Chapter 17

"..."

Having finished his appraisal, Yu Seongun pressed his lips tightly together and dragged a hand up over his face.

"... Jio, you bastard..."

What the hell did you give me?

"This isn't the kind of tea you can trade for ten fish-shaped pastries."

* * *

It was something he had always thought, but the Portrait of Jio was an absurd existence.

'I still don't know what he really is.'

Whether he was a monster, an item, or, as Bi Sabeol and Yu Seongun suspected, a child of the Root.

'But he has a human form... and in his own way, he knows humans and society well.'

Whatever his true identity was, the fact that he personally submitted to those human rules was close to a miracle.

Perhaps such a being would never appear in the world again. At least, not in this narrow dimension called Earth.

'I suppose Guild Master Bi Sabeol, famous for his eye, didn't pour that much money into him for nothing.'

And what that Portrait of Jio had requested was...

"Will this do?"

Seeds.

Crop seeds.

"I gathered what I could for now."

Yu Seongun smiled awkwardly and showed him the seed packets in his arms.

After receiving the tea leaves, he had done his best to gather them in just a few hours before dawn the next day. Tomatoes, corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lettuce, cabbage, cucumbers, peas, pumpkins, peppers, carrots, radishes, watermelons, eggplants, and so on...

"I wanted to get you better seeds, but there really aren't many shops around here that sell that sort of thing. I barely managed to clear out some shabby little store tucked away in an alley, so I don't know if you'll like them."

"Of course I like them. Looking at the amount you brought, I understand how hard you tried in such a short time. Despite bringing so much, you look almost apologetic."

"That's because after receiving such precious tea, mere seeds don't really balance it out..."

Yu Seongun said as he passed the seed packets through the frame in a rustling heap.

"Even if the seeds aren't exactly dirt cheap, the tea you gave me was way too much."

"..."

Jio, who had been checking the seeds, asked,

"Are seeds not very cheap?"

"Huh? Oh, right. Usually, one packet of seeds like the ones you're holding costs about as much as a decent meal out... so on average, I don't think they're all that cheap."

"..."

"... Don't tell me you asked because you thought seeds would be cheap?"

"Yes."

The portrait still had a blunt, emotionless face, but looking into those black eyes, Yu Seongun could feel that Jio was sorry. Just as Bi Sabeol had said, he really was a gentle-natured fellow.

Whether he was thinking about something or it was just a meaningless habit, Jio blinked twice and said,

"I was rude. I did not think they would cost that much."

"I don't even know what you're apologizing for. I told you, they can't compare to the tea you gave me."

Yu Seongun could understand well enough that Jio's blunt and pure goodwill toward humans was rather destructive. He smiled awkwardly and waved a hand.

"Just the fact that you made it yourself makes its sincerity impossible to put a price on, and on top of that, it even has all sorts of effects... To be honest, it was such a precious gift that I wondered if I was even allowed to drink it."

Even at first glance, the tea Jio had given him was highly valuable. After all, it was tea personally made by a haunted portrait.

'Whether Jio's true identity is a humanoid monster or a child of the Root, the fact that he's rare doesn't change.'

And on top of that, those effects seemed capable of keeping even a dead person alive...

"... I'm truly grateful for your kindness. But..."

After hesitating for a moment, Yu Seongun continued.

"... I'm a little worried. I plan to drink the tea you gave me while enjoying some leisure, but don't give such precious gifts to other people too."

"..."

"Most humans don't know how to accept goodwill as it is. They aren't as broad-minded as you think."

First of all, there was the highest chance they would accept the goodwill as fear. Unless someone was exceptionally greedy or unusually unfazed by everything, it would be hard for them to feel nothing but gratitude for such an excessive gift.

'Someone is sure to take it as a threat and get angry, or else panic. But even if a greedy person received a gift like this, that would cause problems too.'

He did think it was a waste, but from what Yu Seongun could see, Jio had given him the tea less with the meaning of healing his ailments and more with the meaning of enjoying it while drinking tea.

Yu Seongun, who was used to the rules of the Root, had no intention of pointlessly selling the tea or using it for another purpose and offending Jio.

"You'd feel bad if the tea leaves you gifted ended up in an auction without you even knowing, right?"

"An auction? I did not think anyone would attach that much meaning to an insignificant tea."

He acted as though humans did incomprehensible things, such as assigning value to meaningless places.

"So that's how it looks after all."

Yu Seongun smiled helplessly.

'... For someone who insists he's human, that's a very blatant lack of understanding.'

But for Jio, who was not one to think too deeply, it was an unavoidable judgment.

His system had clearly said it was on the level of a fatigue recovery supplement, and Jio had no reason to doubt that. At most, it was worth about as much as a vitamin supplement, so Yu Seongun's words could only feel like an overreaction.

"..."

"..."

At Jio's calm reaction, Yu Seongun had no choice but to think, *'As expected, there are parts of him that differ a little from human common sense.' * Just as, to most monsters, a lump of gold was no different from a rock.

"Hm, so..."

Yu Seongun continued.

"You may have gifted it while only looking at its value as tea, but ordinary humans can't do that. It would be best to restrain yourself from gifts that would make greedy bastards lose their minds."

Surely Jio, its owner, did not not know what effects the Forest Butterfly Flower Tea had. To begin with, since he himself had said, *'I made it into tea because it smelled good,'* he must truly have had no interest in uses besides tea.

That indifference was certainly like other Root entities.

'Monsters are like that, and so are Root's children. They often don't understand human greed. No matter how well Jio understands human physiology, the fact that he shows that unworldly simplicity is... definitely impossible to excuse.'

A pebble that was nothing special to monsters could become an excellent resource to humans.

Beings born from the veins of the Root did not understand that fact well. They often said humans made a fuss over nothing.

"... Well, yes, if you call it making a fuss, I don't really have anything to say..."

He simply wanted to prevent accidents that might happen before they occurred.

"A gift you give out of goodwill without any intention may feel tremendously significant to us. Right? How should I put it, it's a gift from a portrait."

"..."

"Honestly, you look too sturdy to be hurt by that human greed... but there are more persistent people out there than you might expect. Be careful that your kindness doesn't get used."

Jio stared at Yu Seongun.

'... It's even scarier because he isn't saying anything. He must be less intimidating because he's inside the portrait, and yet it's still this much? This is frightening.'

Not a single emotion could be found on Jio's face inside the portrait. That inorganic expression sent a chill down Yu Seongun's spine.

Bi Sabeol had told him, *'Escape that pressure and look at Jio's essence itself,'* but how could that be easy? Just as it would not be easy for an ordinary person who suddenly found themselves falling from fifty kilometers in the air to admire the view of the sky, it was not easy for him either.

That was how tremendous the weight of the Portrait of Jio's gaze was.

"... Was that out of line?"

Jio had an especially well-established sense of self, and he was a being within the Root, so his own rules must also be firm. The babbling of a mere human he had not even known long might irritate him.

'But I couldn't pretend not to know. Removing as much room for problems as possible is our job.'

That was what Gardeners did. They wandered here and there and took measures so that the Root and Earth could coexist.

Moreover, the Portrait of Jio was a special case, so he had to make such a request. Humans were beings who easily abandoned their identity for greed.

"..."

"No."

A little cold, and very heavy, but gentlemanly and calm. Fortunately, the portrait's face was the same as ever.

"Thank you for the advice."

"... I'm the one who's grateful you took it as advice."

"To be honest, I think the word 'strange' would be appropriate, but the outside of the painting must be different from the world I know."

Jio continued in a voice so courteous it felt peculiar.

"Thank you for telling me out of consideration, even though it may have been troublesome."

"... You still speak so precisely..."

Did Jio know that such parts made him seem even less human?

'He seems to think he's an ordinary human. I wonder if he knows that contradiction and ignores it, or if he really doesn't know and that's why he's like this...'

Around then, Jio asked,

"By the way, why are seeds expensive?"

"... Hm? Ah, seeds?"

Realizing the topic had returned to before, Yu Seongun nodded and answered.

"Well... they let you farm. Tomatoes, lettuce, whatever it is, once you start farming, you can take care of at least a day's meals on your own. Even if not that, if you go to the market and sell them to other people, that becomes money in its own way, so you can buy meat or various daily necessities..."

"..."

"Most households that want to farm probably prefer wild seeds they can find for free in places like mountains, rather than refined seeds like these. In any case, seeds sold in shops seem expensive in a lot of ways."

"I see."

"Hm, it might be hard for a being like you, living close to nature, to understand."

"No, I understand."

"Then that's a relief."

Yu Seongun continued.

"Anyway, if you try to make seeds or seedlings yourself, it's extremely troublesome, and the quality is poor. That's why specialty shops exist separately. I don't know about seeds somehow made through household handiwork, but seeds sold by professionals like this are fairly costly."

He heard the portrait murmur softly.

"Farming..."

"Did you ask me because you were interested in it too?"

"Yes."

Jio nodded.

"I have done it a few times in the past."

"Really? In the past, huh..."

"And since there is an abundance of time inside the portrait, I also thought I did not want to leave my hands idle."

"With painting and all, you have many hobbies. I doubt life is boring for you."

"To live a pleasant life, I suppose there should be no time to be bored."

"That's true."

He understood.

'To pass that infinite amount of time, he would need a great many hobbies.'

Jio maintained his ego so cleanly that he mistook himself for human. There was neither the hostility and madness a monster might have, nor the excessive indifference shown by Root's children.

Despite being excessively blunt, he maintained enough intellect to appear human.

'That can't be easy.'

In another sense, it was also pitiful.

'... Living the life of the Root with a human mind must be quite burdensome...'

It would be easier if he simply abandoned his humanity.

"..."

But from a Gardener's perspective, that must not happen.

'And it's the same from humanity's perspective.'

They would have to take measures so that that misconception could last as long as possible.

Yu Seongun shrugged and shook off all his emotions. As he always did, he wore an easygoing smile and asked Jio,

"Then are you going to start farming now?"

"I think so."

"There must be a place to farm inside the portrait? That's impressive."

"It is an ordinary cabin."

"Hmm..."

A cabin.

"That sounds very peaceful."

"It is peaceful in reality as well. The weather is always mild, the ground is soft with moisture, and it is a quiet, comfortable forest with a clear stream running through it."

"... That really..."

It sounded just like the Root.

"...sounds like a place I'd want to visit."

"I will invite you someday."

"Not possible now, I guess?"

"The house is dirty, so it is impossible now."

"I figured as much."

Given Jio's personality, there was a high chance that *'the house is dirty'* was a lie, but in any case, he could not enter when the owner of the house had not permitted it. Yu Seongun naturally had that much shame.

"Then have a pleasant farming time."

"May I see you again tomorrow?"

"Ah, is that... because of returning the favor?"

"I have received so much, so I must return the favor as well."

"I told you, it's nothing much."

"Moreover, Mr. Yu Seongun gave me good advice."

"... Did I?"

If he refused any more than this, it would only provoke anger instead.

'Root entities have their own rules.'

The monsters inside dungeons created by the influence of the Root had consistent habits and behaviors, and there were separate methods for communicating with them or clearing them. In the case of a *child,* who was even closer to the Root than they were, their rules would be stronger if anything, not weaker.

'He's already judged to be a child of the Root. He must have a strong pride in his own rules, and even if that isn't the case, it would be physiologically impossible for him to violate them... so I can't refuse on my end.'

The Root was nature itself. Just as a mere human could not stop a disaster, to coexist with nature, humans had to learn humility and adapt to the other party.

"Hm..."

Yu Seongun smiled sheepishly.

"Please make it something not too impressive."

"The tea leaves were not impressive either."

"I figured you'd say that..."

From the standpoint of a child of the Root, it would be difficult to distinguish items valuable to humans. After thinking for a moment, Yu Seongun spoke with some difficulty.

"... Something tasty?"

"Are you asking me to cook?"

"Something about the level of the snacks you said you gave the employees you met before would be fine. You said you gave them things like chocolate, cookies, and jelly."

"Yes, that is correct. They were all kind people, so I gave them gifts."

"Really?"

From the way he said this, it certainly seemed that Jio gave gifts to *'kind people.' *

Perhaps he judged all actions such as being polite, making conversation smooth, and giving him gifts as *'kind.' *

"Something like those snacks should be fine."

"I will keep that in mind."

"Ah, and also."

Yu Seongun relayed what he had heard from Guild Master Bi Sabeol.

"He says it's all right for you to come out."

"..."

"You used to come outside the portrait from time to time before. Because the employees were scared, you mostly opened your eyes at dawn. And I've been your only conversation partner so far."

"There was no particular need for me to go outside."

"But since it might feel stifling, Guild Master Bi Sabeol said that if you want, you can come out and look around the company building. Here, an access card."

"I have never been employed by the Collector guild. I also do not know anyone except Mr. Yu Seongun. Is it all right to allow such an outsider to wander around?"

"Important areas will be impossible, but we've arranged it so you can go to spaces ordinary employees use. If you come out later and run into another employee, showing that card should smooth things over to some extent."

Though it would only be enough to vaguely gloss things over.

'Since the grade of his soul is so high.'

Still, having it would be more convenient than not having it for cleaning up afterward. The guild members of Collector were quick-witted, so they would be careful on their own.

The portrait looked at the white lanyard card Yu Seongun handed over.

"Well, you seem to have a way to move around without something like that. Still, being formally granted access would be more comfortable for you too, right?"

"..."

"If possible, I would like you to come out during hours when there are no people, 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 other people either."

"What should I do if I am attacked first?"

"That can't be helped."

If a foolish human deliberately stepped on the tail of an angry tiger and got eaten, that was a natural death.

"I'm not on anyone's side."

Yu Seongun helped the Root and humans coexist as much as possible; he was not unconditionally on humanity's side. A Gardener always had to remain neutral.

"You should attack too."

"I do not have the stomach for that, so I will try running away instead."

"I'd be grateful if you did."

So, this was a sign of trust that humans could show.

He could only hope that the Portrait of Jio, who had possessed the rule of one-to-one as he had until now, would repay it properly.

* * *

One month later.

A ghost story began to circulate through Collector.

"It was a black cloak."

There were no deaths.

Bi Sabeol's gamble had succeeded.