Memorize - Episode 18
18 Split in Half
Quite a number of Deadmen had fallen in front of the rock pile. Counting those with arrows stuck in their foreheads, there seemed to be about seven corpses. Of course, there were still more than double that number remaining. Seeing them stubbornly climbing over their fallen comrades, it seemed they desperately wanted to take a bite out of me.
"Keep trying, keep trying."
Humming a tune, I reached into my pocket for arrows, but found nothing. After fumbling around in the empty space, I finally managed to pull out two arrows stuck deep at the bottom. It seemed I'd need to collect the arrows I'd already shot on the way back.
Not all the Deadmen had gathered yet. I could see those from far away running breathlessly, but it seemed better to retreat around this point. Even if two or three remained to target the group, Ahn Hyun could handle that much on his own.
Looking down, I saw the Deadmen howling with their mouths open, shaking their heads back and forth. Finding it funny, I unconsciously nodded to the beat and shook my head in the same way.
'What am I doing right now?'
As a sardonic smile spread across my face watching them, I reflexively covered my mouth.
I seem too excited. After becoming a Sword Master during my first run as a Hollow Plane user, I had almost no emotional fluctuations. Especially in combat situations, I always tried to be as cold and calm as ice. That's how I was able to survive even in the Atlanta Recapture Battle and the Ragnarok Encirclement Annihilation Battle, considered the most difficult battles in history.
This feeling was truly nostalgic. I, who wouldn't even blink at seeing an overwhelming allied force, was being swayed by the emotion of slaughter. And even now, it seemed impossible to control that emotion. Although the situation wasn't as unfavorable as back then, I felt as if an expectant, thrilling emotion had melted into my entire body.
The more I looked at the monsters from atop the rock pile, the more I felt my nature being stimulated by emotion, so I leapt down towards the inner part of the forest. As I tried to calm myself down, telling myself to hold on a little longer, the Deadmen who had been struggling to climb the rock pile howled loudly. They seemed frustrated that I had come down just as they had managed to climb up.
"Hey guys. There are too many eyes watching to do this here. Let's go a bit deeper inside."
Growl!
I'm not sure if they understood my words, but they followed, making Deadman growling sounds.
I deliberately started walking slowly into the forest. My original plan was to run at full speed and instantly create distance, but I changed my mind. I would make them follow to some extent so they wouldn't lose track of me midway.
They seemed quite hungry, so I lightly shot my crossbow at a Deadman that fell down as soon as it climbed the rock pile. Thus, the most eager Deadman ended up with an arrow in its head while still hungry. After confirming it drooping its head, I immediately turned and moved into the forest.
Growl! Growl! Growl! Growl! Growl!
Even those growling sounds were becoming somewhat familiar. As I ran, adjusting my pace to be just out of reach, they seemed quite frustrated. The constant sound of teeth clashing right behind me provided a unique thrill. That's when it happened.
Chomp!
"Oh."
But I got too excited. As I had been zigzagging between trees for a while, I felt something bite down hard on my left arm. Startled, I turned to see a Deadman with a strange face biting my left wrist. It probably wasn't one I had led here, but one that had been wandering around and luckily caught me in its path.
Honestly, it didn't hurt much, but I was more surprised that such a creature had bitten my arm. And that surprise soon turned to anger. Even if it was luck, it was a blow to my pride. I spoke to the Deadman biting my wrist in an annoyed voice.
"What are you looking at?"
Growl.
"You startled me... you bastard."
The eyes of the Deadman biting my wrist looked strange. It was biting, but its teeth weren't sinking in. Of course. You think you can chew my flesh with an endurance stat of 92 points? Along with the curse, I swung my right hand in anger, and I could see its head burst with a bang.
While I was briefly struggling with the monster, the Deadmen who had been chasing me breathlessly had surrounded me in layers. Some were grinning as if they thought they had caught their prey. I briefly gauged the distance I had run, and thinking it was okay, I lightly loosened my wrist.
Growl. Growl. Growl. Growl. Growl. Growl. Growl. Growl.
Growling sounds came from all directions, but I wasn't afraid at all. Compared to the hell's messengers I faced when I fell into the abyss of hell before, these creatures were at the level of cute affection. However, I desperately hoped, and hoped again, that they would satisfy my desire even a little.
"Please take care of me."
As I greeted them kindly, the Deadmen responded by baring their teeth. These guys don't know what manners are. I also extended my fingers, aiming at the heads of the Deadmen rushing in simultaneously. First, the one right in front.
Crunch!
The feeling of my fingers piercing the head was, how should I put it, like piercing through a rotten log rather than soft human flesh. As I lifted my arm with the Deadman whose back of the head had been struck, it dangled, hanging from my fingers. And seeing this sight, the other Deadmen stopped their actions at once.
Fear. Would these creatures who always thought of humans as food know? That they could be unilaterally hunted. Still, I was inwardly surprised. I don't know if they're thinking or if it's instinct. These beings that rush in mercilessly at the sight of prey had momentarily stopped in their tracks at the presence I was emitting.
It was admirable, but I had no intention of letting them go. I lightly released my magic power, shattering the monster's head in my hand to pieces, and wiggled my fingers. Despite signaling them to come at me, the Deadmen instead took a step back.
I didn't plan to use the long sword. Not having it wasn't a problem. Even if I just broke a branch lying around or plucked a blade of grass, it would become a sufficient killing weapon in my hands. But I was thirsty for slaughter and wanted to feel the sensation of using my hands to quench that thirst. I cracked my hand joints with a deep smile. And suddenly, a thought crossed my mind. I seemed to understand why I couldn't stop smiling earlier.
I was hungry for my instincts. After swinging my sword and repeating kills to survive for 10 years, it seems my very nature had become thoroughly soaked in blood. Watching the monsters gradually retreating, I twisted my lips.
"It seems hyung did well. Everyone, get up. We need to quickly cross that wall."
The forest where monsters had been roaming until just now had become eerily quiet. Looking at the deserted forest, Ahn Hyun spoke in an energetic voice, but the mood of the group was deeply subdued. As Ahn Hyun said, Kim Su-hyun had succeeded in luring away all the creatures in the vicinity. The monsters that had been swarming just moments ago were nowhere to be seen. However, regardless of that, an inexplicable sense of despair seemed to be enveloping everyone.
"Will oppa... be okay? Hey, why don't we just..."
As Lee Yoo-jung spoke in an uncharacteristically dejected voice, Ahn Hyun felt a sting in his heart. However, he couldn't show it outwardly. Su-hyun hyung had trusted him and said he should protect the group. He couldn't betray that expectation.
"We can't do that. Stop talking nonsense and get up quickly. What if those things come back?"
"Aren't you worried about oppa?"
"I trust hyung. He said so too, didn't he? To absolutely not do anything stupid like coming back."
At Ahn Hyun's calm words, Lee Yoo-jung closed her mouth. However, seeing her drained expression, Ahn Hyun himself felt a sense of helplessness spreading through his body. But he quickly shook his head, telling himself to stay alert, and continued in a strong voice.
"Let's believe. Just as hyung believes in us, I'll believe in hyung too."
After finishing his words, Ahn Hyun stood up and came out to survey the surroundings. Fortunately, not a single Deadman was in sight. As Ahn Sol cautiously stood up and followed, Lee Yoo-jung had no choice but to get up as well. Just as she was about to leave the hiding place, Lee Yoo-jung tapped Kim Han-byeol's shoulder, who was sitting in a daze, and spoke to her.
"Hey. Get up. Why are you suddenly spacing out?"
"..."
There was no response from Kim Han-byeol. She looked at Lee Yoo-jung once with her usual cold expression, then slowly stood up and walked outside. After confirming that everyone had come out, Ahn Hyun spoke while looking at the stone wall ahead.
"Everyone, cheer up. Once we cross that stone wall right in front of us, we can escape this damn forest. Let's move together until we reach the wall, and I'll be the first to climb over. We don't know what dangers might be waiting on the other side."
Ahn Sol and Lee Yoo-jung nodded in agreement with anxious faces at Ahn Hyun's words. However, Kim Han-byeol remained silent. She had been staring into the forest where Kim Su-hyun had disappeared. Eventually, feeling Ahn Hyun's gaze on her, she turned her head and spoke.
"I understand."
What did she understand? Ahn Hyun felt like sighing inwardly but didn't show it outwardly. When hyung was here, they had moved well, helping each other, but now that he was gone, it felt like things were falling apart from the start.
"...I know how you all feel. I feel the same way. But if we go back into the forest now, hyung's sacrifice will be meaningless. This is the chance Su-hyun hyung created by risking his life. And hyung entrusted me with your safety. All we can do now is quickly cross that wall and wait for hyung to return safely. Everyone, pull yourselves together."
Despite his words, the depressed atmosphere didn't improve. Once morale drops, it's not easily recovered. Although they knew Ahn Hyun was trying his best, everyone kept their mouths shut. Ahn Hyun felt that the more he spoke, the more he realized how big the void left by Kim Su-hyun was. He felt an inexplicable anxiety creeping up inside him. Ahn Hyun finally closed his eyes, overwhelmed by the rising pressure.
The rest of the group was all thinking of the man with the crossbow who always had a calm face. In just half a day since meeting him, Kim Su-hyun had already taken a place in their hearts. It was Kim Su-hyun who had allowed them to quickly escape from the clearing, who had saved Ahn Sol when she was about to be bitten by monsters, who had prevented the team from splitting up when Park Dong-geol threatened to divide them, and who had shot arrows to save them whenever they were in danger fighting monsters. He had always been a reliable pillar for the group, like a fence protecting them at crucial moments.
But now that fence was gone. He might not come back. And those left behind were feeling the emptiness of his absence.