Chapter 125

Iruda was a priestess who had already been chosen by a god.

She had received a god's grace from birth.

Quite a few gods coveted Iruda's vessel and she chose and contracted with the gentlest and most communicative god among them.

In other words, she was an experienced professional.

Probably among the prospective priests of this batch, there was no one who knew the presence of a god as well as Iruda.

“…….”

In Iruda's view, Cha Isold's drawing had an eerie aspect to it.

‘Could it be an evil god's….’

She thought to herself.

‘I've never heard that the Black Cape possessed divinity.’

Wasn't it just a common monster?

Iruda, too, had heard the rumors about the Black Cape.

A humanoid monster wrapped in a black cape from head to toe, who draws dungeons worthy of being called ‘artworks’ and drags bad people into them.

‘I did find it strange that for a monster, the damage wasn't that great.’

The citizens chattered, ‘Is a new endemic monster appearing?’, but with a little thought, one could see that it was a ridiculous idea.

Hadn't the current endemic monsters on Earth gone through a 32-year pacification process?

Compared to that, the Black Cape's time on Earth was short, and the resulting casualties were few.

It was behavior that couldn't be shown by a monster that couldn't contain its hatred for humans.

Because of this, Iruda's parents had once said that there was a possibility it wasn't a monster.

‘They said it's a method the Association often uses to prevent confusion. That citizens still lack awareness of monsters, so they are easily fooled even by made-up stories. So even now, quite a lot of truths are hidden.’

If so, she had to consider the possibility that the Black Cape was indeed an evil god.

Compared to monsters who were busy expressing their uncontrollable hatred, beings like evil gods knew how to act cunningly even with any negative image within them.

It meant they had the ability to be called a ‘god’.

“…Cha Isold.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you like the Black Cape?”

“Uh, he's kind.”

“You say that as if you've met him.”

“I have met him!”

“…….”

Cha Isold's sunshine-like friendliness was causing trouble again.

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

A beat later, Iruda asked.

“…When, how, and in what way?”

“Did I do something wrong?”

“I think I'll have to hear it to know.”

“I just see him sometimes.”

“If you see him sometimes, doesn't that mean you encounter him quite often?”

“He's dropped by my house before.”

“That… is a truly surprising story.”

Iruda nodded her head.

“It would be best not to tell anyone else.”

“I'm only telling you, Ruda, because it's you.”

“It’s because you keep acting like that that I'm trying to keep you by my side.”

“Because we're partners!”

“That wasn't exactly what I meant, but, well, I guess it’s similar.”

Like the light and salt of my harsh life.

‘Live just like that for the rest of your life.’

This dirty and cheap world needed sparkly pushovers like Cha Isold.

“You're sensitive to the energy of gods, so you probably know, but I think the Black Cape is a more dangerous being than you think.”

“But he was really kind… a very gentle older brother figure.”

“I was saying that he might have made you think that way. I'd be happy if the Black Cape is a virtuous being like you think, but, well, the world doesn't turn on wishes alone.”

“Ruda, I think you talk in a way that’s too difficult.”

“I’d appreciate it if you’d say I’m mature. Anyway, meeting or interacting with a being like this without any wariness is an overly careless action, in my opinion.”

Iruda looked at Cha Isold's drawing.

“How about you refrain from meeting him as much as possible?”

She knew the talent Cha Isold possessed.

Like Iruda herself, he was suitable for containing a god, and was born with an energy that many divinities would covet.

Whether it was a traditional god or an evil god, they coveted the qualities of a foolish hero like Cha Isold.

“You never know.”

Such people were especially often lured by evil gods.

“Is there any basis for the Black Cape being a virtuous being?”

“There isn't.”

“That's why I'm telling you to refrain.”

If one made a contract with a wicked mystery through a moment of carelessness, that human's life would become more terrible than hell from that moment on.

It was something that could be decided in an instant with just a god's breath and a single glance.

“There's no harm in being careful.”

“That's true.”

Fortunately, it seemed he wasn't possessed, as Cha Isold obediently affirmed Iruda's words.

“I'll be careful too.”

“…Okay, and if you see him again, tell me too.”

“Yeah, but do you think the Black Cape is an evil god?”

“The possibility… doesn't seem to be non-existent.”

“He was so warm, but that's possible, huh.”

“…….”

Warm?

‘I'd understand if you said he was hot.’

He didn't feel like such a gentle being.

If it was a mystery whose essence could be felt even through such a clumsy drawing, didn't that mean its class was considerable?

‘Beings like that are not considerate of humans.’

To be precise, it was closer to being unable to be considerate.

It was no easy task for great mysteries to grasp the inner thoughts of humans to fit into their small vessels.

It became even more difficult as their class grew larger.

Of course, Cha Isold's vessel was large, so he could endure no matter how great a god, but it wasn't that she wasn't worried.

Cha Isold was the pushover of this era, acknowledged by Iruda.

“…No matter what you feel, a human should not completely trust a god. It's not a matter of trust. In the first place, trust proceeds based on a minimum of mutual understanding. A god cannot understand a human, and a human cannot understand a god.”

And they shouldn't. If a god and a human could understand each other, in what way could the two be distinguished in this world?

Above all, the creature called a human was a being that was happy when it didn't know many things and couldn't do many things.

Incompetence that befitted one's station enriched life.

“So what I’m saying is that whatever you feel, you shouldn't believe it to be the other's true feelings.”

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

“…Usually… shouldn't you? Especially with a personality like yours….”

There were officially recognized religions of evil gods.

Death, Disease, Fear, Anger, Sadness.

They were cases where their value and raison d'être as generally quiet disasters were recognized by humans.

But that didn't mean evil gods weren't dangerous.

Even traditional gods treated humans not as chess pieces but as mere toys, and it was even more so for those with radical temperaments like evil gods.

“You should really be careful.”

“If I make a contract with the Black Cape….”

“Let's think about it more, that seems wise.”

“I think you're right, Ruda.”

“That's more like my partner.”

Fortunately, Cha Isold was not a fool who was pointlessly stubborn.

“I'll burn that drawing for you.”

“Wouldn't it hurt if you burn it?”

“Who would be in pain?”

“The Black Cape.”

“There are times when I learn a lot from your way of thinking.”

“Then I'll burn it, since I drew it.”

Cha Isold burned the drawing cleanly.

“But he really didn't seem like a bad older brother.”

“Priest Kang Seo-dam said so too, how can you try to judge a god’s good and evil?”

“That's also true.”

Cha Isold, who had been lying on the bed for a moment, said with a laugh.

“Next time, do you want to meet him together, Ruda?”

“…Okay, let's do that.”

Iruda did not refuse.

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

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

How could one divide a simply existing disaster and mystery into right and wrong?

In fact, there were times when the behavior of traditional gods was more vile than that of evil gods.

‘I shouldn't have prejudices while looking at a narrow world with the mere gaze of a human.’

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

The master seeks a useful tool, and the tool seeks a master who will be satisfied with its treatment.

As long as they suit each other well, that's all that matters.

So, if the Black Cape really was an evil god, he might surprisingly suit Cha Isold well.

“Next time you see the Black Cape, you have to call me too, Cha Isold.”

She was just worried.

“You still don't know much about gods.”

“Yeah, that's why I'm learning a lot thanks to you, Ruda.”

“…….”

I feel my heart growing warm.

“I'll have to keep you by my side.”

“I'll do that too.”

“Does the Black Cape really give you snacks?”

“Like cookies or chocolate?”

“How interesting.”

“Let's ask for snacks next time we see him.”

“That would be a good experience too.”

Ruda recalled the drawing that still seemed to linger before her eyes.

What on earth would the snack given by that distant and eerie being of essence taste like?

***

“…….”

“…….”

Jio, holding a bloody knife, muttered.

“I think student Cha Isold called me for a moment.”

It seemed like someone else was there, so he didn't particularly go out.

“Ryujon?”

“Wait a moment, Dana. Daddy is still in the middle of butchering.”

“Ryujonjonjonjon?”

“Seeing you have such a good appetite, you won't starve to death wherever you go.”

An admirable one.

“You are indeed my daughter.”

Jio smiled with satisfaction as he skinned the golden sheep.

It was a smile that had a fierce and seasoned aspect to it, unlike Giovanni’s.

“But more importantly, why do intruders keep appearing in my cozy sweet home?”

“Kururu?”

“Yes, this time, of all things, a golden sheep appeared. How bewildering it can get.”

Currently, Argio was in the middle of butchering a giant sheep while it was hanging from the ceiling.

It wasn't that he went out to hunt it himself; he just went out to the vegetable garden wondering what to eat, and there was another sacrificial lamb.

“Come to think of it, I think I could use that monster patch as a sort of security unit.”

It really put any trap to shame.

“The quality of the meat is very good, as if it was killed by piercing its forehead precisely.”

“Kkung?”

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

“Kururu.”

“Yes, it would be useful for you too to learn how to butcher.”

Although Argio had lived like a beast, perhaps because of the etiquette he learned as a child, he sometimes enjoyed his meals while imitating a human.

In that process, his butchering skills naturally improved.

“I can tell that this sheep is definitely from my hometown. This golden wool of the sheep, so smooth it's slippery, and its massive body like an ox that plows a field. Its sharp teeth and two pairs of eyes. Its thick claws….”

It was certain.

“It's a type of sheep that inhabits the Black Forest.”

Golden Step Sheep

A carnivore that hunts prey by disguising itself as a gentle herbivore or by bewitching them with its golden light.

Plants stepped on by a Golden Step Sheep turn into gold, and this gold emits a sweet scent that hinders a creature’s judgment.

Unlike ordinary gold, its hard teeth can easily cut off its prey's breath.

“Yes, you're diligent today as well.”

Jio nodded his head.

“Its appearance, scent, and texture, it has a cute look without a single flaw. But if you are deceived by that gentle appearance or bewitched by the gold this fellow creates, you'll have your throat bitten right away.”

“Kururu?”

“Just as you say, it's from experience. They are children who are very good at feigning innocence, you wouldn't know how thick and sharp their teeth are. Thanks to that, I almost died with my neck half-torn, but in the end, I was the winner.”

Elixir Recipe: Boiling the bones of a Golden Step Sheep can refine it into a powerful painkiller, or a drug.

The blood inside the horns of a female becomes a potion of painless death, and in the case of a male, it becomes a potion of painful resurrection.

“Oh, yes. I was able to survive just like this.”

Jio smiled deeply as he looked at the system.

“As it happens, the one I killed was a male. These fellows’ horns aren't as hard as they look, so they break quite easily, and golden blood pools inside. I liked that it glittered, so I drank it, and my dying heart started beating again.”

After that, he carried it with him at all times.

“A male's horn is bent like this towards its back, and a female's horn is bent towards the front. Seeing the horn bent roundly towards its back, this one seems to be a male. Right?”

“Kurururururu.”

“I'll cut the horn last, so eat as much as you want. You shouldn't rashly drink the blood from a female's horn if you don't have resistance, but there's no big problem drinking a male's horn's blood when you're fine. If you're not in a near-death state, the effect is small.”

You can only feel your body heat up a little.

“The condition of the hide is good too.”

Once he had completely skinned the sheep, he could see the black flesh inside.

“Hmm….”

“Kurururururururururururur!!”

“Yes, it would be good for you all to have the wool.”

The texture of the golden sheep's wool was so ecstatic that it was perfect for bedding, but a whole flock of water birds that coveted jewels, including Honey, had gathered at the glitter of the golden sheep.

“As a father, there's no way I can't give up a single hide for my children.”

At those words, the water birds that had been loitering around the butchering workshop cautiously approached and pecked at the golden sheep's hide.

The strength of those tiny beaks was so good that the wool was plucked out of the hide with ease, and the sight of those jewel water birds was truly that of living gold, silver, and treasures.

“As expected of my children, they know how to adorn themselves.”

“Ryujon?”

“Yes, my Dana. This daddy will cut out some meat for you soon.”

Dana, who had grown a little larger than a typical adult cat, had such fluffy fur that she was a pleasure to hug.

It was ecstatic when such a Dana clung to his leg and leaned her body against him.

When he cut off the sheep's cheek meat, Dana snatched it in her mouth.

“That's right, you must chew it well. The greatest delicacy of this sheep is this very cheek meat. The cheek meat of the golden sheep, which has almost no facial muscles and cannot make expressions, is chewy yet has a very soft texture that is superb.”

However, if one ate it hastily, it could get stuck in the throat.

“Doesn't it have a great savory taste?”

“Ae?”

“I am happy that you seem to like it.”

What could be more joyous than having one's beloved family like the same thing I like?

Argio, who let Dana savor it enough, soon turned his head again and looked at the black meat of the sheep hanging on the iron hook.

“The bones can be used later when I draw a picture….”

What should he do with all this overflowing meat?

“…….”

He muttered.

“…The meat of the golden sheep is quite elastic, so shall I try steaming it?”

All the meat in the world was bound to become delicious if you put in liquor and seasoning and boiled it for a long time.

That's right, Argio wouldn't be outdone in gluttony either.

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