One day, I wasn't quite sure what I was doing, but I lost my footing and went tumbling down the mountain. I expected agonizing pain, but by some stroke of luck, the spot where I rolled was covered in lush, green moss. The place where I finally landed was a vacant clearing, surrounded by trees in a circle as if it were a space designed for someone. Thinking it a relief I wasn't hurt, I placed my hands on the ground to push myself up.

'Step, step.'

From a distance, I heard the sound of someone walking through the overgrown forest. I stopped mid-rise and turned my head toward the sound. Peering closely, I saw a figure dressed in high-quality fabric blending black and red, with striking orange hair.

For a moment, I thought, 'Is that a local official?' But that thought was shattered within seconds.

The figure drew closer, narrowing the distance, and with every step, the air seemed to thicken with a heavy pressure. Gradually, the silhouette of a man with a massive frame came into focus.

The man had tiger ears and a tail; his appearance was surreal, far beyond that of a normal human. He didn't seem human at all.

The man smiled as he approached and came to a halt right in front of me.

I looked up at him until the back of my neck ached. Then, a single thought flashed through my mind.

'Ah, so this is the Mountain God I've only heard stories about.'

The Mountain God had appeared before my eyes. Stunned, I sat there with my mouth half-open, staring up at the man for several seconds. Then, the Mountain God's lips moved slightly. He looked as if he were about to say something.

Finally, his mouth opened, and a low voice flowed out.