At first, it felt like nothing more than a faint tremor.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
But when an ominous vibration began to ripple through the ground itself, the users finally sensed that something was terribly wrong. By then, however, it was far too late.
The change began deep within the dense forest about two hundred meters from the edge of the camp. Flickering lights blinked on and off repeatedly, then suddenly, several bright glimmers appeared between the trees.
No, they weren’t just bright lights. Occasionally flickering and glowing with a deep crimson hue, those were unmistakably eyes—eyes radiating a fierce red glare. One by one, those glowing red eyes pushed through the underbrush, steadily advancing toward the camp.
At first, there were only three or four pairs of eyes visible. But as they drew closer, more and more red glints emerged, until dozens of lights flashed menacingly in the darkness.
Thud, crack! Thud, crack!
With every thunderous sound, massive trees snapped and crashed helplessly to the ground. From the collapsing forest, shapes began to take form, illuminated by those eerie red lights.
And then—
“What is that sound?”
Kushan, who had been eavesdropping on the meeting, turned pale and averted his gaze at the sudden cacophony. He recognized the sound immediately. This was his home turf, and that roar—he could have made it himself if he wanted. In other words, only his own kind could produce such a noise.
“Ugh, aaaaahhh!”
Suddenly, the roar cut off, replaced by what sounded like screams from outside. It was obvious why someone was screaming.
“No, no!”
Kushan gritted his teeth. He didn’t know why, but after overhearing the meeting, he felt an urgent need to stop whatever was happening. He tried to rise reflexively, but the ropes binding him tightly to the pillar left him completely immobilized.
“Giants! Giants!”
The screams grew louder and the chaos intensified by the second. Kushan’s anxiety mounted with it. It was mealtime, so his arms were free from their usual restraints. Without hesitation, he grabbed the ropes binding him.
“Ugh…!”
He strained with all his might, but how could ropes bound by magical power be undone so easily? No matter how hard he pulled, the bindings held firm, tightening around his body.
“Ugh…!”
Still, Kushan gritted his teeth and pulled harder. A sharp ache blossomed in his abdomen, but he ignored it, pouring every ounce of strength into breaking free until his face flushed bright red.
Crack, snap!
Finally, Kushan’s effort paid off. The ropes stretched little by little under his brutal strength, then suddenly tore apart with a satisfying rip. The shredded strands scattered everywhere as Kushan stood up, finally free.
Moments later, he charged toward the source of the screams with fierce determination.
Meanwhile, at the same time—
“What’s all this commotion?”
The users gathered inside Kim Yuhyun’s tent looked toward the entrance, their faces filled with confusion. They had been quietly reading through the records Kim Yuhyun had handed out, one by one, when suddenly a loud roar shattered the calm and the camp erupted into chaos.
Just then—
“It’s an emergency! Giants are attacking!”
A man burst into the tent, breathless, pushing aside the flap to deliver the news. Kim Yuhyun and the others exchanged puzzled glances.
“Giants attacking?”
“Yes! They suddenly appeared from the western forest…!”
The western forest was a no-go zone designated by the Northern Expeditionary Force. It was thick with undergrowth and massive trees, so no one had any reason to venture in. And yet, giants had emerged from there?
“Quick, get ready!”
Before the man could finish, a terrifying roar echoed from outside, shaking the users’ eardrums. The voice was so loud it felt like thunder crashing overhead.
“This is serious!”
Another man ran into the tent, shouting similar news as he nearly stumbled inside.
“Giants have appeared!”
“What do you mean? You said they were attacking earlier!”
“No, no! We were almost attacked, but a smaller giant suddenly appeared and held them back!”
“What…?”
The man gasped for breath as he relayed the new information. But no one could make sense of it. What was this about a small giant stopping the others? The situation was completely unclear.
Kim Yuhyun was just as taken aback. Not that he hadn’t expected trouble, but this was far more sudden than he’d imagined.
“Let’s go. We need to get out there.”
There was no point staying inside, knowing nothing. Without hesitation, Kim Yuhyun stood and dashed out of the tent. The other users, who had been sitting stunned, scrambled to follow him.
As they stepped outside, they had to tilt their heads back to fully grasp the reports from the men.
“Oh my God…”
One user muttered a faint sigh, perhaps voicing what everyone was thinking. The presence looming in the west was overwhelmingly massive.
How could one even describe it?
They were huge. Enormous beyond belief. The figure at the front was at least twice Kushan’s size—maybe over ten meters tall.
Though bits of leaves clung to their bodies, their exposed upper torsos bore skin tones similar to humans. Their eyes, mouths, hands, and feet resembled human features, but that was where the similarity ended. Their drooping earlobes were so exaggerated they could rival a Buddha statue, and the vast expanse between their eyes was unlike anything human. Their sheer size was incomparable.
Yes, these were giants straight out of myth. More than a hundred of them had broken through the western forest and revealed themselves.
The situation was unfolding in a strange way.
“Quid Inferorum Loqueris! Dimitte Me, Ut Citius Homo!”
“Et Quid Infernum, Quid Tibi Non Hic Agitur. Haec Sunt Hostes.”
The giants, who seemed ready to charge at any moment, halted at the camp’s edge and waited silently. One gripped a tree he’d clearly uprooted, another crossed his arms and glared at the humans, as if awaiting orders.
And the one who had stopped their assault? None other than Kushan himself.
“Cura Tibi! Et Curabo Me Ne Faciam Hoc!”
Standing alone with arms spread wide, he blocked the giants’ path. Facing the largest one at the front, he shouted at the top of his lungs. Though his face looked angry, his voice was desperate.
“Abi, Semel Huc Ante Tempus, Huh?”
“Tu Vero Hic Agitur, Num Mentem.”
As Kushan exchanged words with the biggest giant, the users cautiously backed away, watching the giants carefully. There were barely a hundred of them, but each radiated immense power. The leader’s presence was more formidable than any monster they’d ever faced. Though they drew their weapons and prepared to defend themselves, their expressions betrayed their fear.
Time passed.
“Ut Liberet Te Cura Guam Ego Possem Gerere Pro Me!”
“Sed Hoc Verum Est?”
“Wait—my crystal orb!”
Just as Kim Yuhyun snapped back to his senses and reached to find his crystal orb—
“HeuHeuHeuHeuHeuHeuHeuHeuHeuHeuHeuHeu…”
A low, chilling laugh whispered into the users’ ears.
Only then did Kim Yuhyun truly hear the giant’s voice. It was different from Kushan’s—deep, resonant, and powerful, vibrating in his ears.
The giant standing over ten meters tall, with sharp features and deep-set eyes, caught Kim Yuhyun’s gaze. Instinctively, he knew: the laughing giant at the front was the king of these giants.
“KeuHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!”
The booming laughter swept through the camp like a storm. The users winced as their eardrums rattled. Then, abruptly, the giant stopped laughing and swung his arm like throwing a stone. Something flew from his hand, flailing through the air—it was one of the unlucky users caught earlier.
Thud!
“Ugh, aaaaah!”
The user was still alive. He splashed down into a muddy puddle and scrambled to his feet, fleeing desperately. The giants chuckled again, but it wasn’t genuine amusement—it was a cruel, mocking sneer.
And then, moments later…
“Melius Est. Kuschani Successor Noster.”
The giant at the front let out a dry chuckle, then turned his body toward the forest they had just broken through, as if harboring not a shred of regret. Just as he was about to step forward, he suddenly half-turned his head back and looked at Kushan, who was still standing there, before speaking.
“Ut Recte Agere. Certum Exspectat.”
(…So be it. I will wait.)
Only then did the crystal orb, which had been quietly glowing, translate the giant’s words.
“Nos Autem Fratres! Ha, Ha, Ha!”
(Brothers, let us go! Ha, ha, ha!)
With that final declaration, the giant strode off decisively, and one by one, the other giants turned and followed their leader’s path.
Before long, every giant had vanished into the western forest.
“……”
“……”
After the storm passed, all that remained was an eerie, profound silence.
Thus ended the first encounter between humans and giants—with the giants retreating first.
Late at night, though still too early to call it dawn, a dim twilight settled over the camp. Only the faint outlines of objects were visible in the gloom. The rain had stopped, but perhaps because of that, an even more chilling stillness hung in the air. The occasional soft breeze carried with it an unsettling, almost mournful feeling.
(Kushan.)
Suddenly, a low voice drifted through the dark tent, where the faint scent of cooled stew lingered. The source of the voice was the crystal orb, glowing brightly in the dimness.
(Did you… stop them?)
Opposite the voice sat a massive silhouette leaning against a pillar. It was Kim Yuhyun and Kushan.
Earlier, the giants had attacked the northern expedition’s camp—or rather, were about to attack—when Kushan stepped forward, and they simply turned and left. Neither Kim Yuhyun nor Kushan fully understood why. They could only guess based on what they saw; the full story was known to others.
After a moment, Kushan gave a small nod. Kim Yuhyun let out a sigh, the meaning of which was unclear.
(Hoo… I see… Should I be thanking you? You really caught me off guard.)
(……)
(Are you still angry?)
(No.)
When Kim Yuhyun asked cautiously, Kushan immediately shook his head. Then he spoke quietly.
(What will you do now?)
(Hmm?)
(Will you… continue?)
(……)
The word “continue” hung in the air, the rest left unsaid, but both Kim Yuhyun and Kushan understood exactly what it meant.
(I don’t know.)
After a brief pause, Kim Yuhyun suddenly flopped down onto the ground.
(I guess I should probably quit.)
(So, you’re going back?)
Kushan asked nervously, but no answer came, no matter how long he waited.
Silence.
Taking the silence as tacit agreement, Kushan spoke again.
(That plan to conquer the mountains… is it really necessary?)
(…It is. Because it’s needed.)
This time, Kim Yuhyun’s voice came through.
(Is it because of greed? Or because it’s truly necessary?)
(Hmm. That’s a tough question.)
Kim Yuhyun tapped the ground thoughtfully.
(If I had to say, it’s different for each human. Everyone has their own reasons.)
(Reasons?)
Kushan’s question was met with a slight nod from Kim Yuhyun. He stared blankly at the tent’s ceiling, then glanced briefly at Kushan.
(Some are about survival. Others, about greed… It varies from person to person.)
Kushan tilted his head, not because he didn’t understand, but because he suddenly became curious about Kim Yuhyun’s own reasons. But that wasn’t the time to dwell on it; the conversation had to return to the main point.
(So… what will you do now?)
(I’m going back. Tomorrow.)
Kim Yuhyun answered simply, his voice resigned. Kushan bit his lip. The stories he’d overheard earlier in the meeting were all coming back to him. So then…
“Kushan.”
It was at that moment.
Kim Yuhyun suddenly sprang to his feet—not just sitting up, but standing fully. He looked Kushan straight in the eyes and began to approach slowly.
This time, his eyes shone with a fierce light, unlike before. As if he had made some grave decision. Sensing the change, Kushan swallowed hard and fell silent.
When Kim Yuhyun reached him, he spoke softly.
(We’re… friends, right?)
At those words, Kushan’s expression went blank, stunned. He hadn’t expected to hear something like that.
(What…?)
Kim Yuhyun continued.
(I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you. Truly, truly enjoyed it.)
Kushan still said nothing. Or rather, he couldn’t.
He had enjoyed it too. Being with Kim Yuhyun had opened his eyes to a new world.
But “friend”—while he understood the concept—was foreign to him. He had never had a friend before. So hearing those words from a human he barely knew felt strange.
Kim Yuhyun’s gaze remained steady, sincere, no hint of teasing. Seeing that, Kushan didn’t feel uncomfortable.
Kim Yuhyun went on.
(So… I don’t know how you feel about this…)
He raised his hand, then snapped his fingers sharply.
“Snap!”
The ropes binding Kushan fell away, sliding to the ground. Kushan’s eyes widened in shock at his sudden freedom.
But before he could fully process it, Kim Yuhyun’s hands gripped his shoulders firmly.
(Kushan, listen carefully. The plan to negotiate with the giants has been scrapped. At today’s meeting, it was decided that humans will completely withdraw.
…But this isn’t the end. Even though they’re retreating now, humans will come back to conquer these mountains again.
With far greater numbers and overwhelming firepower.)
Kim Yuhyun’s voice was grave, but Kushan already knew all this. He had overheard the conversations in the tent earlier.
(It’s not just that. There’s talk of taking you away. That’s definitely not a good thing. If they take you, you won’t see anything good. So, for now, run. Got it? Are you listening?)
What surprised Kushan most wasn’t the warning itself, but that Kim Yuhyun was telling him everything so openly—even the part about being taken away. He didn’t know what Kim Yuhyun was thinking, but the word “friend” from earlier now resonated more deeply.
After a moment, Kushan finally steadied himself and looked Kim Yuhyun in the eye.
He had been told to run. If he hadn’t overheard the meeting, he might have done just that.
But if they parted ways now, would everything really be resolved?
No. Knowing what was to come, Kushan couldn’t simply run away—not if he cared about his own kind.
‘I have to find a way to fix this.’
Though free, Kushan didn’t move. He remained seated against the pillar, motionless.
(So… does this mean humans now see us as enemies?)
Did Kim Yuhyun notice the change in Kushan’s voice?
He stared at Kushan for a long moment, then sighed deeply and spoke in a weary voice.
(Truth is… I had some hope while spending time with you.)
(Hope?)
(Yeah. You’re quite similar to us. You have intelligence.
So I thought, maybe we don’t have to fight. Maybe we can find a way to settle this without conflict.)
(Y-yeah, I thought so too.)
Kushan quickly agreed, and Kim Yuhyun nodded.
(That would be the best way. If we could just find a path without turning you into enemies, we could avoid unnecessary bloodshed and get what we want.
Better yet, maybe even build a relationship—help each other.)
Though the words were a bit complex, Kushan understood them well enough. They reminded him of things his father used to say.
(Many people agreed with me, and that’s why I was able to bring you here. …But I guess I was wrong.)
The moment Kim Yuhyun said he was wrong, Kushan felt a heavy weight settle in his chest. Regardless of Kim Yuhyun’s position, it felt like everything his father had taught him was being denied.
(…Anyway, this is all I can do for you.)
Kim Yuhyun muttered softly and squeezed Kushan’s shoulder, urging him to get up quickly.
But Kushan had no intention of moving. He knew Kim Yuhyun wanted to save him, and he appreciated that, but he hadn’t even begun to tell his own story.
Shaking his head, Kushan suddenly shouted.
(But! You said at first you wanted to talk!)
(That’s true. But after seeing the giants who came earlier, people’s feelings toward your kind changed. Giants are strong. Too strong. We’re scared of you.)
(Are humans cowards? Just because you’re scared, does that mean you can’t talk to other species?)
(Cowards? No! That’s just the confidence of the strong. You don’t understand our position. The power gap is enormous. It’s not even at a level where talking makes sense…!)
Kim Yuhyun, who had been speaking up to that point, suddenly bit his lip hard. The hand resting on Kushan’s shoulder dropped limply, and his head bowed.
(…I’m sorry.)
Then, in a voice that sounded like he was holding something back, Yuhyun apologized.
Only then did Kushan realize his mistake. He understood just how deeply his earlier words had wounded Yuhyun’s pride.
But at the same time, Kushan felt desperate. Even he knew that living alongside humans like this was no ordinary occurrence—it was something special, a rare opportunity unlikely to come again. In fact, it was practically the last chance. That’s how Kushan felt.
If the humans left now, the extinction of their kind would be all but certain.
In the end, there was only one option left.
To move the man standing right in front of him.
Of course, the odds of things going according to Kushan’s plan were slim. But as a prospective ruler, unlike other giants, he had grown up under a father who worried about their people’s future from a young age—and he knew he would have to bear the same worries someday.
At the very least, Kushan wanted to try. Doing nothing was not an option.
(…You said we were friends.)
Yuhyun’s shoulder twitched at the sudden reminder.
(If, a few months from now, more humans come, it’ll get harder for us too. No, the chances of extinction will definitely rise. But you say we’re friends, and yet you’re just going to watch our people die.)
(That’s not it!)
Yuhyun’s tone sharpened with a hint of reproach, and his voice naturally grew louder.
(I can’t help it. It’d be great if all giants were like you, but they’re not.)
At those words, Kushan found himself momentarily speechless. Yuhyun’s words were a pointed reference to the time his father left the mountain range.
(Even so, you’re the highest authority here, right? So at least you can try.)
(It’s impossible.)
(Why do you keep saying that…?)
(Kushan. You don’t even understand the concept of negotiation, let alone this situation. You don’t think from our perspective at all. That’s exactly what I mean by being exclusive.)
Yuhyun’s firm words filled Kushan’s mind with questions.
“Our perspective? The humans’ perspective?”
(For a negotiation to work, both sides have to want something from each other. But you don’t want anything from us. You just want to solve everything on your own.)
(Of course, I admit we’re exclusive. But you saw today, didn’t you? If I can help like I did today, then at least we can talk… Negotiate! Yes, we can negotiate, can’t we?)
Recalling what he had learned from Yuhyun, Kushan shouted out.
(Hmm.)
Yuhyun let out a faint sigh and seemed to fall into thought. A flicker of hope crossed Kushan’s face.
(No. It’s difficult.)
But after a moment’s hesitation, Yuhyun’s conclusion was a refusal.
(Even if you help, people won’t want to go. Because they’re scared. Let’s say the negotiation falls apart—what do you think will happen then? Think about it.)
Before Kushan could even consider it, Yuhyun continued.
(In a situation like this, both sides need to have roughly equal power. So even if the negotiation fails, they can keep each other in check. Only then is it worth trying. Without that, it’s just one-sided death.)
Yuhyun’s point was simple: even if a dialogue was somehow arranged, there was no guarantee it would succeed. In fact, the giants were very likely to reject it.
And if the negotiation failed, would the giants just let the humans leave peacefully? Wave goodbye?
No. That chance was practically zero. Today, the giants attacked the humans again, and it was only because Kushan intervened that they were barely sent away.
What Yuhyun was worried about was exactly what would happen after that.
“This is… the humans’ perspective…”
The perspective of the weak, not the strong. Kushan finally understood what Yuhyun meant by the confidence of the strong.
(You’re strong, and we’re weak. We don’t even have the minimum qualifications to negotiate with you. That’s why it can’t happen.)
So the minimum condition for negotiation was having roughly equal power.
Having said that, Yuhyun bowed his head once more.
(Sorry.)
Then he slowly turned and began walking toward the tent’s entrance.
“Is there really, truly no way?”
Step by step, Kushan’s mind grew more tangled as he watched Yuhyun’s retreating back.
Then suddenly, a flood of thoughts raced through his mind.
“You don’t even understand the concept of negotiation, let alone this situation. You don’t think from our perspective at all. That’s exactly what I mean by being exclusive.”
“In a situation like this, both sides need to have roughly equal power. Only then is it worth trying.”
“I guarantee we can handle over 100,000. We’ve already cleared the path, so it’ll be easy to come back, and we can bring other magic or tools to fight the giants.”
“If we step back now, in a few months we can definitely wipe out the giants.”
“Rejecting the other side outright and thinking we’re the best is wrong. If we keep going like this, the only thing waiting at the end of the road is extinction.”
“The glory of the past is just that—the past. If we stay still, we’ll only fall behind. To survive, to reclaim our former glory, we have to change. That’s why we have to go.”
Finally, his father’s words struck Kushan’s mind with force.
“There is a way!”
His eyes snapped open.
(Wait!)
Kushan shouted loudly, reaching out toward Yuhyun. But despite the urgency in his voice, Yuhyun didn’t stop. He kept walking slowly toward the entrance.
Kushan called out again.
(There is a way! A way I can help!)
And at that moment,
Yuhyun stopped dead in his tracks.
(…A way?)
(Yes! There’s a way to balance our powers!)
Kushan pressed on.
Yuhyun still faced the entrance.
Then—
A slow smile spread across Yuhyun’s face, revealing his bright white teeth.
At last, the conversation they both had been waiting for had begun.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Ah, sorry for the delay today! I didn’t expect the story to get this long. (__)
Originally, I planned to include Kim Suhyun’s perspective next and split this into two parts, but I just didn’t have the energy to keep going. Haha. Honestly, I’m still a bit out of it. But I have to finish organizing the illustration proposal for Han Soyoung, so I’m not sure when I’ll get to sleep. ^_ㅠ
Thank you all for reading, and I hope you have a relaxing night!