Click! Click!

“Come on—I brought a turbo lighter for this.”

Go Byeonggap struggled to coax the flame onto his cigarette. But the biting wind mercilessly crushed his small hopes. After a dozen attempts, he finally achieved his goal.

He exhaled a long stream of cigarette smoke and took in the panorama before him. It was a sight that dazzled both eye and mind—a magnificent vista. Yet, at the same time, it was a view that tangled his heart.

“Hoo… I never dreamed a place like this could exist.”

This was an immense mountain range, ringed by eternal snow and perennial ice. The spot where he stood, in particular, was the summit of a peak three times higher than the others around it. So the white-capped mountains spread out wide beneath his feet.

Whee-ee-ee!

“Ssueup.”

He cinched his thick coat tight. Kim Hana had handed it to him the moment they’d crossed over here. But even though it covered nearly his whole body, the cold still bit through. It had to be thirty or forty below zero, easy.

Go Byeonggap quietly finished his cigarette. His mind churned with a tangle of thoughts.

He turned and walked toward the log cabin.

“This is Asvillam.”

No one had told him this place was Asvillam. But Go Byeonggap could tell from the smell of the air alone, from the color of the sky alone—that this was Asvillam.

Creak.

He pushed open the thick wooden door and stepped inside the log cabin.

Unlike the bone-cold outside, the interior was thick with a stifling heat. Kim Hana, who had been feeding logs into the fireplace, turned to face him and spoke.

“Have you sorted your thoughts a bit?”

“Somewhat.”

“I’d appreciate it if you closed the door. I dislike the draft.”

Go Byeonggap complied without resistance, shutting the door. Then he shed his coat and settled into a suitable chair. Kim Hana came over with the kettle resting on the brazier and poured him a cup of tea.

He drank it down without much suspicion. Though he only took one sip—the bitter aftertaste wasn’t really to his liking.

“Why aren’t the kids back? Weren’t they supposed to go chop firewood?”

Kim Hana traveled with three children. All of them looked like they might be middle schoolers, but their strength rivaled that of any S-rank Hunter.

The absence of those kids quietly grated on Go Byeonggap. Kim Hana, by contrast, remained perfectly at ease.

“They’ll be back when it’s time.”

She sat down as well. Her eyes, fixed on Go Byeonggap, held a persistent look of suspicion.

“Hm.”

Go Byeonggap slowly swept his gaze across the interior of the log cabin. Every piece of furniture filling the house looked like it had been brought from the modern world. Just the table right in front of him reeked of factory-produced goods.

Just as he was forming a trivial impression—they’ve furnished it quite nicely—an ornament caught his eye, one whose feel didn’t match the other furniture.

It was a crude stone tablet. The worn-away edges carried the heavy trace of many years.

Something was carved into that stone tablet.

Feeling an inexplicable familiarity, Go Byeonggap moved closer. The next moment, he couldn’t believe his own eyes.

“Th-this… where did you get this?”

“I brought it from what was buried nearby. Why do you ask?”

“…….”

‘A map!’

No matter how you looked at it, that was a map. Not just any map—a meticulously crafted one. And it looked painfully familiar. It took him a second to place it: it matched Merilin’s body inscriptions 99%.

The slab’s back was crowded with tightly packed script, but unfortunately, he couldn’t read that part.

‘If I had the Lord’s authority, I could’ve read it.’

Pushing aside the regret, he focused on the map. Though quite weathered, he could still make out several key points.

‘So this really is the far north. Wait—is this Verbonia? Then riding east from here… there it is! Baltadren!’

Spotting Baltadren on the map, he cried out in relief. Just then, Kim Hana—who had approached close without him noticing—asked in a tone thick with suspicion.

“It seems to be a map left by the ancient civilization. But going there would be a waste of time.”

“A waste of time?”

“I’ve visited a few spots nearby. They were all ruins.”

Kim Hana said that, her finger brushing several places on the slab. Fortresses adjacent to the mountain range.

“When did you last go?”

“A while ago. Five or six years.”

‘Five or six years… That’s long before I came.’

“Why haven’t you gone recently?”

“Because I know they’re all ruins. And as you can see, the terrain here is harsh. The risk is too great to set out on mere adventurous spirit.”

“Fair point.”

With that, Go Byeonggap hoisted the slab.

“Mind if I take this? I’ll pay whatever you want.”

“Take it if you want. No need to pay.”

Counting it a windfall, Byeonggap hurried over to the car and loaded it in.

When he returned, Kim Hana was seated in a chair, sipping tea. He sat down beside her and got to the point.

“I never thought there’d be another one here. So what kind of Lord are you?”

Kim Hana didn’t answer right away. Eyes closed, she took a sip of tea before turning the question around.

“Well, what kind of Lord are you, Mr. Byeonggap?”

“I haven’t heard your answer yet.”

“You want too much without giving anything.”

If I want to know your identity, I’d better reveal my own first.

Catching her drift, Go Byeonggap clicked his tongue. Well, after coming this far, what was there left to hide?

“I’m the Goblin Lord. Well, not now, but I was.”

“Goblin?”

Her eyes narrowed slightly. Byeonggap caught the small change but pretended not to notice.

“Are you talking about the goblins I know?”

“Yeah.”

“What can you do?”

“You could do all sorts of things. Cross between this world and Earth, acquire strange artifacts, even earn the cooperation of goblins. You must be similar, aren’t you?”

“…I wonder.”

Kim Hana slipped past the question with practiced grace and asked something else.

“Mr. Byeonggap’s rapid growth is thanks to the Lord’s power.”

“Can’t deny that.”

“What did you mean earlier by ‘not now’?”

“Just what I said. I’ve lost the Lord’s power for now.”

“How so?”

“There was a bit of an accident. Explaining every detail would make the story too long.”

Go Byeonggap said this and then folded his arms. The implication was clear: he’d said enough about himself.

“So, what about my question? What kind of Lord are you?”

“I…”

Her lips were just parting when they sensed someone outside. A crashing thud echoed through the room.

She rose, glancing toward the window.

“The children are here. They might be startled to see you, so I should have a word with them first.”

Go Byeonggap didn’t like it, but he nodded reluctantly. She had given him the slate for free, hadn’t she?

She threw on her coat and stepped out the door.

Left alone, Go Byeonggap craned his neck toward the window. All he could see was a hazy murk—sky or something else, he couldn’t tell.

‘Now that I think about it, those kids. They called Kim Hana ‘Master’ and followed her. Maybe they’re not human?’

Were they something she commanded, like the goblins he’d once led?

‘They looked exactly like people, though…’

While he mulled over their true nature, Kim Hana returned. The children hadn’t followed her inside. She explained they were stacking firewood.

She sat back down but kept her lips sealed as if in a vow of silence. She seemed to be organizing her thoughts, so he left her alone.

A moment later, the wooden door creaked open, and three children entered.

One was a girl with long, flowing golden hair.

One was a boy with a head shaved smooth like a little monk’s.

The last was a boy who, among the three, looked the sharpest.

All three glared at Go Byeonggap as if by prior agreement. The grudge from their last meeting in Yeongwol still lingered.

Without a word, they crowded around the campfire and began warming themselves.

‘They are human after all.’

He stroked his chin, watching their backs. Then he clicked his tongue and turned to Kim Hana.

“Enough stalling. How about you tell me already?”

“That would be best.”

Kim Hana set down her teacup and met Go Byeonggap’s gaze squarely. Then, with unshakeable composure, she spoke clearly.

“I’m not whatever Lord you’re talking about, Mr. Byeonggap. To be honest, I have no clue what that even is.”

* * *

Suddenly, snow came pouring down—an insane, relentless blizzard. Each step buried you up to your knees.

“I don’t know where you’re going, but heading out now doesn’t seem like a very good idea.”

Kim Hana, who’d followed him out, muttered at his side. Go Byeonggap’s brow furrowed as irritation surged—though not really because of her.

‘Damn it, at this rate I won’t be driving the car—I’ll be dragging it. Either way, I need to move before more snow piles up.’

Go Byeonggap hurriedly pulled out snow chains and fastened them on.

“Hey, are you even listening to me?”

“What did you say? Sorry, I’m busy right now.”

“Where exactly are you planning to go? There’s nothing out here. Just snow-covered mountains as far as the eye can see. Even if you cross them, all that’s left is ruins.”

“Ruins aren’t all that’s there.”

“…What?”

“Keep going south and you’ll reach a city. A city where goblins live together.”

Kim Hana’s mouth opened and closed. Then, with a small sigh, she added,

“Fine. Let’s say I buy that. So you’re telling me you’re going to push through this blizzard and head south? If suicide’s the goal, why not just hang yourself?”

“…If you’re not gonna help, just get inside?”

He finally locked the last chain around the tire.

Ready, he looked down the vast mountain range. To be honest, Kim Hana was right—it was reckless. When would he ever reach warm land, fighting through that merciless zone?

Still, he had to go. He couldn’t come all the way to Asvillam and turn back just because he got scared.

“You can hear the rest later.”

“I don’t know. If I let you go like this, I feel like I’ll be talking to a corpse soon.”

“Then learn necromancy.”

Go Byeonggap ignored her and climbed in. But the engine sputtered—the car had frozen stiff already.

He let it warm up, waiting, until Kim Hana knocked on the window.

“Get out for a second.”

“Ah, come on, I told you I have to go, didn’t I? I said we can talk later.”

“Haah… Fine, I get it. Just get off first, will you?”

Wondering what she was about to say, I got out of the car.

Kim Hana pressed a hand to her forehead and fell into thought for a moment. Then, as if she’d made up her mind about something, she spoke.

“I’ll take you as far as the mountain range ends.”

“Take me? How?”

Instead of answering, she slipped off her coat. A worn dress and bare skin were revealed underneath.

What the hell is this woman doing? As I stood watching silently, she stared straight at me and said,

“Turn around. Don’t look, and don’t be surprised either.”

Go Byeonggap obeyed without argument. Then he heard voices from the children’s side.

“M-Master, surely you’re not…?”

“It’ll take about a day. Be good and wait.”

“Master, no! You’re not even well!”

The blonde girl, Alpha, spoke with a deeply worried expression. Kim Hana answered calmly.

“It’s okay.”

“Why would you do this for that man…”

“We need him.”

The moment she said that, Go Byeonggap felt an overwhelming surge of energy. So despite her warning not to look, he reflexively spun around.

The next instant, his jaw dropped. Kim Hana’s body flushed with shifting colors, then began to transform.

A low, guttural growl rumbled through the air.

The change was over in the blink of an eye.

What stood before him now was utterly inhuman.

A long neck, massive wings, an ash-gray torso covered in scales… It looked like a ‘winged lizard’ blown up to monstrous proportions.

“Wh—what the hell is this…”

At first glance, it resembled a wyvern. But as a living creature, this form was far more complete. The aura it exuded was incomparable.

Go Byeonggap drew his sword by instinct—even knowing this unknown creature, ten meters tall at the shoulder, was Kim Hana.

<Put away the blade. If you’re holding that, I can’t let you on my back.>

Her voice carried a strange compulsion. Dazed, Go Byeonggap sheathed his sword.

She strode forward a few steps and lowered her body—a clear signal for him to climb on.

<Load your car onto my back. Kids, help him out.>

“Yes, Master.”

Go Byeonggap and the three children worked together to move the car. With four high-rank awakeners, it was no trouble at all.

Kim Hana’s back was broad enough to play basketball on—let alone fit a car. It held the vehicle with ease.

Stilling his dazed mind, Go Byeonggap climbed onto her back.

<I won’t be able to hear you during the flight. You won’t fall, so don’t worry needlessly.>

“Ah, yeah. Got it.”

<I’ll be back.>

“Please don’t push yourself, Master.”

Kim Hana flapped her two sets of wings. Then her enormous body lifted off. Go Byeonggap felt his sense of reality grow numb.

Kim Hana soared high enough to brush the clouds, then bolted southward.

* * *

Kim Hana flew without a single break. She paused now and then, seeming to check their bearings.

Staring blankly at the ground below, he thought, ‘I was going to break through that.’

The mountain range stretched vast and treacherous. If he’d kept up his stubborn pride, he’d have ended up a corpse, just as Kim Hana warned.

Go Byeonggap sprawled across her wide back, lost in thought. It was about how he should act from here on.

Unfortunately, no matter how much he racked his brain, no optimal course of action came to mind.

“Tough call.”

Time slipped by. The sun seemed to set, and the world plunged into pitch darkness.

Go Byeonggap, who had been dozing off, woke with a jolt from a tremor. They were no longer in the sky. They were on the ground.

He stretched and pushed himself upright. But Kim Hana’s condition was alarming. She lay sprawled with her face pressed into the ground.

Her massive mouth was heaving, breath coming out in rapid, desperate gusts.

“Hey. You alright?”

<Take… take me down. Now.>

Urgency bled through her voice. Go Byeonggap hoisted the pickup truck and set it on the ground. As soon as he did, Kim Hana shifted back into human form.

“Don’t… look.”

She was naked. Sheepishly, Go Byeonggap peeled off his coat and tossed it to her.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden? Are you sick?”

“We came too far out. …I need to rest before I go back.”

Kim Hana steadied her breath and asked,

“When should I come pick you up?”

“You don’t need to pick me up. If things go well, I’ll find my way back to Jirisan.”

“And if they don’t?”

Go Byeonggap almost answered reflexively, then clamped his mouth shut. He was quiet for a long moment before he replied.

“That’s not gonna happen. Let’s just say we’ll meet again at Jirisan.”

“…Alright. I understand.”

“Then take care on the way back.”

Go Byeonggap left the crumpled Kim Hana behind and climbed into the truck. He’d been warming it up in bursts during the flight, so the engine caught without a hitch.

It was already dawn, but he didn’t waste time—he set the wheels rolling. He planned to drive nonstop for the next several days, night and day.

According to the map carved on the stone tablet, there should be a ruin not far from here. He decided to find that first.