The deadmen shuffled closer, sniffing the air as they lumbered toward us. Their decaying skin hung in shreds, revealing bits of rotting bone beneath. Grotesque hardly even began to describe them.
The fear in my companions' eyes was unmistakable. It hadn't even been a full day since they'd lived normal lives—no one could expect them to react swiftly in the face of such horror.
Grrr… Grrrr…
The lead deadman let out a low growl. Its sluggish pace meant it hadn't fully caught our scent yet. But I frowned when the last one in the group suddenly changed direction. Taking all three down at once was now off the table.
Every growl made the nearby trees seem to shiver. A quick glance confirmed my suspicion—Ahn Sol. She was leaning against a tree, trembling violently.
Rustle… rustle…
The sound of grass being dragged underfoot grew closer as two of the deadmen crept right up to our hiding spot. They paused, tilting their heads as if confused, before slowly beginning to move forward again. The tree we were hiding behind was large enough for cover, so I signaled to the group. With every step the deadmen took, we shifted around the tree trunk in tandem. One wrong move and we'd be exposed, but deadmen typically didn't change direction unless provoked. As long as they didn't get curious…
One step closer—we move.Another step—we shift.Again—move.
We repeated the motion several times. Eventually, we had moved halfway around the tree, while the deadmen were now standing in the spot we had originally occupied.
No one dared breathe. The deadmen craned their heads around, scanning their surroundings with eerie grunts before finally turning away and resuming their slow march forward.
We had almost made it.
Then—
Snap! Crack!
"Gasp!"
Ahn Sol, eyes tightly shut and shaking all over, had stepped on a twig.
I glanced down to see the snapped branch beneath her foot. Her attempt to stifle a scream failed as a small yelp escaped her lips—just loud enough to be heard by the nearby monsters.
GRRRRR!
The deadmen growled more frequently now. Everyone froze in fear. Their footsteps quickened until, finally, they rounded the tree and exposed their grotesque faces.
Caught.
"GRAAAAAAAH!"
"Mmmph! Ughhhhh!"
One deadman lunged, jaws wide and lined with red, jagged teeth. Ahn Sol shrieked again, and although Ahn Hyun had clamped a hand over her mouth, the damage was done. The nearby trio had definitely heard.
Ahn Hyun raised his shield just in time, using his remaining hand to protect his sister. The charging deadman crashed into the shield with a THUD, and Ahn Hyun staggered back, barely managing to hold his ground.
The next one charged in. I raised my crossbow and took aim—then hesitated. I adjusted my aim slightly downward and fired.
Thwip!
The bolt pierced the deadman's chest, sending it reeling. I quickly drew my longsword from my belt.
"Ahn Hyun! Send your sister this way! And use this sword!"
Seeing the next deadman sprint toward him, Ahn Hyun gritted his teeth and shoved Ahn Sol toward me while reaching out with his free hand.
"I'm counting on you!"
Despite the deadmen's renewed charge, he managed to send her my way. She stumbled toward me and practically collapsed into my arms. At the same time, I tossed the sword to Ahn Hyun, the blade spinning through the air as the two crossed mid-flight.
I barely caught the sobbing Ahn Sol as urgent shouts rang out behind me.
"Behind you!"
"Watch out!"
'I know.'
Glancing over my shoulder, I spotted the third deadman that had changed direction earlier—charging straight for me. For the monster, it might've been a fleeting moment. But my mind had already moved into hyperawareness.
In less than two seconds, I reloaded the crossbow and aimed between its eyes.
Thunk!
The bolt embedded itself in the monster's skull. It toppled with a twisted groan.
Cradling Ahn Sol in my arms, I realized how different it felt now—this wasn't just someone who froze in fear. She was sobbing, tears streaming down her face, trembling so violently I felt her sorrow in my own bones. I gently stroked her head and whispered, "It's okay." Her shaking slowly began to subside.
I looked up to see Ahn Hyun—shield raised, sword in hand. His eyes brimmed with fear, but his feet stood firm. He was facing his fear head-on.
This was the attitude I'd been hoping for. A first spark of mental fortitude had ignited.
He lifted the shield higher—just below his chest. A good choice. Sometimes, offense is the best defense. Instead of attacking first, he charged forward, slamming the deadmen with his shield.
CRACK!
A sickening crunch followed. One of the deadmen's chests was caved in. Clearly, Ahn Hyun had gone all out. As he raised the sword for a follow-up strike, I gave him a key piece of advice.
"Go for the head—they're weak there!"
He redirected his swing. It wasn't elegant, but the strength behind it was enough. The blade split the deadman's skull cleanly.
The next one met a similar fate. Ahn Hyun used the same tactic—shield first to stun, then a quick blow to the head. The monster spasmed and collapsed, the sword still embedded in its skull. Ahn Hyun yanked the weapon free and stood, panting.
Everyone let out the breath they'd been holding.
What he did wasn't complicated—block with the shield, stab with the sword. But under such pressure, few could've managed it.
Ahn Hyun let his arms hang limp as he gasped for air.
"Whew… That's… different from throwing rocks."
Of course. Facing death head-on was nothing like throwing stones from safety. As I gently released Ahn Sol, she rushed over to check on her brother.
"O-Oppa… are you okay?"
"No bites. I think I'm good."
"Ugh… I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
"Don't cry. It's okay."
Realizing she'd put him in danger, Ahn Sol burst into tears. Even as Ahn Hyun reassured her, she couldn't stop crying. Lee Yoo-jung walked over, clearly having aged ten years from the stress, and clapped Ahn Hyun on the back.
"Not bad. You saved our asses."
"What are you talking about? If Su-hyun hadn't given me this sword, I would've been toast. Here, let me give it back—"
Seeing him reluctantly offer the sword, I shook my head. His face lit up.
"I think it's better in your hands."
"Really? Are you sure?"
"Yeah~. Oppa has a crossbow anyway. But where'd you learn to use a sword like that?"
Lee Yoo-jung jumped in, and Ahn Hyun bowed his head slightly, accepting the praise. As the two chatted, I smiled quietly. Earlier, I could've finished that deadman instantly, but I'd purposely shot its chest.
'Seems promising…'
"Wait a moment."
It was Kim Han-byeol, the one who had knocked the deadman back with a rock earlier. Normally quiet, her voice drew our full attention.
"Back at the clearing… didn't a whole swarm appear right after we killed just one?"
"Y-Yeah… That's right."
Lee Yoo-jung nodded hesitantly, and everyone's expression darkened. Ahn Sol looked on the verge of another breakdown. Ahn Hyun quickly placed a hand on her back to calm her.
"Then shouldn't we move out—fast?"
"R-Right. Maybe we should head in the opposite direction?"
"No. Let's stick to the path we were on. If we change course now, we might be stuck in this forest overnight."
Wise. Ahn Hyun already had plans to leave the forest before nightfall. If he were my disciple, I'd pat his head. For now, a nod would suffice.
We still sensed a few deadmen ahead, but Ahn Hyun was right. It was time to move.
And so, after catching our breath, we quickly vacated the area where we'd just fought for our lives.