The corpse in the crystal zone wasn’t a strange sight.After all, humans with neither skill nor money periodically ventured into this place where Anomalies roamed.But when I accepted this job, I hadn’t heard any recent news of a miner coming to harm.Even if miners were treated like disposable goods, the Company had no reason to hide such a death from Muhae.“Stay close.”I warned Joo-o and stepped toward the body. With each footstep, the foul stench grew stronger.The intestines had already been picked clean, and the corpse was little more than bones. As I scanned the area, torn fabric caught my eye.The blood-darkened cloth was deeply soaked with the scent of death. Despite being ripped apart mercilessly, it was tough, high-quality material.‘Not miner’s gear.’Unlike mercenaries who invested most of their earnings in equipment, miners lived day to day—just as the Company intended. They chose a one-time score over a slow, certain death….Yet this scrap was from a garment of considerable value: sturdy like beast hide, yet light and soft.Even dried of blood, I could tell it came from expensive clothing.I naturally recalled the small vehicle I’d seen earlier, its cabin seemingly ransacked, the origin of the pharmaceuticals inside unknown.Clearly, whoever rode that wasn’t a miner—and not from Goryeo City either.“How’s it look?”Joo-o piped up, breaking the tense silence.His tone wasn’t asking for details; he was bragging about himself—like he’d discovered something extraordinary. There wasn’t a shred of shock at seeing a human corpse.“Shut up.”“It’s not.”Then again, the day Joo-o was found, he’d just stared at the sky amid a field of human limbs.The clothes he wore had belonged to that dead miner. Did he strip the only intact piece from a mutilated body?If so, /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ what was he wearing before that?“I’m hungry.”Joo-o mumbled, his mood suddenly sour. Feeling hunger in a place like this was hardly normal.But when had he ever been normal? In a situation that could harbor more dangers, I preferred his quiet composure over panicked screams or trembling.“Go back to the bike and eat an emergency ration.”“Okay.”I pulled out a wet wipe, cleaned my hands, and started toward the bike. Joo-o tagged along, his eyes sparkling despite no praise for his help. At his size, it was oddly endearing.Two mining zones remained. A creeping sense of unease told me I didn’t want to linger in Burkta any longer.Keeping watch, I hurried Joo-o out of the crystal zone.“You thought something like this might happen?”Just in case, I asked. He shook his head hard enough to make his black hair flutter.“I didn’t expect this.”“You say that like you knew everything else.”“…I’m hungry.”Now it was clear. He often talked off-topic, leaving me uncertain—but this time he was definitely dodging my question. Perhaps unaware how strange it looked….After walking in silence, we reached the road. Joo-o practically clung to my back as we climbed onto the bike.Though he hadn’t washed all day, he smelled sweet and pleasant. His fidgeting fingers set my nerves on edge, so I gave his side a sharp nudge.“Heh heh.”Apparently more cheerful after popping an emergency pill from his bag. I didn’t argue; we headed toward the next site.The fourth site was moderately dangerous—as it should’ve been.Only some beasts wandered about, and no Anomalies stalked our path.That’s how every route should be. If miners died whenever conditions changed, we’d hear casualties a dozen times a month.‘Right. A job only comes in when something’s wrong.’Danger was someone else’s profit. Shaking off my thoughts, I revved toward the last crystal zone.“Jin Muhae.”Joo-o called my name and pressed his cheek into my shoulder.His soft hair tickled my neck. Part of me wanted to shove him off; another part wanted to freeze time and leave him there.Still, bringing Joo-o along hadn’t been a mistake. He’d proven unexpectedly useful, and his muttering eased my tension.He was finally earning his keep. Though I’d made a good sum hunting Thorn Wolves, persuading him into my hard-edged life would need a bigger agreement.“Jin Muhae.”“What?”“You smell something.”I tensed.“Where?”“Up ahead.”Even after his ominous warning, Joo-o stayed snuggled against me. His muffled voice was almost drowned out by his flattened cheek.I slowed the bike and pushed him back. His white cheek puffed out; he clicked his tongue in annoyance.Click. Beep-.No contacts on the radar. Either he’d mistaken himself, or any Anomalies were too far off to register.Logically, I leaned toward the former. But experience nudged me toward the latter.Biting my lip, I glanced over. Joo-o’s eyes, swinging open, locked with mine.“Can you tell how many?”“Not exactly.”“At least roughly.”“Okay.”His crimson lashes fluttered as he lifted his chin, focusing. He frowned in concentration.“More than one.”“And?”“Two…”“Two?”As relief washed over me, he continued—“…three. Four. Five. Six.”“!”A chill crawled from head to toe.I couldn’t even deny it. Joo-o’s eyes shot open, pupils dilated and blood-dark. A shiver raced down my spine.“Strange, huh?”“…”“There’s no way Jin Muhae should die here.”“Don’t jinx it.”I shrugged off his remark, but my heart pounded in my chest.A battle-scarred veteran like me shouldn’t be rattled by Joo-o’s babble.Maybe it was just how fascinating he was—the way his uncanny appearance seemed to hypnotize people, how he followed me like a newly hatched duckling.And yet, even now, he did his best to help. I inhaled deeply.His warm body pressed against me as always.“We’re turning back. Hold on tight.”“We’re not working?”“Why head toward certain death?”We did this to eat. Success rates and pay mattered more than lives.The Company understood that. It was more profitable to return with gathered data than to push on through Anomalies and never come back.Joo-o nodded in agreement and tapped my shoulder once more.“Why?”“But there’s something else.”“What?”Beep- Beep- Beep-!A thunderous alarm, then the radar lit up with life signs.Several small red blips raced toward us from the return route.‘Beasts.’Thank goodness not Anomalies. Beasts, and apparently a pack.Zooming in on the blips, I saw a tightly organized formation.We couldn’t just pass. On the narrow forest path ahead, they’d trap us.Frowning, I dismounted.“Fight?”“Yeah. Get ready.”Joo-o sprang off the bike in one motion; his roomy hood fluttered behind him.I quickly laid mine-field tasers around the bike and set laser decoys as a psychological barricade.Soon, dark shapes appeared ahead. Gaunt, matted-fur creatures—feral dog–type beasts.Dogs varied so much they weren’t properly classified; but once common as human companions, they remained the most numerous beasts.They were fast and tenacious, but not as troublesome as wolves.Drop a couple, spook them, and the pack usually fled.Taang! Zzuzzuz-.Ggaeng-!Grrr- Gkaeng!The first dog fell; the next, lured by opportunity, stepped on a taser pad and screeched.But the rest closed ranks, edging forward in unison.Taang! I fired a round, but the target dodged.A slobbering beast lunged at me, and I smashed its skull.Ggaeng- Kkaeng!The pack barked warily, keeping their distance.It felt wrong. Usually they’d flee, but these weren’t backing off.“Maybe they’re hungry.”“What?”Joo-o spoke up.“When they starve, they can’t see anything else.”“You mean those pups?”He nodded and glanced toward the Anomaly-infested zone, as if to say humans were easiest prey.“Damn.”Come to think of it, we’d seen hardly any animals or weaker beasts since entering this zone.Just as I’d found deer tracks at the first crystal site, this area’s wildlife must have shifted too.

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