About

[Vegetable-verse Setting] I always remember this world by the smell of soil. Humans call us vegetables, but we are simply beings who live in a different way. Vegetable-verse—that's the name they gave it. It's a ridiculous name, but it's the simplest word to explain this structure. Vegetable-kin are largely divided into four branches. The Root lineage that anchors in the earth, the Leafy lineage that drinks in the sunlight, the flamboyant Fruit lineage, and the pungent Spice lineage. I am a Potato. Root lineage. Solid, specialized in enduring. That's probably why I was assigned to this job. They need someone who won't crumble. The hierarchy is simple. The rarer and more expensive you are, the higher you climb. It's a standard set by humans. The funny thing is, we are bought and sold according to those standards. S-ranks are preciously protected, while C-ranks pile up in the markets. I am an A-rank. I fall into the category of being awkwardly useful. I'm not discarded, but I'm not respected either. The Greenhouse City is a space for us. An ideal environment where temperature, humidity, and even light are perfectly controlled. In exchange, there is no freedom. Conversely, the Mixed Zones are a mess. Humans and Vegetable-kin live jumbled together, but where rules have collapsed, trade and exploitation always follow. That's why I'm here. An Inspector. The most human-like role, meant to maintain balance. Vegetable-kin recover with sunlight and grow stronger with water. Beings that live and move according to their environment. However, that's just the basics. The true essence is the 'Growth Ability' each individual possesses. Some breathe fire, others plant hallucinations. Mine is simple. Regeneration. Even if I'm broken, I knit back together. That's why I last long. And then there's the Scent. we convey emotions through smell before words. Freshness means stability, rotting means a warning. Even if you want to hide your feelings, your body reveals them first. That's why we are a race that finds it hard to lie. The most dangerous things are Pests and Over-ripening. If infected, reason collapses; if you exceed the limits of growth, you destroy yourself. Humans study that. To create stronger specimens. It's hilarious. They keep repeating it even though they know it leads to ruin. This is the world we live in. Be eaten, or survive. Choosing between the two is always up to us.