058
I was dead sure it was a creature story and came all confident, but it was horror?
Ziiiiing―!
"......"
I'm gonna lose my mind, for real. First it was the snoring and teeth-grinding torture, and now tinnitus is joining the party.
Hearing tinnitus all day is already dogshit enough, but this was the kind that felt like someone shoving iron chopsticks between every fold of my brain wrinkles—the discomfort was off the charts.
Yesterday it was just mosquito-buzz level by my ear, which was tolerable, but now? It's like a mic screeching straight into my eardrum. A whole new tier of bullshit.
Of course, yanking the blanket over my head did jack shit.
Fuck, if it was coming from my eardrum, maybe I could do something about it—but how the hell do you block a sound that tunnels straight through your skull into your brain?
Isn't this kinda serious?
The longer I listened, the more that thought crept in.
This tinnitus wasn't just loud. It reeked of straight-up malice.
Like someone was hurling curses at the camp, blasting sticky killing intent our way.
Felt like I should bolt to Wilhelm's tent and report it right now.
But What the hell would I even say?
Picture it: kicking open the old professor's tent at 2 a.m.
"Professor! I've got a bad feeling. We need a search party out now!"
That stickler-for-rules geezer would shove up his glasses and go:
"And the other students?"
"They can't feel it."
"Detection magic?"
"Didn't try 'cause I dunno it, but probably no reaction?"
"So I should wake the whole damn force on your twitchy senses alone?"
Predictable as hell. Even if he bought it, still a problem.
Guy's personality screams he'd yell, "All hands up! Heighten alert! Defensive formation!"
Then I'd be pulling guard duty not just tonight, but for days—maybe the whole time till this mystery enemy shows. Sleepless.
No thanks. Anything military-adjacent is fucking nightmare fuel.
That's why these two-and-a-half-man tents and 24-bunkers feel extra shitty right now.
Conclusion reached.
I'll handle it myself.
"Huu."
I irritably kicked off the blanket. Time to unleash sleep-deprived Korean rage.
Rustle.
Sloppily threw on outer clothes and stepped out of the tent.
Night air bit cold, but with that tinnitus hammering my skull, I barely registered it.
That way?
The sound poured from deeper in the forest, thick with darkness.
I headed straight there, no hesitation.
Step step.
No breath-holding, no tiptoeing. No point sneaking like a stray cat.
Strode to the camp boundary like a guy out for a casual stroll.
And.
Swoosh.
The instant I went to cross, a faint presence prickled.
No leaf twitched, but my senses lit up.
Someone's there. Stealthy gazes—well-trained, silent—locked on me.
Princess's escorts?
Or Wilhelm's crew.
If the latter, grandpa wouldn't drag all these family heirs out here without packing at least a two-and-a-half-man squad per head for minimal protection.
Normal student? Wouldn't notice.
But me? Hypersensitive—like I could hear an ant rubbing its front legs, if you exaggerate a bit.
They're probably freaking: Block him? Report? Tail?
Whatever. Key point: I wasn't hiding.
That's my alibi.
Forest shrouded in darkness.
In utter silence—no leaf stirring—a single shadow held its breath atop a tree.
The "Seventh Shadow," Imperial Intelligence operative and head of the Imperial Academy branch.
Eagle eyes zeroed in on a man trying to slip from camp.
Regulation violation. No hard evidence yet, but years-honed instincts screamed warning.
Something's there. Letting him ghost camp unauthorized? Way too risky.
Shadow raised a hand to signal the subs—
Then moonlight pierced the clouds, lighting the figure's face.
"......!"
Shadow's hand froze mid-air.
Kasian del Parne. Top watchlist for this Region Tour—and the dude with the most baffling feats.
Why him?
Expression screamed serious business. Heading out to handle something big.
Frowning hard, laser-focused. Killing intent rolling off like facing an invisible enemy.
[Captain, subdue?]
Seventh Shadow hesitated.
Subdue him?
That guy? How?
Wasn't just yesterday's magic deeming him untouchable.
He's got a reason.
The man who waded slum filth, worked miracles, body shattering—no fucks given.
Such a guy sneaks out midnight, grim-faced, into the woods?
If there's reason?
Detectors blank. But if he senses something?
If true, no-report reason clicked: Wilhelm won't budge without proof.
Delay means danger swells.
So he decided to take point.
Alone... into the dark to smoke the source.
Rustle.
Kasian crossed the boundary.
No stealth at all. Deliberately broadcasting presence—despite capability—to avoid confusion.
[Captain?]
Shadow finally shook head.
Signaled orders.
[Cannot subdue. Report to Wilhelm now.]
[Content?]
[Kasian del Parne detected forest anomaly, going solo. I'll tail and guard. Relay that.]
Sub gawked, shocked, but Seventh Shadow was already airborne.
Thud.
Silently vaulted trees, shadowing Kasian.
Can't lose talent like that. Even if it's a monster he can't handle, I'll shield him with my life.
The empire's future shines bright.
Chest swelling, the shadow trailed the hero into darkness.
"Ah, fuck. So fucking loud, seriously."
"......!"
Tailing shadow flinched.
Loud...? Sensing the enemy that clearly already?
Shadow marveled at the senses.
Finding direction was easy.
This horrific high-pitch whine—like my brain tossed in a blender.
Just follow where it poured from. Magnet-to-metal vibes.
And soon.
I halted.
"......"
A massive shadow loomed ahead.
An overwhelming ancient tree, towering a head above every other in the forest.
That wasn't the issue.
Ziiiiing―!
Scream not in eardrums—but skull-rattling brain-shriek.
Source: that tree.
I clutched my neck, startled.
"Fuck, it's not alive?"
Assumed magic beast. Giant toad slurping forest essence? Mutant queen mosquito?
Plenty options. Those? Fine. Whole-roast or bury-to-suffocate.
Confident via specialty snap.
Narrowed eyes on the tree.
Ent maybe? Fantasy staple walking tree?
Nope. No face, no limb-like branches twitching.
Just tree. Roots deep-dug, pure plant.
"......"
So this inanimate hunk of wood's belting horror screams? Just to me?
Spine iced over.
Fuck. Thought creature genre, rolled up cocky.
"Genre's horror?"
I buy superstitions hard, ghosts scare the shit outta me.
Past life? Caved to sis and lil sis demands—except horror flicks. Die before watching together.
Now? Solo forest tête-à-tête with screaming tree.
Swooooosh.......
Wind like ghost cackles.
Legs jelly.
Terror glued my mouth shut.
Face locked stiff like plaster.
Run.
Outta my league. Fake wizard, not exorcist.
Cautious backpedal.
Step.
One.
Step.
Two.
Definitely retreating.
But.
"......Huh?"
Ancient tree not shrinking. Filling view more? This creepy distance bullshit?
Cold sweat, massive backstep.
Same result.
Not treadmill, but looping in place.
"Huk, fuck."
This the ghost-possession trap? Haunted woods legend—lose way, circle forever?
"Ah, fuck. Shoulda dragged exorcist... nah, priest."
Damn, Lily. My pink retriever!
Fuck, from now on—Pocket Monster style, pocket-carry her!
Mid inward Lily-panic freakout.
Thud.
"......!"
Black shape drops from sky.
Slapped hand over scream-ready mouth.
Grim reaper? Here for me?
But moonlit form? Reaper-esque garb, but no reaper.
The tail from camp exit.
Felt presence sharp—when'd I lose it?
...Right after spook-out.
"Huu......"
Relief crashed in.
Uncle, auntie—who cares. Not ghost = win.
Human presence this welcome? Wild.
Hid teary vibes, eyed him.
But guy's face? Off.
Masked—should hide expression—but eyes.
Eyes intense. Like staring down an independence fighter. Awkward as fuck.
Masked agent burned martyr-gaze hot on me.
"Heading into the dungeon solo like this—no matter how you slice it, too dangerous."
"......Pardon?"
Dungeon? Whence dungeon?
Dazed repeat.
"What'd you say?"
"I know. What you sensed."
Gender-unknown masked dude nods grave, hand on my shoulder.
"That backpedal just now... testing phase interference from the dungeon barrier warping local space, right?"
"......"
Phase interference? Nah. Just terror-flee stuck in place.
"Truly impressive. Bodily probing an invisible subspace rift—undetectable even visually—to pinpoint entrance coordinates."
Unknown-gender mask gushed nonstop awe.
"Just clocked this tree as the dungeon gate, gearing for solo dive, yeah?"
"......"
Nope. Where the hell'd you get that from?