“Hmm. Where should I make the cut?”
I was currently having an out-of-body experience. Like a pig hanging upside down in a butcher shop? Something like that.
Kiril had me stand still and was circling me, scanning me from head to toe. All while holding a jet-black blade! She murmured to herself with a genuinely troubled look, “Should I stab here?
Or should I just slice that part wide open?” Finally, unable to stand it anymore, I spoke up.
“You said earlier that there was no chance of me dying.”
“Yes. Why?”
“I was just wondering if you left out a few words. Like, ‘until I kill you myself.’”
“What? Kyahahaha.”
She clutched her stomach with one arm as if it was the funniest thing she had ever heard.
Dammit.
What did she expect when she was circling me with a knife? After a good laugh, Kiril patted my shoulder with the hand holding the knife.
“If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have pulled you away from that nasty black toad, now would I? You should be able to trust me by now…”
“Of course, I trust you. If you’d just put that dangerous-looking thing away.”
“Heehee. Don’t worry. I just decided.”
“What?”
Kiril walked behind me with a subtle smile.
Stab.
“Ugh…!!”
Below both my legs. A searing pain shot up from my Achilles’ tendons. My legs gave out, and I had to drop to my knees, collapsing to the ground.
I should have known when she was inspecting me with that knife. I could feel blood trickling down my heels.
What?
Trust, she said?
“How is it? Sizzling, right?”
“Thanks to you. I didn’t know you’d want my Achilles’ tendons from me.”
“Hehe. No need to scowl like that. Because…”
Schwing.
I could only stare at her with wide eyes. Because with the same knife she had used to cut me, she had suddenly stabbed her own thigh.
“Ah, that stings.”
“What are you…”
Kiril offered no particular answer and simply collected the flowing blood in her palm.
Shhhh…
“?!”
Something like magic happened. On her palm, the color of the blood began to change bit by bit. Blood changes color when it coagulates, but this was on a different level.
As if it were a living creature, the blood, now turned black, seeped into my feet.
“Ugh…!”
“Stay still.”
As they—whatever they were—flew toward my wounds, I flinched reflexively, but with my legs injured, I couldn't move my body.
Ssshhh…
I could feel a distinct energy near my heels. It was a similar feeling to when I received treatment before. The only difference was that the energy I received from her wasn’t disappearing but lingering at the tips of my toes.
“How is it? You don’t feel nauseous or anything, do you?”
“No. Other than the pain gradually disappearing…”
“Whew~” Kiril whistled as if in admiration.
“I thought you’d be foaming at the mouth for at least an hour or two, but you really are a natural-born Poison-type.”
“…You did this even though you knew I would suffer?”
“Haha. Little puppy. Is anything in this world free? You don’t even know what an incredible thing you’ve just received.”
“Since we’re on the topic, let me ask. Did you just put your blood into me?”
“Yes. To be more precise, you should call it Black Ether.”
Black Ether.
I had heard that phrase somewhere before.
Right.
It was what she had said to me before she fought the large Monster. That it would be a problem if I used my Black Ether like that.
“You’ve already summoned the Crimson Venom Snake, so your Awakening must be complete… Did you happen to faint at any point today?”
“Um… for a moment when the Gate opened.”
“Huh. Lucky you. To lose consciousness in that mess and still be alive. No, wait. Maybe you survived because you’re a Poison-type.”
Muttering to herself, she slowly nodded her head.
“The Awakening of a Poison-type is different from the usual cases. It’s common for them to die because they can’t heal the poison that explodes within their bodies. The reason you haven’t been feeling well lately is all because of that. Other Hunter Types have about a 1% chance of dying during their Awakening, but for Poison-types, about a third of them die.”
“Then how did I…”
“It means your self-healing ability is that strong. I told you earlier, right? Extremes connect. You might not know it yet, but you’ve already been using your Healing Ability. Without even realizing it yourself.”
Kiril’s smile turned a little bitter.
“Before a Poison-type awakens, they become overflowing with poisonous energy. Eventually, they can’t contain it within their bodies and start emitting it externally. That’s why before a Poison-type awakens, their family members die or fall into a state of severe poisoning.”
Hae-seon’s face hardened.
“Then my sister, is it because of me that she’s…”
Kiril shook her head firmly.
“No. Cheon Song-hwa is because of the toad. If it were because of you, she would have been long dead. Do you know how dangerous the poison you have is? Even A-rank Knights would be on the verge of death with just one drop of your poison.”
Knight-type Hunters were beings who engaged in close-quarters combat with Monsters using their tough bodies. Especially those B-rank and above were praised as having ‘indestructible bodies,’ as they couldn’t be harmed by ordinary weapons. To think I could take down such people in one blow.
I had a time bomb like that inside my body?
“Since its power is that immense, there must have been a limit to what your healing power could do. It couldn’t be completely neutralized, but it wasn’t being expelled either, so side effects appeared.”
From head to toe. Kiril’s gaze scanned my body. The hideous spots that had appeared all over my body.
Kiril was pointing at those spots. I thought it was a complicated skin disease, but it was a side effect of being unable to expel the poison.
“Heehee. Now do you get it? The reason I said you were unusually kind is because of that. The poison had to be eliminated somehow, but your subconscious held onto it for dear life. You instinctively knew it would be dangerous to others.”
Was I really that kind of person? It was a story I found hard to accept.
“I was wondering what was most urgent, and I thought it would be best to cut your feet.”
“My feet…”
“What you need most right now is mobility. Fast feet that can make a quick getaway at any time.”
The mobility Kiril spoke of. I didn’t need to ask what it was.
“Poison Step…”
“That’s right. I’m going to teach you Poison Step from now on.”
As she spoke, she demonstrated Poison Step a couple of times.
Fwoosh!
Watching Kiril use Poison Step was awe-inspiring no matter how many times I saw it. A speed that made me doubt she was human. Could I, who was an invalid until just yesterday, use it?
Thump, thump.
The thought of learning such a special ability made my heart start to pound. I didn’t think so, but maybe I had the makings of a Hunter in me.
“Try to naturally explode the swirling sensation at the soles of your feet. Over there.”
Kiril gestured with her chin toward the roof of a factory on the opposite side of the vacant lot. To cross that distance in a single leap. I could feel just how unrealistic this ability was.
‘But…’
Normally, I would have thought it was crazy, but for some reason, I felt like I could do it now. It was because of her Black Ether tickling the soles of my feet.
“Hurry up.”
I gave a slight nod and licked my lips. This was not a rational action. But hadn't I already seen it through Kiril?
It wasn't impossible. Above all, there was the special energy I felt beneath my feet. Kiril’s Black Ether was clamoring for me to use it.
‘I’ve almost died several times in a single day, what’s the big deal with this.’
With that thought, I detonated the energy stirring under my feet.
Fwoosh!
“Whoa!!”
I couldn't help but let out a shout that was closer to a scream. I had leaped so fast and far that I almost lost my balance in mid-air.
Shhhhaaaak.
I barely managed to land my feet at the destination. My body wobbled ungracefully, but I didn't fall. As if to mock the fact that it was my first attempt, I succeeded in the technique in a single try.
“No way…”
Looking back at where I had just leaped from, a hollow laugh escaped me. It looked to be more than ten meters away at a glance. With this kind of speed, most Knights wouldn’t even be able to graze my clothes.
“You’re good.”
From across the factory, Kiril, with her arms crossed, showed her teeth in a grin.
After giving me a few tips, she turned her head and gazed in the direction of the Gate.
“Little puppy. It’s time to say goodbye.”
“What?”
A farewell in the middle of an explanation. Our first meeting was sudden, but our parting came even more abruptly.
“I think someone’s on my tail. To be honest, it’s been a while since I’ve been out like this.”
“Are you being chased?”
“Yeah. Something like that.”
For a fugitive, she looked way too cheerful. Just as I was thinking that, she suddenly wrapped an arm around my neck.
“We won’t see each other for a while, so I should give you a proper gift, right?”
“What are you…”
In an instant, my face was inches from Kiril’s. What is she trying to do now? My face flushed hot. Did she only ever flee in countries with very open cultures?
Up close, her distinct features were even more apparent. Her charming, slightly tanned skin. Lips redder than blood.
A beautifully sculpted nose. And eyes spinning round and round.
What?
“?”
Her eyes were spinning. Was this also a characteristic of a Poison-type?
Slick.
No, it wasn't. What I thought were her pupils, a transparent cornea-like object, detached from her eye and stuck to my right eye. I flinched without realizing it, but there was no particular pain.
“Phew… I don’t know how many times I’ve been surprised today.”
“Hehe. It’s amazing, right?”
“I don’t know what it is, but since I got it, could you let go of me now?”
“Why? Isn’t the mood nice?”
Kiril smiled seductively and tightened her arm. She was exceptionally beautiful, but I wasn't interested in games like this.
“Your breath stinks.”
“Ugh…!”
Of course, it was a lie, but the effect was tremendous. Even while looking like she couldn't believe it, Kiril released her arm and took a step back.
Blink.
It was strange. The thing that had just attached to my eye didn’t feel foreign at all. It was hard to believe something had just stuck to my eye moments ago.
That wasn't the only strange thing. Suddenly, letters appeared in the upper right corner of my vision.
<Recognizing new user - Compatibility test> <Poison-type biological response confirmed> <Synchronizing with user's body.>
“Wow…”
I couldn't help but let out another gasp of admiration. To think that such a function was packed into that tiny lens. I had heard that advanced technology developed rapidly after the appearance of Monsters, but this was close to a culture shock.
“How about that? Isn’t it killer? This is a high-performance device that not even those amazing guys from the Glory Guild have ever touched. It’s Dr. Jin’s greatest masterpiece.”
“Who’s Dr. Jin?”
“Go and find out. You’ll have to meet him soon anyway.”
“It’s tempting, but it’s not a good time right now.”
It was a piece of equipment that would literally make one’s eyes pop. I was curious about the person who made something like this. But for now, I had to stay by my sister’s side.
“I’m the only one who can take care of my sister.”
“Right. That’s why I’m telling you.”
“What?”
“Cheon Song-hwa’s injuries are almost healed. But the poison in her body can’t be dealt with right away. To heal a Monster’s poison, the person’s mind and body must be stable. You have to get the antidote from Dr. Jin.”
I still hadn't learned how to heal. Kiril was on the run and had to leave soon. Going to meet Dr. Jin wasn't a choice, but a necessity.
That's what Kiril was telling me.
“For most information, just thinking about it in your head will be enough. The device will display the text for you. Who knows? Maybe he’ll give you some other eye-popping piece of gear.”
Shwaaaa.
Kiril's unique energy swirled around her again. I felt this every time she used Poison Step. She’s really leaving.
I sensed that she would soon disappear.
“This is the first time in my life I’ve only ever received things.”
“Is that so?”
“So… I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”
“Haha. Then learn and come back. I’ll be waiting until then.”
Contrary to my choked voice, Kiril was cool and breezy to the end. In a short time, she was someone who had helped me so much. The tip of my nose tingled, but I asked as calmly as I could.
“Will we… be able to see each other again?”
Kiril grinned, showing her teeth.
“Without a doubt.”
With those words, Kiril vanished from my sight.