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Chapter 31
“‘Anything,’ you say… You must be well aware of how much weight those words carry, Merchant Lord.”
“Compared to my son’s life, it’s a light price.”
At Wi Jihak’s firm reply, as if there were nothing to think over, the fox narrowed the corners of his eyes.
“Is that so? Then please remain at Cheonwolru for the time being. It will take some time to bring that person here.”
“I’ll wait as long as it takes. But how long will it be? Can’t it be hurried along?”
“Please don’t worry. I’ve just received word that they’ll be arriving shortly.”
Indeed. After all, that person was watching this entire affair from the same room, seated on the same cushion.
Maintaining, with difficulty, the same attitude as at our first meeting—but seeing Wi Jihak looking as if he had lost even more self-control than before—I let out a quiet snort.
[Mountain Lord. Let’s go out together. You don’t want to face that human directly, do you?]
[Did you read my mind?]
[You haven’t been able to take your eyes off him for a while now.]
Saying that, the fox rose from his seat.
“I’ll have the meal brought in. Please rest comfortably. Come, Mountain Lord.”
Before the human could stop us, we quickly left the room and slipped into a nearby empty one.
[I’ll help you maintain a fully grown human form.]
[Why? Won’t a child’s body do?]
[He’d think you were mocking him.]
[Humans, honestly. They’re too easily swayed by appearances.]
[Now, now. Stop grumbling. I’ll help you keep a mature human form at least this long.]
At his gentle coaxing, I swallowed a sigh and accepted the fox’s power.
After all, I too had many things I wanted to ask that man, Wi Jihak.
When we returned to the room, the human stared at us in shock. Well, he probably hadn’t expected us back so soon.
“A-already?”
“I heard you wanted it hurried.”
Standing awkwardly in the form of a fully grown human, supported by the fox’s power, I looked down at Wi Jihak.
Seeing the mixed gaze of suspicion and disbelief he sent my way, a laugh slipped out of me before I could stop it.
At that, the man frowned, clearly displeased.
“If you hoped for peace after ending your encounter with the White Deer so poorly, wouldn’t that be a bit greedy, Merchant Lord of the Eunrok Guild?”
At those words, Wi Jihak shot to his feet as if struck by lightning. Trembling, he pointed at me with a shaking index finger and stammered,
“H-how… how do you know? That was—!”
“You don’t think only the Wi family has ties to the White Deer, do you?”
In truth, there were many who did—but that would only make him more desperate. His child’s life was on the line.
“The White Deer, huh… Come to think of it, I’ve heard the name ‘Eunrok Guild’ comes from a tale involving the White Deer. If I remember correctly, the founding merchant lord was said to have received a favor from the sacred White Deer? It sounded too made-up, so I dismissed it.”
The fox muttered under his breath.
“A favor, indeed. If the White Deer heard that, it would grind its teeth.”
A favor—don’t make me laugh.
I snorted inwardly at the thought, and the fox gave me a puzzled look. Then Wi Jihak hurriedly spoke.
“Y-you truly have ties to the White Deer? The White Deer vanished more than two hundred years ago.”
It was a sharp question. But I already had an answer prepared.
“I hear that it’s not entirely impossible for a person to live several hundred years.”
“T-then… surely not.”
“Let me ask you this. Among those who have visited the Wi family, has there ever been someone who spoke of your family’s secrets in such detail?”
At that, Wi Jihak collapsed back into his seat with a thud and spoke in a trembling voice.
“…I failed to recognize a master who has returned to youth. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“There’s nothing rude about it. I didn’t reveal myself. Nor do I intend to—now or in the future. I have no intention of giving you my name either.”
“Then that means…”
“What matters isn’t that. It’s your son’s condition.”
Only then did the man seem to recall the original issue.
“Th-then please, my son’s illness—”
“I’ll have to see it to know. But for every task, there must be a fitting price. If I cure your son and ensure that no one in your descendants suffers from such a frail body again, what will you offer in return, Merchant Lord?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Wi Jihak replied,
“Anything I can give.”
“Even the White Deer’s inner core?”
The man froze.
“I won’t ask for the hide or the antlers. But if you have the inner core, give it to me. That is the price.”
“H-how… how do you know…!”
“If I know the White Deer, how could I not guess its treatment? The sooner you decide, the better. The curse on your bloodline weakens your descendants with each generation. You must have noticed.”
Watching his face grow ashen, I sneered inwardly.
[Wait, Mountain Lord. What is all this? I only meant to find some medicinal herbs. But now—what? The White Deer’s inner core?]
[I don’t know about the Eunrok Guild or the Wi family. What I know is the sacred White Deer. Roughly… I last met it about two hundred years ago.]
The fox’s expression didn’t change, but the tone he used when speaking to me clearly had.
[So that White Deer spirit is connected to those humans’ bloodline?]
[Probably. That would explain why the child is born weak.]
[I didn’t know there was another oddity like me.]
…Among all the sacred beasts I’ve met, the fox was the only oddity.
Well, that’s a matter we can discuss later.
“Do you think I couldn’t obtain something as trivial as a family treasure if I truly wanted it?”
“!!”
“I simply don’t steal. Because I am not a thief. And there’s something you should think carefully about.”
I finished my words as I met his trembling gaze.
“Even if it’s a transaction, consider how precious it is to have a chance to save your son.”
From what I could tell, he’d failed repeatedly until now—but that wasn’t my concern. Judging an opponent’s capabilities was his responsibility. And if it came to it, I could simply steal the inner core and leave.
‘I just don’t, because that wouldn’t give me the leisure to examine the Eunrok Guild properly.’
So I hoped the human would make a wise choice.
“Can you… truly treat him?”
“It won’t be a losing deal. I’m not saying you should hand over the inner core merely as the price of a father saving his son’s life.”
I looked into his wavering eyes.
“I’m saying that if you can buy the continued existence of the Wi family with an inner core, isn’t that cheap?”
“…!”
“However, you must keep my involvement in this matter a secret. I despise noise.”
I had no intention of flaunting myself. Without the fox’s help, I couldn’t even maintain a human form.
“Yes. I will do so.”
Whether he’d realized something or simply sensed there was no room for negotiation, Wi Jihak’s demeanor had become remarkably meek.
As I felt the fox’s power gradually weakening, it seemed my human form wouldn’t last much longer.
“Discuss the rest among yourselves. I’ll assume that’s understood…”
“W-where are you going right now?!”
Wi Jihak hurriedly stood and tried to follow me.
“My son’s condition is urgent—!”
“How amusing.”
Already anxious about when my human form might collapse, his attempt to stop me only sharpened my irritation.
“I deliberately made time for this and even rearranged my own schedule to help your child, yet you show no gratitude and make excessive demands.”
“…! That’s not—!”
“If it’s not, then learn patience. Your child won’t stop breathing this instant.”
If I delayed any longer, I’d revert to my true form, so I hurried out of the room. In another empty chamber, I returned to the form of a tiger cub.
[Whew…]
As I gathered and steadied my scattered, depleted energy, I forced myself to suppress thoughts of the past.
Nothing has been confirmed yet.
But the last time I met the White Deer, it had vehemently opposed my involvement.
What if it had asked me for help instead? Perhaps the outcome would have been different.
At the very least, I wouldn’t have been making a “deal” with humans—curing a child in exchange for the White Deer’s inner core.
A deal with humans… I’ve really changed a lot.
[I should have watched over it properly back then.]
But regret always comes too late.
Just as I once regretted not taking interest in the human realm, not protecting it, while I was captured by the Blood Cult and forced to witness the deaths of Jimjo and the fox.
