Tales of the Labyrinth

Translated by: il0vecats

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Chapter 4: The Encounter

With a shield and spare weapons prepared, and a modest food supply secured, much of Hwanin’s anxiety dissipated. The fact that he was still fine four hours after eating the corona berries contributed to his eased worries.

“Hmm…”

Looking up, the forest canopy still obscured the sky. Hwanin wasn’t looking for the sky but rather trying to gauge the direction of the shadows. He believed he was heading towards the direction of the sunrise, but his path had become convoluted as he navigated around green monsters’ and predators’ tracks.

The jungle terrain consisted of a mix of flatlands and gentle hills. Climbing hills could easily throw off his sense of direction. Additionally, avoiding obstructive trees and chest-high underbrush caused natural deviations in his intended route.

On top of that, the encounter with a hidden snake—or perhaps a lizard—in the underbrush, and being pursued by a bird resembling a mix between a crow and an owl, had drained his energy.

Fortunately, he found another tree hollow similar to the one he had sheltered in last night, as well as more corona berries. He relieved himself along the journey, noting with some worry that his urine was orange, but maintained optimism that he would one day escape the jungle.

His optimism was shattered within less than an hour.

Krkrkrkr.

Khiheee.

He stumbled upon a group of green monsters.

Who could have anticipated a house-sized boulder lying just beyond a steep hill? If Hwanin had seen the boulder from afar, he would have skirted around it, as large boulders in the jungle often serve as hotspots for gatherings under their shade.

Indeed, as soon as Hwanin saw the boulder concealed behind the hill and trees, an ominous feeling welled up within him. He turned to leave immediately, but a green monster emerged from beside the boulder before he could.

Kiheek.

The monster, adorned in grimy leather wrapped around its waist, strolled leisurely from behind the boulder, its dirty hands holding up the garment. Descending carefully, Hwanin’s eyes widened.

About 15 meters away, the boulder slightly obstructed his view, but not enough to impede his strike.

It was unlikely there’d be a village of green monsters behind the boulder. At most, there could be a small group.

Hence, initiating first was imperative.

Hwanin gripped his two-handed club and sprinted, jumping towards the green monster.

Kya?

He brought the club down with all his might, shattering the monster’s skull.

Splack!!

Blood and fragments of flesh spattered loudly from the blow, and the green monster, likely unprepared for an attack, died instantly without making a move.

Momentarily surprised by the unexpected power of his blow, Hwanin quickly reconsidered, aware that the noise might have alerted others. He moved to hide, but another green monster appeared from beside the boulder.

The newcomer saw its kin’s lifeless, bloodied body and Hwanin standing over it, but seemed bewildered and unable to respond immediately…

“Ha!”

Hwanin’s full swing shattered the monster’s torso, sending it crashing into the boulder and painting it with blood. Unable to cry out, the two green monsters lay dead.

Rather than feeling satisfaction, Hwanin immediately turned and sprinted towards the hilltop.

The raw, intense smell of fresh blood was overwhelming—a first for Hwanin. If there were more monsters nearby, they’d likely notice the commotion and blood scent.

Kyark! Kyark! Kyark!

Keeeer!

Several armed green monsters, holding spiked clubs and spears, emerged simultaneously.

Kaaargh!!!

One particularly large monster, wielding a grimly similar club to Hwanin’s stone axe, pointed at him and screeched.

The universal body language was clear.

Reading the meaning of their gestures, Hwanin smirked.

Faced with a life-and-death situation, why did his heart pound with glee, and a smile linger on his face?

Having reached the hilltop, which had fewer obstructions to his view, Hwanin leaned against a tree and gripped his club with both hands. He scanned the terrain quickly, memorizing his surroundings.

Kyarararak!!

Keear!

As the five monsters charged towards him, Hwanin chuckled slightly.

Four monsters led the charge, another following a bit behind. It wasn’t a disorganized rush—it was somewhat coordinated.

‘The one in the back is their leader, judging by the weapon difference.’

The one wielding the black club locked eyes with Hwanin and grinned. Despite the behavior indicating it saw him as prey, Hwanin found it intriguingly amusing rather than enraging.

The four monsters approached within 10 meters, then split to encircle him cautiously.

Hwanin found their tactics laughable.

Sure, surrounding and preventing escape while unleashing attacks from all sides was logical. But the mindless nature of their approach was flawed.

What adult would be scared if a group of elementary school kids, armed with sticks, surrounded him?

Especially when he wielded something akin to a police baton and shield?

Even if they intended to kill, Hwanin felt confident after having slain three of them. This wasn’t arrogance; it was reasoned confidence.

Moreover, the concept of surrounding was half-baked in their understanding.

Why circle the tree he was leaning against? Why fan out in the front so visibly?

Still wary, Hwanin charged towards an isolated green monster. Keenly observing the tentative creature tapping the ground with its club, he closed the distance rapidly.

Kya?!

The green monster screeched in terror when Hwanin approached, freezing in place just as Hwanin swung his club.

Thwack!!

Perfectly positioned, Hwanin’s club struck, sending the creature flying five meters, unconscious or possibly dead as it rolled down the hill.

Kyyaaaargh!!!

Kiyet! Kiyet!

In response, the remaining three monsters abandoned their formation and lunged at Hwanin simultaneously.

“……”

Hwanin glanced at the green monster wielding the dark club. It did nothing.

But he knew better than to think it would remain idle forever.

Gripping his two-handed club tightly, Hwanin hurled it with all his might at the middle of the three approaching monsters.

Whumph, whumph, whumph—

The two-handed club, weighing nearly 5 kilograms, was unlikely to be dodged or blocked by the frail, 30-kilogram green monster without injury.

Screech!

One monster took the hit and collapsed, its right arm dangling limply.

Simultaneously, Hwanin drew his stone axe and blocked the spiked club wielded by the monster on his left with his wooden shield. He then thrust the stone axe into the creature’s side with force.

Slash!

He pulled hard, tearing the monster’s flank wide open, innards spilling like a waterfall.

Kyaaak!

The monster dropped its spiked club and frantically tried to scoop up its guts, but Hwanin kicked it away and, with a burst of intensified emotion, turned to face the fourth green monster.

Charging with his shield, he slammed it into the creature’s face, Captain America-style.

Boof!

Kyiieeee!!

The grooved tip of the shield pierced the monster’s face, possibly its eye, as clear fluid mixed with blood streamed down its face. Hwanin prepared to finish it off with his stone axe.

But…

“…!”

He noticed the fifth green monster reaching into a dirty pouch at its waist.

Too far. There’s no knowing what’s inside that pouch, but it was too late to rush and stop it now. Besides, the exertion from fighting the four green monsters had left him gasping for breath.

Even so, he couldn’t stand idle.

Hwanin raised his arm to throw the stone axe at the monster.

Luck would suffice—hitting the target would be ideal, but startling it would also work.

Just as he was about to throw the stone axe—

Thrum… thrum… thrum!!

The sound, neither metallic nor tearing, but resonating deeply in his chest, erupted from beyond the boulder.

“Gah…?!”

Hwanin and the fifth monster were both startled, but the green monster, seemingly paralyzed with fear, looked ten times more terrified than him.

Its face turned ashen as it frantically scanned the surroundings with extreme anxiety. The next moment, it ignored Hwanin completely and scrambled towards a nearby tree.

Kyiiiit!!

Desperately climbing, it disregarded the fact that its nails and claws were being ripped out, its limbs getting pierced and torn by the bark.

A puzzle piece clicked into place in Hwanin’s mind.

“Huff!”

He dashed towards the tree, hacking at the back of the climbing monster’s knee with his stone axe.

Reeeek!!

It screamed in agony, falling from the tree with a face twisted in terror, pain, and fury.

Its shriek seemed to say, “What are you doing?!”

Ignoring its cries, Hwanin snatched the leather pouch from the monster’s waist as it rolled on the ground.

Keiiik!!

It lashed out with jagged, claw-like hands, trying to reclaim its pouch, but Hwanin repelled it with his shield and snatched the dark club as well.

“Goodbye.”

Hwanin sprinted down the sloping terrain, rushing away from the origin of the mysterious sound with all his might.

Kiyaaaargh—!!!

Glancing back at the enraged cry, he saw the monster struggling to stand but falling back down.

Good, just as expected.

He slid down the steep slope using the underbrush like a slide, reaching the bottom in a flash.

Jumping up, Hwanin began a full sprint, only peeking back when the area of the earlier combat was obscured by trees.

Thrum… thrum… thrum…

Roooaargh…!

Groups… forming…

Echoes of the mysterious roar and the faint cries of the green monsters faded behind him.

‘Buy me some time to escape.’

The instant he heard that roar, Hwanin had a rough idea of who it belonged to. And he judged that engaging it in combat was an absolute no.

In this case, fleeing was the only viable option.

As far away as possible.