#772

The Gardener (2)

Step.

Step.

Step.

Oliver continued walking through the pitch-black space.

There was nothing in this space. No walls, floors, ceilings, or sky. Not even up, down, left, or right.

All that existed was endless darkness and vastness.

Yet, Oliver kept walking silently through the endless darkness.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Occasionally, he would take out an object like a pocket watch from his pocket, only checking the direction of the hour, minute, and second hands, doing nothing else.

"You should walk in the direction the compass points."

He recalled the conversation he had with an old man on a horse, a woman on a camel, and a burnt man when he first entered through the gates of hell.

In that place of darkness, Oliver took out chocolate cake and wine, sharing and chatting with them.

"What will you do now?"

"I must go where I need to go."

"It will be a long and complicated road."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, it's not for no reason that we divide and rule hell, and that He comes down to manage."

"Even the place where He is, is the deepest part of hell. Even we cannot easily go there."

The 72 lords who rule hell themselves cannot easily go there... Just then, Oliver remembered a gift he had received from a new Archiver.

A gift given by the Archiver that existed to prepare for the apocalypse to the prince of hell and son of an angel. It wasn't given without meaning.

Oliver put the remaining chocolate cake in his mouth and then took out the pocket watch from his pocket.

"Do you know what this object is?"

Oliver showed the pocket watch he had received from Kevin, precisely an object that looked like a pocket watch.

It looked like a watch, but for some reason, Oliver did not feel it was just a watch.

The three lords who saw the object Oliver took out reacted with surprise, admiration, and an 'I knew it' attitude, explaining about the watch.

"It's an object made by Him."

"Like holy laws, Archivers, and black magic."

"It seems to be a compass."

"A compass?"

"Yes, a compass that works when its rightful owner uses it in the right place. The three needles pointing in its direction will lead you to Him."

Oliver was pleased with this unexpected truth and stood up from his seat.

"That's good news. I'm glad I brought chocolate cake."

"Are you leaving already?"

"Yes, it has been enjoyable sharing the cake with you, but as you can see, I've eaten it all."

"There's more cake if you need it."

"That belongs to others, so I can't. And it would make me gain weight."

"That's a pity. I thought you would just give it to us."

The burnt man said this while licking his fork.

It was a joke. Oliver asked for their understanding and was about to leave.

There was no rush, but it seemed like a long journey ahead, as they had said, so he wanted to hurry a bit.

As Oliver started to move, the old man on the horse spoke.

"O great being."

"Yes?"

"It will indeed be a very long journey."

"That's fine. It means I'll get to see many places."

Hearing his resolute answer, they set down their wine glasses and forks and rose from their seats, kneeling on one knee.

"We hope you meet Him safely."

"We will also do our part."

"Until you safely complete your task."

The three lords knelt before Oliver, bowing their heads. Oliver thanked them and without hesitation walked in the direction the pocket watch pointed.

One day, two days, three days, four days...

One year, two years, three years, four years...

One hundred years, two hundred years, three hundred years, four hundred years...

He walked silently for perhaps even longer than that.

But walking wasn't all he did.

"Ah, hello. You are... a winged lion, correct?"

Very occasionally, the rulers of that place appeared before Oliver, who never stopped walking through hell.

"Yes, I am the winged lion. O noble being, it is an honor to meet you."

They welcomed Oliver in different places like voids of darkness, labyrinths, dining halls, battlefields, and palaces, and Oliver greeted them properly in return.

"Thank you for such a warm welcome. Do you have any favorite food or drink?"

Despite meeting them for the first time, Oliver spoke to each one familiarly, pulling out a big mouth, and offered them food, drinks, and water from the human world, engaging in conversation.

"Are you going to see Him?"

"Yes."

"It will be a long journey, won’t it?"

"Everyone says so. Thank you for your concern, but I'm fine. I'm already feeling it physically. It's not too bad."

"Is that so?"

"Meeting all of you makes it worthwhile."

"Indeed. You are quite a unique individual."

"Since coming here, I've realized that I am the brightest, most humorous, and sociable here. That's why I'm starting to like you all. It's rare to find anyone here more melancholic, less fun, and less sociable than me."

"That's an unfortunate response."

"It's mutual. I expected great things from all you demons, but it's been different from what I expected. Speaking of which, don't you ever think it's a bit sad to be alone in such a dark place? Don't you think about seeing the sunlight one day, or socializing with other demons or something?"

"Not really. We've been around each other so long that we dislike each other."

"Doesn't that make you feel lonely?"

"Such human emotions don't apply to us."

"That’s what someone who devoured 50 plates of fish dishes, 10 bottles of white wine, and 20 boxes of chocolates claims."

"Regrettably, I'm beginning to dislike you."

"That's alright. Everyone I like tends to say that."

Oliver brazenly said this while looking at the winged lion, who burst out laughing.

"Krurrurt... I must admit, sometimes I think a conversation partner is necessary."

"I knew it. I'll be your conversation partner."

"It will be a long time, you know?"

"We can just talk for a long time."

Oliver said this, thumbs up at the corners of his mouth, and true to his words, he talked with the winged lion.

One day, two days, three days, four days...

One year, two years, three years, four years...

One hundred years, two hundred years, three hundred years, four hundred years...

For as long as it took to be satisfied.

But that wasn't all.

Besides the old man on the horse, the woman on the camel, the burnt man, and the winged lion,

There were others like the Black Knight on a black horse, a being with the faces of three beasts, a creature with webbed feet, a being with a donkey's head, and a limping figure. Oliver met various demons and engaged in long conversations with each.

They each questioned Oliver, and he answered based on what he had learned in his life.

Thus, tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of question and answer sessions passed. Sometimes he was satisfied, sometimes dissatisfied, and sometimes regretful.

It was an expected outcome.

Though Oliver was the prince of hell and the son of an angel, the demons too had been maintaining the order of the world under God's shadow for a long time. Oliver was not someone who could satisfy every moment.

Oliver remembered this, not disappointing himself and instead questioning the demons, learning from them, and occasionally debating, exchanging opinions with them.

Steadily with each one.

Thanks to that, the seemingly eternal conversations eventually ended, and Oliver, after offering food from Big mouth, rose from his seat.

"It seems I should get up now. Is there anything else you wish to share?"

"There is, but let's postpone it."

"If you're considering me, that's fine."

"Not really, I've just become busy myself."

"May I ask something?"

"I think I'll go see the sunlight, as you said."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes... I couldn't bear to hear you say that I'm more melancholic, less fun, and less sociable than you."

"Acknowledging the truth takes courage."

The winged lion lifted its toe.

"I can't acknowledge that. It's not true. But I will acknowledge one thing."

"What will you acknowledge?"

"That you are a great being."

The winged lion spoke with emphasis.

It wasn't just him. The Black Knight on a black horse, the being with the faces of three beasts, the creature with webbed feet, the one with a donkey's head, the limping figure, and more. Various demons acknowledged Oliver.

After their conversations, all of them walked in the opposite direction from where Oliver had come, to see the sunlight.

Of course, not everyone did.

"Puhuhuhu... Sorry, but I still can't acknowledge you."

The crowned ox, who bathes in the tears of sinners, spoke.

"Please understand. We also have our positions."

Also, the one cloaked in purple robes,

"We still have tasks to perform."

The one with an owl's head, the winged wolf, the dove with a sword. Various demons refused Oliver's intentions. For now, at least.

"I understand. I appreciate that you've spoken with me."

Oliver expressed his gratitude to these demons as well and rose from his seat, and those demons too walked in the direction Oliver had come.

Sometimes he felt joy, sometimes regret, sometimes fatigue, but Oliver savored each emotion as he continued his journey.

These emotions made the long journey more bearable than he thought.

That's why Oliver felt thankful to both the demons who acknowledged him and those who did not.

Of course, Oliver encountered more than just demons on his path.

"Save me..."

"Please help me..."

"It hurts..."

Some of the numerous sinners that make up the pitch-black hell occasionally broke through the darkness and grabbed Oliver's ankles.

It wasn't just the darkness. The sinners who support the palaces where the 72 lords reside, those turned into gold paving the roads, those turned into trees pecked at by birds, also grabbed Oliver, pleading for salvation.

"I'm in pain, it hurts, it's unjust, save me, help me, I repent..."

These utterances were not the result of rational thought but the instinctual cries of beings in agony.

Oliver addressed each of these beings one by one, asking them what sins brought them here, what was so unjust, and he spent time in conversation, just as he had done with the demons.

They answered Oliver's questions, sometimes they screamed, occasionally they convulsed, and they expressed anger.

“Why won't you save us?”

Oliver continued the conversation, listening to their words, cries, curses, and pleadings.

One day, two days, three days, four days...

One year, two years, three years, four years...

One hundred years, two hundred years, three hundred years, four hundred years...

Continuously. The journey was long, but there was plenty of time.

Perhaps due to these efforts, a few of the sinners seemed to grasp something significant and fell silent, but most continued to plead for help or scream about their injustices. It was truly disheartening.

When Oliver felt he had conversed enough, he promised to return and continued on his way.

"Grunt..."

"Gurgle?"

As Oliver stood up to resume his walk, the Bigmouth in the leather case at his back spoke. This was the first time it had spoken in this state, indicating its concern for him.

Despite having been worked so hard, Bigmouth worried about him, prompting Oliver to respond.

"Of course, I'm fine. It's a bit dull going alone, would you like to chat with me, Bigmouth?"

"Gurgle."

"That's a shame."

Oliver joked with Bigmouth as he continued walking. After a time too long to account for, he spotted a lone door set in the darkness below.

"..."

Creeak—

Without hesitation, Oliver opened the door and entered,

"Have you arrived, my child?"

He found a man with shadows cast across his face.

"It's been a long time."