Sudden Downpour -1-
“Can't we eat this Hornbird?”
Rohan picked up the Hornbird with its head blown clean off and fiddled with it, plucking out the tough feathers with sharp pop pop sounds.
Ichinose's golden eyes, clouded with bewilderment, darted toward him as she echoed his words.
“...You're going to eat a Hornbird?”
“It's not poisonous or anything—it's one of the edible monsters out there. I saw online that people eat them all the time.”
His tone carried the implication of what's the problem?
Rohan's brazen confidence made Ichinose's voice quiver ever so slightly.
“W-Well, that's true, but...”
“Running into one right here might actually be lucky. Who knows if the deeper parts only have inedible monsters.”
Irrefutable logic, leaving no room for argument.
The girl's gaze shifted to the chunk of meat in Rohan's hand.
This Hornbird, leaking blood from its severed neck, wasn't classified as a beast—it was a monster.
Physiologically repulsive as a monster might be, Rohan was right; it wasn't inedible.
Classic examples included people filming mukbangs for views, or others trying it out of sheer curiosity.
And lately, one more case had cropped up.
Being dragged into a dungeon by a Monolith left you with no choice but to confront the situation.
It aligned perfectly with what Orion Academy aimed to teach in this exam.
Did they really consider even that?
Ichinose's hunch solidified.
Orion Academy had likely selected this uninhabited island with that exact factor in mind.
Yeah, that has to be it.
Whether true or not, believing it worked in her favor.
Thanks to that, Ichinose managed a reluctant nod.
“...Y-Yeah! We don't know how strong that sticker is, so we should stock up while we can.”
“Good call. I'll handle the prep.”
“Prep... Have you actually eaten Hornbird before?”
Ichinose's voice shot up in startled surprise at Rohan's confidence.
Seeing her react not to combat, but to this, was amusing to Rohan.
“It's just big—should be like chicken, right?”
“You must cook a lot.”
“Living solo and bouncing around, you pick up the basics eventually.”
“Ah...”
Ichinose fell silent, recalling Rohan's background.
Rohan took the lead, muttering that a nearby stream would be ideal as he scanned ahead.
Crack! Slash! Crack!
How far had they pushed through, swinging their swords in turns?
The sound of waves had faded entirely now. Only the dark forest's natural chorus filled the air.
Glancing back, the night sea teetered on the edge of visibility. Without the uphill climb, it'd be out of sight completely.
“Thought the blood might draw beasts or monsters, but it's still quiet.”
Rohan glanced at the plump Hornbird in his hand.
He'd only gutted it—no proper cleaning without water. A shame.
“Once we spot a decent spot to camp, we'll set up there. Shelter from the wind is all we need.”
“Keep going, then? Any deeper, and we won't see the sea anymore.”
“Let's.”
Ichinose signaled agreement, flashing her blade smoothly.
She sliced cleanly through the overgrown foliage.
⋯
⋯
...How much time has passed?
Eyes closed, Ichinose pondered inwardly.
They couldn't rush blindly, so their pace was slow, but plenty of time had surely elapsed.
No suitable rest spots during the trek—a pity.
But the monsters they'd faced were varied.
No more Hornbirds after the entrance, but they'd taken down over ten Craboids and Mud Slimes each.
Occasional howls and tree scars suggested Honey Bear Bees or Iron Turtles too.
“Assuming straight-line movement, heading opposite might raise chances of bumping into the other group?”
“Based on the transport ship's flight path, yeah.”
“Doesn't feel like it'd be a warm reunion, though.”
They traded light banter to ease the tension, but Ichinose was flustered by her unfamiliar physical state.
The sticker was working as advertised.
She knew sharpening senses and sustaining tension drained mental stamina.
Even accounting for that, her condition felt off.
Metabolism haywire, accelerating like a fast-forwarded chill.
Hold out like this for five days...?
Was this the gnawing hunger Noah complained about daily, turning her to mush?
Her stomach felt hollowed out. Her throat parched, craving water.
She'd always eaten properly for growth—never skipped meals.
The drop hit this sheltered girl hard.
Rohan...
She cracked her eyes to peek at her partner.
His profile looked fine. No outward signs of strain.
Made her wonder if the sticker even worked on him.
“Hmm... No good spots to rest. Dig a hole in the ground?”
Rohan wrapped up wistfully—just then.
Grrrooowl—
Ichinose's slim abdomen broadcast its hunger with a blatant rumble.
“!!!”
Face flushing crimson, she clutched her stomach with both hands.
A futile, panicked gesture born of desperation. To Rohan, it was just adorably endearing.
“Th-That was...!”
“What? Totally normal. I've been starving too.”
“...”
Rohan grinned innocently and strode on.
Teasing would've been less mortifying; now she wanted to crawl into a hole.
Her cheeks burned hot. For a moment, her mind blanked white, hunger forgotten.
Step. Step. Step.
Silence enveloped them for a few paces.
Then Rohan and Ichinose halted in unison, eyes lifting skyward.
“This ain't good.”
“Ah.”
A message from the heavens to calm down and cool off?
Without warning, fat raindrops began pattering down.
No time to react—the clouds unleashed a full torrent.
Shhhwooooosh—!!!
A proper downpour, sheets of fierce rain.
Thick droplets soaked the shelterless pair in seconds.
*****
In the Reverse Praise Society's home base, Hex's lab.
Hex sat with Omega—the other head steering the society alongside him.
It doubled as their periodic session for Hex to remodel Omega's body with his skills.
“Like I said last time, maxing out fire-resistant factors in your muscles and skin.”
“...”
They were polar opposites visually.
Skinny as a rail, Hex contrasted Omega's towering 2-meter-plus frame packed with massive muscle.
But Omega's traits didn't end there.
Severe burns had erased his eyebrows and hair; his irreparably damaged lower jaw sported a mechanical device from Hex.
Passed for a black mask at a glance.
“Win this time, and finally the face?”
“Damn right.”
Other areas had received skin grafts via Hex's tech.
But the exposed facial scars remained at Omega's stubborn insistence.
Classic self-sacrifice.
Hex found the mindset baffling.
“Burn severity depends on heat penetration depth, so this batch's from Lava Gargoyles, Magma Salamanders, and—”
Hex's words accelerated, syringe in hand.
Omega eyed the researcher's increasingly feverish gaze and cut in routinely.
“I say it every time: I won't understand the details. Just how long it'll take.”
“And I say the same every time: Can't give a firm answer. Gotta watch if your body accepts it cleanly.”
“Tch.”
Hex savored Omega's clenched fist.
Loved when things played out his way.
“Haha! You seem awfully eager.”
“...You brought the news. I'm letting you use me knowingly.”
Word of Samhwa Nation's Grand General Juyeon leaving Academy City for the uninhabited island with cadets.
Omega sensed fate upon hearing from Hex.
Perfect timing.
The near-surgical grafts had wrapped up ideally. A monster-infested island? Prime chaos fodder via Hex's powers.
He could force a clash with Juyeon.
Chance to settle this grudge.
Stab! The thick needle pierced Omega's skin.
Finishing the injection, Hex whisked out medical tools, hands flying as he leaked intel.
“Rumor has it, not just other instructors—Sepia Archipelago's Paradise Knights are backing them up.”
“Paradise Knights? Lancelot's there?”
“Lucky for us, Lancelot's stuck in Sepia. Wouldn't have mentioned it with two big shots.”
Omega bristled at Hex preempting defeat.
“Minus Lancelot, they're flies. Handle it.”
“I'd rather rest. Stirring that much chaos burns stacks—tiring.”
Omega scowled mid-procedure at the blatant intent in Hex's words and expression.
“Spit out what you want.”
Sharp as ever on this front.
Hex's lips curled at the prompt.