The Coward of the First Garden
The Gardener stood there with her mouth agape, looking utterly flustered as she stared at me. So that's why I was fine after taking that hit—it didn't have any other effects, just eroded the mind. It seemed this caterpillar's fluid was particularly threatening to the rose.
As I tilted my head in confusion, the caterpillar showed signs of panic and raised its tail again, spraying even more of that liquid.
"Ugh, gross!"
Was it thinking the amount wasn't enough last time? It didn't look that disgusting, but once I realized it was filth from a bug, it was hard to just take it.
"Eww, nasty!"
I was already feeling grimy from not washing up, and now this? What the hell! Just standing there taking hits was pissing me off. Ignoring whether it hit or not, I pushed forward and reached the flower, lunging to snatch the caterpillar—only for the damn thing to slither along the petals, dodging smoothly. Life form or not, you little shit?
"Okay, let's do this."
I crouched into position for serious caterpillar hunting, gesturing carefully to avoid damaging the flower as much as possible. But the way it slipped just out of reach was infuriating, testing my patience to the limit.
"Now!"
I spotted an opening and thrust my hand out, but suddenly it fired something that wasn't liquid. I realized it was thread as it wrapped tightly around my hand.
"Damn it!"
Whatever was on that thread burned like my skin was melting where it touched. So this was why the Gardener couldn't just rush in recklessly. The blue liquid made approaching tough to begin with, and once you got close, it bound you like this before blasting more fluid. Plus, with her precious flower held hostage, she couldn't use her plants to deal with it either. It was a total deadlock.
"Tch!"
I yanked the thread wrapping my hand, trying to reel the caterpillar toward me, but it snapped clean and the thing hid in the flower cup. Argh, seriously. It just wouldn't come quietly, right to the end...! And then it started weaving some weird web around itself. When I ignored it and grabbed anyway, my hand slapped against it and stuck fast—it took forever to peel off.
Was this that string trap thing the community called it? The skill optimized for binding foes, they said. No wonder.
Dragging this out wasn't helping. In a fit of rage, I reached out ready to rip the whole flower and caterpillar together. That finally nabbed it. But the problem? Grabbing it like this would snap the flower.
"Buddy! Help me out."
I called the Lesser Outer God, and she popped out, approaching the caterpillar. From what I'd seen so far, she seemed weaker than the Gardener, so I was honestly worried she'd get in trouble. But for some reason...
As the Lesser Outer God spread her arms like a red panda threatening a foe...
"Kee, keee."
The caterpillar froze solid in my hand, unmoving. Like a creature facing overwhelming terror.
Was this related to that "her" everyone kept mentioning? Seizing the moment, I snatched the caterpillar quick, successfully prying it off the flower.
"Kkeek!"
"Gah!"
But it retaliated, stabbing at my hand with its spindly legs, forcing me to hurl it to the ground. The moment it hit the dirt, it tried crawling back to the flower. No, I just got it off...!
"That's far enough."
Luckily, the caterpillar didn't reach its goal. At the Gardener's gesture, a vine sprouted from the ground before it could touch the flower, skewering it like a shish kebab.
Splat!
"Kyyyiiiik!"
It let out a squeal like squeezing a toy, and without pause, two more vines shot up, pinning it for good. The caterpillar's struggles ceased completely.
"Whew... haa..."
With everything over, I flopped onto the ground. The Lesser Outer God flew over with a teary face again. I stroked her gently with a finger.
"It's okay, I'm just tired."
My abdomen had been throbbing annoyingly for a while, but it'd probably sort itself out after sleep. All I wanted was to crash. Still, I had to wrap things up. Lifting my head toward the flower, I saw the Gardener approaching cautiously, like greeting family after years apart.
The caterpillar had chomped quite a bit, leaving chunks missing, but as she drew near, the flower began to glow.
"Ah, ah."
Tears welled in the Gardener's eyes at the sight. Then something wriggled from the flower, emerging as if waking from a long slumber, yawning. It was about Lesser Outer God-sized, with silvery long hair and porcelain skin—doll-like and beautiful.
"Friend..."
"S-Sis?"
The child from the rose reached out to the Gardener. Finally, a single tear rolled down the Gardener's cheek.
Seeing such a powerful being show this vulnerability hit me like a punch to the head. Especially since I'd thought Outer Gods had no blood or tears.
I started to say something, but shut my mouth at the scene. Considering how much anguish she'd endured, it was best to let her express it freely for now.
"You're awake. Is your body okay?"
"Yeah, no energy, but... I feel refreshed, somehow."
Was this foreshadowing tragedy? Her words said one thing, but she looked faint, her condition far from good. Like she'd vanish any second. Was there nothing I could do? I didn't want to bring misfortune to that woman with her wistful smile. I hated bad endings like this.
Even if she was an Outer God, everyone happy was way better.
Then the Lesser Outer God poked her head from my pocket, tapping my hand.
"What?"
Wondering if she had an idea, I looked down, and she held out a candy.
No, why the suicide pill now! Was she saying eat this and find peace quick? Reading my mind again, she shook her head furiously.
Well, then what...? Not wanting the Gardener to see and get the wrong idea, I tried pocketing it again.
"That..."
The Gardener approached slowly. Busted! Oh no! I don't wanna die yet—
"For real... from the start, your goal was to help us..."
I reflexively shielded my face with my arms, but her words were the opposite of what I expected. Lowering them cautiously, I looked at the Gardener. I'd only seen her stern threats before, so I hadn't noticed, but her tearful, distant smile left me speechless. Like a painting.
She looked like she needed candy, so I offered it gently. The Gardener took it quick and rushed to the rose, popping it in the child's mouth. The kid held it in her hands, licking happily, beaming innocently as she continued. Simultaneously, her body grew more opaque, until she fully regained her form.
I'd thought it was useless junk, but it worked like this. Nice.
The Gardener stood after confirming the child was fully okay, extending a hand to me. Seeing her smile faintly—her, who'd always scowled at me—it struck me how pretty she looked.
"Uh, over there."
"Thank you."
Feeling awkward, I scratched my head sheepishly and took her hand, using it to stand with support. We gazed at each other quietly, and she smiled with her eyes.
"You should wash up quick once you're back. You're all slimy."
"...Yeah."
With that, she returned to the rose—her way of saying goodbye, I guess. Typical tsundere Outer God to the end.
But I still had something to say.
"I heard you've set it up so you can somehow get out of this garden. You didn't really want to kill anyone, right?"
Her eyes widened in surprise at my words, then she snorted.
"What's that matter? I killed humans anyway. You lot shouldn't forgive me."
"But..."
"Enough. Take this."
A branch extended, handing me a dandelion and a leaf etched with strange patterns. As I blinked blankly, she explained.
"Knights need proof we were killed, right? Submit the hair as evidence, keep the dandelion."
"Will the knights buy something this flimsy?"
Our talk wasn't audible to Mu Yeon, so I summarized for her later, and she answered innocently.
"I-I think so. This leaf is a common byproduct from Gardeners, after all..."
Still a bit worrying, but since it was Mu Yeon saying it, I could trust it. What about the dandelion, though? It was young, still budded.
"The dandelion?"
"If you plan to keep helping Outer Gods, it'll come in handy later. Some are clumped with malice toward humans."
She gritted her teeth slightly.
"Especially to deal with the one who made this world like this, ■■."
"What?"
She clearly said something, but it buzzed like static, garbled. Thinking it was just my ears, the Gardener sighed.
"I see. You're under interference from someone stronger than me. Can't say much then."
Was she talking about the Observer? But the Gardener shook her head.
"No, not her. I'm not weaker than her."
"...A Common Outer God like you?"
"Judging us by human values is wrong. I'm not what you call a Common Outer God. What you term 'Gardener' is actually my friend."
So we'd tangled with a Greater Outer God like the Surveillance one again.
"Then... who are you, really?"
"Even if you're fine, the woman behind you might lose her mind hearing my name."
Oh right. She'd probably turn pale and refuse even if I asked her to step out.
Seeing my dumbfounded look, the Gardener chuckled.
"Just say the coward from the garden where humans first sinned."
"The coward, huh."
Just like me and Mu Yeon. Coward Trio for the win.
"Go on. My friend needs rest."
"...Can we meet again sometime?"
She gave a subtle look, then smiled.
"Who knows. Maybe."
With that, we parted at the gate. Seeing all the flowers still, I felt a pang of loneliness for what she'd been through. Forced murder she never wanted. Maybe true Outer Gods were just misunderstood.
"Sigh..."
"S-So, Mr. Tantun?"
Mu Yeon called, pulling me from my melancholy.
"Yes? What's up?"
"When can I remove this handkerchief?"
Ah. She'd only regained her sight after fully exiting the gate.
# Underground beneath the Hearth's soaring flames.
At the round table in the knights' outpost below the Hearth, the Vice Captain sat, gazing at the marks from their pre-mission contract.
Even after receiving Mu Yeon's return signal, Tantun's mark still glowed. The Vice Captain sighed.
"Expected the Hunter, but that lunatic pulled it off? Must be thanks to Mu Yeon. What kind of guts did he swallow to act?"
As he watched, one finger-mark's light vanished completely. Agartha's.
"...Pathetic bitch."
Noting her demise, the Vice Captain calmly continued his work.