🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 12
As she took off her shoes and stepped inside, Juhee’s eyes widened when she saw the raspberry pie placed on the table.
Rowen carefully watched her reaction, wondering if she didn’t like it.
Juhee thought about whether anyone had ever prepared something just for her.
Back in Korea, and even after coming here… Rowen was the first.
Without saying anything, Juhee walked over, sat down heavily in the chair, and picked up a fork.
“…Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Rowen let out a sigh of relief and smiled brightly at her thanks.
In truth, Juhee already knew Rowen was making the raspberry pie.
Rowen couldn’t see it, but Mel—who had followed behind—had told her everything in detail.
Since making the pie took quite a while, Juhee had purposely gone deep into the forest.
But when she took a bite and saw how happy Rowen looked, she decided to keep it a secret until the end.
* * *
Several more days passed.
As usual, Juhee was about to head into the forest when she suddenly stopped.
Everything seemed the same as always, but to her eyes, the forest felt… disturbed.
She thought it might be her imagination.
It wasn’t.
Mel whispered softly to her.
—Juhee, an unwelcome guest has arrived.
“An unwelcome guest?”
Mel, who was usually smiling, had hardened her expression as she stared into the forest.
“Who is it?”
—I can’t see clearly from here. But I’m sure they don’t belong. I think we need to check.
“Let’s go together.”
—No. I have a bad feeling.
Mel shook her head firmly.
—Juhee, it’s dangerous. Stay at home, okay?
“Okay.”
Mel looked at her anxiously, then quickly flew into the forest.
Juhee slowly walked back home.
Rowen, who had been waiting like a puppy for its owner, jumped up from his seat.
But Juhee’s expression was unusual.
“Juhee, is something wrong?”
“I’m not sure.”
Rowen leaned forward and looked toward the forest.
“Is something happening in the forest?”
“I think so. How did you know?”
“Hmm… a feeling?”
He smiled lightly.
Mel, who seemed like she would return quickly, didn’t come back even after a long time.
“Rowen, I think I need to go to the forest.”
“I’ll go with you.”
Juhee was about to refuse, but Rowen spoke seriously.
“I’ll be worried if you go alone.”
“……”
“Let me come with you.”
Instead of answering, Juhee tightly held Rowen’s hand.
It was to prevent something like last time from happening again.
“Um… Juhee? Why are you holding my hand…?”
“So it doesn’t happen again.”
“Ah…”
Rowen glanced at her, then intertwined their fingers.
Juhee flinched slightly.
“Just in case we lose each other…”
And like that, the two of them walked into the forest, hand in hand.
* * *
“It’s… always dark here.”
At Rowen’s words, Juhee looked up at the sky.
Normally it would be calm, but the leaves were shaking violently.
Rowen seemed tense too.
He tightened his grip, afraid to lose her hand.
As they moved deeper into the forest, a sound echoed—something that shouldn’t be heard here.
Bang—
A gunshot.
Faint, but unmistakable.
Juhee’s head snapped toward the direction of the sound.
“Juhee, that sound just now… it was a gunshot, right? Does that mean there are people here?”
“We need to go.”
Juhee ran toward the sound, Rowen following behind.
As they ran out of breath—
Bang—
Another shot.
Closer this time.
Her heart pounded with anxiety.
Then she saw white fur.
“…Lu?”
Juhee tried to run, but Rowen grabbed her.
“Juhee, wait.”
She looked at him with trembling eyes.
Rowen pulled her behind a large tree.
“Someone’s there.”
Juhee peeked out.
In front of Lu stood three or four large men holding guns.
A memory flashed through her mind:
“These days, monster hunters have appeared. Be careful.”
The old herbalist’s warning.
She had thought no one would dare come this deep into the forest.
They must have mistaken Lu for a monster.
“Lu isn’t a monster. I need to tell them.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“But—!”
Crack—
She stepped on a dry branch.
“Who’s there?!”
A gun turned toward them.
Juhee and Rowen slowly stepped out.
“People?”
“No… humans wouldn’t live here. Are you human-shaped monsters?”
Juhee’s expression hardened.
“Leave.”
“What?”
Juhee, who always spoke politely—
didn’t this time.
“Leave. Now.”
“We need to hunt that monster. Or are you one too?”
“Stop talking nonsense and get out.”
Her mind grew colder.
The forest responded to her emotions.
The hunters became visibly shaken.
Vines crept along the ground—
and suddenly wrapped around them, lifting them into the air.
Their guns dropped.
The vines flung the weapons far away.
“What the—?!”
They struggled, trying to cut the vines, but they were too tough.
Their eyes turned toward Juhee.
She released Rowen’s hand and rushed to Lu.
“Lu, are you okay?”
Lu was breathing heavily.
“It’s okay. Calm down.”
She hugged and comforted him.
Lu licked her cheek.
Thankfully, he wasn’t injured.
“Juhee, your face is covered in drool.”
Rowen wiped her cheek with his sleeve.
Lu nudged Rowen’s cheek with his nose.
Then—
“Hey! Let us down!”
The hunters shouted.
“Fine. If you release us, we’ll leave.”
Juhee frowned.
She didn’t want them disturbing the forest again.
At that moment, Mel flew back.
—Juhee!! You didn’t listen again!
Mel scolded her angrily.
Juhee smiled slightly.
Rowen’s eyes widened.
But the smile disappeared quickly.
‘I want to see her smile more…’
His thoughts were interrupted by shouting.
Juhee looked at the vines.
They released the hunters, dropping them to the ground.
Groans filled the air.
Then suddenly—
One man pulled out a dagger and threw it at Juhee.
Her eyes widened.
But—
“What… how…?”
The man collapsed in shock.
Blood dripped.
Rowen had caught the dagger.
Juhee stared in confusion.
‘Can a person even do that?’
Before she could think further—
Rowen threw it back.
“Aaaagh!”
It pierced the man’s leg.
Juhee ignored his screams.
She gently held Rowen’s bleeding hand.
“You’re bleeding.”
“I’m fine. You weren’t scared?”
He tried to pull away.
“Don’t touch it. Your hands will get dirty.”
Juhee shook her head and held on tighter.
She carefully examined his wound.
Luckily, it wasn’t deep.
She wiped the blood gently.
“Your clothes will get dirty. You don’t have to.”
But she continued silently.
When she finished, it looked better.
She planned to call Undine to heal him.
Then—
A trembling voice spoke.
“W-what… are you?”
