Last Dance (Final) - 8
Because of the kirin, Do-cheol couldn't unleash its power, and because of Do-cheol, the kirin couldn't either. The two kept each other perfectly in check. That's the state of the Four Evils and Four Auspicious Beasts today.
I have no idea how the Four Divine Beasts are faring, and honestly, I don't want to know. With names like divine beasts, meeting them would probably just exhaust me.
Anyway, forget all that Four Evils nonsense—the real point is they can't actually harm humans anymore. Once I realized that, my mind cleared up in a flash. No more dodging kirin corpses or risking Do-cheol's curses.
…
"Do-cheol."
- What now?
"There was a human who served you in this region, but his merchant caravan got utterly wrecked. What happened?"
I nearly slipped into a 'Good riddance' vibe but caught myself and spoke up quick. I'd almost forgotten amid the kirin beatdown, but this Do-cheol had already meddled in human affairs before. It cursed the merchants of Taewonbu and spectacularly smashed this Gyerim caravan. And not some ancient history—it was recent.
Too fresh to brush off casually; this wasn't a prior offender anymore, but a repeat one caught red-handed.
- A human who served me?
Do-cheol sounded baffled, like it had no clue what I was talking about.
- …Ah, that must be it.
A moment later, it nodded as if piecing it together.
- See this horn? Look closely—the left one's a bit shorter.
Sure enough, the left horn was subtly shorter than the right. You wouldn't notice without staring.
- A few years back, I fought that guy around here. It ended in a draw, so we both backed off, but my horn snapped then.
"A horn breaking sounds more like a loss than a draw."
My honest thought slipped out, and Do-cheol's body shivered. Sorry. I know you're the type that can't avenge humiliations.
I'd let instinct override reason there.
"But you won this time, so on the balance, it's a draw, right?"
- Kirin!
The kirin snorted indignantly, but I ignored it. Honestly, you were getting shredded. Without me and Grandfather, you'd be respawning right now.
- Fair point. If I lost back then, I won now!
Thankfully, my consolation seemed to soothe Do-cheol. Good enough. Even without curses, grudges piling up is no good.
- Anyway, looks like a human found that broken horn. For a mere mortal to handle a Four Evil's flesh? They paid the price. Sure, they prospered for a bit, but downfall was inevitable.
"I see."
I nodded. Not Do-cheol's intent, but the merchant's self-destruction.
- Still, weird how a human figured out it was my horn.
My mouth twitched instinctively again, but I clamped it shut. No way I could say, 'It looked like goat horns, so they guessed.' Comparing it to a sheep sets it off like wildfire. Mention sheep, and it'd rage again. Same with kirin comparisons. Mythic beasts, yet so narrow-minded inside.
'Just inherited blood, not a true god?'
Strictly speaking, its ancestor was the divine farmer Shennong; Do-cheol's just divine bloodline. A bit iffy for full god status. But that's staying in my head. Poke its divine pride, and it'll curse everything, kirin or not.
"No more questions?"
"Ah, no. Thanks to Grandfather, I'm good."
A benevolent silence settled, then Grandfather spoke up casually.
"Then let's take these back to Gyerim."
"Pardon?"
- Kirin?
- What?
Grandfather's suggestion had me, the kirin, and Do-cheol all tilting our heads.
"Gyerim's soldiers are tearing the place apart looking for them. We need to show we caught 'em so they can stand down."
"True, but…"
Showing the Four Evils and Auspicious Beasts to civilians? Questionable.
"Don't worry. Keep their mouths shut, and they're just oddly shaped beasts. Say newborn spirit beasts got curious and ran wild."
Blatant fabrication, but no better option than Grandfather's plan. Empty-handed, soldiers would keep searching. Reveal the truth, and Gyerim—not to mention all Guangxi—would erupt in chaos. Pretend spirit beasts? Best bet. Rare, but not legendary.
- No, I ain't showing myself to humans.
"You think you have a choice right now?"
- Damn it.
Do-cheol's brief rebellion got squashed instantly.
- Ki-ri-ring.
The kirin mocked it while leaning on Ak I-yeon. Unlike some prickly teen, it seemed to like people.
This was the first public sighting of Do-cheol and kirin since Emperor Qin Shi Huang's ascension.
"These must've been the chaos source."
Humans didn't realize they were Do-cheol and kirin, of course. Sizes barely bigger than Buong-i, mouths shut they looked like fancy sheep or deer spirit beasts. Weirder to link 'em to mythic names.
"Without Your Highness Giwang, we might still be hunting. Capturing Gyerim's troublemakers—thanks a hundred times over."
To the local commandant, evil or auspicious didn't matter; catch the culprits, done. He'd cheer even if we dragged back backyard boars.
"Thanks? I enjoyed seeing the weird beasts myself."
"Haha, don't you already have six odd ones?"
"Kuh. True that."
I chuckled at Grandfather and the commandant laughing for different reasons. To Grandfather, spirit beasts weren't just "odd"—they ranked higher for that label. The commandant didn't know.
"Speaking of, Commandant."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I'll take these to Kaepyeong."
- Wha… Krung?
- Kirin?
Grandfather's ambush had Do-cheol and kirin stirring.
"Odd cries, huh."
"That's why they're odd beasts."
Grandfather and the commandant stayed chill regardless. Grandfather never backtracks; commandant can't challenge a king's call. How do you stop someone taking beasts home—especially when the king caught them legally?
"No issues, I'll raise 'em well. Can't just release anyway."
"Of course. They'll thrive in your care."
- Krung, kruuung!
- Ki-ri-ring!
"Haha, already so thrilled."
Not thrilled to my eyes, but roars of joy to his. People see what they know.
- Kki, kki-ing…
- Kki-ong…
Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i, knowing the full story, fretted and licked the kirin at Grandfather's kidnapping decree. King of furred beasts losing freedom—instinct to protect, but Grandfather's might too scary. Plus, they'd tasted mortal fear from Gu Gangwang. No rebellion possible.
"Grandfather."
Their fidgeting tugged at me, so I spoke carefully. Pets deserve owners who listen. Plus, was keeping Do-cheol and kirin in Kaepyeong right?
"You've worked hard, Un. His Majesty will love seeing these beasts."
'Ah.'
"Emperor" shut down my doubts fast. Grandfather planned to reveal the Four Evils and Auspicious Beasts to him. Kirin rules the center, submits to the virtuous—a divine sign. Stationed in Kaepyeong, nay the palace, it'd skyrocket imperial prestige. Just need official reveal and public faith…
'Emperor'll make it work.'
Who'd doubt him? Especially a kirin. Denying it questions your own virtue.
Dragging Do-cheol too was unexpected, but without its nemesis kirin, it'd rampage. Pair makes sense.
"Haha! I'll raise you right!"
- Kirin! Ki-ri-ring!
- Kruuung!
Grandfather scooped them up, booming with laughter. Four Evils and Auspicious Beasts raised by human hands. Bizarre and wondrous.
Alone on the Gonghuwon pavilion, catching the breeze. Then a letter from Giwang elder arrived.
He's not one for letters—too meticulous? Nah, if it's urgent, he shows up in person. Rare for family too, let alone former emperor and me.
Instant curiosity. What made Giwang send a letter?
"Ha."
Laughter burst reading it.
Surprisingly, a kirin was found near Gyerim.
It fought one of the Four Evils, Do-cheol, so for the realm's peace, I gladly intervened.
This too proves His Majesty's virtue reaches heaven.
— Giwang
Mentioning auspicious and evil beasts outright.
Kirin and Do-cheol. Mythics in the human world.
"Mu-ya."
Bubbles rose from the pavilion lake at my call. A massive black turtle emerged.
"Your friends might visit soon."
- Muuuuu—
"Excited? Me too."
Mu cried a few more times, then sank back. Lonely in the lake alone. With kirin and Do-cheol, it'd be livelier.