Chapter 112
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 112
Well, that was one way to put it.
‘I might have played it off as a joke, but…’
Yoo Seong-un’s statement about feeling “a threat to his identity as a human” had been entirely sincere.
‘So this is what it feels like to face a realm beyond human comprehension.’
As a gardener, Yoo Seong-un had repeatedly familiarized himself with the sensation of pushing past his limits. Yet, even for him, this particular meal had been chilling.
‘All from a single meal…’
And it wasn’t even as if he’d felt like he was going to be eaten.
‘…The fact that I can’t even dismiss this as a joke is what makes it so absurd.’
Gio had treated him to a meal out of pure, innocent goodwill. It probably meant nothing to him. For someone who naturally enjoyed giving gifts, preparing a single meal was no big deal.
However, when peace becomes too profound, it verges on death. When pleasure becomes excessive, it turns into pain. From Gio’s perspective, he was merely entertaining a guest. From a human’s perspective, it was an overwhelming kindness that threatened to break him.
“…”
At least there was one silver lining.
“Hyaaaaaaaah—…”
‘I guess I really am still human.’
Seeing how much the Anti-Cat detested him was proof enough.
‘I’ve never had a meal that was so comfortable and satisfying, yet so terrifying and anxiety-inducing at the same time.’
For some reason, it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
‘This is why they say you should never accept an invitation to a feast of the gods.’
There was an old saying that one must never covet anything belonging to a god, no matter how trivial. Gio was less a god and more the Origin itself possessing divine characteristics, which made his presence even more overwhelming. As he’d thought before, Yoo Seong-un found himself ridiculous for reacting so intensely to a simple, meaningless meal.
‘It’s not like I was invited to some grand palace…’
It was just a warm meal in a simple cabin like this.
“…”
Gio’s cabin was as beautiful as ever—rustic, like a scene from a worn-out fairy tale. An eerie sense of nostalgia lingered in the air.
“Was the meal to your satisfaction?”
“…I felt like a person could actually die from being too happy.”
“You flatter me, Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”
“Well…”
Right, if that’s how you want to take it, so be it. Yoo Seong-un decided to just resign himself to it.
“…I really enjoyed it. Yes.”
“I am glad.”
Gio sat down across from him.
“I couldn’t prepare the dessert in advance, so it is currently setting in the ice storage.”
“Ice storage?”
“Yes. It serves as a refrigerator, I suppose. Would you like some tea first?”
“Ah… No, just a glass of water is fine.”
He had asked for the most ordinary thing imaginable, fearing what kind of wicked blessing might be bestowed upon him next. But…
“Here you go.”
[Spring Water of the Origin]
Water drawn from the Spring of the Origin.
“…”
The least ordinary thing imaginable had appeared.
“…?”
An appraisal window had suddenly popped up without him even using a skill. Before he could even wonder if his ability was malfunctioning, Yoo Seong-un felt a wave of gratitude toward the formless entity that had shown him this description.
‘It’s as if someone is quietly helping me from behind the scenes, begging me to survive and remain human.’
Yoo Seong-un asked cautiously, “…Is this water?”
“…Is it not?”
“I mean, technically, yes.”
Damn it. No wonder I felt a chill with every bite.
Every drop of water used in the food I just ate came from the Origin.
It made perfect sense that his instincts had been screaming in alarm. Yoo Seong-un pressed his lips together tightly.
‘It’s a miracle I’m still human. How is this even possible?’
One of the fundamental rules for a gardener was to never consume anything from the garden. They were merely the labor force and administrators who managed it, not its owners. The moment a gardener consumed anything from the garden, they could never leave it again, for they too would be treated as part of it.
“I… I can go home, right? I’m going to be okay?”
“I have no idea why you are acting this way, but I am not some ruffian who detains his guests…”
“You’re flustered, aren’t you? You look like it. I’m sorry for making you flustered, but I’m genuinely terrified right now.”
“Did I do something wrong? I apologize if I frightened you.”
“It’s not that you did anything wrong… but…”
“Mr. Yoo Seong-un?”
“…”
What on earth was I thinking, coming in here?
‘…Well, until I actually entered, I didn’t know this place was the Origin. As someone who had to identify it, it was an unavoidable situation, but still…’
Even taking that into account, it had been an incredibly reckless choice. This was the typical end for someone who approached “Gio’s Portrait” thinking it was just another gardener’s garden. Yoo Seong-un had to admit that his approach had been far too hasty.
‘I should have prepared as thoroughly as I would when entering an unmeasurable dungeon.’
Despite being gripped by fear and anxiety, as long as he could return to Earth as a human, nothing else mattered. He decided to trust Gio’s word that he could go home whenever he wanted.
“…”
He desperately craved a cigarette—a habit he had quit long ago—but he held back, fearing that Gio might offer him “something” in the shape of a cigarette.
Yoo Seong-un struggled to regain his composure.
“…Sorry. I think I panicked because this is my first time experiencing something like this.”
“It is entirely understandable if you are having trouble adjusting to an unfamiliar environment.”
“Thanks for saying that…”
Yoo Seong-un stared at the water in the glass with a strange look in his eyes.
[Spring Water of the Origin]
Water drawn from the Spring of the Origin.
“…”
That was definitely “something” in the shape of water. The description was strangely brief, so he couldn’t gather any detailed information, but he knew one thing for certain: this water was not meant for human consumption.
Yoo Seong-un fell into thought.
‘…Come to think of it, all the gifts Gio gave me before had the exact same sentence.’
Specifically, the phrase: “Processed directly by Gio, the master of the forest, so that even a human body can accept it.” Every single gift—or rather, every food item—that Gio had given him so far had carried that description.
‘But this water doesn’t have that explanation.’
Yoo Seong-un quietly set the glass down.
“…I’m sorry to change my mind, but…” After a brief pause, he asked, “Could I have some tea instead?”
“I don’t have much prepared tea left. Would the flower tea I gave you before be alright?”
“The light blue one, right? That sounds great.”
Yoo Seong-un realized the truth.
‘I must never consume anything unless Gio has processed it himself.’
A shiver ran down his spine.
‘It makes perfect sense when you remember that the gardens we manage are also part of the Origin. I don’t know what process makes it safe, but I must never carelessly consume anything raw from this place.’
Yoo Seong-un steeled his heart, recalling the previous gardeners who had turned into part of their gardens, unable to die, living on as mere fixtures. And this place was the Origin itself. Losing his human identity might not even be the end of it.
Having organized his thoughts, he emphasized once more, “As long as it’s something you made yourself, anything is fine.”
He meant it.
“I feel bad just receiving. Can I help you with anything?”
“Serving my guests is my pleasure. Please, remain seated.”
“R-Right…”
Gio soon returned with the Forest Butterfly’s Flower Tea.
“It is Baibamunil tea.”
“…Baibamunil? Is that the name of the flower?”
“Yes. It is also delicious if you blanch it in boiling water and eat it.”
“What an astonishing way to consume it.”
“It is a snack with a nice texture, much like wild greens.”
“Wild greens, huh.”
After drinking the tea, Yoo Seong-un found his already perfectly healthy blood vessels regenerating, his cells restructuring, and his body granted immunity to minor illnesses for the next six months.
“…”
If I stay and eat here for three days, I’ll literally become immortal.
I feel like my lifespan just increased.
By about fifty years.
‘The Forest Butterfly’s Flower Tea shouldn’t have that kind of effect, so it must be my imagination… but it still makes me uneasy. Is it because Gio brewed it himself? The efficacy shouldn’t change depending on who brews it… It really shouldn’t.’
Yoo Seong-un wanted to live as a human and die as a human. That was the greatest ambition any gardener could harbor.
“…Who else has received this kind of hospitality besides me? Hunter Cha Ah-ra?”
“Excluding the two of you, I have never hosted any other guests who live on Earth.”
“Oh, then is it those Mermaid Siblings? You mentioned they visit your house often.”
“They stop by once every two or three days to have a meal.”
“I see.”
As expected, those monsters were of no ordinary caliber.
‘To be able to accept a meal like this without a second thought…’
Didn’t that mean they possessed a status at least on par with an Evil God?
“…”
“…”
“…Whoa, wait a minute.” Yoo Seong-un stopped Gio as he was about to pour more tea. “I think I’ve had plenty.”
“I thought the cup was rather small, but you feel you’ve had enough?”
“I’d like to digest this a bit. Why don’t we take a break?”
“Were we not already resting?”
“Right, but how about we go for a walk to help with digestion?”
Apparently, to Gio, eating was synonymous with resting. For Yoo Seong-un, who had eaten with a pounding heart, terrified he might slip out of the human realm at any moment, it had not been restful in the slightest.
“Could you show me around your house?”
“A house tour.”
“Ah, sorry if that was rude. I just…”
“No, not at all,” Gio nodded. “After I show you the house, let us go out and spend some time in the forest.”
“…Is it really okay for me to enter that forest?”
“I have no intention of treating this vast forest as my private property.”
“…”
He hadn’t asked for permission.
‘I was asking if I would survive entering that forest.’
Regardless, Gio had already stood up.
“It will take a little more time for the dessert to set. Shall I show you around the house?”
“…If you’re willing to personally guide me, the honor is mine.”
Yoo Seong-un rose from his seat and asked, “By the way, is it okay to leave our feline friend like this?”
The translucent cat monster with puffed-up, jewel-like fur. Though she had stopped hissing, Dana was still watching Yoo Seong-un warily.
“Whenever our eyes meet, she silently gapes her mouth wide open at me.”
“You won’t be eaten.”
“You never know, Gio. Monsters are terrifying these days.”
“Our Dana is a light eater, so you do not need to worry.”
“You’re not saying she won’t eat me, though?”
“She is a monster, after all.” Gio continued with his characteristically calm expression. “But she is a good girl, and since I am here, she will not do that.”
“I’m putting all my trust in you.”
Honey, whom Gio had personally drawn, looked at Yoo Seong-un with a gaze that held neither hostility nor goodwill, much like his creator. But monsters were different. Since the Anti-Cat was also a monster, it was only natural for Yoo Seong-un to feel uneasy.
Above all…
“An Anti-Cat isn’t usually that big.”
“She gained some weight because I kept feeding her various things.”
“Is that really just weight gain?”
Just imagining how a monster showered with love by the Origin itself would evolve made the back of his neck grow cold.
Seeing Yoo Seong-un still anxious, the Sun God-infused Teddy Bear stepped in. Dana, who had been huffing and puffing in irritation at Yoo Seong-un, was soon scooped into the teddy bear’s arms and patted gently.
“Oh…”
Dana let go of her visible irritation and calmed down.
“Those two get along well.”
“They do.”
Next, Yoo Seong-un was given a tour of the cabin. First was the ice storage. He was taken aback, not expecting the storage room that served as a refrigerator to be located so deep underground. However, he soon grew interested upon seeing the ice storage, which could easily be mistaken for a growing cavern.
“So this is where the Ice Pearl you gave me came from.”
“That is correct. Even in this ice storage, they do not form commonly.”
“It’s fascinating how water pools here despite how cold it is.”
Next was the studio. He was briefly startled by the sight of blank canvases scattered everywhere but quickly calmed down upon remembering Gio’s unique trait. Since whatever Gio painted became reality, there was no reason for the canvases to remain filled.
“Ah, does the studio have a connected storage room too?”
“Yes. It is where I primarily store my completed landscape paintings.”
“What’s that black cloth covering the canvas?”
“If I do not cover it, the entrance might open without my knowledge, so I must be careful.”
“Uh… Wait, what? Oh, right. I see.”
Next was the vegetable garden behind the cabin.
“A vegetable garden?”
“I would appreciate it if you called it that.”
“…And you’re saying this is the result of planting the seeds I gave you?”
“Yes.”
“…”
Yoo Seong-un swallowed hard as he stared at the crops, which were not just massive but seemed to have grown to possess their own egos. The shock and terror he felt right now stemmed from being confronted by an overwhelmingly colossal force of nature.
‘Well, I suppose these things grew up drinking the Spring Water of the Origin, too.’
Even humans with strong egos would become part of the garden if they consumed its contents; these seeds were growing directly in the Origin itself. There was no way anything from Earth could resist such overwhelming evolution.
How should he even describe this? Feeling a strange sense of pity born of terror, Yoo Seong-un muttered, “I think my food is already fully digested.”
“In that case, shall we tour the forest after having dessert?”
“Uh, yeah… the forest. Sure, let’s do that.”
Immediately after they returned to the cabin.
“…”
“Oh, my. How surprising.”
Yoo Seong-un came face-to-face with a Mermaid in a Dress.
“Why is there a human here?”
She was practically dripping with murderous intent.
“…”
“…”
Yoo Seong-un nodded.
“I’m going home.”
Save me.