The beast hides were tough and durable, but only certain types were suitable for fabric.First, we’d weed out those with poisonous properties, then select the ones that could actually be processed.Once processed, they’d be split again—some destined for tools, others for tailoring. Human flesh and joints are too soft or too heavy and stiff to wear for long.Any with foul odors, zero breathability, rough surfaces after treatment, or extremely poor heat resistance…Eliminate all the flawed ones, and you’re left with only the rarest, hardest-to-catch beasts.What Muhae picked was the “tiger of Taesan,” also called the “귀호.” A very rare creature.“Are we stopping by Seogyeong City?”“We’ll see.”Although the 귀호 roamed a wide area, their numbers were small. The closest lived on a ridge about a hundred kilometers from Seogyeong City. A place prone to Anomaly appearances despite its distance from the crystal zone.Because the terrain was brutal, humans rarely ventured there—only hunters after hides showed up.“Get ready.”An hour after settling into his seat, Jin Muhae checked the GPS and began gearing up. The small craft he’d boldly rented slowly descended toward the designated coordinates.Joo-o nodded, slung his bag on, and let a long rod protrude from the slightly open mouth.It was a cylindrical alloy club—rejects from Boss Gil’s shop. Weighing nearly three kilos, it’d be tough as a one-handed weapon. But having tested Joo-o’s strength, Gil Sajang sold it for cheap, saying he’d handle it.Gil was right. Joo-o swung it around like a twig. The handy taser gun stayed tucked in his hoodie until a fight broke out—then he’d yank out the rod first.It mostly served to crack open the heads of already-downed ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) beasts, just for the thrill, but having Joo-o armed made Muhae’s work easier. A flying blunt weapon covering his blind spots was a huge help in combat.“Wow. Smells like water.”Standing on solid ground, Joo-o twitched his nose and looked at Muhae. He’d detected a lake just by the scent. After all, he was a monster who could sniff out Anomalies farther than any radar. His abilities went beyond mere talent—bordering on the supernatural. Muhae had put that gift to good use.“Until we find the target, we’re just scouting.”“Got it!”“Not wolves or lynxes—we need a tiger.”Joo-o seemed capable of locating targets single-handedly that even a radar struggled to pick up: listening for sounds, smelling the air, spotting subtle tracks invisible to most. Armed with him, Muhae could flawlessly complete most contracts.“But Muhae, the sky’s turning black.”“They said the outside weather would be clear… Well, let’s hurry anyway.”Muhae shrugged and scanned the terrain. Unpredictable outside weather was nothing new. Inside the Comfort Zone, forecasts never missed—rain or fog were precisely controlled environmental effects. Outside, it was chaos: sudden sun to raindrops, months of drought turning to flash floods.And forecasts were unreliable beyond a few kilometers. Data from hundreds of kilometers away only helped guess Anomaly habitats, not actual conditions. The farther from human settlements, the less trustworthy the info. Luckily, this area’s rainwater was relatively clean—getting soaked wasn’t a big deal.Beep- Beep- Beep-!The radar pinged a life sign—but it didn’t feel like a 귀호. Muhae glanced at Joo-o, ready for an ambush. Joo-o stood vacant, chin raised, eyes flitting around as if hallucinating, then slowly returned his gaze to Muhae.“Hm. Sounds like wolves.”“Wolves.”“Not sure. Too many scents.”“What about a tiger?”“Dunno. But it’s not close. Should we fight?”Muhae shook his head and pointed elsewhere. An aggressive beast wouldn’t share territory with a 귀호—so none could be nearby.“We’re moving on the bike. Follow me.”Joo-o’s face lit up. He loved Muhae’s bike: a monstrous contraption built from scavenged parts. He praised its sturdiness and, above all, he relished clinging to Muhae’s back—his only quiet ride, free from nagging.Joo-o pressed himself so close that Muhae could feel his breath on the nape of his neck.“Jin Muhae.”At the sound of his name and Joo-o’s tickling press at his throat, Muhae’s skin prickled.“What? You feel something?”“No, but there’s no path up ahead.”Muhae’s bike was built for rough terrain. Unlike Company-issued vehicles, it handled mountain tracks and rugged ground. If Joo-o said there was no path, a serious obstacle must be blocking the way. The paid map showed nothing—but by the lake, maybe flooding or falls had buried it under boulders or hills.“Hm. Weird.”“What is?”“Smells bad.”Barely a moment later, Muhae slowed the bike. No radar contacts, yet an overwhelming stench. A small animal or low-tier beast could be around, but nothing that’d suddenly pounce.“Ugh. It’s bad.”Perched on the stopped bike, Joo-o shook his head and jiggled his legs. Muhae glanced back—his eyes were a deep, dark red.“It’s rotten.”“…What?”“The meat’s rotten. Been there a while.”Muhae’s spine chilled at the simple answer. He suspected it was the usual ache from Joo-o’s endless talk of meat—but rotting flesh? A corpse.“Turn back?”“No. But you should check it out, Muhae.”A carcass isn’t something to avoid unless Anomalies or beasts lingered around. Rabbits, squirrels—it’s all carrion. Muhae trusted Joo-o’s senses.He throttled up again, riding a few minutes until the obstacle ahead revealed itself: a path between a cliff and the lake clogged with boulders. Some wedged in soft ground, others shattered on impact—blocking any two-wheel passage.Under some stones clung what looked like dark, rotting flesh. Muhae turned off the bike, crept forward—and smelled the unbearable stench of decomposed innards.“Damn.”Rocks weren’t the only things scattered here. Long, black chunks of meat lay strewn, ending in heavily stained shoes.“It stinks.”Muhae frowned, surveying the area. He must’ve found parts from three or four bodies.“It’s human.”“Yeah. Human.”Exposed bone on severed limbs told him they’d died at least days ago. Given the damp lakeside climate, maybe about a week back.Muhae prodded a decaying leg with his toe. The sole bore no distinct marks—homemade shoes, practical clothes. Crushed plastic shards lay on the trampled grass—likely protective gear. The victim must’ve been a mercenary; only they crawl this far out and die in packs.“How’d they die?”He wanted a closer look, but most of the carcass was pinned under rocks. The exposed limbs were too far gone for forensic guesswork. Muhae clicked his tongue, but the foul air shut his mouth. Still, he kept scanning until he spotted an abandoned bag and some gear.If any personal items could ID the owner, he’d hand them to the agency; anything valuable, he’d pocket. It was sad, but there was no helping the already dead.“Huh. Someone’s playing tricks.”Joo-o murmured from beside him, tilting his head up toward the cliff edge. As Muhae lifted the torn bag, he followed the gaze: a ragged piece of cloth snagged on a protruding tree root, fluttering like a tiny flag…“They must have thrown it from up there.”Joo-o’s intrigued whisper made Muhae bow his head to the ground. A boulder smashed into the earth as if it had fallen—underneath it, a crushed corpse lay hidden.A chill raced through him; his fingers stiffened. The ownerless bag thudded against the ground.

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