Chapter 13: TCGGM

Chapter 13

Mid-slope of Mount Geumgang.

A wild forest where not even a proper path exists is being torn through by something……

“Woof—!”

“…A dog??”

A black Jindo dog with four eyes is tearing through the forest at explosive speed.

It leaps over rocks, cuts through bushes, and even runs across tree trunks—its movements almost like a circus act.

One thing is certain: its physical ability far exceeds the bounds of common sense.

Sniff sniff—! Sniff sniff—!

Its muzzle, tongue hanging out, sweeps around wildly as it searches everywhere.

After a while, the Jindo dog stops beside a certain rock.

It flares its black nostrils, then finally seems to find what it was looking for and lets out a loud howl toward the sky.

“Awooo~!!”

Rustle—!

The deafening howl shakes the mountain itself, making the forest tremble as flocks of birds burst into the sky from all directions.

And at that moment—

Among the fleeing birds in the sky, something walks calmly through the air.

A deer.

A deer with antlers, the very symbol of a herbivore, walking not on the ground but through the sky as if it were solid earth, descending toward the land.

And on its back—

“Tan, I told you not to bark so carelessly. You’re scaring everyone.”

A man sits atop the mystical deer.

A middle-aged man with a dignified face, black hair mixed with streaks of white.

He was Kim Jong-pil, the Mountain King.

“Woof woof—!”

“What? You found a gift?”

“Hieeeng~”

“A medicinal herb? A very big one?”

Grrrr—

“Let’s see if Tan is right.”

Kim Jong-pil casually waves his hand.

The ground where the dog had been sitting erupts as tree roots surge up from beneath the earth.

At the tip of the roots—

A wild ginseng.

An extremely large wild ginseng, just as the dog said.

It radiates a mystical aura, clearly at least a hundred years old.

Kim Jong-pil laughs heartily and scratches Tan under the chin.

“Hoho, what a big one. You did well, Tan.”

“Woof woof—!”

“A gift, huh. You shouldn’t just dig up things like this carelessly, you know.”

“Whine…”

“Still, thank you. The only ones who care about me are you, Tan. Oh, Vita, you too.”

Perhaps feeling left out, the deer lowers its head and rubs its snout against Kim Jong-pil’s cheek.

“Hahaha.”

Kim Jong-pil’s complicated feelings soften at the affection of his companions.

He smiles brightly and pats their heads.

At the same time, the ginseng held by the roots sinks back into the earth as if rewinding time, returning to its original place.

“Let’s go home now. You’ve played enough.”

Grrrr~

“You want to fly too? Very well.”

Once again, Kim Jong-pil mounts the deer and rises into the sky.

The dog jumps up and down excitedly, wanting to follow.

Kim Jong-pil gladly obliges.

Snap.

With a snap of his fingers, wind gathers beneath the dog’s paws.

Transparent wind condenses like clay, forming shape—

And becomes a wind hawk that flaps its wings powerfully.

More than ten mid-tier wind spirits lift the dog into the air, keeping pace with Kim Jong-pil.

A joyful dog barking in midair.

A smiling old man watching it fondly.

Cool wind brushes across them both, as if freeing them from gravity itself.

After flying for a while, a cliff appears ahead.

Atop it stands a refined traditional Korean house.

Kim Jong-pil’s villa.

Built on a sheer cliff so steep that even cars cannot reach it—but that is no problem for him.

“Phew. Good work, my friend.”

The deer—no, the high-grade tree spirit “Vita”—rubs its cheek against him before dissolving into the air.

The dog lands next.

Panting happily with its tongue out.

“You need a bath.”

At that moment, water erupts from the ground.

Among the swirling currents, tiny water spirits like mice playfully run about, washing the dog.

This is Kim Jong-pil.

A man with miraculous mana control, capable of wielding multiple elemental spirits simultaneously without delay.

A man who can transform animals into beasts through “Beast Taming,” command wind and water simultaneously through “Wind-Rain Dominion,” and wield near-infinite mana through “Gardener of the World Tree,” granted the highest spirit “Vita.”

Once an absolute being.

Even now, approaching sixty, still capable of competing at the highest level.

A true world-class entity.

The Mountain King.

“Ugh… my back. I really am getting old.”

Just from moving a little, he feels tired.

He lies back in a rocking chair, enjoying the mountain scenery.

The view of Mount Geumgang spreads out like a painting, washing away all worries.

“Beautiful.”

A good view calls for good alcohol.

A tree branch extends into the fridge and brings out a bottle of soju, placing it in his hand.

No glass needed.

Just as he reaches to open it—

“…Hm?”

Spirits around the mansion send a warning.

Someone is approaching.

Kim Jong-pil frowns.

No one knows about this place. Not even his family. Not even his precious granddaughter.

Who could it be?

An old memory flashes—someone who was once a friend.

“No… that guy wouldn’t come here.”

Then who?

He narrows his eyes.

“Good people do not come; those who come are not good.”

The spirits respond.

Water mice hide underground. Wind hawks dissolve into the air, taking control of the surroundings.

He is ready.

Then—

Creeeeak.

The gate opens.

And what appears is—

“…A hand?”

A hand holding a bottle of soju.

The same brand he was about to open.

“Nice to meet you. Sorry for being so direct on our first meeting.”

Lee Shin smiles while shaking the bottle.

“Would you like a drink?”

On the wooden platform

Kim Jong-pil tilts his bottle.

“I must really be getting old. Never thought I’d be drinking with the grandson of the Iron Wall Chairman.”

He studies Lee Shin.

“How did you even know I was here? No one should know.”

Lee Shin pours politely with both hands.

“I’ve always respected you. I came quickly after hearing you had ‘retired.’”

“Retired, huh… but you shouldn’t know that.”

“Don’t worry about the small details. Let’s toast first. Cheers.”

“Such a strange boy.”

Clink.

They drink.

“By the way, do you know my grandfather?”

“I’ve eaten with Iron Wall hyung a few times.”

“Oh? Yoo the secretary chief?”

“He’s an old hometown acquaintance.”

“Let me pour you more.”

Gulp…

“Young man, I’ve heard your name quite a lot. Quite a flashy reputation.”

“Of course I’m famous.”

Seeing him in person, the rumors weren’t enough.

“You look soft and pretty. The kind of face that causes trouble just by breathing.”

“Thanks for the compliment. You’re crispy on the outside, soft on the inside.”

“…What?”

“You look like someone who lives while losing more than you gain.”

“Rude little brat.”

They trade words over drinks, tension quietly rising.

“How did you know I was here? And my retirement?”

“I saw it all in the storyboards after doing affinity quests.”

“You really won’t tell me.”

“It’s true though.”

Kim Jong-pil laughs.

“You’re even more unusual than I heard.”

Eventually, Kim Jong-pil grows serious.

“Enough games. Why did you come here?”

Lee Shin straightens his posture and kneels.

Kim Jong-pil already expects the answer.

‘An offer.’

But—

“Do you want to become stronger?”

“…Pffft—!”

That was unexpected.

Even at eighteen, Kim Jong-pil never once doubted his strength.

He had confirmed it long ago.

He was stronger than anyone.

And he proved it.

Yet now—

Some young brat is questioning him.

Kim Jong-pil laughs.

“I’ve met many people… but you’re a first.”

He refills Lee Shin’s cup.

The stage is set.

Lee Shin begins.

“Elder, what do you think strength is?”

“Let’s see.”

“Strength is power. Magic. Killing enemies. Hunting monsters.”

“But then—”

“Why does your name not carry the word ‘strong’?”

Kim Jong-pil has all those things.

Yet his image is different.

Why?

Lee Shin knows the answer.

“It’s because you were never the protagonist.”

“…!”

A man who was always second.

That is how the community referred to the Mountain King.