Chapter 772: The Gardener

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Oliver kept walking through the pitch-black space.

There was nothing in this space. No walls, no floor, no ceiling, no sky. Not even an up, down, left, or right.

Only boundless darkness and vastness existed.

Nonetheless, Oliver walked silently through the endless darkness without stopping.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Occasionally, he would take out an item resembling a pocket watch from his chest pocket and check the positions of the hour, minute, and second hands. Beyond that, he did nothing.

‘Walk in the direction that this compass points.’

Oliver recalled the conversation he had with the Horse-riding Old Man, the Woman on the Camel, and The Burned One when he first entered after opening the gates of Hell.

In that place of nothingness and darkness, Oliver took out some chocolate cake and wine and shared it with them, engaging in various conversations.

‘What will you do now?’

‘I must go where I need to be.’

‘It will be a long and complicated journey.’

‘Is that so?’

‘Yes, there’s a reason we divide the rule over Hell. There’s also a reason He comes down to manage it.’

‘In fact, where He resides is the deepest part of Hell, a place even we cannot easily reach.’

A place even the 72 lords who rule Hell can’t easily visit… At that moment, Oliver remembered the gift he’d received from the new Archive.

The gift that the Archive, which existed to face the end times, had given to him, the Prince of Hell and son of an Angel. It wasn’t given without meaning.

After finishing the rest of his chocolate cake, Oliver took out the pocket watch again from his chest.

‘Do you know what this is?’

Oliver showed the pocket watch he received from Kevin, though it was actually an object that merely resembled a pocket watch.

At first glance, it was a watch, but for some reason, Oliver didn’t perceive it as a true timepiece.

The three lords, upon seeing the object Oliver took out, reacted with surprise, admiration, and a sense of inevitability as they explained the nature of the watch.

‘It’s a creation by Him.’

‘Like Holy Power, the Archive, or Dark Magic.’

‘It seems to be a compass.’

‘A compass?’

‘Yes, a compass. When used by the rightful owner in the correct place, it will guide you to Him. Follow where the three needles point, and you will meet Him.’

Hearing this unexpected information, Oliver felt pleased and stood up.

‘That’s great news. Seems like buying the chocolate cake was a good idea.’

‘Are you leaving already?’

‘Yes, as much as I enjoy sharing cake with you all, we’ve finished eating.’

‘I believe there’s more cake, though.’

‘That’s for others, so no. Also, it might make me gain weight.’

‘What a pity, I thought you’d give it to us anyway.’

The Burned One joked while licking his fork.

Oliver, expressing his thanks, prepared to set off once more.

While time wasn’t urgent, it did seem like a long journey, just as they had said, so he thought to hurry a bit.

Just as Oliver was about to move, the Horse-riding Old Man spoke.

‘Oh Great One.’

‘Yes?’

‘It will be a very long journey.’

‘That’s fine. It means I’ll have much to see.’

Hearing Oliver’s unwavering response, they put down their wine glasses and forks, stood up, and knelt on one knee.

‘May you safely meet Him.’

‘We will also attend to our duties.’

‘Until you complete your task safely.’

The three lords knelt and bowed their heads before Oliver.

After expressing his thanks to them, Oliver walked resolutely in the direction the pocket watch indicated.

Day one, two, three, four…

One year, two years, three years, four years…

One hundred years, two hundred years, three hundred years, four hundred years…

Or maybe even longer, he walked in silence.

But it wasn’t just walking.

‘Ah, how nice to meet you. You’re… a winged lion, aren’t you?’

Every now and then, one of the rulers of Hell would appear before Oliver while he journeyed through the hellish void.

‘Yes, I am the Winged Lion. It is an honor to meet you, Great One.’

They greeted Oliver warmly in various locations—pitch-black voids, labyrinths, dining halls, battlefields, royal palaces—and Oliver politely returned their greetings.

‘Thank you for your warm welcome. Is there any food or drink you prefer?’

Despite meeting them for the first time, Oliver treated each one warmly and took out Big Mouth to serve them food, drink, and water from the human world, engaging in conversation.

‘Are you on your way to meet Him?’

‘Yes.’

‘It will be a long journey.’

‘Everyone keeps saying that. Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine. I can already feel it physically. It’s not so bad.’

‘Is that so?’

‘Meeting you all makes it worthwhile.’

‘You are as unusual as they say.’

‘I realized upon coming here—I’m the most cheerful, humorous, and sociable person in this place. And because of that, I’m starting to warm up to all of you. It’s rare to meet someone more gloomy, dull, and antisocial than me around here.’

‘Well, that’s a regrettable response.’

‘The feeling’s mutual. I had high expectations for the demons here, but you’ve all turned out… different. By the way, don’t you ever think to yourself: today, I should get some sunshine, or maybe meet up with other demons?’

‘No, we’ve been here too long. We dislike each other.’

‘Doesn’t that get lonely after a while?’

‘Such human emotions don’t apply to us.’

‘Says the one who just devoured 50 plates of fish, 10 bottles of white wine, and 20 boxes of chocolate.’

‘… I’m afraid I’m starting to dislike you.’

‘That’s fine. The people I like always say that.’

Oliver brazenly responded, looking at the Winged Lion, who burst into laughter.

‘Hahahaha… I’ll admit it. Sometimes, I do feel the need for conversation.’

‘I suspected as much. I’ll gladly be your conversation partner.’

‘But it will be a very long time.’

‘Then, we’ll just talk for a long time.’

Raising both thumbs, Oliver grinned and followed through with his offer, engaging in long conversations with the Winged Lion.

Day one, two, three, four…

One year, two years, three years, four years…

One hundred years, two hundred years, three hundred years, four hundred years…

For as long as necessary, until both were satisfied.

But that wasn’t all.

Not just the Horse-riding Old Man, the Woman on the Camel, the Burned One, and the Winged Lion.

He also met a Black Knight on a black horse, one with three animal faces, another with webbed feet, one with a donkey’s head, and a limping one. All sorts of demons…

Each of them would ask Oliver questions, and Oliver answered based on what he had learned in his life.

They exchanged tens of thousands of questions and answers, sometimes satisfied, sometimes frustrated, sometimes disappointed.

Of course, that was to be expected.

Oliver may have been the Prince of Hell and son of an Angel, but even demons had long maintained the order of the world and the shadows of the gods. Oliver couldn’t satisfy them at every turn.

Remembering this, Oliver didn’t get discouraged, but instead asked them questions, learned from them, and sometimes even debated, exchanging opinions with each one.

Consistently, with every single one.

Thanks to that, what seemed like endless conversations finally came to an end. Oliver stood up, packing Big Mouth which had been providing food.

‘Well, I think it’s time to get going. Is there anything more you’d like to talk about?’

‘There is, but I’ll save it for later.’

‘If you’re doing it out of consideration for me, it’s unnecessary.’

‘No, I’ve also got things to attend to.’

‘Can I ask what that might be?’

‘As you suggested, I think I’ll go see the sunlight.’

‘Oh, really?’

‘Yes… I couldn’t stand hearing that I’m gloomier, duller, and less sociable than you.’

‘It takes courage to admit the truth.’

The Winged Lion raised a claw.

‘I do not admit it. Because it’s not the truth. However, there’s one thing I do acknowledge.’

‘What is it?’

‘That you are a Great One.’

The Winged Lion said with a firm voice.

It wasn’t just him. The Black Knight on the black horse, the one with three animal faces, the web-footed one, the donkey-headed one, and the limping one—they all acknowledged Oliver.

After their conversations, they each walked in the opposite direction that Oliver had come from, to see the sunlight themselves.

Though not all of them chose that path.

‘Hehe… I’m sorry, but I still can’t acknowledge you.’

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

‘Please understand, we have our own positions to uphold.’

Also, the one in the purple robe added,

‘We still have work to do.’

The owl-headed one, the winged wolf, the pigeon holding a sword—several demons rejected Oliver’s will, for now.

‘… I understand. I appreciate your conversation nonetheless.’

Oliver expressed his gratitude even to those demons and stood up, and even those demons walked in the opposite direction where Oliver had come from.

At times, it was joyful, sometimes it was regretful, and other times exhausting, but Oliver cherished each of these emotions as he continued his journey.

Whatever it was, thanks to these emotions, the long journey was more bearable than he had thought.

Perhaps because of that, Oliver was grateful to all the demons, whether they acknowledged him or not.

Of course, it wasn’t only demons that Oliver encountered on his path.

[Save me…]

[Please… save me…]

[It hurts…]

Here and there, some of the many sinners comprising the structure of Hell grabbed at Oliver’s trousers, pleading through the darkness.

Not only that but the sinners used to support the palaces of the 72 lords, those turned to gold for paving roads, and those transformed into trees pecked at by birds also reached out, begging for salvation.

It hurts, it’s painful, unfair, save me, rescue me, I repent…

Their pleas were not intelligent but rather primal cries born of their immense suffering.

Oliver interacted with each one, asking why they had ended up there, what made them so pained, and engaged them in conversations like those he had with the demons.

Some answered his questions, some shouted, and very rarely, some had fits or bursts of rage.

Why won’t you save us?

As Oliver listened to their words, their screams, their curses, and their pleas, he continued to converse with them.

Day one, two, three, four…

One year, two years, three years, four years…

One hundred years, two hundred years, three hundred years, four hundred years…

Though the road ahead was long, Oliver thought there was plenty of time.

Perhaps due to his efforts, a few of them found some semblance of closure, but most remained unaware, continuing to beg for salvation, or scream in frustration.

It was truly a sad scene.

After some time had passed, Oliver promised to return and continued on his way.

‘Ugh…’

‘Coo-coo?’

As Oliver stood up and resumed walking, Big Mouth, in its leather case attached to his back, suddenly spoke.

It was the first time since they began that Big Mouth had spoken. It was clear Big Mouth was concerned about Oliver.

Despite pushing Big Mouth so hard, Oliver replied to his concerned companion.

‘Of course, I’m fine. Feeling a bit bored, so would you like to chat with me Big Mouth?’

‘Coo-coo.’

‘That’s too bad.’

With a bit of banter between him and Big Mouth, Oliver continued walking endlessly, and after a time too long to count, he finally came across a single door in the distant darkness.

‘…’

Creak—

Without a moment’s hesitation, Oliver opened the door and passed through.

‘You’ve arrived, child.’

He found a man standing there, his face cast in shadow.

‘… It’s been a while.’