#94
He had been told to hide behind, but his curiosity was unavoidable. Do-hyeok held tightly to the cloak the man had given him while wrapping it around his head. Though he didn’t know exactly what this was, Do-hyeok vaguely guessed it might be an item with effects similar to how the forest monsters earlier had shown no interest in him at all.
Casting his gaze far ahead, he could see a giant monster sitting on the ground with its long legs bent, eyes closed. From its appearance, it indeed seemed to be sleeping. The man walked trudgingly toward it, then stopped when he got somewhat close.
Do-hyeok unconsciously swallowed and faithfully counted numbers in his mind. Then the man rolled up his sleeves and kicked off the ground, leaping high into the air. At that sight, Do-hyeok’s mouth fell open without him realizing it.
Tremendous elasticity unimaginable for an ordinary person. The man leaped up and with his fist clenched tight, drove his punch straight into the monster’s crown. A crushing, dull explosive sound rang loudly across the heavens and earth. Startled, Do-hyeok gaped and continued to follow the man with his eyes.
“Time to wake up, you bastard.”
The monster that had taken a punch from the man roared with a sound that seemed like it would tear apart. The cry was so loud and sharp it seemed like it would slice through the entire space. Do-hyeok covered his ears and curled up even more.
In that roar, only the man stood tall as if nothing was wrong. Though Do-hyeok couldn’t hear clearly, the man was just picking his ear and muttering that it was noisy.
“The kid will be startled. Enough, let’s hurry and get our respective jobs done.”
The man who muttered something clenched his fists as if taking a combat stance. Whether judging him as a threat, the monster that had almost passed by Do-hyeok nobly without even seeing him earlier got up and bristled its fur. That sight gave him goosebumps once again.
After that, Do-hyeok became entranced by the man’s unbelievable, dazzling movements. As if toying with the giant unknown creature, the man leaped around here and there, unleashing all kinds of attacks. Several confrontations continued, and the man crouched low, aiming for the monster’s legs.
First cutting three legs to restrict the bastard’s movement, then retreating once more to avoid attacks. The monster, sensing danger, swung its long, slender neck quickly to prevent the man from approaching closer, making it considerably difficult to get near like before.
Do-hyeok unconsciously felt his palms getting sweaty. He could only cheer for the man, hoping he would overcome that ordeal without getting hurt. After all, cheering was all that Do-hyeok, just an ordinary ten-year-old boy, could do.
The man who had quickly withdrawn from close combat stretched his arm out long. At that moment, a sharp sound of cutting through air was heard, then it severed the monster’s remaining two legs as well. Eventually the monster let out a pained groan and sat down, and the man didn’t miss the opportunity to leap high up once more and deliver the same heavy attack as before.
“…”
After some time like that, when no more movement could be seen from the monster, the man dusted off his hands. Then he strode toward the tree where Do-hyeok was.
“How many seconds?”
The man grinned. There was blood on his face, but it didn’t seem to be his.
“I forgot. The counting. Hyung was too cool.”
When Do-hyeok looked at the man with sparkling eyes, he burst into laughter and ruffled the boy’s hair, telling him not to flatter to make up for forgetting.
“Now we should be able to go back.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I killed the really strong bastard.”
As Do-hyeok’s face brightened, the man muttered that it should be about time for collapse while looking around. Then he saw Do-hyeok’s expression darken again. Seeing that, the man tilted his head as if puzzled.
“Why? Aren’t you happy we can go back?”
“…But then I’ll have to part with hyung too.”
He desperately wanted to quickly escape from this unknown world crawling with monsters. But he had met him here. The man who had given him warm affection for the first time in his life, who had made him feel the emotion called happiness for the first time. Do-hyeok was afraid that once he left here, even what happened in this place would become as if it never happened, that this memory would disappear like a mirage.
“Are you the only one going back? I’m going with you too.”
The man said bluntly while ruffling his hair.
“I’ll come see you. To where you are.”
“R-really?”
“Yeah. What’s the name of the orphanage?”
“Hansol Orphanage! Listen, hyung, my name is…”
That’s when it happened. A dark shadow fell over Do-hyeok’s head, or more precisely, over the man’s head.
“Ah…”
Do-hyeok stopped mid-sentence and immediately made a low sound in his throat while opening his eyes wide. His body trembled and rational thought stopped completely. Seeing another giant monster casting a shadow over the man’s head, Do-hyeok froze in place.
“Shit.”
The man, who noticed that presence even faster than Do-hyeok, embraced Do-hyeok and ran forward, leaping greatly. With a thump sound, dust flew up greatly. Do-hyeok gripped the man’s clothes tightly and squeezed his eyes shut.
“Kid, are you okay?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Do-hyeok saw it. Over his shoulder, the spot where Do-hyeok had been standing just moments ago was completely destroyed. Along with giant claw marks, a deep pit had formed in that place. Do-hyeok lifted his head to look at the newly appeared monster.
It had a similar appearance to the monster the man had killed earlier, but was different. A much more ferocious face with a disgusting appearance. Do-hyeok’s body trembled involuntarily.
“Fuck, did I sense it wrong?”
The man muttered while looking back.
“H-hyung.”
As the man’s face became quite serious, Do-hyeok unconsciously gripped his clothes tightly.
“It’s okay.”
The man smiled gently and stroked Do-hyeok’s head.
“It’s the same as before. You know? You have to hide and not come out, right?”
The man wrapped the cloak around Do-hyeok’s head again and ran to a tree much farther away to hide Do-hyeok.
“This time don’t secretly peek like before. Stay crouched behind here without moving.”
“Hyung.”
Do-hyeok grabbed the hand of the man who was about to leave. His arms and face were full of scratches from rolling around while carrying Do-hyeok. As if knowing what Do-hyeok was trying to say, the man just stroked his head once with his characteristic smile.
So the man left again, and Do-hyeok faithfully kept the words he had said. He crouched close behind the tree, gripping the cloak tightly in his hands. From behind, sounds of something exploding could be heard continuously, but Do-hyeok never lifted his head. He just earnestly counted numbers in his mind. With the thought that if just 100 seconds passed, hyung would come like before.
But even after 110 seconds, 150 seconds, 200 seconds had passed, the man didn’t come. Perhaps because he was a curious young child? Do-hyeok slightly got up and peeked his face out from beside the tree. At the same time, part of the cloak got caught on a tree branch and came off.
That’s when it happened. When his eyes met with the giant monster.
Do-hyeok, whose body froze in an instant, sat down in place. The man, covered in wounds in front of the monster, turned around and shouted something.
“Uh…”
But what came from the young boy’s mouth was only a moan filled with terror. The monster that discovered Do-hyeok leaped up and with its long legs instantly approached the tree where Do-hyeok was. The monster raised its giant, sharp claws toward the child. Just as it was about to strike down in an instant, Do-hyeok squeezed his eyes shut.
The sensation that he would soon die with tremendous pain chased up to his chin, but strangely he felt nothing. He only felt a cold sensation as if something had splattered on his face and someone’s presence.
“…”
Do-hyeok slowly opened his eyes. And he saw. The man standing in front of him. That person who had taken the claws that were meant to pierce Do-hyeok straight in his stomach and was blocking Do-hyeok’s front.
“…Hyung.”
Gasp, the man breathed once and then vomited something. Realizing it was a massive amount of blood enough to form a puddle, Do-hyeok’s thoughts stopped completely. The man whose stomach had been pierced by the bastard’s claws opened his eyes with difficulty and with one hand picked up the cloak to put it over Do-hyeok’s head.
“Listen to me carefully.”
The man was holding the monster’s claws with tremendous grip strength, enduring and preventing it from moving. The monster began screaming and thrashing.
“Never take this off and run. That forest where I was with you earlier… remember the spot where I treated you?”
Even while speaking, the man’s words were interrupted here and there as he couldn’t bear the pain.
“That place is relatively safe. Never take this off and run there and hide. Even if you hear loud sounds, even if the surroundings are destroyed, just stay still for now. Someone will definitely come to rescue you. A hunter like me.”
Watching the man desperately trying not to let go of the claws stuck in his stomach while enduring the pain, Do-hyeok’s eyes reddened.
“Go. Quickly.”
“B-but… hyung, I don’t want to be separated from you.”
When Do-hyeok whimpered, the man slightly raised the corners of his mouth. And he gently stroked Do-hyeok’s cheek.
“I told you. I said I’d come see you. Whether fast or slow, I’ll definitely come see you. I’ll find you wherever you are, so don’t worry.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I promise.”
Feeling the man’s warmth, Do-hyeok slowly stood up. Even then his legs were about to give way, but he somehow managed to gather strength and stand.
“Run, quickly.”
Do-hyeok took one step, two steps backward. Looking at his tearful face, the man just smiled and nodded.
“You must keep your promise.”
With those words, Do-hyeok turned around and ran quickly. He could hear the monster roaring again from behind, but he didn’t look back. Though he could no longer see the man’s face, he moved his legs quickly.
Do-hyeok might have vaguely felt it then. That he would never be able to meet that person again.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
