Against the Clock: The Team Leader’s Pursuit of Glory

Chapter 61 - It Must Be Time to Feel Hungry

"Have you seen the video I sent you?"

"Yes, I have."

"What do you think, Guild Leader? These scoundrels who've done this, with the tribe's mark and traces of a meat-eating ritual. It's them, right?"

"It probably is them, as Team Leader Lee Jin-joo thinks."

Kang Mu-hyuk had replayed the bleak scene from the video several times.

Human heads were impaled on pillars, surrounded by the entrails of a cow. Cow heads were also nailed to the barnyard fence, lined up neatly. The sight resembled a ritual conducted by tribal monsters.

A structure particularly decorated like a totem, momentarily woven together with grass and branches.

It was a scene he had witnessed before.

'Orcs.'

During his time with the Titan guild, Kang Mu-hyuk had encountered orcs a few times at the gate, so he knew their habits well.

Research on orc tribes and their totemic symbols had also progressed significantly since they were made public through the Hunter's Association.

Therefore, the totem in the video raised even more suspicion.

'This totem is rather unexpected. Victory... joy... what are they celebrating? A full meal? Killing humans? Whatever it is, it's not something to commemorate, especially with a totem. It's incomprehensible.'

The cow heads, lined up on either side, symbolized improvement or victory, while the head and entrails festooned on the pillar signified joy.

A totem usually seen only in orc tribes after a battle.

It was an utterly baffling expression. Had the orcs fought a war somewhere? In South Pocheon, they were a group without any notable achievements to erect such an elaborate totem.

Lee Jin-joo felt the same dissonance.

"No matter how dim-witted and irrational orcs are, they don't erect totems without meaning. Totems are sacred rituals and historical records to them. That's why some argue that orcs should be classified as a race similar to humans, rather than monsters."

"Similar to humans? Nonsense! They're anything but human. People who say such things must have never stepped into a Gate. There's no one as barbaric and cruel as orcs."

"That's why we need to find them more quickly. There could be more victims. Can you track them?"

At Kang Mu-hyuk's question, Lee Jin-joo seemed to struggle, scratching her head.

"You know how skilled those orc brutes are at hiding, right? If they dig somewhere within the city instead of the Gate, it becomes a headache."

"What about their traces?"

"It's been some time, rain has washed away their footprints and droppings. The tracking skill was also interrupted midway. It seems to be deliberately erased. Looking at this, they don't appear to be ordinary orcs."

Wrinkles etched into Kang Mu-hyuk's forehead.

Even the experienced Lee Jin-joo, a veteran from the Expedition team had missed a trace, which meant that this was no ordinary orc. Seeing that even measures had been taken to resist skills was making it more worse.

"The fact that a monster erases its own traces is a hunter's instinct. It means it's evolved quite a bit."

Like goblins, orcs were also tribal, evolving monsters.

The more they gathered, and as time passed, they became stronger and smarter.

Novice Hunters who didn't know any better were pleased if they caught goblins or orcs. The rewards, in terms of items, were quite good considering the difficulty of the hunt.

However, experienced Hunters despised it.

If it was a small tribe, it was fortunate, but if it formed a large tribe, it was more troublesome than any other monster.

If they happened to encounter an orc tribe that had reached the final stage of evolution at the Gate, they would consider abandoning the raid.

From then on, the level of the raid had to be escalated almost to the level of a war.

“How did they get over the electric fence without getting caught? Even if monsters have crossed before, they've never done it without being noticed.”

"The police and Pocheon City conducted a joint investigation. They found traces of digging."

“A tunnel? Huh, they're not just ordinary, are they? In terms of monsters.”

"The victim lived alone, so there was no family to discover him sooner. That's why we had to gather information about the cattle shed from the neighbors. We checked how many cows were being raised and how many were missing."

“Why the cows... Ah, to gauge the scale? They must have feasted on beef... So how many orcs do you think crossed over?”

"Judging by the traces of the cows being eaten, we estimate a small group of about ten. It's been two days since they fed, so they should be getting hungry about now."

“If they're hiding somewhere, you mean they'll reveal themselves soon?”

"Yes. Hunger is an instinct that orcs can't resist."

…

In a back mountain, like those found anywhere in South Korea, where birds chirped leisurely, footsteps could be heard on the path taken by people coming for spring water. Suddenly, the rough breath of a wild beast was heard.

"Kuruk."

With a flat nose and short, sharp ears, protruding lower fangs, bluish skin, yellow eyes with bulging veins, and horizontal, dilated pupils, the impression was so hideous that it caused a tingling sensation just by looking at it.

The orcs had come down the mountain.

Hiding in the bushes, they observed people leaving early for work, like Hunters choosing their prey.

Soon, the orcs discovered easy and appetizing prey.

[Nuri Star Kindergarten]

Small humans getting off the yellow iron wagon looked soft-skinned just by a single gaze.

"Kurukuruk. Kururuk. Kuokuker."

Unlike the plainly dressed other orcs, an orc adorned with colorful feathers sent a signal.

'There are many humans. Wait until the surroundings calm down.'

The orcs that received the order hid deep in the bushes.

Eagerly waiting for the soon-to-arrive time of the feast.

…

"Ugh, everyone else seems so relaxed. And here I am, dying."

Freelance Hunter Kim Su-jeong was sitting in a café, lost in thought as she looked out at the scenery.

It was a weekday afternoon, the time when she should have been busily moving around hunting grounds. With nothing to do, she couldn't help but feel frustrated.

"Normally at this hour, it's empty. Everyone else is at work or school."

"Shut up, Seong-ju. If you hadn't shared a bad intel, I wouldn't be sitting here sucking my thumb all week."

"No, I swear the information was solid. The source was reliable too."

"That so-called cousin of yours who works at the Guild Cooperation Division? Seriously, tell me the truth. Does this legendary cousin even exist?"

"Do you think I've been fooled all my life? Why would I lie about something like eating well? My cousin really did say that Iron Will is going to open a hunting ground in North Pocheon soon. He hinted that there would be various benefits if we get in first. We, the low-level Hunters, should really take advantage of such events."

"But look at this mess. It's not like we're unemployed. We should have gone to the Jirisan Special Activities Zone instead. The commission is high, but at least there are plenty of mobs... Ah, who am I to blame? My fault for trusting you."

"I'm telling you, it was supposed to be announced this week. Just wait and see. Iron Will is going to have an enormous big event."

Seong-ju, a member of the same party, thumped his chest in frustration.

Kim Su-jeong spoke, feeling as if she were attempting to scoop up water that had already been spilled.

"Enough, enough. Going to Jirisan now will be just as futile since they've started limiting entry. Staying here for a few more days won't kill us. Money on my card is running low, but... let's just wait a little longer."

"I'm telling you, really..."

Ignoring Seong-ju's complaints, Kim Su-jeong leaned on the table and looked out the window.

Across the street, she could see children running around a playground beyond the fence of a kindergarten.

It was a late autumn day that had been pleasantly warmed by the rare sunlight, a day that made Kim Su-jeong want to travel somewhere as she sighed.

"The weather is so nice~ I wish I could go back to kindergarten like those kids over there. I wouldn't have to worry about making a living."

"Worrying about equipment is more pressing than food and shelter."

"Ugh, that damn equipment, equipment, equipment! Since becoming a Hunter, it's all about buying equipment every month and running a deficit. I shouldn't have awakened, tsk! I thought being a Hunter would mean a good life, but who knew I would be overwhelmed by debt? I would have been better off as a regular office worker."

"True. Joining a decent guild would be better, at least."

"Yeah, a guild. Not a small one, but at least a mid-sized one. Then we wouldn't have to struggle like this. An orc, right?"

"What? Why did your speech suddenly change?"

"No, seriously. Look at that. Isn't that an orc?"

"Are you starting to see things now after singing the hunting song? Why would there be an orc here, an orc?"

Then, sliding down the slope connected to the roadside, orcs appeared before their eyes.

Kim Su-jeong and Seong-ju looked at each other with their mouths agape. Then simultaneously, a cheer erupted from both of them.

"We hit the jackpot!"

They chuckled as they picked up the equipment boxes they had set aside. But they were taken aback when they saw the orcs heading toward the kindergarten.

“These crazy bastards!”

“Hey, hurry up and stop them!”

…

“Detective Kim, if you're tired, just hand the wheel over to me. Stop dozing off.”

“Ugh, this damn post-meal drowsiness. The sun is just right for it.”

“It's not drowsiness, it's because you came straight from duty yesterday. Even if promotions are good, take it easy.”

“These are crazy times, aren't they? I need to show some energy now.”

Kim Buyong couldn't bear it any longer and pulled over to switch driving with his junior.

As he sat in the passenger seat, Kim Buyong fastened his seatbelt and reclined his seat, intending to catch some shut-eye.

Just as his junior was adjusting his seat–

Bang!

With a loud impact, the vehicle rocked and tilted towards the passenger side, then flipped onto its side.

“Aaargh! What, what is it?”

“Ugh….”

“Hey, Taeho, are you alright?”

“Yes… yes. Other than a strained neck.”

Kim Buyong was hanging upside down, thanks to his seatbelt. In contrast, his junior, who had been adjusting his seatbelt, rolled and was pressed against the overturned car's roof.

“A traffic accident? How did this happen?”

“I don't know, I just…”

Then–

Bang!

A heavy impact struck the overturned car's floor. Then, something fell by the passenger window.

Thick ankles, the color of dark blue skin, as big as an adult thigh.

It was the lower half of a monster.

“An, an orc….”

Kim Buyong immediately recognized it from the retreating figure outside the car window.

He had never heard of orcs inhabiting North Pocheon, but orcs were well-known monsters even to ordinary people.

The two detectives instinctively realized that this orc was the culprit behind the incident at the barn.

His junior quickly flipped himself inside the narrow car and opened the door.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“We have to catch it. There's a kindergarten up ahead.”

“Damn it. Do you think an orc is easy? It's still a monster.”

“An orc will die if you shoot it in the head.”

“Hey, hey!”

Before Kim Buyong could say anything, his junior dashed outside, chasing after the orc with his gun drawn.

Kim Buyong was worried about his junior.

He was much younger and belonged to a generation that had not experienced the past monster chaos. He seemed to think lightly of the orc, having only heard rumors about it.

“Damn it! If guns work on it, is it even a monster?”

Kim Buyong tried to follow in haste, but whether it was due to the shock of the car flipping or not, the seatbelt wouldn't come loose.

“Why isn't this working? Wait, wait, Taeho. Don't act alone!”

“You'll be too late!”

Kim Buyong cried out in desperation, but his junior, in his haste, pulled the hammer back, aiming at the orc.

Just as he was targeting the back of the orc's head–

“Thump!”

“Huh?”

With another shadow cast over his back, the junior fell like a puppet with its strings cut.

Thump, roll.

“Taeho!”

Locking eyes with his junior, whose head had just rolled to face him, Kim Buyong screamed as if vomiting blood.