🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 06
Hao Clan was said to be a sect formed by the lowest of the low—coachmen, inn boys, thieves, courtesans. So it had its flaws, of course, but precisely because all kinds of unknown people could slip in easily, somehow that fox ended up rising all the way to the position of clan leader.
How on earth did that even happen?
I should bite his tail later and interrogate him properly.
Anyway, among the Hao Clan’s many bases, Cheonwolru was apparently one of its most important ones.
It was where the highest-level information handled by the Hao Clan flowed in and out. That’s why he told me this was the perfect place to observe various kinds of humans.
[So watch carefully and learn, Mountain Lord.]
[Aren’t you going to teach me?]
[You’ll learn faster by watching. Besides, everyone belonging to Cheonwolru is well-educated and well-mannered. You’ll learn better here.]
Saying that, the fox ran away as if fleeing for his life.
For now, the most important thing is recovering the energy of my inner core.
To get my revenge, I had a lot to learn. I had to recover my inner core and learn disguise techniques, and I also needed to learn more about humans.
But instead of teaching me properly, the fox dumped me on Sehwa.
At least Sehwa, unlike the fox, treated me carefully.
Her gaze never left me as she walked while holding me in her arms. I tilted my head at her stare.
“Kyawng?”
“…Are you all right? You drank so many elixirs.”
“Keng!”
“You look lively enough, but…”
Even as she muttered that, I could see the worry in her eyes.
Even if I was in the form of a tiger cub, I was far too fine to be receiving such worried looks from a human.
When I suddenly began squirming in her arms, Sehwa looked flustered. With her slender arms, there was no way she could stop me.
“Kyawng!”
The moment her grip loosened, I jumped to the floor.
Then, for good measure, I bounced forward a bit, turned back, and let out a proud kyaang.
See? I’m perfectly fine.
Even if I had become younger, I was not something a mere fifty-year-old human needed to worry about.
Sehwa blinked in surprise, then her expression softened.
“Heh… so that means you’re fine?”
“Kyaang!”
“Alright, alright. Sorry I didn’t realize. Come here.”
She bent her knees slightly and reached out a hand, so I trotted over.
To think someone far younger than me is worrying about me. What a commendable little human.
In my eyes, all humans were no different from newborns.
I had lived a thousand years, after all.
Humans fall for appearances so easily, I’ve heard…
If she’s that easily swayed, she’ll get tricked by bad people someday.
Sehwa was just as busy as the fox.
“Lady Sehwa, today’s reservations…”
“All the supplies you ordered prepared earlier have been arranged.”
“I’ve checked the lacking daily necessities and tools. I’ve listed them here, Lady Sehwa.”
People of all kinds addressed Sehwa respectfully—men and women alike asked questions and reported things to her.
Some even glanced at me.
“But this tiger…?”
“The Master brought him. I will personally look after him, so pay it no mind.”
Her polite yet cold tone was unexpected.
She’s different than when she talks to the fox.
Seeing this side of her was… interesting.
As I stared at her blankly, our eyes met.
“…Also, bring some finely minced beef.”
“Yes, Lady Sehwa.”
Once the neatly dressed man left, Sehwa let out a short sigh. Then she rose from her chair and approached me.
“Sorry, Mountain Lord. I left you alone.”
“Kyawng.”
“Aren’t you hungry from only herbs? I asked them to bring meat as well, so try it.”
I didn’t really need physical food. But I couldn’t exactly explain that.
Before long, the scent of bloodless fresh meat grew near, making me sigh internally.
Well… considering her sincerity, I should eat a little.
Sehwa watched the tiger cub’s back as he munched on the minced meat with little chomp chomp sounds.
Each time he ate, his black ears—speckled with white spots—twitched adorably. She suddenly wanted to pet him, but skillfully suppressed the impulse.
People disliked being touched while eating; a tiger would be no different.
“…You eat less than I expected. Don’t you like it?”
“Kyau.”
The cub let out a soft cry after licking the meat crumbs from his mouth.
Then, after a big yawn, he ignored the half-full dish and looked around.
As if the previous crowd had kept him still, his bluish-gray cub eyes sparkled as he wandered everywhere.
Standing on his hind legs, he stretched his neck to look at items on the drawer, tapped the floor with his paw, then headed toward a chair.
He wiggled his butt, preparing to jump onto it.
Well, he tried to. He caught his claws halfway up the chair, scrabbled desperately, and then fell.
“Kyak!”
“Oh dear. Are you alright?”
The cub landed perfectly on his back, lying dazed for a moment before flipping over and popping up with a snort.
Then he exhaled sharply and thumped his tail, clearly frustrated.
Sehwa couldn’t help but smile.
“You wanted to get up there?”
“Kyaang!”
“Should I put you up?”
He looked at her, then trotted over and bumped his forehead against her leg.
It was like he was demanding to be lifted right away, so Sehwa gladly scooped him up into her arms.
“Take good care of Mountain Lord.”
The Master of Cheonwolru—who also happened to be the leader of the Hao Clan—gave her a firm order.
“Raising a tiger—especially a cub like this—is an extremely rare opportunity. Care for him well. Show him around Cheonwolru while you’re at it. When he grows up, he’ll be a dependable guardian of the place.”
“Yes, Master.”
“…And as you’ve already guessed, he’s no ordinary tiger. He’s quite intelligent. So treat him with caution. He can tell right from wrong.”
As he said that, the Master tapped the cub’s head playfully—only to get bitten.
Thinking back to that scene, Sehwa looked at Mountain Lord nestled quietly in her arms.
His warm body alone was enough to make her feel comforted. And the mixed texture of both prickly and soft fur was oddly addicting.
When he pawed at the desk as if wanting to go up, she set him on top. He began sniffing and exploring.
As the Master had said, he was sharp—he didn’t disturb anything on the desk.
He didn’t knock over the water pot or lick the inkstone, nor did he play with the brush more than a gentle tap.
Then he tilted his head and stared at the papers spread across the desk—her report.
His eyes sparkled as he looked at it, making Sehwa wonder for a moment if he could actually read.
No way…
That was absurd. How could a tiger read?
“Curious?”
“Kyap!”
“It’s nothing interesting—just a list of supplies we need here, and how much of each. More importantly, aren’t you bored?”
“Kyawng?”
“The Master said there’s nowhere in Cheonwolru you’re forbidden to go. Should we take a walk?”
“Kyao!”
As if waiting for those words, the cub hopped off the desk.
Then he circled around Sehwa’s feet like he wanted her to hurry, making her laugh.
The strange, mysterious Master had indeed brought back an incredibly adorable tiger cub.
