After their simple conversation, Jio asked to pray at the Sun Cult.

"Would that be possible?"

"Would you like me to find you a private prayer room?"

"Yes, please. There is something I would like to tell the Sun..."

The ordinary priest Kang Seodam had summoned smiled and nodded at Hunter Seo Jio's words.

"Would that be all right, Father Kang Seodam?"

"Please grant all of Hunter Seo Jio's requests, so long as they place no undue burden on the order."

"All of them..."

"He will not make unreasonable demands, either."

"Understood. This way, please, sir."

The priest mainly guided visitors, so he was quite accustomed to this sort of thing. The Sun Cult sought to foster a loving, harmonious atmosphere where people could seek forgiveness and mercy for anything, and quite a few ordinary believers came to confess their sins.

'But can Hunter Seo Jio really be considered an ordinary believer...?'

The priest privately wondered.

'I hear he more or less considers himself a priest. He certainly doesn't have the air of an ordinary believer. There was talk of him being Black Cloak's apostle, too.'

He did not show it, but he was curious. What would this gentle-looking man, who seemed incapable of hurting a fly, say in the prayer room?

"Hmm..."

Remembering what the elders had said, the priest decided to make some light conversation.

"This isn't your first visit to the Sun Cult, is it?"

"No. On my last visit, I received a proposal concerning the Underground Four-Legged Rainforest. Thanks to that, I had a rare experience."

"We felt terribly sorry for arranging it on such short notice, so I'm glad to hear you say that."

Contrary to its tranquil image, the Sun Cult favored a bustling, congenial atmosphere. Laughter and conversation filled the passage leading to the prayer rooms, never loud enough to disturb anyone.

"Even though I know perfectly well that you Awakened as a trainer, I keep wanting to call you 'Father.' It isn't a conscious choice to think of you differently, but would you forgive me if I happen to be rude?"

"Here in the embrace of the Sun, filled with warm sunlight and laughter, what could I possibly fail to forgive? Others often make the same mistake, Father, so please don't let it trouble you."

"Ah, I thought so... I'm not the only one, then."

"Even my clothes resemble ordinary priestly robes, so I understand the confusion. And it is certainly true that I serve another Divinity."

"Perhaps it's rude of me to think so, but I can't help regretting that you didn't Awaken as a priest. You could have become one of the greatest priests in Korea—no, in the world..."

"You flatter me."

Speaking with Hunter Seo Jio revealed a believer of truly outstanding character.

'So that's why people call him a saint. I can't help admiring him.'

He did indeed seem like an ideal every priest should strive to emulate.

'I'd be so happy if he would join our Sun Cult...'

He was not alone in thinking this. The Sun's flourishing was a priest's joy. Any order would covet a capable, benevolent priest without a single disagreeable trait.

Yes, surely that would be a joyous occa—

"...?"

The priest faltered for a moment.

"Is something wrong?"

"... Ah, no. My apologies."

He smiled sheepishly.

"The sunlight must have dazzled me for a moment."

Hunter Seo Jio's shadow had seemed to ripple white, but when he looked again, there was no trace of it. Embarrassment washed over the priest at what was, of course, only natural.

"How terribly rude of me to behave like this before an honored guest."

"Not rude at all. With such warm sunlight pouring in, it's only natural that your eyes might be dazzled. Perhaps this, too, is a blessing from the Sun Goddess."

"Your words fill me with more joy than I can express."

Surely this was what a true believer looked like.

'What a shame. If only someone so gifted had been a priest of the Sun Cult from the start...'

But Hunter Seo Jio had not even Awakened as a priest. What was more, he belonged to Collector, a guild notorious for its appetite for talent. He also served a different Divinity, so he was unlikely to convert readily.

'Even if he wanted to, the Collector wouldn't stand by and let it happen. I hear he's the son he kept carefully hidden, which says it all. That Bi Sabeol really is a repulsive man.'

He felt a twinge of disapproval.

'... Didn't he recognize a saint's vessel from the outset and hide him so the order couldn't take him? Hiding a god's apostle to satisfy his own urge to collect would be nothing less than a sin that would displease even the Sun Goddess. How distasteful...'

Taking pains to conceal his unease, the priest resumed their conversation.

"What brings you here today?"

"I came to discuss sponsoring some children dear to me."

"Ah, you mean the Cha Yi-sol and Iru-da pair. Your affection for those two has caused a little stir in the Sun Cult. They both have excellent vessels."

"They are adorable children."

Hunter Seo Jio smiled with evident delight.

"I hear about them often, but that only makes me wonder if there is something more I can do to help. I have just been discussing various possibilities with Father Kang Seodam."

"They're such bright young priests that we're preparing for them to graduate early. With help from someone as wonderful as you, I'm sure both prospective priests will become priests in their own right before long."

"Though I am no priest, I would like to help if I can."

"What further qualifications could someone of your gifts possibly need to offer help?"

Even he could scarcely think of the man before him as anything but a priest.

"Here we are. This is the private prayer room assigned to you."

"To think sunlight reaches even this far inside. Remarkable."

"Being so dearly loved by the Goddess is one of our Sun Cult's great prides."

His shoulders rose with pride. To harmonize with the Sun, who was nature within the natural order, the Sun Cult's prayer rooms were furnished to be as close to nature as possible. Thanks to the blessing she had bestowed upon them in return, sunlight reached even these enclosed spaces.

Fresh green shoots and flowers bloomed in the prayer room, bathed in gentle sunlight. Even the wooden chair held the coolness of the air...

"Whenever I see this proof of the Sun's love for us with my own eyes, gratitude wells up within me. May you, too, enjoy your time in the embrace of the Sun."

"Thank you for words as warm as the Sun's own light."

"Then I will keep watch outside. Please, speak at your leisure."

The priest quietly closed the door and stood guard before it.

"..."

The silent corridor outside the prayer rooms set his heart at ease.

Silence was always the rule in the prayer rooms, so the children of the Sun could pray in peace at any time. Unlike the lively outer areas, this space where shadow mingled with sunlight was his favorite place.

'Becoming a guide priest really was the right choice. This, too, must be thanks to the Sun Goddess's loving care. I must always remain grateful and offer my own prayers...'

Always bathed in warm sunlight, the Sun Cult was the first place in Korea to welcome spring. Closing his eyes, he heard birdsong, felt a soft breeze tickle his cheeks, and smelled flowers heralding the birth of life.

Quite some time passed.

"... Hmm?"

He saw light where there should have been none.

'... Is that light spilling from the prayer room?'

Sunlight was streaming through the gap around the door.

'... Impossible. This... How can there be so much light...?'

His heart pounded.

As a priest of the Sun, he could hardly fail to distinguish ordinary light from sunlight. He could say with certainty that this was the Sun's light. He knew that, very rarely, this phenomenon occurred in the prayer rooms of the Sun Cult's headquarters.

'When the bishop prays...'

And that was when the Sun answered.

"..."

After some hesitation, the priest moved closer to the door.

'... J-just a little.'

If his suspicion was right, he wanted to catch even a glimpse of that glorious sight.

The prayer room door had a hatch for passing in meals and a small window through which people could speak face-to-face. These had been installed because priests commonly fasted and prayed for days on end.

'Just a little...'

The priest gently lifted the flap of the small, mailbox-like window.

"..."

... Ah.

The Sun.

* * *

"This is unfair."

"Please calm down, Hunter Seo Jio."

Kang Seodam soothed Jio, though his expression suggested a headache.

"This was clearly negligence on our part. Someone unqualified presumptuously spied on a believer's prayers and brought this upon himself. You have done nothing wrong."

Of course, it would have been better if Jio had not casually revealed a Divinity's vast mystery in the mortal world. Feeling at a loss, Kang Seodam looked at the priests casting fervent glances at Hunter Seo Jio.

'I'd like to gouge out every last one of their eyes.'

Did they have any idea who this was, to dare behave so vulgarly?

'... The situation has become somewhat awkward.'

The guide priest who had spied on Hunter Seo Jio's "prayer" had fallen into a frenzy.

"The Sun saw me! The Sun, ah...! Aaaagh...!!"

"Get him to the infirmary, quickly!"

"Ah, please grant me mercy, a fragment! That small and immense mercy, we...!"

"He's in a very bad state."

A fully fledged priest had been driven half mad by a single stolen glimpse of a "prayer." It could have been a terrifying sight, but this was a home for children of the Sun brought together by faith. Watching it, the priests felt awe rather than fear.

"... What on earth did he see...?"

"... He keeps calling out to the Sun."

They were always desperate for miracles.

"..."

With a sudden surge of irritation and anger, Kang Seodam dispersed the onlookers.

"Everyone, step back. Someone has fallen ill. How long do you intend to stand here gawking? Do you truly not understand how wrong it is to behave so rudely before an honored guest?"

"B-but... Father Kang Seodam..."

"There are no buts. We have been rude to our guest, and we are still being rude. Before you commit any further sins, you would do well to know your place and return to your posts."

Kang Seodam's authority within the order was considerable. Though the priests still stole reluctant glances, they left one by one at his rebuke. The frenzied priest was likewise carried off to a sickroom.

In the end, Kang Seodam took Seo Jio to his office.

"... I truly don't know what to say."

"It was an extraordinary sight, so I can understand his reaction. I do hope the priest who guided me recovers soon."

"He will."

After all, he had merely been driven mad by the sight of a blessing beyond his station.

'He ought to know his limits.'

The priest had done it without knowing "Hunter Seo Jio's" true identity, but this would never have happened had he simply confined himself to his duties. What a truly foolish man.

'I trusted him with this because he'd never done anything like it before...'

That must have been how powerful the light "Hunter Seo Jio" revealed was. He understood, but still disapproved.

"... Did you finish your conversation with the Sun without incident?"

"Yes. It was an enjoyable time."

"I'm glad to hear it. We will convey our apology for this incident through your manager, Ju-hyeon. Would that be all right?"

"There is no need to apologize."

"The order's honor is also at stake, so please accept it. To sin without repenting or making amends is to be unworthy of serving a Divinity of the natural order."

"If you put it that way, very well. Thank you for your consideration to the very end."

"Then..."

Kang Seodam called over Cha Yi-sol and Iru-da, who had been waiting on the sofa.

"Brother Cha Yi-sol, Sister Iru-da, would you like to say a few words to your sponsor?"

"Yes! I would!"

"I-I'd like a moment, too..."

The two edged closer and bowed their heads.

"I'll graduate early and come see you within three years!"

"Surely we will see each other before then?"

"Thank you for your great kindness."

"Your greetings really are polar opposites."

Still, he liked them.

"May the Sun's light reach you both."

Having blessed their futures, Seo Jio turned to face Cha Yi-sol.

"Have you been having nightmares?"

"Not at all."

"Does the Sun love you?"

"Yes, very much!"

"Your vessel has grown."

It was the work of Jio's father, the Sun.

"..."

In the end, his father had been right.

* * *

The gallery on the fifth basement floor.

"How should a god conduct themselves?"

"What did you talk about with the Sun Goddess to make you ask that?"

Visiting Jio's Portrait for the first time in a while, Yu Seongun was baffled.

(To be continued in the next chapter)