Gardeners are, quite literally, those who tend a "garden."

And the way they tended these gardens differed completely from Gardener to Gardener.

Some Gardeners poured all their effort into their garden all day long, while others stopped by at suitable times to maintain it.

Some regarded their garden like a friend or family...

"..."

And some Gardeners worshiped it like priests serving a god.

'So that is the eyes of the Root that Gardener Yu Seongun told me about...'

Among the Hunters gathered by guild at the dungeon entrance, the eyes of Jeong Youngwon, a Hunter of Eunwol and a Gardener, held only "Seo Jio."

Watching her, a fellow Hunter spoke.

"Youngwon, your eyes."

"Ah."

Jeong Youngwon adjusted her glasses.

"Are they all right now?"

"Yeah, they look like an ordinary yellow."

"Then by any chance, earlier...?"

"Hmm, scarlet?"

"I see."

She touched the corner of her eye.

'This is what makes being a Gardener inconvenient.'

Gardeners were connected extremely closely to the garden they served, and because of that, the color of their eyes or hair would sometimes change.

The same was true of Jeong Youngwon, who served a gentle spring flower garden.

'It is not a garden whose state changes often, but could it be... because the eyes of the Root is nearby?'

At Jeong Youngwon's gaze, her fellow Hunter spoke to her again.

"Why do you keep staring at Hunter Seo Jio?"

"... Ah, because he's handsome."

"There's no arguing with that."

"I am aware that it is rude."

"Though he doesn't seem to mind much..."

"He seems like someone used to being looked at."

"If I lived with that face, I would be too."

"He certainly has an air that makes it obvious he is used to attention."

As if he were a being created to be displayed.

Jeong Youngwon looked once more at "Seo Jio," who was standing among the Collector's guild members.

"Even aside from simply his outward appearance."

Was her gaze drawn to him because she was a Gardener?

'No, this is the natural reaction of any human.'

Feeling a little tense, she clenched and unclenched her hand.

'Nothing else but the Root, and its eyes at that, among so many humans...'

There was still much they did not know about the Root.

There was much that had yet to be revealed.

That mystery was not something humans should dare to glimpse, and at the same time, even if one were granted the right, it was not something one could easily examine.

It was because it was too vast.

Because it appeared in the world in too many different forms, and also affected the world in too many different ways.

Jeong Youngwon thought that "Seo Jio" must be the same.

'That, too, must be one of the ways the Root affects the world.'

Yu Seongun had judged "Seo Jio" to be the eyes of the Root.

'... Then did it realize such an ideal exterior in order to directly experience human life and create data?'

'In order to collect data more conveniently through human goodwill?'

'But it would be difficult to gather overall data on humans with goodwill alone... Or perhaps it is only collecting result values for goodwill.'

Because a Gardener's habits could not be helped, Jeong Youngwon said to her leader,

"Senior."

"Hm? What is it?"

"Could you push for me to be placed on the same team as that person?"

"... I'm asking out of unnecessary concern, but this isn't romantic, right? I can't cover for that."

"What a horrifying thing to say."

"Right, there's no way our Jeong Youngwon would fall in love with a human. I was worried for a second that you were sick."

She had never gone out of her way to reveal her status as a Gardener, but one of the traits of Gardeners that inevitably showed was that they could not easily develop sexual attraction toward humans.

The Hunter in the leader position nodded.

"I'll put in a word for now, but isn't that person a priest too?"

"... Please memorize the information properly before coming here. He is not a priest, but a trainer."

"Ah, his whole vibe is so much like that side that I slipped. Then he's not a healer either?"

"I do not know that part well. There is little that has been identified... He could be a healer."

"Hmm, then I wonder if they'll really put you on the same team."

"He will mainly be active as a trainer, so would it not be fine for Hunter Seo Jio's team to have a healer?"

"I get what you mean. I'll try appealing that way."

The leader asked with a lazy smile.

"So, why? What about him was so interesting?"

"..."

"Come on, don't hold out on me. You think I don't know how our Youngwon thinks?"

"... It's just..."

When Jeong Youngwon looked toward "Seo Jio" again, it met her eyes.

"..."

Yes.

"..."

How could eyes be so beautiful?

The Gardener saw the essence of the Root hidden beneath the impact of a power whose force had been somewhat subdued.

What looked like an iris was like the radiance of divinity, and the deeply sunken pupil was overlaid with colors too varied to describe.

Ah, the Root in human form.

'... Incredible.'

Her mind spun at that luminous serenity beyond beauty.

Her heart pounded, and she could not believe her own existence reflected in those eyes.

A strange mystery that seemed as though it would make her forget the existence called herself left her breathless.

It was so vast.

So deep and enormous that she could not even dare to see its end.

'It is so rapturous...'

What exactly was that made of?

'I'm dizzy.'

It smelled sweet.

Like the scent from her flower garden, or perhaps even sweeter and richer than that, the scent of honey and milk.

A cool and soft sweetness resembling lilacs blooming in spring.

It was a scent that flowed from a fate containing all of life and death.

"..."

"... Youngwon."

"..."

"Youngwon? Are you sleeping, by any chance?"

"No."

"Then why did you stop talking in the middle of a sentence?"

"Our eyes met for a moment."

Receiving the gaze of none other than that Root full on, she could not collect herself.

"What question did you ask just now?"

"I asked why you're showing this much interest."

"It is truly nothing much."

Unlike her expressionless face, the hand gripping her staff tightened.

"... He seems to be a person more than worth observing."

There would not be many chances like this.

Awe and worship toward the Root made a mere Gardener feel giddy.

"Mr. Garasani."

"Yes, please speak."

"If it seems like I am being hated, could you let me know?"

"Who do you think hates you?"

"The person over there with cherry-blossom-colored hair..."

"Ah."

Garasani swept his gaze over the Eunwol Guild side and grinned.

"I do not think those are eyes of hatred."

"Then why is she glaring at me like this?"

"It is certainly a gaze as sharp as a hawk's eyes."

"It is extremely burdensome."

"Shall I go deliver a protest?"

"It is not to that extent, but..."

Jio had no choice but to think conveniently.

'As expected, it must be because I'm too handsome.'

"Hahaha...! Aha, yes, I see. That could be the case."

Garasani smiled warmly, as though he had just seen the cutest little trick in the world, and comforted Jio.

"Once we enter the dungeon soon, the teams will be divided, so you need not worry. Were people's gazes very burdensome to you? You did not show any sign of it, so I did not take separate measures..."

"I am used to it, but that does not mean it isn't burdensome. Still, there is no need for you to take measures. I was only whining because you are so reliable, Mr. Garasani."

"Ah, that is truly a great honor. If you continue to rely on me often, I could ask for nothing more. Even after entry, Hunter Seo Jio, you and I will likely remain together."

Garasani grinned and cast a sidelong glance at the order hosting this raid.

"The order likes things to be safe. Since a Curator has come out from the Collector, which is rare, they will try to form the teams according to the Collector's intentions."

"By the Collector's intentions... do you mean the fact that you are accommodating me?"

"You understood correctly. People will think that we came to attend to and monitor Hunter Seo Jio. The order will reflect that as well."

"Then I am relieved. If even one person I know is with me."

"Even if we are assigned to different teams, I guarantee that I will remain by your side. If an emergency arises, I will naturally take measures, so do not worry, Hunter Seo Jio."

"Thank you for being so considerate."

Seo Jio, whose number of words rapidly decreased when there were no people he knew, felt relieved.

'As expected, life really is all about connections.'

He could not say how fortunate he was to have become a portrait of the Collector.

And so Jio did indeed get assigned to the same team as Garasani, but...

"I truly never dreamed we would meet again like this. How surprising."

"Is that so?"

"I really didn't know, so believe me. I'm so happy we're on the same team, young master."

"Young master, is it?"

"Ah, I made a mistake again. I'll clasp my hands and apologize, so won't you let it slide?"

"Haha..."

Sanarae was on the same team as him too.

"..."

After meeting his gaze in silence, Jio grinned.

"... How adorable."

Before Sanarae, his eyes gone round, could react properly, Jio returned to a gentle expression.

He looked at Sanarae as though he were looking at a very cute puppy.

"Of course I will let it slide."

"Huh...?"

"When you are smiling like this and offering an apology, how could I ignore it?"

"Uh... Really? I feel like I was just treated as something less than human..."

"Do you enjoy eating? Your body is quite thin, and a grown young man cannot put forth strength like this."

"Uh, uh, please don't squeeze me all over. Uh, uh, wait, but Hunter, your grip is unexpectedly strong."

"What were they thinking, dragging this pitiful body that is nothing but skin and bones and can barely stand all the way here?"

"I don't think I'm that thin... Hunter? Hunter Seo Jio? Can you hear me?"

"Now that it has come to this, I must feed you until you are full during this raid..."

"Please grant me the chance to retreat."

After begging for mercy and barely escaping Jio's grasp, Sanarae asked,

"Are you trying to eat me...? Do you perhaps tend to eat human flesh?"

"As far as I know, human meat is not very tasty."

"Setting aside why you know that, that can't be taken as a statement that you don't eat it."

"Do not worry. My principle is not to eat things that taste bad."

"I'm saying that is not a reassuring expression."

Sanarae Hunter, who had unusually backed away in an awkward shuffle, muttered with a deliberately worn-out and exhausted look.

"Strange. Why does this make me think of my late grandfather..."

"I am honored. Does that mean I am as dependable and warm as your grandfather, Mr. Sanarae?"

"No... That's somehow... somehow a little different... What could it be, then? I feel like I can define it more properly."

Leaving behind Sanarae, who seemed lost in a strange sentiment, another woman assigned to the same team stepped in.

It was Hunter Jeong Youngwon, who had been staring at Seo Jio as if to bore a hole through him right before they entered the dungeon.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Hunter Seo Jio. Our eyes met earlier, didn't they?"

"Ah, they did. I understand that you are with Eunwol. Did I say that correctly?"

"Yes, thank you for recognizing me. I am Jeong Youngwon."

The woman with pink hair in a soft, creamy shade adjusted her round glasses, then held out her hand with an expressionless face.

"Could you shake my hand just once?"

"...? Of course."

For someone merely asking to exchange a greeting, she seemed to have a strange sense of resolve.

Feeling a subtle interest in her peculiar way of speaking, he lightly shook her hand up and down, and Hunter Jeong Youngwon blinked.

"... You are excellent at controlling your strength."

"Am I?"

"I thought you would grip more painfully than this."

"Did I look so burly?"

"Not that, but..."

As if she had come to some understanding on her own, she nodded and said,

"Thank you for being considerate."

"Of what...?"

"My position is healer, and I will be in charge of this team's treatment."

"Aha, I see. I look forward to working with you."

'So what exactly did I end up being considerate about?'

Seo Jio, who had received praise for controlling his strength well just because they had shaken hands, did not show it on the outside, but for a moment he became confused.

He thought it was no different from being complimented for breathing.

"Uh, then could we also..."

"? Yes, it's nice to meet you."

"Please shake my hand too."

"Yes, nice to meet you."

After finishing greetings with the two Hunters from the Daecheong Guild as well, Jio finally asked,

"So why was I the only one who shook hands with everyone?"

"..."

"...?"

Surprisingly, no one could give him a proper answer.

"... Good point...?"

"Oh, this is so interesting."