Memorize

Suddenly, I remembered a TV show I had enjoyed watching in the past on Earth. What if an ordinary person suddenly finds themselves in a life-threatening situation? The show had mentioned that a person would act rationally for just 15 minutes after the situation arises. After those 15 minutes, rationality would give way to instinct. If that is true, can I consider that the group I am leading has already skipped that phase?

Currently, we were at a high hill in the forest, taking a brief moment to catch our breath. Although it was just a hill, the steep path had clearly worn everyone out. Looking down from where we were, my prediction had been accurate. The clearing where we had been sitting just an hour ago was now surrounded by Deadmen.

People looked at the clearing, which seemed small enough to be covered by a single hand, and murmured in silence. It was obvious that if we had delayed even a little in withdrawing, we would have become their prey. Even the previously confident woman was now rubbing her arms as if she had goosebumps.

Everyone's expressions were a mix of complex emotions. There were monsters, and their lives were in danger. The faces of those who had accepted this harsh reality were filled with all sorts of negative emotions, even without words. Unfortunately, I couldn't help with this aspect. I planned to stay back and observe quietly. Although I had seen the basic information, it was still necessary to watch their actual reactions and actions.

"Ugh! Ugh! What are those things?"

Park Dong-Gul, who had just climbed up and was still catching his breath, looked around in panic. I shook my head at him. If he had stayed still, things might have been different. The recent danger had been caused by him kicking a stone, making him the one at fault. If it had been me, I would have stayed quiet out of guilt, but it seemed he had quite a thick skin.

With a sigh, I turned my head and saw An Sol, still crying, cradled in An Hyun's arms. For a moment, I felt a pang of pity, but the experience had taught me something important. If the crying An Sol was indeed the An Sol I knew from the Odin Clan, then her future was somewhat assured. Given her luck stat of 100 points, I expected she would easily pass this ordeal. However, the outcome proved otherwise. It confirmed that even a slight change in actions could alter the future.

Noticing my gaze, An Hyun, who was wiping away An Sol's tears, bowed his head slightly in my direction. He had realized that it was I who had taken out the Deadmen with arrows. I could see gratitude in his eyes. I nodded in acknowledgment and then turned my gaze back down the hill.

"Grrr! Grrr!"

"Eek!"

"Wah!"

Two more Deadmen, whether they had been nearby or had chased us from the clearing, appeared, desperately trying to climb the hill. However, they weren't moving as fast as before.

Deadmen are quite fast when they spot prey and charge in a straight line. However, when they have to change direction or are on high ground, their charging speed significantly decreases. They could climb the hill, but it was easier to just stab them in the head before they could get up here.

The panic was less than when we first saw the Deadmen, but screams were still being heard. I felt sorry for Lee Bo-Rim, but I had no intention of forcing her to survive. From the beginning, having her and An Sol scream in unison was quite disturbing, and from what I had seen of her user information, I couldn't find any useful traits. If she survived, it would be her own fortune; if she died, it would be her fate.

'It's about time for a reaction… Will it be cooperation, division, or just maintaining the status quo?'

To start a calm conversation, dealing with the Deadmen climbing up from below was a priority.

At that moment, An Hyun moved. Whether he had left his sword at the clearing or not, he picked up a fist-sized stone and approached An Sol, leaving her behind. I stopped loading the crossbow and watched his actions with interest.

If you gave a sword to adult men in South Korea and asked them to hit a target from a certain distance, how many would be able to do it? I was curious whether An Hyun's previous success in slicing off a Deadman's left arm was due to skill or luck. I wanted to see his skill for myself.

Unlike before, An Hyun now carefully measured the direction and distance before throwing the stone with all his might. And the result was…

"Thunk!"

"Not bad."

An Hyun's throw was excellent. The stone made a sharp sound as it smashed into the Deadman's head. The creature fell lifelessly to the ground, and An Hyun, seeming to have gained some confidence, used the same method to easily handle the remaining Deadman.

"Yeah, it's no big deal. So don't act all high and mighty just because you took down two."

However, it seemed that Park Dong-Gul was displeased with An Hyun's action and tackled him again. An Hyun, unable to ignore the remark, stopped and stared at Park Dong-Gul.

Eventually, An Hyun's lips slowly parted.

"Thanks to you, Uncle. I appreciate it."

"What are you suddenly talking nonsense about?"

"When I saw the Deadman that attacked us earlier, it had a stone lodged in its chest. That's how I figured out that stones can penetrate it."

Park Dong-Gul, realizing that An Hyun was mocking him, immediately scowled. 

What An Hyun meant was that Park Dong-Gul's kicking of the stone almost caused the accident in the clearing.

"So, because of the stone I kicked, we're in this mess now? How do you even know if it was my stone that caused this?"

"I don't remember saying anything like that. I just said thanks."

Seeing An Hyun's smooth response, Park Dong-Gul tried to look angry. However, as if he remembered something, he growled and began speaking with a rough voice.

"What the fuck did you guys ever do right, don't you realize that the bitch you're stuck with almost got us all killed?"

"Bitch?"

"Yes, that's a fucking bitch, isn't it? She can't even stand up for herself, because of her we all almost died?"

An Hyun's face hardened. He kept his mouth shut for this part of the conversation. An-sol bowed her head deeply and began to wipe her eyes, feeling sorry for the pain she was causing her brother.

"Ugh, I really hate people trying to act tough. When you are the, who caused this mess in the first place?"

But we had our talkative woman. As usual, she wasn't going to stay silent. Immediately, she stepped in to support An Hyun, and Park Dong-Gul's expression twisted once more.

"Hey, bitch, if you don't shut your pretty little mouth, I'm gonna kill you. Hmm?"

"Hey, asshole. If I were you, I'd keep my mouth shut out of guilt. I'd keep my mouth shut for the sake of my ass, and I'd keep my pretty little mouth shut for the sake of the mistake I made."

"Are these assholes really looking for death...."