The Fragile Minds of the Hunted
"Kieeeek!"
Kang Yahyun parried the monster's axe with her sword. The massive beast, its head resembling that of a Minotaur, ignored her and charged toward the others, slamming its axe into a shield.
"Sunghyun, now!"
After Yu Raon blocked the monster's attack with her large shield, Yahyun signaled me.
Thwack!
"Keeek!"
While Chae Ryuah drew the monster's attention with her bow, I plunged my dagger into its heart from behind. The beast collapsed to the ground, blood spraying like a fountain from its mouth and chest as it let out a final, dying shriek.
Crunch.
I drove the dagger into the monster's neck, severing its spine and ending its life.
"Phew."
"I suppose..."
"Yes."
We were all looking at the same thing. A wall that soared high into the sky, its end nowhere in sight. It was the structure signaling that we had reached the end of the Gate. For a C-rank Gate, the difficulty was low and the dungeon size was small. Evening was approaching, but if we pushed forward quickly, we could slay the boss and return in a single day.
I handed the blood-and-fur-stained dagger to Kim Seohee. She immediately pulled a supply kit from her pocket, wiped the blood off, and began applying oil. Chae Ryuah was busy retrieving her missed arrows.
Inside a Gate, all electronic devices malfunction, so weapons or tools containing electronics are useless. Of course, tools known as "Artifacts", occasionally found in B-rank or higher Gates, can be used. A prime example is the "Beacon". Found in Gates themed after high-level research labs or military bases, it’s an artifact that allows simple communication between the inside and outside of a Gate when a pair is linked. It’s a one-time-use item that becomes a paperweight after, and they cost at least 20 million won each. Naturally, they are provided to hunters when exploring high-rank Gates.
"What should we do now?"
Kim Seohee handed the cleaned dagger back to me, glancing between me and Yahyun. I looked at Yahyun.
"Hmm... the sun hasn't set yet, so let's go slay the boss."
"Understood."
"Kikikik..."
"Ugh... damn it, an aerial monster again?"
Following the Minotaur, this time it was a flying monster. It was a boss that seemed to belong in a Gate themed after the Mycenaean civilization. A beast with a bull's head and black wings flew through the sky, raining down feathers. The speed and destructive power of the feathers were negligible, but the fact that it kept flying around was annoying. On top of that, night was falling, and the team members were starting to look exhausted.
"Everyone, we're almost there. That thing is getting tired too. Look at its flank."
At my words, the team stared at the monster's side. It was a wound Yahyun had inflicted by leaping into the air. It wasn't deep, but blood kept flowing from it.
This was the moment for Chae Ryuah, the archer, to shine, but she was struggling to land a hit. 'Its attack pattern is too predictable, and she's too anxious...'
Whoosh—
"Kikikik!"
The monster gestured at the air, mocking Chae Ryuah's arrow as it flew past. It was cackling at us, but I could see it was starting to wear down.
"Hey, aim better. Yahyun and I are taking all the attacks. It's not that hard to shoot from behind a shield, is it?"
"W-what?! Don't tell me what to do just because you're a man!!"
I poked at her a little, and Ryuah snapped. 'Her reaction is delicious.' A long-range dealer with misandry—a terrible combination. I remembered how Kim Seohee, our porter and combat support, had seized an opportunity early in the fight to throw a spear, which had narrowly grazed the monster's neck. 'Seohee might actually have more talent...'
I leaned in behind Yahyun and whispered.
"Yahyun."
"Y-yes?"
"That archer... no, that bow-wielder is hopeless. Yahyun, leap up again and draw its attention. I'll throw my dagger and hit its vitals."
Yahyun answered with a determined look.
"Yes!"
Perhaps realizing that we were changing our plan due to her lackluster performance, Ryuah suddenly stepped out from behind the shield and aimed at the monster.
"D-don't ignore me!"
"Hey, hey!"
"R-Ryuah!"
Just then, the monster began to inhale deeply, its chest swelling up. 'That's...!'
I turned back and shouted to the team.
"Everyone, cover your ears!!"
"Kieeeeeek!!!!"
A deafening roar shook the ground and hammered our ears. Bad memories flashed through my mind. The back of my alcoholic father, always being alone at school, the sight of a teammate with their head crushed and eyes bulging out, their arm twitching. It was a classic mental attack. I was used to it, but the rest of the team was the problem. But I didn't have time to worry about that. I threw the throwing dagger from my pocket at the monster, which was panting as if exhausted from the scream.
Thwack!
It missed the heart slightly, but the dagger embedded itself right in the center of the monster's chest.
"Kie!"
The monster spat blood a couple of times, turned around, and prepared to flee.
"A critical hit!... It's a critical hit. Finish it!"
I heard Yahyun's voice from behind. Yahyun, Kim Seohee, and Yu Raon seemed fine. Now, all that was needed was for Ryuah to finish it.
"What are you doing! Quick..."
"Huuu... sob..."
"Ah."
Ryuah was collapsed on the floor, clutching her bow tightly, her whole body trembling. I ran over and pulled on her bow.
"I'll shoot it. What are you doing? Hey, let go."
Ryuah was holding onto the bow with all her might, as if it were a treasure.
"N-no... sob... don't go..."
The boss was floundering, moving further and further away.
"Ah... this is driving me crazy..."
Just as I grabbed Ryuah's arm to force the bow away, someone touched my shoulder. It was Yahyun.
"Sunghyun!"
"Yes?"
"Stop. For now... Ryuah's condition is more important. We'll camp here for today."
Yahyun's attitude was firm.
"Yes."
We decided to set up camp in a building that looked like a nearby house. Yahyun and I took the first watch. Ryuah, with her fragile mentality, was in bad shape. It seemed we had defeated all the monsters except for the boss, but just in case, we decided to take turns standing watch in pairs while the other two rested and cared for Ryuah, who was lying in a separate room.
Amidst the awkward atmosphere, Yahyun spoke first.
"Um... Sunghyun, I'm sorry about earlier..."
"Yes? Oh, no. It was my fault."
It was my fault. Ryuah was a D-rank, and it was entirely possible for her mind to break under the boss's mental attack. My personal desire to return home as quickly as possible had made me prioritize speed over my team members.
"I was too hasty. The boss is probably bleeding out somewhere and will die by tomorrow morning. If we're lucky, it might survive, but we can just go find it and finish it off then."
"Yes... but I can understand why you acted that way, Sunghyun..."
"Yes..."
"If this is all over, would you like to stay one more day and have a meal together?"
Yahyun offered, perhaps feeling sorry. But I wanted to return and see my mother even a second faster.
"No... I have to get back quickly."
"Oh, I see..."
The throwing dagger had a harpoon-shaped blade, so the boss was likely in a corner of the darkness, struggling to breathe without even being able to pull the dagger from its chest.
"It's time to switch shifts... shall we go in?"
"Yes. Let's go in."
Yahyun went to sleep first, and I decided to watch over Ryuah's condition in the separate room for two hours.
"Umm..."
She was definitely in better shape than before. Now, she just looked like she was having a nightmare.
"Sob..."
She suddenly started sobbing again.
"Haa."
Honestly, if Yahyun hadn't stopped me earlier, I would have kicked her, grabbed the bow, and gone after the boss myself. Feeling a bit guilty, I picked up a towel and wiped the sweat from Ryuah's forehead.
Grab.
Just then, Ryuah snatched my wrist. I was so startled I dropped the towel. Her eyes were open, but they were unfocused.
"Are you awake?"
"Oppa..."
Ryuah began rubbing her cheek against my palm with a faint smile.
"Hey, hey... wait a minute."
"I knew you'd come back... Oppa, you're not going anywhere else now, right?"
She blurted out something that sounded like she had a traumatic family history just like me. She seemed to think I was her brother.
"Haaa... yeah, I'm your Oppa. I'm not going anywhere, okay?"
Slide.
"Hey, hey."
Ryuah pulled on my wrist. I briefly considered knocking her out, but I quickly dismissed the thought.
"Huh? Wait."
Ryuah hugged me and flipped over, climbing on top of me. 'What do I do? Should I just overpower her with force?'
Flick.
Ryuah began unbuttoning my shirt with her small hands.
"Now... you can't go anywhere."
I grabbed both of Ryuah's wrists.
"You crazy bitch! ...Stop it, please... No, stop it, teacher."
I might end up in prison someday, but it wasn't going to be today. Just as the use of force became inevitable, creak— the door opened and Yahyun walked in.
"Sunghyun! Is something wrong..."
Yahyun's expression turned cold as she saw the situation.
"I was rejected when I asked to have a meal together..."
Muttering under her breath, Yahyun turned to leave, closing the door.
"Yahyun! Yahyun! Please, help me!"
"Yes?"
Realizing she had misunderstood the situation, Yahyun came back in.
"Haa..."
Now, Yahyun was sleeping in the separate room, holding Ryuah. After talking with Yahyun, we concluded that it was impossible for a man to care for her in her current state. I was staring at the flames in the fireplace, killing time.
'I want to take a shower with Mom.'
Thinking only of returning home as soon as possible, I stared into the fire.