#15 I'll Personally Escort You
Bukhansan, midway up the mountain. They entered a massive tiled-roof house. It was enormous, yet far from opulent—a place of quiet, monochromatic neatness, focused squarely on practicality. It perfectly reflected the temperament of Park Jun-woo, known as the Sword God.
Inside was a vast training hall, impeccably clean. Not a single item for show or luxury anywhere—it was striking in its absence.
The scenery of Bukhansan hadn't changed much from before, but the mountain's structure had shifted dramatically. Kang-ho couldn't help but gaze around in genuine admiration.
"You use the whole mountain?"
Park Jun-woo, codename Sword God, nodded with arms crossed.
"Yeah. This is our main base now."
He was currently the guild master of the Sword God Sword Ghost Guild. Formerly the leader of Baekya Guild, one of the old Big 3, he'd retired from that role to focus on training the next generation here.
The guild had fewer members than expected—around 300. Its structure was quite unique.
Hah!
Down below, on a wide open field, people gripped their swords, immersed in training.
Hah! Hah! They shouted in unison, swinging and slashing.
Once trainees under his command proved themselves, they became formal disciples under direct guidance.
"It's grown quite a bit."
"We even produce rankers every year now."
He said it proudly, glancing at the Bow God beside him. Kim Ho-young, the Bow God, just scowled.
"By the way, he didn't produce any last year."
"Damn old man, you talk too much! But two years ago, we had more!"
Kang-ho chuckled at the two men bickering as always.
"You guys haven't changed."
He knew them well. They'd always squabbled like this whenever they had the chance. Alone, they fought like kids; in front of disciples, they were stern, great masters. Few people remained who could see them so unguarded. To Kang-ho, it was a welcome, nostalgic sight.
He looked down below. Raising disciples. These two heroes had stepped back, now walking the path of mentorship.
The current consensus on abilities was that they were basically "awakenings tied to innate talent." If someone did nothing, the most suitable talent among countless abilities would awaken naturally. Talent grew through effort. Even those without abilities could train with swords and awaken powers as a result.
But.
Kang-ho had yet to see anyone else with Beast Master besides himself. Staring openly, he murmured with a smile he couldn't suppress.
"Nice."
* * *
Nng! Seol-a flipped in the air once.
"Whoa!"
"Ooh!"
The two old men's reactions pleased her. Blinking, she watched them, then stepped back two paces. Then she did two flips.
"Wow!"
"So cute!"
That reaction satisfied her too. With a content face, Seol-a trotted lightly, exploring the huge room. She sniffed around—sniff sniff—and bounded here and there.
"More lively than Seolhwa. Seems sociable too."
Kang-ho nodded at Park Jun-woo's words.
"Total opposites in personality. There are similarities, but..."
"Last time we saw you was when Furball was that small?"
"Yeah. Furball was tiny back then too."
"Cheol-bae said he's house-sized now?"
"Grew huge."
"Anyway, good for you. Sword bro, I'm hungry—what's for food?"
"Coming right up!"
Park Jun-woo shouted out the door, and a large tray entered the room. Piled high with food that could bend the table legs.
"When our old friend graces Bukhansan in person, how could I just sit by?"
Seol-a's eyes widened round. She dashed to Kang-ho and stared into his eyes.
'Give me some too?'
He read her intent easily.
* * *
"Where's Min-ah?"
"She said she's busy—just said hi and left. Coming next time."
Park Jun-woo nodded at Kang-ho's words.
"She's swamped these days. Awakener Association President and all. How many Awakeners are there now?"
"Anyway, living out in the sticks—you eating okay?"
"Old man, look at Kang-ho—no wrinkles on that forehead. Looks healthier."
"Meanwhile, you, Bow bro—more wrinkles means life's rough?"
"My goal's outliving you by one day, Sword bro."
"Lifespan a big deal? Modern magic stone tech can't fix baldness, Bow bro. You're in trouble."
"You bastard?"
Kang-ho laughed heartily, listening to his friends' long-lost banter. They tilted glasses, enjoying daytime drinks and chit-chat. It felt like lingering in some past day. The war era. Amid that hell, simple joys like sharing a bottle of soju scavenged from a ruined convenience store.
"Sword bro, got soju? Fancy stuff doesn't suit my taste."
"Like I'd run out? Cheap palate's my taste too."
"Why's Cheol-bae into the expensive ones?"
"Rich kid originally. Only someone who's tried it says that."
Soju bottles piled up, conversation endless. Kang-ho chimed in, bursting into laughter. Around then, the pleasant morning passed.
Nng! Seol-a finished her jerky, poking Kang-ho's stomach.
He offered another piece, then spoke slowly.
"A while back. Felt magi from a new gate in Cheorwon."
"There too."
Sword God Park Jun-woo gave a wry smile.
"Heard from Cheol-bae. Top secret, but China's seeing them too."
Kim Ho-young downed his soju and added,
"One disciple got scouted to a Chinese guild—in Beijing."
"No magi people found yet?"
"Not yet."
Park Jun-woo replied; Kim Ho-young nodded. No magi people meant no big issue yet. But dungeons with young magi shared eerie, unseen landscapes.
"Probably a new otherworld."
Kim Ho-young nodded silently at Park Jun-woo's words.
Kang-ho stroked Seol-a's head gravely.
"A world full of magi... Hard to imagine."
"No clue yet. Just hope nothing comes of it."
A cold January wind slipped through the cracked door. No one there would call it chilly, but it felt somehow cold.
"Top secret, but Big 3 guilds got official notice. New dungeon outbreaks... and warrants for possible magi people. Better if nothing happens."
Park Jun-woo wryly smiled. Kim Ho-young stared out the window.
"Good to prepare anyway."
Silence followed.
"So, what's up? Coming to Seoul after ages. Showing off the kid?"
Park Jun-woo grinned, his forehead wrinkles endearing.
"Yeah, partly. Need stuff to raise her—came to shop."
"I gathered a bunch for you, Sword bro. Take it all—empty the warehouse."
"True."
Park Jun-woo agreed for once.
"Speaking of—let's hit the warehouse."
* * *
They entered the warehouse beside the tiled house. More like a hall—over 100 pyeong. One side held weapons: swords, spears, blades. Past them to the herb storage.
"Big warehouse."
"Lots of family."
Herbs and monster byproducts sorted by rank.
"Valuables in vaults or bank storage. But yours—I had it ready."
As Park Jun-woo said, items neatly placed before the herb storage.
"Take what you need."
"Thanks."
Kang-ho smiled, eyeing them. First, a man-sized ginseng-like herb.
'Silver Ginseng.'
About 50 cm including root. Grows only in temperate climates—useless for humans. For monsters, it cured minor ailments, boosted immunity, resisted status effects. That size? Potent.
Next, finger-thick, leek-length vegetable.
'Moon Leek.'
Grows only in sunny spots under moonlight. Boosts mana for yin monsters. White Fangs were yin-aligned. Twenty total.
"Lots of Moon Leeks. Rare stuff."
Kang-ho murmured admiringly. Park Jun-woo nodded, arms crossed.
"Grows plenty on Bukhansan."
Next, and next. Diverse ingredients, seasonal rarities. Bag filled quickly.
"Can I really take these?"
Park Jun-woo waved it off.
"Nah. On market, just for rich kids' pet monsters."
Monster herbs/fruits had demand. Not fairy stone level, but "money can buy" tier—popular for pet rearing. Safe breeds (non-disaster) as pets was the trend. Common in cities now. Combat? Weaker than disaster types—purely pets.
Kang-ho nodded.
"I'll repay this favor."
"Don't. Visit often."
"..."
"Visiting is repaying."
He got it. Kang-ho nodded.
"Will do."
Kim Ho-young, watching silently, rummaged his pocket, shoved something into Kang-ho's, then coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem. Check at home."
Like doting on a son home from afar. Kang-ho felt touched, looking at his friends. Nodded.
"Yeah. Thanks."
Shouldering the bag, he called Seol-a, who'd been curiously exploring.
"Seol-a."
Nng! She hopped onto his shoulder.
"Seeing you guys after so long—looks good. Nostalgic. Still close."
Park Jun-woo and Kim Ho-young eyed each other.
"Us?"
"Where?"
Kang-ho smirked; they shook heads.
"See you. Coming back."
"Do that."
Soon, Kang-ho left. The old rivals and heroes, Sword God and Bow God, slowly exited the gate, looking down.
Kang-ho walked down the mountain. Suddenly, Kim Ho-young spoke.
"We're the grateful ones."
"...Yeah."
This nation owed Choi Kang-ho big. They did too.
"Back then, 30 years ago. That Incheon magi person—worst ever?"
"So they say."
Without stopping it, no peace now. He handled it alone.
Sky clear today. Cloudless, mild for winter. On Kang-ho's shoulder below, Seol-a turned, staring up.
"Just like Seolhwa."
"Spitting image."
They waved; she nodded once, then whip! turned away.
Park Jun-woo burst laughing heartily.
"Just like her."
"Right."
The two men silently watched. Old friend reunited, tangled with unfolding mysteries.
"Sword bro, another soju?"
Park Jun-woo nodded at Kim Ho-young.
"Yeah."
. . . . . .
[Seoul Bank]
Kang-ho visited the bank after ages. He pulled out the SS-rank Awakener certificate from the Thunderbird chicken farm. The teller gawked, shocked. Soon, the branch manager rushed over.
The manager wiped sweat from his brow, bowing at ninety degrees.
"C-C-Customer Choi Kang-ho! Th-thank you for visiting our branch after so long. Right to the VVIP room!"
Kang-ho shrugged.
"Sure."
Soon, in the third-floor VVIP room, he spoke slowly.
"Want to withdraw some magic stones."
"Y-yes, of course. Any amount."
The manager bowed, standing.
"To the private vault. I'll personally escort you."