Chapter 17
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 17
[Forest Butterfly’s Flower Tea]
[Rank: -]
A tea made by drying flowers that have bloomed from the corpses of forest butterflies inhabiting Fate’s Ley Line. It possesses a pale blue hue and an exquisite, smooth cream aroma. Personally processed by Gio, the Master of the Forest, it is safe for human consumption. The moment it is drunk, it regenerates blood vessels, making it highly effective for major injuries, and reorganizes cells to grant permanent immunity to minor illnesses.
[Duration: 6 months]
“...”
After reading the appraisal, Yoo Seong-un pressed his lips into a thin line and ran a hand over his face.
“...Gio, you crazy bastard...”
What in the world had he just given him?
“This isn’t the kind of tea you trade for ten bungeoppang.”
* * *
He’d always thought so, but ‘Gio’s Portrait’ was a truly absurd existence.
I still have no idea what he really is.
Whether he was a monster, an item, or, as Bisabeol and Yoo Seong-un suspected, a Child of the Origin.
But he has a human form... and he seems to understand humans and society well enough.
Whatever his true identity, the fact that he willingly abided by human rules was nothing short of a miracle. An existence like him would probably never appear in this world again—at least, not in this narrow dimension called Earth.
It was no wonder Guild Master Bisabeol, famous for his keen eye, had invested so much in him.
And what ‘Gio’s Portrait’ had requested in return was…
“Will this do?”
Seeds.
Crop seeds, to be exact.
“I gathered whatever I could find for now.”
Yoo Seong-un smiled awkwardly, showing the seed packets tucked inside his coat. He had done his best to gather them in just a few hours at dawn, the day after receiving the tea. Tomatoes, corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lettuce, cabbage, cucumbers, peas, pumpkins, chili peppers, carrots, radishes, watermelons, eggplants, and more…
“I wanted to get you better quality seeds, but there are hardly any shops that sell them around here. I barely managed to clean out a shabby little store in a back alley, so I don’t know if you’ll like them.”
“Of course I like them. Judging by the amount you brought, I can see how hard you worked in such a short time. And yet, despite bringing so much, you look apologetic.”
“That’s because trading mere seeds for such a precious tea doesn’t feel right…” Yoo Seong-un said, passing the seed packets through the frame in a steady stream. “Even if these seeds weren’t dirt cheap, the tea you gave me was far too valuable.”
“...”
Gio, who was inspecting the seeds, asked, “Are seeds not inexpensive?”
“Huh? Oh, right. Usually, one of those packets costs about as much as a decent meal out… On average, I wouldn’t say they’re cheap.”
“...”
“...Did you ask for them because you thought they’d be cheap?”
“Yes.”
The face in the portrait remained blunt and devoid of emotion, but looking into those black eyes, Seong-un could sense Gio felt regret. Just as Bisabeol had said, he was a warm-hearted person.
Whether he was thinking about something or it was just a meaningless habit, Gio blinked twice before speaking.
“My apologies. I did not realize they would be so expensive.”
“I don’t even know what you’re apologizing for. I keep telling you, it doesn’t even begin to compare to the tea you gave me.”
He was now starting to understand how overwhelming Gio’s casual, pure goodwill toward humans could be. Yoo Seong-un waved his hand with an awkward laugh.
“The sentimental value is immeasurable just from the fact that you made it yourself, but with all those effects on top of it… To be honest, it’s such a precious gift that I wondered if I even deserved to drink it.”
Even at a glance, the tea Gio gave him was incredibly valuable. It was, after all, tea made by a haunted portrait.
Whether Gio is a humanoid monster or a Child of the Origin, the fact remains that he is unbelievably rare.
And on top of that, it had effects that seemed capable of bringing someone back from the brink of death.
“...I’m truly grateful for your kindness. But…” Yoo Seong-un hesitated for a moment before continuing. “...I’m a bit worried. I plan to take my time and enjoy the tea, but please don’t give such precious gifts to other people.”
“...”
“Most humans can’t just accept goodwill at face value. They aren’t as open-minded as you think.”
First, they were highly likely to perceive goodwill as a threat. Unless someone was exceptionally greedy or completely indifferent, it was hard to be purely grateful for such an overwhelming gift.
Someone would surely see it as a threat and get angry, or panic. But even if a greedy person received it, that would cause its own problems.
Although it seemed like a waste, Yoo Seong-un understood that Gio’s intention was for him to enjoy the drink, not use it as some miracle cure. Familiar with the rules of the Origin, Yoo Seong-un had no intention of upsetting Gio by selling the tea or using it for other purposes.
“You wouldn’t feel good if the tea you gifted ended up on some auction block without your knowledge, would you?”
“An auction? I did not expect humans to attach so much meaning to a simple tea.”
He spoke as if humans were incomprehensible creatures, assigning value to meaningless things.
“I guess it looks that way to you,” Yoo Seong-un smiled wryly.
...For someone who claims to be human, that’s a glaring lack of understanding.
But for Gio, who never pondered things too deeply, it was an inevitable conclusion. His System had likely told him the tea was on par with a fatigue recovery agent, and Gio had no reason to doubt it. To him, it was worth a vitamin pill at best, so Yoo Seong-un’s words must have sounded like a massive overreaction.
“...”
“...”
Seeing Gio’s nonchalant reaction, Yoo Seong-un couldn’t help but think, He really operates on a different level from human common sense. It was just like how a lump of gold was no different from a stone to most monsters.
“Well, what I mean is…” Yoo Seong-un continued. “You might have given it simply because you value it as tea, but ordinary humans can’t look at it that way. It’s best to avoid giving gifts that would make greedy bastards lose their minds.”
Surely Gio, the creator, wasn’t ignorant of the effects of ‘Forest Butterfly’s Flower Tea’. But since he had said from the start that he ‘made it into tea because it smelled nice,’ it was clear he had no interest in any use other than drinking it.
That kind of indifference was exactly like any other existence of the Origin.
Monsters and Children of the Origin are often ignorant of human greed. No matter how well Gio understands human nature, this unworldly simplicity is a dead giveaway that he isn’t human. There’s no excuse for it.
A stone that meant nothing to a monster could be a magnificent resource to a human. Beings born from the veins of the Origin didn’t understand this well. They often described humans as making a fuss over nothing.
“...Well, yeah. If you call it making a fuss, I don’t really have an excuse, but…”
He just wanted to prevent any potential accidents.
“A gift you give out of pure goodwill, without any hidden intentions, can carry immense weight for us. You know? I mean, it’s a gift from a portrait, after all.”
“...”
“Honestly, you seem too resilient to be hurt by human greed… but there are more relentlessly obsessive people out there than you’d think. Be careful not to let your goodwill be exploited.”
Gio stared at Yoo Seong-un.
...It’s even scarier when he doesn’t say anything. The pressure should be lessened since he’s inside the portrait, but it’s still this intense? This is terrifying.
Not a single emotion could be read on Gio’s face. That inorganic expression sent a shiver down Yoo Seong-un’s spine. Bisabeol had told him to ‘look past the pressure and see Gio’s true essence,’ but how could that be easy? It was like asking someone falling from fifty kilometers up to appreciate the view of the sky—a task far from simple.
That was how immense the weight of the gaze from ‘Gio’s Portrait’ was.
“...Was I being presumptuous?”
Gio had a particularly strong sense of self, and as a being of the Origin, his own rules were absolute. The rambling of a mere human he had only recently met might well be irritating.
But I couldn’t just pretend not to see it. Our job is to eliminate potential problems before they arise.
That was what Gardeners did. They wandered from place to place, taking measures to ensure the Origin and Earth could coexist. Moreover, ‘Gio’s Portrait’ was a special case, which was why he had to make this request. Humans were creatures who would easily discard their own identity for the sake of greed.
“...”
“No.”
The voice was a bit cold and very heavy, but it was gentlemanly and calm. Fortunately, the face in the portrait remained unchanged.
“Thank you for the advice.”
“...I’m the one who should be thanking you for taking it as advice.”
“To be honest, I think ‘peculiar’ is the right word, but the world outside the painting must be different from the one I know.” Gio continued in a voice so polite it felt almost bizarre. “Thank you for taking the trouble to tell me this out of consideration for me.”
“...You still speak so formally…”
Did Gio realize that such traits made him seem even less human?
Though he seems to think of himself as an ordinary human. I wonder if he knows about that contradiction and ignores it, or if he truly doesn’t know…
Just then, Gio asked, “By the way, why are seeds expensive?”
“...Huh? Oh, the seeds?” Realizing the topic had looped back, Yoo Seong-un nodded and answered. “Well… they let you farm. Whether it’s tomatoes or lettuce, once you start farming, you can feed yourself. Even if you don’t eat them, you can sell them at the market to make money, which you can use to buy meat or other necessities…”
“...”
“Most households that want to farm would prefer wild seeds they can find for free in the mountains, rather than refined ones like these. Anyway, the seeds sold in shops are quite expensive for various reasons.”
“I see.”
“Well, it might be hard to understand for an existence like you who lives so close to nature.”
“No, I understand.”
“That’s a relief, then,” Yoo Seong-un continued. “In any case, trying to harvest seeds or grow seedlings yourself is incredibly tedious, and the quality drops. That’s why there are specialized shops. Homemade seeds might be different, but seeds sold by professionals are quite pricey.”
He heard the portrait murmur softly.
“Farming…”
“Did you ask for them because you were interested in it?”
“Yes.” Gio nodded. “I have done it a few times in the past.”
“Really? In the past…”
“And since time is abundant inside the portrait, I thought it would be good to keep my hands busy.”
“Between painting and this, you have a lot of hobbies. Your life must never be boring.”
“To live a pleasant life, one must not have time to be bored.”
“That’s true.”
He understood.
To pass that infinite amount of time, one would need a lot of hobbies.
Gio maintained his sense of self so cleanly that he even mistook himself for a human. He possessed none of the hostility or frenzy typical of monsters, nor did he show the excessive indifference characteristic of the Children of the Origin. He was excessively blunt, yet maintained enough intellect to pass as human.
That can’t be an easy thing to do.
In a way, it was rather pitiful.
...Living the life of the Origin with a human mind must be quite a heavy burden…
It would be easier if he just discarded his humanity.
“...”
But from a Gardener’s perspective, that could never be allowed to happen.
And the same goes for humanity’s sake.
He had to take measures to ensure that illusion lasted as long as possible. Yoo Seong-un shrugged, shaking off his heavy thoughts. Wearing his usual easygoing smile, he asked Gio, “So, are you going to start farming now?”
“It seems so.”
“I guess there’s a place to farm inside the portrait? That’s amazing.”
“It is just an ordinary cabin.”
“Hmm… a cabin.”
“It sounds incredibly peaceful.”
“It is indeed peaceful. The weather is always mild, the soil is soft and damp, and a clear stream flows through a quiet, cozy forest.”
“...That really…” It sounded exactly like a story from the Origin. “...sounds like a place I’d love to visit.”
“I will invite you someday.”
“I guess right now is out of the question?”
“My house is messy, so it is not possible right now.”
“I figured as much.”
Given Gio’s personality, the excuse of the ‘house being messy’ was likely a lie, but regardless, he couldn’t enter without the host’s permission. Yoo Seong-un had at least that much decency.
“Well, have fun farming, then.”
“Can I see you again tomorrow?”
“Ah, is that… because of the return gift?”
“Since I have received so much, I must also return the favor.”
“I told you, it’s no big deal.”
“Furthermore, you gave me good advice, Mr. Yoo Seong-un.”
“...Did I?”
Refusing any further would probably just cause offense.
Beings of the Origin have their own rules.
Monsters in dungeons, born from the influence of the Origin, had consistent habits and behaviors, with specific methods for interacting with or clearing them. In the case of a ‘child’ who was even closer to the Origin, their rules would be stronger, not weaker.
He’s already been judged to be a Child of the Origin. He must have immense pride in his own rules, and even if he didn’t, it would be physiologically impossible for him to break them… I can’t refuse.
The Origin was nature itself. Just as a mere human could not stop a natural disaster, humans had to learn humility and adapt to coexist with nature.
“Hmm…” Yoo Seong-un smiled sheepishly. “Please make it something not too grand.”
“The tea leaves were not grand either.”
“I guess that’s true from your perspective…?”
From the viewpoint of a Child of the Origin, it must be difficult to judge what was valuable to humans. After pondering for a moment, Yoo Seong-un spoke with some difficulty.
“...Something delicious?”
“Are you asking me to cook?”
“Just the kind of snacks you said you gave to the employees you met before. You mentioned giving them chocolates, cookies, or jellies.”
“Yes, that is correct. They were all kind people, so I gave them gifts.”
“Is that so?”
Hearing him say this, it was clear that Gio indeed gave gifts to ‘kind people.’ Perhaps he judged any polite action—like making conversation easy or giving him gifts—as being ‘kind.’
“That kind of snack would be perfect.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Ah, and by the way.” Yoo Seong-un passed along the message he had received from Guild Master Bisabeol. “He said it’s fine for you to come out.”
“...”
“You used to come out of the portrait from time to time, right? But because the employees were scared, you’ve mostly just opened your eyes at dawn, and I’ve been your only conversation partner so far.”
“There was no particular need to go outside.”
“But it might get stuffy, so Guild Master Bisabeol said you can come out and look around the company building if you want. Here, an access card.”
“I have never been employed by the Collector Guild. Aside from you, Mr. Yoo Seong-un, I do not know anyone. Is it truly alright for an outsider like me to wander around?”
“Restricted areas are off-limits, but he made sure you can access the spaces where regular employees go. If you come out later and run into another employee, showing them this card should smooth things over to some extent.”
Though even that would only be a temporary fix.
His soul rank is just too incredibly high.
Still, having it was better than nothing for handling any future situations. The members of the Collector Guild were quick-witted; they would know to be careful on their own.
The portrait stared at the white lanyard card Yoo Seong-un handed over.
“Well, even without something like this, you seem to have your own ways of moving around. But having official permission to enter will probably put your mind more at ease, right?”
“...”
“I do hope you’ll come out when there aren’t many people around, like now… but if you’re fine with it, you can come out during the day too.”
“That is a sufficient answer.”
“Uh… and please don’t hurt anyone.”
“What should I do if I am attacked first?”
“Well, that can’t be helped.” If a foolish human deliberately stepped on an angry tiger’s tail and got eaten, that was just natural selection. “I’m not on anyone’s side.”
Yoo Seong-un was there to help the Origin and humans coexist; he was not unconditionally on humanity’s side. A Gardener always had to maintain neutrality.
“You should attack back.”
“I do not have the stomach for that, so I will try to run away instead.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
This, then, was a sign of trust that humans could offer. He could only pray that ‘Gio’s Portrait,’ which had always operated on the One-to-One Rule, would repay that trust properly.
* * *
One month later.
A ghost story began to circulate within the Collector Guild.
“It was the Black Cloak.”
There were no casualties.
Bisabeol’s gamble had succeeded.