The Greenhouse and the Deal

And on the night after the second quest ended.

I deliberately scraped together the points I had left and purchased a single item.

It was for a specific purpose.

Acquired “Yeongchun Southern Cave.”

“Yeongchun Southern Cave: First edited edition of Haksan Haneon. It is said that through this mysterious hole one may enter an underground world opposite to the surface. A similar legend exists in Europe, the tale of Tannhäuser……”

Of course, here it was a “post-Ruin creature” based on that story.

A convenient hole that allowed one to travel long distances quickly and easily.

“Hello, darling.”

In the game, a registration number connected to “Bran” had once been mentioned, so I searched for the cave bearing that very number.

But the moment I stuck my head into it, I came face to face with someone.

“What the hell.”

“Hahaha, surprised?”

As I hung upside down with only my upper body sticking out of the hole in midair, unable to fully pull myself through, that “someone” burst into laughter.

“Is this fun for you?”

Well, it probably was.

The sight of me, after all.

Wriggling, I stretched both arms out of the hole.

The person standing before me simply stared down.

“With that personality of yours. It’s obvious you’re asking for help.”

“Hahaha, how would I know if you don’t say it?”

Only then did he grab my arms and yank me out.

Like pulling a carrot from a field.

Come to think of it, that bastard Jeog-o used to call me a carrot.

A carrot……

“You really did pop out like a carrot.”

Seems we were thinking the same thing.

“You’re just strong.”

“Seo Gongja called you a carrot. Is that why?”

This guy had absolutely no intention of listening to others.

“I doubt that’s the reason. We’re not close enough for such a cute nickname.”

“Haha, even though you’re from the same hometown, you’re not that friendly.”

“Exactly. So don’t shove us into the same room just because we’re from the same city. That’s careless.”

“Hahaha.”

“What’s with all the hahaha?”

“You weren’t planning to return to the dorm anyway, so what does it matter?”

I hesitated, then admitted it immediately.

There was no need to hide it.

“That’s true.”

Caliburn stared at me as I said that.

I added an explanation.

“If I crawled back into the room after pulling that stunt, Jeog-o would grind me into a pack of minced meat.”

Not a joke.

That temper of his could absolutely manage it.

“Shouldn’t Seo Gongja be grateful to you instead? I didn’t know he was so ungrateful.”

“Crafty bastard.”

For a moment I had the urge to rip off Caliburn’s robe.

What if instead of a human face there was a fox’s face underneath?

No, judging by his speech, maybe a raccoon.

“Haha, why are you looking at me like that? Fallen for me?”

“I can’t even see your face. If I fell for anything, it’d be that robe.”

“Hahaha, it is my secret weapon robe.”

It did look expensive.

“Everyone will think I was acting under Jeog-o’s orders and grow wary of him from now on, so he must be grinding his teeth.”

And since I slipped away without ever showing my face, every arrow would miss me and fly toward Jeog-o instead.

“Still better than being reduced to a knight or retainer.”

Jeog-o’s own occupation rate was 11%.

In the DAY 2 quest, anyone below 15% received not the title of Lord, but Knight or Retainer.

Meaning a penalty when leading one’s faction.

“That’s true, but with that temper of his.”

As Caliburn said, this situation benefited Jeog-o, and he wasn’t an idiot, so he would realize it.

I shrugged.

“He’d rather become a retainer than owe me.”

Jeog-o’s hatred for ‘players’ ran deep.

If you counted player kills, Jeog-o would be unrivaled.

“Bold, darling. You used him knowing that?”

“And now I’m suddenly a homeless adult.”

“Hm, but the dorm will empty soon.”

“Will they keep the heating on after everyone leaves?”

“Hahahahaha.”

So they wouldn’t.

Definitely not.

“And it won’t be empty immediately either.”

“So you’re planning to use Bran as your house?”

We had been speaking casually, but at that point I stopped.

‘So he figured it out.’

Since my intentions were exposed anyway, I decided to brazen it out.

“It’s spacious here, isn’t it? A place this big ought to have at least one wandering ghost for atmosphere.”

“Haha, there’s no vacancy for the ghost role.”

This bastard keeps trying to sabotage my employment.

Imagining myself kicked outside to freeze, my face soured.

“Hahaha, you’re pouting, darling.”

Caliburn bent at the waist just to get a good look at my expression.

Is it that amusing?

“By the way, why do you keep calling me darling?”

“You don’t like it? Haha, then your big brother here will be sad.”

I heard he wasn’t human, and now I believe it.

Perhaps he learned human language from strange media.

“Call me whatever you want, but darling is a bit much.”

Caliburn lifted the wide hem of his robe to his eyes.

“Our darling is so cooold.”

“Pronounce it properly.”

“Hahaha, saying cooold sounds cuter.”

Where did he learn this nonsense?

“Well.”

Suddenly Caliburn straightened fully and spoke.

“Then shall we become a bit closer, darling?”

I narrowed my eyes.

“How close? Close enough for employment corruption requests?”

“I’m not in HR.”

“Stop it.”

“Though I do have some real estate.”

“Oh my, sir. I hope your household has been well……”

I cut myself off with a yelp.

The ground beneath me softened like a swamp.

My vision went black, then white.

And in the next instant, I was somewhere else entirely.

“Welcome, darling.”

Caliburn spoke, but I couldn’t answer.

More precisely, I couldn’t.

“Where is this.”

My senses were stolen elsewhere.

Caliburn smiled.

“My room?”

In WWC, Caliburn’s residence had never been shown.

Naturally.

He was an unromanceable character.

“I call it the greenhouse.”

So this was a sight I had never seen before, not in the game nor after transmigrating.

In many ways, I was speechless.

A feast of light, color, and fragrance.

The floor, the walls, even the ceiling were thick with unknown flowers.

Leaves swayed softly without wind, exuding a dreamy scent.

Quartz rising from the ground and ruby descending from the sky intertwined to form a vast canopy.

“Haha, surprised?”

Caliburn chuckled low, lifting my chin with the tip of his finger.

I imagined his eyes narrowing beneath the robe.

“You read my expression well.”

I said it idly.

Others rarely read my face accurately.

“After watching enough, it’s not difficult.”

“Is that so?”

He answered only with another quiet laugh.

What amused him so much?

“I’ll impose on you tonight, then.”

I searched for a secluded corner while speaking.

“Only tonight?”

His reply was unexpected.

“You said you have nowhere to stay.”

Now reclining sideways in midair, Caliburn tapped the floor with his palm.

In reality, it was a carpet of jeweled butterflies.

“Why?”

“Why, darling.”

“Whims are fine for a day or two, but long term is different.”

“Hahaha. Unconditional kindness makes you uneasy?”

I considered briefly, then nodded.

“Yes.”

A curve formed beneath the robe’s shadow.

“Then how about this?”

I looked up at the man reclining in midair.

His smile deepened.

“It’s nothing much, darling.”

“Those who say that are the hardest to trust.”

“Haha.”

He continued immediately.

“If you’ve read the edited records dozens of times, you know, Your Majesty. What state I’m in.”

“A little.”

That wasn’t false modesty.

The information revealed about the Arbiter in WWC was minimal.

That he prophesied the emergence of new power in the world.

That he selected the new world’s king.

And also.

“I’m not human, Your Majesty.”

“I know.”

“When a non-human ‘post-Ruin creature’ appears human, there are only two reasons. Was that mentioned in your edited story?”

I nodded.

“Either a hybrid of human and post-Ruin creature, or a post-Ruin creature imitating a human.”

“Right. And the latter is extremely dangerous. You know the old tales? The most dangerous demon is the one disguised as a human. It doesn’t just kill one or two, it destroys families or even entire nations.”

“You’re a hybrid.”

“Even as a hybrid, maintaining this form is tiring.”

The jeweled butterflies scattered, and Caliburn landed lightly before me, kneading his shoulders theatrically.

“There’s an instinct to return to the stronger side.”

“Then return.”

Whatever form he took, the candidates wouldn’t care.

But at my words, Caliburn burst into bright laughter.

“That would be troublesome. I might devour one or two.”

The tone was cheerful.

The content was not.

“Actions unconsciously follow form.”

So his creature form must be something quite ferocious.

“It’s not just me. Most post-Ruin creatures are similar, darling. Even the ones pretending to be dignified. That’s why they take human form when they descend.”

At the end of that, he made his request.

“So stay here, and in return, help me.”

I instinctively looked down at my body.

Was there enough flesh or blood?

“I donated blood recently. I might be a bit weak.”

“Haha.”

“Right, this isn’t even my real body.”

“Hahaha, I didn’t ask for blood.”

“Not much flesh either.”

“Not flesh.”

I frowned and looked up at him.

“Then what?”

“Just talk to me.”

Caliburn said.

“Talk?”

“Anything is fine. Tell me your story.”

I must have made a dubious face, because he explained.

“The personal history you accumulated while living. The history of relationships woven from those threads. I lack that.”

Naturally.

He wasn’t human.

“Even indirectly hearing it would help. So whisper it by my bedside.”

And that was the price?

He must have read my expression, yet he added readily.

“That you are beside me.”

“…?”

“Today as well.”

I thought briefly, then stepped back and nodded.

“Alright.”

I didn’t know his intentions, but for now I had no choice.

“Haha, I really don’t have dark motives.”

“Sure, sure.”

Truthfully, I had intended to attach myself by any means to the one person here who couldn’t harm me.

So this benefited me.

“Then pay today’s rent, darling.”

Floating cross-legged in the air, he turned slowly as he asked.

“Why did you accept a bamboo tube as payment?”

At that question, I forgot my previous thoughts and grinned.

I answered briefly.

“To grow something in it.”

“Grow?”

“Yes. This and that.”

“Haha. This and that.”

After a moment of contemplation, Caliburn nodded.

“That’s why you transferred all your shares.”

That sounded meaningful.

Had he already figured out what I intended?

“Hahaha, I see. Yes, ‘this and that.’ A good idea. I’ve grown ‘this and that’ myself, you see.”

His brain worked disgustingly well.

“While you’re at it, why not grow me too?”

Why did the gods give this man high intelligence and high nonsense at the same time?

“Grow what? Your arm alone is thicker than my thigh.”

“Hahaha. It’s just bulky clothing.”

“Don’t lie, muscle mage.”

I gathered some butterflies and rolled them into a makeshift pillow.

Would this work?

Caliburn watched and asked.

“Going to sleep?”

“I’ll nap briefly. I have a lot to do.”

“Having much to do is good. Things going as planned?”

Eyes closed, I answered vaguely.

They were.

“So far, everything has gone exactly as I thought.”

With fifty-four variations of past exam questions, failing would be stranger.

“That’s good.”

Yes.

Good.

“But darling.”

Just as drowsiness crept in, something cool tapped my nose.

Perhaps a jeweled butterfly.

“Things without form are hard to cultivate as you wish. They grow straight for a while, then suddenly twist.”

He did sound like a mage sometimes.

Even if I didn’t understand.

“Like a person’s heart.”

Naturally, I didn’t take that seriously.

Invisible things were like that.

But this was a game.

I had experienced it.

Nothing would go wrong.

There was sufficient data.

Truly.