Chapter 34

“Oh.”

Yu Seong-un’s face lit up with recognition upon seeing the Bungeoppang youth.

“Aren’t you the one who was doing business in front of The Collectors’ building before?”

“Ah… that’s right.”

“I haven’t seen you lately, you must have moved spots.”

“I’ll get caught by the patrols if I stay in the same place.”

Street food like Bungeoppang wasn’t usually subject to harsh crackdowns.

But he couldn’t stay in the city continuously without a citizen ID.

Besides, if a civil complaint was filed, he would be advised to clear out immediately, so Cha Eun-hyeok tended to move his spot frequently.

It was wiser for his future business to be careful of himself when they were willing to let things slide.

“Though I haven’t received any complaints recently.”

“It’s a shame, you’d get more word-of-mouth if you stayed in one place.”

“Can’t be helped, it’s not an officially permitted store.”

“True, they don’t easily give permits for Bungeoppang carts.”

“Still, I’ve gotten permission to stay for a few days at a time.”

In a typical case, if one stayed for more than ten days without a city citizen ID, they would be fined.

But in a world where people lived, how thoroughly could things be enforced?

If you applied under various pretexts, you could stay in the city for about a week even if you weren't staying at a lodging facility.

“…And, um, more than that….”

Cha Eun-hyeok’s gaze fell upon The Black Cape, next to Yu Seong-un.

“…….”

“…Hm?”

“…No, it’s just….”

That’s not human.

‘…What is this, does this person not know The Black Cape’s true identity either?’

The figure of a man, his face hidden by a pitch-black hood, staring intently at the Bungeoppang.

It was definitely the same Black Cape he had seen at dawn, but the intimidating aura was somewhat less than before and the customer’s reaction was so nonchalant.

‘Was he really just a person…? I heard that some Hunters have trouble containing their energy, maybe he was just one of those types….’

As Cha Eun-hyeok was thinking that, a bird the color of honey came into his view from deep within the hood.

“…….”

“Oh, is there a problem?”

“…Just out of curiosity….”

Cha Eun-hyeok, who was about to brush it off vaguely not wanting to get into trouble, hesitated for a moment before asking.

“…Is the person next to you a Tamer?”

Logically speaking, the probability of him being a Tamer was the highest.

“Since he has a monster with him.”

“…He is a Tamer. He has a permit to have it out, so don’t worry.”

“Ah, I see.”

In any case, hearing that he had a permit put him at ease.

‘Now, even if someone dies, it won’t be because I was a bystander.’

The Black Cape’s identity was still unclear, but no, didn’t that white-haired Hunter say with his own mouth that he had a permit?

‘He also said he was a Tamer.’

Then he didn’t want to dig any deeper.

With a family to take responsibility for, it was only natural that he didn’t want to attract the attention of ‘something’ that seemed like his life would be in danger with the slightest involvement.

But it seemed The Black Cape had other ideas.

“Thank you for your help at dawn.”

“…….”

“Huh? At dawn?”

Yu Seong-un turned to me in surprise.

“You went out at dawn?”

At the startled reaction, Cha Eun-hyeok felt his stomach churn again.

It seemed the white-haired customer hadn’t expected The Black Cape to be wandering the streets alone at dawn.

‘In other words, he’s a being that shouldn’t be allowed to act on his own….’

If a 1st-class citizen who clearly belonged to a respectable guild was being this cautious, just how dangerous of a being was he?

“Yes, Honey disappeared, so I went out to find him.”

“I told you to tell me if you want to go out.”

“I found him quickly.”

“That’s not the problem….”

The white-haired customer, who was about to say something, soon calmed down.

“…Right, it’s not like I can do anything about a natural disaster.”

“I am not a natural disaster.”

“A typhoon probably thinks so too.”

Yu Seong-un felt warmed.

How could he lack so much self-awareness?

“…….”

Yu Seong-un, after taking a deep breath, asked the Bungeoppang youth.

“Did anything happen at dawn?”

“…He bought some Bungeoppang.”

“Anything else other than that…?”

“…….”

After hesitating, Cha Eun-hyeok answered.

“That bird….”

“Ah, yes.”

“It bit my head twice and left.”

“…….”

Yu Seong-un was at a loss for words.

“…Pardon?”

“Ah, it didn’t really bite, more like how cats play-bite….”

“Oh.”

Yu Seong-un, speechless, turned to look at me.

“What do you think?”

“…I am sorry.”

“Say it like you mean it.”

“I am sincerely sorry.”

Though my facial muscles had long since died, so it didn't look like it, I was also quite surprised by the Bungeoppang youth's words.

This dizziness was like my pet parrot had just screamed ‘You fucking bastard’ in someone’s face.

“Were you not hurt?”

“Ah, yes. It bit me gently, so I wasn’t hurt.”

“Nevertheless, I am sorry. My son….”

Was it a side effect of sleeping for 31 years?

The words just came out in front of a stranger.

I equipped my social skills and corrected my words again.

“Our family’s companion bird has caused a nuisance.”

In my mind, it was something that came out because I always joked around in the cabin, saying ‘Oh, my son’ and ‘Kurukkurukkkukkuruk,’ but to Yu Seong-un and Cha Eun-hyeok, it sounded anything but ordinary.

‘Son…? I heard he drew it, but does he see the beings he creates as his own children? I’ll need to be careful about this.’

‘…He just said son. They look like a completely different species, but if he casually called it his son, does that mean he’s not really human, just as he appears….’

I didn't know their inner thoughts, but I sensed their expressions had turned peculiar, but I ignored it.

‘What’s wrong with me calling Honey my son.’

Even 31 years ago, there were plenty of humans who would call their pet dogs and cats ‘my baby’ or ‘my little girl’ and kiss them all over.

I could flatter myself that I was on the more moderate side.

“…….”

“Would it be alright if I take a look at your forehead for a moment?”

“I wasn’t hurt.”

“I am a doctor, so I know how to check wounds. I’m doing this out of an apology, so I would be grateful if you could just let me take a look.”

Yu Seong-un was blindsided once again.

“A doctor?”

“Yes.”

“Uh… I see.”

In what universe do you look like a doctor?

‘…Even if he has human memories, I didn’t think he’d be a doctor. With such a heavy atmosphere, how many patients would mistake a doctor like him for a grim reaper….’

But surprisingly, and very shockingly, I was indeed a doctor.

“Excuse me.”

And a priest.

“It will be a little warm.”

“Pardon? Oh, uh….”

“I have purified it, just in case.”

“Purified?”

“Your scalp was a little scratched… it would be a big problem if you were to get sick.”

Watching the bewildered youth and the portrait mimicking the youth's appearance, Yu Seong-un simply resigned himself.

‘Will the day ever come when I know all of Jio’s identities?’

He was like an onion.

“…Um, 10 Bungeoppang, please.”

“Thank you.”

“No, and about what the companion bird did, I’m really fine….”

“Ah.”

With an ‘oh, right’ expression on my face, I rummaged inside my cape.

“This is compensation.”

“…….”

“…A gift?”

“The purpose of you giving it is not the issue.”

Why would he give a jewel when there wasn't even any blood.

“This is too much for me. I was already troubled because the jewel you gave me yesterday was too much for me.”

“But it is a fair price.”

“That’s….”

As Cha Eun-hyeok tried to retort, Yu Seong-un, from behind me, frantically shook his head.

“…….”

“That’s?”

“…No, I will gratefully accept it.”

Cha Eun-hyeok realized upon seeing Yu Seong-un nod with a relieved face.

‘There will be consequences if I don’t accept this….’

He didn't know what kind of misfortune would befall him, but having seen a face so desperately trying to save someone, he couldn’t ignore it.

Cha Eun-hyeok gratefully accepted Yu Seong-un’s earnest advice.

But he wasn't as scared as before.

“…….”

Cha Eun-hyeok, who had been fidgeting with the sparkling tangerine-colored jewel, lifted his head.

“I heard you were sightseeing.”

“Ah, that’s right. Do you have any places to recommend?”

“There will be an event in the plaza in a few weeks.”

“An event, you say….”

“An initiation ceremony.”

Yu Seong-un nodded as if he knew.

“Ah, is it that time of year already.”

“They usually hold them in the dead of winter.”

“Which temple’s initiation ceremony is it? If it’s an event around here, the Moon? Or the Sun?”

“The Temple of the Sun.”

Cha Eun-hyeok unknowingly glanced back at The Black Cape.

“…I didn’t know you were a believer of that side. Usually, Tamers don’t serve gods….”

He had sorted things out in his own way.

‘He must have been such a high-class Hunter that I mistook him for a monster.’

When The Black Cape swept his forehead and infused his energy, he had felt a warm sensation he had experienced at the Temple of the Sun.

If he was at a level where he could perform a purification ritual on his own, wasn't he a very devout believer?

‘He said he was a Tamer, so he’s probably not a priest.’

An Awakener can have at most one profession.

Since the white-haired customer had clearly said he was a Tamer, he wouldn’t be a priest, which was a little disappointing.

With that much talent, it would have been great if he had manifested as a priest.

A person who could use such warm energy couldn’t be bad. Above all, he had never heard of a mere monster using holy power.

‘I must have gotten scared for nothing because it was the first time I saw such a high-class Hunter. Priests tend to not contain their energy well, and that energy itself is said to be very different from a human’s….’

It was clear that Cha Eun-hyeok himself had been frightened by the divine energy.

Cha Eun-hyeok, who had a constitution sensitive to others’ energies and had no experience seeing ordinary priests or high-class Hunters, judged it so. It was a relief born from ignorance.

“My youngest brother awakened as a priest, so he’s having his initiation ceremony this time.”

“Oh, he has a profession. And a priest at that, that’s amazing.”

“Although if a god doesn’t choose him, I worry about how he’ll make a living.”

“If he awakened as a priest, his basic divine affinity will be exceptional, so an office job at a temple should be possible.”

“That would be nice.”

Perhaps because he thought everything was his own misunderstanding, Cha Eun-hyeok, a little more relaxed, chuckled.

“I heard it’s going to be quite grand this time, so it’ll be fun if you come and watch.”

“We’ll definitely have to stop by. Thanks for letting us know, it’s hard to know the schedule for initiation ceremonies unless you’re an insider….”

“Well, the more people at my brother’s initiation, the better.”

Just as it is easier to see ants clustered together than scattered ants, the more people gather, the easier it is to receive a god’s gaze and the more one is exposed like that, the higher the probability of receiving a god’s grace.

“Enjoy your food.”

“Let’s see each other again at the initiation ceremony.”

“Yes, thank you.”

When they had gotten some distance away, Yu Seong-un asked me.

“Did nothing really happen yesterday at dawn?”

“As you heard, Honey caused some trouble.”

“Any other accidents besides that?”

“I am not sure.”

A crying sound was heard from inside the hood.

“Kururuk.”

“He says he is innocent.”

“Right… I see.”

Though he didn't know if a Source being’s definition of ‘innocence’ was the same as a human’s.

‘Jio is especially sensitive to good and evil and manners, so it’s concerning.’

Honey was a being I created and was my son.

Then my disposition would have had a great influence, but to hear that he flew around on his own while I had my eyes closed made his heart drop.

‘He could have been going around killing people he considered evil.’

Seeing as there had been no commotion so far, he could only hope that he hadn't caused any major trouble.

“And, um, about the jewel….”

“Yes.”

“How about changing it to a different kind of gift?”

No matter how sorry one was, suddenly giving a jewel was an absurd act for a human.

“Normal people don’t really give and receive goods in kind like that.”

“…They do not?”

“I don’t know what you were thinking, but it’s probably a no.”

“…….”

I was shocked.

‘In this macho world that seems to be a manifestation of hell itself, there isn’t even that much toughness?’

In a world where office workers catch monsters, flowers made of cheese bloom from the ground, overground trains fly in the sky, and there’s a stream with a vibrant spring in winter, is it strange to pay with jewels?

“I saw people walking around with accessories all over their bodies like crows, so I thought it would be fine.”

“That’s just individuality. Or it’s for the purpose of adding to their abilities, or a type of armor called an Artifact.”

“I understand what you mean.”

Realizing I had gotten too ahead of myself, I decided to reflect.

‘Maybe I was thinking too much with Giovanni’s senses because of the synchronization.’

After all, in Giovanni’s world, that kind of payment in kind was prevalent.

I, who had been gradually securing my memories as Giovanni lately, thought I needed to keep myself centered.

Perhaps because I had been in the cabin for too long, my modern senses seemed to be dulling.

The way I reacted in certain situations, too….

“…Ah.”

“Why is there a problem? Or did you find a place you want to go?”

“What is a Tamer and what is a Priest?”

“…That… uh… right….”

Yu Seong-un’s face was one of resolve.

“Now that it’s come to this, I have no choice but to call you a Hunter.”

“Am I a Hunter now?”

“Since it’s come to this, I’ll tell you about the Hunter system and classes. Do you know anything?”

“No.”

“I thought so.”

“…….”

I, who had been unconscious and stuck in a painting for 31 years, felt a little sorry.

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