“Ugh…”

Groaning from a sharp headache, the young man instinctively reached out his hand.

Soft.

What his hand touched felt smooth and tender.

Feeling the softness beneath his fingers, he slowly opened his eyes.

“Have you awakened?”

A sweet, melodic voice reached his ears. As his blurred vision cleared, what he saw was a breathtakingly beautiful woman.

‘Who…?’

Still half out of it, he hadn’t yet realized what he was touching.

“Ah…?”

The moment he did, his face went pale.

What he had grabbed was—

“I-I’m sorry!”

—her chest, wrapped in a white robe.

Realizing what he was doing, he jerked his hand away in a panic.

He quickly scrambled off her lap and backed away.

The woman, watching his flustered movements, merely smiled as if she found him amusing.

“W-Who are you?”

Still on edge, he asked cautiously while she sat gracefully, one knee bent, looking perfectly composed.

Where was this place?

And who on earth was this woman?

He studied her carefully.

Her long, snow-white hair was pinned up with a delicate hairpin. The pure white robe she wore accentuated her elegant figure, exuding an old-world, ethereal grace.

Her skin was white as jade, and her golden eyes—reminiscent of a cat’s—gleamed with quiet strength.

Just being near her filled him with an odd sense of pressure.

There was no way she was an ordinary person.

Perhaps amused by his wary expression, the woman smiled softly.

“Hm. It seems my judgment wasn’t entirely wrong. You’re rather perceptive.”

‘Ye? What’s with that old-fashioned way of speaking?’

The kind of phrasing you’d only hear in a historical drama.

‘Is she… weird?’

Seeing his confused look, the woman spoke gently.

“This may take some explaining. Would you like a cup of tea first?”

She snapped her fingers lightly—

And instantly, a small table and two teacups appeared before them.

His eyes widened in shock, but she simply smiled.

“Sit. You needn’t be so tense.”

Still wary, he quietly sat down.

Then he glanced around.

The floor was made of polished wood. The surroundings gave off the feel of an old traditional building.

Meanwhile, she silently observed him.

He looked harmless—an ordinary young man, timid and cautious.

His wary eyes reminded her of a gentle herbivore.

Or perhaps a frightened fawn.

The sight made her feel both pity and faint amusement.

Finally, she spoke softly.

“Introductions first, I suppose. I am Baekho, the White Tiger. The mountain guardian of this land.”

At her calm words, he froze.

Baekho? As in…

“B-Baekho? You mean… like, that white tiger in the zoo…?”

Sure, she had white hair—but she didn’t exactly look like one.

Whack!

Before he could finish that thought, she smacked him on the head with a long smoking pipe from who-knows-where.

Sighing, she said flatly, “To think you’d place me on the same level as such a mere beast. How disheartening.”

“Then… you mean that Baekho? One of the Four Guardian Gods?”

If not the tiger in the zoo, then the mythical one.

When he asked, still doubtful, she nodded.

“At least you know that much. I’m relieved.”

His eyes widened.

She was serious.

“You’re… really one of those Four Guardians? But… isn’t that just a myth?”

Was she insane?

Her gentle smile deepened.

“Well, it’s understandable that you wouldn’t know. Such matters aren’t for common folk to believe in. The government prefers it that way.”

She understood his disbelief.

To ordinary civilians, talk of Guardian Deities, monsters, or spirits was just folklore.

In truth, the government deliberately concealed such things.

Knowing wouldn’t help anyone.

Even if people were aware of monsters roaming the world, they’d have no means to deal with them.

Revealing that truth would only spread panic.

“It is our duty to handle those creatures—to protect humankind. But…”

Her voice trailed off slightly.

“…there has been a problem.”

A problem?

He tilted his head just as she conjured a mirror before him.

“Look.”

Seeing was better than telling.

She wanted him to understand his situation quickly.

“…!”

His eyes widened as he saw his reflection—his once-dark hair was now stark white.

‘Huh? When did I… get so many gray hairs?’

Reading his thoughts, Baekho calmly explained,

“It is not gray hair. It is proof of our connection.”

“Con…nection?”

His confusion deepened.

“Yes. To save you, I bound your soul to mine. You and I are now linked. You have become a being much like me.”

Her tone was matter-of-fact, but her words carried weight.

When she’d found him, he had been moments from death.

No one could revive the dead without sacrifice.

To save him, she had to offer something in return.

And that sacrifice… was this bond.

“The power you hold is my power, and my power is yours. Yet, the control—unfortunately—lies with you. That is the problem. My strength was meant to protect the people. Now, not only has it been spent saving a single man, but I’ve lost the right to wield it freely.”

Their souls were now intertwined.

They shared power—but the one who held control was him.

Because—

“If I had taken control, your body would not have survived. You would’ve become a mindless shell.”

He blinked.

So that’s what she meant.

Essentially, he was already dead.

His body was moving only because their souls had been fused.

If she held the reins, he’d just be an empty puppet.

But since he held them, he retained his will and consciousness.

That was why it had to be him.

And because of that—his new role was already decided.

“It was I who saved your life,” she said quietly. “Do you remember? You were meant to die.”

“…”

He stayed silent.

He remembered her voice—asking him if he wanted to live.

And how he’d answered, “Yes.”

“You… really saved me?”

She smiled faintly.

“You could say that. And since you owe your life to me… shouldn’t you offer something in return?”

“Uh…”

He couldn’t deny it.

“I-I understand. So what do you want me to do?”

Knowing he could never repay such a debt, he asked politely.

Her smile widened.

“Don’t be so frightened. It’s not such a terrible request.”

Then, with a calm but decisive tone, she declared,

“You will act as my agent in this world. My substitute. That is what I ask of you.”

Her words struck him like thunder.

She wanted him to take her place—to fulfill her sacred duties.

To become her representative, her partner… her companion.

“…Huh?”

He blinked, dumbfounded.

Seeing his confusion, she chuckled.

“Do you refuse? Then I suppose I’ll just sever our connection… and return you to being a corpse.”

“Ahaha… ha…”

Her light tone made it even scarier.

Only now did he truly realize—

She held his life in her hands.

He forced a laugh, awkward and hollow.

And as he did, he knew instinctively—

He had just been pulled into something far beyond his understanding.

But it was already too late.

Just as she said—

The moment he owed her his life, any right to refuse vanished completely.