Chapter 165
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 165
Ju-hyeon often found himself pitying that massive mystery.
“……”
Gio’s Portrait.
“…Sigh…”
Ju-hyeon knew all too well what an absurd thought it was.
Lying in a bed far too large and plush for his station, Ju-hyeon ultimately couldn’t fall asleep and finally got up. Though his mind was clear, he went to the kitchen and drank a glass of water without turning on the lights, hoping it might help him sleep.
“……”
Clink.
He set the glass down.
“…I’m in no position to feel this way.”
Even after the cold water, the heavy, stifling feeling in his chest refused to lift.
To dare to pity a mystery.
Divinity was an existence that could trap a beloved priest in eternity as a reward for pure affection, or strip a man of his knowledge and turn him into an idiot simply for praying for wisdom.
If the object of Ju-hyeon’s pity hadn’t been Gio—if Gio hadn’t considered himself human and shown mercy—Ju-hyeon wouldn’t have been surprised to be struck down by divine punishment for his insolence.
But then, if it weren’t for Mr. Gio, I wouldn’t be having these thoughts in the first place.
Humans didn’t pity massive mysteries for two reasons. The first was to avoid offending them and inviting disaster. The second, more fundamental reason was that one simply couldn’t feel pity for such a thing.
Who would pity a typhoon or a tsunami that swallowed countless lives? Who would feel sorry for the Milky Way shining in the distant sky, thinking it lonely? Yet, it was impossible to think of the man named Gio in only that way.
“……”
He wasn’t even human, yet he felt so much like one of them.
“…Don’t overstep,” he told himself.
Ju-hyeon had always taken action, ignoring the stigma of his background at the Gita Orphanage, because he was certain his choices would make more people happy. But what about Gio? Could he make Gio happy?
He is already happy.
He knew it from the stories he’d heard. He knew it from the look on his face. He knew it from his voice, his gestures. The countless 'Gios' contained within that portrait had lived satisfying lives and died fulfilled.
He had no right to pity that.
“……”
And yet.
“I must be going crazy.”
How could he not feel sorry for him?
He was only twenty-four.
The more he tried to suppress the thought, the more stubbornly the torment clung to him.
He was only twenty-nine. And thirty-two.
As a former Association researcher, Ju-hyeon knew that human lifespans varied by dimension. There were worlds where the average lifespan was fifty, and others where it was five hundred. But that wasn’t what mattered.
Their twenties to early thirties. He didn’t know if every 'Gio' was like that, but so far, they all were. They met their deaths just as they were getting used to human life, just as they were about to bloom and bear fruit.
How can that not be pitiful?
How is that even possible?
To die so miserably, in the very arms that should have been the most familiar…
Ju-hyeon consciously forced an exhale.
“……”
4:00 AM.
“…Didn’t Mr. Yoo Seong-un say he had meetings around this time?”
He tried to divert his thoughts.
Right. Let’s think about Mr. Yoo Seong-un. I need to follow his example.
A mystery is a mystery. No matter how much it takes on a human form, its essence is not the same. Even if it mimics human life, it is merely an amusement, nothing more than a passing moment of pleasure.
Yoo Seong-un was someone who understood this perfectly. That was why, no matter what kind of past 'Gio’s Portrait' had or what problems arose, he respected and loved it. As a 'work.'
“……”
But if that feels sickening to me, am I really the one who’s crazy?
“…Truly…”
Yoo Seong-un had said the portrait was part of a massive system known as the Origin. If compared to a person, it would be the eyes. And because the Origin loved all living things equally, 'Gio' continuously experienced life.
Was that why Gio always had to experience both the highest heavens and the lowest mires?
So the Origin can acquire information about humans more efficiently?
A pitch-black canvas that could become anything.
“…It really isn’t easy.”
Being friends with a mystery was a truly difficult thing.
“I can’t even worry about him without it being this complicated.”
Ju-hyeon was grateful to Gio.
He wasn’t ignorant of mysteries; he knew divinity well. Despite that, Gio had asked to be his friend—as a person—and had shown him kindness as one. Ju-hyeon was grateful for that.
Sometimes, Gio would act childishly and laugh, just like any other young man his age.
If I’m already like this when we’ve barely met, how much more overwhelming will it get later on?
If just seeing him act like a 'person' a few times could make his chest feel this tight…
“……”
Letting out a deep sigh, Ju-hyeon muttered as he walked back to his bedroom.
“…Is it time to seek professional help?”
He felt like he needed to ask for Mr. Yoo Seong-un’s advice.
*
"This is the data on the A-Rank Dungeon, 'Subterranean Quadruped Rainforest.'"
Yoo Seong-un handed the documents to Bisabeol.
"It’s a Villa Dungeon located underground in Hwanseongul Cave, Samcheok, Gangwon Province. Besides the Sun Cult and the Collector, three other guilds are participating: Eunwol, Haeryeong, and Daecheong."
"Since the Sun Cult is hosting, it makes sense they’re all reputable guilds."
"They’re known for their good attitudes. In particular, Eunwol has collaborated with the Sun Cult several times, so their reliability is even higher. They also supply twelve percent of the cult’s internal personnel."
The cult’s headquarters wasn’t staffed only by priests, after all. There were also servants and maids who assisted with daily life, kitchen staff in charge of meals, and managers for various facilities.
The Eunwol guild had consistently supplied such personnel to both the Sun Cult and the Moon Cult. Accordingly, they had a large number of believers associated with the religions and were a famous guild known for having a high number of healers.
"With Eunwol involved, I checked to see if the Moon Cult might cause any trouble, but they don’t seem interested. It looks like they have no intention of interfering with this raid."
"I actually know a bit about the Moon Cult’s recent situation," Bisabeol said with a smirk. "Their Saintess has run into some trouble."
"I don’t think that’s something I need to know."
"They say she’s going mad…"
"Please don’t. I won’t be able to forget it."
"I don’t recall employing anyone with such a poor memory."
"Exactly my point."
Yoo Seong-un shuddered in disgust.
"I may have been studying a bit lately, but you know I’m no specialist on religion."
"It’s not like I’m asking you to solve it."
"I know very well that if you didn’t expect anything from me, you wouldn’t have brought it up in the first place."
"Well, let’s move past that for now."
"We’re just moving past it?"
"The Moon Cult Saintess isn’t what’s important right now, is she?" Bisabeol asked. "What’s the word on the other two guilds?"
"As you know, Haeryeong is thrilled at the prospect of a fun battlefield…"
"They’re famous moths to a flame."
Haeryeong was famous for having guild members who were, without exception, bursting with vitality. 'Bursting with vitality' was a nice way of putting it; to put it bluntly, they were a guild of brawlers. Consequently, they possessed excellent pain tolerance and poison immunity, making them a guild of tenacious warriors who didn’t die easily.
Yoo Seong-un continued. "Daecheong is quiet. They seem satisfied with having secured a stable job."
"Daecheong is the definition of a competent guild, after all."
Daecheong wasn’t a particularly eye-catching guild. Although they were fairly high-ranking, they fell far short compared to the other guilds participating this time, but their strength lay precisely in their 'stability.'
"They always do a decent job, wherever they go."
They didn’t have monstrously powerful espers like the Top 3 Guilds, they weren’t mentally fortified like Eunwol, and they weren’t battle-crazed like Haeryeong, but they always got the job done. That was Daecheong’s strength.
Bisabeol laughed. "The Cult really put a lot of thought into this."
"Which means they want a stable raid."
"After all, it’s a dungeon they failed to clear despite bringing in decent personnel."
"There are also some internal concerns that they might be over-allocating personnel."
"With that terror incident happening just last year, they absolutely should go overboard."
The Sun Cult and the Moon Cult were the two pillars representing the religious world, existing in a relationship of both coexistence and competition.
However, with the Sun Cult stumbling and losing much of its influence due to the 'Deep Sea Kingdom' incident last year, they would naturally want to avoid a second raid failure at all costs.
Yoo Seong-un nodded at that. "Yes, from what I’ve gathered… regardless of its rank, it’s quite a tricky dungeon."
A fake moon and sun rise and set at will, making it impossible to tell the time. Most of the dense vegetation attacks raiders or spews poison. On top of that, the plants are so sharp that a light brush against them can slice through flesh.
"The plants are one thing, but the quadrupedal beast-type monsters that appear here are said to be extremely hostile. They antagonize and try to eliminate anything that walks on two legs."
"Do they spare humans if they crawl on all fours?"
"They don’t spare them; they turn them into fellow quadrupeds. Apparently, the type of beast they become depends on their past actions and beliefs, which I found interesting."
"It makes quite a strong statement. It might be a dungeon close to the Origin."
"That’s why a Gardener is said to be going along this time. I found this out through my personal connections, but it’s a Gardener affiliated with Eunwol."
Gardeners might seem to belong to the Government or the Association, but strictly speaking, they weren’t under their control. They inherited their gardens from their masters and lived out their lives fulfilling their duties, almost like a family business.
Just as Yoo Seong-un was a Curator affiliated with the Collector, this Gardener was a member of the Eunwol guild. Gardeners were rare, but they could be found everywhere.
"If it’s a dungeon close to the Origin, she might be able to find valuable data."
"I believe you mentioned that the guild master of Eunwol doesn’t know the identity of their affiliated Gardener."
"Calling it a 'secret identity' is a bit much… It’s not that big of a deal. It’s just like a side job."
It was perfectly legal for most guild members to work two or three jobs. While there were cases like Yoo Seong-un, who was open about being a Gardener, most didn’t bother announcing it—much like the one affiliated with Eunwol.
In the first place, so few people knew about the Origin, so why go through the hassle of explaining everything? If not for Bisabeol’s obsession, Yoo Seong-un wouldn’t have revealed it either.
"Well, I think it’s a good opportunity," Yoo Seong-un said. "It’s a stable environment in many ways, perfect for Gio’s first raid."
"I completely agree, Curator Yoo Seong-un." Bisabeol looked bored. "They’ve certainly taken great care."
"We are sending the Eye of the Origin among humans. In truth, even this is not enough."
"But it’s not like Mr. Seo Gio is the type to cause trouble, is he?" He clicked his tongue. "With so many competent people around, I wonder if there will even be a chance for our Hunter Seo Gio to run wild."
"Like I said, we aren’t sending him out to relieve a wild beast’s stress."
"Think of how frustrated Mr. Arjio must be. We haven’t even given him a proper battlefield…"
"I keep telling you, that’s not the situation."
However, the purpose of this raid was clear: Arjio would establish himself in the human world as 'Hunter Seo Gio,' and the Collector would observe 'Gio’s Portrait' to analyze his condition. How violent was he? How would his goodwill manifest? In what ways would he cooperate with humans? And ultimately, what kind of battle did Arjio truly desire? Would sparring satisfy him? Was a prepared battle enough? Or was a pure, raw bloodbath the only thing that would suffice?
"Don’t you want to go along to such an interesting event, Curator Yoo Seong-un?"
"Of course I want to go, I really do. It’s Gio’s first raid, of all things…"
But his situation wasn’t so accommodating. As a competent Hunter and Gardener, people were always seeking his help. Because of that, he was currently on his fifth consecutive all-nighter.
"Even if I tried to join the raid in this pathetic state, the Sun Cult wouldn’t have me."
"I feel like you could manage if you used Gio’s gift to recover, but I also think this is a good opportunity." Bisabeol smirked. "Isn’t it about time Mr. Seo Gio was weaned from Curator Yoo Seong-un’s embrace?"
"A work must never be independent of its curator. Do you want to destroy an already precarious Earth?"
"In any case, the Collector can’t just send Hunter Seo Gio in alone."
"Why are you stating the obvious like you’re doing me a favor?" Yoo Seong-un was dumbfounded. "Were you really planning to send the Origin out there all by himself?"
"I know it’s dangerous, which is why I’m assigning him an escort now."
"You mean surveillance, not an escort."
"Though 'attendants' would be closer to the truth…"
"If you’re too obvious about it, Gio will just find it burdensome."
"That’s why I’m thinking of sending just one Curator."
"Ah." Yoo Seong-un nodded. "Are you planning to send the 5th Floor Manager?"
"Of all the floor managers, they are the most elegantly insane."
"Indeed. Their love for the works is outstanding."
"I’ll pick the rest from the Trainee Team and the field staff."
"That’s perfect."
"Isn’t it?" Bisabeol grinned.
He was already looking forward to seeing what the portrait would show them.