HIFH | Chapter 30

Episode 30

“Help me! Please!”

A thin scream sliced through the air.

I ran toward the direction of the sound.

Then, I saw a small, frail child struggling in the artificial mud.

Countless dark shadows rose above the water.

A group of crocodiles was disturbing the once-calm surface as they hunted.

Instinctively, I analyzed the threat.

‘Four… no, five.’

They had already formed a semicircle around the child.

The child’s small hands flailed in the air, desperately trying to grasp onto something, but the mound of dirt collapsed mercilessly.

Their legs were buried deep in the mud, leaving no room to escape.

“I don’t want to die…! Help me!”

At that moment, one of the crocodiles slowly opened its mouth.

Its long, sharp teeth glistened under the sunlight, and its heavy, blunt tail cut through the water.

A single movement would be enough to end the child’s life.

So.

“Hah!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, I jumped in.

I grabbed the child’s waist and rolled backward.

Snap! The massive jaws of the crocodile opened and then shut again.

The child, who had barely escaped, trembled with terror, their eyes wide with fear.

“You’re safe now. Stay behind me.”

“B-but…!”

Behind me, there was another crocodile.

We were already surrounded by the pack.

“I told you it’s okay, didn’t I? Don’t worry. I’ll save you.”

In truth, I was bluffing.

Right now, I had neither a gun nor a sword.

‘How foolish.’

Even if I thought nothing would happen, I should have brought them.

This was entirely my fault.

I had been careless.

So…

‘I have to save the child.’

I took a deep breath.

It had been a long time since I last moved my body this intensely, and though I was worried, I had no choice but to act.

Swish!

As the crocodile behind the child swung its tail, I twisted my body.

Then, I drove my fist into the crocodile’s eye.

Thud!

The forceful impact made the crocodile instinctively shut its eyes.

But just then, another crocodile beside me opened its mouth and lunged at my leg.

“Hah!”

I quickly bent my knees and leaped onto the crocodile’s snout.

Reaching out with one hand, I grabbed the edge of its mouth, using every last bit of strength to pry it open.

Blood dripped freely from my hands, but I couldn’t stop.

If I hesitated, I would be devoured immediately.

The crocodile’s eyes, nostrils, and nape—

I had to strike the weakest spots, just as I was trained.

I jabbed my fingers deep into the nape of its neck.

“Kraaaah!”

The crocodile let out a shrill cry and thrashed its body.

Taking advantage of the moment, I shouted at the child.

“Run to the shore!”

But just then—

Another crocodile lunged forward, jaws wide open.

Not at me.

At the child.

Its teeth gleamed.

“No!”

Without looking back, I threw myself forward.

I knew this meant my body would be caught in its jaws.

But still—

Still, the child—!

I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable pain.

But then—

Bang!

A gunshot rang out from somewhere.

Swish! I twisted my body, rolling across the ground.

The bullet had only cut through the air, perhaps meant as a warning, but it was enough to drive the crocodiles away.

“Huff, huff…”

Gasping for breath, I scanned my surroundings.

I quickly pulled the sobbing child into my arms.

And then—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Gunfire echoed through the air.

The approaching crocodiles scattered in an instant.

“Hah…”

I let out a hollow laugh.

I couldn’t help it.

There was only one person I knew who could shoot with such precision.

“Charles!”

It was Lu.

Stroking the child’s trembling head, I collapsed onto my back.

“You’re early…”

But I knew you’d come.

I closed my eyes.

“Charles!”

Lowering his gun, Lu ran over and hastily examined Charles.

He didn’t care that the child in her arms was crying.

Right now, his entire focus was on Charles.

“Are… are you okay?”

With an expression of rare panic and distress, he pressed two fingers below her ear.

Her pulse was there.

She was breathing.

That meant…

‘She’s unconscious.’

She had lost too much blood.

Lu clenched his jaw as he looked at Charles’ mangled hands.

Rip!

He tore his clothes and wrapped them around her hands.

It wouldn’t stop the bleeding completely, but it would hold until they reached a doctor.

“Oh my god! Theo!”

A scream came from Cecil.

That child—was he Cecil’s nephew?

Lu felt his anger deepen.

“Theo! Open your eyes! Are you okay? Huh?”

Cecil fretted over Theo, stamping her feet anxiously.

Lou turned toward her.

“Miss Cecil. Your nephew is perfectly fine and completely unharmed. Anyone can see that.”

“H-huh?”

“But Charles ended up like this, and you don’t even notice? Are your eyes just for decoration?”

“I-I… I didn’t mean—”

“If you have any sense at all, you should be running to fetch a doctor instead of just standing there!”

Lu was always sharp-tongued, but it had been a long time since he was this harsh.

Cecil felt like crying.

But the moment she saw Charles lying there, she realized—

This wasn’t the time for her to cry.

I may not be a good person, but I’m not a bad one either.

There’s someone injured right in front of me—how can I cry just because I feel sad?

Cecil quickly pulled herself together.

“I’ll go get a doctor!”

And she ran off without hesitation.

“Ugh…”

Just then, Charles stirred and slowly opened her eyes.

Her violet irises shimmered as she blinked slowly.

Seeing that, Lou felt like he couldn’t breathe.

He had nearly lost that light.

She had almost disappeared.

It had almost become a living nightmare.

“You…!”

“The child?”

Her first words cut off his anger.

Charles asked as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Is the kid okay?”

Lu couldn’t suppress the surge of emotion.

“Even in this state, you’re worrying about the child?”

That kid—

A kid she didn’t even know—

Why did she risk her life? Why?!

Lu clenched his fists so tightly that a line of red dripped from his hand.

“Of course I’m worried. I got hurt saving him. So tell me—Is he okay?”

She had no idea how he felt.

Or maybe she didn’t even want to know.

Lou wanted to say the child had died, just to see her reaction.

But he held back.

Because she would be devastated.

“The child… is fine.”

“Haa…”

Charles finally sighed in relief and smiled faintly.

“That’s good.”

Then, she turned her head to the side and closed her eyes again.

“I’m going to sleep. I’m tired.”

You’re not tired—you’re in pain.

Your wounds must be excruciating.

Why won’t you admit it?

“You…”

Lu pressed his forehead against Charles’ cheek and closed his eyes tightly.

“You’re not supposed to get hurt like this.”

His voice trembled as if it could break at any moment.

“This isn’t how it should be.”