Most gardeners have deep-seated distrust toward humans.
"I-I want to go back to the tree...! Huuuuh...!!"
"Please calm down, sir. We just need to ask you a few simple questions and then you'll be free to go."
"Lies! You're going to feed me to monsters! You're going to use me for human experiments! Sell me off to slave traders!!"
"We're not doing any of that, so please stay still."
The 'talents' chosen by the garden appear randomly.
And within a country, cities are small.
The countryside is vast.
Thus, most 'talents' are born and raised in the countryside.
Many of them grow up in closed-off, suspicious communities-villages teeming with grand conspiracy theories.
Even if such people were treated politely, there was no way they'd be able to remain calm inside the Association.
"Are you feeling a little more composed now?"
"Y-You're really not going to eat me...? Right...?"
"If you'd like, we can even sign a soul contract. Please trust us just a little."
"...Y-Yes, I'll do that. I'm sorry."
"Can someone bring over the contract?"
But the Association's staff were experienced.
Especially the veterans who dealt with mysticism-they were good at calming the nerves of rookie gardeners.
It wasn't even that difficult.
They simply needed to be consistent and polite.
In an open space where the person could see their surroundings.
With the door left wide open.
As long as they made it clear the other could act of their own free will, trust would come.
Before long, the rookie gardener began to speak.
"I-I was in the village when... suddenly this painting appeared..."
"Was it perhaps similar to the landscape painting in this photo?"
"Huh? Oh yes, yes. That's exactly what it looked like."
What they saw was definitely one of the Black Cloak's new series: the "Landscape Paintings."
His works were the only ones that could evoke the same feeling through a photo as when seen in person.
"But the feeling it gave off was... really nice. I-I mean, compared to those monsters..."
"It's okay. We're also aware of the existence of those monsters. You're not crazy."
"...Yes. The feeling was completely different from them."
"If you're comfortable, could you describe how it felt? We know of their existence, but we don't know what someone like you experiences. We'd love it if you could share."
"Ah, it was like... when you see a really beautiful flower or an amazing tree? So refreshing and... it was like... the kind of feeling you get when you stand on a mountain peak and look down at the world."
"I see. Like the emotion evoked by natural scenery..."
That matched the accounts of other new gardeners who were "spat out" onto mystic veins.
Even people who weren't "talents" said the same thing about the Black Cloak's series.
It felt like standing before vast nature.
But the "talents" went even further.
"And... there was this incredibly sweet scent."
"Would you say it was floral?"
"Maybe like honey? Hmm. It wasn't overpowering... it was gentle?"
"So at least not an artificial scent."
"Yeah, like... the kind of smell you'd get if you were lying in a flower bed. I-I'm sorry, I don't know many metaphors..."
"What you've shared is already very helpful. Were there any other sensations?"
"...I felt like something was calling to me."
Like...
"Like someone was whispering right beside me."
"Was it like telepathy?"
"T-Telepathy? That's real?"
"It's a skill that some hunters possess."
"Whoa, that's incredible..."
Growing up in a closed village, the "talent" didn't know much about awakened people either.
Even when they heard stories, they couldn't trust the source.
After all, they grew up in an environment where truth and lies blurred.
And then came the "Landscape Painting," a beautiful work of art.
The youth, completely entranced, had drawn close to it.
And the painting, they said, had gently whispered.
"It asked if I could come inside."
"The painting did?"
"Y-Yes, the tree in the painting..."
"It talked to you?"
"I don't know, really. It felt like it did... but if you asked me what language it used, I couldn't answer. But it felt like that. I swear."
"We're not doubting your words. We're just checking if we understood correctly. You're doing great this is truly fascinating."
The researcher skillfully coaxed more information out of the subject.
"So you went into the painting, yes?"
"It's like... my head went fuzzy, and after blinking a few times, it felt like morning had come? And when I came to, the tree I saw in the painting was right in front of me. It was so majestic and incredible...!"
"Amazing. So you were chosen, then?"
"Yes, I felt like I belonged to that tree. And then... my hair turned brown like this, and my eyes went green... Is this going to stay forever...??"
"To our knowledge, yes. Though it may change slightly depending on the state of the 'tree' you mentioned. It can be dyed using skills or items, Novelight but the natural state will remain. We can lend you dyeing items if you wish."
"...Ah, no, I like this color..."
The new gardener smiled shyly, brushing their hair.
"Um, excuse me..."
"Yes, please go ahead."
"Is there... maybe somewhere I can... work? I-I mean..."
"Ah, I understand what you mean."
The researcher nodded.
"Is it uncomfortable to return to your village?"
"...To be honest, yeah..."
It was already superstitious, and people looked at her harshly.
Since childhood, she'd been called a cursed child who saw spirits.
And now, with her hair and eye color changed...
"If I go back, they might beat me to death...!! Please, don't send me back!!"
"We'll make sure that won't happen, so don't worry too much. We can find you a home in an open-minded village. Of course, it won't be free-you'll gradually pay it back by working."
"W-What kind of work can I do? I'll do anything! Just tell me, and I'll do my best!"
"Then please listen carefully."
From here, the Association staff explained the gardener's identity to her.
"You are now a gardener. That giant tree you saw was a 'garden.' And having been chosen by that miraculous mystic nature, you are called a 'gardener."
"Uh... yes, okay...?"
"Let me be clear. To repay the housing and support we're providing, the best and fastest way will be to continue your work as a gardener. It also suits your aptitude."
"O-Oh..."
"No worries. I'll explain it to you step by step."
And so, the Association slowly educated the bewildered new gardener.
They recorded her basic personal information by mutual agreement-name, age, residence.
"This record is for your benefit. We won't use it to monitor or control you. But if you need help through the Association or the government, we need to know who you are in order to assist."
"Y-Yes, of course."
"If you'd like, we can introduce you to other gardeners. Here's a list of people who've agreed to share their phone numbers with fellow gardeners. It'll help you adjust."
"Then... could you recommend one person...?"
"Would you prefer another woman? In that case, I think this person would be a good match-same age and gender, but has more experience."
Naturally, a new department to manage gardeners had been created within the Association.
Since they were already closely observing the movement of the Black Cloak's "Landscape Paintings," the transition happened quickly.
And the happiest person about it all was, of course, Gardener Jeong Hae-Woon.
"Haera, I'm crying."
"Go ahead."
"No, I mean, I'm really crying."
He was overwhelmed.
"Oh my, you really are crying?"
Director Dan Haera watched with amusement.
It was rare to see her sharp and rebellious colleague like this.
It was worth setting work aside just to witness it.
After watching for a while, Dan Haera nodded and asked,
"I heard your rapport with the Black Cloak is going well?"
"I didn't recognize that noble person and dared to act arrogantly. But now I see... There was a reason I once served under the teacher."
"Did you really serve under him?"
"Of course. After receiving his mercy, there's no way these cheap knees didn't bow. I believe in you, Teacher."
Jeong Hae-Woon reflected.
How had he forgotten such a noble being?
He vowed, again and again, never to falter.
Having slept six full hours for the first time in ages, he was in a fantastic mood.
"Can you believe it? Six hours. Straight. Without waking up once."
"That really is something..."
"When I saw those gardens-just scattered across the world-I thought it was madness. But of course, such a powerful mystic being wouldn't do something meaningless. I, a lowly sparrow, just couldn't understand the phoenix's will... yet the noble Portrait watched over the world's peace all along..."
"Could you save that cult-sounding speech for your own guild?"
"Oh, woe is me. So many still fail to recognize the innocence of my guild... Anyway, Haera."
"I already created the department. You agreed too, didn't you?"
"Let us send a few of our gardeners in as well. Having active gardeners will help the new ones settle in. Your department's doing intake and logistics, not field experience."
"...That's true."
Dan Haera nodded.
"You're really full of energy now."
"Now that I can finally see a path forward, how could I not be motivated? I thought I'd have to pull all-nighters for centuries before retirement."
"Retirement's definitely closer than a thousand years."
"I'm so touched."
Jeong Hae-Woon held his nose with a teary face.
"I'm crying. We can finally provide real welfare for our poor gardeners..."
"Until now, the system was barely functioning."
"It wasn't that we didn't manage it-we couldn't. You try smashing your head into raw earth."
There were few gardeners.
No way to find them.
So training was hard.
Gathering them in one place, even harder.
Each had a wildly unique personality, so without kidnapping, they rarely socialized.
No wonder Jeong Hae-Woon had over fifty identities.
But not anymore.
A wave of young, energetic gardeners had entered the system.
This was the moment.
Now was the time to row, while the waters were high.
Jeong Hae-Woon was determined to build a real structure.
"I'm not trying to dump work on the Association. Gardener stuff was always our guild's domain. You just keep doing intake, okay? Just intake. Soothe the dazed newbies and hand them off."
"That's not hard."
"Once they're with us, we'll train them properly. I'm so moved. I thought I'd have to wait eight hundred years to try this. I already wrote up multiple curriculums, you know."
"Maybe you do have a teacher's gift."
"Mm, not quite."
Jeong Hae-Woon shrugged.
"Don't call me a teacher."
It was still an awkward word.
***
And a few days later, the garden's "food stall" began full operations.
The concept of a "garden" began to spread... in a completely unexpected direction.
"...Why?"
"Because of the food stall."
"No, seriously-why?"
"Uh... didn't we already have this conversation, like, recently?"
"Fish buns or food stalls-it's all the same, isn't it?"
Gardeners were facing increasingly ridiculous situations these days.
-x-X-x-
This is how it began.
"They say there's a pojangmacha in the dungeon. It must be related to the Black Cloak, right?"
"Are we not allowed to go?"
"Seems like some people can, and others can't..."
"What the hell, there's a 'permitted' group? Aren't they all dungeons? Aren't they all the Cloak-nim's work?"
Members of the Cloak Cult voiced their doubts.
"Why can't we go?"
Most of the Cloak Cult followers had gathered to receive the overflowing grace of the Black Cloak. In other words, they were drawn in by the exclusive opportunity to experience the Black Cloak's works before anyone else. A privilege not just anyone could enjoy.
But recently, there was a place where even they could not go. A quaint, romantic eatery called the "pojangmacha." A painting, a mysterious safe zone nestled in the wilds of nature.
It was the rank-1 citizen members-those who had solved everything in life with money, power, and fame-who were most baffled. This was a new kind of obstacle.
"They don't even take you if you do volunteer work."
"Maybe it requires some kind of qualification?"
"No, it's natural that civilians can't enter dungeons, so that's not the issue..."
"The problem is that even hunters can't enter this one."
"And this dungeon just happens to be another work by our Black Cloak-nim."
They didn't understand the concept of a "garden." But it didn't take long for them to realize that this latest work by the Black Cloak was much stricter in its criteria than ordinary dungeons.
Thrown into mild confusion, they tried various approaches. The results were the same. It was frustrating.
"This really isn't something you can get into just by doing charity, huh."
"But Black Cloak-nim is someone who places more value on good deeds than anyone else."
"Which means... it's not that volunteer work isn't enough it's that it alone isn't the key to entering that dungeon."
"So what's the condition to enter that place? We've just received info that someone finally managed to get in."
"What's the standard? Why's it different from regular dungeons?"
"It's not just different from regular dungeons-it's completely different from Black Cloak-nim's previous works. So what the hell do we need to do to enter this new series?"
They were anxious. They knew it was greed, even gluttony-but they couldn't help it.
And with good reason: this was Black Cloak's first series. And true devotees always wanted to possess the first of something they loved. The group was made up of people like that-it was only natural they'd stir.
"What, so you're saying we might never get to see that ecstasy of a natural landscape with our own eyes...?"
"Then what's even the difference between us and unawakened civilians who can't enter dungeons?"
"The only dungeon civilians could experience was his, and now...!"
It was the non-hunter, rank-1 citizen members who were the saddest. To be precise-those who were not awakened. For them, the only hope of witnessing a mystical dungeon had been the Black Cloak's works.
"Of course, he probably won't start blocking unawakened people from all future works... but now that this has happened, we're nervous."
"This hints at a future where there will be works the unawakened can't experience. We pride ourselves on living richly thanks to Black Cloak-nim's grace, but... ha. My heart aches."
"To think there's a qualification I can't attain... I thought I had finally come to enjoy total freedom within Black Cloak-nim's embrace."
But the sorrow didn't last long.
"...So, what's the condition?"
"...I'll try mobilizing our people a bit more."
"....My friends might know something."
They didn't give up. These were people who had always made the impossible possible through money, power, and prestige-and within Black Cloak's embrace, they'd learned a new form of persistence. Even if the door wouldn't open, they'd knock.
And eventually, they encountered a term: "the Garden."
"The Garden?"
"What, like the one in your backyard?"
"No, they said it's something different."
"What the hell does that even mean?"
Gardeners weren't employees of any particular organization. So they didn't operate under a formal system.
But it wasn't that the concept of the "Garden" was some grand secret either. It was simply that no one needed to know, and no one had reason to tell-so no one did.
But faced with massive rewards and temptation, a few gardeners spoke. Some did so fully aware of the impact of revealing the Garden, while others shared the knowledge out of pure hearts. The result: Cloak Cult members hesitated.
"...Is this really knowledge we're supposed to know?"
"Nothing good comes from it spreading too recklessly."
Canary, who'd become cult leader by accident but was adapting well enough, agreed.
"Let's make sure it doesn't leak from within [NOVELIGHT] the cult. This may also be Black Cloak-nim's will.... but still, we must prevent undue chaos."
"So how long do we keep it hidden?"
"Let's not be too rigid. We're holding it back to avoid chaos, not to hoard it. I think I understand what Black Cloak-nim intends."
Canary nodded solemnly.
"He's clearly trying to teach Earth something again."
That wasn't exactly the case-but there was no other way to frame it. The ripple effects from "Portrait of Gio" had already triggered several sizable tremors. Interpretation was inevitable.
"The Garden and the Gardener... I see. Black Cloak-nim must want this knowledge to be shared. Otherwise, he wouldn't have conceived the 'pojangmacha' or this new series."
"Birororong."
"Our Lia thinks so too."
The yellow waterbird-both a divine child and cult mascot-chirped affirmatively. The Cloak Cult members nodded with solemn conviction. They were practically a family by now. Their group synergy was at its peak.
"Come to think of it, that pojangmacha... they said it's like a safe zone, right? Inside a dungeon?"
"I heard it's much more refined than your average dungeon safe zone."
"They say it's not just that monsters can't enter-it's truly safe. They sell food, and it's much more comfortable to rest."
"Which means... it's basically a restaurant designed to assist hunters and gardeners."
Having reached their own conclusions, they began to leak bits of information. In truth, even if they hadn't, other Black Cloak enthusiasts outside the cult had already started moving. Naturally, the concept of the "Garden" began to spread.
Only a few people were left bewildered.
"The Garden is going public like this? Because of a pojangmacha?"
"What the hell even is this...?"
And not just gardeners.
"Team Lead."
"Another late night?"
"Yeah. Late shift again."
"You miserable bastard."
"Let's go to the conference room."
"Why is there so much work lately..."
Even the Association's staff.
"Madam President."
"..."
Even the government.
"...I heard the news."
President Cha Eun-Hye smiled.
"The fact that the Garden is already being exposed to the world-that's surprising."
"Cracks began forming ever since Black Cloak's series started appearing."
"You're right, I've seen it too. So what should we do about this..."
Cha Eun-Hye wasn't anything special.
She was just a lucky C-rank hunter who'd awakened at the right time. Unlike her friends, she couldn't pull off flashy skills or fly around slaying monsters. She wasn't a gardener, either. In fact, she didn't even have the eyes to perceive the mystique her friends saw.
Anything she was good at? Not really. If she'd had even a bit of talent in dance or singing, she would've debuted back in high school. Acting? Not that either.
The one thing she could do best was....
"I think I should go to school."
"...School, ma'am?"
"Oh, right. You forgot, didn't you? It's okay-l remember."
"If you just say the word, I'll have everything ready."
"Hmm... it's okay. I think Guildmaster Seo remembers."
"Would you like a security detail?"
"I think I need to go myself."
Only Cha Eun-Hye.
Only she remained-the sole vessel that still remembered everything.
"...Please contact Seo Seo-Hee."
"What should I tell him?"
"Tell him it's time for us to go to school again."
"Yes, I'll do that."
"Thank you."
With that, Cha Eun-Hye looked at the mirror on her desk.
"...Yeah."
She was still smiling.
Still.
Yes, she had to.
***
Seo Seo-Hee found his friend right away.
"You're here as a friend, right?"
He asked with a smile.
"You said it was time for school again, didn't you?"
"Yeah. I needed my friend Seo Seo-Hee. Can you take me to school?"
"To be honest, I'm a little worried."
Seo Seo-Hee didn't want Cha Eun-Hye to go.
"There's something wrong with that school."
He still remembered the way Jeong Hae-Woon had reacted. That pale face, shaking in fear-it hadn't been something Seo Seo-Hee had ever seen on him before.
The guy had returned like that after visiting that school. Up until then, he'd kept up a 'whatever, he's just a teacher' kind of front, but afterward, he'd been drenched in cold sweat.
Seo Seo-Hee was worried about his friend, Cha Eun-Hye.
"Let's just go in together. I'll protect you-we don't know what's in there. If I remember right, it was practically a monster nest. The spawn of the Origin were gathering too... it'll be dangerous."
"What's more dangerous is you recovering your memories."
"...What's even in that school?"
At this point, it just felt unfair.
"In the end, it's just an abandoned school. No, I have heard things. Unlike Haera or Hae-Woon, I never erased my memories. I did hear that Hunter Sergio... the Black Cloak... spent a lot of time there. Even if that's all erased now."
"It's not the same."
"How different is it, huh?"
"You know I can't tell you."
Cha Eun-Hye patted Seo Seo-Hee gently.
"Please understand. We've made it this far-I'm just going to confirm something."
"...."
Seo Seo-Hee smiled awkwardly in silence.
"...He seemed like a good person."
"...He was a good person."
"Someone you'd want to toss everything aside just to get close to."
"But we've built up too much to do that now, Seo Seo-Hee."
"You're right. I know you're right, but... still..."
His stomach churned. Ever since he learned of "Hunter Sergio," this nausea had kept creeping up. Forgetting something you should remember was an agonizing, horrible experience.
Yes. He just needed to start from the beginning again. Rebuild it from scratch.
But no matter what, he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd lost something precious.
Because it was true.
"...I..."
He felt a lump in his throat.
"...I'm sorry."
"No, don't be."
"You're probably the one suffering most, and I'm just spewing nonsense here."
"I'm really okay."
"Thank you for always holding on. And I'm really sorry."
"...Me too."
Cha Eun-Hye gently hugged Seo Seo-Hee and patted his back. Just like their teacher once had for their dearest students. She remembered how that big, kind adult had comforted them and copied it.
Cha Eun-Hye was the kind of person who only knew how to do things like that. She leaned on her remarkable friends and borrowed their strength.
"...Let's talk after we come back."
"...I'll take you to the entrance."
"Mm. Thanks."
It was time to see him again.
The one we love. The great wraith.
-x-X-x-
Before he lost his "memory," Jeong Hae-Woon visited the abandoned school.
Let's revisit that moment for a while.
"....."
At the time, Jeong Hae-Woon was questioning the simultaneous fevers of the Origin. Though he had spoken with Curator Yoo Seong-Woon about it, that alone hadn't been enough to ease his mind.
A mystery of that scale could easily turn volatile.
Just because it was a "mystery" didn't mean he should trust all its rules blindly. This world was overflowing with mysterious beings whose very rules revolved around deceiving humans. The greater the mystery, the more likely it would behave abnormally.
So, once again, Jeong Hae-Woon had to act in person. He had to see, hear, and confirm for himself. Otherwise, a disaster so massive that it couldn't be fixed might strike.
"They said the fever and changes began after that damned portrait settled in the abandoned school..."
That was the reason he went.
It was simple: "Portrait of Gio" was said to be part of the Origin. It had more than enough authority and potential involvement in the widespread fever occurring in the Gardens. He needed to understand what had really happened.
And Jeong Hae-Woon-found himself gasping.
"...What the actual hell...?"
That damned mystery had embedded a spring in the middle of a remote, abandoned school.
After the Great Catastrophe, veins of mystery had spread throughout the earth-akin to blood vessels in a human body. The things that formed from that blood, flesh, and bones were the "Gardens." You could compare them to human limbs or organs.
But to see such a direct, tangible manifestation of mystery rippling on the surface of the earth-this wild terrain-this was a first even for Jeong Hae-Woon.
This was no doubt a spring.
"This is on a whole different level from all the small springs I've seen so far."
It was overwhelmingly dense.
"Goddamn it. I thought that dumb-looking face wouldn't cause any trouble. Trust? What a joke..."
Jeong Hae-Woon grumbled bitterly.
"This is why mysteries can't be trusted."
And still, "Portrait of Gio" probably wouldn't even register this as an accident. Or perhaps it simply couldn't. It wasn't the first time a massive mystery had unleashed disaster without any awareness.
He exhaled heavily and began examining the spring that had formed at the abandoned school. It was the first of its kind even for him, and he needed time to analyze it. No wonder the Children of the Origin were swarming here -if anything, it was strange they hadn't shown up sooner, considering how rich the mystery was.
"...."
And after quite some time, he realized-
He realized. He uncovered. He saw.
Huh? Ah. Is that so? Really?...So that's it?
"...."
After an even longer pause, Jeong Hae-Woon was left with a single question.
"...Why?"
How?
And why this?
"...Why would something like this..."
Why had this happened?
Jeong Hae-Woon knew himself.
[ERROR OCCURRED]
He was about to do something foolish. Something truly insane. If nothing else, that had to be stopped. That, more than anything, must not happen. It was utter madness.
[ERROR OCCURRED]
He wished he had never come here. And he knew someone who could help him make that so. His friend, his colleague, and the wedge of poor Earth.
[ERROR OCCURRED]
He needed Dan Haera's help.
Would you like to begin recovery?
[YES/NO]
"...I have to erase it."
YES
Erase it.
"Let's forget."
Only then-
Only then, what?
"I...."
What can you even do?
What would improve? What were you originally planning to do? And what happens if you don't?
What will happen? Is it really something you have to do? Can't you just... not?
Do you really need to erase it? Why? Why should you?
Just pause. Okay? Just a little. If you think about it a bit longer, maybe you'll remember something. You're forgetting something really important right now. You-without that, you're nothing.
You can't...
Recovery in progress_0%
...No. No. No, no, no.
...Da-Dan Haera... no. First I need to find Seo Seo-Hee...
Don't think.
Don't think.
[Recovery in progress_0%]
Don't. Think.
[Recovery in progress_1%]
That would be best.
And so Jeong Hae-Woon ran.
Yes, "ran" was the most appropriate word. He fled, leaving the memory behind, hiding, using the Promise as a shield. It was a disgraceful, pathetic display-but he ran.
Still, you would always remain here.
***
[Recovery in progress_99.9...9%]
[Recovery complete_100%]
...Tada.
***
Cha Eun-Hye was the only one who remembered that day.
"...."
"You're really going in alone?"
"...Yeah."
"You're going to see 'Hunter Sergio' by yourself?"
"Well, I'll only know who I'm really seeing once I see him."
"...I guess if it was him you wanted to see, there'd be no reason to come here."
"You said 'Hunter Sergio' is at the Collector's Guild, right?"
Cha Eun-Hye smiled at Seo Seo-Hee and nodded.
"It's okay. It's not like I don't have any protective artifacts."
"I'm worried because I know that won't be enough against him."
"...I understand."
But it was Seo Seo-Hee who didn't truly understand what that man was. That was why he was worried. Cha Eun-Hye couldn't bring herself to say that aloud, and so she simply lowered her gaze.
The ground was overgrown with grass. It looked quite different from what she remembered.
"This place is really falling apart."
"Well, no one lives around here anymore."
"No one ever thought of making this place livable."
"There weren't many good memories left here anyway."
Seo Seo-Hee added lightly.
"Except for you, maybe."
"That's true."
"...I never realized you weren't that fond of this place either."
"Well, now that I think about it, a lot of interesting things did happen here."
Cha Eun-Hye looked out at the overrun schoolyard.
"When it snowed a lot, we built a snowman over there."
"...Yeah, I remember. All the kids came running out to help."
"Do you remember that giant snowman that was like three meters tall?"
"..."
Seo Seo-Hee shook his head.
"No."
"I see."
"Was that the one he made? The teacher?"
"Yes."
"Yeah... figures."
"We all made it together."
"..."
"That's all."
It was a little sad, but it was fine. In truth, even remembering this much was a blessing. Everyone else had forgotten the "teacher," but the traces left behind were enough to be thankful for.
Staring quietly at the schoolyard, Cha Eun-Hye asked,
"You're going to stay here, right?"
"Well, I've got to see you off, don't I? You're the President."
"If you weren't here, the others wouldn't have let me come."
"Things are different now. This isn't the chaotic Korea from the early days of the Great Catastrophe. You're the great president who stabilized the country. We're not looking for you to retire through death now, are we?"
"You're all working so hard-how could I just run away?"
"...Don't die young."
Seo Seo-Hee's face twisted awkwardly.
"You're..."
"You're not one of the people included in the Promise."
"...Exactly."
Cha Eun-Hye was not immortal. Her body was fragile and would shatter easily if she suffered a severe injury. Unlike those under the Promise, even awakened ones like her couldn't escape death.
In the end, she would die. Or be killed.
Seo Seo-Hee often felt sad imagining that distant future. The solitude and grief always came back, just like the beginning.
Cha Eun-Hye's smile faltered slightly when she saw the expression on his face.
"When you make that face, you make me go soft."
"If I said we could add you to the Promise right now..."
"Come on, as if that'd work. It's been too long since that promise was made. Where would you even get the price
for it now?"
"I know. I just said it out of frustration."
"You're ridiculous..."
Sighing, wiping her face, Cha Eun-Hye smiled brightly.
"I'm off."
"That place is said to be haunted, you know."
"Then maybe I'll scream a few times."
Even after all these years, Cha Eun-Hye was still afraid of horror movies. She'd jump at dungeon footage. She couldn't handle terrifying, gory, or shocking scenes.
But even so, she was an adult. Somehow, (N-o-v-e-l-i-g-h-t) she had grown into one.
She had responsibilities. And she had to fulfill them in proportion to her power. She couldn't afford to freeze up and cry just because she was scared.
This was one of those moments.
"...I couldn't pretend not to see anymore."
Whether it would end in reproach or love, she didn't know. But she needed to hear what he was thinking.
"It couldn't be delayed any longer."
"While you're at it, could you deliver a message for me?"
"Mm, what message?"
"I want a packed lunch."
"....."
Cha Eun-Hye just smiled.
"Okay. I'll tell him."
Seo Seo-Hee had always loved the teacher's packed lunches.
***
"That's right. I remember."
"....."
"I remember."
Sergio acknowledged it.
"Seo-Hee's parents never really paid much attention to his meals, for some reason."
It always bothered him.
That household had been like that. They expected Seo Seo-Hee to be the ideal, respectful son. Always top of the class, always polite, always obedient.
But they rarely fed him well.
"So Seo-Hee... asked for a lunchbox?"
"That's what he said."
"He's been eating so well lately, I guess he's gotten comfortable asking again."
"You taught us that way, didn't you?"
Cha Eun-Hye said with a smile.
"You told us to make it a habit to ask for help when things were hard. That even if we had hundreds of reasons not to trust people, we should find just one reason to believe in them. So we wouldn't be alone, and we could live together."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"So I did that."
Her hands trembled. Even with her fists clenched, they shook with shame.
"I did well, right, Teacher...?"
"You did well."
"....."
"You've worked hard."
"....."
Her lips moved, but no words came out.
It felt like hot water was rising inside her, and even breathing was difficult. That heat climbed to her head and made her eyes sting. She lowered her head.
She couldn't speak.
"....."
If she made a sound, it might no longer be words.
"..."
"Why did my students all turn into cowards while I was gone?"
"...We've always... been cowards."
"I never thought that of you."
"I still can't watch horror movies. I need someone beside me."
"You used to scream but still went to the theater anyway. Didn't you always come out smiling?"
"I can't do anything alone..."
Her voice cracked.
"...Why did you come, Teacher?"
Why does this feel so wretched?
"Why, why, why... why? How? Why now...?"
Is this really what I wanted to say? After coming all this way?
"Are you angry because of us? That day, did we do something wrong? Were we wrong?"
"....."
"No, that's not it. What are you now? A ghost? A monster? A Child of the Origin? I don't know. I read all the reports, but that's just memorization. Just memorizing them doesn't mean I know what I'm doing. A-ah, this isn't it. This isn't what I meant to say..."
"..."
"What do you want from us? What can we do? If you tell us, we'll consider the circumstances and do our best to help. There's no way you'd hurt us on purpose. Right?...Right? Or is that not true anymore?"
"....."
"...Not anymore...?"
Is that it?
"..."
"Eun-Hye."
It was the voice she always heard in her dreams.
"Why are you so scared?"
"...There's just... too many scary things here. There's that weird brown TV, and..."
"People seem to be scared of me."
"...Well, you do look scary, Teacher. Even more so now... super scary."
"Am I still your teacher?"
"Yes. Yes. You're our teacher."
She'd grown up so much. She didn't want to act like a child throwing a tantrum-but she was too upset, and the words just tumbled out.
"You are our teacher..."
The teacher who always wore black suits.
The one who had a handsome face but no sense of fashion. The one who looked stern but gave them sweet treats, talked about careers, visited their homes. Scary and strange-but always helpful.
No matter what had happened, or what would happen, Sergio was still their teacher.
He had to be.
That much they couldn't give up.
".....'
Maybe it was shameless-but that much.
"...Isn't that right?"
"How could it not be."
"You said you'd always be here."
"I probably did."
The teacher in a pitch-black cloak approached. No footsteps, no breath, no presence. He didn't even try to hide the fact that he wasn't human.
And then he asked-
"Knowing I'm your teacher, why are you still so scared?"
"...I'm sorry."
"Why are you trying to act more grown-up than me?"
"...We, we..."
"You remember me, Eun-Hye."
"...."
"Then yes-I'm your teacher. Because that's what you want."
She could never truly call him human. But he was still kind.
"Want a macaron?"
"Yes"
He was still-our teacher.
***
Oh. The bell rang.
-x-X-x-
It sounded like a lighthearted joke, but for some reason, the words "you don't have to be an adult" were incredibly comforting. She wondered if, maybe, deep down, she had been waiting to hear something like that all along.
She cried-just a little bitterly.
"..."
Because this wasn't how she had wanted to be.
Like a reflex, she mimicked her "self."
***
Cha Eun-Hye had always been the type to cry easily.
"Te-heacherhhhhh..."
But still-crying like this, after growing up so much, even she was surprised by it.
"Didn't you say you were the President?"
I saw you on TV. You seemed pretty good at managing your image. And now, here you are, sniveling like a puppy in the rain because you're embarrassed about crying. Some things really hadn't changed.
The President whined.
"I don't wanna be President anymore..."
"Madam President, please maintain your dignity."
"I don't care! I'm quitting everything!"
"All I said was a few words, and now you're quitting the presidency?"
"You're so mean, Teacher! How could you do this to me? I'm pitiful, so hurry up and give me some warm, soft, gentle comfort!"
"...."
...It's been thirty-two years, and she still hasn't changed?
That's odd. I was told she's over fifty now.
But that didn't make Sergio any less stunned.
She's definitely older than me now, right?
I'm twenty-nine. You're fifty-one.
He hadn't run into Haera yet, so he didn't know about her. But he'd seen Seo-Hee and Hae-Woon. They still looked like they were in their twenties, but time had at least changed them a little. Cha Eun-Hye's personality, though? Exactly the same.
It was surreal-but even as he was thinking that, his hands moved reflexively, gently comforting his student who hadn't fully grown up.
"There, there. Stop crying. People will think I made you cry."
"Because you did make me cry!!"
"If this keeps up, the parents'll drag me away and beat me up. I'll get fired."
"Ah."
For some reason, that sobered Cha Eun-Hye instantly. She froze.
"Stop."
"Ohh, I see. So now I'm curious. What exactly am I supposed to stop?"
"Ban it. Immediately ban it. Any and all negative hypothetical statements directed at yourself."
"Ooh... Are there still parents out there gunning for my neck? Even after thirty-two years?"
"Teacher, seriously, stop it. That's not even funny. I mean it."
"It's honestly impressive how your behavior hasn't changed in thirty-two years."
Calling me "teacher" with that grown-up face... Maybe her attitude stayed the same because all her friends stayed young too. Same personality as she had back in high school.
Even without being told, Sergio just nodded in understanding.
"I get it now."
He could understand why Cha Eun-Hye was so worked up.
"Something must've happened to me thirty-two years ago."
"...You don't remember?"
"...Do I have a reason to remember?"
He asked because he really didn't know.
"I was trapped in a burning school and turned into a haunted portrait. That's the last thing I remember from thirty-two years ago. But lately, as I've been wandering around, I've started to feel like maybe that memory isn't even real."
"...."
"So then why is the memory different? Was it erased? Probably something to do with Haera's ability. And also tied to your 'Promise, right? But I still don't know what I did or how I got tangled in that promise..."
"...."
"My memory being a complete blank wasn't something we all agreed on, huh?"
Well, it made sense. The fact that he'd returned as a haunted portrait was probably an unpredictable accident too. Still, it felt unfair.
...Why does even Eun-Hye seem to know so little? Maybe it's just a side effect on my end, but... weren't these Promises normally done through mutual agreement?
With conditions, of course. Like, the person had to still be alive. That left Sergio with only two possible assumptions. It wasn't even worth overthinking-just basic logic.
Either he had actually died, or things were too urgent for consent.
And either way, it's not exactly a hopeful situation.
He understood.
"That happens."
They called the time he couldn't remember "The Great Catastrophe." Even if it had only affected a small town, that would've been horrific. But this was something that changed the entire world. Tragedies were inevitable.
And tragedy didn't pick and choose its victims.
Sergio had always made choices he wouldn't regret. He didn't dwell long-his judgment was fast, and his ability to act even faster.
That kind of person... probably faced danger and death more than most.
Back then too, I must've still been a teacher with students I had to protect.
Their safety would've come before his own.
"I wonder what kind of Promise it was."
"...I'm not telling you."
"Why not?"
"....."
"..."
Sergio shrugged.
"Let's drop it."
It didn't feel like the right time for jokes.
I have that much sense at least.
Without it, he wouldn't have survived teaching.
And besides, she clearly had no intention of telling him. Sergio didn't feel a particular need to dig, either. Like he'd always said he was satisfied enough with the way things were now. No need to pry into the past and stir up tears.
Though... if this is where all that crying led us, I'm not sure what to think.
"Judging by your reaction, if I did tell the truth, there'd probably be some side effects."
"...You sure seem to know a lot for someone who claims he doesn't remember anything."
"I wasn't just stuck in the gallery as a haunted painting the whole time."
"Haunted painting..."
Cha Eun-Hye looked like she wanted to say something. But the thought passed quickly. This must also have been one of the things sealed by the "Promise." That surprised even her.
So even me becoming a portrait... had a reason?
She wasn't especially curious.
"Alright, enough of that. Want a yuzu-flavored macaron?"
"...You remember I like yuzu macarons?"
"You seriously don't remember coming to the teacher's office almost every day and robbing me blind?"
At that point, it would've been harder not to remember. She barely ate school lunch because of weight control, but she still showed up at the teacher's office like clockwork. It made him proud but also felt oddly complicated. She had always been a contradictory student.
He handed her a round, golden-hued macaron and said confidently:
"I made it myself."
"You really don't look it, but you're surprisingly good at cooking..."
"And now you're crying again while eating my macaron?"
"...I wasn't trying to cry but you-!"
"And now you're blaming me. Unbelievable."
Dear heaven above, I swear I've done nothing wrong.
***
Eating a sweet yuzu macaron in the middle of all this didn't lighten the situation. Pretending to act light-hearted didn't make things any lighter.
...My mind's a little fuzzy.
She hadn't cried like that in ages, and it left her dazed. Her nose was stuffed, her ears clogged, and her eyes stung. Just moments ago she'd been drowning in emotion, and now only the remnants remained. That lingering emptiness brought a strange hollowness.
They sat facing each other in dusty, creaking chairs.
The absurdity of the scene made Cha Eun-Hye instinctively reach out and take her teacher's hand.
"....."
"What is it?"
"...Nothing. Just..."
It was cold.
How could something like this happen? she wondered.
She wanted to hold it, but the chill surprised her, and she flinched. She let go as naturally as she could-but of course, her teacher would have noticed.
She cursed herself silently.
What the hell am I doing?
She had never held her teacher's hand before, even back then. Not because it was shameful, but because that kind of thing just didn't happen.
But now... she just wanted to hold it, just once.
It was a reflex. Instinctual.
Did I cry so hard my brain leaked out with the tears?
As she clasped her own hands together, the teacher asked:
"Want to hold it?"
"...Can I?"
"I've gotten a little cold, but holding me won't hurt or get you sick."
"You really didn't need to say it like that..."
"I meant it to reassure you, but wow-harsh. Not like I was forcing you."
"I didn't say no, did I?"
And just like that, she held his hand for the first time-so cold it startled her.
"..."
Like-
"...like a dead person."
"That obvious?"
"I guess I hoped it wouldn't feel like that."
"Well, portraits don't have body heat, you know."
"Oh. Right..."
She laughed weakly.
Thinking of him as a corpse made it hard to breathe. But thinking of him as a portrait-that made it a bit easier. The fear, sorrow, resignation, and shame that had been choking her-just a little-lightened.
So she gripped his hand tighter. Then, like a child playing with a parent, she gave it a gentle shake. His large hand swayed with hers, without resistance.
"...Haha..."
She laughed for no reason.
"No body heat... it feels so strange. Is this what it feels like to touch an undead?"
"Are you seriously comparing a perfectly alive person to an undead?"
"Well, I've never really fought a monster before. Just some of the native monsters left on Earth. The rest... my friends always handled them for me."
"Not your subordinates?"
"I mean, yeah, that too."
Pointless chatter. She needed it. If she didn't say something stupid, she wouldn't be able to stand this moment.
Should she cry again, like a child? Even knowing it wouldn't solve anything....
"...Mm, maybe this is what it's like to touch a living statue. No warmth, but soft like a real human, and it moves... It's weird. A contradiction. But fascinating."
"Just don't cut it off and take it with you. These hands are for painting and cooking."
"Do you know how creepy you sound when you say that? It doesn't even sound like a joke. You've always had a weird way of joking that fits you too well. You're such a strange teacher."
"That's what made it fun. You all liked that kind of thing-1 know. Don't pretend you didn't enjoy it too."
"I guess we did..."
Maybe she should cry again. Maybe that would mask the awkwardness and anxiety. She thought about it several times.
But she didn't.
Crying like a child earlier had been enough foolishness for one day.
"...Teacher, can I ask something?"
"What is it that made you set the mood like this?"
"I didn't come all the way to Gangwon Province for nothing. There are things I wanted to ask you."
"Sounds like it'll be a long Q&A... You treating me to breakfast?"
"....."
Was this the "price" or the "condition" for what he had become? Or was it... a "bargain"?
She hesitated briefly, then let go of his hand.
"... Of course."
"Alright. What are you curious about?"
"...Who are you?"
She finally asked.
"...Let's be brave. Please. You cried your eyes out already-so now it's time to do what you have to, Cha Eun-Hye."
She might've been mocked as a puppet president, but the fact remained: she was the President of a nation. Thrust into the role during a time of chaos-half against her will-many had criticized and distrusted her.
But she endured.
And ultimately, she delivered.
The reason someone like her, with no special ability, could hold on this long-was responsibility.
Yes. She had to take responsibility. That's what this position was for.
Now, she stood before a being capable of shaking not just a nation, but the entire dimension of Earth.
She had to understand his intentions. She had to know why he existed-what he was ultimately going to do, and why.
"So... stay calm. Don't approach too quickly. Don't trigger his guard..."
Her folded hands trembled, so she pressed them tighter together to hide it. They still shook, but not as much. It felt like holding onto a rope dangling off a cliff-just enough to keep from falling.
"...From what I remember... Teacher, you're not supposed to be here like this."
How much could she say? How much could she reveal, and how much should she hide, to keep this precarious peace alive?
Cha Eun-Hye silently begged her inscrutable, pitch-black teacher not to overthink it.
Just like he always used to.
"Honestly, it's impossible. That you're here now-like this-it's not just resurrection... It's beyond that. I still can't wrap my head around it."
"What is it that you can't understand?"
"Whether you standing before me right now... are really my teacher. I think you are. I want to believe that. But rationally speaking, it makes no sense. It's impossible."
"What part of it doesn't make sense? That someone believed dead came back? Or that person is now a haunted portrait?"
"...I'm sorry. I can't explain it. I must sound insane. I've changed a lot... but so have you. Your lower body temperature, that black cloak, the lack of a shadow..."
"Oh."
At that moment, a shadow formed beneath his feet.
"...Ah, I forgot."
"...Seriously? How can you forget something like that?"
"This companion of mine is a little moody. Makes it hard to rely on them. The moment I let my guard down, they start teasing me. Maybe it really was a mistake, but I doubt it."
"I don't really follow... Companion?"
"The one who helps me function in society as a haunted portrait. Not that important, really. In the end, I'm just as you remember. Nothing's changed."
"...From where I'm standing, it seems like a lot's changed. But... maybe you're right."
"I don't know why I ended up like this either. You say I shouldn't exist, but... well, I do. So I can't answer your question."
"...That's true too, Teacher."
A shame.
She had summoned all her courage-But her question had no answer.
Then what should she ask?
Cha Eun-Hye glanced at the air in front of her, then asked something else-similar in meaning.
"...Then are you really my teacher?"
"As far as I remember, yes."
"It's creepy, hearing you say the word remember."
"Did it give you trauma?"
"...Sort of. I don't know, really."
A word that once held warm memories... no longer meant something good.
Now, it was a shackle. A burden that kept them sane-but just barely. A contradiction they all lived with.
"What is it you want to do, Teacher?"
"Live in the countryside?"
"...Oh. Really?"
"I don't really have anything I want to do."
"That's hard to believe. Your name's even reached the President's office."
"If word of me running a food stall reaches the Blue House, that's a pretty damning indictment of our country's social safety net, don't you think, Eun-Hye? Honestly, when I first emerged into the world in this frail portrait body... I was terrified. There were hardly any restaurants."
"...Ugh. Don't say stuff like that. Now I feel responsible again."
She forced a clumsy smile.
"So what you're saying is... you don't have some grand plan?"
"I just want to help my new friends. That's all. Running a food cart, feeding the hungry. That's it."
"Did it never occur to you that the scale is a bit much?"
"It just turned out that way. You have to understand-I've always been a softie, Eun-Hye."
"I don't know if I'd call that soft-hearted."
"Are you saying the Gardeners aren't pitiful? I didn't raise you to be so cold."
"This is ridiculous..."
After a pause, Cha Eun-Hye asked,
"...Can I trust you?"
"Could you be a bit more specific?"
"I mean... I don't know if I can trust that you're really you. I don't know if I can believe you don't have some great agenda. I don't even know if you're truly harmless."
"...Well... no human is completely harmless."
He said it like it was obvious.
"In other words, we need to build new trust between us. Right?"
"...I guess so?"
"It's simple. Seo-Hee and Hae-Woon treat me the same way. Trust isn't something you can build overnight."
"...True."
"Which means there's nothing we can do right now. We'll have to rebuild trust from the beginning."
"...That's true."
"You're a smart student. I'm sure you realized all this even before you came. Which means you came because... you wanted to see me."
"....."
"Or maybe both. Maybe it was like unfinished homework."
She had no rebuttal. Because it was the truth.
Cha Eun-Hye felt a bit sheepish. Hollow-but oddly relieved. There was nothing she could do now but watch. Her heart was heavy with responsibility and longing.
She quietly confessed.
"...I thought everything would change if someone like me-someone who remembers-came here."
"I'm not the kind of guy who can live up to expectations, sorry. I'm not all that fun."
"Only you think you're not fun, Teacher."
And just like that, the answer was clear.
Nothing changes.
As long as Cha Eun-Hye stayed silent, things would remain as they were. The world would be dangerous, but peaceful. The Black Cloak would continue to cause incidents, but in the process, make Earth better.
There was plenty to worry about.
She still wasn't sure if he really was their teacher.
And if he was-why had this happened to him?
Would the Black Cloak always remain friendly toward humans?
And her position as President... could not be swayed lightly.
...But does wanting to rely on someone make me weak?
As long as it wasn't in her official capacity-maybe it was okay.
Much later, Cha Eun-Hye asked:
"...If I believe in you, will the world fall apart?"
"Come on. That's ridiculous."
"It would really help if you just said yes or no."
"No."
"Are you the teacher I knew?"
"I've changed a little. The teacher in your memories... wasn't a painting. So-no."
"You won't betray us, right?"
She asked even though she assumed the answer. Because what mattered wasn't her belief-it was an objective promise. She needed the promise of her teacher, now a being of mystery.
"You said you'd always stay with us..."
"Did I?"
"...You did."
Just saying it made her heart ache-like the air had been knocked out of her.
But even if he didn't remember, he had said it.
"You promised to stay with us. That's right, isn't it?"
"...Feels like I'm answering a reading comprehension question. But yes-if that's the context, then it's what I meant. I wanted to leave you all with something stable. So yes."
"So you're the teacher we knew. And even if things get dangerous, you'll do objectively good things for the world. You won't just disappear. That's what you're saying, right?"
"Probably...? Yes. But don't put too much faith in the future-we never know what'll happen."
"Then I'll believe in you."
Call it irresponsible if you want. But she had seen enough.
She sat at the center of a country that received all the world's information. She had watched the Black Cloak's movements for years.
And now... she had seen his face. So much had changed-but the most important thing had stayed the same. Sergio was still their teacher. And she needed him.
In the end, that's all it was.
Simple logic.
He doesn't remember that day. So the one who stands here... can only be the kind, gentle teacher we remember. Someone we can fully rely on. Someone who poses no hidden danger. That teacher.
She didn't know how this was possible. Whether it was because of the "Eternal Promise," or some other trick.
But the thing she feared most-had vanished, just like he said.
If the one standing before her was truly "the kind teacher who returned as a portrait"....
Then-
"...Even if you're just a copy pretending to be my teacher, I don't care. If you think you're Sergio, if you look and talk like our teacher, and even if you've changed-you're not doing evil. So I don't care. You're our teacher. What else matters?"
And only after justifying it to herself-was she finally able to face her true feelings.
"...So is it okay now? For me to just... feel happy?"
"....."
"Even though... the person who left, somehow-impossibly-came back..."
She had believed it was impossible.
She had never even dared hope.
After what they did to him-how could he return?
He had gone too far. He had become nothing more than a scar. A memory. A painful regret.
Yes-maybe it was better that he didn't remember that day.
If he ever remembered, maybe he would hate them.
She knew he wasn't that kind of person... But no one can predict what might happen.
So maybe-maybe this was the best-case scenario.
There were still things to fear. Still sins to carry.
But maybe because of that-
"...Can I be happy?"
"If that's what you want, then go ahead."
"...Will you tell me this isn't a dream?"
"No matter how I look at it, I don't think it is, Eun-Hye."
"...I feel like I'm going to cry again..."
"I'll wait until you're done."
"...."
So she cried.
"...I'm sorry."
She was happy. But also miserable.
***
"...Is this really the right thing?"
Jeong Hae-Woon asked.
"Hey-tell me. Is this... is this really how we're doing this...?"
"...Then what else can we do?"
"Seo Seo-Hee, you..."
"We don't have time, Hae-Woon."
"...Fuck. I know we don't have another option!"
It had been a long, long time ago-over thirty years.
"But no matter how I think about it, this is insane. That's why I'm asking! Seo Seo-Hee, seriously, what the hell are you thinking? Dan Haera, do you really think this is right?! Cha Eun-Hye-hey! Eun-Hye...!"
"...."
"Don't just cry, damn it-say something! Say something-anything!"
"...B-but.."
Cha Eun-Hye, always the crybaby, was crying that day too.
"T-then, what do we do? I-if Teacher... If this goes on..."
"Does it have to be this way? No, this is this is fucking crazy! You know it is. You all do. If it goes wrong, it's not just one person ruined-a lot of people will go down. How the hell are we gonna take responsibility?!"
"...We know, but..."
"And even if it does work-what happens to Teacher?!"
Jeong Hae-Woon had raged like fire. He didn't want to believe in his friends' choice.
But truthfully, even he had been tempted by the irrational hope of that moment.
That's probably why his resistance had burned so fiercely.
"Our teacher-what the fuck are we gonna do if it works?! Then Teacher's forever-!"
"Forever... sounds nice."
"...."
"...I think I like that."
Dan Haera murmured blankly.
"I like it."
"...Hey. Haera..."
"Teacher said it too, remember? That Novelirht (Don't copy, read here) we should live leaning on one another."
"...You know we're all out of our minds, right."
"Then let's all live forever."
"Dan Haera."
"We'll atone forever, for the sins we've committed."
She smiled faintly at the empty air.
"...Even if we don't fully understand what we did wrong."
It was a self-mocking smile.
-x-X-x-
Even though the existence of the Garden had been revealed to the world, no chaos followed.
"Hey, that piece the Black Cloak painted this time? They say it's called the Garden."
"The Garden? You mean like... the yard in some rich guy's mansion?"
"No, apparently it's a bit different."
"What's different about it?"
"They say it's a dungeon that applies super strict entry conditions... Hardly any monsters, but the terrain is brutal. They say that alone makes it at least a B or even A-rank."
That was the reason.
"A new type of dungeon or something?"
"Well, it's not like it matters. Only people with rare traits can enter anyway. I heard there's no dungeon break either, so what's it got to do with people like us?"
"Still, those chosen or whatever, I bet they're happy. There's a ton of people dying to get inside one of Black Cloak's artworks. I heard that thing-the food cart or whatever-came from there too."
"That one's kind of special, sure... but they say food carts show up in regular dungeons too. Honestly, I don't even get what's so great about it. Maybe it's because I'm not an artist or something."
"Well... fuck, yeah. We're not exactly the type to cry in front of a Black Cloak painting. I'd rather just get another decent artifact drop, you know?"
People didn't think of the "Garden" as something separate. That was because the "food cart" appeared in both the Garden and regular dungeons. Besides, even being chosen as a Gardener didn't actually bring any real benefit.
The chosen Gardeners knew their place. None of them ever uttered the arrogant claim that the Garden belonged to them. It might have looked that way at a glance, but it was also well understood that it was absolutely not the case.
"So then what's actually good about going in there?"
"Uh... appreciating the scenery?"
"The fact that I'm even asking means I'm probably not that much of a romantic, huh."
"Me neither."
That's why most Hunters responded with indifference.
"I mean, it's kind of weird that civilians can enter, though."
"What's weird about it? It's not like it's the first time. If you think about it, the dungeons that non-awakened people could enter before weren't they also the same type as this Garden?"
"I heard the Association's research lab got super busy trying to classify all that. Seriously, those guys never rest. Hey, but isn't it kinda sad for the ones who were picked to be Gardeners? I heard they're basically dungeon slaves."
"What do you mean 'what Novelight (Exclusive on Novelight) do we do? I heard the Association provides support or whatever. They'll probably just get by living off that. I've got my own shit to deal with."
Most Hunters were materialistic. It wasn't a criticism-it was the inevitable result of their environment. In an era where everything was ranked and evaluated under capitalism, what else could you expect?
And it wasn't just Hunters. Ordinary citizens were the same. When you're struggling to survive, you don't have the luxury to worry about someone else's lot in life. Unless, of course, it's the kind of story that makes you bitter with envy...
"What rotten luck. Tsk tsk. Sounds more like a punishment."
"What if you're not even a Hunter and you get chosen? That's like total subjugation."
"Now that I think about it, there's really nothing good about getting picked. Damn... if this isn't divine punishment, what is?"
No one was jealous. In fact, most pitied them. To most people, the Gardeners' pure, devoted love was worthless. You couldn't even see it most of the time, and when you did, it just made people scoff-'Ugh, they're under some kind of spell.
That was reality. There was nothing particularly good about being a Gardener. The only real thing they got was the fact that their burning love had been acknowledged by the object of their affection.
"What a romantic scheme, don't you think?"
Someone's bright yellow eyes curved into a smile.
"Ah, such a violent yet affectionate conspiracy..."
"...I'm not sure it qualifies as a scheme or conspiracy, Guildmaster Bisa Beul."
At Jeong Hae-Woon's comment, Bisa Beul smiled with his usual crooked grin.
"My apologies if my words offended you. I suppose Guildmaster Jeong Hae-Woon isn't the type to get swept up in artistic themes."
"I think it's worth revisiting whether this even qualifies as an artistic theme in the first place. Though I do acknowledge the breadth of your tolerance, Guildmaster Bisa Beul. I understand."
Jeong Hae-Woon also smiled faintly.
"But the fact that you refuse to believe in kindness or goodwill... I find that truly sad. Especially when it concerns your own son."
"Then do you really believe Hunter Sergio did all of this without any ulterior motive? You, who are so skeptical and contrarian by nature?"
Bisa Beul laughed wide enough to tear his mouth open.
"Saving starving people with a rare theme like the food cart, capturing surreal and beautiful landscapes on a canvas of 10,000 points, enlisting Cha Eun-Hyeok-a former Gardener talent you were close with-to utilize his credentials... and you're telling me all of that happened without intent?"
It had. Gio had truly done it without thinking.
"I don't believe that."
"...It's not that I'm trying to ignore his insight or foresight."
"Ah, I knew Guildmaster Jeong Hae-Woon would understand."
"He was probably planning this ever since he first befriended that guy, Cha Eun-Hyeok."
"Otherwise, how would the perfect person for this event just happen to be available?"
Bisa Beul spoke smoothly, his expression composed.
"A Gardener without a master but with excellent aptitude. Head of a household, heavy with responsibility, with a family to care for-no easy way to run away..."
"Even ran a fish-shaped bun food cart, which is rare these days. Of course, it can't compare in scale to what Teacher Sergio is running now... but yes, in that sense. It's a perfect résumé."
"Hmph. Once I thought it through that far, I couldn't help but think in terms like scheme or conspiracy. It's tender, but also cunning, isn't it?"
If Gio had heard it, he'd have torn at his chest and collapsed to the floor in grief. But at this moment, no one had yet reached that devastating truth. The conversation continued.
"How meticulous it all is, Guildmaster Jeong Hae-Woon. My son is quietly reshaping this cramped country called Korea. He is a teacher, and we'll be the good textbooks."
"I'm not unaware that the Black Cloak wants to educate Earth. It's just... he's starting to sound like a missionary from a cult. It's a bit much."
"If that's how it came across, I truly apologize. But I hope you'll understand even a little of how I feel. To think such a romantic bomb would go off on this dull little planet...!"
Jeong Hae-Woon, still smiling, called out again.
"Guildmaster Bisa Beul."
"My, what a romance-less man you are."
"Even among Hunters, there's a lot of division over this topic."
"And the Garden has made that even more apparent."
To the public, the Garden was an odd type of dungeon.
For one, it looked beautiful. Monsters didn't just leap out of nowhere. Not just anyone could enter, so there were hardly any casualties. Even if a few rare talents were swallowed by it, nobody died. And the fact that food carts popped up more frequently than in regular dungeons? That was enviable.
But now, the presence of the food cart was a lifeline. It only appeared before Hunters who were truly on the brink of death. Who would willingly want to enter a Garden just for that?
...Except for the chosen Gardeners.
"People in love are truly romantic, aren't they?"
Jeong Hae-Woon nodded mechanically. He had no reason to disagree.
"I admit, it's tender and cunning. I've thought the same-his touch and gaze are incredibly refined. That he could reveal the Garden to the world without any backlash..."
"The concept itself is simple, isn't it? Didn't expect to hear something so mild from you..."
"Don't say things you don't mean, Guildmaster Bisa Beul. You know very well why the government and the Association stalled so long. Fame doesn't mean omnipotence."
The idea was simple. Dungeons and Gardens were clearly different, but they could appear similar to the untrained eye. Among the dungeon types, there were virtual dungeons that transported people to unseen realms if certain conditions were met.
But compared to that, the Black Cloak's Garden series was visible. That lowered suspicion. Devotees of the Black Cloak had a big influence too. They continuously pursued romance and art.
They became a kind of buffer.
"...If even one thing hadn't gone right, none of this would have succeeded."
Unfortunately, the government and the Association couldn't do it the way the Black Cloak did.
Over 90% of Gardener candidates were wary of them that was the first problem. The timing wasn't right to reveal the mystery, so they were biding their time-that was the second. And the third: if they failed, the Gardeners might be socially rejected.
...If we fail once, it'll take 300 years just to recover. In the meantime, Earth could be consumed by the mysterious and suffer a second apocalypse. I was preparing with a buffer of at least 800 years...
And the government and the Association didn't even have that luxury. Even excluding the risk, they lacked the
money, manpower, and time to push something like this through.
It would have taken a massive effort just to make the public accept Gardeners as familiar allies.
But just maintaining the current creaking state of the world already consumes so many resources...
The Black Cloak had resolved that whole mess in one sweeping move. The reason was simple-he could show the Garden. That was why the public was enchanted, why they could accept it.
Bisa Beul smiled as if he knew what the other was thinking.
"People always doubt what they can't see or understand. They easily form hostility and push it away. I figured you were worried that unpredictable variable might disappear."
"For someone who understands so well, it's disappointing how uncooperative you've been with my friends... This isn't the time, but I can't hide my disappointment. They did their best."
"And that troublesome job was resolved by our dear Hunter Sergio. How does it feel? My painter, who showed the mystery to those who wouldn't believe."
It was a miracle no human could've accomplished.
"...I'm grateful."
He meant it.
"That was the biggest problem-not being able to see it meant there was no guarantee anyone would believe it. The world was too cruel to embrace people who were different. And so, we couldn't be sure the witch hunts wouldn't happen again."
Gardeners had always been lonely. They saw what others couldn't, interacted with it, confronted it, subdued it, and sometimes ran to their beloved master to offer it all.
The public didn't know how beautiful that vast thing was. They didn't realize how much love it held hostage. This wasn't a world that protected the weak or paid attention to individual circumstances.
Who would understand this kind of love? Who would believe in it and watch over it? So, they were grateful.
"Quite a few Gardeners are overcoming their loneliness."
"That's probably their greatest enemy."
"Yes, indeed. You think there haven't been Gardeners who died, still clinging to a love they had grown disillusioned with?"
"I've always thought it was heartbreaking to see them fade away."
"...That's... something to be thankful for. Really, it is."
Words so hollow you couldn't even spit on them.
"Why are you so kind?"
Jeong Hae-Woon had come to find out.
"You've got good eyes, don't you?"
"I don't know what to do with my son's overflowing love."
"Where does it all come from? Even if he's a piece of the Origin... that alone doesn't explain it. Not at all."
"You're right. The Origin is intricately made, but in the end, it's just a system. So, Guildmaster Jeong Hae-Woon, are you trying to find the destination of my son's mercy, or its beginning?"
"Both. I need to know the destination when I help guide his mercy, and the starting point to measure where it ends."
"Oh, I see. But if I may speak without restraint..."
Bisa Beul tilted his head.
"My son will love everything forever."
"Where did you see that overflowing mercy?"
"Love, mercy, affection, sacrifice, tenderness. He's made of all those near-synonymous words. That's just the kind of being he is. He is the wellspring."
"Where did you see that, Guildmaster Bisa Beul?"
"...."
"..."
After a long pause, Jeong Hae-Woon realized.
"...Ha."
In those eyes, he saw himself.
"...You saw him in me? That vast, immense being-in me?"
"You asked me for his destination and starting point, didn't you?"
"...Are you saying... it's within me? No..."
Jeong Hae-Woon rubbed his face and asked again.
"...You're saying it's within us."
The Symbols of Eternity.
"That's incredibly unpleasant."
"Did I say something terribly rude?"
"It's just... an ugly feeling."
Dragon's eyes.
If he could, he would've ripped those damned eyes out and jammed them into his own skull. Just to see the world that bastard sees, to know what he knows. What had he seen in those pitch-black eyes of the portrait?
What had he seen in Jeong Hae-Woon, his so-called "student," and in others?
Maybe because he looked so conflicted, Bisa Beul gave him an uncharacteristically gentle piece of advice.
"You saw it too, didn't you?"
"...."
The answer was already decided.
"...Thank you, Guildmaster Bisa Beul."
Did I forget something?
I must have... but what was it?
***
Error?oc?curred
█glitich
██████
Awaiting command.
***
And around that time, Sergio-
"Let's eat."
"Kyaaah! Teacher, I love you!"
"I know."
-was feeding Cha Eun-Hye.