The Great Shamaness’s Advice

Having finished all the treatment, Ro-un let out the breath he had been holding as his shoulders sagged.

“Phew.”

He saved her.
His head throbbed a little from having to use multiple skills at once with his post-regression proficiency still dulled, but the princess was safe.
Checking the patient’s complexion one last time, Ro-un confirmed that the princess was breathing peacefully and finally relaxed a little.

‘That went more smoothly than I expected. Is it because my stats and trait evolved to EX?’

The efficiency of his healing-type skills felt noticeably higher.
Ro-un looked down at his hand and clenched and unclenched his fist.

‘It’s the first time I’ve used it on someone else since regressing, so I couldn’t really tell when I used it on myself, but the efficiency definitely went up.’

Step.

At the sound of someone’s footsteps, Ro-un turned his head.
A man like a towering mountain was walking over beyond the paper door.

‘Who is that?’

At the extraordinary presence coming from the man, Ro-un raised his guard.
The Holy Power that had plunged to the bottom while treating the princess was rapidly filling back up.
It was the kind of recovery speed that truly deserved to be called EX.

‘Even so, I wouldn’t be able to stop that man.’

He was definitely a member of the Tiger Clan.
‘It doesn’t seem like he’s here to attack me.’

He had heard that beings like these took debts and grudges very seriously.
That was probably why tales of magpies or tigers repaying favors had been passed down all over the world.
Rationally, he knew that being would not harm him, but even so, the weighty presence coming off the man kept Ro-un from letting his guard down.

Step, step!

The man, approaching like Mount Tai itself was moving, stopped in front of Ro-un.
The man, so large that Ro-un had to tilt his head back to look up at him, slowly lowered himself.
The unknown tiger stared at Ro-un in silence like a predator eyeing prey from the brush.
Ro-un spoke first.

“Are you the patient’s guardian?”

The man pulled up the corners of his mouth in a smile.
Sharp fangs showed between his parted lips.
Without realizing it, Ro-un wet his lips with his tongue and continued,

“The treatment is finished. Please make sure she gets proper rest for the time being, and keep her from going out.”

“Puhat!”

At the way he sounded exactly like a doctor speaking to a guardian after finishing treatment, Ho-yeon burst out laughing.
How long had it been since he’d seen a human speak this calmly in front of him?

‘He’s got nerve.’

He had thought him a pawn moving at the Association’s command, but he was a firmer-minded human than expected.
He had only meant to hand over a reward for treating his youngest princess’s illness and leave it at that, but this human, who would not even live a hundred years, had stirred a curiosity long buried.

‘Not only did he walk into a tiger’s den on his own, he even pulled the thorn out of the tiger’s paw and still stayed calm. It’s been a while.’

The predator’s sharp instincts were screaming.
That Lee Ro-un had something.
He wanted to tear into him right now and see what he was hiding inside.

“Hahahahaha!”

When Ho-yeon burst out laughing, the Tiger Clan members around them could not hide their shock.

‘Did His Majesty just burst out laughing?’
‘I don’t even know how many decades it’s been since I last saw the King genuinely pleased.’
‘Even when the princess acted cute, he’d only give a small smile and that was all.’

As the Tiger Clan looked on in amazement, Ho-yeon, laughing heartily for the first time in decades, slapped Ro-un’s shoulder with his thick hand.

‘That hurts!’

At the hand thick enough to cover his whole face, Ro-un screamed inwardly.
He wished the man would recognize that unlike that obviously combat-type body, this side was a fragile healer.

“Thank you for treating my daughter, doctor.”

Daughter? He said daughter?
He knew the man was no ordinary being, but to call the Tiger Clan princess his daughter…

‘Then that means this tiger is the King of the Tiger Clan! I knew his presence was on a different level, but to think he’s Baekho, the head of the Tiger Clan!’

Looking at the gleaming white hair, white in a very different way from his own bleached hair after awakening, Ro-un was stunned.
Even before, he had rarely been seen, but after relations between the Association and the Tiger Clan had soured, even his whereabouts had become unknown.
To think he would see such a being in person.
While Ro-un stared at Baek Ho-yeon, Ho-yeon slung an arm around his shoulders as if they had known each other for years.

“Now then! Today is the day an honored guest has come. A feast! Hold a feast!”
“Yes!!”

At the King’s declaration, the Tiger Clan answered with vigor.
It sounded like a chorus of tigers roaring.

‘All of a sudden?’

At the sudden festive mood, Ro-un blankly muttered to himself.

A feast was held.
The human who had entered the very heart of the Tiger Clan’s closed-off territory, Ro-un, traded cups with a dazed look on his face.

“Please have this too.”
“Do you know how to drink?”
“I’m sorry. I’m still a minor.”
“It’s normally fine if you’re with adults.”
“May I ask how old the Saint is this year?”
“Haha….”

What the hell is this all of a sudden.
Weren’t they supposed to be a closed-off species?
Didn’t they hate humans?
Then why are they welcoming me like this?

‘I did want to end up on friendly terms with the Tiger Clan, but I didn’t think things would progress this fast.’

It seemed the princess was loved by the Tiger Clan even more than he had expected.
Ro-un glanced upward.
A roughly brushed calligraphy banner scrawled over a strip of white cloth fluttered this way and that in the wind.

<(Congrats) The Youngest Princess, Future Great Shamaness, Fully Recovered (Congrats)>

‘That’s pretty tacky.’

At the corny banner that looked like something even a rural village wouldn’t use, Ro-un barely held back his shock with the fresh-squeezed juice a Tiger Clan member had personally prepared and handed to him.
What era are we living in that they’re hanging up a calligraphy banner like this.
Just then, one Tiger Clan member in modernized hanbok casually opened up a long story.

“Back in the days when I smoked….”¹

At a story that was already tracing back to the Joseon era, Ro-un was horrified and excused himself under the pretense of getting some air.
Watching the disappointed tigers, Ro-un felt a chill run down his spine.
Putting a good distance between himself and the physically overwhelming Tiger Clan, Ro-un sat down in a quiet pavilion.

“Phew. For now, I think I’ve stopped them from leaving. Now then, what’s next.”

Ro-un manipulated the hologram and pulled up a secured document file.
After cheerfully checking off one item on the list, Ro-un was just about to look over the next one.

Poke, poke.

“?”

Poke, poke.

“???”

At the soft sensation poking his back, Ro-un turned around.
As he turned, Ro-un’s eyes met a pair of yellow eyes glittering with curiosity.

“So you’re the Saint!”
“…Princess?”

The Tiger Clan’s youngest princess and shamaness, whom he had treated today, was standing upright on both feet and staring at Ro-un.

“Thank you! I came to thank my benefactor in person!”
“No, hold on, the patient should be lying down right now, so why are you here…!”

Seeing the princess boldly walk all the way to the banquet hall on her own two feet when she ought to still be lying down, Ro-un grabbed his head.
Closing his eyes tightly for a moment and opening them again, Ro-un looked back down.
Gone was the child lying sick in bed with a pale face and weak groans, and in her place stood a lovely girl with bright sparkling eyes and the air of a mischievous brat who looked like she’d gotten into trouble more than once.
At Ro-un’s words, the princess put her hands on her waist, puffed out her stomach proudly, and declared,

“Ahem! An illness like that is nothing to me!”

Yeah. It sure looks that way.
As expected of one of the strongest species on the Korean Peninsula.
Even the recovery speed is on another level.

“Impressive.”
“Aheeem!”

When Ro-un voiced his admiration while checking the princess’s face, the mischievous princess lifted her chin and spoke even more proudly.

“Of course. This body belongs to the Tiger Clan’s greatest shamaness and the daughter of my father, a Divine Beast— waaah!”

The princess’s body was suddenly lifted into the air.
Ro-un’s eyes followed upward as well.

“And why is our princess here?”
“Ah! Father! Put me down!”

The one who had grabbed the precious princess by the scruff of her neck was Baek Ho-yeon.
When did he get here?

‘As expected of a being famed as a Divine Beast. I didn’t notice him at all until he was right here.’

As Ro-un reflexively tensed, Baek Ho-yeon, having caught the Tiger Clan’s precious princess fresh out of her sickbed standing near the banquet hall instead of lying in bed, ground his teeth.

‘How did she shake off the guards watching over her quarters again!’

It wasn’t the shamanesses’ fault.
His youngest was simply too capable.
As expected of his daughter, the troublesome girl was already far too practiced at slipping past the shamanesses, and Baek Ho-yeon, both proud and exasperated, barely managed to suppress his rising blood pressure.

“Princess. You should still be lying down, so why are you already up?”
“Ah! Right.”

As if only just realizing she was supposed to be lying down right now, the princess rolled her bright yellow forsythia-like eyes around.

“And how did you shake off the guards watching your quarters this time?”
“…Hehe.”

Though his tone was gentle, the voice and atmosphere around Ho-yeon were murderous, and the princess rolled her clear glass-like eyes before giving him a sheepish smile.
Baek Ho-yeon let out a “Huh!” in exasperation, but seeing his youngest healthy enough to act cute again, all the anger drained from his face and he smiled warmly.

“Really now. How could I ever beat our princess.”
“Heehee!”

As he adjusted the adorable youngest princess in his arms, the mischievous princess wrapped her arms around Ho-yeon’s neck.

“So then, Princess. Why did you come out here after disobeying orders to stay in bed?”
“I came to see the benefactor who saved my life!”
“And if you greet your benefactor, will you return straight to your quarters?”
“…Hehe.”

So when she has nothing to say, she just laughs it off.
The moment their exchange ended, both their gazes fell on Ro-un, who had remained deathly silent without interrupting.

“Ahem! Let me introduce myself properly again, Saint. This one’s name is Baek In-woo. I am the proud princess of the Tiger Clan, daughter of the Divine Beast White Tiger, and one who will one day become the Tiger Clan’s Great Shamaness.”
“Yes. Hello. I’m Lee Ro-un.”
“To my benefactor, I owe the grace of being saved. I shall repay this debt with my life in turn.”

At the words of the adorable youngest princess, who barely came up to his thigh, Ro-un pressed down the corners of his mouth and answered,

“Please don’t say that. Just live long and well. For a healer, a patient’s peace is the greatest reward.”
“As expected, my benefactor is as merciful as I heard!”

I don’t know what rumors you heard, but that’s not me anymore.
Even that reputation for mercy was something built up while I was worked like a slave.
I’m not going to live the way I did before anymore.
Just as Ro-un’s mood was starting to sink, Baek Ho-yeon stepped in between them.

“Now then. Since greetings have been exchanged, the patient should head back now.”
“Ah! Father, wait a moment!”

The princess clung to Ho-yeon’s neck as he turned to carry her back to her quarters.
Small and slender though she was, she was still a princess of the Tiger Clan, one of the Korean Peninsula’s top species.
The force of her grip was probably no weaker than that of a combat-type Awakener, but Ho-yeon looked down at her as if it meant nothing at all.

‘As expected of the White Tiger. He’d probably react more to a mosquito bite than to that.’

While Ro-un silently marveled at Baek Ho-yeon’s physical ability, In-woo was also pressuring him by means other than physical force.

“Father! There is another reason I came to see my benefactor.”
“Princess. Greetings can wait. Don’t you think it is the proper duty of a patient to get more rest right now?”
“No, it cannot.”

In-woo said flatly.
It was so different from the attitude of a child about to throw a tantrum that Ro-un quietly admired it.

‘She’s probably the only being alive who can speak that bluntly in front of the White Tiger.’

Baek Ho-yeon, perhaps realizing the princess was not merely being stubborn, met her gaze for a moment and then nodded.

“If that is what the princess says, then there is no helping it. Princess, say what you came to say quickly.”

At Ho-yeon’s words, In-woo patted his thick forearm and pointed toward where Ro-un stood.

“Father. Closer.”
“All right.”

As In-woo wished, Ho-yeon moved right up close to Ro-un.
When Ro-un instinctively took half a step back from the suddenly approaching tiger father and daughter, Ho-yeon stepped forward by that same distance.

‘What on earth are they trying to say that they need to get this close?’

Feeling that something extremely delicate was about to be said, Ro-un quietly waited, and In-woo leaned right in toward him as though she had been waiting for this.
She came so close that her breath tickled the fine hairs by his ear, and pressed her face right beside it.

“I will tell this only to you.”

Cupping her hands, In-woo whispered softly to Ro-un.

“It was a human who laid the curse on me.”

What kind of lunatic would lay a curse on the Tiger Clan’s treasured princess?
Just as he had suspected during treatment, it seemed someone had planted altered 【Defilement】 in the Tiger Clan’s future Great Shamaness.
And it was a human?
How had a human managed to plant 【Defilement】 in the princess, inside the Tiger Clan’s closed territory and right under their noses?
As Ro-un’s thoughts deepened, In-woo added one more sentence.

“If you mean to stop the four that are coming, beware that human.”

Ro-un’s eyes widened before he knew it.
Four .
There were four major incidents among the events Ro-un had to stop that were ranked highest in importance.

‘Don’t tell me someone is artificially causing the major incidents?’

When Ro-un looked at In-woo as if asking for an answer, she nodded as though she had read his mind.
At advice coming from the Tiger Clan’s future Great Shamaness, Ro-un was left speechless for a moment.
The new revelation threw Ro-un’s thoughts into chaos, but In-woo, as though she had done what she came to do, wrapped her arms around Ho-yeon’s neck again and nestled into his arms.
Holding the princess securely, Ho-yeon looked at Ro-un and said,

“How interesting.”

Right. The White Tiger was still here.
Ro-un raised his guard again.
Pushing his tangled thoughts aside for the moment, Ro-un gave a small bow to In-woo in Baek Ho-yeon’s arms.

“Thank you for the advice.”
“It is still far too little compared to the grace my benefactor has shown me.”
“There may still be aftereffects, so Princess, please focus on rest and recovery for a while.”
“Who do you think I am? Something like this is, waah!”
“You heard the Saint well enough, didn’t you? Let us return now, Princess. And Saint, let us meet again next time.”

At Baek Ho-yeon’s words, which sounded almost like a warning, Ro-un calmed his heart and answered,

“It would be my honor.”
“Father! I’m really perfectly fi, kyah!”

Holding In-woo in his arms, Baek Ho-yeon vanished from sight in an instant.
Going by the princess’s fading scream, they must have moved so far away in that brief moment they were already beyond what his eyes could follow.

“I think the White Tiger just learned about the major incidents, no, the , but I’ll think about that later.”

My head’s too full right now.
Pressing hard at his aching head from the riddles he had gained after solving one incident, Ro-un returned to the banquet hall.

…Who said the Tiger Clan was a closed-off species.
Watching the Tiger Clan members in front of him, their eyes brimming with tears and their hands unable to keep still, Ro-un resolved to ignore every rumor he had ever heard about them.

“Saint, do you really have to go?”
“The Princess also told us to keep our benefactor here until she finishes recuperating.”
“His Majesty would surely allow the Saint to remain in our territory.”
“Saint, you’re leaving? Why?”

From the elderly to the young, from children to women, all of them were desperate to keep Ro-un from leaving.
Looking at the Tiger Clan members of every age and sex with their tearful faces, Ro-un gave an awkward smile and answered,

“I’m sorry, but I’m still a student. I have to return to the academy.”

Ro-un used the fact that he was a student who would soon be dropping out as an excuse.

‘I have to drop out, I have to stop the incidents ahead, and I have to stop the coming Calamities. I can’t stay here forever.’

He was also worried about what kind of stunt the Association President might pull once he learned Ro-un had acted against the Association’s wishes, and if he wanted to drop out and become independent as soon as possible, he needed to gather money too.
Even if he had information that could turn a profit, he would still need to find an agent to handle the actual work….

‘Forget it. Even if it takes longer, it’s better to do it alone.’

While Ro-un’s thoughts wandered for a moment, the Tiger Clan realized they could not stop him and loaded him down with gifts.

“Saint. I’ve heard the human world is a very dangerous place. If anyone tries to threaten you, throw this and run.”
“What is this?”
“A trap that can catch even a tiger.”

…Is that really something the Tiger Clan should be giving me?

‘If it fits in my inventory, that means it’s an item. Is it really okay for them to just hand me something like this?’

Watching the Tiger Clan members cheerfully explain that even a tiger would not escape easily once caught in it, Ro-un slipped the trap into his inventory with a dubious look.

“Then. I’ll really be going now.”
“Saint. If the humans trouble you, come back.”
“His Majesty said that if it is the Saint, you would always be welcome.”
“Saint, come again!”
“Take care, everyone.”

Waving to the Tiger Clan, Ro-un headed down the mountain.
So that he could descend comfortably, a strongly built Tiger Clan warrior carried Ro-un down the mountain on his back.

‘Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure I came up here on someone’s back too.’

Unlike now, he had not had the leisure to admire the scenery then.
Perhaps noticing Ro-un looking around, the Tiger Clan member carrying him spoke in a voice tinged with laughter.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? It’s even more splendid in autumn.”
“I’m sure it is.”

Imagining the mountain dyed in autumn leaves, Ro-un kept turning his head to take it all in.

‘Once I stop all the major incidents, maybe I should come back here once.’

And when Ro-un had gone farther down the mountain and the Tiger Clan who had come to see him off were turning back reluctantly, a light figure appeared where Ro-un had been.

“N-no! I haven’t even seen him off yet!”

It was In-woo, having slipped past the shamanesses and escaped from her quarters.
In-woo circled around the spot where Ro-un had been, then plopped down.
Moisture welled in her clear, yellow-bead-like eyes until they grew glossy.

“Princess.”

At the footsteps that had been made deliberately loud, In-woo lifted her head.
Seeing her tearful face, Ho-yeon plopped down to match her eye level.

“Why are you crying?”
“Faaather. I still, haven’t said goodbye.”

At the tightly held-back voice that made her chest hitch, Ho-yeon brushed back his youngest daughter’s hair with his large, thick hand.
Her body heat, a little warmer than usual from crying, seeped into his palm.

“Then shall we go see him?”
“Huh?

At Ho-yeon’s words, In-woo’s eyes widened.
At the motion, the tears that had barely been hanging on fell straight down.

“I’ve grown curious about the things the Saint intends to stop from here on.”

Baek Ho-yeon curved his yellow eyes, bright as night, into crescents and bared his teeth in a smile as he wiped away his lovely youngest daughter’s tears.
As he was descending the mountain, Ro-un felt a chill for no clear reason.

‘It’s still a little cold for hiking.’