Chapter 174

Park ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Chaeshin, Bruno, and I arrived near the outpost as scheduled.

Cha ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Myeonghan had already left Busan and was crossing the Pacific, and it was safe to say that unless there was a major variable, no one had noticed our movements.

"Now, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍once we cross the barrier, we'll be completely hidden."

"Hearing ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you ramble about facts that even an infant born in Seoul would know, you must be quite nervous, Senior?"

"Nervous? ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Hmph, there are few people as unethical as me."

"What ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍does that have to do with this?"

"It means I've seen all sorts of unsightly things. I've done all sorts of things one shouldn't do, too."

"Well, considering you even laid hands on your own body, that says everything."

"Tsk, let's just stop talking."

Both I and Park Chaeshin talked more as we got closer to Gangwon-do.

An effort to shake off the tension in any way possible.

Of course, Bruno followed us without saying a single word.

He was using a human skin mask, but perhaps due to his unique aura, he gave off the impression of someone who would have held a significant position in the underworld.

It probably seemed even more so because he was carrying the sack containing Catalina’s boss's corpse over his shoulder.

Park Chaeshin must have felt it too, as he turned his head and threw a comment.

"Hey, how long are you going to keep acting so serious? No matter how much this is business, people will get suspicious if we don't look like we're in the same group. At least walk side-by-side."

A logical point, quite unlike Park Chaeshin.

However, it seemed he had failed to persuade Bruno.

"Shut up, brat."

"What?"

"I did not make a promise with you."

"Sigh……. There's no need to speak like that when we're going to a place teeming with monsters, is there?"

"I am merely a guide. I will only deal with the monsters in front of me."

"Why are there only strange people around me?"

Park Chaeshin lamented.

However, his grumbling did not last long.

As soon as we reached the front of the barrier, he was overwhelmed by its massive appearance.

"Whoa……. There was a reason why Hyeonseong is number one in market capitalization."

"You don't have the luxury to admire it. We're going to check our equipment and move on immediately."

"I know that!"

We soon finished our preparations.

Then, we met with a person from Hyeonseong who had received orders from Cha Myeonghan, and smoothly set foot into the underground passage heading toward the outpost.

With this, it was my second visit to Gangwon-do.

No, since I lived in Gangneung as a child, the word 'visit' would be meaningless.

Nominally, we are free mercenaries mobilized for the outpost project.

However, we would end up getting lost in Gangwon-do due to an unfortunate accident.

Since it was very common for free mercenaries to go missing while crossing the barrier, there should be no problem.

"Then, we will move again around sunset. Until then, please blend in with the other mercenaries."

Hyeonseong’s guide left us with the group of mercenaries and went to attend to his duties.

Since we could not move while the sun was up like this.

I had no choice but to hang around appropriately, but Bruno was the first to move his steps.

"It will cause suspicion if we stick together for no reason. I will show up on my own later."

As expected of the person with the most field experience.

He was not called a demonic being hunter for nothing.

"Seokhyeon, I have something to do as well."

"You do, Senior?"

"Yeah, I'm planning to secure a topographical map of the surrounding terrain. It's likely that those among the free mercenaries who are of a certain caliber will have one. In this business, information is life."

"Suddenly, you're being reliable in a way that's unlike you, Senior?"

"Just how have you been seeing me usually?"

"As a drunkard."

"Why, you little!"

"It was a joke. More importantly, do you have funds? They won't hand over information easily."

"Funds are not the only answer. You can buy information with information, after all."

"Buy it with information?"

"What do you think is the information that free mercenaries want the most?"

"Naturally…… it would be money."

Since they were working as mercenaries because of money.

"Right. Actually, this is a secret, but I'm thinking of selling some information about the Special Affairs Division."

"……."

I should have known.

Well, it was not a bad method.

While it was strictly illegal for a person from the Special Affairs Division to leak information, in a situation where one's identity was ambiguous like now, it was fine as long as one did not get caught.

One could say it was very much like Park Chaeshin.

He immediately left to put his plan into action.

Anyway, what should I do now?

I looked around the surroundings where construction was in full swing for a moment.

The area was busy with the work of building walls for the outpost.

Those bricks were also items procured from the dungeons beyond the rift and from Gangwon-do.

If it were outside the barrier, cement would have been used for the joints, but here, they were joined using magic.

In other words, the ones with strength moved the goods, and the ones with brains drank mana potions comfortably while using magic.

Well, anyway, I shouldered the bricks in the cart and began working.

Since it would be good to overhear some talk before we officially left the outpost.

"Hey, move quickly before the sun goes down! Haven't you heard that traces of monsters were discovered in this vicinity?"

"Yeah! If we don't meet today's quota, we'll have to work with monsters late at night!"

The smell of sweat permeated the entire time I was working.

Of course, there was also a slight smell of blood.

"Whoa! Look where you're going! Are you blind!"

"What did you say, you punk?"

"I said keep your eyes open! Your eyes are as small as millet seeds."

"Oho, this is great! I was just feeling irritated anyway, you come out!"

"You think I'll be scared if you say that?"

I worked silently and finally reached a break time.

Thanks to my stats, there was nothing physically difficult, but because of the location, everyone was sensitive due to the environmental mana.

In such an environment, it would take longer to find the magic tool.

As I was catching my breath, I saw a group talking over their mid-day meal.

I carefully listened, and quite an interesting conversation was flowing.

"Did you hear that story? The story that someone is wandering around the outpost when everyone is outside the barrier after work is over."

"What's that about?"

"They deploy guards once the sun goes down, right? But apparently, I heard from a fellow who was standing guard that a human whose identity can be known appears every night."

"Hmph, ten to one he probably dozed off. As you said, it would be strange not to do something else while standing guard until dawn without any shift, right?"

"Doing something else is one thing. But isn't it a bit much to dismiss it lightly when all eight guards are giving the same testimony?"

"What about the possibility that they confused it with a monster? I heard earlier that monsters are coming up to this mountain these days."

"No, it's not a monster. You know what kind of habits the monsters of Gangwon-do have. Whether the opponent is strong or weak, as long as they have mana, they rush at them. But apparently, it didn't attack."

"C-Could it be that humans are actually living near here?"

"What do you mean, could it be! It's obviously just something the guards are exaggerating! Even if there is a human, what is there to be surprised about? They're probably just mercenaries who go out hunting at night."

A ghost story about a human appearing every night.

A story unfamiliar even to those mercenaries who cross the barrier.

A mercenary who had been silent until now joined in.

"No, that might not be the case."

"What?"

"It's because I was standing guard until just a few days ago."

"T-Then you're saying you actually saw that person who might be a human?"

"Not only did I see them, but I even chased them myself."

"……!"

The noise of the murmuring mercenary group died down.

Everyone who was working focused their attention on that mercenary.

"W-What happened after you chased them? Did you fight?"

"To state the conclusion, I lost them. But I obtained a meaningful result. I mean the fact that that human, no, those humans live in a group."

"W-What did you say!"

"Of course, I didn't witness them directly. But I was able to find traces of group life near there. Footprints of primates, traces of cut trees, and even traces of field dressing that a monster would not do."

"Hunting! You mean it's a group of humans who hunt!"

"Well. I don't know why they don't live inside the barrier, but if they were going to interact with humans outside the barrier, they would have done so long ago."

"Then it means they are intentionally isolated……. But what is the reason for spying on the outpost at the top of the mountain every night?"

"They must be interested in us. For example, reconnaissance for an attack."

"……."

I stood up from my seat after hearing those words.

I could not know how much was exaggeration or truth, but in the original work, there were no humans living in Gangwon-do.

If there were, it would be the Avid Reader's setting.

In the same vein, the alchemist of Manyeong was bothering me.

A character who would only appear much later was staying in Gangwon-do…….

And an alchemist who makes dolls at that.

"I smell something."

There was another thing on my mind.

The mafia members who had attacked earlier aiming for Catalina’s boss's corpse.

Their destination was outside the barrier heading toward the outpost.

In that case, who would transport the corpse after that?

The outpost is managed simultaneously by Hyeonseong and the Bureau.

As a result, they could use the Bureau's personnel, but Director-General Baek Dojin is not the type of personality to entrust such an important task to low-level personnel.

"Therefore, a being who is a bit more certain and can maintain a secret completely must have been needed."

For instance, another doll.

I wandered around the outer wall of the outpost for a moment while keeping my Demonic Eye open.

Sure enough, clues immediately caught my eye.

To be precise, they were marks on the wall created while climbing up the outer wall.

"Since one cannot enter normally from outside the wall, it's natural to climb up like this."

Which meant the alchemist was truly close by…….

Perhaps he was watching us from very far away.

Or perhaps he was already acting as a human inside the outpost.

After all, they looked so identical to humans that even Bruno, who smelled the scent of mana, could not distinguish them.

"So you felt it too?"

Bruno approached from nearby.

I thought he had gone to kill time, but it seemed he had successfully caught the scent of the incident.

I looked around at the surroundings and asked quietly.

"The mana scent you felt from your boss, you still remember it, right?"

"……Are you saying they are hiding inside the outpost?"

"The probability is high. They subtly sneak in at dawn when mercenaries enter the base, and return to their original home at night. Look closely at those marks on the outer wall. Those are not marks from one or two times. They probably grasped the same spot several times to minimize the traces."

"For what purpose?"

"If I were to guess, they are acting as an intermediary to deliver information inside and outside the barrier under someone's orders, or……."

"Or?"

I stopped talking for a moment.

It was because I had encountered a sense of alienage that I could not understand at all.

"Perhaps they are approaching out of curiosity about humans themselves."

"What……?"

"Let's wait for the sun to go down for now. If we're lucky, we might be able to find the alchemist sooner."