How Druids Live with the Beast

Eun-ho twitched his brow. The bandages and plaster on his face shifted along with the movement.

His whole body hurt.

There was no part of him that wasn’t in pain.

As he slowly rolled his eyes, a familiar place came into view.

‘…Is this a hospital?’

Could all of this have been a dream?

After all, there were mythical beasts, and even controlling plants with druidic powers didn’t make sense.

‘That was an interesting dream.’

Eun-ho briefly closed his eyes and then opened them again.

Creak.

At the sound of a door opening, Eun-ho turned his head.

Immediately, the tall figure caught his eye, followed by a rather scruffy-looking person.

“Oh, you’re awake! You’re awake!”

The man clapped his hands together, and Eun-ho blinked in confusion.

‘Do I know this person? Why is he so happy?’

“Hey there, student. How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine, but who are you?”

Eun-ho’s voice was low, and his wariness was clear in his eyes, causing Tae-ho to feel a bit awkward.

“…Oh, I should’ve introduced myself first. I’m Seol Tae-ho. And what’s your name, student?”

“Seo Eun-ho.”

Eun-ho’s eyes narrowed.

A coldness emerged on his face, which had previously appeared strangely languid.

Tae-ho flinched slightly. Even though Eun-ho hadn’t said anything, Tae-ho somehow felt overwhelmed by his presence.

His face, covered with bandages and swollen from the injury, might have contributed to that feeling.

“Anyway, I’m a researcher studying mythical beasts. I think you’ll understand it better if I say I’m a government employee.”

Tae-ho showed his ID badge.

The photo was there, and the name matched what he had just introduced.

‘So it wasn’t a dream?’

Eun-ho turned his head and looked out the hospital window.

Though the hospital was a bit outside the city, the buildings were filled with structures that seemed higher than anything in the world he knew.

He wanted to accept this as reality, but the word ‘mythical beasts’ kept getting in the way.

‘…Right. It’s not a dream.’

Confusion overwhelmed him, but soon a quiet joy began to surface. It felt like a new life and opportunity were waiting for him.

Could this be a chance?

“I’ve been waiting for you to wake up, Seo Eun-ho.”

“One moment.”

Eun-ho briefly interrupted Tae-ho’s words.

Before getting to the main point, he needed to think things through a little.

This was a different world, and there were many things he needed to consider.

“Right, right. I got ahead of myself. Take a deep breath for a moment.”

Tae-ho had adopted a rather humble attitude, and only then did Eun-ho understand the situation.

It seemed that Tae-ho really needed him, and he needed Tae-ho just as much.

‘I want to ask if the Black Hound is okay, but I’ll have to hold back for now.’

Seol Tae-ho was, after all, a researcher studying mythical beasts.

Why else would he have come to meet Eun-ho?

No matter how he thought about it, it could only be about the Black Hound.

After taking a deep breath, Eun-ho asked.

“Then, may I ask a question first?”

“Of course. Feel free to ask anything.”

Eun-ho, hiding his best card, casually prodded.

“There was something that attacked me…”

“W-Wait, wait a moment!”

Tae-ho hurriedly interrupted Eun-ho’s words.

It sounded like something big was about to come out.

“Let me clear this up first. The one who attacked you, Seo Eun-ho, was a psychic.”

‘Psychic…?’

Eun-ho’s pupils wavered slightly.

“They were those damn non-affiliated psychics. Those bastards attacked you.”

‘…Huh.’

Although Eun-ho didn’t know much about the specifics, the repeated mention of psychics almost made him laugh.

The concept of psychics hadn’t existed in his original world, so it felt too unrealistic.

The term “non-affiliated psychics” was also completely unfamiliar.

‘…But more importantly, am I okay?’

Hadn’t he crushed a psychic with tree roots?

Wouldn’t they eventually come for revenge, using telekinesis or some other power to crush him?

“So what exactly is a non-affiliated psychic?”

At Eun-ho’s question, Tae-ho looked at him with concern.

‘…It seems like the shock is quite severe.’

Wasn’t it common knowledge what a non-affiliated psychic was?

Could it be that Eun-ho had some memory issues?

Tae-ho stopped his thoughts and then spoke up.

“First, all psychics are affiliated with the state. Those who refuse to join are called non-affiliated psychics. In simple terms, they’re criminals.”

“…Ah, they were criminals? Then, what about the so-called Purifiers? They said they were going to kill mythical beasts, but they didn’t seem all there in the head.”

Woof woof, what if you show up again after I’ve killed them all? You’re our Purifier’s pride!

Didn’t those cult-like people call themselves Purifiers?

“There’s no way they’re sane. They’re lunatics who will tear apart and kill any mythical beast they see.”

Tae-ho was about to get upset but managed to suppress his emotions.

They were a group that irritated him just by hearing their name.

“They were suspicious from the start. They are a cult, right?”

Eun-ho asked casually. It seemed like he was wondering if they were brainwashed since their thoughts seemed a bit off from normal people.

“They’re worse than that. If you meet them, they’re the worst kind—people who you’d want to beat up.”

“Can I beat them up?”

“Most Purifiers are non-affiliated psychics, so as long as you don’t kill them, it’s fine.”

“You just can’t kill them?”

At Eun-ho’s surprisingly cheerful question, Tae-ho paused.

Eun-ho tried to smile, but the pain in his face made it difficult.

“Right. But by the way… just to be sure, you haven’t met any mythical beast managers before me, have you?”

Tae-ho acted cautiously, and Eun-ho slightly widened his eyes.

“Mythical beast managers… What’s that?”

Was Eun-ho really not aware of them, or was he pretending? Tae-ho was confused.

He had clearly seen the mythical beast managers entering and leaving the room, so he was worried.

From the beginning, the Mythical Beast Management Bureau had wanted the Black Hound to be killed. One word from Eun-ho could have made that happen.

Naturally, that was something that had to be stopped.

“Um… You know, the people with lion-face tattoos on their left forearms. The ones who make you feel frustrated just talking to them.”

“I don’t know them.”

“Those people must’ve said something to you, but it was all nonsense. The government has instructed them to manage and observe mythical beasts, but all they do is harm them…”

Tae-ho trailed off, then forced a smile.

There was a sense that he was trying to cover up his mistake with humor.

“So, in short, they’re just pretenders?”

Eun-ho had seen the hostility in Tae-ho towards the mythical beast managers, and now things were starting to make sense in his mind.

The mythical beast managers hated the Black Hound.

Tae-ho, on the other hand, wanted to protect it.

“Exactly! They’re total trash! You probably saw a black wolf—or no, something more like a dog, a mythical beast. Right?”

“Yeah, I saw it.”

“The Black Hound… Did it, by any chance, harm you?”

Tae-ho took a deep breath. The next part was very important.

‘My testimony is definitely needed right now.’

Eun-ho understood from Tae-ho’s question that his testimony could decide the Black Hound’s fate.

He could speak up now, but he considered his own situation.

He had suddenly ended up in this other world.

Naturally, he had no identity here.

He also had no money.

‘It’s a relief if I’m just broke, but what about my identity issues?’

It was a serious headache, and it was gnawing at him.

The one thing that seemed to work in his favor was that Seol Tae-ho seemed to have a relatively high social standing. A research institute director wasn’t someone who could be easily replaced.

He figured that Tae-ho would listen to him now, so he decided to ask for help.

“Well… Mr. Seol Tae-ho, my situation isn’t that great right now, so…”

“How much do you need? For problems like this, money is usually the easiest way to solve things.”

Tae-ho suddenly wiped the smile off his face and looked at Eun-ho coldly.

It was as though he had encountered situations like this dozens of times.

But Eun-ho, taken aback by the unexpected focus on money, slightly widened his eyes.

It was as if Tae-ho was treating him like someone suddenly obsessed with money.

“…Wow, you’re rich? How much can you give that you’re so confident about it?”

“If you want something, just say it quickly. I’d prefer that.”

“Don’t regret it. I’m going to ask for something really big.”

Eun-ho’s smile widened. There was a mischievousness in it, which made Tae-ho’s face full of suspicion. It was hard to believe that Eun-ho was smiling like that in this situation.

Knock.

The sound of a knock on the door made Eun-ho miss his timing to speak.

“Excuse me.”

Tae-ho walked toward the door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, Doctor.”

A woman’s voice responded.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and a woman walked in. She appeared to be in her late 20s.

The first thing that caught Eun-ho’s eye was the long pink hair with waves, followed by the round glasses.

She touched her bangs with her fingers before speaking.

“Excuse me.”

Since she was small, even though she was lying down, Eun-ho could clearly see her face without having to lift his gaze much.

“Hello.”

Eun-ho greeted her first.

“Hello. How are you feeling? Has the doctor been a nuisance?”

Seeing Tae-ho fidgeting as soon as the woman entered, Eun-ho pretended not to know and started the conversation.

“Not at all. Actually, he made me quite happy. I’m rich now.”

With that playful remark, she closed the door and glanced at Tae-ho.

Her gaze was sharp.

“…Are you planning to pour all your wealth into this now? Are you bragging about how much money you have? You can give that money to me.”

“That’s a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding! I haven’t… done anything yet…”

“Why are you so impulsive when it comes to anything related to mythical beasts? Let’s think before speaking, Doctor.”

She spoke rapidly before sighing. She wasn’t sure what kind of trouble Tae-ho had caused, but it was time to clarify.

After pushing her glasses up, she looked at Eun-ho.

“Sorry for the intrusion. My name is Oh Ga-eul. I handle various conveniences and general matters for the Mythical Beast Research Institute. In simple terms, I’m the official responsible for both the preparation and follow-up for the researchers.”

“I’m Seo Eun-ho. It seems like the country is really supporting you.”

“That’s one way to put it. The doctor is quite famous.”

“Oh, really?”

Eun-ho smiled broadly, but Ga-eul coldly responded, showing no intention of getting caught up in his mood.

“Seo Eun-ho, I’m sorry to bring bad news.”

“Uh?”

“After checking with your fingerprints, there were no data values. You’re not even a foreigner. Who exactly are you?”

While Eun-ho remained calm, Tae-ho looked at Ga-eul with a surprised expression.

“Wa… wait a minute, Ga-eul?”

“Identity verification is basic. Isn’t the fate of the Black Hound going to be decided by a single word from Seo Eun-ho?”

“That’s true, but this is… so sudden.”

Tae-ho couldn’t continue, and Ga-eul looked at Eun-ho with a slightly troubled expression.

Honestly, she didn’t want to go this far.

“In this situation, please answer clearly.”

Ga-eul couldn’t be any stronger in her approach.

The Black Hound’s fate could be decided by just one of Eun-ho’s words, and that was why she needed clarity.

“Don’t be so nervous. Our conversation with Seol Tae-ho isn’t over yet.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“If it were up to me, I don’t want the Black Hound to be killed either. So, all you have to do is listen to my humble request first.”

Following Eun-ho’s smile, both Tae-ho and Ga-eul watched him closely, with a sense of tension building.

“I’d appreciate it if you could make me an ID, contribute to my medical bills, and give me living expenses until I find a job. Oh, and a small apartment would be nice, just a one-room would do. Nothing big.”

Eun-ho kept talking despite the pain in his fingers.

How modest his requests were.

“Did the Mythical Beast Managers offer something like that?”

Tae-ho asked, surprised. Considering the Black Hound’s situation, it was an incredibly modest request.

“No.”

Eun-ho raised an eyebrow but stopped when the pain made it difficult.

Why had this person been bringing up the Mythical Beast Managers, people he hadn’t even met?

“Then why did you choose us?”

“I really like animals. A lot.”

Eun-ho’s gentle smile made both Tae-ho and Ga-eul waver. There was no sign that he was lying.

“But then, why have you been mentioning the Mythical Beast Managers, Seol Tae-ho? You’ve never met them, have you?”

“…Doctor, didn’t you say the Mythical Beast Managers were going in and out?”

At Eun-ho’s question, Ga-eul narrowed her eyes before opening them again.

If it wasn’t true, she wouldn’t have taken such a strong approach.

“I saw them enter the room, Ga-eul. I’m serious.”

Tae-ho explained, but Ga-eul’s frozen expression didn’t soften.

“Wasn’t it before I woke up?”

At Eun-ho’s words, Ga-eul tightened her grip on the tablet in her hand.

“Honestly, I don’t want to make these demands either. But if what Ga-eul says is true, then I’m in deep trouble, right? We’re in the same boat.”

“In the same boat? Since when… oh, right. We decided we’re in the same boat.”

Tae-ho was flustered and was about to refute Eun-ho’s statement but quickly changed his mind. He was offering to testify for the Black Hound.

Who could turn down something so cheap compared to the Black Hound’s life?

“But is it possible to make an ID? Isn’t that illegal?”

When Eun-ho asked, Ga-eul tapped her tablet.

“It’s possible. It’s very easy for me.”

Her nonchalant statement about committing an illegal act made Eun-ho smile in disbelief.

“Are you asking for a contract? I guess that would be our collar.”

When Ga-eul asked, Eun-ho nodded.

Given her high position, the penalties for illegal acts would be severe.

“I’ll give it to you later.”

“Then, can someone explain what the Mythical Beast Managers do? I understand that they suppress the beasts, but…”

Eun-ho’s serious expression made Tae-ho and Ga-eul exchange glances.

He was asking such an obvious question.

Their eyes seemed to communicate, but it was clear that they weren’t on the same wavelength.

“Did you lose your memory? Only psychics can handle mythical beasts… so you don’t know the basic fact that all Mythical Beast Managers are psychics?”

Ga-eul stared at Eun-ho.

There was still so much about him that didn’t add up.

He had just appeared out of nowhere.

“Or maybe you’re from another world?”

Tae-ho asked with a hint of humor, but then he burst out laughing at his own question.

Laughing alone, he glanced at Ga-eul.

“Wasn’t that funny, Ga-eul?”

“Should I start calling you ‘Manager’ from now on?”

Ga-eul looked at Tae-ho with a disappointed expression.

The idea of coming from another world was nonsense.

“How did you know?”

At Eun-ho’s playful answer, the two of them fell silent.

The silence stretched on for a long moment before Ga-eul let out a laugh, and her glasses slipped down.

“…You’re serious?”

She looked at Eun-ho as though he were the most absurd person in the world.