Tiger (5)
We left the shaman's house and climbed the mountain path along the trail.
In the process, we didn't forget to mimic the actions of 'me' from the 'Watch Three Times and Die' video...
Finally.
Fog swirled around us. A fishy smell mixed with the mountain breeze stung my nose, and soon rain began to patter down from the sky.
The rain was sparse and so blunt it felt like mist from a spray bottle.
Yet it wasn't weak by any means—it was literally like walking through water.
As I pushed through the hazy darkness, inhaling the thick air, I suddenly craved a segment of tangerine forgotten under an electric blanket.
'...Once this is over, I should buy a whole box of tangerines.'
It made sense. Winter was coming soon. Whether it was some cultural trait of Korea or an instinct etched into my genes, come that season, I always craved tangerines.
Just like how rainy days make you want to slump in bed all day.
...
'Rain...'
There wasn't any special reason I mentioned the rain.
It was just my unconscious mind reacting to the situation, prompting the thought.
But it felt almost inevitable.
I hate summer.
'Yeah, I really do.'
Like the exhaustion that humid season brings, I was utterly drained.
With that thought, I turned back to check on the two rookies.
It would happen soon.
Joo Han-wool would twist her ankle. I'd carry her with Kim Moon-ho's help. And in that moment...
We'd reunite with the tiger.
The slope soon steepened. The terrain turned rugged.
The two rookies staggered in a way that was almost pitiful to watch. I recited my prepared line.
"It's steep. Both of you, be careful."
The stragglers nodded. I stopped to wait, and did so three more times after.
Right now. The moment Joo Han-wool twists her ankle.
"Ahh!"
'Predictable as ever.'
Joo Han-wool collapsed. It was like, here it comes.
"Are you okay?"
"Ugh..."
"Let me take a look. Take off your shoe."
Joo Han-wool removed her shoe and sock.
But I didn't examine her. No need—her ankle was surely swollen badly either way.
What I was watching was the tiger's movements.
Not yet.
"Mr. Kim Moon-ho, can you carry her?"
I muttered, feigning distress.
"Y-Yes, I can."
A lie. He wasn't in any shape for it. I knew without checking. I'd already seen.
"That won't work. I'll carry her. Mr. Kim Moon-ho? Help me out."
I hoisted Joo Han-wool onto my back. Even then, my eyes scanned the forest. The mountain. The shadows lurking in the gaps.
'...It's here.'
A flash of light streaked between the trees on both sides of the trail's trees.
Swish— swish— swish— swish— swish—.
The wind howled. The mountain and trees groaned.
A beastly musk pierced my nose. Fog enveloped us.
An eerie atmosphere. Damp, dense air pressed on my shoulders. Utterly different from before.
"Oh no...!"
I acted. Making sure it recognized me clearly.
My voice had been faint not from shock, but by design.
"Mr. Kim Moon-ho? Ms. Joo Han-wool? Are you there? Answer me!"
Up to now, my use of 'us' hadn't meant me, Joo Han-wool, and Kim Moon-ho.
"Something's wrong! It's watching us! Answer quickly—we need to run now!"
It meant me and 'me'.
"The thing next to you isn't human! Please believe me!"
Joo Han-wool and Kim Moon-ho stirred in panic.
Even I, knowing the full truth, was startled by the convincing plea. It was only natural for them.
And this was the 'mimicry' prepared for such a moment.
"Shh. Don't react."
"......"
"......"
"I told you. Sound is dangerous. No matter what, don't open your mouth."
I still held the reins.
The rookies wouldn't fall for this much. I'd made sure of that.
"It'll eat you!"
"That's right. It'll eat you. Understand? Suspect anything that makes noise. The only one you can trust is me."
A light streaked through the fog. It was the wind. Soil clawed up by sickle-like claws, moonlight scattering faintly...
"Please, you have to believe me!"
"I would never talk like that. Never."
Wind, wind, and more wind.
Finally, silence.
Then footsteps.
Thud. Footsteps echoed. Thud. They faded away.
Thump. Thump. Thump. The fog shrank back. Even the wind parted. Far away, farther and farther...
'Please.'
I trusted my own competence, just as I trusted the past 'me's'.
I walked on silently. The two followed behind.
From below my back, the tiger's laughter echoed.
Whispering in my teammates' voices to mock 'me'...
Then the sounds vanished. It had gone after 'me'.
Success.
The final piece of this endless puzzle.
Where had my colleagues gone?
'Somewhere at the rendezvous point, probably.'
Of course. They were competent. Hadn't they set a final rally point during recon, anticipating mission failure?
It was the Dangsan tree.
The sacred tree guarding Dangsan Dowon.
Time was short. We hurried, and soon reached the Dangsan summit.
"......!"
"......"
Sure enough, voices drifted over. The tiger's attention was on 'me', so those were humans.
"Are you saying we abandon Assistant Manager Oh?"
"Yeah, that's exactly it. No reason not to. The op's already failed."
"I won't accept that. Absolutely not!"
But the mood was off. It almost sounded like they were fighting.
"You won't accept it? Then let's go down right now and rescue Team Leader Oh?"
"Yes! Of course!"
"What about the rest? The exam candidates in the capture cage, and us?"
"......"
The arguers were Section Chief Ham and Deputy Choi.
...Not surprised. Choi Soo-jung was always like that.
"Deputy Choi, those words just now... Can you take responsibility?"
"......"
"See? Nothing to say? You're spouting words even you can't back up."
Anyway, this was awkward.
What if I just popped out? It'd be mortifying.
'...No, not the time to worry about that.'
It'd be like rising from the dead at a funeral. A nuisance to everyone, including myself.
'Sigh.'
But we couldn't drag this out. I stepped forward.
"Then I'll go alone. Actually, perfect."
"Can't allow it. You're on my team, and my job is to preserve the team. What boss sends a team member to certain death?"
"After hearing that radio... and still so shameless...!"
Ah, that was it.
My radio message must've sounded like a heroic last stand to them. Unfortunately, that wasn't my intent.
"You said it well. That's why we heard the radio! You really don't get it? What state of mind Sung-jin was in...!"
"Uh, yeah. I don't."
I muttered. It'd been ages since I'd felt this sheepish.
Tragically, Section Chief Ham didn't seem to hear me.
"You don't get it? For real? I didn't think you were like that, you heartless...!"
"......Section Chief."
"What? Got more to say? You make me sick. Fine, do whatever you want..."
"No, Section Chief, that's not..."
Choi Soo-jung pointed at me. Ham's gaze followed her finger.
I waved. Both froze, like I'd turned into a ghost.
"Uh, Assistant Manager Oh Sung-jin, reporting back."
I said with an awkward smile.
The reunion wasn't exactly tearful.
Not at all.
A moment later.
I explained the situation.
"Stalling for time? So the past 'you' was...?"
Manager Jo muttered.
"Does that even make sense? I mean, not that it didn't happen, but... does it?"
"It's not impossible."
"I'm no expert in this field, but isn't there time paradoxes or whatever?"
Manager Jo scratched his bald occiput.
"Didn't we agree not to overthink scientific principles? Like at that meeting..."
"No, even so, this is too much. Your past self buying time for your future self? And you bet on it?"
Ah, that.
I got Manager Jo's side. He didn't know my specialty.
"Well, it worked when I tried..."
"Heh, reckless too. We've got a gambler here. Hey, Oh Sung-jin, no more gambling. You'll go bankrupt."
I grinned sheepishly. Manager Jo shot me a glare. I bowed my head.
"Anyway, unprecedented. Using 'yourself' from the Watch Three Times and Die video... and succeeding? Write a report on this when we get out. Bonus pay'll be sweet."
It meant I'd uncovered a new anomalous trait of the video. The bonus was the reward.
Of course, I wouldn't be getting any bonus.
"Manager, about that..."
That anomalous trait belonged not to the video, but to the Dream Tiger.
"And..."
I shared my plan with Manager Jo. How Dangsan Dowon and the Dream Tiger were merging into one anomaly, with Dangsan still holding dominance.
And my plan.
"......Heh."
"What do you think?"
"Are you insane?"
"Positively?"
"No, just—are you insane?"
"......"
"You're telling me to sacrifice my team?"
Manager Jo's look was like an EMT eyeing a suicide hopeful.
"......Yes. No other way. We'll all die like this."
"......"
"Then I'll take that as approval."
In truth, it wasn't much different from our current mess.