The Black Cloak
“…….”
“So….”
Yu Seong-un made his request of Priest Kang Seo-dam, who sat across from him.
“If possible, I’d like you to treat ‘Black Cloak’ and ‘Seo Ji-oh’ as two separate people as well.”
“Separate people.”
“If we can at least split the ‘stories’ apart, it’ll cause fewer problems when it comes to coexistence.”
“I understand what you mean.”
Kang Seo-dam nodded.
“The hunter I saw at the Abyssal Temple must have been that ‘Seo Ji-oh,’ then.”
“That’s right. And the man in the pitch-black cloak that the Association hunters witnessed this time — treat him as a complete stranger. You probably already know they’re the same person, but….”
“If that is the will of the divine, I will accept it. Our Goddess has already extended an offer of friendship toward him, so simply keeping silent should not be difficult.”
He agreed to Yu Seong-un’s request without hesitation. It was not merely because it aligned with the will of the goddess he served.
“I had no intention of reporting that I saw a god at the Abyssal Temple, either. He did not seem to want his identity revealed, and if I claimed a god had appeared during an initiation ceremony I supervised, I would be hounded for quite some time. For my own sake as well, I will not speak of it.”
A considerable stretch of time had passed since he had scrambled his way out of the Abyssal Temple, yet Kang Seo-dam had never submitted a proper report to the order regarding Seo Ji-oh.
As a priest of the order, it was a unilateral decision he would never have made without the goddess’s will behind it — but it would also have been impossible without a certain flexibility on the priest’s own part. Yu Seong-un had read that quality in him and sought this meeting because of it.
Yu Seong-un let out a deliberate sigh of relief.
“Hearing you say that is a real weight off my shoulders. Our own guild staff can be managed at the guild master’s level, but since you’re a member of the order, Priest Kang, I was worried about how to keep things quiet.”
“‘Keep things quiet’ is a rather aggressive way of putting it. But I do concede that the matter of Black Cloak requires that level of caution. The one I met then did not feel like an ordinary god.”
Not every god was capable of mimicking a human and indulging in play.
“Could he have been a type of malevolent god? Among entities capable of fitting themselves into a human mold well enough to enjoy such diversions, I understand malevolent gods make up a fair number. If so, this separation measure would be an enormous gamble as well.”
“We’re still figuring that out ourselves.”
“So once again the Collector has muddled through with talk of a ‘beloved work.’ I still cannot understand how the members of the Collector Guild can rest easy simply because something looks lovely and safe in the guild master’s eyes.”
“Still, we can’t just send Ji-oh off to a research lab, can we?”
“It is true that unethical acts are as common as breathing at the Association’s laboratories, but if one considers the safety of humanity, that would be the correct course. Of course, that only applies if he is a malevolent god. Given that he seems to value peace and mercy, the probability of that is low — so I swear once more upon the Sun that I will keep silent regarding this matter.”
Even so, the fact remained that the being called Seo Ji-oh was by no means safe for humans. Mysteries of such immense stature had, without any malice at all, annihilated the entire population of a dimension, or forged living hells beyond counting.
“And to freely come and go through a dungeon whose master is a humanoid monster, rescuing people as if it were his own home….”
That alone far exceeded the authority of an ordinary god. Being a god did not mean omnipotence in every respect.
At their core, gods were closer to formless fate or nature given will — they could neither enjoy play in human shape, nor casually enter a dungeon. Doing so required a powerful will, deep-seasoned skill, and vast ability.
“It is an exceedingly ungrateful thing to say, given how much mercy we have received — but the fact that Mr. Seo Ji-oh is a dangerous existence does not change.”
Kang Seo-dam looked at Yu Seong-un.
“Is he not a being that even the Collector, who possesses the finest eye in the world, has failed to fully grasp?”
“It may look like frustratingly sloppy handling from the order’s or the Association’s perspective, but we’re putting our own effort into understanding him.”
“Is there no chance he will turn hostile toward humanity? I remember the presence I felt was quite close to death.”
“Well, if he gets angry, he’d become a catastrophe. He might harm humanity without even meaning to. The Earth could end, couldn’t it?”
“That would be troublesome.”
Earth was already clinging to life by the mercy of a handful of the powerful.
“…As I have said before, I have no intention of interfering with Mr. Seo Ji-oh’s diversions. That is why I did not report him to the order, and I trust Hunter Yu understands that.”
“I know. That’s why I came here. I get that you have no plans to reveal his identity either, Priest Kang… but given the situation, I wanted a proper confirmation.”
In order to build a world where they could coexist with this terrifying portrait — and so that the day might come when they could enjoy even more of his aspects — Bi Sa-beol hoped for a successful separation of Seo Ji-oh and Black Cloak. Yu Seong-un felt the same.
“Ji-oh’s appearance with blond hair and blue eyes was already exposed at the Abyssal Temple, so we can’t deny that existence. But the only form the Association officially managed to identify this time was Black Cloak.”
“I understand the reasoning behind that decision well enough. A mere human cannot stop the diversions of a god that powerful. Anyone can see a future full of needless victims.”
“We reached a similar conclusion. I know it amounts to rather irresponsible laissez-faire, but the Collector wants coexistence more than control over him. It’s our guild’s long-standing motto.”
The accidents and incidents caused by Ji-oh’s portrait were not something humanity could prevent in any case. That being so, the Collector would officially manage only the already-revealed side of Giovanni, while quietly working behind the scenes to win Ji-oh over and reduce friction between him and humans.
“It’s not as though the Collector is going to sit on its hands. If we put some thought into it, we should at least be able to keep public unrest down.”
“And how exactly do you intend to reduce that unrest?”
“By turning Black Cloak into an urban legend. Making him into an ordinary story people can trade and enjoy without taking it too seriously.”
“…….”
Kang Seo-dam’s expression twisted in a subtle way — the look of a man carefully crushing irritation, discomfort, and disbelief beneath a veneer of politeness.
“…I do not think that will work. If things go wrong, the name Black Cloak could instead become an object of terror, and he might become an even greater catastrophe.”
“On the Collector’s side, it’s already working. Our staff treat Black Cloak like a ghost story and have more or less found their own balance by following its rules.”
“That is because of the Collector Guild’s particular nature, I would say. When you factor in the city, Korea, and by extension every person in the world, I am certain it will not be easy.”
“Still better than doing nothing, isn’t it?”
“…Haa….”
Whether he decided it was not his place to argue further, or simply could no longer stand discussing the same subject, Kang Seo-dam pressed his fingers hard against his brow with a weary face, then posed a different question.
“…But is it really acceptable to address a god so familiarly? Calling him ‘that guy,’ or ‘Ji-oh,’ and so on….”
Kang Seo-dam looked faintly appalled.
“You treat that vast existence wearing a human skin with remarkable ease.”
“That’s what Ji-oh wants.”
“…….”
“I suppose from a priest’s standpoint it feels uncomfortable.”
“…It can hardly be otherwise.”
Regardless of religion, there were three rules demanded of any priest who served a god.
“First: do not look into a god’s eyes. Second: do not speak a god’s name. Third: do not test a god…. I expect Hunter Yu is well aware of them.”
“They’re famous rules.”
“They mean do not seek to know a god’s true nature. Priests fundamentally strive to maintain a certain distance when dealing with gods. Treating a god too intimately also risks violating that essence, so it is prevented in advance.”
“…….”
“Faith in this age is certainly used as a tool. Because of that, humanity’s attitude toward gods has grown more intimate than before the Great Cataclysm, and their image has become far more secular… and yet it remains unchanged that those who hold divinity are formless catastrophes.”
They distinguished between traditional gods and malevolent gods, but by any absolute standard the line was extremely vague. A divinity was simply labeled malevolent when its nature was obviously harmful to humanity.
But how could one divide nature and fate into good and evil? No matter how much a fragile existence like a human measured and classified them, it only created headaches.
“Whether they will it or not, a god can become a catastrophe for humanity at any time.”
Priests had to understand that better than any other human.
“To forget that is to be unworthy of the priesthood.”
“That’s pretty profound.”
“I meant it as a warning for you as well, Mr. Yu. I have seen countless people crushed under the weight of fate simply for calling a god’s true name. That is what it means to receive a god’s full attention.”
“I know that well enough myself.”
In fact, Yu Seong-un might know it better than most.
“I’m something of an expert on this side of things, too.”
From Yu Seong-un’s perspective — from a Gardener’s perspective — the gods of the present generation were classified as a type of Child of the Source.
Closely linked to the Source; formless, silent disasters capable of existing in any dimension; fate given will, and living stories. Every one of those conditions matched a Child of the Source.
But I can’t exactly tell the priest that.
He would be lucky to get away with nothing worse than accusations of blasphemy.
The existence of Gardeners and the knowledge surrounding them was dangerous, uncontrolled information known only to a handful of people. He could not go babbling about Ji-oh just to save face.
“Anyway, don’t be too shocked if you see Ji-oh out and about in society before long. The Ji-oh of that time will be pretty flexible and good-natured, so he shouldn’t cause any trouble. His identity will be solid, too.”
“…….”
“He’ll be introduced as a devout believer and tamer capable of handling holy power, so I was hoping you’d play along. His fundamental aura might be a bit different, but primarily Ji-oh is close to the Sun God lineage.”
“That is exactly what I am asking you not to say. It is unpleasant to listen to.”
“Can’t help it. That’s just my way.”
“Haa….”
“Ah, by the way.”
Yu Seong-un blinked and asked,
“Has the Association made the information on Black Cloak official yet?”
One of the Association’s jobs was to organize and distribute rules regarding entities that hunters needed to be careful of. In Yu Seong-un’s estimation, the Black Cloak witnessed this time more than warranted that kind of formalization.
“It’d be easier for us to dress him up as a ghost story if they open the door first.”
“The newly discovered entrance dungeon has already been named, so I expect Black Cloak will be sorted out soon as well.”
“As expected of a priest of the Sun Temple — your information is fast. What’s the dungeon called?”
“It is not greatly different from the place we visited.”
Kang Seo-dam continued.
“They are calling it the Abyssal Kingdom.”
“Huh….”
Yu Seong-un nodded.
“Intuitive. I like it.”
It was a fitting name.
“Hunter Jeong Da-woon.”
“…….”
“Hunter Jeong Da-woon, are you ready?”
“…….”
A woman with limp brown hair nodded.
“…Yes. I’m ready.”
“From this point on, we will hold a Q-and-A session regarding the events that took place in the Abyssal Kingdom.”
“Yes.”
“As team leader, Hunter Jeong Da-woon will take the questions as representative, but if information is lacking, we will also draw on the help of your teammates.”
“Yes.”
“To begin with….”
The man seated across from the hunter, wearing a doctor’s coat, continued.
“Let’s start with something light.”
“…….”
“You seem quite tense. About three days have passed since the exploration of the Abyssal Kingdom concluded — was that not enough rest?”
“…….”
“I am not interrogating you as to why you have not recovered yet, so please speak freely. We can only proceed with the Q-and-A once Hunter Jeong’s mind and body have found some stability.”
“…Yes.”
After a hesitant pause, the hunter gave a hollow little laugh and spoke awkwardly. Her voice was recorded by the machine.
“I’m sorry. My body has fully recovered.”
“As I said, there is nothing to apologize for.”
“It’s just… it won’t leave my head….”
“When you say ‘it,’ are you referring to the Black Cloak that was sighted this time?”
“Yes. That’s right. Black Cloak.”
The woman lifted her head.
“Oh — so the name has been set as ‘Black Cloak’?”
“It has been provisionally designated as such, but we do not know how the nomenclature may change going forward. The Association currently has zero information on Black Cloak.”
“So I’m the first discoverer…?”
“We requested cooperation from hunter associations in various countries, but received no information regarding the entity you witnessed. We will need to confirm further, but there is a high probability that Hunter Jeong’s sighting was the first.”
“…I see.”
In truth, the first discoverer had been Bi Sa-beol, who had recognized his identity at once — and even counting civilian witnesses outside related parties, there had been Cha Ah-ra. But things had proceeded so peaceably that none of that information had reached the Association.
“Then my answers are going to be very important.”
“Yes. I do not wish to place a burden on you, but given that he has been assessed as an existence of considerably high stature, the countermeasures the Association compiles will change depending on how accurate the information Hunter Jeong provides.”
“…….”
The hunter nodded.
“I’m ready.”
“Then we will begin the inquiry.”
The man — a researcher with the Association — moved into the formal questions.
“Where did you first witness Black Cloak?”
“…In the Abyssal Kingdom. At the temple.”
“Let us proceed from there. The Abyssal Kingdom is said to have a structure of three stages: Stage One, above the sea; Stage Two, the flooded city beneath the surface; Stage Three, a vast temple. Is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s right. When you first enter, hunters find themselves standing on the surface of the sea. You don’t fall in unless you deliberately try to. If you move too roughly you can sink… but you can also climb back up.”
“So the Abyssal Kingdom is structured such that the danger increases the farther down you go.”
“Right. There wasn’t anything you could really call a monster above the sea. We confirmed that breathing is possible even after descending below the surface. There is water resistance that restricts movement, though.”
“And monsters were sighted from Stage Two onward.”
“They felt like water-dwelling zombies…? There were also strange slimes that looked like lumps of flesh. And various other things… but I believe my teammates already reported that part.”
“Yes. This is just a second confirmation.”
The researcher nodded.
“Then let us move on to the temple. Is there a significant difference between the monsters in Stage Two, the flooded city, and those in Stage Three, the Abyssal Temple?”
“They looked more vicious? The types themselves seemed similar. But the monsters found near the temple were far more grotesque and aggressive. Naturally the danger level was higher, too.”
“Then this is where we get to the main point.”
The researcher pulled a photograph from among his files and slid it across for the hunter to see.
“This is a photograph taken by one of your teammates, Hunter Kim I-yeon.”
“…….”
What the photograph captured was a man completely wrapped in a pitch-black cloak.
“All of you described this entity as a man, but in fact it may have no gender at all. With the entire body shrouded in a cloak, there is no guarantee it even takes a human form.”
“…That’s true.”
“Even so, is there a reason you described it as ‘a male wearing a black cloak’?”
“Because… that’s how it felt.”
As a seasoned hunter, she understood well the ambiguity of monsters. A deep voice or great height did not make something male. She had never seen what lay inside the cloak, so she did not even know if it had a human shape.
Black Cloak had not even made a sound when he walked. There had been a very light rustle, like grass brushing past — and in that case, it would have been stranger to feel certain that the interior held a heavy human body.
“…….”
Yes. It was strange.
“…But even so, it felt like a ‘human.’”
She knew he was not human, and yet she still found herself calling him one.
“As if it were the most natural fact in the world….”
Had Ji-oh heard that, he would probably have felt a little wronged, thinking, But I am human.
(To be continued)