#33 Rumors are probably spreading like wildfire, right?
Deep into the night, Kang-ho sat on the roof of his log cabin, gazing up at the sky. For once, the heavens were clear, revealing the massive full moon in all its unfiltered glory. He lifted the large vodka bottle in his hand, took a swig, and let out a long breath.
"That's strong stuff."
Nyip! Seol-a wriggled in his arms, demanding a sip for herself. Kang-ho looked down at her fondly and chuckled.
"One sip and you'd be out cold, kiddo. No way."
Gulp, gulp. As he took another pull from the bottle, the door below creaked open. Theo emerged, rubbing his bleary eyes. He scanned the surroundings before locking eyes with Kang-ho.
"Not sleeping?"
Theo silently pointed inside and shook his head.
Zzz...
"Must've been wiped out."
Having pushed his body to its limits, he'd probably crashed hard. Apparently, Kang-ho wasn't the only one kept awake by the snoring.
"Wanna join me for one?"
[Booze?]
Kang-ho could see Theo swallow hard. He nodded.
"Come on up."
Theo climbed onto the roof without a word. Kang-ho eyed him steadily. To think there were seventy-two such powerhouses in the Demon Realm alone. With that many lords worth watching, their legions must number in the unimaginable.
And that's not all...
Kang-ho's thoughts drifted to other dimensions. Surely they had their own heavy hitters. And someday, he'd uncover the truth behind those ancient demons from the past—
Daybreak, fifty years ago, had decimated the world's population. The scars lingered, unhealed even now. These days, it wouldn't be surprising if another catastrophe struck.
Kang-ho recalled what Lee Min-ah had told him.
Kang-ho closed his eyes slowly. It felt like peace at the eye of a storm.
When that peace shattered, strong Awakeners would be needed.
Gulp, gulp. Kang-ho drained more vodka from the bottle and passed it to Theo.
[Drinks like a champ.]
Theo followed suit, chugging straight from the bottle before shuddering.
[Krr-]
The bottle returned to Kang-ho.
[Anyway,]
Theo asked,
[What're you gonna do with that kid?]
"Do with him?"
From the moment he'd laid eyes on the boy, Kang-ho had thought his talent was wasted.
"Sixteen years back, Lebadon threw down an ultimatum. Any guild that took him in would face a declaration of war. Guess no one would until he hit SS-rank."
Rumor had it he was a bastard child. Kang-ho mulled it over and muttered to himself.
"Lebadon, huh..."
Lebadon Guild's master was SS-rank Awakener Wind God Kang Tae-yong. Not exactly on great terms with Kang-ho and his old comrades.
"That guy's personal life is a mess. Lebadon's run by family hierarchy. Probably something like that—speculation."
The man had skill but massive personality flaws. Even straitlaced Cheol-bae called him "Wind Retard" instead of Wind God sometimes. If that guy said it...
The next day, when King opened his eyes, daylight already streamed in.
Where...?
He blinked, then startled. Furball was rolling his eyes outside the window.
Ah.
King bolted upright.
[Awake, huh.]
"......"
Across the room, hollow-eyed Theo sat at the table. King hesitated, then clasped his hands in a bow.
"Good morning, sir."
[Like hell you slept, punk.]
Theo yawned hugely at the weird greeting.
[Get out. Over there.]
"Yes, sir!"
Stepping outside revealed a bizarre sight. Across the endless snowfield, a massive Furball bounded playfully. Chasing him—
Huff, huff—
A little fox in what looked like a Santa vest. Red and white, vest-like, screaming Christmas cheer.
Seol-a.
"......?"
Huff huff huff— Spotting Theo behind him, Seol-a switched targets and charged—
[Slowpoke.]
Her speed was glacial.
"Starting with that weight seems right."
Kang-ho emerged from the shed.
"G-good morning, boss!"
King bowed ninety degrees again, hands clasped.
"......Yeah."
This guy's character is off, Kang-ho thought, staring.
"You set up a match with Pyro?"
"Huh?"
King nodded slowly.
"Y-yeah..."
"Official? Or spar?"
"......He's demanding official."
Official meant ranking match.
"Scared of Pyro?"
"......"
King fidgeted, meeting then dodging Kang-ho's gaze.
"Heard your ties to Lebadon are messy."
King flinched, blinking wide.
"......"
He mumbled without meeting eyes.
"Did you screw up somehow?"
"......No."
Conviction burned in his eyes—anger and sorrow mixed.
"Me and Mom didn't do anything wrong."
Kang-ho nodded casually.
"Then you're good."
"Huh?"
"I said you're good."
"......Aren't you gonna ask?"
"Tell me when you feel like it. When's the ranking match?"
"A month from now."
"Tight timeline. Can't cram too much."
Kang-ho pointed across the field. An iron safe sat oddly on the snow.
"First, build base stamina. Seol-a needs it too."
"Base stamina... running again?"
"Running to start."
"Two days of it?"
"Got a way to slash that time."
Kang-ho grinned, heading to the safe with King. He pulled out two bracelets—leather-like wrist guards—and handed one to King.
King tilted his head, taking it. Then—
Thud.
He pitched forward.
"Ack?!"
The tiny bracelet weighed a ton.
"Wh-what is this...?"
"Special-made from weightstone ore. Heavy, right?"
"H-h-heavy...?"
Come to think of it, Kang-ho had held both in one hand earlier.
"Strap 'em on your ankles."
"......!"
King gulped, then nodded and fastened them.
"Ugh..."
His feather-light body suddenly glued to the earth.
"Sealing your mana for now. Cool?"
"......Yes."
He'd raced to Cheorwon hungry for growth.
"Good."
Kang-ho pressed a hand to King's chest.
Shaaaa—!
Kang-ho's mana sealed King's mana hole tight.
"Gah!"
King gasped through the pain, regaining composure as Kang-ho spoke.
"People with clear goals progress in a day. Yours: run with those on."
"......!"
King's shock melted into a grin.
"......Got it."
"And humans awaken hidden potential in crises."
"Huh...?"
"Furball!"
Krreung!
Furball charged. Up close, the Shabel Tiger's bulk sent chills through King.
"Furball. If he stops walking, chomp."
Krreung!
Furball nodded vigorously.
"Eek!"
King bolted—slowly—taking his first step.
Right. One step at a time.
Meanwhile—
Huff huff huff—
Seol-a panted up, tongue lolling like Furball's, collapsing at Kang-ho's feet. She'd aimed for Theo but settled here.
Huff huff—
She flopped over. Kang-ho laughed.
Krrreung—
Furball waddled over, grumbling sympathetically.
"Nah, Furball. No biting—just eat him if he stops."
Krreung krreung!
Furball nodded wildly.
"Hiiiik!"
King shuffled desperately.
Days passed like that. Day one, King barely walked. By day three, he managed a brisk pace.
From the window, Kang-ho smirked at the endless "Eek!" and "Krreung!" outside.
Adapting faster than expected.
He glanced back at his smartphone.
Kang-ho chuckled. The best—and worst—part of modern life was this cutting-edge network. You could chat like you were right there, even miles apart. Though nothing beat face-to-face.
Creak—
The door opened. Exhausted King stumbled in. Furball's krreung echoed outside.
"Good work, Furball. Rest up."
Krreung!
Furball nodded happily and lumbered off. Spent King slumped into a chair.
"How's it feel?"
King nodded his drained face.
"N-no biggie."
"You've got grit."
"Heh."
King grinned.
"Grit's all I've got besides my corpse."
Theo had fled to the orchard to escape the snoring. Inside: just Kang-ho, King, and Seol-a.
"Tired? Crash."
Kang-ho pulled out the vodka. King swallowed visibly. Eerily like that orchard guy.
"You want one?"
"Yes."
Vodka filled a big mug. King stared into it, then spoke.
"Rumors are probably spreading like wildfire, right?"
"Hm?"
Kang-ho paused pouring.
"About me."
"At my age, I know rumors are half lies."
"......"
King eyed him.
"Half's still truth."
He hesitated, then continued.
"You're the first to help me."
"......"
Kang-ho stared. King thought, then downed the mug like water.
"So, I'll tell you."