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Chapter 150: Chapter 150

The first time I woke up in this cabin and saw the dawn sky as the sun was just beginning to rise.

"I felt a peace here that I had only ever imagined."

It was a beautiful sky.

Unlike the concrete forest where one couldn’t see anything beyond, a vast field of vision.

A clear Milky Way that seemed as if it would sparkle endlessly even if enough light gathered.

The sweet smell of nature carried on the cool yet warm breeze.

An unknown nostalgia made my dry corneas ache, and my heart pounded heavily.

I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t even think.

"Unlike reality."

There was no noise of any kind here.

"Mr. Seo Jio."

"You’re finally calling me that."

"You are a strong being, are you not?"

"Yes, I became one without realizing it."

"And at the same time, an evil god."

"I don’t yet understand the role of an evil god well, but yes."

"...Do you not find me rude?"

At that, the Black Cape asked back as if puzzled.

"Do you wish for me to think of you as rude?"

"That’s not it, but honestly, it’s true that it’s hard to understand."

"What part do you not understand?"

"How can you exist in such a form?"

It was something that made no sense.

"While you possess all sorts of strength."

In every aspect, ’Jio’s Portrait’ was the strong one.

"In every single aspect, you are an overwhelmingly powerful person."

"That is great praise."

"It may sound that way, but at least from what I’ve seen... yes."

It would be a foolish thing to discuss military force with a great mystery like an evil god, but when he was red, he seemed skilled in combat as well.

His overwhelming presence made me bow my body despite his excellent mimicry.

To Ju-hyeon he was a god, to the people of the world a terrifying humanoid monster, and his dungeons were working with all their heart for their master.

I felt that overwhelming strength in the mystery and divinity he held.

"Hmm, this may be rude, but your appearance is also like that."

"I often hear compliments that I’m handsome."

"I think so too, that’s natural."

He was an ideal handsome man, and although it was hard to tell because it was hidden by the cape, his body was not noticeably thick or thin.

His height was close to 190 cm, and his demeanor resembled that of a noble with a long history or a virtuous priest.

The hands he always kept behind his back were large.

Ju-hyeon was confident in his observation skills.

The Black Cape’s appearance alone could be a powerful weapon.

It was a matter of course, as there were humans weak to visuals everywhere.

"Mr. Seo Jio can never be the weak one."

In any situation and relationship, he holds the upper hand.

"That’s why there are times I understand even less."

"I am listening, so please continue. What is it that you don’t understand?"

"You act as if...."

Ju-hyeon, who had been hesitating, let out the words like a sigh.

"You understand the weak."

It’s something that makes no sense.

The naturally strong do not understand the numerous weak.

They might memorize their actions and ways, just as a god looks at a human, but they cannot be considerate.

Because they are strong, they cannot comprehend weakness.

Just as a blind person cannot understand the color red.

"So, what I’m trying to say is...."

He felt like his words were getting tangled.

"Mr. Seo Jio, you are a very strong person, yet you understand the weak. And you are considerate of them. You respect them. How can a being strong enough to make one feel distant fear be like that?"

"It is because I am merely human. I am not the ideal strong person you think of."

"That’s another thing. Mr. Seo Jio really does feel like a human. Sleeping, eating, cooking. Wanting friends, sometimes going out, playing pranks, laughing and crying...."

"I believe I have probably never cried."

"I saw you acting like a child to your father. I also saw you making crying sounds to your children. All of those appearances were natural. That’s why you really seem like a human."

A question suddenly arises.

"Was even this flow of my thoughts intended by you?"

"I do not intend anything."

"Is it not a lie that you didn’t even realize was a lie?"

"Of course not, I am a much more careless person than you can imagine."

"Even if that were true, humans would be greatly influenced."

That is what a human is.

They hang on every glance, every gesture of a god, and are swayed to the fullest.

Even a conversation initiated by a great destiny and nature becomes a great disaster, and they can go mad over a single drop of their small affection.

That is what a human is, and that is what a god is. Ju-hyeon knew that too.

"I know that too, but...."

He squeezed his eyes shut.

"...."

"...."

And again, he took in the sight of the Black Cape.

Two eyes. One nose, one pair of lips.

Two ears as well.

The skin was a little pale, and the hair was slightly wavy.

He waits for his words.

No matter how hard I try to look into his essence, only the human form comes into view.

"...I can’t stop seeing you as a person."

It is the face of a young man.

"How old are you?"

"I am 29 years old."

"Where is your hometown?"

"It is Gangwon-do."

"What did you do?"

"At school."

A faint smile spreads across the pale face.

"I taught students."

"...You were a teacher."

"Yes, I worked at a high school."

"I see."

He feels a sense of futility.

"I see."

Look at that affectionate smile.

If this is not human, then what in the world is it?

"...."

"Do I finally look like a person to you?"

"...Perhaps...."

He feels that it could be possible.

Ju-hyeon smiled awkwardly.

"I keep asking similar things, but why do you give gifts to good people?"

"Because anyone would want to praise a person who is admirable."

"I heard you’ve been talking to people when you see them."

"It is enjoyable to have conversations. I apologize to those who are afraid of me."

"Why do you keep capturing the bad people?"

"It is something my children do for me, but it was not what I intended."

"There’s really not a single grandiose reason for anything."

"Because I never think deeply."

"I understand."

If all of this were true, and even if it wasn’t sincere, if he continued to maintain this direction.

Ju-hyeon would not even be able to think of denying this existence.

Would it be too rude a thought to say he felt greedy?

He just couldn’t bring himself to hate him, who was made of ideal peace.

"...."

He introduced himself as an evil god, so I tried to be wary, and he is too great an existence to be at ease with, so I want to keep my distance, yet I find myself wanting to give him my heart.

"...You didn’t use some kind of ability, did you...?"

"I would appreciate it if you could tell me specifically what ability you are referring to."

"To make a person... helplessly... feel at ease... and to toy with them...."

"...? I don’t quite understand, is that a compliment by any chance?"

"It could be... or it could not be...."

"...."

"...Grr...."

Ju-hyeon blamed his own foolishness.

’What on earth was I hoping for, asking such a question.’

Wanting an equal exchange with him in a situation where the form before his eyes was highly likely not his true form was wrong from the start.

For a god, the standards of human truth and lies were different.

Whether he actually had such an ability or not, whether he knew of the ability’s existence or not.

Until Ju-hyeon realized it for himself, the words of the divinity before him could be either truth or lies.

"I’m sorry, that was a strange thing to say."

"I don’t quite understand, but...."

The man asked.

"Do you not want to be friends with me?"

"...Pardon?"

"So you complimented me."

"Pardon? Ah, no...."

"In the end, it seems you’ve taken a liking to me."

"That’s... uh...."

"Do you still not know what you want to do? Are you wary of coming to trust me?"

"...I...."

"Mr. Ju-hyeon, you consider relying on someone other than yourself a sin. I affirm the value of the foolish belief you hold."

"...."

"Since that is your way of life."

As he hesitated to answer, he continued to speak.

"You don’t have to think so complicatedly. I wanted to become friends with you, Mr. Ju-hyeon, and now it seems you do too. And you are not the type to settle down in one place."

"...Is that a compliment too?"

"You may see it as such. However, what I want to say is that there is no problem with us becoming friends. Are you also a person who cannot see the present because you regret the past and worry about the future?"

"I don’t think so."

"Then there is even less of a problem. Mr. Ju-hyeon, you are a person who embraces the grand ambition of world peace, and I will be a rather fitting friend for that. So I hope you will become the second friend of this portrait."

His expression was still blunt and calm.

"Take your time. Mr. Ju-hyeon, you are a sincere and polite person, so sooner or later, you will find the right path that suits you."

"I might make an irreversible mistake."

"There is no such thing as an irreversible mistake in the world. Why can such a sentence exist? In the end, a person must live in the present and move forward, yet they think of a past they cannot get back."

"Because humans are such foolish beings."

"I admit that I have a particularly simple and light way of thinking. But reflecting on the past and developing is a privilege of living creatures. And that is the only choice."

"I know that too, but...."

"Mr. Ju-hyeon."

The man spoke as if he were the Buddha himself.

"Are you afraid of a new attempt because of a mistake that hasn’t happened?"

"Who knows who else will be sacrificed because of my mistake. I committed a sin."

"Mr. Ju-hyeon, the people of the world are not lambs that you have to save."

"...."

"Trying to take responsibility for all of them is also a form of arrogance."

That might have been a bit of a shock.

"They are living their own lives, and the fact that they got caught up in your mistake is also a life that should be respected. Do not mistake the lives that those people chose and cultivated as solely yours."

"...But...."

"Reflecting is good, but if you become afraid, the only paths you will see are running away and hiding. And I know that you are not that kind of person, Mr. Ju-hyeon. You will eventually find your own path, and I am merely shortening that hesitation."

"...."

"An individual cannot become something so great. Even if they have a huge influence, in the end, they are just one of the passing streams. Even if that person looks like a giant, it is merely one of their characteristics. No existence can be a perfect standard."

With a still expressionless face, he continued.

"I see you, Mr. Ju-hyeon, as a good and polite person with heroic aspects. That is your characteristic, not you as a person yourself. There is no need to be buried in it."

"...Ah...."

"Do not let the goal you wish to achieve because you want it devour you. You simply wanted the world to become peaceful, and so you are trying to do it. That should not ruin you."

"That is...."

"Mr. Ju-hyeon’s prudence and caution are great strengths and virtues. But if you have to believe only after contemplating everything, there won’t be much left by your side. So for now...."

"...."

"Shall we be friends?"

He grinned.

"I have a romance for pen pal friends."

"...That’s a nice romance."

Will that smile make me dull? Will it make me settle down?

Nevertheless, I found myself captivated by that sense of security.

I wondered which ’Jio’s’ smile that was, but I soon came to the conclusion that it was meaningless.

If his words were to be believed, then in the end, even distinguishing between the ’Jios’ was practically worthless.

At this point, even hesitating felt embarrassing.

"...Let’s do it, friends."

"Oh."

"This is awkward."

Ju-hyeon gave a subtle smile.

"There might be problems."

"Let’s think about that as we go."

"I was about to say that too."

"Opportunities always appear."

"We can make them ourselves too."

"You understand well."

"...So...."

After hesitating several times, he forced out the words.

"Please take good care of me."

At that, Seo Jio smiled.

It looked quite human.

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