By Zephyria 
Kieeeeeek!
The Tentacle Plant Monster and three or four other creatures perched on the tree struggled, but they could not avoid the fall. Along with the Tentacle Plant Monster, the ones that had been shielding it like a cover fluttered their limbs as they plummeted.
The Tentacle Plant Monster shrieked in frustration. However, no matter how intelligent it was, there was no way to stop a fall from such a height. It would have to reach the ground first before it could do anything.
Of course, Ho-eun had no intention of letting it reach the ground.
“…….”
Ho-eun aimed his gun at the falling Tentacle Plant Monster. It was not easy to aim at a target descending at such high speed. However, it was not impossible.
Ho-eun had already killed running ghouls. He had once fired a hundred bullets at charging ghouls. Whether they were running or falling, what difference did it make?
“…….”
Ho-eun focused entirely on the ghoul. Then, all noise receded ten paces, while the ghoul, conversely, drew ten paces closer. The densely pouring rain seemed to loosen, and the gun fit snugly in his hand as if it had become a part of his own body. And when that perfect moment arrived—
Bang!
Ho-eun pulled the trigger.
Pshak!
Blood erupted from the Tentacle Plant Monster’s eye. The creature crashed straight down onto the ground. Simultaneously, its massive fan-shaped tentacle was crushed into the mud with a squelch.
The Leader Plant Monster was dead. This horrific bloodbath should have ended there, but unfortunately, it did not. While most of the ghouls froze in place as if they had lost consciousness while standing, allowing the soldiers to easily rip open their bodies and slice their necks, a few remained a problem.
Specifically, those that had been charging toward Ho-eun, or those that had leaped toward him by stepping on the backs of other ghouls. Though they had lost their minds, their bodies could not stop. Thus, they either slid across the slushy mud or fell from above.
Most were blocked, pushed back, or struck down by other soldiers, but there was one. No one could stop the one that had leaped high into the air.
“Ah……”
Even in the darkness, Ho-eun felt the ghoul’s massive shadow loom over his head. He slowly tilted his flashlight upward. He saw a rock-stiff ghoul falling toward him with its mouth wide open.
The creature was motionless, with no light in its eyes, which made it even more threatening. With its enormous bulk, it felt as if a cliff were collapsing upon him. Its body completely blocked the rain, and for a moment, the rain stopped falling only for Ho-eun.
“…….”
In that brief moment as the ghoul fell, Ho-eun had many thoughts.
He had imagined being eaten by a ghoul, but he had the hollow thought that he had never imagined being crushed to death.
He also wondered if he could survive even if he shot the ghoul now. But since the ghoul had stopped moving after losing its leader, killing it wouldn’t change the fact that it would still fall on top of him.
He also considered trying to run. Although the falling ghoul was as large as a house, perhaps he could avoid it if he ran well. But no matter how much he thought about it, it seemed impossible with his frail body.
I guess I’m dying like this.
Then what about Tae-muk?
He must have been badly hurt today. He must have used so much of his strength. If only I could treat him just for today… He felt so sorry for Tae-muk, who would suffer not only in heart but in body due to his death.
But if this was his fate, what could he do?
Ho-eun closed his eyes tightly. Contrary to his sorrowful expression, his hand gripping the gun was tense with strength.
“…….”
Yet, as time passed, he felt nothing. He wondered if he had lost consciousness or died before he could realize it, when suddenly, the rain began to pour down again—shaaaaa. Having been shielded for just a moment, the hundreds of raindrops drumming against his entire body felt excessively vivid.
At the same time, Ho-eun realized he was still alive. But how?
“…….”
Ho-eun slowly opened his eyes.
And their eyes met.
“I’m late.”
It was Tae-muk, drenched in blood.
After staring blankly for a moment, Ho-eun slowly turned his head to the side. The ghoul that had been falling as if to crush him was sprawled far away. It seemed Tae-muk had pushed it away with his body as he rushed in. Ho-eun looked back at Tae-muk with trembling eyes.
Tae-muk… was a wreck. No other word could describe it. There was a long gash on his face, carved by something—whether a ghoul’s claw or tooth. Blood leaked steadily from the jaggedly torn skin. His neck was deeply gouged, and blood spurted out in gulps every time Tae-muk breathed.
And… one shoulder was gone. He didn’t say the arm was missing because the shoulder joint itself had been torn to shreds. His waist and thighs were also ruthlessly bitten; it was too gruesome to bear.
“…….”
For a moment, Ho-eun remained frozen, unable to speak or react. It felt as if something was stuck in his throat. No matter how many times he swallowed his dry saliva, the obstruction would not go down. Perhaps that was why it was hard to breathe. He felt suffocated, as if his lungs were filled with rainwater.
Swallowing something that felt like a mix of sobbing and sorrow, Ho-eun let the pistol and flashlight drop. Then, forcing the corners of his mouth up, he whispered.
“……You weren’t late.”
With trembling hands, he cupped Tae-muk’s worn cheek, rose on his tiptoes, and kissed his burning hot lips.
* * *
Seventy-two people died. He had expected many to lose their lives, but it was truly a horrific number. Eight more died on the way back to the garrison, bringing the total to exactly eighty. And that number might still increase.
“Aaaagh!”
“Haaaagh! Stop it! Stop it!”
Ho-eun flinched as he entered the courtyard of the Medical Station, startled by the soldiers’ echoing screams. Through the wide-open doors of the Medical Station, he could see the feet of soldiers twitching as if struggling or convulsing. Blood pooled deeply on the floor where they lay. The medics wiped the floor over and over, but it would often pool again the moment they turned around.
The Medical Station, like the place where Tae-muk and Ho-eun stayed, was set up in a house. It wasn’t a fancy tiled-roof house, but it had four rooms, walls to block the cold air, and floors where fires could be lit.
Since it was a space meant for caring for the sick, it had been repaired with more care than other areas when the garrison was established.
Usually, it was a place of silence and stillness. It was where the old man would lie on the porch snoring, and where Chilbok would occasionally squat in the yard, chatting with other medics while brewing Ho-eun’s herbal medicine. But for the past few days, it had been noisy.
Medics went in and out carrying basins filled with blood-soaked cloths, the old man shouted something, someone groaned in pain, and someone else wept.
“Haa……”
Ho-eun let out a long sigh and crossed the courtyard of the Medical Station. However, blood was pooled randomly across the ground. Unable to bring himself to step on it, Ho-eun walked carefully, avoiding the spots. When he reached the porch of the Medical Station, he gently set down the tray he was carrying.
On the tray sat a bowl of steaming porridge. There were also various side dishes. Ho-eun had gone to the kitchen himself to get them.
After neatly arranging the scattered utensils, Ho-eun pushed the tray toward the inside of the porch and spoke.
“Um… Dong-ja Noonim. Please eat.”
At that, Dong-ja, who was sitting almost slumped over, looked at Ho-eun. She was usually energetic and full of vigor, but now she was pale, and her eyes were dull. Because she hadn’t eaten anything for three days, her once plump cheeks had become gaunt.
“I’m fine. You eat, Young Master.”
Dong-ja spoke without even looking at the tray. She then wiped her dry face with the palm of her hand. Her sleeve was damp with blood. It was because she had drawn blood over and over for the wounded soldiers in the room. Many other Gods of War had also drawn blood for the wounded.
Sniffling once, Dong-ja turned her head back toward the room. Ho-eun followed her gaze into the room. Deep inside the room… Man-soo was lying there.
“…….”
Man-soo was injured. One of his arms had been bitten by a ghoul; while the arm hadn’t completely detached, it was as good as gone, so it had to be amputated as soon as they returned to the garrison. Furthermore, he had lost a lot of blood, and due to the rain and mud, an infection had set in, leaving him unconscious.
From what he had heard from the soldiers, Man-soo was Dong-ja’s Bondmate. They had traveled through many battlefields together, and he had been injured more than a few times, but this was the first time he had been hurt this severely.
Though he wasn’t a God of War, he was naturally robust and healthy, so even after bleeding profusely, he would usually devour three bowls of rice the next day. But this time, he had been unable to open his eyes for three days.
Because of this, Dong-ja had stayed exclusively at the Medical Station since their return, not moving an inch. She neither ate nor slept.