The man later on introduced himself as "Shin Gunwoo," a student who came from the neighboring city to visit his family here in our city.
We both talked as we walked through the abandoned streets of the city while still being cautious of any monster that appears.
"Ahjussi[1], what's the worst thing you witnessed during the first trial?"
"Hey, call me Minhyuk and not "Ahjussi." It's more preferable for me to not be called "Ahjussi" when I'm just 26."
"Okay, Minhyuk-ah[2]."
"I'll... allow it. And to your question earlier, I witnessed quite a lot. Some woman slammed her child's head to a wall just to survive."
"Terrible woman..."
"What's yours?" I asked, a bit curious of what he saw as well.
"It's the opposite of yours. But it was still pretty tragic if you ask me. I witnessed a mother force her son to kill her in order to survive."
"That's really sad."
"Yeah. She was going to entrust her son to me, but I don't think I'm fit for it. Good thing, there's this guy named "Gang Chaewon" and she entrusted her son to him. I just wonder if they're alright."
"Ah, him. I've met him before. He's doing alright and so was the child."
"You did? Well, that's a relief for the mother, I guess."
The conversation ended there and silence engulfed the area once again.
I didn't expect some parts of the city to be deserted, knowing monsters were let loose to prey on humans.
It's almost as if we were in a post-apocalyptic book and that God was an author who could do anything to us— No, do anything to the whole world.
"Hey, we've been looking for almost five hours around the city now and yet, we still haven't found this woman. What's so special about her, anyways?"
"It's a personal reason. Let's just say, I owe her more than she thinks she does."
"You're not in love with her, are you?"
"In love? I have no time for such things. There was someone I loved before, but they're gone now."
"Oh? Who is it?"
"My cat who died two years ago. She's been with me since my teenage years, so she's incredibly important to me."
"I somehow feel like I love and treasure animals more than humans."
I glanced at Gunwoo and he was staring at me in a disgusted way that I knew what he was thinking.
"Wait, no— I don't mean it in a bad way."
"I haven't said anything yet, old man."
This damn highschooler brat... It's literally written all over his face and I'm not even thirty yet.
"Help me!!"
We turn our heads around to see a woman run towards us in a panicked way.
As she got closer, we felt the ground was shaking.
"Help me, please!"
There it was, the thing she was running away from turned from the corner and revealed itself as a swarm of juvenile headless spiders.
"Holy—!"
"Help—!" She screamed one last time before the swarm of juvenile headless spiders devoured her.
"Run... Run, Gunwoo!"
I grabbed Gunwoo's collar since he was too astonished by the sight to move a single muscle, but thankfully I managed to pull him back into his senses and make him start running.
"Shit! Shit! Shit! That thing's big and fast!"
"Then run faster!"
We wouldn't dare to try and fight that swarm of juvenile headless spiders with our current stats and weapons. It's almost a 100% guarantee we'll die if not yet 100%.
"Can't your shield slow them down?!"
"You expect my shield to slow that thing down?! Even if I had managed to upgrade the shield strength, that thing would climb up or go another way!"
"... That makes sense."
Knowing I spent some coins on stamina and speed, I immediately grabbed Gunwoo and started running faster than earlier.
"Hey! Let go of me!"
"Shut up, already. You're too slow."
"Hey!" Gunwoo lightly smacked my back which pretty much started annoying me.
"What is it?!"
"Some of them are branching off and catching up!"
I turned my head and saw that there were juvenile headless spiders already trying to catch up to us and they were faster than most of them.
I activated [ Momentary Shield ] to protect us both if ever they catch up to us.
Suddenly, a swift sound of an arrow passing by was heard.
We look at the swarm of juvenile headless spiders and saw the ones getting closer to us were being shot by arrows.
"Run here, Minhyuk-ssi!"
I looked for where the voice came from, there stood Jiyoon-ssi at the entrance of a subway while shooting the swarm.
She must've sensed me with her sensory skill.
Gunwoo and I both ran inside and I immediately closed the all entrances towards this subway with [ Momentary Shield. ]
The swarm was prevented into entering the subway, but I didn't know how long it would hold.
"Are you two alright?" Jiyoon-ssi asked with a slight hint of both worry and happiness while checking on us.
"Barely."
"You saved us. Thanks."
"Hey, let's get out of here. I don't know how long this thing will hold them off, but it won't be long."
The two of us walked further inside he subway, following Jiyoon-ssi because she seemed to know where she's going.
"I finally found you again. I can return the 50 coins I owe you." Jiyoon-ssi broke the silence engulfing between the three of us.
"No, you don't really need to return it. It was just 50 coins."
"I see... Then, if you ever need coins, I can hand you some. Just tell me when."
"Sure."
I can really see the similarities between Jiyoon-ssi and her... Ah, it's such a miracle I met her and Jiyoon-ssi.
"Hey, is this the woman we were searching for?" Gunwoo whispered while hitting my elbow, but Jiyoon-ssi heard it.
"I'm Lee Jiyoon, a friend of Minhyuk-ssi."
"I'm Shin Gunwoo, Minhyuk-ah and I just met on the way. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise. Anyways, Minhyuk-ssi, I've improved my sensory skill which is why I managed to find you. But it's limited for one kilometer as of now."
"I see. Do you sense other people?"
"No, I don't sense any other than the three of us. But, there's something big in the subway. While I was on my way here, there was a some strong shaking."
"It's probably the train—"
"No, it's more like footsteps. Trains don't make strong shaking, idiot. And I doubt there's still people using trains now. It's been three days since this started if I remember correctly."
"Yes. I've been walking from one subway station to another ever since I got separated from you and I haven't seen a single person nor train ever since."
Three days, going from one station to another and hasn't seen a person and a single train yet?
"Which way did you come from?"
"I came from the left and I was on my way to the left. That's the last station. Perhaps, what's causing the shaking is coming from there."
I was about to speak, but Jiyoon-ssi spoke up before me.
"I'm sensing it again."
"Hm?"
It only took a few seconds before some rumbling in the ground was felt.
"It's getting closer?!"
"Huh?"
The rumbling started getting stronger and louder before it soon stopped as fast as it happened.
It stopped and started to calm everything down, but we felt like something was staring at us.
"It's... at the right." Jiyoon-ssi's trembling and nervous voice sent shivers to our skin.
We looked at the right and a three pairs of eyes glowed in the dark.
Those red glowing eyes got closer and light shone down on a headless spider, as wide and tall as the subway tunnel.
[1] Ahjussi - Used to address older middle aged man.
[2] Ah - An honorific used to address someone of lower status.