Chapter 237
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 237
Gio, for his part, hadn’t been sitting idle.
‘I have a decent grasp on the Moon Cult now.’
While the Sun Cult was an order that prioritized mercy and life, the Moon Cult valued knowledge and wisdom. It was a massive sect that revered the great mystery of the Moon itself.
‘Even if the Moon Cult’s priests are highly academic, they wouldn’t dare pry into the mystery of a complete stranger. They probably think I requested a private room to stabilize my own mystery.’
Gio grinned.
“Not that I actually need to.”
After all, he hadn’t taken any real damage or coughed up actual blood.
“My boy, surely Mr. Ju-hyeon will recognize your father’s efforts after this, right? How admirable of me to cherish his advice and follow it so faithfully.”
“Kkoong…”
“What? No, why? I really did my best! Now that we’ve gone this far, the Moon Cult won’t have any major doubts about the existence of ‘Hunter Seo Gio,’ will they?”
“Kkoong, kkoong, kkoong.”
“No, I’m a portrait…”
“Kkoong.”
“How cute and resolute.”
Arjio grumbled. He wasn’t much for subtle, everyday acting, but because Arjio was far better at this kind of over-the-top drama than Giovanni, his personality was currently dominant.
Gio blinked, gently stroking the round Honey.
“……”
Soon, his expression settled. With a blank face, Gio tilted his head.
“…Right. There’s no way what I did and its side effects won’t be reported to the Collector, so Mr. Ju-hyeon is bound to worry. It would be best to contact him beforehand to ease his mind.”
In truth, besides Ju-hyeon, no one at the Collector would actually worry about Gio’s condition. Though the red liquid was chemically blood, to Gio, it was ultimately just paint—and the people at the Collector knew this full well.
Just then, Yoo Seong-un came rushing in.
“I heard you were sick?!”
“……”
“Are you really okay? Did you overexert yourself? There wasn’t a single mention of this before you left for the Moon Cult! I was wondering why the Moon Cult’s Bishop was acting so incredibly humble, and now I see…!”
“…Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”
“Do you want me to buy you something? I heard you handled it on your own, but do you really not need any medicine?”
“I have just realized something.”
“Suddenly?”
“Yes.”
Gio stroked his chin as he looked at Yoo Seong-un, who had gone out of his way to find him in this private room.
“You are just as greedy as I am.”
This hyung is truly no pushover, either.
“Of course, I respect that about you, Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”
“…I’m grateful, I guess, but this is incredibly sudden and baffling…”
“But didn’t I handle things much better than you expected? No one will doubt my identity after this. If anything, it will only solidify the theory that Hunter Seo Gio is the Saint of the Black Cloak.”
“That’s true.”
Letting out a sigh, Yoo Seong-un quickly composed himself, his earlier panic vanishing as he nodded.
“You did do a really good job with that part.”
“Greedy.”
“Huh…?”
“From now on, you have no right to nag me, Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”
“I don’t know what I did, but if I’m being compared to you, isn’t that a bit extreme?”
“I’m just saying.”
After all, he was a man just as erratic as Gio himself.
*
Although he had immediately run into an unexpected situation that rendered his initial assumptions moot, everything else went exactly as Gio had anticipated.
The Collector reacted with complete nonchalance to the Moon Cult’s report that Hunter Seo Gio had overexerted himself while helping the Saintess.
“Ah, is that so?”
“……”
In fact, the Moon Cult priest who had come to deliver the news was the one left flustered.
“…We have no intention of avoiding responsibility for this incident, but you seem far more composed about Hunter Seo Gio’s injury than I expected. Does this sort of thing happen often?”
“I cannot give you details on that. Hunter Seo Gio might treat it casually, but we must protect our hunters' privacy.”
“I see.”
The Moon Cult priest felt a strange sensation.
‘I thought he was the Collector’s prized possession.’
At this point, Hunter Seo Gio’s value was astronomical. He was a hunter shrouded in such deep mystery that even within the Moon Cult, people whispered things like, ‘Why did he accept the request so easily?’
Above all, wasn’t he someone Bisabeol kept so close that there were even rumors of him being ‘locked up in the gallery’? Since such a person had coughed up blood while helping the Moon Cult’s Saintess, the priest had expected at least some level of agitation.
‘I know the members of the Collector Guild don’t particularly fuss over each other’s injuries, but still…’
Something felt off.
“Ahem.”
Clearing his throat, the priest bowed once more.
“We are deeply ashamed that our esteemed guest has been confined to a sickbed. As priests who serve the Moon, my brothers and I will do our utmost to repay this debt. Regarding the specific compensation… we would like to speak with Hunter Seo Gio first. I came to ask if we might postpone the discussion of repayment until then.”
“We are more than happy to accommodate that. To us, Hunter Seo Gio’s own wishes matter more than anything else. Since the manager who communicates most closely with Hunter Seo Gio is not a member of our Collector Guild, you may proceed in whatever direction you require.”
Once again, a sense of incongruity washed over the priest.
‘This… what kind of attitude is this?’
It didn’t seem like the dry form of ‘trust’ commonly seen among the members of the Collector Guild. Rather, it felt like pure ‘neglect,’ as if they truly didn’t care what happened to Hunter Seo Gio. The priest’s unease grew.
‘I was certain he was highly valued.’
Even in a business setting, the Collector had every right to show anger. In fact, to extract the maximum possible compensation for the damage Hunter Seo Gio sustained, it would have made more sense to feign outrage.
“……”
Despite his lingering discomfort, the priest expressed his gratitude. As a member of the Moon Cult, it was not his place to meddle in their affairs.
“As expected of the guild Hunter Seo Gio belongs to, you are incredibly considerate. However, we only worry that we might inadvertently commit an even greater discourtesy to Hunter Seo Gio.”
“You need not worry. We would appreciate it if the Moon Cult prioritizes Hunter Seo Gio’s opinions above all else. I came here today after hearing our Guild Master say the exact same thing.”
“Thank you for your understanding. Then…”
After discussing a few more matters, the two parted with the same nonchalant attitude they had maintained throughout the meeting. The Moon Cult priest frowned slightly as he made his way back to the order.
“Did the Collector get very angry?”
“…No, it went well.”
They had finally reached a point where they could resolve the massive problem that had been quietly festering inside the Moon Cult. Seeing the young priest worry that the Collector might withdraw Hunter Seo Gio in anger, the man shook his head.
“The Collector stated they would leave everything entirely to Hunter Seo Gio’s discretion. His future treatment, the details of the debt the Moon Cult must repay, and everything else.”
“Those are incredibly generous terms. I heard Hunter Seo Gio held a very high position within the Collector Guild, but still… At any rate, what a relief. The Saintess will finally be able to find peace.”
“It is indeed a relief, but…”
Suddenly, the priest realized something.
“…Ah, of course.”
The Collector did not view Hunter Seo Gio as a human being.
‘I wondered why I felt so uneasy despite the lavish treatment he received.’
That very ‘lavish treatment’ was a massive contradiction. Because the Collector did not view Hunter Seo Gio as a person, the way they coddled and protected him only left onlookers with a sense of profound discomfort.
‘Though, considering they are the Collector, it makes sense.’
In any case, the Moon Cult was in no position to criticize.
“Let us return to the order immediately.”
“The Saintess will gradually recover now, right?”
“Haha, of course. Hasn’t Hunter Seo Gio performed a miracle for us?”
“It would have been better if we could have resolved this within the Moon Cult… but this is still a great blessing. If another saint like Hunter Seo Gio helps her, then surely, our Saintess will one day…”
“This is not the place for such a conversation.”
“…I spoke thoughtlessly.”
“I understand how you feel, so it is fine.”
They, too, could hardly view their own Saintess as a human being.
‘Perhaps this is the inevitable path of destiny that a saint must walk.’
He wished he could gather more diverse data, but even on a global scale, saints were exceedingly rare. He wanted to write a thesis on their sublime mysteries, but it didn’t seem like it would be easy.
With a tinge of regret, the priests returned to the Moon Cult.
*
Once Yoo Seong-un left, Ju-hyeon entered.
“Mr. Gio.”
“I was wrong.”
“You told me you’d be fine going alone, so I trusted you and let you go.”
“I figured a matter involving the Saintess wouldn’t really suit your tastes, Mr. Ju-hyeon…”
“I heard that excuse last time, too.”
Gio didn’t particularly worry about the safety of Ju-hyeon, who was a non-Awakened, but he did worry about his mental health.
After all, to Ju-hyeon, who always watched Gio and Yoo Seong-un’s conversations with a face that screamed, ‘What kind of nonsense is this?’, the situation inside the Moon Cult would likely feel highly uncomfortable.
That was why he had come alone.
“If I had known you would worry this much, I would have brought you along from the start.”
“I’m glad to hear you didn’t actually suffer any health issues… but even though I know this was your best attempt at a disguise, I can’t help but feel utterly baffled and aggrieved.”
Ju-hyeon remarked that he felt as though his lifespan had been shortened by ten years.
“Well, since you’re a portrait… a painting… I suppose you can do anything, but…”
“I only realized how much this would startle you after the deed was already done. I was very careless. I apologize.”
“Uh… this might sound a bit out of nowhere, but your tone is quite stiff. You sound just like Mr. San.”
“It has been like this for a little while now, but you are correct that my speech has become awkward. The synchronization is almost complete…”
“Ah.”
Ju-hyeon also knew the principle behind how ‘Gio’s Portrait’ mimicked a human.
It would synchronize with the human ‘Gio’ to mimic his state and demeanor. Eventually, once that human’s state was consumed by the mystery, it would seek out a new ‘Gio’ to copy.
Thus, Gio’s current stiff tone meant that the portrait’s influence was currently greater than the human’s.
“Then are you going to look for another ‘Gio’?”
“As if I would.”
Giovanni wore a dumbfounded expression.
“I haven’t even started the Demon King Project yet, Mr. Ju-hyeon…”
“I trust you’ve blocked the sound, but saying something like that so boldly inside the Moon Cult makes me really wonder what I should do with you.”
“I think you’re doing just fine right now.”
“…Ahem. Then what do you plan to do now?”
“I must tend to the Saintess.”
Ju-hyeon nodded.
“So you don’t plan on returning anytime soon?”
“Father is taking good care of the cabin.”
“Then I guess we won’t be having any hallway meetings for a while.”
“For now, I plan to become friends with the Saintess.”
“I really can’t tell if you’re an introvert or an extrovert…”
“Couldn’t I be both?”
He liked staying at home, but he also liked having friends.
“I think the Saintess and I can become good friends.”
“I heard she’s quite young…”
“Age is no barrier to friendship.”
“Generally, it is.”
“Oh, honestly.”
Arjio finally burst out.
“Why do you have so much to say when I’m just trying to make a friend?”
“See? In the end, you’re only getting close to her because of that Demon King business or whatever.”
“My social endeavors are not so vulgar and worldly, I’ll have you know. Above all, you are gravely misunderstanding me right now, Mr. Ju-hyeon.”
“Let’s hear it, then.”
“You have the order backward.”
Gio declared proudly.
“I’m not making friends to become the Demon King. I’m becoming the Demon King as a byproduct of making friends!”
“……”
There weren’t many ways Ju-hyeon could react to that.
“…I see!”
Well, we’re always like this anyway.
*
“……”
Soft, even breathing filled the room.
“……”
The Moon Cult Bishop gazed down at the sleeping Saintess.
“…Poor thing.”
You survived yet again.
Stroking her youthful face with a cold hand, the Bishop left the room.