TGHD Ch 2
by mimiBut Yeowhi was resolute. He insisted on calling Ryubeom either ‘benefactor’ or ‘young master,’ and Ryubeom, glancing around, sighed.
“By any chance, how old are you…?”
“I’m older than you, young master.”
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Judging by appearance alone, Yeowhi looked to be in his mid to late twenties, early thirties at most. However, with beast-people, it was hard to determine age by appearance alone, and it was common for them to live over a hundred years. The elders of the tiger clan were several hundred years old, after all.
Ryubeom was suddenly struck by his own behavior. He had spoken too casually to someone who was likely older and more mature than him. Had the family’s disdainful attitude toward foxes rubbed off on him? Flustered, Ryubeom stammered.
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“Oh, then I shouldn’t speak informally. I mean, I shouldn’t speak informally to you.”
However, Yeowhi firmly shook his head.
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“No. You can address me as Yeowhi comfortably. If I use honorifics as part of repaying your kindness, would that make it easier?”
“But…”
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“You said it wasn’t a big deal, but you saved my life. If you hadn’t helped, I would have been caught by the pursuing tiger.”
Yeowhi’s rounded smile made Ryubeom’s lips move silently. It was hard to argue against such a pleasant smile. Perhaps that smile was the reason he kept getting tongue-tied. Whether it was out of guilt for his earlier rudeness or because he felt enchanted, he couldn’t tell.
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Sensing Ryubeom’s hesitation, Yeowhi joked.
“If you don’t treat me comfortably, I’ll keep calling you ‘benefactor.’”
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“No, please, not that title.”
“Do you like it, benefactor?”
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“No, I got it. Please, just stop…”
Ryubeom finally nodded, feeling embarrassed. He wasn’t used to such an awkward situation, and the conversation itself felt bizarre. He had intended to be polite, but now he was being urged to speak informally.
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Yeowhi’s kind face made it seem like he was being treated with utmost care, but Ryubeom couldn’t shake the feeling of being swept along. Just as he was trying to convince himself it was a misunderstanding, Yeowhi suddenly grabbed his hand.
“This hand… how did it get like this?”
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Yeowhi worriedly observed the wounds on Ryubeom’s hand. There were broken nails and numerous scratches all over his knuckles. Especially, there was a long, swollen cut that had recently formed on his palm, making Yeowhi furrow his brows.
“This is… we should treat it quickly.”
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Ryubeom tried to pull his hand away, but Yeowhi firmly held onto him and led him. Ryubeom couldn’t help but feel flustered. The wounds were from yesterday in the mountains; he had fallen while chasing a fox. So, it felt ironic and uncomfortable that Yeowhi was offering to treat the wounds.
Yet, at the same time, he felt oddly emotional. Although the wounds had worsened due to rolling in the wind on the mountain, the initial injury had occurred during yesterday’s midday proficiency test. Cheon Youngdo, who disliked him, had relentlessly attacked his hand, causing an injury right at the start. Because of the uncomfortable hand, he received failing grades in all subsequent subjects, and he ended up aggravating the injury by forcing himself through the exams.
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No one considered such circumstances, nor did they care about the wounds. To Cheon Ryubeom, these injuries were just a byproduct of inadequacy. Even if they weren’t injuries from training, no one in the family cared where Ryubeom got injured. They would only disdainfully consider it pathetic if it tarnished the family’s honor.
That’s why Ryubeom couldn’t push Yeowhi away now. Even though he was a beast-man proficient in martial arts and could easily escape from a fox if he wanted to, he couldn’t easily shake off the warmth in his hands.
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“Why did you let it get this bad without treating it?”
Yeowhi’s voice, filled with concern as if he were sad, sounded strange. Ryubeom didn’t resist any further and quietly watched Yeowhi treat the wounds.
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Unlike Ryubeom’s calloused hand, Yeowhi’s hand was soft. The long, slender fingers displayed a perfect figure, and for a moment, Ryubeom forgot the situation and marveled at his hand. His fingers were truly beautiful.
Every time his white hand moved, the veins and knuckles that could be glimpsed momentarily resembled a painting.
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“It’s a bit embarrassing to see you staring at my hand so enthusiastically.”
“Oh, no, it’s just…”
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Ryubeom was startled by Yeowhi’s gentle voice. Without realizing it, bandages had been neatly wrapped around his hand.
Blushing slightly, Ryubeom was about to awkwardly express his gratitude when suddenly…
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Bang! The door opened with a loud noise.
“If you come to Korea, you should say you’ve come…!”
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Ryubeom’s gaze shifted towards the figure who forcefully opened the door. The man, carrying a large box, had a bright chestnut-colored crew cut and round, slightly immature-looking eyes behind glasses. But what caught Ryubeom’s attention more than his appearance was his aura.
He was a fox-man.
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Just then, he seemed to have sensed the tiger’s presence inside the house as his pupils dilated. Even though beast-men couldn’t immediately recognize each other’s species upon meeting, the presence of a tiger-man was particularly strong and distinct.
The man seemed shocked to come across a tiger in an unexpected place, his mouth gaping open, before suddenly inhaling sharply and trembling slightly.
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“Ah…!”
Was meeting a tiger really that surprising? Or perhaps, in that instant of encountering an intruder, his aura unknowingly sharpened in defense. Ryubeom cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to control his aura.
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For some reason, the fox-man’s gaze seemed slightly off.
But soon, with a guarded expression, the fox-man turned back to Ryubeom and asked, “Wh-why is a tiger here…?”
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“The benefactor who saved us last night on Yeonggok Peak. Ease off the guard.”
Yeowhi explained firmly, then turned to Ryubeom with a gentle smile. It was a distinctly different kind of warmth compared to when he first saw the beast-man at the door.
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“Master, this is… Gool. He’s the only one in our family who helps us.”
Ryubeom sighed briefly as he glanced at Gool. He happened to have both hands full, carrying boxes and a large parcel. So, was he here to help with the move after just moving in?
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While Ryubeom pondered, the little foxes inside the house burst out excitedly.
“Wow, it’s Goo-goo!”
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“Goo-goo!”
“Hey, kids, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me Goo-goo?”
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“But you’re Goo-goo!”
The little ones greeted him with bright faces, seemingly quite familiar with him. They ran around noisily, with even their ears and tails wagging in excitement.
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When beast-men with poor anthropomorphism felt intense emotions, they often revealed their ears and tails. Being overly happy, sad, or angry were typical examples. In fact, Ryubeom himself, until a few years ago, couldn’t control his anthropomorphism properly and his tail would often pop out, resulting in severe scolding from his family each time.
But here, neither Yeowhi nor Gool scolded the kids. Ryubeom silently gazed at Geumo’s fluffy tail. He had heard stories about ordinary beast-men freely showing their animal forms. However, having grown up in a tiger family that strictly enforced maintaining anthropomorphism, the current scene felt too unfamiliar to Ryubeom.
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Suddenly, a phrase he had heard before flashed through his mind.
“Even such a guy will be seen as a tiger; how embarrassing.”
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“Master? Your expression suddenly turned sour…”
Just before sinking into deep contemplation, Yeowhi’s voice reached him. His gentle and affectionate voice, though it gently lifted Ryubeom from dark thoughts, also caused a significant sense of dissonance.
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Yeowhi’s voice was distinctly different from the reproachful tones Ryubeom was accustomed to hearing. Moreover, this place itself, this hospitable environment, felt unfamiliar to him.
The misplaced curiosity he had felt since deciding to come here now made Ryubeom increasingly uneasy. Was it a sense of committing a wrong, or a fear of no longer being able to bear such looks?
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Ryubeom hesitated, then glanced briefly at the door.
“I, I think I should go now.”
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“Huh? I wanted to treat you to a meal…”
“No, no, it’s fine. Something just came up.”
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As he hurriedly nodded, his hand was grabbed again. Whether it was because Yeowhi noticed Ryubeom’s unhappy expression or out of concern reflected in Yeowhi’s eyes, Ryubeom felt his heart pounding even more anxiously.
“Well, then, let’s definitely do it next time…”
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“No, it’s okay. Since I’ve already had my hand treated, I’m good to go. I’ll be off now.”
Ryubeom forcefully pulled his hand away from Yeowhi’s grasp and dashed out without even properly greeting the little foxes standing at the door.
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Until he left the neighborhood like that, Ryubeom was tormented by a nauseous feeling.
His stomach churned.
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***
I need to keep my distance from the fox. No, I shouldn’t meet them anymore.
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Returning to his attic room, Ryubeom made a resolution while wondering if the scent of the fox might linger, so he washed his body again. Intentionally dousing himself with cold water, he aimed to quell his bewildering emotions.
The worry about the little foxes’ condition was unfounded, and the adult fox appeared fine too. Yeowhi had insisted on repaying his kindness, but since his hand had already been treated, Ryubeom considered the debt paid. In fact, he felt overwhelmed by the overflowing kindness.
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On the way home, Ryubeom deleted Yeowhi’s contact information. He hadn’t even saved it in the first place, but out of anxiety about being discovered, he deleted all call records and messages as well. Since the leaves were completely withered, there was no way he would remember that number. Throughout this process, Ryubeom behaved as if he were being chased by someone.
He didn’t want to get used to kindness. To make a fuss over receiving kindness just once seemed unreasonable, especially since it was the only kindness he had received. So, he felt a sense of rejection.
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He didn’t want any basis for comparison. He was afraid of the stark contrast that was so prominent in his life. If he unconsciously compared, he would long for what was good. That would make it even more difficult for him to endure.
The looks Ryubeom received in his daily life were completely different from those of the foxes.
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“We must ensure that no disturbances arise at this gathering.”
That evening, the leaders and elders of the tiger clan walked to the center of Seoul.
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Famous beast clans often held gatherings to foster relationships with influential humans, as it was a culture established when humans and beasts began living together. However, gatherings of the tiger clan were somewhat special.
Tigers held significant meaning in this land, so humans desired to receive ‘blessings’ from tiger-beasts. It was a well-known belief among humans that receiving a tiger’s blessing would dispel misfortune, bring blessings, and attract power and wealth.
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So, when humans held such gatherings, they often handed over bags to the elders, although they didn’t know exactly what was exchanged. All Ryubeom knew was that the focus of this meeting was a famous figure in the political world, a human so eminent that even the clan leader personally walked with them.
All immediate family members of the clan attended such important meetings. The intention was for the descendants to build rapport with humans in advance and naturally integrate into human society later on. Ryubeom also attended the meeting, but his position was different from that of his cousins.
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Standing outside a traditional Korean restaurant with tiled roofs, Ryubeom stood with the security guards.
“Do it properly. Be prepared to be expelled from the clan if any issues arise at this gathering.”
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“Yes.”
Ryubeom nodded in response. It was a comment directed specifically at him among the many security guards. He knew that such comments revealed his position within the clan, but he didn’t show any particular reaction. He pretended not to hear the faint chuckle from the guard standing next to him.
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A few minutes later, tigers descended from the cars that arrived one by one. The humans had arrived early and were waiting inside the restaurant, while the tigers arrived precisely on time.
As one of the elders passed by Ryubeom, he clicked his tongue lightly.
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“So small, tsk.”
Half of the guards protecting the place today were humans, and the other half were beasts. They were all large and sturdy. However, Ryubeom was the smallest among them and didn’t even match the average size of the tiger clan.
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Ryubeom was a hybrid of tiger beast and human.
“Suin” referred to entities that possessed characteristics of both animals and humans. These characteristics included animal features like hands, feet, ears, tails, fur, and scales prominently displayed on a human body, though the extent of these features varied among different suin. Some suin could even transform completely into human form to blend into human society.
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When two suin of the same species had children, the offspring were naturally suin. However, the likelihood of a suin being born from a union between a suin and a human was quite low, less than 10%. Among those rare suin born from such unions, it was even rarer for them to possess significant spiritual power.
In society, “marriage” was a highly important cultural institution. According to the elders, marriage was a legal system that bound families together. Some humans desired to form bonds with suin, and the tiger clan would bestow special blessings upon humans whose unions were deemed beneficial to the clan. Children born from blessed unions between humans and suin had a higher chance of being born as suin.
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However, Ryubeom was an entity born without such blessings. To be precise, he was born from an unauthorized marriage.
“That position suits you perfectly.”
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“Oh, Hyungnim. Even that position is too much for me.”
His cousins mocked him as they passed by. Ryubeom bowed his head and remained quietly at attention. The treatment he received within the clan was evident to others, but it was already a familiar situation to him.
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The suin currently on guard duty with him were members of the branch families and vassal families of the tiger clan. Not all suin of the same species belonged to the same family, and strict hierarchies were maintained.
Ryubeom’s family, bearing the surname “Cheon,” was at the core of the tiger suin clan. Other tigers served the main family like retainers. The head of the family was established in his grandfather’s generation, and his children and grandchildren were currently considered the direct line. The descendants of great aunts or great uncles were considered branch families. There was a difference in spiritual power between the direct and branch lines, with the direct line generally receiving respect from the branches, but Ryubeom was an exception.
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Members of the branch families standing nearby glanced at Ryubeom.
“Still clinging on there, huh?”
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Even their looks conveyed mockery, but Ryubeom did not react. With no more people entering the gate, he lifted his head and stared blankly ahead.
Then, at some point, Ryubeom’s eyes gleamed. His amber eyes, which had suddenly become sharp, faintly shimmered with a golden hue as he dashed forward.
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Boom!
It happened in an instant. Ryubeom, sensing the black energy rushing towards the restaurant, quickly stepped forward and grabbed it. The black energy had no form, but as Ryubeom attempted to seize it, his spiritual power followed his will. When an auspicious light swirled around his hand, the energy froze like an animal caught by the neck.
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Ryubeom didn’t miss that fleeting moment. With the same momentum he had when charging forward, he bent his upper body and slammed the energy into the ground. The impact was fierce enough to shake the earth.
“…Wow.”
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A human guard, watching from a distance, murmured in awe. Realizing belatedly that attention was now on him, he quickly shut his mouth.
Although the humans and suin were assigned to different areas, preventing the guard from fully understanding the suin’s situation, he had a vague sense that this tiger and the other tigers didn’t get along well. Admiring this tiger’s skills amidst such tension showed a lack of discretion.
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While the human guard awkwardly cleared his throat, Ryubeom struggled to bind the black energy. It kept resisting, making it difficult to subdue. Ryubeom frowned and covered his mouth with his hand.
“Bind.”
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As he infused his words with spiritual power, a string of binding spells appeared, circling around his hand. Glowing with a subtle amber light, the spell shot out like a rope the moment Ryubeom extended his hand downward. The black energy, ensnared by the spell, could no longer disperse and was tightly bound.
On days when tigers and humans met like today, ‘gwi’ occasionally appeared. It was unclear whether they were simply drawn by the strong energy or sent with a specific purpose. They could be entities entangled in the tiger clan’s spiritual energy, or perhaps followers of a famous political figure who visited today. Ryubeom leaned towards the latter. It was hard to imagine anyone bearing a grudge against the tiger, revered as a spiritual being, launching such an attack. Moreover, Ryubeom’s role was merely to provide security, so there was no need for him to know the details.
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After confirming that the gwi was fully restrained, Ryubeom stood up. The spell, shaped like a rope, was firmly bound to his hand as well.
Just then, the head of the tiger clan and his great-aunt arrived. Though their arrival was somewhat late, no one dared to comment on it.
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Ryubeom bowed his head in greeting. The clan head didn’t even glance at him as he passed by. Ryubeom, accustomed to this, waited for them to pass, but froze as a forest scent approached. It was a quiet and profound scent, like one that might emanate from the depths of a foggy, dense forest.
His great-aunt stopped in front of him.
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“Straighten your attire.”
A tap on his shoulder startled Ryubeom, making him look up at her. She had braided her tawny hair up and was gazing at him with golden eyes that glowed serenely. She exuded an aura of elegance, nobility, and intimidation—a tiger in every sense.
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“Don’t show such a disheveled appearance.”
Cheon Hoyeon, the first child of the clan head, was the person he kept closest to him and had a high standing within the clan. She held a position of power second only to the clan head, someone even the elders did not easily approach.
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Ryubeom hurriedly glanced down at his clothes. His suit had become quite disheveled while capturing the spirit, and the end of his sleeve was even slightly torn.
If this gets noticed, I’ll be scolded again, Ryubeom thought with dismay as he hid his hands behind his back. He maintained a posture befitting a guard, bowing his head as Hoyeon slowly withdrew her hand from his shoulder.
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Ryubeom braced himself, wondering what she would say next, but her shoes gradually moved out of his sight.
“…?”
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Ryubeom raised his head, puzzled by the lack of further action. Though he had been cautioned not to show a disheveled appearance, it was a very mild reprimand.
However, upon reflection, Hoyeon had never paid much attention to him. While the clan elders scolded him and his cousins mocked and ridiculed him, she remained indifferent. Ryubeom had always been somewhat grateful for that indifference.
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Today’s caution was an unusual occurrence. He thought it might be due to the importance of today’s guests, which made her more mindful of appearances. After checking his clothes again, Ryubeom lowered his gaze once more.
Now it was time to seal the spirit he had captured. Taking advantage of the brief distraction, the spirit had started to struggle again, so Ryubeom firmly pulled on the binding spell in his hand.
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“…Evil energy?”
Suddenly sensing a cold sensation, Ryubeom paused. The energy emanating from the spirit had changed. Moments ago, it had been just a common spirit, but now its flow had altered. The unfamiliarity of the energy made Ryubeom scrutinize it closely. Could it be an evil spirit?
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At that moment, the head of the security team approached, and Ryubeom spoke up.
“I think this needs to be analyzed.”
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“I’ll handle it.”
The team leader abruptly snatched the binding rope from Ryubeom. Momentarily stunned, Ryubeom fell silent as he had intended to request the cooperation of the branch family team leader. He quickly realized the situation.
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The team leader intended to claim the credit.
The strict hierarchy between the direct and branch families did not apply to Cheon Ryubeom. Perhaps this man was envious of his recent conversation with Cheon Hoyeon.
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The man before him was rumored to be gaining influence within the branch family. Though the branch families had connections with powerful humans, they were not on par with the direct line. Additionally, the branch family members had a strong desire to gain the recognition of the clan head.
“I caught it, so I should be responsible for sealing it….”
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“Is the young master of the direct line really that distrustful of me?”
Ryubeom quietly stared at him. He disliked being interrupted and found it extremely rude for the man to suddenly snatch the spell away.
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On the other hand, it was the first time he had been called “young master” by a tiger, and the context made it rather amusing. The contrast with the events of earlier that day dampened Ryubeom’s mood.
Under Ryubeom’s steady gaze, the man’s expression grew even more hostile.
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“I am the chief of security, so naturally, I should take the lead, shouldn’t I?”
He tilted his head menacingly, clearly displeased. The man, larger than Ryubeom, stepped forward, casting his shadow over him.
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Ryubeom, maintaining his calm gaze, finally sighed inwardly. Although he didn’t think he would lose in a fight, he didn’t want to cause a commotion. Besides, there were many more branch family members around, and he could feel their supportive gazes towards the man.
This was a space where Ryubeom had no allies. It would have been the same even if direct family members were present.
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Ryubeom turned his head. There was an important meeting happening inside, and causing a disturbance outside would only get him into trouble. Recently, he had failed the regular test and also failed to hunt the fox, putting his position at risk. He had to be cautious.
When Ryubeom took a step back, the man’s lips curled into a smirk. Feeling victorious, he adopted an even more arrogant attitude.
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“It seems the young master is quite diligent in his security duties. How about making sure your attire is neat as well? Why don’t you go downstairs and change?”
“I can’t leave my post.”
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“Oh, so my opinion doesn’t matter to you?”
“….”
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“I’m saying this for your own good. Maintaining a tidy appearance is part of your security duties. Don’t you agree?”
The force pushing against Ryubeom’s shoulder with a finger was strong, but he didn’t budge at all. He had been taught that the branch family must use respectful language towards the direct family, and the direct family must not show any weaknesses. However, the current situation was far from that ideal. This disrespect towards Ryubeom had originated from the direct family members who didn’t even consider him as a fellow tiger suin.
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Finally, Ryubeom sighed inwardly and looked down. There were a few emergency suits in the security vehicles parked below.
“Oh, and while you’re going down, why don’t you pick up some snacks from the convenience store?”
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“….”
“Why are you looking at me like that? The people inside won’t be coming out for a while, so we might as well lighten the mood among the security team with some snacks.”
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The team leader shrugged, looking around as if to garner agreement, and the other branch family members eagerly nodded, cheering. While they pretended to be excited about the snacks, Ryubeom could clearly sense that their true intent was to mock him.
Ryubeom took a deep breath. If any issues arose today, he might really get kicked out of the family. The person in the weaker position had to yield.
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“…Alright.”
Reluctantly agreeing, Ryubeom started to move. The restaurant was situated on a mountainside, far from the bustling city, so it would take quite a while to reach the convenience store. The team leader undoubtedly knew this and had given him this absurd errand on purpose.
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As Ryubeom descended, he could hear the team leader’s mocking laughter behind him.
“Thinks he’s something just because he’s from the direct line.”
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Ryubeom tightened his grip. His tightly clenched fist trembled slightly, but in the end, Ryubeom shook his head. Reacting to something like this would only play into their hands. And considering the treatment he received from his family, it wasn’t particularly upsetting.
Recently, the scrutiny had become more intense. Now that he was twenty, legally an adult by human standards, he could enter society and live independently. Coming of age in a prestigious beastkin family was quite significant. Depending on the abilities displayed at this time, the family would either keep the individual within the clan or cast them out. They called it encouraging independence, but in reality, it was akin to expulsion. In the tight-knit beastkin society, where clan bonds were strong, this was rare.
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But for Ryubeom, it was as if he had no familial bonds at all. The collateral relatives awaited his expulsion. An unwanted stone had rolled into the esteemed direct line family, and they hoped that flaw would soon disappear, so they could take his place.
“…Hoo.”
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The path down was quiet. In the desolate space devoid of any signs of life, Ryubeom finally exhaled loudly, feeling slightly relieved. He hadn’t eaten dinner, yet he felt a lingering discomfort. Ryubeom headed to a convenience store. As he descended the mountain, he saw many people passing by. When a group of six or seven people brushed past him, Ryubeom involuntarily flinched and moved aside, suddenly feeling that he shouldn’t appear disheveled.
But in reality, Ryubeom’s suit was only slightly torn at the sleeve, and otherwise, it was fine. Even the tear was not noticeable if he covered it with his hand, making him just another young man in a suit. Malicious words often left such traces. They surfaced unexpectedly, making one self-censor. He thought he had let it pass without issue, reacted nonchalantly as if accustomed to it, but suddenly it would seize him. Unconsciously, Ryubeom found himself checking people’s gazes and being cautious with his actions.
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A nearby patrolling policeman noticed Ryubeom hiding from people and approached curiously.
“Is there a problem?”
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“Oh, no. I’m fine.”
Ryubeom hastily stepped back from the worrisome approach. Worried that his eyes might meet theirs and reveal that he was a tiger beastman, he quickened his pace.
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It’s said that tiger beastmen have great confidence in their species more than anyone else, but Ryubeom did not. Perhaps it was because he had heard several times that it was shameful to be seen as part of the same tribe. Consciously, he tried to suppress and hide his aura.
The fox beastman Ryubeom met earlier today recognized him as a tiger because he momentarily acted wary of the man. Maybe it was because he had felt unusually comfortable in that house. Focusing as if hypnotized by someone’s hand that had grabbed him, when that atmosphere was broken, he instinctively acted sharply.
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‘Even so, they wouldn’t mock me as a deficient tiger, would they…?’
Ryubeom glanced back. The police, though puzzled by his sudden flight, did not follow him. Only then did his tension ease and his steps slowly come to a halt.
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The two police officers he encountered earlier were a combination of a human and a dog beastman. With yellow, fluffy ears peeking out from under his cap, he was likely of the retriever breed.
Dog beastmen, particularly high in sociability, had well integrated into human society, with the most common occupation being the police. Their excellent sense of smell and hearing were fully utilized. Dog beastmen could also be frequently seen at airports.
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In security professions, beastmen classified as predators were predominantly found, occasionally mixed with orca beastmen. While water beastmen had a hard time living on land, they exhibited immense power along coastlines.
In modern society, beastmen and humans coexisted this way. Until just a hundred years ago, countless wars had erupted because they couldn’t accept each other’s existence, but conflicts subsided through an agreement.
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A peace treaty.
An agreement between beastmen and humans to acknowledge and respect their differences, to not reject each other, and to promise harmony. It was a hopeful document aimed at promoting mutual development on the premise of non-aggression.
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The beastman who proposed this treaty wasn’t an apex predator. Instead, great predators like tigers, lions, and bears, with their high pride, sought to trample humans who dared to wield guns and knives against them.
The proposal came from the fox clan.
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“…Oh. There’s a fox there too.”
Ryubeom noticed a screen attached to the building’s exterior. It happened to be displaying a commercial for a variety show that featured a popular beastman celebrity, showcasing their daily life.
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And the idol currently on the screen was a fox beastman.
Ryubeom didn’t know much about the outside world, but they did. More precisely, they knew the place the idol belonged to rather than the idol’s existence itself. The fox clan led many businesses in modern society, one of which was entertainment.
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Hn.Ent.
The agency that first debuted beastmen as celebrities. When they started this business, they were ridiculed by other beastmen. They were sneered at, saying they weren’t ashamed as beastmen and that the business would surely fail. Yet, Hn Entertainment proudly grew into one of the top three agencies. Given that their first celebrity was a fox beastman, it was perhaps an expected result.
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Fox beastmen have the ability to charm others. Besides having above-average looks, the very aura they exude is different from ordinary people. There couldn’t be a better talent for being a celebrity.
Rapidly growing, Hn Entertainment also debuted cat beastmen, and now they have many dog and wolf beastmen as part of their roster. Moreover, it is said that many beastmen from various species come from overseas to debut.
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At that moment, the fox beastman on the screen was heading towards the Hn headquarters. As if introducing new talents from the agency, the camera followed, showing various beastmen waving and greeting.
Ryubeom’s eyes reflected their image.
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“…….”
It was unfamiliar to see beastmen blending into human society and living naturally. No, more precisely, their confident appearance felt extremely strange and foreign. Ryubeom not only failed to adapt to human society but also felt out of place in the beastmen community.
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Slowly, Ryubeom’s gaze shifted sideways to his reflection in the shop window. His face was endlessly calm, but beneath the expressionless surface, it was filled with sedimented emotions. He didn’t know how to handle his feelings, so he just swallowed them all.
He thought they would fade if ignored, but those emotions came back one day, darker and deeper than anything else, clinging together in a repressed state, making it impossible to unravel them—like a tangled, messy skein of thread.
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…Can this even be called a tiger?
Ryubeom’s amber eyes darkened even more. At home, he was ignored; collateral relatives envied and belittled him; in human society, he lived in constant fear of being discovered as a tiger. Is this how a tiger lives?
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‘No matter what anyone says, you are a tiger of this land.’
Suddenly, a memory from long ago surfaced. Those infinitely kind words were filled with deep affection for Ryubeom, and also… a pride in being a ‘tiger.’
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Ryubeom bit his lip firmly. Despite being so proud, despite loving tigers so much that she named him ‘Beom.’
‘Why did you run away from the family, Mom?’
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Overwhelmed by a surge of emotion, Ryubeom lowered his head. He didn’t want to see his reflection in the glass. His face, contorted with distress, would undoubtedly be unsightly.
And it wouldn’t look like a tiger at all.
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Saaa…
As dark thoughts continued to spiral, Ryubeom sensed a change in the surrounding atmosphere. It was an instinctual realization. The air grew as cold as a cemetery at dawn, and the alley’s darkness flickered ominously.
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Step, step. Ryubeom’s steps moved backward. His legs trembled, and his complexion turned pale. These were signs that spirits were about to appear. Just a couple of hours ago, Ryubeom had grabbed a ghost without hesitation, but now it was impossible.
“Hehehe…”
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“A frightened tiger, aren’t you…?”
One by one, things began to rise from the darkness. Their faces resembled humans, but their appearance was horrifying. Some had half of their faces crushed, others were mangled by long claws, and some had their necks twisted, heads dangling precariously.
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These were Changgui.
The souls of people killed by tigers. They become slaves to the tigers, serving them and helping them hunt other humans. This behavior results from their souls being bound to the tiger…
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The moment this enslavement breaks is when the tiger weakens.
The primary reason souls remain as ghosts is because they were murdered. Unable to find peace due to hatred and a desire for revenge, they become ghosts wandering the world. Among them, Changgui are spirits forcibly bound and turned into ‘evil spirits.’
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“Let’s kill that tiger…!”
“Hehe, heehee. Where are you running to, tiger?”
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“We are chasing the tiger!”
The Changgui began pursuing Ryubeom with hatred. Though they were not people Ryubeom had killed, Changgui lacked the intellect to distinguish between friend and foe. Even if they had such discernment, it didn’t matter whether Ryubeom was the perpetrator or not.
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The Changgui wanted revenge on the ‘tiger.’
“No, stay away!”
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Ryubeom fled desperately. He tried to gather his spiritual energy into his hands, but it wasn’t easy. It was difficult to regain composure once his heart had cracked. Especially when faced with beings that unabashedly displayed their hatred towards him.
A grotesquely long shadow chased after the running Ryubeom. The darkness of the alley coalesced into a monstrous shape. A huge, sleek black mass seemed to pour out, and as it got closer to Ryubeom, faces of the Changgui would pop out of the mass.
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