Daldal: Main story

Chapter 2

The next target was the meat.

There was no time for choosing or being selective. Eun-oh approached the nearest piece and reached out blindly. His hand grasped a quite hefty piece of meat. Swiftly, he pulled it close with both arms. The scent of blood, still moist on the meat, wafted through the air. Even that smell felt sweet.

As soon as he lifted the meat, Eun-oh glanced warily into the darkness. No significant disturbance had occurred.

Having secured all his loot, Eun-oh carefully took each step, exerting all his effort to safely leave the place. It took quite a while before he reached the path leading to his hut. Finally, a breath of relief escaped his lips. With the distance he had covered, even if the traveler had noticed, it would be challenging for him to track Eun-oh down.

He He! Laughter of joy escaped as he realized the successful completion of his task.

Eun-oh, with lightened steps, began to run towards his hut.

Eun-oh's hut was deep in the mountains. It was nestled in a picturesque location between a rock formation near a waterfall-laden gorge and steep cliffs. It was a location challenging to find unless aided by a stroke of luck.

The small hut was made by digging out the ground, building walls with boards, and covering the roof with hay and cloth. It looked very shabby from the outside. It was so weak as it looked that it collapsed helplessly at the slightest wind blow, and there was always a musty smell from the rotting trees.

The hut, which could not protect against heat or cold, did not function properly as a living space. Still, Eun-oh cherished this hut. It was a place to rest his body, a place to return to. In the most fundamental sense, having a stable home was essential for a secure life. In that regard, the shack was as precious to Eun-oh as a palace. Despite its shabbiness, it had been his haven, allowing him to survive and persevere. Of course, comfort was a luxury he couldn't afford; it might not be a palace, but it was undeniably meager.

Living alone in the hut, despite providing a sense of stability, was physically demanding. It was tough in the heat, challenging in the cold, and even harder when hungry. Occasionally, there were days when both his body and spirit found fulfillment, and today was one of those days.

"Wow! It's great! So wonderful!"

A truly rare good day.

Indeed, it had been a long time since he laughed with such joy. It was well-deserved after enduring long hunger, though perhaps not to the point of calling it an end but certainly enough for a momentary pause.

"Yeoul, look at this! I've brought something amazing!"

Eun-oh, overwhelmed with joy, entered the hut and exclaimed triumphantly. His spirited demeanor could rival that of a victorious general. Startled, Yeoul, who was dozing with a rumbling sound, raised his head towards the ceiling with a yawn. Keck!

Approaching Yeoul, Eun-oh proudly displayed the hefty chunk of meat he had brought.

"Look. It's a leg of a mountain boar. Isn't it huge?"

It was a plump leg, enough to last several days even if they ate to their heart's content.
Yeoul, who had risen abruptly, sniffed the air with his black nose. Soon, a drool, not much different from Eun-oh's, dangled from his sharp snout.

"Let's eat this tomorrow. I mean, really feast on it until our stomachs burst!"

"Haah, haah!" Eun-oh, consumed by appetite, breathed heavily, his eyes ablaze with unwavering determination. A hint of red tinged even the whites of his eyes. In response, Yeoul curled the corners of his mouth, emitting peculiar sounds-a Kiki-Kiki-Kiki-Kiki!