By Zephyria 
86
It held what appeared to be a human leg in one hand, and what seemed to be one of the internal organs in the other. It tore at the leg once, then tore at the organ and devoured it. Each time its jaw moved, blood poured down between its legs, splattering and splattering. The blood mixed with the rain and spread widely around.
“……”
Ho-eun held his breath. The Devouring Ghoul before him was enormous. From what he had seen, the larger they were, the stronger they were, and the thicker their hides. Even the highly skilled Gil-sang couldn’t sever the head of such a creature in one blow; he had to strike it three or four times.
Which meant it was impossible for Seong-im to deal with that Devouring Ghoul.
It wasn’t that he was disregarding Seong-im’s skills, but that was the reality. They were Bondmates, not Gods of War.
“……”
Ho-eun tugged Seong-im’s sleeve firmly backward, signaling to escape before the Devouring Ghoul discovered them. Seong-im gazed intently at Ho-eun.
Ho-eun himself didn’t seem to realize it, but he looked exhausted. His already pale face was devoid of color, and his cheeks were gaunt. His lips were blue, and his shoulders trembled visibly, frail and shivering. He looked like a flower soaked in rain, drained of its strength.
“……”
Seong-im turned her head forward. She looked at the road, the Devouring Ghoul, and the church in turn. She also examined the large and small alleys branching out in all directions.
The pitch-black alleys were impossible to gauge in depth, and it was impossible to know what lay within. Even if they avoided that Devouring Ghoul, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t encounter another.
Seong-im looked at the Devouring Ghoul again. It was engrossed in its meal. Moreover, it had its back turned, the surroundings were dark, and the rain was heavy.
Having thought that far, Seong-im pointed to the church, looking at Ho-eun. He, being quick-witted, immediately understood Seong-im’s plan. His eyes widened as if they would pop out.
“……You’re going to go that way?”
Seong-im nodded.
“……”
Ho-eun blinked rapidly, looking confused. He wiped away the raindrops clinging to his eyelashes. His hesitation didn’t last long. He nodded immediately.
“Yes. I will follow.”
Ho-eun knew Gil-sang well. He was strong and smart. He had rescued Jeong-woo, who was being used as bait for the Devouring Ghoul, in one go.
Therefore, his Bondmate, Seong-im, would be the same. She would have seen and experienced the same things as Gil-sang.
“……”
Seong-im lowered her sword and leaned her back against the wall of the building. Keeping her eyes fixed on the Devouring Ghoul, she began to step forward stealthily, one step at a time. Ho-eun followed her.
The heavy rain completely masked their presence. Just a moment ago, he had resented the rain so much, wondering if the heavens had abandoned them. Now, it seemed like it was trying to save them. People were so fickle.
Walking and walking, the two eventually approached the Devouring Ghoul. The width of the road was narrow, and even though they were pressed tightly against the wall, the distance to the Devouring Ghoul was less than six steps.
Swish, swish, swish, amidst the pouring rain, the sounds of the Devouring Ghoul eating could be heard: crunch, crunch, squelch, slurp, slurp. Beneath it, the corpse, its form unrecognizable, was crushed.
“……”
Ho-eun bit his lower lip. His heart was pounding so fiercely that he feared the Devouring Ghoul would hear it. He couldn’t tell if what was running down his temples was rain or sweat.
Seong-im, who was ahead, increased her pace. She avoided the puddles thickly filled with rain. Ho-eun followed exactly in her footsteps.
Walking and walking like that, they managed to pass the Devouring Ghoul. The distance of six steps became ten steps, then twenty steps, then thirty steps. Ho-eun finally let out a thin breath that he had been holding in all along.
That was enough. It was all over now. If they could just quietly reach the church, then…
It was just as he was slightly raising the corners of his lips, looking at the church that was now quickly approaching.
Clang, clang, clang!
A sharp sound rang out loudly from somewhere. Ho-eun and Seong-im’s gazes darted towards it.
A metal bucket was rolling towards them. Judging by its appearance, it had been used as a rain gutter, and it seemed to have been blown away by the strong wind.
It tumbled forward, sideways, and upside down, making all sorts of commotion. It hit the wall, hit the tree, rolled on the ground, making a noisy racket, and then, rolling and rolling… it came to a stop in front of Seong-im and Ho-eun.
“……”
“……”
The two stared down at the bucket with stiff faces. Then, as if by agreement, they simultaneously turned their heads back. And…
They met the eyes of the Devouring Ghoul.
“……”
The Devouring Ghoul blinked its bloodshot eyes, staring at Ho-eun and Seong-im. It seemed to be trying to discern whether the suddenly appearing prey was a phantom or real. It tilted its head to the left, then to the right. The red chunk of flesh in its mouth wobbled along with it.
The world fell silent. Even the rain seemed to stop for a moment. Then, the moment Ho-eun involuntarily sighed, “Ah…,” Seong-im grabbed his wrist and started running. Ho-eun followed her in a fluster. The sound of their footsteps, squelch, squelch, squish, squish, echoed twice.
Kaaaaaaaak!
The Devouring Ghoul threw away the chunk of flesh it was holding and began to run on all fours. It followed so fiercely that the world vibrated with each stomp of its massive feet.
“Hhh……”
Ho-eun ran with all his might, biting back the rising groan. With one hand supporting Jeong-woo’s back, he ran with the desperate thought of ‘Oh, please let me live.’ By then, Jeong-woo had probably seen the Devouring Ghoul as well, and began to cry.
Ho-eun felt as if his brain was shrinking. With the sound of the rain, the sound of the wind, Jeong-woo’s crying, the Devouring Ghoul’s screeching, his own footsteps, his heartbeat, his breathing, it felt like his head would simply explode.
Ho-eun, who had been running while only looking at Seong-im’s swaying hair, couldn’t help but glance back. The Devouring Ghoul was approaching at an incredible speed. It was unreal how quickly it was closing in. It was like an eagle swooping down.
“Ugh……”
Strange groans kept leaking through his teeth. He was running with all his might, but the presence of the Devouring Ghoul grew closer and closer. With the vibration of thump, thump, thump, thump, he felt like he knew how close it was without even looking.
Then, at some point.
Kaaaaaaaak!
A gust of wind blew, and the Devouring Ghoul’s claws flashed past the edge of his vision. The Devouring Ghoul, which had finally caught up, had reached out its arm to snatch Ho-eun’s head. His ear momentarily warmed from the breath it exhaled.
“……”
Ho-eun’s pupils hardened.
Was he going to die like this? Would he die? Would he end up dying? Would that be the end?
Just as his limbs were stiffening with despair and fear, Seong-im turned left towards the alley where the church was located. Ho-eun’s one foot slid out on the mud due to the unprepared turn. However, Seong-im pulled him hard, preventing him from falling.
But then, a thud! was heard from behind.
When he turned around, the Devouring Ghoul, unable to control its speed, had slipped on the mud and crashed into the wall. Thanks to that, the distance between them had widened a bit. The Devouring Ghoul shook its head once, then used the wall as a foothold and began to follow again.
Regaining his composure, Ho-eun ran even harder than before. His loosened Braided Hair fluttered wildly.
With each step, the church grew closer. Fortunately, the church was surrounded by a high fence on all sides. There were no Devouring Ghouls nearby either.
Ho-eun widened his eyes and examined the fence. The fence, made of thick steel bars, had narrow gaps, but neither he nor Seong-im were particularly large, so it seemed like they could pass through without much difficulty.
If they could just get there, they could live.
Just there.
Just, just there.
“Please, please……”
Ho-eun gritted his teeth and ran. The Devouring Ghoul, as if angered by losing the prey that had been right in its mouth, approached even faster than before. He could clearly feel its hot breath brushing against the back of his head. But this time, he didn’t look back. He just looked ahead and ran.
And finally, when the fence was close, Seong-im suddenly stopped and turned around. Then, using that momentum, she pulled the wrist of Ho-eun, whom she was holding, and threw him towards the fence.
Ho-eun quickly pulled Jeong-woo, who was wrapped in the swaddling clothes, out without any refusal. Then, with one hand, he first pushed Jeong-woo into the fence, and then he turned his body sideways and went into the fence as well. The hard steel bars pressed hard on his ribs, but he was still able to get inside.
Ho-eun immediately turned back and reached out his hand towards Seong-im.
“Come in! Quickly!”
At that moment, the Devouring Ghoul leaped towards Seong-im. Its black shadow loomed over Seong-im’s head. If it fell like that, Seong-im would be crushed by that massive bulk.
“Seong-im!”
At Ho-eun’s cry-like call, Seong-im reached out her hand towards him. Their hands met like that, and Ho-eun pulled her hand with all his might.
And the moment the Devouring Ghoul’s claws brushed past Seong-im’s head, she passed through the fence. Ho-eun fell backward with a thud due to the weight of Seong-im, who was pushed in. Seong-im also knelt on the mud.
At the same time.
Bang!
The Devouring Ghoul collided with the fence.