Chapter 17: Split in Half |
“Lure them. We have to lure them away.”
“What? You want us to draw those monsters in?”
Close, but he was missing the point. I shook my head. Most of them were just staring at me blankly, but Kim Han-byeol’s raised eyebrow suggested she had a rough idea of what I was getting at. Still, it seemed a more detailed explanation was needed.
“No. Not draw them in. I’m saying one person acts as bait and leads those monsters away.”
I paused for a moment and pointed deeper into the forest. As everyone’s gaze followed my finger, I continued.
“If someone makes a commotion, the monsters will surely take the bait and rush them. That person then has to keep their aggro and lead them deep into the forest. While that’s happening, the rest of us can climb over that wall. Then we can escape the forest.”
I deliberately emphasized the words ‘escape the forest’ in a hopeful tone, but skeptical expressions appeared on everyone’s faces. It wasn’t a positive reaction. They clearly didn’t like the idea. But the fact that no one said anything meant they must have thought it was at least plausible. Of course, for this plan to work, there was one unavoidable, critical issue.
It was obvious without even saying it. In short, who would be the bait? If the Deadmen were as slow as zombies, it might seem doable, but they break into a run the moment they spot prey. That meant the person luring them could be surrounded in an instant and become their next meal.
For a while, everyone just glanced at each other, but as expected, the quick-witted Kim Han-byeol pinpointed the core problem.
“That’s right.”
“Who’s going to do it?”
Silence. With escape right in front of them, no one would be willing to step forward. I couldn’t blame them for feeling that way, so I let out a light sigh and raised my hand. Rather than sending some poor kid and worrying myself sick, it would be easier on my conscience to just do it myself.
“The person who brought it up should do it. I’ll go.”
“Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous.”
“Oppa, Han-byeol is right. Let’s just hide and wait a little longer. Please?”
Kim Han-byeol’s immediate objection and Lee Yu-jeong’s persuasion. I had expected this kind of reaction, so I shared the thoughts I had already prepared.
“We can’t wait forever. We don’t know when they might find us.”
“There’s also the option of going in a different direction.”
Kim Han-byeol again. I shook my head once more and countered her.
“It will take time to move, and it’ll be evening soon. If we want to escape, now is our last chance.”
“Still…”
Seeing Kim Han-byeol’s persistent skepticism, I spoke with more force in my voice than usual. Of course, remembering her uncomfortable expression when Lee Yu-jeong spoke informally, I was still using formal speech with her.
“If there’s no opening, we have to create one. There’s no guarantee that another location will be any better than here.”
Unable to find a rebuttal, Kim Han-byeol fell silent, her expression heavy. A brief silence followed. I could tell that while she was relieved she wouldn’t have to be the bait, she also felt a sense of guilt toward me. This was the difference between them and someone like Park Dong-geol.
Park Dong-geol would have called this hypocrisy. Thinking about it now, Park Dong-geol and I had some similar ways of thinking. My past self would have snapped at them to stop the act, but with this group, I needed to remain the reliable older brother figure who quietly helped from behind. If only Park Dong-geol had restrained himself a little or had been of some use, I might not have just let him go like that. I chuckled inwardly at the pointless thought.
The one who broke the silence was an unexpected person.
“But then… um… Su-hyeon oppa will be in too much danger.”
I turned my head to see An Sol mumbling with a flushed face. Was she worried about me? The thought was so endearing I wanted to give her a peck on the cheek, but with the doting brother An Hyeon right there, I settled for a gentle smile. I pretended to scan our surroundings vigilantly as I continued speaking.
“We can’t just throw away a chance to escape the forest. I always knew I’d have to take a risk like this eventually. It just came a little earlier than expected.”
“But still…”
“It’s funny for a twenty-three-year-old to say this, but I’m the oldest one here. If I don’t step up now, when will I?”
As I spoke cheerfully, An Sol’s expression seemed to brighten a little. And then, An Hyeon, who had been silent until now, spoke for the first time. He looked as if he had been deep in thought and had come to some internal decision.
“Hyeong.”
“Yeah.”
“When I was fighting those monsters earlier, I noticed they usually walk, but they start running when they see someone. There’s a chance you could get caught while luring them.”
“That’s true, but it looked more like a fast walk, right? I’m confident I won’t get caught if I run at full speed. I’ll just think of it as one of those morning jogs we used to do at roll call.”
“Even if we succeed in getting away… h-how… how will you… Oppa… get out later?”
Kim Han-byeol, who had been listening quietly, interjected again. What’s with her all of a sudden? But… I think I just heard her call me ‘Oppa’. Did I mishear? I tilted my head slightly before replying.
“I’ll figure that out when the time comes. For now, I think this is the only way. I want you, Han-byeol-ssi, and everyone else to focus only on getting out of this forest.”
“Then I’ll go with you, Hyeong. I can’t let you take on something like that alone. I’ll go too.”
You’d be better off just staying put. The moment An Hyeon finished speaking, An Sol’s eyes widened, and she gripped his sleeve tightly. I looked at An Hyeon with a dumbfounded expression and let out a deep sigh.
“No. You have to go with the others, no matter what.”
“Why? You don’t have to face the danger all by yourself, Hyeong.”
“There might be more of them on the other side of that wall. Just in case, someone needs to protect the group. Besides, it’s easier to be a decoy alone.”
“But…”
“And you have your sister to think about.”
At the mention of An Sol, An Hyeon immediately fell silent. The look in An Sol’s eyes as she gazed at me was a mixture of complex emotions. Gratitude. Worry. Guilt. I normally disliked people like An Sol, but for some reason, I didn’t find her unpleasant at all.
After some time, the silent An Hyeon finally gave a reluctant nod.
“…Alright, then. I’m counting on you, Hyeong.”
“Of course. I want to live too. Just trust me.”
“Okay. I trust you.”
“You can. Let’s strike while the iron is hot and act now. Everyone, keep your heads down. When you think I’ve drawn them far enough away, Hyeon, you take the others and run immediately. Don’t look back, and don’t do anything stupid like coming back for me. Just run forward, no matter what. Got it?”
The girls said nothing, but their faces were grim. I could see the conflict in their eyes—the relief of perhaps being able to live, and the self-reproach for not stepping up when the role of bait was offered. Before I loaded my crossbow and set out, I heard Kim Han-byeol, Lee Yu-jeong, and An Sol each say one last thing.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Oppa… thank you. Please don’t die.”
“Please be careful…”
In response to their heartfelt concerns, I answered with a powerful voice.
“Good luck.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I set my plan into motion immediately. Of course, just because I left the group’s hiding spot didn’t mean I started making noise right away. If I yelled from here, there was a chance the others hiding inside could be discovered. After a quick scan of the area, a cluster of boulders at the top of an uphill path caught my eye. I figured if I climbed up there, I could see the situation outside and all the Deadmen would be able to spot me. The trees weren’t as massive as before, but they were still large enough for me to hide behind as I moved.
I kept my body as low as possible, moving from tree to tree. I had to muffle my breathing and footsteps to the best of my ability to avoid being seen. Maintaining stealth wasn’t particularly difficult, as I’d done it many times before. For a moment, my first playthrough of the Rite of Passage flashed through my mind.
Back in the clearing, Park Dong-geol and Lee Yu-jeong had fought, and the stone he kicked had drawn the Deadmen to them. At that time, I was only thinking of saving myself, and I ran away alone. I wandered the forest for two days, unable to get my bearings, just running and hiding. Comparing then to now, all I could do was laugh.
I could have handled it more calmly. There must have been other ways. The thought came to me unexpectedly.
I held my breath and quieted my steps. Keeping to the trees, I steadily made my way forward. My target, the pile of rocks, wasn’t particularly high, but the stones were rounded, meaning the Deadmen wouldn’t be able to climb them easily. I also wanted to see if there was a village or any buildings in the distance beyond the stone wall.
I moved between roughly twenty trees without being spotted once. Soon, I reached the pile of rocks. After a brief look around, I quickly scrambled to the top. The open view gave me a clear picture of the situation below. Looking beyond the stone wall, I was disappointed to see no signs of a town or buildings, but I wasn’t too worried, as I expected to find something as we moved toward the center.
I was relieved that I had decided against a direct confrontation. My judgment based on Mana Sense had been correct. Seeing the Deadmen scattered everywhere, I slowly stood up on the very top of the rock pile. A quick glance toward the group’s hiding spot revealed An Hyeon peeking his head out, seemingly waiting for the right moment. It was time to become a proper decoy for everyone. After a light exchange of glances with Hyeon, I took a deep breath.
And with all my might, I screamed.
“Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!”
My voice echoed through the air. The effect was immediate. It was a direct hit. Every single Deadman in sight turned its head toward me. Then, they let out loud wails and began running in my direction. It was a success, but I felt it was still a little insufficient.
I waved my arms wildly, shouting and taunting them, and the number of Deadmen emerging from the forest steadily grew. To draw in even the ones far off to my right, I needed to hold my ground on this rock pile for a while longer. I opened my mouth and shouted again.
“Waaaaaaaaah! You monsters! I’m over here! Look at me!”
Grrr. Grrr. Grrr. Grrr. Grrr. Grrr. Grrr. Grrr.
As soon as I finished, a chorus of growls filled my ears. At the same time, I felt a massive horde of monsters moving toward my location. The Deadman closest to me had already reached the rock pile and was struggling to climb up. It seemed I didn’t need to shout anymore. As I watched all the nearby Deadmen shriek and charge, as if starved for prey, I calmly muttered a single phrase.
‘This brings back memories.’
A deep smile spread across my face as I watched the monsters swarm toward me. I raised the crossbow mounted on my left arm and pulled out three bolts. The crossbow I was holding could have one bolt nocked on the string and two more pre-loaded. One reload for three shots.
Before aiming at the forehead of the Deadman scrambling right in front of me, I looked back at the place where my party was hiding. For some reason, I couldn’t stop smiling.