The next day, the Village Head arrived at Sang-woong’s restaurant in person, holding the Legal Documents.
“If you sign here, that land becomes yours.”
Sang-woong received the documents and read through them carefully.
The Registration Transfer Document clearly had the Village Head’s name written on it.
“Is this correct?”
When Sang-woong asked for final confirmation, the Village Head answered in a voice strained to suppress his anger.
“It’s correct. Just sign already.”
Without hesitation, Sang-woong signed the documents.
At that, the Village Head snatched the papers away as if to grab them, glaring coldly at Sang-woong with frosty eyes as he spoke.
“You’d better make sure to deal with the Mutant Water Deer. And you’ll come to regret this so much that it’ll haunt your bones. Just wait and see.”
With those biting words, the Village Head harshly threw open the restaurant door and stormed out.
From his retreating back, Sang-woong could clearly feel the simmering anger and hatred.
“He still hasn’t learned his lesson. I never expected an apology after all he’s done. Well, let’s see who wins this time.”
Sang-woong stared straight at the departing Village Head and spoke.
“I’ve been paid, so I should take care of things first.”
With the confirmation that he had become the Owner of the new land, Sang-woong grinned with satisfaction.
For a task like this, Leon was perfect.
“Leon.”
As Sang-woong called, Leon came bounding from afar, his long fur fluttering as he ran swiftly.
“Pant, pant, Owner, you called? Kom!”
“Yeah. It’s nothing much—let’s take care of some work.”
“What work? Kom?”
“Let’s go hunt some Mutant Water Deer.”
At Sang-woong’s words, Leon glanced up at his face.
“Without anything in return?” The look in Leon’s eyes said as much.
“Fine. Tell me what you want. Sigh~”
When words couldn’t get through, it used to be enough just to throw him a chunk of meat, but now that they could communicate, his requests had become much more specific.
“I want to eat something new. Kom.”
“Something new?”
Sang-woong shook his head as if annoyed.
“How about just Pork Ribs? You like those.”
“I do like Pork Ribs, but I want to eat something new. Kom!”
“Alright. There’s a Dish I’ve been wanting to try out anyway. I’ll make it for you.”
“Thank you, Owner. Kom.”
Sang-woong took Leon and headed toward the mountain behind the Village.
Leon sniffed the air loudly and quickly began searching for the Mutant Water Deer.
“There. Kom!”
Leon, having picked up a scent that didn’t belong in the Mountain, dashed off like a bullet.
As expected, a Mutant Water Deer was there.
“Don’t kill it, just drive it this way.”
“Understood. Kom!”
As Leon started running, the frightened Mutant Water Deer bolted.
But before a Divine Beast, its struggles were futile.
Leon quickly blocked its path in an instant.
Startled, the Mutant Water Deer changed direction and ran.
It changed directions several times in its attempt to escape, but Sang-woong was waiting up ahead.
With the rope he had prepared, Sang-woong looped it around the deer’s neck.
“Keee-eeek!”
The Mutant Water Deer struggled fiercely in Sang-woong’s grip, trying to break free.
But there was no way it could escape his grasp.
“You little brat, can’t you stay still?”
Without mercy, Sang-woong struck its belly.
“Gyweh!”
With a dull thud, the Mutant Water Deer let out a short scream.
Then, as if all its spirit had left it, it dropped its head to the ground.
“Leon, any more out there?”
At Sang-woong’s question, Leon raised his head and sniffed the air.
Then, he darted off in one direction like a bullet.
Before long, another Mutant Water Deer was dragged before Sang-woong.
Before slipping the snare around its neck, Sang-woong struck its belly first.
Kicked at the legs, the Mutant Water Deer went limp immediately.
“This one’s the last. Kom.”
“Good job, Leon.”
Sang-woong slipped the snare over its neck and walked down the Mountain.
The place he headed was none other than the Village Head’s farmland.
“Hey, eat everything here. Since this is your last meal, eat your fill without regret.”
As if it understood Sang-woong’s words, the Mutant Water Deer began devouring the crops in the farmland.
“Wow, no wonder the people in the Village made such a fuss.”
Seeing the Mutant Water Deer eat in person was astonishing.
The two of them were turning the Village Head’s wide farmland into a wasteland in no time.
Before long, all that remained of the Village Head’s farmland was soil ravaged by the Mutant Water Deer.
“Now that you’ve had your fill, the journey won’t be so bitter.”
Sang-woong spoke quietly.
Slice! Slice!
Sang-woong swung his sword, and two heads rolled across the Village Head’s farmland.
“Let’s go, Leon.”
Leaving the carcasses of the Mutant Water Deer behind, Sang-woong returned to the restaurant.
***
The next day, when the Village Head went to his farmland, he nearly popped his eyes out in disbelief at the scene before him.
His heart pounded with fury, his face twisted like a demon.
“That damn bastard, there’s no doubt he did this on purpose. I’ll never let this go. Just wait and see! Aaaargh!”
Driven mad by rage, the Village Head let out a furious shout.
Back at home, he rummaged through his storage and grabbed some oil.
He also took a sack and set off down the road.
His destination was Sang-woong’s woodland.
“You bastard, you’ll see what it’s like. But you’ll hurt dozens of times more than I did.”
As if used to it, he walked easily through the pathless Forest.
Where he arrived was the Pine Mushroom Cluster.
This place was known only to him.
Even after selling the woodland to Sang-woong, he had secretly harvested Pine Mushrooms here every year, making a fortune.
He carefully searched the area and picked the Pine Mushrooms.
By midday, he had filled five large sacks—a tremendous haul.
With wild animals causing so much damage, Mountain produce was selling for exorbitant prices.
With this much, he figured he could make quite a lot of money.
“It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped.”
He poured the oil he’d brought over the dry leaves.
The thick stench of oil stung his nose.
Wearing a triumphant smile, he took out a Lighter, struck it, and tossed it onto the pile of leaves.
Whoosh!
The oil caught instantly, and a red flame erupted in an instant.
The dry leaves crackled and turned black in seconds.
The Village Head watched the scene with satisfaction, unable to suppress the sneer on his lips.
Just then—
Sang-woong came dashing out from one part of the Forest, Fire Extinguisher in hand.
He quickly sprayed the Fire Extinguisher onto the flames, dousing the fire.
White powder instantly covered the red flames.
“Wh-what? H-how are you here…?”
Blood drained from the Village Head’s face as he stammered at Sang-woong.
No matter how he thought about it, it was impossible for Sang-woong to be here.
He’d slipped into the Mountain unnoticed, and nobody had seen him on his way.
So how had Sang-woong, who should be at the restaurant, shown up at such a critical moment—almost as if he’d known fire would be set, and even brought a Fire Extinguisher?
It felt impossible—like something only a god could do.
Sang-woong was able to see through the Village Head’s scheme entirely thanks to Leon.
Having roamed the woodland like his own home, Leon quickly caught the scent of the Village Head’s intrusion.
He knew instantly—it was that disgusting smell the Village Head brought back every time he returned from the Village.
Leon immediately alerted Sang-woong.
Sang-woong instantly realized the Village Head’s intent.
The reason the Village Head had come deep into the woodland could only be one thing: to vent his rage by committing arson.
“You despicable…!”
Sang-woong grabbed the Fire Extinguisher from the restaurant and dashed after Leon.
When he arrived at Leon’s lead, what he saw was astonishing: the Village Head picking Pine Mushrooms.
It was ridiculous.
For the supposed Village Head to sneak onto someone else’s land and steal precious Pine Mushrooms—
Sang-woong immediately took out his Mobile Phone and recorded the scene.
As expected, the Village Head, after gathering the mushrooms, tried to set a fire.
He wanted to rush out and stop him immediately, but to secure solid evidence of both theft and attempted arson, Sang-woong gritted his teeth and endured the moment.
The Village Head, pouring oil over the dry leaves, sneered wickedly as he threw the lit match.
Seeing him smile with satisfaction as the fire caught, Sang-woong felt his blood boil.
He wanted to run out and smash that filthy face with his fist, but there was no need to dirty his own hands.
He put out the fire with the Fire Extinguisher.
Seeing the Village Head’s face turn pale blue, some of the rage that had welled up inside Sang-woong subsided.
“No matter how angry you are, theft of Pine Mushrooms and arson? Really?”
Sang-woong looked down at the Village Head with contempt.
“Wa-wait… This is a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding!”
The Village Head desperately tried to make excuses, racking his brains.
He had to find a way out of this situation.
“A misunderstanding? I saw it all with my own eyes. And it’s all been recorded on this Mobile Phone. The rest can be explained at the police station.”
“N-no, that’s not it!”
The Village Head suddenly shouted, lunging at Sang-woong.
He tried to snatch the Mobile Phone from Sang-woong’s hand, but there was no way he could manage that.
“How pathetic, clinging on like this. Get off my land now.”
Sang-woong revealed a cold aura, as if he would tolerate no more.
For the first time, the Village Head experienced a Hunter’s Killing Intent, and instantly felt his entire body freeze.
No matter how unruly he was, standing before a beast, his instincts took over—he could only cower in fear.
“Ah, ah, eh—”
Startled, the Village Head fled desperately without looking back.
Sang-woong immediately reported him to the police.
Arrested for Attempted Arson and Theft, the Village Head was sentenced to a long prison term.
He was naturally removed from his position as Village Head, and, unable to show his face in town, he was practically chased out and forced to move away.
And the Village Head’s farmland became Sang-woong’s property.
The Village Head’s wife, in urgent need of lawyer fees, sold it for a pittance, and Sang-woong purchased it through his father.
All problems were resolved, but his parents did not return to their old Village.
Enjoying the new house Sang-woong had built for them and the Excavator he’d given as a gift, they found pleasure in cultivating the land, and life here was far more enjoyable.
***
On a morning bathed in gentle sunlight, the sky spread endlessly in a clear blue.
A soft breeze teased the petals, whispering among the branches.
Birds sang joyfully, dotting the sky, their melody sounding like a beautiful symphony of nature.
Amidst the peaceful scenery, beneath the grass, a strange tension lurked.
Today was the day of the Contest for Chief Selection uniting the Ahoa Tribe and Kahuka Tribe.
Those who had shared a long history reunited on Sang-woong’s Land.
Though sometimes friends who blossomed into bright laughter, standing before the banner of victory, they were true rivals who would yield not an inch.
Like gladiators about to duel on the edge of a cliff, the excitement for this Contest for Chief Selection burned hotter than ever before.
Especially since it had been so long since the event had last been held—its very return uncertain—the fervor and anticipation were even more intense and desperate.