Chapter 177

Bruno’s ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍movement was like a lightning bolt.

In ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍an instant, he surged into the middle of the village and pulled the trigger toward the Orcs who were not even in his line of sight.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍bullet, which escaped the muzzle after a long time, moved in a trajectory close to a divine technique and only lost its power after accurately penetrating the heads of seven Orcs.

To ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍think he could show such marksmanship even though it was not a magic bullet.

For ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a gunslinger of Bruno’s caliber, the peak performance according to the weapon would be meaningless.

Whether ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍using a sword strike or a magic bullet, it was clear he would leave a fatal wound on the other.

The fact that once again surprised me was that Cha Yeri in the original work becomes an even better gunslinger than that Bruno.

Well, anyway.

The Orcs who had attacked the village fell helplessly to just one person, Bruno.

The dolls who had charged first also focused on saving the villagers according to the tide of the battle, and Park Chaeshin and I subtly dealt with the Orcs fleeing the village.

"I think we caught every single one without missing any, right?"

"I hope so. It'll be a headache if those bastards bring their main force."

Before long, the situation was settled, and when Park Chaeshin and I arrived at the village, the expected situation was unfolding.

That is to say, the villagers were…….

"They're humans from beyond the barrier! Everyone, be careful!"

"You! Have you come to trample our home once again!"

"We didn't do anything wrong! It's just that monsters attacked us!"

The dolls of the village were afraid of Bruno, who had dealt with the Orc pack.

From a human's perspective, it was an ungrateful situation.

However, from the dolls' perspective, encountering a being from beyond the barrier was scarier than being attacked by Orcs.

To compare it clearly, it was as if a demonic being had burst into the home of a non-awakened person living a steady life in Gyeonggi-do.

In the first place, unlike humans, as long as their bodies are not completely torn to pieces, it is enough for a doll to fall asleep for a while and wake up.

"I am……."

Bruno looked around with a slightly flustered face, and soon met my eyes.

I immediately moved toward the center of the crowd, but Hyeon Jinseok shouting was faster.

"Calm down! These people are not our enemies!"

"What? All humans beyond the barrier are our enemies!"

"Look! They even helped us just now! And these are the people who were supposed to meet the teacher! They crossed the barrier to save our comrade!"

Murmur murmur.

The situation was relayed, but the fire that had once been ignited did not easily die down.

As they said, if a demonic being helped a human, who would believe it?

This time, I stood before them.

"I know what you are afraid of. We have no intention of staying here. We will leave as soon as possible."

"W-When exactly are you going to leave!"

"Yes! The teacher said we must not trust humans beyond the barrier!"

"Disappear from our sight right now! There is nothing you want here!"

As expected, it was foolish to try to make them indebted to us.

It was my mistake for thinking that some conversation might be possible.

Since I already knew the location anyway, I could just look for the magic tool in this vicinity and wait for the alchemist Victor.

I cast a glance at Park Chaeshin and Bruno.

But at that moment, one of the dolls nearby suddenly vomited blood and collapsed on the ground.

"Juhui! Hyeon Juhui!"

The one who reacted first was Hyeon Jinseok.

He supported the female doll called Hyeon Juhui on his lap.

"Has the Ssaet Disease already progressed this far!"

Ssaet Disease.

A name of a disease I had never heard of.

However, the villagers already seemed to know the symptoms of that disease.

They were probably referring to the endemic fever mentioned earlier.

I subtly used my Demonic Eye to examine Hyeon Juhui’s mana.

A somewhat suspicious mana was taking control of her body, but contrary to my expectations, the light of the dark attribute was not seen.

Does this mean the Broom of Gluttony is not the cause?

Whatever it was, it was fine as long as it was not related to the dark attribute.

Because a healing potion is a panacea that is effective even for monsters.

I approached Hyeon Jinseok with a healing potion from my pocket.

"Use this. It will be effective immediately."

"T-This is……."

He showed signs that he knew about the potion.

He seemed to hesitate for a moment, but soon he did not take the potion and avoided my gaze.

At that moment, a doll approached from behind me, snatched the potion, and threw it on the ground with all his might.

"What are you doing right now!"

"Hmph! To think you would push an item used by humans beyond the barrier! What on earth are you doing!"

"What? With this, any disease can be cured!"

"Who do you think would believe that! The teacher said to be careful of your red medicine! He said it would surely hurt us!"

What?

Does this mean the alchemist Victor had excluded healing potions?

Exactly why?

Could it be that healing potions have a negative effect on his magic……?

I immediately looked back at Bruno.

He must have witnessed the boss of Catalina using healing potions several times.

However, he shook his head as if he did not know the reason.

In the end, that reaction must mean it has nothing to do with healing potions.

"I don't care what purpose you people came here for! Stop interfering in our business and get lost!"

"……."

I took a step back in a sense of acceptance.

I judged that it would be better not to get involved with this insane village any further.

After all, conversation is only possible when words can be understood.

"Fine. We're not interested in this village either."

I turned my head to Hyeon Jinseok.

"We will stay over that hill until the alchemist comes. If he arrives, I want you to let us know immediately. It'll be cleaner for both sides that way."

"……Ji Seokhyeon."

I turned my back on him then and there.

The villagers made a path for me, and curses poured out behind my back.

I only looked back at Park Chaeshin and Bruno once we were close to the hill I mentioned earlier.

"As I said, we'll wait on the hill. Let's take turns standing guard one by one."

"Seokhyeon, is it really okay like this? If it's Hyeon Juhui, she must be your……."

That she would have been my bloodline when she was alive?

While that was likely true, that fact could not change my decision.

From what I had just seen with my Demonic Eye, she was not being influenced by the broom, and it would be ridiculous to wait for the alchemist while being treated well in the village.

However.

"Aside from the village business, there's something I want to check. But before that, let's wait until the sun goes down."

"Wait? For whom? For what?"

"That's obviously Hyeon Jinseok. Unlike the other dolls, that fellow has a desire called curiosity. Even if he has to use power from beyond the barrier, he will surely jump out of the well to save Hyeon Juhui."

After the humans from beyond the barrier left, only silence hung over the village.

The Orc attack had turned the home into a mess, and those who were sacrificed by the monsters had to fall asleep in a state that was neither alive nor dead until the alchemist Victor arrived.

The situation was the same for those who had evacuated to the nearby cave.

Because as soon as they returned to the village, they had to face the sacrifice of their precious ones.

"Wait just a little longer. The teacher will be here soon. I sent some people toward the temporary shelter a while ago."

"……Okay."

"Juhui is a strong child. Her will is not so weak that she would collapse from the Ssaet Disease. So don't be too depressed."

"Uh……."

A small hut located on one side of the village.

Hyeon Jinseok was holding the hand of his younger sister, who was lying on a crude wooden bed.

Several villagers repeatedly offered comfort to him, but it was of no consolation.

Because the horror of the Ssaet Disease was not something that could be ignored just by pretending not to know it.

"Juhui……."

The Ssaet Disease, the endemic fever of this village, occurred without any warning and caused the patient to suffer for several months.

Most cases rapidly worsen within a year of the onset of the disease, and when symptoms of vomiting blood appear, it is treated as a state where it is not strange to fall asleep at any time.

No matter how long the villagers of this place fall asleep, they wake up thanks to the alchemist Victor, but the Ssaet Disease was an exception.

A disease like a curse from which one cannot wake up.

It was just like the end that humans beyond the barrier were said to meet.

At least if one took the medicine Victor prescribed, one could survive beyond a year, but that was nothing more than a struggle.

One would only survive for five years at most, and would simply have to lie in a hospital bed and rely on the villagers.

"……Oppa? Thank goodness. What about the others? What happened to those humans from beyond the barrier?"

Hyeon Juhui barely lifted her eyelids.

She read Hyeon Jinseok’s expression and gave a faint smile, but it did not ease his concern.

"Don't worry. I drove them away properly. More importantly, how is your body?"

"I'm fine. I feel perfectly fine after sleeping for a bit?"

"Still, don't overexert yourself. Damn it, if only I had stayed in the village, this wouldn't have happened."

"Don't blame yourself too much……. HIC!"

Hyeon Juhui gagged.

"Are you really okay?"

"Oppa, can you get me some water?"

"I've already set some water here."

"Not just water. Water brewed with Moon-Shadow Herb. Warm."

Moon-Shadow Herb was a plant that could be gathered near the village and was effective in warming the body.

However, because monsters often targeted it, it was mostly gathered according to the harvest season and stored in the village warehouse all year round.

Therefore, as it was now approaching autumn, the Moon-Shadow Herb was a precious medicinal herb, but the neighbor's house, which had a patient with the same Ssaet Disease, would likely have water brewed with the herb.

Even if they did not, he could just sneak into the village warehouse and steal it.

"Wait just a moment. I'll be right back."

"Okay."

Hyeon Jinseok hurriedly left the hut.

I wonder how many steps he had moved.

The sound of painful gagging came from beyond the door.

"Juhui……."

Hyeon Juhui had sent him out so that she could vomit blood.

He was about to go back inside but stopped.

Because it was obvious she would hate showing her weak side to him.

Just how much longer would she be able to live?

With Victor’s treatment, she would be able to stay alive, but during that time, she would spend years without any emotion, as if she had become a doll.

She might even become unable to laugh together, be sad, or even recognize him.

"Ji Seokhyeon……."

Suddenly, the human from beyond the wall flickered before his eyes.

Furthermore, the red medicine he had offered.

Victor had told the villagers to be careful of the red medicine.

"But."

Is that truly something that becomes poison to them?

Ironically, he had never seen the side effects personally until now.

Is Victor not also a human from beyond the barrier?

"If only I can recover Juhui, I'll do anything……."

Having finished his thoughts, he soon knocked on the neighbor's door.

Soon, when the neighbor came out of the door, he spoke with a calm face.

"I'm sorry, but can you stay by Juhui’s side for a moment? It seems I should also help with the village restoration work."

Waiting for Hyeon Jinseok did not take very long.

A time when the sun had not yet completely set.

That fellow successfully found the place where we were staying, and then blurted out his business without even a greeting.

"Ji Seokhyeon."

"……?"

"Is it possible to…… get that thing from earlier again?"