Chapter 144
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 144
Arjio was cruel by nature.
“It’s in his nature to covet blood and wealth.”
“Are you sure it’s okay to describe yourself that way?”
“It’s the truth. What can I do?”
The two continued their conversation in the Collector’s lounge.
Though he was still in a public space, Gio’s hair remained platinum blonde, but his expression was as blunt and calm as the one in his portrait.
…It’s quite different from the face of the priest I know. Is this how he looks because Giovanni is now fully embodying the portrait’s persona?
As Yoo Seong-un was lost in thought, Gio continued in his characteristically low voice.
“Arjio is a man of many talents. He learns anything he attempts with ease and is never afraid to try new things. However, because his nature is closer to that of a beast, he gravitates toward stimulating experiences. It’s not that he lacks patience, but…”
“By ‘stimulating,’ do you mean the blood and wealth you mentioned earlier?”
“Beyond that, he also enjoys fine drink and combat. Most of all, he loves fighting with all his might against a worthy opponent. In fact, more than just fighting, it seems he craves the thrill of a life-or-death struggle.”
“So he’s a thrill-seeker. Well, that’s… quite something.”
Yoo Seong-un laughed awkwardly.
“There are actually quite a few Hunters like that.”
“Is that so?”
“People who find meaning in life-or-death battles.”
“I didn’t know there were others with such tastes.”
“Well, there are all kinds of tastes in the world… I can understand Arjio’s perspective.”
“Thank you for understanding a preference that isn’t exactly socially acceptable.”
After expressing his light gratitude, Gio continued.
“But that doesn’t mean he acts recklessly. If he desires drink, he seeks a master artisan’s finest brew. If he wants wealth, he covets treasures of gold and silver that hold a story. And if he fights, he prefers an opponent worthy of an all-out clash.”
In other words, his tastes were incredibly particular.
“He’s also the type to invest as much time and effort as necessary to satisfy those tastes.”
“Is the reason you’re introducing yourself like this related to… what you said earlier about the Demon King?”
“Of course. Now that I’ve explained this much, it should be easier to understand, Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”
The platinum-blonde Gio asserted bluntly, “I wish to battle a Hero.”
“…Oh…?”
“In the past, many Heroes came seeking me.”
“…Heroes?”
“Because I was the Evil God who threatened world peace.”
There was a time when he was treated as the root of all evil, blamed for every misfortune in the world, big or small.
“Back then, even if I didn’t actively seek them out, plenty of worthy opponents came to me. They poured everything they had into the fight—for the peace of humanity, to protect their loved ones, and for the advancement of the world.”
“……”
“I remember those battles being incredibly enjoyable. While the other divinities that made up my being were plagued by complex emotions like betrayal, I—the personality of Arjio—found it all quite exhilarating.”
Giovanni wore a deeply regretful expression. Since he wasn’t playing the part of ‘Seo Gio’ at the moment, his grumbling felt entirely natural.
“Thinking back, that was the most cost-effective era.”
“Cost-effective…”
“I was so famous that talented individuals flocked to me without any promotion.”
“Promotion… So that’s how you see it.”
Yoo Seong-un let out a faint laugh.
“So your talk of becoming a Demon King was for that ‘promotion.’”
“It’s essentially a recruitment notice for talented individuals.”
Giovanni’s blue eyes sparkled with melancholy.
“As Arjio, I’ve been reflecting on my past. It became even clearer after speaking with the God of Death. All those battles I enjoyed as the Evil God Arjio were actually a form of unfair profit.”
“Unfair profit?”
“Even though I made no effort to secure those valuable battles, people sent excellent talents my way. I thought it was my natural right, but in truth, it wasn’t.”
“Isn’t your logic a bit strange?”
“The God of Death told me that my infamy was not truly my own. It was a reputation I was lucky enough to hold temporarily, so now is the time to put in the work to reclaim it.”
“Oh, I see. That’s… impressive.”
Yoo Seong-un nodded.
“Don’t you resent the people who condemned you as an Evil God and framed you?”
“It’s not that I’m not angry, but I gained something far more valuable, so it’s fine.”
“Well, that’s surprisingly sentimental.”
Looking at the situation objectively, there couldn’t be a more unfair story.
A potential hero born with instincts for slaughter and plunder, yet who showed ample consideration for others, only to be framed and condemned until… he ultimately became an Evil God.
If a dungeon with such a story existed, and Arjio were its boss, what a massive disaster that would have been for humanity. The mere thought brought an awkward laugh to his lips.
Rubbing his neck, Yoo Seong-un asked, “How did it end for you as Arjio?”
“I was sealed.”
“Sealed… That doesn’t sound very pleasant.”
“But I liked it because it allowed me to stop the meaningless slaughter.”
“And if it had been meaningful slaughter, you would have enjoyed it?”
“Hmm… No.”
Surprisingly, Gio denied it.
“Back then, my divinity was formed by merging with countless victims. As a result, I was often forced to unleash a wrath that wasn’t my own. In a way, I wasn’t in control.”
He was saying that unless the wrath was his own, it held no value.
“Getting angry, evaluating an opponent—all of that had to be solely under my authority. But back then, I couldn’t do that…”
“Was it unpleasant?”
“It was utterly unpleasant. Even though I was called a beast and lived like one my whole life, I knew how to act intelligently. It felt as though all of my precious reason had been dragged through the mud.”
Giovanni wore a faint smile.
“So, you can imagine how admirable and grateful I am to them. By honing their noble souls, the Heroes granted me peace—a meaningful gift forged from the dedication of their entire lives.”
“For a Demon King, you like Heroes a bit too much.”
“I respect brave warriors. They possessed righteous souls, excellent insight, and sound judgment. They knew when to be cautious and when to be bold.”
“So your preference for good and polite talents was the same even back then.”
“You are right, Mr. Yoo Seong-un. I have always loved those who dream and strive to achieve them. No matter the outcome, the process of their effort alone is incredibly precious.”
Yoo Seong-un understood what Gio was saying.
His tastes really haven’t changed since time immemorial.
Whether as Seo Gio, Giovanni, or Arjio, their expressions might differ slightly, but the ideal human that ‘Gio’ loved and cherished was ultimately the same.
Whether their lives were long or short, whether they were strong or weak, whatever path they took, he ultimately loved those who walked the path of a hero.
In that regard, he is certainly godlike.
Great powers usually favor heroes.
“……”
Yoo Seong-un let out a laugh that was almost a sigh.
“And you want to become a Demon King just to fight those heroes again?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Why does it have to be a Demon King? You could just propose a duel.”
“Because what I want is not a duel, but a life-or-death struggle.”
“So you mean everything, including lives, must be on the line.”
“A fight where one carries the weight of everything, or has abandoned everything, is the most thrilling.”
“And you were like that too?”
“I faced death in every single battle.”
For an instant, Gio’s hair flushed a brilliant red.
“It is a delicacy that is hard to come by.”
“……”
“…Ah.”
His hair returned to platinum blonde. Giovanni smiled awkwardly, the gentle smile of a pleasant young man.
“My apologies. My assimilation is still incomplete, so I occasionally lose control.”
“…As long as losing control doesn’t mean you go around slaughtering people, I don’t mind.”
“No matter how much I lose control, such a thing will never happen.”
“Because Arjio doesn’t enjoy meaningless slaughter in the first place?”
“You are correct, Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”
“Hmm…”
He pondered for a moment.
“…But you know.”
“Yes, I am listening.”
“How do you plan to act like a Demon King?”
“……”
“You are, how should I put it…”
Yoo Seong-un hesitated before continuing.
“You’re not really cut out for evil.”
“Th-That is…”
“You’re not even good at being bad.”
He never thought he’d live to say such a thing to an Evil God, but it was an undeniable fact. Gio simply wasn’t the kind of being who could easily commit evil deeds.
“You said that even when you lived as Arjio, you didn’t engage in meaningless slaughter.”
“I did enjoy frequent life-or-death battles, though.”
“But did you start those fights? Did you torment innocent people?”
“Well… no, but…”
“Have you ever done any other bad deeds besides that?”
“……”
After hesitating for a long time, Gio spoke with difficulty.
“…Theft?”
“Whose things did you steal?”
“Those obnoxious pigs’…”
“Alright, so you’ve never tormented innocent people.”
“But tormenting people who have done nothing wrong… isn’t that far too cowardly?”
“The very fact that you say that disqualifies you from being a Demon King.”
“Don’t you think there might be a Demon King somewhere in the world who prefers a fair fight?”
“A fair-and-square Demon King doesn’t get a subjugation force sent after him in the first place, Gio. Heroes won’t gather for that.”
“…You are correct, Mr. Yoo Seong-un…”
Gio looked quite troubled. Since analyzing Gio’s newly expressive face was an enjoyable task for a curator, Yoo Seong-un sipped the cheap instant coffee on the table while admiring his ‘artwork.’
As expected, that harmonious face is truly a sight to behold.
How long had he been admiring his masterpiece? Only after a considerable amount of time had passed did Gio speak again.
“…When Arjio’s infamy was at its peak, my reputation grew naturally without me having to worry about such things. It’s truly a pity. They say you don’t know what you have until it’s gone, and I guess that applies to me.”
“I’m not sure it’s something to be lamented to that extent.”
“Couldn’t a similar situation arise this time? Even if I avoid cowardly acts, people might frame me on their own, or come to see me as the incarnation of evil… something like that.”
“I’m really sorry, but that doesn’t seem very likely.”
Yoo Seong-un said with an awkward smile.
“Let’s think about that slowly. For now, you have Mr. Ju-hyeon resting at your house, and you said your self-awareness as an Evil God isn’t complete yet.”
“That is certainly true, Mr. Yoo Seong-un. It seems the situation is not favorable for me to be rumored as the Demon King just yet. Thank you for the sound advice.”
“A Demon King… Well, let’s see. I’ll give some thought to this Demon King Project. If possible, I’d like to find a way that minimizes harm. Is that alright?”
“I would appreciate that. While I am eager to clash with outstanding talents, I would hate for people to be so terrified of me that I can’t make any friends.”
“Thinking about it that way, it might actually be better to split your identity further. Into Black Cloak, Hunter Seo Gio, and the Evil God Arjio… Hmm…”
Having said that much, Yoo Seong-un hesitated slightly.
“…I also hope that other people won’t be afraid of you.”
“Thank you for understanding, Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”
“For one thing, it seems like it would be a major problem from the perspective of world peace.”
An existence of the Origin could expand or contract its influence based on the ‘stories’ surrounding it. He had barely managed to separate ‘Gio’s Portrait’ into ‘Seo Gio’ and ‘Black Cloak’ to create a safe zone, and now the man wanted to be a Demon King?
Cold sweat ran down Yoo Seong-un’s back. There were other problems he could foresee, not just as a Gardener, but simply as the human Yoo Seong-un.
“Additionally, well…”
“What is the matter?”
“…There’s a subtle sense of guilt…?”
“I don’t believe there is any reason for you to feel guilty.”
“No, how should I put it… It’s just…”
Wasn’t he basically planning to turn a perfectly fine person into a global pariah?
Moreover, if he wants to recreate the situation from his time as Arjio… it means making Gio, who hasn’t committed any crime, the root of all evil, forcing him to take the fall for absurd false accusations and insults.
Even if the person in question was satisfied with it, was this really okay?
Of course, from the perspective of an Origin, such things are far removed from human guilt. Still... Gio possessed a human ego as well, so it was difficult to say he wasn’t human at all…
It felt truly bizarre.
“…I’ll think long and hard about this, so let’s hold off on putting anything into action for now.”
“I was at a loss, so I’m truly grateful that you’re willing to help me figure this out.”
“No need to thank me for something like this…”
A way to make Gio a harmless Demon King.
Setting aside whether that even makes sense, this isn’t something I have the authority to meddle with.
Yoo Seong-un barely held back a sigh.
It seemed he would have to see Bisabeol as soon as he returned.
*
With that, Gio returned home.
“……”
And Ju-hyeon ended up sharing a similar concern to Yoo Seong-un’s.
“…Ah, a Demon King.”
“To put it briefly, yes. What do you think?”
“Please give me a moment to think.”
What on earth was this about?
“So…”
It sounded like he was asking to be made into a global punching bag.
The wholesome young man, so far removed from any wicked schemes, was thrown into deep confusion.
“…That’s… a bit…”
“Hmm?”
“…Isn’t that a bit too unconscionable…?”