Yoo Seong-Woon flew over as soon as he heard the news.

“Ah, hang on a sec.”

“Mr. Yoo Seong-Woon, it’s been a while.”

“It’s been so long, I’m glad to see you, but I heard something really ominous from Joo-Hyun.”

“You must mean the news that ‘Portrait of Gio’ is getting a renewal soon.”

“Can you even pause an update?”

“This outdated portrait doesn’t have such refined high-end features.”

“That’s a real shame.”

Yoo Seong-Woon had just returned from an overseas work trip and arrived at the collector’s gallery. He limped over, unfolded a folding chair, and set it down in front of the portrait. A curator from the 5th floor who was passing by greeted him.

“Oh, I heard you were abroad.”

“I flew back as soon as the job was done.”

“Well then, take care.”

“Heading home, huh? Wow, I’m jealous. Off work already at 4 a.m.?”

“I’m going home to see Kkyurung, so don’t hold me up. I need to feed them.”

“Our friendship forged in late-night overtime is really this shallow...”

“How dare you stop a working person from going home.”

After the curator coolly walked away, Gio asked Yoo Seong-Woon,

“Kkyurung—just hearing the name sounds adorable. Who is it?”

“That’s the goldfish that person keeps at home...”

“These days, goldfish not only cry but also go ‘kkyurung’? I’ve learned something new again.”

“Well, no matter how many times I hear it, it doesn’t sound like ‘kkyurung’ to me.”

“Then what does it sound like?”

“More like ‘kururung-kwangkwang.’”

“Isn’t that thunder and lightning?”

“I don’t understand why that goldfish isn’t named Thunderbolt.”

“Thunderbolt would be too cruel a name for a goldfish, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, I messed up. I’m so tired I’m just saying anything.”

Even goldfish probably have their pride.

“Anyway, back to the point...”

Yoo Seong-Woon pulled out a notebook and fountain pen, then asked again.

“Mr. Argio?”

“I’m right here.”

“Great transition, love that.”

At some point, Yoo Seong-Woon narrowed his eyes at the braid of red hair spilling out beyond the frame.

“I heard you’ve started preparing in earnest to become an evil god. What’s that about? Are you saying the current Argio isn’t complete?”

“Well, synchronization is stuck at 99.9%.”

“What, is it buffering? A glitch?”

“If anything, yeah—it’s a glitch.”

In other words, the system’s refusing to accept 0.1 of a file.

“Right now, the other ‘Gios’ are protesting pretty hard.”

“...So that’s how assimilation works? More democratic than I expected.”

“If necessary, we can express opinions that way, but ‘Gio’ is fundamentally one. It’s just that I haven’t fully assimilated yet, so I feel a bit separate.”

“What kind of vibe is that?”

“In the end, assimilation means becoming one...”

It was like understanding and accepting emotions like love, anger, and sorrow—how a person grows.

‘Gio’ needed time to accept and embrace this too. If he subconsciously rejected a certain value, how could he become one? It was impossible.

“Of course, I’ve already accepted and embraced a lot, hence the 99.9%...”

“For some reason, I feel like there are way more decimal places after that. So?”

“Well... when you think of an evil god, some things come to mind, right?”

“Disaster.”

“That’s what ‘Gio’ still can’t accept.”

“There’s something worth accepting in disaster?”

“The collector is the one who created this gallery for that very reason, isn’t he?”

“You’re right.”

Yoo Seong-Woon smirked.

“That’s why we’re collectors.”

A damned breed that finds covetable value even in catastrophe.

“So eventually, you’ll become a fully complete evil god.”

Still, he knew that the dominant persona would be ‘Sergio.’ Just as ‘Giovanni’ never became the main personality, neither would ‘Argio.’ Thanks to that, he wasn’t too worried.

‘Worst case, a few guilds might get wiped out.’

Hmm.

‘...Maybe I should expand the projected damage radius a bit, considering he’s called the evil god of blood and rage... Well, all battles will be inside dungeons anyway, and restoration should be covered by the government and the association.’

As he calculated the potential damage to humanity, Yoo Seong-Woon opened his mouth again.

“I’ve never actually studied that part of history, so I’m not totally sure but... are you gonna be a real bastard?”

“Ather, you, and everyone else are really harsh to someone standing right in front of you. But if you want an answer—yeah, probably. Even if the blissful pig that avoids conflict or the saint of mercy tries to dilute it, you all better brace yourselves.”

“Wow, our portrait’s finally going through puberty, huh...”

“Isn’t it a bit late for that?”

“Twenty-four’s still young.”

“Generous with the baby talk, aren’t you.”

“I learned from you.”

This guy never even treated eighteen-year-olds as adults.

“I should probably report this. But don’t worry, I’m not planning to interfere with your Demon King project. I’m someone who believes even in pain and death, you can find artistic value.”

“Unlike Ms. Joo-Hyun, who found it extremely uncomfortable—this is refreshing.”

“If I meet you in a dungeon, I shouldn’t expect mercy, right?”

“I definitely understand the value of mercy. And of compassion, salvation, friendship—I know them all well.”

The golden eyes curved deeply.

“But whether the evil god will understand those things—I’m not so sure.”

“What do you mean not sure.”

Yoo Seong-Woon smiled patiently and unwrapped a lollipop.

“You already know everything.”

Everything in this world had value.

The only question was: how well did that value align with the era and the situation?

***

Argio said,

“A person should live while getting angry sometimes. How can you live just showing mercy?”

Giovanni replied,

“A person should live while showing mercy. How can you live just getting angry?”

“Now now, priest of sacred law, no need to rig the deck like that, hmm? Giovanni, you just don’t get angry because you’re not mad, isn’t that it?”

“Do you think I never felt resentment or hatred? I’m simply offering a bit of compassion and understanding. It’s something indispensable to an intellectual community.”

“But not everyone can possess ideal compassion and reason. Look, friend. Most people don’t have our level of patience. There’s a reason folks say a fist is closer than the law.”

“I don’t want to solve a situation where everyone can improve by following rules—through violence. And besides, Mr. Argio, don’t you actually enjoy the violence itself?”

“It’s not violence. It’s the process of becoming stronger and releasing the knots in my heart. If I take joy in that noble method, is that really such a sin?”

“This is why you’re called an evil god...”

“Says you, mercy bomber.”

“Says you, mercy bomber.”

Sergio said,

“Well then, shall we go paint now?”

“Let’s do that.”

“Indeed.”

It was time to complete the ‘Dream Amusement Park.’

***

“......”

The priest of the Moon Sect looked around.

“......”

The desk and walls were stacked high with research materials. A mobile whiteboard. Everywhere the eye landed, it was full of precious knowledge and beloved fruits of labor.

“......”

As he paced, the content began to come into focus. Research on the Origin. It was progressing smoothly. Something that could even be submitted to the Association. The priest was pulled in, mesmerized.

Then he came to his senses.

“...Ah, right.”

This was a dream.

“I was analyzing the structure of the dungeon.”

The documents in his hands floated gently in the air.

‘I’ve been lost in this dream for a whole month already... I almost made the same mistake again. I guess I should be thankful I snapped out of it just in time.’

The Moon Sect was conducting research on the dungeon known as the ‘Dream Amusement Park,’ under commission from the Association. As a virtual dungeon, it wasn’t easy to comprehend. The idea that dreams manifested as one wished—wasn’t that rather abstract?

‘What’s amazing is, all the knowledge I gain here has real-world value. It means this domain wasn’t created based solely on my own knowledge. No, at most, some of the backdrop or settings might be influenced, but... that’s not all.’

Even knowledge about the ‘Origin’ held practical value.

“......”

He had written down “a dream where my research bears fruit” and placed it under his pillow. With that alone, the man had made enormous strides in just a few days. There was a hollow but addictive pleasure to it.

‘To the point that I feel like I want to live in this dream forever...’

But that wasn’t possible.

‘This is a kind of lucid dream. The length of time can be stretched or compressed depending on the dreamer’s personal ability. But just because time in the dream is long doesn’t mean you sleep longer in real life.’

Everyone falls asleep at a normal time and wakes up normally. No disruptions to time or body. Other than a disturbing addictiveness, this dream had no side effects.

‘But I’m here to complete the commission from the Moon Sect. I can’t let myself be lured by this sweet dream any longer. There will be plenty of time to savor broader knowledge after fulfilling the sect’s duties...’

As he repeated that to himself—

“Why reject it?”

“......”

“Isn’t it truly sweet?”

“...What...”

He turned around.

“......”

But it was still his lab. A dream of his laboratory. There was no reason a new voice should be heard in this place. Even scanning the entire room, he couldn’t see who the voice belonged to.

Then the voice came from the right.

“Someone as clever as you must know—none of the knowledge seen and heard here is fake. It’s all filled with deep and mysterious wisdom that contributes to the advancement of humanity and the world... All cultivated by you.”

Then from the left—

“Are you disheartened because it’s a dream? Sure, if your dream was about spending money frivolously, maybe. Or if it was just eating delicious food. But you know, don’t you?”

“......”

“Knowledge cannot be false. As long as it isn’t a lie, knowledge is knowledge. And that is noble. Look. Here, all the knowledge you’ve ever longed for is piled up.”

“......”

“Perhaps you feel guilty because it wasn’t earned by your own hand. But there’s no need for that. I grant you special permission. After all, you made it here through your own strength and choice, didn’t you?”

And now the whispers came from all directions.

“No need to strain yourself.”

“You’re doing well enough.”

“So, what are you curious about next?”

“Pitiful—this cramped place is your whole world, isn’t it?”

“Shall I show you the library next?”

“Don’t you want to see the world?”

“There’s such a variety of knowledge here.”

“Origin is such a mysterious concept.”

“You could save even more people.”

“Who else could uncover such high-value knowledge?”

“It’s premature knowledge, but I’ll allow it specially.”

“You’ve received a truly rare opportunity.”

“Do you really want to wake [N O V E L I G H T] up from this sweet dream...?”

“Sleep deeper, deeper.”

“Reach out.”

“Imagine more.”

“What is it you desire?”

“What longing do you hold?”

“All the knowledge you were denied is here.”

“Aren’t you curious?”

“This is a dream meant only for you.”

“Your dream.”

The priest opened and closed his mouth.

“......”

He must not respond.

‘...No matter what, I must not reply.’

If the being were merely a monster, maybe he could. But if it were one of the children of Origin, things would get complicated. A mystery with divine authority—like divinity itself, or the dungeon’s own will. A human could be transformed in an instant.

Just as he realized that—

A presence appeared behind him.

“Dear me... Being ignored like this, how sad.”

“......”

“It seems this dream doesn’t satisfy you.”

He must not look. He must pretend he hadn’t heard.

“What a strange thing. You don’t even realize your own contradiction. Didn’t you believe nothing else mattered except knowledge? I remember quite clearly—it was you who wished for this dream.”

“......”

“All the knowledge you desire is here. Why not stay a little longer? Don’t you want broader knowledge? Yet you dare try to destroy this sweet dream out of duty to the real world. Reality, reality. What about it is so important?”

“......”

“Something left behind in reality still weighs on you? Duties there, fellow priests, those who trust and follow you? Don’t worry. As you already know, this dream is long, and reality remains unchanged. So why try to return? Come now, fall deeper into sleep. Just a little deeper...”

click—

A sound like jewels clinking—and something grabbed his shoulder.

“Abandoning it all takes only a moment.”

Whatever it may be.

“......”

“......”

The presence soon vanished.

“...Ugh...”

Trembling, he turned around—but nothing remained.

Only the shadows of his dark lab. The priest stared for a long while at that empty shadow, as if glaring.

Then he recalled the voice’s words.

‘...What’s so important about reality?’

‘...What’s so important about reality?’

...Yeah, really?

‘Why was I trying to go back?’

The man stood there for a long time.