Chapter 46

The group that headed to the village for the errand consisted of four people, including me.

Baek Eunseo, Yoo Haon, and even Han Seoa from the same 1-A class.

I had been so focused on entering the mountain that I hadn’t noticed earlier, but various Barriers were deployed all around Dongaksan.

Since it was a sparsely populated area, they were likely meant to prevent undetected Specters from approaching.

Having nothing else to do after setting off, I began checking the training results of Haon’s group one by one as we walked.

‘Appraisal.’

Ding!

【Baek Eunseo】

▶Level 35

▶Stats

【Stamina : S-】

【Spiritual Power : B-】

【Art Formula : C】

【Mental Strength : B】

▶Traits (5/10)

【■■■■(-)】

【Swift Blade Through Chaos (A-)】

【Growth Acceleration (B)】

【Grapple Combat (B-)】

【Strong Body (C-)】

【Yoo Haon】

▶Level 32

▶Stats

【Stamina : B-】

【Spiritual Power : B-】

【Art Formula : C+】

【Mental Strength : B-】

▶Traits (4/10)

【Limit Breakthrough (S)】

【Blue Lighthouse (A)】

【Growth Acceleration (B)】

【Agile Hunter (C+)】

【Han Seoa】

▶Level 34

▶Stats

【Stamina : A+】

【Spiritual Power : B-】

【Art Formula : B】

【Mental Strength : B+】

▶Traits (5/10)

【Companion (S)】

【Late Bloomer (S)】

【Growth Acceleration (B)】

【Grapple Combat (B-)】

【Composure (C+)】

As expected of the original story’s main characters, each of them had achieved remarkable growth in such a short time. Especially in Haon’s case, he had jumped nearly 10 Levels.

Of course, much of it was likely gained through the Baek Family’s training, but showing such rapid growth meant that Haon’s group’s talent was truly exceptional.

‘…And this is how much they grew after overcoming such a crisis.’

A somewhat melancholic thought crossed my mind, but there was nothing to be done. On the contrary, it was amazing that I, who wasn’t even part of the main character group, had grown this much.

As I was contentedly checking the group’s progress, Baek Eunseo, who had been walking silently, reluctantly voiced a complaint.

“Ugh, Seoha unni, really. She said we’d arrive soon!”

It took quite a bit longer than expected to get from Dongaksan to the village.

We had been walking non-stop for about an hour on foot and still hadn’t arrived.

Grumbling, Baek Eunseo, as the destination grew closer, peered intently at the map on her phone and muttered.

“It should be around here… Was it always this deserted?”

The time was around 6 PM, as the sun was beginning to set. The mountain path, devoid of any signs of life, was densely lined with trees and grass.

It might have just been my mood, but a strangely chilly energy was definitely encroaching on the surroundings.

“There’s the entrance up ahead.”

Following Haon, who had walked ahead, we all entered the village together.

Simultaneously, I lightly scanned our surroundings, slowly grasping the situation.

‘The Headquarters Exorcists aren’t here yet?’

In the story, the Headquarters dispatches investigators to search for the missing Guard Unit Exorcists. And Haon’s group helps them and ends up confronting Sorisoe.

However, given the lack of any noticeable signs of others, it seemed we had arrived before them.

Thud. Thud.

“It’s quieter than I thought. It looks fairly sizable, though.”

“Eunseo, haven’t you been here before?”

“No. I’d only heard about it; this is my first time seeing it.”

Gradually, fields and houses of various colors where residents lived came into view, but even though the sun hadn’t fully set, there was hardly anyone outside.

‘Just as I thought…’

It was still too early to be certain, but it matched the description of the village from the original story perfectly.

Just then, a child in the distance spotted us and began running towards us noisily.

Thud, thud-thud.

Thud!

The child, who stopped close by to look us over, blinked several times and opened his small mouth.

“Who are you, unnis?”

In response, Baek Eunseo smiled brightly, lowered her gaze, and asked the child a question.

“Do you live here? We came to meet someone. Do you know where the house of Grandpa Park, the one with the blue roof, is?”

“Grandpa Taekyung? Yes! Follow me this way!”

Watching the child answer energetically, I subtly glanced his way.

Thinking of the existence that might be hidden within that outward appearance.

Knock.

Knock knock.

“Grandpa! Visitors!”

The child’s actions were extremely natural. His expression, gestures, even his tone of voice—nothing felt off at all.

Well, of course. Sorisoe can steal the experiences and knowledge of the humans it devours and perfectly mimic them.

Even though he was smiling with such a bright expression, perhaps it was already like an empty puppet.

Realizing that made me feel a bit sick inside. But there was nothing to be done. I had to clearly distinguish between what was possible and what wasn’t.

Otherwise, I would surely lose sight of my purpose and just get swept away by the unfolding situation.

Creeeak.

The old door opened, and inside, an elderly man with a tired expression appeared.

“…Who might you all be?”

“We’re here on an errand from the Baek Family. We were told there are medicinal herbs to receive.”

At that, the old man made a slightly unnatural, blank expression for a moment, and after a short time passed, began speaking again.

“…Ah, yes. The herbs. That’s right. Please wait a moment.”

At his behavior, the group made slightly puzzled expressions, but they dismissed it as unimportant and simply looked around at the various medicinal ingredients stored everywhere.

“They have all the herbs we saw at the Academy. It’s more professional than I thought.”

“Ah, there’s even Bugumcho over there. An unni I knew from the family said it’s really good for beauty…”

“…I didn’t take the Herbology class, so I don’t really know. What about you, oppa?”

At Seoa’s question, sneaking a glance up at me, I just shrugged my shoulders.

In fact, it was only after coming to this house that I realized it, but the medicinal herbs in this world weren’t much different from the ones I saw in the game.

Because of that, for me, who had memorized all sorts of combination formulas to make Spiritual Elixirs, the names and effects of all the herbs naturally came to mind.

‘Bugumcho, Jagumbari, Maljukpi, Gyesu, Jeogeunbakpi.’

Experiencing the knowledge I studied in the game like this gave me a strangely subtle feeling.

And I was able to spot one suspicious action within the old man’s subsequent gestures, based on that knowledge.

Furthermore, it gave me a certain degree of conviction.

Indeed, this village had clearly already fallen completely into Sorisoe’s grasp before we arrived.

I, who had been observing the situation for a moment, took a step forward, stared at the old man silently gathering herbs without a change in expression, and spoke.

“Excuse me.”

“……”

“Isn’t one of the herbs mixed in incorrectly?”

At that, the old man looked at me with a subtle expression, and soon after, began to produce a benevolent smile.

“Huh, now that I look again, you’re right. My apologies. At my age, my eyesight’s getting blurry, so I…”

However, I didn’t stop there and took another step forward.

By now, the Headquarters Exorcists should have also reached the vicinity of the village. There was no need to pretend ignorance any longer.

“Chaeanhwa is used as an herb in many combination formulas, but when mixed with specific ingredients, it can turn into a poisonous herb.”

“……”

“Among those, if it meets the combination formula for a fatigue relief agent—Gasi Yeolkkot, Dangmaehwang, Samsikguyeopcho—it transforms into a potent poison that gradually eats away at the consumer’s Spiritual Power.”

At my sudden interrogation, the group began hurriedly glancing between me and the old man, as if trying to mediate.

The old man also took advantage of the atmosphere and continued speaking with an apologetic face.

“Well, I know that too. So it was a mistake…”

“Are you sure it was really a mistake?”

Impossible.

For a skilled pharmacist, systematic separation and storage of ingredients is a fundamental rule, and in that case, it was safe to assume such a coincidental combination formula match wouldn’t happen.

“In fact, even in this room, the shelf containing the Chaeanhwa is separated from the other herbs by as many as four shelves, isn’t it?”

Finally sensing something was off, Haon asked me with a meaningful expression.

“What… what do you mean by that?”

“It means, for some reason, he intentionally tried to mix in a poisonous herb to give to us.”

“Hey, old man. Is that really true?”

The explanation was too logically coherent to be a mistake. At that, Baek Eunseo immediately began to suspect and guard against the other party.

And the old man, who had become the target of that guard, couldn’t even utter any excuse and merely remained silent.

In the tense situation, the old man let his expression go slack and spoke again.

“…You’re quite knowledgeable.”

His tone and inflection were different from before. Leaving Haon’s group, who were surprised by this, aside, Sorisoe, finally revealing its true nature through the old man’s body, spoke to me.

“Surely, a greenhorn shouldn’t have been able to recognize it.”

Well, of course. There aren’t many who possess knowledge about such a nonsensical combination formula.

Even I wouldn’t have thought to attempt such a combination method if it weren’t for the game where ingredients were easily obtainable.

“As expected, the knowledge of the humans around here is not to be trusted.”

A voice so terribly calm it didn’t suit the situation, yet on the other hand, it spoke with extreme fluency.

‘……’

It was clearly different from the Ox-Head Specter I met during the Guard Unit incident.

Even the Ox-Head Specter, which had eaten several humans, could only clumsily mimic speech, but no such feeling could be found from Sorisoe.

It effectively meant it had already devoured a considerable number of humans.

The old man, who had been staring at us with those insensate eyes, then picked up a trimming knife placed on the shelf and slit his own throat.

Sschk!

Splurt—!

“Eek! Wha, what!”

“Ugh! Why…!”

Baek Eunseo, positioned at the very front with me, jumped in fright, and Haon and Han Seoa also covered their mouths, showing signs of panic.

I also frowned, but knowing the truth, it wasn’t that shocking. I deliberately moved to block the group’s view, stepped forward, and checked the old man’s pulse.

Thump.

“He’s dead.”

A brief silence hung in the air. Seoa, having calmed her confusion somewhat, asked Baek Eunseo.

“…Do you have any idea what’s going on?”

“I, I don’t know. Maybe he was threatened or hired by someone…”

“We need to inform the villagers and report this first.”

Leaving the old man’s house, we tried to briefly explain the situation to the villagers and contact the police.

However.

Beep-beep.

Beep.

“…The signal isn’t going through?”

As if by agreement, the communication network suddenly became useless, and our only means of contact disappeared.

Baek Eunseo, frustrated by the situation, kept pressing the call button on her smartphone.

And precisely at that moment, the Headquarters Exorcists who appeared in the original story arrived at the village.

Thud.

“…Could you please explain just what is going on here?”