After finishing our business at Sungmu Mountain and reuniting with Steward Choi,
we set off in earnest toward Cheonwi Mountain.
Passing through a city filled with buildings, then beyond scattered rural houses that gradually disappeared as human presence faded—
we finally arrived at our destination.
"This is Cheonwi Mountain."
Before my regression, I hadn't even completed cadet training, so I never had the opportunity to set foot here.
"I've seen it in records, but this is my first time seeing it in person."
A towering, rugged mountain range.
The deep resonance of ancient trees, pulsing faintly with each gust of wind, gave the impression of facing a vast, living entity.
If Sungmu Mountain was a silent place where not even the rustling of trees or cries of animals could be felt, then Cheonwi Mountain was filled with a vibrant energy of its own.
Moreover—
"The mana here is dense."
We hadn't even set foot on the mountain yet, but the thick presence of mana could already be felt in the air.
If Jeokcheong Island's mana was like a still, stagnant lake, then Cheonwi Mountain was like a mighty flowing river.
"Quite an impressive mountain, isn't it?"
Steward Choi asked with a satisfied smile.
"Yes, it's completely different from Sungmu Mountain or Jeokcheong Island."
"It's said that the founder of the Lee family recognized the energy of Cheonwi Mountain and chose it as a place to train his descendants. I'm sure you'll achieve satisfactory results here as well, young master."
Satisfactory results.
Of course.
I had used this important opportunity to demand something from my father—so I had to succeed.
That was when—
"Ugh, you lot again, yapping like a pack of stray dogs. So damn noisy."
A rough voice rang out from behind.
I flinched and turned my head.
"What? What are you staring at?"
A middle-aged man stood there, as if he had been there all along.
Wearing a neon hiking outfit, his face flushed red, and holding a bottle of makgeolli in his hand—
He looked just like any ordinary hiker you'd see anywhere.
The problem was that this man had appeared behind us without a single one of Sungmu House's warriors—or even my own senses—detecting him.
"When did he—?"
He was close enough that I could reach him with a single step.
Instinctively, my hand moved to my waist.
"Who are you?!"
Shing!
The Seven Star Guards were a beat late in drawing their swords and surrounding the man.
"Step back, young master. Steward Choi. He is a formidable opponent."
The leader of the Seven Star Guards positioned himself between us and the man, his face tense.
"Ah, these bastards… Put that away, or I swear you're dead."
"Form up—!"
The captain began to issue a command—
But he couldn't even finish his sentence.
"Tch. You black-haired brats never listen once you've got steel in your hands."
Thud! Crash! Crack!
Like the flicker of an insect darting through the air—his movements left only afterimages.
And then—
Before my eyes lay a scene of devastation.
The thirty elite warriors of the Seven Star Guard were sprawled on the ground, disarmed and groaning in pain.
"Urgh…"
"W-What… what just happened…?"
I was in utter shock.
"I missed his movements. I didn't see anything after he took down the captain!"
He had taken down thirty warriors.
He must have moved multiple times, yet I had only caught a glimpse of one or two actions.
"You lot are utterly useless… Ugh—"
The man waved his makgeolli bottle around and glared at Steward Choi.
"Oi, you ungrateful bastard. I told you at least a month ago to let me know in advance, didn't I? If you come empty-handed without a single bottle of booze, you're dead meat."
Steward Choi let out a long sigh as he looked at the man.
"My apologies for that. However, you went a bit too far. They were only trying to protect us…"
"Too far? Look at you, getting all high and mighty. Talking back to me now, are we?"
"Heh, my apologies. But..."
"This bastard not only suddenly gives me work but also wants to nag? Whatever. Did you bring the liquor?"
The man swaggered over, speaking in a tone like a thug about to snatch some money.
Butler Choi let out a hollow laugh, seemingly unfazed by the man's demeanor.
"I brought a few bottles of what you said you liked last time."
"Okay. Good. Then I'll let it slide."
"Thank you, Mountain Keeper."
Mountain Keeper.
The moment I heard those words, I realized the man's identity.
The man turned his gaze toward me again and smirked.
"This the guy? The one Taeshin brought back from outside?"
Butler Choi looked at me and let out a wry smile before replying.
"Yes, this is the ninth newcomer to enter the mountain, Young Master Lee Cheol."
"'Young Master'? What a joke. That title is for scholars studying Confucian classics."
The Mountain Keeper stroked his roughly protruding beard as he looked down at me.
"You saw a bit of my movements, didn't you?"
I flinched in surprise.
He could even figure that out?
His perception was truly remarkable.
"...Yes, I did."
"Hm, not bad. You're interesting. You kinda remind me of that punk Taeshin. But your smell is a bit weird."
The Mountain Keeper wrinkled his nose and stared at me intently.
Crackle!
At that moment, a sharp pain surged behind my eyes, and my Mystic Eye activated on its own.
"This brat's got some strange eyes too, huh?"
The Mountain Keeper's eyes widened as if he had found an amusing toy.
I was momentarily flustered but immediately tried to suppress my magic and deactivate the Mystic Eye.
However, in that brief moment, I couldn't avoid seeing the Mountain Keeper's true form.
'That is....'
What the Mystic Eye revealed was not human.
Before my regression, I had heard rumors about the Mountain Keeper of Cheonwi Mountain.
Back then, people referred to the Mountain Keeper as—
"A goblin."
His deep, dark eyes, like a night sky filled with stars, locked onto me.
***
The Mountain Keeper led the injured members of the Seven Stars Unit as we began ascending Cheonwi Mountain.
The mountain path was extremely steep.
Not only was there no proper trail, but the incline was treacherous, and the cold temperature had frozen the ground.
Despite this, the Mountain Keeper strode ahead, effortlessly carrying several bags filled with liquor as if walking on flat land.
"Hey! You young punks are already struggling? Hurry up!"
The Mountain Keeper glanced back and shouted.
Behind me, the Seven Stars Unit was marching in formation.
They weren't exactly lagging, but groans of pain from their injuries were constant.
"Are you alright?"
"...I'm fine."
The leader of the Seven Stars Unit replied, his face contorted in frustration.
His broken arm must have been excruciating, but more than that, his pride seemed deeply wounded from being so easily overpowered.
'Pathetic.'
Letting their eyes waver over something so trivial—how pitiful.
Even the young cadets of Class 5, who were far weaker, wouldn't react like this.
'That aside....'
As I diligently followed the Mountain Keeper, my brow furrowed.
'What is this sensation?'
A strange presence.
The higher we climbed, the stronger the feeling became.
Perhaps noticing my expression, the Mountain Keeper suddenly turned back and smirked.
"Oh ho, you've got quite the sharp instincts."
"What do you mean?"
"That eerie feeling you have—it's the gaze of the mountain's spirits. They're just watching you, so there's no need to be overly cautious."
"Spirits? Why would they be watching me?"
I was already surprised that spirits existed, but now I was their focus?
"That's because you reek."
"Reek?"
I immediately realized he wasn't talking about my body odor.
The Mountain Keeper took a deep sniff.
"Yeah, you give off a strange scent. It's not the smell of a human."
We continued our ascent for a while longer.
Beyond the steep slope, wisps of steam began rising into the air.
At last, the Mountain Keeper stopped.
"We're here. You weaklings."
Beyond the slope, what appeared was an open-air hot spring with white steam rising.
"If things were normal, you wouldn't even be allowed to step foot here! I'll make an exception this time, but once you're healed, get out of the mountain immediately!"
As soon as I heard the mountain keeper's words, I realized what this place was.
'This must be it. The healing water that exists only in Cheonwisan.'
At first glance, it looked just like a regular hot spring.
However, since the Korean Peninsula isn't a volcanic region—except for a few areas—there was no way a natural hot spring with this kind of heat could exist.
This water was called the Healing Water.
A spring said to have been created by the goblins' magic.
Its effects? Healing both internal and external injuries.
The direct descendants of the Soongmu family, who trained in Cheonwisan, used this place to recover from their training wounds.
"Alright, enough about that. You two, come this way."
Not far from the healing water.
The mountain keeper led Mr. Choi to a towering rock wall with a large hole gaping in it.
"This is the place. Go inside."
After saying that, the mountain keeper casually walked into the cave alone.
Watching him, I doubted my own eyes.
'Did he just disappear?'
The moment he crossed the cave's entrance, the mountain keeper's figure vanished in an instant.
Mr. Choi smiled and said, "Shall we go in, young master?"
I took a slow step forward into the cave.
It felt like passing through the surface of rippling water.
And gradually, the scenery began to change.
The rough ground smoothed out, the damp air of the forest turned pleasant, and instead of the biting winter wind, a warm breeze enveloped me.
Before I knew it, my surroundings had transformed into a room inside an elegant, traditional Korean house.
'Is this also goblin magic?'
It truly felt like being under a spell.
It wasn't sorcery, magic, formations, or anything like that.
If it were, I would have sensed some kind of force at work, but this change felt as natural as watching a river flow.
"There are no cushions, so just sit anywhere."
In front of an antique folding screen sat a man in hiking clothes, lounging casually.
The mismatch was absurd, yet somehow, it suited him perfectly.
"Well then, let's hear your story."
Though he said that, the mountain keeper didn't seem interested in listening. Instead, he busied himself opening one liquor box after another.
Penfolds, Bombay Sapphire, Macallan, Armand de Brignac…
I didn't know much about alcohol, but judging by the packaging, these weren't cheap.
"That Taeshin bastard always seemed like he didn't have a drop of blood in his veins, but sending a kid like you here for training? He must really hate you."
"That's not true. I volunteered to come."
"Oh-ho? A kid like you? Now, that's interesting. Go on, tell me your story."
The mountain keeper shifted his gaze from the liquor to me.
I briefly summarized my experiences so far.
The cadet corps, my father, and the rewards.
I left out details about the Forest of Face-Stealers and my brothers' schemes.
"…Tsk, that was boring. You have no talent for storytelling."
Having apparently decided on his drink, the mountain keeper popped the lid off and started chugging.
Then, he suddenly smacked his knee and his eyes lit up.
"Hah! Alright! It wasn't fun, but since I listened, I should give you something in return. I can read fortunes. Want me to give it a try?"
A fortune read by a goblin—one of the mystical beings.
I didn't really believe in such things, but I had no reason to refuse.
"Please do."
"Good. Let's see."
The mountain keeper's eyes, shimmering like stars, locked onto me.
"Hmm, now this is interesting. For a kid so young, you've got all kinds of fate and bloodshed tangled up in you. This is… huh?"
The mountain keeper tilted his head.
"You were destined to die young, either at birth or around the age of ten. But some strange fate intervened, and you dodged those calamities. If you hadn't come here this time, you would have faced another great misfortune… Hmm? Hmm…"
He stroked his short beard, looking puzzled.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Hmm, never mind. Fortune-telling and fate-reading are meaningless for you."
"What do you mean?"
"A fortune tells you what will happen based on how you were born. But guys like you twist their fate as they live, so it becomes pointless."
The mountain keeper took another sip of alcohol before continuing.
"In short, your choices constantly reshape your life. You're an interesting one."
I couldn't help but smile.
That was, without a doubt, the most accurate description of my life.
"Well, whatever. So? You've been given a whole year—what are you planning to do?"
I glanced at Mr. Choi.
'My father is listening to this conversation.'
But even if Mr. Choi weren't here, I had a feeling my father had already guessed my decision.
"I…"
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