King of Jirisan
Even in a multi-ethnic nation, the Samhan Empire had the highest proportion of ethnic Koreans.
This was why a fundamental reverence for tigers permeated the culture.
As a result, three-headed white tigers received similar treatment.
Of course, these were just rumors, but supporting anecdotes had quietly spread far and wide.
However, the imperial family firmly classified three-headed white tigers as monsters.
They couldn't risk a monster-worship cult emerging.
They had to demonstrate it through action.
The emperor himself hunted them down in their habitats.
The legendary white tigers of myth were entirely different from these monstrous three-headed variants.
Monsters had to be killed.
He slew great numbers of them.
He nearly wiped them out.
He skinned one in prime condition and laid it across his throne.
Jirisan had its share of three-headed white tigers too.
A fair number of them.
Taeju had never encountered one.
The reason was likely the birth of an elite three-headed white tiger.
Normally, they balanced each other through territorial disputes, but now one had devoured its rivals and evolved into an elite.
'Let's meet it first.'
What would it have been like before reaching the 7th stage of Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong?
He probably wouldn't have dared approach.
Taeju shot toward the summit of Cheonwangbong Peak using Pyoholjilpungbo.
Whiiiiiish!
Amid the rush came a radio transmission.
'So they say we don't have to catch it...'
Tat-tat-tak!
Taeju finally reached the summit.
The highest point in Jirisan.
The peak was extremely narrow.
Aside from the path he'd taken, it was all sheer cliffs.
In the center, behind a stone stele inscribed with "Cheonwangbong," lurked the beast.
The king of Jirisan's monsters.
Its size?
He had to crane his neck back fully just to see its face.
Pure white fur, gray stripes, a tail as thick as a human torso, front paws thick and massive enough to crush a car with one stomp.
Most striking of all: three heads.
Six eyes in total fixed on Taeju, who had climbed right up to the stele.
The elite three-headed white tiger sat motionless.
It simply observed the tiny human boldly invading its domain with curious eyes.
Taeju stood frozen like a statue.
He didn't draw his hidden weapons or emit poison aura.
'Impressive.'
Size aside, the protective aura coating its body was as thick as plate armor.
Still, he was confident.
The blend of poison and aura.
What was there to fear?
'An elite mana crystal as a hidden weapon would make it easier.'
And poison?
He could poison it by unleashing all his poison essence through poison aura emission.
It would be a brutal fight.
If they clashed now, it wouldn't end quickly.
Might take all day.
Anyway, his conclusion:
'I can take it.'
But there was something odd.
It differed slightly from monsters he'd faced before.
Monsters usually attacked humans on sight.
This one just watched, not baring its teeth.
And a faint, eerie energy emanating from it.
'Spiritual nature?'
Definitely.
It was closer to a spirit beast than a mere monster.
'Hmm, you don't kill spirit beasts, normally.'
In the martial world, slaying spirit beasts brought heavenly punishment.
Of course, this was Earth—he didn't buy that nonsense.
Besides, this three-headed white tiger hadn't done anything wrong so far.
With its power, it could wipe out the human army below alone, yet it only issued a low growl warning others not to approach.
'Tough call.'
Meanwhile, the elite three-headed white tiger tilted its heads, eyeing the human.
A peculiar human.
It had observed countless humans entering the Jirisan jungle over time, but none gave off such a strange vibe.
Physical abilities seemed average(?), but the soul's essence was different.
A higher realm, perhaps?
Especially the sacred, awe-inspiring energy from both hands.
All three heads tilted in unison.
What was this human's true nature?
Suddenly!
Whirrr! Whiiiiiir!
A drone hovering over Cheonwangbong.
It circled the elite three-headed white tiger, observing it.
But,
"Grrr."
As if annoyed, it let out a low rumble,
Swaaaack!
Its massive tail swatted the drone from above like a flyswatter.
Kaboooom!
The summit shook like an earthquake.
A huge boulder struck by the tail split into two.
'...Insane!'
Was that really a living creature?
Dust billowed, obscuring vision.
Rock fragments scattered into the air.
Even a chunk from the shattered stele flew at Taeju.
He swatted it away casually.
It wasn't attacking him.
Just the drone.
'Tricky.'
If it attacked first, fine—but there was no hostility.
Killing it for no reason would feel off.
'Might as well say hi.'
Today wasn't the only day.
Taeju raised one hand and waved.
The elite three-headed white tiger flinched and backed up.
Why so startled?
Something in his hand?
Anyway...,
"See you next time."
Flash!
Taeju's form vanished in an instant.
※ ※ ※
The elite three-headed white tiger's roar echoed through the Jirisan jungle.
The sound originated from the summit of Cheonwangbong.
All soldiers in the operation froze in place.
Some pissed themselves.
The effect wasn't limited to humans.
The entire Jirisan fell silent, as if sealed in a soundproof room.
Flying monsters' cries ceased.
Not even insect chirps.
Silent Jirisan.
Major General Oh Jinhyeong spoke to the division commanders, half out of their minds.
"Snap out of it. All units prepare to withdraw."
"...I'll radio it now."
With the elite three-headed white tiger appeared, halting the op was inevitable.
They had missiles and rockets, but forcing a capture was unwise over a safe retreat.
And they'd culled plenty of Jirisan elites.
Enough to prevent waves for at least 3-4 years.
To Major General Hong Juntak staring longingly at Cheonwangbong, Oh Jinhyeong said,
"Juntae."
"...Y-yes?"
"Get it together and launch a drone. Let's get a look at its face before we go."
"R-right away."
Drone recon was nearly impossible in the Jirisan jungle.
The dense canopy blocked views from above, and lowering altitude meant constant collisions.
But now it was feasible.
The target was the open summit, and the roar had grounded even flying monsters.
The drone would capture it clearly.
"And share the feed with the entire Jirisan Monster Defense Legion. Possible?"
"Yes! Military smartphones are already networked."
Awakener officers and soldiers needed to know.
About this terrifying beast claiming Jirisan.
Real-world training.
Moments later.
Whirrr!
The recon drone launched.
Expensive gear.
Top-tier, able to withstand and evade flying monster attacks.
Oh Jinhyeong opened the app on his smartphone.
The dense Jirisan jungle below.
Premium quality indeed.
The feed was sharp.
Soon.
Over Cheonwangbong.
And there it was on screen.
"Whoa!"
"Gasp!"
"Wh-what!"
"The size... impossible."
The elite three-headed white tiger sat atop Cheonwangbong like a king overlooking the jungle.
The drone circled it.
Every member of the Jirisan Monster Defense Legion was likely watching.
This monstrosity.
But.
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Wh-what is that?"
"No way...,"
Something that shouldn't be there appeared.
Oh Jinhyeong urgently ordered,
"Move the drone again. Opposite side—yeah, right there."
Cheonwangbong's summit wasn't just the elite three-headed white tiger.
A coat-clad figure stood there too.
Oh Jinhyeong recognized him.
"...Ch-Chairman Kim Taeju?"
Why was he on the feed?
Definitely Chairman Kim Taeju.
Division Commanders Gu Junyoung, Park Pilseong, Hong Juntak couldn't close their gaping mouths.
The beast that paralyzed them with a single roar.
And he stood unharmed before it?
Suddenly!
Kaboooom!
A massive boom from the summit.
The screen went black.
Rocks erupted from Cheonwangbong like a volcano.
Thud-thud, rumble-rumble!
Even reaching here.
Major General Oh Jinhyeong radioed frantically.
"Chairman Kim! Kim Taeju! You alive? Respond!"
Again.
"Kim Taeju! Taeju! Hey! Hey hey!"
No reply.
"Damn...,"
An ominous feeling.
No, it was certain.
No matter how strong Kim Taeju, how do you handle a monster that immobilizes an entire unit with a roar?
"Hah!"
He didn't want to believe it.
Who was he to die so easily?
But deep down...
Oh Jinhyeong and the commanders stood stunned, speechless.
What bolt from the blue?
'Should I go rescue him?'
Going meant certain death.
Still, their bond...
"You all command your units to withdraw. I have somewhere to be."
The commanders were shocked.
"Major General! You can't mean—"
"No. You'll die for sure."
"Chairman Kim is already..."
They tried to stop him desperately.
"We need to recover the body. I dragged a healthy man into this—it's on me."
Oh Jinhyeong gripped his greatsword and headed for Cheonwangbong, resolute.
To save comrade Kim Taeju.
Or at least retrieve the body.
Bravely marching to obvious death—that noble soldier's spirit.
The mood turned solemn.
Tears welled in the commanders' eyes.
Then.
Crackle!
A sudden transmission.
"Huh?"
"Oh!"
"..."
Chairman Kim Taeju's voice.
"...What the fuck?"
Major General Oh Jinhyeong swore in embarrassment.
※ ※ ※
At the Jirisan encampment, Sancheong, Hamyang, and Namwon Units paused withdrawal prep at the legion commander's special order, checking smartphones.
Live recon feed from the Jirisan Monster Defense Legion's internal network.
Cadet officers from Hamyang Unit, soon to graduate, also watched via pre-installed apps.
They knew the drone's purpose.
The horrific roar that shook all of Jirisan.
The elite three-headed white tiger's overwhelming presence.
No one could move.
Just the sound made bodies tremble.
Kim Taecheon even wet himself a bit.
He pretended nothing happened, squatting to check his phone.
All cadets watched tensely together.
Likely to show the beast's identity for training.
Finally, the elite three-headed white tiger appeared.
"Whoa!"
"Insane!"
"How do you even hunt that?"
"It'd survive a nuke."
"Didn't they teach in history? China collapsed trying that."
The feed circled the summit.
A person was there.
Too far for a clear face, but.
"A person?"
"Optical illusion...? No, real."
"Who's that? Standing fine before the elite three-headed white tiger."
"Not in uniform, so..."
"Civilian?"
"At least master-rank."
Kim Taepyeong groaned involuntarily.
"Kim Taeju...,"
Cadets were shocked.
"For real?"
"That's Chairman Kim Taeju?"
"That guy's one of the few who knows his face best."
"Hey! Kim Taecheon! Sure? That's Chairman Kim Taeju?"
Kim Taecheon nodded dazedly.
"Y-yeah, looks like it."
And,
Flick!
Screen cut.
Kaboooom!
Massive explosion from Cheonwangbong.
Dust rose like a volcano.
"Gasp!"
"M-my god."
"This is...,"
Silence fell.
No one spoke first.
Too stunned.
Except two.
Kim Taecheon whispered shakily.
"D-did he die? For real?"
"Seems so?"
Kim Taepyeong nodded.
They couldn't hide their joy.
"He's dead! Heh heh heh. Knew it. Haha!"
Kim Taepyeong sensed the mood.
"T-Taecheon. Quiet...,"
"You saw it too, bro. Cocky bastard strutted up to the elite three-headed white tiger and got crushed."
"Shh! Pipe down."
"Why? Feels damn good."
Right then!
Wham!
A military boot flew from somewhere, smashing Kim Taecheon's face.
"You insane traitor! Even if he's family or not, laughing if your brother's in trouble? Try dying today, you piss-your-pants coward who froze at a growl!"
Jeong Yeonhui.
Thud-thud-thud!
Kim Taecheon's head slammed into the ground repeatedly.
Kim Taepyeong tried to intervene.
"Stop! Why? Anger issues?"
"What? Good, perfect timing for you too."
Whoosh!
"Gah!"
Jeong Yeonhui grabbed Kim Taepyeong's hair and smashed him down.
Bam!
"Aaaagh!"
"You laughed too, you slimy bastard!"
Wham! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Followed by kicks.
"Aaaagh!"
"S-save me."
"Go cry to mommy about me. Say my name right!"
Thud! Wham! Thud-thud!
No one stopped her.
Not even Lieutenant Colonel Do Minsu overseeing the cadets.
It was satisfying to watch the brothers get beaten, but he was busy anyway.
Phoning around to confirm facts.
Then from his direct superior.
"Ah! ...He radioed he's clocking out? Thank god. Thought he was done for. Yes, got it. Exterminate!"
Do Minsu hung up.
Of course.
Who was Chairman Kim Taeju?
Nothing happened, so stop Jeong Yeonhui cadet?
He pondered briefly, then looked away pretending not to see.
Unpleasant assault, but Geum Suhu would handle cleanup.
Thus ended the great Jirisan monster purge.
A fitting close.