Chapter 125

Iru-da was already a priest chosen by a god.

She had received a god’s grace from the moment she was born.

Quite a few gods had coveted Iru-da’s vessel, and she had chosen the gentlest and easiest to talk to among them, then made a contract.

In other words, she had prior experience.

Among this group of prospective priests, there was probably no one who understood the presence of gods better than Iru-da.

"..."

In Iru-da’s eyes, Cha Yisol’s drawing had something chilling about it.

'Could it be an evil god's...?'

She thought to herself.

'I’ve never heard that Black Cloak possesses divinity.'

Wasn’t he just an ordinary monster?

Iru-da, too, had heard rumors about Black Cloak.

A humanoid monster covered from head to toe in a black cloak, who painted dungeons worthy of being called “works” and dragged bad people away.

'I did wonder before why the damage was so small for a monster.'

Citizens had made a fuss, asking, “Is a new native monster appearing?” but if one thought about it even a little, it was obvious how absurd that idea was.

The native monsters currently on Earth had undergone a process of acclimatization over thirty-two years.

Compared to them, Black Cloak had not been settled on Earth for long, and the human casualties caused by him were few.

That was not the behavior of a monster unable to suppress its hatred toward humans.

Iru-da’s parents had once said that there was a possibility it was not a monster.

'They said it’s a method the Association sometimes uses to prevent confusion.'

'Since citizens still don’t understand monsters properly, they fall for it easily even when the story is made up however they like.'

'So even now, they said quite a lot of truths are being hidden.'

If so, they really did have to consider the possibility that Black Cloak was an evil god.

Compared to monsters, which were busy expressing hatred they could not control, beings like evil gods knew how to act craftily even if there was some negative imagery inside them.

It meant they had the ability to be called “gods.”

... Cha Yi-sol.

"Yeah?"

"Do you like Black Cloak?"

"Yeah, he’s kind."

"You talk as if you’ve met him before."

"I have!"

"..."

Cha Yisol’s sunny friendliness had caused trouble yet again.

'I never thought it would apply even to a being treated as a monster.'

A beat late, Iru-da asked.

"... When, how, and in what way?"

"Did I do something wrong?"

"I think I’ll know once I hear it."

"I just see him sometimes."

"If you see him sometimes, doesn’t that mean you run into him fairly often?"

"He’s even stopped by our house before."

"That is... truly surprising."

Iru-da nodded.

"You had better never tell anyone else."

"I only told you because it’s you, Ruda."

"It’s because you keep acting like that that I want to keep you by my side."

"We’re partners!"

"That wasn’t exactly what I meant, but, well, I suppose it’s similar."

You are like the light and salt of my harsh life.

'Live like that forever.'

This dirty, petty world needed sparkling suckers like Cha Yisol.

"You’re sensitive to divine energy too, so you must know, but Black Cloak seems more dangerous than you think."

"But he was really kind... He’s a very gentle hyung."

"I’m saying he might have made you think that way. I’d like it if Black Cloak were a good being, just as you think, but, well, the world doesn’t run on wishes like that."

"I think you make things too hard to understand, Ruda."

"I’d like you to call it mature. In any case, I think meeting or interacting with a being like this without any wariness is far too careless."

Iru-da looked at Cha Yisol’s drawing.

"How about avoiding meeting him as much as possible?"

She knew the talent Cha Yisol possessed.

Like Iru-da herself, he was suited to contain a god, and he was born with an energy that many divinities would covet.

Whether they were traditional gods or evil gods, they tended to covet the qualities of foolish heroes like Cha Yisol.

"You never know."

Such people especially often attracted evil gods.

"Do you have any proof that Black Cloak is a good being?"

"I don’t."

"That’s why I’m telling you to refrain."

If one made a contract with an evil mystery due to a single moment of carelessness, that person’s life became more horrible than hell from then on.

It was something that could be decided in an instant by nothing more than a god’s breath or a single glance.

"There’s no harm in being careful."

"That’s true."

Fortunately, perhaps he was not bewitched, Cha Yisol readily agreed with Iru-da.

"I’ll be careful too."

"... Good. If you see him again, tell me too."

"Yeah. But do you think Black Cloak is an evil god?"

"It seems... not impossible."

"He was really warm, but I guess that could still be true."

"..."

Warm?

'I’d understand it more if he said hot.'

He had not felt like such a gentle being.

If a mystery was powerful enough for its essence beyond to be felt through such a clumsy drawing, did that not mean its level was considerable?

'Beings like that do not show consideration for humans.'

To be precise, it was closer to being unable to show consideration.

For immense mysteries, it was no easy task to understand human thoughts while fitting themselves to humans’ narrow vessels.

The greater their level, the harder that became.

Of course, Cha Yisol had a large vessel, so he would endure no matter how immense the god was, but that did not mean she was not worried.

Cha Yisol was the sucker of this era whom Iru-da acknowledged.

"... No matter what you felt, humans must never completely trust gods. That isn’t a matter of trust. To begin with, trust is something that proceeds based on the bare minimum of mutual understanding. Gods cannot understand humans, and humans cannot understand gods."

Nor should they.

If gods and humans could understand each other, how in this world could the two be distinguished?

Most importantly, the creature called a human was happiest when it did not know many things and could not do many things.

An incompetence suited to one’s place made life more prosperous.

"So whatever you felt, you must not believe that it is the other party’s true feelings."

"Then should I not make a contract with an evil god?"

"... Normally... you shouldn’t, right? Especially with a personality like yours..."

There were religions of evil gods that were officially recognized.

Death, disease, fear, anger, sorrow.

They were usually cases where humans had recognized their value and reason for existence as quiet disasters.

But that did not mean evil gods were not dangerous.

Even traditional gods regarded humans not even as game pieces but as mere toys, and those with violent temperaments like evil gods were even worse.

"You really should be careful."

"If I make a contract with Black Cloak..."

"Let’s think about it more. I think that would be wise."

"I think you’re right, Ruda."

"That’s how you should be to be worthy of my partner."

Fortunately, Cha Yisol was not an idiot who stubbornly insisted on something meaningless.

"I’ll burn that drawing for you."

"Wouldn’t it hurt if you burned it?"

"Who would it hurt?"

"Black Cloak."

"There are times when I learn a great deal from your way of thinking."

"Then I’ll burn it. I drew it."

Cha Yisol burned the drawing cleanly.

"But I really don’t think he was a bad hyung."

"Priest Kang Seodam said so too, didn’t he? How are you going to judge a god’s good and evil?"

"That’s true too."

Cha Yisol, who had been sprawled on the bed for a moment, smiled as he spoke.

"Do you want to meet him with me next time, Ruda?"

"... Yes, let’s do that."

Iru-da did not refuse.

'If there’s one thing I’ve learned since entering the order, it’s that not all evil gods are evil.'

In the end, distinguishing between gods was also nothing more than human arrogance.

How could one divide disasters and mysteries that simply existed into right and wrong?

Rather, there were times when the behavior of traditional gods was far more lowly than that of evil gods.

'As mere humans looking at a narrow world through human eyes, we shouldn’t hold prejudices.'

In the end, the most proper form of a god and priest was clearly that of a master and their tool.

The master sought a useful tool, and the tool sought a master who would be satisfied with how it was treated.

As long as they suited each other, that was enough.

So if Black Cloak really was an evil god, he might unexpectedly suit Cha Yisol well.

"If you see Black Cloak next time, you must call me too, Cha Yisol."

She was simply worried.

"You still don’t know much about gods."

"Yeah. That’s why I’m learning a lot thanks to you, Ruda."

"..."

She felt her heart grow warm.

"I really should keep you by my side."

"I’ll do that too."

"Does Black Cloak really give snacks?"

"Like cookies or chocolate?"

"How interesting."

"If we see him again, let’s ask him for snacks."

"That would be a good experience too."

Iru-da thought of the drawing that still seemed to linger before her eyes.

Just what would snacks given by that distant, chilling essence of a being taste like?

"..."

"..."

Jio, holding a bloodstained knife, muttered.

"I think Student Cha Yisol called me for a moment."

It seemed like someone else was beside him, so he had not gone out in particular.

"Mmph, woof woof woof."

"Wait, Dana. Daddy is still butchering."

"Mmph, woof woof woof woof woof..."

"Seeing how hearty your appetite is, you won’t starve to death no matter where you go."

How admirable.

"You truly are my daughter."

Jio smiled in satisfaction as he skinned the golden sheep.

Unlike Giovanni’s, it was a smile with a fierce and seasoned edge.

"More importantly, why do intruders keep appearing in my cozy home sweet home?"

"Coo?"

"Yes, this time, of all things, even a golden sheep appeared. Could there be anything more bewildering?"

Currently, Arjio was butchering a giant sheep while hanging it from the ceiling.

It was not as if he had personally gone out and hunted it.

When he went out to the vegetable garden while wondering what to eat, there had simply been another sacrificial lamb there.

"Come to think of it, that monster field could be used as a kind of security unit."

It really rivaled most traps.

"Perhaps it killed it by piercing precisely through the forehead, because the quality of the meat is excellent."

"Mm?"

"A living creature’s meat becomes tender when it dies without knowing anything, Honey."

"Coo coo."

"Yes, you should learn how to butcher too. It will be useful someday."

Although Arjio had lived like a beast, perhaps because of the etiquette he had learned as a child, there were times when he imitated humans and enjoyed meals.

In that process, his butchering skills had naturally improved.

"I can tell for certain that this sheep came from my homeland. This slippery-soft golden wool, and a body as huge as an ox that plows a field. Sharp teeth and two pairs of eyes. Thick claws..."

There was no doubt.

"It is a type of sheep that inhabits the Black Forest."

"Yes, you are diligent again today."

Jio nodded.

"Its appearance, scent, and texture are all flawlessly adorable. But if you are fooled by that gentle appearance or enchanted by the gold this creature produces, it will bite your neck clean off."

"Coo?"

"As you said, I speak from experience. They are very good at playing coy, and you have no idea how thick and sharp their teeth are. Thanks to that, I almost died with half my neck torn off, but in the end, I was the victor."

"Oh, yes. I was able to come back to life exactly like this."

Jio looked at the System and smiled deeply.

"As it happened, the one I killed was male. These creatures’ horns are not as hard as they look, so they break rather easily, and golden blood pools inside them. I liked how it glittered, so I tried drinking it, and my dying heart began to beat again."

After that, he simply carried some with him.

"A male’s horns curve toward its back like this, and a female’s horns curve forward. Seeing these horns curve round toward its back, this one seems to be male. Doesn’t it?"

"Coo coo coo coo."

"I will cut off the horns last, so eat as much as you like. If you have no tolerance, you should not rashly drink the blood from a female’s horns, but there is no major problem with drinking the blood from a male’s horns even when you are perfectly fine. Unless you are in a near-death state, the effect is small."

One would merely feel one’s body heat up a little.

"The hide is in good condition too."

When he completely skinned the sheep, black flesh could be seen inside.

"Hmm..."

"Coo coo coo coo coo coo coo coo!!"

"Yes, I think it would be best for you all to take the wool."

Golden sheep’s wool felt so ecstatic to the touch that it was perfect for bedding, but Honey and the other waterbirds that coveted jewels had gathered in droves at the golden sheep’s glitter.

"As a father, there is no way I could fail to give up a single hide for my children."

At those words, the waterbirds that had been peeking around near the butchering area slipped closer and pecked at the golden sheep’s hide.

The strength in those tiny beaks was so impressive that tufts of wool were plucked cleanly from the hide, and the sight of those jeweled waterbirds was truly living gold and treasure.

"As expected of my children. You know how to adorn yourselves."

"Mmph, woof woof..."

"Yes, my Dana. Daddy will cut out some meat for you soon."

Dana, who had grown a little larger than an ordinary adult cat, had fur so fluffy that she was satisfying to hug.

When Dana clung to his leg and leaned her body against him, it was utterly blissful.

When he cut off the sheep’s cheek meat for her, Dana snapped it up.

"Good girl. Make sure to chew thoroughly. The greatest delicacy of this sheep is this cheek meat. Since golden sheep have almost no facial muscles and cannot make expressions, the texture of their cheek meat is superbly chewy yet very tender."

However, if one ate it in a hurry, it might get caught in one’s throat.

"Isn’t it very savory?"

"Mraaak."

"I’m glad you seem to like it."

Was there anything happier than one’s beloved family liking what one liked as well?

After letting Dana savor it enough, Arjio soon turned his head again and looked at the sheep’s black flesh hanging from the iron hook.

"I can use the bones later when I paint..."

What should he do with all this overflowing meat?

"..."

He muttered.

"... Golden sheep meat is fairly elastic, so shall I try steaming it?"

All meat in the world became delicious if it was boiled for a long time with alcohol and seasoning.

That was right, Arjio did not lose when it came to gluttony either.