NOVPUBWhen I first awoke in this hut and saw the dawn sky just as the sun was beginning to rise—
“I felt a peace I had only imagined until then.”
It was a beautiful sky.
Unlike the concrete forest where nothing beyond was visible, here the view was vast.
A pristine Milky Way that seemed it would sparkle endlessly when touched by enough light.
A sweet hint of nature carried on a wind both cool and warm.
An inexplicable longing ached through the dryness of her corneas, and her heart pounded heavily.
It was overwhelming—so much so she couldn’t even think.
“Unlike reality.”
Here, there was no noise at all.
“Sergio.”
“You’ve finally called me that.”
“You’re a strong being, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I became that way without realizing it.”
“And also an evil god.”
“I don’t yet fully understand what that role entails, but yes.”
“...Do I come off as rude?”
Black Cloak tilted his head slightly, puzzled.
“Do you want me to think of you as rude?”
“That’s not it, but... to be honest, it’s hard to understand.”
“What part is difficult to understand?”
“How can something like you exist?”
It was absurd.
“You possess all kinds of strength.”
In every way, Gio’s portrait was that of a superior being.
“In every aspect, you’re an overwhelming force.”
“That’s high praise.”
“It might sound that way, but at least to me... yes.”
It might be foolish to talk of combat when facing the great mystery that is the evil god, but when he was red, he even seemed skilled in battle.
His overwhelming presence, despite his exceptional mimicry, made people bow their heads.
To Joo-Hyun, he was a god.
To the world, he was a terrifying humanoid monster.
His dungeons worked faithfully for their master.
His mystery and divinity radiated an overwhelming power.
“Excuse me if this is rude, but even your appearance...”
“I’m often told I’m handsome.”
“I think that too. It seems natural.”
He was the ideal image of a handsome man.
Though his form was obscured by the cloak, he was neither overly muscular nor overly thin.
His height was close to 190 cm, and his demeanor resembled that of an ancient noble or a dignified priest.
The hands he kept folded behind his back were large.
Joo-Hyun was confident in her observation skills.
Black Cloak’s appearance could be a powerful weapon in itself.
After all, humans are inherently weak to visuals.
“Sergio, you could never be a weakling.”
In any situation or relationship, he held the upper hand.
“That’s why it’s harder to understand.”
“I’m listening. Please continue. What don’t you understand?”
“You....”
She hesitated, then sighed as she spoke.
“You act as if you understand the weak.”
It made no sense.
The innately strong could not understand the weak.
Just as gods, when looking at humans, may memorize their actions and ways but cannot truly be considerate.
Because the strong cannot comprehend weakness.
Like a blind man trying to understand the color red.
“So what I’m trying to say is....”
Her words felt tangled.
“You’re so powerful, Sergio... and yet, you understand the weak.
You care.
You respect them.
How can someone who invokes such immense fear also be capable of that?”
“Because I’m just a human.
I’m not the ideal strong person you imagine.”
“That’s the thing.
You really do feel human.
You sleep, eat, cook.
You want friends, go out sometimes, play tricks, laugh, cry....”
“I don’t believe I’ve ever cried.”
“I’ve seen you act spoiled with your father.
I’ve seen you whimper in front of your children.
All of it felt natural.
That’s why you seem truly human.”
Suddenly, a question struck her.
“Even these thoughts of mine—did you intend them?”
“I intend nothing.”
“Is that a lie so subtle I never even noticed it was one?”
“Not at all.
I’m a far clumsier person than you imagine.”
“Even if that’s true, humans would still be deeply affected.”
That’s what it is to be human.
The gaze or gesture of a god could entangle them, devastate them.
A divine conversation might become a catastrophe.
A drop of affection could drive them mad.
That is what it means to be human.
That is what it means to be a god.
Joo-Hyun knew this.
“I know....”
She shut her eyes tightly.
“.......”
“.......”
Then again, she took in Black Cloak’s face.
Two eyes.
One nose, one mouth.
Two ears.
Skin slightly pale.
Hair gently wavy.
He waited for her to speak.
No matter how deeply she looked for his essence, all she saw was the shape of a man.
“...I can’t help but see you as human.”
A young man’s face.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-nine.”
“Where are you from?”
“Gangwon Province.”
“What did you do?”
“At school.”
A faint smile formed on his pale face.
“I taught students.”
“...You were a teacher.”
“Yes, I worked at a high school.”
“I see.”
She felt deflated.
“I see....”
Look at that affectionate smile.
If this isn’t a human, then what is he?
“Do I finally look like a person to you?”
“...Maybe....”
Maybe he could.
Joo-Hyun gave an awkward smile.
“I keep asking similar things, but... why do you give gifts to good people?”
“Because anyone would want to praise someone who’s admirable.”
“They say you speak to people when you see them.”
“Talking is a joy.
I do feel sorry for those who are afraid of me.”
“Then why do you keep capturing bad people?”
“That’s something my children do on my behalf, but it was never intentional.”
“There’s really no grand reason behind anything, is there.”
“I don’t tend to overthink things.”
“I see.”
If all of this were the truth, and even if it wasn’t—if he simply continued in this way—Joo-Hyun would eventually be unable to deny him.
Would it be too presumptuous to say she felt greedy?
She couldn’t bring herself to hate him, not when he was so composed of something like ideal peace.
“.......”
She had tried to stay wary since he introduced himself as an evil god.
And yet, though he was too vast to feel safe around, she found herself wanting to open her heart.
“...You didn’t use some kind of ability on me, did you?”
“If you could tell me what kind of ability you mean, I’d be grateful.”
“One that... makes people... feel safe... completely off guard... seduced....”
“...? I don’t quite understand— is that a compliment?”
“It could be... or not....”
“.......”
“...Ugh....”
Joo-Hyun blamed herself for being stupid.
‘What the hell was I expecting, asking something like that?’ 𝚗ov𝚙𝚞𝚋.c𝚘m
In a situation where the form before her might not even be the real one, wanting equal interaction was already a mistake.
For a god, human truths and lies had different standards.
Whether he had such an ability or not, whether he knew it or not, until she realized it herself, everything he said could be truth or falsehood.
“Sorry, that was nonsense.”
“I didn’t fully understand, but....”
He asked,
“Don’t you want to be friends with me?”
“...Huh?”
“That’s why you complimented me, isn’t it?”
“Huh? Oh, no....”
“In the end, it seems you like me.”
“That’s... um....”
“Do you still not know what you want? Are you wary of trusting me?”
“...I...”
“Joo-Hyun, you consider relying on someone other than yourself to be a sin. I respect the value of that stubborn belief.”
“.......”
“Because it’s your way of living.”
As she hesitated to respond, he continued.
“You don’t need to overthink it. I wanted to be friends with you, and now it seems you do too. And you’re not the type to stay in one place forever.”
“...Is that a compliment too?”
“You may take it that way. But what I really mean is—there’s no problem with us becoming friends. Are you someone who regrets the past and fears the future so much that you can’t see the present?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Then even more so, there’s no problem. You carry a great ambition called world peace. I think I’d make a fitting friend for that. So I hope you’ll become the second friend of this portrait.”
His face remained calm and expressionless.
“Take your time. You’re a sincere and polite person. Whether it’s fast or slow, you’ll find the right path that suits you.”
“I might make an irreversible mistake.”
“There’s no such thing as an irreversible mistake. Why does such a phrase even exist? In the end, people must live in the present and move forward. But instead, they dwell on an unreachable past.”
“Because humans are foolish beings.”
“I admit I have a particularly simple and light way of thinking. But to reflect and grow through the past is the privilege of the living. And it’s the only choice.”
“I know that, but....”
“Joo-Hyun.”
He spoke as if he were some kind of Buddha.
“Are you afraid of new attempts because of a mistake you haven’t even made yet?”
“Because someone else might suffer because of my mistake again. I’ve sinned.”
“Joo-Hyun, the people of this world are not helpless lambs for you to ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) save.”
“.......”
“Trying to take responsibility for all of them is a kind of arrogance too.”
That, perhaps, was a bit of a shock.
“They each live their own lives. And the fact that they got swept up in your mistake is something to be respected as their own life story. Don’t delude yourself into thinking their lives were yours alone.”
“...But....”
“Reflecting is good. But if fear takes over, the only paths left are running and hiding. And I know you’re not that kind of person. You’ll find your own path, and all I’m doing is easing your hesitation.”
“.......”
“No individual can be truly great. Even if someone has enormous influence, in the end they’re just part of the current. Even if they seem like a giant, that’s just one of their features. No being can be a perfect guide.”
Still with an expressionless face, he went on.
“To me, Joo-Hyun, you seem like a kind and courteous person with heroic traits. That’s a part of who you are—not the whole of you. Don’t let it consume you.”
“...Ah....”
“Don’t let the goal you want to achieve devour you. You simply wish for a peaceful world. That alone is why you act. Don’t let that destroy you.”
“That....”
“Your caution and wariness are great strengths and virtues. But if you need to understand everything before you believe, then not much will stay by your side. So for now....”
“.......”
“Shall we be friends?”
He smiled.
“I always had a romantic notion about having a pen pal.”
“...That’s a nice thought.”
Would that smile dull her senses?
Make her settle?
And yet, she found herself drawn to that sense of calm.
She wondered what kind of Gio’s smile that was—but quickly concluded it didn’t matter.
If what he said was true, then even distinguishing which Gio he was wouldn’t hold meaning.
By now, even hesitating felt awkward.
“...Let’s do it. Let’s be friends.”
“Oh.”
“This is kind of awkward.”
Joo-Hyun gave a subtle smile.
“Problems might arise.”
“We can think about that later.”
“I was about to say the same.”
“Opportunities always appear.”
“Or we make them ourselves.”
“You’ve understood well.”
“...So then....”
After hesitating again and again, she finally said,
“I look forward to it.”
And Sergio smiled.
It looked surprisingly human.
