Ren moved carefully through the forest, retracing his steps back toward the cave while keeping his senses sharp. His body was still tired, but his mind remained alert after encountering the cohort, refusing to let his guard down so soon.
The snow crunched softly beneath his feet as he approached the hidden entrance, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any disturbance. Every shadow seemed slightly more threatening now, and every silence carried weight that pressed against his thoughts.
'I should be safe… they went the other way.' His thoughts weren't fully convinced, and his gaze lingered longer than necessary on the empty forest around him.
Ren finally slipped back into the cave, pushing aside the branches that concealed the entrance with slow and careful movements. The faint warmth from earlier had long since faded, leaving only the cold stillness of stone and quiet breathing to fill the space.
The Adam remained where it was, its massive body unmoving but no longer lifeless in appearance. Its fur seemed slightly darker than before, and its breathing, though slow, carried a strange rhythm that felt stronger.
Ren stepped closer, his eyes narrowing slightly as he crouched beside it while keeping a safe distance. There was something different about it, something subtle that he couldn't fully grasp no matter how long he stared.
"…Is it me, or is its fur slightly darker…?" He leaned in just a bit more, his voice quiet as if speaking too loudly might disturb whatever change was happening.
"It has to be the shade… yeah, that's probably it." He pulled back slightly, trying to convince himself even though the unease still lingered in his chest.
Ken hovered nearby, his expression unreadable as he observed both Ren and the Adam without saying anything at first. There was a faint tension in his presence, something he wasn't fully voicing but clearly aware of.
"So," Ken finally spoke, his tone casual but carrying a subtle edge beneath it, "what are you going to name it?" He glanced between Ren and the Adam as if the question itself was obvious.
Ren blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question as he turned his head slightly toward Ken. His brows furrowed as if the idea hadn't even crossed his mind until now.
"Name it…?" He repeated the words slowly, letting them sit in the air as he tried to process them.
"It's not like it's a pet or anything." He scratched the back of his head, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of treating it like something familiar.
Ken gave a faint scoff, though his gaze didn't leave the Adam for even a second. "You went through all that effort just to leave it as 'that thing'? That's just lazy, even for you."
Ren opened his mouth to respond, but something cut through the moment before he could speak. The interruption was sudden and completely out of place.
"Peekaboo."
The voice came from behind him, soft and playful in a way that didn't belong in a place like this. It carried no warning, no hostility, yet somehow made everything feel worse.
Ren's entire body locked up instantly, his breath catching in his throat as his eyes widened without control. His heart skipped a beat before slamming violently against his chest, sending a wave of panic through him.
'What the fu—' The thought never fully formed as he slowly turned his head, his movements stiff and unnatural.
Standing at the cave's entrance was a figure clad in armor, unmoving yet somehow overwhelmingly present. The mask covering his face reflected nothing, giving away no expression and no intent.
Ken froze completely, his presence going still in a way Ren had never seen before. It was as if even existing too loudly would draw attention.
"Now tell me…" The armored figure tilted his head slightly, his voice carrying a strange amusement that didn't match the situation. "What is a person like you doing alone in such dangerous woods?"
Ren said nothing at first, his throat dry as he tried to process what was happening. His instincts screamed at him to move, but his body refused to obey.
The figure took a slow step forward, his boots barely making a sound against the ground despite the weight of his armor. With each step, the air seemed heavier, pressing down on everything around them.
"Hmm…" He paused, staring at Ren as if studying something deeper than just his appearance. "Your face seems familiar… no, not your face."
Another step forward followed, measured and deliberate in a way that felt unnatural. The distance between them shrank, but it felt like far more than just physical space was closing.
"It's your body…" His head tilted further, the motion slightly off as if it didn't follow normal limits.
A brief pause stretched longer than it should have, making the silence feel suffocating. "…No, that bastard was slightly taller, and his hair was longer."
He straightened slightly, his tone shifting back into something almost casual despite everything. "You best be on your way, child."
Ren's eyes twitched at that word, irritation flickering for a split second before being drowned out by something much worse. The reaction was instinctive, but it didn't matter anymore.
He glanced at Ken.
Ken's face was pale, completely drained of any usual expression or attitude. It was the kind of pale that didn't come from fear alone, but from recognition.
"The Randomizer…" Ken's voice came out as a strained whisper, barely audible yet heavy with meaning. "Why the hell is he here…"
Ren's stomach dropped instantly, the name alone carrying enough weight to unsettle him. He didn't understand it, but he didn't need to.
Ren forced himself to move slightly, stepping just enough to block the line between the figure and the Adam. His movement was subtle, but deliberate.
"I was just leaving," Ren said, forcing his voice to stay steady despite the tension clawing at his chest. "There's nothing here worth your time."
The masked figure didn't respond immediately, instead taking another step forward as if ignoring the statement entirely. His presence alone made it clear he wasn't convinced.
"Oh?" His tone lifted slightly, amused in a way that felt unsettling. "Nothing worth my time, you say?"
Ren felt the pressure increase, his thoughts racing as he tried to come up with something believable. Every second felt longer than it should.
"I'm just a hunter," Ren added, trying to sound casual despite everything. "There's nothing special here."
Ken remained completely still, not daring to move or speak again. His silence was deliberate, almost forced.
The masked figure hummed softly before moving again, stepping past Ren without hesitation. The movement was smooth, almost effortless.
Ren's body tensed instantly, but he didn't move to stop him. He knew he couldn't.
The figure approached the pile of branches and stopped, standing still for just a moment. The silence returned, heavier than before.
Then he crouched.
"…Now this…" His voice carried genuine surprise this time, breaking the pattern slightly. "This is interesting."
Ren's chest tightened as the branches shifted slightly, revealing part of the Adam beneath. The situation shifted instantly.
"How does a simple person manage to do this much damage to an Adam?" The figure stood slowly, turning his masked gaze back toward Ren.
There was curiosity now, real and focused. It was worse than hostility.
Ren looked away briefly, his mind scrambling for something that wouldn't get him killed. The pressure made it hard to think clearly.
"I don't know," he said honestly, though it sounded like a lie. "I just did what I could."
The figure tilted his head again, clearly not satisfied with the answer. The silence stretched again.
"What's your name?" The question came simply, but carried weight.
"…Ren." The answer came quickly, almost automatically.
"Are you a noble?" The follow-up came just as fast, leaving no room to breathe.
"…No," Ren said, hesitating slightly before adding, "I don't think so."
Another pause followed, slightly longer this time. The figure seemed to consider something.
"Do you need a ride to the capital?" The question came casually, but it hit harder than anything before.
'I hit the jackpot!!!' The thought exploded in Ren's mind, barely contained.
"…Yes," Ren answered, forcing himself to stay composed. "That would help a lot."
"And this?" The figure gestured lightly toward the Adam without looking away. "Are you going to finish it?"
Ren shook his head slowly, keeping his movements controlled. "No… you can call it my pet."
"Is that your Talent?" The question came immediately, sharper this time.
"…Yeah." The lie came out smoother than expected.
"…Too bad." The figure turned away without another glance, already losing interest.
"The capital doesn't allow beasts, even if they are tamed." His tone was light, almost dismissive as he walked away.
"I'll be on my way. I still have a duty to fulfill." He stopped briefly at the entrance.
"…Todolu." The word came out softly, almost like a name.
"I hope to see you later." And just like that, he disappeared.