Chapter 103
Chapter 103
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Obsessive Thought Hunt (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[It happened several decades ago, but it’s still vivid in my mind. That day, we were dying from the relentless downpour that had been going on for days.]
Adrian’s gaze drifted into the distance.
Adrian.
The reason he gained fame as a survival expert was simple. No matter the survival scenario, he always clung to life with sheer tenacity and made it through.
—Adrian! Leader! We’re out of food. At this rate, we’ll all starve to death…!
—As long as I’m here, that won’t happen.
In fact, Adrian scoured every nook and cranny with dogged determination to find something edible. Even if it was…
—…Do we really have to eat this?
—Why not? This insect is an excellent source of protein. In our current situation, it’s perfect for preventing muscle loss.
—…
Even something like a fat, palm-sized grub.
Some might feel terror at nature’s grandeur, but not Adrian. He found comfort in it. Mother Nature isn’t dangerous. She gives every being an equal chance to survive.
Whether food runs out, rain falls, winds blow, or snow comes—trials always bring rewards. After a harsh, barren winter comes spring, when life sprouts anew. Rain makes fresh shoots emerge from the soil. Wind knocks high-hanging fruits to the ground, delighting the palate. He enjoyed it all—grazing on grass, digging in dirt, eating bugs.
Survival expert. That was the highest praise for him.
But then.
—Adrian, leader. This rain… it’s kinda weird, right?
They had been hired by a broadcaster for a pre-scout of an archipelago in the South Pacific. It was for a documentary on untouched natural paradise. Naturally, such projects required preliminary surveys to avoid disasters during filming.
That’s why Adrian’s team of survival experts had been brought on board.
An uninhabited island once home to indigenous people, according to lore. Untouched by humans for ages, it was beautiful—and eerie.
—It’s weird. Doesn’t it give you chills?
After scouting part of the island, his team started feeling strange stares.
—There are no predators… no game worth hunting.
Oddly, the island lacked top predators. That made it safer for the documentary crew, but…
‘What the hell is this gaze?’
His instincts, which had saved him countless times, were screaming a warning. Something was here.
But nothing was visible. There were poisonous plants and bugs, but they didn’t explain the prickling tension.
And then.
Shwaaa—
The downpour worsened everything.
—A squall?
So thought the team at first.
—We knew squalls happen here, but… this is lasting longer than expected.
What they assumed would be a brief burst stretched into one day, two, three, four, five.
Everyone realized: something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
—Signal?
—Dead.
—Wind’s too strong for rescue…
Even back then, remote areas were harsh. Survival experts pooled their brains, but time made it harder.
Finally.
—Food’s gone.
—We’ll die here at this rate!
Their prepared rations had long run out, followed by foraged roots, fruits, and protein sources.
Minimal meals left them weakened, wandering in cold rain—a suicide mission.
No other options. Rain stops, or rescue comes. Otherwise, only one end.
—Alright. Pair up, scout nearby. No overdoing it. Got it?
As leader, Adrian had to decide.
And then.
—Why haven’t they come back?
—Lost, maybe? They’re not the type, even in rain… I’ll check.
But that team member didn’t return either.
One by one.
Silently.
They vanished.
When Adrian stepped up, only one teammate remained, trembling at the inexplicable phenomenon.
‘What the fuck.’
He grabbed and loaded a rifle stored for lack of predators. No chance of crabats from snowy tundras here. Nor seasoned survivalists disappearing one after another.
‘Something’s definitely here.’
Adrian tensed, rifle sweeping every direction like it might fire any second.
How far had he gone when…
[Grrrrk…]
Adrian saw it.
No carnivores.
Just a grotesque creature pieced from various animals, waiting for him.
He fired in horror.
The monster writhed but didn’t die. Shredded like rags, it still reached him.
And…
‘One more shot, just one more, and I could’ve…!’
With that regret, victory went to the monster.
When Adrian opened his eyes again, his body was gone.
*
[So… that was the hunt.]
Crunch.
Realization hit late. Adrian’s face turned grim.
[And I didn’t even know… my team…]
“You couldn’t have known. Calm down.”
[How can I? Thinking that thing hunted my team makes my blood boil!]
“Normal people can’t fight those. They don’t even know they exist.”
If encountered, it’s like a natural disaster—swept away instantly.
Except for Yeonwoo himself.
‘This isn’t their first human meal.’
Fifty years ago—landscapes change five times over. Back then, their power was stronger.
‘So they used their heads for the hunt…’
Now weakened and aged, they relied on old memories.
Yeonwoo’s eyes hardened.
Even a once-great divine being that devours humans is tainted.
‘Pathetic thrashing, refusing reality.’
It had to be caught.
Especially if this was deliberate hunting…
‘Tch. Spiritual power’s running low.’
Lucky the area’s aura-rich. In Seoul’s core, he’d be scraping bottom.
No choice.
“Feeling wronged?”
Yeonwoo asked Adrian.
[Of course! If I’d had extra ammo…!]
Crunch! Gripping the gun, grinding teeth—motivation clear.
“Then let’s catch it.”
[With my own hands… What?]
“You’re pissed, right? Time for revenge.”
[For real?]
“Why lie about this?”
Adrian’s face grew serious. He dropped to one knee dramatically.
[No reason for you to. Helping with revenge… How can I repay this grace?]
“Uh, why kneel suddenly…?”
[How to express this gratitude…]
“You’re misunderstanding. I need to catch it too—for the film…”
—No need to downplay it. Don’t worry about burdening me.
“No, really, catching it lets us film…”
—I, Adrian McRich, dead once but pledge my life: I’ll catch that bastard without troubling you!
—…
Thorough misunderstanding.
‘…Whatever, it’ll work out.’
Priority: catch the Obsessive Thoughts.
Adrian was key to filling his depleted spiritual power gap.
And he volunteered eagerly. Jackpot.
Yeonwoo and Adrian huddled.
“If you’re close, they won’t approach. Keep distance.”
[Then I head this way…]
“Good. Lure them there…”
[This terrain’s better.]
“Fine, then there…”
[Time your arrival, I’ll… But ammo…]
“Oh, don’t worry. Do it like this…”
[Ooh! Like that…?]
“Yeah. Like that…”
Back and forth.
Using Adrian’s local knowledge, they picked spots and planned.
Blasting blindly wasn’t viable—low spiritual power.
Finally.
[Perfect if it goes smooth.]
“Should be, if executed well.”
Plan set.
“Now it’s our turn to hunt.”
A fierce smile curled Yeonwoo’s lips.
The hunt began.
*
Even diminished, Obsessive Thoughts from former gods weren’t pushovers. Couldn’t just burn a few talismans like trivial ones.
So Yeonwoo dug a trap.
To reliably eliminate threats to his precious lifespan source.
[Grrrrk?]
“No Adrian, so you pop out right away. What, weird being alone?”
A head emerged after playing dead.
Snake head flicked its tongue, scanning.
It had eaten but tormented that human till death—and he was gone.
[Grrr…]
Only one left: a human with delicious scent.
Devour him, fill the starving gut instantly.
Hunger-blinded, it called comrades.
[Karakarak!]
[Grrrrk!]
Another head popped up.
Yeonwoo smirked.
‘Pure instinct left.’
Better that way. Any reason left, they’d suspect.
As Yeonwoo backed away slowly,
[Grrrrk!]
[Kyarak!]
They chased madly.
How long since instinct-driven herding started? Time blurred.
Only ‘hungry’ remained.
Lured with faint memories, but prey wouldn’t show—driving mad.
Couldn’t approach; scary human blocked.
Then Yeonwoo appeared alone, sans Adrian. Perfect prey.
Must eat him. Only way to ease hunger.
Instinct spurred wild pursuit.
Unaware where this tasty bait led.