They finally reached the entrance of the graveyard.

  A chilling air wrapped around them as darkness swallowed the path ahead. Twisted trees loomed like watching figures, and the faint mist crawling along the ground made every step heavier than the last.

  As they walked deeper inside, a sudden shadow dropped from above and landed on Sef.

  “AAAAHHHHH!”

  Sef screamed in pure terror, and the others jumped at the sound. Shin rushed forward, alert, scanning the area.

  “What happened?” he asked sharply.

  Then he froze.

  “…Huh?”

  What lay on the ground wasn’t a monster—but a scarecrow.

  Shin grabbed its head and lifted it up.

  “Oy! It’s just a scarecrow!” he sighed. “What a letdown. I thought we’d finally see a monster.”

  Lin stared at him, eyes wide with worry.

  “What do you mean you wanted to see a monster?! Are you crazy?”

  Pik hugged himself, shaking.

  “G-guys… maybe we should turn back. I have a really bad feeling about this place.”

  Suddenly, Bek slowly placed his hand on Pik’s back.

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  “HEEEEK!”

  Pik jumped with an ugly scream.

  Bek laughed and said, “Relax. We’re fine. I’m strong, Shin is fast—”

  He flexed proudly, even though his round belly stuck out more than his muscles.

  “Stop scaring me, you fathead!” Pik snapped.

  “A-aw… sorry. I didn’t mean to,” Bek replied with a sheepish grin.

  They continued walking.

  Then another hand slowly reached toward Pik’s back.

  “AEHHHH!”

  Sef clutched his stomach.

  “B-boss… I’m not feeling well. We should really go back…”

  Pik turned and smacked him on the head.

  “Damn it, it’s just you!”

  Sef groaned in pain, holding his head.

  They walked on.

  Once again, a hand touched Pik’s back.

  This time, Pik exploded in anger and swung backward, slamming the hand away.

  But when he saw what he had hit—

  “H-hey… guys…” Pik whispered, his voice trembling.

  Everyone turned around.

  Standing behind them was a decaying old man, his face pale and corpse-like, his hand still reaching out toward Pik.

  “AHHHHHH!”

  The corpse grinned.

  “Hmmm~ BOOOO! Hehehe~”

  Sef collapsed instantly, losing consciousness from shock.

  Then the corpse laughed.

  “All right, all right. That’s enough.”

  “…Uncle Dan?”

  The figure straightened up, revealing himself.

  Shin let out a deep sigh of relief.

  “So it was you, Uncle Dan. I thought you were a zombie.”

  Lin and Bek rushed forward and hugged Uncle Dan’s legs.

  “Uncle Dan! You scared us!” they cried.

  Pik crossed his arms, trying to look tough—though his legs were still shaking.

  “You old bone! What are you doing here?!”

  Uncle Dan chuckled.

  “Just my usual patrol. But you kids—what are you doing in the graveyard?”

  Lin pointed at Pik immediately.

  “It was Pik! He convinced us to come here! He promised to pay us with a mana stone!”

  “T-TRAITOR!” Pik shouted. “I told you no one was supposed to say that!”

  Shin smiled playfully.

  “First time?” he teased—clearly referring to Lin selling Pik out.

  “But boss, you didn’t say that,” Sef muttered weakly from the ground.

  Pik smacked his head again.

  “I mean—I forgot to remind you! This is a secret treasure!”

  Uncle Dan leaned in close, whispering near Pik’s ear with a slow, playful voice.

  “Oh? And what kind of treasure would that be?”

  Bek puffed out his chest proudly and closed his eyes.

  “A treasure for my roasted duck!”

  “Yes! Yes! Roasted duck!” Pik quickly agreed.

  Uncle Dan turned away, stroking his chin.

  “Hmmm… roasted duck… How could roasted duck be in a place like this… hmm…”

  While everyone stared at Uncle Dan—

  Another hand slowly reached toward Pik’s back.

  Pik froze.

  “…Not again…”