Chapter 240
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 240
Aram loved to study.
She loved it more than anything. She found that knowledge was essential for everything, from eating a meal and listening to music to simply walking down the street. The more she learned, the clearer the world became.
She was just a lowly beggar with nothing to her name when, by a stroke of luck, she was given the chance to become a priest.
“Will you come with me?”
“Am I allowed to?”
“Yes. I see talent in you.”
“Then… I’ll go.”
She took the offered hand.
She had been warned about the dangers of joining the Moon Cult, but she didn’t care. It wasn’t just about escaping her life as a beggar. She cherished the promise of access to a wealth of knowledge, a privilege that felt almost too good to be true.
“How does the Moon God bestow wisdom upon us?”
“If the priests gather their strength and pray for about a month, we can obtain information from the Teacher. An easier way would be to communicate directly with the God through the help of a Saint.”
“But the current Saint looks like he’s on his deathbed. He’s bedridden, so he can’t hold question-and-answer sessions with the Teacher.”
“Then another Saint just needs to appear. That is why we have gathered, after all.”
“Ah…”
Perhaps Aram’s fate was sealed in that moment. The instant she heard those words from the Bishop—her adoptive mother—a vague goal took root in her mind: I will be the one to fulfill that role.
But she wasn’t completely fixated on it. Aram simply loved to study. Learning was a joy. She welcomed the world growing brighter and clearer with every new piece of information. She wanted to become a more perfect being.
If I keep improving myself day by day, I’ll be able to achieve so much more. I’ll become a better person, and that will allow me to live a happy life. I can do this.
And then, Aram became a Saintess.
“…”
It happened on the day she first heard the voice of the Moon God.
“…You heard the Teacher’s voice?”
“Yes. He clearly answered the questions I had.”
“If what you say is true, we must verify it. Prepare yourself.”
“I will.”
She knew what it meant to become a Saint of the Moon Cult. Even so, Aram was fine with it. She was fine with dying as a human, like the previous Saint, or even becoming a fragment of divinity.
This place was her perfect home. She had a family she could rely on and love. She wanted to repay the kindness she had received and, for her own sake, become a more perfect person. She had nothing to fear.
“Once I become the Saintess, I’ll ask the Teacher about the things you’re curious about, Bishop. I can ask even more diligently about the topics you’re especially interested in.”
“…That is very kind of you.”
“I’m okay.”
“…”
The Bishop did not answer.
The test was conducted. A barrage of deep and diverse questions—things a girl her age should not have known—poured in. Guided by the Moon God’s voice, Aram answered without a single pause. The priests marveled, and a new Saintess was born.
“Aren’t you glad I’m here?”
“Of course, Saintess.”
“…Am I no longer your daughter, Bishop?”
“…”
Once again, the Bishop did not answer.
“…That’s a little hard to accept.”
“I am sorry.”
“I hate it even more when you apologize.”
“I am sorry, Saintess.”
“…”
This time, it was Aram who fell silent. She realized something.
It wasn’t that she refused to answer; she simply couldn’t.
Because nothing she said would change the situation. Because she didn’t know what the right answer was. Because she feared that speaking the words that came to mind would only deepen the wound. That was why the Bishop had remained silent.
But this, too, was a path Aram had chosen for herself.
“…”
“It’s okay,” she said.
She still loved learning.
“I can make this world a better place. Even the Association’s Research Institute seeks the most advice from our Moon Cult, don’t they? If I can become a divinity one day and make the Moon warmer, I’ll be satisfied with that.”
So…
“…So please don’t look at me with those eyes.”
“My apologies.”
How chillingly cold that polite, clipped tone felt.
“…”
She did not regret it.
I chose this.
It was a path she walked of her own volition.
She was still young, and there was still so much to learn. Her family was distant, but they were a reliable support. The depths of the mystery had yet to reveal their end. There were still plenty of joyful things left to experience.
And yet, in sudden moments of loneliness, Aram would feel a wave of terror wash over her.
“…Is the inside of the Moon this terrifying as well?”
“It must be cold and dark. That is why we must make the Moon warmer.”
“Even though he is Providence, he still frightens people.”
“That is a foolish thing to say. Just because he is Providence does not mean he cannot kill a mere insignificant creature.”
“My learning is still lacking, Bishop.”
Earth was in chaos. The Moon was filled with wisdom one could never fully grasp, no matter how hard they tried. The Moon Cult was working tirelessly for the sake of the world. For that, Aram respected and loved the Moon Cult.
She felt a swell of pride, thinking, I am a part of it, too.
“I will draw closer to perfection.”
“Splendid.”
Therefore, her fear could never take priority.
Aram did her best to study and learn. The Moon Cult’s support had only barely expanded her vessel, so she lived with the constant knowledge that she could die at any moment. She was not a vessel large or sturdy enough to fully contain the Moon.
If I am destined to die young, I will enjoy even more of life’s pleasures.
And she would leave even more behind.
Knowledge is permanent, an immortal concept that spreads to all manner of beings.
If she could remain in the world as a part of that knowledge, it would be enough. Aram studied with all her might until, eventually, her time came, and she collapsed. Her mind grew faint, as if the Moon God were trying to take her away.
And then, she met a man named Seo Gio.
“Today, we have French toast.”
“French toast…?”
“I didn’t think this would be your first time eating it. Is there a problem?”
“I was just wondering if it was always this thick.”
“It’s more delicious when it’s thick.”
“That’s true.”
He often gave Aram delicious snacks.
…It really is delicious.
A texture as soft as clouds melted on her tongue, a fluffy sensation that spread through her mouth. The savory egg wash was perfectly soaked in, with no hint of fishiness. Then came the taste of butter and milk. Honey and cinnamon.
I can taste it.
Even as an imperfect vessel, she must have had some talent, because she could feel the mystery accumulating in her body over time. Aram had been drifting away from humanity. Even when she ate, it didn’t truly feel like eating. She could taste things, but her senses were growing dull.
It was all because she was becoming a divinity. There was no way a divinity could be satisfied with the food of a mere insignificant creature. Aram found less and less satisfaction through her five senses. Only knowledge brought her joy, eventually driving her to seek refuge in the Moon’s embrace…
“What is this? It’s my first time trying it, and it’s incredibly delicious.”
“It’s just water fermented after preserving fruit from some dungeon in sugar.”
“You sure took a long way to say ‘fruit syrup’…”
“I wanted to make it sound fancy.”
“Silly.”
Before she knew it, she was savoring gourmet food.
…Ah, I see.
I had forgotten how to eat.
Forgetting what you’ve learned is a foolish mistake that even a novice priest of the Moon Cult wouldn’t make.
She remembered how she felt when the Bishop first taught her table manners—how to hold her utensils, how to savor food, how to eat with the greatest joy.
“…I’m going to remember all of it.”
“What are you referring to?”
“The taste, texture, and color of this toast you made for me, Teacher… and all the other food you’ve made for me before. I won’t forget them anymore.”
“Is there a reason?”
“That way, even when I become the Moon, I’ll still remember this.”
She couldn’t forget that a meal prepared by a mere insignificant creature could be this delicious. She mustn’t. A Saint was a small warming stone that heated the Moon so it could become warmer. She wanted to be faithful to that role.
Hunter Seo Gio asked, “Is that what you want?”
“Of course.” It was her pride, chosen by her own will. “One day, I will become the Moon and cultivate the world more perfectly. Right now, not much time has passed since the Great Catastrophe ended, so everyone is struggling and confused. But once more knowledge is shared and people become smarter, the world will be a much better place.”
More perfectly.
“So, I won’t forget.”
“I hope you won’t forget your mother, either.”
“…”
She choked up again.
“…I don’t want to cry, so why do you keep making me cry…?”
“If you want to make the Moon warmer and more perfect, you must remember sadness as well.”
“…You’re right, Teacher.”
“Now, look. I won’t let you become a strange child.” Teacher was a very gentle person. “You must live a life you won’t regret.”
“I’ve never regretted anything, not even once…”
“How mature of you.” He let out a mock sigh. “As I thought, you grew up too fast.”
“It’s because I’m special.”
“So make sure to remember the emotions you can gain from being ordinary, too.”
“I will.”
“You can be anything.”
“…Teacher…” She grew curious. “What about you, Teacher?”
“Me?”
“…Don’t you want to remain human?”
“Hmm, my father doesn’t absorb me.”
“But I can feel it.” It was an instinctive sensation. Though she had never experienced anything like it before, she knew it naturally. The man before her was indeed a Saint. And perhaps, he had already transcended humanity. “Teacher, you too… already, the mystery…”
“Is overflowing, right?”
“…”
“And yet, the fact that I am an ordinary person is what makes me special.”
“That doesn’t seem to make sense…”
“I have always been human.”
“Did you choose that path?”
“To me, the path itself isn’t what’s important.”
That was a foreign concept to Aram, who had chosen a single path her entire life.
“But if beings of mystery like us don’t choose a path, don’t we become a catastrophe?”
“There are all kinds of catastrophes. The important thing is not crossing the line, Aram.”
Teacher placed no expectations on her, nor did he show any disappointment. He simply looked at her with gentle eyes. If she was wrong, he corrected her. If there was room for improvement, he told her.
That felt incredibly sweet to Aram. It was a comfortable sense of stability she hadn’t felt in a long time. It felt like her feet were finally touching the ground.
“As I thought, I wish you would stay here, Teacher. I wish we could talk every single day, and I wish you would always make me delicious food like this.” An equal existence. Someone who neither pitied nor expected anything from her, but simply stayed by her side. “But that would be difficult, wouldn’t it?”
“You really don’t show any greed, right up to the very end.”
“…Still, I’ll try being greedy just this once.”
“And what would that be?”
“Can I become your disciple, Teacher?”
“…”
For the first time, he did not answer.
He couldn’t answer.
“…Did I make things difficult for you, Teacher?”
“…It’s not that.” He even looked a little sad. “It’s just that I never thought I would ever take on a disciple.”
“I will… learn how to live from you, Teacher, just as I learned from the Bishop.”
“No, Aram. You will learn how to rely on me and how to let go.”
“…Isn’t it such a waste to let go?”
“You must master even that,” Teacher smiled. “If you want to become perfect.”
“…I will do that.”
“I look forward to seeing you laugh like an ordinary child.”
“Will I be able to do that?”
“Of course. You’re a very talented child, after all.” His words of encouragement were so warm. “You can do anything.”
At those words, her fear melted away, making her want to cry a little.
She was afraid… that she might end up regretting this one day.
* * *
“The Saintess seems to be much more at ease.”
The Bishop still felt conflicted.
She wanted the Saintess to walk the path of divinity and open a new way for the Moon Cult. Yet, she also wished for the child she cherished like a daughter to enjoy a comfortable and happy life.
“Though in the end, the choice is hers to make.”
“She will be able to choose the path she wants,” Gio smiled.
“She can do anything.”
Now, it was time for the evil Demon King to make his appearance.