738.
Cheoeun did not sit.
He always delivered reports standing.
It was habit, and it was attitude.
"I will begin with this month's expenses."
He drew a small ledger from his sleeve and opened it.
The edges of the paper were worn, and the ink bore traces of having been reinforced many times.
It was not a conspicuous ledger, but the entries were precise.
"Rice consumption was slightly lower than last month. Although the noodle shop used more, leakage within the household decreased."
"Why did it decrease?"
"We cut unnecessary disbursements. There were portions that had long been given by custom to those who did no work."
Park Seongjin nodded without speaking.
"Firewood use fell with the coming of spring. Lamp oil expenses rose slightly. Evening customers increased, so the lanterns burned longer."
"That is only natural."
"Yes. The noodle shop income more than covered it."
Cheoeun turned the page.
"There were no repair costs. Aside from one broken roof tile, nothing required expense. The servants fixed matters themselves."
"So no money was spent."
"Yes. We have spare hands. There is no reason to spend unnecessarily. And the son-in-law's skills are excellent. He handles most things on the spot."
He took a breath and moved to the second matter.
"Servant management."
His expression grew firmer.
"These days, none flee or complain."
"Why?"
"The work has become clear. Roles are divided and defined."
"When each knows what he does, they stop watching one another. If someone neglects work, he feels shame first."
"Corporal punishment?"
"None."
"Discipline?"
"Yes. Public."
"How?"
"They speak of their fault and how it must be corrected before the others. Excuses are not permitted."
"There must still be problems."
"There are."
"Speak."
"The lazy remain lazy. Their number has simply decreased."
"You did not drive them out?"
"Not yet. We wait until they cannot endure and leave on their own."
"Why?"
"If expelled, resentment remains. If they stay and give up themselves, resentment lessens."
It was a calculated answer.
"And the noodle shop?"
"Customers increase. We send more people there."
"Do not hire rashly."
"So we use household servants first. Outsiders are observed for a day or two before being taken in."
"Thieves?"
"None."
"Strange."
"With many eyes, nothing can be hidden."
The report remained calm to the end.
"There have been no major incidents. The household runs well."
Park Seongjin remained silent for a while.
Reports of war weighed less than reports such as this.
"You have done well."
At that single phrase, Cheoeun's shoulders lowered slightly.
"I will continue as before."
"Yes. You are guarding the house well."
It was praise.
It was delegation.
It was trust.
—Because the spiritual creature was young, food came to mind first.
Looking down at the small one, he considered what it would eat.
"So, what do you live on? I ate alone."
"Kiryororong."
"That is all you can say. Kiryororong."
"Kiryororong."
Cheoeun asked cautiously from the side.
"Is it not a child?"
"Even a child should say something. It understands."
"How can a child speak?"
"True enough… If you do not mind, perhaps feed it something."
At those words, Cheoeun's face stiffened.
"Ah… it is frightening."
"You struck a dog well enough before."
"That one barked at every person. It was loud."
"And this one?"
Cheoeun stared at the tiger briefly, then flinched.
"I have a strong feeling one should not. If I touch it carelessly, it might bite. It feels as though, once it bites, it would not let go."
Park Seongjin beckoned.
"Come here. Come."
As if understanding, the little one toddled forward.
Coincidentally, a strip of jerky rested in his outer robe pocket.
He offered it without thought.
The creature sniffed, then took it without hesitation.
Its manner of eating was oddly adorable.
It held the meat with something that was neither quite paw nor hand and chewed busily.
"Oh… it eats. Eat."
"Then that will do."
"It is jerky."
"From tomorrow, I will bring something for it as well."
"Good. Do that."
Suddenly, Park Seongjin thrust the tiger toward Cheoeun.
"Here."
"Hik!"
Cheoeun cried out and fell backward.
Fear showed plainly on his face.
Park Seongjin laughed softly.
"Ha. More timid than I thought."
Cheoeun still looked horrified.
"Please do not. It is frightening. Perhaps that is why the village dogs have all been silent since earlier."
One concern was eased.
It ate.
Cheoeun, eager to leave, wrapped the tray quickly and withdrew.
"I will go."
"Yes. Good work."
He seemed to have more to say, but could not hide his unease toward the beast and retreated almost as if fleeing.
—Park Seongjin strolled slowly across the yard.
The small tiger followed close behind.
Its footsteps made almost no sound.
Even its shadow clung tightly to the veranda.
When he mounted the wooden floor and sat cross-legged,
it hesitated briefly, then settled beside him.
It did not imitate him.
It simply placed itself there as though the spot were natural.
It was a tiger,
yet not like one.
The color of its fur was different.
The stripes were faint, and when light touched them, a subdued sheen spread.
Rather than living fur, it resembled condensed energy.
Its cry was the same.
Less a roar than sound stripped to meaning alone.
It did not mimic human speech, yet it responded clearly to words.
He had neither called nor commanded it, yet it remained beside him.
The boundary of the formation remained intact.
Yet the creature showed no awareness of crossing,
no sense of entering.
Not even the feeling that the boundary had failed remained.
That unsettled him more.
Such a small and young tiger.
Youth might be a path of return.
Or a method of concealing strength.
That it had dwelled long at Mount Guwol,
where his master's remains lay,
was explanation enough.
He looked down at the small tiger and said,
"You were at Mount Guwol. Then Guwol suits you."
He tilted his head briefly,
then added as if to himself,
"No… Hyeonwol."
He called softly.
"Hyeonwol."
"Kiryororong."
"Yes. Hyeonwol."
"Kiryororong."
The small tiger
seemed pleased with the name
and pressed closer against him.