Joonghyuk's assumption seems to be correct, because the guy doesn't seem surprised to hear of people trying to flee into the forest. He seems a little bit uncomfortable, but will just as quickly brush it off with a comment about how if they went to the forest, they'll have way more to worry about than combatants at the shrines. After all, there's a reason most sane people don't settle there; it's brimming with giant monster that could make shorter work of them than even Achamite soldiers. That, and the mists make navigation impossible.

That said, he'll add that if he ever wanted to check in on forest activity, he could try talking to the scholars at the Seeker's shrine. They live on the edge of the forest year round. If there really was activity around the shrines, it's likely that it was seen by them.