episode_0058

[Episode 58] That Guy

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The tiger spoke to the woodcutter…

“Hey, I have no shame in wearing a tiger mask and meeting your mother, but bring me wild boars twice a month.”

Only then did the woodcutter realize, with a sigh, that he had survived.

“By the way, don’t you want anything? Although I am a tiger and the eldest son, it bothers me that I haven’t done anything for you.”

The tiger asked.

After pondering for a while, the woodcutter replied.

“Brother, I lack courage.”

The tiger seemed to understand, let out a roar, and nodded his head.

-A fable of the tiger brother and the woodcutter (Herman Hesse) 中.

****

“Uhh… Ugh… Ugh…”

The tiger looked at his pitiful younger brother, who was making strange noises, as if he found him pathetic.

He had carried him all the way here despite the annoyance, as he begged to find his lost courage together…

Ah… What a disgraceful sight.

He found the current situation extremely unpleasant.

Not only was his sensitive hearing suffering from the sounds of humans mating in the small hut nearby, which seemed to shake the mountain, but as the king of the mountains, he couldn’t even guard one female and had to accompany his brother, who was asking for help.

It was incomprehensible that this fool was watching such a scene as his brother.

The moaning from the hut continued without stopping…

At some point, the fire coming out of the hut went out, and silence fell.

Thud-

His younger brother, who couldn’t keep his intact left hand still, fell to the ground, crying out miserably.

“Ugh. Ughuhuhuh… Brother! I need to find my courage quickly! It can’t be taken away like this!”

As his brother pounded the ground in anger, a foul smell emanated from his hands.

In the pitch-black night with no light.

The tiger’s eyes captured the sight of his brother crawling towards him on all fours, like a beast in misery, as if it were broad daylight.

Tears in his remaining eye.

‘Tsk tsk tsk… Suddenly getting excited and shaking his genitals with dilated eyes…’

While the sight was truly pathetic,

Was it compassion for his kin? On the other hand, there was a rising sense of pity.

The tiger avoided his brother’s dirty hands reaching for his fur and replied.

[“Instead of rushing in right away, what are you doing now? You are my brother! Do you think such foolish actions suit the brother of a mountain lord? Go in immediately and find your woman!”]

At the tiger’s stern words, his brother’s body trembled.

Was he trembling out of fear?

…No, that wasn’t it.

Could he not even grasp the fear of those who feed on the fears of the weak?

This was fear of the man inside him.

The one who stole his brother’s courage and severed his limbs.

Just thinking about that guy made his whole body stiffen and his spirit waver.

He let out a deep sigh.

Phew…

If only he could smoke a cigarette.

He felt he had no choice but to take action.

Ever since he heard the story that his mother was human, he had refrained from killing people, even when he saw them pass by. But now, after a long time, he found himself about to kill a person.

Ha! What does someone who has a tiger brother have to fear from mere humans.. If he just roared and threatened, they would quickly hand over females like candy and flee for their lives, leaving him behind…

The tiger rises with an unpleasant face.

“Hyung, Hyungnim?”

[What are you doing not following me! I’ll kill that guy, so take care of your wife yourself! Ugh.. Wash your smelly hands a bit… Hoo.. Just help me this time.]

“Ar-are you really helping? Oh my! Thank you. Hyung-nim…”

At the mention of the tiger killing that terrifying guy, the younger brother, who had cowered, straightens his waist and hesitates.

Thump thump.

The heavy footsteps of the advancing tiger.

The younger brother… with limping steps, quickly follows the tiger.

Roar!

!!!

The roar of a beast makes his eyes widen.

I quickly shake Heesun, who is unconscious on top of me, to wake her up.

“Hee, Heesun… Wake up quickly.. You have to wake up.”

“Ugh.. Why, brother?”

Roar!

The loud roar of the tiger again.

Only then does Heesun snap back to reality.

“Master, w-what’s happening suddenly..!”

Thud!

The house shakes.

It seems like some wild animal outside has crashed into our house wall.

I urgently get up without hesitation and quickly attend to Heesun first.

“Heesun, let’s get you out first. It seems like there’s a tiger outside. Clothes.. clothes..”

“I-I will wear them. That’s faster. Brother, you should wear clothes quickly too!”

As I bring clothes and undergarments, trying to dress Heesun myself,

Heesun resists me and insists that I should wear the clothes instead.

Heesun, who still limps slightly in pain, worries me too much.

I hastily grab any nearby clothes and put them on.

… There’s a tiger outside this door.

The sudden attack was incredibly disorienting.

The situation itself was highly disadvantageous.

I am not the hunter now but the hunted.

Trapped, it wasn’t the tiger but me, and I have a family to protect.

An unprepared hunter is just a slightly agile human.

To survive, we must eliminate one disadvantage at a time.

First and foremost, I must somehow get Heesun and Sari to safety in the village.

That should be the top priority.

I grab the spear hanging on the wall.

At this distance, a bow might be useless, but still, I take the bow and arrows.

Thud!

Roar!

The house trembles as dirt falls from the walls. The golden glow on the wall seemed ready to collapse at any moment.

Gripping the spear tightly, I open the door before going out and instruct Heesun.

“However, I’ll block the tiger somehow, so go to the kitchen, take Sari, and run to Gil Yongaje’s house. It’s night, and you might get lost, so dress warmly.”

“M-Master! I.. I don’t want to leave you..! I… I’ll die with you!”

Tears start flowing down Heesun’s cheeks.

It hurt, but we couldn’t stay together here.

Now, Heesun was more important to me than myself.

“Heesun. I can’t do anything if you’re here. I won’t die. I won’t die… Once you reach a safe place, send Sari back to me. Tell Gil Yongaje to bring the villagers.”

“But still..!”

“Listen to me! It’s not just about protecting you. Our child might be in your womb! So.. just follow my instructions.. please..”

“Sob.. I didn’t want to have a child for this reason… Sob sob.. just…”

Even as tears streamed down Heesun’s face, mine flowed uncontrollably.

I tried to hold back my emotions.

Who would trust a man shedding tears in a moment of crisis?

I resolved to overcome this hardship like a true man.

I embrace Heesun, who is trembling, and give her gentle kisses on her lips.

“I told you, ‘When the husband speaks, the wife follows.’ You are my wife. Trust my words, follow me, I won’t die. No, I can’t die. Can you believe me?”

In response to my promise-like vow, Heesun nods slightly with a deeply bowed head.

“Alright.. Sari is smart, so we won’t get lost. Just follow the direction Sari points to.”

“Cough.. Yes.. I understand.. Oh, Orabuni! Wait a moment!”

Heesun quickly pulls out a long bundle from the farmhouse.

“Oh, this is an unfinished garment.. It’s a very sturdy garment.. It will protect Orabuni.. So.. You must not get hurt, right? You can’t leave me and our baby alone, right?”

It was thin and light, more like a cloth than a sturdy one.

Still, if Heesun could be reassured, she could wear as many of these as needed.

“Okay.. Now when I open the door and attract the tiger’s attention, you run straight to the kitchen, grab Sari, and head straight to the village, got it? When you reach Gil-yong Ajae, he will take care of it.”

“Yes…. Yes.. I’ll go quickly and gather people until then.. Don’t get hurt… Cough..”

Heesun bites her lip to stop herself from crying.

Her hands tremble as she opens the door. The trauma of that day comes flooding back..

In truth, she was afraid. The name “tiger” itself instilled deep fear in her mind, making her breathless at the mere thought.

Still, she had to open the door.

What’s a tiger compared to the fear of Heesun, Sari, our baby getting hurt?

Clang!

The door opens and…

I shield Heesun with my body, preparing for the tiger to pounce.

[Grrrr.]

“Meow! Meow!”

Oh no!

Sari was already facing off with the tiger.

The tiger growls threateningly, crouching as if about to charge at Sari any moment.

For some reason, the attacks stopped when our Sari…!

I quickly light a torch in the yard and wave it to divert the tiger’s attention towards me.

“This is a tiger cub here!”

The tiger’s gaze shifts to me, and Sari quickly runs behind me and clings to Heesun.

The tiger probably won’t attack, but…

Underestimating the tiger is not an option.

Since I don’t know much about Sari’s abilities, let alone other abilities, I wasn’t sure if Sari could kill it in one go.

What I do know for sure is how weak and agile the tiger is as a hunter.

This is something I know from experience.

If things go south, it will hide and wait for a chance to attack our weakness, Heesun.

Sari had to appear at a crucial moment and overpower the tiger with her overwhelming strength.

Even if that plan failed, ensuring Heesun’s safety was paramount to avoid greater harm.

Keeping my eyes on the tiger, I whisper softly.

“Sari, Heesun is asking for your help! I’ll hold on until Heesun escapes.. Once Heesun is safe, come rescue me. And Heesun.. I’ll distract it, so quietly go back to the house.”

“…Sniff.”

A quiet sob is heard, then footsteps fade away.

I shake the torch more vigorously, worried that the bright-eyed beast might be provoked to chase after Heesun fleeing.

Its eyes gleam in the flickering light..

Or rather… only one eye gleams.

Our father’s killer.