After Ten Millennia in Hell

Side Story Chapter 100 - One Day (2)

"It might be possible... with this," mumbled Oh Kang-Woo as he stared at the monster poop smeared all over him.

'These monsters have their own territories, like bears and other wild beasts.'

As proof, the giant wolf chasing after him suddenly turned back once they arrived at the rocky region.

'But what if I can lure the wolf here?'

Considering the dog was almost twice the size, the wolf would be no match.

'But it should at least buy me enough time to kill the baby.'

The problem was how he was going to lure the wolf here.

"..."

Kang-Woo narrowed his eyes as he looked down at the putrid poop of the black dog. If he placed the poop in the horned wolf's territory, it might think the dog had trespassed on its territory, and enter the dog's territory in rage.

'It's a gamble... one with a terribly low chance of success.'

Purely based on size, the wolf would not be able to defeat the black dog. In other words, even if Kang-Woo placed the black dog's poop in the horned wolf's territory, the wolf might run away instead of fighting.

'It's natural to avoid a fight with a stronger predator.'

However, logic and reasoning did not always apply to the world of beasts.

'If the wolf is the kind of beast to be extremely wary of others trespassing on its territory... maybe it'll try to fight regardless of its chances of victory.'

Kang-Woo had no idea if these monsters were similar to the ones in the animal kingdom but they had territories and were careful not to trespass on them.

'It's a gamble worth taking.'

No, he would die if he didn't. He would lose the strength to move or remain sane soon. Even now, the unquenching thirst and extreme hunger were killing him. He did not have the leeway to worry about the chances of success.

"Huuu."

Kang-Woo did not have time to hesitate. He headed to where he found the pile of poop and flattened the T-shirt he was wearing on the ground to carry the poop.

"Urpp."

He did his best not to vomit from the stench and headed to the red sand desert where he saw the horned wolf. Since he was walking straight to it instead of looking around carefully for food, he realized it was fairly close.

'Alright.'

If Kang-Woo could lure the horned wolf to the rocky region, the black dog would undoubtedly take action to find the one who trespassed on its territory to protect her baby.

'I have to spread as much of it as wide as possible.'

Kang-Woo walked around the red sand desert and sprayed the black dog's poop he was carrying with his T-shirt.

"What is this, Hansel and Gretel?"

Kang-Woo frowned as he stared at the trail of poop in his path.

'I'm done.'

The preparations were complete; all that was left was for the horned wolf to think its territory was invaded and head to the rocky region.

"Please."

Kang-Woo hid between the tall sharp rocks again and prayed with his fists clenched. It was over for him if the wolf ran away instead of trespassing on the rocky region. He did not have the strength or sanity to look around for more food.

"Grrrrr."

"Grrrk!! Krrrrk!!"

"Woof! Grrr!"

Just then, Kang-Woo heard multiple growls.

'There... wasn't just one?'

Kang-Woo peeked out from between the rocks. In the red sand desert were three horned wolves growling at each other as if discussing what to do.

'Alright!!'

Kang-Woo pumped his fists with shining eyes. One wolf would have been no match for the black dog based on the size difference but three of them might put up a good fight.

'It's a different story if they hunt in packs!'

If they were in a pack, they were more likely to try to protect their territory.

"GRAAAAAAHHH!!"

"GRRRRRRRR!!"

"WOOF!! WOOF!!"

The horned wolves growled ferociously and glared at the rocky region, their eyes full of bloodlust.

"Grrrr!!"

They stopped growling soon after and ran into the rocky region.

'Hell yeah!'

Kang-Woo suppressed his cheers with all his might and ran after the wolves. They were so fast that it took a while for him to catch up. He then arrived near the black dog's best as he stayed hidden.

Fwoosh—!!

"GRAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!"

The giant five-meter black dog charged out of the nest as she breathed fire.

"Grrrrk!! Krrrk!!"

"Woof!"

The black dog charged without hesitation at the three horned wolves that trespassed on her territory. A one-versus-three battle began.

Crunch! Crack!

"Whine—!!

"Woof! Woof!!"

The black dog smashed its front foot into one of the rabid horned wolves, which was blown back helplessly.

"Oh... fuck."

Kang-Woo froze as he watched the battle.

'They're getting floored.'

Unlike what he had hoped, the black dog was wiping out the three horned wolves with ease.

'I don't have much time.'

Kang-Woo was done for if he didn't kill the baby dog before the mother killed the three wolves.

"Huff, huff."

He hurried to the black dog's nest, avoiding being seen by the monsters. He eliminated traces of his scent by smearing more poop on himself and crawled to minimize making a sound. He arrived at the nest soon after.

"Grrr. Grrr."

The baby black dog was curled up into a ball and sleeping. Kang-Woo approached the baby with shining eyes.

'I'll have to shut its mouth first to keep it from making a sound.'

If the baby made a sound, the mother would hurry back to the nest in an instant. Kang-Woo moved as carefully as possible so that the baby would wake up. It was thankfully in a deep slumber and didn't notice Kang-Woo approaching it.

'It's so fucking big.'

Although it was a baby, it was still a meter tall. Kang-Woo continued to approach the baby, wondering whether he could finish it off in one blow.

Just then, a voice echoed, "Stop."

Kang-Woo turned around, wide-eyed.

"You must be insane, trying to kill a baby Hellhound in Hellhound territory."

"Wh-What? Wh-Who are you...?"

Kang-Woo stared at the owner of the voice with shaking eyes. The man had the head of a ram, two horns on his forehead, and a long tail with a sharp end like a skewer. Unlike the monsters Kang-Woo had seen so far, he was walking on two feet instead of four. The man looked like a generic demon worshiper wearing a goat head but Kang-Woo could instinctively tell that it was the man's real head.

"A... demon?"

The word naturally came to mind. The goat horns, black skin, and long tail were the hallmarks of a demon in fiction.

"Why is a demon here...?"

"Is it not obvious for a demon to be in Hell?" replied the demon quietly as he chuckled.

He also seemed to be careful not to wake the baby black dog.

"Hell...?" Kang-Woo stared at the demon incomprehensibly.

'This is Hell? What the hell is he talking about?'

His mind was in jumbles— no that wasn't the only question he had.

'Why can I... understand that demon?'

Kang-Woo was sure the demon was talking in a language that was not Korean but his words were being automatically interpreted in Kang-Woo's head somehow— as if he could understand the language of demons from the beginning.

'That's impossible.'

Kang-Woo didn't mean to brag but his skills in foreign languages were so atrocious that he could barely hold a normal English conversation. He couldn't have learned the language of demons.

'What the hell is going on?'

Kang-Woo stared at the demon in confusion.

"That aside, a human... Hmm. It seems the rumor of humans being found in various places for the past few days was true," the demon mumbled and smiled.

He had mumbled so quietly to not wake up the baby black dog, so Kang-Woo did not hear what he said.

"Hehehe. I heard that if you kill those humans and eat their hearts... you'll gain immense demonic energy."

The demon's eyes gleamed with desire and he licked his lips. It had been worth it to trespass on a Hellhound's territory in search of the rumored humans.

The demon smiled and said haughtily, "I am Sabnak, a demon of the First Hell."

His palm split and a black blade shot out from between.

"Die and become my flesh and blood, human."

Sabnak pointed his shining blade at Kang-Woo.

"Huff, huff," Kang-Woo panted heavily as he stared at the black blade pointed at him.

He could barely hear what the demon was saying because he was speaking so quietly but he was sure about one thing.

'I'm going to die.'

Kang-Woo's heart beat rapidly. His extreme hunger and thirst disappeared and a chill ran down his back.

"I'm gonna die...? Here? Like this?"

He stared at the demon with shaking eyes. The blade protruding from the hand of the demon calling himself Sabnak was gleaming. Kang-Woo would undoubtedly die if he were to be stabbed by that blade. There would be no miracle to save him.

"Haaa, haaa, haaa!"

Kang-Woo could feel his legs shaking. His heavy breaths echoed inside his head like thunder. He looked around but saw no way to run. Not only was he out of strength, he could tell from the demon's muscular thighs that the demon would be far faster than him.

"A-Arghh."

Even so, Kang-Woo couldn't fight. One swing from the black blade would easily split him in two.

'Then, then, then...'

He would die. He had no other choice but to—

"...you."

"Hm?"

"Fuck you, motherfucker." Kang-Woo violently stomped his foot and raised his head. He squeezed out all the air he could muster from his lungs to shout, "I REFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSE!!!"

"Grrr?"

The sleeping baby Hellhound opened its eyes.

"TO DIE ALOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONE!!!"

Kang-Woo jumped on the back of the baby Hellhound. He wrapped his right arm around the Hellhound's neck and raised his left arm.

Pierce!!!

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

Kang-Woo shoved his left arm into the baby Hellhound's left eye. The baby Hellhound's screech shook the rocky region.

"Y-You crazy son of a bitch!!!"

Sabnak's eyes widened in shock.

"H-Hehehehehehe!!!" Kang-Woo burst into crazed laughter and smiled as he glared at the demon. "IF I'M GONNA DIE, I'M FUCKING TAKING YOU WITH ME, MOTHERFUCKEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!!!"