Chapter 112

Well, whatever.

‘Though I acted so playfully.’

In any case, Yu Seong-un’s statement that he ‘felt a threat to his identity as a human’ was sincere.

‘I suppose this is what it feels like to be in a realm that humans cannot handle.’

While managing the Garden, Yu Seong-un had familiarized himself with the sense of a ‘realm beyond the limit’ time and time again.

But even for him, this meal had a slightly chilling aspect.

‘From just one meal….’

Wasn’t it difficult to even think, ‘I’m going to be eaten’?

‘…The absurdity of this situation, where I can’t call this a joke, is baffling.’

Jio had treated Yu Seong-un to a meal with truly pure intentions.

It didn’t seem to have much meaning to him.

He was a being who already enjoyed giving gifts, so preparing a single meal was no great feat.

But when peace becomes too profound, it nears death, and when pleasure becomes excessive, it turns to pain.

From Jio’s perspective, it was likely an intention to treat a guest, but from a human’s perspective, it was an unbearable favor.

“…….”

There was at least one silver lining.

“Hyaaaaaaaak—….”

“I guess I am still human.”

Seeing the Anticat dislike him this much, Yu Seong-un was still indeed human.

‘This is the first meal I’ve had that’s so comfortable and satisfying, yet scary and unsettling.’

For some reason, it was bittersweet.

‘This is why you shouldn’t be invited to a feast of the gods.’

There was a saying that one should not covet the things of a god, no matter how trivial.

Jio was less a god and more a Source with god-like characteristics, but that, in fact, made him even more burdensome.

As I keep saying, it was ridiculous that Yu Seong-un himself had to react this way to a mere meaningless meal.

‘I mean, it’s not like I was invited to some grand palace….’

It was just a warm meal in a cabin like this.

“…….”

Jio’s cabin was still beautiful.

It was pastoral and resembled a scene from a worn-out fairy tale.

An eerie nostalgia was here.

“Was the meal to your satisfaction?”

“…It made me think that a person could die from being too happy.”

“You give such undeserved compliments, Mr. Yu Seong-un.”

“That….”

Right, if that’s what you think, then fine.

Yu Seong-un decided to just resign himself.

“…It was really good, yes.”

“I’m glad.”

Jio said so and sat down across from Yu Seong-un.

“I haven’t prepared dessert in advance, so it’s currently setting in the ice storage.”

“Ice storage?”

“Yes, it serves as a refrigerator. Shall I serve you some tea first instead?”

“Ahhh… no, just give me a glass of water.”

He requested the most ordinary thing, not knowing what other vicious blessing might befall him, but.

“Here you are.”

[Spring Water of the Source]

Water supplied from the spring of the Source.

“…….”

The least ordinary thing appeared.

“……?”

A status window of an appraisal popped up suddenly, even though I hadn’t used a skill.

Before suspicion of ‘Is my skill broken?’ could form, Yu Seong-un felt gratitude towards the formless something that had shown him this description window.

‘It’s as if someone secretly helped me, screaming at me to please get out of here as a human.’

Yu Seong-un asked cautiously.

“…Is this water?”

“…Is it not?”

“It is water.”

Damn it, no wonder everything I ate felt chilling.

‘All the water used in the food I ate came from the Source.’

It was no wonder he had felt a sense of crisis instinctively.

Yu Seong-un silently pressed his lips firmly together.

‘I’m lucky to still be human. What a miracle.’

One of the basic requirements for a Gardener was ‘Do not consume the things of the Garden.’

They were merely the labor force and managers who tended to the Garden, not its owners.

The moment such a Gardener consumed anything from any Garden, they could never again go outside the Garden.

This was because they too would be treated as a part of the Garden.

“I… I can go home, right? I’m okay, right?”

“I don’t know why you’re acting like this, but I am not a scoundrel who detains his guests….”

“Are you flustered? You seem to be, so I guess that’s it. I’m sorry for making you flustered, but I’m genuinely scared.”

“Did I do something wrong? I apologize for scaring you.”

“You did nothing wrong, but… but….”

“Mr. Yu Seong-un?”

“…….”

What was I thinking coming in here?

‘…Well, I didn’t know this was the Source until I came in, so for me, who had to identify it, the situation was unavoidable, but….’

Even considering that, it was too bold a choice.

You could call it the fate of one who approached ‘Jio’s Portrait’ thinking it was just another Gardener’s garden.

Yu Seong-un admitted that it had been an overly hasty approach.

‘I needed to prepare as much as I would when entering an unmeasurable dungeon.’

Although Yu Seong-un was so filled with fear and anxiety, it didn’t matter as long as he could return to Earth as a human.

He decided to believe in Jio's words that he could return home anytime.

“…….”

He desperately wanted a cigarette, which he had quit, but he decided to hold back for now, thinking Jio might give him ‘something’ in the form of a cigarette.

Yu Seong-un painstakingly regained his composure.

“…Sorry, I think I was very flustered since this is my first time experiencing something like this.”

“It’s perfectly understandable if you’re not adjusting well to an unfamiliar environment.”

“Thank you for saying that….”

Yu Seong-un looked at the water in the glass with a strange expression.

[Spring Water of the Source]

Water supplied from the spring of the Source.

“…….”

That is something in the form of water.

The description was strangely short, so I didn’t know the detailed information, but I could at least tell that this was not water for humans to drink.

Yu Seong-un was lost in thought.

‘…Come to think of it, all the gifts Jio has given me so far had the same sentence.’

It was the phrase, ‘Directly processed by Jio, the owner of the forest, so that the human body can accept it.’

All the gifts, that is, the food Jio had given until now, had this same explanation.

‘But there’s no such explanation here.’

Yu Seong-un quietly put the glass down.

“…Sorry to go back on my word, but….”

A moment later, Yu Seong-un asked.

“Could I have some tea?”

“I don’t have much tea prepared, are you okay with the flower tea I gave you before.”

“It's light blue tea, right? That’s good.”

Yu Seong-un realized.

‘I must not eat anything unless it has been directly processed by Jio.’

A chill ran down his spine.

‘Recalling that the Gardens we manage are also part of the Source, it’s a natural principle. I don’t know the exact process through which it becomes safe, but I must not recklessly consume the raw things of this Garden.’

Yu Seong-un composed himself, thinking of the previous Gardeners who had turned into parts of the Garden and were living unable to die.

Moreover, this place was the Source itself. It might not end with just losing his human identity. Having organized his thoughts, Yu Seong-un emphasized again.

“Anything is fine, as long as you make it yourself.”

He was being sincere.

“I feel bad just receiving things, shall I help a little?”

“It is my pleasure to serve a guest. Please remain seated.”

“O-okay….”

Jio soon brought the ‘Forest Butterfly’s Flower Tea’.

“It is Baibamunil tea.”

“…Baibamunil? Is that the name of this flower?”

“Yes, it’s delicious if you blanch it in boiling water and eat it as is.”

“A surprising method of consumption.”

“It’s a snack with a nice texture, like a seasoned vegetable.”

“A seasoned vegetable, huh.”

After drinking the tea, Yu Seong-un was put in a situation where his already healthy blood vessels had to regenerate, his cells had to be reconstructed and he had to remain immune to minor illnesses for six months.

“…….”

I’m telling you, staying here for three days and two nights will make me immortal.

‘I feel like my lifespan has increased.’

By about 50 years, that is.

‘The Forest Butterfly’s Flower Tea doesn’t have that kind of efficacy, so it must be my imagination, but there’s still an unsettling part. Is it because Jio brewed it himself? The efficacy shouldn’t change depending on who brews it… it shouldn’t.’

Yu Seong-un wanted to live as a human and die as a human.

That was the greatest desire that every Gardener dreamed of.

“…Who else besides me has received this kind of hospitality? Hunter Cha Ara?”

“Other than the two of you, I have never had a guest who lives on Earth.”

“Oh, then could it be those mermaid siblings? You said they visit your home often.”

“They stop by to eat once every two or three days.”

“So that’s what was happening.”

Indeed, it meant that those monsters were of a considerable class.

‘To be able to accept a meal like this so casually.’

Didn’t that mean they possessed a status of at least an evil god?

“…….”

“…….”

“…W-wait a minute.”

Yu Seong-un stopped Jio, who was about to pour more tea.

“I think I’ve had a lot.”

“I thought the cup was small, did you feel that way?”

“I want to digest a bit. How about we take a break?”

“Weren’t we resting?”

“Right, how about we take a walk to help with digestion.”

It seemed that for Jio, eating something was synonymous with resting.

But for Yu Seong-un, who had eaten with the anxious thought of whether this would make him step out of the human realm, it wasn’t like that at all.

“Can’t you show me around the house?”

“A tour of the house, you say.”

“Ah, sorry if that was rude. I was just….”

“No, not at all.”

Jio nodded.

“After you’ve seen this house, let’s go out into the forest and spend some time.”

“…Is it okay for me to go into that forest?”

“I have no intention of treating this vast forest as private property.”

“…….”

That wasn’t asked with the intention of getting permission, though.

‘I was asking if I would die if I entered that forest.’

Anyway, Jio had already stood up.

“It will take a little more time for the dessert to set. May I introduce you to this house?”

“…If you’re going to guide me yourself, then the honor is all mine.”

Yu Seong-un, who had also gotten up from his seat, asked.

“But is it okay to leave our cat friend like this?”

The translucent cat monster with its jeweled fur puffed up.

The hissing had stopped, but Dana was still wary of Yu Seong-un.

“When our eyes meet, it opens its mouth wide without a sound.”

“You will not be eaten.”

“You never know, Jio. Monsters these days are very scary.”

“Our Dana is a small eater, so you don’t have to worry.”

“You’re not saying she won’t eat me, are you?”

“Because she’s a monster.”

Jio continued with his characteristic calm expression.

“But she is a good child, and since I am here, she will not do so.”

“I’m really counting on you.”

Honey, who Jio had drawn himself, looked at Yu Seong-un with a gaze of neither hostility nor goodwill, much like its parent, but the monster was different.

It wasn’t strange for Yu Seong-un to be anxious, as the Anticat was also a monster.

Above all.

“Anticats aren’t originally that big.”

“She gained some weight since I’ve been feeding her various things.”

“Is it really just that she gained weight?”

Just imagining how a monster, showered with the Source’s unconditional love, might have evolved made the back of his neck grow cold.

At the sight of the still-anxious Yu Seong-un, the teddy bear in which the Sun God dwelled stepped forward.

Dana, who had been huffing and puffing with irritation at Yu Seong-un for some reason, was soon held in the teddy bear’s arms and petted.

“Oh….”

Dana let go of her visible irritation and calmed down.

“The two of them get along well.”

“They tend to.”

Next, Yu Seong-un was given a tour of the cabin.

First was the ice storage.

Yu Seong-un was flustered, not having expected the storage that served as a refrigerator, as Jio had said, to be in such a deep place, but he soon expressed interest upon seeing the spectacle of the ice storage, which wouldn’t be strange to call a growing cave.

“So this was the Ice Pearl you gave me last time.”

“That’s right. It’s not something that forms commonly even in this ice storage.”

“It’s unusual that there’s pooled water when it’s this cold.”

Next was the workshop.

He was flustered for a reason at the sight of canvases, on which nothing was drawn, scattered about, but he soon regained his composure after recalling Jio’s characteristics.

There was no reason for the canvases to be full, as the pictures he drew became real.

“Ah, the workshop has a connected storage too?”

“Yes, it’s a place where I mainly store my completed landscape paintings.”

“What’s that black cloth covering the canvas?”

“If I don’t cover it, an entrance opens without me knowing, so I’m being careful.”

“Um… Um, huh? Oh, right. I see.”

Next was the vegetable patch behind the cabin.

“Vegetable patch?”

“I would appreciate it if you would call it that.”

“…This is the result of planting the seeds I gave you?”

“That’s right.”

“…….”

Yu Seong-un swallowed a groan as he looked at the crops that had grown beyond magnificent to the point of having their own egos.

The shock and horror he was feeling now were due to being before such a massive force of nature.

‘Well, these things must have grown up drinking the Spring Water of the Source too.’

Even humans with egos become part of the Garden if they consume its things, and these seeds were even growing in the Source itself.

Being from Earth wouldn’t have allowed them to resist this overwhelming evolution.

What should he call this?

Feeling a strange sense of pity born from fear, Yu Seong-un muttered.

“I think I’ve already digested everything.”

“Then would you like to look around the forest after eating dessert?”

“Oh, right… the forest, you say. Right, shall we do that.”

Immediately after returning to the cabin.

“…….”

“My, how surprising.”

Yu Seong-un came face to face with a mermaid in a dress.

“Why is there a human here?”

Killing intent dripped from her words.

“…….”

“…….”

Yu Seong-un nodded his head.

“I’m going home.”

Save me.

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