Chapter 4. Horde
Ji-hyuk's eyes snapped open. The moment he did, a jolting creak from the wooden window pierced his ears. He gently pushed aside Bella, who was clinging to him in her sleep, and rose from the bed to approach the window. Opening the wooden shutters, he peered outside. The only sound was the whoosh of the wind. But his gaze pierced through the pitch-black darkness like a blade.
This feeling... Ji-hyuk instantly recognized the source of this nauseating, ominous energy. The question was why it was here. Whatever the case, he couldn't stay put with this shitty aura hanging around. He quickly shook Bella awake. She wriggled under the blankets with a groggy face.
"Mmgh..."
"Get up. Now."
"...Ji-hyuk?"
Bella thought it was already dawn. She stretched on the bed, letting out an unseemly yawn—then caught herself with an oh and glanced at him nervously, wondering if she'd shown an ugly side.
"Pack your things quick."
Seeing his hardened expression, her heart skipped a beat. If this were demon territory, she'd assume monsters had appeared. "What's going on?"
"Pack first. Hurry."
Bella dashed out of the room. Ji-hyuk pounded on the hero's door next. She'd clearly woken from the commotion.
"Hero."
- It's open.
Ji-hyuk flung the door wide. The fairy had sensed the foul energy in the air too and was already getting down from the bed to pack. "We need to leave right now."
"Got it. I'll get ready."
At that moment, beastly howls erupted from all directions, like utter chaos.
Aaah—
Bella emerged with her things, her face pale with fear. Ji-hyuk headed to the coachman's room and woke him, urging him to prepare to depart immediately.
"...Pardon? In the middle of the night?"
"It's urgent. Hurry."
The coachman rose with a uneasy look and headed to the stables. By then, Elraim and Bella were ready.
"Let's go."
They stepped outside. Even the oblivious Bella could feel the chilling aura permeating the air now. It was that thick with malice. She stuck close to Ji-hyuk with an anxious expression.
The coachman tried to lead the horses from the stables, but they were bucking wildly, barely controllable even with the reins.
"H-Herooo—!"
The three rushed to the stables. Ji-hyuk cursed inwardly. Both horses were already out of their minds. No way they could ride the carriage like this.
Fuck..., this is bad.
But they couldn't stay pinned here. They had to escape before it got worse.
"We'll go on foot. Hurry."
"What about the horses and carriage...?"
"Leave 'em."
The coachman insisted he couldn't abandon his horses—they were like his children. "I'll stay here."
The fairy figured there was no time to argue. "Fine. We're going."
The three hurriedly left the village. Ji-hyuk had a selfish thought: At least the coachman buys us some time.
The clueless Bella asked if they really had to go without the carriage. "We can't ride right now. We need to leave now."
The fairy said nothing more. Bella fell silent too.
Thankfully, the moonlight wasn't completely obscured, so they could make out their footing. They walked and walked. Thanks to their quick escape, the foul energy gradually faded. Only then did Ji-hyuk exhale in relief.
"Looks like we're clear for now."
"...Yeah."
The fairy nodded, sensing the aura dissipate as well. Curious Bella finally asked Ji-hyuk what had happened.
"It was the aura of death. A ghoul horde was coming."
"A ghoul horde?!"
Bella jumped back in shock. Why would those cursed things be here?! "Why would they be in a place like this?"
"No idea. ...Hero, any guesses?"
"Nope."
The fairy hero seemed just as baffled. Ji-hyuk couldn't make sense of it either. The empty village had felt off, but ghouls? For real?
"Some nasty necromancer's playing games."
"That's what I think too. ...Fuck, annoying."
No natural ghouls here—this was the work of some deranged necromancer. Not something to brush off lightly.
They walked through the night, resting sporadically. Dawn broke. The sunrise on the horizon was a spectacular sight. Exhausted Bella yawned nonstop, fatigue etched on her face.
"Let's rest a bit. Catch some shut-eye."
The frail healer perked up. They found shade under a tree. Bella was out the moment she lay down. Ji-hyuk and the fairy dozed briefly too. But not for long—they set off again soon after.
Bella clearly yearned for a soft bed in the next village. They'd been walking a while when suddenly a group burst from the bushes.
Ah—
Bella startled and clung to Ji-hyuk. "Fuck, drop your weapons—!"
Elraim and Ji-hyuk exchanged glances. The bandit packs here were probably tied to the ghouls too. ...Likely survivors who'd lost everything.
"You deaf?!"
One bandit yelled, "Hey, you two women come here. Drop the weapons, you fuck—!!"
The fairy moved like a flash of light, embedding an arrow right in the bandit's head.
—!!
Arrows rained down like a storm. With each shot, one fell. Over ten were wiped out in seconds.
A...!
Bella gaped in horror, hand over her mouth. Gruesome. But the fairy and Ji-hyuk didn't flinch. They approached the bodies and yanked the arrows from the heads.
"From the numbers, doesn't seem like just one village got hit," Ji-hyuk whispered.
The fairy looked annoyed. Not their mission, but now they were tangled up. Necromancers were public enemies across the continent. Even off-duty, heroes had a duty to handle such threats.
Bad luck... She'd felt it starting with that demon in the cave. Once in the city, she'd buy holy water from a temple.
With arrows recovered, they walked on. Finally, a village appeared. People here, thankfully. They checked into an inn for the night. Shabby, but better than outside.
"You folks from the village across?" the old innkeeper asked.
Ji-hyuk nodded.
"How'd you survive? ...Got out before nightfall?"
"Lucky escape."
"Total chaos over there now."
Ji-hyuk gestured for more details. The innkeeper chattered excitedly.
"Ghost army shows up at night, snatches everyone. You saw it—village empty."
"Yeah."
"Fuck, world's gone mad. ...This place is safe, though. Got a shrine. Ghosts can't touch it. See? Village fine."
The shrine was their guardian god, she claimed. Ji-hyuk knew that was bullshit. Not the shrine—it was the necromancer's whim. But no point arguing; he wrapped it up.
They ate and headed to their room—a single large one this time.
"Sleep hard. We leave at dawn tomorrow."
Early afternoon, but yawns all around. Two beds: fairy took one. Ji-hyuk and Bella shared the other. The hero didn't bat an eye anymore—they'd slept skin-to-skin before.
"Goodnight, Hero."
"Yeah, you too, Bella. Sleep well."
Bella whispered to Ji-hyuk too. "You too, Ji-hyuk."
"Thanks. You too, Bella."
All three crashed out.
· · ·
Three days later, the hero's party reached the city of Chronostan. Unlike the ravaged villages, it was peaceful. Citizens oblivious.
The hero headed straight to the inner castle. Gates swung open for her. They met Viscount Matan in the palace.
The middle-aged viscount seemed surprised by the sudden visit. "What brings you here unannounced...?"
"Passing through on the way back to the Empire. Mind if we impose for a couple days?"
"Of course. Welcome."
He hosted them warmly. But sharp-eyed Ji-hyuk sensed something off. ...He'd watch the viscount closely.
They were invited to a dinner banquet. The fairy thanked his hospitality.
"Hero, ask about the necromancer later if you get a chance."
"Got it."
Ji-hyuk wondered what Viscount Matan would say. After the banquet, they retired to provided quarters. Before bed, Ji-hyuk visited the hero. She was in nightclothes, preparing to sleep.
"What'd he say?"
"He's investigating closely himself."
"Didn't ask the hero for help?"
"Nope."
Why? Ji-hyuk found it odd. No reason not to—free top-tier manpower. Not asking meant something fishy.
"Kang Ji-hyuk."
The fairy called him. "Yes, Hero."
Ji-hyuk looked at her.
"I just wanna leave."
Elraim said. Ji-hyuk got it. Without a request, they were "investigating" too. Empire would handle it later. Easy to ignore...
But how many incidents snowballed from neglect? Nip it early, even if annoying—better than a wildfire.
"Viscount's suspicious."
"I know. But can't trip over everything. ...No evidence."
Fairy had a point. "Understood. I'll check one day."
"...Gotta be so nosy?"
"Can't just overlook it."
He wanted to skip too, but necromancer? Tricky. "I'll bail if it's no good."
"...Fine. One day. Leaving the day after anyway."
"Yes."
Ji-hyuk bowed and left. Alone, the fairy sighed lightly.
Troublesome guy. ...But oddly, she didn't hate it. Maybe he suited a hero after all.