Chapter 5 - Beneath the Festival Lights
The walk to the village was tense at first. Seojin and the party moved quickly, expecting danger. The thick canopy of trees above them made the forest feel darker than it should be, the air heavy with the lingering presence of last night's battle.
But as they got closer—
BOOM!
A sudden explosion of bright colors lit up the sky. The party tensed, reaching for their weapons—
Then, another burst of golden fireworks followed, painting the sky in warm light.
Ji-ho blinked. "Fireworks?"
As they emerged from the forest, the scene before them shattered all tension.
The village was alive with excitement. Colorful lanterns lined the streets, children ran around laughing, and villagers were setting up food stalls, decorative streamers, and bonfires.
Chae-won let out a relieved sigh. "Guess it's not an attack after all."
A villager spotted them and grinned. "Welcome, travelers! You came just in time for our festival!"
Seojin exhaled, finally allowing himself to relax.
---
With the tension gone, the group let themselves immerse in the preparations.
Ji-ho helped set up a large bonfire, lifting heavy logs with ease.
Aera helped the village women prepare dishes, her healing magic also soothing minor injuries from the hard labor.
Chae-won and Do-yun hung lanterns around the village, though Chae-won mostly bossed Do-yun around.
Seojin helped carve wooden masks used in tribal dances, feeling oddly at peace while working with his hands.
For the first time in a while, they weren't fighting for their lives.
As the sun set, the festival truly began.
---
The village square roared with life.
The air was filled with the scent of roasted meats, spiced rice, and sweet honeyed bread. Traditional tribal drums echoed in the night, and dancers in elaborate masks performed under the glow of fire torches.
Ji-ho drank with the village men, laughing loudly.
Aera taught children how to make tiny healing charms.
Chae-won teased the young village boys, enjoying their flustered reactions.
And Seojin?
For once… he let himself enjoy the moment.
He ate until he was full, watched the performances, and even joined a small sword-dancing ritual, moving instinctively with the rhythm.
But sometimes, his mind drifted.
The system. The fight. The strange, locked skill.
Something inside him told him—this peace wouldn't last.
Still, he shook it off and let himself breathe.
Until everything changed.
---
Just before midnight, as the festival was winding down, a piercing scream tore through the night.
The music stopped. The laughter vanished.
Everyone froze.
Seojin was already on his feet.
"Where did that come from?!" Ji-ho demanded.
Villagers looked around in confusion, fear setting in.
Seojin's eyes darted toward the darkness—a small, broken-down shack at the edge of the village.
His instincts screamed.
He ran.
---
The shack was barely standing, its wooden frame rotting, the air inside thick and suffocating.
Seojin kicked the door open.
Inside, two figures loomed over a terrified village girl, their long, twisted fingers gripping her arms.
Their skin was grayish-black, their eyes sharp and intelligent—not like the mindless Scenario Cleaners.
They were demons.
And they were speaking in human tongue.
One of them grinned, baring sharp teeth. "Ah… A guest?"
Seojin's jaw tightened. "Let. Her. Go."
The demon chuckled. "Or what?"
Then—it attacked.
Seojin barely had time to move. Its clawed hand shot toward his throat.
But something in him reacted instantly.
His body moved on its own—ducking, twisting, countering.
He dodged.
The demon's eyes widened.
Seojin didn't hesitate. He struck back.
The two clashed—a blur of sharp movements, attacks and counters.
The demons were faster and stronger than him, but Seojin's movements were unnatural, fluid.
Was it… because of his synchronization?
He gritted his teeth. No. This is me. I have to stand on my own feet.
"Don't interfere!" he shouted to his party as they arrived. "I'll handle this."
---
Just as the demons prepared their ultimate attacks, a notification popped up.
> [Predator's Presence Activated.]
The air around Seojin shifted.
A crushing, oppressive aura rolled off him, making the demons freeze.
Their hands shook. Their attacks halted.
For the first time… they looked afraid.
Seojin charged.
Even though they were still powerful, their fear made them slower, more hesitant.
He beat them back, step by step, their confidence crumbling.
And then—
They stopped.
Their bodies trembled violently.
They weren't just afraid.
They were terrified.
It was as if they had felt something deeper, something ancient inside him—
And they ran.
In a blind panic, they fled into the night, dodging through the trees as fast as their bodies allowed.
Seojin stood there, panting.
What… did they sense in me?
---
He turned back to the girl, quickly covering her with his cloak.
"Let's get you home."
She stared at him, her wide eyes filled with unspoken emotions.
Aera rushed forward, gently healing her wounds. "You're safe now."
The girl's hands clutched Seojin's cloak, her face flushed.
In her mind, he was like a knight in shining armor.
Seojin, however, felt uneasy.
---
The girl's father grateful beyond words, offered the party a place to stay.
As they settled in for the night, the group talked about the fight.
Ji-ho laughed. "Seojin, you were ridiculously cool."
Chae-won smirked. "Didn't think you had it in you."
Do-yun, however, stayed silent, watching Seojin carefully.
Seojin barely heard them.
Because as he lay down to sleep—
A notification appeared.
> [Stable Demonic Synchronization: 8%]
[Predator's Presence Has Evolved.]
His fingers tensed.
It's happening again.
TO BE CONTINUED—