Chapter 14: Split in Half.
Chapter 14: Split in Half.
“Let’s worry about ourselves for now, not the ones who left. Don’t you think it’s better to get down this hill and out of the forest?”
I wasn’t speaking to everyone, but directly to Ahn Hyun. As my gaze fell on him, Lee Yoojung and Kim Hanbyul’s eyes naturally followed. Perhaps from some experience as the leader of the pack, Ahn Hyun didn’t seem like the type to be burdened by the attention. He readily agreed, stood up, and peered down the hill.
“Going down is fine, but I’m not sure which direction we should take. We don’t even know where we are…”
Lifting his head again, Ahn Hyun glanced back and forth between the clearing still swarming with Deadmen and the path Park Donggeol’s group had taken. The path Park Donggeol had chosen led in the complete opposite direction of the clearing. He might have thought he was being clever, but from where I stood, it was a terrible choice.
“Wouldn’t this way be better?”
Just then, Kim Hanbyul, who had been quiet until now, pointed in a certain direction. Following her finger, I saw she was indicating a path about ninety degrees away from the clearing. Lee Yoojung seemed to be gauging the distance from the clearing and asked with a slightly anxious expression.
“Wouldn’t it be better to go in the complete opposite direction of the clearing? That way doesn’t seem very far from it.”
Another one who thinks like Park Donggeol.
Ahn Hyun pondered for a moment before letting out a small “Ah!” of realization. He looked like he was far from the studious type, but his mind seemed to work pretty fast. Seeing Lee Yoojung still tilting her head in confusion, Kim Hanbyul began to explain calmly.
“It’s simple. Right now, a significant number of them have gathered in the clearing. Assuming they were evenly distributed throughout this forest, if they’re concentrated in one spot, it means other areas are empty. If that’s the case, the most likely place is right around here.”
“But in the direction opposite the clearing, there might be creatures that didn’t hear the commotion and are still there. It could be even more dangerous.”
Ahn Hyun added to her explanation, and Kim Hanbyul gave a small nod as if to say he was right. It wasn’t exactly the same as the escape route I had in mind, but it was close enough. In any case, feeling like things were finally starting to go right, I smiled to myself in satisfaction.
“Now that you mention it, that makes sense. Does that mean the direction that bastard took could be the most dangerous?”
“Exactly. Anyway, let’s head straight down from here and get out of the forest. Sol-ah. Get up.”
“Huh? Oh!”
Ahn Sol, who had been watching our conversation like a bystander, scrambled to her feet at Ahn Hyun’s words. Seeing Ahn Hyun and me taking the lead and making decisions, no one else seemed to have any major complaints. In fact, the mood and their expressions felt much more stable than when Park Donggeol was around. Lee Yoojung, in particular, even had a smile on her face, as if she was relishing the thought of Park Donggeol’s tough road ahead.
And so, the remaining group of us quickly made our way down the hill.
*
About two hours had passed since we decided on our escape route and descended the hill. The dense trees stretched so high they blocked out the sky, making the inside of the forest much darker than it had appeared from the hilltop. For two straight hours, we walked through the dark forest without resting. With every step, the scrape of soil and grass and the steady rhythm of breathing were the only sounds behind Ahn Hyun and me at the front.
The gloomy forest was quiet and surprisingly vast. But if my memory served me right, and if we maintained our current pace, we would be able to leave the forest before evening. It occurred to me that the angels might have deliberately dropped us in the difficult center of the forest because we were a group of people with decent stats.
It was best to get out of this forest before evening. The Preparation Room had contained only clothing and weapons, not food or water. There were specific places for such necessities: a Rest Room where one could take a half-day break, or a Save Point where one could sleep for a full day. The other methods were to plunder other Users or to scavenge the shops in a town.
“…Oppa.”
“Yeah?”
Ahn Hyun and I were at the front, with Ahn Sol and Kim Hanbyul close behind us and Lee Yoojung bringing up the rear. We advanced while watching our surroundings as carefully as possible. Along the way, Ahn Sol tugged firmly on Ahn Hyun’s sleeve and mumbled with a flushed face.
“I… I have to pee…”
“……”
An awkwardness hung in the air at Ahn Sol’s shy confession.
Is she some kind of moron?
She had seemed a little retarded, but this was beyond what I had expected. I found myself genuinely wondering how she had managed in the modern world.
Ahn Hyun stopped for a moment, then glanced at us and asked.
“Can we stop here for a second? My sister needs to use the restroom.”
Fortunately, Lee Yoojung and Kim Hanbyul readily agreed. It seemed there was some kind of understanding between women. There was a brief scene where Ahn Sol, scared to go alone, begged her brother to come with her, but Ahn Hyun heartlessly sent her off by herself.
Lee Yoojung chuckled as she watched Ahn Sol trudge away dejectedly after getting an earful from her brother. By then, she had already plopped down on the ground.
“Is this okay? What if those things attack again?”
“I’m keeping a good watch, so it should be fine. Besides, she’s nineteen. It’s ridiculous if she can’t even handle going to the bathroom by herself. By the way, how old are you to be talking to me so casually?”
“Me? Twenty-two. You’re doing it too, so what’s the big deal? But aren’t you younger than me? You look like you just turned twenty or twenty-one.”
“I’m twenty-two, too.”
“Eh~? We’re the same age. Since it’s come to this, how about we introduce ourselves?”
With a much more cheerful voice than before, Lee Yoojung looked around at everyone. Kim Hanbyul, perhaps worn out by the tension without realizing it, cautiously sat down beside her. Ahn Hyun and I nodded to each other and sat on the cold ground as well.
“My sister will be back soon and we’ll leave right away, so let’s keep it brief. My name is Ahn Hyun. I’m twenty-two.”
“What did you do before coming here?”
At Lee Yoojung’s question, Ahn Hyun looked a bit troubled and scratched his face slightly, but he soon answered honestly.
“I just worked part-time, messing around as a neighborhood punk. You?”
“Me? My name is Lee Yoojung. Same age, twenty-two. I was on a leave of absence from university, studying for the police officer exam.”
The police officer exam. So she wanted to become a policewoman? For some reason, I felt like a police uniform would suit Lee Yoojung quite well. After chatting for a bit about being a cop and a punk, the two of them turned their heads toward Kim Hanbyul and me. Unable to withstand their curious gazes, Kim Hanbyul was the first to speak.
“Kim Hanbyul. I’m twenty-one. A university student.”
“So you’re younger than us. Which university did you go to?”
“I attended Yonsei University.”
“Wow! You must be a good student. I’m jealous.”
After a moment of admiration, the two turned their gazes to me, the only one left. Kim Hanbyul also looked at me with an expectant expression. I felt awkward under their intense stares but responded to their anticipation with as calm a face as I could muster.
“My name is Kim Soohyun. I’m twenty-three. I was a soldier.”
“Found an oppa~! Then let’s drop the formalities, Oppa. By the way, Oppa, were you in the Army, Air Force, or Navy?”
“Then you’re my hyung. You can speak casually with me too. Hyung, what was your rank?”
I had initially thought Lee Yoojung was just strong-willed, but she seemed to have a naturally cheerful personality. At the same time, Ahn Hyun’s curiosity was piqued by the mention of the military, and he asked me a question.
“I was an Army sergeant.”
“That’s a shame. You would have been discharged if you’d just waited a little longer.”
Seeing Lee Yoojung giggle, I gave a bitter smile and added.
“I was discharged. I came here on the day I finished my discharge formalities and was heading home.”
“……”
“……”
“……”
What was with those pitying looks? What was with this atmosphere?
“Why are you all looking at me like that? I’m fine. I don’t feel anything about it. So stop looking at me like that.”
Despite my insistence that I was fine, an awkward silence fell between us again. Ahn Hyun cleared his throat and looked away, while Lee Yoojung was openly looking at me with a pitiful expression. Even Kim Hanbyul was gazing at me with sympathy. I really wasn’t bothered at all.
To break the awkward mood, Lee Yoojung deliberately changed the subject in a cheerful voice.
“Being here still feels like a dream. Normally, I’d be studying at the library, then I’d close my book, run outside, and call a friend. We’d sit in the lounge and chat our hearts out, then go out to eat something delicious. On the way home, I’d be thinking, ‘I have to study hard starting tomorrow.’ That’s what I’d be doing.”
Hearing her words, everyone’s expression turned dreamy. Ahn Hyun gave a faint laugh and joined in.
“I’d probably be working my shift at an internet café, arguing with another customer trying to put things on a tab. Chasing down someone who tried to run without paying. Getting chewed out by the damn owner for not cleaning properly. Then I’d sit at the counter eating the chicken his wife gave me, and when my shift ended, I’d go pick up Sol. Heh. Ah, hyung, what were you planning to do first when you got home?”
“Me?”
I tilted my head when Ahn Hyun suddenly turned the question on me. Hmm. It had been more than ten years, so I could not remember clearly. After thinking for a moment, I decided to give an ordinary answer.
“Let’s see. I probably would have been heading home, breathing in the air of civilian life, realizing that I was finally a free man. Then I’d stop by my house, give my mother a deep bow, and call my father. And after eating a delicious meal my mother made, I’d soak my body in hot water and then… No, I mean, why are you all looking at me like that? Stop looking at me like I’m some pathetic animal. I’m really okay.”
*
The commotion ended safely with Ahn Sol’s return from her business. I found her cute as she bowed politely and said, “I’m back.” Her return was effectively the signal that forced us to face reality again. They must have wanted to escape this hellish place, even for a brief moment, by introducing themselves and chatting. Ahn Hyun let out a deep sigh and trudged to his feet.
After our sweet, short break, we began to advance through the dark forest once more. Although Ahn Hyun and I were in the lead, I was the one subtly guiding the way. By sensing our surroundings and deliberately avoiding areas with Deadmen, we had managed not to encounter a single one yet.
But we wouldn’t be able to avoid them forever. The closer we got to the edge of the forest, the more evenly the Deadmen were distributed. All I could do was lead them in the direction with the fewest of them.
My biggest concern was Ahn Sol. Even though we were heading in the direction with the fewest Deadmen, we could still run into dozens of Deadmen further on. I was worried whether Sol could react calmly in that situation. Just then, Ahn Hyun let out a sharp cry and froze in place.
“What’s wrong?”
“Shh.”
As Lee Yoojung and I turned our heads in the direction Ahn Hyun was pointing, we saw three Deadmen roaming the area. They were sniffing the air and licking their lips; they had undoubtedly caught our scent. I instinctively glanced at Ahn Sol. She had both hands clamped over her mouth, her eyes squeezed shut. We had cleared one hurdle, at least.
“They can tell where we are by smell, not just sight and hearing?”
“Seems like it. Get down, for now.”
Ahn Hyun quickly hid his body behind a large tree, pulling Sol into his arms. Lee Yoojung, Kim Hanbyul, and I quickly followed his lead, hiding ourselves and waiting for the creatures to pass. I saw Ahn Hyun raise his shield tightly, but I shook my head. It was better to train on killing Deadmen later, after we got out. I couldn’t remember the exact reason why, but among the things I’d heard before, users had unanimously agreed to never enter the forest during the Rite of Passage.
Based on the range of my Sensing, if we just went about half the distance we’d already covered, we would be out of the forest. We had done well avoiding them so far, but if we killed these ones now, there was a high chance we’d be surrounded again. If the Deadmen gathered after receiving a signal, we’d be truly helpless.
Even if we were to take care of them, we’d have to do it instantly, without giving them a chance to signal. But with nothing but a rock or a shield, taking out three of them at once was a tall order. For a moment, the longsword at my waist rattled faintly. I should have given it to Ahn Hyun earlier, I thought. All the while, the Deadmen were sniffing the air, taking one step at a time toward the tree we were hiding behind.