Already Facing the Four Heavenly Kings
If you suddenly got dropped into a fantasy world.
Not even into a place with people, but right into dangerous wilderness.
And naked, at that. How long could a modern person survive?
How much longer do I have to keep walking like this?
Most people wouldn't last long before dying.
No matter how knowledgeable they were about survival, without any tools, their odds of making it would be slim to none.
That might not hold on Earth, but in a completely different fantasy world? Forget it.
But Kim Sung-tae, dropped in that exact state, was still perfectly fine even after a full day.
More than fine—he had to stay tense, or everything around him got wrecked.
Who knew being too strong would be this inconvenient.
Like a thief sneaking around, he took careful steps, but the ground at his feet still crumbled like a cookie.
Walking normally? Not a chance. That would spawn a storm and destroy everything.
At this rate... I won't even be able to meet people.
If he waved and said, "Hello?" the poor person he met would get atomized.
And he couldn't just stand there silently either. What would you think if a naked guy in the wilds stared at you without a word?
You're lucky if they don't attack on sight.
Ugh. If only I had some clothes.
Why the hell didn't he have any? Because clothes aren't living things? Or did they burn up in the lava while he slept?
I miss people. I miss cities.
No more monsters had appeared since he wrecked the volcano, but honestly, he'd take a monster at this point. That was how desperate he felt.
Ahh, finally!
How long had he walked? A house-like silhouette faintly appeared on the horizon.
It was huge—even from this distance, it was unmistakably a building.
Careful. Walk as carefully as possible.
His excitement nearly made him break into a run, but Sung-tae calmed himself. Running now would send that house flying like something out of The Wizard of Oz.
People!
As he drew closer to the mansion, human shapes came into view. Overjoyed, Sung-tae sped up just a tiny bit, like sounding a quiet alarm.
[Thud. Thud.]
I barely sped up and it's an earthquake already!
Right then, Sung-tae froze in place, halting mid-step. In his glee at seeing people, he'd momentarily forgotten: he was way too strong right now.
Meeting anyone in this state was like walking into a powder keg with a lit match—who knew what would happen?
He wanted adventure in this fantasy world, not murder, so he decided not to approach until he could control his power. Slowly, he started backing away.
But the people had already heard his footsteps. They turned, staring right at him.
Wait. That house... it's not a house?
Sung-tae sensed something off. As he got closer, steel walls and spiked barricades for repelling intruders jumped out first.
The whole place was painted pitch black—not a house, but a fortress.
"Grrr..."
And the approaching "people" weren't people at all.
They wore armor, but thick brown fur sprouted from their exposed skin. Long snouts, beastly faces.
Not humans—werewolves.
"What are you!? Who the hell are you!?"
They closed in on Sung-tae, growling warily.
"Wait, he's human? How's a human here?"
"A naked human? Is he crazy?"
"Looks like the succubi played with him and tossed him out."
Embarrassed, Sung-tae modestly covered himself with his hand. No escaping now.
Small mercy: they weren't human. Monster-like, sure, but were they bad guys or good? No way to know, so he decided to try talking—carefully.
Draining every ounce of strength, he whispered as softly as he could.
"Hello."
It was quieter than a whisper, barely audible even to himself—but a fierce gust roared up, blasting the werewolves backward.
A greeting that hit like an attack.
Uh... that's not what I meant...
As he panicked, the fallen werewolves sprang back up, snarling at him.
And Sung-tae heard the worst possible response.
"He's an enemy!"
＊＊＊
The werewolves bared claws and fangs. Seeing those sharp teeth dripping thick saliva, Sung-tae felt a primal fear, like facing a dangerous wild animal.
It's fine. My body shrugged off lava and volcanic ash.
"That attack just now... a mage!?"
"A mage here? Is this a human expedition force?"
"Careful. He whipped up a massive gust with a single incantation. He's no amateur."
"The naked act was to lower our guard? Clever tactic."
I didn't strip for fun. I want clothes too!
Sung-tae racked his brain for how to clear the misunderstanding, but realized communication was impossible without speaking.
Wait. What if I write?
If they understood speech, maybe they'd read Korean written on the ground?
He crouched carefully, poking the rock with a finger. It dented deeply, carving clear letters in his script.
[I am not an enemy. So please don't be on guard. More than that, I want to wear clothes. If you have any spares, could I have some?]
"He's writing something?"
"Dodge! It's gotta be magic!"
"Piercing solid granite with just a finger? Body reinforcement spell!?"
He wrote it, but they wouldn't even read it. Misunderstanding deepened instead of clearing.
Werewolves or not, they spoke and showed intelligence—likely locals. No fighting. Make it clear he meant no harm.
Sung-tae raised his hands in surrender.
"That pose—is he!?"
"Chanting a spell!!"
"Dodge!"
The werewolves leaped back, curling up defensively. Realizing nothing happened, they looked up in rage.
"That mage is toying with us!"
"Ugh! Sneaky bastard! Definitely a skilled mage..."
"Not the time. Over here, quick."
The werewolves huddled, whispering. One bolted toward the fortress.
"Then we do our duty."
"Grr. Never thought I'd die here. But such is a warrior's fate. I'll accept it humbly."
I don't wanna fight.
Steeling for death, the werewolves hardened their faces—like warriors facing doom.
"Come on, then. Human mage. Or maybe a hero."
"Charge! Hero!"
"......"
Seeing them brace for battle, Sung-tae muttered inwardly.
Damn it. What the hell is going on?
"Charge! Human! You ignoring us!?"
The werewolves edged closer to attack. But they stopped, noticing something.
"He's too exposed. Doesn't look ready for a fight..."
Yeah. I don't wanna fight.
"Maybe he doesn't want to fi—"
Finally getting it? Sung-tae started lowering his hands slyly.
"See!? Dropping his guard to strike!"
"Lowering hands—what spell now!?"
"Dangerous guy. Luring us into complacency. How much more mocking you gonna do!?"
Ugh. They're jumping to conclusions like crazy. Wolves, so maybe not the brightest?
The werewolves kept glaring warily. They glanced back occasionally, like waiting for someone.
[Awooooo!!]
"Finally!"
A sudden wolf howl echoed. From the fortress behind, an unidentified object rocketed into the sky.
[If you don't wanna die, get out of the way!]
A massive black shape crashed down before the werewolves. The earth shook; a black shadow swallowed Sung-tae.
"You the one, mage? Bold, invading this place!"
He's huge.
Towering ten times bigger than the others. Not brown fur, but deep black, with yellow eyes like a cat's—slit pupils that chilled the blood, pure predator.
"Won't even answer!? Scared now!?"
I wanna talk...
Couldn't move or speak. Any twitch might trigger an unintended attack.
Looks dangerous. What to do?
Despite his worry, he felt no real threat. Lava, falling rocks—nothing hurt him. A slight move had erased a volcano; these guys were toys by comparison.
But if they're this world's main race?
Kill them by accident? Ruin any chance of making friends with locals?
I wanna go on fun adventures too.
Be a hero, travel freely. Meet crowds, emperors, princesses, knights, nobles. Elves too. Even brawl heartily with these wolfmen and end up buddies.
Damn! Too strong to even fight!
"What're you so scared of? Regretting invading Demon King army turf?"
Demon King army?
That word shook him. Demon King army = bad guys. Fighting okay then?
"Lord Garba, one of the Four Heavenly Kings! No matter how strong you are, you can't win!"
"Kneel, human!"
The werewolves, who couldn't approach earlier, now strutted confidently behind Garba.
But Sung-tae tuned them out.
Can I fight? Should I? Yeah, let's!
"Insolent human!"
Garba, taking the silence as insult, lunged. Razor claws and air-rending slashes whipped toward naked Sung-tae.
Alright. Let's fight!
"...!"
Garba's slash, famed for cleaving mithril: it bounced off Sung-tae's body.
Deflected into the ground, it gouged deep before fizzling out.
"Bounced my slash...?"
Then try attacking me.
The moment he thought it, Garba's face loomed close. Startled, Sung-tae raised an arm defensively.
"Whoa!"
"Graaah!"
Storm from the arm raise. Storm from the startled shout. Merged, they slammed Garba.
St-strong!
Garba tensed, claws digging into earth to hold ground. Throat burned; blood trickled from lips.
This power... first since fighting the Demon King.
He was the proud leader of werewolves. No bowing to others.
But he'd lost a duel to the Demon King, pledging himself voluntarily—like a tribe's strongest becoming chieftain.
Wiping blood, he recalled the past.
[If I win, serve me.]
The Demon King's image overlaid Sung-tae. This guy was as strong. Maybe stronger.
"Good! Human! I acknowledge you! From now on, full power!"
Thrilled at a worthy foe, Garba's fur bristled. Black mana surged like defying gravity; eyes blackened, claws elongated into blades. Black mana steamed from his mouth.
[Come on, human. I am Garba, one of the Four Heavenly Kings. I'll fight you with everything!]
How long since unleashing full power? First since the Demon King duel.
He took pride in that fight—the first to wound the Demon King, his greatest feat.
[Here I go! Human!]
Garba vanished. Too fast for afterimages. He circled behind, slashing.
[What?]
Mana-charged claws shattered on contact, flying skyward.
[My full-power attack!?]
Panic in battle meant defeat. Garba refocused, blasting mana breath at Sung-tae.
[Die, human!]
Tyrannical mana, crushing all, poured forth.
But unscathed, Sung-tae turned slowly.
"You..."
[What magic is this!? Are you even a mage!?]
That single word "you"—its storm shredded Garba's mana.
Sung-tae pinched his nose, fanning the air.
"Ugh, nasty. Eat garbage much? Your breath is no joke."
[Graaah!]
Garba tensed abs against the fanning gust. Wielding wind magic so freely—what kind of monster mage was this?
"Alright. You're really trying to kill me... so I can fight back, right?"
[Cough!]
Relentless storms from Sung-tae's mouth. Garba, internally wrecked, finally knelt.
[I... won't... lose!!]
Fight to the death, never yield. Warrior's resolve swelled his body, drawing all mana.
[I swore after him—never lose again!]
Transforming fully to black wolf-beast, he leaped skyward, spinning down on Sung-tae. Black whirlwind tore air, spawning dozens of storms.
[My all-out attack!]
Mana breath blasted simultaneously—his ultimate that scarred the Demon King.
But...
Sung-tae scowled, pinching his nose again.
"The smell..."
He thrust a fist skyward—not an attack, just raising it.
"I said no!"
First real shout since isekai. Air around him blasted sideways at supersonic speed, forming an invisible wall.
Then—
Krunch!
[Graaaah!]
Garba's scream and exploding air rocked the world. Distant fortress crumbled, clouds vanished, earth split.
Heavenly disaster from one yell. Amid the chaos, only unscathed Kim Sung-tae clutched his nose.
Earth tech couldn't replicate this, right?
A black wolf crashed before him. Garba reverted to werewolf form, foaming at the mouth.
No matter what, I gotta make it.
Gazing quietly, Sung-tae resolved firmly.
Toothbrush. Toothpaste! Gotta make 'em!