Sergio was a rather popular teacher.
And it wasn't just because of his surreal looks. He cooked well, had generous hands, and-above all-shared his creations at school. Some students often called him a pig manufacturer.
"...."
Cha Eun-Hye stared at the neatly prepared tiramisu, conflicted.
"I already blacked out and ate some, but... tsk, how much weight is this gonna add."
"You're skin and bones, barely dragging yourself around. What are you even worried about?"
"Teacher, you seriously need to stop encouraging people like this. I'm telling you-stop encouraging me."
"I figured you'd want something sweet after a salty meal, so I brought this. Kind of a shame if you don't eat it."
"Still, taking it back after offering it is just plain heartless. We'll now begin the tasting session, please bear with me."
Cha Eun-Hye scooped a big bite of the tiramisu and ate it.
"God, this is impossible to resist."
"You've gotten so thin while I was away. Eat more. How hard must things have been for my poor puppy."
"Honestly, you're the worst one, Teacher. I mean, I still have to maintain my public image. People these days judge presidents on their looks, you know."
"What are they gonna do with a president picked for looks? Besides, don't you think it's a little late to retire now? From the way I see it, as long as your friends are around, you'll probably stay president indefinitely. Might as well give in to your desires."
"Do you realize how much you start talking whenever you're feeding someone?"
"Well, it's only natural to talk more when you're worried about the other person."
Sergio's voice, as he said that, was genuinely filled with sympathy. He really seemed to believe that Cha Eun-Hye hadn't been eating regularly for the past 32 years-even though she was perfectly average in weight.
Cha Eun-Hye smiled, already preparing herself for the familiar resignation. That absurd way of speaking, oddly welcomed, felt unreal, almost dreamlike, because it had been so long since she heard it.
"I heard there's a report going around saying Curator Yoo Seong-Woon gained weight..."
"Why are there even reports like that?"
"We've been keeping close observation since the moment you reappeared."
"So... it's legal now to dig into the president's personal life?"
"Uh... I heard it was always kinda like that, but if not, then forget it."
"Well, at least I've learned how much attention you were all paying to me."
"N-no... don't look at me like that."
As Sergio's gaze gently dropped, Cha Eun-Hye clutched her tiramisu like it was a shield and explained herself.
"I'm not exactly an ordinary person, right? You think I'd go see your face without any solid reason? I waited until I felt the timing was right. And to figure out that timing, you need information."
"And that required knowing Mr. Yoo Seong-Woon's weight, apparently."
"Those are important clues, too! Especially with someone like you who loves fattening up people around him. I mean, how do you die and come back and still not change? Do you really enjoy watching people gain weight that much?"
"It's more like... being too thin just seems pitiful."
"I've told you a million times, Teacher, your standards are way too-ugh, I don't even know if I should say they're too high or too low. Either way, they're definitely not normal. Again, I'm average. Average."
"Kids these days have a sad habit of calling underweight the new average. I don't really agree with that. A little fat never hurt anyone."
He then held up a tray.
"Madeleines?"
"Let's see what you've got."
"You eat so well-it's such a joy to watch."
"Are you my grandma or something..."
Next, a variety of fruits, cheeses, and crackers came into view. To anyone else, it would've looked like a wine pairing spread-but Cha Eun-Hye knew the truth. Her teacher simply enjoyed snacking on things like that.
...He always did.
Sure enough, there was no alcohol among the offerings.
"Funny how life turns out like this."
Sergio sat on the sofa across from her as he spoke. Cha Eun-Hye asked,
"...What do you mean, like this?"
"A day when I eat cheese in the presidential office."
"Did you ever imagine your student would become president?"
"Would I have?"
"You wouldn't, right? Ugh, it's so messed up-I didn't even imagine it myself."
Pretending to sniffle, Cha Eun-Hye grabbed a cracker.
"Ugh... is there no wine? This kind of food is meant to be eaten with wine, you know."
"Can't tell if you're talking about the cracker or your past."
"Obviously, I'm venting. Since I'm here, at least hear me out."
"You're the only one who remembers, and also the most uninhibited."
Sergio looked at her quietly.
"By the way, it just came to mind-but how dare you talk about drinking in front of your teacher. I know you're an adult now, but to me, it feels like the pre-catastrophe days were just yesterday. Watching you act like a proper adult makes my poor liver tremble."
"Oh... you even have a liver? What happened to being a painting? I thought you didn't have organs."
"Being a painting doesn't mean I can't have a liver. Though I have no way of confirming unless I open up my own abdomen. Do you happen to know a good surgeon?"
"See, this is the problem-when you say things, it never sounds like a joke. Stop saying stuff like that. I know I'm not the one getting sliced open, but I'm still scared."
"Alright, let's say that's true."
The impossibly handsome man across from her-who looked like he belonged in a horror movie corpse exhibit-interlaced his fingers and asked,
"Have you been doing okay?"
"No."
"Yeah, I was just asking to be polite. Must've been tough."
"You used to comfort us when we whined in school."
"Well, the expiration date on that kindness passed."
"So cold..."
"In the meantime, I took care of Seo-Hee's meals. She seemed to like it. Made me happy."
Cha Eun-Hye had kept her promise to Seo Seo-Hee. She'd asked Sergio to prepare her a lunchbox, and "Hunter Sergio had obligingly done so, visiting Justitia for the first time in a while. Seo Seo-Hee had been pleased.
Cha Eun-Hye nodded knowingly.
"She likes anything you give her."
"Nope. She's secretly picky. Pretends not to be, but she is."
"She eats everything you offer, though?"
"Unless we're counting the times she avoids situations where she might have to eat something she dislikes, then yeah-you've got a point. If you hand her something directly, she'll eat it."
"Why do you sound like you've got a lot of pent-up frustration?"
"I'm not here to complain, Eun-Hye. Just stating objective data from observation. It's not about feelings."
"I'm not here to complain, Eun-Hye. Just stating objective data from observation. It's not about feelings."
The man in a pitch-black suit under a black cloak tilted his head with a blank expression. It didn't seem like he had a specific question-more like a habitual motion when shifting his gaze. Staring into the air, he said,
"I know it's been hard for you."
"I've been avoiding you just to keep up my skepticism, so I don't really have the right to say this... but still, couldn't you have come a little earlier?"
"It wasn't entirely up to me. And more importantly..."
"More importantly?"
"Are you guys not planning to move out?"
"....."
"Oh... seriously?"
Sergio looked impressed.
"That's actually surprising."
"...I mean, we have moved out. That's why it took me a second to answer. We're all adults now, aren't we? What's the point of calling it moving out? Come on, we've been doing fine without you. Look at me-I'm the president. That's insane, right?"
"It's hard to call it a joke when your friends basically forced you into the presidency. When I heard the story, I was terrified by how much you've all grown. I wanted you to grow, but not like this."
"Yeah... as someone who still has democratic sensibilities leftover from the pre-catastrophe era... there's not much I can say about that."
It was true, and still something she was criticized for. The so-called "Symbols of Eternity" had used their authority to place Cha Eun-Hye-a girl with nothing into the presidential seat. If that wasn't a dictatorship, then what was?
Having finished the madeleine, she reached for the cheese and asked,
"Can I make an excuse?"
"An excuse for the cheese?"
"No, an excuse for how I became president..."
"I always like listening to my students."
"Alright, here it goes."
She lifted her chin slightly.
"...Honestly, there's not much to say. The country was just completely fucked."
It had gotten to the point where even a former idol trainee with average grades and a regular family could do a better job as president.
"The others were too balanced as 'Symbols of Eternity. They had already established a perfect separation of powers, so there was no room to pile on the presidency as well."
"I'm listening."
"It's not like they planned to put me there from the beginning. But, I don't know if you heard-our previous government screwed up massively. It drove Haera and Seo-Hee up the wall. Hae-Woon developed near-pathological misanthropy and disappeared for like... two years, I think."
"Two years?"
Sergio tilted his head. That was an actual question.
"That's pretty short."
"Wait, I thought you'd say it was long?"
"For a fully grown adult who's developed a misanthropic crisis, two years of wandering is short."
"..."
Cha Eun-Hye smiled.
"...You seem to know our 32 years way too well for someone who wasn't there."
"I fed you. I made you fat. How could I not have a good guess? I see it in my mind, even without having to witness it."
He gave a small shrug.
"Especially Hae-Woon. Once he snaps, he goes all out. His big behavioral patterns haven't really changed."
"But he's never actually caused any major incidents. Even if he seems like he's barely holding it together... he endures. We should be thankful he never exploded."
"I can imagine what state he must've been in. His heart's softer than he lets on. Probably wanted to restrain himself before he did something reckless."
"Exactly. If he hadn't vanished and stayed by our side, people would've died. He didn't want to be a butcher, so he ran away instead."
"He must've been in real pain."
"...Me too."
Cha Eun-Hye awkwardly smiled, cracking a cracker in half.
"I struggled too."
"You've gotten clingier since I last saw you. Even more than the others."
"Should I stop? Is it creepy? I mean, I'm older than you now."
"Well, you're not exactly at the age where you can be considered adorable anymore. That window closes at nineteen."
"....."
"...What's wrong with me?"
Sergio blinked twice.
He couldn't even take his own jokes as jokes. The Cha Eun-Hye he remembered hadn't been like this. Something had changed. Though unchanged for 32 years, she had changed-and the dissonance was unsettling.
But the discomfort didn't sit right with him.
"Why haven't you become an adult yet?"
To be honest, it baffled him.
"I thought you would've. I've been meeting mostly students who forgot me, so I figured the one who remembered would be different. But lately, I'm realizing there's not much difference. Did I do something wrong?"
"...You didn't do anything wrong, Teacher."
"Then whose fault is it? Because from a teacher's standpoint, this isn't ideal."
"So you tried to ignore it and move on?"
Cha Eun-Hye looked straight at him. Despite the bottomless black gaze staring back, she accepted it. The awkward smile she wore while breaking the cracker had vanished without a trace.
In the end, it was Sergio who blinked first. As always, the gaze was too raw to pretend he didn't notice. A mix of unease and weariness made him sigh quietly.
"I didn't leave you. I didn't abandon you."
"...I know. You never did, Teacher."
"I figured you wouldn't believe it right away. But I thought maybe if I said it out loud, there'd be a higher chance you would.'
"I believe you, Teacher."
"You say that with such a strange face. Fascinating."
"Yeah, I guess I don't believe everything. But I do understand the flow of things."
Cha Eun-Hye lowered her head and looked at the broken cracker in her hand.
"For some reason, you've returned. I don't know why. And I'm not planning to change anything or try to. So I figured... I might as well enjoy it."
"That's wise."
"But I'm still scared that all of this could collapse. That you'll disappear again, that the world will fall apart, that these new connections will break."
"So you keep pretending not to know?"
"Yeah. And I'm grateful that you're pretending with me. It feels really nice eating snacks made by Teacher again."
"...Feels like you grew up... sideways."
Sergio stood up-not to go anywhere, just to move. He picked up a piece of cheese from the table and placed it on Cha Eun-Hye's broken cracker. Then he gently tapped her hand.
"You're not supposed to use food for sensory play."
"It wasn't really sensory play..."
"Then... a strength test?"
"Let's go with that..."
The cheese was delicious, of course. Sergio had brought it from the presidential residence. Everything was tailored to her tastes. The soft brie melted perfectly with the cracker.
"Can you visit like this sometimes?"
"To build new trust?"
"Probably."
"Pretty vague. Your attitude, your request."
"Teacher."
Cha Eun-Hye smiled faintly.
"You weren't planning to look for us, were you?"
"If you were truly adults."
"If we'd become the kind of adults you wanted... you wouldn't have seen us at all, right?"
"I'd have given it a lot more thought. Probably built entirely new connections."
"You know, for someone so gentle... you're incredibly cruel sometimes. How can anyone be like this?"
A little resentment. A lot of longing. And a massive void.
"...I'll try to become an adult. Because that's what you want."
"Try to become a healthy adult, if you can. You've aged, but I worry you haven't matured."
"Then drop by more often, please. That's the deal. It's a rule the mysterious love to follow, and it's one of my last remaining stubborn hopes."
"Come by in secret, like now, when no one's watching. And chat with me like this."
"If that's what builds trust for you, then I will. I'm still your teacher, after all. But please understand..."
Sergio sat back down. He leaned into the sofa and looked at her with lowered eyes.
"...I was supposed to be someone who just passed through."
Cha Eun-Hye replied without hesitation.
"It's too late for that."
"Even 32 years ago, I think I knew that."
"I keep saying it-Teacher, you're secretly heartless."
"And yet I came back."
Then he asked-
"Was that my choice? Or..."
"....."
"...Was it yours?"
Who had named that vast absence his?
"...."
"....."
Sergio never got his answer.
"It could've been either."
He was still by their side. Still their teacher. And so, a proper answer wasn't even necessary. Still, he couldn't help poking at the crying child beside him.
Just curious what kind of mess he'd made in the past to leave these kids so broken. Wondering whether he'd ever truly deserved to lead and teach them.
That was all.
"Shall we stop here for today?"
"Then are you going to ask again tomorrow?"
"No. If you don't want me to, I never will again. I'm not desperate about the past, and you guys don't want it dredged back up. Well... except sometimes it really seems like you do..."
"Yeah, well... I'm sure some of us do want that. But it's not a situation where we can want it. Whatever you're thinking, Teacher, it's a dangerous time. It's hard to hope for miracles right now. So if possible... please keep pretending not to know."
"A miracle, huh... I think I know what you're referring to. Maybe. I'll see how things go. You know me-I'm soft on my students, and who knows what's ahead."
He said it casually.
"I don't know about Earth or the nation's fate, but if you need a convenient, pretty answer during a chaotic time, call me. That's what teachers are for. I'll always be here."
That was all he could offer.
"How's that?"
"...Then can you put more cheese on for me?"
"Let's do that."
She must've been hungrier than she let on.
No wonder she'd been so edgy, hiding behind that scary face.
***
And meanwhile, Jeong Hae-Woon visited Seo Seo-Hee.
"Yo, give me food."
"The hell? You left something here?"
"Word is you've been eating good lately, Brother~"
"Seriously, are you a gangster?"
Just like that, Seo Seo-Hee's lunchbox was stolen.
-x-X-x-
Of course, Jeong Hae-Woon hadn't come just to steal a lunchbox.
"Man, but this is really good."
"That was a gift from Teacher, you gangster bastard. Don't you think this is a little steep, even for a tribute?"
"Happiness doubles when shared."
"Then where the hell did my happiness go...?"
It was absurd to Seo Seo-Hee, but it wasn't like she couldn't give up a single lunchbox. Last time, when Hunter Sergio had visited, he'd left behind more than a few of them.
With subspace storage, there was no worry of them spoiling, so she'd planned to take her time and enjoy them slowly. The meals that Hunter Sergio made always held something warm and comforting.
And now, a thug had snatched one away.
"You're making such a fuss over losing one."
"I didn't say anything."
"Your eyes did."
"You're unbelievable."
Letting out a sigh, Seo Seo-Hee asked,
"...You're okay, right?"
"Can't you tell from this mukbang?"
"Clearly, the heavens and the earth know how healthy you are. Foolish question on my part."
"Better late than never."
"Not that I thought it'd harm you or anything..."
The gifts from Black Cloak were usually food. As long as they weren't taken through force or coercion, Black. Cloak didn't forbid the sharing of his food.
It seemed Jeong Hae-Woon had just wanted to confirm whether this sort of playful "robbery" was within bounds.
"...."
But still, making it his wasn't quite right. In truth, it was more irritating than anything. That loudmouthed bastard had taken away one of the few joys Seo Seo-Hee had recently.
...Did Teacher give me multiple lunchboxes because he predicted this might happen?
No, Gio just had a habit of making too much. But with no memories of "Teacher," Seo Seo-Hee's imagination could wander freely. It did so right up until Jeong Hae-Woon finished devouring the entire thing and turned to her.
"Hey, did anything change after eating this?"
"Hmm... I feel a bit more energized? What about you?"
"Nothing major for me either. Though I did feel a flicker of happiness from one of the Gardens I'm contracted to. Not sure, though. We're not exactly close."
"That's strange."
"It really is."
It was surprising.
"For something that vast to manage its power so delicately... Usually, if a being of that level made you a meal, it wouldn't be weird for your soul to get dragged into their spiritual realm right then and there."
"You..."
The fact that this was even coming up again gave Seo Seo-Hee a slightly odd expression.
"Didn't you already confirm that during the Collector's parade?"
Back then, Jeong Hae-Woon had been visibly rattled by the finesse shown in "Gio's portrait." It was strange that he'd return to the same suspicions now.
"Black Cloak's been gifting snacks for a while, and you already acknowledged they were harmless."
"Yeah. I even pledged allegiance to the Merciful Eye of Origin recently."
"So your idea of 'allegiance' and mine must be pretty different?"
"Let's call it a habit. I won't deny I've developed a deep fondness for that being. But let's not pretend he's some ordinary fellow. The fact that he can even appear humanlike makes him an incredibly unpredictable mystery."
"You don't think I already know that, right? So this is just an excuse?"
"Well... yeah, kinda. But the 'habit' part isn't a lie. You know how many poor bastards I've seen whose lives went totally off the rails just from eating the wrong thing? It's like a survival instinct. A conditioned reflex."
"You pathetic bastard..."
"If you look at it that way, none of us are really doing well. You know it too-liking someone and trusting them are two separate things. I guess my paranoia's acting up again. Like nobles carrying silver spoons to check for poison, right?"
"Ah, here comes the food-taster excuse again."
Seo Seo-Hee let out a helpless laugh. She could see he was trying his best to explain himself, so she played along.
"So, this is different? You're saying there's a clear difference between Teacher's lunchboxes and other mystical food?"
"Well... since it's your current obsession, I figured, sure. You didn't say anything bad about it, so I didn't question it. Like I said-it was just for confirmation."
Jeong Hae-Woon's face took on a strange look.
"...Honestly, I just wanted to know what it felt like."
"....."
Was there something he hadn't been able to confirm from the last cube steak?
"You didn't even leave a single grain of rice. That doesn't seem like just a test."
"Well, if I left some, who'd eat the rest later? What if it only works when we share it together? Although... I doubt a being that meticulous would make a mistake like that..."
"So?"
Seo Seo-Hee shrugged.
"Did you really come here just for that?"
"I've been way too busy lately to come out just for something like this."
"I heard you visited the Collector."
"Damn it, my private life... Why are there so many damn rats around here?"
Jeong Hae-Woon grimaced. The Collector's Guild was known for its airtight information control. Which meant one of two things: either they'd intentionally leaked it, or someone else had eyes and ears there.
The Collector likely had no reason to meddle in their petty affairs. So, it was probably the latter. Jeong Hae-Woon accepted that. They all knew already-everyone just pretended otherwise.
"Anyway, I do have a reason for coming."
"Then what could it be, my dear vice-guildmaster, who even left your nest to come speak in person?"
"No matter how much I searched, you're the only one I could ask."
"...That sounds ominous. Wait."
"I've been to the abandoned school."
"I said wait-dann it. Why me?"
Seo Seo-Hee smacked herself in the chest out of frustration. Jeong Hae-Woon was the one doing the mukbang, so why was she the one getting indigestion? It was wildly unfair-but she understood. She understood her own irritation.
Still, she maintained her usual peaceful expression.
"If a busy bastard like you came all this way just to eat, then there's no point denying it, is there?"
"Like I said I had no one else to ask. If my memories were erased, that means even Dan Haera's memories are gone. And it's not like I can ask Eun-Hye, right?"
"Don't mess with her. She's exhausted enough already."
"Even so, I heard our dear Madam President recently visited that abandoned school. And naturally, I must've looked into it myself-but there's no memory of that either."
"Would've been better if you'd just never known..."
"Ah."
Jeong Hae-Woon nodded like it all made sense.
"Did I tell you not to mention it?"
"And it only just dawned on you now? That's more surprising. What the hell happened to you at the Collector's to make you drop everything and come running?"
"Old man Bisa Beul said something."
Jeong Hae-Woon recited mechanically.
"My son will love everything forever. Love, mercy, affection, sacrifice, tenderness. He is made of all those similar words. Guildmaster Jeong Hae-Woon, didn't you ask me for his destination and starting point...?"
His words trailed off.
"And then he asked, 'Didn't you see it too?"
"...So you're wondering if it's limited to just you?"
"I thought it might be. That made me remember the abandoned school. I'm certain-l realized something about Hunter Sergio back then. And then I judged it had to be forgotten."
"Then let it stay forgotten."
Seo Seo-Hee shrugged.
"It nags at me, too, but the risk's too great to go digging up the past. You know what we staked on that promise."
"Yeah. I know. Honestly, I'm not even sure what I'm after. Maybe because I've been sleeping better lately, and work's calmed down-I've got space in my head now. Random thoughts keep surfacing."
"You should try floating in the middle like me. You're going to get yourself in trouble again."
"I decided not to remember, and ran off to find Dan Haera. You know me. I run when I think I can't handle it. That's what I did back then."
Even if he couldn't remember.
"I'm not trying to remember. I just want to know. Why is this 'Teacher' figure so kind to us?"
"You could just build a new relationship over it..."
"You better think carefully-this might not last forever. I've accepted that he's merciful, gentlemanly, and kind toward humans. But beyond that, no."
"I'd say you've accepted a lot already."
"No-what I mean is... what happens when his interest runs out? We need to be independent. We made a system to drive out Earth's harmful deities and limit their interference. We have to do that again."
"I get it."
Seo Seo-Hee nodded.
"So that's the 'destination' and 'starting point' you mentioned. You want to see where this love begins and where it ends-or at least measure it."
"Black Cloak holds divinity, but he's not bound by the system. He's an exception."
A tiresome exception.
"That can't be explained just because he's the Eye of Origin. And the fact that 'Gio' overlays the Origin-that too. I'm grateful, but he's still a bundle of variables. I just can't understand the direction of his kindness."
Why?
"He doesn't have to... so why does he?"
"Maybe because Hunter Sergio has a teacher. That's why he acts kindly toward humans. You saw it-it was a human ego."
"So how is that even possible? That doesn't make any damn sense. I view him as Origin, and I'm sure he doesn't deny it."
He was that kind of being.
"Maybe I've numbed myself from saying 'Origin' too often, but that's what he is. A being possibly vaster than the universe. We don't even know what he looks like, what he wants, whether he has a self. Even now, the 'Portrait' shows completely different identities with the same face. How does a being like that turn kind just by gaining a few personalities?"
And it wasn't just kindness.
"It's love. The Origin is loving. That's insane. For that to work, it means Sergio holds the reins. Not the Origin-the human. That's what I'm saying."
"You think he might not have been human from the beginning?"
"It's a very real possibility. Not a human who fused with mystery after dying, but a mystery that was born in human form from the start. And when it was time to die, it was simply collected. Of course, I don't know. I don't know the exact sequence. Even the idea of a personality being layered over Origin is absurd..."
Jeong Hae-Woon shrugged.
"Not like knowing it would change anything."
Still, it was important. He needed to understand the structure of the being he called teacher. Even if it meant risking divine punishment-well, that was a problem for future Jeong Hae-Woon to deal with.
"I need to know."
"To find the destination and starting point?"
"Yeah. For that, I have to understand what 'Hunter Sergio' really is."
"I get what you're saying..."
Seo Seo-Hee looked at the empty lunchbox with a bitter expression.
"But why come to me with all this?"
"Because you always eat lunch at this time?"
"You damn pig."
But-
"In the end, I can't give you the answer."
"...I figured as much."
"You really didn't look right back then."
"I know this is dangerous..."
It could all collapse-like a stone tower on a mountain path, toppling at the slightest nudge. So of course Seo Seo-Hee would say this. He knew that.
After a moment's hesitation, Seo Seo-Hee said,
"Why not go to the source directly?"
"The source?"
"Maybe he's already doing something massive. I mean, I'm not sharp enough to catch it, but at the very least, he'd know the safe limits. Even if he pretends not to."
"...Hmm. You're right."
And so, Jeong Hae-Woon visited the Collector.
***
"I promised not to trouble you."
"You can retract that for me, Teacher. Please, by all means."
"To think you'd come all this way just to ask that."
The portrait, painted in black, tilted its head.
"Your friend who's keeping silent for peace's sake will be sad."
"Everyone knows our dear Madam President is having a hard time. But this isn't about that. I'm simply asking for permission."
"Permission... I was never given such authority."
"Then call it advice. I learned there's nothing strange or shameful about seeking wisdom from someone wiser than myself, Teacher."
"My advice isn't always right. I'm not perfect. I'm not wholly good, nor ideally kind."
"You don't think I came here to debate your qualifications, do you? What I need right now is your counsel. You, as I see you."
"You may regret it."
"The prophecy of the Origin, huh... chilling as always. But I trust my friends. Even if you and I mess up badly, they'll stop us."
"Before taking on a challenge, shouldn't one conduct research?"
"If you were someone I could research, I would've."
The way he kept dodging the issue gave Jeong Hae-Woon a bad feeling, but he smiled anyway. Someone had to see this through. That duty belonged to the Gardener.
He asked,
"Teacher, I need your help."
"..."
"Let me believe in you."
The portrait tended to take its role as "Teacher" seriously. Jeong Hae-Woon used that fact. The portrait looked slightly reluctant-but it understood why he spoke this way.
"How cunning."
"I've honed my skills diligently to become an adult. What do you think?"
"Very spicy. I like it."
"...Good to hear."
Jeong Hae-Woon folded his arms.
"You know something? Dan Haera's way of speaking... it's like yours."
"What part, exactly?"
"That line-'l like it."
"Ah. I like that phrase."
"Why?"
"Because if you don't say it out loud, it disappears."
"So very mysterious..."
Why did this conversation feel nostalgic?
He wouldn't call it sentimentality. To Jeong Hae-Woon, this being needed to show evidence that it could be trusted for at least a thousand years. It was only natural, given how long they would be entangled.
"You're really not going to give me permission? What, is Earth going to blow up? Well, yeah, that would give me pause. But if you're hesitating, then I guess it's not that extreme."
"Once again-I don't have that authority. I promised the President I wouldn't speak recklessly or incite anyone. Do you want me to break that promise? I understand what you want, but I don't know exactly what I can offer."
"Don't know, or just pretending not to?"
"But in the end, what you all keep asking for lately is this: new trust. New relationships, built over forgotten pasts. Isn't that right? Especially you, Gardener Jeong Hae-Woon-you want to understand me."
"That's true..."
"If you really want that, then I will make you the exception to everything. You are my student. But I'll say it again-my advice is not perfect."
The portrait gave a warning.
"If any mishaps occur while building trust-can you accept that?"
"As long as it's not on the level of Earth's destruction or mass slaughter, I'll live."
"...In that case."
The portrait stepped outside.
"...."
"Excuse me."
Barefoot.
And...
Gemstone eyes.
"Then let's spend some time together, shall we?"
"...Last time you spent time beside Seo Seo-Hee."
"Indeed. That was me, too. Under the name Argio, in the honor of the Evil God, we had a truly meaningful battle."
"So this time, you're choosing me?"
"I thought this form suited you well, Gardener Jeong Hae-Woon. Without a doubt, I believe we'll enjoy some delightful mischief together."
"...Well, I suppose that's not the worst alternative."
He nodded.
"So what kind of mischief this time?"
"Why do people of this world play games?"
The Garden's eyes curved like a crescent moon.
"They're all game addicts."
"...Huh?"
"They refuse to look at the world beyond their narrow screens."
"That's... kind of sudden and confusing. Is that a complaint from the Garden itself?"
"See me however you wish."
It smiled.
"I'll do the same."
"....."
Tch. This feels dangerous.
...I accounted for everything, but still-this is chilling.
***
Awaiting command
***
Since that day, Jeong Hae-Woon's daily life had changed-just slightly.
"Hm, I thought you'd sleep in since you worked late last night. How about going back to sleep for a little longer?"
"...The hell is this shit...."
"Hearing you curse so harshly my heart's all aflutter-does that mean you don't remember? Gardener Jeong Hae-Woon borrowed me from Guildmaster Bisa Beul. That means I've become the portrait of Jeong Hae-Woon's home. If you pretend to forget me like that, I'll be heartbroken...."
"...I remember."
He did, but the presence had been so jarring it nearly knocked the memory from him. By class and appearance alike, this wasn't someone suitable to be the first thing one saw upon waking.
He was getting older and this kind of thing had never happened before, but his heart was pounding. And it wasn't in a good way. Hae-Woon's face was a little pale. Even considering he had just woken up, his reaction was visibly shaken.
"Feels like I woke up in a horror movie. Opening my eyes under a garden's gaze in the morning truly terrifying."
"I try to be nice and you come at me like that? Have you ever seen such a kind and sweet horror movie? At the very least, I'm not one of them."
"...Could you maybe go back to wearing black?"
The interior of Hae-Woon's home wasn't exactly bleak. He'd decorated it with care to avoid offending any visitor. But even in such a space, the being who had introduced himself as Jeorge stood out. Ostentatiously so.
It wasn't as if his face emitted light, and yet it made Hae-Woon's eyes ache. It was absurd.
"I remember having this kind of sensation right before I went blind."
Hae-Woon had, in fact, come close to blindness more than once. It wasn't from looking into something bright, or poison, or heat-so why did he feel this way?
No matter how he re-examined it, the being's presence was undeniably shocking.
"Did I bring you here a bit too recklessly...?"
"I showed up because of your constant talk about trust, and now you act so irreverently. Didn't you want to build trust with me? Then shouldn't you put in a bit more effort?"
"...Considering how diligent I've been just to stay alive, I'd say I've done more than enough."
"Fair point. Very true. In light of that, I prepared breakfast for the hardworking Jeong Hae-Woon. Aren't you grateful? You should be. When would you ever get treated this well...?"
"I've had breakfast made for me before, you know."
"By a garden like me?"
"No, I haven't. Thank you. Truly, you are a merciful garden. All hail Jeorge."
Come to think of it, this really was quite a luxurious moment. A meal prepared by that finicky garden himself. If you set aside the fear that eating it might kill you, this was a tremendous indulgence for a gardener.
And the breakfast was surprisingly modest.
"...Bread and sausage... and bacon."
"You don't see the eggs modestly nestled beside them?"
"I see those too. A very textbook Western breakfast, I'd say."
"You like this kind of stuff."
"...And every time you say things like that, my heart drops."
Even if it was supposedly based on their shared past, Hae-Woon knew nothing. Or rather, he'd forgotten it all. Sitting down, he inspected the meal the garden had prepared.
Perfectly round pancakes, glossy sausages. The egg yolk was a deep amber, almost red, plump like a marble, and the bacon looked crispy yet moist in the fatty parts.
"..."
If there was anything absurd about it, it was probably the sheer volume.
"Expecting an elephant?"
"Puuu~"
"God, what's a grown man doing acting like that, it's disgusting."
"I'm forever a fresh and sprightly 21, so I'm fine. This much is nothing."
"If you're gonna share a body, could you at least agree on an age first? It's confusing as hell. Anyway, you're seriously planning to eat all this? Can your body even handle that much? Isn't it physically impossible?"
"Trying to apply physics to a garden-how romantic."
"You call everything romantic, no matter what."
Still, Hae-Woon was getting used to it. As Jeorge said, it wasn't exactly shocking anymore for a garden to ignore physical laws. The portrait sat confidently and elegantly consumed the food.
'That part still amazes me every time I see it!
It ate silently, politely, and yet entire pancakes-each not small-slid into its mouth. There was no puffed-up cheek or full mouth. It was a quiet process, but unnervingly fast.
'So I do get my own portion.
What was laid before the portrait seemed more like side plates, but Hae-Woon had a normal human stomach that could be satisfied with just one dish. There was also a garnish of boiled broccoli and roasted cherry tomatoes.
'Maybe because it's a garden, it's giving me a pretty balanced meal.'
And naturally, it tasted good.
"This is nuts."
"Go on, just admit it's delicious, Student Jeong Hae-Woon."
"...What exactly am I eating?"
"Wouldn't it be breakfast?"
"Well, yeah, but still."
Something about it was unsettling.
'...Why do I feel so familiar with this moment? It's bizarre how unawkward this breakfast feels.'
By the time he finished eating, it was 7 a.m. Thanks to the Black Cloak's help, Jeong Hae-Woon now had the luxury of sitting down for breakfast. It should've felt strange, considering he'd never done this before-but food kept disappearing into his mouth.
'Though that might just be because it's too delicious for humans to resist.'
He'd heard that sometimes even the Sun Goddess or the God of Death received offerings that weren't really offerings. It wouldn't be easy for Hae-Woon to reject food that could entice deities.
Anyway, today was a day to inspect gardens. It had been scheduled in advance, so the two of them began their rounds early in the morning.
"This used to be an ownerless garden."
"If I recall correctly, it's work number 482. Am I right?"
"I've said it before I don't memorize numbers just because you spout them off. But I did hear that, thanks to the Black Cloak's help, a gardener was recently assigned here."
"Oh, a very good person. Plays with me often too. The Black Cloak sure does a lot of fun things, don't you think?"
"I don't know how long we're supposed to keep up this act. Anyway, since it's a new gardener, there are still some rookie mistakes. We'll fix those and move on."
Ten thousand "gardens" had been revealed to the world, and many of them had chosen their gardeners. This jungle of tall trees was no exception. But perhaps due to its complicated structure, it seemed the assigned gardener was struggling to manage it.
"They've got enthusiasm, but they need to be more meticulous. Otherwise, things end up all crooked. Still fumbling around like a beginner, I suppose."
"I heard the Hunter Association and your guild are also running gardener training programs. Are they not very effective? Or is it just beginner errors here too...?"
"For now, it's better than nothing. They made a dedicated academy class for gardeners, but both the teachers and students still seem awkward. I trust it'll improve in time."
Next up was a garden without an owner.
"Is this one of your paintings too?"
"Piece number 3,094. This massive lake was absolutely enchanting."
"A lake with no living creatures is definitely alien to humans. So clean it's almost unsettling. Seems like it's been swallowing a lot of people lately, and yet no gardener has been assigned."
"That's how love works."
"You've got a bad habit of blaming everything on love."
The lake was so quiet it swallowed all sound. That eerie silence was probably why no gardener had been chosen. Most humans would lose their minds if they couldn't hear anything at all.
Hae-Woon stroked his chin.
"It's a long shot, but it'd be nice if someone who couldn't hear at all came by..."
"Whoever it is, I just hope they can adapt well."
"That's what I mean. It doesn't matter who, but ideally it'd be someone whose similarities eliminate any reason to fight in the first place. Forget love or whatever-it's just easier that way."
"And yet love is the power that can overcome those differences."
"That's a very you-like romantic thing to say, but the world is a lot harsher than you imagine. It's ridiculous, chaotic, and stubborn as hell. Goddamned garden, goddamned mystery."
"?"
The garden-also the mystery-gave him a look after being randomly cursed. Hae-Woon ignored the stare like it was second nature. He'd long figured out that this was all part of a "game." It wasn't something that would upset his companion.
At that moment, he caught a shimmering, noise-making bug.
"Buzzes like a beetle, doesn't it."
A silent lake wouldn't welcome something like this. But unmanaged gardens always attracted pests. And as he examined it, Honey's eyes lit up.
"...Oh? Do you want this?"
"Grrrrlk."
"If the guardian approves, I'd be glad to offer it to your child. Would that be alright?"
Honey, now perched on his shoulder, tilted their head. Cute-but not actually cute. A gardener like Jeong Hae-Woon wouldn't fail to recognize the dignity of a creature like this waterbird.
'Still sizing me up, huh.
More than anything, the way they looked at the bug-and at him-was that of a predator. Hae-Woon couldn't shake the suspicion that this being was only pretending to be cute in front of its father.
Fortunately, the garden gave permission.
"That kind of thing is just right for Horney. Our kid doesn't really do picky eating, as long as it's not spicy. If Honey wants it, and you want to give it, go right ahead."
"If the guardian says so..."
Honey gulped down the bug.
'Goes out of their way to mime eating it with that tiny mouth. Their whole body's made of water, so why bother?'
Sometimes, the mystery's behavior struck Hae-Woon as fake. The portrait of Gio had a human ego layered over it, sure, but Honey wasn't that kind of case. Were they just mimicking their father?
'More likely just pretending to be cute...
If that was Honey's rule, he had no choice but to accept it. Cute eldest son. Cute waterbird. Cute child. The fact that they always acted more "birdlike" in front of the portrait gave him a hint about their relationship.
'He says it's a family, but in the end, it's just a mystical being playing house, isn't it.'
He still couldn't get used to it. These pretenses. These mimics. Regardless of whether they were nice to look at, there was something deeply strange about it. The unease gave him a lingering sense of discomfort.
"You saw everything?"
"....."
Yeah, that too.
"...Honestly, I didn't see all of it."
Those jewel-like eyes shimmered so brightly it blurred his reason. A human without Hae-Woon's level of experience and restraint would've gladly handed over their soul. Its essence was "love."
'Horrifying.
A garden capable not only of receiving love but generously bestowing it. That, without doubt, was a catastrophe. And if that garden took human form, then-inevitably-it would be trash.
"You're not someone who can be fully read with just a glance, Teacher."
"...Oh-I meant, did you finish inspecting the garden? Honey's done eating."
"...Let's move on."
This kind of dodging wasn't new.
'How am I supposed to build trust with someone like this...
The portrait had given him a chance. A chance to build trust. And also a chance to analyze. But the more time passed, the deeper the questions became.
Why does none of this feel unfamiliar to me...?'
He tried not to think too deeply, but the questions kept returning. It was instinct-a human drive to fill in empty
spaces.
They visited gardens every day like that. Because Jeong Hae-Woon was a special gardener, he could even enter gardens that already had owners. That was the only reason Earth hadn't completely fallen apart.
"Honestly, this is getting old, Teacher."
After working for a long while, Hae-Woon let out a sigh.
"I knew it since the moment you told me you'd drawn ten thousand gardens. At that point, I figured you'd captured nearly every garden that exists on Earth. You name each garden as we pass-it seems I was right."
"There are definitely gardens I didn't draw. Our game of tag ended quicker than I expected because of my whims. I did eventually complete the ten thousand, but I'm sure there are still others out there."
"So you narrowed them down to ten thousand truly important ones-enough to threaten Earth's fate. Or maybe... it was just your taste."
"Aren't you hungry?"
"..."
They sat in the middle of another garden, eating paninis.
"Is this really okay in a garden?"
"They don't seem angry."
"Wouldn't you be mad if someone dropped food crumbs on your own clothes?"
"So you're saying the panini isn't good?"
"It's so good I could die."
"Then that's all that matters."
Jeorge laughed brightly.
"My cooking skills are quite something."
"So they are."
"Living as a wanderer, it's harder not to know how to cook."
"A wanderer... You mean your life as a garden with legs?"
"Even before that, I was a wanderer. I was a musician, loved by many. I cooked well, and I was handsome too."
"Where does this endless self-confidence come from...."
"An infinite wellspring of my own worth?"
"...Not exactly wrong."
"That's how it was. So many people tried to hold onto me. But I never wanted to stay in one place-I usually ran away."
"Ran away?"
"Even if it's a golden prison, I don't like being trapped."
This was him admitting that he was once human.
"What kind of person were you?"
"I was someone who was loved."
"That can't be all there was to you."
"If that's all, then it makes sense I ended up like this...."
"Uh.."
Hae-Woon was caught off guard.
"You don't like what you are now? That's... surprising, given how full of self-love you are."
"I'm someone who loves change. Isn't that what they call dopamine addiction on Earth? I wandered through countless gardens, and it wasn't all joy."
"...Still, sticking around has helped me learn more about you."
Every now and then, the garden would tell stories about itself. Not every time. Mostly, it brushed things off with jokes. But sometimes-like now-it offered something real.
He wanted to ask more. But every time he did, the garden warned him:
"It's not time to tell my story yet. Don't you think?"
He didn't know exactly what that meant, but it made one thing clear the garden was seeing the future. Hae-Woon could only nod along.
"Understood."
A gardener, after all, lived longest when they didn't know what lay ahead. No need to ruin his mental health by seeking out trouble.
'He's probably filtering the info to only tell me what won't threaten humans or Earth.'
He had once asked Gio's portrait to reveal only what Jeong Hae-Woon was allowed to know. This was likely an extension of that.
After a long round of garden inspections, Hae-Woon was finally able to return home. His work as guildmaster would resume another day. Nothing urgent today.
"Why are you lying down without washing?"
"...Come on."
"I'm not someone who insists you must shower after going out, but you look like you're about to pass out. Do you remember we haven't had dinner yet?"
"...Feel free to eat alone..."
"Me? Eat? Alone...?"
"Alright, I'm getting up now."
Once they'd eaten, Hae-Woon's day came to a close.
"..."
A lot had changed.
'This wasn't how things used to be.
He hadn't planned for things to change like this.
But Jeorge was a master at coaxing and training people. When he joked, got serious, smiled, or whispered softly, you couldn't help but follow his lead.
'No wonder people say that food stall owner is a dangerous monster, even if he's kind.
Hae-Woon sat on the living room couch.
"Agh... my back..."
"Is that because you insist on a middle-aged appearance? Are your joints middle-aged too?"
"Just a figure of speech. Just a saying."
"Did you enjoy today?"
"..."
Every day, this garden asked him that question at the end. Hae-Woon still didn't understand the intention behind it. What was the point of that question? He didn't know, but it wasn't unpleasant.
Still, it made him uneasy.
"...I don't know."
Habits remembered by the body and the soul-things he didn't even know he remembered-kept coming out. Behaviors he didn't think were his own, he found himself doing naturally beside Jeorge. Realizing that gave him chills.
[Error Detected
Awaiting Command
What do I even want to do...?
Timeout Limit Exceeded
Forcing: Switching to Command Execution State
Unlock Progress: 0.02%]
"...Why are you staring, Teacher?"
"I feel like something very interesting is about to happen."
"You saying that really doesn't put me at ease."
"So tell me your thoughts."
The garden smiled like a crescent moon.
"It's a promise, Jeong Hae-Woon."
***
That night, Jeong Hae-Woon had a dream.
A terribly nostalgic dream.
-x-X-x-
It was on a day when the sky was entirely red and black.
"Teacher."
Jeong Hae-Woon asked a man,
"You're not going anywhere, right?"
"Why would I go anywhere?"
"Wherever you go... I feel like you'd be fine."
"How could I be? All my students are here-why would I go anywhere else?"
"...Like, what about your family...?"
"You know they're gone."
"....."
Strangely, he was a little grateful for that.
Jeong Hae-Woon knew it was a selfish, cruel thought. Still, he felt relieved. His teacher had always been someone deeply affectionate toward his family. If even one of them had survived, he surely would've left for them.
But now, with none left, he stayed with them...
"You're having strange thoughts again."
"Ah... No, not really. I wasn't."
"You've twisted yourself in a really bizarre way."
"Well, the world's twisted. I think I'm still pretty mild in comparison."
"If you take it as nagging, I can't help that... But I meant-don't think like that."
"Think like what?"
"This much is okay, that kind of thought."
Even after the world had ended, he stayed the same.
"If it's desire, maybe that's inevitable. But I want us to keep living as the people we were. You as you, me as me. So we never change so much we can't recognize each other."
"Why would that even happen?"
"That kind of thing happened even before the world ended. Just because someone stays near you doesn't mean they'll stay the same person you once knew. Or, they might literally go far away."
"And that's enough to not recognize them?"
"It happens more often than you'd think. People rely on memory. But memory isn't something tangible-it's like an illusion. So it's easily distorted."
"Then?"
"You stop recognizing them. They stop being the person you knew. But I get that this all sounds tedious. You don't have to listen."
He said,
"Like I said earlier-it's all just my own selfishness. In times like this, staying the same might be seen as being left behind. I just don't see it that way."
"...Yeah, maybe. But honestly... I like what you say, Teacher."
There were things he could say now that the world had ended. When you know death could come at any moment, you start speaking more honestly. He'd felt it over and over under that ominous sky. That death was always close.
"It's good if nothing changes. So we can always recognize each other."
"I'm not saying you have to live by my words. Like I always say, there's no rule that says I'm right."
"But you're still you, Teacher."
"Being a teacher doesn't carry as much weight in a world like this. It never really did."
"You were always nagging us, though."
"So you did think of it as nagging, huh? Guess it wasn't the kind of stuff that was fun to hear."
He looked like he was smiling. His lips didn't actually move at all, and yet Hae-Woon always thought they did. His teacher could embed emotion and meaning into his voice so clearly it created the illusion.
"Even after the world ended, I wanted us to hold onto our humanity. Not to torment life recklessly, not to tear down someone's worth, and to give as much as we could from what we had."
Then he nodded, as if he understood.
"Boring, right?"
"It's not exciting, but... I don't think it's bad."
"I'm glad to hear you say that."
"Well, there you go."
"I've been blessed with really good students."
"..."
Well, that wasn't exactly true. He'd simply sculpted his students himself, shaped them with care. And then he pretended to forget he'd done it at all.
To him, all the world's hardships seemed easy. Surely there were moments he struggled, but he never looked it. In a world going mad, how could he remain so calmly sane?
"...Don't go anywhere."
"Why're you so scared, Hae-Woon?"
"The Korean lit teacher ran away."
"Yeah, I heard. The other kids are really scared, too."
He said it like he understood it all. And Hae-Woon was grateful, not resentful. In a world where everything had changed, only this man had remained the same. It felt like he would always be right there.
His low, steady voice could calm even the most anxious heart.
"Maybe the Korean lit teacher was that scared. Scared enough to feel like they had to leave to survive."
"...Still. They're teachers. And they're all running... Isn't that cowardly?"
Sometimes it felt so unfair.
"You're the one working so hard, Teacher, but everyone else is being irresponsible. You're the one who's suffering most, and they just... say awful things... whine..."
His teacher always understood too much. He never resented, never hated. He just absorbed the information, and calmly thought, "So, what can we do now?"
"So I'm the only one who gets mad again?"
"I can be angry with you."
"Are you a Buddha or something? Did you come from a temple?"
"Is that where they come from? I wouldn't know I'm not religious."
"No, I mean... Aren't you even a little upset?"
"What would I be upset about?"
He was always like this.
"I just feel sorry."
"...What do you have to be sorry for?"
"For making things even scarier for students who were already scared."
"Why are you worrying about that? The ones who ran probably don't even give it a second thought."
"Hae-Woon, you really do worry in the strangest ways."
He patted Hae-Woon's back lightly. It didn't feel like encouragement or support-it felt like comfort, a quiet gesture saying don't be sad anymore. That gentle, relaxed touch helped soothe his boiling gut.
His teacher always said boring things.
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Why?"
Because you're a teacher?
"Because I'm a teacher."
"...If you weren't, you'd run, right?"
"I think I'd still stay."
"Why?"
"Maybe because I'm an adult?"
"But the other teachers ran away. They were adults, and teachers too."
"That reason was enough for me, but I guess not for them."
"What if you end up like that someday?"
"It's hard to imagine..."
And then he said something comforting.
"Well then, maybe I'll just take you kids and run away."
"...Me? And Haera, and Seohee, and Eunhye too?"
"Let's stop at just them."
"...So you do play favorites, Teacher?"
"I'm only human. Of course I do."
"..."
"...? Why so quiet all of a sudden?"
Jeong Hae-Woon hesitated, then replied.
"...Because you don't feel human."
And that scared him even more.
Even before the end of the world, his teacher had always been... too ideal. A good adult. A good teacher. Maybe that's why the unease was so strong-because it wouldn't be strange at all if he suddenly disappeared.
He'd once heard someone say:
"Good people die early because God wants them."
His teacher was a good person. The end of the world had only made that clearer. And only then did he understand how valuable that was. And how many would want to take it.
There were many who wanted this person. Yet, his teacher remained with them. That was comforting... but terrifying too. He was so ideal, he didn't feel real..
More unreal than the ruined world itself.
"..."
"I'm human."
"...I know."
"You all have a habit of idolizing me, you know that?"
"You say that all the time, Teacher."
"I keep saying it because none of you listen."
"But..."
It wasn't idolization. There were just some people who could only be idols. And that was his teacher. He was perfect in every way, and at the same time, kind and warm.
"Jeong Hae-Woon."
"Il... I'm not the only one who thinks this way, you know. Isn't it time you admitted it? Are you embarrassed?"
He was a little frustrated. That his teacher was this special was a source of pride. If only the teacher would admit it, that would be enough. That was all there was to it-it was simply true.
But his teacher never indulged that desire. He stayed calm and quiet.
"I've been worried lately. Something about the atmosphere feels off."
"I don't get why you deny it so much. Wouldn't it be better if everyone admired you more?"
"You think I'm perfect."
"You are, though. Even in this world..."
"I'm not."
He should've listened to that part properly.
"I'm human."
Why had he let it pass him by?
Even now, thinking back... it felt cowardly.
***
"....."
Error detected.
"Ah"
Error detected.
Error detected.
Error detected.
"Hold on."
Abnormality detected.
Awaiting command.
Forcing: System will temporarily suspend.
"Wait, what the hell is this-?"
"Jeong Hae-Woon."
"..."
He looked up-and saw pitch-black eyes.
They stared at him through the system window that was blinking with warnings. Eyes darker than darkness, their depth unknowable. Filled with fate, and its weight. The cycle of life and death. And humanity.
Soaked in cold sweat, Jeong Hae-Woon heard the Black Cloak ask:
"Is it too much for you?"
"...What are you talking about...?"
"Then let's say it didn't happen."
"Didn't happen...?"
"Maybe I got a little too excited."
There was no hint of guilt. He simply spoke like an old man reflecting on his day-saying he'd gotten carried away, maybe gone too far. Asking if that had been too much for Hae-Woon.
Then he said something random.
"I like the safe path."
He just listened.
"I don't hate change, but I don't exactly love it either. I prefer a life that's stable and peaceful. Where I and those around me don't suffer, where each day is modestly happy, and where we only cry once in a while."
It was the same voice from the dream.
"But this time, I got greedy. I tried to ignore it, to forget it-but gardens with legs don't like boring paths. I felt an adventurous spirit I didn't have before. So I got excited. I thought this might be fun..."
Words like adventure, excited, fun-they sounded like illusions. That low, quiet voice pierced his ears and melted his brain.
"I know you. The way you keep returning to that burnt-out school, even after forgetting and forgetting again."
"...The school?"
"You've been there many times. I tried to ease Haera's exhaustion a few times. But still, you came back again."
"I've... gone there? Not just once or twice?"
"You were a clever student. Still are. Even after speaking with Yoo Seong-Woon, you kept wondering why you hadn't gone to the school. Over and over."
"Did you erase my memories?"
"Not exactly. I restored the error. Closed the open hole. Probably me. Maybe. I'm not sure. But probably. I'm always here. So let's just say it was me. Will you?"
"What the hell...."
"This time you even came to find me at the Collector's Gallery. This time was different. So I thought... maybe I'd respond. With Mr. Jeorge's help, of course-he's a brave one.
He kept talking.
"But Jeorge has a flaw. I like him, but to be honest-he lacks consideration. That speeds up the pace of change... but those caught inside might find it hard."
"..."
"Even so, you lingered in my mind. I ignored the other kids. Pretended I didn't see or hear them. Let them forget. But not you. Even if it was to control or understand the Black Cloak..."
"...."
"Still, I was glad. I like the present. But that doesn't mean I reject the past. It may sound arrogant, but I always make choices I won't regret."
He said his life had always been joyful and meaningful.
"Did you have a scary dream?"
That blackness asked him. So Hae-Woon answered before he realized it.
"...Yes... it was scary..."
"Why?"
"...I think... I made a huge mistake..."
"And so?"
"...."
He fumbled for a long while before finally speaking.
"...I can't..."
Not now.
"I can't-not already."
"Yes. It might be dangerous."
"But... do I have to forget again?"
"I don't get why you're making such a big deal. It was just one dream. Why the drama? It wasn't even that important."
"I don't want to forget..."
His trembling hand reached out. Beyond the alarm-filled system window, his hand grasped the Black Cloak's collar. The soft fabric had been draped on a human all this time, and yet held no warmth it gave him chills.
Even so, he gripped tighter. His shaking fingers slowly, forcefully pulled the cloak down. Like an old man clutching a cane to withstand a storm, his hands trembled.
The Black Cloak allowed himself to be pulled down without resistance.
"...T-Teacher..."
He had called him teacher.
"You... you said you wouldn't leave..."
"I didn't leave."
"You said you wouldn't abandon us..."
"I never did."
"Then why... why does it feel so scary...?"
His breath trembled. His tears stung like needles. His chest ached.
"...Who the hell are you?"
"I'm your teacher, Sergio."
"...What the fuck... what are you....!!!"
It hurt.
It was just a dream. Just one dream, like the Black Cloak said.
Then why did it hurt this much? Why was he so scared? His undamaged organs were screaming. Why was he crying?
It was all because of the Jeong Hae-Woon inside the dream. That version's fear had consumed his mind. Even though he had reached out and pulled the Black Cloak close-he couldn't feel safe.
He wanted to scream: Please don't leave me. Even to someone already in his grasp.
An unexplainable impulse.
"I, L.."
"Shall I erase it again?"
"..."
"...Hmm."
Suddenly, those pitch-black eyes turned into brilliant, gem-like ones.
"Guess it's still too soon?"
"...Don't go."
"I wanted to stir you up more-but I can't bring myself to. You look too pitiful. I'm actually pretty soft-hearted, you know."
"Don't go, please."
"I'm always here, Hae-Woon."
"You're not him."
"This is me too."
The garden smiled like a crescent moon. It was the same smile he'd seen before falling asleep.
"You said people think too highly of me, remember...?"
With a gentle voice, almost coaxing, a pale hand covered Jeong Hae-Woon's eyes.
"We know what's right."
"..."
"And we know what's good."
"....."
"So... shall we sleep a little more?"
It wasn't a voice for a student. It was the tone you'd use to soothe a small child.
Restore system?
Yes / No
"Yes."
"..."
"....."
Jeorge moved his hand away, revealing dazed eyes streaked with tears-and smiled.
"Beautiful dawn, isn't it?"
"...Yes, it is."
"Why are you crying?"
"...I don't know..."
The hand clutching the Black Cloak's collar lost its strength.
Eyes out of focus, Jeong Hae-Woon looked at the beaming smile of the garden before him.
And then, almost as if in a trance, he muttered:
"...Why was I crying?"
He couldn't remember.
He had forgotten-again.
***
Inside the frame.
The darkened portrait murmured, puzzled.
"...Felt like I said a lot... How strange."
He couldn't remember.
Compatible Candidate List
Garden of Pleasure_JEORGE
Assimilation Rate: ???%
"Still such a troublemaker."
It wasn't surprising. After all, the portrait knew he was Gio. The garden's intense antics didn't scare him.
'Maybe my translucent friend helped too...'
Whichever of them it was, Sergio still couldn't recall anything. He knew it, and felt like he knew it-but chose to feign ignorance. All that remained was the 'fact' that he had become a portrait, moments away from burning.
So Gio merely responded to the gaze that reached him.
"I wonder if our father's doing well after sending his precious son out to some godforsaken place..."
That slit pupil was all too familiar.
****
"....."
A hollow laugh escaped.
"Ah, honestly..."
From his office, Bisa Beul chuckled.
"You're the best."
That's my son, alright.
His bright yellow eyes stared into empty space.
-x-X-x-
The phenomenon occurred without warning.
"...? Wh-What the hell? What's wrong with the system?"
"So it wasn't just mine?"
"No, seriously, what... This makes no sense."
Around 4 a.m.-those awake at that time confirmed the presence of a 'system error. Text within the system was distorted, or it failed to activate entirely. Something had gone wrong.
And with that, people realized something unsettling.
"So the system isn't permanent?"
"Shit, is some crazy shit about to go down again...?"
"Is this the start of Catastrophe Season 2?"
"Don't even joke about that, please."
To Earthlings-especially the awakened the system was like air. Ubiquitous, taken for granted, but vital. If it vanished, it would be catastrophic. That was what the system had always been.
But there was one key difference between air and the system: the system had been created by three humans.
For 32 years, no one had really thought about it, but the truth was-the system could disappear.
"You guys are being way too dramatic."
Some people said things like this.
"Didn't you see the system warning window? It said there was an error."
"Yeah, but the fact that the system can have an error..."
"Well, it was made by humans-of course there'd be imperfections."
It was entirely possible, they said.
"I mean, come on. The system's only been around for 30 years. Even games get bugs all the time, and they need to be patched and updated over and over."
"You're seriously comparing the system to a game?"
"How is it different? The system's man-made too. Sure, you can't compare it one-to-one with a video game, but glitches? They're inevitable. It's not some naturally occurring thing."
"Well... I guess that's true..."
"I'm not saying this incident isn't serious. What I'm saying is-it's possible. There's no such thing as perfection."
There were plenty of such opinions.
Still, one truth became undeniable to the people:
The system is not perfect.
Some claimed, "It's impressive it's lasted this long without issue."
Others worried, "What if this is the beginning of system collapse?"
And there were only three people on Earth who could actually answer that question.
"The Association is already aware of the issue and working on a solution."
They merely said this:
"Due to the confidential nature of system operations, we cannot disclose details. However, the Association is committed to Earth's safety and solemnly promises to resolve this system error."
It was basically a long-winded way of saying "Just trust us." There was no substance-but the people, initially confused and unsettled, soon nodded along.
They trusted the current government and the Association.
People grumbled, but they backed off.
"Well, it's not the first time they've hidden confidential info like this..."
"Guess there are things civilians aren't supposed to know."
"Let's just leave it to the pros and stop overreacting."
Both awakened and unawakened citizens knew something about the concept of "Promise." It was a kind of contract-fragile enough to collapse with just a few words. So hiding the details made a certain kind of sense.
Especially in the cities, where nearly everyone had received help from the government or the Association. Everyone knew that the Symbols of Eternity were always trying to protect Earth, even at great personal cost. Their trust slowly brought calm.
"Nothing major happened anyway."
"True that."
Aside from the brief scare, there were practically no casualties. They now knew the system wasn't eternal or flawless but so what?
"The Association will take care of it."
"Didn't the president say she's taking strong action too?"
"It's not really something we need to stress over."
In the end, what mattered was practicality. As long as there was no real harm, it was just an incident. Those who came to that conclusion began returning to their daily lives.
As long as this wasn't the start of another disaster.
But there was one group that posed a problem-those who knew about the Promise of Eternity.
"....."
With a doll-like expression, Association President Dan Haera smiled.
"Let's convene."
"Yes, I'll make the calls."
"This matter will be personally handled by His Excellency the President and our Symbols of Eternity."
"Understood."
"Now then..."
She tilted her head.
"Things are getting interesting."
Though she smiled, her face did not look entertained.
***
"Yeah, it's me, goddammit."
Jeong Hae-Woon's bold confession that he was likely the cause of the incident had Seo Seo-Hee smacking his forehead.
"You really say that after causing this much shit?"
"What, you want me to cower or something?"
"I got the report that you've been cohabiting with 'Gio's portrait."
"Fucking rat bastards are disgustingly diligent."
"We'll come back to the rat talk later. This incident-it's because of him, right?"
After a pause, Seo Seo-Hee asked,
"...Did you remember something?"
"That's not it."
Jeong Hae-Woon shook his head.
"Strictly speaking, it felt like I remembered, but I forgot again."
Dan Haera nodded at that.
"That was probably 'Gio's portrait' being considerate."
"I was fine up until right before falling asleep, but when I came to, I was crying. Clearly something happened during that sleep... but I can't remember anything..."
"Which means someone intervened."
"Even the moment I regained my senses felt wrong. It just felt like I woke up normally, but the situation was strange. He covered my eyes... and when he took his hand away, he asked why I was crying."
'Why are you crying?'
"I told him I didn't know."
He truly remembered nothing.
"If it weren't for the weirdness of the moment, I'd have thought I was sleepwalking. I was grabbing my teacher by the collar. It was fucking nuts... I wanted to ask more, but he turned back into a portrait."
"Still, that portrait teacher is kinder than expected."
Dan Haera smiled faintly.
"You really are the cause of the incident, Hae-Woon."
"I'll admit I stirred the pot a bit."
But Jeong Hae-Woon didn't grovel. He'd warned his friends about the risks of letting 'Gio's portrait into his home beforehand and had gotten their consent. This was within predicted parameters.
Still, not everything had gone as expected. The real issue lay in how fast it happened.
Jeong Hae-Woon groaned.
"Ugh, shit... This is happening faster than we imagined."
"How long's it been since you brought the portrait home?"
"Almost three weeks now."
"In just three weeks, you remembered the price of the Promise."
Dan Haera tapped her lips.
"...That portrait must mean a lot to us."
Never before had the cost of a Promise come rushing back this quickly. This case was truly an exception. Even someone as unshakable as Jeong Hae-Woon couldn't stop it. That was concerning.
She glanced toward Cha Eun-Hye.
"Does Your Excellency have any thoughts?"
"Well... he's someone that does carry that kind of weight. So... nothing to add, really."
"Right, you were the one most against the portrait moving in with Hae-Woon."
"I figured it would end like this once things started moving."
Cha Eun-Hye let out a dry sigh, smiling bitterly.
"I asked him to please hold back. And I thought maybe it'd be okay, since Hae-Woon would focus on building new trust instead of clinging to the past. ~Novelight~ I really thought so. But I was wrong. This is ridiculous."
"So even though both parties tried to restrain themselves, the memory of the 'Promise' still returned."
Seo Seo-Hee nodded in understanding.
"The compatibility between the teacher and Hae-Woon must be absurdly high."
"It'd be more surprising if a garden and its gardener didn't get along."
Jeong Hae-Woon agreed.
"Both of us are close to the Mystical. The Promise probably got shaken because of that. And since it happened while I was asleep, I likely dreamed about it. A dream about the cost of the Promise."
"It's the most reasonable explanation."
"...Should I put some distance between us again?"
His face twisted a little at the thought.
"But if it's that unstable, I can't trust 'Gio's portrait.' A mystical being with a human ego is too full of variables. I couldn't just leave him unchecked."
"We understand, Hae-Woon."
Dan Haera spoke gently.
"You're doing everything you can as a gardener protecting Earth. We all know that. It's not like we agreed to let the portrait stay without understanding the risks. Don't blame yourself too much."
She touched her cheek with her hand.
"But it's clear this incident taught us something. That being triggers a nostalgia we've long forgotten. We ignored it, but the hole in the Promise grew too large-so large even the system couldn't contain it."
"If I'd remembered anything, it might've helped a bit... Sorry, but I seriously remember nothing. Something definitely happened that dawn... but my head's totally blank, like I just woke up."
"Well, it is what it is."
Dan Haera blinked a couple times.
"For now... let's set a course."
"A course? Sure. But what kind of course exactly?"
"I mean let's discuss the direction we should take moving forward."
"Direction, huh..."
"How to deal with that being."
They couldn't just leave things as they were. Even if this crisis had been smoothed over, it was dangerous to let such potential instability linger. They needed a firm policy.
"This incident is simple."
Dan Haera twirled her fingers.
"If we reclaim the past, we lose the system. If we keep the system, we lose the past. We've always assumed we'd choose the latter-but this incident showed us that might not always be possible."
That was their mistake. They'd lost their memories-so they hadn't realized how much "Teacher Sergio" had meant to them. But his influence still lingered in their bodies and souls, fueling everything they did.
"We were arrogant. We thought a forgotten past couldn't affect the future. But now Guildmaster Jeong Hae-Woon has proven otherwise."
"So now we... need to account for that when determining our actions moving forward."
Seo Seo-Hee nodded in agreement.
"Haera's right. We know now that ignoring it won't work, so our strategy needs to change. Otherwise, we'll just keep suffering consequences unprepared."
"Hmm, then..."
Dan Haera tilted her head.
"If we can't kill the portrait... how about sealing it away?"
Silence followed.
"....."
"Oh my, that shut things up, didn't it."
"...You're seriously... Wow, you're actually..."
"I admit I spoke without enough sensitivity."
"I get where you're coming from, but..."
Jeong Hae-Woon's face twisted in discomfort. Seo Seo-Hee laughed awkwardly. And Cha Eun-Hye-her expression was on the verge of tears. She looked at Dan Haera, visibly shocked.
"Ah, ah, no. That's too much. That's really not okay. H-He's our teacher, damn it...! Haera, how could you say that to me...!"
"Calm down, Eun-Hye. I didn't say it without thinking-so you two don't look at me like that."
Dan Haera patted her friend calmly.
"I know it's an extreme solution. But it's a question that had to be raised at some point. If we have to choose between the teacher and the system-I'm leaning toward the system."
"I get what you're saying, and I even agree with it... But I honestly couldn't stomach doing something like that. Beyond whether it's possible... I just... ugh..."
Cha Eun-Hye forcibly swallowed her emotions. She was the president of a nation-she couldn't be swayed by feelings. She had to assess things objectively and reject what needed to be rejected.
"...Sealing isn't an option."
"If you say so, then that's that."
Dan Haera nodded immediately. Among them, no one understood the system, the teacher, or the past better than Cha Eun-Hye. If she said it wasn't viable then it wasn't.
"Then what do you think we should do about this?"
"..."
After a moment's hesitation, Cha Eun-Hye spoke.
"...Since 'Gio's portrait has already left Hae-Woon's home and returned to being a painting, this might be our chance. Before another system error occurs, I need to talk to the teacher."
"Oh my, could you really?"
"I'm sure he had some reason for doing this... but I don't know what it is. He was never the kind to explain everything to his students..."
"You think he caused this incident on purpose?"
"At the very least, he wasn't unaware of it."
A sigh escaped her lips as she touched her mouth.
"He's always been like that."
He always knew what consequences his actions would bring. Even if his intent was small, he understood the flow of events and let himself be carried by it. This time likely wasn't different.
Though... maybe it was.
So she needed to speak with him.
"....."
She felt choked up.
She didn't know why she felt so anxious, or so afraid.
***
"So I'd appreciate it if you could tell me what you're thinking."
"...You know I don't have thoughts, don't you?"
"I'm not such a naïve student anymore that I'd fall for that lie."
"To think you have so little trust in me."
Gio's heart ached under Cha Eun-Hye's sharp glare.
"How sad."
He really didn't have any particular thoughts-but if he said that, he was sure she'd grab him by the collar.
'What do I say to not get yelled at...'
It was the kind of night where that thought weighed heavily on his mind.