#14 Long Time No See, Everyone.
Five tails.
'So that's what they mean by tails increasing.'
He'd raised White Fangs before. For twenty years, he'd roamed the Earth alongside Seolhwa. But this was a change Seolhwa had never shown, so it had to be something unique to Silver White Fangs.
Kang-ho gazed down at Seol-a, who was pondering the best way to curl up as comfortably as possible in his arms. She rubbed her butt against him, burrowing deep into his embrace before cleverly wrapping her tail around toward her belly. Then, hugging it tight with all four paws, she tucked in her chin.
This little one would surely grow bigger and bigger. Someday, she'd be as massive as Seolhwa had been, racing joyfully across the snowy plains.
He closed his eyes, imagining it for a moment. Then he opened them and tickled the still-tiny Seol-a's back.
[That was probably around the time the Corpse Dragon appeared in the northern part of Toonworld, right? It was insane. If it hadn't been for you, the Silver White Fang who showed up with the White Fangs, Toonworld would've been done for!]
"Corpse Dragon?"
[A dragon born from corpses—that's what everyone called it! It was so huge. I'd never seen anything that big in my life. Bigger than a mountain!]
In any case, she'd saved them from utter doom. No wonder they'd developed such faith.
Kang-ho glanced at the raptors huddled together in the corner, trembling faintly. He beckoned with a hand, and they scampered over, lining up before him. No matter how he looked at them, they just seemed like raw chicken—and a sudden thought popped into his head.
"Wonder if they'd taste good grilled."
The raptors jolted in shock, letting out panicked cries—eek! Chkchkcheeeek! Chwee!
Kang-ho chuckled and turned to Johanna.
"Since I've brought them here anyway, train 'em up and put 'em to good use."
[Thank you so much, Absolute One!]
Johanna bowed deeply toward Kang-ho.
* * *
Kang-ho left the orchard and stopped by the barn. Preparations for winter were long finished. But raising Seol-a as a combat beast gave him pause, so he hadn't made any specific provisions for that.
Combat beasts. In the past, he'd contracted with quite a few. He could bond with up to five at once—and thirty years ago, he'd lost them all. The despair as each ring on his fingers vanished one by one... it was pure agony. Companions and friends he'd shared bonds, sweat, and blood with.
After Seolhwa fell last, he'd sworn never to contract another beast. How long had he holed up in those remote Cheorwon mountains when he met Furball?
Standing outside the orchard, Kang-ho smiled at the panting Furball.
Krreung, krreung!
Furball blinked up at him, clearly demanding a peek at Seol-a in his arms. Seol-a cracked one eye open from her cozy spot and stared at him for a long moment before snap! turning her head away.
Krreung...
Furball's face fell in huge disappointment. Kang-ho burst out laughing, and Furball slumped even more, shoulders drooping.
"You gotta get along with Furball, okay?"
Seol-a turned back at Kang-ho's words. Then she lick! swiped her tongue across Furball's expectant nose. And snap! turned away again. Pure fox behavior.
Krrreung!
But that seemed enough for him—Furball's shoulders perked right back up.
Kang-ho suddenly looked up at the sky.
"Come to think of it, it's that time of year again, huh, Furball?"
Krreung—
Furball followed his gaze upward, then nodded at Kang-ho.
"Go on ahead. I've got business in the city soon anyway. Take your time—no rush."
Furball bobbed his head vigorously in understanding. Kang-ho stifled a laugh, carefully covering Seol-a's ears with his hands before speaking to Furball.
"You know it, right, Furball? You're the best. So reliable, my number one. I don't know how I'd have survived without my firstborn Furball."
Krreung!
Furball practically leaped for joy, springing into the air with a whoosh before landing and nodding firmly at Kang-ho.
"C'mere."
Furball stuck out his tongue and lick! washed Kang-ho's face.
"Yeah, yeah. Have a good trip."
With a wiggle of his haunches, Furball vanished into the distance.
Beasts were intelligent creatures too. Based on past experience, Furball probably felt like Seol-a was stealing his love. Kang-ho headed into the cabin's barn and pulled out rations for the day: three Mosduck eggs and a slab of Mosduck breast meat.
Time to tend to the second child.
Nng!
The moment they got home, Seol-a bolted straight for the bed, burrowing into the brown sweater. She loved anything soft and fluffy. Back when Furball was little, he'd burrow into snowdrifts. He loved rolling in dirt piles too—Kang-ho still remembered dragging him down the slope, tumbling head over heels, then bathing the muddy mess.
'He was cute as a pup too.'
Lost in such thoughts, he watched her nuzzle and burrow into the sweater for a good while before firing up the frying pan. He scrambled the eggs and grilled the breast meat to perfection. Texture and flavor like eggs and chicken breast, just a tad chewier—which was intentional. Seol-a's teeth were growing fast.
'Perfect for building bite strength.'
Good nutrition and taste—he decided on this menu for the foreseeable future.
Chomp chomp chomp—
The plate had barely hit the table before Seol-a devoured it. Growing White Fangs ate their body weight daily. Eat big, grow big—that was eternal truth.
Kang-ho brushed out the fur she'd fluffed up rubbing against the sweater.
'What'll she need?'
Raising combat beasts started with feeding. Plenty available in the mountains, but some things required the city.
Once Seol-a finished and started nodding off, Kang-ho tucked her in and jotted down a shopping list. The day faded away.
The next morning.
Bzzz— bzzz—
Kang-ho woke to his smartphone's alerts, checked the messages, and let out a hollow chuckle.
[First Clash Ends in Draw!]
[Sword God vs Bow God: Round 2!]
Bukhansan Mountain. The main gate was packed to the brim.
Not just crowds from all directions—broadcast cameras everywhere too.
"We're here at Bukhansan—Bukhansan Mountain!"
Reporters thrust mics everywhere for live coverage.
"This is the Sword God vs Bow God ranking brawl site!"
Plenty wielded selfie sticks for personal streams. Ironically, the vibe was pure festival.
Crowds drew vendors, locals, and gamblers betting on the fight.
Dead center in that massive throng, two groups faced off.
Hundreds strong each, locked in tense standoff.
The left group all wielded swords. Etched on their sheaths: Sword God Sword Ghost.
The Sword God Sword Ghost Guild, based on Bukhansan. Not BIG 3, but elite few producing top sword-wielders regularly—a famed guild.
Leading them: an elderly man with flowing white hair tied back tight, face etched with resolve. Five swords at his waist.
One of the old Five Heroes: Park Jun-woo, codename Sword God. Public knowledge he'd once masterminded BIG 3's Baekya Guild.
Opposing them: similar garb, but with bows. Bow God Bow Ghost.
Their leader: another elder, short white hair, simple recurve bow—no quiver or arrows in sight.
Kim Ho-young, the Bow God, naturally.
The famed Sword God vs Bow God ranking brawl.
Common enough, but World Ranks 20 and 21 flipping spots made great spectacle. Bukhansan commerce boomed every time.
Endless rivals, swapping 20th and 21st.
Tension thick as thieves in the standoff.
"Make way, coming through!"
A woman with blazing red hair raised her hand, shouting.
"Huh? It's Flame!"
"Where? Where?"
Onlookers scanned for the voice, soon spotting a young woman in her early twenties.
"Flame!"
"Love you, Fire Witch!"
"Just one glance here!"
Beauty that set men's hearts racing. One of the old Five Heroes: Lee Min-ah, codename Flame.
She hated the image, but her popularity was top-tier.
Flame pushed through to stand between Sword God and Bow God, sighing deeply.
"Brothers, how long you gonna keep this up? Not sick of it yet?"
The long-haired Sword God replied gravely.
"One hand never retreats!"
"Damn senile old fart."
Bow God mocked, imitating his serious face.
"One hand never retreats? More like one hand turns you into a cripple."
"This bastard's really pissing me off now?"
Flame shook her head between them, face fallen.
Korean proverbs lied. "Habits at three last till eighty," right? These two would never change.
Flame sighed and declared:
"This match counts as an official ranking bout. Guarantor: codename Flame, Lee Min-ah!"
Just then—
'Huh?'
Flame sensed something plummeting from high in the clouds.
She glanced up. A black silhouette shaaa! sliced down, ghosting into the crowd unnoticed.
'What?'
She scanned the masses. Amid the sea of people, a familiar mana pulse.
Staring intently—
There. A very familiar face amid the crowd.
Mid-twenties young man, but a missed visage.
Their eyes met. He gave an awkward smile first.
She beamed, nodding. Then whip! turned away.
"Brothers."
"Yeah!"
"What!"
"Kang-ho bro's here."
"Huh?"
"What'd you say?"
Sword God and Bow God whipped around simultaneously. They'd sensed his mana amid the throng like ghosts themselves, locking eyes.
"Still gonna fight like kids?"
At Flame's words, the heroes glared... then shook their heads.
"We'll settle this duel another day."
"Yeah, let's."
The crowd steamed in frustration.
"Ranking brawl's busted today!"
"Aw, man."
People grumbled and dispersed. Such frequent farces scattered fast.
As the masses thinned, Kang-ho stood firm. Only when most were gone did he grin and speak.
"Long time no see, everyone."