In case Muhae changed his mind, Joo-o nodded at once.On the way here in the small craft, he’d watched the map beside Muhae. He didn’t remember every detail, but he had a rough sense of the detectors’ locations.“I’ll take 27 through 36.”“That’s too far.”“I can do it.”“It’s not on the radar… Fine. I’ll go there. You stay here and check a few. If anything’s weird, contact me right away. You know how to send a signal on your watch?”“Of course!”After a moment’s hesitation, Muhae finally handed over the inspection kit. Joo-o bounded off toward the left with eager steps.Before, with Hoihang, he’d done odd errands just to prove himself—he didn’t know why today felt like such a windfall.Though Muhae was his comrade, Joo-o had always hung one step back, only perking his ears or sniffing the air. In battle, he might swing a club from Muhae’s blind spot, but only if the beast charged him—otherwise Muhae did the fighting.This mission was different: it was true cooperation, sharing the work directly.‘I’ll do great.’Filled with determination, Joo-o clenched his fist and sprinted toward where he remembered.“There… um, twenty-one.”Detectors around Goryeo City collect detailed environmental data more cheaply than satellites. Checking them each quarter was the Company’s job—technically delegated from the city, passed down through multiple contractors, now to Joo-o’s hands.Beep-!He sent the test signal, and the tall pillar emitted its tone: beep… beep… it responded correctly on every frequency. The mount was slightly bent but still functional. Muhae would note any cosmetic damage—Joo-o just needed good photos.Then twenty-two, twenty-three… Joo-o leapt miles in seconds, even through forest paths impassable for a bike.Each pounding step kicked up clods of earth and fractured gravel. He practically flew.If he finished too quickly, he might return to Muhae’s side early. Muhae would surely ask, eyes wide, if he’d run all the way here—then, while chastising him for the wasted effort, check he wasn’t hurt. Thinking of that made Joo-o grin.Grrr… grr!Even when an oblivious spiked wolf sprang out, he was thrilled. Tilting his head to one side, he looked back—and the beast froze in its tracks, red eyes wavering before its tail slipped beneath its legs. It began trembling.What a fool. It was only fleeing because of Muhae—it wouldn’t have chased him otherwise. Now that he’d spared it, Muhae might worry and save it anyway.The wolf backed away, sensing danger, but Kirrung—With a single strange cry echoing like a siren, its body locked in place. A comparatively small silhouette stepped forward on the dirt road.“Hmm.”He could have torn flesh and cracked bones with his bare hands… but that would get him too excited. Better to use the club Muhae picked out.Whack—!Lifting the smooth club, he swung lightly. The clear thud rippled up his wrist.The beast’s head collapsed, dead before it could whimper.“Two… four… no, um… five kilometers?”Joo-o cocked his head, judging the distance back to the craft. At this range, the carcass wouldn’t be discovered.No other hostile creatures remained. The stench of blood was strong, but his senses were sharp enough. It should be safe.“Twenty-six.”Wrenching himself from the gore, Joo-o called out the next detector number.Seeing the wolf’s corpse made his mouth water, even though it wasn’t meal time. Beast meat was a bit more tender than anomalies’, smelling more like “meat.” He wondered if he could sneak a bite without anyone noticing.“No.”He shook his head, eyes closed. Pressing his lips tight, he rummaged in his bag for the wet wipes Muhae had tossed him.He scrubbed the club, then his face—fortunately, no blood marked his skin.“I’m going back to Muhae. To Muhae.”Muttering with resolve, Joo-o licked his lips and set off. Patience was always hard—like trudging through thick mud.It had been the same when he dumped that chunk of human flesh from his inventory. He’d fought to see it as anything but “meat,” but the oily taste of blood on his tongue and the soft texture were impossible to forget.Sadly, he remembered the flavor of tender flesh. Before losing his mind as an anomaly, he’d apparently swallowed a two-legged mammal at some point.‘I’m human.’He’d emptied his inventory with that thought, feeling no grief in his dulled senses—but that made leaving all the harder.Beep-!He finished twenty-six. Now it was time to rejoin Muhae.His heart, which had raced wildly, now calmed at the thought of him. Reinvigorated, Joo-o sprinted toward Muhae’s sector.He must be riding the bike along the cleared path. If so, Joo-o could cut through the forest and catch up.But after a long run, he heard no engine. Despite rushing everywhere, Muhae was faster.Of course—he was the capable protagonist. He’d finish these simple tasks in no time.Still, Joo-o persisted, crossing the rocky foothills until at last he heard tires churn dirt.“Jin Muhae!”With a beaming smile, Joo-o ran toward the bike—then stopped short, ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) realizing—His recently bulked-up “rational” self slammed the brakes in his mind.‘No.’Muhae didn’t know Joo-o could match a vehicle’s speed on foot. And a human-sized creature sprinting like that might frighten an ordinary observer.‘That won’t do.’It was no better than chewing meat to the bone. Why hadn’t he realized sooner?If Muhae saw him barreling over, he’d worry. He’d scrub his hands and fuss over him. Joo-o’s hope for praise would backfire.So he turned away, heart sinking.“It’s okay.”Running back to the craft, he murmured comfort to himself.When Muhae returned, he’d praise him: “Good job.” He’d check for injuries and dust off his clothes.So it was okay. Just a bit more endurance—he’d waited fifteen years; he could handle this.To remind himself, he flopped to the ground, kicking up dust so his clothes and hair became a mess.Muhae wouldn’t resist tidying him up then.“Haha!”Though he has no memory before age five, Jin Muhae lived without issue.Of course—few people recall infancy without a special event.Uniquely, Muhae was found outside the Comfort Zone, so he’d had occasional doubts in childhood.On the day he learned arithmetic in the hospital, when asked if he was their biological son, Dr. Jeong shrugged—his hand never leaving his gown pocket.‘Well, I secretly tested him—turns out he is.’It was a remarkable answer. At least Muhae never faced confusion over his birth.Beep-! Beep—beep—!CME Exploration Request ReportRegion: Entire TeamTask: Routine Detector InspectionChecked Detectors: [31/36]Supports damaged at #4, #11, #18, #28No B-type signal at #12…The thirty-sixth detector emitted its normal tone. Muhae folded up his pad, secured it at his side, and strode to the bike.Today, for the first time, he’d delegated work to Joo-o. Though Joo-o already helped scout terrain, sense creatures, and assist in combat, he’d never handled a complex task before.‘He’s so unpredictable.’Muhae rationalized that way, yet he knew deep down: if it wasn’t dealing with people, Joo-o could handle anything.And indeed, he’d improved. The boy who once blankly said “wooah” now communicated with words, formed sentences, read the room, assessed situations, and even made judgments when needed.Now, he responded promptly, followed instructions, even climbed into Muhae’s arms—exactly the right level of competence. Even if Joo-o never grew further, watching him sustain himself was satisfying.But would that be enough for Joo-o? To leave him eternally stagnant—what would that be but preservation?‘Does he still have nightmares?’Joo-o still lacked his past. Unlike Muhae, who could live without infant memories, he’s adrift with his life a blank slate.What Joo-o needs most is experience. Facing challenges and rising on his own—that’s how you grow, as Muhae learned in his own childhood of neglect.He’d grown up astonishingly fast under his father’s indifference.

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