“You were a foreigner.”

“Huh?”

Yoo Seong-woon asked back at Geo’s words.

“What are you talking about?”

On the way back after finishing the first initiation ceremony and parting ways with the Cha family. Yoo Seong-woon tilted his head at Geo’s unexpected muttering. He didn’t understand exactly what Geo was asking.

“A foreigner?”

“The blond priest I saw at the initiation ceremony briefing earlier….”

“Oh, what did you say?”

Geo was strangely old-fashioned. He had old-fashioned common sense like a grandfather, but he seemed to be worried that he might have discriminated against others without realizing it.

He was polite and gentlemanly in everything he did. He really worries a lot.

“He must be Korean, too. He must have been confused because he looked a little different from traditional Koreans, right?”

“You’re Korean. You have blond hair and blue eyes, and your frame is a little different from the Koreans I know, so I thought you were a Western foreigner. Was that rude?”

“You have a slightly old-fashioned mindset.”

“I’ll be careful.”

“I can’t help not knowing since you’ve been stuck in a frame.”

In addition, it must have been a little difficult for the original being to distinguish between human nationalities. It’s like how a person without specialized knowledge would have difficulty distinguishing between all the different types of ants.

‘More than anything, the original being tends to believe in the rules of humans that they’ve figured out once…’

The original being doesn’t understand the exceptionalism of humans very well.

Some people don’t understand why they don’t eat three meals a day, and others don’t understand why they don’t have hair, which should be a given.

‘Isn’t that what humans should be like?’

Rather, Geo was amazing for distinguishing them to the point of defining them as ‘Western foreigners.’ In this case, it seems that the superficial knowledge was poisonous… .

“Of course, the appearance of traditional Koreans is mostly black hair and black or brown eyes. The bone structure is also a little different. However, in this day and age, it is a bit… difficult to distinguish nationality based on hair color or bone structure.”

In order to make the original being understand humans, it was better to tell them the flow of origin. Yoo Seong-un started talking about the old days again.

“You seem to know about the Great Disaster, but I think the Earth was turned upside down once during the Great Disaster. I don’t know exactly what it felt like because it wasn’t my generation, but it must have been much more chaotic than it is now. It must have been like an apocalypse.”

“…….”

“…Do you know what an apocalypse is…?”

“I know.”

“Oh, that’s amazing.”

I think it was probably one of the memories that the human personality called ‘Sergio’ knew.

“Anyway, the concept of borders was vague back then. To be exact, it was vague. People started to migrate here and there to escape the disasters in their own countries, and as a result, the entire planet began to become a mixture of various races, like a giant salad bowl.”

As a result, the existence of ‘authentic Koreans’ has become rare.

“In our country, if you talk about pure Koreans, you can only find them rarely in rural areas where there is very little interaction with other regions. Some old-fashioned elders are extremely averse to the idea of ​​their children mixing with foreign blood….”

“Those kinds of people exist everywhere.”

“There are always people who hate change. That’s why it’s hard to determine someone’s nationality simply by their appearance. But that blond priest you mentioned, since he even hosts events like this, I think he’s probably Korean.”

“You don’t let foreign priests do the events?”

“No, rather… If he’s hosting such a big event, he must have held a fairly high position in the Sun God Church in Seoul. Then he must be living in Korea, so wouldn’t it be harder to think that he’s a foreigner?”

“Aha.”

I understood.

‘So now there’s no longer any distinction between races.’

No matter where his blood comes from, or what he looks like, if he has Korean citizenship, he’s Korean. That was a given even before the Great Disaster, but the atmosphere was a little different then and now.

‘It’s as if nationality is treated like a light license, like a driver’s license.’

Yoo Seong-woon said that since the priest would commute here, his race would be Korean. It didn’t matter where or who he was born, they just assumed he was Korean because he was registered as Korean.

“…….”

The Earth had truly become one.

‘… I think that’s good.’

That seemed a bit desirable.

‘It’s a little unfamiliar, though.’

Geo was still unfamiliar with his hometown. He thought that he couldn’t even order food at a hamburger restaurant anymore.

For Sergio, who was his living ancestor, this world was moving too fast.

“There won’t be any problems like racial discrimination.”

“It’s almost like a textbook conflict, that’s it.”

Yoo Seong-woon shrugged.

“I said that, but I can’t say that there’s no racial discrimination.”

“Didn’t you say there’s no distinction of nationality?”

“No, that’s not the problem….”

He looked around, made sure no one was listening, and continued.

“There’s class discrimination.”

“Ah.”

“Even though it sounds like an excuse… I don’t really have any thoughts, but it seems like 1st or 2nd class citizens are particularly arrogant. In particular, 1st class hunters find it unpleasant to interact with citizens of 3rd class or lower….”

“…….”

I felt ominous when I heard that citizens were classified by class. Is the caste system really back?

“…Is that the difference between nobles and commoners?”

“Oh, that’s easier to understand? I can definitely say that they’re similar perspectives.”

“I’m surprised that the classification and treatment are clearer than I thought.”

“Well, anyway.”

Yoo Seong-woon laughed softly.

“So if you differentiate races by appearance, people will say you’re a crazy old man, so be careful. I understand what you’re going through, but if other people hear it, it’ll probably sound like ridiculous discrimination.”

“Thank you for letting me know.”

“I wonder if there are any true pure-blooded Koreans left in this day and age. Even I’m not a native….”

The tone was a bit odd, but Geo let it slide for now, and asked another question he had been curious about.

“Is it because of the mixing of races that hair and eye colors are different? Of course, I know that blue hair doesn’t come from pure ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) genes, but just in case….”

“Oh, in my case, it’s just the effect of awakening.”

When it comes to awakening, it seemed to be related to ‘Hunter’.

“Does awakening change your color?”

“Not all of them are like that, but if you have a particularly friendly attribute, your color changes accordingly. The blue hair you mentioned isn’t a color that can come naturally, so it’s probably the effect of awakening.”

“I see.”

“Attributes aren’t something that the system clearly indicates like ranks or jobs, but rather, you define them based on your own abilities. By the way, my attribute is ‘freezing’.”

Only then did I notice the white hair like a meteor’s eyes and the blue eyes as cold as ice. It was a similar color to ‘Giovanni’s’, but it was definitely a color that felt colder than his.

“I used to have brown hair and brown eyes, but after I woke up, it became like this.”

“…I see….”

I thought that dyeing my hair was a trend these days.

‘Was I too prejudiced?’

To be honest, I didn’t really care even though I saw people with ghost-possessed portraits and hair and eye colors that stood out. It was because Geo was a person without prejudice who respected human diversity.

‘The world has turned upside down and fashion has become so complicated, so I thought that dyeing my hair wouldn’t be impossible…’

Or maybe he just thought it was a kind of evolution and just passed it over without thinking. He was a really indifferent person, even in his own thoughts.

“I can change color too.”

“Huh? Suddenly? You were originally black. Wasn’t that your identity?”

“It’s interesting to say that color can be a person’s identity, but I’m not black. I just added it because Yoo Seong-un said that his color changed.”

“No… Your black color is a bit too… uh…”

Isn’t it too black?

‘Just like a bottomless pit or obsidian.’

It was hard to say that Geo’s color was a simple color. The black color, which seemed to symbolize death or silence, often made people’s minds dizzy.

‘Even now that I’ve lowered my status to the level of a human, it’s still a bit burdensome to make direct eye contact.’

Geo asked back, wondering at Yoo Seong-un’s reaction.

“Isn’t it just ordinary black?”

“…If that’s what you thought, then that’s fine.”

Yoo Seong-un returned to the topic from earlier.

“So, you change color too?”

“If you put in a little effort, you can change it. Can I be considered a modern person now?”

“A 29-year-old young man is talking like an old man who can’t keep up with the times…. No, is that it? Platinum blonde hair and blue eyes?”

“You knew.”

“You changed color like that at Cheonggyecheon and when you rode a water taxi.”

“I wonder if I evolved into a chameleon, unlike other people.”

“Rather than that….”

I think it was a change in personality.

“…….”

“What were you trying to say?”

“…It’s just, it’s amazing.”

At this point, Yoo Seong-woon also got a feel for Geo.

“Geo… likely has many personalities.”

With the personality named ‘Portrait of Geo’ by Geun-won at the center, various personalities spread out like branches on the side.

He usually acts as the personality called ‘Geo’, but when a certain situation arises, the corresponding personality seems to react.

‘He’s really a difficult guy to deal with. I sent him out into society hastily because of the greed of Guild Leader Nana… but if he develops a personality that is hostile to humans, it will be quite difficult.’

Even if that were the case, Bisabal would preach a taste that is hard to sympathize with, saying, ‘It’s part of art to die while appreciating a work of art,’ but for ordinary people who aren’t like him or Yoo Seong-woon, who has an irrational collecting habit, it would be a disaster.

‘I’m aware of that too.’

Even though his conscience has already been rounded out by the run, there is still a minimum of good. Yoo Seong-woon, who was thinking about how to deal with Geo for a moment, opened his mouth.

“By any chance, that is….”

“Yes.”

“…….”

Isn’t this the place to talk?

“Can you tell me about yourself? Not here, but when we get back to the hotel.”

“I think I’ve told you a lot about myself so far.”

“I want to know more about something deeper. When I get back to the hotel, I’ll ask you once, and if you’re not uncomfortable, you can answer. It’s also my job as a curator.”

“I’ll do that.”

“Thank you very much.”

Geo suddenly brought up a topic, probably thinking that this topic would not come up again until they arrived at the hotel.

“I’m worried about the cat you left at home.”

“…A cat? Did you bring a cat home?”

“Anti-cat, I met him for the first time at the jewel vein this time.”

“…….”

“But it’s okay since the teddy bear is watching over you.”

“…I don’t know how to react since a while ago….”

Yoo Seong-woon asked with a subtle expression.

“Anti-cat, well, let’s say it’s you.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“What do you mean the teddy bear is watching over the anti-cat?”

“The teddy bear is literally watching over Dana.”

“You made it?”

“The old man entered the doll that was abandoned in the sea.”

“Who is that old man? Why did he enter the teddy bear of all people?”

“It’s the sun god that I serve.”

“…….”

Yoo Seong-woon, who was silent for a short time, decided not to ask any more questions.

“Hmm, I see.”

He was already confused enough.

Fluffy and blunt hands.

The doll with fur similar to Giovanni’s slowly stroked the back of the kitten that had dug into its embrace.

The body of the jewel cat was spread out lazily, as if it was comfortable in that embrace.

“…….”

The teddy bear constantly stroked the small jewel filled with dead spirits.

Patting, sweeping, and sometimes covering it, it shared warmth. Although it was now a sun with no divinity left, it could perform miracles enough to warm this cold body.

All we did was hold each other tightly.

“…….”

The teddy bear looked at the picture frame depicting the blue sea with a stuffed smile. It felt like a calm life force, as if it were a drawing of a single person.

My child called it the ‘breathing sea.’

“…….”

And this must be connected to the world of mermaids.

“…….”

Geo will meet the mermaid.

The teddy bear wished that Giovanni would embrace the mermaid princess again.

“…….”

For that, I wouldn’t even spare my divinity.

Even without such grand things, this place… was bright and warm enough.