The Eternal Second-in-Command
Midway up Mt. Geumgang.
A figure was plowing through a wild forest with no paths carved through it…
Woof! Woof!
…A dog??
A black Jindo dog with four eyes was tearing through the forest at explosive speed.
Leaping over rocks, bursting through bushes, stepping on tree trunks and soaring—its movements bordered on acrobatics.
One thing was certain: its physical ability had long since shattered the bounds of common sense.
Sniff sniff—! Sniff sniff!!
Its tongue lolled out as its snout busily poked into every corner, and the Jindo dog finally stopped a short while later beside a particular rock.
It flared its black nostrils, then threw its head back and let out a powerful howl, having apparently found what it was looking for.
“Awooo~!!”
Flutter, flutter—
The mountain-shaking howl made the entire forest rustle. Flocks of birds burst into the air from every direction.
At that exact moment.
From beyond the sky, a water deer came walking leisurely among the fleeing birds.
The very symbol of herbivorous animals—the four-legged, antlered deer—was strolling through empty air rather than on the ground, descending toward the earth.
And then.
“Tan-ah, I told you not to bark recklessly. You’re startling everyone.”
A middle-aged man sat astride the mysterious water deer. His dignified features were a striking mix of black and white hair.
The Mountain King, Kim Jong-pil, had revealed himself.
Woof woof—!!
“What? You found a gift?”
Hieeeng~
“An herb? A very large herb?”
Grr!
“All right, let’s see it. We’ll find out if Tan is right.”
When Kim Jong-pil gave a light wave of his hand, tree roots surged up from the ground where the dog had been sitting.
At the tip of the protruding stem hung a wild ginseng.
It was an extraordinarily large wild ginseng, exactly as the dog had claimed.
The root that looked at least a century old radiated a mystical aura. Kim Jong-pil let out a hearty chuckle and scratched Tan’s chin.
“Hehe, it’s grown huge. Worth bragging about, Tan.”
Woof woof—!!
“A gift, you say. You rascal, you shouldn’t dig these up so carelessly.”
Hiiing…….
“Still, thank you. You’re the only one who looks after me, Tan. Oh, you too, Vita.”
Apparently unhappy at being left out of the praise, the deer lowered its head and rubbed its snout against Kim Jong-pil’s cheek.
Hahaha.
Kim Jong-pil’s complicated emotions seemed to lighten considerably thanks to the adorable antics of his dear companions.
He smiled brightly and stroked their heads. At the same time, the wild ginseng held by the roots was sucked back into the earth like a drill, returning to its original spot.
“You’re late. Stop playing around and let’s head home.”
Grr~!
“You want to fly too? Very well, then.”
Kim Jong-pil soared back into the sky atop the deer once more.
The dog leaped up and down on the spot, clearly wanting to follow. He gladly granted his cute friend’s wish.
With a snap of his fingers, turbulent wind gathered beneath the dog’s leaping paws.
The translucent wind writhed like clay, then took shape as a wind hawk that beat its wings powerfully.
A dozen mid-grade wind spirits lifted the dog from below, matching pace with Kim Jong-pil ahead.
The dog barked with pure delight while Kim Jong-pil watched with a warm, contented smile.
The refreshing breeze swept across his whole body. His chest felt wide open. For a brief moment he savored the sensation of freedom, as though he had escaped the constraints of space itself.
After flying through the air for some time, a sheer cliff came into view ahead.
Perched elegantly atop that cliff was a single hanok—Kim Jong-pil’s private villa.
One might wonder what a house was doing on a cliff so steep that even a car would struggle to climb it, but for Kim Jong-pil it posed no problem whatsoever.
“Up we go. Thank you for your hard work, my friend.”
The moment Kim Jong-pil set foot in the villa courtyard, the deer—more precisely the top-grade wood spirit Vita—rubbed its cheek against him once more before scattering into the air.
Soon the Jindo dog landed as well.
It must have played with tremendous energy; its mouth formed a perfect triangle as it panted with its tongue hanging out.
“You need a bath.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than water droplets swirled up from the ground.
Looking closer, water mice were frolicking within the currents. The low-grade water spirits diligently washed the dog’s body at their master’s command.
This was Kim Jong-pil.
His wondrous mana control allowed him to wield spirits of completely opposing attributes without the slightest delay. His mana reserves were so vast they seemed endless, enough to use casually in everyday life.
With Mystical Beast Taming he transformed animals into mystical beasts. With Call Wind and Rain he commanded wind and water spirits simultaneously. And with Gardener of the World Tree he had been granted near-infinite mana and the top-grade wood spirit Vita.
He had once been an undisputed absolute powerhouse, and even now, nearing sixty, he could still compete at the highest level.
The World Class.
He was the Mountain King.
“Ouch… my back. I really have gotten old.”
Just a little movement left him tired. Kim Jong-pil settled into a rocking chair.
Sitting precariously on the edge of the cliff while savoring the mountain’s rich atmosphere, he looked like an immortal straight out of a fairy tale.
“It’s nice.”
Kim Jong-pil especially loved the view of Mt. Geumgang from here. Gazing at its majestic form opened his chest and swept away all his worries.
Fine scenery called for fine liquor.
At his will, a tree trunk rose, retrieved a soju bottle from the refrigerator inside the house, and placed it gently in his hand.
It had been a while, so he decided to drink straight from the bottle—no glass needed.
He was just about to open the cap when—
“…Hm?”
The spirits scattered around the villa sent him a mental message.
Someone was approaching.
Kim Jong-pil’s brows furrowed sharply. This place was unknown even to his family and the granddaughter he cherished like gold and jade. Who could it be?
Could it be…
For a moment the face of someone who had become a friend of the past flickered through his mind.
“No. That ‘Jeong-do’ fellow isn’t the type to stoop so low.”
Then who…? After a brief moment of thought, Kim Jong-pil’s eyes narrowed.
“ ‘The good do not come; those who come are not good,’ wasn’t it?”
An uninvited guest, identity unknown.
An orb that had been lying casually beside a jar in the yard flew over and began glowing beside him.
In an instant, mana danced.
Lines and dots, along with spirit script, unfolded in the air like sheet music.
Countless water mice leaped to the ground and hid themselves. Above them, wind hawks melted into the breeze and seized control of the surroundings.
This should suffice.
Having completed every preparation, Kim Jong-pil waited leisurely for the uninvited guest.
A short while later.
With the creak of rusty hinges, the wooden gate opened.
Amid a faint tension, what popped out was—
“…A hand?”
A hand holding a soju bottle. Moreover, it was the exact same brand Kim Jong-pil had been about to open.
“Nice to meet you. It feels awkward saying this on our first meeting, but…”
Lee Shin shook the soju bottle with a bright smile.
“Care for a drink?”
* * *
The two men sat facing each other on the wooden platform.
Kim Jong-pil tilted the soju bottle as he spoke.
“I really have grown old. To think I’d be sharing drinks with the grandson of Brother Sang-byeok. By the way, how did you know I was here? No one should know about this place.”
Lee Shin politely poured with both hands and answered.
“I’ve always respected you. The moment I heard news of your ‘retirement,’ I came straight here.”
“Hoh, retirement… How could you possibly know that I retired?”
“Hehe~ Let’s not worry about the small details. Cheers first! Cheers!!”
“My, my. What a child full of secrets.”
The glasses clinked together.
“Krr~ But you know my grandfather?”
“Thanks to Brother Cheol-ong we shared a few meals.”
“Oh, Secretary Yoo?”
“Brother Cheol-ong is my hometown senior. We got into all sorts of mischief together when we were young…”
“I’ll pour for you.”
Glug glug…
“Your name is Shin, correct? I’ve heard it in passing. A young man making quite the flashy commotion, I hear?”
“Hehe, I’m somewhat famous, aren’t I?”
“Seeing you in person, the rumors fell short. Handsome with such delicate features—you look like you could charm any number of women. Your face suggests storms will follow wherever you breathe.”
“Sir, you’re crispy on the outside but moist within.”
“What? Crispy outside, moist inside?”
“Crisp exterior, tender interior—the face of a man who lives at a loss. That’s what it means.”
“You impudent rascal. Telling an elder he has the face of someone who lives at a loss? You have no manners whatsoever.”
“I hear that often. Krr~ But we have no side dishes. We need kimchi at least. I have some incredible beef jerky—shall I bring it? Bro, can you grab the jerky from the car?”
Kim Jong-pil probing, Lee Shin dodging.
A subtle battle of nerves passed back and forth with every glass.
“Now I’m truly curious. Both how you found this place and how you learned of my retirement that no one knows about. It seems you know quite a lot about me. Just how did you find out?”
“Hehe, I saw it on the storyboard after raising your favorability.”
“So you refuse to tell me until the very end.”
“It’s the truth. Sir, since you’re an SSS-class named character, there were quite a few cutscenes dedicated to you.”
“Hahaha. You’re far more of an oddball than the rumors suggested.”
His skill at deflecting the topic was extraordinary. A true character had entered Brother Sang-byeok’s family. Kim Jong-pil chuckled, then hardened his expression.
He decided further sparring was unnecessary.
He brought up the main topic first.
“Enough of the probing. Let’s get to the point. Why have you sought out a retired has-been like me?”
“Shall we?”
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Lee Shin straightened his clothes and knelt respectfully.
Seeing the completely serious and courteous demeanor with all playfulness erased, Kim Jong-pil could guess what was coming.
‘A recruitment offer, no doubt.’
They were all the same.
His retirement had not become public knowledge due to various complicated circumstances.
Yet where there were those who hid the truth, there were always those who uncovered it. He had already received calls from several acquaintances, and every single one had been a recruitment offer.
Kim Jong-pil assumed Lee Shin would be no different. As he tilted his glass, he began thinking of the usual refusal.
But what actually came out of Lee Shin’s mouth was:
“Don’t you want to become stronger?”
“Pffft—!”
This was rather fresh…?
Since awakening at eighteen, Kim Jong-pil had never once doubted his own strength.
Not only the famous hunters on television, but after thoroughly examining every so-called major-level match, his conviction had only deepened.
I am stronger than them.
And Kim Jong-pil had perfectly proven that belief.
Together with his companions, he had raised this nation to the pinnacle of the world.
Yet this rookie he had never met before—this kid who was practically the same age as his granddaughter, this wet-behind-the-ears brat—dared to speak of strength right to Kim Jong-pil’s face. To a legend, no less.
It was so insolent that even giving him a few good smacks would have been justified.
In fact, both Chae Dong-ha who had brought the beef jerky and the female secretary whose expression had remained unreadable until now had turned deathly pale.
“Haha, I thought I had met quite a lot of people, but this is the first time I’ve encountered someone like you.”
Kim Jong-pil laughed heartily as he filled Lee Shin’s glass, as if to say go on.
Permission had been granted.
With the stage set, Lee Shin flashed a mischievous grin and boldly emptied the soju glass.
Clearing his throat with a couple of coughs, he ignited the engine of his hellish tongue.
“Sir, what do you believe strength is?”
“Well now.”
“Strength! It is powerful force! Mighty magic! All of those are strength. Killing numerous enemies, hunting monsters too difficult for others to handle—those are also strength!”
But here’s the thing.
“Then why is it that the word ‘strong’ is never attached to you, sir?”
Did Kim Jong-pil lack powerful force?
No. The top-grade wood spirit Vita alone was far stronger than most martial-type dealers.
Then did he lack powerful magic?
He was even more confident here. Anyone who witnessed the legion of spirits he summoned turning enemy lines into scorched earth would swallow such words.
Many enemies? Powerful monsters?
He could confidently state that there were fewer than twenty hunters in all of Korea—indeed, in the entire world—who had cleared more gates than Kim Jong-pil.
Even so.
He had not only fulfilled every condition of strength Lee Shin had listed, but had already proven far more.
Yet the image of Mountain King Kim Jong-pil remained strangely distant from the word “strong.”
Why?
Lee Shin knew the exact answer.
“It’s because you have never once been the protagonist, sir.”
“…!”
The eternal second-in-command.
That was what the community called the Mountain King.