Memorize - Episode 10
10 Kim Su-hyun Begins the Trial of Passage
I suddenly remembered a TV show I had watched before. It was about ordinary people facing life-threatening situations. The show said that people behave rationally for only about 15 minutes when faced with danger, after which they act on instinct. If that's true, the group I'm leading might have skipped that rational phase altogether.
We were currently on a high hill in the forest, taking a break to catch our breath. The path up was steeper than expected, and everyone looked exhausted. Looking down, I saw that the clearing where we had been sitting just an hour ago was now surrounded by Deadmen.
People gazed at the small clearing, now tiny in the distance, and let out sighs. If we had delayed our departure even slightly, we would have become their prey. Even the woman who had been arguing earlier was shivering, rubbing her arms.
The expressions on everyone's faces were complex. They were faced with monsters and the threat of death, and their emotions were evident without needing words. However, that was something I couldn't help with. I planned to observe from behind without intervening, at least for now.
"Huh! Huh! What are those things?"
Park Dong-geol, still panting from the climb, looked at me with a mixture of fear and confusion. I shook my head, thinking that if he had just stayed quiet, things might have been better. After all, the crisis earlier was partly his fault, as it started when he kicked the rock.
As I turned my head, I saw Ahn Sol still crying in Ahn Hyun's arms. I felt a bit sorry for her, but I had learned something from this experience. If Ahn Sol was indeed the "Brilliance Priest" I knew, her future was somewhat guaranteed. With her luck score of 100, I expected her to pass the Trial of Passage easily. However, the outcome wasn't certain, and I realized that even small actions could change the future.
Ahn Hyun noticed my gaze and nodded in gratitude for taking down the Deadman earlier. His eyes showed appreciation, and I nodded back before looking down the hill again.
Growl! Growl!
"Ahh! Ahh!"
Two more Deadmen appeared, trying to climb the hill. They were slower than before, but still a threat.
Deadmen are fast when they sense prey, but their speed decreases when changing direction or climbing steep terrain. They can climb hills but are easier to handle if you just stab them in the head before they reach you.
The initial panic had subsided somewhat, but screams still erupted. I didn't plan to force Lee Bo-rim to survive; her user information showed she wasn't useful, and I had no intention of risking my life for her.
"Now, it's time to see some reactions... Cooperation, division, or maintaining the status quo?"
First, I needed to deal with the Deadmen below.
Ahn Hyun moved, leaving Ahn Sol behind and picking up a fist-sized rock. I paused loading my crossbow to observe his actions.
If you gave a knife to a group of adult men in South Korea and asked them to hit a target at a certain distance, how many would succeed? I wondered if Ahn Hyun's earlier sword strike was skill or luck.
Ahn Hyun carefully aimed and threw the rock.
Thud!
"It's nothing special."
Ahn Hyun's rock-throwing skills were impressive, hitting the Deadman's head and killing it. He handled the second one easily as well.
"That's right. Don't get too proud just because you handled two."
However, Park Dong-geol couldn't resist taking a jab at Ahn Hyun.
Ahn Hyun stopped and looked at Park Dong-geol.
"Thanks to you, sir," Ahn Hyun said, his voice calm.
"What are you talking about?" Park Dong-geol snapped.
"I saw that the Deadman had a heavy object lodged in its chest, thanks to your rock. That's how I knew it would work."
Park Dong-geol's face turned ugly, realizing Ahn Hyun was implying that his actions had caused the earlier chaos.
"Are you saying that I'm responsible for our situation because I kicked that rock?" Park Dong-geol growled.
"I didn't say that. I just said thank you."
Park Dong-geol's anger flared, but he seemed to think better of it and changed his tone.
"You think you're so great just because you handled two Deadmen? You're only alive because of that girl."
"Girl?"
"You mean that crazy girl? Everyone else managed to move, but she couldn't even stand up on her own."
Ahn Hyun's face hardened, but he remained silent. Ahn Sol looked down, feeling guilty for causing trouble.
The woman who had argued earlier intervened again, supporting Ahn Hyun.
"Hey, you're the one who messed things up. You should be ashamed."
Park Dong-geol's expression turned menacing once more.
"You shut up, you crazy woman. I'll really kill you if you don't stop talking."
The atmosphere was tense, with everyone on edge. I felt like I wanted to shoot Park Dong-geol with an arrow, but I restrained myself. If we were alone, I might have done it already.
"It's pointless to argue. We should focus on survival."
I decided to leave them for a moment, knowing that arguing was a waste of time.
"I'll go scout ahead. You discuss and decide on a plan. Call me when you're ready."
The woman who had been calm earlier spoke up.
"Why are you leaving? It would be better if you stayed and discussed with us."
I looked at her, noticing she was about my age or slightly younger. For a moment, I thought of someone familiar.
"I'll keep watch from a distance. Those creatures might appear like they did in the clearing. When you're ready, call me."
"...Don't go too far."
She replied a bit late, but I managed to avoid raising unnecessary suspicion. No one would stop me from taking risks.
I moved to a spot I had noticed earlier, suitable for hiding. After creating some distance, I concealed myself in the forest and activated my magic. My senses heightened, allowing me to hear even the slightest sounds from the group.
On the hill, an icy silence fell. The Deadmen's bodies below added to the gloomy atmosphere. No one dared to speak first. Park Dong-geol's expression was serious, but he occasionally smiled, making me wonder if he was sane.
Time passed, and I realized that in other stories or comics, heroes often take charge and lead people to safety. However, this group lacked a clear leader. Continuing like this was not a good idea, as anxiety would grow, and someone might lose their rationality.
Just then, two women stood up.
Lee Bo-rim, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward cautiously. The argumentative woman glanced at her and sat back down, seemingly interested in hearing Lee Bo-rim out.
Lee Bo-rim looked around nervously and began to speak.
"We all saw those monsters earlier. Honestly, when I heard about them from the angel, I thought it was a bad dream. But now, I have to accept reality. I'm scared, really scared. I think everyone else is too."
No one disagreed. People were engrossed in their own thoughts, and Lee Bo-rim's voice gained confidence.
"Honestly, we survived earlier thanks to someone who helped us. But that person is in the same situation as us, so we can't rely on them. I think our best bet is to cooperate and find a way to survive together."
Her words were cliché but hit the core of the Trial of Passage: cooperation and action. Her persuasion seemed to have some effect, as the atmosphere shifted slightly. Even Lee Shin-woo, who had been quiet, spoke up.
"So, what do you think we should do from now on?"
His question was vague, but it was clear he wanted Lee Bo-rim to share her thoughts. However, Lee Bo-rim seemed uncertain, responding hesitantly.
"I... I don't know yet. I just hope we can discuss things calmly without arguing."
"I agree," someone said.
Just then, Park Dong-geol stepped forward, his face serious and composed. However, I immediately frowned, sensing that his expression was a facade. He was likely plotting something.