The Sandstorm Black Tiger
"Ha. 10 billion won. Honestly, it was a performance worth every single penny."
Bu Yae-in let out a dry laugh as she shook her head, confirming the data of the Geuseun-sae’s complete annihilation displayed on the giant screen. Her gaze shifted toward me as I returned to the control room, my face fresh and clean without a single drop of blood on me.
"Good work, Agent Kang Han-gyeol. Honestly, I was half-doubting you, but I never expected you to tear that troublesome variant evil spirit to shreds in just one night, and without a single scratch on you, no less. Thank you for so refreshingly highlighting the incompetence of our Jeju Branch."
"Oh, come now, 'incompetence' is a strong word. It’s all thanks to you setting the stage so well, Branch Director. And besides, it wasn't me who tore it apart—it was my Shikigami."
I replied with a sly grin, gesturing behind me. Pepper stood there demurely. The three blue marks etched onto her forehead had faded, as if they had never glowed at all. Bu Yae-in didn't seem particularly surprised by Pepper’s human form. As the youngest Gap-grade exorcist, she clearly understood the concept of high-level sorcery where a Shikigami takes human form based on immense spiritual power.
"Even a Shikigami follows the capacity of its master. I finally understand why that old geezer at the Seoul Branch was so desperate to hand you 10 billion won."
Bu Yae-in crossed her arms and nudged Seo Hwa-rin, who was standing nearby.
"You worked hard too, Seo Hwa-rin. Must be exhausting to keep these monsters on a leash, huh? Watch out for stress-induced hair loss."
"......Thank you for your concern, Branch Director Bu Yae-in. We have completed our mission, so we will be returning to Seoul now."
Seo Hwa-rin calmly deflected Bu Yae-in’s provocation and bowed politely. The tension between the two rivals of the same age was as cold as the night sea of Jeju, but at the same time, there was a strange sense of trust rooted in mutual recognition of each other's abilities.
"Wow... this is insane. Is this a private jet? Long live capitalism, for real!"
I cheered, sinking my body into the plush, high-end leather seat. It was on a completely different level from the noisy military transport helicopter I’d taken to Jeju. The spacious and comfortable cabin, the subtle lighting, and even the premium champagne and caviar set up at the mini-bar—the headquarters had specially dispatched a private jet for the Special 7th Team for successfully completing the mission.
"Ah... I’m so glad I signed that 10-billion-won contract. I’ll bury my bones here, Branch Director!"
It was just as I was lifting my champagne glass, overcome with emotion.
"Master. Please give me a taste as well."
Pepper, sitting in the seat next to me, slid over and linked her arm with mine. As her slender, voluptuous form pressed against me, the warmth seeping into the seat was accompanied by a dreamy, intoxicating scent from the underworld, far deeper than the aroma of the champagne.
"Oh, uh. Pepper, you shouldn't drink. Don't dogs die if they eat grapes? Champagne is made from grapes, too."
"I am not a dog, but a guide of the underworld, a Samokgu (Three-eyed Dog). And it is not the alcohol I crave. It is your Yang-gi (Yang energy), Master."
Pepper replied slyly, resting her chin on my shoulder and rubbing her face against my chest. She was intent on recharging the Yokai power she had consumed while tearing the Geuseun-sae to pieces earlier. Every time she inhaled the warm spiritual energy radiating from my body, her cheeks flushed a soft pink.
Seo Hwa-rin, watching this scene from the opposite seat, held her forehead and turned away.
"Ha... I know in my head that she is a Shikigami, but to my eyes, this is highly inappropriate..."
Just then, a coughing sound came from beside the empty seat where Sa-hyeon should have been sitting.
"Ahem, ahem!"
When I turned my head, Fry, the little lady with black hair, was standing there, fidgeting with her face bright red.
"Oh, little elder? What’s the matter? Shall I peel some caviar for you?"
At my question, Fry clenched her adorable little fists tightly, her cherry-like lips trembling as she stammered.
"I... I too..."
"Yes?"
"I want to sit too, you foolish pack-mule!!!"
Fry shrieked and grabbed my other arm, hugging it tightly.
"Wait, why are you doing this all of a sudden?"
"This seat belongs to me! I also lost a lot of energy from my noble body enduring the fog of that wretched rag earlier! I cannot let that black mutt hog all the Yang energy! Give me your warm energy right now!"
Though her words were incredibly authoritative and venomous, her two small arms clutching my arm and her reddened ears were the spitting image of a jealous child blinded by envy.
"My, my. Your Majesty, you should just stay in your pocket and be quiet, as befits your size. Master’s embrace is mine."
Pepper laughed coldly, glaring at Fry.
"What did you say? Are you crazy, you horny bitch? Do you think I don't know that you've been bewitching this pack-mule and acting all seductive since earlier?"
"Seductive? I am merely a faithful familiar sharing a deep connection with my Master. Why are you like this? Are you jealous?"
"You, you... I’ll burn you to ashes...!"
A stunning beauty over 170cm tall and an arrogant little lady around 130cm tall began a fierce battle of nerves, each occupying one of my arms and emitting sharp, murderous glares. The interior of the private jet was instantly engulfed in a suffocating tension as the blue chill of the underworld and the reddish-gold heat of the sun collided.
'Is this a blessing, or am I being punished...'
Under the pressure of the immense Yokai power radiating from both sides, I broke out in a cold sweat and stared blankly into the air. The flight attendants from the Ghost Gate, watching this scene from afar, looked at me with awe-filled eyes, as if wondering, "What country did that agent save in his past life..."
And so, our loud and luxurious commute home was coming to an end.
.
.
.
"Agent Sa-hyeon has gone missing?"
"Yes. As soon as he got off the private jet, he disappeared without a report. His GPS tracker is also turned off."
I shrugged at Seo Hwa-rin’s report.
"Leave him be. He probably ran away."
"Ran away?"
"Yesterday, he seemed really shocked to see Pepper tear a monster apart in one go when his own wind powers didn't work. I guess he got scared and bolted."
Seo Hwa-rin sighed at my carefree answer, but she didn't try to pursue Sa-hyeon any further. He seemed uncontrollable anyway, but she didn't think he would harm people. More importantly, Seo Hwa-rin had a more pressing schedule.
Whack—!!!
The 1st Training Ground on the 3rd basement floor. With a sharp tearing sound, Seo Hwa-rin’s wooden sword flew through the air.
"Ugh...!"
Seo Hwa-rin rolled on the floor and barely managed to regain her balance. Standing in front of her was Team Leader Do Jae-hyeok of Team 1, yawning while holding an old wooden sword in one hand.
He hadn't used a single special skill or spell infused with spiritual power. Using only pure physical prowess and basic spiritual energy management, Do Jae-hyeok, the ace of South Korea, was toying with Seo Hwa-rin.
"Haa... haa..."
"Team Leader Seo. Your movements are too big. And you're impatient."
Do Jae-hyeok clicked his tongue, resting the wooden sword on his shoulder.
"Did you get stimulated after meeting Branch Director Bu Yae-in in Jeju yesterday? Your blade is sharper than usual, but your field of vision has narrowed."
"......I have no excuse."
Seo Hwa-rin picked up the wooden sword that had fallen to the floor with trembling hands. Her eyes were filled with deep frustration and anxiety. Kang Han-gyeol, Pepper, Fry, Sa-hyeon, and even Bu Yae-in. Encountering these out-of-spec monsters one after another, she felt a severe complex about the fact that, as the team leader of the 7th Team, she lacked the overwhelming "force" to perfectly control them.
Do Jae-hyeok smiled faintly, as if he could see right through her. He tossed the wooden sword to the floor and sat down on the training ground floor.
"Hey, Seo Hwa-rin. Come here and sit."
"We're in the middle of a sparring match. Just one more time..."
"Shh. Your senior is telling you to sit."
At Do Jae-hyeok’s firm voice, Seo Hwa-rin finally lowered her wooden sword and knelt opposite him. Do Jae-hyeok took a lollipop out of his pocket, put it in his mouth, and said as if tossing it aside.
"You didn't walk the elite path because of your raw power in the first place."
"......"
"Your swordsmanship and spiritual energy management are excellent, but to be honest, compared to that monster-like 10-billion-won rookie over there, or mutants like me, or the greatest talents in history like Bu Yae-in, your potential has a clear limit. You know that, right?"
A fact-bomb that hit home. Seo Hwa-rin bit her lower lip hard.
"But why did the Branch Director put you as the deputy team leader of Team 1, and why did he give you the position of team leader of that uncontrollable 7th Team?"
Do Jae-hyeok stared at Seo Hwa-rin with a serious gaze.
"Your real weapon isn't swordsmanship. It's that stubborn, inflexible head of yours. And your command ability to calmly analyze the battlefield in any situation and coordinate the leashes of selfish monsters to weave them into a single fighting force. That is the true genius you possess."
"Team Leader..."
"Of course, sometimes you act incredibly stupid because you're so obsessed with those damn principles."
Do Jae-hyeok added with a sly grin.
"What does it matter if Kang Han-gyeol is strong? That guy is a blank slate who knows nothing about the rules of this world. You need to be the brain and set the stage so that he can unleash that overwhelming firepower at the exact right moment. Don't try to suppress them with force. Use them with your brain and command ability. You understand?"
Do Jae-hyeok’s heavy advice echoed through the training ground. Seo Hwa-rin’s wavering pupils stopped. The obsession that she "must become stronger" that had been strangling her loosened, and the eyes of her natural, cool-headed, and intelligent elite team leader returned.
"......Yes. I understand exactly what you mean, Senior."
She bowed deeply, expressing her sincere gratitude. Do Jae-hyeok grinned and crunched on his lollipop.
That night. It was when Seo Hwa-rin had finished her sparring with Do Jae-hyeok and was heading to the Branch Director’s office with a lighter heart to submit her operation report.
Bang—!
The door to the Branch Director’s office, which should have been quiet, was thrown open violently. When Seo Hwa-rin turned her head in surprise, three men were standing there, gasping for breath.
"W-what is this... Team 2 of the Gangwon Branch? What brings you here without even a call!"
As Seo Hwa-rin asked urgently, the Team 2 leader of the Gangwon Branch spat out in a hoarse voice.
"Branch Director... a few days ago, a Gap-grade Yokai crossed over from Yangyang to Seoul. Didn't you feel it?"
Branch Director Park’s wrinkled eyes froze for a moment.
"What did you just say?"
"It crossed the Taebaek Mountains. A new disaster, perhaps on the same level as 'Gang-gil' (羌吉)... the one that annihilated our seniors 20 years ago..."
The Gangwon Team 2 leader gasped, trembling with terror in his eyes.
"A massive natural disaster comparable to Gap-grade... is currently roaming around Seoul."