A woman with short red hair, looking to be in her mid-thirties, gave a seductive eye-smile. Oh Jin-ah, a former S-rank Esper. Rather than hiding the curves of her body, she wore a dress that revealed them plainly, stepping behind a man and wrapping her arms around his neck.
“There won't be any problem if I go with my darling, right?”
Her sweet, heated voice was dizzying just to listen to.
“It would certainly be safer to do it together.”
The man with the crew cut she was holding was a man with an abnormally thick neck. His solid physique, reminiscent of a pro wrestler, made it obvious to anyone that he was a Knight.
“We need to approach this with caution.”
The one-eyed man sitting opposite them slowly began to speak. At first glance, he had a sharp, handsome face, but the eyepatch he wore on one side gave off a dangerous feeling first. The man who was an S-rank Knight and formerly number one in the Korean Hunter rankings.
Kang Hyeon.
He was the real leader of Tenebra.
“Aww, what's the big deal?”
Oh Jin-ah turned her body from side to side as if throwing a tantrum. As she did, her chest swayed sensuously, causing the faces of a few men to flush red.
“That Cheon Hae-seon guy doesn't really belong to any group, right? It's not like we're killing Gu Geon-yi or that bitch Maria Go, so we don't have to worry about retaliation from a Guild.”
“I’m not worried about retaliation.”
“Then?”
“Cheon Hae-seon’s abilities are not clear.”
Kang Hyeon was a cautious and meticulous person. It was thanks to him that he could unite the S-rankers with their disparate personalities and grow the organization, turning those who only knew how to kill and destroy into fine-tuned blades. Tenebra had cleanly handled major assassination requests so far, but this time, he had a nagging feeling.
The more data he gathered on Cheon Hae-seon, the more parts he found that were difficult to accept.
“The Clan he was active in was effectively Iron Arm’s one-man operation. Although that man is a B-rank Knight, it’s next to impossible that he cleared all those Poison Dungeons just by having a single healer with him.”
“Cheon Hae-seon’s healing must be out of this world. Like the high I give my darling.”
Despite Kang Hyeon’s warning, Oh Jin-ah just continued to act cute with the man she was hugging. The thick-necked man, Na Ji-hwan, a former A-rank Knight, shrugged at Kang Hyeon.
“That’s why I’m saying I’ll go with her. No matter what special trick the guy has, a healer is still just a healer. He can’t take on a high-rank Esper and a Knight at the same time by himself.”
That was probably true. Though their personalities were all over the place, the two before him never missed a target they had aimed for. The list of people those two had taken care of so far included numerous A-rank Hunters.
‘If it weren't for a healer, I would have refused…’
Tenebra had proposed a fee of 90 billion won to Yoo In-won. And Yoo In-won had immediately sent the okay sign. Naturally, that was an amount of money that couldn't be saved on a Hunter Association salary.
Just how much had he been skimming off the top to be able to drop 90 billion on a personal request? Although he was in no position to comment on the morality of others, Kang Hyeon couldn't help but let out a dry laugh. A fee of 90 billion won.
It was a jaw-dropping amount, but it also meant the job was that dangerous. But it seemed Oh Jin-ah and Na Ji-hwan couldn’t see anything but the money. If they had chased ‘honor,’ they would never have become criminals.
To them, the highest value was money, and the next highest value was also money. And ultimately, there was a single, inviolable principle within the Tenebra organization.
“The Hunter who accepts the request gets the fee, and we don't get involved whether they live or die.”
Kang Hyeon nodded at the principle Na Ji-hwan mentioned. The fact that an A-rank Hunter could speak so informally to Kang Hyeon, who could be called the leader, was also one of Kang Hyeon's operational policies.
“I have no intention of denying that. Tenebra only helps its members accomplish their missions.”
Kang Hyeon had someone pass a device to Na Ji-hwan. It was a state-of-the-art device that increased one’s physical strength by half a rank by amplifying the Ether within the body. A look of elation appeared on Na Ji-hwan’s face as he received the item.
“Handle it without any mistakes.”
“Of course, boss.”
Oh Jin-ah puckered her lips and blew a puff of air at Kang Hyeon. With that, the negotiation for the ‘Cheon Hae-seon assassination request’ was concluded. An Esper who had once made a name for herself as an S-ranker and an A-rank Knight were now after Cheon Hae-seon’s head.
Grrrrrr.
“What’s wrong with him today?”
Ppori was making a sound like a cat purring. He had done this a few times before. What’s more, even though we were out today, he had the Gold Eternal Flower petal wrapped around his body.
It’s something he’s crazy about, so it’s not like he’ll lose it, but it’s a little concerning.
“Well, I guess nothing special will happen. It’s a good day to get my weapon, after all.”
Kkuwang.
“Feels good to be back in your hometown, right?”
To get to Dr. Jin’s base, a certain rite of passage(?) was necessary. Dr. Jin, traumatized by past events, was still suffering from paranoia and believed that most people in the world were trying to kill him. After passing through a long corridor, a large steel door appeared, and now-familiar machines were aiming in this direction.
Pshhhh.
A deadly poison that would instantly melt the skin of a normal human was sprayed. But the two life forms(?) here were far from ordinary humans.
“Is this one a little different from the old one?”
I breathed calmly and analyzed the components, while Ppori drank up the poison like a fish in water. Who needs an air purifier?
Clunk.
He must have been watching everything through the CCTV, yet the door opened cautiously. That’s Dr. Jin for you. Dr. Jin, with his cute pot-bellied physique, opened his arms towards us.
“Dr. Jin!”
Kkuwang.
“Let’s go inside…!”
Dr. Jin’s happy voice could be heard from behind his gas mask. Contrary to his initial word that it would take about two weeks, the device production had taken quite a while. Dr. Jin brought over some coffee he had brewed himself and explained the reason.
“Initially, I was planning to make it in the same form as Exa. But in the meantime, you’ve grown tremendously, haven't you?”
“Ah, about that.”
My base BA level had risen a lot, but the biggest change was that my Poison-type level had changed. My Poison-type level, which hadn't budged no matter how much I raised it, rose at the same time I absorbed the Gold Core, and I even gained the special title of ‘Summoner.’
True to the name, I became able to summon a Crimson Venom Snake, and a haze, like gas before it ignites, began to rise from my palm.
“Actually, someone gave me a gift.”
I told him what had happened with Supervisor Pyo Hyeok-gyu, and Dr. Jin nodded with a serious expression. I could have told him everything from the beginning, but Dr. Jin was someone who was extremely afraid of bringing up things from his past.
If he had any past connection to Pyo Hyeok-gyu, Dr. Jin would instantly be plunged into his trauma. But now that my Poison-type level had risen, I decided to carefully confess what had happened. My conversation with Pyo Hyeok-gyu, of course, but also about Do I-su, the Representative of Umbrella Industry, and Yoo Ji-won’s rampage.
Dr. Jin’s face grew especially dark when I spoke of Yoo Ji-won.
“A substance that affects a Poison-type Hunter. That is truly shocking news.”
“Well, it was purified quickly, though.”
“Kiril once said he had a similar experience.”
“Kiril?”
“Yes. He said he encountered a Monster that looked similar to a human, and he was unknowingly poisoned and vomited during battle.”
“Whoa…”
A Monster similar to a human. Yoo Ji-won, a human who had become a Monster. Perhaps there was some kind of similarity between them.
For now, it was all just speculation.
“From now on, there will be times when you have no choice but to kill people. You must steel your heart.”
Dr. Jin patted my shoulder once, then took something out from his coat.
Click. A bracelet.
A bracelet covered in a brilliant, multi-colored light. This radiant luster was something I could never forget. It was the luster of ‘Pranium,’ which I had obtained by crossing the line of death.
“Wow, it’s so pretty. This is less a weapon and more of a…”
“Looks like a decoration, right?”
Dr. Jin grinned and offered me the bracelet. It had a black base with Pranium material intricately attached, and as Dr. Jin said, it looked like an expensive accessory. Above all, the fact that I didn't have to deliberately hold it in my hand was convenient.
Now, I could carry the bracelet continuously with just a simple click like this.
“...is what it says?”
“Haha. The data contained in this device is so vast that it will need some time.”
Dr. Jin’s residence, located in an underground space, was quite large. Large enough to test out the newly equipped device. I put on the bracelet and moved to the farthest corner of the space.
First things first, I should try putting Black Ether into it, right?
Ching.
A light sound, like inserting a coin, came from the bracelet. I think it was a similar sound to when a weapon struck the Pranium. Soon, a whirring vibration began to emanate from the bracelet.
“Have you decided on a name?”
“Hmm… I wonder… It’s a bracelet made of Pranium material, so… how about Pracel?”
“... That sounds a bit too hastily decided.”
Even as he said that, Dr. Jin didn’t particularly try to stop me.
Alright, Pracel.
Let’s not break this time and stay together until I die.
Whoosh.
First, I tried to manifest a blade shape, like the old Exa. A black blade extracted from Black Ether extended out from the back of Pracel’s hand. Of course, now that my Poison-type level had reached stage two, I could freely adjust the length of the blade, unlike in the past.
Swoosh.
The device had changed, but the white blade of ‘White Dream’ was also the same. Judging by his earlier question, it seems Dr. Jin would prefer if I didn't kill people. While I was concerned about Dr. Jin’s gentle nature, I also felt grateful.
I could feel his wish for me not to become a monster.
“Alright… This time…”
In the past, it could transform into a gun or other shapes, but Pracel didn't seem to have the function of changing its form. Since it was the hardest metal in the world, it certainly didn't seem easy. But there was no need to be disappointed.
Now, without needing to change its form, it was possible to ‘fire’ Black Ether through my palm. Of course, controlling it had not been easy until now.
Pshik.
“Oho…”
I couldn't hide my joy. The ‘vibration’ generated from the Pranium resonated with the haze on my palm, allowing for delicate control. Like this, I could now stick a thread-thin strand of Black Ether wherever I wanted.
What if I could create dozens, hundreds of such Ether strands? The overwhelming attack technique I saw on the day I met Kiril. It might even be possible to use ‘Poison Rain.’
Tingle.
As I imagined using Poison Rain, a thrilling shiver ran through my entire body. A domain that had seemed so high in the sky and distant, now felt like I could reach it, even if just a little. The path to becoming the best Hunter.
A goal I had doubted I could achieve was now beginning to come into sight…
KABOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was, an incredibly sudden change. A strange, deafening roar echoed through Dr. Jin’s quiet and peaceful residence. Along with a powerful vibration that felt like an earthquake.
I hurriedly ran towards Dr. Jin, and there, two unfamiliar men and women were standing.
“Dr. Jin!!!”
And Dr. Jin, held in one of the man’s hands, was trembling from head to toe.