CH 9

Sangun.*

The Lord of the mountain.

This word, otherwise known as a tiger, has disappeared from the rigid society of the 21st century with the advancement of technology and industry.

But in reality, Sangun still exists.

Even my shaman grandmother told me that she once performed a sacrificial rite for Sangunim of Baekdu Mountain.

They are, of course, not real animals.

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

And my grandmother, who used to talk about various things with me, her grandson, in her old age, told me about the Sangun’s favorite foods and how to make sacrifices during that time.

『Hast thou come to me again, boy.』

Deus was 28 years old, far too old to be called a boy.

But there was nothing else to say if Sangun, who had lived for thousands of years, addressed him as a boy.

“This is Deus Verdi. After three months of staying away from home, I came to greet you.”

…accompanied by Sangun’s favorite warm wine and rice cake.

The wine that the maid had warmed had already cooled in the cold of the Northweden Mountains, but the yellowish mana gently wrapped the bottle around it and warmed it up again.

The first time I climbed the mountain range and met Sangun was about a month after I became Deus Verdi.

I was trying to escape at that time.

I struggled to learn magic, etiquette, and the karma of being Deus, a scumbag was too much for me.

But most of all, I was tormented by the evil spirits in the mansion.

For some reason, the number of evil spirits inhabiting Verdi’s mansion was quite high.

Because I hadn’t learned necromancy at the time, I had no choice but to pretend that I didn’t see the evil spirits, but the stress was too much for me, and I ran away.

I then met Sangun.

Sangun, who bit the evil spirits chasing after me, took pity on me.

“I bought some wine and rice cake that Sangun might like. Please, I hope it’s up to your taste.”

Sangun’s mouth opened and a blue-colored spirit body emerged, wrapping itself around the wine and rice cake.

The sacrifices then naturally disappeared, as if they were absorbed into the spiritual body.

It wasn’t obvious from his expression, but he seemed to enjoy it because the oppressive feeling that was pressing on me had vanished.

『This is a first.』

I must not interrupt him.

I nodded and listened attentively to his slow, unhurried words.

『For thousands of years, I’ve been nothing but fear. This is the first time a human has come this close to me.』

“That is because Sangun saved me.”

Sangun and I fell into an awkward silence.

Five months ago, he actually didn’t intend to protect me?

Of course, I know that.

Why would Sangun protect me, a mere human being pursued by evil spirits? He only tore them apart because he didn’t like the evil spirits that had entered his mountain, but he had no intention of saving me.

‘But why does that matter?’

It does not matter.

I am going to take advantage of this relationship.

Even if he says he didn’t have such thoughts, I’m going to force the connection between us.

‘It becomes a leash.’

『I know you didn’t come to me for a simple greeting.』

It was a heavy-sounding voice. It was time to come to the main point.

“The truth is, I was afraid Sangun would be feeling uncomfortable, so I came to visit in advance.”

『……The ignorant immigrants are rampaging on my mountain.』

“However, we do not have the strength to defend this mountain.”

Sangun’s blue eyes gleamed. My body stiffened as if struck by a waterfall in the dead of winter, and the pressure crushed down on my entire body.

『So, have you come to ask me for help? How dare you?』

“Sangun.”

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

I knelt down to set the table for bargaining, offering my riches.

Then, I sat in the chair on the other side, certain that I had what he desired.

Because I had no intention of giving the initiative in negotiations to a tiger sleeping alone in the mountains…

…I raised my hand and pointed to the east beyond.

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

This time, to the opposite. I pointed toward the west.

“To the west, in the waters of Parlair, I hear they have built underwater tunnels and undersea fish farms.”

Finally, I stretched out my hand and pointed to the sky.

“Beyond the mountains, the Clark Republic has recently developed a flying tool called the Glider.”

『What do you mean?』

I carefully placed my hand on my chest, apologizing.

“A thousand years ago. The Sahar Desert was a cursed land for humans. It was said that one day took away flesh, two days blood, and three days life.”

“However, today. Humans are planting potatoes there. I’ve heard that the potatoes that have adapted to the climate there don’t rot easily and are hard, making them easy to store and the number of recipes has increased.”

Sangun’s eyes narrowed as if he understood what I was saying. He looked like he was about to tear me apart at any moment, so I used the staff to paw at the ground.

I would have been on my knees if it hadn’t been for it.

I shouldn’t show it though.

I maintained the same tone and enunciation throughout.

“The infamous Leviathan and Kraken in the waters of Parlair. Humans, on the other hand, have driven them out and coveted their underwater resources. It is said that a handful of salt there is worth a fortune in gold.”

“Sangun. Just a thousand years ago. Did you think humans could fly? Savage humans who had to diligently walk for a month to reach a distance that you, Sangun, could reach in a single leap.”

His white breath obscured my vision. But thanks to this, Sangun’s appearance was blurred, which helped me endure.

“Sangun, don’t you find it quite interesting? How the savage humans are taking away the homes of spiritual beings one by one.”

『Are you threatening me?』

thud.

Sangun took a step forward.

The white tiger standing on the mountain ridge pierced the snow and came right up to my nose, growling and baring his teeth.

For a split second, I couldn’t even blink.

『I can tear you apart with my breath alone; bring a hundred men, and they’ll all be dead when I swing my tail.』

『Bring a thousand men, and my claws will tear them apart, one by one.』

『Bring ten thousand men, my teeth are eternal; they will not rust, they will not break.』

It was a bold declaration.

In fact, if it were in the mountains, it would be possible.

“I will bring ten thousand men on the first day.”

However, I did not back down.

“And the next day, another ten thousand men will come.”

“On the third and the fourth days. This time, twenty thousand men will come. And they will all perish at the feet of the mountain. Carcasses will pile up on top of one another, and the mountain will longer be covered with trees, but with bones and flesh.”

The reason Sangun is strong is that he is in the mountain. But what if the mountain becomes dirty?

“Five days.”

I declared, stretching out my fingers in pretense.

“In just five days, Sangun will fall.”

My outstretched hand came down naturally. As if asking for a handshake, I reached out to Sangun.

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

『……You.』

“It will never be trodden by humans. And if anyone dares to plant a human flag here, I will kill them first.”

“So, Sangun.”

The voice was blunt, but no less cold. The temperature of Northweden seemed to affect me as well.

“Please help me.”

———————❖———————

Finden Ai, who was resting at the Northweden mountaintop outpost, felt a strange sensation when she lit the fire on her cigarette.

It wasn’t mana, but a tingle that brushed the nape of one’s neck.

A normal person would have dismissed it as a mere misperception, but Finden Ai was different.

With senses comparable to those of a beast, she scrambled to her feet, snatching up the axe from her side.

Her companions, shaking off the fatigue of battle and plotting a plan to plunder Northweden, asked puzzledly.

“What’s wrong?”

“What is it?”

Even though Finden Ai was the leader of the Resistance scrap metal dealer, they were all like one family, so there was no formality.

In the first place, if there were to be a formality among former slaves, wouldn’t it look like a back alley captain’s game imitating adults?

“Something is coming.”

Finden Ai stepped outside, blowing out a deep puff of smoke from her cigarette. Her comrades at the post followed her, clutching their weapons.

It was just a hunch, but they had absolute faith in her ‘hunch’.

“Ha, the follow-up team should be here anytime soon.”

“We’ll just bide our time. Did the stupid Count ask for support after all?”

The scrap dealers were surprised that Darius Verdi had chosen the citizens of Northweden over his family, but Finden Ai ignored them and looked away.

She snuffed out the cigarette in her mouth. She hadn’t even taken a few puffs yet, but she knew it wasn’t the time for a bite.

“It’s not like that,” she said, turning her neck to gaze at the sight of a man walking through the falling snow.

“There is only one enemy.”

“One?”

“Huh?”

One of the unit members, who was holding a sniper rifle, raised his scope to his eyes and shouted, “I really mean it! A man in a coat, holding a staff, is coming this way by himself!”

“Is he surrendering?”

“Or is he thinking of negotiating?”

At the mention of a single man, the members of the scrap metal dealer relaxed, but Finden Ai gripped her axe tightly as if she was more nervous than ever.

And the sniper’s report continued, “Oh, it appears to be a wizard! Every time he moves forward, the accumulated snow melts on its own!”

“A noble wizard.”

“If you look at it, all the Griffin aristocrats are young people who only know how to be cool, right?”

“For a guy who came here to surrender and negotiate, he’s already making a bad first impression.”

“You brainless people, get a grip,” Finden Ai retorted angrily to her comrades who still hadn’t grasped the situation, “I said ‘enemy’.”

“…………….?”

Just then, a searing ball of flame flew in. A sphere that was neither huge nor threatening.

Finden Ai didn’t care at all and swung her axe, cutting the crippled lump in half with precision.

Her attention was drawn to the split-in-half fireball.

It split in half, and the excessive fireballs merged back into one.

Then it twisted its orbit in the air, crashing down on Finden Ai once more.

〚Kyahahahaha!〛

With a terrifying scream.

Whoosh!

The fireballs split apart once more. But as if it hadn’t been hit, it merged back together.

From that point, large and small balls of fire poured out from the wizard.

〚Kill! Let’s kill! Ahh!〛

〚Freedom! Dammit, freedom!〛

〚Let’s moisten our throats with blood and fill our bellies with flesh!〛

〚Immigrants! Get the mace!〛

“What, what!”

“The magic speaks! Ge, get to the formation!”

“Even if you slash it, it comes back! Stand and defend!”

The fireballs filled with various voices were randomly circling the sky as if they had a will, swallowing the falling snow.

Meanwhile, Finden Ai’s bloodshot eyes glared at the wizard in a coat, who strode toward them without pausing.

“Necromancer……!”

The guy’s true identity. Finden Ai growled as if she were about to bite him.

Deus Verdi didn’t even look at her, instead clicking his tongue in a low voice as cold as the mountains.

“Go and eat it up, you damn evil spirits.”

Footnote:-

*The name Sangun means ‘King of the Mountain’ in Korean.

A very long time ago, there lived a great tiger with magical powers in the eastern land.

People called and worshiped the divine tiger as the king of the mountain, and the king protected the land and people from evil spirits.

(End of chapter………… Thank you for reading……………)