Chapter 163
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 163
By definition, a rainforest is a forest that receives heavy rainfall.
The ‘Black Forest’ that Arjio called home was no different. Capricious rain fell almost daily, a pitch-black, poison-laden fog frequently rolled in, and the muddy ground hid its treacherous companion, the swamp.
“I like rainforests.”
Within that forest, so dense that not a single ray of sunlight could penetrate, treasures of every kind overflowed. Poison was medicine, and a potent poison could become a potent elixir. It was a splendor that bloomed atop a pile of corpses…
“So, I will see you in fifteen days.”
“Yes, Your Divinity.”
“There are always treasures in the rainforest.”
Mesmerizing treasures that could turn anyone into a beast.
* * *
“Oh!”
A youthful voice echoed through the garden of the Cult’s headquarters.
“Gio-hyung!”
“Student Yi-sol.”
For the first time in a while, Yi-sol had spotted a welcome face.
“I was just admiring the beautiful garden. I never expected to see such a precious face here.”
The platinum-blonde Gio approached Yi-sol with his signature refined smile. Yi-sol, still holding his partner’s hand, ran over and greeted him with a bright expression.
“It’s been so long!”
“Yes, it has been a while.”
“I’ve been doing great!”
“Oh, my… you stole my line.”
“Have you been doing well, hyung?”
“I, too, have been spending my days in peace.”
“I’m glad.”
With a child’s characteristic innocent curiosity, Yi-sol asked, “Are you not hurt anymore?”
“……”
Giovanni wore a soft smile that seemed painted onto his face.
“It didn’t hurt back then, either.”
“But there was so much blood.”
“It was blood that had to be shed.”
“Did you do something wrong, hyung?”
“I was simply taking responsibility for a bond.”
“What does that mean?”
“This kind of talk…”
His gaze shifted to Yi-sol’s partner as he continued, “…should probably wait until after you introduce your companion, Student Yi-sol.”
“Ah, right!”
Startled, Yi-sol looked over at his partner. Iruda, the novice priest, was looking at him with a slight grimace. After all, their conversation had taken a rather bizarre turn.
“Don’t tell me you only just remembered I was here.”
“I was holding your hand, so I was thinking of you the whole time, Ruda!”
“If you hadn’t phrased that so sweetly, you would have been in big trouble.”
“I was just so happy to see hyung that I forgot to introduce you…”
“……”
Iruda let out a small sigh, looking as if she were biting her tongue.
“…Nice to meet you. I am Novice Priest Iruda.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sister. I am Seo Gio, a humble follower who has received the light of the Sun.”
“The light of the Sun…”
Iruda looked up at Gio.
“Are you perhaps a priest…?”
Between the pure white uniform he wore beneath his pitch-black cloak and, more than anything, his general aura, she couldn’t help but think so.
The man who introduced himself as ‘Seo Gio’ had platinum-blonde hair like clean marble bathed in sunlight and blue eyes that seemed to shimmer with light. He was the very image of a ‘Priest of the Sun.’
His energy isn’t that of an ordinary person, either.
A warm energy radiated from him, truly justifying the phrase ‘received the light of the Sun.’ Iruda could feel a divine grandeur emanating from him—something impossible for anyone but a priest deeply beloved by their deity.
And something more…
“Ah, my dear. I am not a priest.”
“…You’re not a priest?”
“I am merely a believer who serves the Sun.”
“But…”
She wanted to argue, but he was an unfamiliar adult and someone Yi-sol clearly liked, which made it hard to speak up. Few adults appreciated a child who argued every point during their first meeting.
I’ll have to ask Yi-sol more about this later.
As if sensing her thoughts, the man named Seo Gio smiled warmly.
“You seem to have some questions. Are you sure you don’t wish to ask?”
“…I thought it would be impolite to an adult I’m meeting for the first time.”
“Sister Iruda, you are very prudent and polite.”
His voice carried a steady, seemingly eternal goodwill.
“Do you like sweet things?”
“…Pardon?”
As Iruda processed the sudden question, Yi-sol shot his hand into the air.
“Me! Me, me! I like them! Sweets! Snacks! The snacks you give me, hyung!”
“Seeing such enthusiasm for snacks truly pleases my heart.”
Seo Gio looked immensely pleased as he spoke.
Ah, they’re so alike.
The man, who just a moment ago wore the smile of an ideal priest, let out a surprisingly cheerful laugh and pinched Yi-sol’s cheeks. Iruda could feel the depth of his affection in that gentle, effortless gesture.
“You look like you’ve lost some weight.”
“Huh? I gained weight!”
“I’d like to see you gain another fifteen kilograms.”
Iruda couldn’t help but interject.
“If he gains that much, he’ll be a pig. He’ll just roll everywhere.”
“Become a pig… poof…”
“No.”
Iruda was horrified at the image of a pig-like Yi-sol rolling around, unable to walk. For some reason, she felt this man, Seo Gio, was fully capable of turning a perfectly normal child into a pig. She could sense that kind of determination in him.
Hesitantly, Iruda continued, “…I don’t really like sweet things.”
“Does that mean you don’t enjoy snacks in general?”
“No, it’s not that…”
“Do you have a preferred snack, Sister Iruda?”
“…Dried medicinal herbs.”
“Ah.”
Despite the odd answer, Seo Gio nodded readily.
“You must like bitter things.”
“I just… like chewing on things that are good for my body. It keeps my mouth from getting bored.”
“To be so mindful of your health at such a young age—what a remarkably clever approach.”
“……”
“Children who appreciate the value of medicinal herbs are rare.”
At the sincere goodwill pouring from him as naturally as breathing, Iruda tightened her grip on Yi-sol’s hand.
“Ruda, your face is red.”
“Be quiet, Yi-sol.”
It was because she had never received such blatant praise from an adult before.
Why is he pampering me so much?
In an era where the prevailing belief was that children grew up just fine on their own.
In a world that saw children not as fragile beings to be protected and nurtured, but as fragile things that died easily and thus required ‘management,’ an adult as gentle as Gio was exceedingly rare.
No wonder he gets along so well with Yi-sol…
It was clear that one ray of sunshine attracted another. Her face burned.
While Yi-sol was a friend and partner she walked beside, Seo Gio was, by all accounts, a dependable adult. Having never experienced being adored so unconditionally by such a figure, Iruda stammered.
“I-I just eat them because they’re good for me.”
“And so humble, too.”
“It’s not that…”
“I’m relieved that Student Yi-sol has a friend like you, Sister Iruda.”
Seo Gio smiled, his eyes full of pride.
“I am certain you will make a wonderful partner.”
“……”
“Since the weather is so lovely, allow me to give you a small gift.”
With that, Seo Gio handed a small paper bag to both Yi-sol and Iruda.
“I hope this is a gift to your liking. You may use it as you wish.”
His eyes crinkling softly, he straightened his posture and bid them farewell.
“I stopped by today at the summons of the Sun Cult. Meeting you both on my way out has made this an even better day.”
“I liked it too! Hyung, will you come back?”
“If possible, I will show my face again soon. I will pass on your regards to your guardians, Student Yi-sol. But Sister Iruda.”
Seo Gio looked at Iruda and asked gently, “May I pass on your regards as well?”
“…Ah, me? To whom?”
“To Student Yi-sol’s guardians.”
“Why would you do that?”
“They will be overjoyed to hear he’s made such a wonderful friend.”
“…Uh…”
Her mouth hanging open, Iruda flushed bright red and bowed her head.
“…Do as you please.”
“Thank you for your permission, sister.”
With a slight bow, Seo Gio smiled once more and left the garden. Perhaps because he was a high-ranking Hunter, his steps were impossibly light, making almost no sound. For some reason, he also left behind a pleasant scent.
“……”
“Gio-hyung is a good person, right?”
“…Huh? Ah, yeah.”
She had never seen an adult like him before.
“Is he always that sweet?”
“Hmm, the younger you are, the more he adores you.”
“To think such a natural monument exists in this day and age…”
“I’ve been wondering, what is a natural monument?”
“Creatures that would go extinct without the entire universe helping to protect them.”
“…Y-you said I was a natural monument too.”
“I’ll protect you.”
Though it was a highly exaggerated explanation, Iruda didn’t think her words were entirely wrong. Unless the whole world worked together, things deemed ‘natural monuments’ couldn’t be easily preserved.
Birds of a feather flock together, they say. It really is true.
She hadn’t expected there to be another person like Yi-sol in this world.
And a fully grown adult at that…
An adult who showed goodwill to everyone but bestowed even greater affection upon the young. She had thought such figures only existed in idealistic novels, but today she realized, Wow, they actually exist.
Iruda felt the paper bag in her hand.
“……”
Unconditional goodwill, given without her having to prove her worth.
…It smells nice, too.
She wondered why he had given her such a gift and if he always carried things like this around. For some reason, a corner of her heart felt ticklish, and she hesitated to open the bag.
Just then, a puzzled sound came from Yi-sol.
“Huh? What is this, Ruda?”
“What is it?”
“Is this rubber?”
“…Ah, it’s jelly. Not rubber.”
“So I can eat it?”
“Of course you can.”
Jelly must be quite expensive, yet he gave it away so casually?
Did he make it himself?
The bag was tied at the top with a ribbon, with no brand name printed on it. Sensing it was handmade, Iruda hesitated a few more times before opening her own bag.
The high-quality ribbon untied smoothly, revealing the contents inside.
“……”
Iruda tilted her head.
“…What is this?”
“Is there something even you don’t know?”
“I don’t know things unless I’ve learned them.”
“Hmm…”
Yi-sol also tilted his head.
“Is it a flower?”
“It is a dried flower, but…”
“Is it edible?”
“…Did he really give me medicinal herbs?”
“Yuck, is it medicine?”
“I-I don’t know either.”
They were tiny, golden flowers clustered together like fluffy sheep’s wool.
“……”
However, Iruda felt it.
…The Sun…
The Sun Goddess was gazing down.
But why?
What is this? What on earth is this?
Just what did he give her that made even the Goddess covet it?
* * *
“Hunter.”
Ju-hyeon, who was waiting at the temple entrance, asked with his signature smile, “Did you have a pleasant visit?”
“Yes, the Sun Cult’s garden was beautiful.”
“They say that wherever the Sun Cult resides, the entire place becomes a greenhouse.”
“The warmth of the Sun filled the entire temple branch.”
“It must have been a wonderful sight.”
“And…”
Gio continued as he followed Ju-hyeon’s lead.
“I saw many welcome faces.”
“You said you went to meet Priest Kang Seo-dam.”
“I also saw Brother Cha Yi-sol.”
Giovanni said with a warm smile, “He has made a good friend.”
“A good friend…”
As Ju-hyeon murmured the words and reached to open the back door of the car, Gio asked, “May I sit in the passenger seat?”
“Of course, if you wish.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Gio and Ju-hyeon sat side by side in the front seats.
“Her name was Sister Iruda, and she was remarkably mature.”
“It seems you took quite a liking to her.”
“She was admirable, yet pitiable. And very clever.”
“She must be destined for greatness.”
Especially if ‘Gio,’ the Eye of the Origin himself, was saying such things.
“Did anything else happen?”
“In fifteen days,” Gio said. “I will go to the rainforest.”
“It seems you received a raid proposal.”
“I like it.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Ju-hyeon asked, “Do you like rainforests?”
“……”
Before they knew it, Gio’s hair, as he stared out the window, had turned a deep shade of red.
“…I love them.”
For it was Arjio’s home, his birthplace, and…
A massive, rotting grave.