Chapter 34
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 34
“Oh?”
Yoo Seong-un’s face brightened with recognition when he saw the young man running the bungeoppang cart.
“Aren’t you the one who was selling these in front of the Collector’s office the other day?”
“Ah… Yes, that’s right.”
“I haven’t seen you around lately. I guess you moved spots.”
“If I stay in the same place for too long, I’ll get caught by the inspectors.”
Crackdowns on street vendors like him weren’t usually that strict. However, it was impossible to stay in the city indefinitely without a Citizen ID. Besides, if a single complaint was filed, he would be ordered to pack up immediately, so Cha Eun-hyeok moved his cart frequently. It was wiser to be cautious and keep a low profile while the authorities were still willing to look the other way.
“Though I haven’t had any complaints recently.”
“It’s a shame. If you stayed in one spot, word of mouth would spread faster.”
“It can’t be helped. It’s not like I have an official permit for a shop.”
“True. They rarely issue permits for bungeoppang carts.”
“Still, I did get permission to stay for a few days at a time.”
Normally, staying in the city for more than ten days without a Citizen ID would result in a fine. But the world wasn’t always so black and white. By applying under various pretexts, it was possible to extend one’s stay in the city for about a week, even without booking official lodging.
“…And, um, more importantly…”
Cha Eun-hyeok’s gaze drifted to the Black Cloak standing beside Yoo Seong-un.
“……”
“…Hmm?”
“…No, it’s just…”
That thing isn’t human.
…What is this? Does this guy not know the Black Cloak’s true identity either?
The figure of a man, his face hidden deep within a pitch-black hood, was staring intently at the bungeoppang. It was definitely the same Black Cloak he had seen at dawn, but the overwhelming pressure he’d felt back then had diminished somewhat, and the other customer’s reaction was far too casual.
Was he really just a human…? I’ve heard there are Hunters who can’t properly suppress their energy. Maybe he’s just one of those types…
As Cha Eun-hyeok pondered this, a honey-colored bird, nestled deep inside the hood, caught his eye.
“……”
“Oh, is there a problem?” Yoo Seong-un asked.
“…Just curious…”
Not wanting to cause trouble, Cha Eun-hyeok tried to brush it off, but after a moment of hesitation, he asked, “…Is the person next to you a Tamer?”
Logically, that was the most likely explanation.
“Since he’s carrying a monster around.”
“…Yes, he’s a Tamer. He has a permit to keep it out in the open, so don’t worry.”
“Ah, I see.”
Hearing that he had a permit put his mind at ease.
Now, even if someone dies, it won’t be because I stood by and did nothing.
The Black Cloak’s identity was still unclear, but the white-haired Hunter had said with his own mouth that they had a permit.
And he said he’s a Tamer.
He didn’t want to dig any deeper. With a family to support, it was only natural that he wanted nothing to do with ‘something’ that could cost him his life with even the slightest association.
However, the Black Cloak didn’t seem to share that sentiment.
“Thank you for earlier this dawn.”
“……”
“Huh? Dawn?”
Yoo Seong-un whirled around to look at Gio in surprise.
“You went out at dawn?”
Seeing his horrified reaction, Cha Eun-hyeok felt his stomach churn again. It seemed the white-haired customer hadn’t expected the Black Cloak to wander the streets alone at dawn.
In other words, he’s an entity that shouldn’t be allowed to act independently…
If a 1st-Grade Citizen, who clearly belonged to a reputable guild, was being this cautious, just how dangerous was this being?
“Yes. Honey disappeared, so I went out to look for him.”
“I told you to tell me if you wanted to go out.”
“I found him quickly.”
“That’s not the point…”
The white-haired customer started to say something but quickly calmed himself.
“…Right. It’s not like I can control a natural disaster.”
“I am not a natural disaster.”
“I’m sure typhoons think the same thing.”
Yoo Seong-un felt a warm, exasperated sensation. How could someone lack this much self-awareness?
“……”
Taking a deep breath, Yoo Seong-un asked the young man, “Did anything happen at dawn?”
“…He bought some bungeoppang.”
“Anything else…?”
“……”
After a moment’s hesitation, Cha Eun-hyeok replied.
“That bird…”
“Ah, yes.”
“It chewed on my head twice before leaving.”
“……”
Yoo Seong-un was lost for words.
“…Excuse me?”
“Ah, not literally chewed, but more like how a cat playfully nibbles…”
“Oh.”
Speechless, Yoo Seong-un turned to Gio.
“What do you have to say for yourself?”
“…I am sorry.”
“Say it like you mean it.”
“I am, at this moment, being sincerely apologetic.”
Although his facial muscles had been dormant for a long time and showed no expression, Gio was actually quite shocked by the young man’s words. It was the dizzying sensation of having your pet parrot scream ‘You motherfucker!’ right in a stranger’s face.
“You weren’t hurt, were you?” Gio asked.
“Ah, yes. It didn’t bite hard, so I’m not hurt.”
“Still, I apologize. My son…”
Perhaps it was a side effect of sleeping for thirty-one years, but the word had slipped out in front of a stranger. Gio quickly rebooted his social skills and corrected himself.
“My pet bird has caused you trouble.”
He had only said it because he was used to cooing, “Oh, my son,” while playing in the cabin, but to Yoo Seong-un and Cha Eun-hyeok, it sounded incredibly ominous.
Son…? I heard he painted them, but does he view the things he creates as his own children? I need to be careful about this.
…He just called it his son. They look like entirely different species, yet he called it his son so naturally. As expected, he really isn’t human…
Gio noticed their expressions shift subtly, but even if he didn’t know their exact thoughts, he ignored them.
What’s wrong with Honey and me being father and son?
Even thirty-one years ago, there were plenty of people who doted on their dogs and cats, calling them “my baby” or “my sweet daughter” while showering them with kisses. Gio was confident that he was on the tamer side of that spectrum.
“……”
“May I take a look at your forehead for a moment?”
“I’m not hurt.”
“I am a doctor, so I know how to examine wounds. I ask out of apology, so I would appreciate it if you let me check just once.”
Yoo Seong-un felt like he had been blindsided yet again.
“A doctor?”
“Yes.”
“Uh… I see.”
In what universe do you look like a doctor?
…Even if he has human memories, I didn’t think he’d actually be a doctor. If a doctor carried an aura this heavy, how many patients would mistake him for the Grim Reaper…?
But surprisingly, and quite shockingly, Gio actually was a doctor.
“Excuse me.”
And he was a priest.
“It will feel a bit warm.”
“Huh? Uh, okay…”
“I’ve purified it, just in case.”
“Purified?”
“Your scalp was slightly scratched… It would be terrible if you caught an illness.”
Looking at the dazed young man and the portrait mimicking him, Yoo Seong-un could only resign himself to his fate.
Will the day ever come when I fully understand Gio’s identity?
He was like an onion with endless layers.
“…U-Um, ten bungeoppang, please.”
“Thank you.”
“No, and really, I’m fine with what your pet bird did…”
“Ah.”
With an “Oh, right” expression, Gio rummaged inside his cloak.
“This is compensation.”
“……”
“…A gift?”
The issue wasn’t the gesture itself. Why on earth was he giving him a gemstone when there wasn’t even any blood?
“This is far too valuable for me. The gemstone you gave me yesterday was already too much, and I’ve been feeling quite burdened by it.”
“But it is a fair price.”
“Well…”
As Cha Eun-hyeok tried to protest, Yoo Seong-un vigorously shook his head from behind Gio.
“……”
“Well?”
“…No, thank you. I will gladly accept it.”
Seeing Yoo Seong-un nod with a relieved expression, Cha Eun-hyeok realized something.
If I don’t take this, there will be consequences…
He didn’t know what kind of misfortune would befall him, but having seen a face so desperately trying to save someone, he couldn’t ignore the warning. Cha Eun-hyeok gratefully accepted Yoo Seong-un’s silent, urgent advice.
Still, he wasn’t as scared as he had been earlier.
“……”
Fingering the sparkling, tangerine-colored gemstone, Cha Eun-hyeok looked up.
“I heard you’re sightseeing.”
“Ah, yes. Do you have any recommendations?”
“There’s going to be an event in the plaza in a few weeks.”
“An event…?”
“An initiation ceremony.”
Yoo Seong-un nodded in understanding.
“Ah, is it that time of year already?”
“They usually hold them in the dead of winter.”
“Which temple’s initiation ceremony is it? If it’s nearby, is it the Temple of the Moon? Or the Sun?”
“The Temple of the Sun.”
Cha Eun-hyeok unconsciously glanced back at the Black Cloak.
“…I didn’t know you were a believer. Usually, Tamers don’t worship gods much…”
He had come to his own conclusion.
He must be an incredibly high-ranking Hunter, so much so that I mistook him for a monster.
When the Black Cloak had brushed his forehead and channeled energy into him, he had felt a warm sensation similar to what he’d experienced at the Temple of the Sun. If he was capable of performing a purification ritual on his own, he had to be an incredibly devout believer.
He said he’s a Tamer, so he wouldn’t be a priest, though.
An Awakened could have at most one job. Since the white-haired customer had clearly stated he was a Tamer, he couldn’t be a priest, which was a bit of a shame. With that kind of talent, it would have been wonderful if he had awakened as a priest.
There was no way someone who could use such warm energy could be a bad person. Above all, he had never heard of a mere monster using holy power.
I must have been frightened because it was my first time seeing such a high-ranking Hunter. Priests don’t usually suppress their energy well, and they say that their energy itself is very different from a normal human’s…
Cha Eun-hyeok was convinced that he had simply been intimidated by the divine energy. Being naturally sensitive to others’ energy and having never encountered ordinary priests or high-ranking Hunters before, he came to this conclusion. It was a relief born of ignorance.
“Our youngest sibling awakened as a priest, so they’re having their initiation ceremony this time.”
“Oh, they got a job? And a priest, at that. That’s amazing.”
“Though I worry about how they’ll make a living if a god doesn’t choose them.”
“If they awakened as a priest, their affinity for divinity will naturally be exceptional, so even temple administrative work would be an option.”
“I hope so.”
Perhaps because he believed everything had been his own misunderstanding, Cha Eun-hyeok relaxed slightly and let out a soft chuckle.
“I hear they’re making it quite grand this time, so it’ll be fun to watch if you come.”
“We’ll definitely have to drop by. Thanks for letting us know. It’s hard to find out the schedule for initiation ceremonies unless you’re involved…”
“For me, the more people who attend my sibling’s initiation ceremony, the better.”
Just as it was easier for humans to spot a cluster of ants rather than scattered ones, the more people gathered, the easier it was to catch a god’s eye. And the more exposure they got, the higher the chances of receiving a god’s grace.
“Enjoy your food.”
“See you at the initiation ceremony.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Once they had walked some distance away, Yoo Seong-un asked Gio, “Are you sure nothing happened at dawn yesterday?”
“As you heard, Honey caused some trouble.”
“Any other incidents?”
“I do not know.”
A cooing sound came from inside the hood.
“Co-coo.”
“He claims he is innocent.”
“Right… I see.”
He highly doubted whether the “innocence” claimed by an Existence of the Origin was the same as a human’s.
Especially since Gio is quite sensitive about good and evil, and manners, which makes me worry.
Honey was a creation of Gio’s and essentially his son. That meant Gio’s personality would have heavily influenced him. Hearing that the bird had flown around on its own while Gio was asleep made Seong-un’s heart drop.
He might have gone around killing people he deemed evil.
Seeing how quiet things had been so far, Seong-un could only hope that no major incident had occurred.
“And, um, about the gemstones…”
“Yes.”
“I was thinking it might be better to switch to a different kind of gift.”
No matter how sorry he was, handing over a gemstone out of the blue was baffling to a normal person.
“Ordinary people don’t usually exchange physical goods like that.”
“…Is that so?”
“Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably not the norm.”
“……”
Gio was shocked.
In a world this brutal, one that looks like hell itself made manifest, they don’t even have that level of grit?
In a world where office workers hunted monsters, cheese flowers bloomed from the ground, elevated trains flew through the sky, and a spring-like stream flowed in the dead of winter, was it really so strange to pay with gemstones?
“I saw people wearing accessories all over their bodies like crows drawn to shiny things, so I thought it would be fine.”
“That’s just personal style. Or maybe they’re trying to boost their stats, or they’re wearing artifacts as a type of defensive gear.”
“I understand what you mean.”
Realizing he had gotten ahead of himself, Gio decided to reflect.
Maybe I was thinking too much with Giovanni’s sensibilities because of the synchronization.
In Giovanni’s world, paying with physical goods like that was common practice. As he was gradually recovering his memories as Giovanni, he realized he needed to maintain his balance. Perhaps because he had been in the cabin for too long, his modern sensibilities seemed to be dulling. The way he reacted to certain situations sometimes…
“…Ah.”
“Why? Is there a problem? Or is there somewhere you want to go?”
“What is a Tamer, and what is a priest?”
“…Uh… well… right…”
Yoo Seong-un’s face wore a look of grim determination.
“Well, since it’s come to this, I have no choice but to start calling you a Hunter.”
“Am I a Hunter now?”
“Since we’re at it, I’ll teach you about the Hunter system and ranks. Do you know anything about them?”
“No.”
“I figured as much.”
“……”
Having lost consciousness and been stuck inside a painting for thirty-one years, Gio felt a little apologetic.