Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Film Shoot (7)
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The great tiger, emitting light for the second time and shrinking in size, was definitely different from before.
It wasn't just smaller in bulk. Its power and speed had also changed from that initial overwhelming display.
I easily sidestepped as it charged at me with a slower speed than before.
Then, once again, I seized its thick nape, which had been massive but was now somewhat smaller.
"Grrr...!"
It struggled and flailed in resistance, but it was a pattern I'd already experienced once.
Without hesitation, I smacked the bridge of its nose with my palm once more—"Smack!"
Sure enough, a white light burst from the great tiger's body, and in that brief moment, it slipped from my grasp like smoke.
But at the same time, its body had visibly shrunk again.
"Good, it's working!"
Park Sunja's voice rang out.
She was right. This method was effective.
From then on, it was a one-sided session of "discipline."
Whether it refused to give up or couldn't accept the situation, the great tiger kept charging at me relentlessly, but the result was the same every time.
As its size diminished, its attacks grew even more simplistic and less threatening, allowing me to subdue it with increasing ease.
Dodge the charge, grab it, smack the nose. When it charged again, smack the flank this time; if it didn't listen, smack the rear too.
It was a comical scene unfolding in Bora's family courtyard, like taming a mischievous giant dog.
The beast that had once growled at me as if to devour me whole gradually weakened its resistance amid the repeated discipline—whether from exhaustion or resignation.
How much time had passed?
I could see my teammates, who had been dealing with the wild dog monsters over there, approaching one by one.
"Haa... haa..."
"It's... finally over."
"Wait, what the hell are you doing right now...?"
Sweat beaded on Bora's forehead, and Shun and Hanbit looked somewhat fatigued but without major injuries.
By the time they finally reached us and witnessed this bizarre discipline scene, the great tiger—which had once shaken the mountains with its majesty—had shrunk to a size far smaller than an ordinary tiger.
Almost the size of a large dog now, perhaps.
It no longer dared to charge at me, simply sitting on the ground, looking up at me with aggrieved eyes and letting out pitiful whines.
"Where'd that tiger go? You got a kitten instead?"
At Shun's question, Park Sunja gave an awkward smile and replied.
"...This is it."
Looking down at the tiger, now too small to even reach my waist, I started to feel like hitting it was a bit much.
It no longer growled or showed any intent to charge, just lying flat on the ground, gazing up at me with those resentful eyes.
Its will to fight completely broken.
Bora, who had been watching from the side, finally burst into absurd laughter with a "Pfft!"
"It's totally a cat now..."
"Grrr..."
Perhaps offended by the remark, it let out a low rumble from its throat, but without its former bulk, even that sound felt a bit feeble.
"A cat, huh..."
Thinking of Leo, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for it.
At that moment, Park Sunja read out the new script content once more. Her voice carried a mix of bewilderment and incredulity.
"Um... the script's changed again. 'The man decides to adopt the shrunken tiger, deeming it unsafe to return to the mountains. The tiger, moved by the man's warm heart, vows to become his loyal companion...' That's what it says. And from the flow... it seems the man is you, Kim Minjun."
Adopt it? Did that mean I really had to take this tiger home?
My house already had Leo as the resident king.
Even adopting an ordinary cat required careful thought, let alone a tiger that could grow to house-sized proportions.
This was probably just acting it out, right?
With that in mind, I approached the shrunken great tiger.
As I drew near, it either got scared preemptively or anticipated my speed—it emitted a faint light from its body before I could even extend my hand.
When the light faded, it was truly just a bit larger than Leo, almost cat-sized.
It showed no strength or will to resist.
I gently lifted it with both hands. Its small body trembled faintly.
"Well, have you reflected on your actions now?"
At my question, it nodded vigorously, as if it had been waiting for it.
It understood speech pretty well. Recalling the next part of the script, I awkwardly opened my mouth.
"Then... want to come with me?"
The great tiger shook its head even more violently side to side than before.
Its whole body screamed rejection.
This wasn't good. According to the script, I clearly had to adopt it for everything to end.
After a moment's hesitation, I sighed as if with no choice and said,
"Hmm, if that's how you feel, no helping it. Guess I'll have to leave you at the company, swarming with exploration team grunts like me."
Whether it caught the subtle threat in my words, the great tiger suddenly let out a cat-like "Mew!" and clutched my finger tightly with its tiny front paws.
Its eyes pleaded as if saying, 'Anything but that!'
And right then—
"Dieee!"
Was it seizing our moment of distraction? Or a final desperate struggle?
The strange man—the one who had started all this with his grudge against Shun—suddenly reappeared from somewhere, shouting and charging ferociously at Shun!
"You at least, by my hand...!"
With all his plans failing repeatedly, he'd decided to act personally now.
But Shun didn't panic in the slightest. Instead, as if he'd been waiting, his eyes gleamed coldly.
"I've been waiting for this moment."
Just as Shun clenched his fist and prepared to confront the man—
The small tiger in my arms—no, the great tiger—suddenly began writhing violently.
It seemed to express some strong intent. Instinctively, I set it down on the ground.
Then, something astonishing happened.
With agility unbelievable for its size, it kicked off the ground and leaped forward.
And before it could even reach Shun, it bit precisely into the man's leg!
"Arrrgh! Why, you... but we had a contract...!"
"Grrr!"
The man screamed in agony.
The great tiger clung to his leg like a predator despite its small size, and in the next instant, the man's body began emitting a bright light, dissolving into light particles that were sucked straight into the great tiger's mouth!
As if the great tiger was absorbing him.
Once the man vanished completely, the great tiger smacked its lips in satisfaction.
Its body had grown ever so slightly larger—subtle, but unmistakable.
Had the energy from that absorbed light made it grow?
Did devouring monsters or entities like this make it bigger? Various questions flashed through my mind.
At that moment, the director's voice rang out again.
This time, truly pleased, accompanied by applause.
No sooner had the director's shout ended than the scenery of Bora's family home surrounding us began to change.
When I opened my eyes again, we were standing perfectly fine in front of the White Tiger company building, where this whole commotion had begun.
"...Is it over?"
Shun muttered in disbelief. We all hurriedly scanned our surroundings.
No more cameras aimed at us, no blinding lights.
Only then could we let out deep sighs of relief. The interminable shoot had finally come to an end.
I felt the tension drain from my entire body as I exhaled deeply.
Rustle.
A small movement at my feet.
Looking down, the kitten tiger—which had just swallowed that man whole and grown a tiny bit, originally house-sized Daeho—was staring up at me blankly.
"...Huh?"
A dumb sound escaped me involuntarily.
Shouldn't it have vanished along with the monster phenomenon? But there it was, casually rubbing its body against my leg.
"No way, why is this thing still here..."
I wasn't the only one. Bora, Shun, Hanbit, and even Park Sunja—we were all at a loss staring at this little tiger.
It had remained in reality even after all the filming ended.
Thud thud thud!
As we stood there dumbfounded, unsure how to handle this tiger, urgent footsteps approached from afar, along with several people wearing exploration team badges around their necks. Their faces mixed relief and apology.
"Are you all okay!"
"Multiple monster phenomena broke out simultaneously at the other support teams, so our response was delayed. We're truly sorry!"
They bowed repeatedly to us in apology. Monster phenomena at other support teams too?
Was it the one with Han Sora or Rahee?
When I asked worriedly, one of the exploration team members widened his eyes.
"How did you..."
"Is everyone safe?"
"Yes, we handled it quickly. But we were late detecting the one at the entrance... Still, it's a relief you're all unharmed."
Then their gazes shifted to the little great tiger sitting obediently by my side.
Pure curiosity and puzzlement appeared on their faces.
"...But what's with the tiger cub? Wait, a tiger in the middle of downtown...?"
One exploration team member pointed at it in wonder.
I just gave an awkward smile, looking down at the little tiger yawning at my feet.
How on earth was I supposed to explain this thing?