Memorize

"Attract them. We need to lure those things."

"Pardon? Are we trying to draw those monsters in?"

It was a similar idea, but there was a slight misunderstanding. I shook my head. Most of them stared at me blankly, but Kim Han-Byeol raised an eyebrow as if she roughly understood what I was saying. Anyway, it seemed that a bit more explanation was needed.

"No, it's not about drawing them in. What I mean is that one person should act as bait to lure the monsters away."

I paused for a moment and pointed deeper into the forest. As everyone's gaze followed my gesture back to the forest, I continued.

"If we create a commotion, the monsters will surely charge at the bait. We need to maintain their attention while leading them into the forest. Meanwhile, the others can climb over the wall. That way, we can escape the forest."

Despite emphasizing the hopeful tone about escaping the forest, skepticism was evident on everyone's faces. It wasn't a positive reaction. It seemed they weren't entirely pleased with the idea. However, given their silence, it was clear they thought there was some validity to the plan. Of course, for this strategy to work, there was one crucial issue that needed to be addressed.

It was obvious without having to say it: Who would take on the role of the bait? While it might seem feasible if one walked slowly like a zombie, Deadmen switch to a sprinting pace once they spot their prey. This meant that the person luring them in would be quickly surrounded and become their next meal.

Everyone glanced at each other for a while, waiting for someone to speak up, but as expected, Kim Han-Byeol, who was quick on the uptake, addressed the core issue.

"So in the end, one person has to sacrifice themselves, right?"

"Exactly."

"Who's going to do it?"

Silence. With the moment of escaping the forest so close, no one was eager to volunteer. I could understand their hesitation, so after a brief, weary sigh, I raised my hand. It seemed psychologically easier for me to take on the task rather than sending someone else to face the danger.

"Whoever brings it up should do it. I'll do it."

"Absolutely not. It's too dangerous."

"Oppa, Han-Byeol is right. It's better to hide and wait a bit longer, okay?"

Kim Han-Byeol's immediate objection and Lee Yun-Jung's persuasion were expected. I had anticipated this reaction and had prepared my response.

"We can't keep waiting. We don't know when they might find us."

"There might be other ways to approach it."

Kim Han-Byeol countered my words again. Shaking my head, I countered.

"Moving takes time, and it's almost evening. This is our last chance to escape."

"Even so…."

Kim Han-Byeol, still skeptical, finally fell silent, her face showing concern. The silence lingered for a moment. I sensed she felt both relief at not having to volunteer and guilt for not supporting me more actively. This was a stark contrast to how Park Dong-Gul would have reacted.

Park Dong-Gul would have labeled this as hypocrisy. Reflecting on it now, he might have shared some of my views. In the past, I would have called him out on his pretense, but with these people, I needed to remain a supportive figure. If Park Dong-Gul had managed to restrain himself or found some usefulness, he wouldn't have let me go so easily. I chuckled inwardly at the absurdity of the thought.

The unexpected person who broke the silence was not who I would have guessed.

"Then… um… Kim Su-Hyeon oppa is in too much danger."

Turning around, I saw An-Sol with a flushed face, nervously speaking. Was she worried about me? I felt a surge of affection and wanted to give her a kiss on the cheek, but with An-Hyun watching, I settled for a warm smile. I continued, pretending to scan the surroundings attentively.

"We can't pass up this chance to escape the forest. Sooner or later, we have to face this kind of danger. It's just come a bit earlier."

"Still…."

"I know it sounds silly coming from someone only twenty-three, but I'm the oldest here. If I don't step up now, when will I?"

An-Sol's face brightened a little at my casual tone. At that moment, An-Hyun, who had been silent, finally spoke up, looking deep in thought as if he had reached an internal decision.

"Hyung."

"Yeah?"

"When I faced those monsters earlier, it seemed like they usually walk around but start running when they spot people. There's a chance you could get caught while luring them."

"True, but they only seemed to move at a brisk pace. I'm confident I can outrun them if they charge. Just think of it as doing my morning runs."

"Even if we succeed in escaping… um oppa, how will you get out afterward?"

Kim Han-Byeol, who had been listening, interjected again. Why was she suddenly so persistent? Did she just say 'oppa'? Did I hear that correctly? I tilted my head and responded.

"I'll think about that when the time comes. For now, I believe this is the only option. I'd like everyone, including Han-Byeol, to focus on just getting out of this forest."

"Then I'll join you, hyung. I can't let you handle this alone. I'll go with you."

"Just stay put." As soon as An-Hyun finished speaking, An-Sol's eyes widened, and she clutched his sleeve tightly. I looked at An-Hyun in disbelief, let out a deep sigh, and responded.

"No. You need to stay with the others."

"Why? There's no need for you to shoulder all the danger alone."

"Even if we get over the wall, there might still be monsters around. To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, one person needs to stay with the group. Also, it's easier to manage the lure on my own."

"Even so…."

"And you have a younger sibling too."

Mentioning An-Sol made An-Hyun fall silent immediately. An-Sol looked at me with a mix of complex emotions: gratitude, concern, and regret. Normally, I would have found someone like An-Sol irritating, but for some reason, she didn't seem bothersome at all.

After a moment, An-Hyun finally nodded.

"...Alright. I'll leave it to you, hyung."

"Thanks. I want to live too. Just trust me this time."

"Yes, I'll trust you."

"Trust me. I'll act right away. Everyone, keep low. When I've lured them enough, Hyun, you lead the others and run. Don't look back or make any foolish returns. Just keep running forward. Got it?"

The women were silent, their faces a mix of relief and guilt. They seemed torn between the hope of survival and the regret of not volunteering for the bait role. As I prepared to move, I heard Kim Han-Byeol, Lee Yun-Jung, and An-Sol each say something.

"...I'm sorry."

"Oppa… thank you. Don't die."

"Be careful…."

In response to their heartfelt concern, I answered with a firm voice.

"Good luck."

I quickly started my plan. Although I emerged from where the group was hiding, I didn't make a commotion right away. Making noise here might alert the monsters and put the others in danger. Scanning the area, I noticed the boulders at the end of the uphill path. Climbing up would give me a better view and draw the Deadmen's attention. The trees weren't as large as before, but they were still enough for me to hide and move between them.

Keeping as low as possible, I moved stealthily between the trees, minimizing any sound. Maintaining this stealth was something I'd done often, so it wasn't too challenging. I remembered my first encounter with similar situations.

In the open space, Park Dong-Gul and Lee Yun-Jung had fought, and the Deadmen had swarmed around the rocks he kicked. I had only thought about saving myself then, fleeing alone and wandering the forest for two days without direction. Comparing that to now, it seemed almost laughable.

I could have reacted more calmly. There might have been other options. The thought suddenly crossed my mind.

I kept my breath shallow and silenced my footsteps, moving cautiously between the trees. The stone boulder I aimed for wasn't very high, but the rounded boulders would make it difficult for the Deadmen to climb easily. I also wanted to see if there were any villages or buildings in the distance beyond the stone wall.

After moving through about twenty trees without being detected, I finally reached the stone boulder. I quickly surveyed the surroundings and began to climb up. The open view and the situation below came into clear focus. Unfortunately, I couldn't spot any villages or buildings beyond the stone wall, but I hoped that something might appear if I went further into the central area.

I felt a sense of relief that I had decided against a direct confrontation. My assessment based on magical detection was accurate. As I observed the Deadmen scattered around, I positioned myself at the top of the stone boulder. I noticed An-Hyun peeking out from the hiding spot, seemingly waiting for the right moment. It was time for me to become the definite bait for everyone. After a brief exchange of glances with him, I took a deep breath and yelled at the top of my lungs with all the strength I had.

"Here I am! Over here, you monsters!"

My voice echoed loudly through the air. It was immediately effective. All the Deadmen visible below turned their heads toward me. Soon, they were charging at me with furious roars. The plan was working, though it felt like something was still lacking.

As I waved my arms and shouted provocations, the number of Deadmen emerging from the forest increased. To draw even the Deadmen from the far right into the fray, I needed to hold out on top of the stone boulder for a while longer. I raised my voice again.

"Look here, monsters! I'm right here! Come and get me!"

Grrr, grrr, grrr, grrr, grrr, grrr, grrr, grrr.

As my shouting ended, a chorus of growls filled my ears. Simultaneously, I could sense the monsters converging in large numbers toward my location. The nearest Deadman had already reached the stone boulder and was struggling to climb up. It seemed unnecessary to shout any more. Seeing all the nearby Deadmen rushing toward me with frenzied roars, I calmly muttered to myself.

"Brings back memories."

Watching the monsters gather, I couldn't help but smile. I took out three bolts for the crossbow strapped to my left arm. This crossbow could hold one bolt on the string and load two more, allowing me to shoot three bolts in one go.

Before aiming at the Deadman struggling right in front of me, I glanced back at the hiding spot where the group was concealed. Oddly enough, I continued to smile.

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