It was not as though Jio had strayed off course solely to satisfy his own selfish desires.

"..."

No, there was some of that too.

'Even for me, insisting I'm innocent after making this mess pricks at my conscience.'

Jio deliberately ignored the surrounding sight of monster remains spread everywhere.

Perhaps because he had not yet fully assimilated with "Arjio," unlike Giovanni, there were times when his sense of self as Arjio felt separate from him.

Jio wore an ambiguous expression as he wiped the blood from his face.

"... Mm, yes..."

"..."

"Should I say it has been a while?"

Giovanni smiled awkwardly as he looked at the mermaid standing before him.

"I did not expect you to come find me like this."

"I did not expect you to come all the way to this outer district either."

"I followed my interest, and this is where I ended up."

"Is that truly all?"

"There are people left here, so how could I withdraw alone?"

Jio tilted his head.

"You planned this, didn't you?"

It was hard to see it as a coincidence that civilians who should have been evacuated from this outer district long ago, as well as frail rear-line Hunters, had been isolated here.

The dazzling monsters that had stolen Arjio's sight must have been the mermaids' doing as well.

"Why did you call me here?"

"I understand you refused my sister's invitation last time."

"How could I accept when you were openly asking me to let myself be kidnapped?"

"It is true that you do not make sacrifices without a reason."

Iser smiled softly.

At a glance it seemed gentle, but it was a smile without emotion.

"So I made a reason for you."

Iser pointed at the humans around them.

"That one is injured."

His words continued at length.

"Both legs are broken, so it cannot move.

That one is quite young, even for a human.

Could it be not even twelve yet?

That one is in a panic.

Disgustingly enough, it could not understand a word I said..."

"What is your point?"

"I do not think you fail to understand."

His eyes curved.

"Come to us."

"That is an extremely ambiguous expression."

"You may accept the kidnapping we proposed before, or you may join us completely."

"Both seem like difficult proposals."

Jio stroked his chin.

Perhaps he looked as though he was going to refuse, because one of the isolated people shouted.

"H-Hunter...!!"

"Oh."

"Please save me, I don't want to die...!

Help me!!"

"I see."

As always, Giovanni smiled gently.

"I understand how you feel."

Whether they gained courage from those words, or whether they had been waiting for them, the people who had been keeping their mouths tightly shut in fear began pleading one by one, as though clinging to him.

"Please save me..."

The voices gradually grew louder.

"Please, Hunter...!"

"I don't want to die!!"

"It hurts so much, please save me!!"

"Why were you so late!!"

"You should have come sooner!

Do you know how many people died!!"

"Please save us!

You can do it...!!"

THUD!!!

The mermaid slammed his staff down.

"..."

"..."

The commotion fell as silent as death, and Iser asked the priest who was still smiling.

"They desire your salvation."

"It does seem that way."

"Do these humans who force sacrifice upon you not look as repulsive as insects?"

"They only look very pitiful.

They are frightened.

That is only natural."

"You side with humans to the very end."

The smile vanished from Iser's face.

"If you will not side with the deep sea, then bring that body to us at least."

"Is that a threat?"

"You understood correctly."

The mermaid's eyes shone with a strange light, like rippling water-scales.

"Before I can no longer endure my hatred for humans."

He held out his hand.

"... You should come this way."

"And if I don't?"

"These humans will die faster than I die by your hand."

"That may be true."

Jio could use a considerable number of methods, but there was no way Iser did not know that.

He must have come with enough preparations, so even at worst, he would probably be able to kill at least one person.

And Giovanni was a person who wished not to allow even one meaningless death.

'Then what shall I try now?'

For a moment, he thought with the wicked nature of an evil god.

"Mm... There is also a method where I ignore these poor people and fight."

"No, you will not do that.

I know it."

"My goodness, how could this be?

I did not know I was such a predictable human."

"It seems you are the only one who does not know."

"... Yes."

For the first time, Giovanni's smile twisted.

"I suppose so."

"..."

Iser did not answer.

Jio looked around.

The eyes of the frightened people were full of terror and resentment.

A choking venom lingered in the eyes of ordinary people who could not be called evil.

He knew those eyes.

"It will only be temporary."

Because they were by no means evil people, once they took back what was theirs and regained their composure, they would soon regret it.

Giovanni could not bear it because that was so sorrowful and pitiful.

Why did these people walk the path of pain by their own choice?

"All right, I will go to the deep sea.

Then what will happen to me?"

"... You will be confined so Black Cloak can no longer protect the humans of this planet."

"Is that the idea?"

Giovanni grinned.

"I understand.

How interesting."

This was the mermaids' final childish indulgence, and their gift.

No matter how their responsibility came to an end, they were making sure that "Black Cloak" could take root in the world and continue another story.

If they had prepared such a cute farewell, there was no need to go out of his way to take losses.

'The people are frightened too.'

Jio decided to play along with the mermaids' surprise party.

It was the most comfortable path, one where no more blood needed to be shed, and where he had nothing to lose in any sense.

"It has been quite a while since I was threatened."

How embarrassing.

'How should I play along so everyone can be satisfied?'

Jio pondered for a moment, and soon reached a conclusion.

Since things had turned out this way, it seemed better to show "Black Cloak" to the world more clearly.

"... Even if I am trapped in your hands, that ghost story will not withdraw from Earth.

Even if you kill me, I imagine it will be the same."

"That is something we will only know once we try.

I do not know whether that being's roots are on Earth, but should we not at least stop it from stretching out its branches?"

This was definitely a childish indulgence.

Apparently, the mermaids were deeply displeased that their Teacher's roots were on Earth.

The desire to carry Giovanni away like this and lock him in their embrace was plain to see.

Jio nodded.

"Do you promise to release these people safely?"

"I swear it on my family's honor and... on the right to the golden branch I now hold."

"I will believe those words."

Then he raised both hands, expressing his intent to surrender.

"Take me with you."

Now it was time to bring the story of daily life to a close, and for mermaids and humans to settle the matter.

Meanwhile, as the sea grew unsettled, Seoul too sank into a bleak unease.

After hearing the news inside the Collector headquarters, Ju-hyeon was utterly dumbfounded.

"... Missing?"

"Strictly speaking, I believe it is a kidnapping."

"I think you need to be even more strict about it.

Jio is just playing along with them."

"As expected, your insight is outstanding, Ju-hyeon!"

Bi Sabeol, who was in the reception room with Ju-hyeon, gave his characteristic smile.

"Wouldn't you say he means to indulge the mermaids' tantrum?"

"Of all times, even now..."

"Rather, it is precisely because it is now."

"Is it something like Jio's mercy bestowed at the very end?"

"Or perhaps it may be groundwork to make the story of 'Black Cloak' even more certain?"

"... Would the mermaid side cooperate with that?"

After asking that, Ju-hyeon clutched his head.

"No, this whole mess may have been for that in the first place.

Ah, my head..."

"You really do understand well."

Bi Sabeol clicked his tongue.

"I don't know why you sometimes do brainless things when you have a head on your shoulders."

"Excuse me, I'm listening.

The person concerned is listening to you directly."

"Oh dear, did you hear that?

How embarrassing that my muttering carried all the way over there."

"If even my ears as an Unawakened can hear it, doesn't that mean you said it for me to hear?"

"Seeing you talk back so neatly each time, it seems you really do have a brain, but as a person, really..."

Ju-hyeon asked at the tone that even contained pity.

"Why do you keep picking fights only with me??"

"I have a chronic illness where I pick fights when I see foolish humans."

"Go to a hospital."

"I will keep that in mind."

For the safety of the human Jio cherished, Bi Sabeol was especially protecting Ju-hyeon in the inner quarters of his own guild.

Ju-hyeon knew that intention too, so despite all the provocation, he did not bother rushing out of this room.

But just because his body was safe did not mean his heart was at ease.

"They said that when Jio went to the previous 'country of the deep sea' to save Cha Yisol, he came back gravely injured.

I am... very worried that it will happen again this time."

"That, too, is Jio's intention.

Surely you do not intend to refuse to respect that.

It seems you cannot help feeling that worry, but changing that foolish heart of yours would make life in this world a little easier."

"I would really appreciate it if you chose one, either giving advice or cursing at me.

At this point, I am slowly starting to get attached to you."

"Oh, how could this be?

Are you saying you have been treating me that coldly, Ju-hyeon?

I am so hurt I feel as though I might cry..."

"I feel like I am the one about to cry, Guild Master."

As a frail Unawakened, he could not even slip away anywhere, and it made him feel so wronged he could die.

"... The people of Collector do not seem to worry much about Jio's safety."

"That is a discomfort that occurs because you treat 'Jio's Portrait' as a person."

With an unusually indifferent face, Bi Sabeol continued.

"Think of ordinary works of art.

An artist says he will show performance art and tears a canvas with a knife.

At such a time, what would you think?"

"I don't know much about art... so I would probably just accept that it is what it is."

"Yes, that is the perspective with which we treat works.

Moreover, this is a path the work itself chose, so how could a mere viewer deny that choice and stand in its way?"

"..."

"Of course, Ju-hyeon, you must want to say this."

His face was still sullen.

"How can we treat a being that knows how to eat, knows how to speak, and knows how to sleep or laugh as such a 'work'?

You must find it so repulsive you cannot stand it."

"... It is a little repulsive."

"This guild was made by a gathering of those repulsive bastards."

Bi Sabeol had made such a guild.

Because he did not want to be left alone, he founded Collector and displayed his family in this enormous showcase.

Then he diligently managed them so they would not run away or change.

"Your perspective is not strange, Ju-hyeon.

If anything, neither I nor the other guild members are unaware that Collector falls on the strange side.

But we gathered for the sake of that 'repulsive act.'"

"Only for you, Guild Master?"

"I thought this was a win-win transaction for both sides.

Of course, Ju-hyeon, you may think differently.

I would like to respect that, but personally, I do not have that strong a stomach..."

"I am asking because I suddenly got curious, but how many times a day are you told you have a bad personality?"

"About twelve times.

Our guild members are loyal retainers, so they only say correct things.

Aren't they adorable?"

"That is an illness."

"I suppose so.

I know that too."

Bi Sabeol smiled.

"Did I not say earlier that it was a chronic illness?"

"It seems you had another illness besides your 'chronic illness where you pick fights when you see foolish humans.'"

"In the end, it is all along similar lines.

How I treat Jio is not greatly different either."

To him, a work simply looked like a work, and a hero looked like a hero.

"I find Mr. Giovanni's actions truly strong and brilliant."

They simply saw different things.

"When I heard the rescued survivors' stories, they said he sacrificed himself for other humans.

Even after hearing cruel words and being betrayed by humans, in the end, he only held pity and stepped forward for the greater good.

He is a true 'hero.'"

That was the path Jio had personally chosen.

He had decided for himself that he would save all those many people.

And as a result, many humans were freed from suffering, and Jio himself was satisfied with it.

"I think that decision is very noble.

As long as there truly are so many who were saved, no one should diminish its value."

"... It is quite surprising to hear you say that."

Ju-hyeon asked.

"It seems you do not hate... such a 'hero.'"

"It is the story of a dead person, so there is no reason to loathe it."

"Do you hate me because I am alive?"

"A story completed by death and a human still alive are clearly different."

Bi Sabeol cherished his guild members by treating them as individual collectibles, but he had never once forgotten that they were human.

So it was true that a dead "hero" and a living "hero" felt completely different.

Soon, he smiled in a circle.

"Is what I see wrong?

The actions Mr. Giovanni showed are exceedingly noble.

What person could do such a thing?

Not the sage of the century, not countless saints, no one could give himself away to that extent and show affection and mercy to humans..."

"... That, too, is certainly one part Jio has, but it is only a single fragment.

No matter what his essence and origin may be, that person is one human being who can cry and laugh, and who can feel pain.

I do not think what I see is wrong."

"Correct.

That too is one of the aspects 'Jio's Portrait' possesses."

"So you mean to say that none of what we see is wrong."

"You saw it exactly, Ju-hyeon."

They were this different.

"It really seems it will be difficult for us to become close."

"... I agree."

The worlds they saw were different.

And Yu Seongun said with bloodshot eyes.

"Rescue team."

"N-No.

Please, wait a moment..."

"When are you going to make the rescue team?"

"W-Well, the Hunters still haven't finished getting ready..."

"Then didn't I tell you to let me through, at least?"

"You know individual action is not allowed in this situation, Hunter Yu Seongun..."

"How can you be this sluggish when you do not know what kind of danger Hunter Seo Jio might be in?"

"... Why are you doing this to me..."

The Association employee who had been dispatched whimpered from sheer misery.

'Hunters are scary.'

He wanted to go home.