There might be someone who would argue otherwise, but it was certain. Until now, the "attacks" from the garden had been passive.
They simply existed, entranced, and drove people's minds to ruin, but never took an active stance. However, it was clear that once people began to adapt to the presence of the "mystery," the participants' actions had triggered something.
"Explain in detail—what do you mean, a clown? Don't tell me there are clowns here too?"
"They looked similar, but... b-but it was nothing like what we saw on Earth! They attacked us directly, and it was contagious on top of that...! Seoyeong turned into a clown and I—I killed her!!"
"Calm down. If you talk like that, I can't get a proper report. What exactly were you doing when the clown appeared? I sent you to scout—what were you doing and where?"
"W-we strayed off... to the edge of the stairs...."
This "Garden of Pleasure" was, in many ways, unlike a normal dungeon. Unlike typical dungeons with a beginning, middle, and end, this one was simply nature itself.
Like a surrealist painting, the space and time here were distorted. Words like "edge of the stairs" couldn't accurately pinpoint a location.
But there was one thing that could be clearly understood.
"As soon as we found this... the clown came chasing us...."
"...This is..."
The woman frowned and looked at the ornament. It was a piece of jewelry so tarnished, cracked, and broken, it was hard to believe it had come from this beautiful and pristine dungeon.
The guild master murmured,
"A bracelet, maybe...?"
Another guild member looked at the object in the guild master's hand and spoke.
"Ah... I think it's more like an anklet."
"An anklet? For the foot?"
"There's a part that goes around the ankle, and another that wraps around the toes."
"The larger part is for the ankle, and the smaller one for the toe, then."
"Yes. There are also items designed like that for the hands, but..."
The guild member inspected the broken ornament with gloved hands and nodded. Since he was responsible for inspecting and managing all the items that came into the guild, it was no surprise he knew a lot about accessories like this.
"Judging by its length, it's an anklet. It's small enough that a slightly larger person could wear it on the hand, but this middle part is too long for that. It's meant to be worn on the foot."
"What kind of kid wears an anklet like this? They'd catch a chill. It doesn't seem to be enchanted with any warmth or defensive buffs either."
"Right, I found that strange too. Anklets of this shape... they're kind of like slippers or flip-flops. You wouldn't be able to wear shoes over this. So usually, anklets like these are cursed items."
"You mean, it's probably not something with a positive purpose? Hmm, if it's cursed..."
"We almost never see this type of item in our guild."
The gems embedded in the jewelry were badly damaged, but still large and glittering. Above all, the design was excessively ornate. It was definitely not something that could be hidden under a shoe.
"Usually, items—especially accessories—combine the effects of human-made artifacts with other properties. They naturally accumulate multiple meanings. That's what makes them special."
"This doesn't really feel like an item, though... but you've got a general idea of what it was used for?"
"It doesn't seem like a typical item, so it's more about what it means than what it does. Given the small size, it was for a child. Given the extravagant look, it was meant to be seen. So they couldn't wear shoes. It's one of two things: for restraint or for display."
"Uh... either way, that sounds kinda perverted, doesn't it?"
"Judging by the wear marks, it wasn't just an item that fell out of thin air. Things like this that come from other dimensions often have twisted backstories, Guild Master. Compared to that, this one's relatively tame."
The guild member expertly read the story behind the accessory.
"Most likely, the wearer was a child of low status. If they'd been of high status, they wouldn't have made them unable to wear shoes. Or it was an environment where status didn't matter."
"An environment where status doesn't matter... ah, like a kidnapping?"
"That's possible too. Either way, it's an item that disregards the wearer's health and comfort, even though the target was a vulnerable child."
"And also."
"Like I said, it's either for restraint or for display. The former is so they can't run far without shoes. The latter is because the child was pretty enough to warrant such a flashy thing. No matter how you look at it, it feels like it was meant for display."
"Ugh, that's perverse. A pedo?"
"That could be. Either way, it's the classic bird-in-a-cage scenario. If someone gave a child something this flashy, they were treated well in appearance, but clearly couldn't escape."
One of the guild members, seemingly out of it until now, suddenly grabbed her guild master.
"...G-Guild Master... what about Seoyeong...?"
"What do you mean, what about her? You killed her."
"No, I didn't mean it like that...!"
"What, you want me to resurrect her? Sorry, can't do that."
"...Ah..."
"Well, at least we learned something useful. If we can read the story behind it, that might help us in clearing the dungeon. I'll add some incentives later."
"..."
"Where exactly did you find this? If the story matters in this dungeon, there must be specific conditions to finding items like this, too."
"..."
"Tsk... out of it, huh."
The guild master clicked her tongue and generously granted mercy. It looked like the scout needed some rest before she could speak. Considering the result, that much leniency could be allowed. The woman began piecing things together on her own without a witness's help.
This was the first time the garden had shown a non-passive attack. And this broken ornament, out of place in the dungeon, told many possible stories. Taking it all together...
"This must be the dungeon master's story, huh?"
"Mm... at the very least, it's related."
"Good. Let's try to find a few more like this. We've got to clear this dungeon anyway."
She wasn't a particularly bad guild master. At least, not by today's standards.
She never delayed salaries, gave extra compensation for overtime or outstanding work, didn't neglect her guild members, and didn't leave civilians or porters behind in dungeons.
But happiness is subjective, and the grief of losing a close friend is intensely personal.
"...Seoyeong..."
That team was wiped out over the span of three days.
It was probably the work of a clown.
***
"...If we had to categorize this one, I'd say it's more of a defensive battle this time."
"A defensive battle?"
"Ah, Cha Eun-Hyeok, you wouldn't know."
"I can guess—it means fighting to defend, right?"
"That's pretty much it."
Yoo Seong-Woon, who had shared all information with every reachable team, explained to Cha Eun-Hyeok.
"Dungeon clearing usually falls into two basic types. One is a search-and-destroy mission, and the other is a defensive stand. The former is about going to find the enemy. The latter is about the enemy coming to you."
"You're talking about monsters, right?"
"Yeah. This space has been reconstructed into dungeon form, so monsters would make sense. It seems those clowns from Earth are showing up here too... but they don't seem to be gathering anywhere in particular."
"And they even come looking for us on their own, right?"
"Seems like if you trigger something, they come rushing in. Or they creep up in a roundabout way. Apparently, they're really good at causing internal conflicts and wiping out teams from within."
Cha Eun-Hyeok asked again.
"Then as long as we don't trigger anything, it stays peaceful, right?"
"We can't exactly live here forever in peace..."
"Ah..."
"We still have to clear it."
At that moment, Bisa Beul chuckled and spoke.
"In your case, Cha Eun-Hyeok, don't you need to find your sister as well?"
"...That's true. But I came without much of a plan, just hoping to find some clue... now that things are like this, I don't even know what to do..."
"Even just providing us with a safe zone is an incredible contribution. The Collector always honors its deals. I promise, we'll support your search for your sister."
"...Thank you."
"And this came in just now—only the guild master has received the message."
It was a message from outside the dungeon—Earth, to be exact.
"They think the first trigger was... that anklet, right?"
"Yes. An anklet small enough for a child."
"It seems that, as a result of that, the clowns on Earth have disappeared. We can't say for certain given their nature, but the Association and Justitia are both leaning toward that conclusion."
"..."
Yoo Seong-Woon rubbed his neck and asked,
"Do you think all of them came here?"
"It's quite possible. Congratulations, Cha Eun-Hyeok. If you're lucky, you might reunite with your sister in this dungeon."
"Guild Master, please..."
Yoo Seong-Woon calmly panicked, and the other staff silently panicked. Bisa Beul's words were no different from saying, "Your sister's a clown now." Agitating an already fragile civilian sponsor—what was he thinking?
But Bisa Beul remained incredibly shameless.
"Well, it's good news, isn't it? There's a higher chance of recovering at least one of the missing siblings."
"It might be best if Father refrained from speaking."
"Shall I shut up?"
"Please do."
The Collector discreetly observed Cha Eun-Hyeok's condition.
"..."
Yes, a few days ago, they had received information that his sister Cha I-Sol had gone missing as well.
"...I'm fine."
"That was definitely our Guild Master's fault."
"I'm really okay."
"Ah... yes..."
"Seriously... ha..."
In the end, Cha Eun-Hyeok cried.
All eyes from the Collector staff turned toward Bisa Beul. Their looks said, "Really? You made a young man cry at your age?" But Bisa Beul had the thickest of skins.
Since it wasn't appropriate to berate their guild master in front of outsiders, the Collector staff resorted to scolding him with gestures and glares alone.
'Guild Master, please.'
'Why would you do that to a young man working hard for his family?'
'He's crying...!'
Nobody knew exactly what had happened at the beginning. But a few reports had come in that, after the advance party entered, the Church of the Sun team began experiencing internal conflict. Later, another team discovered a scene of carnage where only traces of the Church remained.
Based on the scene, it was assumed that most of the priests had been killed. They didn't know if any had fled, but no one had seen the body—or even pieces—of the young apprentice priest, which was, in a way, a small mercy.
Of course, that didn't mean the situation was hopeful.
"...She'll be okay."
"Y-yeah, she probably ran away safely."
"Priest Kang Seodam said he'd personally look after her."
"Priest Kang Seodam is famous. An elite of the Church of the Sun. If he was taking care of her, I'm sure he got her out before anything happened."
"I... think so too."
Cha Eun-Hyeok's eyes were red after a deep breath. Lately, he had been zoning out and crying often. Because of that, the skin around his eyes was raw and inflamed. Compared to when they first met, he looked significantly more haggard.
"...What the Guild Master said isn't wrong."
He tried to think calmly, objectively. It would be a lie to say there was nothing unpleasant about what was said, but Bisa Beul wasn't wrong when he said, "At least it's something." That had to be acknowledged.
"It's probably easier to find them if they're all in one place. In Cha Ara's case, even Association staff couldn't find any trace of her—she just vanished without a clue. If she really did become a clown, then at least her body would still be intact."
"Cha Eun-Hyeok..."
"And the same goes for Cha I-Sol. Just the fact that no body has turned up is something I'm grateful for. In times like this, even having the body intact is a win. I know that. I do."
When Cha Ara awakened as an F-rank and chose to become a porter, Cha Eun-Hyeok had already prepared himself multiple times for her death. It was the same when Cha I-Sol awakened as a priest.
If you become a hunter—or a frontline priest—it's common to lose the body. There are sites so brutal not even a strand of hair is recovered. Compared to that, ending up dressed like a clown was practically a joke. At least all the limbs would still be there.
"Just..."
Yes, the truth was—he was slowly letting go of hope.
"...Sorry, I know having a civilian with us is uncomfortable..."
"We've benefited so much from your safe zone. Please don't say that."
"I'll pull myself together. I'm sorry."
It was better not to have hope.
'If I keep thinking too deeply, I'll start blaming someone.'
And the one he'd blame was obvious: S-rank Bisa Beul, and the divine Black Cloak. If their ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) vision was so great, why hadn't they found his sisters? If they were gods, why had they left his kind siblings alone?
But he knew that was an absurd thought. His heart said so, but his reason did not. It couldn't. Who was he to dare place blame?
'If I did, I'd be no different from the ones at the mermaid dungeon.'
Everyone knew what "Sergio Hunter" had gone through. There were whispers of civilians blaming him, saying, "Why didn't you come save us sooner?"—and how he'd been kidnapped by the mermaids in their place.
Just because someone is strong doesn't mean they owe it to you to save the weak. If they offer kindness and mercy, be grateful. You must never demand it.
Of course, Sergio Hunter wasn't an ordinary human. He was a god, a mystery. But that was beside the point. In many ways.
Most importantly, it was a dangerous attitude—one that could lead to massive loss before it even touched morality.
'And people like him... probably already know I'm thinking this.'
How ridiculous it must seem. Some nobody, blaming them for not doing something they never owed him. Cha Eun-Hyeok was consciously trying to let go of hope for his siblings.
Because that way, if they were dead, he could at least believe their souls would pass on peacefully to the afterlife. And for that to happen, he had to stay in the good graces of the divine being watching him. It was selfish, but that's what he thought.
"Cha Eun-Hyeok."
"...Ah, yes?"
"Thank you."
"...."
He blinked in confusion at the sudden thanks.
"...Sorry?"
"For trying. I appreciate the effort."
"No, I just... do what I can. It's not really effort, it's just..."
"Thank you for thinking of others too."
"...Uh..."
He's been found out, hasn't he?
'...If you're a god, reading someone's thoughts must be easy. Is that what this is? A roundabout scolding? Like, "I know your arrogant thoughts"?'
Cha Eun-Hyeok looked at Sergio Hunter's face. Eyes that glowed blue like the ocean. Lips curled in a gentle smile. There was no scorn or hatred anywhere. Of course, a being like him could easily control his facial muscles, but still.
A strange stillness passed.
Cha Eun-Hyeok instinctively realized that the Collector staff were intentionally keeping quiet. Somehow, every word from Sergio Hunter and the silence that followed felt like some kind of ritual.
'...Something feels... off...'
And then, a vast, towering presence praised him.
"You're a kind person."
"...."
And that's when it happened.
"―...Uh, uhhh! Uuuhhh!!"
A familiar voice echoed from the distance.
"Hyung!!"
"...."
"Hyung hyung hyung!! Hyuuuung! Hyung!!"
"...."
"Hyung, I'm hungry!!!"
It was Cha I-Sol, running with Iru Da and Kang Seodam by her side.
"Gimme some food...!!"
She wailed as she ran.
Cha I-Sol was exactly as he remembered. No—she was bandaged and limping, clearly injured—but all her limbs were intact. That was his sister. Unless this was an illusion.
But if that really was his sister—
"...Ha."
...They say Black Cloak gives gifts to good people.
Maybe it was true.
***
"...!"
My god.
'What in the world?'
For the record, even Gio hadn't expected this appearance.
-x-X-x-
Kang Seodam hadn't always been a rational person.
"Hey, Kang Seodam."
Of course not. Humans are creatures that grow with age. Some people waste those years, sure, but the basic principle still holds. Kang Seodam was just one of those ordinary humans who grew up like that.
And though it was a natural truth, there were still moments when he felt it was unfair. He didn't even know who to blame for that unfairness, but it still felt a little unjust. Just a passing feeling.
"What are you brooding over so much?"
"..."
"This bastard's ignoring me again."
All wounds eventually get forgotten. Even if a scar remains, you can't spend every day staring at it. There were a few such scars Kang Seodam had long since forgotten, naturally, over time.
Wasn't that how everyone lived? The past is the past. If time allows you to forget it, it's better that way. Humans grow, and they must live facing forward.
"Ignoring me's become your thing now, huh."
"..."
"What, another dispatch order? The higher-ups nagging again?"
"..."
"Told you to let that crap go in one ear and out the other."
But just like always, the voice that brushed past was far too vivid for that. Kang Seodam rubbed at his numb ear. His heart wanted to rip it off, tear his eardrum open, but he knew full well that wouldn't stop the sound from coming.
"Old farts who can't do anything are all like that. This isn't your first day, right? Or was it the foreigner thing again? Senile old bastards, seriously."
"..."
"Who the hell doesn't know you're Korean, dumbass? I don't know what crap they fed you this time, but stop bottling it up and say something, will you? That way this hyung can at least buy you a drink."
This was a sound from his brain. No—just an auditory hallucination he was mistaking as real. So forget it. But can you really forget a voice you're hearing in real time? He didn't know. He really didn't know.
"You know, right? Yeah? The future of the Church of the Sun belongs to us."
"...The hell do you mean, belongs to us?"
"You only reply when I start spewing bullshit."
"Crazy bastard..."
"Aren't you lucky to have a mad dog like me to lose my shit for you?"
The voice asked if having a friend like that didn't make life a little easier.
Instead of replying, Kang Seodam rubbed his face. The bone structure beneath his hand felt nothing like what the elders would call a "pure-blood Korean." And that reminded him of what kind of face the owner of this voice had.
Dyed blond hair, deep dark-brown eyes. A dumbass who ignored all the priests' nagging about washing that thug-like look out of his hair.
"...Shut up, you damn chicken."
"Why so prickly? I didn't do anything."
"Just shut it."
And surprisingly—it went quiet.
"..."
This damn hallucination would even go silent when told to shut up.
'Fucking hell.'
What a joke of a situation.
'If only it were a normal hallucination.'
This one could interact. It borrowed the voice he was starting to forget, responded with the same personality, and even quieted down when it sensed his mood. Just like the real guy used to.
Again, he thought—he wanted to rip his ears off. To shred his eardrum. He knew it was a sound echoing inside his brain, but the urge to do something about it was unbearable.
'But that would just cause trouble.'
Kang Seodam wasn't alone right now. He had two apprentice priests under his protection. If it weren't for those senile vermin at the Church of the Sun, none of this would've happened. Hell, maybe he should've thrown himself on the ground and screamed in front of their smug faces.
Sending "apprentice priests" into a dungeon like this had been a mistake from the start.
"...Kang Seodam."
"..."
"It's not your fault."
He wished it would just shut the hell up.
'If you're going to attack, act like it.'
The words rose to his throat.
He'd rather the voice had blamed him. Said "I died because of you," called him a hypocritical bastard. Then he could've been sure this was the enemy's whisper, testing him.
But this voice... it truly mimicked his old partner.
'Or wait—was it really just mimicry? What if it actually was his soul?'
Even if it were, it didn't change the fact that this was part of the dungeon's attack. He had to reject it, pretend not to hear. And yet, strangely, he kept listening.
Yeah, that was the voice. That was the tone. That was exactly the kind of person he'd been. Memories he'd pushed aside to survive came flooding back—not particularly welcome memories, either.
"Handsome guys like us don't do self-blame."
"..."
Correction—it was kind of welcome.
"Priest Kang Seodam?"
"...Hunter Sergio."
"You seem tired."
"..."
"That voice."
The merciful voice said with a smile,
"You seemed to want to keep listening, so I didn't interfere."
Whether it was mercy or indifference, he couldn't tell.
"...Don't you usually treat hallucinations?"
"Your face looked like someone enjoying a memory. That's all."
"Even so."
"If you're asking me what's right or wrong, I can only say—I'm not a judge."
"I wasn't asking such a hard question."
Kang Seodam rubbed his ear.
"You speaking to me seems to quiet it down."
"Hm. I didn't touch anything."
"Could it be that your presence alone dispelled the evil spirit?"
"Your jokes are getting better."
A quiet laugh echoed.
'Satisfaction? Affection?'
That far-off, elderlike affection in the laugh made Kang Seodam lower his hand, eyes narrowing with mild embarrassment as he looked at the other.
"...You seem to be enjoying yourself."
"I'm enjoying it because you're being more open with me than usual."
"To be honest, it's because I've let my guard down. Not something you should be pleased about."
"Isn't it my right to decide what brings me joy?"
"...Are you saying that to me?"
It was probably a convenient interpretation, but the divine being seemed to be saying it was okay. That it was fine to soak in old nostalgia for a little while.
"If I mess up because of it, that'll be a big problem."
"I don't think you're the type to fall that easily."
"You seem to expect a lot from me. But I stumble more often than people think."
"I've only ever seen you standing. That just means you're good at getting up."
"...I guess I've turned out to be a decent adult after all."
He glanced over. Apprentice Priest Cha I-Sol had fallen asleep in her brother's arms. Her partner, Iru Da, lay beside her. A rare moment of rest.
"..."
Perhaps the sleeping faces brought some measure of comfort. Normally he wouldn't be like this, but suddenly, all remaining rationality melted. Kang Seodam looked at the god again.
Merciful and benevolent Sun. So vast it could embrace the sea, a great flame.
"...Would you listen to my story for a moment?"
"I like that sort of thing."
"I thought you might."
Truly, it was a choice he wouldn't have made under normal circumstances. No one addressed a god like this. Close communion with divinity could bring unforeseen consequences.
But so what? Even if he suffered side effects—what did it matter? Kang Seodam looked at the "Hunter Sergio" sitting across from him. A beautiful face, a gentle smile.
"May I share my story, Priest?"
"...Of course."
It was a familiar tale.
"I had a partner, once. The Church of the Sun... often pairs up apprentice priests like that in the beginning."
His story was simple.
Their personalities clashed, but their abilities meshed perfectly. They fought often, but grew close. They came to trust and rely on each other. Until one of them, due to an unexpected accident and society's injustice, made the wrong choice.
He tried to summon an evil god—and was corrupted. Kang Seodam killed him himself. Passed judgment. Proved his innocence to the Church and the world. But he couldn't save his friend's soul... or so he thought.
"..."
"...Bit of a cliché, wasn't it."
"I don't know about that. But I listened closely."
"I'm curious... what did you think?"
"I'd like to meet him sometime."
"...That was the last thing I expected to hear."
Then again, he was a divine being—maybe it was possible. They said Black Cloak could draw the afterlife. That his messenger with garnet-like eyes personally guided innocent, young souls.
"But I'm not sure my friend... was kind enough to be worth your time."
"If he was someone Priest Kang Seodam cared for this much, then surely he was kind."
"He summoned an evil god and caused all that, though."
"Humans are always complex beings."
"That hits different, coming from you."
"I'm just curious. He sounds like a fun person."
"...He was nuts, though."
Totally unlike Kang Seodam, who believed the world would end if he didn't follow every rule. An absolute mess of a priest, acting like he didn't know the first thing about manners or common sense.
"...Still..."
Honestly speaking—
"...Yeah, he was fun."
"I figured."
"He was a ridiculous bastard."
"Is he still talking to you?"
"He's grumbling about something. Thinks I laughed at him."
"Well, raise him properly."
"You can raise a hallucination?"
"That's up to you."
Leave it to a divine being to come up with something like that. Raise a hallucination—even when it was clearly a dungeon attack. But Hunter Sergio answered with serene ease.
"If you only drink enough to avoid causing trouble, who would stop you?"
"...So you're comparing this to alcohol? But alcohol's not good for your health."
"If you can control it, what does it matter? It's a matter of taste. Besides, I can't imagine you getting drunk."
"Neither can I."
"Why's that?"
"I don't really enjoy alcohol, so I've never had that happen."
"That's a good habit."
"..."
Kang Seodam pressed his ear with his hand, then asked Sergio,
"...I know you care about the two apprentice priests."
"No matter what happens, I will look after them."
"That puts my mind at ease."
The relief he felt, realizing he'd shed responsibility, made it clear—he still wasn't a fully grown adult. It wasn't something to take comfort in, even if he was better off than his former partner.
"If someone becomes a clown... do they die?"
"Do you want that?"
"If that happens... I thought maybe I'd go find the bastard."
"Ah, you want him to become a wandering ghost."
"That just now... didn't sound all that bad."
"Then come find me. Let's be friends."
Hunter Sergio smiled brightly.
"I'm a haunted painting too, you know."
"...Alright."
Kang Seodam let out a small laugh, as if in resignation.
"A ghost friend, huh..."
"Is that okay?"
"Yeah. That doesn't sound so bad."
He had rested enough.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Time to start living again.
***
"Anyway, I'll report accordingly."
"Wait, Priest Kang Seodam."
Yoo Seong-Woon raised a hand with a calm face.
"I have a question."
"Yes, go ahead."
"Where exactly does the 'anyway' come from in that sentence?"
"Does that matter?"
"...Not really."
The important thing was clearing the dungeon.
"Please continue."
"Yes, then..."
Ahem. Kang Seodam cleared his throat and continued in his usual curt tone.
"From the perspective of myself and the two apprentice priests, the incident happened roughly five weeks ago."
"May I ask a question?"
"Yes, Mr. Cha Eun-Hyeok. Go ahead."
"Are you telling me my kid's been a vagrant for five weeks?"
"That's precisely correct."
"Can't we send the kids outside the dungeon first, then continue the report?"
"If that were possible, I would've done it already."
Leaving Cha Eun-Hyeok groaning and clutching his head, Kang Seodam continued.
"There were frequent internal conflicts in the Church of the Sun's advance team from the start. If communication had been working, some information would've been shared. To summarize—it was a powder keg waiting to go off."
"And what lit the fuse...?"
"This."
Kang Seodam held up a flashy earring. A large piece covered in gems, though a bit worn and damaged now. It probably once scattered light like a chandelier when first made.
But now, despite all the gems, it looked worthless. Clearly it hadn't been cared for by a loving owner.
"The problem began right after Apprentice Priest Cha I-Sol found this."
At that, Cha Eun-Hyeok looked silently at his sister. Cha I-Sol averted her eyes. Despite the sibling tension, Kang Seodam pressed on with the report.
"The entire Church team began reporting auditory hallucinations. And over time, other senses were affected as well."
"The whole team?"
"Yes. It seems this was the trigger."
"We've had similar reports from other teams. They found a necklace. Clowns aside, the words they spoke became seriously distorted..."
"As you said, it seems finding a 'point of strategy' in this dungeon comes with a debuff."
"A debuff tied to the body part the accessory is worn on?"
"That's the most likely theory right now."
What followed was predictable. Already full of internal strife, the Church team imploded, and clowns slipped into the cracks.
"The clowns—did they attack? Physically?"
"There was some physical violence, but mostly mental attacks."
"In what way?"
"They snuck in between us quietly. Spread rumors. The weakened priests fell under their spell—and began attacking each other."
Until they were all dead.
"Fortunately, I wasn't affected. I escaped with the apprentice priests. It might not have been a noble act to leave the team, but..."
"Better than dying in the chaos. Leaving was the smart call."
"That was my thought as well. No one was in a state to be reasoned with. I realized the advance party's attempt had failed, and began searching for another team with the apprentices."
"With the earring?"
"Once the trigger has activated, just carrying it doesn't seem to cause further effects. It's like it explodes once and that's it. I brought it along in case it would help—figured I'd show it to another team."
"And that was us—the Collector?"
"Yes. And thankfully, you weren't a hallucination."
This time, it was Bisa Beul who asked, after listening quietly.
"How exactly do the clowns enchant people? Is it like on Earth?"
"Yes. They make themselves feel normal. I only realized it was a clown after seeing blood."
"No matter how bad things got, I wouldn't expect the Church's priests to be that incompetent. Their internal conflicts must've been intense."
"This dungeon creates mini-dungeons based on personal vulnerabilities, right? That made it hit harder. Divine power alone couldn't protect us. And..."
Kang Seodam hesitated, then cleared his throat and added:
"...Several scandals from within the Church surfaced that way, and it became impossible to trust one another."
"Oh dear."
"Has the Collector ever had its own dungeon form?"
"Well, we do have some exceptional people."
Bisa Beul gestured proudly toward Hunter Sergio and Yoo Seong-Woon. Caught off guard mid-tea, Gio widened his eyes. Yoo Seong-Woon, fixing his blanket, looked over at Bisa Beul.
With a sour face, he said,
"...What?"
"Look at that sass."
"I'm freezing to death."
"As you can see, Yoo Seong-Woon's made significant sacrifices."
Kang Seodam nodded.
"Certainly, having a gardener in the team prevents dungeon distortion. Even if it's called a dungeon, this place is fundamentally a garden. The gardener's ability to regulate and maintain it seems invaluable."
"Still feels like I'm dying from the cold, though."
"Honestly, I envy you. Having a gardener on your team."
"Without one, it's a severely disadvantaged battle."
Giovanni agreed with a sigh. This vicious dungeon never let people rest. Typical of Zeorge's garden—charming but antisocial.
"Think the other teams suffered major losses too?"
"Hm, let's see..."
Bisa Beul rubbed his chin, blinked, then replied.
"Probably not a small number."
Everyone has flaws.
Even those who seem perfect.
***
"Oh my."
A newly warped garden.
Dan Haera brushed her cheek and murmured.
"Feels... familiar."
This time, it looked like a school from a day long past.
-x-X-x-
How exactly does this garden identify an individual's vulnerability?
'If it works like this, it probably doesn't rely on memories, at least.'
Dan Haera silently looked around.
"..."
Through the dense trees, she could see a school.
It was warped and distorted, but it was clear what the garden was trying to show her. This place was Dan Haera's alma mater. It was mimicking its appearance before it burned down, before it was abandoned.
'So what's the criterion?'
While acting separately from the others, Dan Haera had been categorizing this garden's unique traits. The dungeon operated in a highly unusual manner, likely because it was unlike any she'd encountered before.
This place generated another dungeon within itself to torment participants. The miniature dungeon would form based on someone's idea of happiness—but twisted into a warped version of it.
'This is the garden's first and most basic attack.'
In fact, if there had been fewer members in the advance team, it might've been easier to conquer.
Next must be the clown's appearance, then.
So far, every case involved a trigger taking the form of an accessory.
Once discovered, the accessory would curse the wearer based on its type. At the same time, clowns would seep in and, as on Earth, steal people's souls.
'Unlike the way they merely granted happiness in a twisted form on Earth, they're showing themselves more directly here. And the fact that no one can recognize the uncanny dissonance even when looking right at them—that's a serious problem...'
An anklet would distort movement, a necklace would distort speech, earrings would distort what one hears. On top of that, the clowns would begin their games. Without a firmly grounded mind, no one could possibly endure it.
Up to this point, the garden's attack method was very clear.
"...Hmm..."
But what she still didn't understand was how this miniature dungeon determined whose "personal happiness" to feature.
'Did it pick whoever was most likely to cause conflict?'
Or maybe it was purely random. That, too, seemed plausible. After all, no one is perfect, and everyone has at least one embarrassing kind of happiness they wouldn't want others to see.
Dan Haera gave a mechanical smile.
"It really is an all-out exposure match."
She was glad she'd chosen to act alone. If someone at her level had her vulnerability exposed, the teammates with her would crumble quickly. That wasn't an option yet.
Dan Haera slowly surveyed the area, observing the dungeon that belonged to her. It felt oddly like she'd become the dungeon's master. She hadn't made any "Promises" lately, so she was able to experience a broad range of reactions.
"This is kind of fun."
"Oh, really?"
"At least I'm not bored."
"If you're not bored, it must be fun?"
Jeong Hae-Woon, sitting on the front steps of the school, gave a small laugh.
"That's surprisingly persuasive."
"Picking a fight the moment we meet again? You must've been bored."
"Not really. I've been too troubled to have time for boredom."
"What's been troubling you, my friend?"
"Wondering when you'd finally make yourself human."
Jeong Hae-Woon dusted off his pants and stood up.
"Wanna take a look around?"
"At what?"
"This school."
"True, I probably won't get a chance to explore it before clearing the dungeon."
"Just enjoy it. This is a garden, after all. It's not like a typical dungeon where you go deeper and eventually meet the boss."
"That's... not exactly a comforting thought."
She'd already heard several reports about this garden. Jeong Hae-Woon had been the only one handling it. Her impression had always been something close to endless nature, and this dungeon seemed to follow that same pattern.
"There's no real sense of how to conquer something called a garden."
"Probably just have to beat it down as a whole."
"Can you even beat down something like nature?"
"I've done it plenty. I mean, when there's a wildfire, it leaves a bare mountain behind, right?"
"But trees and grass keep growing back."
"Then bulldoze it and build an apartment complex. You can turn the ocean into a landfill and the sky into a wall of ozone."
"That... actually kind of makes sense."
Dan Haera smiled with her eyes.
"If I really conquer this place, are you going to regret giving me all this advice?"
In the end, to erase this dungeon—to destroy this garden—they would have to affect its very foundation. The constant stream of accessories gave her a rough idea of how that might be done.
"Aren't you allied with Mr. Zeorge?"
"Uh... it's a bit complicated."
"So one of you can die someday, huh?"
"Who said anything about dying?"
"You or Mr. Zeorge. Neither of you seem particularly attached to life."
"Well, I don't know what the future holds either."
Jeong Hae-Woon gave a rough, crooked smile. It was the same one he always wore around his friends.
"As long as I accomplish what I want while the garden runs wild, that's enough."
"...That expression suits you."
"I've realized there's no need to blend in with people anymore."
His face now looked somewhere between his twenties and thirties. The face he had when he'd stopped aging. Dan Haera hadn't seen it in a while, and it felt a little unfamiliar.
But it matched the school perfectly.
"Looking at you like this... you really do seem like a student, Hae-Woon."
"Say something that makes sense."
He chuckled and walked into the school. Dan Haera followed behind. She had to figure out what this sly friend was thinking by showing up to meet her now.
"..."
Inside the school, it was very quiet.
"...It used to be livelier, I think."
"It did."
"So it's not built directly on memories?"
"Maybe not."
Jeong Hae-Woon showed no intention of guiding her. He just wandered around. Maybe because this place had formed from Dan Haera's own psyche, it held some interest for him as well.
After they walked around for a while, Dan Haera asked,
"What do you want?"
"To smash my head in and die."
"Hm, poetic."
"Do you even know what romance is?"
"Maybe I do."
"The teacher was a good person."
"I know."
"You probably don't..."
Jeong Hae-Woon stopped in front of a classroom.
"..."
"Was this the art room?"
"It was."
"What's that?"
The classroom mimicked a late afternoon filled with faint sunlight, casting a warm shadow inside. Dan Haera passed the still-standing Jeong Hae-Woon and stepped into the room. Something tall and lanky beyond the transparent window had caught her eye.
It was a straw doll.
"..."
It was fairly tall and broad-shouldered, but it had no face or clothing. Like a plush toy, it was stuffed with straw inside pale fabric. It was a mess of a doll, really.
As she gazed at it, Dan Haera tilted her head and muttered,
"A cursed doll?"
"Are you nuts?"
"I can guess who it's supposed to represent. Probably Mr. Sergio?"
"You really couldn't recreate that handsome face any better than this?"
"What do you want me to do if I can't remember it?"
Dan Haera stroked the blank fabric where its face should be.
"Huh."
The doll looked at her.
"It moves?"
"..."
"It can't talk though."
There wasn't a mouth, after all.
"If I cut it open, maybe we could pretend it has one?"
"Please don't."
"It's just a doll."
"I'm getting uncomfortable just watching."
"I just... wondered what it would say, if it could speak."
"That's... unexpected."
Jeong Hae-Woon looked at her and asked,
"Has it been a while?"
"If you're asking about the time I've gone without a 'Promise,' then probably."
Dan Haera didn't even glance at him, continuing to trace the doll's face. She couldn't say why, but her hands kept going back to this shabby, unclothed doll. It felt strange, maybe intriguing, maybe fun.
She stroked the area where its mouth should've been.
"Can't speak, huh?"
The doll moved in response.
It didn't seem to mean harm, and Dan Haera blinked. The doll walked past her, across the art room. Then, from the communal tool shelf, it picked up a pair of scissors.
"...Ah."
Then it cut its own face.
"There. Now it has a mouth."
"Haera..."
"And now it can talk."
Without meaning to, Dan Haera turned to look at Jeong Hae-Woon. His face had gone pale. More than surprise, he looked utterly disgusted.
A sudden question surfaced, and she asked,
"Why did you come here?"
"To see what you would do."
"And what would change because of that?"
"...I don't know."
"Are you going to stay?"
"Getting kind of tired of it."
"I see."
Jeong Hae-Woon was just a passing observer. He might act, or he might just watch and leave. But Dan Haera didn't think he would return to his position as a "Symbol of Eternity." He wasn't the type to obey so easily.
'I'll have to bring Jeong Hae-Woon back eventually, but not now.'
Even if his Promise was broken, that was fine. She believed there must still be a way to bring him back. With that in mind, Dan Haera turned her gaze to the doll—to this doll she'd grown strangely attached to.
She looked at the crudely-cut mouth and asked,
"Why did you do this, teacher?"
"Because you wanted to talk to me."
"If a student wants it, would you do anything?"
"If I can, and there's no reason I shouldn't."
"You're so devoted."
Why would someone like this want to destroy the system?
'Maybe it's because he discovered he couldn't—or because he found a reason why he shouldn't.'
Or perhaps his thoughts had changed after becoming something not quite human.
'It wouldn't be uncommon, after all.'
It was rare for a human to become something mystical. And when they did, it was common for their thinking to shift. So perhaps that was true of "Mr. Sergio" as well? Had he abandoned this selfless way of thinking to preserve himself?
Dan Haera slowly brushed a finger across the corner of the doll's mouth.
"..."
...No, maybe not.
'It just doesn't feel like he did.'
There was no reason for that thought.
It just came to her—without reason.
***
While walking, Gio suddenly furrowed his brow.
"Uh."
"Hm? What's wrong?"
"It felt like someone uppercut me from somewhere."
"You can sense stuff like that?"
"No, it's just a feeling."
Gio wore an unusually subtle expression.
"...What is this?"
Was it a good feeling, or a bad one?
***
At some point, Jeong Hae-Woon had disappeared.
"Lives up to the title of gardener."
So he truly was the so-called gardener, the one most adept within the garden. His absence left an odd emptiness, but it didn't last long. Dan Haera looked at the tall doll beside her.
"I believe you'll stay with me, teacher."
"It won't be forever."
"Maybe it will be."
She brushed her cheek and said,
"...I guess we really were close?"
Perhaps it was thanks to all the emotions she'd stored up instead of consuming. The attachment she felt toward this crude doll was clear.
'Even if the Promise erased memories, it couldn't erase affection carved into the soul. That must be what's influencing me. It's kind of fun.'
If this weren't imitating "Mr. Sergio," such a reaction would've been impossible. Strictly speaking, this thing was closer to a monster. There was no reason she should feel any attachment to it. But she did. Her heart moved. Her hand reached out.
Dan Haera held onto the doll's wrist.
"I hope you won't run away."
"I'm always by your side."
"Are you talking about the system? You have a lot of secrets."
"They probably weren't mine to begin with."
"Then maybe I created them."
To be honest, Dan Haera found herself coveting this doll. She didn't realize how much that greed resembled a child's hunger. It had been too long since she'd lived with emotions and memories.
If she hadn't greedily hoarded them for so long, she might never have felt this kind of desire. And so, almost stubbornly—but with a refined smile—she asked,
"What would I have to do for you to come with me?"
Once this dungeon collapsed, the doll would disappear as well.
"I don't want to let you go."
"Then eat me."
"..."
In that moment—
"...Eat you?"
Dan Haera felt a completely unfamiliar emotion.
"Just eat me."
"...What..."
"Eat me."
"..."
"Me."
But she couldn't name that feeling.
What was this... emotion?
"..."
"Eat."
She couldn't quite remember.
-x-X-x-
The merchant froze for a moment at the unexpected news during this rare communication.
"The President of the Association has started moving independently."
"At this rate, none of the Symbols of Eternity seem fully reliable."
With the face of a priest, Gio stroked his chin without expression. His reaction made it hard to read his emotions, so Yoo Seong-Woon carefully asked from beside him,
"Are you in a bad mood?"
"Not necessarily."
"You're not smiling though, are you?"
"I don't always smile. Hmm, actually... no, to be honest..."
"Honestly?"
"I think I'm displeased."
"Oof."
Gio smiled again, a priest's gentle smile, at Yoo Seong-Woon's exaggerated reaction.
"Haha, it's nothing serious. Just personal bias, really."
"Well, if it's a problem related to the Symbols of Eternity, I wouldn't call it not serious..."
"I'm only worried."
"Still, she's someone with enough experience to live up to her name. Don't worry too much."
"It feels slightly different this time, though."
If the communication reports were correct, then for now, Jeong Hae-Woon was either missing or had betrayed them. The guildmaster of Justitia was outside the dungeon, and Dan Haera was acting alone—so unless she reached out first, they wouldn't know anything about her.
"Let's see..."
As Gio spoke, he rolled his eyes and looked upward. Yoo Seong-Woon thought it looked more like pretending to calculate something than actually looking. He felt a chill, wondering what kind of prophecy might come out of that mouth.
Gio eventually spoke. His first words were a question.
"It's been quite a while since we started the raid, hasn't it?"
"Uh, well. Time's been so distorted here that it's hard to say precisely... but yeah, it's been a decent amount of time."
"And including the time we spent preparing on Earth?"
"Ah, then it's really been a lot. Though the sense of time can vary greatly from person to person, even considering that—yeah, I'd say so."
"I think the President has likely been refraining from using 'Promises' during that time."
"...You think so?"
Yoo Seong-Woon scratched his neck.
"Yeah, that makes sense."
Thinking it over, his portrait was right.
The President had declared early on that she would participate in the raid herself. Since her ability required memory or emotion as fuel, it made sense that she would've saved them up for the most critical moment.
Unlike mana or stamina, those kinds of fuel weren't easily replenished.
"But why bring that up?"
"Am I the only one who finds that dangerous?"
"I mean... I guess it could be seen that way."
"Right?"
The dungeon's method for generating sub-dungeons still wasn't fully understood. Some were based on subjective memories, others on objective past events.
But the larger the group, the lower the chance of being targeted by one. So far, only one sub-dungeon appeared per team.
Which meant that if you acted alone, it was almost inevitable you'd encounter a sub-dungeon based on you. And Dan Haera, rare as it was, was currently in a state full of memories and emotions.
"Gio, are you worried the President might be overwhelmed by her emotions?"
"Compared to most people, wouldn't her resistance be relatively low?"
"The President has refrained from using memories and emotions like this several times before. And nothing's ever gone wrong."
"I want to believe that and feel reassured as well. But this dungeon targets a person's most vulnerable points. I know she's faced evil gods who do the same, but still..."
"Yeah, those evil gods are no joke when it comes to exploiting weaknesses. But she's handled all sorts of trials and crises up to now. Don't you think we can worry a little less?"
"Maybe."
Gio's portrait, pretending to deliberate a bit longer, added another point.
"But what if she's become much more vulnerable than before?"
"...More vulnerable than before?"
"For example, if a major 'Promise' were to break."
"Oof."
"There were already signs of it happening."
"You mean the system's collapse? But not all Hunter systems have shut down, right? The Earth outside the dungeon probably still has functioning 'Promises'."
"I'm just speculating."
Truthfully, even Gio didn't know. How could he? In a world like this, just surviving took all his attention. But he was certain that the past involving 'Sergio' and his four students was anything but ordinary.
'I don't know the details, but I get the feeling there was a massive screw-up somewhere along the line.'
Judging by the scale of things now, he didn't like the feeling.
'Come to think of it, Eun-Hye was so scared back then. She was terrified she'd be punished and abandoned—even though she knew my personality. For her to be that scared... they must have really messed up.'
Gio didn't have any memories of that time. He had no recollections, nor were there signs they would return. It didn't matter whether he remembered or not. What mattered were his students.
'If they were still in their right minds, it must've been bad enough to make them shake with guilt. Eun-Hye was always a soft-hearted one, sure, but is Haera really that different?'
Probably not.
"...I've got a bad feeling."
"Should I treat that like a prophecy?"
"I don't know how to prophesy, Seong-Woon. Please don't spread unfounded rumors."
"I'll keep it in mind anyway."
"Will you, really?"
Even as they joked, Gio shrugged at Yoo Seong-Woon's playfulness.
"It'll work out somehow."
"That's ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the scariest thing you've said in a while, Gio."
"To be honest, I've kind of stopped caring how it turns out."
"Did you get tired of us?"
"What kind of accusation is that? I'm innocent."
"Good. I just got the feeling you'd let go."
"Adults should be able to take responsibility for their own lives."
"I mean, sure. But are you saying the 'adult' in question is the President?"
"Her, and others too, probably."
When he'd met his former student—now the President—Gio had already steeled himself. Her reaction was enough to tell him they'd done something quite serious. But that was all it meant to him.
Gio wasn't short on imagination. He'd even thought of the worst-case scenario, and even if that were true, he didn't think he'd be angry. In other words, he truly didn't care anymore.
'It's not my job to be tormented by a stupid past.'
Teacher believes in our smart Haera to figure it out herself.
***
"..."
"Haera."
"...Ah."
Had she spaced out for a moment?
"...What is this feeling?"
"Are you asking me, teacher?"
"Well... I guess I am."
"You're afraid."
"So this is fear."
She raised a hand and lightly brushed her forehead. Through that small gesture, Dan Haera realized her fingertips were trembling. She tried to regulate her breath and movements as usual, but it wasn't easy.
It felt like a faint dizziness was washing over her, and like a soft ringing was passing through her ears and brain. Fear—so this is fear. Dan Haera instinctively began calculating its value.
'This could be a decent cost for a Promise. It's a feeling I haven't experienced in a long time...'
But even as she continued calculating naturally, her thoughts jammed. The same thought kept echoing around her head. It must be the weight of fear—what it felt like to carry it.
"...I wonder why you said that."
"What are you wondering about?"
"Why did you tell me to eat you?"
"Because you all did that."
"..."
Dan Haera let out a hollow laugh. It was a weak, unstable sound—something the 'President' was never supposed to show. The words left her mouth before she realized it.
"That's more shocking than I expected."
To eat a god.
"It's a common method. Very old-fashioned."
"I'm always here."
"Primitive, maybe, but definitely effective. In any mystical tradition, consumption carries deep meaning—and great influence."
"I'll always be here."
"I just hope it wasn't something as crude as tearing off your flesh. Still, I never thought of that method until now. Why is that?"
It was a fairly obvious answer. Hadn't Jeong Hae-Woon once said that he'd absorbed 'Mr. Sergio' and gained an S-class ability?
'And yet I didn't think of that old method?'
Was it an unconscious decision? To preserve whatever scraps of dignity I thought I'd thrown away? Somehow, she'd instinctively excluded that act from consideration.
"...You're not lying to me, are you?"
"There's no reason I would."
"True, I guess."
It could be a lie. But it could also be the truth. Thinking that, Dan Haera raised a hand and stroked the straw doll's face. Unlike before, it trembled faintly, as if now it did feel a bit of resistance.
"What have we..."
She tried to ask something, but her mouth shut before she could finish.
"..."
"Haera."
"My mind's a mess."
Emotions. Emotions. Emotions.
Ah, this wretched thing. Dan Haera didn't like herself when she got swept up in emotion. It felt like a parasite had crawled into the body she kept so perfectly controlled.
Now the parasite had wriggled through her guts and was crawling into her brain. That's why her hands were trembling. She wanted to pull it out and kill it. She wanted to erase it. But she couldn't.
'It's valuable fuel.'
Her precious resource. The monster's power that could shape a better future. Some even said this power rivaled that of gods. And when she thought of that word—god—Dan Haera suddenly recalled a pale man in a black suit.
"..."
Had he once been a god of humans?
'Probably not a fun existence.'
That thought crossed her mind, and she quickly erased it.
'Why am I thinking about useless things?'
So many unpurged emotions had built up. In just a brief moment, she'd become unable to make clear judgments.
But she didn't want to dwell on what dulled her functioning. She didn't want to analyze it. She found herself utterly pathetic for being so easily swayed by just a few words. She wanted to delete herself completely.
"...I need to leave here quickly."
The system would be a great teaching tool for humans. Dan Haera would secure it—for her own ambitions, and for her duty as President. She had to preserve it. So she mustn't learn anything more about the past.
Even so, she hadn't expected to be this defenseless.
"This wasn't the time to be enjoying myself."
"Are you leaving?"
"I think I must, teacher."
To a Symbol of Eternity, a "teacher" was an unnecessary figure.
So if she simply ignored it and left like this, then...
***
"Would've been nice if Seo Seo-Hee had come in too."
Jeong Hae-Woon muttered as he looked around at the sprawled clowns. Piled like lifeless dolls, they didn't stir. It'd be a lie to say he felt no guilt—but he turned his gaze away anyway.
Right now, morals or conscience didn't matter to Jeong Hae-Woon.
"...Guys like us were never meant to lead anyone."
He said the words deliberately, but it wasn't clear who they were meant for. Maybe his deranged friends. Maybe the foolish people who still believed in them. Maybe himself.
"We never should have."
He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the water.
"..."
Somewhere between his twenties and thirties. The face that had stopped aging, the very image of his prime. Jeong Hae-Woon thought of a time a little younger than that. He couldn't remember it clearly, but pieces floated back.
He recalled what he looked like as a student, and leaned on his hand.
'...There's no way to go back, is there.'
Truthfully, even Jeong Hae-Woon didn't know what exactly he was doing all this for. Maybe he just couldn't bear being praised as a Symbol of Eternity anymore. So he was doing this instead.
Maybe he shared Zeorge's motive. To live like trash as honestly as possible, and die here as a betrayer of humanity. As the first and most corrupted gardener, it wasn't such a bad end.
"Yeah. Sure, let's say that's it..."
Staring quietly at his reflection, Jeong Hae-Woon soon walked over and stood before one of the clowns.
"Let's see here."
"..."
"Right. Beautiful. Suits you perfectly."
"..."
"I guess I really am no longer human."
He gave a crooked smile.
"We've met before, haven't we, Hunter Cha?"
She already had somewhere she needed to go.
-x-X-x-
Each accessory had a story behind it.
"Teacher, have you been well?"
"Aram, you've grown quite a bit."
"It's all thanks to you."
And it was the priests of the Moon Sect who uncovered that.
They had failed to simplify what they called the "Garden Formula." Or rather, they had postponed it. The general consensus was that no matter how simplified it was, the Hunters wouldn't understand it anyway. It also helped that, as priests handling divine power, they had an easier time comprehending such formulas.
So instead, the Moon Sect chose full-scale exploration.
"It's truly a joy to see your face again like this. I heard you were recovering and resting inside the Collector's compound, and now to be pulled into such a major incident again..."
"Well, I don't mind. It's nice to get a walk in on an occasion like this. More than that, is it thanks to that so-called Garden Formula that you found us so easily?"
"Yes, that's right. Though rather than finding you or the Collector, we were tracking the location of the dungeon's accessories. It's still surprising that the schism within the Church of the Sun was caused by an accessory. With all that hair-pulling, I assumed it had collapsed due to pure internal conflict."
"And the fact that the earring ended up in Priest Kang Seodam's hands and made its way to us is also quite the twist."
"Exactly. Without the ability to read the Garden Formula like we can, it would be nearly impossible to meet any other participants in this dungeon. The gracious goddess of the Sun must truly be watching over Priest Kang Seodam."
That is to say, unless by divine luck, encountering another survivor here without assistance was nearly impossible.
"Of course, we also can't rule out the possibility that the dungeon master is showing some favoritism..."
As Kang Seodam avoided her gaze with a subtle expression, Aram turned back to Gio with understanding eyes.
"Then, may I continue the explanation?"
"Seeing you again, you seem to have lost all hesitation."
"It's a relief to know I've grown in some way during the brief time I was sealed."
"Confidence is a very healthy form of growth for humans, yes."
For reference, the first thing Aram shouted when she ran into the Collector's group was, "The earring—!!!" She'd been chasing after the accessory from the beginning rather than looking for survivors, so in a way, it was a natural reaction. Still, it was hard not to notice how much thicker her skin had become compared to the past.
In any case, Aram appeared to be ready to give the matter serious attention and continued explaining with a determined expression.
"The accessories found in this dungeon—this garden—are special. In a typical dungeon, destroying them would be a vital step in progressing."
"They didn't seem destructible, though."
"That's because they're part of the garden itself. Unless the garden collapses, those accessories can't be destroyed. Thanks to that, we were able to track them all the way here."
"Were the other accessories harder to find?"
"No, actually, this was a bit of a calculated move... You know how encountering an accessory triggers a clown attack? So the Moon Sect decided it would be better to seek out already-discovered accessories first."
"So the reason you assumed the earring we're holding was one of those 'already found accessories'... was likely because Priest Kang was wandering around with it?"
"Exactly. At present, the only accessory in motion was this earring."
Unfortunately, the anklet and necklace no longer showed any movement. That likely meant the teams carrying them had either abandoned the accessories—or been annihilated. And based on the circumstances, the latter seemed more probable.
No matter how much they tried to analyze it, other than identifying something as a 'probable accessory,' they couldn't determine any specific features. So rather than gambling on an unknown, the Moon Sect chose to pursue the item clearly held by someone still alive.
"We didn't expect it to be an earring, though."
"But the first thing you said when you saw us..."
"Yes, I shouted about the earring. Allow me to explain what I meant earlier by 'story.'"
The Moon Sect hadn't merely been chasing accessories.
Once the formula was established, they gained more composure, and began noticing how the mystical flow functioned in this strange garden. They meticulously noted oddities they encountered during their movements—driven by the tireless scholarly curiosity unique to seekers of truth.
"And in the process, we discovered this."
"...Is that a letter?"
"It appears to be a love letter, based on our interpretation."
Yoo Seong-Woon, who had been silently standing next to Gio, glanced at it and frowned.
"...? I don't recognize the language at all."
"That's why I said we interpreted it."
"You basically created meaning out of thin air."
"Thank you for noticing."
Interpreting an unfamiliar script from scratch was no small feat. If there'd been more examples or references, maybe it'd be a different story—but Aram had only found three letters.
So even if the language had patterns, and even if she'd managed a rough translation, to Yoo Seong-Woon, it felt like a miracle.
Seeing his reaction, Aram pointed proudly to the Moon Sect's "Moon," cradled gently by the priests behind her. She looked like a doting guardian, reverent yet beaming with pride.
"Our Moon played a huge role in this."
"As expected, the Moon's dignity remains unshaken."
"Of course."
Returning to the explanation—
"These letters correspond to specific accessories. While traces of accessories or similar objects can be felt all over the garden, the presence of these letters is limited to just three. Which suggests that the letters only appear after the accessory is found."
"Then how do you know which letter connects to the earring? Can you tell the difference?"
"Yes, of course. If you'll look here..."
Aram nodded at Gio's question and showed the letter.
"They're the same color."
"Oh."
"The earring has a blue gem, and the letter is also blue. Though we didn't make the connection just based on that. Our Moon Sect confirmed that both the letter and the earring emit the same color and type of mystical particle."
"Impressive. That Garden Formula of yours can even pick up on color?"
"I'm honored that you're impressed, teacher. Anyway, since we also deciphered the contents of the letter, we were already expecting that ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) the accessory you carried would be in the form of a blue earring."
At this, Yoo Seong-Woon rubbed his chin and let out a nasal hum.
"Hmmm..."
"Is something wrong?"
"Not really... It's just..."
Looking slightly awkward, Yoo Seong-Woon answered Aram's question.
"It hit me again that everything here really is made of mystery."
"At least we're human, so don't worry too much."
"I'm not worried, just a little deflated, that's all."
Every time they moved, the scenery changed, and everything—from chandeliers to mansions—was composed of mystic particles or illusions. Realizing that made it feel a little absurd.
Having thought it over, Yoo Seong-Woon voiced his admiration again.
"You really are amazing. Even I—who's supposed to be the gardener—can't see any of this."
"It's not exactly seeing—it's more like calculating. We remember the patterns of particles floating in the air and plug them into the formula to deduce outcomes."
"So that's how you knew the earring was blue? That's practically a miracle."
"While we did predict it would be blue ahead of time, even if we hadn't, the letter's vibrant color made it easy to guess. We figured the color was probably a hint."
Blue, green, yellow. Though not childishly vivid, their clear hues made it obvious these weren't ordinary letters. The color clearly carried meaning.
"So then, to the contents of the letter..."
Aram unfolded the letter delicately and read it.
"You've drawn a dud."
"Seriously?"
This damned garden, now dabbling in gambling mechanics?
Gio sighed at the dreadful learning aptitude of Zeorge. Of all the things to pick up from Earth, he had to learn probability games. Even "Mr. Giovanni" inside Gio silently cursed.
"A dud? You mean..."
"Yes... there's a correct answer. At least, we believe so."
Aram turned to Kang Seodam.
"Where exactly was the earring found?"
"...I didn't find it myself, but it was inside a hidden jewel box. It was tucked away in a spot hard to see. Someone brought it back from there."
"So it was disguised as something precious."
"From what you're saying now, it doesn't sound like it was precious at all. Are you saying it was a trap reflecting human assumptions?"
"More scam than trap. It was made to look valuable."
Aram lowered her head and opened the blue letter in her hands. She checked that no anomalies had occurred before nodding and continuing the explanation.
"It's a love letter addressed to what we assume is the dungeon master. From what we can tell, it's not a fictional element added for dungeon storytelling, but a real letter. The idioms, objects, and buildings mentioned reflect a consistent era and reality."
"Ahem, Bishop."
"Forgive the tangent. We believe the letter was written by someone akin to a stalker. Maybe a kidnapper, or a slave trader. The affection expressed borders on obsession—and it's clear it wasn't mutual."
"It felt more like fixation than affection."
"Exactly. Honestly, it was creepy to read."
The Moon Sect priests nodded in agreement, clearly disturbed. Before they were scholars and priests, they were people, and anyone would feel revulsion at such clingy emotion.
"And based on what we can tell, the recipient didn't appreciate it much either. Or maybe—it's unclear. But what is certain is that the letter's feelings held little value to the recipient."
"No value, huh."
"You can tell just by the condition of the earring. If it had been a cherished gift from a beloved person, even in a dungeon, would it really be this tattered?"
Not only that, it wasn't even the real item—it had been reconstructed from mystic particles. Which meant the creator had to imbue it with their own intent.
"If we consider the dungeon master's perspective—if they had no desire to polish or preserve it, that suggests they didn't care much for it. It's possible that's also a trap, of course..."
But since this dungeon—this garden—was centered on exposure, that possibility was lower. Especially considering this was the garden transformed into a dungeon by the Black Cloak. Just as the participants were influenced, the dungeon master must be influenced too.
Just as the sub-dungeons were formed based on the participants' "happiness," this entire space seemed to be based on the dungeon master's own idea of happiness.
"So let's assume it's not a trick. Doesn't it clearly feel unloved?"
"Aha, so that's why it's a dud?"
"Well, maybe not exactly a total dud... but at the very least, it's obvious that the accessory and letter weren't something the dungeon master cared much for."
The clown attack triggered upon discovery was likely the same. Perhaps to prevent the person from learning more after uncovering a weak spot. But even so, the clowns didn't take the accessory back. They even seemed to play around, as if mocking.
"We think the clown's appearance is a kind of punishment. That's why we called it a dud. It's not valuable to the dungeon master, but it brings disaster to the one who finds it. So yeah, a dud."
"So then... we haven't found the 'correct answer' yet?"
"..."
Blinking, Aram eventually replied to Gio's question.
"...We haven't found it, but we've detected a flow of mystic particles similar to the accessories, but gentler."
"Gentler?"
"It doesn't feel like something reproduced, like these letters. It seems like an actual object. And that likely means it's something the dungeon master truly treasures. But maybe for that very reason, it's incredibly hard to locate."
"So its presence is faint."
"Not quite faint, but... like a weed. Very natural, but not immediately noticeable. Blended in so well, it's hard to spot. Similar to how people struggle to perceive the clowns—we suspect it works by a similar principle."
"Then we should find that first."
"If we want to confirm whether there's really a 'correct answer,' yes."
And now, after what felt like an immeasurable amount of time, they finally had a goal.