Lee Ha-neul's Hidden World Ordeal
Lee Ha-neul's Hidden World Outing — (Complete)
Here at the Jirisan Yokai Hunter Office, an hour had passed since Lee Ha-neul and Miho entered the "fake Hidden World." The director sat clutching his head, deep in thought. Should I dispatch combat personnel right now…? No, that won't work. If I act rashly…
Miho had told him not to worry, that she would handle everything herself. She was a powerful spiritual beast who had already saved humanity from immense threats three times. Trusting her and waiting quietly was the obvious choice. Yet the fact that they had lost contact, combined with the knowledge that Lee Ha-neul—a human—had gone in with her, left him deeply unsettled.
Watching the director's distress, 7th-rank Kim Myeong-ho spoke up without any sense of decorum. "Aren't you worrying too much, Director?"
In Lee Han-ul's opinion, the person who should have been most concerned about Miho was this very 7th-rank Kim Myeong-ho, a severe Miho fanatic. Yet the man showed not a trace of worry as he carried out his duties in silence.
"…Why are you so calm?"
"Because it's obvious, Director."
After a moment, Kim Myeong-ho continued. "Lady Miho is a god and invincible!"
The moment he spoke, voices erupted from every corner of the office.
"Lady Miho is a god and invincible!"
"Lady Miho is a god and invincible!"
"Lady Miho is a god and invincibleeeee!"
The director pressed a hand to his forehead at the absurd spectacle. Forget charm or persuasion—the entire Jirisan Yokai Hunter Office staff had clearly lost their minds over Miho. Once someone had their life saved by her, the worship that followed was beyond any director's ability to suppress.
A sudden chill ran down his spine. Now that Miho's existence had been made public, if more and more people owed her their lives… could a new religion called "Mihoism" actually form? And the obvious leader of that cult would be none other than this idiot, 7th-rank Kim Myeong-ho.
The director gave his order. "…You. Stay away from Miho for the time being."
* * *
Surprisingly, Sangun did not scold me harshly. He simply gazed at me in silence. Even that small gesture was enough to make me shrink. I glanced at him, wondering if he was angry, but it seemed he was not. The others received the same steady look. Depo and Mangtae Grandfather had also come to pay their respects, and Sangun slowly surveyed everyone present before finally speaking.
[Spiritual beast.] He looked at me.
[Yokai.] He looked at Depo and Mangtae Grandfather.
[Human.] Finally, his gaze settled on Lee Ha-neul. Then he continued.
[I am but a passive observer.]
[Yet even I could not foresee a future in which three different races would unite as one.]
He turned his head toward me with deliberate weight.
[Child.]
[This is the result of the benevolence and righteousness you have gathered.]
[A form of destiny that has never existed before and will never exist again.]
[A new fate you have woven.]
"Ah… yes. Well." I felt awkward. I had no idea what grand thing I had supposedly done to warrant such lofty words. As if reading my thoughts, Sangun smiled kindly and went on.
[Child.]
[As a single fox spiritual beast, you have achieved something worthy of pride.]
[It is all right to feel a measure of pride.]
[Arrogance is unbecoming, but a certain degree of confidence will serve you well on the path ahead.]
[Remember this.]
"Yes, yes. Sure." Embarrassed, I gave a vague reply.
Depo, who had been listening quietly, suddenly poked his head out from my chest and asked Sangun, "Sangun, do we have to fight?"
[…]
"We're fighting the dokkaebi, right? Huh? Exactly? Squeak, I hit the mark, didn't I?"
[…I will not deny it.]
Sangun had apparently been preparing for war against the dokkaebi for a very long time. That was why he had created the Jirisan Hidden World in the first place, and why so many powerful yokai resided here. In other words, the yokai of the Hidden World—including Depo and Mangtae Grandfather—were his army, raised to stand against the dokkaebi.
Sangun could not meet their eyes. He felt guilty toward them. I had worried the yokai might rebel, but my fears proved unfounded.
"Heh heh heh, sounds fun."
"Finally I get to show Miho what I can do! Watch closely, Miho!"
Sangun was an absolute ruler who commanded the yokai's unwavering loyalty. Their way of thinking was simply different from humans'. They were excited.
[However, the time is not yet right. Wait for the proper moment.]
Sangun told Depo and Mangtae Grandfather to withdraw. It seemed he had something to discuss with Lee Ha-neul and me alone…
[You as well. Withdraw.]
"…Huh?"
[I said withdraw.]
"Ah. Me too?"
[…]
"Y-yes, sir." I had not expected to be dismissed as well. I glanced at Lee Ha-neul. Her expression clearly said, You're leaving me alone with him?! After meeting Sangun, she had been so overwhelmed by his immense presence that she could barely lift her head. It was no wonder she looked terrified at the thought of being left behind.
…Still, sorry. There was nothing I could do. Sangun was not going to eat her.
* * *
Crunch. Crunch. Nom nom. Nom nom nom.
I shoveled dog food and dog treats into my mouth at the same time. Eating them together doubled the flavor. Because I was wolfing everything down so greedily, crumbs spilled down my front. Fortunately, none of them slipped into my cleavage to cause an itchy disaster—because Depo was currently nestled in my chest.
The crumbs landed directly on him, and he let out a shriek. "Squeak, squeak, squeeeak! Ugh, the smell!"
"What smell?"
"It stinks! How can you eat this garbage, Miho…?!"
"It doesn't stink at all. It's delicious."
"Disgusting."
"If you don't like it, get out."
"No."
Even though I had deliberately stayed in my seven-tailed form out of consideration for him, his constant complaining suggested he was full. A full day had passed since our audience with Sangun. Yes, a day—not an hour. Lee Ha-neul still had not emerged from Sangun's domain. Of course, we had already contacted the Yokai Hunter Office to let them know.
The reason Sangun was keeping her was probably… a power-up. Sangun had once served the King of Yuldo, the very first force master, so he would know everything about Force Arts. He was likely spending time enhancing Lee Ha-neul's abilities. Or perhaps strengthening the goblin club she carried.
If it had been any other yokai of the Hidden World, I would have been anxious. But this was Sangun, the ruler of the Hidden World himself. I felt no need to worry. The fact that I was casually munching on dog food and chatting with Depo proved how relaxed I was. If anything, I was looking forward to seeing what kind of new form she would emerge in. Maybe she would come out as a super force master with bleached-blonde hair.
"I'm back…"
Ah, speak of the tiger! …Well, not literally. Sangun had not come to my den. Lee Ha-neul had returned.
She trudged toward me with slumped shoulders and collapsed onto the bed. "I almost died…"
So it had been hellish training. I asked her directly, "Did you at least get a proper power-up?"
"No…"
"Huh? Didn't he teach you Force Arts?"
"No…"
"Oh, so he strengthened the goblin club. Right?"
"No…"
"Then did he teach you some ultimate technique the King of Yuldo used—"
"No, no, no!"
After denying everything, Lee Ha-neul answered in a voice that sounded half-dead. "He just gave me twenty-four hours of mental education… It wasn't Force Arts training at all…"
"…"
"I didn't even understand more than half of it. He talks way too complicated! And after exactly twenty-four hours, he just told me to leave. Said I have to pave my own path from now on… Ugh, so annoying!"
"…"
I could somewhat understand her frustration. Sangun's cryptic way of speaking gave people headaches. Still, I did not believe he had kept her for no reason. Surely he had not held her for twenty-four hours just to brainwash her. It had to have been a power-up of some kind.
"It was harder than the survival training I did with my master. I'm starving… Miho, give me something to eat."
"Here you go."
I handed her the "food."
"…You're messing with me, right?"
"Why?"
"I asked for food! Real food!"
"I only raise people on dog treats and dog food."
"…"
"Try it. It's surprisingly good, honestly."
She must have been truly starving, because she stared at the dog treat and swallowed hard. Then, with great determination, she took a bite.
"Gweeeeeegh, this is deathly disgusting!"