Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: I've Chartered the Whole Place
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"You were supposed to awaken the true name, but you woke up the others first, huh."
The academy award ceremony couldn't happen, but my master called me into the Mental Realm for another round of feedback.
"Still, you at least have the experience of awakening something, so I'm satisfied."
"No, those guys and that one are on a whole different level."
I'd said it to console myself a bit.
But my master brought up how the Ferocious Tiger's armament and the monster-related ones were worlds apart.
"That's just a byproduct. It might look flashy, but..."
"Pardon?"
"Using a monster's power to kill a monster? That's just becoming a monster yourself."
We're hunters. We're the ones standing at the opposite end—never using it, only slaying it.
My master stopped there, then seemed to think he'd been too harsh and added some praise.
"Still, you did well. Besides, the Ferocious Tiger armaments have been forgotten for so long they won't awaken anyway, so don't worry about it."
Time to grovel and bow.
Even so, praise from a stingy master like him was rare, so I smiled and nodded.
'Guess it's about time to head out.'
Got my combat feedback, heard some kind words—now I could leave the Mental Realm and prep for the date.
I was just drawing that conclusion and turning to go when my master spoke up quietly.
"The fastest way to awaken a Ferocious Tiger armament is to harbor true killing intent toward your opponent."
"...Pardon?"
What the hell was that all of a sudden?
I started to question it, but he waved me off like that was enough and shooed me away.
He was such an inscrutable old man sometimes.
The Mental Realm after Kim Geon-ho left.
The First Ferocious Tiger gazed at the spot where his disciple had vanished and briefly recalled the past.
"When that day comes for you..."
Despair as a precious person slips away in a situation where no one can help.
The power blooming from that despair—is it a lifeline from the heavens, or a tempting hand from the abyss?
Power that arrives only after you've helplessly plunged into the depths.
It rampages like a disaster, sparing neither foe nor ally. Ferocious Tiger in the truest sense.
"...Don't change."
No—perhaps you could forge a different future.
The First Ferocious Tiger swung his sword, bitter memories of his own past flickering by.
His blade severed lingering regrets and sorrow.
The day of the long-awaited date had finally arrived!
Heila had woken up two hours earlier than her planned time to get ready.
The problem was, even waking up that early, she still hadn't accomplished a thing.
"Which underwear should I go with..."
Underwear—the first thing you put on when getting dressed.
Normally, she'd just throw on some basic brand stuff without a second thought, but not this time.
No, this was completely different.
"Things might... get that far...!"
Her prospective fiancé was a total lecher.
Not just any lecher, but a pervert who tried to hook up with women every chance he got.
A guy like that taking her to an amusement park for a sleepover date? And not making a move?
Impossible.
He'd definitely try to get handsy.
And even if she refused, they'd end up sharing a room, so she'd have to change clothes anyway.
The moment she changed, what if he "accidentally" caught a glimpse of her underwear?
'If I'm wearing something tacky... What if he laughs?'
-What's this, Heila? Not even your underwear screams nobility?
"No way! That's not happening!"
Heila shrieked at the Kim Geon-ho voice playing automatically in her head.
She was the heir to House Radmos. How could she wear something dowdy under her clothes?
And if—purely hypothetically, since she had no intention of it—but if Kim Geon-ho insisted and things led there anyway!
"If we... end up having... s-sex...!"
Right before going fully naked.
When he was undressing her, or putting clothes on.
The moment she took that thing from her fiancé she'd glimpsed in the hospital room.
Her underwear couldn't be the weak link.
'Of course... I have zero intention of doing it!'
Just rolling around like that? That's what back-alley whores did.
Even Airi, who couldn't sing, only went as far as a kiss on her first date.
Those loose types were always trouble.
'I'll... definitely refuse.'
Heila muttered that as she glanced down at her crotch.
This was where it'd go in?
'It was... huge...'
What kind of face would she make if it went in?
'Ah, no! Snap out of it!'
Heila yanked back her spiraling fantasies.
"...Anything I pick should be fine, right?"
Standing before the mirror, Heila objectively assessed her figure.
The classic hourglass—slim where it should be, curvy where it counted.
Luxurious golden blonde hair kissed by sunlight, clear blue eyes.
Cherry lips, porcelain skin, and an innate aristocratic aura.
She looked like a beauty straight out of a classical masterpiece, reflected perfectly.
Wearing nothing, her primal allure shone through.
But Heila wasn't satisfied with that alone.
'Why does he have to be so ridiculously popular...'
If it were just ordinary girls fawning over Kim Geon-ho, she wouldn't bat an eye.
They were leagues below her—no competition, not worth her time.
'Marren... Airi...'
What took them so long to pop up around Kim Geon-ho like that?
With their standout personalities and charms, Heila couldn't slack on date prep.
"Gotta keep the image, so something sleek..."
She considered matching black top and bottom.
But he was someone she might marry using this engagement as a stepping stone—wasn't black too drab?
'...Yeah, this one.'
After endless deliberation, Heila finally picked her underwear.
Pure white with subtle lace—not over the top.
The dress-like design appealed to her.
"Hmm... Almost done now."
Underwear sorted, the rest fell into place easily.
Amusement park date first, so comfy, active clothes.
'Can't look sloppy, so jeans for pants...'
To add a pure vibe on top, a white dress shirt—and perfect.
Simple, but not everyone could pull it off. Heila nailed it effortlessly.
"That was easy?"
Way smoother than expected, Heila checked the clock leisurely.
"Kyaaah!"
She jumped.
"I-I'm late!"
Late? From what?
'Bathed in tub with bath salts, half-body soak, skin care routine... defuzzing, serious underwear shopping... mapped out the date route just in case... messaged hubby-to-be preemptively... that's literally it!'
Unfair.
Why did time fly like this?
'Can't be late on the first date!'
Heila hurriedly summoned the driver.
Even leaving now was cutting it razor-close.
Please no tardiness, she prayed, hopping into the car.
"...Ah."
She was late.
By a full hour.
At the agreed ticket booth, no sign of Kim Geon-ho.
Had he left? Or was he fuming somewhere?
Now calm, Heila quickly checked her phone.
> Where are you?
< Me? Still at home.
> Can you leave a bit later? I might be late.
< Yeah
< No worries
< Take your time lol
> Really, really sorry.
< Nah it's fine, seriously. Drive safe
(Her messages marked [1]—read but no reply)
Was "totally fine" hiding sarcasm?
Heila, seasoned in political intrigue for her house's succession, wasn't used to taking words at face value.
'And those two "ㅇ" in a row feel off...'
She'd studied Korean, but not the nuances of local SNS slang.
Everything felt like chaos right now.
> I'm here now. [1]
> Really sorry, did you leave? [1]
> I'm at the ticket booth... [1]
> Can't see you—tell me where you are. [1]
Why no read receipts from someone who'd been replying fine?
Getting ghosted on the first date? Sure, she was late, but still hurtful.
Her, who always prized order and discipline, feeling jilted over this?
'Pathetic.'
She was thinking she deserved it when—
Ding!
The awaited reply notification chimed.
< Behind
"Huh?"
Grip.
"Kyaaang...!"
The "behind" message hit just as a familiar hand softly gripped her lower back.
Caught so off-guard, a voice she'd never made before slipped out.
"Didn't know you could make sounds like that."
"Y-You...! This is a public place...!"
There stood Kim Geon-ho.
"Huh? Nah, it's not public today."
"What?"
"I've chartered the whole place."
He said the unbelievable with a straight face.
Mountain Lords' office.
Something unbelievable was happening there right now.
"Puhahaha!"
Kim Jang-seok's booming laughter.
Loud enough to echo outside the office.
A rare sight in his life, perhaps.
"Puhaha... Whew... That kid's got some balls."
The reason for Kim Jang-seok's laughter? His own son.
His son, freshly named official heir and wielding young master's authority.
The very first thing that audacious kid did upon grabbing power? Hilarious.
"Chartering an entire amusement park for a date? First time in Mountain Lords history."
Something straight out of a drama, done by some lunatic.
And it was his own flesh and blood.
The kid was no ordinary guy, that was for sure.