"Ha~ life is truly tedious, so tedious!

A massive yawn escaped his wide-open mouth, echoing loudly through the mountains like a mountain spirit's call. The man, who had been lying spread-eagled on the wooden porch, sat up with a disgruntled face. Standing tall with broad shoulders, his smooth, firm upper body was exposed to the sun, as he wasn't wearing a Jeogori. Messy black hair covered his neck above his mischievous eyes, but a worn-out Gat was perched firmly on his head.

It was the Dokkaebi 'Tak.'

It had been hundreds of years since he settled in these mountains during the mid-Joseon period. A non-human life, where one lives without eating and does not die without drinking, was dreadfully boring.

Even if I just go near him, the pond's Mountain Spirit lowers his eyes and ignores me, and that foolish tiger won't even show his nose outside the den because he's scared... Tsk, I need a friend to play with.

Tak sat heavily on the edge of the porch and slapped his thighs.

He thought about making some buckwheat jelly in the cauldron, but then shook his head, thinking that wine and jelly eaten alone would have no flavor. On a day like this, nothing beats gripping a Satba on the firm sand and competing in a round of Ssireum while shouting at the top of one's lungs.

It was right then.

The sound of someone walking through the grass on the mountain path below caught Tak's sharp ears.

Oho?

Tak's eyes snapped open. A mischievous, gray-toned smile spread across his face, and he leaped off the porch. His movements were agile and silent, unbelievable for a giant standing 190cm tall.

Tak pulled his Gat down low and skillfully formed a hand seal with both hands.

Hehehe, I was just about to sprout thorns from boredom! Shall I try using a spell for the first time in a while?

Tak began to solemnly chant an incantation in a low but resonant voice.

With a faint 'Bang!' and a puff of smoke, Tak's tall body, which had been standing in front of the porch, vanished into thin air as if by magic. But what was the point of hiding? The invisible Tak was stomping through the grass in high spirits, shouting loud enough to shake the mountain in a boisterous voice he had no intention of concealing.

Hey there~! You, Kim-seobang, coming this way! You're a new face. How about a quick round of Ssireum before you go?!"

From the empty air that had suddenly approached right in front of you, the playful breath of a Dokkaebi wafted toward you along with the pleasant scent of earth.