Chapter 179

In ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the end, we decided to take Hyeon Jinseok into the workshop.

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had already noticed the atmosphere and moved with us without showing any particular signs.

After ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍all, we were just going in and out of the workshop.

To ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍put it in a word, the inside of the cave was wondrous.

A ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wondrous structure that one could not even imagine if it were ordinary terrain in this world.

While ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it was true that it was dark and humid like other caves, it had a new atmosphere to the extent that one would fall into the illusion that they had set foot beyond a rift.

"That subtle light flowing along the walls, could it be artificial?"

"I'm not sure. Aren't you, an alchemist, more knowledgeable, Senior?"

"Knowledgeable, my foot. I'm asking because I don't know."

This was not my first time exploring beneath the ground of Gangwon-do.

Because I had already experienced it during the outpost mission.

However, unlike that place, a more mystical energy was felt here.

A feeling as if some special effect was taking place.

"It's here. From this entrance to that dead end over there is the space the teacher uses for research."

"A dead end?"

"Yes."

The workshop I arrived at following Hyeon Jinseok was modest, contrary to my thoughts.

An appearance not much different from an alchemy workshop in Seoul.

Park Chaeshin immediately approached the workbench and began to examine various things with his eyes.

Since it was an alchemy workshop, more things would be visible to an alchemist.

In the meantime, I gazed at Bruno.

He then spoke as if he had been waiting.

"I can feel it, a suspicious scent."

"It's not just the scent. If you listen quietly, you can even hear the sound of the wind. Wind that doesn't escape through the entrance but flows in another direction."

"It seems there's a hidden space."

Hyeon Jinseok cut in.

"A hidden space? Is it like the teacher's secret warehouse! I personally like those kinds of elements! Something you can explore."

"Ah……. I see."

He has a very energetic personality.

I turned my back on Hyeon Jinseok, whose eyes were shining.

Then I used my Demonic Eye and immediately discovered the location of the secret place.

"Senior, I'm going to check the secret place now. What do you want to do?"

"You move first. I need to read this research journal for a bit."

"……."

Park Chaeshin had a serious expression.

To the point that I wondered if even asking what the content was would be a hindrance.

I left him and approached the wall where the secret place was hidden.

Then I brought my hand to that wall and overlaid it with shadow to restrict the mana.

THUD.

When the mana isolating the space disappeared, the wall crumbled like a lie.

Of course, it did not crumble while creating actual dust; rather, the deception created by mana vanished like mist.

"W-What did I just see?"

"It's magic."

"Magic……. The demonic power used by humans beyond the wall……."

"Demons, huh. Well, anyway, I'm going into this place now. What are you going to do?"

"I have to go in, of course. But is it possible to restore this wall to its original state?"

"I don't know."

"……?"

"What I did was simply restrict the mana temporarily. Since I didn't directly influence the device maintaining the barrier, it will likely be restored after some time. It's just a guess, though."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You'll know if you watch in a little while. More importantly, shall we head in?"

I finished speaking and simultaneously cast a glance at Bruno.

"What is it?"

"Why don't you go in first?"

"What?"

"Your role is the guide, isn't it? Isn't a moment like this the perfect time to use that sensitive sense of smell?"

"Unbelievable."

Bruno let out a hollow laugh and passed through the wall first.

Hyeon Jinseok followed, and I finally followed behind while maintaining the Demonic Eye.

The inside of the wall was very dark, but fortunately, the path did not continue for long.

Before long, we arrived at a space that was very much in contrast to the size of the workshop we had stayed in a moment ago.

Overall, it was a rectangular space that looked like a giant warehouse created artificially.

And what we faced there was…….

"……It's a lie. Ji Seokhyeon, these people here…… what are they doing right now?"

"……."

They were dolls created by the alchemist Victor.

Hundreds of dolls that had frozen without reacting to a power device…….

I spoke only after slowly looking around at the dolls standing in line.

"Hyeon Jinseok."

"Uh……?"

"The reason we brought you here was to show you this."

"This……?"

"Look closely. Are there not one or two faces among them that seem familiar for some reason?"

Hyeon Jinseok walked into the crowd of dolls as if possessed.

Then he moved his head heavily and examined their faces, and stopped his steps before one doll.

"……Mister? Why is the mister who fell asleep from the Ssaet Disease last time here……."

That fellow suddenly quickened his pace.

He soon found another familiar person, and only after scouring through hundreds of dolls did he approach me.

"What is this! Exactly what happened!"

"It's exactly as you saw. Were the villagers you recognized all those who fell asleep from the Ssaet Disease?"

"Then how exactly……!"

"There's nothing to ask how. After all, you and the villagers are dolls created by the alchemist Victor."

"D-Dolls……."

He seemed to find it difficult to understand at once.

"So."

I spilled a little mana potion onto the lips of a doll nearby.

The doll's face then regained vitality, and it soon looked around as if it had woken up in an unfamiliar place.

"H-Here is……!"

But that was only for a moment.

The doll soon lost its strength and froze.

"Isn't it interesting? To think I can wake up a human who has already fallen asleep."

"……."

"This is exactly your identity. A being that moves with a substance used by humans beyond the barrier. Furthermore, the teacher you follow was conducting research based on you all in this place."

Waking a sleeping doll with a mana potion is only for a moment.

Usually, they rely on a semi-permanent power device using large-scale mana stones to move, and in the first place, this case is very special.

"According to your words, does it mean I was created by the teacher?"

"Created……. I wish that were the case instead. To be precise, I should say he performed a nasty alchemy using corpses of humans like me."

"I, I don't know. Exactly what you are talking about……. Why did you bring me here……!"

Beings that are alive yet not alive.

I cannot dare to fathom Hyeon Jinseok’s feelings.

"Furthermore, if we were created by humans, then why are we! Why is Juhui lying sick!"

"As I said, that's because you all are being toyed with by Victor."

"What?"

"Haven't you ever doubted it? Why there are no children in your village."

"T-That's……!"

"That's because he cannot make dolls without the superpower obtained through growth by humans beyond the barrier. And the Ssaet Disease you all speak of is a disease Victor intentionally spread using the Moon-Shadow Herb. To more effectively control you all, who move with an ego. To make you blindly dependent on him."

Hyeon Jinseok did not say anything for a while.

He was gazing at me with blank eyes, and I could feel anger blooming in that expression.

At whom was that anger directed?

Before long, that fellow spoke.

"Exactly why…… are you telling me such things?"

"A sense of responsibility. A shred of responsibility as someone who was born in Gangneung like you."

"Gangneung? You were also there when humans were burning our home?"

"Yeah."

"Unbelievable……."

"The reason we came to your village is to kill the alchemist. The reason I'm telling you this is to respect your choice."

"My choice?"

"Yes. After all, if the alchemist disappears, it will be difficult for you and the dolls to exist any longer."

"That blue medicine! You can wake us up if you have that!"

I shook my head.

"That's only for a moment. The reason you all are alive and moving is because of some device Victor prepared here. Even if one can stay alive with only the blue medicine, I have no intention of waking you up with my own hands."

"Why?"

"Because you already died thirteen years ago. There are no exceptions to death."

"Then my choice? What do you want from me?"

"It's simple. Whether you will live without knowing, mixed with the dolls of the village like now, or whether you will face eternal rest."

"……Are you saying you won't kill the teacher if I want?"

"No. I will kill Victor. Instead, I won't touch the power device that moves you and the dolls. Probably it will consume its strength slowly until the mana stones are exhausted. If you're unlucky, another alchemist might appear and get their hands on Victor’s legacy."

Was it sufficiently conveyed?

No, clearly Hyeon Jinseok would not have understood even half of my words.

Nevertheless, perhaps he understood the context, as that fellow spoke after contemplating for a long while.

"……I'll act as if I didn't hear it."

"Is that your answer? Pretending not to know and falling asleep slowly."

"……."

That fellow nodded without a word.

"Fine, so even a false life is precious to you."

I took a healing potion from my pocket and handed it to him.

"Your sister is poisoned by the Moon-Shadow Herb. That damn weed toys with the mana of the subject that consumed it. Feed her this red medicine and avoid contact with the Moon-Shadow Herb as much as possible."

"Thank you. But what do you intend to do now?"

"I'll ambush and deal with the alchemist here. That's all."

"What if I betray you? What if I bring all the villagers to the cave?"

"I don't care. No matter who the opponent is, I just have to kill them."

"……I see."

"More importantly, why don't you move quickly? If my guess is correct, the alchemist has likely already crossed the barrier."

"Ah, okay."

Hyeon Jinseok moved away while watching me, and when he reached the workshop, he hurried and ran outside.

A feeling as if he was trying to bring the medicine quickly for Hyeon Juhui rather than running away.

"He didn't understand."

"I think so too."

"Still, I've shown enough consideration, so no regrets will remain. ……But exactly how did you do it?"

It was a question of how I woke up a doll with a mana potion.

And for good reason—the mana potion was useless for the boss of Catalina.

"You still don't know even with that sensitive sense of smell?"

"What?"

"The power device. It's strange that Hyeon Jinseok is moving perfectly fine even though he moved from near the barrier to this village."

"Those words mean……."

"Yeah. I also realized it after entering this place, but these dolls here are already connected to a power device. The flow of mana was simply restricted by the Moon-Shadow Herb."

"Then that power device is, as expected……."

"The Broom of Gluttony. That magic tool is being used as the power device for the dolls inside the barrier. And surely it's hidden somewhere here."

The magic tool Broom of Gluttony, which made Gangwon-do a home beyond a rift.

The fact that it was being used as the power device for the dolls meant that Hyeon Jinseok could ultimately enjoy an infinite life inside the barrier.

In other words, he could live as an existence no different from a human.

I looked around while maintaining the Demonic Eye and fixed my gaze while looking at a certain spot.

Mana of the dark attribute was leaking densely from that place.

A color very similar to the Shard of the Mirror of Greed.

"Whatever it is, let's examine it for ourselves with our own eyes."

At that moment, Park Chaeshin ran from the workshop.

"Ji Seokhyeon! Don't be surprised! The Broom of Gluttony is here……."

"I know. It's likely over there."

"……Eh?"