Chapter 176

In ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the place where I arrived following Hyeon Jinseok, other dolls were indeed waiting.

The ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍number was nine, just as I had known.

I ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍explained our purpose to them clearly and concisely.

I ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍do not know if it is appropriate to put it this way, but because dolls are so unskilled in human relationships, it was easy to deceive them.

Aside ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍from that, Hyeon Jinseok was scolded by them.

"That ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is why I told you not to contact the people beyond the barrier!"

"I-I'm telling you, I only went for a short while?"

"A short while? You ran out as soon as the teacher left!"

"Anyway, it turned out well since we met the guests. Let's just let it go nicely."

"Letting it go is our job. You really……! What are you going to do if something happens while you keep acting so recklessly? Don't you know how strictly the teacher told us to keep a close eye on you?"

"I'm sorry……. I'll be careful from now on."

"Ha, you really are something."

Hyeon Jinseok was receiving criticism from those around him.

The dolls treated each other as equals, regardless of their apparent age.

The doll who was currently angry looked elderly at a glance, but based on the conversation, he was no different from a peer.

Since they were dolls, they would have nothing to do with aging in the first place.

Even so, there was a leader among them.

A doll of a middle-aged woman who gave off a fairly dignified impression.

She approached us and spoke.

"I have understood the situation. You are saying you protected her beyond the barrier after she fell asleep?"

"Is there a way to wake her up from her sleep?"

"Only the teacher can do that. As for us, we only protect her until the teacher returns."

Only protect, huh…….

The words I had worried about followed.

"So, the conclusion we have reached is to wait for the teacher at this temporary shelter. We will take responsibility for your safety until he arrives."

"You are wary of us."

"I cannot say we are not. There are sickly people in the village. Even if we can trust you right now, it would be a disaster if there were pursuit teams following you, wouldn't it?"

Her words were not wrong.

It was an unarguable opinion.

However, the existence of the sickly people she mentioned being in the village bothered me.

Could a doll fall ill and lie in bed?

Of course, awakened beings do not catch diseases, and in a different context, dolls are also free from diseases.

Naturally, this was a phenomenon unrelated to the power device.

Park Chaeshin, who had been listening silently, narrowed his eyes and spoke.

"What do you mean by sickly?"

"It means they need protection."

"You guys……. No, can they lie in bed sick when that teacher is around?"

"There is an endemic fever in our village. It is a strange disease where the body weakens and loses its strength without any warning or reason. The teacher has been researching for years to find a solution for it."

A disease where one weakens and loses strength.

Park Chaeshin and I gazed at each other at the same time.

Our expressions said it was absurd.

"Of course, you wouldn't understand. I heard that humans beyond the barrier are free from disease. We are not asking for your understanding, but for your cooperation. Even if we let you into the village, the people wouldn't welcome you."

I asked.

"What kind of existence are humans beyond the barrier to you people?"

"Are you really asking because you don't know? You people already destroyed our home once. Furthermore, you are constantly eyeing the remaining home as well."

"Wait, is that home you are talking about Gangneung?"

"Yes, we are all survivors from that place."

"……."

One more task was added to the list of things that must be done before finding the magic tool.

It was to deal with the alchemist Victor.

Liberating them from this disgusting house-playing would be my last duty as someone who carries the blood of the Hyun Clan.

"May we talk amongst ourselves for a moment?"

"Of course. Do not wander too far. The threat of monsters in this vicinity is considerable."

"We will do that."

I took Park Chaeshin and Bruno away from the dolls.

Then, while keeping an eye on the dolls, I said.

"They don't seem to be lying, but what do you think, Senior?"

"Me too. They don't seem to know how to deceive others. In the first place, from that alchemist's position, there's nothing more foolish than injecting lies into them."

"Then it means they really are suffering from a disease."

"What is it like according to the information you know?"

"There is no way a doll can catch a disease. It's a kind of magic similar to a summoning technique using a corpse."

"In that case, it must be one of two things. Either a special mana is acting on their home and they've been cursed, or……."

Bruno cut in.

"That alchemist fellow must have come up with a nasty trick."

"Right, because the more he restricts them, the easier it will be to control the dolls."

"Aside from that, it bothers me that they don't know the boss's face."

As he said, the dolls claimed they did not know the boss of Catalina.

However, since the survivors of Gangneung had scattered here and there, they said she was definitely a fellow survivor.

The alchemist Victor had even moved to meet her personally.

"Just how long has that fellow been performing such disgusting experiments?"

I replied.

"His identity is not properly known. However, it must have taken a quite long time to acquire this level of skill. Speaking of which."

"……?"

"What are you going to do now?"

Bruno fell silent.

Hesitation was evident on his face.

I added immediately.

"What do you want to do with her? If it's that alchemist, it seems he could raise her again."

"I……."

"Are you going to kill the alchemist? Or."

Will you betray us and meet her alive again?

I could not bring myself to say it out loud, but there was no need to express it.

Before long, Bruno made a determined face.

"If it is true that the boss has passed away, I have no lingering feelings. However, I want to confirm one thing."

"What is it?"

"Whether the boss I knew had ever been a human. ……Of course, no matter what that answer is, I will kill that fellow with my own hands."

Those dolls are calling themselves survivors of Gangneung.

So, at the very least, they must be those who died thirteen years ago.

However, the boss of Catalina had met Bruno and engaged in mafia activities since before then.

Exactly where did she come from?

Based on her appearance, she was the same age as Bruno…….

Since awakened beings age slowly, it was difficult to predict hastily.

"I think the conclusion has roughly come out. Anyway, the dolls will be naturally dealt with once the alchemist dies. But even so, we cannot just wait for him here."

"Why?"

"They called it an endemic fever. What we're looking for is a magic tool. Among them is the Broom of Gluttony, a magic tool that exerts influence on the region itself. It's just a guess, but there's a high possibility that the dolls have settled near the broom. Well, that would be better for the alchemist to conduct research."

"We should definitely clarify that and move on."

Park Chaeshin opened his mouth.

"Then we'll have to persuade them, won't we? Do you have any good method?"

"That's easy. The opponents are like innocent children and can't lie, right? If you roughly spout some alchemy terms and give off the nuance that you know about the endemic fever, they'll guide us to the village on their own."

"……You really are malicious, aren't you?"

" I'm only choosing the best option. Besides, aren't you curious too, Senior?"

"About what?"

"It's an opportunity to peek into the laboratory of a person who might be the greatest alchemist of humanity, isn't it?"

"Can you say the worst of humanity, not the greatest? I don't do things as disgusting as that."

"Waking the dead or awakening the living, isn't it all the same?"

"No. In alchemy, meddling with the dead is the taboo of taboos."

Good grief.

"Then don't. I said you could peek, not that you should."

"Well, even so, researching for a bit just for reference is……."

It was then.

A presence of someone running toward us with all their might was felt nearby.

Not only I, but also Bruno gazed at a certain spot as if he had caught an unfamiliar scent.

The dolls also drew their weapons and watched the same direction, and after a moment, the owner of the presence revealed themselves.

"It's a disaster! The village, the village is being attacked right now!"

The dolls immediately ran toward where the village was.

We moved following them as planned and were able to discover their village at a location not too far away.

It took about thirty minutes at an awakened being's running speed.

Of course, in Gangwon-do, which has malformed terrain, moving such a distance is arduous work.

"Damn it! Those Orc bastards are at the village!"

"Where are all the villagers!"

"They evacuated to a nearby cave for now! But…… there are too many Orcs!"

The flames that had broken out in the village were already dying down.

Several dolls were still resisting, but it was a situation where one could say the Orcs were occupying it.

Most of those who could not make it to the cave in time were bound by the Orcs.

Orcs are monsters, but they are a race with intelligence close to that of higher races.

They do not commit slaughter recklessly just to take mana.

Rather, they possessed the heinous habit of understanding their opponent's despair and enjoying the emotion of fearing death.

For instance, a hobby like swinging a giant mace once in a while like now to savor the opponent's screams.

"Shit! We don't need a plan! Let's just charge in!"

The dolls who had just arrived at the village, although there were only ten of them, were experts selected by Victor.

They charged toward the dozens of Orcs.

"What should we do, Seokhyeon?"

"What are you going to do now?"

Park Chaeshin and Bruno waited for my instructions.

Since the situation was flowing urgently, it must have been difficult to make a judgment.

"What do you mean? This is the best opportunity to make them indebted to us. Speaking of which, Bruno."

I put my hand inside my clothes and took out the MA13 from my inventory.

"Show them your skills properly."

"……Are you sure you can hand me a gun when I haven't kept my promise yet?"

"Well, are you going to betray me? If you did, neither of us would end up well."

"I suppose so. But am I the only one stepping out?"

"It's natural to hide one's strength in enemy territory. There's an enormous number of Orcs. The dozens occupying the village won't be the end. There's surely a main base nearby. And……."

Bruno inserted a round into the cylinder and tilted his head slightly to the side.

"And what?"

"If even I show an aggressive side, the dolls will be afraid. You haven't forgotten, have you? They are afraid that we will destroy their home once again. Just as humanity fears the demonic beings beyond the rift."

I do not know if the alchemist Victor created this structure on purpose.

Just as demonic beings are to us, the dolls fear us from beyond the barrier.

However, I have no intention of denying that position.

Because we intended to deal with Victor, their creator.

"So you intend to emphasize that you have no combat ability. By sacrificing my image. Heh, it's not a bad plan. Don't interfere and just watch."

Bruno rushed out of the bushes.