TGHD Ch 26

As we entered Mansagul and came to this place, we did not feel any sign of Imugi. This leads to the conclusion that it is now outside the cave, not inside. And if it intentionally trapped itself and Yeohwi, doesn’t that mean it is causing a disturbance outside?

Cheon Ryubeom immediately ran outside.

Rumble…

As soon as he passed through the barrier, he could feel the cave trembling. Moreover, he sensed the air getting damp, as if it was about to rain. For some reason, his body had felt a bit sluggish inside the barrier, as if some senses were being blocked.

“The humans who were searching inside the cave have all disappeared as well.”

At Yeohwi’s words, who followed, Ryubeom sighed softly and moved his steps. He had to quickly check the situation outside the cave.

The sky around the mountain was filled with dark clouds. It was not even noon yet, but it was as dark as night. Was it trying to cause another storm? Ryubeom’s gaze caught something as he bit his lower lip.

Far away, a huge figure was moving between the ridges. It looked like a shadow in the darkening sky, or at times, it seemed as if the mountain was shaking.

Ryubeom immediately realized what it was.

A jet-black Imugi from Mansagul.

[Prepare a fitting ritual for me…]

Imugi’s voice echoed like a distant reverberation. Afterward, Imugi quickly disappeared between the canyons, and Ryubeom followed it with his gaze until the end. The distance was quite far, but he pondered whether he should chase Imugi or first ensure the safety of the police officers. As he stepped just outside the cave, his pocket vibrated.

— Beom! Why haven’t you been answering your phone?! Where are you now?!

It was Saerok who called. As soon as Ryubeom answered the worried call, she shouted even more frantically, leaving him bewildered. It was the first time he heard her so alarmed.

And hearing Saerok’s story, it seemed she had been trying to contact him all this time. It seemed he couldn’t communicate at all, either because he was inside the cave or trapped within Imugi’s barrier. Ryubeom tried to make an excuse but decided to tell the truth.

“I just went up Mansagul for a bit…”

— What? Did the police ask for help?! Are you searching with them?!

“…No?”

It was a strange question. Cheon Ryubeom had no connection with the police here, and revealing himself as part of the tiger clan would require going through quite a cumbersome process. He wondered why she was asking such a question, but Saerok’s story poured out.

— It’s a mess now. The police asked my parents and Ilok, Jimyo’s sister, to help with the search, so they went up the mountain! It’s not just our family, but most of the residents!

“…What?”

— Seriously, why would the police ask the residents to help find remains together?! It makes no sense. No one is answering their phones…

It wasn’t a simple search for missing people, but a search for remains and belongings, so they wouldn’t involve civilians due to concerns about damage. No matter how close-knit the police station staff and residents were, it was hard to understand this from a common-sense perspective. Saerok cried, saying that everyone who received the proposal followed it as if they were bewitched.

Cheon Ryubeom recalled a certain ghost story that flashed through his mind. His face stiffened.

‘The path to Mansagul is a bit complicated. So if you get lost, the mountain keeper approaches and says they’ll guide you to the cave, but actually, there’s no mountain keeper there?’

* * *

Cheon Ryubeom hurried down the mountain with Yeohwi.

First, they needed to meet Saerok and grasp the detailed situation. As Saerok waited at home as Ryubeom advised at the end of their call, she immediately approached him, calling his name as she saw him. Her hands were trembling.

“What on earth is going on? Why are there dark clouds only over the mountain?”

As Saerok said, the dark clouds that had formed in broad daylight were only gathered over the mountain. While descending, Ryubeom felt as if it were night, but upon reaching the village below, it felt like morning.

“What are they searching for in such darkness…!”

Saerok pounded her chest in frustration. Ryubeom calmly asked if she knew which direction her family had gone.

About an hour ago, Saerok said she had gone for a walk. The news that a lot of remains had been found suddenly made her feel uneasy, so she went for a walk to refresh her mood, but no one was at home. When she asked the neighbor, they said a police officer came and asked for help, so they followed. Saerok had also wondered, ‘Why would the police ask?’ She kept contacting her family and Jimyo while circling the house, but when she went back to the neighbor’s house, they had also disappeared.

“It was so strange that I couldn’t go closer, but I vaguely saw them going up the northeast side of the mountain. It’s not a regular trail…”

Northeast. It aligned with the direction where Ryubeom had spotted Imugi from above. As Ryubeom’s face stiffened, Saerok expressed her confused feelings, wondering what was happening.

Ryubeom then briefly explained the information confirmed at Mansagul. When he talked about the serpent monster from folklore and sacrifices, Saerok initially looked incredulous but eventually nodded and listened. That was the only way to explain the bizarre dark clouds.

At the end of the story, Saerok asked a question.

“Then what are those things pretending to be police?”

“They’re probably the vengeful spirits of those killed by Imugi.”

The reason the mountain keeper ghost story spread was because the appearance of the mountain keeper was similar to the corpse and clothes found in the cave five years ago. Since more traces of death were found inside the cave, it is possible that those killed by Imugi are bound to it, mimicking the police.

Seeing that the fake police led the residents up the mountain under the pretense of a search, their ultimate goal might be…

“…to offer everyone as sacrifices.”

This also aligns with Imugi’s demand to “prepare a fitting ritual.” Saerok’s face turned pale at Ryubeom’s quiet muttering. Her hands trembled again, and Ryubeom realized too late that his hypothesis would be shocking, considering her parents, brother, and even her sister were taken.

In the end, Ryubeom decided to reveal a bit more of the truth to her.

“I’ll save them somehow, so don’t worry too much. In fact, I came here to hunt Imugi from the start, so I’m fully prepared.”

He had brought all the treasures from his family. Even though it would be difficult to easily subdue an Imugi using such large-scale magic, this was not something to tell Saerok.

Saerok blinked in surprise at Ryubeom’s serious promise to save everyone. When she first heard he came to hunt Imugi, she was quite taken aback. She knew he was a beast-type Suin and exceptionally strong, but she felt more like a peer. However, looking into his amber eyes, she strangely felt trust.

He truly seemed like a guardian of everything on this land.

Saerok, who had slowly calmed down, nodded with a moved expression. Ryubeom’s promise felt very reassuring.

Meanwhile, Yeohwi, who had been looking up at the mountain and thinking deeply, soon asked Ryubeom a question.

“Do you think they are preparing a ritual?”

“Most likely. Since Imugi said, ‘prepare a fitting ritual for me,’ it’s likely demanding a ritual similar to what it received during the Joseon Dynasty.”

“Then, should we offer a sacrifice first?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Let’s pretend to perform a ritual like in the legend of Seoryeon. They have many people, so it will take a long time to prepare the ritual.”

Ryubeom, who had been blinking slowly, soon burst into laughter. The suggestion to pretend to perform a ritual like Seoryeon to lure Imugi and then attack it suddenly was quite plausible. Even though the vengeful spirits had lured the residents, Imugi wouldn’t be able to eat them all at once, and as Yeohwi said, it would take a long time to prepare the ritual.

“Taking over their ritual might be a way.”

If they went northeast, they could find the gathering place. Even though the evil spirits, Imugi’s minions, were pretending to be fake police, they could infiltrate using disguise techniques. Once they successfully entered the ritual site, they could pretend to be captured residents.

Saerok, understanding, raised her hand and shouted.

“I’ll pretend to be a sacrifice! I majored in acting, after all!”

“What? No. It’s too dangerous.”

“It’s okay. I’m the person even ghosts don’t take!”

Ryubeom’s expression became peculiar at her shout. He had already recalled the past story about why only Saerok remained among the residents. The anecdote that no matter how much she searched for the mountain keeper, she never encountered it. He had thought at the time that maybe ghosts don’t cling to overly bright beings, and it might still apply now.

While Ryubeom was contemplating, Saerok eagerly appealed to be taken as a sacrifice.

“They offered a fifteen-year-old girl in the legend, right? I’m about the same age!”

“Aren’t you twenty, Saerok?”

“Let’s say I left five years at home.”

“That’s quite a talent…”

Ryubeom chuckled at their conversation. In this situation, Saerok, who should be the most worried, was so enthusiastic that he hesitated to tell her to stay home just because he had to protect her. Saerok might be more afraid to be alone at home.

Moreover, Imugi had already sensed his presence and set up traps, so it was unlikely to be fooled if he pretended to be a sacrifice.

Considering various factors, Ryubeom slowly nodded.

“Alright. I’ll give you a lot of protective gear, so never let it leave your body.”

If he gave Saerok all the protective gear he had brought from his family, it could block Imugi’s attacks a few times. They had to escape well before all opportunities were gone, and since she was a deer Suin, she could run fast.

Saerok cheered at Ryubeom’s agreement and then slyly asked.

“By the way, do you have anything like a bomb?”

“…I have something similar, but why?”

“When Imugi opens its mouth to eat the sacrifice, I’ll quickly throw it inside! I’ll kill that snake that took Yulgokrok.”

Ryubeom sighed inwardly at her seemingly burning enthusiasm. She had been insisting on following as a sacrifice, probably because her family was captured, and she was greatly angered. Although she bickered with Ilok every day, she still worried about her only brother.

As Ryubeom was about to reassure her that he would definitely save Ilok, Saerok muttered gloomily.

“I can only mess with my own blood…”

“…?”

Her voice was so solemn that Ryubeom looked at her in confusion and then turned his gaze to Yeohwi. His eyes seemed to ask if sibling relationships were always like this, and Yeohwi just shrugged.

After finishing all the preparations, they ascended the mountain.

Heading in the direction Saerok mentioned, they could faintly see footprints on the ground. The traces were left due to the light drizzle that fell in the early morning. The three quietly followed the footprints.

And where they arrived, there was indeed a ritual table. In the wide clearing, many residents were gathered, kneeling, and among them, there were also police officers. Some of the police were busily moving around, setting up the ritual table, and they were the evil spirits.

There was no need to verify their energy. The evil spirits’ eyes were completely black. Although their eyes were extremely unnatural, the residents, likely hypnotized upon encountering them, would have followed them without much suspicion.

“Ah, there they are…!”

Saerok whispered urgently. In the direction her fingertip pointed, she saw her dazed parents, Ilok, and Jimyo. Though they were kneeling, Saerok sighed in relief, seeing that they had no external injuries.

Ryubeom also carefully surveyed the surroundings and then disguised himself. A police uniform was overlayed on top of his normal clothes. The experience he had a few hours ago with disguising seemed to pay off, as he appeared more natural than before.

Saerok was genuinely surprised by his disguise. In fact, those who used sorcery were considered fascinating even among Suin.

“Wow, that’s amazing!”

Saerok exclaimed in admiration, biting her lips as if her position as an acting genius was threatened. Ryubeom thought her reaction was part of her effort to relieve tension, and he reiterated the plan they had discussed before ascending the mountain. Saerok nodded solemnly, and Yeohwi smiled reassuringly.

The plan started with Ryubeom disguising himself as an evil spirit police officer and pretending to bring Saerok and Yeohwi as sacrifices. They had to infiltrate the ritual without being detected. After taking a deep breath, Ryubeom moved.

Step, step…

[Hey, why are you so late?]

However, their plan slightly deviated from the start. One of the evil spirits, who was counting the residents, approached Ryubeom, questioning his late arrival. Ryubeom, pressing his police cap deeply, answered.

“I brought some residents from far away.”

[Really? Hmm, the master does like deer…]

The evil spirit murmured, looking at Saerok, who had her head deeply bowed. Fortunately, it seemed the evil spirits did not know each other’s existence completely. Ryubeom was most worried about being questioned about the number of people, but it didn’t become an issue. It seemed they could pass through, so Ryubeom only nodded and moved.

But suddenly, the evil spirit grabbed Ryubeom’s shoulder.

[Wait a minute. Your eyes look a bit strange.]

Ryubeom’s disguise only mimicked the attire, not the completely black eyes of the evil spirits. The evil spirit, noticing the amber eyes beneath the cap, showed immediate suspicion. Just as the evil spirit was about to shout and alert the surroundings, Ryubeom swiftly pressed a sword to its neck.

He almost instinctively knocked the evil spirit out with the sword, but doing so would cause a bigger commotion. Ryubeom barely chose a different response.

“Lead me to the ritual table.”

He used the hypnosis technique he had learned from Yeohwi a few days ago. However, he hadn’t mastered the technique and had only barely managed to learn how to give direction commands. So, Ryubeom could only order the evil spirit to lead him to the ritual table, which he already knew the location of, making it a rather amusing command.

Yeohwi, recognizing the precarious improvisation, chuckled softly from behind. She even gave him an admiring look as she saw the cold sweat running down Cheon Ryubeom’s forehead.

Only Saerok muttered bewilderedly.

“What? Did you hypnotize it or threaten it?”

In fact, the evil spirit being somewhat hypnotized by the tiger’s aura emanating from Cheon Ryubeom wasn’t entirely wrong. Feeling a bit more embarrassed, Ryubeom turned his head.

On the way to the ritual table, other evil spirits’ gazes followed them. They seemed curious about the three who came late but did not question them since they were accompanied by an evil spirit with black eyes. The slightly awkward steps of the guiding evil spirit were covered by Ryubeom walking closely.

Though somewhat clumsy, they all successfully infiltrated. It was time to fulfill their respective roles.

Ryubeom stood with the evil spirits, while Saerok and Yeohwi sat among the residents. As Saerok subtly approached her family and Jimyo, glancing around, Yeohwi, at the very back, drew something on the ground. When an evil spirit passed by, she naturally covered it with her robe, avoiding detection.

[Now… let’s start the ritual…]

An evil spirit, acting as the ritual master, stepped into the center. It seemed to be choosing a sacrifice first, scanning the residents, then pointing to the smallest figure. The being with the small frame and drooping rabbit ears was none other than Jimyo.

[That one looks about fifteen…]

“That’s not true! I am fifteen years old!”

At that moment, Saerok suddenly raised her hand and shouted. The bold outcry made the ritual master tilt its head in confusion.

[…You seem a bit big for fifteen.]

“Kids grow faster these days compared to the Joseon Dynasty!”

At this absurd exchange, Ryubeom gave a bitter glance. Although she had to step forward as a sacrifice, he didn’t expect her to converse so confidently with the evil spirit. It was a relief she wasn’t afraid of the evil spirits…

Regardless of Ryubeom’s concerns, Saerok continued her passionate act.

“Give me the honor to sacrifice my life for the great Imugi.”

She raised one hand high and pressed the other hand to her chest, performing as if in a theatrical scene. It almost seemed like a spotlight was shining solely on her. She was displaying a large-scale illusion comparable to Imugi. The ritual master nodded, a bit overwhelmed by Saerok’s bright energy.

Successfully, Saerok climbed onto the ritual table.

The ritual was more formal than expected. Wearing colorful silk clothes, Saerok muttered, “Ugh, snake’s taste…,” and immediately closed her mouth when she met Ryubeom’s eyes.

Dum, dum, dum, dum…

The sound of a giant drum echoed. Initially, it seemed like just the sound resonating, but gradually the entire atmosphere vibrated tinglingly. The dark clouds in the sky swayed, and the ground began to shake. Ryubeom felt the hairs on his body stand on end. It was the instinctive vigilance that arose when a powerful enemy approached.

Soon, ku-gu-gu-gu-gu! At the end of a rumbling sound that seemed to collapse the ground, Imugi appeared from the mountain.

[Such a pleasing sacrifice.]

Imugi, descending along the ridge, was so massive that it could wrap around the entire hill, and its jet-black scales shimmered ominously under the dark clouds. It was much larger than what Ryubeom had seen from Mansagul.

Other evil spirits knelt and bowed before the altar, showering praises on Imugi.

[Oh, the great one has arrived…]

“Aaaah…”

The hypnotized residents also responded accordingly. They banged their foreheads on the ground, praying for grace from Imugi. Ryubeom found the scene somewhat, no, extremely bizarre. The group madness resembled a cult meeting. Especially since those who had died by Imugi had become evil spirits, worshiping Imugi like devotees, it was downright disturbing.

He was utterly repulsed by Imugi, who had created all this.

Imugi narrowed its eyes, seemingly enjoying the worship, and approached the ritual table. Saerok, who was sitting demurely, shuddered at the sight of Imugi’s eyes up close. Cheon Ryubeom, a tiger Suin, was already tense from the monster’s energy, so she seemed to find it even harder to endure, her face turning pale.

[I heard the praises you offered me. Huhu, young one…]

Imugi coiled its body closer to the ritual table to see Saerok up close. As if finding the frightened response of the sacrifice pathetic, Imugi sweetly praised her, extending its long tongue to lick Saerok’s cheek. She flinched in shock.

[Don’t worry. I will eat you whole in one go.]

Imugi then opened its mouth wide. The cheers of the evil spirits and residents grew even louder, their endless prayers wishing for the great one to accept the sacrifice and bestow blessings.

“So kind of you, I don’t know what to do…!”

At the very moment when Imugi’s mouth approached, Saerok, squeezing out her voice, threw a bead into Imugi’s mouth. It was something she had received from Ryubeom before ascending the mountain.

Boom! With a loud explosion, smoke spread thickly.

But Imugi was not caught off guard. As Saerok swung her arm, Imugi quickly dodged its head to the side, and the bomb slightly missed, hitting its cheek. The impact made Imugi’s scales glow red, and it roared in fury.

[Dare…! Do you think I would fall for the same trick as before!]

However, the bead Saerok threw was not just a bomb but a tool that also functioned as a smoke bomb. Through the smoke that wouldn’t easily dissipate, a chilling golden light surged towards Imugi.

Clang!

The sharp sound of hard scales clashing with a sword echoed. Just before, when Imugi approached the ritual table, Ryubeom had silently moved back and leaped high to attack. Although he didn’t pierce the scales, the heavy impact made Imugi scream and twist its body.

Meanwhile, a faint golden light spread wide from below, forming a hemisphere. It was a treasure of the tiger clan that Ryubeom had given to Yeohwi before ascending the mountain. It was a treasure that protected a certain area and purified that space.

The purified residents began to wake up from their hypnosis one by one.

“Kyaaak!”

“Uwaaah! Huh, what, what is this!”

The residents were horrified as soon as they saw the scene. Through the thick smoke, they saw a giant Imugi and a figure wielding golden light clashing, and the ground shaking as if there was an earthquake from their collision. The ritual table was overturned, flying into the air.

Saerok took the lead in guiding them down.

“Let’s get down! Quickly, quickly!”

Although they had been purified, they were still in a dazed state, unable to fully shake off the hypnotic energy. Saerok ran around, pushing them forward. Ilok blinked in a daze, muttering.

“Huh? Saerok. Why am I here…? And that weird silk outfit, what is that…?”

“Is this the time to ask questions?! Just get down quickly!”

“It doesn’t match my personal color…”

“Are you crazy!”

Saerok gritted her teeth, saying she would kill him once they got down. However, seeing Ilok still take care of Jimyo and their parents despite his daze, she held her tongue for a moment, then turned her head and took care of the others.

Soon, Imugi also grasped the situation. While desperately dodging the relentless golden attacks in the smoke, it realized the sacrifices were escaping and shouted.

[Catch those brats!]

The evil spirits, following the command, charged at the residents. The police uniforms had disappeared, and they lunged with the appearance of black, snake-like phantoms.

Whish! But a light blow of red energy pushed the evil spirits back. Yeohwi, cutting them off with a gesture, smiled and nodded at Saerok.

“Everyone must do their part well.”

Saerok was momentarily surprised but then nodded, continuing to lead the residents down. The jade ring on her hand glowed, and the barrier naturally moved. The barrier, which protected a certain range around Saerok, had to be with her until they descended the mountain. And Yeohwi’s role was to keep obstructing the evil spirits’ charge so that the barrier would not break.

Cheon Ryubeom sighed in relief, confirming the scene below. Everything was going according to plan.

[You…!]

At that moment, Imugi roared and withdrew its body. Initially, it tried to move out of the smoke, but Ryubeom persistently blocked its direction, and finally, Imugi moved boldly, prepared for injury.

Imugi, dripping dark red blood, glared fiercely at Ryubeom.

[You, you’re the tiger brat that came here recently. You managed to escape the maze.]

“…How did you notice me?”

[Haha, that’s a stupid question. This mountain is my domain. How could I not notice an intruder?]

“….”

[And annoyingly enough, the mountains of this land are overly sensitive to tigers. Tsk.]

Though the words were difficult to understand, Ryubeom stared back at Imugi’s gaze. His entire body trembled with adrenaline, but he couldn’t let his opponent notice his state.

And he noticed a slanted wound on Imugi’s neck, from which blood was flowing, revealing scarred, bumpy tissue between the streaks of blood. It seemed like an old scar.

Seeing it reminded him of the legend where Seoryeon and his followers cut off the monster’s neck with an axe.

“Why are you still alive? Weren’t you killed by having your neck cut off?”

[Hmm, so you know about me… It seems.]

Imugi’s eyes narrowed. He seemed pleased after having murmured to himself that it was strange from the start when they pretended to be sacrifices. He seemed to enjoy knowing that there was someone who recognized him.

Gaining confidence from his reaction, Ryubeom pressed sharply.

“Did you survive back then and hide in Mansagul to seek revenge? Did you eat humans to recover?”

[You have it wrong. Humans came to me and offered sacrifices voluntarily.]

Ryubeom bit his lower lip. So there really were human sacrifices. Yeohwi’s words about the ugly side of the world persisting for a long time came to his mind bitterly.

“But all you can do is cause storms…”

[Haha, how foolish. In the past, I caused storms because that was what the people of that era wanted the most.]

Imugi shook its body as if laughing. Ryubeom blinked slowly and then sighed as he realized something.

The wishing pond inside Mansagul.

[I can read humans’ desires and have the power to fulfill them. Isn’t it natural for humans to worship such a being as myself?]

In the past, the monster had retreated to Mansagul after clashing with Seoryeon and fell into a deep sleep. During that time, its energy pooled, forming a pond, and the humans who noticed its reflection on the water first discovered its presence. They might have thought the monster from the legend was there.

So they offered sacrifices in the cave to make wishes, and that was what woke Imugi, making Ryubeom sincerely regretful.

Imugi referred to beings training to become dragons or those who failed to become dragons. The monster might have gained mystical powers during its training to become a dragon, and it had corrupted those powers for personal use, hiding in the cave as it had done today.

Imugi approached Ryubeom first.

[Yes, tiger. Although it’s infuriating that you attacked me… I will show mercy and make you a good offer. How about we rule this land together?]

“…What?”

[I have the power to grant wishes, and you have the faith of the humans. If we join forces, all humans in this land will bow before us.]

Imugi seemed uninterested in the ongoing clash between the fleeing sacrifices and the pursuing evil spirits, instead focusing on making an offer to Ryubeom. Imugi’s black eyes glowed ominously, having discovered a greater possibility than the sacrifices slipping away.

[If the tiger joins us, there won’t be any fools like Seoryeon who don’t know their place and dare to challenge us.]

Saerok, who was protecting the residents below, looked up at Ryubeom with a mix of shock and concern. The residents, still unable to shake off the hypnosis, couldn’t understand Imugi’s words, but Saerok heard them clearly.

‘So he was a tiger Suin…’

She finally understood the source of the strange trust she felt in Ryubeom. But she also worried about what would happen if he fell under Imugi’s influence. Although she couldn’t communicate with him from that distance, she sent him a desperate look.

[As a tiger, you understand, don’t you? It’s natural for humans to submit to superior and dominant species. I’m just actively encouraging it.]

“….”

[Wouldn’t it be good for the humans too? For things they cannot achieve on their own, all they have to do is worship us, and we’ll take care of it. We could even keep those we favor closer.]

Imugi, trying to entice Cheon Ryubeom, claimed that such arrangements had existed countless times in history. Inferior beings naturally seek superior and strong ones to rely on. That was how many forms of countries and classes were created…

Cheon Ryubeom, naturally, found it absurd.

“What nonsense are you talking about…”

[Don’t you have something you desire too?]

Ryubeom, who was about to coldly rebuke Imugi, hesitated for a moment at that one sentence. Noticing his reaction, Imugi spoke in a more familiar and affectionate voice. The dark red aura began to spread subtly.

[Whatever you desire, I can grant it. As long as you help me strengthen my power, I will do everything for you.]

“…Trying to tempt me like that won’t work.”

[Shall I find your father for you?]

“….”

Ryubeom bit his lip hard. The place where he had confided his past to Yeohwi a few days ago was, unfortunately, the mountain. Imugi, noticing Ryubeom’s reaction, smiled slyly. Its thick, gray tongue flicked closer.

[Finding the vengeful spirit of your father, who was taken by the evil spirits, is not difficult for me. Am I not close to the evil spirits? So if you help me…]

Whack! Ryubeom struck the snake with his sword. He used the broad side of the blade to hit Imugi hard, as if swatting away a bug, and infused it with spiritual power. The moment it collided, a tremendous roar erupted. Leaving the startled Imugi behind, Ryubeom leaped back.

[What kind of swordsmanship is this…]

“Yes, you are an evil spirit.”

Interrupting Imugi, Ryubeom spoke coldly. The advice he received from Cheon Hoyeon in front of Daehogwan came to mind: never show a gap to an evil spirit.

“If your power was so great and honorable, you would have come out long ago, instead of hiding in a narrow cave like Mansagul.”

[….]

“You only use the grudges of people as your power. It’s very ugly.”

Ryubeom stared straight at Imugi and warned.

“So don’t bring my father into your filthy mouth.”

Dark red Yogi flowed from Imugi. Although its energy was strong, its foundation was inherently evil. Imugi gained power by cruelly killing people and absorbing their grudges. The painful handprints left inside the cave were evidence of this.

Despite Ryubeom’s sharp criticism, Imugi responded as if it saw no problem.

[Why are you so angry? Whether my power is based on evil or not, it’s certain that I have the ability to grant wishes.]

“What?”

[If people can achieve their wishes by offering others, they will kill and offer each other as much as they want. Do you know how many have offered sacrifices to me just from rumors?]

“….”

[Desire awakened me. If you want to blame me for eating humans, blame those who desired first.]

Imugi, seemingly irritated, charged at Ryubeom. Boom! It struck with such speed that the ground caved in. Ryubeom narrowly dodged to the side and quickly enveloped himself in spiritual power. His amber eyes glowed gold, transforming into tiger pupils.

As Ryubeom prepared for battle, a sacred aura flowed from him. Through numerous training sessions, he had managed to harmonize divine and spiritual power to some extent. Drawing out his spiritual power more smoothly than before, Ryubeom took a deep breath and stared at Imugi.

Imugi, sensing the unusual golden aura emanating from Ryubeom, hesitated for a moment. The completely opposing energy made it feel intensely uncomfortable.

[Yes. Seeing that your energy is so pure, you have walked the righteous path all this time. I can see that you are intoxicated with justice…]

Slowly, Imugi raised its body.

[And that will be your weakness.]

Weakness? As Ryubeom wondered at the unexpected words, Imugi completely withdrew its body. Ryubeom immediately tried to chase after it, but something rushed at him.

[Kill, we must kill…]

[According to his will…]

The evil spirits below charged at Ryubeom. He instinctively raised his sword but hesitated to strike. Knowing they were vengeful spirits enslaved by Imugi, he couldn’t bring himself to cut them down.

If he attacked with full force, they would be annihilated. He wanted to perform a ritual for each one, but they were too strongly bound to Imugi. Their souls were completely tainted by Imugi’s energy, turning them into evil spirits. Without any will left, it was difficult to perform a ritual for them.

Yet, he could faintly read their pain in their pitch-black eyes without sclera. The handprints he found inside the cave flashed before his eyes.

Seeing Ryubeom’s hesitation, Imugi laughed as if its prediction had come true.

[Ahahaha! Your sense of justice is truly amusing. Don’t tigers also command Changgui? The number of humans killed by tigers in Joseon must be in the hundreds or thousands, yet you pretend to be immaculate. It’s laughable.]

Imugi mocked Ryubeom relentlessly, then recalled the moment it first discovered the tiger cub in the mountains and muttered indifferently.

[Well, it seemed you didn’t command Changgui. Or were you afraid of them?]

Imugi turned its head as if it had lost interest. That seemed to be a signal, as more evil spirits rushed at Ryubeom.

Ryubeom struck them with the back of his sword, pushing them away, but he couldn’t bring himself to attack with the blade. He used his spiritual power to hold them back, but there were too many. For every one he restrained, two more came.

Faced with the wave of evil spirits, Ryubeom gritted his teeth.

“Please, step back…!”

Golden spiritual power burst from Ryubeom, pushing the evil spirits away in an instant. He adjusted their position, dropping them into the pit Imugi had created earlier. They would climb out soon, but he needed to buy some time.

Ryubeom then charged at Imugi with fierce momentum. As he ran, he swung his sword high, sending a golden energy slash towards Imugi. Imugi dodged leisurely, but the slash boomeranged back, striking Imugi. The annoying roar echoed loudly.

Imugi, who committed evil deeds with such arrogance, was unforgivable. But just as Ryubeom was about to leap, something grabbed his ankle.

[Save me, please save me…]

An evil spirit that had crawled out of the pit clung to Ryubeom, begging. Despite being completely blackened, its face showed fear, terror, and despair.

[I don’t want to die like this… sob, sob…]

Ryubeom hesitated. This was Imugi’s ploy, commanding the evil spirits to cling to him pathetically. Their souls were entirely tainted by Imugi’s energy, their identities erased, making their actions mere performances. Even knowing he should shake them off and go, Ryubeom hesitated.

Ryubeom closed his eyes tightly and turned away.

“I’m sorry. Next time, I promise…”

He hesitated for only a few seconds. But that brief moment gave Imugi a perfect opportunity to attack. Imugi, having escaped the golden boomerang, charged at Cheon Ryubeom, its mouth wide open to bite the tiger’s neck.

[You…!]

Whoosh! Ryubeom suddenly felt himself being pushed to the side. He was embraced protectively by someone, and the familiar cool scent made him gasp.

“Yeohwi!”

Yeohwi had pulled him away, saving him from Imugi’s attack. Looking back, Ryubeom saw that Yeohwi’s shoulder was burnt. The black robe had melted away.

They had narrowly avoided the fangs but had been touched by Imugi’s poison.

“Of all places, you got hurt in the same spot again…”

Yeohwi let out a small, bitter laugh. The wound from the mermaid had made his shoulder movements sluggish, preventing him from swinging his arm quickly, and he had been hit by Imugi’s attack. The poison had worsened the injury in the same spot.

As Yeohwi bit his lip to regain his senses, Ryubeom, horrified, shouted.

“Why, why did you come here! You could have stayed below!”

“Well…”

Yeohwi, about to answer nonchalantly, fell silent. It was a strange silence, but Ryubeom quickly cast a barrier spell and examined Yeohwi’s wound. Yeohwi had already fulfilled his role by safely guiding the villagers down, so why had he come here? Ryubeom’s face twisted as if he were about to cry.

Yeohwi opened and closed his lips a few times, then slowly smiled.

“You promised to bring me Imugi’s bead, didn’t you? So, I must help as much as I can.”

It was a somewhat awkward smile. But Ryubeom only felt immense guilt, repeatedly apologizing. He shouldn’t have shown any gaps during the battle, but he had been careless.

[Hmm, who are you?]

Imugi narrowed its eyes, staring at Yeohwi. It moved closer to the barrier, peering intently, and swayed its body side to side, showing curiosity. A few days ago, it had sensed the tiger cub with someone in the mountains, but the energy had been faint, so it hadn’t paid attention.

Now, seeing him up close, there were many puzzling aspects.

[It’s strange how your energy can’t be read. You seem weak, yet you don’t seem tense in front of me. You look like a fox, though…]

“Snakes have poor eyesight, but can you see?”

[What? How dare you compare the great me to a mere beast!]

Imugi snapped irritably at Yeohwi’s remark. Annoyed at being compared to an animal, Yeohwi smirked.

“Oh, really? I thought you dressed the sacrifices in fancy clothes because your eyesight was bad, but it was just your taste. Quite the taste…”

[What?!]

“Honestly, it’s funny. Are you putting on a play? You hypnotize humans on a large scale and bring them here, only to prepare a ritual. And since the evil spirits move according to your will, did you also decide the praise phrases they chant? Hmm, what do they call this… protagonist syndrome?”

Yeohwi sarcastically mocked Imugi, asking if it missed the days when it received rituals.

Ryubeom looked at him in bewilderment. He wasn’t sure if he should be relieved that Yeohwi didn’t seem too hurt or shocked by his bold words. Ryubeom had thought similar things but hadn’t expected Yeohwi to openly mock Imugi.

“You awakened from desire, but your desire is quite unique.”

[You…!]

“If you had replenished your strength by eating all the villagers earlier, you would have turned Jeju Island into your stage. With your inflated ego, you might have even renamed the island. Maybe ‘Yomanguk’ or ‘The Great Serpent’s Island.’ Ugh, disgusting…”

Yeohwi’s genuine disgust made Imugi tremble with rage. Though it was unfortunate that Imugi reacted as if its weak spot had been hit, the ground shook with its rising anger, making Ryubeom worry about Yeohwi.

At that moment, Ryubeom noticed Yeohwi quietly gesturing to him. It meant to exploit the opening since Imugi’s full attention was on him.

Ah, he provoked it on purpose.

Admiring Yeohwi’s strategy, Ryubeom moved stealthily to the side. Yeohwi deliberately approached Imugi, drawing its focus.

Bang! Crash!

Imugi rammed its head into the barrier surrounding Yeohwi. It even mobilized evil spirits to attack, and soon, with a cracking sound, the barrier shattered. Yeohwi lightly leaped back, dodging, and laughed. The pleas of the evil spirits for mercy had no effect on him.

“Haha, did you order the evil spirits to capture me for your greatness again?”

[I will rip out your tongue and tear it to shreds!]

“Your tongue is longer, so it might be more fun to tear.”

[You damn fox!]

As Ryubeom moved to the back, he became genuinely curious.

‘…Is he really provoking it on purpose?’

He thought Yeohwi was sarcastically mocking Imugi to draw its attention, but he suddenly wondered if it might be genuine. Ryubeom felt strangely uneasy. Yeohwi usually spoke so kindly…

Shaking off the odd thoughts, Ryubeom increased his running speed. Now was not the time for such reflections.

Whoosh! Moving behind Imugi, Ryubeom immediately cast a binding spell. Imugi’s movements were simple, focusing on one target, making it easier to cast the spell. Bound by golden ropes, Imugi roared and twisted, but Ryubeom quickly secured its neck.

When hunting a snake, the neck must be subdued first.

[Hissss…!]

Cheon Ryubeom, who had quickly climbed the hill, used his momentum to fly towards Imugi. He reversed his grip on the sword, ready to strike its head.

Whoosh!

A gust of wind surged. The air swirled upwards like a tornado, sweeping Ryubeom away helplessly. He barely managed to stab his sword into a tree, preventing himself from rolling down the mountain, but the situation was dire.

Below, Yeohwi also stopped, wary of the gusts. His black robe flapped wildly.

‘I need to strengthen the binding…’

Ryubeom calmly assessed the situation. Though he was quite far away, the binding on Imugi was still intact. The golden ropes restraining its body were tightly wound around Ryubeom’s hand, and he confirmed the ropes were taut to their limit, adding more spiritual power.

But instead of breaking free, Imugi raised its head, enduring the choking. Then, it suddenly spat a dark red liquid at Yeohwi.

“Yeohwi…!”

Ryubeom shouted in horror, running towards him. The gusts kept pushing against him, making it hard to advance.

As Ryubeom struggled against the wind, Yeohwi, facing Imugi, spoke with annoyance.

“Ah, this robe is precious. Stop spitting your filthy saliva on it.”

He blocked what Imugi spat with a raised arm. Expecting it to be poison, he was surprised when the black liquid climbed his arm like a snake.

Yeohwi’s eyes turned cold as he realized where it was heading.

“What are you doing to the bracelet…”

The black energy wrapped around the bracelet. Instead of breaking the beads or cutting the string, it coiled around the bracelet as if adding strength. Yeohwi tried to shake it off, but it clung stubbornly. The more he tried to shake it off, the more it stuck.

Imugi chuckled.

[Is that why your energy can’t be read? You’re getting weaker.]

Imugi laughed with its mouth wide open, pleased that its guess was correct. Yeohwi’s face grew colder, his eyes turning red. As he tried to draw out his energy, the bracelet vibrated uneasily.

The bracelet not only concealed his energy but also sealed his power. As Imugi said, it suppressed his spiritual power to keep it hidden. So when Yeohwi tried to forcibly use his energy while wearing the bracelet, it shook as if it would break.

“…”

For a moment, Yeohwi’s expression cracked. As his turbulent energy reflexively calmed, rain began to pour. Yeohwi thought Imugi had summoned the rain to obscure his vision. But as he felt his mind grow hazy, he sighed briefly. This rain was not ordinary water.

The wishing pond.

Yeohwi suddenly remembered that the wishing pond inside Mansagul had dried up. He instinctively knew that this rain was from that pond.

The essence of Imugi’s energy, reflecting grudges.

[You dared to mock me. How great is your desire to scorn me?]

Imugi’s voice echoed through the sound of the rain. Yeohwi, feeling dazed, looked up. The numbness from Imugi’s poison spread from his shoulder, dulling his senses and clouding his consciousness.

[I must read your desire too.]

The rain poured harder. It was more than a downpour; it was a deluge, and the space began to distort. Imugi’s Yogi was taking over the entire area, warping the space.

“Yeohwi!”

Ryubeom, finally breaking through the gusts, was horrified. Yeohwi was being swept away. Biting his lip, Ryubeom ran towards him, reaching out.

Whoosh! As he grabbed Yeohwi’s arm, they were both swept into the vortex.