I PICKED UP A CHILD IN A DUMPSTER-Chapter 72: tilted

The black window snapped open in front of him.

「(ᗒᗩᗕ)...Different. 아빠. Hide Fast!!!」

The letters trembled in front of him.

Before he could respond—

"THUD."

Heavy.

Close.

Instinct took over.

Si Hon darted sideways, slipping behind one of the larger cages that had a torn animal hide draped over the part of it. He crouched low, pressing himself into the shadow, and slowing his breathing manually.

Something emerged from deeper within the lair.

Larger.

Heavier.

The torchlight dimmed as it stepped forward.

Another Munches.

The others were white.

This one wasn’t.

Its fur was black— unnaturally black, swallowing the torchlight whole.

Its frame was broader, shoulders wider, muscles thicker beneath matted fur. Draped over its back was a massive leather pelt... stitched roughly, the shape unmistakable.

It was a Bear hide.

The headpiece was still attached, jaw hanging over its shoulder like a trophy.

It moved without the clumsy swagger the others had.

It walked like it owned the cave.

Outside, the two Munches were still grappling in the snow.

The one being punched noticed it first.

It froze mid-struggle.

The other didn’t.

Until—

SMACK.

The black-furred Munches’ arm blurred.

Its fist slammed into the ribcage of the aggressor with a sound like cracking wood.

The creature flew sideways, skidding across stone.

"Gah!"

The laughter stopped instantly.

Silence swallowed the entrance.

The black Munches didn’t raise its voice.

It didn’t need to.

"You two."

Its tone was low.

Controlled.

Angrier than shouting.

"You two dumb."

(...)

The injured one scrambled upright, lowering its head.

The other backed away.

The black Munches’ nostrils flared.

"Human inside lair."

It scanned the darkness.

"Human hide."

Its eyes moved slowly across shadows.

"Human have sword. Strong sword."

A pause.

"But we many."

It lifted its chin slightly.

"Find human. Kill human."

The command wasn’t loud.

Si Hon’s heart stopped.

(Human...?)

His fingers dug into the stone beneath him.

(That’s not me. No one hasn’t seen me yet. Right? Right?)

"Human. Blade curved," the black one continued, making a slicing motion with its clawed hand. "Shiny. Cut fast."

Blade curved.

Si Hon’s blood ran cold.

Sword.

Curved.

Strong.

Katana.

His mind stalled.

(Seorin.)

The name didn’t feel like a thought.

It felt like being pushed an beneath ice.

Cold. Instant. Paralyzing.

The black furred Munches stepped deeper into the lair, torchlight sliding across its coat without truly touching it.

Each step was slow.

Measured.

Not careless like the guards outside.

This one knew how to move.

Han-Gyeol Mimi pulsed once against Si Hon’s finger.

Not panicked.

Not afraid.

Focused.

Then—

Metal scraped softly against stone somewhere deeper within the cave.

A thin sound.

The black Munches’ ear twitched.

Its lips curled.

Slowly.

"Human still here."

The words were low. Almost pleased.

Si Hon flinched.

His heartbeat slammed once against his ribs.

(Is it talking about me?)

His hand rose instinctively, pressing hard over his own mouth to smother his breathing. His palm was damp. He hadn’t noticed when he started sweating.

(Fuck... It’s talking about Seorin. Nah... for sure it’s Han-Seorin...)

But doubt slipped in anyway.

Or was that just paranoia clawing at him?

The cave felt smaller.

Hotter.

"Thud."

The Munches moved.

"Thud."

Another step.

"Thud."

Not rushing.

Not searching wildly.

Walking.

Like it already knew.

It stopped beside one of the cages— the one with nothing inside but old bones and rusted bars twisted outward.

Then it tilted its head.

Slowly.

And looked behind it.

...

...

...

No one was there...

The torch beside the cage flickered.

The air did not move.

Si Hon did not breathe.

The black Munches stood completely still.

Then—

It smiled wider.

As if that had been the point.

As if it hadn’t expected to see anyone at all.

Its nostrils flared slightly.

Sniffing.

Listening.

Waiting for the smallest mistake.

Somewhere above, one of the hanging skeletons creaked gently as it swayed in the warm air.

The sound was soft.

But in the silence—

It was deafening.

Han-Gyeol Mimi pulsed again.

Sharper.

Closer.

The black Munches’ gaze shifted.

Not to the cage.

Not to the corridor.

But slightly to the left.

Toward the wall.

Toward the exact place where Si Hon was pressed flat against cold stone.

And for a single second that felt too long...

It felt like the darkness itself was looking back at him.

The black munches started walking.

It didn’t rush.

That was the worst part.

The black-furred Munches moved with a patience that felt deliberate— like something savoring the moment before snapping it in half. One long arm lifted without looking back, fingers flicking once at the two white Munches near the entrance.

Stay.

They froze instantly.

Obedient.

Silent.

The black one stepped toward the cage.

Toward him.

Each step landed heavy but controlled— "thud... thud... thud..." not clumsy, not hunting wildly, but certain. The bear hide across its shoulders shifted with a dry rasp, the hollow skull hanging over its back knocking softly against bone charms tied to its belt.

The torchlight bent strangely along its fur, as if the flame itself hesitated to touch it.

Si Hon couldn’t breathe.

He crouched lower behind the cage, fingers clamped over his mouth so hard his jaw ached. Sweat slid down his neck, cold despite the heat of the cavern. His heart slammed so violently he was convinced the bars were vibrating with it.

(It knows. It knows. It knows. Why is it walking so slow? Just kill me already. Just—)

The creature stopped.

Right in front of the cage.

Beside of him.

It didn’t immediately look down.

It stood there first.

Listening.

Then—

Slowly...

Its mouth stretched.

Wider and Wider.

Until the grin reaches nearly to its ears.

Its head tilted slowly to the side— far too far... until the angle looked painful, unnatural, like the joint had loosened in a way it shouldn’t.

Its thick black fur slid with the motion, one eye disappearing into shadow while the other remained exposed, wide and unblinking.

From that unnatural sideway angle, only its head appeared from behind the cage, the rest of its massive body concealed behind it.

It didn’t step out. It didn’t shift. Just the head— tilted too far, one eye exposed, unblinking— peering at him as if the darkness itself had grown a face.

Then—

The corners of its mouth lifted just slightly, not into a grin, but into something crooked and wrong, it didn’t blink, it didn’t breathe loudly.

It just remained there... head bent at that impossible tilt, watching him there like a predator peeking around a doorway, waiting to see if he would move first.

It was curious...

Almost playful.

Then its eyes lowered.

And met his.

There was no confusion.

No surprise nor a reaction...

It just saw him.

Fully.

Si Hon’s thoughts shattered.

His eyes snapped wide open, pupils shrinking so fast it hurt... like his mind had tried to pull itself back all at once.

For a split second, they darted wildly, unfocused, before locking onto the tilted head peering at him.

His eyes went wide— too wide. He couldn’t even blink. It felt like if he looked away for even a second, the thing in front of him would move.

His breathing stuttered behind his hands.

(It sees me. It sees me. It sees me.)

Every rational thought collapsed under that single realization. His body went rigid, instincts screaming to run, to fight, to do anything— but he couldn’t move, his eyes remained wide, almost trembling, trapped in that horrified stare as the creature watched.

(Fuck. It sees me. It’s looking at me!!!! I’m dead. I’m dead. I’m dead. Don’t move. Don’t breathe. Don’t—)

His hands pressed harder over his mouth, fingers trembling, his lungs burned, black spots flickered at the edges of his vision.

The black Munches leaned closer to the cage bars. Its breath brushed against his face— warm and sour, way too close.

Close enough that he could see the faint layer over its dark eyes. Close enough that if it just reached out... well it didn’t.

It just stared.

Studying him.

Like a child deciding whether to break a toy now or later.

The grin twitched.

Then—

It straightened.

The smile softened into something almost... amused.

It stepped back.

One step.

Two.

As if Si Hon had never been there.

As if this had only been an inspection.

"Human..." it muttered, turning its head slightly toward the others. "No human here."

Si Hon’s brain lagged behind reality.

(What?)

"But sword woman human inside lair."

Its voice shifted— cooler. Sharper.

"Find sword woman. And kill.)

The two white Munches immediately scrambled, nodding, scrambling away into different corridors of the cavern.

The black one lingered one second longer.

Its eyes flicked back to the cage, to where he was hiding, to him.

And the grin returned— small, knowing.

Then it turned and walked away.

Not hurried.

Not concerned.

As if it had just set something in motion.

Behind the cage, Si Hon remained frozen long after it left his immediate sight.

His hands were still over his mouth. His chest heaved silently.

(It let me go...)