episode_0074

You can so easily make someone your assistant. It’s good to be comfortable, but you shouldn’t just like someone.

It is also easy for a relationship that is formed to be easily broken. I didn’t act like a dog when I recruited Aru and Beatrice for no reason. In order to win their hearts, I personally risked my life and worked hard to walk a tightrope, and that is why Aru and Beatrice have followed and relied on me for 100 years and 200 years.

But Nioh… Considering Nioh’s personality, he wouldn’t betray me after becoming my colleague, but he could disappear at any time if he wanted to leave.

Because it’s a relationship that’s made up of just words.

But let’s put on a show here… Uneasy. A show is only possible when you bring out the other person’s desires, and Nioh is a person who knows exactly what his desires are.

Saint Irowell, the love that could not come true. When he was alive, it couldn’t come true because he didn’t accept Nioh’s courtship, and now that he’s dead, he can’t even court him.

I can fly in the sky, but I can’t raise a dead person.

The wild is an environment where life and death intersect. Nioh, a product of the wild, knows this immutable truth more keenly than anyone else. Therefore, I only commemorated and missed Irowell, and did not commit any denial of reality. Thanks to that, he is now a barbarian with a very sound mind.

“Tide? I want to be a colleague.”

“That’s it. The original synonym for colleague is assistant.”

“Is that so? So you are my assistant?”

“Ah, that’s not it. How can I become Yohan’s assistant when Yohan is my assistant?”

“Hmm? Something, something strange?”

“It’s okay, don’t worry about it. The world is actually strange. The faster you adapt to that strange world, the more civilized you become. Johan, don’t you want to become a civilized person? Like Irowell?”

“… !”

But I am a hybrid that turns the impossible into the possible. Even if you can’t revive a dead person, you can revive the spark of desire.

Nioh’s eyes widen. A savage who reacts instinctively to the word Irowell.

“Curious, curious.”

“Haha.”

“Irowell was unique. No beast in this forest could think like Irowell.”

“Irowell was a product of civilization. Aren’t you curious? What on earth is this civilization that created people like Irowell?”

In the wild in the beginning, there was nothing. A world where neither good nor evil exists. It was natural not to distinguish between them. It was basic to kill other people’s children to save one’s own.

However, since civilization arose, ethics were created among the wealthy, and doctrines and laws were created to universally spread those ethics.

It has been determined which actions are evil and which actions are good. Those who killed other people’s children in order to save their own children were rightly criticized.

Saint Irowell and my Lord Mary.

They are all products of civilization.

And now to our group.

There is one good person created by the civilization called the Church.

“Lord Beatrice, would you please come in here for a moment?”

In general terms, he is not a good person but closer to a corrupted evil person. Good and evil are subjective things, so in my standards that deny civilization, it is good.

“Master, did you call me?”

Beatrice came into the hut, her brown ponytail hair flowing. I grabbed her shoulders and pulled her in front of me. Like a salesperson explaining a product.

“The Holy Church where Lowell grew up! This Lord Beatrice was also born and raised in that same Holy Order! Right, Sir Beatrice?”

“Keuhm, that’s true, but… Lord, how could you subject me, an apostate, to such an ordeal? .”

“Although he is currently living in the Demon Forest with me, he was once in control of the Holy Order! A kingdom called Holy Kingdom used to tremble at a single word from Sir Beatrice!”

“Oh! Great man! First time seeing this!”

“It’s true that I come from Seongguk, but it’s not like I was just trying to control them or anything like that… Haha.”

Beatrice looked troubled by my fancy introduction, then gave up and sighed.

Haha, the lord you chose. Hold on to your evil spirit.

“Excessive humility is not good! The person who was the greatest Holy Knight in the Holy Kingdom is so humble!”

“Well, it’s not that I’m being humble, I’m really not in that position… .”

“Oooh! Seongguk is the best! I don’t know what it is, but it’s huge! It looks somewhat similar to Irowell!”

“That’s just because you are the only one who has seen human women… Ha, I guess it’s because we live in similar environments.”

In addition, due to Nioh’s good reaction, Beatrice eventually gave up and humbly accepted it. This is good posture.

“Cool! amazing! Are you a civilized person?”

“Yes, yes, that’s right. I am a civilized person.”

“Civilized people! Irowell! Civilized people! Irowell!”

Boom, boom, boom!

The excited barbarian jumps up and down. Its shape is reminiscent of an orangutan. When I jump, a fresh breeze blows, and the ground and the hut vibrate as the huge savage jumps in place.

“Kkiiing… monster… There’s a monster… .”

Aru trembles as he remembers being scolded by a barbarian. Sticking right behind me like a caterpillar. Is the guy who sees the monster and hides behind the captain really a wolf?

“Wow, I think it would be a good idea to refrain from jumping around once you move to a civilized society. You’d think I was a gorilla that escaped from the zoo. Oh, it’s not a gorilla, it’s King Kong.”

Ssuk seu-.

He gave hints of advice to the excited King Nio and placed his hand on Aru’s forehead. Aru, who was usually so picky, calmly accepted my caress, perhaps realizing the importance of my existence after tasting Nioh’s fingers.

Wow, I feel refreshed. Cheeky wolf guy, he looks so good.

“… ah! Now that I think about it, do I have to leave here to become your colleague?”

Nioh, who was fluttering about, suddenly seemed to remember something and asked a question.

“Of course, right? We have to go together to be colleagues, right? Don’t you want to go to a civilized world?”

“No. I want to go. I will go. Still, if I have to leave here… I will leave for a moment.”

“Why? Do you have anything to take with you?”

After asking that question, Nioh turned around. He left his words with a cheerful smile.

“I should say hello to Lowell.”

*****

The sunset is already setting. As I look at the red sun slowly setting, I enjoy the cool breeze that blows.

A line hangs at the end of the sun. It’s a bright yellow line. Only the sun has goodness that neither the stars nor the moon have. That’s why I hate the sun.

If you had to choose the person who is the most fair to all people, who would you choose? Most people would probably choose the sun. Even the barbarian sitting next to me is getting some sunlight.

The sun is merciful. The majority of people living in heaven and earth do not know the blessings of the sun, but they give sunlight without any hesitation.

“Irowell.”

Does this savage know the blessings of the sun?

I think you probably know.

“I am curious about the civilization where Irowell grew up.”

So, the tomb of Saint Irowell was probably built in a sunny, sunny location.

They even erected a tombstone with crooked writing carved on it.

“After Lowell died, I was lonely. I wasn’t happy either. There was no one next to me.”

Where I am standing now is a cliff. Below the cliff is a large river with no end in sight. It is the largest river in the Demon Forest, once ruled by the Fish King Kraken.

There is a monument erected on top of the cliff. The tombstone has “Irowell” written in large letters.

“But the first person appeared. They say they come from the same place as Irowel. I can speak. Same thing as Irowell.”

Nioh was kneeling in front of the monument and caressing it with his thick fingers. Words flow out of his mouth, whether he is talking to himself or talking to a spirit.

“To follow along. Because Irowell said so. Tell me to be happy. Because I love Irowell, I have to listen to Irowell.”

Nioh stands up. The tanned skin and thick black hair stand out against the brilliant sunlight.

After saying his final goodbyes to Irowel, Nioh sat down on the edge of the cliff. I quietly sat down next to him and started talking.

“You came to say hello to Lowell’s grave.”

“Yes. Irowell’s lower body was gone, but his upper body remained. So I buried it here.”

“Hmm, it’s a bit weird to call this person my sister-in-law. Anyway, let me say hello too. Irowell? I will take care of that baby?”

“… You are so positive. He seems to be happy about everything. There is always a smile on your face.”

“Ahaha, I usually laugh a lot.”

I waved at Irowel’s grave. Irowell saw my greeting, but he probably didn’t.

Tsk tsk tsk, the Nio you raised so well is now mine. You dead man, just shut up and watch my evil smile.

“Laughter, a good thing. Something that makes people’s lives happy and rich. Irowell told me.”

“You taught me something good. Right, life is already hard, but you have to laugh hard to cheer yourself up.”

“After Lowell died, I couldn’t laugh for a while. But Irowell was right. As time passed, laughter gradually rose.”

“That’s cool. Smiling again even after losing your heart is not easy.”

With Irowell’s tombstone behind his back, Nioh stretched out his arms behind him. His palm rests on a flat surface. If you take just two steps forward, there is a sharp vertical line.

If you go down below the vertical line, there is another vertical line called the water surface. The water runs parallel to the ground where Nioh and I are currently sitting. I moved my gaze to the invisible end of the water.

All you see is the horizon and the sunset.

Hwiiing-.

The wind passing by the cheek is cool. The atmosphere is unusually peaceful, unlike Masurim. Behind us, Aru, Beatrice, and Uriel are hiding behind their respective trees, watching Nioh. Neither Nioh nor I know about it, but we don’t really care.

“Is it okay if I leave Lowell behind?”

“Leaving it behind? I don’t quite understand. Irowell is dead.”

“So, Mr. Irowell is buried here now. Do you mind if you leave Mr. Irowell’s grave and follow us?”

“Irowell said. The soul and body are separate.”

Rattling-.

King Ino takes out something from his leather clothes.

What he brought out along with his words was a silver cross. It is a piece of metal that sparkles in the yellow twilight sun.

“Irowell’s body is here on the ground.”

“But?”

“The soul is on the cross.”

“Hoo.”

“I believe. Because Irowell gave it to me. There is no way she gave it to him without a reason.”

“So you believe that Mr. Irowell’s soul is in that cross?”

“Yes. I always carry a cross with me. So, Irowel is next to me.”

Nioh’s words were filled with strong faith. Just as I believe in Mary, he also seems to believe in Irowel. If this continues, they may become gods through their faith.

John. It is the name of one of the twelve apostles who served the Messiah. It is famous that when all twelve apostles betrayed the Messiah, John was the only one who did not betray the Messiah. Perhaps because of that, only he was able to enjoy heavenly life.

There may be a reason why Irowel gave King Nio the name John. The king of humans who has to live alone for a long time after his death, with no one by his side to support him. Many strange things are bound to dwell in lonely hearts.

Unchanging faith. It would make sense to change that faith to love, but I guess that’s why Irowel, worried about the human king becoming lonely, gave him the name ‘John’. I hope that the love he embraces will not change.

As I continue to think about it, a wicked thought suddenly comes to mind. A rather bad idea that cracks the plan that Irowel had planted.

“Hey, Mr. Yohan.”

Talk to King Nio, who is looking at the sunset.

“Huh?”

“20 years have already passed. They say that even rivers and mountains change in ten years, but the time has passed for the rivers and mountains to change twice. After Mr. Irowell passed away.”

“Yes.”

“How about looking for a new relationship? I’m sure Mr. Irowell would like that too. They say that people can only be happy when they have a lover. Even if you love the dead Mr. Irowell, you will only be lonely for the rest of your life.”

It was a word spoken softly.

Nioh turns his head.

A pair of eyes stare at me.

“Irowell always called me ‘John’ or ‘Baby’.”

“Really?”

“But one day, when I realized that I was barbaric and felt ashamed of it, Irowell called me by a different name for the first time.”

“What is that?”

“Man. Not a barbarian, but a man. The fact that I can tear open uncooked meat and hunt wild animals with my bare hands without using any tools is because I am a man. Irowell said:”

After saying that, Nioh took a deep breath. Then, with a grin, he shouted to the vast sky.

“Can something like death separate a man’s love?-!”

Are you shooting? Are you shooting? Are you shooting? Nioh’s cry returns as an echo.

That is a promise. A promise made by King Nioh himself to pledge his undying love to the deceased Irowel. As I leave Irowell’s grave, I promise myself that even if my body falls apart, I will never abandon Irowell in my heart.

“Quukkeut.”

I burst out laughing. This is because I gave up on the playful idea that came to my mind at the moment.

Nioh’s love was not something that could be broken with just a word of mouth. As an analogy, yes. Mary is like corrupting humans.

Anyway, Irowell, Maria, and other saints are true.

“, I will answer your question.”

“Good, good. That was a really good answer.”

“Praise, something good. Irowell said that praise enriches people’s lives.”

Nioh looks at me again. There is a cheerful smile on his lips. It is a smile without a single trace of darkness.

There is one unwritten rule among all clowns in the world. Even if you offer love, you should not offer your heart. A clown who has lost his mind and cannot laugh cannot make others laugh.

One, this Nioh man is smiling so brightly. Even though I lost my heart, I didn’t lose my soul. So I can laugh.

I, who had my heart stolen by Maria, could I really do that?