Clatter.
“Wow, this is really delicious.”
“Don’t change the subject, Mr. Cheon Hae-seon.”
Dinner with my sister. Even with my compliments on the food, her interrogation showed no signs of stopping. The kid who said he was just going out for a quick workout came back after pulling an all-nighter and then slept like he was knocked out all day, so it was understandable.
But I had my own unfortunate circumstances. I had briefly passed out when I fully absorbed the Gold Core, and by the time I woke up and saw the Crimson Venom Snake, quite a long time had passed. At the time, I didn't even realize I had been unconscious for that long.
After completely wrecking the school building, I was horrified to see the dawn breaking. Looking at the brilliant sunlight, I had one thought. I’m so screwed now.
Perhaps as an aftereffect of summoning the Crimson Venom Snake, my body was completely worn out, and after collapsing into sleep, it was evening again. Now, I was cautiously eating, avoiding my sister’s brilliant eyes.
“My Hae-seon has changed. That good boy now lies without batting an eye…”
“It’s not like that. I didn’t know it would take that long either.”
“The incident in the news today, that was you too, wasn’t it?”
“Nope.”
It seemed there had been quite a few complaints filed overnight. With the Crimson Venom Snake's monstrous roar followed by the shock of the school being demolished, it was only natural. My sister was convinced that I was the suspect in the incident.
Bingo.
“Hey, this beef is really tender. Is it two-plus grade?”
“That’s pork, you know.”
My sister snorted once, then let out a soft laugh. A beautiful crescent moon formed in her friendly eyes, so different from mine.
“Still, I should be grateful, right? The Hae-seon who used to get sick after walking just a few steps can now stay out all night.”
“Of course, of course. You really don’t have to worry anymore. I’m stronger than most Hunters.”
“Right. And you’ve gotten more handsome.”
My sister put down her chopsticks and caressed my cheek. My handsome Hae-seon. It was a phrase she would repeat like a habit, even when people flinched upon seeing me.
In the past, her fingertips would have touched reddish spots, but now, only smooth skin remained.
Squeeze.
“And your lying skills have improved.”
“Ah. Hahaha, tha’s not true.”
My sister’s interrogation ended with a pinch on my cheek. Whether I was wasting away from a chronic illness or now that I was an S-ranker, her concern for her little brother seemed to be no different. I had actually had a near-death experience in a high-difficulty dungeon.
For my sister’s sake, I needed to become a little stronger. I will never again leave the power of life and death in someone else’s hands.
Just as I had confirmed the night before, my Poison-type level had gone up. It was the first level-up since my Awakening. Before, it simply said ‘Level 1,’ but this time, it had a special designation.
‘Summoner’ It seemed to mean one who summons, and what was summoned needed no explanation.
Just last night, I had brought the incomparably vicious Crimson Venom Snake into this world.
‘Brought it here…’
If I had created something from nothing, it would have been called ‘Creator’ or something similar. The fact that it was called ‘Summoner’ suggested that I had manifested a Monster that exists somewhere in the form of Ether. How was I able to give form to a Monster I had never even seen?
Unfortunately, the person who could answer that question was currently unreachable. The fact that my psychic power level had become ‘S’ was also encouraging. I didn't have many abilities I could use yet, but as my psychic power level increased, I would be freer from mental attacks, including ‘Illusion Technique.’
If Body Protection Aura provided immunity to external shocks, a high level of psychic power provided immunity to attacks directed inward. At this point, I even started to wonder if I should switch my class to a Tanker.
‘The problem is this…’
A faint haze flickered into existence in my palm. The Crimson Venom Snake had clearly been sucked into this area and vanished. Presumably, it had appeared through this route when it was first summoned.
Black Ether is a deadly poison by its very existence, so any form of contact with a target could leave a fatal wound. Even without summoning the Crimson Venom Snake, just releasing the Ether would be the ultimate killing weapon. The key was controlling the amount.
Controlling the Ether was not as easy as I thought. It felt like holding back a locomotive that was about to run wild with only a thin membrane. Even after a good night's sleep, the awakened state continued.
Even when I tried to release just a little bit, I mean, a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of the power I imagined— Fwoosh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“See what I mean…”
The Black Ether shot up to the sky as if it knew no bounds. It was a good thing I was training on the rooftop; I could have destroyed the whole house. Releasing Black Ether recklessly in my current state was dangerous.
There was a high possibility of involving not just Monsters, but everyone around me. It would be great if there was a way to control this vast amount of Ether. For now, it seemed training was more important than tackling Poison Dungeons.
Woong.
As I was gathering the Ether back into my palm, I got a phone call. It was Bi-soo.
[Yeah.]
[You answer the phone so coldly.]
[We’re not exactly on affectionate terms.]
[You’re so annoying… I’m moving next week.]
[Oh…]
Although my reply was dry, it was definitely good news. Bi-soo, who had been bound in Yaksha’s grasp, had finally found freedom after a long period of servitude.
If it were up to me, I would have wanted to escape that place immediately, but since he had been living and eating in the black market, he said he needed some time to prepare.
[So, about that…]
[No.] [Damn it. How can you say no before I even say anything?]
[Because whenever you start with that tone of voice, it’s always something I don’t want to do.]
[Wow… I guess S-rank Hunters can read minds too?]
Bi-soo readily admitted it and got to the point. Since it was his first time living independently, he had a lot of things to move, like furniture. He was asking me to come to his new place and help him move.
[It’s really heavy for me, but Hunters can carry it with one hand, right?]
[Just hire someone. These days, they even install everything for you.]
[It’s expensive if I do that. Most of the furniture I bought beforehand was second-hand.]
[Where do you get the confidence that I’ll help you for free?]
Then, Bi-soo mimicked a line from a very old movie.
[Aren’t we friends~] [No.] An unexpected silence followed my half-joking reply.
Normally, a string of curses should have followed by now.
[If you say that… I really don’t have anyone else around.]
[…]
Was I too harsh? I had known from the start that he wouldn't have anyone to help him when he moved. Those in the black market basically forbid any outside activities.
I was just teasing him because helping for free seemed a bit boring, but I didn't expect him to take it so seriously.
[Okay. I’ll go.]
[Haha! I knew you would!]
Ah, damn it. Seeing Bi-soo reply in a bright voice as if nothing had happened, I realized that I was the one who had been tricked. This cunning little thing.
[Just come straight to the address I sent you. It’s in Haenam District, so it’s not too far from there.]
[Haenam District?]
[…Why are you so surprised?]
[That’s where the explosion happened recently. Didn’t you know?]
[Ahhh~ So that’s why the properties suddenly got so cheap. No wonder.]
That’s ridiculous.
His reaction was that cheapness was all that mattered, and the fact that an explosion had occurred was secondary. Haenam District was the very neighborhood where the Glory Guild research lab was located. The explosion was followed by a fire, so they couldn't cover up the incident itself, but there was one fact they had succeeded in concealing.
They couldn't find Yoo Ji-won’s body. With an Ether explosion of that magnitude, it was possible his body had been blown to pieces. But they couldn't find any fragment of Yoo Ji-won at the scene.
Both Kim Seung-hwan of the Blue Sword Guild and Do I-su of 'Umbrella Industry' were considering the same possibility. That if Yoo Ji-won was alive, he was in a dangerously volatile state. To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, it seemed better to help Bi-soo.
[Thank you, sir Knight!]
Bi-soo hung up the phone with a cheerful voice. Although I had a somewhat uneasy feeling, I decided to ignore my anxiety. What could possibly go wrong?
The days of a dragon rising from a stream were long gone. The world favors the haves, and the succession of wealth and power is a given. There is no need to consider the circumstances of those who live in the stream.
Just as we don't need to consider the circumstances of a bug when we step on it and kill it. I was born superior, and I just had to live as I was born.
Brilliantly.
By trampling on the jealousy of others.
“Gurgle…”
Everything was proceeding according to plan. A probability of less than one in ten thousand.
An Awakened.
To be born as the son of the Hunter Association's Vice Chairman and become an Awakened. I was surely a chosen human. My potential wasn't outstanding, but that wasn’t a problem.
As long as I had crossed the most important hurdle, the rest would be spoon-fed to me.
“Gurgle.”
As expected, my abilities began to rise steadily. The Ether injected by the Glory Guild transformed me from a mediocre healer into a promising prospect. And in this exam, I would monopolize the media's attention.
The plan was to rot in the Glory Guild for a few years, then transfer to the Association and inherit power. From the beginning, I didn't have a single ounce of a sense of duty to save people. Isn't it the law of nature for powerless bugs to just die when an accident happens?
Until the day of the qualification test, everything went smoothly. There was a slightly uncomfortable transitional period, but they said my healing level was at least B-level or higher. However, from the moment I met him, the whole process began to creak.
Cheon Hae-seon.
Ever since that bastard showed up. From the Awakened Value to the healing measurement process, that guy monopolized all the attention and popularity. Originally, all of that should have been mine.
Because of him, I couldn't even properly use my healing ability, which had been fine, and far from the license ceremony, I ended up hospitalized as a cripple. Because of that bastard, Cheon Hae-seon.
“Gurgle…”
Is this really a sound coming from my mouth? Unfortunately, it was true. An unpleasant sound that a Monster might make was constantly leaking out, and from my lower orifice, blood and unidentified filth were leaking out.
Not just my heart, but my whole body swelled up and then shriveled. The headaches repeated as if I were breathing, and my body alternated between hot and cold. It wouldn't have been strange if I had died long ago, but somehow, I was alive.
I even thought that I would rather have someone lop off my head, but every time I did, a stubborn poison would well up inside me. I am not someone who will die here. I am a being born to reign over others.
I can't die like a cripple on a street like this, unable to even control my own bowels…!
Bwoooooo. Again.
As my emotions intensified, the forcibly injected Ether inside my body began to boil. It was about to explode again.
“Ugh…!!”
My body feels like a balloon inflated to its limit. With trembling hands, I tear at my hair. A handful of hair comes out in my hands.
Beyond the glass window, I see a grotesque test subject that seems to be undergoing a biological experiment. The moment I realized that it was my own reflection, I lost my reason.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!”
Pshk. Just then.
Suddenly, everything stopped. Time, space, and the energy boiling inside my body. Though the damn headache was still there.
Something appears through the paused gap. A ‘something’ resembling a human form looks this way and mutters something.
Those bastards.
Their attitude is like they’re watching a monkey trapped in a zoo. One of them places a hand on my forehead.
If I had my way, I would have slapped that hand away, but I can't. In my blood-soaked eyes, I can no longer see anything but red. -□□□□□ A bizarre pronunciation that couldn't be believed to be of this world. As it ended, my body reacted drastically.
Like the first explosion, no, a more violent tidal wave struck my entire body. -Kraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!! With that, I lost all remaining reason. Only one thing remained.
A mindless appetite for humans.