Chapter 300

Inside the cozy igloo.

"In all my life, I never thought I’d be lighting a campfire in the Snowfield."

As Yoo Sung-woon, who was lying flat on the floor like a patient, offered an awkward smile, Ji-oh, who was neatly stacking dry branches onto the campfire, nodded.

"It’s quite a romantic situation."

"Normally, people don’t look for romance in a snowfield like this, do they, Ji-oh?"

"Then where does everyone else look for it?"

"Ah... you weren’t joking. Geez."

Coming from the Portrait, who made jokes that hardly sounded like jokes, it was momentarily confusing.

"I don’t know what your definition of romance is. Is it that different from an Earthling’s?"

"An Earthling?"

"A Korean. Maybe my mouth is frozen from the cold, just let it slide."

"You do look incredibly cold, so I will be understanding. My idea of romance is nothing special. For example, going out into space to look at the stars."

"For something ’nothing special,’ the scale of that romance is massive. No, usually when people say romance, don’t they think of going camping somewhere, or some dreamy, romantic scene?"

"You’re a more emotional person than I thought, Sung-woon. I’ll keep that in mind."

"Keep that in mind for what exactly."

He genuinely couldn’t predict it.

"...Well, whatever. It’s nice and warm."

It was a mercy he could never have expected in the Snowfield.

Yoo Sung-woon rolled over onto his side. Moving his fingers, which were still stiff as ice, he pulled the blanket Ji-oh had given him tighter around himself. Whether it was absorbing the heat from the campfire in front of him, he felt his body temperature gradually rising.

His stomach churned.

’Is it because this warmth is so unfamiliar?’

Thinking this and that with a dulled brain, Yoo Sung-woon blinked. Raising his gaze slightly, even while lying down, he could see the Portrait across the campfire.

Even the light of the campfire didn’t reflect in those pitch-black eyes. It was a Mystery that captivated Yoo Sung-woon, a Curator.

"Can you communicate with the Snowfield too?"

"To me, it just looks like a pure white snowfield."

"Are you sure you’re not just ignoring it while it desperately tries to talk to you?"

"Isn’t it only the Gardeners chosen by the Garden who can hear its story?"

"Strictly speaking, there are several exceptions, but you’re not wrong either. Anyway, just being able to light a fire like this is something to be thankful for."

"Were you unable to even light a fire normally?"

"How would a Gardener dare to do such a thing."

That would be pure madness.

"Cold and heat are polar opposites, after all."

"Does the Snowfield get hurt if you light a fire?"

Ji-oh looked at the snow bunnies huddled closely together inside the igloo.

"They aren’t melting."

"I did expect that a Mystery created from the snow of my Snowfield wouldn’t die so easily."

"Yet you didn’t seem entirely certain of it. Is there a reason?"

"Because the fire you lit seemed like it would be somewhat... very different."

Yoo Sung-woon smiled, clutching the blanket with one hand and holding the other close to the campfire.

"Wow, it’s warm."

"It’s the blessing of Prometheus."

"I’m a bit surprised you aren’t denying that particular mythology."

"It’s a widely known story, isn’t it?"

"So you’re accepting it as some kind of spin-off or something."

Not bad.

"Anyway, I’m glad your cute snow bunnies didn’t melt. I’ve grown attached to them in this short time."

"It’s this cold, they wouldn’t melt that easily."

"Is that how you made them? Understood... How did we even get to this topic?"

"I asked if the Snowfield gets hurt when you light a fire."

"Sorry, I’m a bit out of it. Hmm, strictly speaking, it doesn’t get hurt. It just finds it unpleasant."

’Heat’ in this ’Snowfield’ was a slightly complicated concept.

"In the first place, fire cannot exist here. In other words, heat cannot exist. So the water under the ice earlier shouldn’t have existed either..."

"But even if it shouldn’t have, didn’t it exist anyway? That’s why you’re in this state after freezing it."

"By that logic, normal flowers and trees in a Garden shouldn’t wither either, right? Ah, of course, here it’s closer to the level of ’impossible’ rather than just ’shouldn’t be’."

"How contradictory."

"It is, I suppose. How should I explain this..."

He had never explained something like this to anyone before, so his head felt scrambled. Or maybe his frozen brain just hadn’t thawed enough yet. The Gardener slowly pondered what to say to his friend in front of him.

"..."

It didn’t feel as bad as he thought.

"...It’s a bit complicated, but, uh, let’s put it this way. This Snowfield is a sort of organism or institution with a will, right? In other words, it is the domain itself, but at the same time, it is the master. Most beings cannot disobey that master’s commands."

"You must be one of those beings who cannot disobey its commands."

"Right. And those ’commands’ are usually to maintain the form of the Snowfield. Do not let heat exist. Do not flow, remain still. Do not be noisy, be silent. Yeah, it’s just that kind of command. It’s like a law that’s been established."

Yoo Sung-woon looked at the Portrait while basking in the warmth of the fire.

"Most people live like that too, right? Even if they don’t know every single law of the country properly, everyone lives that way, and the world is built so they can live that way... Even if they don’t know much, they just live according to the law."

Ordinary Gardens all operated in a similar manner.

"To put it simply, ’heat’ is illegal here."

"Are you saying I’m committing a criminal act right now?"

"No, well, oh, hm... honestly, I don’t really know either."

If his Snowfield had shown any clear reaction to ’Ji-oh’s Portrait,’ he might know. But no matter how much time passed or how much Ji-oh did as he pleased, he couldn’t sense even a hint of a response.

"Hmm, I think we can divide it into roughly three scenarios."

"As many as three?"

"First, your actions aren’t being recognized by the Garden. Second, it is illegal, but it just can’t bring itself to say anything to you. Third, everything you do here is legal."

"As someone who merely came over to play in your secret place, I really know nothing, but since it’s fun, it’s fine."

"I’m glad you’re having fun too."

He let out a hollow laugh as he said it. In Yoo Sung-woon’s personal opinion, it was probably the third one.

’If you think about how Ji-oh’s children react to this guy, well...’

Just looking at Honey, who was glaring at the campfire right now, made it obvious. All of Ji-oh’s children liked Ji-oh. Strictly speaking, it was a stretch to call a Garden Ji-oh’s child, but he figured it was roughly similar.

’If not that, it’s probably treating him like a direct superior. That would be the second scenario.’

The reason he mentioned the first scenario was in case Ji-oh had hidden himself so the Garden couldn’t recognize him. Sometimes, ’Ji-oh’s Portrait’ would perform miracles ’unconsciously’ without ’perceiving’ it himself.

’Either way, I suppose there’s no danger in the current situation. Not for me, nor for Ji-oh. It’s a rare, comfortable moment in the Snowfield.’

It’s just, simply.

"..."

The fire was too warm.

"Are you getting sleepy?"

"Ah, don’t people usually die if they sleep at a time like this? Falling asleep in a Garden isn’t exactly a good choice. If your mind goes completely blank, you could end up getting tainted by the Garden..."

"It’s different from freezing to death. It seems your exhausted body is feeling comfortable and is finally demanding sleep. Fortunately, the blanket you’re wrapped in looks warm and fluffy. You can use it as a duvet."

"Your blankets have always been fantastic as duvets. The scarf you gave me was really nice too. Look, I’m wearing it right now."

"You seem very tired, so I will stay by your side. I’ll keep sitting here, adding dry branches, so the campfire doesn’t go out until you wake up."

"Those are very reassuring words."

"Will you sleep?"

"...It feels a bit awkward."

He felt like he shouldn’t do this.

’...Am I doing something wrong right now? Even though I know I’m not, it’s just, how should I put it...’

He felt anxious about the unfamiliar situation.

"..."

Even so.

"...Alright, I’ll sleep just a little."

The murmur of nature draped lightly over his ears as he slipped into slumber.

His eyelids were heavy and soon closed. Yoo Sung-woon drifted off to sleep.

Naturally, this small igloo and the campfire were Ji-oh’s creations.

"I never would have guessed you knew how to draw even here."

"Didn’t I draw it quite well?"

"But that definitely doesn’t mean I thought you knew how to build an igloo by hand."

After sleeping for a long while and waking up, Yoo Sung-woon was amazed all over again. This was truly built by his own hands.

To think he would effortlessly carve out solidly packed snow and ice and stack them up one by one. Even while out of his mind from the cold, Yoo Sung-woon had found it utterly absurd. That impression remained unchanged even after waking up from his sleep.

"Why did you insist on building the igloo yourself?"

"Ultimately, an igloo is made of snow and ice, but I thought it might be disrespectful to this Snowfield to make it with ingredients of the wrong origin, so I did it that way."

"Following the romance from earlier, now we’re on to respect. And I have another question, why did you build this igloo so well? You looked far too skilled at it? Was I the only one who thought that was weird?"

"Oh, excuse me, but I have no idea why you’d think that. Doesn’t everyone try building an igloo at least once in their lives?"

"I still have no idea what kind of life you’ve lived..."

"You don’t really need to find out, as I am currently living a very good life, showing everything about myself without hiding a thing. If you’re curious about my past, you can just look at me."

"Uhh, I’m always looking at you."

He felt like he was looking a bit too much, honestly.

’Starting with the fact that... you’re showing way too much as well.’

Whenever he saw this guy’s pitch-black eyes or heard about dungeons, his common sense would occasionally pack its bags and leave. Seeing him pride himself on doing a good impression of a human despite all that sometimes made his lips twitch.

Without realizing it, Yoo Sung-woon covered his mouth. The situation must have been amusing, as the corners were slightly raised. Catching himself, he lowered his hand again, but...

"...Don’t you think we’ve gotten too close?"

"I believe it’s too late for you to back out now."

"Hmm, I suppose so. Still, it would be nice to be born as a human in my next life."

"...? I remember that, you said you wanted to be born as a human in your next life too."

"I’m very glad you remember."

He hoped he would take it deeply into consideration.

"No, ha... what should I even say..."

Yoo Sung-woon laughed awkwardly and rubbed his neck. He was realizing just how fussy he was being right now. But he couldn’t help but feel restless.

"This is really just too unfamiliar to me."

"I’m not quite sure why you’re so anxious."

"Is it that obvious? That included, everything makes me anxious. I feel like I shouldn’t be doing this."

"Aha, I see. I can explain exactly what that feeling is to you."

Ji-oh looked at him with sympathy.

"You are currently addicted to work."

"Ugh, am I a pervert like that? Have I finally reached the point where I’m enjoying what I can’t avoid?"

"That’s how workaholics always are. With a haggard face that looks like they’re about to die, they chant like a mantra that they just need to do a little more, and work until dawn breaks."

"I don’t think I’m at that point, Ji-oh."

"And usually, those kinds of people feel a sense of doubt when there’s no work. ’Huh? Why am I not struggling?’ they wonder."

Yoo Sung-woon flinched.

"...Uh..."

"They end up feeling this sense of emptiness. Since the work that was part of their life has vanished, they get anxious. And to somehow resolve that feeling, they go back to work, find comfort in it, and repeat the vicious cycle of their body getting exhausted."

"I really don’t think I’m quite that bad."

"That’s how addicts always talk."

"No, but..."

"Now I understand why you’re so anxious."

"Why am I acting like this?"

"Because it feels weird that you aren’t struggling."

"..."

He found himself somewhat speechless at that.

"Ah, well, that’s..."

"Struggling, hurting, freezing, and being exhausted and fatigued all day long has become so completely ingrained in your body that you’re just finding this unfamiliar. That’s how I see it."

"...I guess, that’s it."

He felt a little sheepish.

"But isn’t that just being a masochist?"

"Since you walked the path of a slave on your own two feet, I thought you had similar tendencies."

"That’s a joke, right?"

"It’s a joke."

The Portrait shrugged.

"You’ve been like that from the start."

"Hmm, what exactly did I do...?"

"Whenever you became honest, you acted like a man on the brink of death."

"I’d like to think I’ve lived quite an honest life, though."

"You seem to be misunderstanding something. A person who cries when they’re sad, laughs when they’re happy, and rests when they’re tired is being honest. The domain you mentioned seems closer to ’desire’."

"...Maybe so."

"As you said earlier, I think we’ve gotten quite close."

Ji-oh asked.

"Would I be able to hear your story?"

"...You are always so kind..."

He was truly consistent.

No wonder people always gathered around him, and why he was bound to become the protagonist of a tragic fate.

"..."

Perhaps due to his fatigue, the words just spilled out.

"...Haven’t you ever thought you’re losing out by living like that?"

Was his self-control being this weak also because he had become honest like he wished? Or was it the influence of the Mystery? Even having these thoughts that were completely uncharacteristic of a Gardener.

The Portrait spoke.

"I don’t really know what part is losing out."

"Being kind to everyone, not resenting people recklessly, not blaming anyone. I mean a life where you embrace your whole self while even affirming the lives of others."

"I still don’t really know which part of that is a loss."

"...Doesn’t it feel too burdensome?"

"Why did that topic come up?"

"If I tell you my story."

If Yoo Sung-woon, the Gardener, tells his story.

"You will offer me kindness."

He would warmly listen to the story. This Portrait was a good listener. And a good speaker. Perhaps he would offer advice or give a gift. That was equivalent to taking responsibility for someone’s time.

Ah, suddenly Yoo Sung-woon could understand Joo-hyun.

"I wish you wouldn’t be affected because of me, Ji-oh..."

"Who could possibly live without being affected by anything?"

"It’s possible for you."

"Telling me to stay stuck in a Portrait forever is a bit harsh."

"You are, really, exactly the same from beginning to end. It’s scary."

He seemed to change, yet remained the same as he was in the beginning.

"I want you to not struggle."

Because that was a disaster.

"I want you..."

He didn’t want to see anything like that.

"..."

"We’re friends, aren’t we?"

"...Of course, we’re friends."

"Then tell me your story now."

"That’s so like you."

Yoo Sung-woon smiled bitterly.

"I said something stupid, didn’t I?"

"I was glad you worried for me, but I felt we needed a bit more trust."

"Alright, then where should I begin this story."

It’s an unfamiliar situation.

Unfamiliarly warm air, unfamiliarly lively atmosphere. He never could have imagined he’d get such a great conversation partner, along with an audience of snow bunnies, in this freezing, desolate Snowfield.

And so, he pulls out his oldest memory.

"I was buried alive."

It was the story of being chosen by the Snowfield.