Chapter 140
Sex with Senior Choi Yujin, coming here to this place—it would all lose its thrill. Everything had been done for the sake of exploring beyond the forest. But abandoning that would be no different from giving up everything. Giving up women, money, his very life, the upper class, good food, restful sleep... he'd stop truly living. It would just be a pathetic existence of eating, shitting, and sleeping day after day until he grew old and died.
Han Yaseong couldn't stand that. He didn't hate ordinary life, but he despised the idea of drifting through it powerlessly, too scared to grab the chance to become something special.
With his mind made up, Han Yaseong sheathed his wild sword. "Yadoong, let's go."
He'd decided. They were heading out to explore beyond the forest. Right now! He might die, but he'd go anyway. What was the point of living another hundred years like this? He'd spend his life tormented by thoughts of the uncharted lands beyond the trees. By the time death came knocking, it'd be too late to go even if he wanted to. That's how everyone died—full of regrets for the challenges they never faced, the efforts they never made.
Han Yaseong wanted to give his all at least once before he died.
As he packed his backpack, he said to Yadoong, "You have to come with me. I can't do this alone."
He really couldn't go alone. But with Yadoong by his side, even through the fear, he could push forward.
Yadoong, sprawled on his belly, glanced at his subordinate Han Yaseong, let out a sigh, and rose to his feet. If his underling was going, the boss couldn't stay behind. The human had no idea how terrifying the lands beyond were. Yadoong figured one brush with death would send him running back in terror.
Yadoong stretched out his front paws, then headed to the entrance and waited.
Seeing that, Han Yaseong hurriedly finished packing his bag. For some reason, Yadoong standing there at the entrance, back turned, looked enormous. A pet animal, yet radiating more charisma than his owner... it left a bad taste.
"Let's go."
Han Yaseong shouldered his bulging backpack and left the lodging with Yadoong. At his waist hung a true sword and hand axe; slung beside the pack were a crossbow, short spear, and greatsword. He was fully geared for battle. He somewhat regretted not buying a bulletproof vest. He'd planned to get a protective suit next time, but now he wondered if there'd even be a next time. If he died in there, it was all over.
Han Yaseong headed to the forest's edge with Yadoong. There, he left his final words in spirit, mentally drafting his will. "I might die. Then I'd never see Senior Yujin again... everything would end."
The two months with Senior Choi Yujin felt like a dream. So much fun, so wild... her beautiful naked body flickered in his mind. Senior Euna's nude form popped up too. Their full breasts, voluptuous hips, pretty pussies. His dick stiffened right then. He regretted not doing it one more time. If he survived this, he'd make it happen with all three of them. He'd strip Senior Choi Yujin and Senior Euna bare and have a threesome. No matter what, he had to come back alive for that.
"Hoo..."
Standing at the forest's boundary with Yadoong, Han Yaseong drew a deep breath. He was about to step into the utterly unknown. His heart pounded; he trembled uncontrollably. His limbs felt weak. Fear gnawed at him. For a moment, he thought of turning back. Anxiety screamed that crossing meant certain death. As he stood there, backpack heavy, every possible thought raced through his head.
"Screw it, let's go!"
Grimacing, Han Yaseong drew his hunting knife and stepped beyond the forest. It was do or die. Terrifying, but he had to go.
As Han Yaseong took the first step, Yadoong reluctantly followed. He had to guide well. One wrong move, and he could end up dead alongside his foolish subordinate, torn apart by the massive alien beasts beyond. He needed to skirt danger zones, stick to safe paths. The farthest he'd gone before was his limit. Beyond that, even Yadoong didn't know.
Han Yaseong followed Yadoong into the exploration. Yadoong, familiar with the area from past visits, navigated effortlessly. Thanks to that, Han Yaseong felt relatively safe as they pressed on.
Deeper in, bizarre alien animals appeared—never-before-seen creatures, strangely shaped but non-aggressive. No ferocious beasts attacked. It seemed Yadoong was deliberately leading them through zones with harmless ones.
Grateful, when they stopped under a massive tree for dinner, Han Yaseong opened a can of tuna—the kind he saved for special occasions—and gave Yadoong the whole thing. Yadoong buried his nose in it, devouring happily.
Han Yaseong lit a campfire, ate his meal, and gazed at the darkening forest with a sigh. "It's only the first day, but it's already so scary. Feels like a year has passed."
Living in the vast, empty heart of this forest was terrifying. The fear dwarfed anything from the shrine woods. If this were just some Korean mountain, it wouldn't faze him—but an alien planet's unknown woods? Who knew what lurked at night? He worried he couldn't even sleep properly.
Still, he needed rest to explore tomorrow. Grabbing his backpack, Han Yaseong climbed a tree. Wild beasts might attack while he slept, so high ground it was. He'd seen it on a jungle survival show: always sleep in trees in dense forests, to guard against venomous bugs, snakes, or predators.
He climbed a broad branch, set down his pack, and unrolled his sleeping bag. The tree was huge—room for a cabin up there. About ten meters off the ground, he slipped into the bag and tried to sleep.
Yadoong, either too lazy or feeling safe, dozed by the fire.
Lying there, eyes open in the sleeping bag, Han Yaseong felt lonely. Should've stayed home... Then Senior Choi Yujin or Senior Euna could've come over for fun. Why suffer like this? It wasn't even guaranteed to make him upper class. He felt like a moth diving into flame—might burn up chasing that elite glow someday.
Figuring he'd scout a few more days and head back if nothing happened, Han Yaseong drifted off.
The next morning, they resumed the forest delve. The deeper they went, the more exotic trees and alien beasts swarmed into view. Vibrant flowers dazzled the eyes; grotesque animals startled him into clutching his chest. Beyond the forest was another world entirely. Fruits abounded—over a hundred varieties, by his rough count. He bagged them all: weird flowers, fruit-like things. But only after Yadoong's approval—pointing and checking; if Yadoong stayed calm, safe; if he shook his head, dangerous, skipped.
The morning flew by collecting. Three huge plastic bags filled up fast.
Lunch was simple with Yadoong, then back to exploring. He grew accustomed; alien beasts didn't scare him anymore, and the novelty of flowers and fruits wore off a bit.
But reaching one area, terror struck instantly. A massive animal footprint—dinosaur-sized, bigger than a human torso. "What the hell is this?"
His throat tightened. Asking Yadoong got no real answer, but Yadoong's lack of fear suggested herbivore. A carnivore would've tensed him up. Still spooked, Han Yaseong drew his true sword, ready to defend.
Yadoong pressed on ahead. His subordinate was on edge behind him, but this wasn't a danger zone. Those were elsewhere—and he had no intention of going there. Safe routes only, to the forest's end. His previous trips stopped there. Beyond? Unknown even to him.
This realm was forest beyond forest, endlessly layered. No true end—just new frontiers forever.
Yadoong planned to lead his terrified subordinate only as far as he knew.