{The Male Lead of the Original Story}

Translator : Elizabeth

"Forgive my rudeness."

"……."

"It involves the fate of the North. The matter is too grave to entrust based solely on rumors, so I had to verify what your skills were like."

The ruler of the North, Kalian de Winter, bowed his head.

There wasn't a speck of falsehood mixed in his voice.

It was a pure apology.

'Fist Emperor Jin. This man is truly strong.'

The chilly spirit that filled the office just moments ago had vanished without a trace.

Kalian instinctively realized the moment his spirit touched Kang Jin-ho.

A sense of helplessness as if he had become a child standing before a massive mountain (Tai-shan).

The fact that the killing intent he had built up enduring the harsh cold of the North couldn't even amount to a spring breeze in front of that man.

"Well, whatever."

Kang Jin-ho waved his hand as if it were no big deal.

He buried himself deep into the plush leather sofa and crossed his legs.

Even if the opponent was the Empire's only Grand Duke, the male lead of the original story, and also a Sword Master, to him, he was just a client.

"It's business. It's natural to check for defects before buying goods. I understand."

"I am grateful for your understanding."

"Instead."

Kang Jin-ho leaned his upper body forward.

The playful smile vanished, and dry eyes full of a business mindset stared at Kalian.

"If the verification is done, shall we get to the main point? What's the reason you called me even waving a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blank check? Surely you didn't call me out of boredom."

Kalian looked at Kang Jin-ho for a moment.

The attitude of treating him as an inferior was so natural that it didn't even feel incongruous.

But Kalian was not displeased.

If it was a martial artist of the Fist Emperor's level.

Furthermore, if he could save the situation the North faced, this level of rudeness could be overlooked.

"Right. I will state the main point."

Kalian unfolded a map placed on the desk.

The snowy mountain region of the North, specifically the deep abyss untouched by human feet, was marked in red.

"An ancient demonic beast that was sleeping ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠deep in the Northern Snow Mountains has awakened."

"Ancient demonic beast?"

"Yes. Its name is 'Mammoth Prime.' It is a calamity called the 'Moving Snow Mountain' in the North since ancient times."

Kang Jin-ho's eyebrow twitched.

'Mammoth Prime?'

It was a name likely to appear only in a setting book seen in passing while reading the original novel.

A monster that didn't appear in the main story and existed only as background lore.

"Why did that bastard wake up now? Did it just wake up from hibernation?"

"Something similar. It was in a state of hibernation for hundreds of years. However, recently, as the suppressive force holding it down disappeared, it began its activity."

Kalian's expression darkened.

He hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth heavily.

"Beyond the Northern Snow Mountains… lived an apex predator known only in legends. An existence that made even Mammoth Prime hold its breath in fear."

"Ho-oh."

"The evil dragon, 'Azhdaha'."

Azhdaha.

The moment that name came out, Kang Jin-ho's pupils shook minutely.

But Kalian didn't notice the change because he was looking at the map.

"Azhdaha was an absolute being who suppressed the ecosystem of the North just by its existence. Because of its evil energy and territorial marking, even ancient demonic beasts like Mammoth Prime didn't dare to be active. It was a kind of balance through fear."

"And?"

"But two months ago… that Azhdaha's energy disappeared completely."

Kalian clenched his fist tightly.

"According to the detection results of the wizards, Azhdaha's biological reaction has completely vanished. It is highly likely that it was subjugated by someone, or moved to another region. However, there is no way a dragon would disappear so quietly."

Kang Jin-ho went into expression management.

He pressed his lips tight to swallow the hollow laugh lingering around his mouth.

'Ah.'

He remembered.

Two months ago, when he was passing through the snowy mountains near the northern border.

A giant lizard that picked a fight, emitting an unpleasant smell on a day when the weather was particularly shitty.

- Kueaaa! Who is the insect daring to disturb my eternal sleep!

A black dragon coiled up occupying a mountain peak, spewing breath.

Was that 'Azhdaha'?

At that time, Kang Jin-ho was hungry and annoyed, so he dodged the breath with weaving and plugged his fist into the bastard's crown.

'It was one hit.'

Just exactly one hit.

With that one hit, the bastard's head was crushed, and Kang Jin-ho took its leather and dragon heart.

Also, he moved the carcass and sealed it in a special warehouse deep in a remote area known only to him.

'That was that guy?'

To think the dragon he caught was the guardian(?) of balance regulating the northern ecosystem.

It meant that as the natural enemy disappeared, the Mammoth Prime suppressed under it probably started rampaging thinking, "Yay! The world is mine!"

'There was a variable like this.'

It was an unexpected butterfly effect.

The deed he committed went around and eventually came back to him as a request.

Kang Jin-ho clicked his tongue inwardly but outwardly shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

"So? That Mammoth guy must be quite strong? Enough that even you, a Grand Duke, can't handle it yourself?"

"……Ashamedly, that is correct."

Kalian swallowed his pride and admitted the fact.

"Although I have also reached the realm of Sword Master, that bastard is an existence outside the norm. Its hide deflects even Aura Blades, and every time it stomps its foot, an earthquake occurs causing avalanches. It's impossible to even approach with ordinary soldiers. While I drew its attention, the wizards poured attacks, but they couldn't even leave a scratch."

"Hmm."

"If we mobilize the army, we could catch it. But in that process, more than half of the Northern Army would be annihilated. We cannot pay such a sacrifice."

Kalian's gaze extended straight toward Kang Jin-ho.

"That is why I called you. Fist Emperor. I need that overwhelming destructive power rumored to have crushed the skull of Fenrir, an ancient demonic beast comparable to Mammoth Prime, with bare hands and turned city walls into powder."

Kang Jin-ho rested his chin on his hand and looked at Kalian.

Certainly, even for a Sword Master, an ancient demonic beast would be burdensome.

Ancient demonic beasts were not only large and powerful but also clever.

"Fine. It was worth offering a blank check."

Kang Jin-ho nodded.

Anyway, it was close to cleaning up the mess of his own doing, and the reward was lucrative.

There was no reason to refuse.

"As long as the money is deposited, that furry elephant or whatever. I'll kill it right away."

"Wait."

As Kang Jin-ho tried to get up from his seat, Kalian urgently raised his hand.

"Not killing."

"What?"

"I want you to… capture it alive."

Kang Jin-ho's brow furrowed sharply.

"Alive?"

"That is correct. Mammoth Prime possesses tremendous value in terms of ancient biology. Also, if we can control it, it will be a great help to the North's defense power. The researchers of the Magic Tower also want to study its bio-energy."

Kalian added with desperate eyes.

"Of course, I know it is a difficult task. How hard it is to suppress that massive monster without killing it. But if it is you…."

"Ha."

Kang Jin-ho burst into a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.

Killing vs. Suppressing.

The difficulty was the difference between heaven and earth.

Did it mean failure if he controlled his strength wrong and blew its head off?

"Hey, Grand Duke. The order is a bit tricky? Bring it with its breath barely attached. Am I some delivery driver?"

"……I will ensure compensation commensurate with that."

"You know bringing it is harder than killing it, right? Especially moving big guys like that is a job in itself."

Kang Jin-ho crossed his arms and tapped the calculator.

Blank check.

Of course, it's big money.

But simply money alone felt somewhat lacking.

Since he ended up taking on a troublesome job anyway, he had to extract the maximum value properly.

'Compensation, huh….'

A scene from the original novel flashed through Kang Jin-ho's mind.

The treasure warehouse of the Northern Grand Duchy.

All sorts of artifacts and treasures collected by the Winter family for hundreds of years are sleeping there.

Among them, mixed in were 'real deals' covered in dust, left neglected without their value being known.

'There was that.'

The Frost Wolf's Coat.

An artifact revealed in the latter half of the original story as the Northern Grand Duke comes to wear it.

But at this point in time, it was an item likely stuck in the corner ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the warehouse treated as just a cool-looking fur coat.

Because the seal hadn't been released yet, so there was no mana reaction.

The corners of Kang Jin-ho's mouth crept up.

"Fine. I'll catch it alive for you. Instead."

"Instead?"

"I'll take an additional fee."

"I already proposed a blank check for money, though…."

"Not money."

Kang Jin-ho raised his index finger.

"The Grand Duchy's treasure warehouse. Let me take one item I want from there."

Kalian's eyebrow twitched.

Opening the treasure warehouse.

This was a problem on a different level than simply giving money.

Because there might be items containing the family's history and secrets.

"Treasure warehouse…. That is difficult. We cannot hand over family secret techniques or national treasure-level relics to an outsider."

"Don't worry. I won't touch important items listed in the family heirloom or genealogy. I'm just saying I'll pick one thing that catches my eye, even if it's junk."

Kang Jin-ho tossed it out as if it were nothing.

"How about it? You said the fate of the North hangs on this. You can't even do that much? Or should I just go home?"

"……."

Kalian fell into thought for a moment.

If they couldn't deal with Mammoth Prime, the North would become a wasteland.

Compared to that, one item in the warehouse was a cheap price.

Besides, didn't he say he wouldn't touch family heirlooms?

"…Fine. Excluding important items related to the family, I permit you to take one thing you want."

"Okay. Deal established."

Kang Jin-ho smiled with satisfaction.

Inside, he cheered.

Blank check plus a good-looking and high-performance artifact.

This was a profitable business considering it was a butterfly effect.

"Then I'll depart immediately. The location?"

"Wizards are tracking it in real-time. I will provide a communication crystal ball so you can contact us as soon as you find it."

Kalian took out a fist-sized crystal ball from a drawer.

"And contact us when you suppress it. I will send wizards from the Magic Tower and a large transport airship. Since its weight reaches dozens of tons, levitation magic and large-scale manpower will be needed to transport it."

Kalian's words were extremely sensible.

To move a monster the size of a house alive, naturally, a large-scale transport operation was needed.

However.

"Forget it."

Kang Jin-ho pushed the crystal ball away.

"Why carry something cumbersome. Wizards coming will only get in the way."

"What? But how do you intend to transport it? Its weight is beyond imagination. You alone…."

"I'll just carry it back myself since I'm going."

"…What did you say?"

Kalian's eyes opened round.

He wondered if he heard wrong just now.

"Carry it back? It's Mammoth Prime. A guy heavier than dozens of elephants combined. You're going to carry that alone?"

"Ah, you really talk a lot."

Kang Jin-ho picked his ear as if annoyed.

"For that much, I can just lift it with Aura and carry it. What's the difference from carrying a sack of rice? It's easy if you have the knack."

"Lift… with Aura?"

Kalian was speechless.

Aura is for wrapping around a sword or strengthening the body.

Of course, one could lift objects, but lifting dozens of tons of mass into the air and transporting it?

That was an idea outside the concept of Aura, no, ignoring the laws of physics.

A realm unimaginable even for him, a Sword Master.

'This man… is he serious?'

Kalian looked into Kang Jin-ho's eyes.

It wasn't a bluff.

A peaceful gaze that really seemed to say, 'What's the big deal about that.'

That made Kalian even more astonished.

"Just let me know when its location is identified. Since I'll be back right away."

Kang Jin-ho turned his body as if he had said everything he had to say.

"Then work hard. I'll be back after a stroll."

Thud, thud.

Kang Jin-ho ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠opened the office door and left without lingering attachment.

Until the sound of the door closing was heard, Kalian had no choice but to stare blankly at his retreating figure.