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Chapter 13
Midway up Mount Geumgang.
Pushing through a wild forest where even paths don’t exist…
Woof woof―!
…A dog??
A black Jindo dog with four eyes was tearing through the forest at explosive speed.
Leaping over rocks, passing through bushes, stepping and bounding over trees—its movements were almost acrobatic.
One thing was clear: its physical ability far surpassed common sense.
Sniff sniff―! Sniff sniff―!!
Its muzzle, tongue sticking out, probed here and there with dazzling speed. The dog finally stopped a little later, beside a rock.
It flared its black nostrils and, as if having found what it sought, howled loudly toward the sky.
“Awooo~!!”
Creak―
Resonating, the howl spread across the mountain, making the forest rustle, and birds took flight from all directions.
At that moment,
In the sky, walking leisurely among the flying birds, was a stag.
The very symbol of herbivores, a four-legged deer with antlers, descending not on the ground but through the air.
And then.
“Tan-ah, I told you not to bark recklessly. You’re scaring everyone.”
On the back of this mystical stag sat a man. A middle-aged figure with a dignified appearance, his black and white hair blending elegantly.
Mountain King Kim Jong-pil had made his appearance.
Woof woof―!!
“What, you say you found the gift?”
Hieeeng~
“Herbs? Really big herbs?”
Grrr!
“Alright, let’s see if Tan’s right.”
Kim Jong-pil lightly waved his hand, and the tree roots where the dog had been sitting surged violently from underground for a moment.
At the tip of a protruding shoot hung a ginseng root.
As the dog had said, it was a very, very large ginseng.
Clearly over a hundred years old, the ginseng radiated mystical elegance, and Kim Jong-pil laughed heartily, scratching Tan’s chin.
“Haha, that’s huge. No wonder Tan is proud.”
Woof woof―!!
“A gift, you say? In-seok, you mustn’t dig something like this recklessly.”
Hieeeng…
“Still, thank you. You’re the only one who cares about me, Tan. Oh, Vita too.”
The stag, seemingly annoyed at being ignored, lowered its head and rubbed its muzzle against Kim Jong-pil’s cheek.
“Hahaha.”
Kim Jong-pil’s previously complicated feelings seemed to lighten through the affectionate gestures of his adorable friends.
He smiled brightly, stroking their heads, and at the same time, the ginseng pulled by the tree roots sank back into the ground, returning to its place.
“You’re late. Alright, let’s stop playing and go home.”
Grrr~!
“You want to fly too? Alright, so be it.”
Mounting the stag again, Kim Jong-pil rose into the sky.
The dog, wanting to follow, leapt repeatedly on the spot, and he gladly obliged his adorable companion’s request.
Snap. As he snapped his fingers, the wind beneath the dog’s paws trembled.
The semi-transparent wind writhed like clay, and as it took shape, the wind hawk flapped its wings vigorously.
A dozen mid-level wind spirits supported the dog from below, keeping pace with Kim Jong-pil ahead.
The excited dog barked while Kim Jong-pil watched with a contented smile.
A refreshing wind swept over his body. His chest felt open and free, as if freed from the constraints of space for a brief moment.
After flying through the air for some time, a sheer cliff appeared ahead.
And atop the cliff stood a solitary hanok, Kim Jong-pil’s villa.
Though the cliff was steep enough that even a car would struggle to reach it, it was no problem at all for Kim Jong-pil.
“Hoist. Well done, my friends.”
As Kim Jong-pil set foot in the villa’s yard, the stag—more precisely, the top-tier tree spirit “Vita”—rubbed its head against him and then dissipated into the air.
The Jindo dog also landed on the ground.
Clearly having had a lot of fun, it pantingly stuck its tongue out in a triangular shape.
“You need a wash.”
As soon as he spoke, water droplets swirled from the ground.
Looking closely, small water mice frolicked among the rushing streams. The lower water spirits, obeying their master, washed the dog’s body.
This was Kim Jong-pil.
A masterful controller of magic, able to manipulate completely different elemental spirits without time lag, with an endless reservoir of mana that could be used even in daily life.
He could transform animals into magical beasts with “Beast Taming,” simultaneously control wind and water spirits with “Ho-pung Hwan-woo,” and, as “Gardener of the World Tree,” commanded near-infinite mana and the top-tier tree spirit Vita.
Once undoubtedly an absolute being, even now in his late fifties, he remained competitive at the highest level.
The World Class.
The Mountain King.
“Ah… my back. I’ve grown old too.”
After a little movement, he felt tired. Kim Jong-pil settled into a rocking chair.
Perched precariously on the cliff, enjoying the mountain’s atmosphere, he resembled a sage from a fairy tale.
“How wonderful.”
Kim Jong-pil particularly loved the view of Mount Geumgang from here. The grand scenery opened his chest, washing away worries.
Good scenery demanded good alcohol.
Raising his hand, a tree branch extended into the house’s refrigerator, handing him a bottle of soju.
No glass needed, just straight from the bottle.
As he went to open it, suddenly—
“…Huh?”
Spirits scattered around the mansion sent signs of approaching intent.
Someone was coming.
Kim Jong-pil frowned sharply. This place was unknown even to his family and cherished granddaughter. Who could it be?
Perhaps…
The face of a former friend briefly flashed through his mind.
“No, ‘Jeong-do’ isn’t the type to stoop that low.”
Then who…? Kim Jong-pil’s eyes narrowed as he pondered.
“Good people do not come, and those who come are not good.”
He didn’t know who it was, but it was an uninvited guest.
An orb, casually lying next to the yard’s jar stand, flew and glowed beside Kim Jong-pil.
In a moment of dancing magic, lines, dots, and spirit words unfolded in the air like sheet music.
Countless water mice leapt to the ground and hid, while wind hawks melted into the wind above, dominating the surroundings.
That should be enough.
Kim Jong-pil, fully prepared, waited leisurely for the uninvited guest.
Moments later.
Creak, the rusty hinge of the wooden gate opened.
Amid slight tension, suddenly appeared—
“…A hand?”
And it held a soju bottle. Remarkably, the same brand Kim Jong-pil had been about to open.
“Pleased to meet you. Though it’s our first meeting…”
Lee Shin smiled faintly, shaking the soju bottle.
“Would you like a drink?”
________________________________________
Two people faced each other across the table.
Kim Jong-pil tilts his soju bottle and speaks.
“I’ve really aged, huh? To think I’d be sharing a drink with Sang-byeok hyung’s grandson. By the way, how did you know I was here? No one should know this place.”
Lee Shin pours the drink politely with both hands and says:
“I’ve always respected you. When I heard the news that you had ‘retired,’ I came right away.”
“Ha, retired… You shouldn’t have known I retired.”
“Hehe~ Don’t worry about small things, let’s start with a toast. Cheers!!”
“Well, well, you’re a child full of secrets.”
The glasses clink.
“Haah~ But do you know my grandfather?”
“I had a few meals thanks to Cheol-ong hyung.”
“Oh, you mean Secretary Chief Yu?”
“Cheol-ong hyung is a senior from my hometown. When I was young, we used to play around quite a lot…”
“I’ll pour for you.”
Glug, glug, glug…
“You said your name was Shin. I’ve heard it a lot along the way. A young guy who went around making quite a scene, I hear?”
“Hehe, I’m a bit famous, right?”
“Seeing you in person, the rumors didn’t do you justice. Handsome but delicate, looks like you could charm many women. Just breathing, and storms seem to follow—your face has that kind of aura.”
“You, sir, are crisp on the outside and tender inside.”
“What? Crisp on the outside and tender inside?”
“Yes, crisp outside but moist inside. A face destined to live taking losses.”
“You cheeky kid. A face meant to suffer losses to elders? You’ve got no manners.”
“I hear that a lot. Haah~ But there’s no side dish. At least some kimchi. There’s some amazing beef jerky, shall I get it? Hyung, please fetch the beef jerky from the car.”
Kim Jong-pil tries to gauge while Lee Shin avoids.
A subtle psychological battle passes with each exchanged glass.
“Now I’m really curious—why did you come here? How do you know about my retirement, which no one knows about? You seem to know quite a lot about me. How did you find out?”
“Hehe, I did my research and saw it on the storyboard.”
“You’re saying you don’t want to tell me until the end.”
“It’s true, sir. You’re an SSS-class named character, so there were many cut scenes.”
“Hahaha. You’re far stranger than I heard.”
His skill at changing the topic is also extraordinary. A very unusual person has entered the Sang-byeok hyung household, Kim Jong-pil chuckled, then hardened his expression.
He decided no more mind games were necessary and brought up the main point first.
“Let’s stop the power struggle and get to the point. Why did you come to this retired old man?”
“Shall I?”
The atmosphere shifts instantly. Lee Shin straightens his clothes and kneels.
Kim Jong-pil anticipated what would be said from Shin’s polite demeanor, completely wiping away any playful expression.
‘It must be a recruitment offer.’
It’s always like this.
His retirement was not widely known due to various complicated circumstances.
But if someone hides it, there’s always someone who can find out perfectly. He had already been contacted by a few acquaintances, and every single time, it was a recruitment offer.
Kim Jong-pil assumed Lee Shin was here for the same reason and tilted his glass, rehearsing his usual refusal lines.
But what came out of Lee Shin’s mouth was:
“Don’t you want to become stronger?”
“Pfft―!”
This is… refreshing?
At 18, Kim Jong-pil had never doubted his strength since his awakening.
Not only famous hunters on TV but every major level match he could find, he had verified.
I am stronger than them.
And Kim Jong-pil proved his belief completely.
He and his close friends brought this country to the top of the world.
Yet this rookie, this newborn who could be his granddaughter’s age, dares to talk about strength in front of Kim Jong-pil. The legendary himself.
It’s so audacious he’d deserve a beating.
Even Chae Dong-ha bringing the beef jerky and the usually unflappable female secretary both looked pale.
“Haha, I prided myself on meeting many people, but this kid… this is the first time.”
Kim Jong-pil laughed heartily and refilled Lee Shin’s glass, as if inviting him to continue.
Permission granted.
The stage was set and Lee Shin grins mischievously as he empties his soju glass.
Then, clearing his throat, he revs up the engine for a hellish mouthful.
“Sir, what do you think strength is?”
“Hmm, I don’t know.”
“Strength! That’s strong power! Powerful magic! That’s all strength. Killing many enemies, hunting monsters too tough to handle—that’s also strength!”
But then…
“Why? Sir, why isn’t strength associated with you?”
Does Kim Jong-pil lack strong power?
No. Even the top-grade wood spirit ‘Vita’ he commands is far stronger than most martial arts dealers.
Does he lack powerful magic?
He’s even more confident here. Watching the legion of spirits he summons lay waste to enemy lines leaves no doubt.
Many enemies? Strong monsters?
Undoubtedly, even worldwide, fewer than twenty hunters have tackled more gates than Kim Jong-pil.
And yet…
Even after meeting all the conditions of strength Lee Shin proposed, and proving much more, the image of Mountain King Kim Jong-pil seems strangely far from strength.
Why?
Lee Shin knew the exact answer to this question.
“That’s because, sir, you’ve never once been the protagonist.”
“…!”
The Eternal Second.
That was what the community called the Mountain King.
