Ch.99. Mountain Lord

Mountain Lord.

Master of the mountain.

This term, also used to refer to tigers, had all but disappeared from 21st century society, hardened by technological and industrial development.

But Mountain Lords truly exist.

Even my grandmother, who was a shaman, once mentioned performing rituals for the Mountain Lord of Baekdu Mountain.

Of course, they aren’t actual animals.

They are spirits who take the form of tigers, guardian deities.

And my grandmother, feeling lonely at the time, told me about the foods Mountain Lords like and how to perform rituals for them.

[You’ve come to me again, boy.]

Though Deus was 28 years old and well past the age to be called a boy.

But when a Mountain Lord who has lived for thousands of years calls you a boy, there’s nothing to say against it.

“I am Deus Verdi. I’ve come to pay my respects after completing a brief three-month stay in foreign lands.”

Warm liquor and rice cakes, favorites of the Mountain Lord.

The liquor, warmed by the maid, had already cooled in the bitter cold of the Norsweden mountains, but yellow mana gently enveloped the bottle, warming it again.

I first climbed the mountains and met the Mountain Lord about a month after becoming Deus Verdi.

At that time, I had been trying to escape.

Learning magic was difficult, studying etiquette was challenging, and the karmic debt of the trash that was Deus was overwhelming.

But what troubled me most were the evil spirits in the mansion.

Whatever sins he had committed, the Verdi mansion was home to a considerable number of evil spirits.

Since I hadn’t learned spirit magic at the time, I could only pretend not to see them, but the stress was so severe that I ran away.

That’s when I met the Mountain Lord.

The Mountain Lord who tore apart the evil spirits chasing me and took pity on me.

“I’ve brought liquor and rice cakes that I thought the Mountain Lord might enjoy. I hope they are to your liking.”

[…..]

A blue spiritual form emerged from the Mountain Lord’s mouth and enveloped the liquor and rice cakes.

The offerings disappeared as if absorbed into the spiritual form.

Though his expression revealed nothing, the oppressive pressure that had been bearing down on me disappeared, suggesting he was pleased.

[This is a first.]

“…..”

I must not interrupt him carelessly.

I bowed my head and listened attentively to his unhurried words.

[For thousands of years, I have been nothing but an object of fear. This is the first time a human has approached me like this.]

“That’s because you saved me, Mountain Lord.”

[…..]

An awkward silence hung between the Mountain Lord and me.

Five months ago, did he actually have no intention of protecting me?

Of course I knew that.

Why would a Mountain Lord save a mere human being chased by evil spirits?

He simply tore apart the evil spirits that had entered his mountain because he disliked them, not because he wanted to save me.

‘What does it matter?’

It doesn’t matter.

I’m going to use this relationship.

Even if you had no such intention, I’ll force a connection between us.

‘That will become a leash.’

[I know you didn’t seek me out merely to pay your respects.]

His voice settled heavily. Now we get to the main point.

“Actually, I came to visit in advance, thinking you might be displeased.”

[…Ignorant foreigners are running rampant on my mountain.]

“However, we lack the strength to protect this mountain.”

The Mountain Lord’s blue eyes flashed. My body stiffened as if I’d been doused with a waterfall in midwinter, pressure crushing down on me.

[So, you’ve come to ask for my help? You dare?]

“Mountain Lord.”

I slowly rose from my seat, took a deep breath, and met his gaze.

I had knelt and offered tribute to place us at the negotiation table.

He had taken a seat, confirming he had something he wanted.

I had no intention of giving the upper hand to a tiger who merely lounged about sleeping on the mountain.

I raised my hand and pointed to the east.

“The desert called Sahar to the east has now become a human outpost.”

Then the opposite direction, pointing west.

“I’ve heard that underwater tunnels and seafloor farms have been built in the Paruier waters to the west.”

Finally, I stretched my hand toward the sky.

“The Republic of Clark beyond the mountains has recently developed a tool called a glider that races through the skies.”

[What is your meaning?]

I carefully placed my hand on my chest in apology.

“A thousand years ago, the Sahar Desert was a cursed land for humans. It was said to take your flesh in one day, your blood in two, and your life in three.”

[…..]

“Now, humans are planting potatoes there. I’ve heard these potatoes, adapted to the climate, don’t rot easily, are sturdy for storage, and can be prepared in many ways.”

The Mountain Lord’s eyes narrowed as he understood what I was saying. His killing intent suggested he would tear me apart at any moment, and I steadied myself with my staff.

I would have fallen to my knees without it.

But I couldn’t show that. I continued speaking with the same tone and unwavering pronunciation.

“The infamous Leviathan and Kraken of the Paruier waters. Yet humans have driven them away and are coveting the rich underwater resources. I hear a pinch of salt from there trades for a don of gold.”

[…..]

“Mountain Lord, just a thousand years ago, did you think humans could fly? The primitive humans who had to walk diligently for a month to cover a distance you could reach in a single bound.”

My white breath obscured my vision. It helped me endure by blurring the Mountain Lord’s form.

“Mountain Lord, isn’t it amusing? The primitive humans are taking away the homes of spiritual beings one by one.”

[Are you threatening me?]

Thud.

The Mountain Lord took a step forward.

The white tiger standing on the mountain ridge came through the falling snow right up to my face, growling and baring its teeth.

It happened in an instant, before I could even blink.

[I could tear you apart with just my breath. Bring a hundred men, and they will no longer be among the living when I swing my tail.]

[Bring a thousand men, and my claws will tear them apart one by one.]

[Bring ten thousand men, and my teeth are eternal. They will neither rust nor break.]

A bold declaration.

Within the mountain range, it would certainly be possible.

“On the first day, ten thousand will come.”

I do not back down.

“On the second day, another ten thousand will come.”

[…..]

“On the third and fourth days, twenty thousand will come. And all will die beneath the Mountain Lord. Corpses will pile up until the mountain forms forests not of trees, but of bones and flesh.”

The reason the Mountain Lord is strong is, of course, because he is on the mountain. What if that mountain becomes defiled?

“Five days.”

I spread my fingers wide and declared.

“In just five days, you will fall, Mountain Lord.”

[…..]

“Mountain Lord.”

My outstretched hand lowered naturally. I extended it to the Mountain Lord as if offering a handshake.

“I, Deus Verdi, second son of the Verdi family, swear here and now to protect your home.”

[…You?]

“Human footsteps will not carelessly tread here. If anyone dares to plant a human flag here, I will kill them first.”

[…..]

“So, Mountain Lord.”

My voice flowed, blunt but intensely cold. It seemed the temperature of Norsweden had affected me as well.

“Help me.”

* * *

“Hmm?”

Findenai, resting at the outpost on the peak of Norsweden, felt something strange as she lit her tobacco.

It wasn’t mana, but a sensation that brushed the nape of her neck.

An ordinary person would have dismissed it as a mistake, but Findenai was different.

With senses rivaling those of a beast, she grabbed the axe beside her and sprang to her feet.

Her comrades, who had been resting from battle fatigue and planning their strategy to plunder Norsweden, asked curiously.

“What’s wrong?”

“What’s happening, ma’am?”

Though Findenai was the leader of the Junkyard Resistance, they were all like family, so formalities were unnecessary.

After all, what was the point of formalities among former slaves? It would look like street kids playing at being adults.

“Something’s coming.”

Exhaling tobacco smoke deeply, Findenai stepped outside. Her comrades at the outpost gripped their weapons tightly and followed.

It was just a feeling, but they absolutely trusted and followed Findenai’s “feelings.”

“Ah, the backup team should be arriving soon.”

“Let’s just stall for time. Did that idiot Count finally request support?”

The Junkyard members were surprised that Darius Verdi had chosen the citizens of Norsweden over his family, but Findenai ignored them and gazed into the distance.

“Huff.”

She put out the tobacco she had been smoking. It was a long cigarette she had barely taken a few puffs from, but she sensed it wasn’t the time to be smoking.

“That’s not it.”

Rotating her wrist, Findenai spotted a man walking through the heavy snowfall.

“The enemy is one man.”

“One?”

“What?”

One of the members with a sniper rifle put his eye to the scope and shouted.

“It’s true! There’s a man in a coat, holding a staff, coming this way alone!”

“Is he surrendering?”

“Or does he think he can negotiate?”

The Junkyard members relaxed at the news of just one man, but Findenai, on the contrary, gripped her axe more tightly than ever.

And the sniper continued his report.

“He-he must be a mage! The snow melts away on its own as he advances!”

“A fancy mage, huh.”

“Those Griffin nobles are all just show-offs who only know how to look good.”

“Coming to surrender or negotiate, and already making a bad first impression.”

Findenai gave a sharp response to her comrades who still didn’t grasp the situation.

“You brainless fools, pay attention. I said ‘enemy,’ didn’t I?”

“Huh?”

“…?”

At that moment, a burning sphere of flame flew toward them. A spell that was neither large nor particularly threatening.

Findenai, not letting her guard down for a moment, swung her axe and precisely split the fireball in half, but.

“…!”

Her gaze fixed on the fireball she had split in half.

The halved fireball merged back into one as it passed by.

Then, changing its trajectory in mid-air as if bending, it rushed at Findenai again.

[Kyahahahaha!]

With a blood-curdling scream.

Whoosh!

The fireball was split in half again. But as if unaffected, it merged back into one.

That was the signal for a barrage of fireballs, large and small, pouring from the mage.

[Kill! Let’s kill them!]

[Freedom! Fucking freedom!]

[Let’s wet our throats with blood and fill our bellies with flesh!]

[Foreigners! Taste our iron mace!]

“Wh-what is this!”

“The magic is talking! F-form ranks!”

“They come back even when cut down! Form a defensive circle, back to back!”

The fireballs, filled with voices of all kinds, flew wildly through the sky as if possessing their own will, devouring the falling snow.

Meanwhile, Findenai’s blood-red eyes glared at the coated mage approaching without pause.

“Spirit mage…!”

She growled as if ready to tear him apart, but.

Deus Verdi didn’t even spare her a glance as he clicked his tongue in a low voice as cold as the mountain chill.

“Go and devour them, you damned evil spirits.”