#2 You Must Have Been Quite Surprised
Quite the simple setup.
The rough-hewn table made from raw log pillars caught the eye first, along with chairs crudely fashioned from processed wood. The kitchen held just one cup, two bowls, a kettle, and a single set of spoon and chopsticks. Beyond that, the place was so empty it felt barren.
Daeyoung stared openly at the man called Choi Kang-ho. He calmly lit the burner embedded with a fingernail-sized magic stone, set the kettle on top, scratched his head vigorously, and let out a massive yawn.
He looked so unassuming. Daeyoung had seen plenty of Awakeners over the years—executives from Korea's three major guilds, top rankers who could leap tall buildings in a single bound. They all carried a certain aura. But this man? Nothing like that.
"Eaten yet?"
"Pardon?"
"Food."
"Oh, food. Uh, n-not yet, sir."
Daeyoung startled and answered.
"Want some?"
"Pardon?"
"You hard of hearing?"
"N-no, sir!"
Kang-ho shrugged and placed a frying pan on another burner.
"Eat up. As you can see, I don't have much to offer."
He sloshed some oil in roughly, then pulled an unidentified egg from the fridge.
Sizzle-crackle!
As the mystery egg fry began to take shape, he mixed instant coffee into a cup and poured hot water over it. Bringing the pan straight to the table, he followed with two cups of coffee.
"Th-thank you, sir."
Daeyoung took the chopsticks Kang-ho offered again, glancing nervously. The man seemed utterly uninterested in him, sipping his coffee while gazing out the window.
Daeyoung picked up a bite of the fry with his chopsticks.
'Huh?'
It was delicious. Far richer and nuttier than any egg, filling his mouth with flavor. Caught off guard, Daeyoung blinked and turned to Kang-ho.
"It's... really good."
"Told ya. Moss duck eggs are always tasty."
"Ack!"
"Most folks don't know."
Kang-ho grinned and turned back to the window. Daeyoung's appetite suddenly vanished; he gripped his own coffee cup. Silence fell.
The man before him seemed perfectly at home in the quiet.
-If you're working at the Disaster Management Bureau, you'll probably visit him the most. No one knows more about monsters than he does.
That's what he'd heard when he mentioned heading to meet Choi Kang-ho. Plus, he needed the man's input on the new monsters popping up in the southern dispute zones lately. A smartphone or SNS would've made this way easier in modern times, but...
"Um..."
But one burning question couldn't be ignored. Daeyoung cautiously spoke up.
"Sir, may I ask something?"
"Shoot."
"Just... curious. Why do you live out here?"
"Why?"
This was the northern dispute zone. Monsters still lurked, the ecosystem frozen since Daybreak 49 years ago. No civilization, no science, no magic tech. And Cheorwon? Infamously brutal winters since ancient times. The worst place to live.
Kang-ho shrugged.
"Waiting for something."
"Waiting?"
"Yeah."
Choi Kang-ho. The hero from the past had vanished 29 years ago, right after the Great War ended following Daybreak. New Year would mark exactly 30 years. Unlike others, scant records of his movements remained. No SNS account, obviously. These days, history faded fast. While fellow heroes became Awakener Association presidents or guild masters shaping modern Korea, he'd just lived quietly.
Daeyoung blinked, then murmured softly.
"And... I only know from textbooks, but..."
"Yeah?"
"You had a monster partner during the war. Nothing like today's A-rank disaster breeds... an SS-rank Fantasy Beast, one of the rarest."
His partner in the impossible feat of defending Incheon. Kang-ho turned to look at Daeyoung.
"Yeah. Not keen on talking about it."
"Ah..."
A bitter shadow crossed his face. Daeyoung realized his mistake and bowed his head.
"Sorry, sir."
He knew that partner, who'd racked up countless feats till the war's end, had died. He'd killed the mood—his heart raced anxiously.
"Don't sweat it."
Another long silence stretched. Then, abruptly:
"Already 2069, huh."
"Turning 2070 soon."
"Your predecessor?"
"Ah, retired."
"Good kid."
"......"
"How old?"
"Twenty-six."
"Young. Must be sharp."
Daeyoung scratched his head, embarrassed by the praise.
"Thoughts on being the new officer?"
"Pardon?"
Daeyoung blinked. Pondering his answer, he spoke slowly.
"Well, I'll do my utmost to resolve citizens' disasters... prevent causes in advance... throw myself in if needed... ensure downtown safety..."
Kang-ho chuckled.
"You'll make a fine officer."
"Y-you flatter me."
"Still, arm yourself first. Avoid throwing your body into danger. Stay uninjured, retire old and gray."
"......"
"Feels like death? Run like hell."
Kang-ho grinned and extended his right hand. Daeyoung shook it in a daze.
"Hope we don't meet often."
Not seeing him much meant no big incidents. Understanding, Daeyoung nodded slowly.
"Yeah."
Time for business. Daeyoung steeled himself.
"Actually, sir... there's a problem."
Kang-ho tilted his head slightly.
"Problem?"
"Yes."
Daeyoung pulled out his smartphone and tapped a saved video file. Ruined buildings amid a feral urban landscape.
Kang-ho watched the half-collapsed apartments and asked,
"Daegu or Busan area?"
"Yes. Near Daegu and Busan, classified as southern dispute zones."
"Got it."
Monsters prowled the streets. Kang-ho stared, then crossed his arms.
"As you see..."
Daeyoung continued carefully.
"New species."
"Yep."
"First new monsters since the Great War."
Kang-ho nodded.
"Gate generation frequency's spiked lately too. Reports of increased monster aggression."
"Hmm..."
Daeyoung gauged his reaction, then offered the phone.
"I'll leave this here."
Kang-ho nodded silently. He replayed the video repeatedly, lost in thought.
Moments later, Daeyoung set down his cup and stood, bowing deeply.
"An honor to meet you. Sorry for any offenses today."
"Honor my ass. You juniors suffer visiting an old coot every time."
Daeyoung stepped out of the log cabin. Instinctively, he scanned warily. No Thunderbirds or moss ducks swarming like before? He feared it unconsciously.
Kang-ho glanced around and whistled.
Whieeek!
Rumble-rumble-ruuuuumble!
The ground quivered faintly. From afar, a white mass charged.
"Hiiiik!"
Daeyoung yelped and hid behind Kang-ho.
The white beast skidded to a halt before Kang-ho. Tiger-like, but its fluffy fur evoked a giant yarn ball. Deep ruby eyes gleamed. Claws sharp, size matching the house.
"Sh-Shabel Tiger!"
An A-rank disaster breed. Fangs that shredded flesh on graze, leaping ten stories effortlessly with brute strength. But this one felt... different. More majestic than any Daeyoung had seen. Immense, almost mystical for a monster.
'Th-this is the Beast King's power...'
Rumors of drawing out monsters' limits, inducing transcendent growth. Seeing it firsthand hit different.
'Not A-rank disaster... feels like S-rank.'
The might of his ability, Beast Master, clear.
"He'll see you off."
Kang-ho reached out. Astonishingly, the Shabel Tiger bowed to accept his touch, rumbling contentedly—grrrumble, grrrumble.
"Uh, wha..."
The tiger approached the backing Daeyoung, flattened to the ground, eyes urging him on.
"Name's Furball."
"Haha... y-you mean ride... this...?"
Daeyoung laughed awkwardly at Kang-ho's words.
"Hop on."
Oddly compelling tone. Obeying calmed his mind magically. Fear of the monster evaporated. Cautiously, he mounted.
"See ya."
"Uh, uh, g-goodbye—aaahhh!"
Vroooom—whoosh!
The Shabel Tiger bolted. Scenery blurred, hair spiked wildly. Its massive frame moved feather-light, no footprints left.
Vroooom—whoosh!
Suddenly—grrrrowl.
It halted at the border, flattened again, eyes expectant.
"Uh... th-thanks...?"
Grrrowl!
The tiger rose, licked Daeyoung's face—scratchy yet soft tongue. Daeyoung shuddered.
Grrrowl grrrowl grrrowl!
It laughed, spun, and dashed away.
"......"
Daeyoung stood dazed at the Cheorwon border. A guarding Awakener grinned.
"Everyone's like that at first. You must have been quite surprised."
"......"
"We were shocked too, but now it's just how it is."