Stab.

He stabbed something. Rather than penetrating deeply though, it felt like he just poked it. Having finally succeeded in pushing the spear forward, his body began faltering greatly.

'I can't endure anymore….'

He had scrounged up every ounce of energy until there was none left. As if it knew its job was done, what little strength left in his body scattered and disappeared completely. Just as he felt the irresistible enervation taking over him….

“?”

….His eyes opened wide.

Every single Parasite pouncing at him with murderous intents had all frozen in their spots. As for his spear, it was poking out from the chest of….

“…Eh?”

He stabbed it, but it was 'poking' out? Something didn't feel right. He looked again, and as it turned out, the speartip only managed to graze the Parasite.

He finally recognized that something had gone wrong. But at that moment, the Parasites began falling to the ground one by one. Each fallen creature sported a rapier stuck in its back.

'What the hell…?'

Before he could figure out what was happening, though, his eyelids threatening to close finally shut down on him. His knees went slack and his waist bent down. His body dangerously staggered about before powerlessly crumbling down as if to announce that it couldn't go on any longer.

But, just before he collapsed to the ground….

“Hm.”

…A single hand suddenly grabbed him by the scruff of his neck.

“With a body in this state, he still struggled right until he was about to pass out….”

When did this being arrive? A figure draped in an ivory gown was standing behind him.

“A rare willpower for a human.”

A hood was pulled low so only the half of her face was visible, but still, her red lips could be seen forming a slight grin.

“Take care of the remains, and… join us later after covering up all traces.”

The being issued her orders and turned around to disappear towards the mountain, while dragging the unconscious young man behind.

*

An unknown amount of time later.

“Euh…. Euh….”

The first thing Seol Jihu felt after regaining his consciousness was this burning thirst.

“Looks like he's coming around.”

And then, he heard an unfamiliar voice, as well as…

“Seol,...