The highest floor of the Collectors building, Bisabeol’s office.
“It is a dangerous disposition.”
“A foul temper?”
“You could put it that way as well.”
After hearing Yoo Seongwoon’s report, Bisabeol stroked his chin and asked,
“He held himself hostage to threaten the merfolk?”
“…In summary, yes.”
“How fiery of him.”
The smile Bisabeol wore as he murmured those words looked bitter somehow.
“To think my collection would try to walk straight into the fires of hell on its own.”
“Those hellfires were the light of the Sun. Please refrain from remarks that could cause friction with the Sun Church.”
“That’s why I don’t say it in front of them. That should be enough.”
“You never know where word might leak from—especially words that could be perceived as blasphemy….”
“People obsessed with religion simply cannot be reasoned with.”
“Are priests not all like that by nature?”
“I hope our dear Giovanni does not grow up that way….”
“That man you call Giovanni is fully grown. He grew so much that he died.”
“Do not kill off my lovely Work as you please, Curator Yoo Seongwoon.”
Apparently finding this ridiculous exchange rather pleasing, Bisabeol, who had been drooping, soon let out a small laugh.
“We can conclude that he has no attachment whatsoever to his own annihilation or suffering. Even gods are extremely sensitive about annihilation. At this point, it would not be an exaggeration to say that humanity’s most traditional means of responding to a calamity is no longer available.”
“We should avoid creating any reason to fight ‘Gio’s Portrait’ in the first place. If the situation deteriorates enough that we must find a way to subdue Gio, it will not be a calamity we can end by offering a few sacrifices, as we might…