“If the pack is blinded by hunger, no amount of handling will make them back off.”It was a pain in the ass. I had no intention of fighting with Anomalies nearby, but it seemed we didn’t get to choose.I checked our position and the surroundings again, then glanced back at Joo-o.Since arriving in Burkta, he’d shown one uncanny ability after another—abilities I could only call miraculous.His red eyes held neither tension nor fear. As always, he looked composed at best, and at worst, thoughtless with a dull expression.“Hey.”At my prompt, Joo-o looked up at me steadily.“There—right in front of the bike. The taser.”Somewhere along the line, we’d started communicating with glances. It was ridiculous: I was in sync with this guy.I forced back a sigh and continued.“I’ll shoot the one beside it with live rounds. The next one that charges—make it step on the taser.”“Okay.”“When that one’s stunned, shove it aside hard. Kick it or body-slam it—it’s strong enough, right?”“Mm. Got it!”At the clear instructions, a bright smile flickered across Joo-o’s face.He looked thrilled, like a kid finally included in a forbidden game.Something unreadable stirred in those eyes. His red lips curved smoothly.‘Right. No other choice.’I still wasn’t sure it was right to expect this kind of help from Joo-o. But since coming to Burkta, I’d realized: he was tougher and more useful than I’d feared.“Then get back on the bike.”“What about you, Jin Muhae?”“I’ll clear the rest and follow.”“Got it!”The plan set, I switched my weapon’s ammo.Taang-!With a deafening boom, the gun roared.The biggest beast of the pack dropped without a cry, just as I’d predicted. The one next to it lunged at Joo-o.Zzuzuzuz-.Ke-aang-!It stepped on the taser. The single jolt stiffened its body.Instantly came a sickening smack—like meat cleaved by a steel club.Joo-o kicked the stunned beast away. He kicked it far—off the road, where its matted fur lay mangled in the dirt.What followed flowed naturally. Joo-o leapt onto the bike; my gun barked several more times.I absorbed the recoil with my bulk, then crushed the final hound with the stock and kicked it onto the taser.Ka-aeng!Amid its dying howl, I sprang onto the bike.The engine was already running. Feeling Joo-o wrap his arms around my waist, I gripped the handlebars tight.Vrrrr-!The bike shot forward like an arrow. I ignored the radar’s frantic Beep-beep-beep—whatever was detected, we’d moved too fast and too loud.Maybe some keen-sensed Anomalies were on our trail. I didn’t care. I’d gotten clear of the fight—and Joo-o was safe, clinging to my back.“Heh-heh, hi-hi.”A giddy laugh drifted into my right ear.It was pleasantly clear, almost musical—odd for an adult male.“But Jin Muhae.”“What now?”“Why aren’t we taking the other road?”“Going back that way is pointless.”Our skiff had taken off well past noon. By now, it was hovering at the pre-set coordinates.We could remotely change the destination, but sending it flying off to a random spot risked losing a critical ride.The faint signal looked intact—thankfully, our parking spot hadn’t been compromised.‘Then we’ll spend the extra time to get there.’No matter the variables, these were the Company-recommended coordinates. With Goryeo City backing us, they’d always boasted unbeatable intel and scouting.“Think it’ll take long?”Joo-o’s soft voice grazed my ear again. I checked our return route, then, unusually lenient, answered.“At least four hours. Why?”Hesitating, Joo-o mumbled quietly.“When you got on earlier…”“Mm?”“You dropped a bag. I couldn’t catch it.”“What?”I almost forgot I was still driving as I spun around. Joo-o puckered his lips and traced a rectangle in the air.“Not my main pack. The side one.”“The one with the pills?”“Yeah. The emergency rations.”A small relief. I stepped harder on the throttle.That pack only held med-kits and meal-replacement pills.I’d separated them because I had some bizarre instinct not to trust him with food.That choice meant less energy to fuel weary bodies—but it was a fair price for what we’d just gotten through.“Hmm. Hmm-mm.”But Joo-o didn’t share that view. From the moment he put a ration in his mouth, his giggles had quieted noticeably.“You should eat some too.”He sounded deflated, as if I’d left an important piece of gear behind.Typical Joo-o, concerned and earnest about food.Well, at least we’d fast for a while till tomorrow. We’d manage by conserving strength.I’d survived worse than a day without meals….By the time the bike finally slowed and stopped, it was well after dusk.In this region, the sun sank fast—and thick clouds had rolled in. A damp, cool wind seeped under my collar, making my empty stomach ache.“Move it. Stay right behind me.”I chided dawdling Joo-o and led the bike on foot. Suddenly, a tempting aroma drifted to my nose.My tongue involuntarily flicked out. I turned toward the scent.“This.”Something pushed against my side.A long bun, split down the middle. The ingredients tucked inside and the gloppy sauce oozing out caught my eye.That irresistible smell was coming from it.A hot dog—or whatever passed for one here—filled with some mystery sausage and a suspect-looking sauce.The very food I’d bought Joo-o at the # Nоvеlight # station appeared before me.Warm, radiating its fragrance into the air.“…Where did you get this?”“Jin Muhae gave it to me.”“You brought that?”“I hid one so I could keep eating. Here—have it.”I had no idea when he’d stashed it.How did he sneak in such a smelly food?When I’d opened his pack, there’d been only the junk I’d put in.Under his hood, nothing but ammo pouches.“When did you—…never mind.”But Joo-o’s bizarre deeds weren’t a one-off.And today, I was too tired to interrogate him.Worries about wildlife catching the smell, or whether the hot dog would spoil—all of it melted away.I took the hot dog he offered.Was I imagining it? The sausage felt faintly warm, not cold.I bit into it. The sharp, sweet sauce hit my tongue.Cheap spices, piled on to mask poor meat—somehow tasted delicious.“Next time…”“…”“Eat what you’re given right away.”“Okay.”Joo-o’s proud grin faded, and I silently took another bite.The soggy bread piece—something I’d never touch under normal rules—slid down my throat.My head clearing up was a good sign.I could keep up with Jin Muhae’s pace, work alongside him.Joo-o hummed the cereal jingle in his mind and bounced on his heels.The candy shapes from yesterday danced through his thoughts.“Hmm.”He inhaled deeply. A faint trace of my scent drifted in.After hours pressed against me, that made sense. If I knew, I’d scoff and ask if he was a dog—but Joo-o really did have keener smell than anyone.Still, he’d never mention it. The more lucid he became, the more he filtered what he said to me.He was proud, believing he was growing closer to being fully human.“Jin Muhae.”“Toss the wipes in that bag over there.”Without looking, I replied while wiping my hands and face.Joo-o glanced at his untouched hand, then nodded as if he understood. Even if he wasn’t facing me, he wouldn’t know I meant to leave it dirty.“Sleep quietly in the corner.”“Okay.”A lie. Joo-o would press against my side and sleep.His warmth at my back cleared the haze in my head.For the first time in days since becoming more human, Joo-o felt a little unsettled—though not unhappy.Come to think of it, Jin Muhae had asked him that morning if he’d had a dream.‘…No dreams.’Sleeping was just—sleeping. Like consciousness abruptly cut off.Usually, he woke to find himself chewing something or wandering a barren land. But now, bright surroundings and morning scents greeted him.Joo-o, who’d spent nights wide-eyed, had finally started to sleep a little. His body adapted quite readily—it was only natural for a living being, Anomaly or not.With less idle waiting ahead, Joo-o’s life had become a bit easier.

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