The Beast Flees in Terror
The Hanseong Tower cleanup site was in the city's center, and the direction I'd chased the palace demon was to the west. I hadn't checked the east side, but I knew a Saga-class yokai was there too. I could occasionally feel surges of mana.
"..."
I raced over and arrived at the city's west side. Most buildings were half-destroyed, jagged ice crystals jutting up everywhere. Snow was falling too, which was kinda funny since I'd never imagined seeing the first snow of the year like this.
"That must be it."
The battlefield wasn't far. A massive roar shook the ground, sending piles of snow tumbling down. I hopped onto a nearby rooftop for a better look.
There, right in the middle of the ruins, the fight was raging. The beautiful shaman woman wielded her sword like a dancer, ice surging up with every slash for follow-up strikes. In contrast, Do-ol was pure brute force, smashing everything with its claws and charging like a rabid dog without dodging. It was straight out of a beauty-and-the-beast tale.
"Intense."
The shaman's attacks couldn't pierce Do-ol's hide, and its strikes never reached her. Endless back-and-forth, leaving only shallow wounds—no fatal blows. If anything, Do-ol had the edge, but...
"What's up with that."
For some reason, Do-ol looked off. From what I'd heard, it loved battle, grinning maniacally the whole time. But now? It wore an anxious expression, almost scared.
"Doesn't matter to me."
Not my problem anyway. If Do-ol was off its game, that was good for me. I didn't overthink it—just leaped down, drew a magic circle with my blood.
"Here to assist!"
"What group?!"
"Think of me as a mercenary!"
Tentacles burst from the circle. I twisted eight of them into a sharp point and launched at Do-ol's flank.
They stretched out looong—thwack—embedding in its side. But of course, no damage.
"Damn it."
I spat a curse. True to its Saga-class status, my attack bounced right off. I'd gotten way stronger since first arriving in this world, but still.
Guess I'm around Legend Upper now.
Recalling my fights with the cult leader and the palace demon, that felt about right. Legend Upper, maybe.
"Tch."
Disappointing, but irrelevant now. My job was to support the Seolho Shamaness; taking down Do-ol was hers. Harassment was easy enough. Just keep pumping out tentacles to distract it...
"GRRAAAAH! YOU! IT WAS YOU!!"
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Do-ol went berserk, screeching like a maniac. Had it lost its mind? As I stared, puzzled, our eyes met.
"YOU! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO...!"
"Who?"
"I... I CAN'T REMEMBER!!"
Its eyes trembled in terror, reflecting something from me. Probably Shin-nim. The adorable wife who terrified a Saga-class yokai.
[Hehe.]
Not the time to laugh, is it?
And nope—it wasn't. Do-ol ignored the shaman's attacks and charged straight at me.
We're screwed?
I'd barely scraped by against the palace demon. Nearly died the instant I met Chi-woo. Fight Do-ol?
[Need help?]
...What's the price?
[Fishing this weekend!]
Fine, whatever.
I bargained with Shin-nim in my head, borrowing her power in a pinch. Omnipotence flooded my body—the same spells would hit several times harder now.
"Begone, monster!"]
"Wha—"
I aimed at Do-ol, but it vaulted over me and bolted far away. Heading west—probably trying to cross into China. No point chasing, so I let the deep-sea energy fade and relaxed.
"Who are you...?"
"Seolho Shamaness."
A woman's voice from behind. I turned—there she was, sword sheathed but hand ready to draw. Wary after seeing that spectacle.
"Some old guy asked me to help you."
"Sent by Cheonggeom Nosah?"
Guess that was the grandpa shaman's name. She eased up a bit, hand off the hilt—but still guarded.
"What group's yours?"
"Independent."
"...You seem pretty strong for an independent."
Why's her hand back on the hilt? I felt oddly wronged, but what could I say? I really was unaffiliated. Naming some group might make things worse, so honesty it was.
"Fine, noted. Thanks for the help."
"Didn't really help."
"Nonsense. Do-ol fled when it saw you."
Shin-nim did that, but whatever—problem solved.
Then, people approached from afar. Daehan Mu-dang Association folks, clad in armor with tridents.
"Loyalty! Greetings, Seolho Shamaness!"
"Good work."
"And this one...?"
"Mercenary backup. Show respect."
"Yes, ma'am!"
They saluted her; she waved back and vanished—probably off to mop up yokai remnants.
"Greetings to you too, mercenary sir!"
"Uh, hi."
"We'll escort you to the rest area!"
They swarmed me with greetings and dragged me to their HQ before I could protest. The temporary base was outside the barrier: civilian shelters, field clinics.
"Hurry and breach the barrier!"
"Injured, over here!"
"Finish missing persons search before nightfall!"
Chaotic and busy. My escorts got called away immediately. No one to talk to—everyone rushed off.
"Hmm..."
As I pondered, a woman in shaman robes with a Red Cross mark called out.
"Severe injury?! You're pale!"
"I'm fine."
"Come here! I'll treat you!"
I tried protesting, but next thing I knew, I was on a cot. Bandages on my wrist, blood bag hooked up.
Does this even work...?
Deep-sea blood in my veins—human transfusion probably useless.
"Patient? How many fingers?"
"Two."
"Critical condition! Stay down!"
"Wasn't there just one more a sec ago?"
"Focus on rest!"
What could I do? Doc was insistent. I killed time in the clinic, watching the association handle anomalies.
"Uncle...!"
"Hm?"
Someone called. Turned—Se-ah on the next cot, head bandaged.
"...Aren't you fine?"
"Shh! I'm playing sick, keep it quiet!"
Slacking off, as expected. Government worker doing this? Eh, cleanup phase—no big deal.
"That barrier was your magic, right?"
"Who else?"
"What kind?"
"...Just magic."
Bored, she chatted me up. Nothing better to do, so we talked. Then I remembered earlier—flicked her forehead hard.
"Ow! Why?!"
"Dumbass picking fights with Saga-class gets smacked."
"Ah."
"Who asked for help? Don't do risky crap!"
We hadn't known each other long, but she'd become precious. I'd die before letting her get hurt because of me. Time to correct bad habits with tough love.
"Ugh... forehead burns..."
"Aigoo."
Done scolding, I tossed her ointment, yanked the IV, and stood.
Se-ah panicked. "Where you going?"
"Home. Where else?"
Told Shin-nim I'd be late, but not overnight. Any later, she'd knead my brain.
"Here's my number—call if trouble."
"Wait, hold on!"
"Bye."
I ignored her yells, slipped into the crowd. Easy camouflage amid the bustle—outta there.
Straight home. Ruinous roads, but no issue.
"Human scum! Kill me!"
"Still some yokai left."
Ran into a few en route—dispatched them like trash pickup volunteers, none spared. Eventually, home.
"I'm back~"
[~~~]
[Hug~]
Greeted the happy family. Wanted a shower, but no water. Summoned seawater instead. Breakfast? Too wiped—skipped.
"Sun's up."
Outside, dawn broke. Black barrier gone, replaced by clear one. Blue sky hit home: it was finally over.
!!!
"Got it. Let's nap."
Stone slab poked my side—missed cuddling last night, so now. Scooped it up, hit the bed.
[Hubby was cool today too.]
You too, Shin-nim. Thanks for today.
I drifted off, dreaming of her hugging me tight all over.