#213
Listening to the phlegm-filled voice characteristic of a dying human, Dan Joo-hyuk raised one eyebrow askew. Being born again? Whether it was a metaphorical reference to becoming a new person or literally meaning reincarnation, it was absurd talk. Almost too ridiculous to entertain.
Not hiding the scornful laugh that naturally escaped, Dan Joo-hyuk mocked the Tsar.
“What nonsense you speak.”
However, Dan Joo-hyuk couldn’t help but slightly stiffen his expression at the Tsar’s subsequent words.
“Because… the Sacred God… is also helping me…!”
“Sacred God?”
Momentarily taken aback, Dan Joo-hyuk barely managed to maintain his composure. It was a statement impossible to dismiss. The fact that the very term that had been bothering him came up made him inclined to pay attention to the sick man’s ravings.
The entity known as the Sacred God was difficult to determine.
Certainly, this Sacred God was aiding Yoon Pa-ran. Considering the items it had him retrieve and the new skills Yoon Pa-ran had acquired, it seemed to want to help humans. Even if its doctrine appeared preposterous.
But Dan Joo-hyuk still couldn’t release his suspicions about the Sacred God due to a series of events.
The recent Great Gate incident was a case in point. Dan Joo-hyuk had nearly died when struck directly by the “God’s Wrath” while traveling through a portal created by the Sacred God. If Yoon Pa-ran, the true “Disciple of the Sacred God,” had faced that trial, he would certainly have died.
To begin with, isn’t the term “trial” a structure imposed by gods on mortals? For example, the word “trial” explicitly appeared in his own quests. This naturally aroused his wariness about whether such dangerous tasks would continue to be assigned to Yoon Pa-ran.
There was another issue. The fact that the Tsar and Kim Tae-jun’s faction also invoked “God.” Even during the battle with Kim Tae-jun, the man had continuously spouted cult-like remarks about God.
‘You foolish unbelievers deluded by this false world, I was about to bestow grace upon you, and you interfere like this?’
Having clearly recognized the disparity in how both sides viewed this “God,” Dan Joo-hyuk narrowed his eyes. What exactly would a god gain by setting humans against each other?
After consideration, he carefully chose his words to extract information from the Tsar’s open mouth.
“Is this pathetic state all that god’s help amounted to?”
“The… trial… of God… *cough*… is something… difficult for… unbelievers… to understand… kheuk.”
As soon as the term “God’s trial” emerged, Dan Joo-hyuk realized:
This was an opportunity to discover what exactly this “Sacred God” attached to Yoon Pa-ran was.
He could readily infer that quests were appearing for them too. Lee Tae-jung had confessed as much during interrogation.
The question was whether quests also appeared for the Tsar, who wasn’t a hunter. Since Kim Tae-jun, also not a hunter, had used strange powers, it was possible. Perhaps it was something Kim Sang-deok had mentioned when he came here.
Dan Joo-hyuk’s gaze scrutinized various parts of the Tsar’s blackened face. The monster-specific dark energy vibrating all the way here was unpleasant.
Despite being near death, the Tsar glared at Dan Joo-hyuk with strangely gleaming eyes. As if he truly wasn’t afraid of imminent death.
“Ha.”
However, Dan Joo-hyuk soon snorted derisively.
Because he had detected the subtle fear lying deep within the Tsar’s eyes.
“Hmm…”
Dan Joo-hyuk’s gaze slowly moved between the items and statues scattered around him like a stone mound. He had been thoughtfully fidgeting with a small shield item in his hand, deeply contemplating. In his extended perception field, there wasn’t even a sign of anyone approaching.
Were these objects that the man had scattered around meant to amplify the power of the god, or to offset the energy of death?
Judging by the Tsar’s fear, it seemed closer to the latter.
“Huh?”
Then Dan Joo-hyuk suddenly sensed something strange. Because the shield item in his hand emitted a faintly familiar energy.
It was a power resembling Yoon Pa-ran’s skill.
“…”
Though he had handled shield items more than a thousand times before, this was the first time he had felt something like this. The only difference between now and the past was that he carried Yoon Pa-ran’s power within him.
Especially after Yoon Pa-ran had bestowed the radiance upon him, he had deliberately cherished it and not depleted it at all. He had felt quite satisfied with the act of filling himself completely with Yoon Pa-ran’s power.
No matter how he looked at it, this was an energy opposite to what the Tsar had absorbed.
Suddenly, Dan Joo-hyuk recalled a hypothesis that had briefly crossed his mind in the past.
He had consistently felt that the trials and quests given by this status window were constantly conflicting. Sometimes they seemed intent on killing all humans, yet other times they appeared to want to save them—that contradictory attitude.
As if there were exactly two “Gods.”
“…”
That thought grew stronger since coming here.
…Is the god that exists under this gate phenomenon really just one?
He hadn’t been able to deliberately think about this before. Among all items, only the “Sacred God” used the term “God.”
Moreover, the presence of the Sacred God, embodied through safe zones, was that exceptional.
However, Dan Joo-hyuk increasingly gained a certain conviction. Even though they always appeared together, should these “Gods” really be viewed as one?
With such contrasting energies.
“The… Sacred God… won’t… abandon… me…”
When Dan Joo-hyuk stood quietly without speaking, the Tsar mumbled again in a quivering voice. The thick deathly energy contained in that voice was indeed different from what was in Dan Joo-hyuk’s grasp.
It was nothing like the miracle brought about by Yoon Pa-ran’s safe zone.
“It seems like that god has already abandoned you.”
“That can’t… be… *cough*!”
But even while calmly provoking the Tsar, Dan Joo-hyuk couldn’t completely shake off his doubts. It was precisely the Tsar’s steadfast belief that confused him.
They must surely know this energy is strange, so why do they keep believing in the “Sacred God”?
The Tsar’s voice contained both fear and undeniable hope. It was a blind emotion that could easily be interpreted as obstinacy. Even just looking at this collection of Sacred God items he had gathered, his obsession was obvious.
A faith that strongly believed in the “Sacred God.”
Despite it clearly being contrary to the power they pursued, why?
“Ah.”
At that moment, Dan Joo-hyuk experienced a violent realization, as if struck by lightning. The energy spreading from his palm felt as if he were holding Yoon Pa-ran’s hand.
It wasn’t surprising that the hypothesis that there might be two gods approached certainty.
The truly bewildering part was different.
The fact that they firmly believed the “Sacred God” was truly the “God” bestowing power upon them.
“The, Sacred God… protects…”
“Ha.”
He had the intuition that things were tangled more ridiculously than he had expected.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Brother! Come quickly!”
It was the second day since Dan Joo-hyuk had departed for Russia. With some free time due to the lack of incidents, Yoon Pa-ran promptly took Min-woong and Ju-hee out.
He intended to keep his promise about going to the botanical garden. The director had also tipped him off that today was exactly the day Min-woong had insisted on going on that trip.
If he let them play until they were tired out, they probably wouldn’t make a fuss about the same issue for a while.
“Min-woong, I told you not to run around here, right?”
“Yeah. I know.”
Thus, at a time when the sun was high, Yoon Pa-ran arrived at the botanical garden with his two siblings.
Fortunately, being a weekday, the interior of the botanical garden was quiet. Thanks to that, the security team promised to stay a bit further away to give the family some private time. The presence of Heo Sang-yeon, who had joined in place of Dan Joo-hyuk, also seemed to be a source of their confidence.
“Yoon Min-woong! Listen to your brother.”
“I know, noona.”
Ju-hee, who had been sticking close to Yoon Pa-ran’s side, spoke with a deliberately stern voice to control(?) Min-woong. Immediately deflated, Min-woong quickly ran over and grabbed Yoon Pa-ran’s other hand.
“It’s okay, Ju-hee. Don’t be too tense.”
“I’m not tense.”
After gently patting her head while speaking, Ju-hee turned her head away primly. It pained him to see that Ju-hee seemed to be more conscious of others’ gazes since the security team started following them.
Fortunately, no shadows fell on her face, suggesting she didn’t judge it as something bad. It seemed she had simply matured earlier than Yoon Pa-ran had hoped, realizing that her brother had become someone significant.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay…”
Still, Ju-hee knew to hold his hand tightly when she felt anxious.
Yoon Pa-ran thought that was reassuring for now.
“…”
Adjusting the mask covering his face, Yoon Pa-ran slowly led the children forward. As they entered the botanical garden, the air felt noticeably different from outside.
“Wow… Brother, it’s warm in here!”
“That’s because it’s a greenhouse, dummy.”
“Ju-hee. You shouldn’t call your younger brother dummy.”
“Okay.”
“That’s right! Min-woong is not a dummy!”
Soothing and placating the two squabbling children, Yoon Pa-ran stepped inside. Unfamiliar plants rose lush and green, reaching the ceiling. That refreshing space provided a subtle sense of security.
The siblings continuously expressed their amazement, pointing at the plants. Throughout this, they admirably kept one hand firmly holding onto Yoon Pa-ran.
It was while they were thoroughly exploring the botanical garden, divided into sections by theme.
“Oh? It’s Sehee’s mom!”
“What…?”
Min-woong suddenly pointed ahead and exclaimed loudly.
Sehee’s parents? Weren’t they supposed to go to that strange restaurant today?
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
