Chapter 17: Split in Half.
Chapter 17: Split in Half.
“A lure. We need to lure them.”
“What? You want us to draw those monsters in?”
Close, but not quite. I shook my head. Most of them were just staring at me blankly, but Kim Hanbyul’s raised eyebrow suggested she had a rough idea of what I was saying. In any case, it seemed a little more explanation was needed.
“No. Not draw them in. One person acts as bait to lead those monsters away.”
I paused for a moment and pointed deeper into the forest. As everyone’s gaze followed my finger, I continued.
“If someone makes a commotion, the monsters will surely rush to take the bait. That person keeps their aggro and leads them deep into the forest. While that’s happening, the rest of us get over that wall. Then we can escape this forest.”
I deliberately emphasized that we could escape in a hopeful tone, but a look of skepticism appeared on everyone’s faces. It wasn’t a positive reaction. They clearly didn’t like the idea. But the fact that no one said anything meant they must have thought it was at least plausible. Of course, for this plan to work, there was one unavoidable problem.
It was obvious without having to say it. In short: who would be the bait? If the Deadmen moved as slowly as zombies, it might be worth a try, but they broke into a run the moment they spotted prey. That meant the person acting as the lure could be surrounded in an instant and become their next meal.
For a while, everyone just glanced at each other, but as expected, the quick-witted Kim Hanbyul pinpointed the core issue.
“So, in the end, one person has to sacrifice themselves.”
“That’s right.”
“Who’s going to do it?”
Silence. With the chance to escape the forest right in front of them, no one would be willing to step forward. I couldn’t blame them for feeling that way, so I let out a light sigh and raised my hand. It would be easier on my conscience to do it myself than to send someone else and then worry myself sick.
“The person who brought it up should do it. I’ll go.”
“Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous.”
“Oppa. Hanbyul is right. Let’s just hide and wait a little longer. Please?”
Kim Hanbyul’s immediate objection and Lee Yoojung’s persuasion. I had expected this kind of reaction, so I shared the thoughts I’d prepared in advance.
“We can’t wait forever. We don’t know when they might find us.”
“There’s also the option of trying a different direction.”
Kim Hanbyul again. I shook my head once more and countered her.
“It’ll take time to move, and it’ll be evening soon. If we’re going to escape, now is our last chance.”
“Still…”
Seeing Kim Hanbyul’s persistent skepticism, I spoke with more force in my voice than usual. Of course, I remembered her uncomfortable expression when Lee Yoojung had spoken casually to her, so I was still speaking formally to her.
“If there’s no opening, we have to make one. There’s no guarantee that another location will be any better than this one.”
Unable to find a rebuttal, Kim Hanbyul fell silent, her expression heavy. A brief silence followed. I could tell that while she was relieved she didn’t have to be the bait, she also felt sorry for me. This was the difference between them and Park Donggeol.
Park Donggeol would have called this hypocrisy. Looking back now, he and I had some similar ways of thinking. My old self would have immediately snapped at them to stop being fake, but for these people, I needed to remain the kind of hyung or oppa who would always help them quietly from behind. If Park Donggeol had just restrained himself or been of any use, I probably wouldn’t have just let him go like that. I chuckled inwardly at the ridiculous thought.
The one who broke the silence was an unexpected person.
“But then… um… Soohyun-oppa will be in too much danger.”
I turned my head to see Ahn Sol mumbling, her face flushed. Was she worried about me? I felt a surge of affection and wanted to give her a peck on the cheek, but with Ahn Hyun, who looked like a doting fool, standing right there, I settled for a simple smile. I pretended to scan our surroundings vigilantly as I continued.
“We can’t just throw away a chance to escape the forest. I always knew I’d have to take this kind of risk eventually. It just came a little earlier than expected.”
“But still…”
“It’s funny for a twenty-three-year-old to say this, but I’m the oldest one here. If I don’t step up now, when will I ever get the chance?”
Ahn Sol’s face seemed to brighten a little at my cheerful words. And then, Ahn Hyun, who had been silent the whole time, spoke for the first time. He looked as if he had been thinking hard and had come to a decision.
“Hyung.”
“Yeah.”
“Watching those monsters earlier, it seems like they usually walk, but they start running when they spot someone. There’s a chance you could get caught while luring them.”
“That’s true, but they looked like they were just fast-walking, right? I’m confident I won’t get caught if I run at full speed. I’ll just think of it as one of my morning runs from back in the day.”
“Even if we succeed in getting away… H-How… O-Oppa… how are you going to get out… later?”
Kim Hanbyul, who had been listening quietly, interjected again. ‘What’s gotten into her all of a sudden? Did she just call me Oppa? Did I hear that wrong?’ I tilted my head and replied.
“I’ll figure that out when the time comes. Anyway, I think this is the only way. I want everyone, Hanbyul-ssi included, to focus only on getting out of this forest for now.”
“Then I’ll go with you, Hyung. I can’t let you handle something like that alone. I’ll go too.”
You’d be better off just staying put. As soon as Ahn Hyun finished speaking, Ahn Sol’s eyes went wide and she gripped his sleeve tightly. I looked at Ahn Hyun with a dumbfounded expression and let out a deep sigh.
“No. You absolutely have to go with the others.”
“Why? You don’t have to face the danger all by yourself, hyung.”
“There might be more of them on the other side of that wall. Just in case, someone needs to protect the group. Besides, it’s easier to be a lure alone.”
“But…”
“And you have your sister to think about.”
At the mention of Ahn Sol, Ahn Hyun immediately shut his mouth. The look in Ahn Sol’s eyes as she gazed at me was filled with complex emotions. Gratitude. Worry. Guilt. I normally disliked girls like Ahn Sol, but for some reason, I didn’t find her unpleasant at all.
After some time, Ahn Hyun, who had been silent, finally gave a reluctant nod.
“…Alright, then. I’m counting on you, hyung.”
“Of course. I want to live too. Just trust me.”
“Okay. I’ll trust you.”
“You can. Let’s strike while the iron is hot and move now. Everyone, get down. When you think I’ve lured them far enough, Ahn Hyun, take the others and run. Don’t ever look back, and don’t do anything stupid like coming back for me. Just run forward, no matter what. Got it?”
The women said nothing. They all just wore grim expressions. I could see a mix of relief that they might survive and guilt for not stepping up when the role of bait was offered. As I loaded the crossbow and prepared to move out, I heard Kim Hanbyul, Lee Yoojung, and Ahn Sol each say a few words.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Oppa… thank you. Please don’t die.”
“Please be careful…”
I answered their heartfelt concerns with a powerful voice.
“Good luck.”
*
I immediately put the plan into action. Of course, just because I left the group’s hiding spot didn’t mean I started making a scene right away. If I yelled from here, there was a chance the group hiding inside could be discovered. I quickly scanned the area, and my eyes landed on a pile of rocks at the top of the hill. I figured if I climbed up there, I could see what was outside and all the Deadmen would be able to spot me. The trees here weren’t as thick as before, but there were enough for me to hide behind as I moved.
I crouched as low as I could and moved from tree to tree. I had to kill the sound of my breathing and my footsteps as much as possible to move without being seen. I’d had plenty of practice maintaining stealth, so it didn’t feel particularly difficult. For a moment, my first playthrough of the Rite of Passage flashed through my mind.
Back in the clearing, Park Donggeol and Lee Yoojung had fought, and the stone he kicked had drawn the Deadmen. Back then, I was only thinking about saving myself, and I ran away alone. I wandered the forest for two days, unable to get my bearings as I dodged them left and right. Comparing then and now, all I could do was laugh.
I could have handled it more calmly. There must have been other ways. The thought suddenly occurred to me.
I held my breath and silenced my footsteps. I kept moving steadily, hiding behind the trees. The pile of rocks I was heading for wasn’t very high, but the stones were rounded, so the Deadmen wouldn’t be able to climb it easily. I also wanted to see if there was a village or any buildings beyond the stone wall, even from a distance.
I moved between roughly twenty trees without being spotted once. Soon, I reached the rock pile, gave my surroundings a quick scan, and swiftly climbed up. An open view and the situation below came into sight at once. I looked beyond the stone wall, and disappointingly, I couldn’t see any villages or buildings, but I wasn’t too worried since I was bound to find something as I moved toward the center.
I was inwardly relieved that I had given up on a frontal assault. My judgment based on Sensing had been correct. Seeing the Deadmen scattered everywhere, I slowly stood up on the very top of the rock pile. I glanced at the spot where the group was hiding and saw Ahn Hyun peeking his head out, seemingly waiting for the right timing. From now on, I had to be a convincing lure for everyone. I exchanged a brief glance with Ahn Hyun and took a deep breath.
Then, with all my might, I screamed.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
My voice echoed loudly through the air. The effect was immediate; it worked like a charm. Every single Deadman in sight turned their head toward me. Soon, I saw them let out loud roars and charge in my direction. It was a success for now, but it felt a little insufficient.
As I waved my arms and shouted taunts, the number of Deadmen emerging from the forest gradually increased. To draw in the ones on the far right, I needed to hold out on top of this rock pile for a bit. I opened my mouth and shouted again.
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Hey, monsters! I’m over here! Look at me!”
Growl. Growl. Growl. Growl. Growl. Growl. Growl. Growl.
As soon as I finished, a chorus of growls hit my ears. At the same time, I felt the monsters moving toward my location on a massive scale. The Deadman closest to me had already reached the rock pile and was struggling to climb up. It seemed I didn’t need to shout anymore. As if starved for prey, all the nearby Deadmen shrieked and ran toward me. I calmly muttered a single phrase.
‘This brings back memories.’
A deep smile spread across my face as I watched the monsters swarm toward me. I raised the crossbow mounted on my left arm and took out three bolts. The crossbow I was holding could have one bolt nocked and two more pre-loaded. One load, three shots.
Before aiming at the forehead of the Deadman scrambling right in front of me, I looked back at the group’s hiding place one more time. For some reason, I couldn’t stop smiling.