By Zephyria It wasn’t unusual to find corpses in the Crystal Zone.
Didn’t humans, lacking both knowledge and money, periodically visit this place where Aberrants roamed?
However, upon accepting this request, Mu-hae hadn’t heard any news of diggers meeting their end recently.
Even if they were treated like disposable goods, there was no reason for the Company to hide that fact from Mu-hae.
“Stay put.”
Warning Joo-oh, Jin Mu-hae approached the corpse. With each step closer, the unpleasant stench intensified.
The internal organs had already been dealt with as a meal, leaving the corpse almost skeletal. After thoroughly examining the surroundings, Mu-hae spotted a torn piece of clothing.
Similarly, the crimson-stained fabric was deeply permeated with the smell of death. Despite being torn so violently, it was a durable and high-quality material.
‘Not a digger’s outfit.’
Unlike mercenaries who invested most of their earnings in equipment, diggers lived like mayflies.
That was how the Company treated them in the first place. Faced with the choice of living like that until they died or hitting the jackpot…
But the piece of clothing Mu-hae picked up was of considerable quality. It was sturdy like the hide of a Beast or Aberrant, yet not heavy and soft.
Even with dried blood, it was clear that it had been used for expensive clothing.
Jin Mu-hae naturally thought of the Small aircraft he had seen on the way. The damaged aircraft and the unknown pharmaceuticals.
It seemed that whoever was on board was not only not a digger but also not from Goryeo City.
“How is it?”
Joo-oh asked, breaking the uneasy atmosphere.
Judging by his tone, he wasn’t asking about the situation but boasting about his actions.
He had moved on his own, but hadn’t he found something like this? He showed no sign of being shocked by the sight of a human corpse.
“Shut up.”
“No.”
Come to think of it, it was the same on the day Joo-oh was found. He had been staring blankly at the sky in a place littered with human remains.
The clothes he was wearing were, upon further reflection, those of a dead digger.
Had he put them on himself? Had he stripped the most intact parts from the severed and torn body?
If so, what had he been wearing before that?
“I’m hungry.”
Joo-oh muttered, quickly becoming sullen. Feeling hungry in a place like this wasn’t normal either.
But when had he ever been normal? For Mu-hae, it was a much better reaction than panicking, screaming, or trembling in a situation where there might be more around.
“Go back to the bike and eat a Dae Yong Hwan.”
“Okay.”
As he took out a wet wipe to clean his hands and turned around, Joo-oh scurried to Mu-hae’s side.
Even though he hadn’t received a single compliment, his eyes were sparkling again. Despite not being short, his cuteness was what made him so peculiar.
Two more mining sites remained. The ominous feeling kept returning, and he didn’t want to stay in Buckta for long.
Mu-hae scanned the surroundings, took care of Joo-oh, and hurriedly left the Crystal Zone.
“Did you think something like this would happen?”
Just in case, he asked Joo-oh, who shook his head so hard that his black hair fluttered.
“I didn’t know we were coming here.”
“You say that as if you knew something else?”
“…I’m hungry.”
Now he was sure. He had always been unsure because Joo-oh often changed the subject, but Joo-oh was definitely avoiding the topic.
Whether he knew that made it seem even stranger…
After walking for a long time again, they reached the road, and he climbed onto the bike, clinging to his back as if it were second nature.
Even though he hadn’t washed all day, Joo-oh smelled fragrant and sweet. The fidgeting of his fingers made him feel strange for no reason, so Mu-hae nudged his side once, as if pushing him away.
“Hehehe.”
Giggling. He seemed to be in a better mood after taking out a pill from the bag on the bike and swallowing it.
Jin Mu-hae didn’t argue further and set off for the next destination.
The fourth visit was normally moderately dangerous.
It meant that only Beasts that were likely to be seen were roaming around, and Aberrants weren’t sticking too close to the route.
Originally, all routes should have been like this. Whenever changes occurred, diggers died, so if problems always arose, they would have heard obituaries ten times a month.
‘Well, a request came in because something went wrong.’
A world where other people’s dangers became a source of income. Mu-hae shook off his thoughts and sped towards the last Crystal Zone.
“Jin Mu-hae.”
Suddenly, Joo-oh called his name from behind. He was now openly rubbing his cheek against Mu-hae’s shoulder.
Whenever his soft hair tickled his neck, Mu-hae wanted to leave him as he was and also wanted to push him away with all his might.
Still, bringing Joo-oh hadn’t been a mistake. He had been more helpful here and there than he had expected, and his muttering had relieved unnecessary tension.
It seemed he was finally earning his keep. He had already made quite a bit of money with the Thorn wolf, but still. If he was going to force his existence into his dry life, Jin Mu-hae needed a bigger agreement with himself.
“Jin Mu-hae.”
“What.”
“It smells.”
At those words, Mu-hae’s face became serious.
“Where?”
“The way we’re going.”
Even after saying something scary, Joo-oh was still leaning on his shoulder. His voice was muffled, as if his cheek was pressed down.
Mu-hae immediately slowed down and pushed him back. His white cheeks puffed out, and he clicked his tongue.
Click, beep-.
There was no reaction on the radar. Either Joo-oh was mistaken, or the Aberrant was too far away to be detected by the radar, one of the two.
Logically, he wanted to lean towards the former, but the experiences he had had so far drew his mind towards the latter.
Mu-hae bit his lip tightly and turned his head. Joo-oh, who was sitting on the stopped bike and dangling his legs, made eye contact.
“Can you tell how many there are?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Even roughly.”
“Then, yeah.”
His red eyes closed, and his eyelashes fluttered. Joo-oh, with his chin raised, furrowed his brow as if sensing something.
“It’s not one.”
“Then?”
“Two…”
“Two?”
Mu-hae asked back, relieved, but at that moment.
“…Three. Four. Five. Six.”
“!”
A chill ran down his spine.
Unable to even deny it by telling him not to lie, he looked at Joo-oh, and suddenly, his closed eyes flashed open.
His pupils were dilated, and his eyes looked particularly crimson. A cold sensation scratched down Mu-hae’s spine.
“That’s weird. Right?”
“……”
“Jin Mu-hae can’t die here.”
“Don’t say unlucky things.”
He dismissed it with a rebuke, but Mu-hae’s heart was already pounding.
It wasn’t like someone who had been through thick and thin would be scared by Joo-oh’s nonsense.
Right. It was just that he was curious about him. His appearance, which seemed to bewitch people, and the way he followed others like a newly hatched duckling.
Even in this situation, he was doing his best to help him. Thinking that, Mu-hae took a deep breath.
Joo-oh’s body, which quickly clung to him again, was warm as always.
“We’re going back. Hold on tight.”
“Without working?”
“Do you want to go die?”
He was doing it all to make a living. The completion rate of the request or the success bonus couldn’t be more precious than his life.
The Company would understand. Rather than getting lost while clearing a path full of Aberrants, it was more beneficial to return alive and deliver the data he had collected so far.
Joo-oh nodded as if he understood, then tapped his shoulder again.
“Why.”
“But there’s something else.”
“What?”
Beep- beep- beep-!
Following a thunderous sound, the radar belatedly detected a life form.
Several small red dots were rapidly approaching them from near the way back.
‘Beasts.’
Fortunately, it wasn’t an Aberrant. It was identified as a type of Beast that lived in groups.
When the red dots were magnified, a fairly organized formation came into view.
At this rate, it might be difficult to just pass by. Especially in sections where the path narrowed due to the forest, they would be caught by those things.
Mu-hae, with a serious face, looked around and got up from the bike.
“Are you going to fight?”
“Yeah. Get ready.”
Joo-oh also jumped off the bike. His loose hood fluttered.
Mu-hae quickly laid down mine-type Tasers around the bike and set up illusionary lasers to create a psychological barricade.
Before long, black dots began to appear in the distance. They were emaciated, mutated creatures with unruly fur, canine-type Beasts.
There were so many different types of stray dogs that, except for a few classifications, they weren’t even properly named, but as humans had often raised them in the past, their numbers were the highest among Beasts.
Fortunately, they were fast and persistent, but not as troublesome as wolves.
If he knocked down one or two and gave them a good scare, they would usually take their pack and retreat.
Taang! Zzzzzz-.
Yelp-!
Yes, they were also a bit cautious now. Some said that was evidence that they had some reason left, but Mu-hae thought it was just because their instincts made them fear humans.
In the past, before the Great Cataclysm, when resources were scarce, creatures that couldn’t be eaten were mostly raised to follow and revere humans.
Grrr- yelp!
The first stray dog that charged was knocked down, and then another that was waiting for an opportunity stepped on a Taser and struggled.
However, the remaining ones didn’t retreat but instead closed the distance between themselves and gradually approached.
Taang! He fired a bullet straight away, but the stray dog he targeted dodged the attack.
A creature drooling as if it had rabies charged at Mu-hae recklessly and was struck in the head.
Yelp- yelp!
The remaining ones barked, wary of humans.
He felt strange. The ones that would normally run away were still unable to charge and were restless.
“They must be hungry.”
“What?”
Suddenly, Joo-oh spoke.
“If they haven’t eaten for a while, they don’t see anything else.”
“Are you talking about those stray dog bastards?”
He nodded silently. He glanced at the direction of the Aberrants, as if to say that the two humans seemed the easiest to target in this area.
“Damn it.”
Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen any animals or weak Beasts in this area, which was strangely rare.
Just like he had suddenly seen traces of deer in the first Crystal Zone he had visited, it seemed that there had been a change in the habitat of Beasts here as well.