Seoryeong stepped into the forest as snow began to softly fall around her.

The recruits, having spent two days resting and recovering, were now each carrying a survival bag prepared by the instructors as they scattered into the woods.

If Hell Week had been a week without sleep, then the final test — “Catch the Instructor” — was a brutal combination of Hell Week and the infamous “Survival Week.”

Survival Week was notorious as the most grueling training exercise, where each recruit had to survive on just a single 500 mL bottle of water for ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) seven days.

From now on, they would have to stave off hunger by consuming anything they could find — tree roots, insects, grass, whatever they could scrounge up.

“Wouldn’t it be better if we worked together to catch one of the instructors? We make a good team, right? Now’s the time to band together.”

“I don’t like sharing my catch with anyone.”

“Oh, come on, you stingy bastard. Just this once, can’t you look the other way?”

“One time turns into two.”

Dong Jiwoo kept grumbling beside her, clearly annoyed, but Seoryeong had no intention of splitting the reward. There was only one instructor she wanted to catch, and how could they share that? It made no sense.

“I heard there might not even be a new Special Security Team recruit this year.”

“Why?”

“Because the instructors are former UDT. This survival course is a walk in the park for them. Ugh... I guess I’d be better off targeting Instructor Jin Hoje. If I stick around Instructor Lee Wooshin, I might end up getting shot to hell like someone we know―”

“I’m going ahead.”

Scowling, Seoryeong walked off without a second thought. But she hadn’t taken more than a few steps before she stopped and turned back.

“And don’t just eat any random plant because you’re hungry. Some of them will give you the runs.”

“Hey...!”

Sorry, Seoryeong muttered to herself as she tightened the poncho draped over her shoulders.

Before the final test started, she had made a point of tampering with the survival bags handed out to the other recruits.

She had stolen the batteries from their night vision goggles and flashlights. Now, at night, they’d be stuck in place, and even if they managed to spot one of the instructors, they’d be too slow to pursue or respond effectively.

So yeah, sorry. But I have to survive too, right?

With a slight smirk, Seoryeong began her ascent up the snow-covered mountain, where the snow was starting to pile up in soft drifts.

“――!”

Once the sun set, the recruits’ frustrated shouts echoed like a chorus through the forest. Seoryeong took the commotion as her background noise, focusing instead on setting up her temporary shelter.

The instructors had established relatively fair conditions for the test. They entered the forest unarmed, just like the recruits, and they wore boots with distinct treads and carried bells that jingled with every step.

Furthermore, the area they could move within was designated, meaning that if the recruits were determined enough, they could theoretically catch them. But four days had already passed, and none of them had managed to even catch a glimpse of the instructors.

Seoryeong had chased after the bell sound several times, hoping it was Lee Wooshin, but every time, she came up empty.

Occasionally, some of the recruits managed to spot Jin Hoje and would try to ambush him, but they always ended up getting overpowered and beaten senseless.

Seoryeong watched the scene unfold through her binoculars, deep in thought. Would it be better to form a group and attack as a unit?

“Grab him! Ah, fuck, just grab the bastard!”

“Calm down! Ugh...! Hey, you assholes! Are you deaf?!”

“Better to get rid of the dead weight first!”

“Let go of me, you fucking...!”

“Wanna lose that Gore-Tex jacket too?”

No, that’s not it either...

The situation had degenerated. Now, the recruits were fighting each other to steal what little water and supplies they had left. Those who had been stripped of everything were forced to descend the mountain, defeated and humiliated.

Inside the survival bags were essential items like a knife, a waterproof container with flint, a compass, sunglasses, snare wire, signal flares, waterproof matches, a sleeping bag, first aid kit, spare underwear, socks, a folding shovel, and straps.

Among them, the waterproof sheet — which could be used as a makeshift tent — and the sleeping bag were the most valuable items, especially with the temperature dropping rapidly at night.

What had started as a test to catch the instructors had now escalated into a brutal survival competition.

Just then, Seoryeong’s eyes met those of a recruit staring intently at her through binoculars from a distance.

“......!”

She immediately ducked down, but her throat went dry. Now, aside from hunger and the cold, she had more enemies to watch out for.

Over the past few days, snow had continued to fall, piling up so deep that Seoryeong’s boots sank to her ankles with every step.

Every morning, she woke with a start, startled by the weight of snow pressing down on the waterproof sheet she had hung above her.

She sustained herself with salt and water from her survival bag, chewing on tree roots she hacked off with her knife. Whenever she found mushrooms, she’d stare at them suspiciously, trying to guess whether they were poisonous before ultimately deciding to leave them alone.

“Haa... haa...”

Her breath came out in ragged clouds as she wandered alone through the silent, desolate mountains. The only sound in the snow-laden forest was her own labored breathing.

Clink—.

The sound of a bell echoed in the wind — no, it was definitely the bell attached to the instructor’s boot. Seoryeong immediately crouched down, her ears straining. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Should I wait here? Should I set an ambush? She hesitated, but when the bell rang again, she found herself unable to resist and lunged forward. But with nothing in her stomach, her vision swam, and she nearly collapsed from the dizziness.

Grinding her teeth, she forced herself to keep running, chasing the fleeting sound.

Why can’t I catch you? I’m going to catch you. Kim Hyeon — no, Instructor Lee Wooshin — no, Kim Hyeon — no, the instructor...

By the time she reached the source, all she found was an open cliff, surrounded by emptiness.

Seoryeong’s shoulders slumped in defeat. The only thing left was the howling wind biting at her cheeks.

That night, despite being huddled inside her down-filled sleeping bag, her teeth wouldn’t stop chattering. Seoryeong clutched a plastic bottle filled with her own urine, trying to absorb what little warmth it offered.

How many days has it been? Feeling uncharacteristically lethargic, she curled into herself, her mind drifting.

I need to act soon. If only that dream would come back and comfort me...

How long had she been asleep? Amid the blue-tinted dawn, the sound of crunching snow pierced the silence.

Seoryeong’s eyes snapped open.

Wild animal? She flung the waterproof sheet aside, only to find herself face-to-face with Seong Wookchan.

“......!”

His eyes were unfocused, and his entire body was drenched as if he’d been wandering aimlessly through the snow all night. His cheeks were hollowed, his expression blank.

“What the hell?” Seoryeong asked, her tone wary.

But Wookchan didn’t respond. He staggered forward, pulling at the waterproof sheet as he barged into her shelter.

“Hey...!”

Before she could react, his weight crashed down on her, pinning her to the ground.

“Urgh...!”

His hands, icy cold and trembling, clawed at her clothes, peeling back the layers one by one.

“You crazy bastard!” Seoryeong screamed, bringing her knee up hard.

But Wookchan’s grip only tightened. His teeth sank into her collarbone as his frozen hands slid up her skin.

Seoryeong’s jaw clenched as she felt the cold steel of her knife hidden inside the sleeping bag. Without hesitation, she drove her elbow into his jaw and then plunged the knife deep into his thigh.

“Argh! Aaghhh!”

Screams echoed through the snowy woods. Blood spilled onto the snow, staining it dark.

Good. Blood attracts predators.

Seoryeong thought, her expression blank as she pulled her clothes back into place.