Chapter 8
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 008
Chapter Title: Pioneer Group
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Three days later.
Kim Woojin shouldered his heavy pack and stepped out of the cabin. The wolf hunt had delayed his departure beyond the planned time.
"Will it be okay for me to go? You still don't look well."
"No need to worry. Even though I'm washed up, I won't kick the bucket in a place like this."
Hector, who had come to see him off, replied firmly. With that, Woojin didn't bring it up again.
"Then, see you beyond the barrier."
"Take care."
With a brief farewell... Woojin turned his steps toward the forest shadows.
The pack felt especially heavy today. Hector had stuffed it full of supplies, and on top, he'd bundled up the werewolf pelt like a sleeping bag and tied it securely.
But his footsteps were lighter than usual.
Unlike the aimless wandering of before, Woojin now had a clear destination.
He pulled out the map Hector had given him. Scattered across it were villages large and small.
'The Pioneer Group's village, right.'
Not all of humanity lived safely under the barrier's protection. Plenty of people sought to reclaim their old homes swallowed by the Demonic Realm. They were commonly called the Pioneer Group.
Woojin had chosen one of their villages as his next stop.
'It'll take some time to get there.'
Walking would take about two days. Woojin had no intention of taking it slow.
'...Time to pick up the pace.'
His steps gained spring. It was almost a run, but he kept a steady rhythm to avoid burning out midway.
After running for quite a while...
As the setting sun tinged the sky's dark clouds a faint red, a village came into view in the distance. Woojin inwardly marveled at the sight.
'Whoa... they even built a wooden palisade.'
A wooden fence encircled the village. It was clearly meant to fend off beast attacks.
The tall fence hid the interior from view. But smoke rose in several plumes from within, making it easy to guess it was inhabited.
Woojin headed toward the palisade. Two men at the gate eyed him warily.
"You there, halt right where you are."
The guards leveled their spears and barked the order. Woojin stopped without hesitation.
"What's your affiliation and purpose here?"
"No real affiliation. Just here to spend the night in the village."
"Unless you're with the Pioneer Group, you pay to enter. One silver coin per person."
Woojin rummaged in his pouch and pulled out two half-silver coins. A half-coin was just that—half the size of a full one.
The guards took them and stepped aside, clearing the path.
"Don't cause any trouble inside."
Woojin gave a casual nod and entered the village.
The scene that greeted him...
Well, it wasn't all that dramatic. Most buildings were shabby—old and broken-down structures with fresh roofs slapped on top.
Thinking about it logically, it made sense. Who'd build grand edifices in such a harsh place?
Still, laughter echoed here and there. The mere presence of vitality was astonishing.
'First things first, handle Hector's errand.'
Before leaving the cabin, Hector had asked him for one favor.
Woojin scanned his surroundings as he walked. He headed toward the spot leaking the most laughter—the tavern, naturally.
'Only one tavern in this village.'
The Pioneer Group ran all facilities and shops themselves. Taverns, in particular, were under strict oversight.
The reason was simple. Drunks causing trouble weren't exactly rare.
True to form, a sharp alcoholic tang hit him at the entrance. Woojin stepped inside and scanned the faces.
'Merchant Jacob.'
The man he needed to find. Jacob was a peddler who'd traded regularly with Hector.
The cabin was quite a trek from the village. Going back and forth for supplies was a hassle.
So Hector often commissioned Jacob to haul goods, paying with beast hides.
But three days ago, the werewolf died.
With his revenge complete, Hector had no need for more trades. Woojin was here to deliver that news.
'He loves his booze, so highest chance he's here.'
Even if Jacob wasn't around, someone might've seen him.
Woojin casually glanced over the tables like he was looking for his party. Suddenly, his gaze locked on one man.
A middle-aged guy with thinning hair. A long diagonal scar slashed across one cheek. He seemed to have grown a beard to hide it, but it still stood out.
'That him?'
He matched Hector's description best. Woojin approached to confirm.
"Are you Jacob, by chance?"
"That's my name... but who might you be?"
Jacob looked mildly puzzled. His tablemates eyed Woojin's rough attire with suspicion.
A stranger striking up conversation out of nowhere had thrown them off. Woojin got straight to the point.
"I'm here with a message from Hector."
"Ah! My apologies. Didn't expect you to be an acquaintance of old man Hector."
Hector's reputation carried weight; the mood flipped instantly. Woojin explained freely.
"Hector says the hunt's over, so no more supply orders. He asked me to thank you for the good trades all this time."
"Wait, the hunt's over? You mean..."
Jacob trailed off. His eyes lingered on the pelt tied to Woojin's pack. Too big and thick for a common wolf.
The sharp merchant had figured it out. Mindful of nearby ears, he whispered just loud enough.
"...So the old codger really took down a werewolf. Impressive. But why'd he entrust it to you?"
"Things just worked out that way. Hard to explain in detail."
Woojin brushed it off vaguely. No point rehashing his whole story to a stranger.
Honestly, it was a bit annoying.
Jacob seemed to pick up on it and didn't press. Instead, he offered advice.
"Valuable item. Guard it well—plenty'll covet it."
With that, he turned back to his group. Clean cut, no lingering interest.
'Good, no hassle.'
Errand done, no reason to stick around. Woojin stepped out of the tavern.
Now what?
Stumbling on Jacob early had wrapped things up way ahead of schedule. Left him with time to kill.
Woojin scratched his chin and wandered like a loafer. Then, commotion erupted from afar.
"The quarrymen are back!"
Someone bellowed. In response, villagers hustled toward the gate.
With nothing better to do, Woojin tagged along.
A group approached from the hillside. Strangely, two massive beasts lumbered alongside them.
Six-legged lizards, bigger than oxen, with broad, turtle-like backs. Each carried a large basket.
'Those Tarasques?'
Tarasque.
One of the few beasts tamed by humanity. Despite their size, they preferred grass.
'First time seeing one up close.'
Woojin watched curiously. According to the Demonic Realm Chronicles, they were domesticated to replace horses.
Horses were more delicate than expected—picky eaters, emotional, injury-prone. They dropped dead in the Demonic Realm's harshness.
The Church Alliance figured taming beasts was easier than adapting horses. Tarasques proved them right.
Rumble rumble—
The Tarasque entered the village and flopped sideways with a thud. Basket contents spilled out—red rock chunks like shattered boulders, rolling in a line.
Villagers with shovels rushed in like they'd been waiting.
"Damn it, thought we'd catch a break, but work's piled up again."
"Bring the carts!"
Men shoveled the red stones into carts. Watching, Woojin picked up a stray chunk at his feet.
'Bloodstone, right.'
Bloodstone.
A special mineral unique to the Demonic Realm. High demand meant constant shortages. The Pioneer Group mined it for big profits.
'Money's nice.'
Grand ideals alone couldn't sustain a group. The Pioneer Group existed because the risks came with rewards. Many dreamed of striking it rich in the Realm.
But dying before spending it was pointless. Woojin from his past life knew that.
'...Won't repeat that mistake this time.'
He reaffirmed it, tossing the Bloodstone into a cart with perfect arc.
The next day, early dawn.
Woojin woke as usual and headed out of the village. From today, straight to the city via the shortest route.
'Better eat breakfast first.'
He dug out jerky from his pack.
Thanks to stocking up on preserved rations in the village, he had plenty. No starving anytime soon.
As he chewed away...
A rustle caught his ear.
"...What the?"
Turning, Woojin muttered in surprise. A red-furred wolf sprawled on the ground, yawning lazily.
The same one from before.
'This guy's... been tailing me the whole time?'
Why?
Puzzled, Woojin blinked repeatedly. The bizarre situation threw him off. The wolf, meanwhile, stared fixedly—like a staring contest.
Its gaze fixed on the jerky in Woojin's hand. Realizing, he chuckled. Shameless beast.
"Hey, you can't just beg for food. After what you pulled last time."
This mutt had spat out food he'd shared out of kindness. Remembering that grudge, Woojin teased it by waving the jerky.
"Want some?"
No way.
As he started to say that, the wolf nodded. Woojin froze, stunned.
'...No way it understood me?'
Timing was too perfect to be coincidence.