After the meal, Ju-hyeon was given a chance to speak with Sankalut.

"... Something smells delicious..."

"... Do evil gods get hungry too?"

Sankalut had been summoned into a water bird's body. The living water, which should have had neither color nor vocal cords, had turned an entrancing red. Fortunately, Ju-hyeon remained unaffected under Jio's protection.

Trapped in the tiny body, Sankalut was miserable.

"I want to go home."

"Uh..."

Faced with this unexpected response, Ju-hyeon turned to Jio.

"Help me."

"Oh, may I join you?"

"I feel like... this conversation isn't going anywhere."

"Then I ought to step in."

For the record, Yu Seongun had fallen asleep in the upstairs guest room, clutching the golden-step sheep's fleece blanket and Basram flower tea Jio had given him. Pleased to have satisfied his friend, Jio seated himself confidently between Ju-hyeon and Sankalut.

The arrangement resembled a small courtroom, and Sankalut looked ready to cry. A water bird had no face to speak of, but Divinities communicated through their souls, not their appearances.

"You definitely called me here to scold me."

"I'm sorry, but I'm here to help the conversation go smoothly."

"You scolded me last time too."

"You deserved it that time."

"But I thought really, really hard about which body to pick so I wouldn't take one belonging to the grown-ups..."

"I believe I told you last time that wasn't the issue."

"You only say things I don't understand."

Sankalut spoke like an immature child. Ju-hyeon turned to Jio again.

"It's somehow... younger than I expected."

"It's attuned to the soul of the water bird lending it a body."

"Oh, the water bird's soul?"

"Its wavelength, to be precise."

That was how Sankalut's possession worked.

"When it takes another being's body, it adapts to imitate that being. That must be how it managed to use Iru-da's young body without difficulty last time."

"There was hidden lore behind that...?"

Thinking about it, an evil Divinity could hardly fit perfectly inside a fragile child's body. Not unless Sankalut had made accommodations from the start. Of course, that would have been for its own convenience rather than Iru-da's sake, but it was fortunate all the same.

"Sankalut."

"Yes."

"We called you here today because Ju-hyeon wanted to speak with you."

"Hello."

It was a remarkably guileless greeting for an evil god, but Ju-hyeon was no longer flustered and calmly returned it.

"Hello. My name is Ju-hyeon."

"Yes, Mr. An Juhyeon."

"Uh..."

"Don't you use the name you threw away?"

"... I didn't expect you to hit a sore spot right from the start."

"It's easier that way."

"..."

Ju-hyeon had abandoned the surname An. It was the only way he could be registered at Gita Orphanage. For a time, it had tormented him with guilt: he had thrown away his memories of his family to survive.

'... An evil god is still an evil god, I suppose.'

To go straight for his weakness.

"..."

And merely for convenience, at that.

"... I'm truly glad you were the one who spoke to me that day, Arjio."

"I cannot thank you enough for recognizing my excellent judgment."

His hair turned red in an instant, and Sankalut's eyes lit up.

"What a wonderful color! What a wonderful color! I like that color!"

Sankalut had once been nothing more than a jewel with an entrancing glow. It had become an evil god through the blood offerings of humans captivated by its bloodlike color. It could hardly help liking Jio's hair.

"What color is your blood? Show me the color. It must be wonderful."

"I really... don't feel like we're getting anywhere."

Jio grinned at Ju-hyeon's predicament.

"It's young."

"... Young? A Divinity?"

"This thing doesn't know how to converse, my friend. It knows human 'language' and can organize its own 'thoughts,' but it knows nothing about how to interact."

"But Sankalut was once the evil god of a religion worshipped by humans across an entire dimension."

"Ju-hyeon, if a pack of adorable puppies came barking and wagging their tails at you, would you know what they meant?"

"I'd have... a rough idea, wouldn't I? I think wagging their tails means they're happy."

"Exactly. It's one-way. Can you understand what a dog is saying when it barks?"

"Ah..."

It truly couldn't communicate with them.

"It doesn't understand humans."

"Strictly speaking, it probably knows 'how to use them.'"

"Like a trainer training monsters?"

"Something like that."

"That makes sense, then."

Ju-hyeon felt deeply unsettled.

"..."

It was simply a little devastating.

'... My family and friends died at the hands of an ignorant child.'

This thing really was no more than a child who knew nothing.

"Sankalut, would you talk to me?"

"Show me blood. Blood. Make a deal with me."

"Already offering a deal. You really are an evil god."

Ju-hyeon let out a hollow breath.

"... Jio, I'm sorry, but do you have anything sharp?"

"Meekly giving this immature little brat what it wants wouldn't be terribly wise."

"I know. The more I give in, the more terrible a price it'll demand."

"As long as you know."

Arjio offered him a pin from his hair. It was gold, lavishly decorated with jewels, and harder and sharper than Ju-hyeon had expected.

"You wore something like this in your head?"

"In my hair, to be precise..."

"... I suppose this was a weapon too."

"It made a decent dagger."

"I see."

With a light prick, Ju-hyeon pierced his fingertip.

"Here you go."

"Blood! It's big blood."

"Are you satisfied?"

"I am satisfied."

The water bird—Sankalut—tilted its head.

"May I taste it?"

"That wasn't part of our deal."

"That's a shame."

Despite saying that, Sankalut made no attempt to force another deal on him, perhaps because Jio was watching. Looking dejected, it continued.

"You may speak with me, Mr. An Juhyeon. What would you have me grant?"

"I didn't come here to make a wish."

"Do you desire paradise?"

"I can create my own paradise."

"Humans cannot create paradise, sadly."

"It doesn't have to be paradise."

"But I did like you."

Sankalut fluttered its wings lightly. Rather than a meaningful gesture, it seemed to be adjusting its posture, as water birds sometimes did to maintain their watery bodies.

"Couldn't you have become my son?"

"If you'd approached me with goodwill, perhaps I could have."

"'Goodwill' isn't effective at moving humans. Humans become their fastest and strongest when they feel anger, hatred, and fear. Don't you want world peace?"

"The peace I want has no anger, hatred, or fear."

"But I did like you."

"Did you?"

"I liked you, An Juhyeon. I want to go home."

The little bird tilted its head this way and that.

"Do you resent me?"

"Yes, I do."

"Do you want to kill me? If I let you, will you become my son?"

"Ah... absolutely not."

"... Everyone hates me..."

Ju-hyeon turned to Jio once more. Jio answered with a smile.

"It's copying my child's pet phrases."

"... Don't your water birds lack vocal cords?"

"Daddy hears everything."

"Parents really are amazing."

Well, he would take his word for it.

"Whew."

Ju-hyeon looked up at the ceiling, then back at Sankalut.

"... There was a major war recently. Two mermaids started it, and it threw the waters off Korea into chaos. There were even reports that it affected other countries a little and nearly became a global problem."

"I know. Strong mermaids. I think they could have been my friends."

"They started that war 'to take responsibility.' I don't think that was the right way to do it. But their remorse was for themselves and Giovanni, not those who died at their hands. Perhaps it was the best they could manage."

"Does that displease you?"

"It did. But there was certainly something to learn from it. Regardless of the sins they'd committed, dragging their story out would ultimately leave them with nothing. I thought my situation wasn't so different."

"Is that why you came to see me?"

"That's why I'm here to see you, Sankalut."

Ju-hyeon didn't believe that a mere human like him could do anything to Sankalut. He was weak, had no powers, and had already failed time and again.

But that was precisely why he could become better.

"I know you were born this way."

Divinities were fate and nature. No one could rebuke fate or nature for their cruelty. They were no different from planets shaped by the universe; even human resentment could not reach them.

"So I intend to drag you down from the realm of fate and nature."

"I can't go home?"

"You can't."

"That's mean...! I want to go home! I want to be loved!"

"I'll show you another home, and another kind of love."

After all, didn't Divinities live on even as an entire dimension died?

"Why not think of it as trying a new game for a little while?"

"Are you going to die with me?"

"If I can."

"That's impossible."

"All sorts of impossible things become reality in this universe."

"I don't want to."

"Cooperate, and I'll send you home."

Ju-hyeon looked at Jio.

"Will you help me?"

"Ah, of course, my friend."

Arjio smiled in satisfaction.

"I respect your judgment."

"..."

Ju-hyeon felt an immense trust and affection.

All this kindness was his merely because the portrait had received a few letters it couldn't even read. Their relationship and their time together could grow distant the moment the portrait withdrew its favor. Even so, Ju-hyeon trusted his humanity, and so he wasn't worried.

This red, wicked Divinity would hand down an unfair verdict whenever he pleased. As long as rebellion was his divine destiny, the unfair support and praise Ju-hyeon received were assured.

In this tremendous favoritism, Ju-hyeon always felt Jio's humanity.

"... If I can make use of it, I should."

"Yes, of course."

Arjio shrugged.

"Stand too straight, and you'll snap."

That was true of every being.

"Especially those they call heroes."

"... Could you stop with that damn hero business?"

"But I find it amusing."

"I don't."

"Oh, dear. Then I'd better keep quiet."

"You pick the strangest moments to be a smartass..."

Ju-hyeon shot Jio a look, then turned back to Sankalut.

Perhaps it had sensed something. It no longer fidgeted or chattered, but silently watched Ju-hyeon with red eyes filled with a beauty bright enough to blind.

"Are you going to make me human?"

"... That's right."

"That's impossible."

"That isn't a reason for me to give up."

"It seems inefficient, Ju-hyeon."

"You've somehow become much more earnest and polite."

He knew. This authority was his only because he had the Divinity Jio behind him. He was a fox borrowing a tiger's might, but in the end, Ju-hyeon was an ordinary human.

If he failed to use what was available to him, he would be the one to lose.

"I've already seen an example in Jio. Even a mystery as immense as he is possesses humanity. There's no reason you can't, Sankalut. That's what I'm going to believe."

"I don't want to... There's no blood on that path, and it doesn't sparkle. I'll lose my edge."

"I see. That sounds wonderful."

This was the greatest responsibility Ju-hyeon could take, and the greatest revenge he could exact.

"Jio."

"Ask me anything."

"Could you make Sankalut a body?"

"Hmm, a body..."

Arjio grinned.

"I'll make it an adorable little thing."

* * *

Waking from his sleep, Yu Seongun blinked at a snake with bright red skin.

"... So this is Sankalut?"

"Yes, it is."

"In all my life, I've never seen a god inside a snake."

The snake rose in a straight line.

"Hello."

"Oh, it talks."

"I have neither legs nor arms. A body without wings is extremely inefficient."

"Why does it sound a bit like Jio?"

"I follow the body's memories."

"It really does. I couldn't tell with that flat tone, but was it complaining?"

"Would you like to take a look?"

"Of course, if you'll let me."

As a Gardener, Yu Seongun was largely unfazed by this novel phenomenon. Sankalut dangled limply in his hand. Leaving the two of them together, Jio went back upstairs to the guest room.

It was the room Ju-hyeon had stayed in before.

"Ju-hyeon."

"..."

He was sitting on the bed, his head bowed.

"Ju-hyeon, are you tired?"

"... Very tired."

"Are you blaming yourself?"

"Did I do something wrong?"

Ju-hyeon spoke as though confessing his sins to a priest.

"I couldn't tell what the right choice was. But you've always been kind to me, and I didn't want to miss that opportunity. I'm so selfish."

"That's called being smart. You weren't trying to seize an opportunity. You were trying to take responsibility, and you chose what seemed the most effective and reasonable way."

"I'm not sure I did the right thing. But I pushed ahead because a miracle like this might never come my way again. I did think it was madness..."

The hand covering his face trembled slightly as it lowered.

"Will my family hate me?"

He was crying.

"Will my friends resent me?"

"You saw for yourself that they don't."

"Sankalut is my enemy, there's no question of that, yet I couldn't even say anything cruel. I couldn't resolve to make it suffer. All I could do was drag it down into the human world... That's all I could do..."

"All you could do?"

Jio respected Ju-hyeon.

"I thought you were truly magnificent."

"Don't lie to me."

"I thought you were remarkable. Anyone can get angry and assign blame, but not everyone can get back up and look ahead after falling apart and being knocked down."

"I'm just flailing. Borrowing your power because I don't want to carry a heavy burden myself. That's all. It's terribly... selfish... and arrogant."

"It's only right to use what you have."

"But I don't have you. I don't want to mistake your generosity for something I own. That would be so ugly. Besides, I can't even fully repay what you've already given me."

"Do friends need to do that?"

"..."

Ju-hyeon already knew the answer.

"... No."

Friendship, as both he and Jio understood it, wasn't a transaction. Ju-hyeon also knew very well that Jio's gifts were no different from jokes tossed out in passing.

Emotion welled up, and before he knew it, his true feelings slipped past his lips.

"I'm afraid I'll come to revere you someday."

"We'll still be friends then."

"..."

"Look."

Jio spoke with conviction.

"I respect the way you stay wary of everything and shrewdly seize your chances. I'm grateful that you respect my humanity even though you fear me. Though the gifts you receive from me weigh on you, you show your consideration as if it were nothing, and that helps me a great deal."

That was why they could be friends.

"I don't imagine it would come easily to you, Ju-hyeon, but if it becomes too much, you're welcome to revere me. That wouldn't hurt or belittle me."

"Then what does hurt you, Jio?"

"It hurts when I can't do what I want."

"... Isn't that just throwing a tantrum...?"

"Something like that."

Jio spoke firmly.

"I'm far simpler than you imagine."

He just wanted someone to play with him. Honestly, these deep thinkers.

"I'm grateful to have a calculating, altruistic friend like you."

"... I'm very glad you don't find me disgusting or annoying."

Ju-hyeon's voice gradually steadied.

"Am I really not going down the wrong path?"

"Only you can decide that."

"That's right. Even on the same path, right and wrong differ from person to person."

"Think long and hard, and follow the path you want."

For Ju-hyeon, that was enough.

"And eat the meals I give you."

"... Somehow, every time we meet, we end up talking about food..."

Not that he minded.

"..."

He was special. Such a special person.

He was broad-minded and merciful, readily offering kindness and unstinting in his affection. He neither regretted nor crumbled, making him stronger than anything. Anyone would want to lean on such a person.

'Just as I am now.'

And so Ju-hyeon dared to pity him.

'... My place in your long life will last only an instant.'

He was afraid he might fail to treat his poor friend as human even during that brief moment.

As he leaned on Jio's extraordinary qualities, he feared he would forget that Jio was a childish person who enjoyed silly jokes and exchanging letters. He was afraid he would forget having such a friend and come to praise his omnipotence and omniscience instead.

Because I am only an ordinary, insignificant human...

"... Don't be too kind."

"Why not?"

"Because I think it'll leave you lonely."

"Everyone goes through such times."

His voice was even.

"In the end, I'll make friends again."

"..."

It ached inside.

'... If that sounds like resignation, that must be because I'm an ordinary person too.'

Even so, what a pitiful person he was.

(Continued in the next chapter)