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What’s This Guy?

I looked at the pure white arm draped over my shoulder. It felt far too cold to be human skin.

Was it small in stature? The height of where our shoulders met was peculiar.

Did it look like it had been thrown on forcibly?

It was a creature at least a half head shorter than me.

I stared at the strange being calmly.

Its eyes were a pale green, much like its hair.

It reminded me of Tang Soyeol, but it was even lighter than that.

It overflowed with an aura of otherness, but in this world, it was already too late to care.

One thought crossed my mind.

“Unbelievable.”

Even after accounting for everything, I felt compelled to regard this creature bizarrely.

“What the hell is it hiding?”

It had a weak-looking impression, but to me, it appeared entirely different.

Whenever I gazed at it, my heart raced fiercely.

Of course, my heart eye had opened on its own. The heart’s ring of sorcery spun like mad, and threads of magic gathered around my eyes.

Suddenly, a new world was revealed.

I felt something sprouting in my qi perception? An entirely new sense had been added.

Beyond my wide field of vision, the threads of sorcery etched a line.

They mingled seamlessly with my heart eye.

Things that shouldn’t be visible came into view.

It was the creature’s soul.

The thing that I looked upon contained something utterly ridiculous within that small body.

It was excessively large.

It exuded a pressure so intense that my instincts could barely hold back.

“This feeling.”

Where have I felt this before?

It conveyed an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

As I rummaged through my thoughts, it immediately came to me.

“That kid they called Duryeong.”

The black bull with a mass of size.

I distinctly remembered feeling exactly like this when I saw it.

If that’s the case…

“Does this mean that this creature is on the same level as that one?”

A chilling assumption.

Without opening my narrowed eyes, I continued to hold its gaze.

Its green eyes curled into a crescent shape.

“Why are you silent? Can’t you speak?”

I snapped back to attention.

I suppressed my emotions, purposefully avoiding any displays of power.

If I made a bet at this distance, I’d be caught immediately.

“I was surprised, okay? Who wouldn’t be surprised if someone suddenly approached?”

Thud.

I pulled my arm away.

The arm that had been draped over me fell limply.

Feeling the sensation, thoughts raced through my mind.

“Why couldn’t I sense its presence?”

This small body before my eyes seemed to exert considerable effort to maintain itself.

The momentary lapse in sensing was because it wasn’t strong enough to capture, and—

“I had let my guard down.”

The quite relaxed tension in me contributed to my oversight.

“Who are you?”

“Me? I am…”

When I asked for an introduction, it tilted its head, pondering what to say.

“I’m just a passerby traveler?”

“…Then just go on your way.”

I said lightly as I stepped aside.

“Hey. This is fate after all. How can I just walk away?”

It seemed it had no intention of doing so, merely smiling and digging in its heels.

“Damn it.”

It seemed I had gotten tangled with a strange being.

Oh, wait.

“Should I say that it approached because it noticed something?”

It couldn’t have just grabbed me without reason. There had to be a reason for its approach.

What could it be?

“Did it catch a trace?”

Was there some trace I left when I struck Baek Wol? No.

As far as I knew, I hadn’t left any evidence behind.

“I can’t be sure.”

Since this was another world, there might be methods of detection I was unaware of.

I couldn’t let my guard down easily.

Looking at the creature, I raised my qi perception. It was risky to increase my energy, so I merely strengthened my senses.

I intended to miss even the smallest movements.

Then…

“So, where are you headed? Just tell me.”

The creature asked me again for my destination.

What should I do?

I couldn’t take long to ponder.

Nor should I let the silence linger.

“What will you do if I tell you?”

So I continued speaking, buying time to think.

“Of course, I’ll guide you.”

“Why?”

“As I said earlier, this is fate, right? You seem lost, so let me help.”

The more we spoke, the clearer it became.

This little brat…

“Has no intention of letting me go.”

It seemed determined to stick around no matter what method it took.

What if I just left and ran away?

Should I give it a try?

I shook my head as the thought crossed my mind.

“It’s too dangerous right now.”

Who knows how it might react? It wasn’t weak either.

It would be too risky to fight here.

With that judgment, I mixed my breath and replied.

“I had business with the Black Family.”

My original destination wasn’t there, but I hastily changed it.

“Oh, the Black Family?”

The creature showed interest in my words.

“Yes. I’m a guest there.”

“Oh? I see.”

“Can you guide me there?”

“Oh, of course! I know every path in this Yawol Castle.”

With confidence, it said that and immediately began moving forward.

As it walked ahead, I caught a glimpse of its green tail swaying lightly.

“Let’s go!”

“…”

I slowly followed behind.

About halfway through following the creature, since it was walking a touch slowly, it took a while to reach our destination.

Especially since we weren’t taking a familiar route, the twists and turns added to the time.

“It seems it really knows its way around.”

It definitely was aware of the paths.

So, it only made sense.

“It’s doing this weird detour intentionally.”

It meant the distance to the destination had been deliberately extended.

I squinted and watched its back.

Oddly enough, despite this unusual route, we were steadily nearing our destination.

Glancing back, I saw the Heavenly Demon following quietly without making a peep.

Fortunately, the clothes I had on were hiding my tail, but it seemed my ears were still visible.

“It’s fine for now.”

Unlike what the turtle had done, the sorcery I had cast was shorter in duration, so I needed to pay close attention.

And it was already complicated enough.

“What on earth is that thing?”

What was this creature in front of me?

What motivated it to suddenly approach me?

“Is it the leader of another faction?”

A leader not from the White or Black families.

I wondered if it was something like that, but…

“I don’t think that’s the case.”

It didn’t feel that way.

Especially since—

“With that level of strength, it wouldn’t make sense.”

It was of a different caliber than the leaders I’d met before.

So I hoped it wouldn’t be true.

“So then.”

What in the world could it be?

What intentions did that green mass have in approaching me?

Raising my guard, I followed it.

Then suddenly…

“Oh, but by the way.”

It spoke to me without looking back.

“Since our fates are intertwined.”

What the heck does it mean by fate?

“Should we at least introduce ourselves?”

“What a random thing to say.”

“After walking this much, doesn’t it seem appropriate?”

“That’s one way to say it, but we haven’t exchanged a single word yet.”

“That’s because… you seem like you don’t want to talk much, so I wanted to throw a line or two.”

“Ah… I see.”

“So, what’s your name?”

With a voice full of mirth, it asked me.

My name?

Before I could blurt mine out, I asked,

“How about you introduce yourself first?”

“Me? Oh, I’m…”

Thinking hard, it must’ve finally arrived at something.

“Mongmong. Let’s go with Mongmong.”

“…”

Not ‘I’m Mongmong’ or anything formal—just, “Let’s go with Mongmong.”

This crazy kid didn’t even think about hiding its name at all?

What the?

And then it had the audacity to ask for my name?

I let out a brief chuckle at the absurdity and told it.

“I’m Cheol Jiseon.”

At that, I sold out my own identity. Since in truth, naming it out wasn’t that much of a loss.

“Oh, Cheol Jiseon. Nice name!”

“It’s not really that great of a name.”

“I see, I see.”

It didn’t seem to believe it completely.

An awkward tension settled between us.

Both of us were aware it was all a fabrication, so no more words were necessary.

“Now, what about that lady over there?”

Mongmong turned to ask the Heavenly Demon for her name.

Upon hearing that, the Heavenly Demon tilted her head and looked at me.

“What’s my name?”

“…”

Why are you asking me, you crazy person…

This was downright ridiculous.

As soon as it heard that, Mongmong burst out laughing.

“Hahahahaha! You don’t even know your own name?”

“…”

The Heavenly Demon frowned at Mongmong’s laughter.

She seemed a bit irritated.

“Ugh, seriously.”

Mongmong laughed so much that tears gathered in the corners of its eyes.

But then…

“This is amusing.”

Suddenly, Mongmong wiped the smile off its face.

“It’s very amusing.”

Woo Hyeok.

In an instant, I felt the air quiver.

Raising my gaze, I noticed in the distance, the property of the Black Family where we had been before.

However, the distance was still a bit far, and the area was sparse of people.

“Hmm.”

Is it a trap? Just as I grasped the issue late.

Whoosh—!

Mongmong’s green tail flicked.

“It seems it’ll take a bit longer to arrive. Should we chat a bit as we walk?”

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Just general life stories?”

Mongmong walked ahead.

I focused intently on its feet.

Snap!

I saw something break. It wasn’t its flesh but a change occurring within itself.

“Well, it was said that there was a recent issue at the castle. Have you heard about it?”

“I’ve heard something.”

“Goodness, it was so frightening to hear. A noble’s leader got attacked, right?”

“That’s truly outrageous.”

“I know, right?”

I lowered my gaze.

The creature’s walking speed had slowed slightly.

“You know this already, but the ranks granted by the master of this world are an unchanging, immutable law.”

“…That’s true.”

What does it mean?

I pricked up my ears, eager to absorb the unknown information.

“It’s unlikely that a mere nobody could touch a noble, so… it would mean that someone who shares the same blessing as them did the touching…”

No way that could have happened!

Its tone was filled with conviction.

“So, does that mean that no one but a noble can touch another noble?”

If that were indeed true, it would be quite a ridiculous law.

The real issue was…

“What about me?”

I recalled how I had ransacked the White Family’s father and child.

Was there a difference? Or was it merely the case that since I wasn’t directly from the Golden Binding or that faction, it simply appeared that way?

“It seems rather unlikely that any of them are around.”

I continued to piece together the multiple pieces of information swirling in my brain while I focused on Mongmong’s words at the same time.

“So, ultimately. That means it’s someone who broke the law…”

As Mongmong spoke.

“Who on earth could it be? Aren’t you curious?”

Suddenly it dropped the casual tone.

Bang—!

“…!”

It lunged forward, grabbing my neck and slamming me against the wall.

The wall crumbled as my body was squeezed against it.

As I was pinned, I could only widen my eyes at its arm.

The once slender arm had thickened, and fur had sprouted all over.

It was a beast’s arm.

“What the…”

Holding back the suffocation, I asked, while Mongmong maintained its grin.

“What are you? I don’t recognize kids like you.”

“…What do you mean?”

“That’s just strange. After a long time, it feels like so much has happened. The divine tree reactions are sluggish, and it annoys the heck out of me?”

A child’s voice, with a child’s tone.

Yet underneath, there were strong feelings embedded.

Was it qi or killing intent? No, it was something entirely different.

This was…

“Hunger?”

An insatiable craving.

Mongmong’s smile and voice held that feeling deeply within.

The pressure on my body intensified.

I sneaked a glance to the side.

The Heavenly Demon was watching me silently, though her expression showed signs of hesitation.

Should she leap into action or not?

It was a hesitant feeling in her gaze. Seeing that, I blinked slowly.

It signaled her to stay put.

Noted, the Heavenly Demon’s shoulders eased slightly.

“So, let me ask you something?”

Mongmong spoke to me directly.

[Answer truthfully.]

In an instant, its voice and tone changed drastically.

Gu Gugu—!

The voice invaded within me. A tingling sensation swept through my insides.

This was…

‘Dragon Words?’

It wasn’t precisely Dragon Words, but something akin to it.

[Are you the source of all the noise disturbing my castle?]

It broke into a maniacal grin as it continued.

Grewk—!

The pressure on my heart intensified.

Once I felt that, my mouth slowly began to open.

Is this a trick?

‘Will it force the truth out of me?’

If so, did that mean I had to engage in a battle right now?

As called upon by my fear.

“Not at all.”

“Huh?”

“Hmmm?”

To my surprise, the lie slipped out far too easily.

After saying that, Mongmong and I both bore the same expression of shock.

 

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