Those Who Tend the Scrub (1)
Screeech.
The locomotive ground to a halt with a long, grating friction sound.
"We're here."
At Jang Seo-yeon's words, Go Cheon-su stepped out and scanned the surroundings.
Green Arboretum, was it?
Lives up to the name.
So much green.
His field of vision was completely filled with green. Go Cheon-su, who had imagined a quaint little spot from the cute-sounding name, couldn't help but widen his eyes.
"Feels almost like a jungle..."
It seemed perfect for hiding, at least. Go Cheon-su hopped down from the locomotive first.
"Hyung, I'm coming with."
"Me too."
Yang Min-cheol and Jang Seo-yeon followed one after another. Go Cheon-su checked their gear. Yang Min-cheol gripped a bloodstained steel pipe, while Jang Seo-yeon held her reclaimed K2 rifle.
"Min-cheol, that thing any good?"
Yang Min-cheol nodded vigorously at Go Cheon-su's question.
That was true enough. A dagger alone felt sorely lacking.
"Alright, let's move out."
They needed to get out of here fast, one way or another. Go Cheon-su took the lead.
It's so quiet.
The only sounds were birds chirping faintly and their footsteps crunching on the ground. Feeling Yang Min-cheol and Jang Seo-yeon behind him, Go Cheon-su glanced up. Orange sunlight pierced through the canopy.
Time's...
The sun was setting. No way back to the locomotive now—they had to hurry.
Rustle.
That's when it happened. Go Cheon-su froze at the sudden noise.
"...What was that?"
Nothing visible right in front of him. He turned to his companions. Unfortunately, they hadn't spotted anything either.
Watching them shake their heads, Go Cheon-su shifted his gaze forward again.
"Hyungs, did you see anything?"
No real intel, but something was definitely out there. Go Cheon-su pressed on with his group, unease gnawing at him.
Grrr.
He halted again at the new growl.
"Ah, damn it..."
Something was there, but invisible—enough to drive anyone mad.
"Hyungs, any invisible monsters around?"
Vague answers. Go Cheon-su turned to Jang Seo-yeon.
"Jang Seo-yeon-ssi. How big is this arboretum?"
"Maybe 15 minutes if we hustle straight through."
"Then let's pick up the pace. Sun's setting."
Too fast for cautious scouting in the growing gloom. Darkness plus unknowns spelled disaster.
"Hyung, I'll take point."
Yang Min-cheol stepped forward, raising his steel pipe.
"What? You?"
"Yeah. There's a path."
He pointed to a directional sign at a diagonal. A simple map was etched on it.
"I saw the whole thing. Let's go."
His pathfinding knack was no fluke—top-tier talent there.
"Good. Lead on."
No reason to refuse. Yang Min-cheol up front, Go Cheon-su second, Jang Seo-yeon last. Sunlight faded by the minute; shadows pooled everywhere.
Grrr.
Growls multiplied from all sides. The trio fell silent, minds racing with plans. Even escaping meant finding shelter—and plotting that took focus.
Grrrr.
"Min-cheol!"
Something loomed ahead; Go Cheon-su yelled.
Crack!
Yang Min-cheol swung his pipe on cue—solid hit. But retaliation whipped back fast.
Grraaaah!
"Fall back!"
Go Cheon-su yanked Yang Min-cheol's nape. A vine-like tendril grazed where he'd stood.
"Vine...?"
Now he saw it clearly.
Ent. A 2-meter tree monster, lumbering with cracking groans. Go Cheon-su sighed at the sight.
"Fuck, plant monsters? You're kidding."
His most hated type—could sprout anywhere greenery grew.
"Move!"
Jang Seo-yeon lunged, slamming the Ent's trunk.
Grraaaah!
It staggered hard.
Thwack! Crack!
"I'm busy—kill it quick!"
Thwack! But it wouldn't fall. Instead, a vine lashed at her throat.
"Ngh!"
She barely blocked with her rifle stock, reeling back.
"You bastard! Hyaah!"
"Wait!"
Go Cheon-su blocked her.
"Leave it! These Ents are slow anyway!"
He'd clocked it: fast attacks, sluggish otherwise. Grabbing both, he pulled them away.
"Just dodge and run! Min-cheol, guide fast—we're sprinting!"
"O-okay!"
Yang Min-cheol bolted past the Ent. Go Cheon-su and Jang Seo-yeon followed. A few more Ents popped up, but Yang Min-cheol's skills held—they weaved new paths.
Escape seemed imminent.
Grraaaah.
If not for the 4-meter Ent blocking their split.
"Hyung!"
Yang Min-cheol yelled at the sudden interloper.
"Min-cheol, flank!"
Go Cheon-su warned. More Ents rose beside him. Yang Min-cheol paled, spotting them late.
"Go first! I'll break through!"
Alone, he'd slip by. Go Cheon-su pointed ahead, shouting.
"But hyung, the path..."
Yang Min-cheol trailed off, then fled the surge.
"Hyung, come quick!"
The path was clogged with Ents.
Why no Aggro?
Go Cheon-su swallowed hard as Ents closed in. Provoked, but no meter rise.
"Hyungs! Why no Aggro?!"
Go Cheon-su struck a nearby Ent.
Grraaaah!
Aggro 1 - 10:00
"What the—"
Hit-to-aggro type. Blind and deaf, obviously.
"Jang Seo-yeon-ssi! Calm down!"
He grabbed her as she strafed nearby Ents.
"Don't hit! Hitting draws them!"
"Huh? But they're coming!"
No. Look closer: random flailing vines, no targets.
"See? Not aiming! Just avoid contact!"
No immediate peril then. Jang Seo-yeon gulped, nodding.
"Got it? This way."
Ents blocked Yang Min-cheol's route thickly. Go Cheon-su took an alternate with her.
"Min-cheol, stay alive...!"
***
Huff... huff...
How much time passed? Alone, Yang Min-cheol sprinted till he spotted an exit, slowing.
"Huff... damn."
Glancing back, Ents lumbered slowly after. Front clear—easy solo escape.
"Hyung..."
But he couldn't leave without him. Surviving solo in this world? No confidence.
What now?
He recalled the map. Go Cheon-su might find another, but probably not.
Can't let hyung get lost.
If backtracking the blocked path, predictable route. Yang Min-cheol inhaled deep.
Go in?
Go Cheon-su said hide, but abandoning him? No. His role: navigation. He'd fulfill it.
Help him.
Go Cheon-su's joy at his survival flashed—time to repay with courage.
Yang Min-cheol looked around, exiting to spot a convenience store. He dashed in.
"Anything...?"
Nothing useful. Just booze, smokes, lighters.
"Enough."
He grabbed booze and lighter. Tempted by smokes, but shook head.
"Nah."
Quit a while back.
"Wait up, hyung."
No pushover high schooler. Past rebellion fueled present grit.
Riiip.
He tore his sleeve, wrapping it tight around a branch from nearby.
Flick!
Skilled hand lit the lighter. Torch ready.
"All gonna burn."
Wood bodies—no fire immunity.
"Let's go."
He advanced, thrusting at the nearest Ent.
Grraaaah!
It recoiled in shock, then fled.
"What! That all?!"
Yang Min-cheol whooped, charging to find Go Cheon-su.
"Hyung, hang on! Coming to save you!"
Grak! Grraaaah!
Ents scattered from his swinging torch. A strange thrill surged.
"Yeah, run!"
Whoosh.
High on it, he jammed the torch into one.
Grraaaah!
It blazed—destined kindling. No resistance.
"Huh?"
Flames roared bigger than expected. The burning Ent accelerated, smashing into a rock beside him.
Boom!
Massive blast. Sparks flew; Yang Min-cheol gulped.
"What?"
Grraaaah!
Another grazed his torch, igniting.
"Wh-what?!"
Whoosh.
It charged too—right at him.
"Shit...!"
He dove aside.
Boom!
It exploded past, spectacularly.
"Hah... huff."
As he rose, nearby Ents brushed the raised torch, screeching.
Grraaaah!
"Ah."
Instant campfire of burning Ents.
"Screwed..."
They charged.
"Uwaaaah!"
Yang Min-cheol rolled, scrambled, ran.
"Hyuuuuung!"
Darkness fallen; only silhouettes visible. Glancing back, flaming Ents pursued.
"Uwah! Uwaaaah!"
Then—
Splash!
A water jet shot from somewhere.