Ilbaek, Ibaek, Sambak
Taehong Bio's Gurye headquarters.
In the conference room, Kim Taeju was joined by Baek Hongpyo, Baek Seoyeonn, Jang Suncheol, Baek Changhoon, and two others—a group of five.
"Good work out there, Taeju."
"You must've had it rough too, hyungnim."
"Hahaha, me? I've just been playing around with the kids every day."
He said that, but Taeju knew full well how much effort Baek Hongpyo poured into running the orphanage.
"M-Master! I've missed you."
"Heh heh, I tried heading up to New Seoul a few times myself."
It had been ages since he'd seen Baek Changhoon and Jang Suncheol.
"Yeah, looks like you two haven't been slacking off either. You've grown a lot."
At Taeju's praise, Baek Changhoon and Jang Suncheol beamed with pride.
He could tell just by looking.
Their progress in the Five Elements Divine Art.
Then Baek Seoyeonn chimed in.
"Um, that cat the chairman brought along..."
"Ah, this guy?"
"Can I pet him? He's so cute."
"Go right ahead."
As Baek Seoyeonn stroked its head, the cat purred, licking its front paw.
"Nyaaang."
Jang Suncheol and Baek Hongpyo took interest too.
Everyone except Baek Changhoon.
"Hohoho, what a good boy. He seems to like people."
"Doesn't look like a mana beast."
"Right, cats that aren't mana beasts are pretty rare."
"Lemme pet him too. Oh! He's adorable."
"I hate cats."
In truth, it was the elite three-headed white tiger.
They'd spent the morning together before bringing it to the office.
At first, Taeju thought it was just a kitten of that elite three-headed white tiger.
But when he casually asked, 'Can you return to your original form?' and it started growing, he hurriedly stopped it.
It was the one, alright.
No idea if it always had this ability or if it came from devouring three Immortal Peaches, but it could shapeshift into a small, ordinary cat.
"Is this your pet, Chairman?"
"Something like that."
"What's its name?"
"Lemme see... Ilbaek. Yeah, Ilbaek."
"Ilbaek? Hmm, kinda... unique."
Right now, it was Ilbaek.
Taeju placed a pre-prepared bag on the conference table.
From inside, he pulled out a small bottle of liquor, five glasses, a large plate, and a single peach slightly smaller than a soccer ball.
"Isn't that booze? In the middle of the day?"
"Whoa! A peach. But why's it so huge?"
Taeju set a glass in front of each person.
"We pulled off the New Seoul expansion. Time for a little celebration, right?"
"C'mon, Taeju. This is way too modest for a party."
"Master! Let me take you all to an awesome spot. There's this killer restaurant inside the Castle. We could..."
Glug glug glug!
Golden liquid poured from the bottle.
A fantastical aroma filled the conference room.
"...Huh?"
"Oh?"
"Whoa!"
"Mmm."
Immortal Liquor.
He'd decanted some from the jar into a glass bottle.
About a fifth of the total amount?
For a modest party.
If you put a monetary value on even one glass of this liquor... a hundred million? No, a billion wouldn't buy it. He wouldn't sell.
After pouring, he sliced the Immortal Peach into bite-sized pieces using the Divine Spirit Flying Sword.
Even one was so massive it piled high on the plate.
"Uwaaah..."
"G-Good lord! What kind of peach smells like this?"
"The liquor's one thing, but this peach..."
"Is this really a peach?"
It was a peach, alright.
An Immortal Peach, the kind immortals ate.
"Cheers, everyone!"
They pressed their noses to the glasses, savoring the scent before downing it in one go.
Taeju took a sip too.
Silence fell.
No one spoke.
As if speaking would scatter the aroma—they just closed their eyes tight and clamped their lips shut.
For a good long while.
"Nyaaong?"
Ilbaek leaped onto Taeju's lap.
"No booze for you. Have some jerky instead of peach."
"Nyaaang!"
This one didn't just eat Immortal Peaches.
It scarfed down cat food too.
Though it got the runs if it overdid it.
Better not let it see the peach as food.
Only as a reward for a job well done.
Sliced into small pieces, not whole.
Moments later, Baek Hongpyo's eyes snapped open.
"Wh-What is this liquor?"
"Someone gave it to me."
"Wh-Who? Uh, can I have another?"
"Of course."
Clink clink clink!
Empty glasses gathered before Taeju.
Another round poured.
"Incredible."
"What was all the booze I've had before? Sewer water?"
"My body's getting all warm."
Funny thing.
Immortals went nuts for Earth liquor, and Earthlings lost their minds over Immortal Liquor.
"Have some peach too. Perfect with drinks."
Did the peach differ?
"Insane."
"It just melts in your mouth."
"For real. Not a metaphor—it literally dissolves."
"Juice exploding everywhere."
Everyone's faces flushed.
Immortal Liquor was still booze, after all.
"Meeting you really is the greatest blessing of my life."
Baek Hongpyo smiled, looking utterly content.
Baek Seoyeonn gazed at Taeju with dreamy eyes.
"Chairman, this stuff's precious, right?"
"Yeah."
"Can't buy it with money?"
"Not even for billions."
"Knew it."
What effect would Immortal Liquor and Peaches—meant for immortals—have on these people?
Time would tell.
Suddenly, Baek Seoyeonn tilted her head at the cat on Taeju's lap.
"Hmm? Am I drunk? Ilbaek's face looks different."
"...Probably just your imagination."
"Is it?"
Baek Seoyeonn's eyes were sharp as ever.
This wasn't Ilbaek anymore—it was Ibaek.
Currently shapeshifted into an ordinary cat, only one head was visible.
But the faces rotated constantly.
In an instant.
The three-headed white tiger had three heads.
Hence Ilbaek, Ibaek, Sambak—three names.
Ilbaek to Ibaek in a flash, then Sambak soon after.
The body was pure white, but faint stripes and scars on the faces distinguished them.
Ibaek had emerged, so Taeju fed it a piece of cat jerky.
"Yaong!"
Sambak next, another piece.
That's when it happened.
Safety Alert Message
[Samhan Empire Ministry of National Defense] A mana beast wave is anticipated in the Samhan Empire's northwestern Beijing outpost city. Travelers in the area and local residents are advised to evacuate to safe locations immediately. Our military is making every preparation to counter the mana beast wave...
"Huh? Disaster alert."
"Earthquake?"
"What's going on?"
They checked.
Beijing outpost.
Taeju had been there not long ago.
No signs of a wave back then.
Something felt off.
If the Ministry of National Defense sent a disaster alert, Oh Jinhyeong probably knew too.
Bzzz!
Right on cue, a call came in.
Oh Jinhyeong.
Taeju stepped out of the conference room to answer.
"Hello? Major General."
- Chairman Kim, you see the alert? I'm heading to Beijing with the troops right now. Was gonna drop by to see your face, but duty calls... Sorry! Won't be able to meet for a bit.
"...Yeah."
Anyone overhearing would think he was dying to see him.
"What happened? A wave in Beijing?"
- Top secret, but you deserve to know. A Beyond elite mana beast, the Black Evil Dragon, is heading north. The shockwaves could trigger a wave at the Great Wall. High chance.
"...Beyond elite mana beast?"
- Not sure if it'll reach Beijing. Priority is defending the Great Wall from the wave. You'll probably get a cooperation request from the Ministry too.
"Cooperation request..."
Did they want him to join the wave defense?
He wasn't keen.
Why rush down from New Seoul?
Because of the emperor's letter Geum Suhu delivered.
Warning that the imperial princes might approach him.
He wanted no part in the throne succession struggle.
Join a Beijing wave defense now?
Chance to rack up merits and fame, but drawing attention could tangle him with princes and princesses.
- Nothing major. Just sell all current Taehong recovery potion stock to the Ministry. You know potions are essential for raids. That okay?
"Ah..."
Phew.
Not asking him to come.
"Of course we'll cooperate."
- Thanks. Gotta go—busy. Count on you.
Beyond elite mana beast.
National disaster level.
Not your average elite.
The kind that wiped out China.
Curiosity outweighed fear, though.
'Maybe sneak a peek?'
At 8th stage Hunwon Musang Dokryeong Gong, with the Divine Spirit Sword and talismans, he wouldn't be in real danger even if he couldn't kill it.
'Watch how it unfolds first.'
Still, for Taehong recovery potion shipments, he needed more giant moon bear gallbladders.
Jirisan's were tapped out.
'Seoraksan outpost should have plenty.'
Famous moon bear habitat.
"Niaong!"
Sambak had slipped out, rubbing against his leg.
"Wanna come with?"
"Niaong?"
"Yeah. Time to earn your keep."
Each Taehong recovery potion: 5 million won.
Ministry of National Defense—biggest budget in the Samhan Empire. Instant cash payment.
10,000 pills: 50 billion won.
Back in the conference room.
"Halt all Taehong recovery potion sales immediately. Full stock goes to the Ministry."
※ ※ ※
Back in his hometown Gurye after ages, but duty called again right away.
Before leaving, pay a visit to Nogodan Guild Master Lee Jeonghak.
Taeju entered the Castle.
The bridge was complete—no need for a boat.
"Welcome, Chairman."
"All good?"
"Yes, thanks to you."
Lee Jeonghak had heard the New Seoul news.
Articles about Taehong Bio's New Seoul branch groundbreaking—with the Fifth Imperial Prince, Baekdu Group Chairman, and VIPs in attendance.
Taeju had outgrown him completely.
"Oh, right! Some guy from Mirinae Group dropped by not long ago. Chairman's secretary or something."
"...Mirinae Group? You met him?"
"Nah, he went to Min Dongyeol and Ji Gwangin. Offered a fortune. Wanted help messing with Taehong Bio."
"And you took it?"
"As if. Who holds their lifeline?"
Lee Gieon—that bastard pulled every trick.
Not much time left before his reckoning.
After chatting with Lee Jeonghak, Taeju headed to Gurye Station.
Bought a ticket to the Seoraksan outpost in Inje Township, Gangwon Province.
Shoulder bag with Ilbaek—no, Ibaek now—slung over his shoulder.
Ibaek poked its head out of the bag.
"Yaong!"
Always begging for food.
But the infinite storage was stuffed with cat chow—no issue.
Didn't even shed much—no vacuuming needed.
Taeju got off at Inje outpost and hiked into Seoraksan.
Deep wilderness—no civilian raid teams, just military.
'Been a while.'
His old outpost was around here, but no fond memories.
No desire to visit.
Swoosh!
Using Pyoholjilpungbo, he plunged deep into Seoraksan.
"Ibaek."
"Nyaaong?"
"...Ilbaek, huh."
"Nyaaaang!"
Ilbaek climbed out of the bag.
"Look, I need giant moon bear gallbladders."
"Nyaa..."
"You're an elite three-headed white tiger. Go catch a few."
"Nyaaang!"
That's when it happened.
Shwooo!
Ilbaek began growing.
"Whoa, stop right there."
"Kyarrung!"
Size of a common mana beast.
Slightly bigger than a giant moon bear.
Second-stage transformation.
Still one head.
Full form revealed all three.
"Go hunt!"
"Kyaaang!"
Swoosh!
Ilbaek, now a white tiger, bolted into the depths.
'Hope it catches some good ones.'
Taeju pulled a chair from his infinite storage.
Sat under a tree, waiting.
"Kyaa..."
Ilbaek returned.
"...Huh."
Dragging a giant moon bear in its jaws.
"Already?"
"Kyawung!"
What a champ!
Taeju fetched thick jerky from storage.
Fling! It snapped it up.
"I'll process this gallbladder. Get one more."
Swoosh!
Ilbaek vanished into the woods again.
Before he finished processing...
"Eohung!"
Ibaek's face this time.
Another giant moon bear in its jaws.
"..."
Jerky toss.
Whoosh!
Gobbled and gone.
Swoosh!
"Krung."
Sambak now.
Rotating heads, one bear each.
"Good kids."
His nose tingled.
So obedient.
This the joy of pet ownership?
Immortal Peach after? Just slices.
※ ※ ※
The Immortal Realm.
The Moon Palace Immortal oversaw the Peach Orchard on Seowangmo's orders.
Confirming the peaches grew safely, she headed to the outer zones.
Zone 4: fine. Zone 3: fine.
But Zone 2...
'Hm?'
What was this?
Peaches that should blanket the trees were sparse.
'What's wrong with the peach trees?'
Not just Zone 2—Zone 1 too.
'Nutrient deficiency?'
The Moon Palace Immortal sat, touching the orchard soil.
Shhh...
Immortal energy surged from her hand.
Barren trees bloomed, heavy with ripe peaches.
A special immortal art from Seowangmo: nurturing peach trees with immortal qi.
Zones 1 and 2 restored.
'Where's Jongri?'
No sign of the divine guardians.
Needed to investigate...
Then, cheers from the Immortal Realm.
"It's here!!!"
"It's here!!!"
"It's here!!!"
"It's here!!!"
.
.
.
Loud enough to reach the orchard.
'What the hell's here?'
Sounded like Jongri Immortal.
Even Taktap Divine General.
End of Ilbaek, Ibaek, Sambak