Kangha sat alone in his room, deep in thought, when a knock at the door broke his concentration. The door creaked open, and someone stepped inside.
"You? Here?" Kangha stood up, surprised. "Are you feeling better now?"
Ji-Yeon closed the door behind her with a soft smile and looked at him warmly. "Yes, I'm fine now."
Kangha quickly walked over to her, held her shoulders gently, and guided her to sit on the bed. He sat down in front of her, his eyes scanning her face for any signs of discomfort. Seeing her there brought a sense of peace to him, washing away the earlier tension and uncertainty that had clouded his mind.
"You could've called for me," Kangha said softly. "I would've come to you."
"No," Ji-Yeon replied, her tone serious. "I needed to talk to you."
"Alright. Tell me, what's you want to talk about?"
"My mother told me the headmaster ended the competition with just one decision," "Kangha, what do you think about all this? Do you think it was that simple?"
Kangha sighed, leaning back slightly. "Ji-Yeon, I've been just as puzzled. Felix never takes the easy way out. He must have a plan, and he'll do everything he can to stop me from becoming headmaster. That's how he operates."
"Kangha…" Ji-Yeon's voice faltered as her concern deepened. She wanted to say more but couldn't find the right words. The worry, affection, and fear etched on her face were undeniable.
"I know," Kangha said gently, his voice steady. "You're worried, just like me, "I am"----But whatever happens, we'll know tomorrow." He placed his hand on her cheek, his touch reassuring, and smiled softly to ease her mind.
"I'm worried about you," Ji-Yeon admitted. "You'll be going there alone."
"I'll take care of myself,"You know me—I always find a way to solve things."
Despite his words, Ji-Yeon couldn't shake her unease. Her heart raced, and an inexplicable heaviness settled over her, as though this might be their last night together. She took a deep breath and finally voiced the fear she had been struggling to suppress.
"Kangha," she said hesitantly, her voice trembling, "I feel like… like this might be our last night together. What if Felix does something terrible to you?"
Kangha smiled, his calm demeanor unshaken. "You're feeling this way because you care too much about me. But I promise you, Ji-Yeon, I'll come back. I swear I will. And when I do, once everything is fixed—when I've set everything right—you know what I'll do?"
Ji-Yeon remained silent, her gaze fixed on the floor. She knew Kangha was trying to lighten her mood, but her heart refused to be comforted.
Kangha reached out and took her hand, pressing it against his chest where his heart beat steadily. "I'll marry you," he said with quiet conviction.
Ji-Yeon let out a soft, melodious laugh. "Kangha, this isn't the kind of thing you say in such a serious moment."
"But I'm telling the truth,"I will marry you."
Her laughter continued, light and teasing, but Kangha's expression remained serious. Without a word, he gently pulled her closer by her arm, guiding her to lie against him as he leaned back against the bed. Ji-Yeon rested on his chest, her ear pressed close enough to hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
"I mean it, Ji-Yeon. I'll never leave you alone. Not ever."
—-----------
Kangha's eyes flutter open, and he realizes Ji-Yeon is not beside him. A faint smile graces his lips as he gets out of bed and prepares for the day. Following the schedule, he heads to the field, where eight members of his team are already present. However, Marty and the headmaster are absent. The team stands waiting for the headmaster's arrival, but Kangha's eyes scan the path leading to the field, searching for Miss Choi, who is also missing.
For a moment, his gaze lingers on the empty pathway. Something crosses his mind, and without hesitation, he leaves the field and heads toward the ward section. He intends to check on Woo-Jin, but upon arrival, the nurse informs him, "Woo-Jin hasn't woken up yet due to an overdose of medication." Disheartened, Kangha returns to the field with a somber expression.
This time, Miss Choi is present. Upon seeing her, Kangha smiles, and she responds with a warm, motherly gaze. Her voice is gentle yet filled with encouragement as she says,
"I believe you will return victorious, but Kangha, be careful and take care of yourself."
Kangha smiles back, her words filling him with a sense of responsibility. As he considers asking her about Ji-Yeon, the headmaster arrives. At the same time, Marty also enters the field from the main way. The headmaster addresses the team, offering guidance and farewells. Turning to Kangha, he hands him a document.
"What is this, Headmaster?" Kangha asks, curiosity evident in his tone.
The headmaster replies, "This document requires the signature of the village chief. A treaty has been finalized, ensuring there will be no more wars between the two factions. If you succeed in this task, you'll be eligible to challenge me upon your return."
Kangha glances at the document in his hand. As he reads, he finds no hint of deception or manipulation. Instead, a sense of pride fills him. With a determined nod, he says,
"Understood, Headmaster."
Gathering his team, Kangha prepares to leave the school. Yet, his heart feels uneasy, as if reluctant to depart. Still, he has no choice—this mission is crucial. Turning back briefly, he catches a glimpse of Miss Choi. She looks genuinely happy, her expression supportive. But Kangha can't shake the strange unease within him.
"What's wrong with me?" he silently questions himself. "Why do I feel unsettled, even with the destination so close?" He tries to reassure himself, thinking, Maybe it's because I didn't see Ji-Yeon before leaving. But when I return, she'll be the first person I meet.
Lost in thought, he steps out of the school. Descending the stairs and approaching the cars waiting near the gate, he suddenly hears a loud voice call out behind him, "Kangha!"
He stops, turning to look back at the school gate. It's Ji-Yeon, standing there and calling his name. A deep, genuine smile spreads across Kangha's face as he waves goodbye before stepping into the car. Seeing her before leaving is enough to ease his heart.
However, Ji-Yeon's face doesn't mirror the joy of a farewell. Instead, worry, sadness, and fear are etched into her expression, a stark contrast to Kangha's relieved smile.
Kangha had already left. Even if Ji-Yeon called out to him again, he wouldn't have stopped. Feeling helpless, Ji-Yeon runs back toward the field, but Miss Choi is no longer there. Her face is pale, her expressions trembling with fear as if she might break into tears at any moment. In this fragile state, Ji-Yeon sprints to her mother's office.
Without knocking, she barges in, slamming the door shut behind her. Miss Choi turns in surprise to find her daughter crying uncontrollably and rushing toward her. Before she can say anything, Ji-Yeon grabs both her mother's hands and pleads desperately,
"Call Kangha back! Please, Mother, bring him back!"
"Ji-Yeon, my child, what's wrong? Why are you crying like this?"
"Mom, you have to bring Kangha back. They will kill him!" Ji-Yeon sobs, her voice cracking with panic.
"What happened? Who told you this?" Miss Choi's concern deepens, her hands tightening around Ji-Yeon's.
"Mom," Ji-Yeon begins, her voice shaking. "This morning, before Kangha woke up, I was returning from his room when I saw some of the boys from his team hiding weapons in the clothes. It felt strange, so I followed them and slipped into a corner of the room to hide and watch. That's when that boy came in—the one who tried to harm Kangha before. He was holding a gun, aiming gun, and I heard him tell the others, 'Master said there must be no mistakes today, no matter what happened, we have to kill Kangha,' After some time, they all left the room and locked the door behind them. That's why it took me so long to get to Kangha and warn him."
Miss Choi's face goes pale, her mouth slightly open in shock. No one could have predicted this. After a moment, she says quietly, "But Ji-Yeon, they've already left. We can't bring them back now."
"But we have to save Kangha!" Ji-Yeon shouts, her desperation mounting. "I'll go there myself and stop them. I'll save him!"
"Don't be foolish! "The headmaster won't let you leave. You'll only put yourself in danger."
Ji-Yeon, covering her face with both hands as her sobs grow louder. She cries with such heartbreak and helplessness that Miss Choi can only watch, unsure of what to do next.
Miss Choi kneels beside Ji-Yeon, placing a gentle hand on her trembling shoulder. Her voice softens, filled with both love and reassurance.
"My child, "I believe in Kangha. Just as he has overcome every challenge before, he will find his way out of this one too."
—-----------
Kangha arrives at the location the headmaster had described, his team following closely behind. As they step out of the cars, they are met with an eerie silence. The field, nestled between two villages, stretches wide and empty before them. There's no sign of any battle, no clash of warriors as expected. Kangha's face tightens with confusion, his thoughts racing.
"Are we sure this is the right place?" Marty's voice breaks the silence, laced with doubt.
"Yes," Kangha replies, scanning the field again. "This is the exact spot between the two villages."
"Then where's the fight? Nothing's happening here," Marty observes, his suspicion growing.
"I was thinking the same thing," Kangha mutters, unease creeping into his voice.
Suddenly, distant sounds disrupt their thoughts—shouts and the thundering of hurried footsteps. The team turns to see figures emerging on the horizon, running toward them at an alarming speed. Kangha narrows his eyes, trying to make sense of the scene. As the figures draw closer, his blood runs cold.
The people rushing toward them are not ordinary humans. Their bodies are grotesque, twisted into horrifying shapes. Their heads hang at unnatural angles, their faces disfigured beyond recognition. They move like wild beasts, emitting guttural growls, and their glowing eyes radiate savage hunger. Kangha steps back instinctively, realizing these are creatures unlike anything he has ever seen.
"Be ready!" one of his team members shouts, drawing a weapon.
Kangha glances at his teammates, only to find them armed and prepared, as if they had known this would happen. Bombs fly from their hands, exploding in flashes of fire and smoke, scattering the creatures momentarily. Kangha stands frozen, watching the chaos unfold, feeling betrayed.
"Felix set me up," he thinks bitterly, his mind racing. "And my team… they knew all along. This wasn't just a trap for me—it was a trap for all of us."
But his assumption is wrong. The truth hits him like a blow. His team wasn't caught off guard; they had anticipated this ambush. They were prepared, armed for their own survival. Kangha, on the other hand, was left vulnerable.
The battlefield erupts with deafening noise—explosions, growls, and the frantic shouts of his team. Amid the chaos, Marty sees his opportunity. From the corner of his eye, Kangha catches a glimpse of him pulling out a concealed aim gun.
"Marty, what are you—"
Before Kangha can finish, Marty takes aim and fires,
The bullet pierces the back of Kangha's head, exiting through the front in a clean, brutal shot. Kangha collapses to the ground, lifeless. His body lies still, the chaos of the battlefield raging on around him.
The creatures, the supposed "zombies," and the staged attack were all part of a calculated plan—a distraction to ensure Kangha's guard was down. Marty lowers his gun, a smirk playing on his lips. His mission is complete, and Kangha never stood a chance.