SWY 118

Sharhan followed right after. Thanks to most of the corpses having been lured to the back by the noise, only five remained at the front. Even those five had been heading toward the back but twisted their heads at an unnatural angle at the sound of the front door opening, spotted Sharhan and Lestel, then turned and charged.

Smack!

Sharhan and Lestel decapitated the charging corpses, whose yellowing teeth were bared in a festering snarl. Each time Lestel’s axe sank into a corpse’s head and was pulled out, dark, sticky brain matter splattered out. Sharhan wasn’t far behind, driving the tip of his spear into their necks and yanking it free again.

One by one, the corpses collapsed. It didn’t take long to take down all five, so by the time Samson came around to the front, the cleanup was already done. He was impressed, he had expected them to be capable, but not this strong.

But there was no time to admire them for long. The corpses furiously pounding on the back door might come around any second.

“Let’s go!”

Sharhan, Lestel, and Samson ran, keeping their movements as quiet as possible to avoid drawing attention. Before long, the howls of the corpses chasing after them echoed in the distance, but they didn’t stop or look back.

If any corpse jumped out to block their path, they cut it down and kept going. Facing dozens at once was a problem, but two or three at a time were no issue.

“W-Wait!”

Samson suddenly came to a halt mid-run, making Sharhan and Lestel stop in confusion.

“What is it?”

“I think I see a marker my brother left behind.”

Samson first scanned the surroundings to make sure it was safe, then approached a large tree on the left. On closer inspection, there was a piece of cloth tied to a branch, and strange symbols carved into the base, most likely a secret code between the brothers.

While Samson read the markings with a serious expression, Sharhan caught his breath and loosened the water pouch on his belt. There wasn’t much water left, but enough to wet his mouth. After taking a sip, he held it out to Lestel, who shook his head and declined.

“So, where are you two headed?”

Samson asked as he returned from checking the code. Sharhan looked at Lestel, who gauged the direction of the tax storehouse and pointed that way.

“We’re planning to go there.”

Samson’s face lit up.

“That’s my direction too! Would it be alright if I traveled with you until I find the next marker?”

It was a natural request from his perspective. In a world like this, more people meant more strength. Sharhan didn’t answer immediately but gestured to Lestel to talk privately. After asking Samson to give them a moment, they moved far enough away to speak freely.

They had escaped danger together and he didn’t seem like a bad person, but it was hard to trust anyone completely. Still, if they encountered another swarm like today’s, three would be better than two.

“We should be cautious… but I don’t think it’d be a bad idea to travel together. He volunteered to lure the corpses earlier, so it doesn’t seem like he’s the type to run and leave us behind.”

Samson had willingly taken on the dangerous role. Lestel, catching Samson nervously licking his lips as he waited, nodded.

“A short-term arrangement is fine. But if something happens…”

Sharhan cut him off with a grin.

“Don’t worry. If things get dangerous, I’ll only look out for you and me. I’m not the type to risk my life for a stranger.”

Unless it was someone like Derry or his Red Wolves comrades, people he had built bonds with over time, Sharhan wasn’t about to stick his neck out for someone he’d just met. This was purely mutual cooperation.

Lestel relaxed at Sharhan’s promise. When they went back and told Samson he could join them, the man visibly exhaled in relief and smiled brightly.

“Shall we go then?”

If they wanted to reach the storehouse before sundown, they couldn’t waste time. It’d be nice to stay there, but they also had to consider the possibility it was already overrun, or occupied by another hostile group.

Samson fumbled with his bag, trying to take out his water pouch.

“W-Wait a second… I just need a drink…”

“Go ahead. We need to keep moving.”

“Do you two want some?”

He held out the pouch.

“We’re fine.”

There wasn’t much water left, it seemed, this time, he didn’t insist. Instead, he took a long swig, visibly gulping, then quickly closed the cap and slung the bag over his shoulder.

“Let’s go.”

They didn’t stop again. Though hunger and encounters with the moving dead had sapped some stamina, it wasn’t enough to force them to rest.

Sharhan and Lestel walked shoulder to shoulder, their arms brushing with each step. Every brush sent a tingle through Sharhan’s chest he couldn’t ignore.

Lestel would occasionally squeeze one of Sharhan’s fingers or run a nail lightly across his palm in playful teasing. Each time, Sharhan frowned and glared, but Lestel just kept walking straight ahead, pretending not to notice.

‘I can see your lips twitching, you know.’

Sharhan scratched at his temple, grumbling silently. Whenever Lestel acted more like a lover than a friend or rival, he felt unbearably flustered. Maybe it was what people called having butterflies, whatever it was, it felt awkward, but not unpleasant. It was warm, like capturing a lazy spring afternoon’s sunlight in the palm of his hand.

They were interlacing their index fingers like they were kissing when Samson, walking a few steps ahead, glanced around and asked,

“You two are friends, right?”

“…Something like that.”

Startled, Sharhan quickly pulled his hand away. Lestel’s face twisted in displeasure at the word “friends.”

“Honestly, I was shocked when I first saw you both. One of you is gorgeous and the other’s just plain stunning.”

“We’re dirty from not washing properly.”

“Still, beauty like that doesn’t go away. Sharhan, you actually reminded me of my first love, Rosanna. Almost made my heart skip a beat. Ah, sorry. That was rude of me.”

“It’s fine.”

Sharhan didn’t like being called pretty or handsome, but he didn’t have the energy to argue about it. Still, Lestel’s sideways glance was clearly disapproving.

‘Is he mad?’

Just as Sharhan had that thought, Lestel grabbed his hand again and laced their fingers together.

“Are you crazy? Let go.”

Sharhan muttered with a nod toward Samson’s back. But Lestel tightened his grip, making it impossible to pull away.

“What, are you embarrassed about us? Am I embarrassing to you?”

“I’m not embarrassed.”

“Then why are you so concerned about someone who has nothing to do with us? Go on, pull your hand away.”

“What if I do?”

“I’ll kiss you right in front of Samson.”

“You bastard!”

“Yes. I’m your bastard, so stop riling me up and just hold my hand. Do you have any idea how badly I’ve been holding back after days without even a proper kiss?”

Hearing their whispered exchange, Samson turned and blinked in surprise. Then, pretending not to notice their clasped hands, he quickly turned back around with a low cough and continued walking stiffly.

“You think he’s found another marker?”

Knowing there was no winning once Lestel got stubborn, Sharhan gave up and tried to change the subject.

“Yeah. We should be seeing the next one around… ah, there it is.”

Samson returned after confirming the marker and was clearly relieved it pointed in the same direction.

“I’m not usually a coward. I hunted alone just fine. But in a world where dead people walk around eating the living, it’s hard not to be on edge. Especially after seeing my capable companions taken down so fast.”

Scratching his head sheepishly, Samson kept walking. The road to the tax storehouse was relatively safe. They ran into a few corpses, but never in large numbers, and no survivors.

Samson occasionally snuck glances, but the two still walked hand-in-hand, even whistling now and then. When Samson gave them a puzzled look, they only responded with a smile.

Neighhh!

A horse’s neigh echoed nearby.