* * *
Click.
After Jibeom stepped out of the car first, Saewoo gathered his composure and followed him outside.
“Oh.”
He stopped in awe at the view before him.
“Wow…”
The sight took his breath away.
A vast river stretched before him.
Caught up in their conversation in the car, he hadn’t paid attention to where they were heading… but he hadn’t expected it to be somewhere like this.
It was so grand that if there’d been a salty scent, he’d have thought it was the ocean.
Since being in the beast world, he’d never been to a riverbank before, let alone one this magnificent.
“Where are we?”
“The Tiger River (Beom River).”
“Tiger River?”
Tiger River, based on the meaning of the name, perhaps?
In the beast world, land was much bigger and broader than in the human world.
Unlike the fragmented nations in the human world, this place had fewer oceans and no countries divided by borders.
Aside from distinctions between predators and ordinary beast-folk, there seemed to be few issues here.
Although he hadn’t studied their history much, it felt largely similar to the human world.
“What are you thinking about?”
“…Oh.”
“I’m hungry.”
Seeing Saewoo spacing out as he admired the river, Jibeom grabbed his hand and started leading him in the opposite direction.
“Wait, uh…!”
As Jibeom guided him along, Saewoo thought simply that Jibeom must be really hungry.
“Here… here?”
Saewoo stammered as Jibeom led him to the grand entrance of an imposing mansion.
‘A Korean Folk Village…?’
That was the only way Saewoo could describe it in his mind.
The towering walls, large pine trees planted around, and the elegant tiled roofs made it feel like a well-preserved traditional Korean house—more like a cultural exhibit than someone’s home.
Everything was meticulously maintained, exuding an eerie charm.
It was hard to believe it was just a restaurant with a retro theme, especially in such a remote area.
Creak…
Without releasing Saewoo’s hand, Jibeom pushed open the grand wooden gates.
“Welcome, Hyung-nim!”
Gasp…
As soon as the doors opened, a line of men in black suits stood in formation on either side, bowing deeply and shouting their greeting.
They looked like bodyguards, but every single one of them had an aura like a wild beast.
“Eek…!”
Frightened by the intimidating presence, Saewoo hid behind Jibeom.
He had never seen this many of them at once—at least five times as many as he’d encountered before.
He was overwhelmed by their intense energy.
“Come here.”
Jibeom chuckled, draping his long coat over Saewoo’s trembling shoulders as he clung to him.
“Poor Saewoo, you’re really spooked, huh?”
Even in this situation, Jibeom found amusement, flashing a mischievous smile.
“I forgot to mention—this is the ancestral home of the tigers.”
“T-tigers?”
‘Of course, I should’ve realized from the beginning…!’
Saewoo cursed himself for blindly trusting Jibeom and following him here.
He felt like he’d been tricked.
“Don’t be so scared. I’m here, aren’t I?”
Oblivious to Saewoo’s inner turmoil, Jibeom continued confidently.
“I’ve had ties with these tigers for a long time. I came here for some favors…and a meal.”
“Still… it would’ve been nice to get a heads-up….”
A bit of a warning would have been helpful.
Saewoo pouted, visibly sulking, his lips forming a small pout of displeasure.
Noticing this, Jibeom turned to address the group of tiger-like guards.
“Hey.”
“Yes, Hyung-nim!”
“Turn around, all of you.”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
“Yes, Hyung-nim!”
At Jibeom’s command, the guards obeyed without protest, all turning their backs at once, leaving Saewoo bewildered.
“But… why…?”
“Relax. They don’t smell.”
“What?”
Jibeom whispered into Saewoo’s ear, likely remembering the last time Saewoo had gotten sick from the scent of beasts.
But it was hard for Saewoo to believe.
‘There’s no way there isn’t a smell with this many beasts around…’
Despite his doubts, Saewoo hesitated, finally taking a tentative sniff.
‘Huh…? Really? Rather than the smell of beasts, it’s more like incense from a temple….’
A faint scent like the incense burned during ancestral rites wafted around him, calming his nerves somewhat.
“Not all beasts smell, you know.”
Seeing Saewoo finally let go of his nose, Jibeom began walking, and Saewoo, still hiding under Jibeom’s coat, trailed after him.
‘Well, that’s true. Jibeom’s scent isn’t unpleasant either…’
Unaware that Jibeom masked his natural scent intentionally, Saewoo followed him through the intimidating corridor lined with the silent tiger-like guards.
Eventually, they arrived at a grand entranceway.
“Whoa… it’s huge.”
The place looked enormous from a distance, but up close, it was even more intimidating.
The stone steps leading up added to its grandeur, making Saewoo hesitate.
“Want a lift?”
Jibeom, noticing Saewoo’s hesitation, wrapped an arm around his waist.
Startled, Saewoo reflexively smacked the back of his hand.
“Ow, that stings.”
Despite his words, Jibeom looked oddly pleased, his lips curving up into a smirk.
Clack.
As they climbed the stone steps, the door opened from the inside like an automatic gate.
Just as Saewoo nervously waited for more beasts to appear, a woman dressed in traditional Korean attire greeted them.
“Welcome, Jibeom-nim. We’ve been expecting you.”
“Hm, it’s been a while.”
“Yes… Please, come this way.”
The woman, with her refined demeanor and graceful voice, seemed like a fox to Saewoo, her movements so silent she barely made a sound.
‘Everywhere I look, it’s all beasts… I guess that makes sense, given this is a tiger’s house. But still, even she only smells like incense.’
Saewoo, intrigued, followed the woman to a room.
“Sa… rangbang?” he murmured, reading the sign on the door.
Although he knew the sarangbang was for welcoming guests, being here alone with Jibeom made him feel a bit shy.
“Please, make yourself comfortable. I’ll bring your meal shortly,” the woman said, bowing as she left.
“Ah… thank you.”
While Saewoo thanked her, Jibeom casually plopped down on the floor as if it were his own room, spreading a cushion beneath him.
“The floor’s nice and warm. I could eat and sleep right here. How about it? Feels good, right?”
“Oh… yeah. It’s been a while since I’ve been somewhere like this.”
Saewoo recalled his grandmother’s house in the countryside, where he used to lie on the warm floor and eat tangerines she’d peeled for him.
It was a nostalgic memory.
“Not bad, huh? That’s one meal down out of the five you owe me.”
“Uh… but where’s the menu?”
As Jibeom teased him, Saewoo looked around for the menu.
“They only do set meals here, so there’s no menu.”
“Huh? A set meal?”
‘Like a traditional Korean course meal? But shouldn’t there at least be a basic menu….’
Seeing Saewoo’s confusion, Jibeom patted the spot next to him, where a thick mattress used for royalty lay.
“This one’s on me. I brought you here to the tiger’s den, after all.”
“Huh? Wait, does that mean…?”
He would still owe Jibeom six more meals.
“Why are you overthinking it?”
Jibeom pulled Saewoo toward him, acting as though sheer strength could resolve any argument.
Feeling defiant, Saewoo resisted.
“You’re the one who brought it up! This time, I’ll pay! No way I’m owing you six meals!”
“Huh? Look at you, standing your ground.”
As Saewoo protested, Jibeom raised an eyebrow, showing mild irritation.
In an instant, Jibeom yanked him forward, causing Saewoo to fall into his arms.
“Ack!”
Saewoo immediately cried out, “D-don’t kiss me!”
“I won’t.”
Seeing Saewoo flailing around, Jibeom gently lifted him onto the mattress.
“W-what are you doing?!”
“Just rest.”
Startled, Saewoo stammered, but Jibeom’s voice softened.
“Since that scam, you haven’t slept well, have you?”
“…What?”
“It’s obvious. Just lie down here until the food comes. I bet you’ve been cooped up in that freezing room with only a thin blanket to keep you warm. Just relax for a while, okay?”
“…….”
Despite Jibeom’s less-than-gentle tone, Saewoo felt a strange urge to cry.
* * *
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I think it’s sad
🥺🥺🥺
Marry him!
Good
Hes been living life filled w anxiety it’s been so hard for him…