After the Conference (1)

After the conference ended, I properly greeted Baek Nam-hun, Ha-neul’s master.

As Ha-neul’s master, he could converse amicably with me by establishing a connection through our shared ‘Ha-neul’.

“Ha-neul is quite a peculiar child.”

“Yes, he even gives me strange orders sometimes.”

“…Pardon?”

“Like insisting I need to be walked on a leash, or spanking my buttocks while scolding me… It’s a bit tiring, but he’s still good to me overall.”

“Ha-neul wants to put you on a leash… Spank your buttocks…”

My response seemed to shock Baek Nam-hun.

Why the surprise?

I was just stating the facts as they were.

In any case, I asked him:

“There’s something I’m curious about.”

“Why would… Our Ha-neul do such things…”

“Um… Director?”

“Ah, my apologies. Yes, please ask.”

“How do the Martial Artists plan to deal with the goblins?”

“…”

Slightly flustered by the sudden serious topic, he soon regained his composure and continued:

“As I mentioned during the conference, we intend to research the ancient texts left by the King of the Yurdo State.”

“Will the answer be found there?”

“Yes. At least, that’s what I believe.”

“I see. There’s one more thing I’m curious about.”

“Please ask.”

“Why are you treating me so well?”

He was no ordinary Martial Artist, but the director responsible for the nation’s safety from yokai threats – the director.

No matter how remarkable my feats, wasn’t it too easy for a national director to acknowledge a non-human like myself?

Eventually, his response came:

“Well… You are a spirit, are you not, Miho?”

“…”

“Even if you evolved from a yokai into a spirit, a spirit is a spirit. I believe in the existence of spirits.”

Yes, he was unusually favorable towards spirits.

Perhaps…

“Do you know something about spirits?”

“…It’s rather ironic for you, a spirit like Miho, to ask me that.”

“Truth is, I don’t really know much about what spirits are myself.”

“I don’t know a great deal either. However, the ancient texts left by the King of Yurdo State described spirits as follows.”

After a brief pause, he continued:

“Spirits.”

“Unlike yokai, are beings utterly benevolent towards humans.”

“They are the saviors of humanity, rescuing humans from unseen threats.”

“…That’s a bit too flattering. I’m not that great…”

“My disciple.”

His next words left me speechless:

“The spirit, the Lord of the Mountain, has proven that fact.”

“…So the text stated.”

“I’ve read those texts so many times that I remember the exact phrasing…”

“…Miho?”

I was at a loss for words.

---

In the Yokai Extermination Office director’s office, Baek Nam-hun sat smoking while deep in thought.

‘Formidable yokai and goblins.’

‘Just what was happening to this world.’

As the director, he had a duty to protect the citizens from the threats of yokai and goblins.

However, the motives and intentions behind these newly emerged ‘enemies’ were utterly unclear, leaving him utterly vexed.

The one consolation, if it could be called that, was the appearance of the spirit Miho.

He recalled the words she had spoken just hours earlier:

[Um…]

[I don’t know if I should say this, but]

[The name of the lord I follow is also the Lord of the Mountain.]

[Could they be… the same person…?]

Surely not.

He never expected the name ‘Lord of the Mountain’ to come from her lips.

The tiger spirit, [Lord of the Mountain].

The Lord of the Mountain was a spirit active over 500 years ago, in the barbaric age.

He was the spirit who stood alongside the ‘King of Yurdo State’, the originator of the martial arts.

The King of Yurdo State had said that the existence he trusted most was not human, but the spirit [Lord of the Mountain].

The spirit [Miho] was born in the Inner Realm ruled by the spirit [Lord of the Mountain].

A coincidence?

It hardly seemed so.

Too many pieces didn’t add up to dismiss it as mere coincidence, not after the goblin’s emergence had already greatly distorted his existing knowledge.

He resolved to no longer believe in coincidences.

‘If the Lord of the Mountain is alive, it is certainly good news.’

For if the texts spoke the truth, humanity would have gained a formidable ally.

‘However…’

Why was he living in hiding?

Why had he created the Inner Realm to rule as a king?

Why was he raising not just spirits, but a ‘yokai army’?

Yes, Baek Nam-hun viewed the yokai of Jirisan’s Inner Realm as an ‘army’.

According to Miho, the yokai residing there were not numerous, but were all kindhearted yokai with human hearts.

Kindhearted yokai.

Like ‘sweet salt’ or ‘salty sugar’ – terms difficult for humans to accept.

Nevertheless, he decided to trust the spirit named [Lord of the Mountain], for now.

If the ‘King of Yurdo State’ had bequeathed his will to him, imbuing purpose in creating the Inner Realm, then he should not interfere.

Baek Nam-hun advised Miho that this information must never be divulged to anyone else besides himself, as it was still too much for humans to accept.

In any case, it was time to publicly announce Miho’s existence.

He was grateful anew for Miho’s beautiful appearance.

For better or worse, she was already a ‘fox yokai’ garnering fervent online support.

With her beauty, life-saving deeds, and literally ‘dog-like’ demeanor inspiring familiarity, it seemed fortuitous.

After organizing the press release details, he headed to the press conference room filled with hundreds of journalists.

---

Farewell, Seoul.

It was nice meeting you, but let’s never see each other again.

I did make some enjoyable memories, to be fair.

My right leg still feels phantom pains from the excruciating agony I endured.

That’s how horrific the pain was.

We’ve decided to return to Jirisan tomorrow.

Once back in Jirisan, I plan to have an audience with the Lord of the Mountain.

I don’t know if he’ll properly answer my questions, but I can’t simply accept Baek Nam-hun’s words at face value.

Ho Joon won’t be returning to the Yokai Extermination Office with us.

Tomorrow, he’s headed to the Taoist Society to learn spells related to ‘goblin extermination’.

“Ugh, I really hate studying…”

Why did the heavens bestow such brilliant talents upon this vulgar, hopeless man?

I’ll never understand.

“Hey.”

Ho Joon addressed me.

“What is it?”

“‘What is it?’ Don’t be rude to your master.”

“Why?”

“…You really don’t know when to shut up. Anyway, when are you coming?”

“Where?”

“Where else? The Taoist Society. Did you already forget?”

“Ah.”

That’s right.

I was going to visit the Taoist Society to research information about goblins and spirits.

After experiencing such monumental events, I had momentarily forgotten.

I informed him I would visit soon.

While researching information would be good, for now I just wanted some rest.

I longed to cuddle my soft, fluffy Depot and sleep soundly.

I was exhausted, you see.

Ah, if it were like the old days, at a time like this I would crack open a nice cold beer and…

“Shall we crack open some cold beers and drink up?”

“Yes!”

I instantly agreed when Ha-neul suggested it.

Yes, nothing revitalizes fatigue quite like alcohol.

With my enthusiastic approval, the director seemed mildly concerned as he addressed me:

“Miho, will you be alright drinking alcohol? You’ve never had it before, right?”

“Do I look like I’ll die from it or something?”

“From what I know, animals in the dog family lack the enzymes to metabolize alcohol…”

“Well, the same could be said for chocolate, no? Yet I eat chocolate just fine.”

“…You make a fair point. Very well, let’s go drink then.”

Truthfully, I wanted to spread out a mat by the Han River and howl drunkenly into the night.

I had grown sick of the hotel room, after all.

However, appearing by the Han River in this conspicuous form would undoubtedly make headlines about a ‘Monster Appearing by the Han River’.

So, with no choice, after purchasing alcohol from a convenience store, we gathered in the hotel room.

Pssshhhh.

Clink.

As I opened the beer can, that wonderfully crisp sound wafted out.

Soon after, I gulped down the ice-cold beer straight from the can.

Gulp.

Gulp.

Gulp.

“Aaahhh!”

How could I have forgotten this taste?

After beer comes soju.

The golden ratio of soju to beer is 1:3, a national rule.

After downing a soju bomb, I chugged that too in one go.

“Aaahhh!”

Watching me drink alone at a breakneck pace, Ha-neul seemed concerned as he asked:

“…Miho, aren’t you going too fast? You don’t even know your alcohol tolerance.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“He’s right, what does it matter? Don’t you see her alcohol pouch? It looks plenty sturdy enough to hold at least two more bottles of soju.”

Here we go again.

I should put Ho Joon in his place while I’m at it.

“Ho Joon, are you a good drinker?”

I provoked him.

He took the bait, and soon after…

My memory blacked out.

…

…

…

…

…

When I came to, it was the next day.

For some reason, the front of my clothes was completely undone and hanging open.

What’s this?

What happened?

…Ah, I can’t remember anything.

Damn it.

No, wait?

Hurriedly looking to my side, I heaved a sigh of relief.

The figure snoring next to my bed was, thankfully, Ha-neul.

…I’ll have to ask him what happened yesterday once he wakes up.