By definition, a rainforest is a forest where a great deal of rain falls.

The Black Forest that Arjio had made his home was the same. Fickle rain fell almost every day, poisonous pitch-black fog often settled over it, and the ground was muddy, hiding its friend, the swamp.

“I like rainforests.”

Inside that forest, so dense that even sunlight could not enter, all manner of treasures of gold and silver overflowed. Poison was medicine, and an excellent poison could also become an excellent elixir. That splendor blooming atop every sort of corpse pile...

“So I will see you in fifteen days.”

“Yes, Your Divinity.”

“There are always treasures in rainforests.”

Ecstatic treasures that turned everything into beasts.

“Oh!”

A young voice rang through the garden of the cult headquarters.

“Jio hyung!”

“Student Cha Yisol.”

Cha Yisol had seen a welcome face for the first time in a while.

“I stopped by because the garden was beautiful, but I never expected to see such a precious face here.”

Platinum-haired Jio approached Cha Yisol with his characteristic refined smile. Cha Yisol, still holding his partner’s hand, ran over to Jio as well and greeted him with a bright face.

“It’s been forever!”

“Yes, it has been a long time.”

“I’ve been doing well!”

“Oh dear... You stole my question.”

“Have you been well, hyung?”

“I, too, have been spending peaceful days.”

“That’s a relief.”

With a child’s pure curiosity and goodwill, Cha Yisol asked.

“Does it not hurt anymore?”

“...”

Giovanni wore a gentle smile as if it had been painted onto his face.

“It did not hurt then, either.”

“There was a lot of blood.”

“It was blood that ought to have been shed.”

“Was it something you did wrong, hyung?”

“I took responsibility for a connection.”

“What’s that?”

“This sort of conversation...”

He looked at Cha Yisol’s partner and continued.

“Should probably come after you introduce Student Cha Yisol’s partner first.”

“Oh, right!”

When Cha Yisol jolted in surprise and looked at his partner, prospective priest Iru-da looked back at him with a subtly crumpled expression. Their conversation topic had simply been that strange.

“Don’t tell me you only just remembered me now?”

“I was holding your hand, so I was thinking of you the whole time, Luda!”

“If you hadn’t said that just a little more prettily, you would have been in serious trouble.”

“I was just so happy to see hyung that I forgot to introduce you, Luda...”

“...”

With the air of someone who had a lot to say but was choosing to hold back, Iru-da let out a small sigh.

“... It is nice to meet you. I am prospective priest Iru-da.”

“It is nice to meet you, Sister. My name is Seo Jio, one who, lacking though I am, has received the light of the Sun.”

“The light of the Sun...”

Iru-da looked up at Jio.

“Are you perhaps a priest...?”

There was the pure-white uniform he wore under his pitch-black cloak, and more than anything, the atmosphere around him simply left her no choice but to think that.

The man who had introduced himself as “Seo Jio” had platinum-blond hair like clean marble under blazing sunlight, and blue eyes that seemed to shimmer with light. He was the most ideal image one could imagine when thinking of a priest of the Sun.

‘His energy doesn’t feel like an ordinary person’s, either.’

He overflowed with warm energy enough that it could certainly be described as “having received the light of the Sun.” Iru-da could feel from him the immensity unique to a god, something that would be difficult unless he was a priest greatly loved by a god.

And somehow, a little more...

“Ah, dear me. I am not a priest.”

“... You are not a priest?”

“I am merely a believer who serves the Sun.”

“That...”

She wanted to argue somehow, but he was an unfamiliar adult and someone Cha Yisol liked, so it was difficult to speak recklessly. There were not many adults who liked children who tried to pick apart everything a person they had just met said.

‘I’ll have to talk to Cha Yisol a little more later.’

As if he had noticed how Iru-da felt, the person called Seo Jio smiled.

“It seems you have questions. Are you certain you do not need to ask more?”

“... It does not seem polite to an adult I have only just met.”

“Sister Iru-da, you are prudent and well-mannered.”

In that voice, Iru-da felt a steady goodwill that seemed as though it would last forever.

“Do you like sweet things?”

“... Pardon?”

When Iru-da asked back at the abrupt remark, Cha Yisol shot his hand up.

“Me! Me, me! I like sweet things! Snacks! Snacks from you, hyung!”

“This priest’s heart is very pleased to see such strong longing for snacks.”

Seo Jio’s face as he said that looked extremely satisfied.

‘Ah, they’re alike.’

The man, who until just now had been wearing the smile of an ideal priest, let out a laugh far more cheerful than she had imagined and squished Cha Yisol’s cheeks. From that motion, which held no strength at all, Iru-da could feel the depth of his affection.

“It seems you have lost a little weight?”

“Huh? I gained weight!”

“I would like it if you gained exactly fifteen kilograms more than this.”

Iru-da had no choice but to cut in.

“If he gains that much, he’ll be a pig. He’ll roll around.”

“Become a pig, ta-da...”

“No.”

Iru-da was horrified as she imagined Cha Yisol the pig, unable to walk and rolling around. She did not know why, but this person called Seo Jio really seemed capable of turning even a perfectly normal child into a pig. She could feel that will from him.

After hesitating, Iru-da continued.

“... I do not really like sweet things.”

“Then do you not enjoy snacks themselves?”

“No, that is not it...”

“Do you have a particular snack you prefer, Sister Iru-da?”

“... Dried medicinal herbs.”

“Ah.”

Even though it must have sounded bizarre, Seo Jio nodded readily.

“It seems you like bitter things.”

“I just... like chewing on things that are good for the body. Then my mouth does not feel bored, either.”

“How admirable, that you already know how to think of your own health.”

“...”

“Children who understand the value of medicinal herbs are rare.”

At the heartfelt goodwill pouring out as naturally as breathing, strength entered the hand holding Cha Yisol’s.

“Luda, your face is red.”

“Be quiet, Cha Yisol.”

It was because this was the first time she had received an adult’s praise so plainly.

‘Why is he pampering me this much?’

It was an age when the perception that children would grow on their own if simply left alone was widespread.

In a world where children were viewed not as “delicate beings to be guarded and protected” but as “beings that died easily and therefore required management,” adults like Jio, who treated young children so gently, were extremely rare.

‘No wonder he seemed close to Cha Yisol...’

Sunshine clearly gathered with sunshine. Her face felt hot.

At least Cha Yisol was a friend and partner who had to go with her, but Seo Jio was, no matter who looked at him, a dependable adult. Iru-da, who could not remember ever being cherished by such a person for no reason at all, stammered.

“I-It is just because they are helpful that I eat them.”

“And you are even this humble.”

“That is not...”

“I am relieved that a child like Sister Iru-da is Student Cha Yisol’s friend.”

Seo Jio smiled, full of pride in her.

“I am certain Sister Iru-da will become a wonderful partner for him.”

“...”

“The weather is so fine, so I shall give you a small gift.”

Saying that, Seo Jio gave Cha Yisol and Iru-da each a small paper bag as a gift.

“I hope it is a gift you wanted. You may use it however you like.”

His eyes curved gently, and soon he straightened again to say farewell.

“I stopped by briefly today after being called by the Sun Cult. I was on my way back after a light greeting, and meeting you has made it an even better day.”

“It was nice for me too! Hyung, will you come again?”

“If possible, I will show my face once more before long. I will pass Student Cha Yisol’s regards to his guardians, and Sister Iru-da.”

Seo Jio looked at Iru-da and asked kindly.

“May I pass on your regards as well?”

“... Ah, me? To whom?”

“To Student Cha Yisol’s guardians.”

“Why would you do that?”

“They will surely be very happy to know that he has made such a good friend.”

“... Uh...”

Iru-da, who had been opening and closing her mouth, lowered her head as her face turned bright red.

“... Just do as you wish.”

“Thank you for your permission, Sister.”

Seo Jio gave a small bow, smiled once more, and then left the garden. Perhaps because he was a high-ranking Hunter, his gait was extremely neat, his presence was almost nonexistent, and for some reason, he smelled good.

“...”

“Jio hyung is a good person, right?”

“... Huh? Oh, he is.”

She had never seen an adult like that before.

“Is he always that kind?”

“Mm, the younger you are, the more he dotes on you.”

“A living national treasure like that in this day and age...”

“I’ve been curious this whole time, but what’s a living national treasure?”

“Living things that will all die out soon unless the entire universe helps them.”

“... You said I was a living national treasure too.”

“I’ll protect you.”

It was a greatly exaggerated explanation, but Iru-da thought her words were not too far off. Unless the whole world joined forces and cooperated, things called living national treasures were not easy to preserve.

‘They say birds of a feather flock together, and it really is true.’

She had not known there would be one more person like Cha Yisol in the world.

‘And an adult that old, at that...’

An adult who showed goodwill to everyone, but gave even more affection to the young. She had thought such things existed only in nice-sounding novels, but today she had felt, “Wow, that is actually possible.”

Iru-da toyed with the paper bag in her hand.

“...”

Natural goodwill given though she had proven no value at all.

‘... This smells good too.’

She was curious why he had given such a gift, and whether he always carried such gifts around, but for some reason, a corner of her chest felt ticklish, so Iru-da could not bring herself to open the bag and hesitated.

Then a puzzled sound came from Cha Yisol.

“Huh? What is this, Luda?”

“What? What is it?”

“Is this rubber?”

“... Ah, it’s jelly. Not rubber.”

“Then I can eat it, right?”

“Of course you can eat it.”

Jelly was supposed to be a fairly expensive food, so was he really giving it as a gift so casually?

‘It also seems like he made it himself?’

The bag had no brand name written on it, and its opening was tied with a ribbon. At the gift that gave off a strong handmade impression, Iru-da hesitated several more times before opening her own bag.

Perhaps because the ribbon was good quality, it came undone smoothly, revealing what was inside.

“...”

Iru-da tilted her head.

“... What is this?”

“There are things even you don’t know?”

“If I don’t learn them, I don’t know either.”

“Hmm...”

Cha Yisol also tilted his head.

“Is it a flower?”

“It is a dried flower.”

“Can you eat it?”

“... Did he really give me a medicinal herb?”

“Ugh, is this medicine?”

“I-I do not know either.”

They were small golden flowers, gathered in soft clusters like sheep’s wool.

“...”

However, Iru-da felt it.

‘... The Sun...’

The Sun Goddess was keeping her gaze upon them.

‘No, why?’

What is this? What even is this?

Just what did he give me that the goddess would covet it?

“Hunter.”

Ju-hyeon, who had been waiting at the cult entrance, asked with his characteristic smile.

“Was it an enjoyable visit?”

“Yes, the Sun Cult’s garden was beautiful.”

“I heard the entire place where the Sun Cult resides is like a greenhouse.”

“The entire temple branch was full of the Sun’s warmth.”

“It must have been a wonderful sight.”

“And...”

Following Ju-hyeon’s guidance, Jio continued.

“I saw many welcome faces.”

“You said you met Priest Kang Seodam.”

“I also saw Brother Cha Yisol.”

Giovanni spoke with a smile that carried warmth.

“He had made a good friend.”

“A good friend...”

As Ju-hyeon murmured his words and tried to open the rear seat door, Jio asked.

“May I sit in the passenger seat?”

“If you wish, you may do so as much as you like.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Jio and Ju-hyeon sat side by side in the front seats of the car.

“She was a Sister named Iru-da, and she was very mature.”

“It seems you looked on her very fondly.”

“She was admirable, yet also pitiful. She was very clever.”

“She must be a child who will become someone great.”

If none other than Jio, the eye of the Root, said such a thing, then that was likely so.

“Was there nothing unusual?”

“In fifteen days.”

Jio said.

“I will go to a rainforest.”

“It seems a raid proposal came in.”

“I like it.”

“I am glad to hear that.”

Ju-hyeon asked.

“Do you like rainforests?”

“...”

At some point, Jio’s hair, as he looked out the window, had been dyed red.

“... I love them.”

That was Arjio’s home, his hometown, and...

A vast grave rotting away.