Chapter 298

And so, Yoo Sung-woon finished work for the day.

"To think I’d live to see the day I actually clock out."

"Did you not get off work before?"

"Something like that."

Though it feels like I’m heading home for the first time in a hundred years.

"Alright, what should we do now?"

Ji-oh answered firmly to Yoo Sung-woon, who asked with a hollow smile.

"Let’s eat."

"Are you a ghost that starved to death or something? Why are you so obsessed with meals? What exactly is the problem?"

"I’m terribly sorry since you seem to have arrived in a very excited state, but saying that looking like you do only makes me worry. I think it would be best if you got some good rest first."

"Do I really look that terrible?"

Checking a hand mirror, Yoo Sung-woon nodded.

"I look terrible."

"I’m glad you admitted it so easily."

"Hah, and I even tried to finish it as fast as I could..."

"Wouldn’t you say that was exactly the problem?"

Ji-oh felt sorry for the exhausted office worker. It wasn’t like Ji-oh was going to run away just because he was a little late. He didn’t understand why Sung-woon had to artificially increase his own workload.

Out of concern, Ji-oh asked carefully.

"Did you eat your meals on time?"

"I’ve been making sure to eat four meals a day."

"What did you eat?"

"Uh... sandwiches."

"And you call that a meal?"

"Our contract didn’t specify the exact type of food required for a meal."

"My, how thorough of you."

Food was food, so he decided to accept it.

’It might not be a seven-course traditional meal, but it’s an excellent, convenient food to carry around and eat.’

If possible, he had hoped Sung-woon would eat rice for all four meals, but Ji-oh knew that was asking too much.

As Yoo Sung-woon sluggishly took off his coat, Ji-oh took it from him. It looked like he didn’t even have the strength to put his coat away.

"Why were you so busy?"

"I was busy as a Hunter, busy as a Curator, and busy as a Gardener..."

"Just hearing about it sounds like a lot of work."

"Even if I exclude the salaried work, there are still duties left to do as a Gardener."

"Hold on a second."

Ji-oh raised a hand to stop Yoo Sung-woon.

"Gardeners don’t get a salary?"

"Huh? Uh... right. Strictly speaking, it’s not a salary."

"Does that mean you’re receiving something else instead of a salary?"

"It’s a system where the government provides funds based on the research proposals we submit."

"It’s a massive relief that it wasn’t unpaid."

"Was our country’s government just in danger for a second there...?"

Yoo Sung-woon smiled awkwardly.

’His own disciple is the president, so surely he wouldn’t go as far as to overthrow it, but still.’

Anyway.

"Still... the workload has definitely decreased compared to before. I heard that not only my Snowfield but other Gardeners’ Gardens have stabilized a lot too. I guess you could say it was just bad luck that it overlapped with my collector duties this time."

"Then, did you just come back from maintaining the Snowfield?"

"No, I wanted to show that part to you... I traveled around to socialize with other Gardeners as well. I didn’t have any urgent matters, either. I promised to go with you to maintain the Snowfield, Ji-oh."

"Thank you for being so considerate."

Ji-oh thought.

’I don’t think it was exactly a promise, but whatever.’

It was a good thing that there was still entertainment left.

"So, do you have no urgent business for the time being?"

"I dragged in and finished work from way over there across the river, so probably? Of course, I don’t know what will happen if another natural disaster strikes Earth, but for now at least. Actually, as long as you just stay quiet, Ji-oh..."

"I have always been quiet."

"Thanks for the novel joke, I work to live to hear things like this."

"You are quite simple. They say you can never know the future, but right now I have no desire to be active."

"Is that an ironic prophecy? An indirect expression of your will to become active soon? I should stay on my toes, right?"

"My fickle desire to be active isn’t important. More than that, I am curious about your Garden."

"Then, to my house right now...!"

"Escorting you to your house is no problem at all, but like I said earlier, I didn’t mean we should head to the Garden right away. Get some rest first."

Yoo Sung-woon had once told Ji-oh he would show him ’the work of maintaining a Garden.’ Even so, returning from such a long, grueling forced march of labor only to ask for yet another task... His brain had clearly overloaded from just working.

’Is this a modern office worker?’

It truly was a scary world.

"Do you need a blanket?"

"No, it’s not that cold today..."

"Are you sure you don’t need one?"

"Well, it would be nice to have."

And as if it had been waiting, a teddy bear approached and handed him a blanket.

"Kuu."

"Goodness."

"Kuu?"

"No, thank you."

Because it was a blanket made from a massive amount of fur, the teddy bear Sun God was barely even visible. It was almost to the level of a blanket walking over by itself, but regardless, Yoo Sung-woon felt deeply honored as he wrapped it around his body.

"Oh... it’s warm..."

As Yoo Sung-woon melted on his own, Ji-oh sat him on the sofa and asked.

"Do you need any flower tea?"

"What exactly are you trying to turn me into?"

"You’ve come too far to be wary now, just drink it when it’s offered."

"You really leave a person speechless."

For reference, water birds flew in and poured the flower tea.

"I... I think I’ve seen a scene like this somewhere before..."

"Where and what did you see?"

"Definitely in some data from before the Great Cataclysm... Tsk, I can’t really remember."

"I don’t know exactly what you saw, but it must have been something very cute and charming. Since you remembered it upon seeing my lovely water bird friends. Isn’t that right?"

"Ah, it is a similar vibe... like birds flying in to help with daily life... some self-sufficient character receiving help from small animals..."

"Isn’t that me?"

"...I suppose so."

Yoo Sung-woon gave up on thinking any further and enjoyed his recuperation inside the Portrait.

"What will I be in my next life, Ji-oh?"

"A beloved cat in a rich household?"

"Seeing how strangely specific that is, is that my destiny?"

"Well, growing up being loved without having to take responsibility for anything is enjoyable in its own way, isn’t it?"

"At the very least, there’d be no night shifts... But I still prefer being human, keep that in mind."

"...? Yes, understood."

Ji-oh sat on the floor near the sofa where Yoo Sung-woon was lying and added.

"For the record, my next life will be a pebble in a rich household."

"It’s already decided? No, rather than a sculpture, a pebble? A pebble in a rich household? Why in the world?"

"Because I have no thoughts."

"If you become a stone... that... couldn’t be called a pebble..."

"Then what would you call it?"

"Like, you know. Something like a wedge of disaster."

"Could a single pebble turn into something that threatening?"

"You can do it, have some confidence. Believe in me who believes in you."

"I didn’t want to believe in this sort of way."

Anyway, it was an amusing, screw-loose conversation.

"Up to what point did you eat your meals?"

"I still managed to eat up to the second one before coming."

"What time was that?"

"Three hours ago from now... so it was probably around lunch."

"Then let’s have dinner."

"Is my next life possibly a pig?"

"I don’t know why you are so obsessed with your next life."

"Ah, is it not that, but something white or blue like that?"

"Was that your preference? If you want, I can look into some empty spots."

"I don’t particularly want to."

"I have no idea how I’m supposed to respond."

This human came back from doing nothing but night shifts and was now spouting complete nonsense. His words were disorganized and lacked logic. Ji-oh looked at Yoo Sung-woon, who had become the very image of a zombie, with sympathetic eyes before turning his head.

His gaze landed on the kitchen.

"Just how much did you look into before coming?"

"What... what, are we signing a contract? What do I have to do?"

"Your meal. If you tell me what you want, I will do my best to make it."

"Anything is fine, as long as it’s fit for human consumption."

"If you put it that way, humans can eat stones too."

"Ah, that is true. In that case, something that humanity can normally eat would be nice."

"Hmm."

Ji-oh stroked his chin.

"Vegetables, seafood, meat..."

"I want to eat meat..."

"Meat... A whole barbecue? There is no menu as meaty as that."

"No, something like suyuk... nice and tender..."

TL/N: Suyuk is a Boiled pork slices

"I will show you that a whole barbecue can become as tender as suyuk. Feel the aura of the ocean’s master and the current Sun God."

"I have absolutely no idea what you’re going to make, but can’t I just have suyuk with some random kimchi or tofu?"

"How nice it would have been if you had just said that from the beginning."

Anyway, the people of this household only gave proper answers when you pressed them for it. Really, there was no such dish as ’anything’ in this world. With a reverent heart, Ji-oh stood up from his seat.

He called Dana.

"Daughter."

"Meeooww..."

"Let’s go catch a pig."

"Meow."

A happy cat also knew how to hunt pigs.

"To think such an insane suyuk exists in this world."

"I’m glad you’re enjoying it."

"This is really delicious, Ji-oh..."

The fat was chewy and the meat fell apart like silk along the grain; it was practically a food from the heavens.

"Wait, is it?"

"Is what?"

"I haven’t died yet, so let’s just say it isn’t."

"Of course, you are perfectly alive and well."

"Thanks for the verification."

On top of that, it was truly incredible how the meat juices exploded in his mouth, even though it must have been boiled in water. It was an incredible taste and texture. Unique spices were deeply infused, but it wasn’t the sort of scent that pierced the nose or made one dizzy.

The mild yet fundamentally solid suyuk had an excellent partner called kimchi.

"By the way, are you making kimchi these days too? The taste of this freshly made kimchi is spot on. It has plenty of red pepper powder, too. It’s been a while since I had red kimchi, but this is really refreshing."

"I recently received a few heads of napa cabbage from Joo-hyun. It just so happened I had also dried some chili peppers well in the sun to make powder. So after making the kimchi, I dug a hole in a corner of the vegetable garden and buried the crocks."

"Then why isn’t this fermented? As far as I know, didn’t Joo-hyun gift you the cabbages a few weeks ago? For something like that, it’s crisp and sweet, just like it was freshly made..."

"I wanted some of it to stay unfermented."

"Which means you have no intention of explaining the mechanics behind it, either."

"I just don’t know."

The most credible guess was ’because this place is a Portrait.’ It wasn’t like a painting of kimchi would turn into aged kimchi just because it was left alone for a while. In the end, it seemed there was no choice but to follow the will of the master and painter, Ji-oh.

"I stir-fried the fermented ones and brought them over. And this is the tofu I made early this morning..."

"You’re not planning on opening a restaurant, are you?"

"I do occasionally think about that too, but I don’t think I have that level of energy just yet."

Ji-oh shook his head.

"And I feel like I’d end up eating all the food before it even goes out to the customers."

"That would be a problem."

Yoo Sung-woon nodded.

"I just thought you’d do well if you opened a side dish shop or something."

"I am good at everything."

"I know that."

"And Guild Master Seo Seo-hee made a similar suggestion."

"Right, what did she say?"

"She asked if I had any thoughts of opening a restaurant."

"Everyone really thinks the same way..."

How baffled she must have been, too.

’Well, it looks like Ji-oh is managing it well on his own...’

He no longer thought, ’Eating the food here will cause something terrible to happen’ like he used to. However, that was something only Yoo Sung-woon could verify; from other people’s perspectives, it would inevitably be unsettling.

Anyway, the meal was delicious. As always.

"So, are we going to see the Garden now?"

"We have to go after you digest and get some sleep."

"Are you raising me right now?"

And like that, Yoo Sung-woon was able to return to perfect condition.

"..."

And Yoo Sung-woon was bewildered.

"Ji-oh, what is all this."

"It just happened."

"I’m asking what all these guys are..."

Snow bunny friends had appeared in his Snowfield.

"I got carried away while making them."

"Ah, what are we going to do about these Midas hands."

"Is that the right word to use for a time like this?"

"It’s even more baffling because they’re cute."

Exquisite bunnies made of snow were looking up at Yoo Sung-woon and Ji-oh. Feeling bewildered by their sparkling eyes, Yoo Sung-woon suddenly flinched and shuddered.

"...Uh, wait a second."

"Yes, wait a second."

"Do I have to raise these guys too?"

"I will share the child support costs with you."

"Save me."

If one were to ask why the situation had ended up like this, time would have to be rewound a bit.