting.
"Is there no way to communicate with people inside the 'Garden of Pleasure'?"
"I heard that the Association's equipment might have worked, but even that's become unreliable recently. Hunters moving deeper in caused the equipment to go dead. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't."
"What's surprising is that even letters from the Black Cloak haven't arrived. Mr. Joo-Hyun mentioned that there's been no contact and not a single letter."
"If the Black Cloak's powers are being blocked, this definitely isn't your average dungeon. On top of that, the Director's Promise was broken..."
"In other words, even the Association Director has suffered damage. Then we should prepare for the worst when it comes to our Guildmaster and Hunter Sergio's situation."
"Then what do we do about 'Portrait'?"
As the topic shifted, the guild members considered their options.
"Judging by how quickly the government and Association are reacting, it seems they had some idea this might happen."
"More than just suspicion—they clearly prepared for it. They're mobilizing people, and that takes serious resources. This isn't a haphazard reaction."
"Even without the Director, they released an official statement. Apparently, the memory loss was for the sake of the 'Promise of Eternity,' and thanks to that, the system was created."
"Since it was an era that benefited from the Symbols of Eternity and their system, people seem to be gradually accepting it. The government probably just wants to quell the confusion quickly."
"That too, but it seems more like they're trying to justify the 'Promise of Eternity' before public dissatisfaction grows. Just look at the speed and means of this media campaign."
"They're definitely putting a lot of effort into it..."
Still, the Collector's Guild couldn't afford to let their guard down.
"But the response toward 'Portrait' has been extremely passive. We received a report from Site Team 28—'Portrait' believers have started voicing their opinions again."
"What claims...? What could they possibly claim at this point? That religion's been obsolete for decades."
"Apparently, they saw the Portrait's god as the Black Cloak."
A younger guild member asked,
"What common traits do they share that everyone who knows seems to know? It was a defunct religion from 30 years ago, and it didn't even end on a good note."
"I'm curious too. From what I heard, it wasn't a peaceful dissolution—they were attacked. For a religion like that to make a comeback now... it's hard to believe."
Middle-aged guild members nodded knowingly.
"Well, I mean... both of them had the art motif, and they were generous with food."
"Exactly. At the very least, they never let people starve."
"I remember wondering how they managed to stockpile so much food. Back then, with so many polluted zones and constant raids, farming was nearly impossible."
"Right? It was bizarre. Even rare sweets like chocolate kept showing up. Or things like fresh cream, butter, cakes..."
"Because of that, the Portrait followers had immense faith in their god. In a time when all trade had collapsed, such massive quantities of chocolate couldn't be explained unless they were miraculously produced."
"In what could easily have been called a Great Famine, it was natural to feel grateful."
Hearing all this, a younger employee tilted their head.
"So... is that it? Just their generosity with food?"
"There was also the art—remember? The paintings."
"You could argue they just had similar divine traits, right?"
"Well... not quite? There aren't many gods who open dungeon shortcuts with paintings or draw monsters that aid humans."
"There was one defining trait."
The older department head grinned.
"Their god always wore a black cloak."
"...You could've just started with that. We wouldn't have had to go through all that."
"Well, cloaked human-shaped gods do show up from time to time."
At that moment, Joo-Hyun interjected with his signature earnest smile.
"If I recall correctly, not even the high-ranking officials of 'Portrait' knew what the living god looked like. The people now called the Symbols of Eternity never revealed him publicly."
"But... wasn't it common knowledge that they worshiped a human as a god? If they kept him hidden, how did that even become known?"
"I don't know the details myself, but apparently, from time to time, the Portrait's god would be seen taking walks cloaked in black. Back then, well, I guess..."
Joo-Hyun's smile faded awkwardly.
"...I guess back then, he didn't look as inhuman as he does now."
The Collector's Guild members nodded calmly, but Joo-Hyun, who had brought it up, felt uneasy. It made him a little sad—that someone who had once considered himself a regular human had now become something entirely not.
Erasing the expression quickly, Joo-Hyun asked,
"But even so, that alone isn't enough to prove the Portrait's god was human, right? Does anyone know something more definitive?"
"It's not widely known, since it was internal to the Portrait sect, but their entire doctrine revolved around elevating the Portrait's god to true divine status."
A guild member scratched his head.
"I still remember, since I lived in the area where they were based."
"Ah, you must've lived in the central region."
"Yes. The feeling was that they wanted to make the Portrait's god the rightful ruler of Earth—worthy of divinity—and to remain as his forerunners... or beloved followers."
"Frankly, that's kind of creepy."
"There was backlash too. I don't know where or how it started, but there were whispers that the god of Portrait caused the Great Catastrophe."
"That's... a strange take."
"At the time, people just wanted someone to blame. Even if it didn't make sense, they needed a sliver of hope. That's what humans do."
"What kind of hope is that? I really can't see it..."
"Hope for the god of Portrait usually fell into one of two categories."
They were simple.
"One side wanted to build their own utopia by creating a god they could claim as theirs. The other wanted to pin all sin and responsibility on the god of Portrait."
"Creating a utopia I get, but what hope is there in blaming a god?"
"It's obvious. If it's all that god's fault, then maybe things will get better if they kill him. Or if they offer him as a sacrifice to save the world."
"I get the logic, but it still feels... wrong."
Another guild member frowned.
"In the end, it's just shoving all the blame on an innocent person, right? Like a kid throwing a tantrum, demanding that you fix it—because you can, and you must."
"In short, yeah."
"And to turn a normal person into a god, they'd have needed all kinds of mystical manipulations, faith rituals... the burden must've been unimaginable."
"No one cared. It's a miracle they didn't go as far as live sacrifices, considering the state of the world back then."
"I know the world's still a mess now, but the early days of the Catastrophe... the more I hear, the more it sounds like horror fiction. It's a wonder humanity didn't go extinct."
Just then, a guild member sorting field reports grimaced.
"Before we talk about ethics and all that... there's something you need to see. At exactly 3:36 PM today—just moments ago—there was contact between former Portrait believers and current Black Cloak enthusiasts."
"...Contact? What kind of contact?"
"Doesn't sound like a pleasant one. Might even escalate into a fight."
"Why would people who worship the same god even fight?"
"Religious groups always love in-fighting. Just look at the Church of the Sun. That tells you everything you need to know about faith."
"Seriously, why..."
The department head, bearing both power and responsibility, sighed and almost teared up.
"...Ha. Alright. Even if they worship the same god, if their attitude and devotion differ, then of course a fight could happen."
"They probably think each other blasphemous. One side resents treating the god as just a piece of artwork, while the other is annoyed by clingers leeching off their living heritage."
"Black Cloak enthusiasts are just that—enthusiasts..."
They didn't expect anything from the Black Cloak. They'd do good deeds in hopes of receiving his gifts, but even without them, they were happy just being close to the artwork that was the Black Cloak.
But Portrait followers weren't satisfied with that. They wanted a response from their god. They had built their entire religion on receiving love and favor from the Portrait god, and treated him devoutly.
"This isn't going to end well."
"But wouldn't it look weird if the Collector stepped in?"
"Exactly. Officially, 'Hunter Sergio' is a member of the Collector—not the Black Cloak. Even if it seems like Hunter Seo serves the Black Cloak..."
"Yeah, it'd be strange for the Collector to meddle in a religious dispute."
"There's no precedent. We've always kept our distance from faith and religious groups have done the same."
"It'd be absurd for a guild that treats divinity as art to suddenly buddy up with a church. Sergio's the only priest-like figure we've got."
"So... what do we even do with this... religious mess..."
"...Hmm..."
"..."
"..."
All eyes turned to Joo-Hyun—but he had already resigned himself minutes ago. There was simply no one more suitable.
Not a power bloc like the guild, nor a clear official—just a manager of ambiguous affiliation. And the Hunter he served was known as the apostle of the Black Cloak.
'Not to mention... I've already gotten to know the enthusiasts during the Gardener Incident.'
With that thought, Joo-Hyun gave his signature smile.
"...I'll try talking to them!"
And so it was decided.
***
"Have we heard anything from Mr. Joo-Hyun?"
"I was just about to report—something came in just now."
"Oh, faster than expected. So what's the situation?"
"He says: 'Please save me.'"
"...?"
The department head gave a puzzled look.
"Is he asking for backup? Maybe it was a mistake sending a civilian into a nest of zealots?"
"No, it's not like that..."
"What the hell happened? Mr. Joo-Hyun's the type who never complains unless it's serious. Don't tell me something really went down?"
"No, that's not it."
The guild member shook their head.
"The conflict's gradually cooling down. The ones who were overly obsessive about getting something from the Black Cloak, or the old believers who got too worked up... he's already calmed them down."
"Whoa, he did all that? We sent a few staff along just in case..."
"He apparently handled it all on his own. Our staff didn't even get the chance to step in—everyone was so fixated on the 'Apostle of the Black Cloak' that they completely ignored them. Our field agents are freaking out because the atmosphere was intense."
"So what's going on now?"
"He managed to talk them down, guided the mood, and found a compromise. The enthusiasts agreed to approach their faith with more reverence, and the old believers agreed to ease up on expecting divine compensation."
"Oh..."
The department head let out a breath of admiration. That was actually... a pretty good outcome.
The current enthusiasts would gain more structure from the old believers, and the old believers would face less divine punishment from being overly obsessed.
"There are still some concerns, of course—but for someone who's only been out there a week, Mr. Joo-Hyun really did well. As long as we keep things from overheating, this can be managed."
"Seems that way."
"No bloodshed, right?"
"There was some. A few of the zealots were too aggressive. But most of the current enthusiasts and old believers are first-class citizens... so in the end, they fought with their wallets."
"As expected of the privileged. Even their fighting style is admirable."
"You're a first-class citizen too, sir."
"I'm not poor, sure, but I've seen those Black Cloak fans before. They're on another level. Different universe. No need to understand them."
"Right..."
The staff member shrugged.
"Still, they say minor disputes are ongoing. A few especially stubborn old believers—also first-class citizens—have been raising their voices. Apparently they're extremely tricky to deal with."
There were even reports of more... dangerous individuals. The kind who couldn't even be described as zealots—they were beyond that.
"They're not just angry. They're cold, calculated, and creepy. Some of them seem genuinely dangerous."
The department head asked,
"So did he request backup? Should we deploy the combat team?"
"Ah... no. He said if we bring in force, the situation will spiral out of control. Those who stir up trouble with money and power can still be handled diplomatically, so we shouldn't escalate."
"Mr. Joo-Hyun said that?"
"Essentially, yes. In short—he didn't ask for a combat team. If anything, he warned against it."
"Then what did he request? Why did he say 'save me'?"
"Well..."
The staff member, mouth twisted into a dry smile, continued flatly.
"He says he's about to end up as the leader of a new religion."
"Ah."
"He wants to be rescued."
"Why? He's doing great."
The guild member smiled warmly.
"Just send in some security."
"That's what I thought too."
With that, the two wrapped up the short meeting, buoyed by a sense of camaraderie.
***
Bisa Beul, having received the report via the Association's communication system, nodded.
"Mm. It seems Korea's situation is settling down."
"That's a relief."
"Then it's time for us to fulfill our role..."
He smiled as he looked at Aram, who was holding the moon in her arms—and at the red dragon coiled around the both of them.
"Sometimes, instinct is more important than calculations. Who knew our little friend would be so capable?"
"...It's hot..."
"Oh, come on. You two look like you're getting along wonderfully."
"I said it's really hot."
"Well, we did find the 'answer,' so maybe be a little forgiving?"
Chuckling quietly, he turned to Yoo Seong-Woon.
"Can you take care of it?"
"I am a Collector's Guild member, after all."
"Then good. Let's go show it to the Moon Cult priests."
Bisa Beul's gaze settled on the crown of flowers and the letter in Yoo Seong-Woon's hands.
"Looks like it'll need analyzing."
It was a moment that brought them one step closer to the answer.