Struggle! Mukkebi!
“Gepelt, is this really possible?”
“Yes. As I mentioned before, the armor you're wearing, my lord, is made of Black Oriharcon. Thanks to its property of absorbing inscribed magic circles, we can etch an unlimited number without spatial constraints.”
Kim Sung-tae, lying on the bed, glanced at Gepelt. The wizard, meticulously cleaning the armor before starting work, looked just like a doctor prepping for surgery.
“If we layer various weakening spells, amplification magic to boost the curse on the armor, and sealing magic in combination, even you, my lord, should surely be weakened.”
“You think so?”
Gepelt pulled out his tools for inscribing the magic circles, his eyes gleaming with fanatical excitement at this unprecedented experiment, burning with zeal.
“The question is how many we'll need to etch to actually weaken you, my lord. You may already know this, but your life force is immense—perhaps greater than all the life force in this world combined. So we'll have to etch as many as possible.”
“How many is that?”
“Let's start with around ten thousand.”
“Ten thousand? How long will that take!?”
“A week should suffice. I'm quite fast with my hands. Neither you nor I need meals or sleep anyway. So we'll begin now—please refrain from speaking. Inscribing magic circles requires precision.”
A whole week lying there like a corpse. But Sung-tae steeled his resolve. If he could weaken himself, and envision the adventures awaiting afterward, a week was more than bearable.
Just you wait, world. I'm coming for you!
A week had passed since Gepelt began etching the magic circles. The endless task had finally reached its end.
“Hmm. Do I feel any different?”
Sung-tae sat up and checked his condition, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
“Please wait a moment. I'll activate the magic now.”
As Gepelt chanted the incantation, the ten thousand magic circles etched into the armor glowed brilliantly and activated. Sung-tae felt the light coalesce into a cord that was sucked into his chest. Naturally, the method to control that cord of light came to mind.
“Phew. Can you feel the circles linked to your inner self?”
“Yeah. I can.”
“It's properly connected to your will, my lord. Normally, the circles will activate at full strength, weakening your power to the utmost. But if you will it to unleash your strength, the circles will weaken in turn, allowing you to wield your original might.”
“Really?”
It was a blessing. If his power were truly sealed to the extreme, he might die facing a strong foe. But it adjusted automatically when he willed it.
“Still, I'm not sure if ten thousand is enough, so please refrain from using excessive force. No number of magic circles can fully contain your power, my lord. We'll need to slowly test to find the right number that holds just enough……”
Thinking the weakening complete, Sung-tae clenched his fist and punched toward the window—before Gepelt could finish.
Crash!
“We'll have to test gradually with small amounts of power……”
A distant mountain vanished in a mushroom cloud. The ten thousand circles—born of Gepelt's sweat, effort, and Sung-tae's endurance over a week—evaporated before Sung-tae's overwhelming might.
“……”
“……”
Silence hung between them. They both knew without words. Sung-tae lay back on the bed, and Gepelt prepared to etch anew.
“My lord.”
“Yeah.”
“Ten thousand won't cut it.”
“Then how about thirty thousand?”
“No.”
“How many, then?”
“A hundred thousand. Let's make it certain.”
“My lord, it's finally over!”
“Ugh…… yeah, finally.”
Garba, waiting outside the lab, greeted her lord with a beaming smile. Etching a hundred thousand circles had taken two months and two weeks. Sung-tae had barely endured, playing with Mukkebi in his inner world or daydreaming of future adventures.
“But I'm weakened now, right, Garba?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“It's been a while.”
Like reuniting with an old friend, Sung-tae patted Garba's shoulder. The hundred thousand circles activated, suppressing his power.
“How's that? Hurt?”
“A bit of pain, but compared to before, it's like a paper cut.”
“Ooh! Success!”
Too early to celebrate. His goal was adventure—fighting unknown foes required proper control.
“Alright, where to this time……”
Sung-tae lightly punched toward the demon castle's gate. The over-two-meter-thick iron door crumpled like paper and flew off. The circles wavered but held, so a bit more power seemed fine.
“Hmm. This level's good enough.”
“Congratulations, my lord!”
“Heh, thanks. Shall we head to the human world, then?”
His heart raced. After over two months bored in the lab, it was natural. Even without adventure, he craved action.
“Yes, my lord! I'll serve at your side!”
“……wait, I'm going alone.”
“No! I offered you my life! I must serve you in every moment!”
Sung-tae looked troubled at Garba's earnest face. Her loyalty warmed him, but she was a wolf beastkin—far larger, fiercer, and more monstrous than others. Traveling with her meant villages barring entry and adventures cut short.
But prejudice was bad. Just in case, Sung-tae asked about wolf beastkin.
“Garba, what do humans think of wolf beastkin?”
“Humans are cowards who fear us. They spam useless silver arrows or purification magic at the sight of us.”
“……and then?”
“A warrior never retreats.”
That said it all. Humans saw wolf beastkin as monsters.
Wait—she's a wolf beastkin? Then……
A lightbulb went off in Sung-tae's head. Wolf beastkin could shift to human or wolf forms, right? Human form was probably a musclebound brute, judging by her current look—a monster who'd be mistaken for a wanted criminal at a glance.
Shaking his head, Sung-tae recalled his last option with a sly grin.
“Garba, turn into a wolf. Then I'll take you.”
A wolf it was. Unofficial stats said women melted for animals. Walking a dog or cat naturally drew them in—internet wisdom. A wolf was dog-adjacent; it might work. Or they'd admire taming such a cool, fierce beast.
“A wolf, my lord? Understood!”
At her lord's command, Garba shifted. Her clothes ripped as her form changed.
……right, I've seen this before.
A black-furred wolf several times a cow's size. Saw-like fangs gleamed in its pointed maw; a casual paw swipe could decapitate a man. Human world monster alert guaranteed.
“No choice.”
He liked her loyalty but tried the discarded option. Monstrous human? Dressed up, maybe okay. Bandits might flee on sight, easing travel.
“Can you turn human? Human form, and you're in.”
“Yeah. Can't you?”
“It's fine. I've got you covered. You think I'd make you fight alone?”
Garba hesitated oddly, not shifting immediately. After long deliberation, she nodded slowly.
The massive wolf shrank in an instant. Black fur receded, morphing into human shape. Thankfully, not a hulking brute—her size kept diminishing.
“Smaller than I thought……”
Still shrinking. Now a head shorter than Sung-tae, her frame was slender.
“Huh?”
Finally complete. Her form……
“Phew.”
No—her form made Sung-tae's heart skip.
“Garba, in human form, greets my lord.”
Bronze skin radiating healthy allure. Soft curves captivated Sung-tae. The scar across her right eye evoked thorns hidden in a flower—irresistibly charming. A beauty beyond words.
But Garba disliked this form.
I transformed for my lord, but this form…… still doesn't sit right.
Wolf beastkin ignored gender from birth. Male or female, their beast forms were nearly identical, so all strived to be elite warriors.
They shifted human only sometimes.
It feels like I'm mocking my lord.
To taunt foes. Human form reduced combat power—among wolf beastkin, it meant “I can beat you even like this!”
For Garba, it was traumatic too.
I hope my lord doesn't hate it……
She'd shifted to provoke humans in battle. But they never cowed—instead, whistling at her form, spewing filth.
Insulted mid-fight with lechery. It backfired, leaving her hating this shape. Did all humans lust after women? Would her lord mock her too?
Half-worried, half-hopeful, Garba peeked at Sung-tae.
He stared piercingly, speechless.
“……”
“My lord?”
“S-slime……”
“Pardon?”
Slime? No low-tier slimes in the castle—not worth troops.
But Sung-tae saw clearly: a massive brown slime.
“K-king slime…… two of 'em……”
No ordinary slime—a king slime. His eyes traced her allure automatically.
“Wolf ears……”
“Mm. Apologies—as a wolf beastkin, I can't help the ears.”
“Tail……”
“Same for the tail.”
“Fangs……”
“Th-this is my poor transformation…… I'll fix it soon!”
“Brown skin……”
“Wolf beastkin take after fur color…… most are like me.”
“Gasp!”
Kim Sung-tae. Six months in this world—about 180 days. Forced celibacy. Garba's form was……
“N-naked!”
“Sorry—my wolf shift shredded my clothes……”
Too stimulating.
Meanwhile, in Sung-tae's inner world.
Mukkebi, happily sipping his life force, browsed scattered items.
“This is fun.”
Giggling at a picture book. Illiterate but enchanted by illustrations, she hummed, flipping pages.
Sudden vibrations jolted her upright, scanning around.
“What!?”
The source: the forbidden mountain Sung-tae warned against. Vibrations swelled, cracking it open with red light.
Panicked, Mukkebi stomped.
“What's happening!?”
Human lust is sealed in such inner mountains—for restraint, duty.
But Sung-tae's six-month celibacy made it a powder keg. Garba's form ignited it.
Sung-tae said eat it if it escapes. Gotta devour this bad monster quick!
His lust burst free, prison shattered. Red flooded the sky from the rift, his mind growing sticky.
She pledged her life? Means anything goes. No need for adventures!
“You bad monster!”
Mukkebi sucked it back; sky cleared.
Nah, can't do that. She trusts me—can't betray loyalty with lust. Humans aren't beasts……
“Ahh! It's back!”
Sky red again.
……humans are beasts? So act beastly! Heh, Garba in beastkin form—I'll be your wolf!
“Stop escaping!”
Sucked back.
Wolves are noble. Leaders protect the pack. I must be that.
“Why keeps coming!?”
Red sky……
But lust is instinct! Can't ignore a sexy woman pledging body and soul.
“Huff! Full but keep eating!”
Sucked……
Lusting erodes dignity. Can't anyway in this armor. Better care for Garba as lord, superior.
“Argh! Mountain's collapsing!”
Red……
Screw it! Smash! Armor! Power control? Eat it!?
“Must protect Sung-tae!”
Sucked……
Life's meaning isn't lust—self-realization. Lust is fleeting spring folly. Can't sully loyal subordinate.
“Ugh! Too much!”
……
But folly's fun! Tonight burns hot!
“Won't give up!”
Our friendship first. We know little despite time—share philosophies, values.
“Ugh…… keeps coming……”
And carnal fun! Bed's our arena—burn the night together!
Endless mental flips: angel to devil. Mukkebi, battling lust, panted, glaring at leaks. She'd shifted to wolf beastkin form like Garba.
“Hng…… where's it from?”
Incredible agility and strength for a child; she cleared rubble, seeking the source.
Soon, deep in debris: a small orb leaking lust.
“You're the monster's core!”
Lust's root—innate drive, fueling breeding on slightest lewd thought.
Mukkebi slurped it up.
“Tastier.”
Patting her bulging belly, she grinned and collapsed.
Overfull hurt. Exhausted, immobile.
“No more monsters now.”
Smiling, she slept. Root devoured—Sung-tae should be lustless.
But far off, red light descended from beyond the sky, refilling the mountain.
His youthful horniness' culprit—now restoring vanished lust. Soon recovered.
“Hehe.”
For now, lust gone. First in history—ripples immense.
“Phew.”
Sung-tae sighed deeply. Garba, watching, felt uplifted by the soft glow behind him—not blinding, but reverent, mystical.
“Garba, I was shocked you're female, but I won't bind you by gender.”
“M-my lord?”
A halo—like saints or Buddha. Attained only by the enlightened: noble, beautiful, transcendent.
“I judge you not as warrior. Garba, your existence alone fills me with gratitude and joy. Meeting a loyal vassal like you here thrills me.”
“My lord……”
No mockery as woman, no judgment as warrior—her vision blurred. Loved blindly for herself. Tears welled, but she held back.
Warriors don't cry!
“Garba, first, clothes. We're heading human-side—must fit in.”
Sung-tae tore down a curtain, draping her. Clutching it preciously, Garba followed. His halo lit a beautiful path ahead.
“First, learn humans. Put ourselves in their shoes. Know them to avoid what they hate, fear.”
Lust gone, pure adventure and curiosity filled him. No impure motives—an explorer pure.
“Understood, my lord!”
Walking beside her precious lord—pure bliss! She'd serve forever.
“Garba, one issue first.”
“Yes, my lord! Command, I'll achieve!”
“Good spirit.”
Leading her to Gepelt's lab.
“My lord? That light……”
“Gepelt, a question.”
“Wh-what is it?”
The sublime glow; Gepelt knelt unconsciously, ears straining for his exalted lord's words.
“Does this world have toothpaste and toothbrushes?”
“Pardon?”
Sung-tae pointed at Garba, expression tender.
“She needs brushing.”