The Hunter's Odyssey-Chapter 85: The Strong and the Weak

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'Are you going to do this with every survivor you meet?' Ophilia's voice was laced with something between contempt and genuine curiosity as they moved. 'Save the weak. Take them in. Like some kind of shepherd?'

"It is my body, and what's with helping people?" he muttered back, wiping blood from his cheek with the back of his hand before pulling out his dagger. He glanced at the group. "Is anyone hurt?"

They all looked rough, but nothing life-threatening.

'Because it makes you weak,' Ophilia stated flatly. 'And it puts me in danger. Your danger is my danger.'

Jagger ignored her, "Great job. How many monster cores does everyone have?" He said, turning back to face the group.

Jung let out a short, breathless laugh. "Just got my third," he said, a flicker of pride in his eyes as he held it up. "Damn, I need to get my stamina up. Hunting is real work."

"Four here," Abdul added, shaking out his arms. "My arms are aching."

Soo-min and Nico both held up two cores each.

Jagger gave a curt nod, then turned his head. "Alright, claim you items and let's head to safe house, it's just around the corner, but keep your eyes peeled."

"All of them have leveled up by at least two or three levels. Jung is around nine, Abdul is around seven, Soo-min is at six, and Nico is at four. As a Brawler, he has to rely on his fists to fight. He does have experience in semi-professional boxing, but fighting with your life on the line is different," Jagger thought to himself as he scanned the surrounding buildings.

'You're ignoring me again.' Ophilia's presence was a cold prickle at the back of his mind.

"Stay close." Jagger didn't slow as he guided them through the street, his pace steady but controlled, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. Every rooftop, every shattered window, every alleyway was checked in passing, his awareness stretched thin across the dead city. The others followed closely behind, their footsteps uneven and heavy with fatigue, each step just a little too loud against the quiet.

He clicked his tongue softly. "Quieter."

They adjusted immediately, tightening their formation and their movements, now more deliberate.

The salon came into view moments later, its glass front still intact, the faint glow of the keypad beside the door cutting through the dimness like a small, waiting signal. Jagger raised a hand without looking back, and the group halted instantly, their silence now complete.

He approached alone, shoulders relaxed but ready, his gaze sweeping the street one final time before shifting to the keypad. His fingers hovered for the briefest moment before pressing the numbers in sequence.

4211.

A soft click followed.

The lock disengaged.

"Inside," he said, already pushing the door open just enough for them to slip through. They moved quickly, one after the other, not wasting time. Jagger stayed behind, watching the street until the last of them entered before stepping in himself and shutting the door firmly.

He pressed the lock again.

Secure.

The atmosphere changed immediately. The silence inside was heavier, contained, no longer exposed to the open threat outside. For a moment, the group simply stood there, breathing, their eyes drifting across the dim salon floor where abandoned chairs and cracked mirrors reflected back distorted versions of themselves.

"…This place is untouched," Nico murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Don't get used to it," Jagger replied, already moving toward the stairs. "Upstairs."

They followed without hesitation. The wooden steps creaked under their weight as they climbed, the sound echoing faintly in the enclosed space, but it no longer felt dangerous. As they reached the second floor and stepped into the staff lounge, the shift in their reactions was immediate and unmistakable.

"…Whoa," Abdul breathed, his voice carrying a mix of disbelief and relief.

Jung let out a quiet whistle, his eyes scanning the room. "This… this is actually livable."

Soo-min said nothing, but the tension in her shoulders visibly eased, her gaze lingering on the couch, the table, the soft glow of the lantern. It was the first place since everything had begun that resembled something close to normal.

Jagger ignored it.

"The bathroom's there," he said, nodding toward the door. "One at a time. Clean properly. Wash everything you can."

They didn't argue.

Nico moved first, almost too fast, only to be pulled back by Abdul, who grabbed his collar.

"Line, idiot," Abdul muttered. "You think you're the only one that smells like death?"

"I definitely smell worse than you," Nico shot back.

"You wish."

Jagger walked past them without interest, then moved to the kitchen and checked the cupboard. He opened it and scanned quickly.

Still stocked, he pulled out two cans of beans and two cans of tuna.

Behind him, the bathroom door shut, and the sound of running water filled the room. Steam slowly began to seep out from beneath the door as they took turns, each one emerging looking slightly more human than before, though the exhaustion still clung to them just as tightly.

Nico came out first, hair damp and messy, wearing an oversized shirt he had found. Abdul followed, muttering under his breath about finally not smelling like "a swamp." Jung went next, quieter, more composed, though his movements were slower, weighed down by fatigue. Soo-min was last, stepping out with her hair loosely tied, her clothes clean but still damp in places.

Nico and Abdul blushed, trying not to stare, as Soo-min adjusted the wet collar of her shirt.

She moved differently, more settled, as if the simple act of washing away the grime had given her back some small piece of herself.

Jagger didn't comment.

Instead, he took a seat in the armchair, set two sealed pre-packaged meals beside the cans of tuna and beans, and placed them on the table with a dull, solid thud.

Soo-min sat on the couch next to Jung and Nico, while Abdul settled on the floor.

"Eat."

They looked at the food, then at each other, hesitation passing silently between them.

Jung scratched the back of his neck. "We… can't just take your stuff like that, Hyeong-nim."

"Yeah," Abdul added, shifting his weight slightly. "You've already done enough."

Soo-min remained quiet, but her eyes lingered on the food just a moment too long, while Nico swallowed unconsciously.

Jagger looked at them, then exhaled slowly.

"You're not taking anything," he said evenly. "You're eating. Because if you don't, you slow me down tomorrow."

That was enough.

Their hesitation broke.

They moved in, slower at first, but the moment the food was opened, restraint disappeared. They ate quickly, quietly, focused entirely on the act itself, as if reminding their bodies what it felt like to function again.

Jagger stood up and leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, watching them without really watching, his thoughts elsewhere.

'And tomorrow you will have to carry them. Protect them. Guide them. For what?' Ophilia's thoughts slipped into his mind, quiet but sharp. 'The strong do not owe the weak their strength.'

Jagger's jaw tightened, 'That's where you are wrong. The strong have a duty to protect.'

There was silence from Ophilia.

After a while, their movements slowed, their breathing steadied, and the room settled into a quieter rhythm.

"Alright," Jagger said. "One hour."

They looked up.

"Sleep. I stay up for the watch." His tone left no room for argument.

No one argued.

They didn't have the energy.

Nico walked over to one corner of the room and dropped onto the floor almost immediately, facing the wall as he stretched without care. Abdul followed, lowering himself adjacent to Nico. Abdul's foot touches Nico's head.

"Move your leg." Nico slapped his foot.

"You move your head."

"This is my spot."

"You don't own the spot."

"I was here first."

"You literally weren't."

There was a brief shuffle, a quiet thud, followed by a low groan.

"…You just kicked me on my head again."

"You deserved it."

"Bro, I swear I'll knock you out."

"Try it. A level 4 brawler against a level 7 warrior? You'll be in a coma before I break a sweat."

Jagger ignored them, a faint smiled on his lips.

Soo-min hesitated for a moment before settling onto the couch, curling slightly into herself, one arm tucked beneath her head. Her breathing slowed quickly, exhaustion pulling her under just as easily.

Soon the room grew quiet.

Jagger found himself at the window, pulling the curtain aside just enough to peer outside. A few goblins and ghouls ran past, their shambling forms slipping beneath the faint glow of the city's streetlights. Nothing close. Nothing interested.

'Someone trying to sneak up on us.' Ophilia's thoughts were a faint whisper, alert.

"Go to sleep, Jung." Jagger let the curtain fall back into place, turning slightly.

Jung froze, caught.

"Hyeong-nim..." Jung's voice was low, uncertain. "I was hoping to have a talk with you?"