“You've done so well.”
That was the fifth time. The number of times Dr. Jin had patted my shoulder with a fatherly smile. I had come to learn one thing while spending time with him.
That human relationships don't necessarily deepen in proportion to the time spent together. There are people you can know for years and still feel distant from, and there are those you meet briefly but form a bond with. Dr. Jin was definitely the latter.
The man who shared the secret of the Poison-type, and who provided me with the equipment to become an S-rank Hunter. He was also someone with a close relationship to Kiril.
“The system wasn't implemented, so I couldn't contact you. But I could tell you were growing quickly even without communicating through the V1.”
The appearance of an S-rank Hunter. Followed by a mysterious disappearance. And finally, the news about the Cleanup Clan that broke this morning.
Just as Dr. Jin said, it wasn't hard to know my whereabouts even without direct contact.
“It's a shame that child ended up like this.”
Dr. Jin looked at the broken parts with a sad expression. Considering his craftsmanship, it was no surprise that he would call it a 'child'. The parts laid out on the table were the remnants of 'Exa,' which he had made for me.
“I'm sorry. I should have been more careful with it.”
“Oh, no. If anything, I'm the one who should be sorry. If this fellow had held up, you would have had an easier time catching Monsters.”
Dr. Jin carefully gathered the parts of Exa and placed them inside a metal box.
“After communication with the V1 was possible again, I checked your status first. You've grown so much I had to doubt my own eyes.”
“Yes. I didn't know the Black Core would be this efficient.”
To be able to monopolize an energy that others couldn't absorb. It was a privilege that could be called a blessing. Many Hunters had accompanied Poison-type Hunters before, but not one of them had ever coveted a Black Core.
And those Cores had become my energy source, entirely.
“There’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“Hm? Go ahead.”
“When I caught the Giant Treasure… I felt the energy of a Buff.”
“A Buff…”
“Is it possible to receive a Buff remotely? Say, from another country across the sea…”
“No. That's impossible.”
Dr. Jin answered definitively.
“I've never seen the 'Buff' ability in person, but I do know its prerequisites.”
“Prerequisites…”
“The target of the Buff must be within sight. And the target and the caster must share the same objective.”
“...!”
Putting Dr. Jin's words together, it was impossible for someone to cast a Buff on me from another region. That meant the 'Buff' skill must have been activated by someone inside the dungeon… 'The only one left… it has to be him.'
A Buff is fundamentally a skill related to psychic power. Iron Arm, being a Knight, couldn't use it. I myself only had the potential to maybe become an E-rank at best.
That left only one suspect. A psychic-type ability user who entered the dungeon with us and could use the 'Stealth' skill.
'Bi-soo...!'
That was the only possible conclusion. To think Bi-soo was a top-tier Esper with a 'Buff' ability. Does he even know this himself?
“There’s a pickpocket in the black market who uses Stealth.”
At this, Dr. Jin let out a dry laugh.
“You mean to say someone who can use Stealth is working as a mere pickpocket?”
“Yes. It seems he has his reasons. In any case, it seems he was the one who used the ‘Buff’.”
“That's incredible. If what you say is true, then our country has its very first 'Buff' user.”
Dr. Jin said that receiving a 'Buff' would raise one's abilities by at least one or two ranks. That meant Iron Arm's B-rank physical strength would have instantly jumped to an A or S-rank level. What would happen if an S-rank Healing Ability was activated through Bi-soo?
I might be able to heal every injured person in sight all at once.
“I’ll have to be sure to tell Kiril when I see him.”
“Is Kiril still out of contact?”
“Yes. At this point, I think we have to assume he’s no longer here.”
“Here, as in… Korea?”
“Haha. No. It would be more accurate to say, this world.”
If not this world, then where was he talking about? Dr. Jin purposefully ignored my expression and changed the subject.
“Anyway, with Exa broken, conquering dungeons won't be easy.”
“Yes. I can beat down the average ones, but I’m not sure about the boss Monsters. Other than foolishly drawing my blood and pouring it into their mouths…”
I said, giving Dr. Jin a pointed look. Hey, Dr. Jin. If you have something good, how about you bring it out?
Even if it wasn't as good as Exa, he might have a device that could weaponize Black Ether.
“Hmm… It’s not that simple.”
But contrary to my expectations, Dr. Jin looked troubled.
“Regardless of the type, the essence of Ether is fundamentally similar. Knights, healers, Espers, they’re all the same. But Black Ether is different. We still haven't even properly identified its components.”
A line of Hunter devices was displayed on one wall. Though he said they were made for Kiril, most were 'common' weapons that regular Hunters could also use. A dedicated device made for a Poison-type Hunter, he explained, took several times the time and difficulty.
Hmm.
I guess it can't be helped. I can't ask him to produce something he doesn't have.
“I didn't realize the conditions for making a dedicated device were so strict.”
“The conditions are one thing, but the biggest problem is the Material.”
“The Material?”
“Yes. To draw Black Ether out of the body, a 'legendary substance' is needed. A powerful metal that can fully withstand the absurd density of Black Ether.”
The explanation sounded familiar.
“The reason Exa can draw out your Black Ether is because of that substance. It's a very small amount, but inside it, there is the 'legendary substance'.”
“What is the name of this 'legendary substance'?”
Dr. Jin raised his index finger with a serious face.
“Pranium. A substance that even most S-rank Hunters would find difficult to obtain in their entire lifetime.”
Wow.
To think I'd hear about Pranium here. I took something out from my pocket and showed it to Dr. Jin.
“This?”
“Yes. This is it. In making a Poison-type device, this Pranium is the alpha and the omega. With this much, I could make one in just a week…”
Dr. Jin, who had been excitedly explaining, suddenly jumped up from his seat.
“Pra!!!! Pranium!!!!”
Was our conversation so natural that he forgot to be surprised? His reaction was so funny I couldn't hold back my laughter.
“Th-th-th-th-th…”
“Are you asking how I got this?”
“Yes…!”
“This substance was surrounding the Giant Treasure's Core. After I extracted and absorbed the Core, only these things were left.”
“Things? You mean you have more Pranium than this?”
“Yes. I have a few dozen at home.”
“Good heavens…”
An emotion I had never seen on Dr. Jin’s face appeared. It was clearly the light of ‘greed.’ To see such an expression on the face of Dr. Jin, who seemed completely detached from the secular world.
It made me realize just how incredible a substance Pranium was.
“I brought one just in case, and I’m glad I did. With this, you can make something like 'Exa' again, right?”
“Make something? Just this amount is hundreds, no, thousands of times the Pranium that was in Exa. A masterpiece far surpassing Exa will be born!”
“I haven't said I'm giving it to you yet.”
Dr. Jin, who had been hurriedly placing the Pranium in a metal box, looked up at me with a dumbfounded expression.
“R-right, of course.”
“Hehe. I'm kidding. Considering the devices you've given me, it wouldn't be enough even if I gave you all the Pranium I have.”
“No. I couldn't ask for that much. Pranium is more expensive than the finest diamonds. It will be a source of strength for you someday, so keep it safe.”
Dr. Jin said, without taking his eyes off the Pranium. I should bring him another piece next time I come.
“By any chance, do you know someone named Do I-su?”
“I do. Isn't he the representative of Umbrella Industry?”
“I knew you’d know him. What kind of person is he?”
“A man of faith.”
Though he said it plainly, that was practically high praise. Dr. Jin was so paranoid that he feared almost everyone in the world.
“Umbrella Industry received help from Kiril in the past. Do I-su defended Kiril, his savior, and fell out of favor with the Association.”
At least he wasn't someone who repaid kindness with enmity. That seemed to be the summary of Dr. Jin’s words.
“You’re starting to twitch. You should probably stop talking about the past.”
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
It would be nice to stay the night, but I decided to head back today. I had things to do at the black market tomorrow, and I was afraid of seeing my sister’s stern face the day after staying out. Even as I was getting ready to leave, Dr. Jin was all smiles.
“I’ll contact you when the device is complete. I think it’s going to be a masterpiece.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Oh, and…”
“?”
“I was originally going to tell you this when your Poison-type level increased, but since you don’t have a weapon right now, I think I should tell you.”
Dr. Jin told me to think back to the day I first had my Awakening. To be precise, the moment I summoned the Crimson Venom Snake.
“Do you know how you summoned the Crimson Venom Snake back then?”
“If I knew, I wouldn't be fighting this hard, would I?”
A self-deprecating laugh escaped me. How wonderful would it be if I could summon that thing in every battle? I would have just sat back and watched it demolish the Giant Treasure.
“I want to summon it, but I can't. To be honest, I don't even know how I did it back then.”
“It’s natural that you don’t know the feeling. Until now, all the Black Cores you've absorbed have been used for body enhancement.”
Where else would I channel it but my body? It's not like I could put it in a separate storage. As I stared at Dr. Jin, he rubbed his palms together and continued his explanation.
“The Espers who use psychic power. Do you know where their Ether is most active?”
“I don’t know.”
Dr. Jin pointed a finger to his own head.
“The brain.”
“...!”
Right.
It was obvious when I thought about it. Focusing Ether in my toes wouldn't increase my psychic power.
Psychic power.
In other words, the organ most closely related to mental strength was, without a doubt, the brain.
“Have you ever tried channeling newly acquired Black Ether to your brain instead of your body?”
Never.
Because I had never thought of it in those terms. It was only natural. If someone gave me energy for enhancement, I would use it on my 'body,' not think to use it on my 'brain'.
“Just as muscles and nerves are enhanced by Ether, the brain can also be enhanced. And that, in turn, leads to the enhancement of psychic power.”
Of course, this was impossible for other Hunters. Enhancing a different type was something only a Poison-type Hunter could do.
“Now I understand why Kiril called the Poison-type the chosen one.”
The potential of a Poison-type was enough to astound even me, the one who possessed it.
“The next time you have a chance to get a Core, give it a try. Though, without a weapon, you might not get a chance to obtain a Core right away…”
“I have one.”
“Hm?”
“A Core I haven't absorbed yet.”
And it wasn't just any Core, but one that was called a treasure, waiting for me at home. Its conversion rate had surpassed 97% and would soon be ready for absorption. The very thing that Hunters called a dream item.
What would happen if I absorbed that spirit beast's Core and sent the energy to my brain? Just the thought of it made my heart race.
“It seems you have a decent Core left.”
“It’s not just decent, it’s something people would go crazy for.”
“???”
The next time. When I come to pick up my weapon, I might be a different person. Toward the blinking Dr. Jin, I grinned, showing my teeth.