Chapter : 64
Kebaswak Region (1)
“Wow. You’ve already cleared the path.”
“It’s not completely finished yet…”
Suhyeon didn’t have to go alone to Kebaswak. After the discovery of the Redwood forest in the Calcutta jungle area, a base and pathways were quickly established to transport it, which Suhyeon could also benefit from.
Since what he intended to do was beneficial both for the Jindogae and the government, it was natural that he could be prioritized.
‘Looking at the sensors and the road… they’ve covered the entire area. That’s the advantage of a place with deep pockets.’
By placing sensors at regular intervals and continuously dispersing a smell that repels monsters, the risk was reduced exponentially. The cost was a concern, but compared to the possible gains, it was manageable. Of course, only areas with sufficient resources could afford this.
“It might be dangerous for the Korean army to patrol here. Is the Jindogae handling it?”
“That was the plan originally, but after the recent incident, it has been suspended.”
The man in the driver’s seat looked tense. Even while driving, he kept scanning the surroundings and the sensor screen linked to the vehicle. He was clearly anxious, worried a monster might appear at any moment.
Whenever humanity discovered a region with valuable resources, the next steps were usually the same: establish a temporary base and create a stable transport route.
Of course, eliminating monsters around the route was essential. Even after the initial extermination, continuous patrols were necessary to guarantee safety.
But now, with the Jindogae’s work nearly halted, tension was unavoidable.
“Wake me up when we arrive.”
“?!”
Suhyeon calmly closed his eyes and leaned back. Any monster in the area would trigger the sensors, and he would deal with it then.
Moreover, a sweep had likely already occurred here, so monsters wouldn’t reappear so quickly. There was no reason to waste energy worrying. Suhyeon wasn’t one to expend effort on such things.
‘I’ve got the poison… and I know where it will appear. I just need to think about how to get in.’
Originally, the team shouldn’t have been wiped out, yet none returned—they went missing. If this was linked to Kebaswak, one possibility emerged:
‘Kebaswak Ant Ghost.’
A monster with unique and strange abilities. It lurked underground and moved when it heard the footsteps of prey above.
It could soften solid ground as if it were sand, instantly sinking its prey below. This ability earned it the name “Ant Ghost.” Without prior knowledge of it, any victim would inevitably be dragged underground.
Though rare and with a small activity range, encountering it in Kebaswak wasn’t impossible, especially after prolonged exploration.
And if Jindogae Team 1 had indeed been dragged underground by the Kebaswak Ant Ghost…
‘Then there’s a very high chance they’re still alive.’
The Ant Ghost’s combat ability wasn’t exceptional. It was even sometimes defeated by prey it dragged underground. In Suhyeon’s eyes, Team 1 could have ambushed and captured it, even if caught off guard.
The problem came after that.
Even if the monster was subdued, the rock would have hardened again, making escape impossible. They’d be trapped in Kebaswak’s underground. Unless someone knew the exit from outside, a short-term escape was out of the question.
‘I secure the exit from outside, find the wandering ones, treat the injured, and guide them out. And somehow, three artifacts roll in. That’s a profit with almost no effort.’
If the Jindogae knew the truth, they might cry in frustration. Yet Suhyeon had nothing to feel guilty about. On Planet Cameron, it was their impatience and distrust that caused the issue.
Of course, this was only possible if Suhyeon’s hypothesis was correct, but he considered it highly likely. Considering Kebaswak’s situation, Team 1’s strength, and the current circumstances, it was worth the time investment.
“Phew…”
Suhyeon sighed and lifted his head. Another dead end.
He had arrived in Kebaswak and had departed immediately after stopping at the base near the Redwood forest. The first thing he did was search for traces of the Kebaswak Ant Ghost.
‘It’s rare, but I didn’t expect it to be this elusive.’
It wasn’t an urgent matter to the point of a race against time. If his hypothesis was correct, Team 1 would survive even if slightly delayed. What Suhyeon feared was another possibility:
That Team 1 might escape on their own.
They weren’t foolish. Even if they struggled initially, they would adapt over time.
To fulfill the contract, Suhyeon had to locate them first and guide them out. For that, it was better to know where the Ant Ghost had found its prey. Currently, he couldn’t be certain.
‘Team 1’s likely path… from here, back east. Even considering the margin of error, chances beyond that are slim.’
Large mercenary companies had standard protocols. A rule-like standard: establish a predicted route before moving and stick to it. It was a precaution for emergencies.
‘Found it!’
Suhyeon shouted with joy. Wavy patterns carved into the ground, spreading out as if centered on one point. A casual observer would call it a “curious pattern,” but Suhyeon saw differently.
These were traces of the Ant Ghost.
‘Faint and mostly erased… calculating the time backwards… that matches.’
Time, space, and circumstances aligned perfectly. Team 1 had indeed been dragged by the Ant Ghost.
Thump! Thump!
Suhyeon deliberately stomped on the ground. The Ant Ghost located prey by sound. This would provoke a reaction. Without heavy power armor or a supply transport robot, he had to make noise this way.
Still, there was no response.
“Hmm…”
The Ant Ghost didn’t ignore prey when full. The lack of response suggested it had moved its territory, or…
“They must be dead.”
It was increasingly likely. In that case, Team 1 were the culprits. But Suhyeon’s hope that they were alive remained high.
‘Alright. Next location.’
When exploring unfamiliar areas, an excellent guide was always necessary. In Kebaswak’s underground, Suhyeon knew just the right ones.
“What… who are you?!”
“We came to ask for a favor from your friends.”
The orcs were shocked by the sudden stranger. It wasn’t just the appearance of a stranger—they had seen outsiders before.
What surprised them was the orcs at Suhyeon’s feet, already subdued.
‘Orcs are surprisingly easy to deal with.’
Merchants who fought orcs would faint at the statement.
Most orcs in the area were skilled in Kebaswak’s underground. With their help, guiding the wandering ones out would be easy.
The problem was that the orcs were generally hostile to outsiders and protective of their territory. Attempting negotiations could provoke them to attack.
So Suhyeon, who knew them well, deliberately provoked them. He wandered near their village, ignored their shouts to leave, and they immediately charged him, intent on beating him down.
‘Never act weak against orcs.’
It was self-defense, legally acceptable, and there was no need to bow. Suhyeon easily subdued them and walked to the village entrance.
“Stop! If you come further, I’ll shoot!”
“Hey, you attacked me first while quietly passing by. And now threats? Are you ready to deal with the consequences?”
Suhyeon spun with a pistol in hand. Timing was crucial when dealing with orcs. Overdoing it could make a situation irreversibly hostile. Strong pride meant they’d fight to the death rather than submit to a killer of their kin.
He had to show strength to assert dominance without causing excessive harm. Many merchants failed to understand this, resulting in court cases.
“Hmm…”
The orcs hesitated. They sensed confidence in Suhyeon. Rumors of humans’ strange powers had already spread to other races. Attacking such a warrior was risky.
“Let’s resolve this peacefully. What do you say?”
“What do you want?”
“You can talk… what’s your name?”
“Mgok.”
“Kim Suhyeon. If you help me, I’ll pretend these guys didn’t attack first.”
Mgok seemed high-ranking among the orcs, and the others awaited his decision.
“Did you provoke them on purpose?”
“What? Ask them when they wake.”
‘They’re not weaklings…’
Mgok nervously licked his lips. The subdued orcs were young warriors. Their defeat proved Suhyeon’s skill.
Subduing without killing was harder than killing. Mgok had to acknowledge his strength, plus the worry of humans with strange powers made fighting undesirable.
‘Can’t be helped.’
Mgok realized the provocation was intentional but, given the situation, it was irrelevant. He knew the guards’ temper—any slight irritation would trigger an attack.
“…What do you want?”
“You probably know the way down, right?”
Suhyeon pointed downward. Mgok understood—he meant the underground passages.
“Yes.”
“Just guide me through that.”
“Really? That’s all?”
“Do you think I’d ask for more over something so trivial? You wouldn’t agree anyway.”
Suhyeon subtly eased the orcs’ tension so they wouldn’t dwell on being threatened.
“Humans are fascinated by unique things. Is there something interesting underground?”
“Why ask?”
“I don’t want humans swarming in and causing trouble.”
“Fair enough…”
Thinking it through, this wasn’t a situation orcs would like. Suhyeon paused, recalling Kebaswak’s underground.
He hadn’t explored much besides escaping once, so details were hazy. But there were no valuable resources here.
“I’m not here for resources. I’m looking for companions.”
“Companions?”
“An Ant Ghost… it melts and swallows the ground….”
“We know of it. We don’t call it Ant Ghost, though.”
“Ah, you know it. Anyway, my companions disappeared and I think the ghost got them. I need to go underground. If they fell midway, finding the way would be impossible.”
Mgok nodded. Suhyeon’s reasoning made sense. Not everything was believable, but it was reasonable.
“I can’t promise you won’t be bothered later.”
“Fine. I’ll guide you.”
Mgok decided. Seeing Suhyeon, refusal wouldn’t work. Better to guide him first, then verify his story.
“I’ll personally guide you.”
“Really?”
“Don’t like that?”
“No, I don’t mind.”
Mgok asked tentatively, but Suhyeon responded nonchalantly.
