Chapter 122. Survivor (4)
While digging through the dirt, the thought of the bunker near the Viceta Castle came to mind.
Could such a place exist here as well?
Is it possible that this place hadn’t fallen and had survivors?
Then why were the footprints so small?
Could it be that a race of dwarves lived underground here?
Amidst these questions, I excavated a tunnel large enough for an adult male by digging over and over again.
‘There are many.’
Apart from the search party, other sources of mana were detected on the map.
Clusters of blue dots gathered in one place.
‘This means they are Biharian.’
I wasn’t sure if they were aligned with the demi-humans or had defected to the enemy.
Entering under such uncertainty was nerve-wracking for many reasons.
‘I can’t let someone else steal the credit at the last moment.’
After all, isn’t there an old saying about cooking porridge only to give it to a dog?
If I started this, I should see it through to the end myself.
Having prepared for any possible dangers that might come my way, I hesitated not.
With a protective stone firmly in hand, Yang Taeho was in front as the tanker, while Kim Yul, the sub and long-range dealer, covered the rear.
We navigated the passage in the most stable formation for a three-person party.
Throughout the process of expanding the tunnel, it became clear there was no bunker here.
The narrow tunnel continued at a consistent width and depth, then led upwards toward the surface.
‘Whatever’s there, let’s not panic.’
With nerves calmed, we carefully progressed, though only momentarily.
In the distance, the faint sound of whispers and hushed voices grew audible.
Finally, when we reached the area where the blue dots were densely packed.
Yang Taeho emerged from the passage first, casting rock magic.
“…… What the heck is this?”
Murmurs of astonishment and a faint scream reached my ears, accompanied by unsettling chaos.
I swiftly followed Yang Taeho out of the tunnel.
We arrived in an empty space inside a rocky mountain, much like a clearing.
There, a group of children in makeshift, patched-up rags huddled.
Startled by the sudden appearance, they backed away from Yeonwoo and me, numbering in the dozens.
Unlike Yang Taeho, who seemed bewildered by this sight, I quickly grasped the situation.
I recognized the brand marks on the bodies of the children.
They resembled beastly teeth, a design I was familiar with.
‘It’s the farm brand.’
The brand marked on the demi-humans kept as feed for the monsters in storage facilities prepared hastily for those who couldn’t escape.
Seeing those symbols, which I had only seen on paper, imprinted on actual human bodies was disturbing.
Perhaps it was seeing them marked on children who appeared no older than ten that made something indiscernible rise within me.
I almost retched from an unclear mix of disgust and anger when…
“Pa, Palao?”
A voice, as fragile as a candle about to go out, reached me.
I forced my stiff body to move and turned my head slightly, spotting a little child.
The child was just slightly taller than Berta.
The child, who seemed no older than six, had eyes trembling uncontrollably.
Those eyes seemed fixated above my head.
Then, an utterly unexpected utterance followed.
“Are, are you an apostle?”
How could that be the case?
I was merely an outsider allowed access to this world with Palao’s approval, and certainly not someone chosen by divine selection.
Yet, these children couldn’t grasp even the fundamental distinction any Biharian would understand.
The misunderstanding did not end with me.
“Temoria…….”
“That, that’s Lady Finelpenia.”
The whispers intensified.
After a brief uproar, the children who had initially withdrawn in fear began to gather around us.
Among them was the little tot who had approached me earlier.
“Pl, Please save us, apostle. Please.”
Faced with the child reaching out with trembling hands, there was only one thing I could say.
“…… It’ll be alright now.”
I clasped the child’s hand, answering with a slightly cracked voice.
“Oh, god!”
The surroundings instantly turned into a sea of tears.
* * *
When Yang Taeho and I finally managed to comfort the crying children, Kim Yul returned with news he had gone to report to the brigade.
Among those who came with him was the baron Bolvita.
“What on earth……”
Upon taking in the view of the open space, an expression of despair spread across his face.
The Biharis arriving with him bore similar expressions.
Much like me, they immediately understood the gravity of the situation.
On the other hand, Kim Yul and Yang Taeho seemed not to grasp the situation at all.
‘They probably don’t know about the farms.’
It wasn’t likely that the Biharis had willingly explained those aspects to the players.
Even I wouldn’t have thought of it if not for seeing Rashar’s records through Finelpenia’s authority.
The existence of such farms defied general comprehension.
It was an alien concept to classify intelligent beings, including humans, as livestock or food.
‘Applying the notion of farming to humans as a species is fundamentally strange.’
It was natural for Kim Yul and Yang Taeho not to know about the farms.
Suppressing a sigh, I maintained a neutral expression when suddenly a clear laugh rang out.
Kim Yul was playing hand games and entertaining the kids who had gathered around him after recognizing Finelpenia’s emblem.
Seeing the children’s delighted faces, the shadows that had been lingering not long ago seemed to vanish.
‘Just a moment ago, they were crying as if the world was ending.’
Was it because I roughly surmised the events that transpired before the laughter?
Seeing the scene before my eyes felt, strangely unsettling.
My expression almost contorted in discomfort against my will.
As I physically strained to maintain composure, Yang Taeho approached me.
“Try easing your expression.”
It looked menacing, as if a sharp blade was being brandished.
Thanks to Yang Taeho’s light taps on my shoulder, I managed to relax my facial muscles.
“Hoo.”
I took a deep breath to compose my complex emotions.
“Judging by that expression, does the gentleman have any idea what’s going on?”
“…… Roughly.”
“I’m dreadfully curious……”
Yang Taeho added quietly, implying it wasn’t the right time to resolve his curiosity, giving a nod to the side.
The baron Bolvita was approaching.
“I’ll be with Yul; come after the work is done.”
“Yes.”
As Yang Taeho vacated his spot, the approaching baron Bolvita engaged in conversation without hesitation.
“You’re the Outsider who first found traces?”
“Yes, I’m K.”
“I’ve heard a lot from Jerome. You’ve really done well. We nearly passed without noticing all these children, if not for you.”
Frankly, dealing with others was not something I had in mind.
Perhaps because of the emotional turmoil, I wanted time alone to steady myself.
But I wasn’t naive enough to let that show outwardly.
“I just did what needed to be done.”
“It’s reassuring to hear. I’ve had my reservations about the Outsiders due to them being so focused on acquiring mana…”
A scoff almost escaped me.
“But I believe I can trust you. Jerome’s praise was well-placed.”
There must be a reason for raising me up by comparing me to others.
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but the children seem to find solace in the symbolism of Outsiders.”
As expected, the baron divulged his aim effortlessly without coaxing.
“It seems they place a lot of significance in directly seeing the Mark of the Gods.”
So, to ease the children’s wariness, he suggested I stick close by, like an ornament.
Although his circumlocutions didn’t sit well with me.
I wasn’t eager to be used so easily.
But I was also curious about the background of these children.
Thus, I nodded, at least for now.
“If it can be of help, I should assist.”
With that, the baron Bolvita led me to another area.
Already, jerome among others was engaged in conversation with some children.
Though the outcome did not appear promising.
Whether it was due to fear of unfamiliar adults, the children clung together, mouths tightly shut.
‘That’s why they called for me.’
Giving a gentle nod to Jerome, I shifted my gaze downward.
Before long, I locked eyes with a little child who had been stealing glances at me.
Matched at about waist height, I guessed the child to be around ten years old.
Communicating would be easier with one more mentally developed than a toddler.
Lowering myself to meet the child’s eyes, I greeted as softly as possible.
“Hi.”
The face of the child I greeted turned a deep shade of red.
Meanwhile, the baron Bolvita’s eyes subtly narrowed.
‘He wouldn’t appreciate me taking a proactive approach.’
Initially, he intended to use me as an emblematic figure to ease the children’s defensiveness.
But I had no intention of complying with his direction.
‘You can’t stop it anyway.’
Once the children associated the players’ symbols with the gods, the result was set in stone.
‘To these children, I must feel closer to the gods than them.’
Be it due to the world tree insignia on the knights’ armor made by humans or the symbol I bore created with inhuman power.
Attempting to intervene might only strengthen the children’s suspicion.
Predictably, the baron didn’t actively interfere to prevent my approach.
Rather than impede, he adopted an observational mode, as if daring me to do as I wished.
‘So that he could easily criticize if I failed or things went wrong by keeping a passive stance.’
The motivation to observe and see how I would handle the situation seemed transparently tangible through his expression.
Lightly dismissing his gaze, I focused keenly on the child.
“I would like to hear about what happened to you. Could you tell me?”
The child, eyes averted, lips moving silently, sneakily checked over my head.
Perhaps this symbol wasn’t merely an Outsider’s mark.
The thought crossed my mind, though it wasn’t the time to delve deeply into such musings.
For the child who had hesitated for quite some time gradually began to speak.
“There’s a rumor that an army with the world tree emblem is coming…….”
Although the story lacked coherence, understanding it wasn’t hard.
Once the Order’s army moved to retake Callum Castle, the monsters seemed to start a withdrawal plan.
Through defectors in Callum Castle, the rumor reached the farm where the demi-humans were housed, prompting activities to dismantle the farm.
“They said they’d eat us all, eat us up. Said they’d dispose of us……”
As the defector sorted and placed the demi-humans into separate cages, they laughed while explaining.
The child explaining began to sob bitterly.
I clenched my hidden hand tightly behind me so the child couldn’t see.
Despite my turbulent composure, the child bravely continued recounting their experience.
Separated from the adults and placed in another cage, and noticing a split in the rock.
“I heard if wind comes into a cave, there must be another way out……”
Still quivering while narrating, the child wrapped their arms around themselves.
“Staying meant death, running and getting caught meant death, so we ran. We didn’t want to die, so we escaped.”
Older children seemed to have coaxed and guided the younger ones through that narrow breach.
The escape was soon discovered, however,
“Our village kids were all gathered there…… Those coming behind couldn’t get out……”
After the route leader emerged, the cliff connected to the exit collapsed entirely.
‘The ones unable to escape must have been buried.’
The children who successfully escaped fled blindly into the mountains.
Some were caught and eaten by wandering monsters in the corrupted area.
The rest, unable or too fearful to venture far, hid here.
Thereafter, enduring hunger, some children ventured out, which led to the discovery of the tunnels we found.
When the truth of the matter unveiled itself through the child’s explanation,
“So only you children made it out? No adults? None escaped?”
Baron Bolvita’s abrupt inquiry visibly drained color from the child’s face.
Damned System.