Chapter 139

At that time.

The research institute that manages the evil god Sankalut, Seoul 21st Branch.

“Lord Sankalut?”

“ ”

“G, God? Why are you such a withered color….”

“ ”

“Lord Sankalut…!”

I was going to ask him to take me home if my wish came true.

Sankalut, who had been excited at the thought of going to his hometown, became sullen.

***

“Did we perhaps do anything to upset you?”

Yu Seong-un rushed over.

“Jio-ya.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Did we perhaps do anything to upset you?”

“I’m not sure why you’re asking such a question, but no.”

“That’s a relief.”

Yu Seong-un, who laughed resignedly, asked.

“It’s just that you seem to be talking with the other employees often these days.”

“Was it a disturbance to their work?”

“Just a little? Well, I’m not saying you were very rude….”

It was a bit ambiguous to consider creating a sense of fear as being in the realm of a nuisance.

Especially for Yu Seong-un, who knew that Jio’s identity was not a monster or a god, but a part of the Source.

However, he was curious.

“I heard a story. You’re going around asking about the evil god?”

“Your words are correct.”

“Ugh.”

Yu Seong-un was startled when Jio from inside the portrait suddenly stuck his upper body out.

“So you could come out like that too.”

“I’m just halfway perched on it.”

Under the undulating black cape like a head covering, low-saturation red hair caught his eye.

Judging by the characteristically stimulating and sharp tone, it seemed he had become Argio, who introduced himself as an evil god.

He leaned his body against the picture frame.

The casually tapping nails, which had grown long like a beast’s, came into view. Argio continued.

“Recently, a question about the evil god has arisen.”

“A question? What kind of question?”

“What is an evil god? What must one do to be called an evil god?”

“That… is really difficult to distinguish.”

Yu Seong-un cleared his throat.

“Humans call gods who do them harm evil gods.”

“In that case, is crashing a festival to drink or joining a hunting ground an evil act?”

“I think the feeling would be different depending on the local customs of that region, but it doesn’t particularly feel like an evil act.”

“What about hanging the necks of those who attacked me and decorating the forest with them?”

“That certainly could be called an evil act…?”

There is a saying in the world called self-defense, but humans were not such fair creatures as to return only as much as they received.

In regions with a high awareness of natural human rights, such blatant retaliation would not be welcomed.

“Well no, I personally don’t think of it as an evil act. I don’t necessarily let those who attack me live either. Though I don’t decorate with them….”

“Do you think I decorated them because they looked beautiful? The problem is the fools who come looking for a fight if I don’t do at least that. Anyway, you don’t feel it’s particularly evil?”

“If one intends to kill another, it’s right that they should be prepared to die in return. I’m probably not the only one who thinks this way, right? But why are you asking this question?”

“……”

Argio, who had been silent for a moment, opened his mouth again.

“I thought I was an evil god, but it seems I fall short of that standard more than I thought.”

“A standard. On our Earth, there is a clear standard that defines an evil god.”

Yu Seong-un asked.

“Have you ever killed innocent people?”

“What kind of person does innocent mean?”

“People who have not harmed you or have shown you kindness.”

“Would I have killed such people?”

“And you’ve never returned kindness with enmity?”

“I might ignore them, but I’ve never done such a thing.”

“Then why on earth are you an evil god?”

He didn't quite understand.

“You said people called you an evil god.”

“They did.”

“Why did they call you that? The name Argio is even a derogatory term.”

“Because I’m a pain in the ass?”

Argio continued, tapping his long nails.

“A beautiful beast that doesn’t even seem human is worthy of people’s hatred. There were several other reasons, but they called me the evil god of greed and wrath.”

“Greed and wrath….”

“I like treasures. Gold, silver, and treasures and fine liquor are my closest friends, and since I grew up as a beast, I had no need for patience. Returning my anger to those who displease me is a joyful thing.”

“But that’s a bit much to be called an evil god for.”

“…Ummhmm….”

Argio rested his chin on his hand.

“I suppose so.”

“Is there something you don’t like?”

“I had a certain pride in it….”

“You had pride in being an evil god?”

“That too is one of my honors, so of course.”

“Honor….”

“It is mine that has come into my embrace.”

“……”

“But looking back now, my infamy was nothing special.”

It wasn't clearly visible because it was hidden by the cape, but Jio looked quite bored.

“How can it be this futile?”

“…Umm, uh… is that so….”

Yu Seong-un understood the situation, at least roughly.

‘The size of a mystery changes in volume due to the stories surrounding it.’

An evil god is, in the end, a god.

Its size changes with the goodwill or hostility of the creatures that believe in its existence, and it seemed that Argio had actively accepted even the infamy for things he had not done as his own.

‘Then it’s possible to have a divine nature that is excessively evil compared to the evil acts he actually committed.’

Isn’t the Sankalut cult the same?

What was an ordinary jewel that could neither kill nor even speak became a full-fledged evil god through nation-level faith and sacrifices.

It was a case similar to Argio’s.

‘Especially this one, who could speak and act, actively accepted the misunderstandings about himself….’

It was a very rare case.

“Then is it as if you yourself have done nothing at all?”

“I did visit the mansions of some unpleasant fellows without permission and took their liquor and goods.”

“What kind of people were those unpleasant fellows?”

“Those who ruined the taste of my liquor. They caused a disturbance in front of me.”

“Did they talk loudly or something?”

“They boasted that they had annihilated the village that had prepared a meal for me.”

“Ah, that’s definitely self-defense. Then it would be difficult to call what you did evil.”

“That is very unfortunate news.”

“Hmm….”

Yu Seong-un smiled as if in a bind.

“Is it because you feel your reputation was just a facade?”

“Because evil is more enjoyable than good.”

“……”

For a moment, Yu Seong-un was at a loss for words.

“…Should I look into a battlefield for you?”

“No.”

Jio’s voice instantly took on a blunt tone.

“I am not yet as complete as Argio.”

“Are you saying you don’t particularly like fighting right now?”

“I have always disliked conflict.”

“That’s a little different from what you said earlier.”

“It seems to change depending on the situation.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Yu Seong-un, who had been contemplating for a moment, asked.

“Mr. Ju-hyeon is still at home, right?”

“Yes, he is sleeping.”

“It seems like he’s sleeping every time I ask.”

“He seemed tired, so I put him to bed early.”

“It’s nothing else, I was just wondering if you could spare some time.”

“Is there something you would like to recommend?”

“You said you were curious about the evil god.”

Practice makes perfect, after all.

“Korea has an evil god that is officially recognized as a general religion.”

“It must be an evil god that does not harm humans.”

“It’s more that they thought of it as a kind of natural order, though it is harmful.”

Mysteries related to gods were not Yu Seong-un’s specialty, but he remembered the basic flow.

“The most representative example of that is the God of Death.”

“Death is certainly the natural order.”

“Yes, you’re right. But people don’t like it.”

“To most people, death is something harmful.”

“The God of Death was recognized as a general religion in the last 14 years.”

“Was it not before that?”

“It was a sensitive period, and in many ways….”

Yu Seong-un smiled with his easygoing smile.

“Should I say it was a world where evil gods were rampant, so there was no capacity to distinguish.”

“So they were rampant.”

“Thanks to the Symbol of Eternity, it feels like a system has been established now.”

He shrugged his shoulders.

“Would you like to meet him? If you want, I can ask for their understanding in advance.”

“In that case, I would like to meet him.”

And so, The Black Cape was dispatched to the world once again.

To be precise, as the A-Class Hunter ‘Seo Jio’.

***

“……”

“……”

“No, hey.”

Bisabeol looked at Yu Seong-un, who had come to ask for permission, as if it were absurd.

“You were the one who told me not to sneak Mr. Seo Jio outside.”

“Wasn’t that because you, Guild Master, are a person who threatens world peace?”

“Do you have any idea how much I’m contributing to world peace right now to be saying such things?”

“At least I don’t stand on the sidelines and clap, telling Jio to make a mess.”

“That’s true, it’s true, but I feel so wronged. How can I live with this kind of treatment?”

For someone saying that, Yu Seong-un knew, and Bisabeol knew, that he had lived too well.

“Our employees really don’t know how to rub their palms together.”

“They are people who will rub them as much as you want if you add it to their job description.”

“But you don’t do it otherwise. I love that about you all.”

“We know that too, which is why we’re being so impertinent….”

Yu Seong-un, who had muttered, soon smiled brightly and asked.

“The Temple of Death is in Gyeonggi-do, so I came to get permission in advance. Unlike before, he will be going quite far, and since it’s a meeting between an evil god and an evil god, I don’t know what kind of chemical reaction will occur.”

“……”

Bisabeol, who had been tapping the table as if calculating something, soon nodded.

“I am curious, what will happen when the evil god Jio and the quiet evil god meet.”

“I knew you would say that.”

“Isn’t it a much more fun and interesting topic than protecting the peace of mankind?”

“Interesting… saying it like that, you sound a bit like Argio.”

Argio had said that the reason he preferred evil over good was because it was more stimulating and interesting.

While not having much interest in the peace of mankind, advocating for good in order to enjoy more things was certainly a similarity between Bisabeol and Argio.

At that, Bisabeol smiled wryly.

“Did you say Argio’s colors are similar to mine as well?”

“He has a calmer color palette than you, Guild Master.”

“If worse comes to worst, I’ll just say he’s my nephew.”

“Didn’t you say you were the only son for four generations?”

“Hmm.”

At Yu Seong-un’s intense gaze, Bisabeol added.

“A hidden son, perhaps?”

“Aren’t you over eighty?”

“I look firm, don’t I.”

“You have the body of a 50-year-old rather than being firm.”

“Then let’s just say I’m hale and hearty.”

Yu Seong-un didn’t say anything to that.

“…Jio already has the divinity of the sun. I don’t know if the evil god’s malevolent divinity has been overlaid on top of it, or if they are coexisting, or if he can switch between them….”

Yu Seong-un continued.

“The Seoul branch of the Solar Cult was favorable to Jio. Especially since the evil god of the Gyeonggi-do branch does not enjoy conflicts between divinities, I came to get permission judging that there would be no major problems.”

“But you did think it was dangerous?”

“Since Jio introduced himself as an evil god, we should be careful about what we need to be careful about. He especially likes stimulating things, and above all, he does not fear conflict. I thought we should be prepared.”

“I can help you with that part.”

Bisabeol’s Collectors took on a form close to a business company, but that didn’t mean his guild members were not skilled in combat.

There was also an entourage that followed only his orders.

“I’ll ask my friends for a favor.”

“I feel reassured that you’ll be watching our back.”

Yu Seong-un, with his characteristic easygoing smile, expressed his gratitude.

“It seems I am always receiving your help.”

“I feel the same way. However….”

“However?”

“He will go out as ‘Mr. Seo Jio,’ right?”

“…Wouldn’t he have to?”

“Hmm.”

Bisabeol stroked his chin.

“It would be fine to get a secretary for Mr. Seo Jio soon.”

“Are you thinking of making Jio an official Hunter?”

“It’s been blocked so far, but the attention is already focused on him.”

No matter how quietly things were handled, quite a few people knew that the sea had calmed down after other hunters, including Seo Jio, visited the S-Class Dungeon ‘Kingdom of the Deep Sea’.

The A-Class Hunter who appeared without a sound and the calm sea of Korea after his visit. Since there was no particular evidence, it was not at the level of suspicion, but they were curious.

“And Mr. Seo Jio also saved people at the ‘Temple of the Deep Sea’ before.”

“Does that influence still remain? For a Hunter who doesn’t even do official activities?”

“A handsome and capable Hunter is popular with everyone.”

“…That’s true.”

Jio, in particular, had a strong aura that made him hard to forget from people’s memories.

More than anything, it wasn’t so strange that there were still people who remembered ‘Hunter Seo Jio’, who had gathered and comforted people during that difficult and scary time, even after a year had passed.

Yu Seong-un nodded.

“The fact that he’s a promising rookie A-Class Hunter whose movements cannot be tracked would have drawn more attention. Was it read as a kind of mystery strategy….”

“If you knew that well, you should have let our Mr. Jio out sooner.”

“Do you think I don’t know that that’s a recommendation filled with your personal interest, Guild Master? Anyway, then we’ll have to find a manager among the employees.”

Hunters with frequent official activities or high recognition usually had one or two managers to handle their schedules.

Jio was not scheduled for frequent official activities, but if there were many people interested in him, a secretary was needed in a different sense.

“It would be easier to manage his schedule and image if they knew the existence of ‘Mr. Seo Jio’….”

“We’ll look for someone for that part gradually.”

Bisabeol’s long, slit pupils slowly dilated.

“Because I think I’ll be able to find someone soon.”

Was his name Ju-hyeon?

He didn't like him, but he seemed quite useful.

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