TCGAD 6

…That is to say, it felt like the monster had taken a strong interest in me. A very strong interest, at that.

The surging madness seemed almost tangible, yet at the same time, just out of reach.

☀️

I scratched another mark on the wall with a stone. Stepping back, I counted each bar drawn on the wall one by one.

One, two, three, four…

I let out a small breath. A life practically in captivity. I don’t even know how many days it’s been since I last saw sunlight properly.

…If there’s one thing to be thankful for, it’s that the monster hasn’t shown his face for a few days. I don’t know what that guy is up to, but he often leaves the cave for long periods like this.

In the meantime, I had to drag my perfectly fine leg around, pretending my ankle was injured. For the first time in a while, I could walk normally on two feet.

“…Mew.”

The baby deer could grow without disturbance too. At first, it could barely open its eyes and just trembled, so I secretly clicked my tongue. I thought it might die any moment.

“…….”

Its breathing was so faint. When the baby deer was asleep, I couldn’t help but place my hand under its nose to check.

Soft, soft. Each time, its tiny breaths greeted me. Breaths tickling like feathers. My heart would inexplicably tingle. I secretly scratched my chest.

The baby deer lapped up milk with its tongue, gulping it down eagerly.

“It’s eating really well.”

Ms. Lemon smiled brightly. The fawn let out a small, careful burp. Then, tap tap, it nudged my stomach with its head.

“Oh my, this little white deer is funny. Is it asking you to hold it, sir?”

I smiled awkwardly and hugged the fawn. Its tiny tongue l**ked my cheek. It smelled of the sweet milk it had just drunk. Its moist eyes stared at me. I averted my gaze, feeling guilty.

The baby didn’t care one way or another. It pressed its cheek against my lap and fell asleep, breathing softly. Since I was the first thing it saw when it opened its eyes, it mistakenly thought I was its mother.

“It thinks you’re its mom. Even though you can’t nurse it yet, sir!”

Looking at Ms. Lemon, who was spouting cheerful nonsense, I gazed down at the fawn. It was growing better than expected, but it was still very small. I hoped it would eat well, sleep well, and grow quickly. But then an uninvited guest appeared.

“It looks like Mr. Bulkan is back.”

Ms. Lemon whispered. Being non-human, she excelled in everything. She often predicted the monster’s visits out of the blue like this.

…This is bad. I’d let my guard down since he hadn’t shown up for days. Holding the fawn, I hurriedly plopped onto a chair.

“Mr. Bulkan, we’ve been waiting for you.”

Soon, the monster entered the room. B**g, the sound startled me, and I flinched. The fawn, woken from its sleep, burrowed into my arms in fright.

The monster’s eyes fixed on my face. They slid down my neck, slowly across my chest, and finally landed on the fawn.

“What’s that?”

The baby deer trembled in fear. My heart ached with pity. I covered its eyes with my arm.

“Did you give birth to it?”

He was spouting utter nonsense. I couldn’t fathom how his thoughts jumped from human to deer. Even if he takes the form of a human at night and a dog at dawn.

I swallowed hard and continued.

“The deer you caught a few days ago was pregnant.”

His fierce eyes narrowed. By the way, his face was already intimidating, but when he deliberately scowled, he looked like a goblin.

“Then why are you feeding the prey?”

“…Because it’s still a baby and has no mother.”

“Mother?”

His tone was like, what’s the problem with that? He was the one who killed it. The cruelty made my chest feel tight.

“Yes, mother.”

A creature without even a name. The fawn clung desperately to me, the first thing it saw upon opening its eyes. When hungry, it s**ked on my fingers. Its mother died before it could learn anything, yet it fought so diligently for life. Every small movement was for survival.

“A baby needs someone to care for it.”

Its head is soft, and it can’t even stand properly on its four legs. In this state, it wouldn’t last an hour in that forest. It would either starve or get eaten by a hungry predator.

“That’s unnecessary. I was strong from birth. I learned to hunt prey and tear flesh with my jaws.”

As expected, reasoning with him was futile. Even in human form, his linguistic ability was only slightly better. His thinking was fundamentally like a dog’s.

The fawn, startled by the stranger, whimpered and tried to hide. I moved my hand to pat its small body.

“You didn’t give birth to it?”

The monster tilted his head, seemingly intrigued. Why was he so interested? His relentless staring was terrifying. It really felt like he was completely fixated on me.

The thought sent chills down my spine, making my neck stiffen.

“Then why are you feeding it milk?”

Common sense doesn’t work with this guy. I needed simpler logic, one based solely on instinct and strength.

“Well, obviously.”

I carefully covered the fawn’s ears. I felt its tiny body trembling in my grip. It wasn’t even fully developed yet. If I pressed too hard, it might tear, so I was extremely gentle.

“To fatten it up before eating it, so there’s more to eat.”

The small creature couldn’t possibly understand human speech, but an emotion sprouting like moss between my ribs weighed me down. That d**ned guilt again. I’m sorry, little one. Just forget this whole moment.

Just go away. I don’t know why he’s lingering like this. Ms. Lemon’s voice came from outside the door like a savior.

“Mr. Bulkan, I’ve prepared bathwater for you.”

Yet his persistent gaze remained fixed on me. He suddenly smirked.

“You really look like its mother. White deer.”

His lips relaxed into a grin. He was smiling, but his eyes burned with hot madness, making my ankles ache for no reason. I deeply missed the days he was gone.

“But deer are too weak. It should be a dog. A dog to guard the cave.”

I felt the fawn’s eyes looking up at me. If left in that forest, this fawn and I were no different—just insignificant lives. I wished it wouldn’t look at me. I probably can’t protect it…

“Mr. Bulkan.”

Ms. Lemon’s voice came again from outside. Yet the monster and I stood in a standoff, as if we heard nothing.

“Mr. Bulkan!”

The door burst open, and Ms. Lemon rushed in, looking slightly urgent. Since she never opened the door without permission, I was quite surprised.

“Uh.”

Her voice caught, and she cleared her throat before continuing.

“Ms. Empusa is here…!”

What? The sudden intruder left me flustered. I barely laid the sleeping fawn on the bed and stood stiffly in place like a robot.

The door opened next. A woman’s silhouette appeared. A gasp of awe escaped me.

“I wondered where you were going, panting like a beast in heat.”

A woman I’d never seen walked in slowly. Gracefully, elegantly. It was like watching a black swan.

“Just this gloomy, unpleasant cave?”

Ms. Empusa was astonishingly beautiful. She seemed taller than 180 centimeters, her hair jet-black like the night sea, wavy, and reaching her waist.

And her voice…

“Indeed, quite interesting, this dog of the gods.”

It was soft, low, and silky. …Is this what it feels like to be charmed by a snake? It was like being in a bewitching dream.

If she asked for my liver, I’d cut open my belly to give it to her. If she asked for all my wealth, I’d scrape every last won from my account. That kind of voice.

‘…….’

Her exotic beauty and imposing stature were overwhelming. The monster and Ms. Empusa made a striking pair. Like a magnificent painting.

But the monster’s eyes were indifferent. He was probably more passionate about a bone.

Why would he reject such a beautiful woman? It was incomprehensible. Others would’ve suspected he was impotent.

But…

‘Ugh, grr.’

The memory of his groans echoed in my ears. He’d rolled his eyes like a madman, rubbing his lower body against mine. He didn’t seem to have any issues with sexual function.

…Rather, it was excessive.

‘…Ugh… hng!’

It’s not his function but his taste that seems to have a serious error…

Even now, look. With this beautiful woman in front of him, he’s staring only at me. What’s been wrong with him these past few days? His head must be seriously broken.

“Still.”

The monster suddenly spoke. I wondered what he was about to say.

“If you give birth to a white deer, you’ll have to nurse it. If someone else does, its fur might turn black.”

He was still obsessed with that nonsense…! I bit my lower lip, exasperated.

“Black fur isn’t very pretty.”

His nonsense showed no sign of stopping. Ms. Empusa’s elegant eyebrow shot up. Her eyes suddenly turned fierce.

“What kind of dog-like nonsense are you spouting in front of me?”

Unable to take it anymore, Ms. Empusa approached the monster closely. Very closely. As if she were about to kiss him, she pressed her nails into his abs.

“Where is the prophet’s hand? I’ve asked you several times.”

Seeing her nails dig deeper, I gasped inwardly. That’s where his wound hasn’t fully healed. It must hurt like h**l.

“Who are you?”

The monster just twisted his lips into a smirk.

“That hand is already mine, so why do you covet it? That hand is mine, and this is mine too.”

Suddenly, my elbow was grabbed. A strong force pulled me. My face slammed into a chest like a solid wall. I tried to spring back but was caught by his binding strength.

“…….”

“…….”

A chilling silence pressed heavily on the air. Like an insect caught in a spider’s web, I cautiously gauged the situation.

Ms. Empusa’s sharp jaw trembled. She looked like she was holding back immense anger.

“…Fine. Maybe I should ask this one instead.”

Her gaze shifted to me. Deep green eyes, like a swamp… Thick anger swirled viscously within them.

“Just this thing.”

Her hostile gaze scanned me from bottom to top.

“It looks like it can’t even crush a rock with its fist, and its eyes have no strength, like a dumb bird.”

Every word was painfully accurate. I was always a pathetic guy with no special abilities. I wasn’t particularly good at studies, and my athletic skills were rock-bottom. Plus, my limbs aren’t even fully functional now.

“For the queen of the underworld to be this foolish and harlot-like. Was a pretty-faced bird your taste?”

Her insults were sharp but didn’t seem to affect the monster. He was too nonchalant, just yawning with his sharp jaw trembling.

“Yawn.”

There was no sign of communication.

Next, the arrow turned to me.

“Then you tell me. Where’s the prophet’s hand?”

“I, I don’t know…”

I waved my hands frantically, palms out, insisting I didn’t know.

“You don’t know?”

I nodded vigorously, desperate to prove my innocence. Ms. Empusa’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“Then let’s try another question… What did the prophet do?”

I swallowed hard.

“That’s why Mr. Bulkan bit off his hand.”

The cave fell into a sudden silence.

“Well.”

A smacking sound came. It was my tongue wetting my dry mouth. Words caught on my front teeth.

“The prophet… grabbed my ankle.”

Such a ridiculous reason… I was so embarrassed my tongue felt stiff. As expected, Ms. Empusa doubted her ears.

“What?”

Her spider-leg-like eyelashes fluttered slowly. My throat burned with embarrassment.

“He grabbed my ankle… with his hand.”

She let out a scream and lunged at me. Her long nails hovered dangerously close to my eyes.

“You vile human, you expect me to believe that?”

It was so terrifying my heart sank to my stomach. I froze like a pillar of salt.

“The dog cut off the prophet’s hand and hung him alive in the Olympus temple. Left him to have one eye pecked out by a starving hawk…!”

It was unbelievably cruel. The one I treated, using up the last of the herbs, was such a brutal creature. I berated myself fiercely. I knew I’d regret it, but to think I helped such a monster. I really wasn’t in my right mind.

“How about it? If I pluck out this human’s eyes, will you cut off my hand too…?”

Before she could finish, the monster cut her off.

“Anyone who tears off flesh will be fed to Cerberus.”

Grind, grind. The sound of teeth grinding echoed. Clatter, Ms. Empusa’s teeth fell and rolled across the floor.

The air, heavy with dampness, pressed down on my skin. It felt like the silence would crush me. No, maybe fainting would’ve been better.

As I swallowed hard, gulp, gulp.

“Mew.”

The baby deer, asleep in the corner, staggered to its feet. It toddled over, rubbing its nose on my lap, whimpering for a hug.

Ms. Empusa, blood dripping, muttered.

“…White deer only live in the barren northern forests. A place most creatures can’t return from alive.”

Her red lips froze, parted.

“Probably a gift from the dog to the bride?”

Her words were almost a soliloquy. Her sharp nails curled inward. Her nails were red with blood from Mr. Bulkan’s burst wound.

“Remember this well. This land was mine too.”

Ms. Empusa spoke ominously and left the cave.

Her tone was chillingly eerie, but the monster, as usual, didn’t care. He hoisted me over his shoulder and headed straight for the bed.

But the lingering aftertaste kept me from sleeping easily.

My stray thoughts flowed from Ms. Empusa, burning with black rage and grinding her fangs, to Mr. Bulkan, who insisted on me despite a woman who desired him so fiercely. Isn’t he completely out of his mind?

I couldn’t tell if the oppressive weight on my shoulders was from the monster’s arm wrapped around me or the strange regret digging into my chest.

☀️

After that day, an overly ordinary routine followed. It was so calm and peaceful, but I couldn’t shake an eerie feeling.

I was told treating the monster would bring misfortune. Not knowing how that misfortune would come, I couldn’t relax for a moment.

“Ah… hey!”

While lost in thought, a sharp sensation grazed my fingertip. I flinched and pulled my hand back. I was feeding the baby deer milk from my palm, and it seemed to have bitten me by mistake.

Worried I might’ve startled it, I looked at the fawn.

“I’m not scared, it’s okay, uh…?”

But something was off. Its gentle, black eyes were stained blood-red. It was as if they’d been dipped in crimson, chillingly pure.

<<Human.>>

The fawn, which had been calmly drinking milk moments ago, moved its muzzle as if possessed. A strange voice came out.

<<How dare you defy my will. Aren’t you afraid of a god with absolute power?>>

Foam bubbled at its mouth.

<<Feel what it’s like to be betrayed by what you cared for.>>

The baby deer opened its mouth wide, as if to lunge at me. Startled, I stumbled back.

“…!”

Ms. Lemon had gone to prepare food, leaving me in a bind. I thought the fawn would go for my throat, but it suddenly collapsed. It slammed its head into the ground, whimpering in pain, rolling around.

<<If you don’t obey my command, I’ll take your life.>>

It seemed the young deer was fiercely battling between its desire not to harm me and the voice controlling its mind.

“…Mew!”

I was at a loss, overwhelmed with confusion. If I could, I’d kneel before it and beg for forgiveness…

All of a sudden, the baby deer bolted upright, rammed its head against the door, and dashed outside.

“Stop right there…!”

I, who had been sprawled on the ground, quickly sprang up. Before the door could close, I hurriedly propped it open with my shoulder.

What do I do? I’m not supposed to leave without permission…

While I was hesitating, stomping my feet, the forest I’d been to before flashed through my mind. A place teeming with starving beasts. If the baby deer was out there alone, it surely wouldn’t survive the night.

I couldn’t waste any more time. I rushed out the door. Not knowing the way, I wandered aimlessly. Frantically navigating the winding passages and crossing a shallow river, I found myself outside the cave. As the thick ceiling above my head gave way, I quickened my pace. My mind was consumed with one thought: I had to find the deer quickly.

…A vast sky, dense foliage, damp and heavy air.

“Huff, huff.”

I didn’t even know which direction I was running in. Just blindly. Blindly charging through the underbrush. If it were a full-grown deer, there’d be no hope, but since it was still young, I clung to the slim chance it hadn’t gone far.

“…Ha.”

Just as my breath was reaching my throat, I heard a faint whimpering sound. I slowly came to a stop. Pushing through the foliage with my arms, I approached. Small hoofprints were etched into the muddy ground.

“…Mew! Mew!”

The baby deer was floundering in the river.

“Wait, don’t move!”

I jumped into the water. Wading through the sticky current, I moved forward. Luckily, the water wasn’t too deep, only reaching my thighs, so I could safely scoop the fawn into my arms.

“You must’ve been so scared.”

The deer, which had been thrashing wildly, calmed down as soon as it was in my arms. Its body trembled with fright. Its blood-red eyes had returned to normal, and it nestled docilely in my embrace with its usual innocent expression. It seemed to like being held, pressing its front hooves tightly against my chest. It was completely calm, not struggling at all.

“Phew, thank goodness.”

I finally let out a sigh of relief. This was fortunate. At least it hadn’t been eaten by something.

“It’s okay now…”

I gasped for breath. Perhaps finding my drenched state amusing, the fawn l**ked my cheek with a soft, smacking sound.

“Let’s sit and rest for a bit.”

Holding the deer, I leaned against a nearby tree. Looking around, it was all trees and underbrush.

Now, how do I get back? I’d run so recklessly that I couldn’t remember the way. This was bad. As the sun set, the forest would turn into a battlefield teeming with dangers. At night, the temperature would plummet, and starving beasts lurking nearby would emerge.

Fortunately, my shoe prints were left in the w** ground here and there. Could I follow them back?

“Let’s go.”

Holding the fawn, I slowly got up. Even if I didn’t know the exact direction, I intended to find my way back to the cave.

“…Oh.”

If I hadn’t spotted the narcissus flowers… I would’ve just focused on finding the way back.

Whoosh, a breeze brushed my cheek. Chirp, chirp, a bird sang somewhere. Taking a deep breath, air filled my nose. It wasn’t exactly refreshing, but it felt incredibly good.

It swept away the dampness clinging to my ears, underarms, and knees. For the first time in a while, I felt alive.

I hadn’t been outside for nearly two months.

“…I need to get back.”

I got caught up over a single flower. Without thinking, I reached out. Not to pick it, just to touch it a little. Then I noticed something and my fingertips trembled.

When did they get so thin? My wrists were terribly gaunt and pale. They didn’t even look like they belonged to a living person, more like a corpse.

I’m not really living, even if I’m alive. I’m no different from those people in hospital beds, barely clinging to life with respirators.

A vile emotion crept into my heart, and I shuddered. So what? What’s the point of saying there’s no difference, Gu Myeongha? If I don’t return to the cave, my grandmother…

“…Mew.”

The baby deer in my arms whimpered. Lost in a daze, I snapped back to reality.

“What’s wrong?”

I stopped speaking. My instincts screamed. My nerves stood on edge like insect antennae. I slowly turned around. The forest scenery imprinted on my eyes in slow motion. Like a moment from a horror movie, it passed before me slowly.

“You ran.”

Finally, a towering figure filled my vision. As expected, Mr. Bulkan stood behind me. His eyes were fixed on one spot. My ankles, planted on the ground. My blood ran cold.

“The human definitely ran on two feet.”

My pretend ankle injury had been exposed. My heart didn’t just chill—it felt like it hardened into a brick. I thought he’d go berserk upon realizing he’d been deceived, but Mr. Bulkan’s assessment was coldly detached.

“The human definitely ran on two feet.”

That was all.

“You said you wouldn’t run away.”

He approached me, step by step. They say when you’re about to be hit by a car, you’re too shocked to dodge. That’s exactly how I felt.

“I didn’t run away.”

“You tried to.”

His words, sharp as a knife, left me unable to deny it. At that moment, the monster grabbed the fawn by the scruff of its neck.

“Don’t do that.”

The baby deer flailed its front hooves in the air. Its teary eyes looked at me, pleading to be saved, to be protected. I let out a shrill scream.

“It didn’t do anything wrong. Break my ankle instead.”

I clung to the monster’s arm. This guy could easily harm this small, young deer. The thought that I might really lose it made my heart sink.

“I wondered why you kept it alive…”

As I lowered my eyes, tears poured out.

“You were planning to ride it to escape, weren’t you?”

At the nonsense coming through my tear-stained vision, I shook my head frantically. Tears splattered everywhere.

“No, that’s not true at all.”

“You were fattening it up to ride it and escape!”

His booming shout echoed through the forest. The ground seemed to shake as if an earthquake had struck.

“Then it needs to be killed even more.”

“Please don’t kill it.”

I clasped my hands and begged desperately. Even when I was unfairly dragged away and beaten as an orphan with unlucky eyes, I wasn’t this desperate.

“Why should I?”

Why should he? He’s asking that as a question now…?

“It’s still a baby.”

Doesn’t he, as a human right now, have the compassion every human should have?

“It’s a baby without a mother. You killed its mother.”

The dam holding back my emotions began to crack. I curled my pleading hands into fists and started pounding his arm.

“You crazy b**t**d, you have so much to eat. Did you have to kill a pregnant animal?”

I furiously struck his abdomen. Tears streamed down.

“This thing, isn’t it because you cut off that prophet or whatever’s hand that you’re being punished?”

Water burst through the cracked dam, and the wall collapsed uncontrollably. I screamed in rage.

“Where I come from, people like you are called psychopaths. Crazy b**t**ds with no emotions at all?”

I’d never spoken so harshly in my life. I spewed every curse that came to mind.

“Why is a guy who should be in a mental hospital running around out here?”

I poured out words without pausing for breath. Gulp, I swallowed the saliva filling my throat.

“Just thinking about going back to that cave is horrifying. No sunlight gets in there. There’s nothing. No TV, no books, nothing… The worst thing there is you. If I have to live like that, ugh, maybe it’s better to die…”

“Then die.”

I froze mid-rant, emotions swirling as I spat out words.

“What…?”

“I said die.”

Like an old robot, I creaked slowly, turning my head. What did I just hear? His cold face filled my vision. His expression was no different from usual. As calm as if he were asking about tonight’s dinner menu.

“You’re starting to annoy me.”

He scratched his chest with his large hand. A look of irritation and annoyance crossed his face.

I didn’t mishear…! It felt like my vision blacked out.

Come to think of it, he’d said multiple times that if my usefulness ran out, he’d bring in another bride… Why had I been so careless? I was such an idiot.

A new fear swept over me like a biting north wind. I was tossed about like a flimsy sailboat.

If I become useless, what happens to me? Who will save my grandmother…?

“What about that oracle or whatever it was?”

My heart raced. Feeling like I was standing on a cliff, I hurriedly continued. My tongue felt tangled.

“You said I had to bear an heir.”

“I can find another bride.”

Hmph, Mr. Bulkan snorted. He was serious. Drip, drip. Tears fell from my eyelashes. If that happens, my grandmother… I rubbed my eyelids with my hands, wiping away the hot liquid.

Reality crashed over my hardened mind like towering waves, slamming into me. Stop acting like an idiot, it said, slapping my cheeks, telling me to stop whining and face the situation. I snapped to my senses and began begging frantically.

“I’ll go back. I was wrong to lie. I’ll go back right now.”

But the response was chillingly cold.

“Liars should have their mouths torn to their ears and their tongues pulled out.”

The horrific words blackened my vision. This guy was capable of carrying out what he said.

What do I do? How do I overcome this…? I racked my brain desperately. Among the jumbled, rock-hard thoughts rolling around, I stumbled upon something and, trembling like I was in an electric chair, spat out words.

“I think I know a way to get pregnant.”

“A way…?”

Biting my lower lip, I nodded slowly.

It was such a horrific and bizarre method that I’d avoided mentioning it. But when I was young, I saw male dogs mating. If I didn’t see it wrong, the yellow dog was definitely trying to penetrate the white dog’s lower hole. It was such a shocking experience that I still remembered it.

“I don’t know if it’ll definitely lead to pregnancy… But I think we could at least, uh, couple.”

He abruptly tossed the fawn aside. It yelped and tumbled onto the grass.

“Hey!”

Startled, I quickly checked on it. Luckily, the grass was soft, and it seemed unharmed. While my attention was on it, Mr. Bulkan pulled me with one arm. A damp voice sounded.

“What is it?”

His large tongue slipped between his lips, l**king his lower lip.

“Where do I have to stick it?”

Something hard and large pressed against my lower abdomen. It felt dangerously close to piercing my navel. This truly insane b**t**d… Just moments ago, he said he’d kill me for being annoying. And now he’s this excited already.

“In exchange, I want to take the baby deer with me.”

I quickly scooped the fawn into my arms.

Even setting aside the fear of Mr. Bulkan’s insanity, the fact that he harbored strange desires for me could be a useful weapon. I had to use it wisely now.