Gio met with Sanarae.

“Hello, have you been well?”

“Wow, that’s a really textbook greeting.”

“I hope you’ve been well.”

“At this point, it’s starting to get a little scary...”

Sanarae greeted Gio with a somewhat awkward expression.

“What brings the rare and mighty Sergio Hunter to our guild?”

“I came to see you, Sanarae.”

“The way you say ‘see’ makes it sound like you came to observe me or something... well, maybe that’s just me.”

“It’s most likely just you.”

“Seriously, why did you come? Did I do something wrong??”

Unlike before, he seemed afraid of Gio. Or rather, he seemed highly reluctant. Not in an unpleasant way—it was more of a wary discomfort, and Gio simply asked out of pure curiosity.

“Are you afraid?”

“Hmm, okay... how much freedom do I actually have to speak here?”

“You may say anything you like.”

“I know the world isn’t that kind to me. And now I also know that Sergio Hunter can lie quite well. In the end, I have no choice but to be careful on my own.”

“That’s an exaggeration.”

“Doesn’t sound like one when I listen to you talk...”

Sanarae hesitated for a moment and asked,

“...Isn’t there any way to do something about that atmosphere?”

“I’m doing my best.”

“I heard you mesmerized a couple of our guild members on your way here. I don’t know if you meant to or not, but I’d appreciate it if you could undo it on your way out. I’ll dance like a fool if I have to.”

“That wasn’t my intention. You don’t need to perform. I will release them regardless. They looked pitiful enough that you don’t have to worry.”

“That’s strange. I don’t think it used to be this awkward between us.”

“Simply put, the trial period of the tools that had been conveniently supporting my life has ended. Until I find a new tool, I believe I will remain as I am now.”

“Ah, then... uh...”

Rarely, Sanarae faltered.

“...It’s not easy to say this, but I kind of want to talk in a more private place.”

“This doesn’t seem to be one.”

“Yeah, truthfully, it’s not. My family’s the rough type, so reception rooms like this always come with surveillance devices. You heard it coming in, right? It’s a measure to ensure we can determine responsibility if something goes wrong.”

“Shall we move to a place of your choosing?”

“...Now that I think about it, that’s even scarier, so let’s just talk here. Like I said, I’ll be careful with my words. Even if there’s surveillance, we can delete it by mutual agreement. You probably came in knowing that anyway. Still, why did you come to see me, to go through this kind of treatment... ah, never mind...”

Sanarae gave up with resignation.

Judging a non-human by human standards is the dumbest thing you can do.

That’s what it came down to.

“Is that really the only reason you came? Just to see me?”

“I was concerned about your health.”

“Coming from Sergio Hunter, that’s actually kind of scary.”

“You still exaggerate quite a bit.”

“Thanks to your care, I’m very healthy. Actually, I’ve been more curious about your recent condition. Did you know? Though I’m sure you do—I was one of the hunters who took part in the ‘Dream Amusement Park’ raid.”

“I don’t recall seeing you.”

“Ha, that’s funny.”

Sergio Hunter hadn’t participated in the Dream Amusement Park incident. It wasn’t like a being like him could remain hidden. And yet, when someone said, “Oh, I was there too,” it made you imagine things.

“......”

That scent—he had caught something similar from that accursed god.

“...I know nothing. You know that, right?”

“Of course, Sanarae, you know nothing.”

“Well, because of that whole incident, I’ve been really worried. But now that I hear you talk, your condition seems... different from before.”

“Are you afraid?”

“Same question as earlier.”

Well, he hadn’t answered it then.

How does someone like this blend in among humans?

He even felt a moment of envy.

“...I’m scared.”

That was his honest feeling.

“I know Sergio Hunter is a good ‘person.’ Also a good ‘priest,’ and a good ‘hunter.’ Everyone has their hidden intentions, but Sergio Hunter doesn’t seem like that kind of person.”

Truly, wasn’t he an ideal being?

“But maybe because I’m so ill-raised, I get scared when I face someone I can’t bite. That’s what you are to me. Too ideal.”

“I’m not perfect.”

“No, you just make it look that way. Because that’s what you want. Could I beat you intellectually? Physically? With skill? With strategy? Politics? Power? Money?”

“Do you always want to win?”

“I was taught I had to, in order to survive. Like I said earlier—I wasn’t raised right. Maybe that’s why I’m scared of you. Honestly, I don’t even know what you’re thinking.”

Even if he was human, it wouldn’t have made a difference.

“You know about the Symbols of Eternity, right?”

“I hear about them often.”

“They created the system on Earth. From what I understand, they restricted external divine interference and made it easier for people to deal with catastrophic monsters and anomalies. And they gave up their fates.”

“Fates, huh.”

“As humans, yeah. So the Symbols of Eternity no longer age or die. Maybe that’s why they can wield such massive power with ease... but personally, I think that’s just too much.”

It was horrifying.

“Humans are supposed to die when it’s their time.”

Sanarae squinted his eyes like a crescent moon.

“...That’s why I don’t like the Symbols of Eternity. They don’t seem human. They can’t die, they don’t age, and their power is overwhelming. If they’re handling it properly, then aren’t they just natural disasters with will and personality?”

He shrugged.

“Ah, well, to be fair, I don’t like most people in the world.”

“Do you hate humans?”

“I hate humans, and I fear natural disasters. If they’re not my family, I can’t trust them. Humans are fickle, and disasters... I just can’t handle them.”

“You seem to have many fears.”

“...What do I look like to you?”

“......”

Sergio Hunter met his eyes.

“You look like Sanarae.”

“...And?”

“Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Then how would you describe me? Why did your daughter show me affection?”

“Unfortunately, I have no reason to blame you.”

“Right... so merciful.”

Sanarae admitted it—he was a coward.

“Please understand someone as afraid as me. You can probably see it at a glance, and if you don’t, then you just don’t want to look. But I was born really pathetically. I’m just a starving mutt desperate for a scrap of the mercy Sergio Hunter can offer.”

“You sound angry, and contrary to what you just said, you don’t seem to need help. More importantly, don’t you still fear me?”

“...That’s what’s scary. No matter how much I mock or test you, it never works. No matter how much I wrap myself in layers, you only see what’s inside. Why do you have to be so terrifying?”

Because you’re a god.

“......”

And gods were all cruel—just by existing, they were cruel.

“...Like I said, I know Sergio Hunter is a good... being. You don’t seem malicious, and from what you do, you don’t seem capricious. Yeah, you’re a good adult.”

But he still couldn’t trust him.

“It would’ve been better if you just weren’t so strong.”

“Is that how I seem to you?”

“There’s no way you could be weak. But if you were someone who got hurt easily, who broke down now and then—then maybe I could’ve trusted you. I understand people like that... I can understand them...”

“Shall I help you understand?”

“...No, I already have enough family here.”

“But I want to be your friend, Sanarae.”

“......”

Ah, I knew it.

“...Don’t be scary...”

He was afraid.

His hypersensitive senses were screaming.

His eyes, his nose, his ears, his parched tongue, his prickled skin—all cried out. Run. This wasn’t someone he could beat. Kindness was malice. Mercy was disaster.

Even with a “person” sitting in front of him, all he could feel was a vast forest and a pulsing heartbeat.

“......”

A disaster mimics a human.

“...Sorry, just—don’t get mad. I’m just...”

“I know very well that you’re afraid, Sanarae.”

“...Yeah, I’m sorry.”

“I also know that I tend to be greedy.”

“......”

Sanarae lifted his head to look at him. Gio had his eyes closed, smiling. It was the same smile as when he first entered the reception room, yet Sanarae noticed something different.

It was the smile of a person.

“Poor thing.”

It was filled with sadness and love.

“Then how about this, Sanarae.”

“...What?”

“I’ll build a candy house soon.”

“A candy house? Ah, the one I mentioned back in the dungeon... You’re really going to make it?”

“And I’ll invite you to it.”

The sun-like priest smiled gently.

“Would it be alright if I sent you an invitation?”

“...I’ll think about it.”

Sanarae smiled back, a bit clumsily.

Because he truly believed Gio was a good person.

***

“They say power comes with responsibility.”

Gio caressed the sunlight streaming into the attic. With his gesture, the sunlight arranged itself neatly, like threads of silk. As it formed a single surface, it shimmered like an aurora.

He stroked the sunlight as it fluttered like butterflies and petals, like tea and frills.

“I don’t think having power means one must take responsibility. That’s unfair. But there are definitely things that naturally follow power. People call those things... responsibility.”

The sunlight faded slightly. It resembled cellophane that children draw on and play with. The sunlight, soft and layered like planks of wood, slowly spread through the attic like a blanket. Bit by bit, very quietly.

“So it’s not just strength that demands responsibility. If that were true, then why did my mermaid friends have to become so twisted? Was it simply because they became disasters?”

It didn’t seem like that was the case.

“Having the strong bear responsibility might be an ideal form of society. Those with more give more. Those with more room help others. But that inevitably demands greater sacrifice.”

Gio found strong people pitiful.

“How sad.”

How many in this chaotic world were forced to bear burdens simply because they could? Perhaps Gio himself was one of them, though he didn’t like to think that way.

He was always free.

“What do you think, Ather?”

“......”

“You, too, were once called a hero...”

Looking at the pristine body still asleep, Gio asked,

“It must’ve been hard.”

The righteous strong take responsibility.

Ather had been a righteous man. He cherished life, grew angry at injustice, and tried to protect the weak. Even when faced with absurdity, he endured and persevered.

Not ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) just anyone can do that. That’s why Gio felt gratitude, affection. He loved people. Those who did admirable things looked all the more magnificent to him.

“It must’ve been really hard.”

Maybe that’s why he’s been sleeping so long.

“It’s okay to sleep longer. This is my home, and your castle. Sleep for as long as you want in this cozy attic where neither birds nor cats can intrude. I’ll cover you with sunlight. When night comes, I’ll cover you with moonlight.”

“......”

“And when you’ve slept enough, tell me what you want to do. I really like people like you. We’re friends, aren’t we? If a friend tells me what they want to do, then helping them is what friendship is all about...”

Then he returned to his black-haired form.

“......”

“......”

As the sparkling sunlight scattered and dissolved, Gio quietly closed his eyes.

“...It would be nice if things were simpler.”

But the world remained just as complicated.

***

A few days later.

Gio met Hunter Seo Seo-Hee.

“...Um, this is...?”

“A gift.”

He was holding braised short ribs.