Chapter 56
Come to think of it, only Baek Rak and Han Seong Hyeon knew about his circumstances. If Choi Gi Beom went to the shelter and grabbed just anyone to suggest going to find people from other worlds, chaos would ensue.
‘…I’ll explain it properly.’
Baek Rak frowned as if displeased. He knew well what he was worried about, but even so, he couldn’t give up on Choi Gi Beom.
How could he abandon someone he had met like this?
Someone who came from the same world and experienced the same thing.
In this world, Choi Gi Beom was the only one who could fully understand him.
Being the only one who was different was much more lonely and empty than expected.
This must be how it would feel to stand alone in a place with no one and see people across an uncrossable river. No matter how much he adapted to this world, the fact that he was someone from another world wouldn’t change.
Just like how Haru unconsciously told him he was an outsider.
“…”
“…”
Only when Baek Rak, who seemed like he wouldn’t back down, turned his gaze away first could Seo Won let out a sigh of relief. The guy probably knew that fighting here would be meaningless too.
After killing time listening to the sounds of creatures wandering around for a while, they finally began disappearing somewhere.
Seo Won checked on Baek Rak who was surveying the surroundings, then approached Choi Gi Beom. He was still rolling his eyes and looking at him and Baek Rak. Perhaps because he had stayed here alone for several days, just having people around seemed to be a relief.
Remembering how he had also felt relieved the moment he saw Baek Rak, he lightly patted Choi Gi Beom’s shoulder.
Finally, Baek Rak confirmed that all the creatures had disappeared and opened the bunker entrance. After surveying the surroundings, he gestured for them to come out and went outside first.
When they escaped the bunker with Choi Gi Beom, the surroundings had changed quite a bit from before. The creature corpses had also attracted turncoats, and it was because Baek Rak had deliberately lured them to swarm there.
“You can speak quietly now.”
Choi Gi Beom, who had come outside, looked around curiously at the red sky.
“…It’s been a while since I came outside.”
“The sky is red too, so it’s strange, right?”
“Mm, indeed.”
“Come this way. Yeongdeungpo Station is a safe zone, so you’ll be safe when we get there. There are lots of people too.”
Seo Won moved his steps together with Choi Gi Beom who had approached his side. Baek Rak was silently following behind them.
“There’s something I need to tell you beforehand.”
“What is it?”
“The fact that we came from another world has to be kept secret.”
“…Why?”
Seo Won scratched his cheek.
“Well, it’s hard to believe, and there’s no need to cause unnecessary confusion. If anyone asks, just say you came from far away.”
“They’ll believe that? When we’re so different?”
“Everyone here has never left Seoul. They don’t know what people living in Seoul’s outskirts or provinces are like. It’ll work well enough, so don’t worry. I got by that way too. And… we did come from far away, didn’t we?”
“Ah, I guess so.”
Choi Gi Beom began thinking about something deeply. As they were heading to Yeongdeungpo Station shelter like that, he opened his mouth again. And it was about the earlier topic he had subtly buried.
“But there seem to be other people besides us, shouldn’t we go look for them?”
Seo Won glanced at Baek Rak who had come closer than before and said to him,
“…Actually, it’s a bit difficult.”
“Difficult?”
“It’s almost impossible to go around looking for people. The creatures get stronger at night. Even hunters want to avoid them if possible. Plus, it would be serious if we encountered a higher-order entity.”
“Higher-order entity?”
“A guy with intelligence who can also control creatures. It’s called an Alpha and it’s quite dangerous. I saw one not long ago and it was pretty chilling.”
“Was it scary enough to give you chills?”
Seo Won recalled that day.
The sight of hundreds of creatures behind it, glowing with bright red eyes as they looked at him. The face of that thing grinning wickedly while controlling creatures in human form.
“Its abilities aside, what’s scary is that it wears the mask of a human. To make matters worse, no one can recognize its true identity unless it reveals itself. It’s a creature that absorbs all the memories of the humans it devours… At least it can’t enter safe zones, which is fortunate, otherwise terrible things would have happened.”
Thinking about it again, the Alpha was no different from a disaster. A sigh naturally escaped.
“Then… we really can’t go looking for people.”
At Choi Gi Beom’s murmur, Seo Won made a pitying face. He seemed to be a more altruistic person than expected, as giving up on people who might have crossed over to this place together seemed difficult for him.
He couldn’t know what it would actually be like, but since he had met him, he seemed convinced there would be others too.
“It’s difficult right now. Later… when we have some leeway, let’s try looking for them then.”
Even though there were realistic problems, he too felt it was too regrettable to give up that small hope. If he became a Guardian, creatures wouldn’t be able to approach, so he wanted to try looking for people later.
The shelter would be safe for a while if they made something called a cube, so he thought he should awaken as quickly as possible.
“Later…”
“Hmm?”
Choi Gi Beom’s steps began to slow down little by little. Accordingly, Seo Won also slowed his pace.
In the distance, the large barrier of Yeongdeungpo Station shelter was visible. After passing a few ruined buildings and walking a bit through the wasteland, they would soon reach the safe zone.
Wondering if he still hadn’t given up his lingering attachment, he was about to try persuading him when Choi Gi Beom stopped abruptly.
Seo Won said urgently,
“Gi Beom, let’s go to a safe place first and think of a method. It’s dangerous here right now.”
However, despite such efforts, Choi Gi Beom kept his head down and muttered in a small voice that could barely be heard.
“…I am.”
Was he feeling guilty? Because he was lucky enough to meet him, but others might not be so fortunate?
“…”
Seo Won patted Choi Gi Beom’s back.
With such a tender heart, how was he planning to adapt to this world and the shelter? Like others, he wished he would think about himself first.
Then, Choi Gi Beom muttered something with his head down. Seo Won leaned his head close to hear those small words.
“I can’t go in.”
“…Choi Gi Beom.”
“I can’t go in.”
The reaction was more serious than expected. Was there perhaps someone he was looking for? The thought suddenly occurred that maybe that’s why he couldn’t give up.
“Gi Beom, perhaps…”
“I am.”
Seo Won was about to speak to Choi Gi Beom, but when he cut him off decisively, he closed his mouth. It seemed he should listen to what he was trying to say first.
Choi Gi Beom slowly raised his head. Unlike what he had worried about, he didn’t have a struggling expression. Rather, he had a more calm face than him. Looking at Choi Gi Beom in puzzlement, he grinned and said,
“Not human.”
“…Huh?”
At that moment, blood spurted up before his eyes.
“Yoon Seo Won!”
Baek Rak’s startled cry was heard at the same time as blue energy swept past. Then Choi Gi Beom, who had been close by, clicked his tongue as if disappointed and moved far away in an instant.
What had happened? It happened so quickly that he couldn’t understand the situation at all.
Why Choi Gi Beom had blood smeared around his mouth, what the lump he was biting was, why Baek Rak was embracing him while pressing hard on his shoulder, and even why Baek Rak’s sword rippling with blue light was… pointed at Choi Gi Beom.
“Ah, definitely different.”
Choi Gi Beom, who had chewed and swallowed the lump he’d been biting while smacking his lips, nodded and said. Seo Won stared at him blankly.
“Worth guaranteeing. Quite delicious…”
“…”
“Tender and very sweet. The taste is similar to what I ate when I first came here. I thought I’d never taste it again… what an unexpected harvest.”
The creature wiped the blood around its mouth, then began sucking the blood on its fingers. It looked very happy, like someone eating something truly delicious.
Only then could Seo Won feel a burning pain in his shoulder. Blood was flowing steadily through his torn shirt. The pain was more severe because Baek Rak was pressing to stop the bleeding.
“Kk, ugh…”
“I won’t kill you, so why don’t you give me just one arm? Humans can live without one arm.”
The words it spouted with its yellow bleached hair and lively face were too unrealistic. Seo Won glared at the creature while feeling the force embracing him even tighter.
“…Alpha.”
“Ah, what a shame. I wish more kids like you would cross over. Since I don’t know the method, it’s troublesome… It seems you came over alone. I haven’t heard news of anyone eating delicious creatures anywhere else.”
“Hng… ugh.”
“So I’ll have to savor you carefully.”
The creature licked its lips and smacked them, then suddenly rushed forward.
Baek Rak swung his sword aiming at the Alpha’s neck as it got closer. However, as if it had expected this, the creature ducked and burrowed into his embrace. Baek Rak, who had kicked it away, leaped up high to create distance.
“Where are you going? You should hand over Yoon Seo Won.”
“Stop talking nonsense and get lost!”
Baek Rak sent a frosty warning and swung his sword once more.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
