Chapter 306

The anomaly occurred quickly.

"...What in the world is this..."

A Garden had been painted.

"...Wait, over here."

"Yes, senior. What is it?"

"You can see this too, right?"

"Uh... yes, I can see it. What is it a painting of? A jungle? Seeing as I’m getting a strong vibe from it, it must be a new piece by Black Cloak! Right? Isn’t it?"

"...A piece by Black Cloak?"

"Isn’t a painting hanging out of nowhere in such a bizarre place usually a piece by Black Cloak? Wow, this is my first time seeing one. It definitely gives off an entirely different aura from ordinary paintings."

"..."

"...Senior?"

Naturally, it was the Gardeners who first noticed the anomaly.

One day, unfamiliar forms of Gardens began to appear in the world, one by one. They were mostly discovered in deserted alleys, near temples, or in remote areas like mountains and seas.

And they clearly took the form of the ’artworks’ painted by Black Cloak. Most people did not understand their meaning.

"Even though they were all painted using different methods, they somehow give off a similar feel. The size of the pieces aren’t all that large, either. Considering the scale of his previous works... could this be a series?"

"Since there isn’t an established name for it yet, we can’t call it that right now, but you’re probably right. A series. Well, it is something any renowned artist attempts at least once. Could his true essence really be a painter?"

"It definitely feels different from his previous works. And that doesn’t just stem from the size of the piece. Can’t you feel the aura of a truly pure Mystery? Ah, almost like destiny..."

People considered it to be merely a new endeavor by Black Cloak.

"..."

"...This, teacher."

"...Right, it’s a Garden. We need to let the others know about this."

However, the Gardeners could not brush it off so easily.

"It hasn’t been long since we last gathered, but it looks like we’ll be seeing each other’s faces again."

"What in the world is going on..."

The Gardens, of all things, had entered the field of vision of civilians.

Not all Gardeners were attending the same gathering. Due to the nature of Gardeners, there were many who lived alone in seclusion. But they met with almost every Gardener they could and relayed the situation.

Amidst the confusion, someone offered this opinion.

"Could the previous fever have been a preparation for a situation like this?"

"Are you saying that wasn’t just the Source stretching its limbs?"

"Well, no. I don’t know for sure either... but there might be a possibility."

"True, it wasn’t common for the Gardens to stir simultaneously like they did back then."

"They said the only similar period was during the Great Cataclysm, so I’ve been on edge."

"Ugh, they said it was far too early for a second Great Cataclysm, so I figured it would be a different type of event, but for it to happen like this..."

"I never imagined it would be such an unconventional event. Wow, this is driving me crazy."

It was enough to throw the Gardeners, who always had to be calm and rational, into a state of panic. They were engulfed in an undefinable fear, anxiety, and anticipation.

The Gardens had been revealed to the world.

"F-first of all, what is the condition of the Gardens?"

"Nothing has changed, they are completely lush and green."

"It’s the same for our Garden. More importantly, no matter how hard we look, there is no Gardener assigned to the piece that appeared this time."

"Is it too much of a stretch to say it belongs to the Gardeners who don’t really like socializing? No, why does Black Cloak even have any connection to the Gardens in the first place..."

"Wasn’t Black Cloak a Divinity of the sun? No matter if he is a Divinity, he can’t just leave the entrance to a Garden wide open like this! This is a disaster!"

"But the Earth is far too quiet for this to be a disaster. First, everyone calm down..."

Around that time, Gardener Jung Hae-woon spoke up.

"Do not worry, brother. It is not something that will cause harm."

"As expected, the Guild Master knew about this matter."

"Inadequate as it may be, I too have studied this matter."

Jung Hae-woon did not disclose that he and Black Cloak were directly connected to ’this matter’. That fact would only add to the Gardeners’ confusion. Instead, Jung Hae-woon interjected when the noisy atmosphere had settled down a bit.

"The Gardens that have revealed themselves right now are not managed Mysteries."

"Then, were they abandoned...?"

"More accurately, it seems the abandoned Gardens of Earth have revealed themselves. Yes, they are familiar friends to me. They are Gardens I have visited several times in the past."

"Then what in the world happened? What relationship does Black Cloak have with the Gardens?"

"There must have been a stirring of a Mystery that a mere Gardener like me cannot comprehend. But if it is indeed related to Black Cloak, I see. He is a Mystery of rules, favorable toward good and polite humans."

"You are right about that, Guild Master."

"It isn’t something we can rest easy about, but it isn’t the beginning of another disaster, either. Compared to the Great Cataclysm that Earth experienced, isn’t this far too docile? I find that truly fascinating."

The words Jung Hae-woon spoke to the Gardeners belonging to his guild spread to the other Gardeners as well. In truth, beneath the surface, it was all thanks to Jung Hae-woon, who worked overtime again today utilizing his various identities.

He took measures so that the Gardeners all over the world wouldn’t get swept up in excessive confusion and cause trouble. Thanks to the ’identities’ that had built up popularity and trust on a regular basis, the Gardeners gradually regained their reason.

They were people who were demanded to remain cold and level-headed at all times in the first place.

"..."

"...Then how should we understand this situation?"

"...How should I know? Anyway, since they said it isn’t a disaster, I feel a little more at ease."

"If a Great Cataclysm suddenly breaks out at this rate, what will happen to us?"

"We’d be torn limb from limb, wouldn’t we?"

"Yes, but by who? The Gardens?"

At the greenhorn Gardener’s question, the veteran shook their head.

"No, by the pissed-off Association researchers."

"Those guys don’t even do any legwork themselves, yet they always give us crap."

"Well, that’s because individual Gardeners are hogging all the research funds those guys are supposed to share..."

"I don’t really have anything to say to that, but anyway, what are we actually doing? Us?"

"I can’t say for sure, either. I think we just need to see how the situation unfolds for now."

This was what happened just when the ’Gardens’ appeared in the world.

After a little time passed, people were able to find out what was different about the ’Gardens’.

"It’s not just that the size of the pieces are small; their reactions are a bit different, too."

"Up until now, Black Cloak’s pieces showed an attitude of wanting to actively intervene in reality."

"These children are simply existing. Ah, how can they be so profoundly pure and beautiful? Isn’t the attitude of the artwork, just gazing at us, so adorable?"

"More than that, I feel a sense of dread at the depth of the piece. Yes, it truly is merely existing. It’s not a spooky ghost story like a grey city... it’s the feeling you get when you look at vast nature."

"Until now, Black Cloak has always included an intention in his artworks. In one way or another, his pieces were utilized according to his will. How does he plan to use these pieces this time?"

"I’m not exactly sure, but it’s healing just to look at them. Should I say it makes me feel good? It feels like settling down in a very tranquil resort and just gazing up at the sky."

"I think I know what you mean. It truly is nature itself."

"Perhaps that might be the intention behind his pieces this time."

It was especially the aficionados of Black Cloak who poured their efforts into interpreting the artworks.

"Nature, nature. Are you saying there is another nature where such a robust Mystery stirs? Even dungeons aren’t like this."

"At the very least, it’s a fact that this is a sight that people like us would find hard to come by. Where else could we catch a glimpse of such mesmerizing nature? My goodness, this absurd ingenuity... truly..."

"If so, then no matter how I think about it, it wouldn’t be the nature of Earth. Isn’t this a nature of rules that transcends the logic of this dimension? What kind of flower would cover the sky? Wrap around the clouds and shine like the sun?"

"To think the word ’nature’ would immediately come to mind even while looking at such a bizarre spectacle of rules. As expected of Black Cloak. His grace is truly endless."

"It’s truly a shame. For some reason, no one has emerged saying they went inside the pieces this time. If there were even a single precedent, it would be worth challenging next..."

Their conversation spread to the many people who had been focusing on Black Cloak’s actions.

"Hey, Cha I-sol."

"Huh? What is it?"

"Did you know about this matter, too?"

"Uh... I don’t really know, it’s something the adults are doing. I’m still just a kid."

"Since when were you such a praiseworthy kid who made those kinds of distinctions so well?"

"I-I have a lot on my conscience, too. But it really isn’t my business."

The Church of the Sun’s prospective priest, Cha I-sol, felt a bit wronged by the words of his partner, Lee Ruda.

"I don’t know everything the adults are doing."

"...? Wait a minute, then that means you at least know how this matter is going. Isn’t that the nuance you’re giving off right now?"

"But I’m telling you, I really don’t know much?"

"No..."

"They said they were going to sell bunggeoppang, and I truly don’t know a single thing about business."

"..."

Lee Ruda eventually dragged her partner along and went to find Kang Seo-dam.

"...Did you say bunggeoppang?"

"Yes, bunggeoppang."

"He is going to sell bunggeoppang? Black Cloak?"

"Cha I-sol just kept calling it ’adults’ business’."

"Even if he is a chosen apostle, it is difficult to babble about the future of a Divinity."

"Ah, could they have made a covenant preventing him from mentioning it? If that is the case, then I have acted rashly..."

"It seems more like Brother Cha I-sol just didn’t see a reason for him to blabber deeply about it, though."

"...??"

"Sister Lee Ruda."

Kang Seo-dam offered advice as an adult.

"Forget it."

"Thank you."

With that, Lee Ruda escaped from responsibility.

However, there was someone who could not escape from this terrible responsibility, and that was Kang Seo-dam, who had unexpectedly been spoiled on the fate of the Earth. After sending the young priests back and hesitating for a long while, Kang Seo-dam soon made up his mind.

He contacted the private number he had received from Curator Yoo Sung-woon.

"...Ah, you’ve picked up. This is Priest Kang Seo-dam. Do you have a moment to talk?"

—I always have time to talk with our priest. I can roughly guess what this is about, but did you hear about the bunggeoppang, too?

"Damn it, to think I didn’t hear it wrong. What are you plotting? What in the world does bunggeoppang mean for a future destined by a Divinity?"

—Ji-oh hasn’t finished preparing for business yet, you see. Still, once he opens his doors, we’ll serve you too, Priest Kang Seo-dam. Wow, premium service. Isn’t that great?

"Is it a premium service straight down a thorny path?"

—I don’t think the Goddess of the Sun would dislike it too much, either.

"What in the world do you think of the Sun...!!"

She did not dislike it.

"..."

—What’s this, you’ve suddenly gone quiet.

"...No..."

She found it incredibly interesting.

"..."

—...Oh dear.

Having guessed the situation, Yoo Sung-woon felt bad for him. He wasn’t being sarcastic; his pity was genuine.

—Seeing things like this, getting closer to a Divinity isn’t such a great thing, either.

"...Setting aside whether or not it’s something Mr. Yoo Sung-woon should be saying, no. To receive the revelation of a Divinity with a mere human body is indeed an incredibly honorable thing..."

—For such a thing, the energy in your voice... hmm, alright... I see...

"...I shall wait with a fluttering heart for your call later. I wish you the best of luck."

—You too, Priest.

Having ended the call, Kang Seo-dam covered his face with both hands.

"..."

Why did it have to be bunggeoppang, of all things.

’Why has such a trial fallen upon me.’

While Kang Seo-dam quietly writhed at the untimely and unmerited honor, Yoo Sung-woon, who had cut the call, looked at Ji-oh with a strange expression.

"It seems Priest Kang Seo-dam is under a lot of stress."

"Oh my, that shouldn’t be. Good people like Priest Kang Seo-dam should always be happy."

"It’s not a world where good people can always be happy, you know."

"But they must always be when they catch my eye. Because I like that kind of thing."

"Oh, how wonderful."

Yoo Sung-woon ultimately couldn’t hold back his laughter.

"How much more do you plan to increase my overtime work?"

"Seeing you enjoy yourself even while saying that makes me happy, too."

Jeorge smiled with opal-like eyes.

"...Ah, this is fun."

Everything was a complete mess.

The ’Gardens’ with two legs went looking for the Gardeners.