Jin didn't stay frozen for long after the system message appeared, because standing still in a situation like this was the same as inviting trouble, and trouble was something he could not afford now, not after what had just happened, not when even a single mistake could turn everything against him. The message itself had already told him enough, and he didn't need to stand there thinking about it for minutes like an idiot, because the meaning was clear—too clear. The system didn't care what he killed. That was the only conclusion that mattered.
Humans counted.
That alone was enough to change things.
But that wasn't the problem right now.
The problem was what was lying on the ground behind him.
Jin exhaled once, steadying himself, not because he was shaken anymore but because he needed to move properly, and then he turned fully, forcing himself to look at everything again, this time not as something he had just done, but as something that needed to be handled. The ground was a mess. There was no point pretending otherwise. Anyone who came here would know something had happened immediately, and if they looked closer, they would know exactly what.
"That can't stay."
He said it quietly, not to comfort himself but to make the decision clear.
If someone found this, there would be no explanation that could save him. He was already marked. People already had a reason to look at him differently. If this got out, it wouldn't be whispers anymore. It would be over.
So the only option—
Was to make sure nothing remained.
Jin moved without wasting time after that, stepping forward and grabbing the nearest body by the arm, dragging it across the ground toward a lower section of the forest where the terrain dipped slightly. He had noticed it earlier without thinking much about it, just another uneven part of the land, but now it mattered. The soil there was darker, softer, not packed down like the rest of the ground. Easier to dig. Easier to disturb without leaving obvious signs if done correctly.
He didn't rush.
Rushing would only make mistakes.
Instead, he worked steadily, pulling each body one by one, positioning them close together in the depression, making sure they were out of immediate sight from the path they had taken. The forest helped him more than he expected. The trees were dense enough that visibility dropped quickly after a few steps, and the natural unevenness of the terrain meant there were already areas where the ground looked disturbed.
That made things easier.
Still not easy.
But possible.
Jin looked around once more, confirming no movement, no sound beyond the natural quiet of the forest, then moved toward a fallen branch nearby, thick enough to use. It wasn't ideal, but it didn't need to be. He drove it into the soil, testing the resistance.
Soft enough.
Good.
He started digging.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Not deep at first, just enough to break the surface, then deeper as the soil gave way, each movement controlled so the displaced dirt stayed close instead of scattering. He didn't think about anything else while doing it. There was no point. Thinking wouldn't make it faster. Wouldn't make it cleaner. It would only slow him down.
So he focused on the work.
After a few minutes, the hole was deep enough.
Not perfect.
But enough.
Jin stepped back, wiping his hand across his forehead once, leaving a faint streak behind without noticing, then moved to drag the bodies into it one by one, positioning them carefully so they fit without leaving obvious shapes once covered. He didn't look at their faces anymore. There was no need.
"They're already dead."
That was all that mattered.
He pushed the soil back in after that, packing it down firmly, pressing it flat, then scattering loose leaves and small debris across the surface to break the pattern. He didn't stop there. That would have been careless. Instead, he took a branch and dragged it lightly across the area, smoothing out the edges, making it look like the ground had been disturbed by something natural instead of deliberate.
Only then did he step back.
And look again.
It wasn't perfect.
But it was enough.
Someone would have to look closely to notice.
And most people didn't.
Jin turned his attention to the surrounding area next, moving quickly but carefully to clean what he could, dragging dirt over the darker patches, covering anything too obvious, using the terrain itself to hide what couldn't be removed completely. It took time. More than he liked. But leaving it half-done would have been worse.
When he finally stopped, the forest looked—
Normal.
Not untouched.
But not suspicious either.
That was enough.
Jin stood still for a second, his breathing steady again, his mind already moving forward instead of staying behind, because there was nothing left here that needed his attention.
He had done what was necessary.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
The system hadn't spoken again during all of it.
That—
He noticed.
Which meant one thing.
Whatever it had started calculating—
Wasn't finished yet.
Jin didn't open the panel.
Not here.
Not now.
That would be stupid.
Instead, he turned and began walking back toward the school, his pace steady, not rushing, not slowing unnecessarily, just moving as if nothing had happened, because that was what mattered now. Acting normal. Looking normal. Being seen as normal.
By the time he reached the edge of the forest, the noise of the school had already returned, faint at first, then clearer with each step, the distant voices of students blending into a familiar background that didn't care about what had happened just a short distance away.
No one looked at him.
No one stopped him.
Good.
Jin walked through the grounds without drawing attention, blending into the movement naturally, his posture relaxed, his expression unchanged, and only once he reached his dorm did he finally close the door behind him and allow himself to stop.
Silence returned.
Different from the forest.
Cleaner.
Jin stood there for a moment.
Then sat down.
Now—
He opened the system.
Whatever came next—
Would matter.