episode_0114

Taesu. Gwiho.

A nine-tailed fox yokai by birth.

After absorbing the intelligence of the northern continent for thousands of years, he awakened as a demon.

He accepted the faith that worshipped him and took his place as Taesu.

In essence, he is a local deity.

And with that level of power, he possesses a strength incomparable to humans.

With that power, what Taesu has trained in is sorcery.

“Space distortion. It feels like it has expanded hundreds of times…”

It was clearly a space about three stories high inside the casino.

But where I am standing now feels as vast and high as if I were outside.

In the center of it all.

Rustling his silver fur.

A massive spirit opens its eyes and faces me.

“Who dares to disturb my slumber…”

Fur bristling with anger.

And a growling muzzle.

The voice seems to enter my head directly without passing through my ears.

So, I bow down in the northern style to show respect.

“He’s a far superior opponent. He could play with me and kill me at any moment.”

For sharp individuals like Yerina Na Tran Silvia or Swordmaster Solra, they could aim for the jugular vein if I use all my power (including my shabby skills).

Even the Four Kings, when they awaken in the latter half, might be able to deliver a fatal blow.

However, the concept of fighting against Taesu does not apply.

It is a level where he can distort space and overlook the entire northern region.

And just by being in the distorted space, it is no different from being in the palm of Taesu’s hand.

Here, Taesu can literally play with me.

“But where was Taesu when the final boss emerged…?”

At that moment.

A question arises.

In the game’s story, why was Taesu just sleeping quietly until the final boss revealed itself?

If it was in the early stages when the true identities of the Four Kings were not revealed, that would make sense.

But even in the latter half when the Four Kings started rampaging, Taesu remained silent.

Then, when the final boss broke through dimensions and appeared.

Taesu only appeared then, serving as a device to shock by delivering a fatal blow to the final boss.

“Perhaps the system intervened.”

A clear hole in continuity.

When it comes to Taesu, there is a high possibility that the system arbitrarily modified the settings.

Reasons why Taesu couldn’t show himself externally until now…

“Who are you? What is your true identity? Why is the inner world of humans so twisted in such a strange way? It’s an inner world that cannot be possessed unless one has lived life multiple times!”

I hit the nail on the head.

If he’s an entity like Taesu, it seems he can peer into the inner world of others.

He must have glimpsed the bizarrely tangled emotions within me.

A strange inner world with 12 different emotions for a single subject…

I might look like a monster in Taesu’s eyes.

“I greet Taesu, the master of the north. I deeply regret disturbing your rest by intruding into your chamber and interrupting your slumber. Please forgive me. As for my inner self-”

“Hmm, hmm. It’s fine. A colorful mind, it’s actually a good thing. A rather valuable fellow has entered.”

“…”

I thought he was on guard against me.

But Taesu relaxes his furrowed brow and speaks in a gentle voice.

Is he welcoming me?

“Ah. It seems I let my guard down recklessly for a moment upon seeing a human after a long time. It must be uncomfortable. Quickly calm your spirits down with a body that is easy to suppress.”

“…”

Then, with a chuckle, Taesu’s body shrinks.

And in the blink of an eye, he transforms into the form of a woman with a long white mane, as tall as me.

He still has fox ears on his head, and nine tails pop out from under his skirt.

And then, the energy that had been buzzing in my head disappears.

“But it wasn’t that unbearable, was it?”

Did I release energy recklessly?

If it were someone like Taesoo, I should be either lying on the ground writhing in pain or my head should have exploded by now.

But I’m strangely unharmed.

I ponder this for a moment.

And then I quickly realize the reason.

[Special Ability: Mental Fortitude]

[A strong mind in a strong body. Mental strength is enhanced proportionally to overall stats.]

Mental fortitude.

Thanks to this ability obtained when facing the final boss Draken, I seem to have come out unscathed.

Taesoo, who was observing my reaction, widens his eyes in surprise.

“Did you overcome my momentum? Human. Is that true?]

“Yes, it is.”

“Hmm. You’re not lying. Whatever the case may be… Anyway! I’m feeling good right now, so if you want something, just ask! Tell me what you want, human.”

Taesoo chuckles and crosses his legs.

It seems that his momentary display of discomfort was just temporary, as he is now willing to address the matter at hand.

Was Taesoo always this mild-mannered?

In any case, it’s a good thing.

It seems like I can achieve what I want right away.

“If you could impart some wisdom upon me, I would be grateful.”

“Why are you seeking knowledge from me? Seek a human mentor. I don’t know much about you all either.”

“It’s not about humans. I’m inquiring about the physiology of the Suin race.”

“Oh.”

Taesoo shows interest with a sly smile.

Although Taesoo is originally a demon, he is quite knowledgeable about the Suin race as most of the population in the northern region he governs are Suin.

And one of her other forms is that of a Suin.

“Do you know about the unique trait of the Suin race called ‘Frenzy’?”

“Frenzy?”

Taesoo tilts his head in confusion.

It seems that the term ‘Frenzy’ is relatively new to him.

“Considered a rare trait that appears once every thousand years, it is a talent that maximizes the sensitivity of the five senses and allows the release of suppressed instincts in an instant.”

“Ah, I see. You’re talking about the blessing that King Pallana had. I’ve only witnessed that blessing three times in my lifetime. It is indeed a valuable trait. But what about that blessing?”

“If you happen to know of a way to remove or weaken that trait, please inform me.”

Yerina’s Frenzy.

Another name for the paranoia that has been tormenting me relentlessly for the past 12 rounds.

As long as this Frenzy persists, I will not be able to avoid a setback in this round either.

Although I have managed to evade Yerina’s pursuit quite skillfully so far.

Yerina, who uncovered Alicia’s betrayal, will continue to chase me more fiercely in the future.

It is impossible for me to avoid being caught by Yerina for over a year in my current state.

If I were to encounter Yerina, my home would become Yerina’s ice cave, leading to a bad ending.

Therefore, I must neutralize the Frenzy.

By minimizing Yerina’s obsession, there may be hope even if I am captured.

And if the Frenzy improves, the fate of the betrayed Alicia may also improve.

But all of these are just secondary effects.

The real reason is different.

“Do you want to eliminate King Pallana’s blessing?”

“You can interpret it that way.”

“First, let me ask. Why do you want to remove a perfectly fine blessing from King Pallana?”

“Because the Frost Lord cannot find happiness due to the Frenzy.”

“What are you talking about? It was thanks to the blessing that King Pallana became strong. With that power, he seized the throne and now rules over many vassal countries. Are you saying that the blessing is making King Pallana unhappy?”

“You speak the truth. That quality bestowed upon the Frost Lord immense power, honor, and the throne. The quality led to an obsessive attachment and suspicion, which greatly aided the Frost Lord in dealing with his subjects and establishing absolute monarchy. It is indeed a blessing for the Frost Lord. However, madness is an exceedingly melancholic curse for a human like Yerina Frost.”

Madness may be an exceptional talent for the Frost Lord, but for a human like Yerina Frost, it is the worst quality.

Unable to build relationships with others, constantly doubting everyone until the moment of death, and consuming the minds of oneself and those around them.

“Yerina Frost doubts everything, and that doubt only grows with time. She trusts no one and demands loyalty and proof of faith from people. But this is like pouring water into a leaking vessel. Yerina Frost will never share her heart with anyone until she dies. Love will never be realized, and understanding will never be obtained. Living with the mask of the esteemed Frost Lord and dying in solitude. That is the curse that madness has bestowed upon Yerina Frost.”

Madness must be eradicated.

Not for anyone else, but for Yerina’s happiness.

“I hope Yerina Frost finds happiness as a person, as a woman.”

“Hahaha! Are you mourning for the Frost Lord?”

“You can interpret it that way if you wish.”

“King Pallana is self-reliant and independent! A child born with a beautiful and firm destiny, who stands alone and yet beautifully, determined to break the fate he was born with just to receive the love of that child! Are you trying to tame the beast by pulling out its fangs and trimming its claws just because you want to receive that child’s love? Hahaha! How ridiculous! How amusing!”

Taesoo laughs heartily, clutching his stomach and laughing aloud.

Feeling uneasy about what he didn’t like, in a moment of doubt.

Taesoo stops laughing, wipes away tears, and speaks.

“Hahaha! It’s been a while since I laughed! It feels good! Fun! That arrogant wolf becoming a gentle dog is quite a sight to see! Of course, that won’t happen! Here, take this!”

“······?”

At that moment, a book appears in Taesoo’s palm.

He swiftly throws it to me.

Looking at the cover, it reads ‘Method of Controlling Madness.’

[Method of Controlling Madness]

[A method of training the five senses. When mastered, one can freely control one’s and others’ five senses.]

Checking the system window that appears.

This is truly the item that Yerina needs.

Of course, how Yerina will train with this is the issue.

That’s something to think about later.

For now, just finding a way to suppress the madness is already a significant achievement.

“A method for cultivating the mind and controlling the heart. If one trains according to this method and masters it, King Pallana will gain complete control over his quality. He will be able to activate the Beast Mode without showing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Thank you. I humbly accept this gift.”

It’s done. After all, it was just a stray dog rolling around the streets until three thousand years ago. It went to the one who needed it, so that settles it.

Was Tae-soo originally a person with such excellent character?

If I had known, I would have gone straight to meet Tae-soo first.

Moved by Tae-soo’s mercy, he bows his head once again.

[Hahaha! He knows what manners are. Yes. Don’t worry. I will ensure that the method of wide-heartedness is properly conveyed to the king.]

“Yes? That’s fine. I will deliver it myself.”

[What do you mean by saying you will deliver it to the king while being a fool? Leave it to me.]

“······?”

His head goes blank.

What does this mean?

Why am I making a stupid expression? Why?

[Why are you making a foolish face? Aren’t you the offering that came down to be punished by me? Anyway, hmm. You look truly appetizing. You seem to have such a diverse offering even though you’ve only lived for twenty years! Fresh yet so diverse in color, truly the ultimate delicacy!]

“Oh.”

After hearing those words.

Questions are gradually being answered one by one.

The reason why Tae-soo didn’t get angry even though his sleep was disturbed.

Because the offering looked delicious.

And the reason why he kindly answered the abrupt question.

He will answer and then devour it.

He must be able to grant at least the final wish of the appetizing offering.

“I am not an offering!”

[Were you unable to hear the explanation before coming down? How unfortunate. Still, blame your fate for it. The process of being devoured by an offering won’t be painful, so there’s no need to be too afraid. It’s said to be a supreme feeling akin to reaching heaven.]

Suddenly transforming back into the form of a huge fox, Tae-soo approaches me and opens his mouth wide.

A crazy monster.

Communication is impossible.

If this continues, I’ll end up looking like a fool being devoured as an offering.

That absolutely cannot happen.

I don’t want to be smearing dung on the wall from a young age.

‘Should I fight?’

At the moment I try to draw my sword.

A chilling sensation brushes through my brain.

Intuition developed over many years of navigating politics.

Where to avoid, where to strike, my intuition is now shouting at me not to draw the sword.

It’s broken.

I can’t see a way to deal with it.

No matter what attack, how to attack.

Only the ending of my head being chewed up without leaving a scratch on that steel-like skull is imaginable.

“Damn it!”

[Where do you think you’re running!]

Even if I attack, it won’t work, there’s no reason to provoke Tae-soo’s temper.

Instead, turn around and simply cut the rope.

Towards the door I came in through.

But no matter how much I run and jump, the wooden door doesn’t get closer.

Rather, it only gets farther away.

The space is distorting as much as I run.

“It’s useless! This is my territory! You can never escape from here, so just surrender quietly to me!”

“What?”

At the moment when I was about to fall into despair.

Good news strikes my ears.

Jinbeop, a kind of magic ritual engraved on objects or land.

And if it’s made of magic.

I know a guy who eats it up incredibly well.

Then something in my bag rattles and shakes.

“What is this? This oddly shaped lump!”

“Oh. This is a beautifully crafted spider lady that fell while dying.”

Casually stopping, I pull out Kali’s scabbard that I had disguised, and Tae-soo’s expression twists.

If left out for too long, it will be traced by the Four Kings, so it must be finished quickly.

When I brought the scabbard, which was wriggling wildly due to hunger, down to the ground.

The magic seeps out from the paper and is absorbed into the surroundings.

“This is how you use this item.”

[No way!!!]

In an instant, the barrier is released.

The surroundings are filled with traces of magic, and a hazy smoke covers the area.

Alright!

Now, spatial distortion is impossible.

Furthermore, visibility is also impaired, so I can take advantage of this and escape.

Thinking this, I grab the doorknob and pull.

But when I look back, the silhouette beyond the smoke seems suspicious.

What’s that small creature over there?

[Gasp! Eek.]

“You…”

[What, what are you doing! Now that the barrier is released, it’s best for your own safety to run away quickly! Otherwise, I’ll be in trouble, ahhh! No! Don’t look at my true form!]

Pushing through the smoke, Taesoo’s true form slowly becomes visible.

A small fox with nine tails.

The fox is trembling, covering its eyes.

[Achievement unlocked]

[Taesoo, meeting with Gwiho!]