Free Web NovelAfter pretending to doze for a long while and enjoying the comfort of Lee Hyunmook’s solid chest, Yohan squirmed and turned his head. While he had been sleeping, perhaps a lull had settled, or perhaps reconciliation—Seo Yakrin and Yoon Seungryong were sitting far off with Joo Hoyoung in between them. Joo Hoyoung, looking somewhat uncomfortable with his position, kept glancing at the two of them while playing a game.
Leaning against a clump of reeds, Seo Yakrin’s face was blank, faintly chilling, as he stared absently at the bird perched on his hand. It seemed that just earlier, Seo Yakrin too had only just been purified and regained his senses, and like Joo Hoyoung, he had been giddy with excitement. Sensing Yohan’s gaze, Seo Yakrin smiled faintly. Yohan returned it with an awkward smile, and at that moment Lee Hyunmook asked:
“Yohan, want something to eat?”
“Uh, yes... I am hungry.”
As always after using his ability to the fullest, he felt a sharp hunger. Just as Yohan was about to squirm free from the comfortable embrace, Lee Hyunmook pressed his lips lightly against Yohan’s forehead. Yohan’s eyes went wide. Instinctively, he glanced at Seo Yakrin, who had clearly witnessed it—eyes bulging in disbelief.
“Seungryong, Yohan says he’s hungry.”
“Eh? Really? Then we should eat. I’m getting hungry too.”
Yohan froze, but Hyunmook didn’t care in the least. Yohan, too, pretended ignorance, avoiding Seo Yakrin’s gaze.
Having just survived a crisis and recovered another teammate, Yoon Seungryong began preparing a full feast. Producing wild boar meat—no one knew when he had caught it—he cut it into a large hunk, then smoked and roasted it whole over reed kindling. The sizzling fat dripped down as the meat spun over the flames, releasing an irresistible aroma.
“What the... what’s this?”
Perhaps no one had eaten while Yohan was asleep, for Seo Yakrin approached as if entranced. With a smug noise, Yoon Seungryong brought out his most treasured stock—a can of kimchi and some ssamjang. Seo Yakrin’s eyes widened further.
“Am I dreaming?”
There were also tender roasted birds seasoned with pepper, fresh vegetables grown even in this dry savanna climate, garlic, fruits, and sweet preserved goods. ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Seo Yakrin was dumbstruck. Whatever ill will he bore toward Seo Yakrin, Yoon Seungryong always took food seriously. He even served everyone bowls of rice and laid out utensils with pride.
Even Yohan’s stomach growled at the sight. Taking a generous scoop of ssamjang and gochujang, Yoon Seungryong shouted:
“Let’s eat! Eat well and regain our strength!”
After that, no one said a word. Everyone who had fallen into the Abyss was utterly sincere when it came to a meal like this. Seo Yakrin first ate each item in a daze, then quickly devoured everything. When at last not a crumb was left, Seo Yakrin muttered:
“So all this time, you’ve been eating this deliciously without me?”
The voice was both irritated and deeply moved. Staring down at the empty bowl of rice with regret, Seo Yakrin let out a long, amazed sigh. Like Yoon Seungryong before him, he seemed to be realizing how long it had been since he had eaten like a human being.
“Purification is really this good....”
“Good thing we beat the Bumram. Otherwise you’d still be gnawing on bugs.”
When the meal was finished, Yoon Seungryong picked a fight in his usual teasing tone. Seo Yakrin glared at him and shot back:
“If I had eaten you, I’d have been full for ten years.”
In other words: “Yoon Seungryong, you’re a bug.” Maybe because everyone was full, the atmosphere wasn’t as tense as before. Still, Yohan, worried, quickly stepped in.
“But wasn’t this Bumram unusually weak? Right?”
Seo Yakrin instantly softened at Yohan’s intervention, smiling with approval.
“Our Yohan defeats the Bumram and still stays humble....”
“N-no....”
At least he wasn’t calling him “baby” anymore, but it was still awkward to be called “our Yohan” in such a tone. Especially when Seo Yakrin slipped a secretly hoarded banana into his arms. Yohan tried to refuse and hand it back, but Hyunmook peeled it on the spot and put it in his mouth.
“Yohan’s right. This Bumram was definitely weaker. It must have exhausted much of its strength in the Japan sector.”
“True. It fell as rain—unavoidable and threatening—but in scale it was small.”
Yoon Seungryong nodded in agreement. Yohan had felt the same. Compared with the jungle assault, the numbers were overwhelming, but compared with the Bumram that had surrounded the entire Japan sector, this one was far less. Even its density seemed diluted.
“It may be early to say, but I think the Bumram is weakening. No—this time it definitely was weaker. Yes, it was... weaker....”
Coming from the one most consumed by it, no one doubted the claim. After brooding silently for a long while, Lee Hyunmook nodded.
“Yohan purified it completely. The blow this time will be huge. So next time, maybe we won’t even have to flee. Or maybe it won’t strike for a very long while. At least several years, perhaps. Even this attack felt forced....”
“Really?!”
So overjoyed that he screamed, Yohan jumped to his feet. How he had regretted leaving behind the safe haven in the Japan sector. The thought of building such a home again filled him with joy.
“Then we can go back to the Japan sector?!”
“Wait, Yohan.”
Hyunmook frowned and reached out an arm. The moment he supported Yohan’s waist, dizziness swept over him and heat rose to his nose. With a sudden pop, blood streamed down from his nostrils.
“Ah—”
Panicked, Yohan cupped his hands to catch the blood, not noticing the expressions of the other three. All of them stared unblinking at the red blood, until Hyunmook deliberately blocked their view and looked at each of them in turn. Meeting his eyes, they each lowered theirs.
“Don’t tilt your head back. Forward, yes.”
Embarrassed, Yohan obeyed. Luckily, perhaps because he was a high-level Awakener, the nosebleed soon stopped.
“Leader, here.”
Yoon Seungryong handed him a cloth soaked in water. His eyes held no trace of hunger for blood now, only concern. Taking it, Hyunmook carefully wiped the blood from Yohan’s face and hands, speaking in a stern tone:
“No matter how weak, the Bumram is still the Bumram. You pushed yourself too far this time. You need to rest.”
“I... do feel tired.”
As soon as Yohan admitted it, drowsiness surged over him. Even though he had slept earlier, it wasn’t enough. Heavy exhaustion pressed on him. Glancing around, Seo Yakrin gestured toward a direction. Gold mist-like power flowed from his fingertip, and a massive anthill nearby floated up. When the powerful battle and the Bumram’s arrival had driven the ants to flee, the nest had been left empty.
There were still small things inside, so Seo Yakrin shook it out, then, gauging the size, muttered uneasily:
“This is too big, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. Just break off the end.”
Following Yoon Seungryong’s instructions, Seo Yakrin crushed off the upper section with telekinesis. Then Yoon Seungryong swung his spear to trim it neatly. In an instant, a ready-made one-room shelter landed with a thud.
“Wow...”
Resigned to another night of rough camping, Yohan was awestruck through sleepy eyes at the sight of a home appearing so quickly. After Joo Hoyoung darted inside to confirm its safety, they laid out bedding. Seeing the mattress and sleeping bags, Seo Yakrin muttered in exasperation:
“So all this time, you’ve been living this cozy without me?”
“Quit complaining. At least you found us.”
Chided by Yoon Seungryong, Seo Yakrin glared again, but then shrugged and conceded.
“Well, that’s true. I am grateful.”
Snatching up a corner for himself, Joo Hoyoung immediately pulled out his console.
“Wow. The two of you haven’t fought this long in the same place. Isn’t it the first time we’ve been this peaceful in forever?”
“Probably. And probably the first time we’ve all been sane in forever too.”
Hyunmook replied as he laid the half-drifting Yohan on the mattress. He gave him a pillow, tucked him in, and patted his chest a few times. But Yohan forced his eyes wide open and stubbornly asked:
“Where are we going next? The Japan sector....”
“We can’t go back to Japan the way it was. The Bumram already swept through.”
Was that so? Remembering what the Bumram did, it was the only possible answer. Disappointed, Yohan sighed and struggled to keep his eyes open. It wasn’t easy. Full stomach and all, he was unbearably tired. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
“Then where do we... go now....”
With Seo Yakrin recovered, there were no more teammates left to find. Lee Chanha was dead, so there was no reason to search for him. Would they now seek a new haven? Yohan’s murky question was met with some answer from Hyunmook, but before he could comprehend it, deep and irresistible sleep took him first.
