It's About Time They Get Hungry
-Did you watch the video I sent?
"Yes. I did."
Kang Moo-hyuk rewound the video of the gruesome scene multiple times.
A human head impaled on a pillar, surrounded by cow entrails. Cow heads staked symmetrically along the barn fence like trophies. It screamed tribal monster ritual.
Especially the totem—hastily woven from grass and branches, decked out like a festive idol.
He'd seen this before.
Orcs.
Back in his Titan Guild days, Kang Moo-hyuk had raided gates with orcs several times. He knew their habits well.
Hunter Association data on orc tribes was public too, with research advancing on totem meanings.
That's why this totem nagged at him.
This one's off. Victory... joy... what the hell are they happy about? A good meal? Killing humans? Nothing worth commemorating, yet they built a totem. Doesn't add up.
The flanking cow heads symbolized triumph or parade. The central pillar adorned with head and guts meant celebration.
Typically seen in orc tribes fresh from war.
Utterly baffling. When did orcs around here fight a war? No group in South Pocheon had achievements warranting such grandeur.
Lee Jin-joo felt the same dissonance.
"Even with their pea brains, this totem's context-free. First time I've seen one like it."
"Orcs don't plant totems randomly. They're sacred—ritual and chronicle. Hence the proto-humanoid debate."
"Yeah, yeah. So we gotta hunt 'em down quick. More casualties incoming. Think you can track?"
Kang Moo-hyuk's brow furrowed at her troubled head-scratch.
"You know orcs excel at evasion. Holed up in the city? Nightmare."
"Traces?"
"Days passed, rain hit— no prints, no droppings. Tracking skill dropped midway. Intentional wipe. Not ordinary orcs."
Even veteran expedition leader Lee Jin-joo losing the trail meant no run-of-the-mill orcs. Countering skills? Dire news.
Monsters erasing tracks? Hunter instinct. Highly evolved.
Like goblins, orcs were tribal evolutions. The more they gathered, the stronger and smarter over time.
Rookies cheered drawing goblins or orcs—decent loot for low difficulty.
Veterans dreaded them.
Small packs were manageable, but large tribes? Trickier than any monster.
Final-evolution mega-tribes in gates? Consider aborting raid. It turned into full-scale war.
"How'd they bypass the electric fence undetected? Monsters crossed before, but never sneaky."
"Cops and Pocheon City joint probe found digging traces."
"Tunnels? Damn, smart for monsters."
"Victim lived alone—no family, late discovery. Queried neighbors on barn: cow count, missing ones."
"Why cows...? Scale? Feasted on beef.... So, how many orcs crossed?"
"Gut remnants suggest small pack, around ten. Four days since—it's about time they get hungry."
"Hiding? They'll show soon?"
"Yes. Hunger's the orc instinct they can't resist."
In Korea, every town had one: a wooded hillside.
Birds chirping idly, a trail for hikers fetching spring water. Now, ragged beastly breaths intruded.
"Kurrk."
Squashed nose, short pointed ears, jutting lower fangs, dusky blue skin, bulging yellow sclera with horizontal slit pupils. Face-to-face chills to the bone.
Orcs descended the slope.
Hiding in brush, they eyed morning commuters like predators sizing prey.
Soon, easy, tender quarry appeared.
[Nuribyeol Kindergarten]
Toddlers spilling from yellow metal carts—skin plump and succulent at a glance.
"Kurr-kurr. Kurrk. Quo-quokker."
Unlike plain-clad kin, the orc with vibrant feather headdress signaled.
Many humans. Wait till area clears.
Orcs melted deeper into brush.
Eagerly awaiting the feast.
"Ughhh, everyone's chilling. So leisurely. I'm dying here."
Freelancer hunter Kim Soo-jeong lounged in a cafe, idly watching passersby.
Weekday midday—prime hunting hours—wasted. Nothing but pity-party whining.
"This time's usually dead. Everyone's at work or school."
"Shut it. If you hadn't brought bad intel, I wouldn't be twiddling thumbs all week."
"It was solid! Source confirmed."
"That cousin of yours? Guild Cooperation Dept? Hah! Be real—does this legendary cousin even exist?"
"Think I've been duped my whole life? Why lie about eating well? Bro said Iron Will's opening North Pocheon hunts soon. First in gets perks. Us lowbies gotta snag events like that."
"Look at us. Jobless vibes. Shoulda hit Jirisan special zone. High fees, but mobs galore.... Sigh, my fault for trusting you."
"Swear, announcement this week. Huge Iron Will event incoming."
Party mate Yoo Seong-joo thumped his chest in frustration.
Kim Soo-jeong shrugged it off like spilled milk.
"Whatever. Jirisan's got entry limits now—same wait. Few more days won't kill us. Card's tight, but... let's wait it out."
"For real..."
Ignoring his grumble, she slumped over the table, gazing out.
Across the street, beyond the kindergarten fence, kids romped on the playground.
Chilly late fall warmed by rare sun. Travel weather. She sighed.
"Perfect day~ Wish I could rewind to kindergarten. No eat-or-starve worries."
"Gear worries trump survival."
"Ugh, gear gear gear! Hunter life's endless deficits buying crap. Regret awakening, tsk! Thought it'd be riches. Who knew debt?"
"Yeah. Decent guild would help."
"Guilds. Not small fry—mid-tier minimum. No orc-level suffering."
"Huh? Orc?"
"For real. That. Orcs?"
"Hunting songs got you hallucinating? Orcs here?"
Orcs slid down the hillside by the road.
Kim Soo-jeong and Yoo Seong-joo gaped, then locked eyes. Cheers erupted.
"Jackpot!"
They grabbed gear crates, giddy. But orcs beelining for kindergarten? Panic.
"Crazy bastards!"
"Block 'em—hurry!"
"Detective Kim, tired? Gimme the wheel. Stop dozing."
"Yawn. Damn post-meal slump. Perfect nap sun."
"Not slump—on-call last night, straight out. Promotion's great, but ease up."
"Chaos lately. Gotta show discipline."
Kim Bu-yong couldn't take it, swapped driving with his junior, pulling over.
Passenger seat, belted up, he reclined for shut-eye.
As junior adjusted his seat—
BAM!
Vehicle lurched violently, tilting passenger-side, flipping instantly.
"Urghh! What the—?!"
"Nngh..."
"Tae-ho! You okay?"
"Y-yeah... Neck strain aside."
Kim Bu-yong dangled upside-down, belted to seat. Junior, unbelted mid-adjust, slammed roof-first.
"Crash? What happened?"
"Dunno, me neither..."
Then—
THUD!
Heavy impact rocked the undercarriage. Vehicle shook. Something thudded by passenger window.
Thick ankle like adult thigh, dusky blue skin.
Monster's lower half.
"O-orc..."
Kim Bu-yong clocked it from the retreating silhouette outside.
No North Pocheon rumors, but orcs were common knowledge.
Instinct screamed: barn killer.
Junior flipped nimbly in tight space, flung door open.
"What're you—?"
"Gotta catch it. Kindergarten ahead."
"Fuck. Orcs easy? Monster, asshole."
"Headshot drops orcs."
"Hey—!"
Before Kim Bu-yong yelled, junior bolted, drawing pistol after the orc.
Worried sick. Junior's generation missed monster waves—rumors downplayed orcs.
"Damn! Bullets worked, it wouldn't be monster!"
He scrambled after, but flip-shock jammed belt.
"Why won't—argh! Tae-ho, wait! Don't go solo!"
"Too late!"
Desperate cries ignored, junior racked slide, aimed at orc's skull.
Split-second—
"Kuhk!"
"Huh?"
Shadow loomed behind. Junior crumpled like puppet sans strings.
Thud, roll.
"Tae-hooo!"
Head rolling to face him, eyes met. Kim Bu-yong screamed bloodcurdling.