Chapter 147

It was because he lived thoughtlessly, not that Jio was a stupid person.

“…….”

Rather, Jio's brain worked faster when he wanted something.

Seo Jio did not want his hometown to become more unforgiving.

Giovanni did not want people to commit sins without even realizing it, and Argio did not want to engage in petty and cowardly actions unbecoming of a warrior.

“…….”

How could I satisfy my greed while protecting this precarious peace?

How could it get better without getting worse?

Jio suddenly recalled his memories from when he was a priest.

He recalled the information he had encountered when he went to Earth and the faces of the heroes who had come to subjugate him.

Because it was not just 'Seo Jio', he conceived and discarded numerous plans in an instant.

“…Yes.”

Soon, his lips parted.

“Nice.”

A plan he liked had emerged.

“I think it’s good.”

A clean plan, without any burnt offerings.

A satisfied smile spread over Jio’s face like a solar eclipse.

***

Meanwhile, Ju-hyeon.

“…….”

Unlike the homeowner, he had many worries.

“…I’m confused.”

It was much better than in the beginning, but unlike his body, which was becoming more comfortable by the day, his mind was not.

Ju-hyeon’s troubled insides, which were noisy every other day, would sometimes unravel and sometimes get tangled.

Sitting on the bed and staring blankly outside the terrace, Ju-hyeon muttered softly.

“Did he say he wasn’t having lunch?”

Because their conversation had been long, it took place between breakfast and lunch.

The Black Cape suggested that he seemed to need time to digest and recommended they have dinner later, and Ju-hyeon accepted.

“…Really….”

The mystery, the Black Cape, wouldn't have a problem with digestion, so that must have been purely out of consideration for Ju-hyeon.

Thinking about it again, he was a god unlike any god.

When dealing with such mysteries, humans had to conform to their rules.

A mystery yielding its rules for a human like this was, no matter how he thought about it, something unheard of in history.

“…….”

And so, he fell into thought once more.

“…Slowly, one by one….”

Don't look at it narrowly, look at the big picture.

“Let’s take our time and sort it out.”

He already knew that he could do it.

“I can do it.”

First, he sorted out the situation he was in.

If he requested it, he could probably move to another research institute, but one research institute was no different from a kingdom.

It would take a long time to adapt and blend in.

‘That said, it’s also strange to remain in the current research institute.’

All the allies he had painstakingly made were gone.

Now, only people busy pushing Ju-hyeon away remained there, so it was a worse move than transferring to another research institute.

‘Should I aim for an administrative position at the headquarters instead of a research institute?’

Ju-hyeon was used to researching mysteries, but for that very reason, it wouldn't be difficult to become an administrative staff member at the Association’s headquarters. As the Association President resided there himself, the headquarters had an open environment.

“There, even someone like me from the ‘Etc.’ orphanage would likely be accepted without difficulty.”

As he had muttered without realizing it, Ju-hyeon was from an orphanage and the employees who came in through the orphanage's special admission track were generally disliked, and Ju-hyeon was in a position to be particularly disliked among them.

“…….”

But this method didn't appeal to him much either.

“…The Association might not be the only way.”

He grew up in an orphanage sponsored by the Association, and he chose that path because he knew the Association, which collaborated with the government on an equal footing.

He believed that the Association was the best choice for creating the world he wanted.

‘But the Association might not have been as good a choice as I thought.’

The Association was already in a state where many things were settled.

‘That means there’s less room for a guy like me to step in and have an influence.’

The Association maintained and had to maintain a stable state.

More than Ju-hyeon had imagined, the Association was intricately structured like a spider's web, and each organization maintained a very close relationship.

“Trying to bring about some change in a place like that….”

It was only natural that it wasn't looked upon favorably.

“…….”

After pondering for a good while longer, Ju-hyeon soon opened his mouth.

“…In that case, would a private guild be better?”

He wasn't unaware that it was practically a recommendation for retirement, though it was called a leave of absence.

In reality, Ju-hyeon was in a position of being kicked out of the research institute, so he would have to find another path, but as of now, there were no options he could be sure of.

“No, even in a private guild, you strictly follow orders. The possibility of the same thing happening is much higher….”

Ju-hyeon suddenly thought of his family from the orphanage.

“…….”

He couldn't help it.

His stomach churned.

‘…It would have been better if I had conducted myself more properly.’

Perhaps he had been too hasty.

The ideal he pursued was grand, but Ju-hyeon was humble.

He would have to move these small legs quickly to even step on the very edge of it in his lifetime, but each and every step was so slow.

Was that why he couldn't look around his surroundings carefully?

Or had he been possessed by an evil god? It could have been both.

As a result, because Ju-hyeon had been impatient, he had pushed his family and friends into death and suffering.

“…That….”

Ju-hyeon wiped his face.

“How am I supposed to repay that sin?”

To the people who were already dead.

He couldn't move on to the future if he couldn't sort out the past.

But how could he pay the price for the people who were sacrificed because he had not acted wisely?

“I hope they at least found peace, but I don’t know if I dare to make that happen….”

A bitter smile appeared.

He knew well enough that he couldn’t turn back the past.

From the moment they were born, humans had to move forward, and it was the same even after making a huge mistake.

Since a mere human body couldn't scoop up spilled water, he had to at least clean up the mess meticulously.

“…Hmm….”

The problem was that a person's death was not something that could be cleaned up as easily as spilled water.

This was especially true for Ju-hyeon, a non-Awakener with no powers.

‘If I had been a priest of a religious order like the Solar Cult, would it have been more helpful?’

He couldn't grant rest to the dead, nor could he beg for mercy since he didn't serve a god.

‘It would have been better if I had been more diligent… but regretting that now would be meaningless.’

Ju-hyeon suddenly thought of the Black Cape, who must be somewhere in this cabin.

“…Hmm, no matter how I think about it, this is….”

Ju-hyeon smiled sheepishly.

“Too shameless of a thing to do.”

For a moment, he had thought about asking the Black Cape to pray for the peace of his family and friends, but Ju-hyeon quickly erased that thought.

The fact that his opponent was an evil god was also a concern, but above all, Ju-hyeon was not brazen enough to demand such a privilege.

How could he, who was not even its follower, ask for the mercy of peace?

‘Such a privilege is something even a priest who has served a god for a long time can rarely receive, not something an unbeliever like me can recklessly demand.’

It would probably be difficult unless Ju-hyeon suddenly awakened as a priest at this late age, but he decided to do his best for the souls of those who died because of him.

“If I don’t forget my mistake, reflect on my sin, and live with a constant heart of gratitude and apology towards those people….”

He thought that maybe, just maybe, it could reach his family and friends who were already dead, even if just a little.

“…Yes.”

That was the starting point.

“First, should I make a grave.”

The bodies of the dead had been collected, but that was a ‘cleaning,’ not a ‘funeral.’

He had been so out of his mind that he hadn't even prepared a place to mourn them.

‘Was it because I thought I would soon be going to the same place?’

It was too big of a failure, and too great a price.

He had committed such a huge sin that he couldn’t even think about recovering; he was just sorry.

He had no face to make amends and move forward.

“…….”

Ju-hyeon smiled awkwardly.

“But that would be a more cowardly thing to do…. It’s no different from running away because I don't want to take responsibility.”

There was nothing certain.

He thought that joining the people who died because of him was the right way to atone.

But that could just be running away. The current Ju-hyeon couldn't know which was the 'right path.'

But one thing had become clear.

“Yes, let’s make a tombstone.”

The bodies had already been 'cleaned' and couldn't be recovered.

He had tried to get them back belatedly, but he was only told that they had already been disposed of.

That was why he hadn't thought of a tombstone even more, but now, he felt he had to make one. He had the presence of mind for it.

“I’ll need a space to mourn.”

That was how humans, not gods, prayed for the peace of dead souls.

Let's draw the faces of the people I remember, carve their names, and record the stories I had with them. At the very least, no one would call such an act 'bad' or 'not right.'

“And then….”

And then, what should he do?

“…….”

Ju-hyeon pressed his lips together firmly.

‘At the very least, dying with them would not be the right path.’

And he didn't want to do that either.

Until he received the Black Cape’s help, he had been in a state of despair, but not now.

The current him had the leeway to contemplate and choose a better path.

But he couldn’t think of what that ‘better path’ was.

‘…Should I go to the Temple of Abundance, which values relief for the poor? No, the religious world doesn’t accept change easily. It’s as bad a choice as the Association. Then should I start a business with the money I’ve saved up until now? I have a few items in mind, and based on that, I can try to change the social atmosphere little by little….’

He pondered for a very long time.

“…….”

“Kkureung.”

“…Ah.”

When he came to his senses, the day was already getting dark.

“Is it time for dinner?”

The Black Cape would be waiting.

***

After another blissful meal.

“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”

The Black Cape showed interest in Ju-hyeon’s condition.

“…….”

“…….”

Of course, he knew he would be found out.

“…I do have a lot….”

No, in the first place, the expression ‘found out’ was not appropriate.

A mere human wracking his brain in front of a great mystery would be like being on Buddha’s palm.

Above all, it was the Black Cape in front of him who had brought Ju-hyeon, who was hesitating whether to summon Sankalut or not.

Since even this situation could have been its intention, Ju-hyeon did not bother to hide his state.

“I’m worried about what to do now.”

“I heard from my father that you are considering a new career path.”

“A new career path….”

It was a very clean and normal term.

“…I suppose you could say that.”

If you thought about it, it wasn't wrong.

The path he had been on so far had failed, and he had judged that it would be better to find a completely different path than to try to go back.

If one were to put a cleaner spin on that ‘different path’, the expression ‘considering a career path’ was correct.

“I was trying to divine how my life would unfold from now on.”

“Do you have a talent for divining fate?”

“…Th-that’s… that’s absolutely not what I meant.”

Ju-hyeon’s face turned red for having uttered the word ‘divine’ in front of a living, breathing destiny.

How ridiculous must it have sounded?

It was like teaching a fish how to swim, what on earth had he said?

‘I seem to become unusually honest in front of the Black Cape, is this also one of the effects of its divinity?’

Ju-hyeon, having composed his embarrassment, glanced at the Black Cape.

“…….”

“It’s a tea brewed from grains.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Before he could observe any further, he was being fed again.

At times like this, it was really like a grandmother.

“…Is this corn tea?”

“You mentioned last time that you like savory things.”

“Ah, so you were being considerate.”

“It was just when the corn I was growing was loudly demanding to be eaten.”

“I see, the corn was demanding….”

Wait a minute.

“…Demanding?”

Ju-hyeon looked down at the corn tea with a suspicious gaze.

“…Keuheum.”

The aroma was too good to not drink it.

‘The food is not at fault.’

After taking a sip, his mind and body felt strangely at ease.

‘This time it was a mental and physical stability effect.’

Dozens of times, he had ingested food that had an immediate beneficial effect on his health just by eating it.

Ju-hyeon was no longer surprised.

However, with a clearer mind, he once again looked at the Black Cape.

“…….”

The world teaches not to look into the eyes of a god.

“What is it?”

“…It’s just….”

It teaches us not to expect anything from them.

Ju-hyeon knew that too.

“…Could you give me some advice?”

Nevertheless, as humans have always done, he was desperate for the help of a great mystery.

In the first place, it was Ju-hyeon who had tried to talk to none other than Sankalut. Compared to a typical evil god that tormented and devoured the weak, the Black Cape was certainly a worthy opponent to seek advice from.

“What does Mr. Jio see in my future?”

“I cannot see the future.”

Just when he thought it was a refusal, it continued.

“However, I have often seen people like you, Mr. Ju-hyeon.”

“…People like me, you mean….”

“Simply put, a natural-born hero.”

“…….”

Ju-hyeon’s face crumpled in embarrassment.

“…You said that last time too, but why do you say I’m a hero?”

“A hero is someone who always chooses the greater good over selfish desire.”

The Black Cape gave a gentle smile.

“They are people who value what is outside of themselves more than themselves, intangible concepts more than what they can hold in their hands, and an eternal foundation more than a single moment. You are such a case, Mr. Ju-hyeon.”

“…….”

“I know the stories you have told me and the ones you haven’t. Right now, Mr. Ju-hyeon, you are saddened by the sacrifices caused by your mistake, but what is more important is your conviction.”

The evil god's smile seemed to hold interest, and was somewhat playful.

“I’m not saying you shun the deaths of your family and friends. The point of this explanation is that while you are as sad and pained as anyone else, you still think about moving forward.”

“…Am I someone who sacrifices the few… for the many?”

“No, that’s not it. Mr. Ju-hyeon, you are someone who gives your heart even to small tragedies that have nothing to do with you. Even if you saved 99 out of 100 people, you would still grieve over the death of that one person. I know very well that the only card you can sacrifice is yourself.”

“That’s not really….”

“Mr. Ju-hyeon, you are a hero. You have a gentle nature, and you treat everyone you meet with good manners. I think you are an excellent talent.”

For a moment, the Black Cape's hair flared up red like a flame.

“So I was thinking of trying to coax you a bit.”

“Ah, yes? Me? Why?”

“If I got on your nerves, you might become a decent hero….”

“Please count me out, I beg you.”

Ju-hyeon was horrified.

He never thought it would readily withdraw that Demon King project, but he had no desire at all to join the ranks of those deceivers called heroes.

As if it knew he would say that, the Black Cape smiled slyly. It looked like a pleased fox.

“I don’t do such cowardly things.”

“I-I see….”

“But I want to make you my friend.”

“Why are you so obsessed with friends?”

“The more friends, the better.”

“That’s true, but.”

He didn't know it was a story that applied even to gods.

‘I don’t really understand why such a great mystery would want to befriend a mere human.’

But since he had experience dealing with the Black Cape, he wasn't easily flustered.

Ju-hyeon let out a slightly awkward sigh, but he didn't freak out at every single word.

“So… I, that….”

“Hero.”

“Ugh.”

“Why do you hate it so much?”

“It gives me the creeps.”

Anyway, let's say that's that.

“So what were the endings of people like me?”

“They became gods, became history, or disappeared cleanly without a trace.”

“That’s more unforgiving than I imagined. Isn’t it too extreme?”

“Is it not too shameless to walk such a path and hope the outcome isn’t extreme?”

“No, do we really need to bring conscience into this…?”

“Anyway.”

Argio laughed lightly.

“What do you plan to do from now on? Do you have a job in mind?”

“Well, I’m thinking about handling the minor loose ends, but… I haven’t found a job.”

“So you’re thinking of leaving the research institute. In that case, you won’t be doing anything for a while.”

“Now that you say it, it does sound quite like I’m a bum, but yes, that’s what happened.”

“If that’s the case, do you have any intention of playing with me?”

“…Wait a minute, play? Did you say play?”

“It would be like monitoring and supervising the natural disaster that is me.”

“What is that….”

“Doesn’t it sound fun?”

“…….”

Ju-hyeon closed his mouth.

“…….”

“…….”

After a long while, he spoke.

“…Maybe?”

And so, Ju-hyeon, at the request of Jio, was led by the hand of Yu Seong-un and dragged before Bisabeol.

It was a future that the person in question had not anticipated at all.

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