Me and the Tigress Volume 1 Chapter 4 part1

I LOVE this part so much. Translating it was a lot of fun. The LN does everyone a lot more justice than the manhwa did.

Also, needless to say I’m rushing to the end of this book.

Edit: I edited a translation I noticed I got incorrect. I apologize for my inability.
“However, I swear with both my body and soul that the young master…” This is the part I got incorrect and consequently fixed.

Do they have no more business with us? The bear women who had filled the area disappeared somewhere. But I didn't have the time to think about that. Rangii may have left me, but with her life on the line, Narae comes first.

Saehee's face was even more grim than usual, but she helped me set Narae down on a nearby bench. I wanted to call an ambulance, but,

"There is no need to. Taking her to the hospital when she has awoken her strength would only create a bigger commotion. She will gain consciousness soon."

I decided to give up this topic as Saehee spoke while setting a splint on Narae's broken arm.

"Instead, it would be best for us to return to your pigsty, young master. Because the public may see us."

"Shut up."

Does it seem like I could go home right now? I could have caught her. If I had taken one step, if I had known what Rangii was planning just a little earlier, if I had guessed, I would have been able to catch her. But this time I wasn't able to. That is my reality.

"The hell is this?!"

And I don't really know much about this reality. Like why Rangii, who was laughing, talking, and happy just moments ago, suddenly returned to Jirisan by herself. Like why Saehee stayed here. Like why the Bear Clan disappeared. I'm utterly clueless. That's why I'm asking her.

"Saehee, you know, right? What the hell is going on?!"

"What are you saying?"

"Why did Rangii suddenly go back to Jirisan? And why did the Bear Clan disappear? Is it okay for you to stay here? What if something happens to Rang……"

"Puhahahahahaha—!!"

Saehee cut off my question. (not exact)

My heart stopped. A terrible fear spread through my body. I held Narae's body, utterly afraid.

She stopped her shriek, and Saehee looked down at me with her usual expressionless face.

"Are you still unable to realize the situation that just unfolded, blockheaded young master? The saying ignorance is a crime truly fits you perfectly. Truly, I would kill you right now, but alas, Master's final command unfortunately stops me from doing so."

I was speechless at Saehee's sudden change. Saehee clicked her tongue with a tch.

"Please do not have a clueless expression on your face as if you too are a victim. It is sickening."

I was furious, but didn't react. I know I screwed up. I know I said something I shouldn't have. But even so, there's no reason for me to listen to what you have to say. If Rangii cursed at me, I'd go down on my knees and apologize; but you aren't Rangii.

"You……"

Saehee cut me off.

"At the very least, you are going to continue to think that this is not your fault. I was mistaken."

I had no way of knowing what Saehee was saying. Rangii leaving was my fault? No, it's a fact that I said some severe things to Rangii. But was it severe enough to make her return to Jirisan? I don't know. Even if you say something, the listener may interpret it differently. Then I need to go resolve the issue and the misunderstanding.

"Yeah. I don't know. So call Rangii over here."

Saehee's jaw dropped at my words…… and then she clutched her belly in laughter.

"Kyahahaha. Young master, you are truly foolish."

"I need to apologize to Rangii for what……"

"Shut your mouth, you goddamn son of a bitch."

Saehee glared at me and held me up by my collar. Kugh?!

"Do you see Master as a dog who would come running whenever the young master beckons? When you do not even understand that this all happened because of you! Even when Master was forced to play the role she despises the most to save the young master, all the thoughtless young master did was hurt her. But what was it you just said?"

"I…… I know that I…… screwed up."

I wasn't able to speak properly while being held by my collar.

"That's why…… let, me…… apologize……"

"You are too late."

The moment Saehee spit out those words, the ground was shaking. An, an earthquake? I was surprised by the first earthquake of my life. I felt relieved after the earthquake quickly stopped, but Saehee clicked her tongue with a sad expression on her face.

"Tch. Our master, so fast on her feet. But it is still too early."

"Ma-ster?"

You mean Rangii created this?

"Sigh."

Saehee let go of my collar. I fell gracelessly onto my backside.

"Quite. Master caused this. The effects of Master forcibly breaking the seal can even be felt here."

"What the heck does that mean? Rangii's breaking the seal?"

"Listen well, young master. I will tell you multiple things as it seems the young master's dull brain is unable to even imagine this. Master would likely forgive such trivial venting of anger. And so, please listen well."

Saehee made a fist and pointed up with her index finger.

"First. The Bear Clan's target was not Master, but you. The Bear Clan was targeting you from the start. The must have thought that, if left like this, Master would realize what true love is and be freed from the seal. That is why they used Narae-nim to try to kill you, but even if she were to failed because of either Master or me, you would not allow any phantoms who hurt Narae-nim to be near you so either outcome would be beneficial.

"Why would they do that?!"

"I will explain when I get to my third reason."

And she also lifted her middle finger.

"Second. In three years, Master will be freed from the seal as it will be unable to withstand Master's strength. And in that case, Ungnyeo and Hwanung will descend and kill Master."

"But Rangii won't……"

"Hwanung told me alone, so Master is unaware of this. Did I not tell you? That that is what Master thinks it is."

That's right. She didn't say a word when we were talking about the seal."

"Then you didn't tell Rangii?"

"Harm is harm, and telling her would not help her. Please think about it. Do you believe anyone can fully explain to a child what love is?"

I remembered the Rangii I'd spent four days with. That's why it was easy to give an answer.

"……No."

"That is why. And so, even if Master has forcefully broken free of the seal, the Bear Clan members are aiming to attack her while she is injured from that. Whether the seal fades or if it is broken, all that awaits are Ungnyeo and Hwanung's fangs. Master realizing what true love is was the only way to avoid their trap. However, should I have told her in spite of that? That if she did not learn what true love is in four thousand years, she would be killed?"

Saehee was right. If she'd done that, I could definitely see Rangii panicking.

Saehee raised her ring finger.

"Third. Ungnyeo does not like the fact that Hwanung once harbored interest for Master. That is why, no matter how, she does not want Master to realize what love is, and why she wishes for the seal to be unable to endure Master's strength. Thus she could harm Master legally, no, without being hated by Hwanung. That sly cow."

"Then there's no reason to go this far!"

"I shall now answer the question you asked me before. Ungnyeo has decided that because of you, Master would be able to learn what love is. And because she was afraid that Master would then be able to seduce her own husband, Hwanung, she used Narae-nim for her scheme. Because if left like this, Ungnyeo's worst case scenario would occur in which Master was freed from the seal."

But the entire premise of this is weird.

"The feelings of a woman who is blindly in love are scary, young master. She is likely unable to think properly. Ungnyeo has likely not even thought of the possibility that Master does not have any interest in Hwanung. No, even if she knew, she would likely ignore it. Saying there was no way."

She folded the rest of her fingers and pointed her index finger at me.

"And, although today was a failure, the danger would continue as long as the young master was alive. Even if Master was to return of her own will, Ungnyeo would be unable to permit the potential for danger. That is why is Master, for the young master's sake, returned to go break the seal. If Master breaks free of the seal by force, the Bear Clan would no longer have any reason to target you."

Then that means,

"Rangii is trying to die?"

"Is that not what humans call love?"

My heart was beating hard.

"Sacrificing yourself for the person you love. Is that not the cliched love story that you humans enjoy so much?"

Oi, oi. Don't screw with me. Who the hell likes stories like that? Just the fact that the person who lo…… likes me would die for my sake is boring. I'm saying there's no need for such a boring story to be written.

Because Rangii can't die.

Rangii has to laugh, play, joke, run, act cute, whine, throw a tantrum, cry, squirm, get sleepy, roll around, and be by my side just like before.

Choosing to die in such a dark cave doesn't suit you at all.

But my mouth wouldn't open.

Rangii may be precious to me, but Narae is equally precious as well. And if Narae, my one and only childhood friend and person I have a crush on, was to get hurt by Rangii? This time it was okay, but what if she dies?

Could I bear that responsibility? Could I endure that pain? Could I forgive Rangii?

Right then, I felt something on top of my head. I opened my eyes in surprise and turned around to find Narae with her eyes open, her hand on my head.

"Narae!"

"Idiot. What are you thinking?"

Her face was still pale, but just her gaining consciousness made tears form in my eyes. But Narae looked at me with her usual angry face as if I was an idiot. Why could she be so upset?

"I heard everything. It's obvious what you should do right now."

Narae bit her lower lip slightly.

"If you don't want me to kill you right now, go bring Rangii back right now."

But there's no way I could just say Yes, I understand.

"But……"

"You know that Rangii didn't have a choice, don't you?"

I do. I do, but still!"

"But you got hurt! Next time you might end up getting more than hurt!"

I was confused and angry. I don't know what to do. This is so complicated that my head feels like it'll explode, and I don't know what to do.

Rangii is precious to me, but Narae is equally so!

Narae rubbed my foolish head.

"I'm okay. Aren't I part of the Bear Clan too? What you're thinking won't happen. So go. If you don't, I'll kill you."

And Narae whispered something so only I could hear it.

Her words calmed me.

"……I need to go."

"Then because you must be tired, I shall take you home……"

"No."

I cut Saehee off.

Have you listened to what Narae said? Why would I go back home? Yeah. Let's imagine if I went back home like you said. Then what would happen? Narae would kill me. She'd try to kill me if she even saw my shadow. When Narae is honestly angry, she's that scary. And that's not the only problem. Yeah, there's still the biggest problem left.

Rangii is going to disappear.

That means the Rangii who called my name, the one who said ridiculous things to me, who screamed weird things after soap bubbles got in her eyes, who has the strange ability to make a question mark with her hair, who made my heart race after she said being with me made her own heart race, who slept happily like an angel, who cried in my embrace, who smiled so happily, who had trouble eating the side dishes she wanted, and the one whom my hand couldn't reach would disappear. How does that make sense?

But all I could do is accept reality. Rangii left me for my sake, and all I can do is watch. There's nothing I can do because all I am is a powerless human. There's nothing I can do.

……Will that be what I think when I look back on this moment?

In ten years? Twenty? Or right before I die? Can I survive by keeping my distance from Rangii, the tiger from the myth, and think to myself Oh yeah, there was that tiger girl who liked me from way back when~?

Yeah.

I'm that kind of guy. As long as I think like that, I can continue to live while believing that. I'm stubborn because I take after my mom. So if I put my mind to something, I can do anything. But the thing is.

But my stubbornness doesn't only go one way?

"Hey."

"My name is Saehee, young master."

"You have a way to send me to Rangii, right? Since it's you I'm talking about."

The corners of her mouth rose in a smile that looked more twisted than anything I'd seen before. It was a smile like that of a lunatic.

"Is that what you are thinking? However, Master unfortunately cannot easily break the ancient seal that Ungnyeo and Hwanung laid down. Even if Master were to break that seal, it is best to forgo any hope of Master retaining her sanity. However, I swear with both my body and soul that the young master would become Master's first meal after she breaks the seal. Due to Master's kindness, your life is spared; and you should spend your long life crawling on the earth."

"At least answer. Geez, you sure love to talk. And who said I wanted that?"

It looks like those words got under her skin. She gripped my shoulder with unbelievable force as if she was about to crush it.

"What did you just say, the little human whose limbs I would tear off and kill if only Master had not given me her final command?"

"I said that I do not want to survive like this. You fish-shit phantom that's always skulking behind Rangii."

Saehee was right. Talking like this is easy once you get used to it.

"Hoo, so you have vomited your liver out of your stomach?"

"Don't bluff. When you can't touch one hair on my chin because of Rangii's words. Or do you want to break it? My shoulder, I mean. It seems like it'd be possible if you tried even a little harder?"

Saehee smiled brightly and let go of my shoulder.

"So the thing above your neck is not only a life-support system, young master."

She may be smiling, but the blue flames dancing in her eyes must just be my imagination.

"You should just tell me if you can send me there or not, the phantom whose chest is as small as her heart."

A blood vessel showed clearly through Saehee's forehead. This is the first time I've ever seen Saehee blush?

"It is possible, young master. Because when a loser half wit like you comes crying to me, I am in the position to give you an amazing tool."

Ah, I know that too. You were a blue cat robot.

"So what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to stop Rangii."

"Are you talking about yourself?"

If you're going to use honorifics, don't suddenly stop using them.

"It's possible because I'm me. Don't laugh at me."

Although that's not really for me to say.

"I refuse. If I send you, you will act like a newborn who is unable to take care of its own bathroom needs due to Master's energy."

"Are you saying you know something?"

"Do you, when you're talking like that?"

It was beginning to come out. That blue flame, I mean.

"Do you know what Master was thinking when she grabbed your hand, why she followed you all the way here, why she looked at you, and…… why she didn't grab our hand! What the hell do you know?!"

"How am I supposed to know that?!!"

That was strong move. And now this is my last-ditch move. Even with Saehee's face contorted with rage, I spit out what I had to say. (tn: I believe board game references were made, but I am not 100% sure)

"Shut up! Shut up! Do you think a human who was living a normal life could suddenly understand things like phantoms, seals, protecting, promises, husband, and soul mates?!"

I tried to understand. I was able to understand to some degree. I could understand that phantoms exist, and that Rangii's misconception about love was directed straight at me. If just a little more time had passed, I would've been able to understand why Rangii grabbed my hand and why she followed me here. I could have realized on my own, thought about it calmly, and let Rangii know my feelings. But reality didn't give me that time.

"It's only been four days! And you wanted me to think about that even while the last 17 years of common sense I'd accumulated was all proved wrong in four days? Am I a genius? Am I an adult? Am I a child? I'm asking if my mind is as deep and wide as the ocean, if I'm a superman able to think rings around a supercomputer! No way! That's impossible! There's no way a stupid idiot loser like me could know all that in such a short time!"

I forced myself to swallow my saliva.

"When the only way I knew the barn was on fire and that the cows were running away was because I saw smoke coming out of the chimney!"

I also don't know what I'm saying right now. Because these words aren't coming from my brain; they're coming from my heart.

"And after she disappears! I could only have known after I lost her!"

Because only she can send me to Rangii! I'm not hiding anything. I'll show her my true feelings as they truly are!

"Because I think that Rangii will never be near me and laugh, be happy, cry, complain, throw a tantrum, be annoying, stick to me, or secretly crawl next to me while I'm sleeping ever again!"

I pointed at the left side of my chest and spoke.

"Something's wrong here! It hurts! It feels like it's going to tear apart! Shit! Why do have so much to say when I want to go meet Rangii!?"

This isn't the time to be saying stuff like this!

"So I'm going to go! So just shut up and send me to Rangii! I'll spank her and bring her back if I have to!"

Huff, huff, huff. I breathed hard and stared at Saehee. I don't know when, but Saehee changed from looking angry to her usual expressionless face. Then she spoke in a small whisper.

"……Truly a lolicon."

I was overcome with a feeling of anger.

"Rangii's a tiger phantom that's more than four thousand years old! She's older than me!"

"The criterion of a lolicon is based on appearance, young master."

Saehee continued to speak as I closed my mouth.

"Still, I was a little surprised. The young master is actually quite a determined man?"

The hell do you mean determined? It took this much for me to realize, so what determination are you talking about?

But still, Rangii. This is your fault too! How could you not accept my apology and go "I'm going to die because of you~" and run away?! And at the end, you even took my, uh, eh, f, first kiss!

"……"

Saehee looked at me with narrowed eyes.

"Shut up. Don't say anything."

More importantly……

"So what're you going to do? Are you going to take me there or not? If you refuse then I'm going to take a taxi so hurry up and tell me."

Saehee replied quickly as if she had already decided.

"Wonderful. I shall help you."

Great! The biggest problem was just solved.

"Then can you take me there with your shukuchi?"

"If I do then your body will be unable to endure the stress of the magic and you will get crushed. Because it is a very far way off. Rather, I have a better method."

"What is it?"

Instead of answering, Saehee hugged me tightly. Saehee's expressionless face was right in front of my nose, her small but still existent breasts were against my chest, and I could feel Saehee's arms around my back. My heart was strangely beating hard…… no that's not it!

"Wha, what are you doing?!"

I leaned my neck back as far as I could and shouted.

"This is the first time I will tell you something properly."

"This is my first time getting hugged like this, so let go of me for now and tell me."

I was ignored.

"I am a changgwi (倀鬼), otherwise known as a gulgak (屈閣). I am the first and last human Rangii-nim ever ate. Changgwi live beside the tiger that ate it, and dedicates itself to luring humans to be eaten by that tiger."

I read the writings of Park Ji-won's Hojo, so I knew about this story to some extent.

"Thus, I can use a spell to bring enticed humans to Master's feet. It is a magic that brings humans next to Master's feet. Although I have never used it before."

"……So?"

"I will send you to Master's side. However, although this skill is fast, only the young master can go there. Because I am not Master's prey. Are you still okay with this?"

So she's saying that even if Rangii loses her sanity and tries to kill me, there's no one who can save me? And she asked me that because she wanted to hear my resolve. Geez. I've already cast my dice a long time ago.

"I don't care."

Saehee smiled.

"Is that so? I hope you will be careful, as if you are eaten, you will become an eewol (彛兀), my successor."

……I don't plan on becoming a ghost.

"Then please close your eyes."

"……There's something I have to ask you first."

I asked Saehee something I was curious about for a while. I heard Saehee's answer and said,

"Take good care of Narae."

"That is easier for me than flipping my hand."

I entered the tiger's den.

Chapter end