Chapter 61
“How’s your body? Are you okay?”
“…I’m fine.”
“Then why do you look so down?”
Unlike usual, Seo Won was drooping and wouldn’t even make eye contact with Han Seong Hyeon. Anyone could see he looked dejected.
“It’s nothing like that.”
“It’s not nothing though? Don’t tell me you still haven’t made up with Baek Rak?”
“I told you we didn’t fight.”
“Yeah right…”
Han Seong Hyeon looked back and forth between Seo Won and Baek Rak, then shook his head slightly. Just when he thought they were getting along well, they were at odds again. He wished they could just get along moderately.
At that moment, Baek Rak strode over and extended his hand to Yoon Seo Won.
“Let’s go.”
Seo Won stared quietly at that hand before lifting his head. After meeting Baek Rak’s calm gaze for a long moment, he finally sighed and nodded.
“…Yeah.”
Naturally wrapping his arm around Seo Won’s waist, Baek Rak gave Han Seong Hyeon a meaningful look and immediately headed outside the shelter.
Leaving behind Han Seong Hyeon waving goodbye, the two ran out across the barren field.
***
As soon as they left the safe zone, the air became heavy and the stench of rot grew thicker. He felt this every time, but this was always the hardest part. He would adapt after some time passed, but it was an unpleasant sensation he didn’t particularly want to get used to.
More than that, it felt strange to be moving like this after so long. Before first coming to the shelter, he had always traveled while being held like this, but it felt like something from the very distant past.
When he awkwardly placed his wandering hands properly on Baek Rak’s shoulders, Baek Rak glanced at him briefly. Then he looked straight ahead again as if uninterested.
Even though they were this close together, why did it feel like they were far apart?
Lightly grasping Baek Rak’s collar, he gazed blankly at the ruined buildings passing by. It was uncomfortable having to go all the way to Gangnam Station like this, but it wasn’t easy to speak first.
He had no choice but to turn his gaze behind them, when suddenly Baek Rak stopped dead in his tracks.
‘What? Is there a creature nearby?’
Seo Won held his breath just in case. Since they were sensitive to sound, it was better to be careful.
But something about the atmosphere felt strange. Baek Rak’s arm around his waist began to tense up. The way his large palm spread out to pull him tightly against his back seemed ominous.
He slowly turned his head to look in the direction Baek Rak was looking. Then he saw a human figure in the distance. Who was it?
The man was extremely tall. His broad shoulders looked similar to Baek Rak’s, and his pale face was beautiful beyond handsome, with sharp features that were remarkably refined. It was like seeing a second Baek Rak.
Though they didn’t look alike, he was someone who caught the eye in a different way.
The moment their eyes met, the man broke into a wide smile. With a bright appearance that resembled a sunny morning rather than night.
However, if there was one difference.
His gaze was full of greed.
“…Alpha?”
The man nodded gently as if pleased that he had recognized him. The Alpha, who had appeared wearing someone else’s skin instead of Choi Gi Beom’s, slowly approached and spoke.
“You didn’t seem to like Choi Gi Beom’s face very much, so I changed it. Since I was changing anyway, it would be a bit much to be inferior to the guy next to you, so I picked the best one. How is it? Is this acceptable?”
“…”
“I know you were staring intently. The more beautiful people’s appearances are, the quicker they develop favorable feelings. In a way, they’re the easiest species, interestingly.”
As the Alpha drew closer, Seo Won pressed his body tightly against Baek Rak. His hand that had only been gripping the collar now tightly grasped his shoulder. Then Baek Rak pulled Seo Won even more firmly into his embrace and slowly backed away.
“But where are you two going again? Didn’t I clearly say I wouldn’t give up? You came out of the shelter so boldly…”
Unlike his gentle manner of speaking, the Alpha gradually increased his approaching speed. In response, Baek Rak looked around and immediately ran in the opposite direction.
“Ah… Do I have to play tag again?”
The Alpha grumbled briefly and began chasing at tremendous speed. As startled Seo Won gasped, the creature stretched out its hand long. Then creatures began appearing around and in front of Baek Rak.
“Hold on tight. I’ll run to Gangnam Station.”
“O-okay.”
Returning to Yeongdeungpo Station shelter was impossible. Not only the front, but the back was already completely blocked by creatures. But would it be possible to reach there while avoiding attacks from this many creatures?
Seo Won couldn’t hide his anxiety and tightly embraced Baek Rak’s nape. The Alpha’s face chasing from behind no longer looked as relaxed as before.
“Bring Yoon Seo Won here!”
As soon as the Alpha’s command was given, all the creatures began reaching their hands toward Seo Won. Those with bright red eyes full of madness rushed at him as if trying to grab and tear off Seo Won’s arms and legs.
Baek Rak drew his sword and cut off all those creatures’ arms.
Before the black blood and severed arms could even scatter, he slipped through the gaps between the creatures and escaped. But waiting ahead was another horde of creatures.
“Wrap your legs around my waist!”
Perhaps bothered by his legs swaying back and forth, unable to keep up with the speed. At Baek Rak’s shout, Seo Won quickly wrapped his legs around his waist.
Fighting creatures with a single sword, Baek Rak continued running. But with the Alpha from behind joining the attack, it wasn’t easy to fend them off. A projectile flying from behind left a long cut on Baek Rak’s cheek.
Though he narrowly avoided it, he couldn’t keep dodging forever. He needed to be able to block at least, but there were limits when he could only use one hand.
Seo Won, realizing this as well, spoke to Baek Rak first.
“I’ll hang on well, so try using both hands!”
“…Will that be possible?”
“I’ll have to make it possible!”
Both legs were already wrapped around Baek Rak’s waist, so he just needed to embrace his neck well. Enduring the speed was the biggest problem, but there was no room to consider this and that.
When Seo Won tightened his embrace, Baek Rak released the hand that had been holding him. Then immediately drew out his remaining sword.
Certainly, with both hands free, it became easier to deal with the creatures. That didn’t mean it was safe, but he could more easily avoid dangerous situations than before.
Slicing incoming tentacles, dodging those that charged with their whole bodies, blocking large claws that came scratching, Baek Rak ran freely through the creatures.
But then, the thoroughly enraged Alpha transformed his legs and caught up right behind them in a single leap.
Baek Rak, as if he had been waiting, turned his body and made a large cut across the creature’s thigh. The completely severed leg rolled on the ground. The Alpha, who hadn’t expected this situation, swayed greatly.
Seeing the creature desperately reaching out, he swung his sword to blow off its head, but a creature that appeared from somewhere pushed its body in instead. The creature that was cut in half instead of the Alpha crashed straight into the ground.
Baek Rak clicked his tongue briefly and ran off again.
Only now could Seo Won understand Yu Sol’s words. About Baek Rak being stronger than anyone else. He could see with his own eyes just how incredible his abilities were.
‘Wow, that’s unbelievable.’
Of course, this wasn’t the first time he’d seen Baek Rak fight. He’d already experienced it several times. But the situation was different from then.
In this worst state, not only was he holding on and running away, but he was even aiming for the Alpha’s neck. Even while surrounded by creatures and attacked from all sides, he maintained his sharpness.
To say it was possible because it was daytime, there were too many creatures. Rather than decreasing, they kept multiplying. The surroundings were completely black, making him worry that night had fallen.
Seo Won hung on with all his might so as not to hinder Baek Rak. Later, even his fingertips and toes went numb, but he didn’t loosen his grip.
How long did this drawn-out battle and chase continue? The creatures’ attacks began to become more violent and faster. They seemed urgent, as if pressed for time.
Looking around, Seo Won happened to spot a Gyodae Station sign. They had almost arrived.
“Yoon Seo Won!”
The Alpha, who had regenerated his severed leg and caught up, growled and shouted. Looking at the creature, his handsome face was completely distorted. He was furious, afraid he might miss again this time.
Seeing that creature somehow made him feel indignant. He wanted to curse at the sight of it charging to devour just one person.
He had no intention of coming to Gangnam Station like this. Wouldn’t he have to ask them to open the door while dragging a string of creatures behind him? His mood was already bad because his relationship with Baek Rak had become strained because of that creature.
Seo Won looked at the Alpha glaring at him and deliberately smirked. With a look that said ‘is that all you amount to?’
Then the Alpha bared his teeth. Now it looked no different from a beast rather than human form. Though in truth, it was a grotesque creature that couldn’t even become a proper beast.
The creature leaped once more and caught up right behind them.
But they entered the safe zone first. He felt the protective energy as the air became lighter and the nauseating smell faded. Only then did Baek Rak stop in place.
“Phew…”
He slowly separated his body from Baek Rak, who was breathing out lengthily. Having expended quite a bit of energy hanging on, he collapsed as soon as his feet touched the ground.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
