It was a giant bird.
"..."
Or was it human?
'It must be one of the Children of Origin—of that I'm sure. The very structure of its mystery is entirely different from a monster's.'
The head of the Association's research department stared at the mass of feathers roaring like a dragon. But it was not a dragon. It may have had two pairs of arms. It may have had jewel-like claws and legs. There were countless eyes embedded in its feathers.
Its feathers shifted like those of a chameleon. Or maybe like aurora film—or a prismatic spectrum. Even to the eyes of a researcher who had seen all manner of beauty, it was arresting. Inside that thick beak, the teeth resembled rows of shark teeth...
'Magnificent.'
Was it angry?
Then at what?
It looked as if it simply hated all humans.
'But could such an enormous mystery be that simple? Even at a glance, it's this ever-changing.'
It looked, perhaps, like an angel that had fallen and become a monster.
It soared with thousands, tens of thousands of wings. Or it climbed the air with talon-hooks, tearing space apart. It let out a deafening scream that split the air like a shriek, numbing eardrums. In a single flutter of its wings or sweep of its claw, people died.
From its many eyes, from between its feathers, from its glorious beak and at its joints, a golden ichor-like fluid dripped—cruel, somehow. When that golden spray touched a human, they would transform—into gleaming jewels or gold.
'No, this isn't indiscriminate attack...'
The head of research knew it. Those dying now were all the ones who had long since thrown away their conscience. In the Association and its direct research branches, there was no one more fit for survival than a sociopath.
"Ah, right."
Then I'm in danger too.
'Almost died watching.'
CRACK-CRACK-CRACK-CRACK—!!
"Damn."
Barely made it. The last defense gear she had activated had saved her.
'This new prototype's working better than expected. It even held against that.'
With a few improvements, it might become an extraordinary product.
'If I don't die before then.'
At the Association's research lab, new and powerful tools were constantly developed. The results of analyzing and breaking down countless mysteries. And for each one of those mysteries, even more people died.
This attack seemed to be part of that cost.
"A funeral could hardly be better than this."
She watched through the translucent shield. Her gaze remained steady and calm. Her eyes were fixed on the mass of feathers, but her hands never stopped scribbling on her tablet.
"Let's see here..."
Thanks to it chewing at the shield, its inner mouth was exposed in full.
'...The number of teeth is constantly changing. That's... unusual. A mystery that morphs constantly. Most mysteries bound by rules aren't this fickle. Which must mean this one's on a very high level.'
To be able to observe such a being at close range—it was an honor. She recorded her observations, eyes shifting in that inorganic, dry way full of obsessive fixation.
"Does it have hands?"
Oh—yes. It did have hands. Even when viewing that blurred silhouette from afar, she'd described it as 'human' for a reason. Between the feathers, she could see white arms and hands—made of feathers fused together.
"It seems unbalanced. Which suggests it may have copied someone's form...."
She was sure she'd seen arms like those before.
"Ah."
Hunter Sergio?
"Yes, exactly the same."
With her memory of physical traits of all major social figures, she was confident.
'Then this must be some transformed form of Hunter Sergio?'
No—that couldn't be. The head of research was one of the few who knew Sergio's true identity. If he had turned hostile toward humanity, it wouldn't be limited to just this scale.
'If this is a transformation of Sergio, then it's not this—it would be that.'
The mask of the garden, which had long borrowed the face of reality, was now peeled away. This garden, no more than a façade of mystery particles, had become hollow. That hollow space was now being filled by countless paintings.
It felt as though she had entered a white gallery, overflowing with artwork in every direction.
'Even beneath my feet.'
Thanks to wearing armor in advance, she wasn't greatly affected—but the hands clawing faintly at it were still unnerving. Human shapes, weeping blood and screaming—none of it was pleasant.
The emotions most commonly observed in the "paintings" were sorrow, rage, and joy. Occasionally, love or affection appeared. It seemed the garden's master had ultimately climbed inside the system called the "Portrait of Gio."
'Was that the plan all along...?'
To gradually dismantle the system, hand it back to the "Portrait of Gio," and then, embraced by that vast mystery, toy with the participants of the garden. The current scene was exactly what this garden had always desired as its final outcome.
"This is troublesome."
The research head scratched her head with a pen.
"There's going to be massive damage..."
The thick emotions surging in from all sides carried heavy impact. People were being unwittingly swept up into the paintings' feelings, driven mad. The emotions were too sharp, too vivid for humans to contain.
Some staff were being sucked into the paintings. Others were attacked by the limbs of the "Portrait." Right now, the giant mass of feathers was being held in place by her—but the damage from the "paintings" was considerable.
"And now the system's suddenly revived and completely deranged."
'Love me¿'
"No thanks."
'I love you, my friend.'
"This is just... creepy."
Luckily, she was dull to emotion. Most of the staff, though, were already losing their minds because of this "system." Some seemed to have received bizarre quests and were acting with eerie determination.
'A clever garden.'
To summarize: it had broken the "Promise of Eternity" to enlarge the "Portrait of Gio," and then carved an opening to crawl inside. Calculated. Bold. Deeply narcissistic.
"I'd like to be friends, but... in this state, that's not happening."
Unfortunately, she wasn't like Jeong Hae-Woon, the kind of gardener who could get along with any garden. The two gardens that had just a while ago been helping to mediate between other gardeners had now gone completely silent.
'Like children scolded by their parent.'
It seemed likely this was the "Portrait's" doing.
'Judging by how light my body feels, I think it's still showing a gardener some degree of courtesy.'
Maybe the toil of a gardener and the sins of a human were separate. Now that the erratic garden and the Portrait of Gio had fused, it was harder than ever to get a sense of its rhythm. And that made it all the more fascinating.
"Ha... tragic."
She was a habitual liar—but this time, she meant it.
'If only I had more time, I could've learned so much more.'
To have such an alluring mystery right in front of her. Every direction she looked—entrancing. But all she could do now was record what she knew.
Time was far too short.
"..."
Click. Clack-clack...!!
"...Oh, it went through."
CLINK—!!
"Let's hope it—"
Connects.
CRACK-K-K-K—!!
***
"Boss~...?"
The Hunter who had once been paired with Hunter Sergio as a blonde duo—Sanarae—whimpered.
"This is way too rough."
"You're doing fine."
"That's not what I ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) meant."
"You want me to curse at you instead?"
"You're the worst...."
CRACK—!!
Swiping blood from his hands, Sanarae dealt with the rampaging beasts.
"...What the hell did these guys eat to get this tough?"
His hands were numb.
'For my hands to hurt like this is rare.'
Even if doppelganger-type monsters weren't known for durability, this one was a meticulously refined creation. Among the "successes" of those lunatic researchers, he was the only true standout.
'If I'm struggling this much, then the others...'
Sanarae sighed so deeply it felt like his soul was leaking out.
"Haaaaaaa...."
"Shit, we're already on the verge of death—stop sighing and wasting our luck."
"Our luck's already gone, boss..."
"You're back-talking? Congratulations, promotion when we get back, asshole."
"Please no..."
Sanarae let out another whimper and hurled himself into the mass of frenzied beasts.
'Better I take them down before my kids get killed.'
Humans were fragile. With his own regeneration and reflexes, Sanarae was best equipped to lead. Limbs could be severed and he'd still survive. But 100% pure humans? They might bleed out and die just from a few hits.
Recognizing that, his teammates yelled out:
"Boss, stop going off on your own!!"
"He's doing it again, guys! Stick close!!"
"Shit! Boss! Stay with us!!"
Their highly uncooperative attitudes made Sanarae grind his teeth.
"Shouldn't you be like, praising the hell out of me right now?!"
"Maybe our baby boss doesn't know how the human world works, but humans are social beings—"
"I'm a modified monster hunter, not a baby! What, you think I was born yesterday?! I was born an adult, okay?!"
He was grateful they hadn't rejected him after learning his origin. Still, it stung. He was the boss, legally an adult—but ever since the truth came out, they kept teasing him about his age whenever they got the chance.
"My biological age is legally adult, dammit...!!"
"Real age is how much life experience you have, baby boss, now stay back!"
"FUCK!!"
It would've been funny the first few times—but no more. Enraged, Sanarae swung his fists at the frenzied animals. He couldn't bring himself to hit his own teammates—out of the solid bond of camaraderie.
His squad leader yelled out:
"Damn! Look at that effect! Keep going!! Didn't you see?! That asshole's skull-busting speed just doubled!!"
"BOSS, SERIOUSLY!!"
Crack, thud!! CRUNCH!!
"If you keep teasing me I'm gonna cry, I swear I will!!"
"Cry, then!!"
"You're all so mean!!"
For a moment, they'd felt joy in reuniting—but seeing Haryeong act like this, the members of Eunwol were at a loss for words.
"..."
"Mother..."
"Stop calling for your mom. You're back to your senses."
"It was an exclamation."
"What kind of exclamation sounds like that."
"Please respect me."
Adjusting her cracked glasses, the flower gardener Jeong Yeong-Won gripped her staff.
"Should I help them?"
"...I honestly don't know what else to do anymore."
"Fair enough."
Most of Eunwol were healers or supporters. Their combat-capable members had been dragged into the field by Haryeong's pressure. The rest—those in relatively safe positions—just stood still like this.
But they weren't really doing nothing. Non-combat staff were rotating out as they exhausted their stamina, continuously healing and buffing frontline fighters. Everyone was doing their part.
"Guild Haryeong members do have amazing regeneration."
"That's why I don't hate them. My healing efficiency with them is phenomenal. Swinging my staff actually feels rewarding."
"But they're so wild it's still a problem."
"And they come back hurt just as much as they regenerate. That's why I don't love them either."
"Net zero. They're incredible people either way."
Jeong Yeong-Won gauged her stamina, then gave a small cough.
"...Still, I think I can at least help with mobility."
As she swung her staff, brilliant flowers bloomed atop many of the "paintings."
"If I weave in some vines here to make a walkway..."
"Oh, so that's what you were resting up for? But it's still plants—won't they break if those maniacs trample on them?"
"I'll hold them steady."
Even though frames were laid out in midair, touching them would trigger status effects. And the "paintings" in this zone were full of traps and poison. So she laid out terrain to make it easier for the combatants to move.
It would also provide healing as they crossed it...
"Hey, on your head."
"This much is fine."
Jeong Yeong-Won brushed the flower blooming like a crown on her head. It wasn't covering a vital organ, and it had bloomed beautifully—closer to a prank than a threat.
"But still, it's amazing seeing you so calm, Flower Keeper."
"Shouldn't a flower keeper be calm by nature?"
"It's normal to get mad when someone eats away at your garden's assets. And after using this much power, for you to be in a good mood—it's a miracle."
"Does it have to be a miracle...?"
"Maybe gardeners just get treated better."
"You were about to die not long ago."
"Exactly."
Jeong Yeong-Won looked up at her superior.
"So what do you think this situation is?"
"You said earlier the Eye of Origin seems fused with the garden's master. Maybe the master did something to throw a tantrum? These beasts going wild when they hadn't been visible at all before..."
"If it keeps going like this, it's going to be trouble."
Most of the "paintings" only triggered status effects through gaze or touch—but occasionally, hands or monsters would burst out from behind frames. Some would speak in chilling voices or issue weird "quests" like some twisted system.
'Not that I have much stamina left anyway.'
She'd done all the support she could. But staying still like this wasn't in her nature. Gently, she sat down in the flowerbed she had created.
"...What, you that tired?"
"No."
Placing a hand atop the blooming painting, Jeong Yeong-Won closed her eyes.
"I'm going to try communicating with the gardeners."
She had to find a way to soothe this garden, now turned into a more tangled labyrinth than ever.
***
"..."
Yoo Seong-Woon, who had been resting his hand on a frozen painting, opened his eyes.
"...This might take some time."
"What happened?"
"I used a little trick to open a passage for the gardeners."
He looked up at Bisa Beul.
"I'm going to try cultivating the fragmented garden into something traversable. Do we have time?"
"If we don't, we'll make some."
Still blindfolded by black cloth, Bisa Beul turned to his staff.
"You can manage it?"
"Yes, Guildmaster."
"And our priests...?"
The Moon Sect priests nodded.
"...There are things we're not happy about, but for now—we'll help."
"If we want to settle this crisis, we need the gardeners' help."
"We have to reach the source of this disaster."
"Honestly, we didn't even know how we'd get there like this."
Zeorge, burrowing into the "Portrait of Gio," had gone berserk. The garden, which still vaguely resembled a "world," had mutated. Even more wildly than when the two Symbols of Eternity had clashed. There was no more ground or sky.
Now, all they could stand on—or touch—were "paintings." And within those, monsters could appear. Touching them triggered status effects. There was no way to approach the epicenter in this state.
Bisa Beul chuckled softly.
"You heard all that, Curator Yoo Seong-Woon?"
"Let's give it a shot."
Fortunately, the current "Portrait of Gio," now fused with Zeorge, had an unclear ego. Their traits had muddled in fusion, and Zeorge couldn't focus on individual humans.
Which made it easier to slip through the cracks and tend to the garden unnoticed.
'And I'm in good condition.'
As Yoo Seong-Woon closed his eyes again, frost bloomed across his body. Starting from the tips of his fingers, he began to freeze—slowly turning into a glacier-like form.
In that way, he forgot that he was human.
"..."
He became one with the snowy field, sinking into the garden.
***
The surviving hunters felt it.
"...Huh?"
The floating paintings were moving with new rhythm and structure.
"This is... no doubt..."
"Yeah—it's the power of the gardener."
From that, ground was born. And sky. And thus, a world.
In the end, a new dungeon had been created.
"...Holy shit."
A gallery resembling a snow-white forest.
The final stage had begun.
-x-X-x-
It was a forest dyed white.
From the leaves to the soil around the roots, it looked as if the entire forest had been painted over in white. Or perhaps it resembled a forest made of paper, or a world where all color had vanished. Though vast and expansive...
"A p-person...?"
"It's a person! A real person...!"
Survivors were not hard to find.
"This is the first time I've met anyone since entering this dungeon!"
"M-Me too... me too... huuh..."
"Is there anyone else?! There are people here!!"
Or perhaps... not everyone was still alive.
"Ah, there's someone over there too! Let's move—can you walk? You're badly injured."
"...It doesn't hurt, so I'm fine."
"I-Is that so? That's a relief. I want to treat you, but I don't have anything on me right now..."
"No, really, I'm fine."
A space where the living and dead were entangled. The handful of gardeners present quickly recognized the peculiarity of this place. Regardless of the process, they had all contributed to the creation of this world.
Yoo Seong-Woon murmured, gazing at the oddly hollow-feeling, whitewashed world.
"This wasn't quite what I intended..."
Bisa Beul, standing beside him, asked:
"Then someone helped you during the reconstruction of the garden?"
"I'm not sure you'd call it help... but it did feel like I was pushed along."
"Isn't that basically the same thing?"
"It's just... I don't know whose help it was, or why. That's what makes it unsettling."
"I, for one, welcome spaces this interesting any time."
Bisa Beul clicked his tongue.
"It's such a pity I can't see any of it."
"Please don't say that, especially with your eyes in that state—it worries °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° me."
"Our Yoo Seong-Woon doesn't usually say such thoughtful things. Are you sure you haven't been replaced by a clown? Or the garden?"
"Please don't joke about that. When you say it like that, it starts to sound real... like I might've been swapped out without even knowing."
"Well, how could I read your condition with my eyes shut? I was just making a silly joke. Anyway..."
As Bisa Beul tilted his head, Yoo Seong-Woon understood the cue. As one of the key players behind the miraculous restructuring of this garden, it was time to explain. Adopting a professional demeanor, he began:
"It's similar to what the Black Cloak once did. He turned the garden into a dungeon-like space, making it easier for humans to enter."
"You're saying human gardeners accomplished something like that?"
"No, that's why I said 'similar.' What we did was restructure the garden to make it more dungeon-like. With clear beginnings and endings, causes and effects—like a test."
Dungeons, by nature, presented trials and rewards. That made them fundamentally different from the organic, aimless chaos of a mystical garden. But thanks to the groundwork the Black Cloak had already laid, this kind of task was now possible.
'Still, someone definitely helped...'
It was almost certainly the "Portrait of Gio."
'Gardener Jeong Hae-Woon didn't participate in this operation at all, which likely means he wasn't in any state to help. Which leaves Gio.'
Thinking of his precious creation made Yoo Seong-Woon feel unsettled.
"My artwork..."
Aram, standing nearby, looked up at him with a disapproving expression.
"No matter what, he has a human-like form. Could you at least treat him as human?"
"Gio never complained about it."
"You can't just fall back on the love of a merciful god like a spoiled child... Anyway—so what do we do now? If this place really has become a textbook dungeon..."
"I suppose we have to clear it."
Yoo Seong-Woon pulled his hand away from his face and looked around. It hadn't been his intention, but the forest, brimming with blinding white as if anything could be drawn upon it, had a strange sort of beauty.
"This is the beginning. The dungeon's entrance, so to speak. So now we need to find the trigger to move to the next stage. That could be a door, or an item, or even a spell."
"It really is a classic dungeon structure... How did you manage this?"
"All we did was organize the scattered, chaotic parts of the garden by grouping them into similar colors."
"'Similar colors'?"
"We didn't literally sort by color... but sure, let's go with that."
After some time scanning the surroundings, Yoo Seong-Woon seemed to sense something. Gauging his instinct, he nodded and pointed.
"I believe what we're looking for is in that direction."
There, just as he'd indicated, stood a white cottage. Its form radiated tranquility—like a space meant to calm the mind just by existing.
Leaves rustled gently in the wind. A clear brook ran beside it. Though this world seemed devoid of color, this place exuded peace.
Yoo Seong-Woon gazed into the stream, then looked at Aram who had been doing the same. He smiled.
"Later."
"...Sure."
Even as she spoke, Aram glanced at the brook one more time.
'The only transparent thing in a world of pure white...'
A massive mystery was stirring.
Yoo Seong-Woon seemed to know something. As Aram struggled to grasp the brook's nature, he said:
"Shall we go inside?"
"Are you sure we can? The owner of this house—is it...?"
"It originally belonged to Gio. But I'm not sure what that means here."
He stepped toward the cottage. In all respects, he was the one most suited to lead this moment. Yoo Seong-Woon leaned lightly against the cottage wall and closed his eyes.
He heard the heartbeat he once knew.
"..."
This was, without doubt, the space he remembered.
'It's changed a little... but it's the portrait I know.'
He wanted to relax, but the situation didn't allow for comfort. Yoo Seong-Woon opened the door and looked inside.
"...Ah..."
"Mr. Yoo Seong-Woon, are you alright?"
"...I'm fine."
He brushed his face with a hand.
"It just... feels strange."
Inside the cottage, there was nothing.
The sofa he used to lie on with a cup of tea—gone. The gentle lights that warmed visitors—gone. The kitchen overflowing with food and ingredients—also gone. Only a blank, white space remained.
Like the Collector's Gallery.
"..."
"...Huh? Over there..."
"...Been a while since I saw him."
"Someone you know? A doll? Mr. Yoo Seong-Woon?"
"I'm familiar with him."
Yoo Seong-Woon looked at a faded golden teddy bear.
"I didn't expect to find you here, Father."
"Puff."
The teddy bear clapped his cotton paws as if to say thank you for the greeting. A subtle divine aura radiated from him, making Aram's expression turn thoughtful. The baby dragon wrapped around her neck sniffed curiously toward the bear.
Then the bear greeted the others as well.
"Puff."
"He says he's pleased to meet you."
"...How do you understand that?"
"Just a gut feeling. We've known each other long enough—I'm probably right."
"That's... not exactly reassuring."
The brief round of greetings ended as the bear turned around. He gestured to Yoo Seong-Woon, the human he knew best. Somehow, Yoo Seong-Woon understood and followed.
The place the teddy bear led him to was a staircase heading underground.
"..."
"..."
Without a word, everyone nodded and descended. The teddy bear did not follow.
"...Everything's so white I didn't even realize there were stairs here."
"Maybe he made them just for us. Like cutting stairs out of paper."
"A world like a blank page... that's a convincing theory."
The staircase went on and on. Yoo Seong-Woon felt it was familiar. As he ran a hand along the smooth wall, something surfaced in his memory.
'There was a similar storage room in Gio's cottage.'
He used it like a fridge—or a freezer. It once terrified him that such an overwhelmingly mystical ice chamber was being used to store ingredients.
At the bottom, there was a painting of the sea.
"...The Breathing Sea."
That was its name.
***
Basic exploration complete, and the people hadn't acted rashly. If they were still alive by now, they must have that level of judgment.
And along the way, some of them began to notice something strange.
"...Then you're not... alive, are you?"
"...No, I'm definitely dead. There was a conflict in our team... and as a result..."
This place was a mingling of the living and the dead.
There was a bit of confusion, but it soon quieted down. After all, everyone here had already experienced countless moments dancing between life and death. In this garden—this overwhelming mystery—what couldn't happen?
Most of the dead felt deep comfort in the white forest.
"I want to stay here..."
"I just want to sleep..."
"It's so peaceful..."
While chatting quietly with the living—or the dead—some of the spirits eventually drifted off to sleep. And then, near those sleeping souls, a familiar animal appeared.
"Meow."
"...That's Hunter Sergio's Anti-Cat...?"
Dana—the anti-cat raised inside the portrait of her father. She kept watch beside those drifting into eternal rest. Not long after, the sleeping souls began to crystallize like gemstones.
Then they turned transparent. So faint they were barely visible anymore.
"Meow."
"...Where are you going now?"
"..."
She flicked her tail, displeased with the living as always—but for once, didn't hiss. She simply walked away and resumed her quiet vigil by the sleeping souls.
Hearing of this, Bisa Beul offered a theory:
"Seems the 'Vein of Jewels' had some connection to the Origin."
Aram asked, alarmed:
"Wait, Origin? The Origin?"
"Oops, did I not mention that?"
"When you say 'Origin'—do you mean the source of all mystery? The one the gardeners call the parent of all? Why would that be mentioned now?!"
Bisa Beul replied without flinching:
"Why else? You think it's easy to make a regular human into a god? Of course our Hunter Sergio is just an avatar, but the Black Cloak of the past—wasn't."
"You can't just say things like that! Do you know how rare that is? There's no recorded case, in any dimension, of a person becoming a divine avatar connected to the Origin! Wait... then the Symbols of Eternity... the people around him..."
She turned to Yoo Seong-Woon.
"You knew, didn't you? That the Black Cloak was tied to the Origin?"
"I didn't expect you to bring it up so quickly, but... it'd be silly to keep hiding it now. Yes. We regard him as the Eye of Origin."
Yoo Seong-Woon gave a brief explanation of the "Portrait of Gio," phrased carefully enough not to disrupt his friend's public life. Still, those few leaders inside the cottage were understandably thrown into further chaos.
Aram, however, steadied herself with logic.
"You're really dropping such an important revelation so casually?"
"It's not like we announced it to the entire advance unit. It's just a small, trusted group."
Now even Yoo Seong-Woon looked a little awkward. He too was flustered by his guildmaster's sudden bombshell.
"I trust that everyone here won't go spreading it. Let's draft a contract later just in case."
"But still... even if the Black Cloak is the Eye of Origin, why is that affecting this garden? It was Hunter Sergio with us, not the Black Cloak."
"Because Gio isn't a typical avatar. You can't compare him to other avatars that exist just for divine amusement. From the beginning, he came as a breakwater against all of Earth's calamities. This is simply one manifestation of that power."
"True, avatars are deeply connected to their original self. And he was closer to a clone than a channel. Then... Zeorge must have targeted the link to Origin within Hunter Sergio from the very start..."
As others began to accept it, Bisa Beul shifted his blindfolded gaze. Yoo Seong-Woon nodded silently. They had managed, just barely, to preserve Gio's public persona.
Then Yoo Seong-Woon thought—
'...Wait, wasn't this whole thing avoidable if Guildmaster hadn't said anything in the first place...?'
Before that thought could finish, Bisa Beul spoke again:
"Anyway, it's quite a convincing theory, don't you think?"
"...What is?"
"The part about the 'Vein of Jewels' being linked to the Origin."
"Ah..."
"Seems my earlier words got lost in the shock."
But it really was a plausible idea.
"One day, Hunter Sergio told me something strange. A beast had wandered in from outside and died—and its heart had turned into a gemstone."
What if it hadn't been butchered? What if the body had been left intact?
"I believe that the bodies and souls of the dead are refined into gemstones within the Origin. A kind of purification. And if so, then the 'Vein of Jewels'..."
A habitat of undead monsters—where only the dead gather. Surely some of them were once human souls. And the only creature who lived solely among them—Anti-Cat. Not to mention the familiar sight of that massive gemstone field...
"..."
"Haha... Of course, the jewels I saw in the Vein of Jewels weren't nearly this transparent. But that could just be this dungeon's characteristic. What do you all think?"
"...There are only two things here that are transparent. Or rather—two types."
Bisa Beul smiled at Yoo Seong-Woon's reply.
"One is the gemstones made by Anti-Cat, and the other?"
"The stream flowing around the cottage."
Yoo Seong-Woon looked at Aram. She nodded as well.
"There had to be a singularity. Even white is still a color, after all."
"And the stream flows throughout the forest. Naturally, as a stream should."
"And such a stream must have a source, yes?"
"Bishop Aram is correct. I've seen this stream before—inside the 'Portrait of Gio.' He let me approach its spring."
Yoo Seong-Woon brushed his face.
"...I identified it as the 'Spring of Origin.'"
Then laughed faintly.
"Though honestly, I might not have identified it at all. I never even used an appraisal skill, but the appraisal window just popped up on its own. As if someone—or something without malice—was trying to help me escape safely..."
At that, Garasani murmured:
"Was that... the system?"
"Most likely, yes."
Unlike the newly awakened Portrait, still ignorant of human limits, the "system" had been a wise teacher of humanity for thirty years. It must have been the one to guide Yoo Seong-Woon.
"When we return to Earth, we should consider sealing off the Vein of Jewels."
"Curator Yoo Seong-Woon is right. I'll recommend it formally."
Bisa Beul nodded with a smile. Now that a link to the Origin had surfaced, the Vein's danger and value had become incalculable. Better to be cautious.
Assuming, of course, they returned to Earth at all.
Yoo Seong-Woon spoke:
"We weren't sure what to do next, but luckily—we've found the door to the next stage."
It had the shape of a painting. It resembled the ones Yoo Seong-Woon had seen in Gio's storeroom inside the portrait.
He continued:
"There's the 'Kingdom of Animals' in the forest."
"And the 'Garden of Pleasure' in the flower fields."
"Then we should split into teams..."
"We've gathered the survivors now, so there shouldn't be any issues."
Aram stroked the moon in her arms.
"I'll help."
"Are you sure you can?"
"All the adults have agreed."
With just the remaining survivors, they couldn't possibly defeat all the enemies ahead. For the final battle, they would need more allies. And thankfully, the divinity of Wrath had already granted them one.
"So let's give it a try."
In place of a corrupted system, Aram released the baby dragon herself.
-x-X-x-
"To help you understand... we're cracking open a vault."
"My god."
"It's not easy to get the vault owner's cooperation, so we have no choice."
Aram shrugged and twirled her quill.
It wasn't just Aram. All the priests of the Moon Sect were immersed in research. It was to draw out the little dragons residing inside the Moon.
"Having experienced them myself, I can say they're far more docile than expected. Sometimes they act like mischievous kids trying to cause trouble, but considering their abilities, the trade-off is more than manageable."
"In this chaotic situation, having the little dragons around will dramatically increase survival rates."
"Exactly. That's why we're working so hard. If I'd known things would turn out like this, I would've insisted we bring them along from the start... though I understand it's meaningless to talk about that now."
"You say that, but you still sound regretful."
"Of course I do. We could've avoided cracked skulls. If only we'd seen further ahead. Forcing open the Moon isn't an easy task, you know? And opening it without causing injury is even harder."
But in this situation, the cooperation of the little dragons was practically essential. Even though it hadn't been that long, the hostility shown by the Black Cloak's underlings had already proven fatal.
And that wasn't all. The clowns of Zeorge were here too. No matter how generously they tried to interpret the situation, they were outnumbered. At this rate, they'd be dead before any strategy could begin.
"Thanks to that damned garden master, we've lost a good number of human allies. That means we need to make up the difference. Somehow... we have to draw the little dragons out."
"Are there no side effects?"
"We're doing our best to bring them out in a way that causes the least discomfort. If there's one clue we've found, it's that even without system designation, one little dragon responded to my rage and was summoned. We're starting from there."
Fortunately, the little dragons were highly capable. They were intelligent and had a kind of intuition that went beyond intellect. More than anything, they excelled in both survival and combat.
'They weren't beings born within the system, after all.'
They clearly existed inside the Moon. Up until now, the system had been expected to assist with their summoning, but in this corrupted state, that was no longer possible. Ironically, being within the Moon had protected them from contamination.
"If we can just gain their cooperation..."
With that, Aram immersed herself in calculations.
It didn't take long. Thanks to her intense research on the Moon during the lockdown period, and with Aram leading the effort, the Moon Sect priests performed countless calculations and slight manipulations—until they finally opened the Moon's gate.
And it wasn't just the gate to the little dragons.
"..."
[Wow, it's really been a long time since I've seen a person.]
"...I'm sorry...."
[Thanks for calling us.]
"I needed help."
[Yeah, that's what we're {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} good at. Don't worry.]
The young saints who had been warming themselves within the Moon also emerged, their snowy-white forms appearing one by one. The one at the very front embraced Aram—but their body was so small, it felt more like Aram was embracing her.
The girl smiled and said:
[You've grown so much. I'm glad.]
"..."
[You've become an adult.]
Aram held the girl in silence.
The saints offered their gratitude to the little dragons who had kept their cold bodies warm, and gave them repeated warnings—about human fragility, delicacy, and common sense.
Then they sent the little dragons off.
[Go on, head to your friend.]
[They'll surely welcome you.]
[Because you're soft and warm!]
The little dragon rubbed its face against the saints, then flew into the white sky.
***
[Did someone call for a little dragon?]
"...."
Even to the souls barely resisting sleep, the little dragons came.
"So warm...."
[Your little dragon is here!]
"...Hrk... huuuh..."
[I'll help you.]
You helped me, too.
The clever young dragon recognized the friend who had saved it from eternity.
***
There was noise and confusion, and still many people overwhelmed by things they didn't understand, but eventually, the survivors gathered in one place. Setting aside their questions, they agreed to cooperate for survival—and for Earth.
They speculated that these three dungeons were similar in structure to those that had previously appeared on Earth.
"Then how about we try it like this?"
"Try what, exactly?"
And so, the "Garden of Pleasure" was assigned to the Gardeners.
"Still, isn't that a bit much...?"
"Technically it's not just the Gardeners going, right? Don't worry too much."
"Even so, only a few people capable of wielding mystical power are joining them. Isn't it natural to worry when there are so few of them?"
"Considering the temperament of that garden, this might actually be the right number."
Now that "Promise of Eternity" had broken and the system was corrupted by Zeorge's manipulation, most hunters couldn't use their skills anymore.
But a few—those who had long prepared for a system-less world, or who had enough talent to quickly perceive mystical energy—were a different story.
Those were the ones heading into the "Garden of Pleasure." The Gardeners were actually grateful for the unexpected reinforcements.
"Never thought I'd see the day we work with civilians."
"Kind of touching, isn't it?"
Meanwhile, the "Animal Kingdom" was entrusted to the Moon Sect and the little dragons.
"...Isn't our group way too large? Strictly speaking, most of the survivors are with us. And since the little dragons are drawn to 'friends,' they'll naturally follow us..."
"The 'Animal Kingdom' can afford a larger crowd. It's not the kind of dungeon where the master would be bothered by numbers. It's a different situation from the 'Garden of Pleasure.'"
The battle-mad Haryeong joined them too. The reason was simple—the "Animal Kingdom" seemed to be the most straightforward of the three discovered dungeons. In contrast, the "Garden of Pleasure," tangled in mysticism and curses, was their worst nightmare.
"Thanks for giving us something that doesn't require thinking."
"My kids are a little dim, but they fight well."
Lastly, the "Breathing Sea" was assigned to those who served the divine.
"Just because we're priests doesn't mean we can't fight. Curator Yoo Seong-Woon is with us, too. Just having one Gardener around is reassuring."
"The Church of the Sun is equally grateful. Considering everything you've been through, it wouldn't be strange if you were reluctant—but we won't forget your willingness to step up."
"No, we're just relieved to be of help in some way."
The "Kingdom of the Deep Sea," which once appeared on Earth, had also featured a wide array of monsters—but the current dungeon master was unclear.
The leading theory was that it might be a mermaid. In the past, with the help of various divinities, humanity had achieved victory. That's why they prepared teams with divine affiliations.
"Of course, that could backfire... The merfolk had a strong aversion to divinity."
"Still, the reason Earth survived that disaster was precisely because of divine aid. At this point, we can afford to gamble."
"More than anything, I still believe that Hunter Sergio's integrity remains intact. Even if he's now the master of this white dungeon—trapped by the garden's schemes..."
One of the priests smiled.
"Well, isn't that what we all experienced in this garden? Nothing surprising anymore."
"So in the end, the final dungeon this garden produces will belong to Hunter Sergio. Those small, infuriating dungeons that caused us so much trouble."
"For someone who sealed away so much... Even if things turned out like this, I can only hope he endures."
They believed this final raid was a moment to confront the pain and torment Sergio had quietly carried all this time. And the one who had borne so much for Earth deserved that much.
Everyone found their roles.
"...See you again later."
"Yeah. See you."
And so, one by one, they became part of the painting.
***
So, what were the two Symbols of Eternity doing in this busy moment?
"...."
"...Of all people, I had to end up stuck with this bastard..."
"Wouldn't it be nice if age came with some manners."
"Manners don't come with time, unfortunately."
"Looking at you proves that. Thanks for the confirmation."
They were imprisoned.
"Isn't this discrimination?"
"It's only right to keep the dangerous ones in solitary."
"...Yeah, I guess you're right."
It was the part of their school days that never quite left their memories.
"The door... won't open."
Dan Haera tried the classroom door, but it didn't budge. Beyond the glass window on the door, a few vaguely familiar students passed by, but... they didn't seem real.
It was noisy, lively—like a school break.
"Why is this place so empty?"
"Yeah, kind of lonely."
Jeong Hae-Woon agreed. The classroom, with no students or teachers, was filled only with silence. Beyond the door, you could hear the carefree laughter of students—but that was all. It was all an illusion anyway.
Dan Haera brushed her hand along the wooden door, then looked at her palm.
"...We look a little different, don't we."
They were wearing school uniforms and looked a little younger.
"I don't feel any discomfort."
"A well-made garden, huh?"
"Why do you sound so proud of it?"
"After all the time we spent together, isn't it natural to feel some attachment?"
"You were always complaining about its temperament."
"Well... it did cause an awful lot of trouble."
"So..."
Dan Haera sat across from Jeong Hae-Woon.
"Have you finished being angry?"
"Not really."
"Doesn't seem like it, considering we're still chatting like this."
"I'm just not doing meaningless things."
Jeong Hae-Woon opened and closed his hand. There was no sensation—nothing to grasp. He was no longer a Gardener. Not a Hunter either. Just a delinquent high schooler.
Same for Dan Haera.
"...Right. So this is what it felt like to be a civilian."
"Think we'd survive if monsters attacked in this state?"
"You're not even trying to survive, are you?"
"You're right."
Jeong Hae-Woon blinked slowly.
"If this is the grave the teacher chose for us, then I'm fine with that."
"...."
"People will live on. Zeorge has already caused enough death, and now that the garden and the portrait have merged, I doubt there will be more sacrifices. He was kind, after all."
"...So you've given up?"
"I told you, this is what I wanted from the beginning."
To press his forehead to the ground, or kneel, clasping his hands together to say sorry over and over. Failing that, to be punished. He wanted divine judgment to fall on a sinner who overstepped.
"Though for divine punishment... this is a little too peaceful."
"I agree. This doesn't feel like a punishment."
"Shit. Then what am I supposed to do?"
"I doubt this place is our grave, at least."
"Then what are we supposed to do now?"
No power, no strength, no weapons or items. Just an ordinary classroom where even the door wouldn't open. Even the desk drawers held only familiar textbooks.
"...Oh, shit. There really are textbooks."
"Kind of nostalgic, huh?"
"With these uniforms on, it really does feel like we've gone back."
"Really?"
"I'm just saying."
They'd walked too far to be trapped in youthful memories. That path was full of blood and screams. And they'd grown into perfect hypocrites. For every good deed, they'd committed worse ones.
No matter what their outer shell looked like, they couldn't pretty up their rotten souls.
"If I'm being honest... I want to strangle your neck. Or mine."
"I'll pass."
"Really? I guess I don't feel like fighting alone."
"You looked like you were getting excited before we got trapped."
"Even fights need chemistry."
"Then how about we kill time with old stories?"
"...."
Jeong Hae-Woon thought for a moment, then nodded.
"...You remember crying in the bathroom back then?"
"You remember crying in the classroom after getting a lunchbox from the teacher?"
Didn't take long for the two powerless kids to start a proper fight.
***
"...."
A vast ocean.
"...Ah."
"Mr. Yoo Seong-Woon, this place..."
"Seems pretty different from the one we knew."
Yoo Seong-Woon smiled in his usual calm way.
"I wondered if the name would still be the same."
What he saw was completely different from what he remembered.
Beneath the surface, a massive figure lay asleep.
"Why are you there...?"
Submerged in water, it continued to shed tears. It shone like a pearl, was rough like coral, and at times, brilliant like the floral tea Seong-Woon always drank.
The massive tears it shed sank downward. They disappeared into the deep abyss, never to be seen again. Still, Yoo Seong-Woon felt as though this entire sea was made from Giovanni's tears.
A sea filled entirely with sorrow.
"...."
A Gardener perceives the will of the mystical with sharp sensitivity.
'...Yes, it's crying.'
This is sorrow. A wail. A sob.
'These weren't things Gio originally possessed.'
Giovanni and all his portraits were beings who didn't know regret. Even now, he didn't look like he regretted anything—but sorrow was a separate matter. That's why he could cry like this now.
'So this... this is the response Zeorge wanted.'
His stomach churned.
"...."
He looked around.
The sky was crystal clear without a single cloud—but the sun was nowhere to be found. Above or below the water, there were no buildings or structures of note. Yoo Seong-Woon eventually knelt and reached his hand out toward the surface.
Or, he tried to.
"...."
"...Krrrrrrrk...."
"...Honey."
It had approached without a sound, grasping Yoo Seong-Woon's wrist with its claws.
"You've gotten a lot scarier since I last saw you."
"Kiiiieeeekk!!"
"You don't like me anymore, do you?"
It stung a bit.
"...."
Kang Seodam's gaze, wondering where Honey had come from, eventually dropped to the sea. His pupils slowly dilated. At last detecting the new danger, his face twisted.
There were so many jewels inside the water.
"...Wait. No way—this is..."
"Yes."
They had crawled into the seabird's nest.
"Prepare for defense."
"Not offense?"
"You know how seabirds are, Priest Kang Seodam."
"...Then Hunter Yoo Seong-Woon, what you're saying is..."
"Our target isn't these things."
"...Ha."
"It's that one, the one crying."
Yoo Seong-Woon's gaze, now holding a drawn ice spear, settled on the weeping priest with eyes shut tight. Sunken like a broken ghost ship, it was massive—but also seemed like a faded illusion.
As he looked at it, Yoo Seong-Woon murmured,
"Still crying, huh."
You're breaking your curator's heart.
"...?! Mr. Yoo Seong-Woon?!"
"Curator Yoo Seong-Woon!!"
Splash—!!
Without a moment's hesitation, Yoo Seong-Woon jumped into the sea.
-x-X-x-