Chapter 11

“Why aren’t you asking anything?”

I didn’t know how a human child was supposed to speak—
I’d never been one before.

So I simply copied the way humans talked to me.

At my question, Sehwa flinched and glanced nervously at the fox for permission.

“You may answer,” the fox said.

Only then did Sehwa think for a moment and speak.

“I wasn’t sure how much I was allowed to know.”

Her answer was unexpected.
I stared at her, surprised, but Sehwa only kept her gaze lowered in polite silence.

“No wonder the Pavilion Master favors you.”

“I told you—I don’t favor her.”
The fox grumbled under his breath and looked at Sehwa.

“The answer to your question is simple. You already sensed it, didn’t you?
Ordinary tiger cubs don’t prefer herbs and elixirs over meat.”

“…Yes, Pavilion Master.”

After a short pause, Sehwa added,

“But if it’s something I shouldn’t know, then I won’t ask.”

Her respectful reply made the fox smile faintly.

“I suppose it’s fine to tell you. San-gun is a spirit beast. He is restoring his strength.”

Sehwa’s eyes widened.

To her, a “spirit beast” was something mythical—
a sacred creature one might never see in a lifetime.
A being said to guard mountain gods and cultivate transcendence.

There were old martial records claiming someone killed a spirit beast and took its inner core, but no one in the present era had ever seen one.

And yet… a spirit beast?

Unbelievable—
But everything Sehwa had seen so far supported the impossible truth.

“Ah…”

“San-gun helped me once. I couldn’t just leave him alone.”

So he did think about leaving me behind.
I stared at the fox resentfully, and he immediately avoided my eyes.

“He was once the ruler of mountain ranges. Treat him with respect.”

“I will serve him with sincerity. May I ask… why has San-gun descended to the human world?”

Sehwa looked confused.

The fox glanced at me.
I gave him a small nod—this much was fine to reveal.

“San-gun says a great disaster is coming—one humans alone cannot stop.
He came to prepare for it.”

At the word “disaster,” Sehwa stiffened.

Fear and unease flickered across her eyes but soon disappeared as she regained composure.

“… What should I do?”

“Help San-gun adjust to the human world.
Keep supplying herbs—he likes them.”

“I understand, Pavilion Master.”

She nodded with a seriousness that surprised even me.

The fox then asked,

“So, what now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Will you stay as a tiger or appear as a human?”

There were no human children in Cheonwolru around the age of my disguise.

Even so, a human child drew less attention than a tiger cub.

“What age do I look in this form?”

“About seven years old. A girl.”

“I’d like to stay human, but… I can’t maintain it.”

I clenched and opened my small human hand.
Just keeping the form drained of qi from my inner core.

“Still too weak. I need to at least transform into an adult human.”

For now, I could only hold the disguise briefly.

Cheonwolru certainly wouldn’t question having a “tiger cub mascot.”
So staying in beast form was safer.

“If that’s your choice, stay as a cub,” the fox said.

I held out my hand.

“Do you have anything besides the human-shaped ginseng?”

“…That ginseng was a miracle find! Just be happy with herbs for now.”

“Tch.”

“Seriously… what karma brought me into this…”

“That’s my line. What a fate.”

Sehwa watched our banter with visible confusion.

I walked up to her and tugged lightly at her sleeve.

She snapped back to attention.

“You must have many questions. Ask.”

“Ah…”

“It’s normal not to know how to act. Don’t mind him—speak freely.
For example, how I saved that fox.”

“S-S-San-gun!!”

“That’s what you get for treating me like a pet.”

I shot the fox a look.
He scratched his cheek and looked away.

“T-Then… may I ask a few things?”

“Of course.”

“Then… may I ask your name?”

Of all things, she asked that first.

“… You’re curious about that?”

“How can I properly serve you without knowing your name?”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“That’s true. My name? Humans have called me many things—
mountain god, mountain lord.”

Sehwa swallowed nervously.

“But calling me that would be strange here. So… hmm… call me ‘Tiger-nim.’”

“Hey, San-gun—that’s way too lazy!”

“What? Naming things is bothersome.”

“Then—call yourself Cheong Hyeryeong (靑慧靈)! It suits you better!
Seriously, calling a little girl ‘Tiger-nim’? Your naming sense is terrible—”

“What was that?”

[A wonderful name, San-gun.]

Jimjo sent a telepathic message from somewhere nearby.

Annoying as it was, I nodded.

Cheong Hyeryeong—Blue, Wise Spirit.

Was I wise? Was I divine?
Hardly.

If I were wise, I wouldn’t have died in my past life.
If I were divine, I wouldn’t be embracing slaughter just to get revenge.

But the meaning appealed to me—
It acknowledged my past efforts.
And the “blue” fit my fur color.

“Th-Then… may I address you as Hyeryeong-nim?”

Her attempt to intervene and change the subject was almost endearing.

“Thanks to you, I received a name I like. Good. Do you want anything in return?”

Sehwa looked startled.

“But the Pavilion Master named you—”

“You asked, so he named me. A name is precious.
I must repay that properly.
Let’s see…”

I frowned, thinking of what I could offer.
But soon realized there was only one meaningful gift.

“Right. No matter the situation, I will save your life once.”

“M-My life…?”

“Yes. I have no gold or jewels, and giving you spiritual herbs now is not possible.
But every living being values life above all.”

A simple truth.

And Sehwa was now entangled with us.
Eventually, whether she wanted it or not, she would clash with the Blood Cult.

She understood the weight of my promise immediately.

“Thank you, San-gun-nim.”

She bowed deeply, sincerely.

Her earnestness made me soften.

“And… until the time is right, I’ll show my human form only when I’m with you. Humans fear other humans at times but lower their guard around animals.”

It was true—Sehwa herself was far gentler around me in tiger form.

“I understand.”

“And while I’m in human form, I want to learn about humans from you.”

I had never lived among humans.
Despite a thousand years of life, human customs were new to me.

“I must live among them now.
The fox said Cheonwolru people are all well-mannered and cultured—so they’ll be good teachers.
So teach me.”

Sehwa nodded calmly.

“I will teach you properly.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear that. For now, just think of me as Cheonwolru’s baby tiger.”

“If… that is your wish, I understand.”

“Anything else you’re curious about?”

Sehwa lowered her gaze.

“San-gun, Sehwa has work to do.”