That the evil god he called might not be as merciful as he had seemed —

‘...I already considered that long ago. Mercy and evil god were never words meant to go together in the first place.’

As he climbed the stairs back up, Ather sorted through his thoughts.

Gods, by nature, did not know mercy. Even when they offered it, their “mercy” often brought catastrophe upon humans. Then what of an evil god? Argio had already proven his wickedness through history.

‘If he had truly been as compassionate as what I saw and felt... then such a history would never have existed. Even if much of it was a false accusation, there were still far too many humans who were torn apart and devoured by the evil god Argio. No matter what anyone says, he is a god of wrath and suffering.’

Ather, once called a hero — how could he not know that?

‘I still remember it all.’

The tongue that spat curses. The eyes soaked in hatred. The claws, huge and sharp, that tore through bodies without mercy. That gleam in his gaze as he reveled in battle. The disaster forged by the deaths of countless people.

How many of his comrades had died by that hand? By that mouth?

‘So... the images of the evil god I saw after my resurrection — they must have been fabricated, twisted. Or perhaps, among tens of thousands of evil personas, I was simply shown the one and only face of kindness.’

One thing was certain — Argio was an evil god.

‘I can’t call him human. He’s a dreadful, monstrous calamity that can only pretend to be one. If we restore him to his full form... the odds are too high that disaster will strike again...’

By now, Ather had finished climbing all the stairs and returned to the upper levels of the ruins.

“......”

Leaving the tomb, bright illumination reached him like sunlight.

‘...But this sunlight, too, was something Argio created.’

No ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) electricity ran in the ruins. There was no way mere torches could light this place so brightly and comfortably. Argio had summoned sunlight and sealed it within these walls.

‘The mercy he showed me — it wasn’t false. I received salvation. I’m living in peace now. I mustn’t deny that. To do so would make me worse than a beast...’

Soon, Ather reached his conclusion.

“Argio.”

“You called for me last time too.”

From the shadows of the light-beam-shaped pillars, the evil god emerged.

“......”

The ornaments wrapped around his bare feet made no sound at all.

His long red hair trailed behind him like a beast’s tail. Gold and silver glimmered, coiled through that hair, too dazzling to look at directly. His skin was demonically pale, as if never kissed by sunlight, and on that face was a confident smile that refused to fade.

This being was the one who had saved Ather from the unending torment of the thorn prison.

“...You are always the only god who answers when I call.”

“As it should be. This world was abandoned by its Creator, after all.”

“A fascinating topic, but I’ll ask more about that another time.”

“Which means there’s something else you want to ask first.”

Once again, he was merciful to Ather.

“Go on. I’ll hear it.”

“Thank you for giving me the chance.”

After a short breath, Ather asked:

“Who are you?”

The evil god Argio — the cruel beast — couldn’t be the one standing before him now.

“Now that I’ve seen it with my own eyes, I know for certain. You are not the Argio I knew — the evil god who sought to kill me and my comrades. That being, bound by deep and dreadful ties, is the one sleeping inside the final coffin far below. Not the one in front of me now.”

“Why do you think that?”

“The cruel beast was born from the rage and hatred of the sacrificed saints. Even a god cannot deny that. And the moment a god denies themselves — they cease to be a god. I remember the records of the royal library and these ruins. They all say the same.”

“So, you believe I’m not the evil god Argio?”

“...Honestly, I don’t know.”

How could a being exist while denying itself — and still remain itself?

“You turned me, who was no better than rotting flesh, back into a human — that I can call a miracle. But an evil god’s miracle... shouldn’t be so merciful and complete. A rebel against providence shouldn’t be able to do such things.”

“Then it seems you don’t understand.”

“And also — you shouldn’t have been able to take on a human form. Humans are children of providence. At best, you might mimic the form... but you eat, you sleep, you spend time, you speak with me — you live in the same stream of time as we do.”

“I even bleed red blood, don’t I?”

“I don’t understand how that’s possible. And as strong and clever as I may be among humans, I’m still just human. There’s no way I could unravel your truth on my own. If I’m able to — it’s only because you allowed it.”

“So, are you here to ask for permission?”

“If it’s something I need to know, you’ll let me learn it. If not, you’ll either let me live in ignorance for the rest of my life... or erase everything that happened. But considering how much mercy you’ve already shown me, unless all of this was just a passing whim...”

Yes.

“...Unless it was all that, you won’t just dismiss my questions as if they were never asked.”

The bare minimum of trust toward him — that was Ather’s to give. As all humans, throughout eternity, have begged their gods. And Ather believed this question would not be ignored.

“......”

“......”

Argio stroked his chin.

“No matter what — is it normal for someone to ask this kind of thing so directly...? Weren’t I supposed to be an evil god? I know what you heard and saw in the tomb... but shouldn’t that make you more cautious?”

“I know. Even I find myself ridiculous enough to feel ashamed. But I’ve always believed that all conflict and discord stems from a breakdown in conversation... so I can’t help it. I have to do what I can.”

“I can’t tell if you’ve just given up or if you’re actually wise.”

“Even so, I’d like to know what role I play in your story.”

“My story? That’s an easy one.”

He declared it cheerfully:

“You’re my friend!”

“......”

“To think you could glare at me like that with your own eyes — impressive.”

“Ah — I’m sorry. I’m inexperienced...”

“A royal librarian who can’t manage his expression?”

“I got scolded for that a lot back then too. Said I looked unpleasant.”

“Doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.”

“Well, you’re an evil god. You don’t need to see the past — you just know it already.”

“Do you grow thorns in your mouth when you speak insolently?”

He was a friend who said whatever he wanted — in a different way from Joo-Hyun.

“Hm. So you want a more dignified role, is that it?”

“That’s not really what I meant...”

“If you insist, I could appoint you as the Demon King’s right hand when the time comes.”

“I’m sorry, but that’s never been something I wanted.”

“Then how about becoming the head of a pseudo-religion, since we’re already here?”

“Could you... give me a moment to gather my thoughts?”

“I’ll give you ten seconds. One, two, three...”

Ten seconds passed.

“Your answer?”

“If you tell me who you really are — I’ll give you one.”

“You’re not easy to scam.”

“Forgive me if this sounds irreverent, but what exactly is a scam?”

“A naive person who’s easy to use.”

“That’s not a friend, then.”

“Smart boy.”

Of course, to rise from commoner to royal librarian, he couldn’t have been just kind or idealistic.

Gio decided to tell his story.

“Do you know what a split personality is?”

“When two souls reside in one body, right?”

“Think of that — as me.”

“...You’re saying you have multiple personalities? As an evil god?”

“Not exactly? Up till now, it’s been three.”

Well, close enough.

***

They moved to Ather’s quarters — where a cozy rest space had been arranged.

“To summarize: I’m a sample.”

“A sample?”

“Just like the small bite of food you try before the full course — I’m like that.”

“That’s... hard to wrap my head around.”

“Let me give a clearer comparison. Like a prototype before a real product. An experiment, so to speak.”

“You mean you’re the result of an experiment...?”

“Not one created by those magicians you know, mind you.”

Was the metaphor a little too hard?

“I’ll go slower. Right now, the being called ‘Gio’ consists of three merged identities: Sergio, Giovanni, and Argio. All of them were once called ‘Gio.’”

“...I’ll listen.”

“Smart. As you know, I was once an evil god of rage and pain. That was born from the natural mystery and negative emotions of many sacrificed vessels. And those elements — the mysteries and emotions — they’re what’s buried deep beneath us in the tomb.”

“......”

Ather furrowed his brow.

“...Mystery and emotion? You mean — not the humans themselves?”

“If one says innate mysteries and past emotions are part of being human — then no, it’s not entirely wrong.”

“So, at the very least, not people anymore.”

“You can think of it that way.”

They weren’t “human” in any common understanding of the term.

“And now — the human-shaped being before you with red hair, and the sealed persona in the final coffin you met — both are ‘Argio.’ The final vessel cast into the Black Forest. The one who crossed back and forth from forest to world, once called ‘Argio.’”

Ather hesitated, then asked:

“...So how different are you — from them? From those coffins? From the man called Argio?”

“We could be the same, or different. It’s all just a matter of perspective.”

It was extremely subtle.

“The final vessel, and a part of the evil god — that ‘Argio’ — he seized a rare opportunity. That’s me now. He had the chance to merge with the other Gios.”

“To... merge.”

“The conditions were right. ‘Argio’ became what I am now. And through him, I inherited all the mysteries and essence of the evil god Argio.”

“But you said you still lack a heart.”

“That’s what you saw.”

“That heart — what is it?”

“...Hmm...”

Gio paused, thinking.

“How should I explain this...”

“Even evil gods have things they can’t explain?”

“It’s tricky.”

After a moment of struggle, he offered something:

“Imagine swallowing a fruit whole — pit and all. What’s easier to digest?”

“...The flesh, I guess? I’ve never swallowed a pit, so I’m not sure.”

“That’s my situation exactly. The parts that are easier to digest — the persona called ‘Argio’ who found joy in life-and-death battles. All the fragments of mercy, peace, and happiness — I’ve digested those. But the most important part — the pit — I couldn’t digest. It’s still stuck in my stomach.”

“And that stomach is the underground tomb —

and the pit is the heart — the coffins?”

“Something like that.”

“So, uh...”

Ather’s expression soured.

“All the ones still in that tomb — they’re the worst of the worst?”

“You really just said that with the person in front of you being one of them?”

“Even if I’m about to get torn apart — I have to say what must be said.”

“You’re like one of those loyal ministers who gets beheaded in the town square for being too honest. But they’re not problem children. They’re all part of me. And they are, indeed, the heart. One day, I’ll have to digest them — I must. They’re essential.”

“From a mere human’s view — I want to ask if we can just leave things as they are and erase all the ones in the tomb... but I imagine that would be an insult too great for you. Right?”

“If you already know that — then saying it to my face...is that some kind of metaphorical duel challenge?”

“You misunderstood.”

It wasn’t provocation. It was honest.

And soon, Ather reached the conclusion of it all.

As a staggering realization dawned, his face turned pale.

Then he shouted:

“...So that means — someday, you’ll return to being that terrifying evil god Argio again! This is a doomsday prophecy!!”

“Come now — accept reality, friend! Life never goes the way you want! Even I never imagined I’d end up sharing a body with these dull, peaceful types!”

“Damn it! No wonder you seemed almost human! You treacherous Demon King!!”

Ather screamed in rage.

Argio loved it.

***

“......”

Joo-Hyun, having heard the whole story, let out a bitter laugh.

“There were victims even there...”

“Victims?”

“So, what did he decide to do?”

“He’s been constantly challenging me to one-on-one duels lately.”

“Oh my god.”

Joo-Hyun clapped for Ather’s courage.

“No wonder he was a hero.”

“I thought so too.”

“Are you accepting them?”

“As is proper.”

It made for great exercise — and he quite liked it.