How Druids Live with the Beast

“Stop! Stop!”

Leviyatam suddenly shouted.

Eunho looked at Leviyatam with surprise, startled by the unexpected reaction.

“…It’s all my fault. I’m the one to blame.”

Leviyatam, with a confused look, lowered his gaze.

His face seemed to show that he had been driven into a corner.

“Did you hear that? He says it’s all his fault, right? We’re… not in the wrong.”

One of the Dorolongs stared at Eunho.

The Dorolong’s antenna was partially cut off.

Eunho observed the expressions of the others.

No one said anything.

Other beasts, including the Dorolongs’ own kind, were watching carefully, gauging the one who spoke up.

It was then that Eunho slowly began to see the dynamics of their relationships.

“I guess I underestimated you all.”

Eunho admitted his mistake with a light smile.

He had just been viewing them all as beasts, but they were intelligent creatures in their own right.

What would happen if the logic of power applied to them as well?

It would be no different from a microcosm of real-world society, where the distinctions between the upper and lower are thoroughly marked.

At the top here would be the Black Dog, and at the bottom would be Leviyatam.

“Melodious Brother, there’s something I’m curious about.”

“Speak.”

“Do beasts eat each other?”

The Black Dog looked at Eunho as if to ask how he could even think such a thing.

“…Do humans eat each other?”

“Very rarely, but it is forbidden. Is it the same for you?”

“Of course. It’s a rule set by the king.”

“…There’s a king?”

“Yes.”

Eunho wanted to delve deeper, but it wasn’t the right time.

“Seems like it’s not much different.”

Eunho felt a bit lighter at those words.

If it wasn’t much different, that meant he could understand them more quickly.

“Leviyatam.”

Eunho gently called out to Leviyatam.

“I’m… fine. Really!”

Leviyatam hurriedly backed away from Eunho as it seemed like bubbles were about to form from its mouth.

“I don’t want to be hated by you…”

It was the first time in a long while that it had met such a kind presence.

Before it could cover its mouth, more bubbles began to form uncontrollably, and Leviyatam looked surprised, then contorted its face.

“It’s okay.”

Eunho reached out his hand.

If he became strong, he didn’t want to rule, but rather wanted to be a ladder for others.

He knew it was unrealistic, but that was what he wished for.

Bzzzzz.

Even though the bubbles burst from above, the sound echoed, and the vibrations hit everyone’s ears.

Cold glares rained down, and Leviyatam could feel its heart pounding loudly.

It looked at Eunho with a trembling face filled with fear.

“It’s okay, Leviyatam. Come here.”

Eunho was smiling brightly.

Leviyatam cautiously blinked its eyes at the warm gaze.

It was confused.

It didn’t understand why Eunho was smiling like that.

Leviyatam took one step, then two, cautiously approaching.

“…Are you hurt? Did you get hurt? Is there blood again?”

“No. I’m fine. The vibration wasn’t that strong this time.”

Eunho pointed at the sky.

The bubble burst high up, so the impact wasn’t significant.

“Leviyatam, tell me the truth. That way, I can help you.”

The word “help” felt awkward to Leviyatam, so it slightly parted its mouth.

“Did you really lead all those actions and make them angry? Really?”

At Eunho’s question, Leviyatam looked at the others.

It was scared.

But there was something even scarier.

“…I’ll be alone. If I tell you everything, I might really be left all alone.”

A wave of fear surged, as if it were being pushed to the edge.

Eunho patted Leviyatam.

“I’ll be disappointed if that happens. Did you forget? I already invited you to live with me.”

Leviyatam looked surprised and shook its head.

“Wait, calm down. I’ll ask the Dororong friends.”

At Eunho’s gaze, the Dororongs stiffened, their tails becoming rigid.

What kind of attack was coming?

How painful would it be if they were hit?

“Dororong friends, tell me what happened. It seems like things got tangled up badly, but I’ll untangle it. I promise.”

Eunho extended his pinky finger with a kind smile, and Heukgyeon snorted.

What was so deflating about this?

“…”

The Dororongs looked at each other with surprised eyes.

It wasn’t bad.

He was human, but there was something different about him.

The Dororongs simultaneously focused on the Dororong with its antennae cut off.

The Dororong that was being stared at clenched its short forepaw tightly.

“If I speak, I might die.”

The Dororong tightened its grip on its forepaw.

Leviyatam’s eyes met with the Dororong’s. How long had it been since they locked eyes like this?

The Dororong tightened the grip on its forepaw.

“Then, I guess I don’t need to…”

“There is a powerful being living on that mountain.”

“…Huh?”

Eunho was quite surprised. Unlike the “if I tell you, I’ll die” remark, the words came out very easily.

“I don’t know when it started. It was quietly staying there, but then it took my home, and even tore my antennae.”

The Dororong tried to touch its antennae, but it couldn’t reach.

“Leviyatam saw that and fought it, saving me. I was so scared that I ran away, but I couldn’t escape. It grabbed Leviyatam, who had collapsed, and appeared in front of me.”

Thud.

Thud.

The loud sound of its own heartbeat rang out, and the Dororong’s fur stiffened.

“It tore Leviyatam’s tongue and told me.”

Perhaps recalling the moment, the Dororong’s breath quickened as it continued its story with a tense expression.

“…It said that anyone who approached this thing, or was spotted by it, would be killed.”

Listening to the story, Eunho realized that there was a much deeper misunderstanding than he had initially thought.

“I… I should have driven Leviyatam away. I should have sent Leviyatam farther away from here. The only thing Leviyatam did wrong was accidentally attacking others due to its cut tongue. That was my fault too.”

The Dororong wore an extremely confused expression, while Leviyatam stretched its body forward to look at them.

“…I almost succeeded. But you all came.”

“Babaram?”

Leviyatam cautiously called out to the Dororong whose antennae were cut off.

“Wasn’t it because I was a troublemaker that you didn’t like me?”

“No.”

“Was it because I don’t have a dad or mom and took up a good spot?”

“No, you’re an idiot!”

Babaram yelled, then lowered its head.

“…How could I watch when it said it would kill you? How could I?”

The more the Dororong spoke, the more it felt like water was rising in its throat.

Its whole body began to tremble.

“…Didn’t you hate me?”

“…I’m so sorry. Why would I hate you?”

“…Then, then, did you all feel the same?”

Leviyatam looked at the other Dororongs with unbelieving eyes.

Only when they nodded did Leviyatam fall back, as if sliding down.

It stared blankly at the sky.

“…Leviyatam?”

Eunho called out to the dazed Leviyatam, but it only moved its tail to cover its face.

Afraid that more foam might come out, Leviyatam tightly gripped its tail with its short forepaws.

Its body shook, and Eunho gently patted it.

“I… I know I’m no good. I know. I thought everyone hated me.”

Leviyatam, buried in its tail, whimpered.

“It wasn’t like that?”

“Yeah… yeah. It wasn’t! They all like me!”

Though Leviyatam’s voice was full of tears, Eunho felt a sense of relief.

‘Thank goodness.’

For a moment, he thought about it, then asked the other beastkin, not the Dororongs.

“Was it really because of the things Leviyatam did that you were so angry?”

“…If we don’t get rid of it, do you know what it will do to us? It’s better if it leaves, right?”

“That’s beside the point. We were the ones who were harmed in the first place.”

Eunho looked at Heukgyeon with shock in his eyes.

“What do you want me to explain?”

“Is this how it normally is?”

“What do you mean?”

“No…”

Many thoughts swirled in Eunho’s mind.

Was it really necessary for everyone to get involved just because a strong beastkin had targeted them?

First of all, everyone had power. Why didn’t they think of uniting their strength to fight back against the strong beastkin?

Clearly, Eunho knew what had happened to Leviyatam, but they kept focusing on the fact that they had been harmed and continued to harass him. Now, suddenly pretending to be the victim—wasn’t it embarrassing for them?

But Eunho bit his tongue.

The truth was, humans were no different.

It wasn’t right to say such things only to them.

“…It’s nothing.”

Eunho smiled awkwardly as he mumbled, and Heukgyeon’s eyes narrowed.

“That’s the hierarchy, human. Either you fight to change it, or you’re too scared to even challenge it. Or, you challenged it and lost. We cannot be free from these laws.”

“…I don’t really understand.”

“We are beings much closer to nature than your kind.”

“……”

“But you are different, human.”

Heukgyeon stood up.

He couldn’t understand why this human didn’t even realize what he had done.

Hadn’t they already cleared up the misunderstandings?

He had never seen this kind of solution before.

“You can be free from those laws. Nature has chosen you.”

“Right? Because I’m a druid.”

Eunho put on his glasses, looking in the direction where Heukgyeon was gazing.

Something was approaching.

It was obviously large, about the size of a wolf.

However, it didn’t look like he expected, as it resembled a very ferocious-looking chicken.

Large wings spread out beautifully.

Words soon appeared on the tablet.

《Beastkin recognized.》

《Cockatrice.》

《.》

《.》

《Its temperament is aggressive, and it becomes independent from its parents at an early age. If it has no mate, it lives independently. It doesn’t care if the intruder is of its own kind and prefers attacking over talking.》

《It can move quickly with its thick legs, and its beak and claws are sharp enough to easily cut through iron. The snake-like creature attached to its tail is alive, and it contains poison along with its teeth.》

《Be cautious.》

‘……Wow.’

Eunho was horrified as he read the information about the beastkin on the tablet.

It was not only dangerous like this, but it was the first time a warning had appeared.

‘How vicious must it be for something like this to happen?’

“It’s here! It’s here!”

The beastkin shrieked in fear at the sight of the cockatrice.

It was actually showing up.

The beastkin all quickly backed behind Eunho. With several sensations brushing against his back, Eunho expressed his bewilderment and asked:

“Hey? Why is everyone hiding behind me? My size won’t even block it, you know?”

“…Because we’re scared.”

“Yeah, we’re scared!”

“I’m scared of that beastkin too. Look at its eyes. It’s terrifying.”

Eunho felt like he was about to have a nightmare from the glaring eyes of the cockatrice, which were as sharp as a raptor’s. The dust kicked up from its sprinting form felt like a car charging straight at him.

Heukgyeon slowly stepped forward.

“This is my territory. Even though I’ve reduced it at the human’s request, it still trespassed.”

“…I see. So that’s how it is?”

Eunho gently patted Leviyatam’s head, which peeked out from behind him, and carefully lowered it to the ground.

“That beastkin invaded our territory. If it wants to enter, it needs to put its life in order, walk in slowly, and make a graceful greeting before entering.”

Eunho stood up confidently and walked over to Heukgyeon’s side.

“…Us?”

“That’s right, us.”

Eunho smiled, and Heukgyeon looked ahead.

The resonance wasn’t bad.

Eunho closed his eyes.

The druid was said to be the one closest to nature.

The vibrations of the earth reached him.

Their sorrow approached his heart.

What were they sad about?

He didn’t know the reason, but their questions echoed in his ears.

Was that being an enemy or a friend?

Eunho opened his eyes.

‘Right now, it’s an enemy.’

He felt the cockatrice’s ferocity through the earth.

He had to protect the other beastkin from that beastkin.

Wasn’t that his wish to be a temporary protector?

Eunho unraveled the bandages wrapped around his hand.

It hadn’t fully healed yet, but the recovery speed was good.

‘What would the old dog say? But still, I have to try.’

Eunho took a knife out of his bag.

Unlike the company where everything always depended on others’ achievements, the task he was about to undertake was completely his own choice, and the burden he had to bear.

He liked it.

Without hesitation, he drew a line with his palm again.

“…Human?”

Heukgyeon turned his head at the smell of blood wafting from the side.

“My friends, let’s make one promise because of this incident.”

Blood dripped down onto the ground.

The plants at Eunho’s feet grew without hesitation as they absorbed the blood.

“Let’s not hurt each other with power, but resolve things through conversation. How about it, simple, right?”

As Eunho stomped his foot, the plants that had been swaying gathered together.

After returning yesterday, he had eagerly opened the app on his tablet titled “A Guide for Druids for Beginners.”

But he couldn’t read all of it.

At first, he thought there would only be about two pages of content, but it was so much more.

Just reading it with his eyes didn’t make it immediately clear in his mind either.

But he remembered this part.

—You don’t know how to move the plants even after offering blood? Just remember three things. First, did you offer blood? Second, did the connection with the plants happen properly?

The sensation of countless threads of glowing light touching his body below the ground felt tangible, and it was seen through the eyes of a raptor.

‘Blood and connection, okay.’

After confirming everything, Eunho looked at the cockatrice.

—Third, what’s left now is will. If the connection is made, then it’s one body. Now you need to move it. What are you going to do?

The simplicity was just perfect, and Eunho liked it a lot.

The plants that had gathered around him resembled fists.

“Are you listening, Nature? My answer is that. That’s my will.”

As Eunho dashed forward, Heukgyeon’s body swelled.

“Human! What are you doing right now…?”

Heukgyeon froze, staring at the flowers blooming while Eunho ran.

The plants had gripped his hind legs.

It seemed like they were telling him not to intervene.

Like spring awakening winter, Eunho’s steps were noisy, and nature moved behind him.

Eunho used the plants to create a springboard, helping him soar through the air.

Heukgyeon’s eyes followed his movement.

Though Eunho’s hands struck the air, the fist made of plants headed straight for the cockatrice’s forehead.

BOOM!

With a sound like his head was splitting, the wind swept through.

The cockatrice, unable to even scream, took a step back.

“Th…”

Unable to continue speaking, it staggered and slammed its head into the ground.

Its tongue flicked out from its beak.

Eunho fell to the ground where flowers bloomed in an instant.

Petals fluttered, and Eunho laughed out loud.

“Friend, this is what they call a loving slap.”

Rising from his spot, Eunho hurried over to the cockatrice, which was completely motionless.

“…You’re breathing, right, friend? You’re really breathing, right? Right…?”

He shook the cockatrice and, seeing its belly rise and fall, felt relief.

“…I really thought you were dead. You scared me.”

Annoyed, he playfully flicked its head.

Thwack.

Eunho swallowed a groan and bit his lip.

It felt like his finger was broken, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

It wasn’t a joke; it felt just like flicking his finger against a wall.

‘If I had collided directly with the cockatrice earlier, I’d be headed straight to hell.’

Eunho awkwardly laughed and turned around.

The looks of the transformed beastfolk were the first things he noticed.

From being a helpless human who was just carrying Heukgyeon on his back to becoming a human who had defeated the cockatrice.

“Ta-da!”

At Eunho’s light-hearted words, the beastfolk erupted in cheers.

“You, you really did it!”

“How is this even possible? How…?”

“A human helped us. A human, helped us…”

“I did it.”

Eunho proudly boasted. He wanted to make it clear that he was the one who had done it.

“…You really did it.”

Leviathan carefully approached.

“Of course. I promised Leviathan and our friends, didn’t I?”

“Human.”

At Heukgyeon’s voice, Eunho raised his nose proudly.

“You can praise me as much as you want, old dog.”

“Are you planning to create another giant tree?”

Eunho’s gaze turned to his bleeding hand, which was still soaking the ground.

“…Ah. Looks like there’s no Himos tree here.”

Eunho pulled out a Himos leaf from his bag, which had hemostatic effects, and wrapped it around his hand.

Just then, a shadow fell, and Eunho looked up.

He locked eyes with the sharp, black eyes that resembled a snake.

“…A mere human.”

The cockatrice’s sharp claws descended toward Eunho, ready to tear him apart.

Eunho smiled.

The black smoke that pushed forward wrapped around the cockatrice’s body.

“What… is this?”

“It’s my power.”

As the smoke cleared, a bright yellow light appeared.

It was the kind of gaze that sent a chill down his spine.

Heukgyeon stepped forward.

The golden patterns on his front paws began to glow, and then he slammed the cockatrice’s head into the ground.

BOOM!

“Friend.”

Eunho walked through the dust, waving it away with his hand, and approached the cockatrice.

“We won.”

Eunho’s smile grew as he looked down at the cockatrice.