Kim Soo-hyun, Begins the Rite of Passage 2
"Hah... I can't stand this suffocating silence anymore!"
"Heek!"
Park Dong-geol, who had been nervously looking around, suddenly raised his voice and stepped into the center of the clearing. Lee Shin-woo, startled by the sudden outburst, let out a raspy sound. In that fleeting moment, he didn't miss the satisfied smile Park Dong-geol gave Lee Shin-woo. It was a typical display of dominance, or to put it crudely, showing off.
"Hey! You guys, don't you know anything about this shitty situation? Huh?"
Ahn Sol trembled in Ahn Hyun's arms. Two women we hadn't noticed yet were reacting differently: one looked relatively calm, while the other seemed visibly displeased with Park Dong-geol's sudden commotion, glaring with narrowed eyes. Though curious about the women's identities, I decided to focus on the man's actions.
"Is everyone here mute? Stop keeping your mouths shut and say something!"
'He's acting up.'
Perhaps wanting to showcase his boldness or to impress others, Park Dong-geol kicked a fist-sized stone with a violent gesture. The stone flew off powerfully into the forest, leaving an awkward silence among those sitting around. Yet, I distinctly heard that the stone didn't make a sound when it hit the ground.
Grrrr.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the quiet forest. Though the stone's landing was inaudible, everyone seemed to have heard the growl. A flicker of anxiety crossed their faces. Although it happened ten years ago, vague memories of the past resurfaced.
What had occurred in this place then?
"Shit, shit! Who's there? If you've got a problem, come out now. Let's talk, huh? Was it you? Or you?"
Park Dong-geol, mean-spiritedly, singled out the seemingly weaker ones. Lee Bo-rim and Lee Shin-woo shook their heads urgently, faces pale. At that moment, a woman who had been glaring at Park Dong-geol stood up defiantly, her breath heavy, suggesting she had been holding back.
"Mister, could you stop? What the hell do you think you're doing at your age?"
"What? What~? Stop it? At my age? Are you saying that to me?"
"Yeah, I am. Isn't it embarrassing? We're all in the same situation here, so why are you yelling and causing a scene?"
"Now you're being rude? How were you raised to talk back to an elder? Did your parents teach you that?"
"Bitch? Ha, if we're going there... So did your parents teach you to bully younger people? You piece of trash!"
Watching the woman not back down an inch, I chuckled inwardly. Initially, Park Dong-geol seemed dumbfounded, letting out a forced laugh. But soon, anger reddened his face. He exhaled forcefully and took heavy steps toward the woman.
Standing before her, Park Dong-geol spoke with a menacing expression.
"Hey, bitch. What did you say? Say it again."
Normally, one would feel intimidated by now, but the woman didn't flinch, looking him straight in the eye and snorting.
"Funny. Do you think I'm scared? Did your parents teach you to be like this, you asshole?"
"You bitch, you're asking to get killed..."
Clearly deeply enraged, Park Dong-geol raised his fist into the air. Yet, the woman didn't blink an eye. Just as he seemed poised to strike,
"Hey, mister. Just stop it already."
It was Ahn Hyun, who had been silent until now, who spoke up. About to slap the woman, Park Dong-geol turned to Ahn Hyun with a surprised expression. Beside him, Ahn Sol tugged at his sleeve. Nonetheless, Ahn Hyun spoke again, firmly.
"She's not wrong, though. Why are you acting like this? What did they do wrong?"
"You... you brats..."
Park Dong-geol bit his lip in frustration, his fist slowly lowering, aware of the eyes on him. As the woman let out a faint smirk, he yelled out angrily, spinning around. Even as he sat down, he continued to seethe, clearly furious that things weren't going his way.
"Damn it, what are you staring at! Turn your eyes away!"
Unable to contain his anger, Park Dong-geol vented his frustration on Lee Shin-woo, who moved away with a wronged expression. At that moment,
Grrrr.
The growl we had heard earlier echoed once more, this time clearer. Finally, I could piece together the faint memories.
Back then, we had been idly wasting time here when a sudden attack scattered us. The cause was Park Dong-geol kicking that stone and the ensuing shouting match.
This was the sum of my memories regarding these people. What happened afterward, I didn't know, but considering they weren't seen in the Hall Plain later...
'Does that mean they all died during the rite of passage? Ah, maybe not Ahn Sol.'
If we continued like this, we might repeat the first round. No, we certainly would.
I decided to help a little, but not directly. My plan was to give them a reason to move and cooperate. So, I picked up my crossbow.
Click!
"Excuse me, what are you doing?"
Everyone's eyes darted toward me, perhaps due to their heightened sensitivity. The woman who had just stood up to Park Dong-geol spoke. At least she had the decency not to be rude right off the bat, despite clearly disliking Park Dong-geol.
"It's unsettling."
"I'm more unsettled by that crossbow."
"Well... Where do you think we are right now?"
"Pardon?"
The woman blinked, her sharp eyes giving her a tough appearance, but overall she was quite pretty.
"I've experienced several things since coming here that I can't understand. I think that's the same for everyone here, isn't it?"
"Well... yes..."
The others nodded in agreement. The summoning room, the angels, the teleportation—everyone must have witnessed these. What they needed now was not just a vague understanding but to quickly accept reality and actively engage in the rite of passage for survival.
I began to load arrows into my multi-use crossbow. Although slightly smaller than a regular crossbow, it was detachable and could be worn on the wrist, making it quite convenient. Seeing my actions and possibly feeling uneasy from the growls earlier, others started to grab the weapons they had brought.
Soon, everyone except those who came empty-handed was armed. Preparation was roughly complete. I scanned the area, lost in thought.
We were in a clearing in the middle of a forest, surrounded by trees. I started moving in the opposite direction of where Park Dong-geol had kicked the stone.
Just a few steps away from the clearing, the atmosphere grew noticeably darker. The trees and plants around us seemed to take on a sinister hue.
They must be feeling some level of anxiety from the growls. I sensed more people following behind me, a good sign of their willingness to act, but then my plan hit a snag.
"Hey, Ahn Sol. Get up. We should follow him quickly."
"I don't want to go inside... It's scary..."
"So you're just going to stay here? You've been saying all along that it feels dangerous here. So why are you acting like this now?"
"Ugh..."
Hearing the siblings' conversation, I felt my eyes widen in disbelief. With luck, she might have sensed something. But it was just a guess. She seemed paralyzed by fear, unwilling to lift herself off the ground.
Grrrr! Grrrr!
While the siblings argued, more growls echoed around us. They were getting louder, indicating they were getting closer. Though initially calm, people began to show signs of restlessness.
"Uh, uh, can we leave first? Actually, I've been shaking since earlier..."
"Yeah, let's just leave them. What is that sound anyway?"
Trying to muster courage, Lee Shin-woo's voice had a hint of resolve. Park Dong-geol immediately agreed.
Hearing this, Ahn Hyun's face hardened. He then forcefully pushed away the hands of his sister, who was clinging to his clothes. Ahn Sol looked up, lips quivering.
"O... Oppa?"
"Fine. Stay here alone, then. I'll go somewhere else."
Yeah, right. But Ahn Hyun's act wasn't half bad. After finishing his statement, he picked up his sword and shield and decisively turned around. Walking briskly towards us, Ahn Sol seemed to be in shock, her lips moving soundlessly. Hearing Ahn Hyun's voice urging us to leave, she started crying openly. Regardless, Ahn Hyun acted as if he was leading the way into the forest.
"O... Oppa... Don't go..."
"Ahn Sol, get up. Get a grip, please."
"I'm sorry... Don't leave me again... Don't go... Wah... Waaah..."
"Are you not getting up?!"
Finally, Ahn Hyun raised his voice in frustration, which seemed to get through to Ahn Sol, as she started to rise while sobbing. But it was too late.
Grrrr! Grrrr! Grrrr! Grrrr!
'Damn, did we delay too much?'
I felt a sense of frustration, not from fear but from concern that Ahn Sol might perish here, changing the future. The growls, now closer than ever, indicated the creature's presence nearby. The problem was that Ahn Sol, just getting up, had frozen in place.
"O... Oppa..."
The distance between them widened. Even though Ahn Sol reached out blankly, Ahn Hyun remained resolute. The woman seemed about to intervene, but Ahn Hyun stopped her with a raised hand.
"Just leave her."
"Oppa! Don't leave me alone!"
"Then come over here by yourself. It's not too late yet. If you can't even do that, you definitely won't survive."
"Waaah..."
At that moment, I realized Ahn Hyun's determination. His eyes locked onto Ahn Sol's with certainty. His sincerity seemed to reach her as she gritted her teeth. It looked like she would manage to come over if given more time, but unfortunately, it was too late.
Grrrr! Grrrr!
'That growling... it's a Deadman.'
Deadmen. Though they sound menacing, they are insignificant creatures. In the Hall Plain, users don't even consider them real monsters because they are so weak. They have some intelligence and a contagious ability, but the infection can be treated in time (though treatment is impossible here).
Another trait is...
Kraaah!
While they usually wander slowly, they change to a sprint when they spot prey.
The Deadman burst out of the forest, its mouth wide open, rushing at Ahn Sol. Caught off guard, Ahn Hyun shouted and ran.
"Sol-ah!"
But the scream wasn't just from Ahn Hyun.
"Aaah!"
"Eek!"
It was like watching a zombie movie. The moment the ragged creature lunged, chaos erupted among the group. Its chest, partly torn and exposing its innards, had a stone embedded in it—it was clearly the stone Park Dong-geol had kicked. It must have been wandering nearby after being hit.
Grrrr! Grrrr! Grrrr! Grrrr! Grrrr! Grrrr! Grrrr! Grrrr!
Reacting to the cries, the growls of more Deadmen increased from beyond the woods.
"Aaah!"
"Sol-ah! Get a hold of yourself! Sol-ah!"
Ahn Sol, who had barely stood, seemed to lose her senses entirely at the sight of the Deadman. Though Ahn Hyun ran forward, the Deadman was closer. Realizing this, Ahn Hyun drew back his arm and swung his sword at the creature.
Swish! Thud!
'Oh? A hit?'
The sword flew and neatly sliced off the Deadman's left arm. But that was all. The creature staggered momentarily, then regained its balance and continued its charge towards Ahn Sol.
"Nooo!"
The Deadman, mouth agape, and Ahn Sol, frozen in fear, were locked in that terrifying moment. Ahn Hyun's desperate cries echoed as he ran towards her.
At that moment, I realized that my actions had indeed altered Ahn Sol's fate. Without hesitation, I fired the crossbow I had prepared earlier.
Ping!
The arrow whistled through the air, striking the Deadman's head with a satisfying thud. The Deadman's weakness was its head. If a stone could penetrate its chest, an arrow certainly couldn't be stopped. The Deadman collapsed, its mouth still open.
Thud!
"Crazy..."
"Huff... huff..."
Those who had witnessed the creature's demise were in shock, instinctively gripping their weapons. They now understood that the situation was serious, more than just a vague threat.
Even amid the chaos, Ahn Hyun acted swiftly. He rushed to Ahn Sol, who was still stunned, and supported her, bringing her back to us. He, too, seemed shaken by the recent events, breathing heavily.
All eyes turned towards me. I moved to the front, taking the lead. Though we had dealt with one Deadman, many more were likely approaching, drawn by the noise. The increasing growls indicated that they were converging on this location. If they formed a perimeter, we'd be in serious trouble.
I said nothing and began to walk.