"To be precise, the exact term would be 'child of the Source', but we usually just lump them together under the name 'Mystery'. That goes for most of the wondrous phenomena or beings we see."
Yoo Sung-woon asked with a smile.
"Now, do you have any questions here?"
"You've only said a few words, and you're already giving me a chance to ask a question?"
"I have to quickly cram a Gardener's knowledge into you before I can explain our ultimate goal. Even if that weren't the case, it's a time to introduce concepts you're learning for the first time in your life, so it's better to build a solid foundation step by step through Q&A. So?"
"...Mystery, at least... I've heard of a few times."
Cha Eun-hyuk asked in an unconfident tone.
"I usually hear that word a lot from religions related to gods."
"Because Divinity can also be seen as a type of Mystery."
"Wait, if we go by that logic, shouldn't dungeons or monsters also be called Mysteries?"
"Oh, piercing through to the essence already. You definitely have the aptitude for it."
"...? Really? They count as a type of Mystery too?"
"They're all slightly different, but in the end, we consider them beings within the same flow."
Yoo Sung-woon continued his explanation.
"A Mystery can be expressed as fate, rules, or a story. In most cases, they don't deviate from the framework of those three. Let's use the 'One-Eyed Jindo' I mentioned earlier as an example."
He took out a translucent pad and showed a drawing of the 'One-Eyed Jindo' on it. It was a drawing depicted in such detail it was almost like a photograph.
"This is the form of the 'One-Eyed Jindo' drawn by a Gardener. Is it the same as what you remember?"
"Ah, yes. The one I saw was black, though..."
"The explanation for the black one is included here too. Since the meaning differs by color."
"So that differs by meaning too. If it's just a dog, the difference based on color... doesn't seem like it'd be significant."
"When observing Mysteries, you have to react sensitively even to a single color like this. You have to assume everything has a meaning. A black Jindo doesn't stay close to its subject of protection and maintains a sense of distance. It judges that there's no problem with protecting them even if left like that. You must have been very mature for your age since you were young?"
"...Is this a real dog? Or a dog's soul?"
"No, it's just a Mystery mimicking the Jindo, a dog native to Korea."
Yoo Sung-woon said while showing 'One-Eyed Jindo' in three colors.
"Among Mysteries, there are those that specifically follow a 'story' like this. In this case, most of them simply take on a form related to the 'story' or repeat actions from it. They're completely different from the Jindo dogs you know."
"Mimicking... Then why one-eyed of all things? Couldn't it have mimicked it in more detail?"
"It's mimicking, literally. It can't become the perfect original itself. That's why most Mysteries of this type have parts that clearly differ from the original. Just like how the eye of the 'One-Eyed Jindo' is embedded vertically right in the center like this."
"..."
Cha Eun-hyuk unconsciously looked at 'Hunter Seo Ji-oh'. He tilted his head.
"Is there a problem with me?"
"Ah, no. There isn't."
Yoo Sung-woon told Cha Eun-hyuk, who was acting like that.
"This one is an exception."
"An exception, I see."
"Very much an exception, so I'd like it if you just didn't use him as a reference from the get-go. This guy is too advanced of a course for you to learn about already."
"I will keep your advice in mind."
"Now, shall we get back to the explanation."
Yoo Sung-woon pointed at the drawing of the 'One-Eyed Jindo' again.
"These are Mysteries that mimic the story of a Jindo dog protecting its owner. Barring exceptional cases, it's their rule to only protect young children under the average age of 7. From what's been discovered so far, it ranges from a minimum of 1 year old to a maximum of 13 years old, was it? After that, it is their fate to disappear or cycle around finding another subject to protect."
He smiled brightly.
"The dungeons, monsters, and skills that people know are the Mysteries that humans can most commonly see and encounter. To speak of it in terms of the most basic stage of Mystery, it's like the surface of the sea, or above it."
"Seeing as you specifically used the sea as an analogy..."
"It means there's a long way to go below it. You could compare it to the deep sea and the ocean floor. As expected, you catch on quickly. Good to see."
Yoo Sung-woon showed him a diagram.
"In other words, Mysteries also have stages, and in a single dimension, humans can mostly see and encounter a unified stage of Mysteries commonly. In Earth's case, dungeons, monsters, and skills—which can be seen as stages 1 to 3—belong to that 'commonly visible' realm."
"Then what about this stage 0 marked outside here...?"
"Thinking of Earth before the Great Cataclysm would be the best example. Back then, Earthlings were in a state where they couldn't see any Mysteries at all, right? So I marked it outside the diagram. I suppose you could say it's essentially the initial form of a dimension least affected by Mysteries."
Yoo Sung-woon showed cases of various dimensions.
"As I said earlier, the stage of Mystery that humans of a specific dimension can perceive is generally uniform. But among them, there are exceptionally a few humans who can see and feel deeper Mysteries."
"Are those... 'talents' like us?"
"Exactly, I'm glad you seem to understand well. You could call them a slightly faster-evolving new humanity, or you could call them mutants. This perspective varies slightly from Gardener to Gardener, so you should take your time and think about it later too. Solidifying your identity is important in this industry."
"You said it wasn't a job."
"Well, let's see. If you really want to get into it, it's closer to being a freelancer? There are Gardeners who are like hermits living in harmony with Mysteries completely buried in nature, but... average people still need money to make a living no matter what."
"T-That is true."
"Among these 'talents', we call the ones who are a bit more specialized and given a specific mission 'Gardeners'. If that's hard to understand, it's slightly different, but you can think of them as saints who serve a Divinity."
Having said that, Yoo Sung-woon laughed.
"Of course, it's a field without that level of prestige!"
"Weren't you pitching to me right now? Are you sure it's okay to show me the rock bottom from the start?"
"I told you, it's not something a sales pitch can fix. I'm just giving you an explanation. Whether you accept our crazy proposal later or not is your decision, as well as the Source's."
"It's complicated, so please explain it to me step by step..."
"Ah, right. I got sidetracked again."
Yoo Sung-woon shrugged. He continued his explanation.
"No one knows what form or structure the end of these Mysteries will take. Even though we've grasped various dimensions through dungeons so far."
"Is there a specific reason it hasn't been revealed to that extent? Just thinking about it, trying to completely establish that kind of knowledge in 30 years' time seems like too... vast of a realm, but..."
"Of course, there are other reasons. Cha Eun-hyuk, think of the universe. Can we boast that we completely know about the universe?"
"Ah, that's not true. We don't even know its end."
"It's exactly that kind of feeling."
It was a similar context.
"Why hasn't the universe been conquered yet, even though the time humans have spent exploring space is longer than the time spent exploring Mysteries? It's because the concept is so broad and the effort required to grasp it is too great. Mysteries are almost exactly the same."
It was quite a headache, though.
"Above all, the deeper people delve into Mysteries, the more they lose their reason and get encroached upon by them."
"...It gets to that point?"
"A person can't remain intact if they enter a black hole, right? You can't say it's the exact same logic, but you can just roughly think of it like that."
"What exactly happens?"
"To say they become something that isn't human would be the most accurate for now. So they become another form of Mystery. Or they just become a cell of a Mystery."
"That's creepy."
"That won't happen at the level of Mystery you're seeing and feeling right now, so rest assured."
Yoo Sung-woon smiled.
"But judging by the fact that there are stages, the final and most advanced stage must exist, and experienced Gardeners can faintly sense its presence. Earthlings have decided to call it the 'Source'."
"What exactly does that do?"
"I'm sorry, but we really don't know. What it does, what its purpose is, whether it has reason or not, whether it has an ego or is just a system. No human has been able to define what realm it belongs to."
"...It really is similar to the universe."
"It's the most convenient concept for making newbies understand."
While many people don't know about Mysteries, there's almost no one who doesn't know about the universe. No matter if it's an era where compulsory education has vanished, knowledge from before the Great Cataclysm could be passed down in plenty of ways.
While highly specialized knowledge might be difficult, a brief story about the universe could be passed down through word of mouth. Therefore, people usually relied heavily on the analogy of the universe when explaining things to a newbie Gardener.
"Humans on Earth currently categorize Mysteries into three broad stages: dungeons and monsters, Divinities and children of the Source, and the Source... roughly like that."
"Dungeons and monsters are tied together, and Divinities and children of the Source are... uh..."
"As I said before, they're really 'three broad stages'. If we were to subdivide them, we'd have to dig endlessly. So just ask about the specific parts you're curious about. What kind of explanation do you need?"
"...I don't know what order they're in."
"Right, shall I break it down one by one?"
Yoo Sung-woon nodded readily.
"The reason dungeons and monsters are grouped together is because this is the realm everyone can see at the earliest stage. Let's call this stages 1 to 3. Then, Divinities and children of the Source require the next stage. Think of this as the middle stage. Lastly, the Source exists. Consider this the final stage."
He summarized.
"It's essentially the beginning, middle, and end."
"Pardon me, but... isn't that grouping them a bit too broadly, no matter how you look at it?"
"But we can't subdivide realms that Earth hasn't even experienced yet."
"...Wait, hasn't yet?"
"You're quick on the uptake as expected. I'm thinking of explaining that starting now."
Yoo Sung-woon said while swiftly operating the pad.
"The evolutionary process of a planet and dimension also includes the realm of accepting Mysteries. The same goes for humanity. The moment it reaches a certain point and gains the capacity to perceive and accept Mysteries, or the moment a specific condition is met, Mysteries begin to materialize and take form."
"Uh... Then..."
"Right, Earth named that moment the 'Great Cataclysm'. Any dimension where humans exist has generally gone through this process, or will go through it... That's the most recent theory. Since it's a theory from the Association's research institute, it isn't completely lacking in credibility."
"..."
Cha Eun-hyuk asked with a pale face.
"...Is this really something I'm allowed to hear?"
"It's fine, I got it all approved before coming here."
"Can't I just farm and sell bunggeoppang?"
"It'd be better to do that after you've heard the whole story."
"It's because just knowing about it feels like it'll have a profound impact on my life."
"But don't you think peace went out the window the moment you got involved with Ji-oh?"
At that, Cha Eun-hyuk looked at Ji-oh, and the black cloak spoke naturally like a robot that had been inputted with a command.
"Would you like to be friends with me?"
"...I'll have to think about it a bit..."
Cha Eun-hyuk looked at Yoo Sung-woon again.
"...If that's the case, does that mean those Mysteries have constantly existed since before?"
"To be exact, it would be correct to see it as them having been accumulating."
"Accumulating?"
"What you pointed out is exactly right, Mysteries have constantly existed since before."
Yoo Sung-woon, who had been continuously rummaging through the pad, soon found something.
"Ah, here it is. Want to take a look at this?"
"...What is this?"
"Jangsanbeom. I figure you would have heard of this much. It's especially famous among people in the provinces, right?"
TL/N: Jangsanbeom is a modern urban legend from South Korea about a terrifying white-furred creature that mimics human voices.
"Of course I know it. Isn't it one of the indigenous monsters said to often make their nests and live in the backwaters of Korea? That, uh, tiger? Form... that mimics human voices..."
"Well, Jangsanbeom is a ghost story created quite close to the time of the Great Cataclysm... but it's still true that it's a Mystery created before the Great Cataclysm. This is also a Mystery that mimics a 'story'."
"...If so, are things like Dokkaebi also Mysteries that existed before the Great Cataclysm?"
TL/N: Dokkaebi is a legendary, nature-associated spirits from Korean mythology and folklore
"You hit the nail on the head. You have good application skills. Dokkaebi is the most representative example of Korean Mysteries."
Yoo Sung-woon folded his fingers as he gave examples.
"Dokkaebi, yokai, demons, angels, or beings referred to as ghosts are types of Mysteries that have existed since before. Do you know a little about shamans or exorcist priests?"
TL/N: yokai is supernatural spirits, monsters, and entities in Japanese folklore
"Ah, yes, I know them. 3rd-class citizens living in the provinces like us tend to have quite a bit of that kind of folklore knowledge. I don't know the specifics, but a little..."
"Seeing, encountering, and exorcising ghosts; you probably heard of it in a similar context, right? And there were also cases of people being able to see ghosts before the Great Cataclysm. These people are the 'talents' I mentioned earlier."
"...That existed during the Stage 0 period?"
"Good, you're understanding it very well."
Yoo Sung-woon nodded in praise.
"To the Earthlings who lacked the ability to perceive Mysteries until before the Great Cataclysm, after the Great Cataclysm... it's as if a different kind of sense, function, and organ formed. You can consider it an evolution in its own right."
"...And that kind of evolution occurred due to the accumulation of Mysteries?"
"...Broadly speaking, the Great Cataclysm is in the same context. If humans evolved to be able to see, encounter, and materialize Mysteries, then Earth evolved to allow the doors of Mystery to open."
"Can you even call that evolution?"
"There are many people who call it deterioration, too."
He smiled bitterly.
"What do you think a dungeon is?"
"A dungeon? I think it's... another dimension."
"There are dungeons that were newly created from the very beginning. Those ones are usually low-grade dungeons. Simple dungeons where monsters exist without any special story, and you just have to defeat the boss to destroy it."
Yoo Sung-woon gently rolled his eyes.
"These guys are identified as dungeons born from the Source in the first place. Even though they have their own stories and rules, they're extremely basic. There is no complex causality."
"Ah, right. I've heard from my younger sibling that the higher the grade of a dungeon, the more detailed its stories or rules are. No, of course, she can never go to places like that, but."
"And those upper-grade dungeons are generally forms that appeared from existing dimensions deteriorating."
It might be a slightly scary thing to say, but...
"They are also dimensions that have been completely encroached upon by Mysteries."
"Encroached upon... Wait, then."
"Right, Earth is going down the same path."
"...Are we doomed to perish?"
"Ah, of course, we still have a long way to go to reach that point."
Yoo Sung-woon shrugged.
"But the scary part is that we could get closer to it at any given time?"
"..."
"Hmm, to explain a little more... most monsters are born from these dungeons. But some create dungeons themselves."
One could easily understand this if they recalled the mermaid monster from before.
"However, the very beginning of such a monster also starts from a dimension encroached upon by Mysteries. The moment a specific dimension is so full of Mysteries that it becomes Mystery itself, a certain being with a fate, rules, and a story transforms into a monster. Usually, there are many humanoid monsters in these cases."
That was the natural order. That there must be a parent to have a child. That if there is a beginning, there is an end.
"Uh... honestly, I don't know if this order is completely correct either, but if I were to summarize it..."
Yoo Sung-woon organized a diagram on the pad. It was a rough outline that read: [Source of Mystery (Mother) → Garden (Blood vessels and organs close to the Source) → Dungeon (A type of child of the Source) → Monster (Child of the dungeon)].
"You can just consider this to normally be the order."
"Normally, you say."
"It's an industry with a lot of variables, after all."
That was why there was a lot of overtime, too.
"Ah, for reference, humans and their world are drawing a separate trajectory from the vein of Mysteries."
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand that one bit."
"To put it simply, the academic disciplines of science and magic can coexist with each other, but they are in completely different contexts. I've rarely taught newbies, so my words are coming out a bit difficult."
Yoo Sung-woon laughed awkwardly.
"So, well... organisms born on Earth, including humans, and the planet itself that sculpted them. The universe surrounding it... all the material realms that early humans could at least perceive, even if they couldn't understand them. Things that just existed from the beginning. Things you can see and touch... Things whose existence can be discovered through the development of technology and civilization."
"..."
"Put that in the realm of 'science' that I used as an analogy earlier."
"...In science..."
"It's just that the broadest realm in the field of science is the universe, and the deepest concept in the field of magic is the Source. Though the probability of humans ever being able to see the end of either is extremely slim."
Therefore, there were definitely troublesome points.
"We don't know what will happen when these two different realms completely fuse together. According to the claims of a certain scholar, eventually, if the realm of science accepts the accumulation of Mysteries beyond its limit... the end of that evolution will ultimately be Mystery, though."
"...W-Wasn't turning into a dungeon the end of evolution?"
"No, we don't know. We don't know the stage after dungeons. We just know that when a certain level of Mysteries accumulates in a dimension, it transitions to a stage called a 'dungeon'."
"Then what do we do?"
"That's why a Gardener's role is important."
Yoo Sung-woon smiled broadly.
"Wow, we finally got to Gardeners."
"My head is way too complicated right now..."
"It's fine, I just came to give you a taste of it anyway, so you don't need to think too deeply or try to learn it all. No one can force you into this line of work, after all."
He continued his explanation.
"As you know if you've listened up to here, the Source is a kind of mother body. It's essentially an aggregate of Mysteries, and from here, Mysteries flow out and their aftermath reaches our planet."
"...It's not something separately materialized, right?"
"I'm not too sure about that either. As I said before, it's an undefined realm. However, there is exactly one way for humans to independently manage the Mysteries flowing out from there..."
"Is that, Gardeners?"
"It's Gardeners managing Gardens."
Yoo Sung-woon nodded.
"As I just outlined, a Garden is the organs and blood vessels of the Source. Such points exist all over Earth. They likely exist in other dimensions and planets, too. And if we appropriately manage these guys, we can stop the accumulation of Mysteries."
He rolled his eyes to the side.
"In other words, it's preparing for a situation where Mysteries overflow so much that humans can't protect themselves. So that no further unexpected evolution, or deterioration, occurs... we manage and repair the Gardens—the veins and organs of the Source—protecting the realms of reality and Mystery."
At the long explanation, Cha Eun-hyuk asked.
"...So neither side overflows?"
"So they don't overflow."
It was to prevent cold water from overflowing into hot water, eventually becoming a single pool of lukewarm water. Even if they didn't know exactly what would happen in that case, at the very least, it wouldn't be good for humanity as it is now.
"It's presumed that the most primitive form of these Gardeners were probably priests or shamans. They didn't exactly know of the existence of Mysteries."
"Ah..."
"But since they were 'talents' who had advanced a little further than Stage 0, they possessed above-average aptitude... Even before the Great Cataclysm, they managed the shallowest stage of Mysteries they could see and encounter."
"Then were those people Gardeners too?"
"It would be hard to say they were. In the end, they hadn't evolved enough to perceive Mysteries, and so they couldn't even know of the existence of 'Gardens'. You can't call those people Gardeners who manage Gardens."
It was a pity.
"In the end, it was only after enough Mysteries accumulated to necessitate humanity's evolution that we became able to manage Gardens, right?"
"But you said the Great Cataclysm occurred because we couldn't manage them before that."
"Then what could we have done? It was a time when there was absolutely no one who could see, perceive, or manage a Garden. In other words, the Great Cataclysm was inevitable."
Yoo Sung-woon beamed as he looked at Cha Eun-hyuk.
"So even now that we grasp the situation, we must do our best to mediate between Mystery and reality. Otherwise, another Great Cataclysm could break out. Wouldn't we be too sorry to our future descendants then?"
"..."
"Of course, just as a beginning implies an end... dimensions and planets were formed in reality and living beings were born on them, so letting Mysteries bring about their conclusion might be the most ideal cycle."
Some Gardeners say that is the natural order.
"Saying that Mystery and reality repeatedly return to each other in this way, giving rise to the beginnings of dimensions and planets, and their ends caused by Mysteries. Even if we don't know for sure whether these two are truly cycling, they say where there's an end, there's a beginning, and where there's a beginning, there's an end, right?"
That was how it was.
"But so many Gardeners are working because they don't want any more chaos."
"...What do you want me to do?"
"That's why I need your help."
"I..."
"Please sell some bunggeoppang."
"..."
After a long while, Cha Eun-hyuk asked.
"Pardon?"
He was calm, but it was a kind of scream.
So the food stall mentioned earlier wasn't a joke?
***
From here, let's move on to Ji-oh's 'inspiration'.
-x-X-x-
For the record, Gardeners didn't just exist on Earth.
"So, could you stop drawing now?"
These were the words the man spat out after a long game of tag across paintings. To this, Ji-oh replied.
"I wasn't sure what you'd like me to draw, so I decided to win with sheer quantity..."
"You've already won that battle of quantity, so please stop. I've even surrendered like this, haven't I?"
"Understood."
Ji-oh blinked at the 'Ji-oh' in front of him.
"You have less perseverance than I thought."
"What's this? A provocation? I never thought I'd see the day. How fascinating."
"It sounds a bit sarcastic, but I can feel you're being genuine in your own way."
"You're right. I've rarely been this baffled in my entire life."
"And?"
"It was fun."
Saying so, he grabbed the top hat on his head and gave a light bow. 'Ji-oh' skillfully formed an eye smile.
"Ta-da."
It looked close to what was commonly called a magician's hat. Whether as a small gift or a commemoration, he lightly tapped it with a cane, and flowers popped out like a small bomb.
Looking at Ji-oh, who was now covered in flowers, the man bowed at the waist.
"I am your Jeorge, Ji-oh."
"Thank you for the polite greeting."
Gently brushing off the flowers, Ji-oh scanned 'Jeorge's' outfit.
"Your outfit doesn't particularly seem to match that hat."
"Oh? That's strange. I don't think Seo Ji-oh is in any position to criticize my fashion sense."
"I have nothing to say to that because it's true, but Arzio has great sense. I often owe him for it."
"I acknowledge his sense, too. He knows how to match clothing and accessories perfectly. He's someone we should emulate."
"Anyway... you're dressed rather lightly."
A loose poet shirt, black pants, and a hat. That was all.
"Do you not like shoes?"
"Is there any reason I should care about keeping up appearances to that extent?"
"Seeing as you're wearing both a top and a bottom, it seems you were trying to maintain your dignity as a civilized person."
"Wow, just because I didn't wear shoes, you're bringing up 'civilized person' and 'dignity'? Don't you walk around barefoot often too, Ji-oh?"
"I mostly move around inside the house, and I don't wear shoes indoors... I do dress properly when I have an official schedule."
"It's nothing grand, I'm the same. I spend a lot of time in places where there's no need to wear shoes, right? For the record, over 90% of my dignity is contained in this hat."
"That seems like a fine choice, too."
I wondered what sin the hat had committed to suddenly have to bear almost all of its owner's dignity on its own. But seeing how sleek and well-maintained it was, it seemed to be well-loved, so I couldn't say anything.
After clearing up the situation to a minimum, a sudden feeling of regret washed over me.
"..."
Ji-oh muttered as he fiddled with the painting he had drawn.
"I wasn't done drawing yet..."
"That's enough. I've enjoyed it thoroughly."
"I wasn't done yet..."
"How did I end up getting caught by someone like this?"
Despite his words, it must have been genuinely fun, as 'Jeorge' burst into a refreshing laugh.
"Then again, I have lived for quite a long time."
"I didn't call you out of a desire for you to retire since you've lived long enough. You're viewing me through a very depraved lens."
"I also know that this isn't the end, but another beginning. You don't need to feel so sorry."
"Excuse me, but I wasn't really feeling sorry. You enjoyed it too much for that, didn't you, Jeorge?"
"Since this was the first time in my life experiencing something like this..."
He placed the hat on top of his light pink hair.
"Shall I introduce myself first, then?"
"Actually, I don't need your introduction, Jeorge."
"We learned too much about each other during our game of tag. You're right, Ji-oh."
"So, could I ask you to introduce yourself for those who don't understand the current situation?"
"I love times like this."
'Jeorge' greeted everyone.
"I'm Jeorge the Wanderer, or Ji-oh, as my friends affectionately abbreviate it. Please call me whichever is comfortable."
Ji-oh nodded.
"You were called a Wanderer?"
"Ah, actually, this is a name I gave myself. It wasn't defined by any official institution or country, so it's nothing that special."
"In that case, was there a word that replaced Gardener in the very first world?"
"There wasn't. I was the first 'Wanderer' there. It's a name I made up based on the simple context of wandering here and there, but..."
He smiled.
"I just really like fun things."
"The incarnation of dopamine."
"Goodness, how pitiful. Why live if you aren't going to enjoy it?"
"It seems we'll have a hard time agreeing with each other, though in a different way from Arzio."
"Anyway, you're the one who called me, and I'm the one who got caught, so I will do my duty."
'Jeorge' picked up a chair, placed it next to Ji-oh, and sat down.
"Alright, let's begin."
"Ah, I'm the one starting? Honestly, I don't know where to begin explaining..."
Stroking the small canvas depicting nature, Ji-oh nodded.
"It would be best to start from the beginning."
"Where is the beginning?"
"It was after seeing Yoo Sung-woon's Garden."
"What did you see and feel there?"
"It was so beautiful that I wanted to draw a Garden."
"And?"
"I thought everyone lived such tiring lives."
At that, 'Jeorge' gave him a faint, warm look, as if he understood.
"And so you ended up coming up with the amazing idea of a food stall..."
"To be honest, I didn't have any concrete plans until then, but..."
"How about now?"
"I do think things will be much easier with your help, Jeorge."
"Am I being put to work as soon as I arrive?"
"Once synchronization begins, the distinction loses its meaning, so isn't it my labor?"
"I suppose that's true. That's a very interesting remark."
"Thank you for the compliment."
Ji-oh continued.
"So I just started drawing whatever came to mind."
"It's amazing no matter how much I think about it. You didn't lure me with a sweet scent or touch. To think I was caught by such an ignorant method."
"? It's not like I chopped off your ankles with a bear trap to catch you. You walked right in perfectly fine on your own two feet, so if you slander me like that, what will people think of me?"
"So Seo Ji-oh dragged me here with a bear trap?"
"That sounds fun too."
"No, don't actually draw it. Don't try to draw a vicious bear trap."
"Please be careful. I'm very sensitive right now because I haven't been able to eat during our game of tag."
"Well, look at this pig..."
Even at 'Jeorge's' dumbfounded exclamation, Ji-oh remained unfazed.
"Yes, exactly. You didn't obediently answer my call, Jeorge. It was extremely perplexing for me."
"In life, subordinates sometimes disobey orders or coding goes wrong."
"No, completely separate from that... There was clearly a 'suitable candidate' out there, but weren't you leisurely avoiding me? Because of that, I didn't even know your name until I drew the 42nd painting."
"You probably have no idea that drawing 42 landscape paintings to catch someone whose name you didn't even know isn't a choice a person with a normal mindset would make, right?"
"What kind of answer are you expecting by asking me that?"
Ji-oh shrugged.
"It's exactly as I mentioned earlier. I pondered over it. What on earth is this person dissatisfied with? What do I have to draw for them to finally accept the invitation? But by the time I had drawn about 9 paintings, I got a feel for it. Ah, this person wants to play with me."
"Thanks to that, I had a great time playing."
"I was the one who had fun, as this was also a first for me."
Up until now, the method was that receiving 'inspiration' and drawing a 'painting' would prompt a 'suitable candidate' to call Ji-oh out. But this 'Ji-oh' was truly unique. He existed in all the Gardens Ji-oh had drawn, yet did not exist in them.
In short, he had run away.
"If you were simply refusing the invitation, I wouldn't have risked being rude and chased after you by drawing 9,421 paintings."
"..."
After a brief silence, 'Jeorge' nodded.
"This is why I told you to stop drawing. Do you understand now?"
"To be honest, since things turned out this way, I wanted to cleanly reach 10,000 paintings."
"I'm sorry, but even I got a bit sick of it and had no choice but to surrender."
"True, by that point, the forms of the Gardens were becoming a bit repetitive in their repertoire."
"The fact that you realized that after surpassing 9,000 paintings is also a very fascinating point."
"You flatter me. For the record, I never said I gave up on reaching 10,000. I plan to fill them up whenever I have the time."
"Oh, nature. Please save this dreadful artist."
"I was saved a long time ago, which is why I'm roasting and eating sweet potatoes in this cabin."
To return to the main point and explain.
"You didn't reject my invitation, Jeorge. If you had, you wouldn't have been defined as a 'suitable candidate' in the first place. It seemed like you literally just wanted to play, so I chased you to the very end."
"By drawing 9,421 paintings, that is."
"That was the first time I realized I could be so persistent. I usually never had a reason to draw that much. I did realize it was a bit excessive, so I switched to using small canvases halfway through..."
"What are you going to do with all those paintings?"
"Everyone has their own life, and I affirm that."
Just in case of any accidents, I drew them all as good friends.
"And so, in the end, you were caught by me, Jeorge."
"I was just so moved by the sight of someone enjoying life beyond their limits..."
"It's also because you were slowly getting sick of it. Actually, wasn't that the biggest reason?"
"The point is that through that process, I finally appeared of my own volition."
"Excellent."
Ji-oh looked at 'Jeorge'.
"Then shall we try your self-introduction again? Since it feels like I explained the situation so far in your stead."
"Hmm, alright. What should I say now, then?"
Soon, he smiled with his eyes.
"...I am a human who became a Garden."
Truly the incarnation of dopamine. He never beat around the bush.
"How I ended up like this doesn't matter, at least not right now. But in my first life, I eventually became a Garden, and now I'm enjoying my life frolicking among them."
"So you're a man of nature."
"That's a well-summarized word in many ways. Yes, technically, I am a man of nature. Please consider it fortunate that I don't walk around naked. It means I still have some dignity left as a human."
"I'm very surprised there was such a deep meaning. Weren't you just wearing clothes because you need a minimum level of decency to seduce someone?"
"Hmm, I won't say there was no such intention. I won't deny it. But please keep in mind that I can seduce people even without wearing anything."
"Gods of heaven and earth."
I'd better keep a tight grip on my brain so I don't get sued for obscenity.
Having acknowledged and accepted the disaster he brought upon himself, Ji-oh tilted his head, seemingly remembering something.
"Normally, when we encounter each other like this, 'Ji-oh' gives me a quest. Is there anything you'd like to ask of me? We need to establish a goal through agreement for it to help me control my mind and body in the future."
"Umm... Nope."
"You've tested the waters enough, is that it?"
"No, you sat in one spot and drew 9,421 paintings, Seo Ji-oh! Isn't it understandable that I'd get sick of it at this point? I've played enough, and I'll continue to have fun from here on out."
Feigning disgust, 'Jeorge' tilted his head just like Ji-oh had done earlier. It was a perfect imitation.
"So to speak, it's like I'm upgrading myself a step further."
"Have you synchronized with me already? You're using a lot of Earth terms from our very first meeting."
"It feels like you're asking even though you already know... but there are things I learn while wandering around here and there. That's a very natural thing."
"It seems the one with the unique mindset is you, Jeorge. It's normally not easy to describe such a series of events as an upgrade. Going from a human to a Gardener, from a Gardener to a Garden, and now becoming a part of a haunted portrait..."
"Ah, that's all prejudice. Trimming destiny as a human, eventually becoming nature instead of a human, and then experiencing being a painting is something anyone can do. Actually, you should understand this part too, right, Ji-oh?"
"I, too, found myself having become a haunted portrait after living my life this way and that. In that context, your words do make sense, Jeorge."
"Rules are meaningless to people like us."
Ji-oh put on a serious face.
"Still, there must be rules."
"Like etiquette and social ethics?"
"Stuff like that."
"That's good too."
'Jeorge' shrugged.
"All I want to say is that there's no reason to set limits on what I do."
"In that sense, can I finish drawing until I reach 10,000?"
"Seriously, I don't know about anyone else, but you really shouldn't say anything to me about mindsets, Seo Ji-oh. Got it?"
And so, the synchronization began.
"Why? Is there a problem?"
He asked, looking at all of you.
"But ultimately, what's important is 'why Cha Eun-hyuk has to bake Bunggeoppang,' isn't it? Honestly, wasn't that why you clicked on the next Chapter?"
"Your introduction was certainly long for that to be the case, Jeorge."
"Because I figured it would be fine to put off a more detailed explanation of myself for later."
Hadn't he roughly introduced the important parts by now?
"To summarize, it's like this. I am a very capable Gardener, a Garden, and also a painting. If someone like me intervenes in what you're trying to do from now on, Ji-oh, things will become much easier."
"Thanks to that, my heart is already pounding."
"I suppose I never thought of opening a restaurant either, especially a food stall. And in a Garden, at that."
"Aren't Gardeners human? Do they not eat? Do they not rest? Do they not sleep?"
"It does seem like it'll be fun."
'Jeorge' lifted his hat, using it like a fan to cover his mouth, and smiled.
"So, please start explaining your plan."
"I think everyone probably knows by now, but I'm thinking of setting up a restaurant in the Garden."
"Will you be able to persuade Cha Eun-hyuk?"
"If I can't, I'll be the one baking the Bunggeoppang."
"It sounds like it's going to be a very clumsy restaurant operation."
"That's true, but..."
Ji-oh nodded.
"It's fun, so that's enough."
"I thought so, right?"
Anyway.
"Do you understand up to this point, Cha Eun-hyuk?"
"..."
Cha Eun-hyuk was narrowing his eyes, as if frowning.
"...?"
It meant he didn't understand.
-x-X-x-
"What is there not to understand?"
Bisabeol said with a bright smile.
"Ultimately, it means you want to set up a diner in the Garden for the sake of the Gardeners' welfare."
"To be exact, it will likely take the form of a food stall."
"Hmm, from a management perspective, there certainly is no business as convenient as that."
"I also thought it would be easier for the Gardeners to visit than a regular shop."
"Because of its highly open structure? I suppose that could be it."
Watching the two chatting amiably, Joo-hyun silently organized his pad.
"..."
"Joo-hyun, have you given up?"
"I've just come to terms with reality."
At Yoo Sung-woon's question, Joo-hyun looked back at him and smiled.
"It's also true that the Gardeners' situation is unfortunate."
"...You think similarly to Ji-oh."
"Actually, Ji-oh is right. Gardeners are humans too; they need to eat and get some rest. I just learned that such things are truly difficult to do in the Garden."
"Isn't that an inconvenience experienced by any Hunter entering a dungeon...?"
"Yes, it did seem to be in a similar vein. However, looking at the intensity of the work, the Gardeners undeniably have it much harder. I'm not sure if it's right to use the expression 'have it harder' in this context, though."
"...Hmm..."
Since a Garden could essentially be called a strictly superior version of a dungeon, Joo-hyun's thoughts were correct. Unlike dungeons, where one simply had to face and clear monsters according to the rules, Gardens were extremely finicky about letting visitors achieve their goals.
Inside, a Gardener was fundamentally restricted in everything—sleep, consumption, and breathing. In other words, their biological traits as a human could not be respected. Having heard about Yoo Sung-woon's work from Ji-oh, Joo-hyun looked at Sung-woon with concern.
"I heard that even maintaining body heat isn't tolerated in there."
"...That's true, because that is the rule of the snowfield."
"In other words, the countless things humans are born with are being suppressed, aren't they?"
"I wouldn't go so far as to call it suppression. I'm doing this job because I want to, right? I know it sounds weird to say this, but... I love my snowfield."
"I have no intention of insulting your snowfield, but I can't help feeling sorry for you."
"That's exactly why those thoughts of yours are unique."
Normally, people wouldn't think that far.
"But I am somewhat glad to hear it."
"Right, you said Gardeners are always so cold and hungry. I don't know what you're talking about now after whining like that yourself."
Joo-hyun stared at Yoo Sung-woon.
"I'm worried about what Ji-oh will do going forward, but... I thought it would be a good thing if you could eat something during that process."
"Have you been infected by Ji-oh too, Joo-hyun? Why are you all so eager to turn me into a pig?"
"Even if you're dealing with a Garden, shouldn't you at least be treated like a human before a pig...?"
"Uh, well... Are you trying to start a revolution against the Gardens or something...?"
It was scary because if it were Joo-hyun, he truly seemed capable of doing it. He was such a rational person that he wouldn't normally do such a thing, but that was only "normally."
Anyway.
"...It's just that my feelings are complicated too."
He had lived his whole life engraving the mindset and attitude of a Gardener into his mind and body. Though he lacked any noble sense of duty, he knew he was following the path of a greater cause. He knew it was a thorny path, but he still just liked it.
That "liking" was closer to everyday life. Something that melted into his life more deeply than faith. That was why it was so close and inescapable. Even though there was no reason to do so, Yoo Sung-woon ultimately left Ji-oh's "changes" unchecked.
"I guess I'm disqualified as a Gardener."
"If that's enough to disqualify you as a Gardener, then Earth is doomed to perish."
"Ah, we're going that far? You say some surprisingly radical things, don't you?"
"That's because you're talking nonsense."
Joo-hyun glared at Yoo Sung-woon as if it were absurd.
"I don't really like things like that. Did you truly wish to become a tool, Yoo Sung-woon?"
"Perhaps I did."
"It would certainly be more comfortable. It's not like I don't understand that feeling."
"But as a human, I shouldn't be like that, right?"
"Rather than such a grand reason, it's just... isn't that too difficult?"
"...So it's from that perspective after all?"
"It's even better to be treated like a human while doing good deeds."
"I do feel like I'm committing a hugely profane act."
"Profane, well? Not being a Gardener myself, I wouldn't know."
He chuckled softly.
"Looking at it from the perspective of a secular human, a Garden is nothing more than a workplace. In today's world, it's common for people not to receive their salaries properly and to live without being treated like human beings... but at least the Collector isn't like that, is it?"
Yoo Sung-woon laughed hollowly.
"Hah, now you're bringing the Collector into this? You've gotten much bolder, Joo-hyun."
"Even in a world where humans are used as resources, if you can be treated like a human being, it's better to do so. It's a very simple logic. That anything better is good."
"...It's just too simple, that's why. It's something I already discussed with Ji-oh in the snowfield, but I said it feels like eating late-night snacks past midnight or dropping snack crumbs on the blanket."
"That's a very intuitive analogy. But with late-night snacks, you just need to digest them well, and for the crumbs dropped on the blanket, you just need to clean them up properly, don't you?"
"But it's that feeling... like you're going to get scolded by your parents for no reason, wouldn't it be?"
Well, Yoo Sung-woon had never experienced that feeling, so he didn't really know. But he understood the context.
"Right, at my age, I can eat late-night snacks. I can spill a few crumbs, too. But whether that can truly be considered a good change or development... I just can't quite grasp it. This definitely isn't a precise analogy, but..."
Ultimately, it was about altering the Garden to suit one's personal desires.
"Even if there are no problems, I feel like I'm doing something wrong."
"The flow of every era has developed based on such deviations."
Joo-hyun shrugged lightly.
"Things that were illegal in a certain era sometimes become legal in modern times. Not that I'm so great as to argue the right and wrong of the rules from back then."
"Then?"
"I just know it, that's all. That the things I thought would never change in my lifetime might change one day. Didn't you often say this yourself, Yoo Sung-woon?"
He rolled his eyes.
"That it's only been about 30 years, so it's not strange that people still don't know much about Mysteries. Because it's not a field that can be easily uncovered."
"I did say that."
"I heard you used the universe as an analogy for Cha Eun-hyuk? To borrow that a bit, despite its vastness, people eventually came to discover quite a lot about the universe. How many changes must there have been during that process?"
"..."
"It looks the same to me."
Joo-hyun smiled.
"If you can bring yourself to think that 'the time for change has come', Yoo Sung-woon."
"...Time for change..."
"We've been digging a well for about 30 years, isn't it about time the water burst forth?"
"...You're scaring me to death, why are all my friends like this?"
"There's a saying that if your surroundings are strange, you should check yourself first."
"You really never let anyone have the last word."
Yoo Sung-woon laughed too.
"So are we really doing this?"
"Who have I been talking to all this time? Did you just wake up from sleeping somewhere alone?"
"I think I was awake."
To be honest, he broke into a bit of a cold sweat.
"This current Ji-oh's driving force is no joke..."
Yoo Sung-woon sensed overtime coming.
"Was the name Jeorge this time? It seems 'Ji-oh' was a nickname from when he was alive."
"I heard the introduction that he's a Gardener from another dimension, but I still can't get a grasp on it. I haven't heard the exact story either."
"Same here. Listening to him, I wonder if he has a similar vibe to Guild Master Jung Hae-woon, but for some reason, it feels a little different from that..."
"Would I be mistaken to say that this Ji-oh seems quite unique as well?"
"Following a saint and an evil god, I don't think a Gardener is at a level that stands out too much, but well. I get the strong feeling that he isn't a common type even among Gardeners."
"Have you ever had a conversation with 'Jeorge'? I'm embarrassed to admit, but I haven't."
"He hasn't shown himself to me either."
He knew his rough appearance. Ji-oh had casually shown it to him before they went to see Cha Eun-hyuk.
His pink hair, resembling a sunset, was a bob that fluttered at the nape of his neck. His multicolored jewel-like eyes made it impossible to read his inner thoughts, and his attitude was oddly sly from start to finish.
He possessed an exceptional talent for mesmerizing someone's gaze and stealing their attention, acting arbitrarily while pretending not to, yet maintaining balance like a ghost. He was truly a 'Garden' himself.
'...Although he hasn't told me exactly what happened or what kind of person he is.'
All the previous 'Ji-ohs' had clear stories. There was no way this Ji-oh would be significantly different, but for some reason, he was pushing off the explanation.
Should he say it's exceptionally hard to read his inner thoughts even among the 'Ji-ohs'? He could hardly figure out what the man was thinking.
"He didn't seem like the shy type either..."
"Well, it's not like we have the right to become close with every 'Ji-oh'."
"You're right, Joo-hyun, that's entirely up to Ji-oh."
He was just feeling anxious because he couldn't clearly grasp what kind of personality he had.
'If we're going by that, wouldn't I be disqualified as a Curator too?'
A Gardener who couldn't gather information and couldn't even properly maintain distance from Mysteries. He had no idea where someone like that could be of use.
Yoo Sung-woon laughed hollowly as he watched Ji-oh steadily making plans. It was the commonly known appearance of 'Hunter Seo Ji-oh', but with a blunt expression.
"..."
Whether it would be deterioration or development.
That was still unknown.
—
For reference, Jung Hae-woon also knew about this matter.
"Should I say it's a huge relief that you didn't proceed behind my back?"
"Hearing you say that makes it worthwhile to have told you in advance and asked for the list."
"At the time, I was confused if you were seriously picking a fight, but yes. You are correct."
Jung Hae-woon nodded with a smile.
"Actually, even now, I keep thinking if I should just flip the table on this."
"How often do you get that thought?"
"Once every 10 seconds?"
"You're doing a remarkably good job of not flipping it yet."
"Why would I act so stubbornly and risk being hated by a precious person?"
Shrugging his shoulders, Jung Hae-woon said.
"It is a fact that Gardeners are working in excessively harsh environments."
"My manager was quite displeased, asking if it made sense to work without even being treated like a human being."
"Treated like a human, right. You can find people being treated as beasts or tools anywhere, but... the treatment Gardeners receive is on a level entirely beyond that."
Humans giggling among themselves while perpetuating corrupt practices and nature entirely decreeing it so were completely different. The former caused great displeasure, but it didn't completely deny the roots of humanity like the latter.
Jung Hae-woon continued with his signature smile.
"Did you know? Gardeners must always smile. The very first thing rookies learn is 'how to make an expression that is the exact opposite of their emotions'. Only then can they adapt to their own contradictions."
"Yoo Sung-woon also mentioned that it's a workplace where it's truly difficult to be honest."
"Those who transparently reveal their inner thoughts will also reveal the Mysteries of the Garden. Then the world will fall into chaos, and eventually, the Gardener themselves will be encroached upon by the Mystery they serve, lose their roots, and become just another Mystery."
"I dare say it must be an uncomfortable affair."
"Yes, it's a pitiful thing."
This was probably also a reason why the number of Gardeners was extremely small.
"Not only can their hard work not be recognized by people, but they can't even show it at all. Because work in the Garden isn't real. But is the job easy? No, in the process of managing the Garden, they witness fragments of mysterious deaths countless times."
Becoming ice, becoming flowers, becoming trees, becoming the sky, becoming rain, or turning into dirt and scattering. Born with human roots, they repeatedly assimilate with nature and shatter into pieces. It was a terrifying thing, if one were to call it terrifying.
They were born in nature, but in the end, they were humans.
"I actually think that... it's a similar kind of miracle to what Hunter Seo Ji-oh showed us. In a deep-sea dungeon some time ago, you turned people into paint. In order to send the endangered Hunters out of the dungeon."
"Did I cause them an inconvenience?"
"Well, I did hear that it was a fairly mild method and treatment compared to the machinations of a Garden. Though it's only a guess for me, having never experienced it firsthand. In the end, nature is truly cold-hearted to humans."
It hardly ever understands their frailty.
"But it's also something that can't be helped. We've only known about Mysteries for a little over 30 years, so I also thought it was only natural that there would be many inconveniences in the work and systems for managing Gardens. In terms of human history, isn't it like we're just entering the prehistoric era? Well, somewhere around there. I figured it would slowly but steadily develop."
"Yet you accepted my proposal."
"As Earth's first Gardener, I am wary of you, but for that very reason, I affirm those rules and stories. I wouldn't dare deny them. Your proposal this time doesn't deviate much from that context, either."
"So you thought I wasn't just acting recklessly."
"I just said 'a little over 30 years', but honestly, if things have been stagnant for 32 years, it's about time they flow a bit. Frankly speaking, there's a limit to how much I can drag people by the collar and shake them down by myself. At least prehistoric people would have joined forces to hunt together, but Gardeners can't even do that."
In other words.
"Right, I'm saying it's hard for me too."
Shortage of manpower, shortage of resources.
Of course, this was a very dangerous undertaking. It seemed like a crazy thing to do, and it felt like too drastic of a transformation. But as was just said, the Gardeners' working environment was far too harsh to stop it for those reasons.
"How did that friend named Cha Eun-hyuk react?"
"He pondered for a while, but eventually accepted the proposal."
"Hah, bunggeoppang... How amusing."
Stroking his chin, Jung Hae-woon asked with a smile.
"Once he opens for business, I'll have to pay a visit too."
"You're going to tell him to stop his business if there's cream puff filling inside, though."
"Putting anything other than red bean paste inside bunggeoppang is a wicked act."
"Why do things like this never change."
"..."
Jung Hae-woon soon crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.
"...Mysteries continue to be added to you."
"Yes, this friend is quite the energetic one."
"Even so, I get the illusion that you aren't changing."
"Would a haunted portrait be any different?"
"What does it feel like to be taxidermied?"
He asked.
"Are you lonely?"
"I have too many friends to be lonely."
"It's no way for a human to live."
"...?"
Ji-oh looked at Jung Hae-woon with an expressionless face.
"What exactly is your intention, insulting me to my face in my own front yard?"
Currently, Jung Hae-woon was in 'Ji-oh's Portrait'. In the yard in front of his cabin, to be exact. He had said he didn't want to go inside the house, no matter what.
"Anyway, thanks to your cooperation, it seems things will go smoothly."
"It's all well and good, but I would be very grateful if you could just ensure the Earth doesn't perish, Hunter Seo Ji-oh."
"I'm not that frivolous."
Ji-oh smiled brightly.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"..."
Jung Hae-woon smiled back.
"Don't mention it."
As expected, this entity was uncomfortable to deal with.
-x-X-x-
The anomaly occurred quickly.
"...What in the world is this..."
A Garden had been painted.
"...Wait, over here."
"Yes, senior. What is it?"
"You can see this too, right?"
"Uh... yes, I can see it. What is it a painting of? A jungle? Seeing as I'm getting a strong vibe from it, it must be a new piece by Black Cloak! Right? Isn't it?"
"...A piece by Black Cloak?"
"Isn't a painting hanging out of nowhere in such a bizarre place usually a piece by Black Cloak? Wow, this is my first time seeing one. It definitely gives off an entirely different aura from ordinary paintings."
"..."
"...Senior?"
Naturally, it was the Gardeners who first noticed the anomaly.
One day, unfamiliar forms of Gardens began to appear in the world, one by one. They were mostly discovered in deserted alleys, near temples, or in remote areas like mountains and seas.
And they clearly took the form of the 'artworks' painted by Black Cloak. Most people did not understand their meaning.
"Even though they were all painted using different methods, they somehow give off a similar feel. The size of the pieces aren't all that large, either. Considering the scale of his previous works... could this be a series?"
"Since there isn't an established name for it yet, we can't call it that right now, but you're probably right. A series. Well, it is something any renowned artist attempts at least once. Could his true essence really be a painter?"
"It definitely feels different from his previous works. And that doesn't just stem from the size of the piece. Can't you feel the aura of a truly pure Mystery? Ah, almost like destiny..."
People considered it to be merely a new endeavor by Black Cloak.
"..."
"...This, teacher."
"...Right, it's a Garden. We need to let the others know about this."
However, the Gardeners could not brush it off so easily.
"It hasn't been long since we last gathered, but it looks like we'll be seeing each other's faces again."
"What in the world is going on..."
The Gardens, of all things, had entered the field of vision of civilians.
Not all Gardeners were attending the same gathering. Due to the nature of Gardeners, there were many who lived alone in seclusion. But they met with almost every Gardener they could and relayed the situation.
Amidst the confusion, someone offered this opinion.
"Could the previous fever have been a preparation for a situation like this?"
"Are you saying that wasn't just the Source stretching its limbs?"
"Well, no. I don't know for sure either... but there might be a possibility."
"True, it wasn't common for the Gardens to stir simultaneously like they did back then."
"They said the only similar period was during the Great Cataclysm, so I've been on edge."
"Ugh, they said it was far too early for a second Great Cataclysm, so I figured it would be a different type of event, but for it to happen like this..."
"I never imagined it would be such an unconventional event. Wow, this is driving me crazy."
It was enough to throw the Gardeners, who always had to be calm and rational, into a state of panic. They were engulfed in an undefinable fear, anxiety, and anticipation.
The Gardens had been revealed to the world.
"F-first of all, what is the condition of the Gardens?"
"Nothing has changed, they are completely lush and green."
"It's the same for our Garden. More importantly, no matter how hard we look, there is no Gardener assigned to the piece that appeared this time."
"Is it too much of a stretch to say it belongs to the Gardeners who don't really like socializing? No, why does Black Cloak even have any connection to the Gardens in the first place..."
"Wasn't Black Cloak a Divinity of the sun? No matter if he is a Divinity, he can't just leave the entrance to a Garden wide open like this! This is a disaster!"
"But the Earth is far too quiet for this to be a disaster. First, everyone calm down..."
Around that time, Gardener Jung Hae-woon spoke up.
"Do not worry, brother. It is not something that will cause harm."
"As expected, the Guild Master knew about this matter."
"Inadequate as it may be, I too have studied this matter."
Jung Hae-woon did not disclose that he and Black Cloak were directly connected to 'this matter'. That fact would only add to the Gardeners' confusion. Instead, Jung Hae-woon interjected when the noisy atmosphere had settled down a bit.
"The Gardens that have revealed themselves right now are not managed Mysteries."
"Then, were they abandoned...?"
"More accurately, it seems the abandoned Gardens of Earth have revealed themselves. Yes, they are familiar friends to me. They are Gardens I have visited several times in the past."
"Then what in the world happened? What relationship does Black Cloak have with the Gardens?"
"There must have been a stirring of a Mystery that a mere Gardener like me cannot comprehend. But if it is indeed related to Black Cloak, I see. He is a Mystery of rules, favorable toward good and polite humans."
"You are right about that, Guild Master."
"It isn't something we can rest easy about, but it isn't the beginning of another disaster, either. Compared to the Great Cataclysm that Earth experienced, isn't this far too docile? I find that truly fascinating."
The words Jung Hae-woon spoke to the Gardeners belonging to his guild spread to the other Gardeners as well. In truth, beneath the surface, it was all thanks to Jung Hae-woon, who worked overtime again today utilizing his various identities.
He took measures so that the Gardeners all over the world wouldn't get swept up in excessive confusion and cause trouble. Thanks to the 'identities' that had built up popularity and trust on a regular basis, the Gardeners gradually regained their reason.
They were people who were demanded to remain cold and level-headed at all times in the first place.
"..."
"...Then how should we understand this situation?"
"...How should I know? Anyway, since they said it isn't a disaster, I feel a little more at ease."
"If a Great Cataclysm suddenly breaks out at this rate, what will happen to us?"
"We'd be torn limb from limb, wouldn't we?"
"Yes, but by who? The Gardens?"
At the greenhorn Gardener's question, the veteran shook their head.
"No, by the pissed-off Association researchers."
"Those guys don't even do any legwork themselves, yet they always give us crap."
"Well, that's because individual Gardeners are hogging all the research funds those guys are supposed to share..."
"I don't really have anything to say to that, but anyway, what are we actually doing? Us?"
"I can't say for sure, either. I think we just need to see how the situation unfolds for now."
This was what happened just when the 'Gardens' appeared in the world.
After a little time passed, people were able to find out what was different about the 'Gardens'.
"It's not just that the size of the pieces are small; their reactions are a bit different, too."
"Up until now, Black Cloak's pieces showed an attitude of wanting to actively intervene in reality."
"These children are simply existing. Ah, how can they be so profoundly pure and beautiful? Isn't the attitude of the artwork, just gazing at us, so adorable?"
"More than that, I feel a sense of dread at the depth of the piece. Yes, it truly is merely existing. It's not a spooky ghost story like a grey city... it's the feeling you get when you look at vast nature."
"Until now, Black Cloak has always included an intention in his artworks. In one way or another, his pieces were utilized according to his will. How does he plan to use these pieces this time?"
"I'm not exactly sure, but it's healing just to look at them. Should I say it makes me feel good? It feels like settling down in a very tranquil resort and just gazing up at the sky."
"I think I know what you mean. It truly is nature itself."
"Perhaps that might be the intention behind his pieces this time."
It was especially the aficionados of Black Cloak who poured their efforts into interpreting the artworks.
"Nature, nature. Are you saying there is another nature where such a robust Mystery stirs? Even dungeons aren't like this."
"At the very least, it's a fact that this is a sight that people like us would find hard to come by. Where else could we catch a glimpse of such mesmerizing nature? My goodness, this absurd ingenuity... truly..."
"If so, then no matter how I think about it, it wouldn't be the nature of Earth. Isn't this a nature of rules that transcends the logic of this dimension? What kind of flower would cover the sky? Wrap around the clouds and shine like the sun?"
"To think the word 'nature' would immediately come to mind even while looking at such a bizarre spectacle of rules. As expected of Black Cloak. His grace is truly endless."
"It's truly a shame. For some reason, no one has emerged saying they went inside the pieces this time. If there were even a single precedent, it would be worth challenging next..."
Their conversation spread to the many people who had been focusing on Black Cloak's actions.
"Hey, Cha I-sol."
"Huh? What is it?"
"Did you know about this matter, too?"
"Uh... I don't really know, it's something the adults are doing. I'm still just a kid."
"Since when were you such a praiseworthy kid who made those kinds of distinctions so well?"
"I-I have a lot on my conscience, too. But it really isn't my business."
The Church of the Sun's prospective priest, Cha I-sol, felt a bit wronged by the words of his partner, Lee Ruda.
"I don't know everything the adults are doing."
"...? Wait a minute, then that means you at least know how this matter is going. Isn't that the nuance you're giving off right now?"
"But I'm telling you, I really don't know much?"
"No..."
"They said they were going to sell bunggeoppang, and I truly don't know a single thing about business."
"..."
Lee Ruda eventually dragged her partner along and went to find Kang Seo-dam.
"...Did you say bunggeoppang?"
"Yes, bunggeoppang."
"He is going to sell bunggeoppang? Black Cloak?"
"Cha I-sol just kept calling it 'adults' business'."
"Even if he is a chosen apostle, it is difficult to babble about the future of a Divinity."
"Ah, could they have made a covenant preventing him from mentioning it? If that is the case, then I have acted rashly..."
"It seems more like Brother Cha I-sol just didn't see a reason for him to blabber deeply about it, though."
"...??"
"Sister Lee Ruda."
Kang Seo-dam offered advice as an adult.
"Forget it."
"Thank you."
With that, Lee Ruda escaped from responsibility.
However, there was someone who could not escape from this terrible responsibility, and that was Kang Seo-dam, who had unexpectedly been spoiled on the fate of the Earth. After sending the young priests back and hesitating for a long while, Kang Seo-dam soon made up his mind.
He contacted the private number he had received from Curator Yoo Sung-woon.
"...Ah, you've picked up. This is Priest Kang Seo-dam. Do you have a moment to talk?"
—I always have time to talk with our priest. I can roughly guess what this is about, but did you hear about the bunggeoppang, too?
"Damn it, to think I didn't hear it wrong. What are you plotting? What in the world does bunggeoppang mean for a future destined by a Divinity?"
—Ji-oh hasn't finished preparing for business yet, you see. Still, once he opens his doors, we'll serve you too, Priest Kang Seo-dam. Wow, premium service. Isn't that great?
"Is it a premium service straight down a thorny path?"
—I don't think the Goddess of the Sun would dislike it too much, either.
"What in the world do you think of the Sun...!!"
She did not dislike it.
"..."
—What's this, you've suddenly gone quiet.
"...No..."
She found it incredibly interesting.
"..."
—...Oh dear.
Having guessed the situation, Yoo Sung-woon felt bad for him. He wasn't being sarcastic; his pity was genuine.
—Seeing things like this, getting closer to a Divinity isn't such a great thing, either.
"...Setting aside whether or not it's something Mr. Yoo Sung-woon should be saying, no. To receive the revelation of a Divinity with a mere human body is indeed an incredibly honorable thing..."
—For such a thing, the energy in your voice... hmm, alright... I see...
"...I shall wait with a fluttering heart for your call later. I wish you the best of luck."
—You too, Priest.
Having ended the call, Kang Seo-dam covered his face with both hands.
"..."
Why did it have to be bunggeoppang, of all things.
'Why has such a trial fallen upon me.'
While Kang Seo-dam quietly writhed at the untimely and unmerited honor, Yoo Sung-woon, who had cut the call, looked at Ji-oh with a strange expression.
"It seems Priest Kang Seo-dam is under a lot of stress."
"Oh my, that shouldn't be. Good people like Priest Kang Seo-dam should always be happy."
"It's not a world where good people can always be happy, you know."
"But they must always be when they catch my eye. Because I like that kind of thing."
"Oh, how wonderful."
Yoo Sung-woon ultimately couldn't hold back his laughter.
"How much more do you plan to increase my overtime work?"
"Seeing you enjoy yourself even while saying that makes me happy, too."
Jeorge smiled with opal-like eyes.
"...Ah, this is fun."
Everything was a complete mess.
The 'Gardens' with two legs went looking for the Gardeners.