Chapter 110
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 110
Gio’s cabin was designed to be a place where any human would feel perfectly at ease.
“The air is incredibly mild.”
“I think it’s because it’s always spring here.”
“That might be it, but…”
There was a sense of security, like being cradled in a parent’s arms.
“…I feel like I’d sleep really well if I slept here.”
“Indeed, you would.”
Gio nodded and soon asked, “Is there a particular meal you’d like?”
“…Ah, you’re treating me to a meal?”
“That is why I invited you, Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”
“So that was your intention.”
For Yoo Seong-un, who had accepted the invitation solely to analyze Gio’s true identity, it was a slightly embarrassing realization.
‘Then again, there’s no way this grandmotherly host would treat a guest poorly.’
Whatever his motives, Gio had welcomed Yoo Seong-un as a guest. Since Gio was already the type to shower everyone he met with gifts, there was no way he would let Yoo Seong-un leave empty-handed.
“Anything is fine, though I know you’ll hate it if I say that.”
“There’s no dish in this world called ‘anything.’”
“But I really don’t have any dislikes. No preferences, either.”
“Then I will prepare whatever I like. Is there anything you can’t eat?”
“No, I don’t have any allergies, so I’m good.”
“Understood.”
As Gio nodded, something approached from the kitchen, making soft, pattering thump-thump-thump sounds.
What is that? Yoo Seong-un’s eyes were drawn to a white ball of fluff.
“Thank you for helping welcome our guest, Father.”
“Kku.”
A teddy bear holding a teacup…?
“……”
No, seriously, a teddy bear?
‘A teddy bear brought me a welcome drink?’
Yoo Seong-un was utterly bewildered.
Having frequently encountered existences of the Origin, Yoo Seong-un was exceptionally sensitive to the energy of non-human entities. He could usually discern what kind of being he was dealing with, and in his estimation, the teddy bear before him harbored an energy that bordered on the divine.
‘…Wait, this divine power that feels like the sun…’
Having reached a conclusion, Yoo Seong-un turned to Gio.
“…Your father?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then is he the previous Sun God?”
“Correct.”
“That explains it.”
Although the teddy bear lacked actual divinity, it possessed an equivalent energy—the same tingling, solar warmth he had felt from Gio multiple times. This teddy bear was likely the Sun God, harboring whatever residual power remained after passing his divinity down to Gio.
“Even so, does a god usually reside in a teddy bear…?”
“He said he was used to this body, so I couldn’t change it.”
“I don’t really understand that either. Why would a god be used to a doll’s body?”
“He got into the habit of eating meals in this body…”
“So it’s your fault.”
“Correct.”
“……”
Yoo Seong-un awkwardly accepted the teacup handed to him by the Sun God.
“…Thank you.”
“Kku-kku.”
Did he just laugh?
‘To think I’d live to see a god laugh.’
Of course, the mere fact that the Sun God was residing inside a worn-out teddy bear was mind-boggling enough.
“It’s fascinating. Usually, the predecessor and successor gods don’t get along.”
“Why would I not get along with my father? We are family.”
“Hmm…”
There are plenty of reasons, actually, he thought.
“…I suspect it’s because of the vast difference in their ways of thinking. Even if they inherit the same divinity, a god who must govern the life, death, and existence of all living things operates on a completely different scale of thought.”
Since it took an incredibly long time for a single divine era to end, it was like trying to get a caveman and a modern person to get along.
“Especially when someone who was once human becomes a god.”
“……”
Gio asked, “Then am I a god?”
“…Oh… well… hm…”
“I guess there are gods who do nothing like this. Gods aren’t that big of a deal after all.”
“…I think you can think of it however you want.”
“As I thought, I must be human. Nothing has really changed.”
“Then I suppose you are.”
It seemed Gio thought of himself as ‘a human who inherited a license called divinity.’ Yoo Seong-un wondered what else that could possibly be if not a god, but since Gio himself insisted on it, he kept his mouth shut.
‘It’s true that the ego known as Gio hasn’t been consumed by divinity.’
Becoming a god meant wielding the authority of nature and destiny, and giving up thinking as a mortal creature. Yet, Gio still enjoyed meals, cooked well, and found fulfillment in sharing with others. He was certainly too human to be a proper god. No matter what happened, the existence known as ‘Gio’ would never change.
“……”
Because he is the Origin?
‘…How can such an existence even be?’
Yoo Seong-un watched Gio as he went into the kitchen to prepare the meal.
‘I don’t doubt that he is the Origin. As a Gardener, there’s no way I’d mistake that. This being is indeed the Origin, manifested in a form that humans can perceive—a form close to a person.’
‘He isn’t simply living on top of the Origin. If that were the case, this space and Gio should have been separate entities. But they aren’t; they are bound together like flesh and bone…’
As Yoo Seong-un was pondering, the teddy bear approached with soft, fluffy footsteps.
“Huh?”
“Kkoo?”
“…I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“Kkoo, kku-kku-kku. Kku.”
“……”
Yoo Seong-un felt flustered at the sight of the teddy bear waving its fluffy cotton paws in front of him.
‘Is it blasphemy to find a god cute? Religion isn’t my specialty.’
Even though the Sun God lacked divinity—which could be considered the heart of a god—he was still an existence close to a deity. Yoo Seong-un carefully observed the plump, well-stuffed teddy bear, worried he might make a mistake.
“…Ah.”
Soon, Yoo Seong-un picked up the teacup.
“You want me to drink?”
“Kku.”
“Thank you.”
Yoo Seong-un was briefly surprised by how perfectly the teacup fit in his hand.
“…Oh…”
This felt incredibly nice.
‘It’s smooth yet soft.’
It was like touching fine silk.
It was clearly a solid teacup, but it was so soft it felt as if powder would rub off on his hands. It was also remarkably light despite its sturdy thickness, making it effortless to hold.
‘The grip is great, too.’
Even though it wasn’t custom-made for his hand, it was shaped to be incredibly comfortable to hold.
“It feels somewhat… fluffy.”
It was like a teacup made of clouds or whipped cream.
“As expected of Gio. Even a single teacup is extraordinary.”
“Kkoo-oo-kku.”
The white teddy bear, which had a golden-brown hue like slightly toasted rice, soon pointed at something with its paw.
“…Ah.”
It was Honey.
“Kkoo-reu-reu?” the bear seemed to ask.
Yoo Seong-un, misinterpreting the gesture, stiffened. “…We saw each other earlier, right? I was invited. I’m a guest.”
“Kkoong-uk.”
Realization dawned. The bear wasn’t questioning his presence; it was explaining something. By pointing at Honey, another of Gio’s creations, the bear was telling him that the teacup was also drawn into existence by Gio.
“No wonder the texture felt so unique.”
The light pink tea inside also had a wonderful aroma.
“…This is…”
A fresh sweetness, similar to vanilla bean yet completely different. It had a slightly sharp, tangy note, and while it possessed a savory richness like milk with honey, it was balanced by the unique lightness of plants, making the aroma entirely unburdening.
Yoo Seong-un narrowed his eyes.
‘Is this tea really safe for humans to drink?’
He unconsciously used his Appraisal Skill.
[Silk of Blooming Tears]
[Rank: - ]
A flower tea made by aging Crying Hem that grows naturally in Fate’s Ley Line. The unique, sharp scent of raw Crying Hem remains faintly, adding a subtle twist to the sweetness. As it was processed by Gio, the master of the forest, it is safe for human consumption. The moment you drink it, heat gathers in your eyes, restoring the optic nerve. Highly effective in neutralizing mental-type skills.
“……”
Well, that settled it.
‘It says it’s edible.’
Yoo Seong-un downed the small amount of tea in one gulp.
“…It’s sweet.”
Usually, with tea, only the scent is sweet. But this tea—which didn’t seem to have any sugar added—was sweet enough to make his mind go blank for a moment. It felt as if it had been packed to the absolute limit of pleasant sweetness.
‘There’s also a sharp, peppery note.’
Sweetness and pepper sounded like an odd combination, but having tasted it himself, he could feel that the two aromas didn’t clash but harmonized beautifully. The vivid sweetness and the tingling scent that pricked his brain made his head feel completely full.
It was an overwhelming pleasure, like a multi-course meal served all at once.
‘It would be hard to enjoy this with a relaxed mind…’
Just then, Yoo Seong-un frowned.
“Ugh.”
His eyes began to sting, like a tongue that had eaten something spicy. It was a strange sensation that was hard to call pain, similar to the feeling of using mint-scented eye drops.
After about three seconds, the burning sensation in his eyeballs vanished in an instant.
“…Maybe that’s why it’s called ‘Silk of Blooming Tears.’”
Perhaps because heat had risen in such a sensitive organ, a few tears welled up.
‘My vision definitely feels clearer.’
Yoo Seong-un thought once again that this was not something one could enjoy with a relaxed mind.
How could anyone calmly drink a tea with a taste and aroma so full it made the mouth go numb, made the eyes sting and tear up, and even improved one’s eyesight?
“……”
Just like that, he’d received a free vision upgrade from a single cup of tea.
“I feel a bit restless…”
“Kkoo-reu-reu?”
“…Have you tried this too?”
“Kkoong.”
“It was delicious.”
Yoo Seong-un smacked his lips.
‘I feel like I’ve come to a place I shouldn’t have.’
The Origin’s hospitality was far too excessive.
Even on Earth, stories of ‘people who stepped into the world of gods and had their identity as humans threatened’ were common.
‘For instance, in the East, there is the story of the Peach Blossom Spring.’
Although it wasn’t exactly the same situation, he couldn’t help but feel a similar sense of crisis.
‘It’s overwhelming…’
He felt like if he stayed and ate here for three days, he would leave as an immortal.
*
Meanwhile, the host, completely unaware of Yoo Seong-un’s thoughts, was humming.
“Hmm.”
Gio was planning the menu for Yoo Seong-un.
‘Koreans run on rice.’
Indeed.
“What I need is rice, side dishes, and soup.”
Conveniently, there was rice freshly cooked at dawn. Because it was cooked with water boiled with various vegetables and herbs, its flavor was outstanding. The grains of rice, which had a faint light green tint, were particularly sweet and savory.
‘Next are the side dishes…’
For fish, there was salmon caught from the ‘Breathing Sea’. There were also hams and sausages kept in the underground storage, and in the vegetable garden behind the cabin, various vegetables were growing robustly.
“I can grill the fish, steam the meat, and stir-fry the vegetables.”
Perhaps hearing his murmuring, which was filled with a strange determination, Yoo Seong-un called out from the living room.
“Gio, I’ll be able to walk out of here as a human, right?”
“You will walk out healthy on your own two feet.”
Though you should be prepared to leave as fat as a pig.
‘I will make sure to send that skinny office worker back stuffed.’
Gio decided to stake the honor of his grandmother, who had been the most generous host in her village.
For the soup, he prepared a bone broth he had simmered a while ago. The broth, made by boiling the bones of a Tree-Horned Deer, had an incredible umami flavor. Simply slicing some green onions on top would be more than enough.
‘None of these dishes take that long, but…’
Gio called to Dana, who was lying down in the kitchen.
“Daughter.”
“Meow.”
“Are you meowing half-heartedly because you’re lazy?”
“Mwa-ak!”
“Ah, you’re back to normal.”
Gio placed a basket in Dana’s mouth.
“Can you go to the vegetable garden and pick some eggplants and bok choy?”
“Mwooooong…”
Fortunately, Dana did not refuse the errand.
“Good girl.”
Dana, whose body had recently grown to the size of a normal cat, stretched her body like an arched bridge, then slinked out the back door with the basket in her mouth. Seeing this, Honey followed to help his younger sister with the errand.
‘Since Honey went too, they’ll do fine on their own.’
Gio scooped the rice with peace of mind. It was a mountain of rice, generously piled high with the hospitality of a countryside grandmother. The light yet deep aroma unique to vegetable broth stimulated the taste buds from a mile away.
And it would stimulate Yoo Seong-un’s taste buds, too.
‘Time to fatten him up…’
Having spent his childhood surrounded by doting grandmothers, Gio had learned that the only way to treat a guest was to share food generously.