Ch. 62 - Chapter 62

An awkward silence hung as I removed and cleaned the tooth stuck in my side one by one.

Looking at it this way, Gu Gyeon and Maria's expressions were quite a sight to behold.

How did I, a healer, possessed such destructive power?

How could it be that I was the only one unscathed amidst this hellish fire?

I suppose they were also wondering why I was so calm.

“You...!!”

Gu Gyeon, who had barely been healed, struggled to open his mouth.

"What's going on? Since when did you gain such ability….."

"As I said before."

"?"

"I have no obligation to explain.”

As I said that, I flicked a tooth of Yoo Jiwon to Maria.

"That’s all that’s left. You can either conduct an investigation or keep it as a memento, do as you please.”

"......"

She, too, seemed unable to comprehend the current situation, but compared to Gu Gyeon, she remained rather composed.

"Thank you for your help..."

Though she likely had many questions, she chose to offer her gratitude instead of asking them.

I've felt this way for a long time, but she was different from Gu Gyeon in many ways.

Though both were S-rankers, she showed no trace of arrogance or obsession with authority, and her considerate thoughts often came through in her actions.

As for differences in appearance, well, that goes without saying.

I spoke to Gu Gyeon in a firm tone, as if demanding he listened.

"I’ll see how the Glory Guild handles and responds to this matter."

"......!"

How I felt about Yoo Jiwon in the past was a matter for another time.

The Glory Guild must take responsibility and clarify the reason he deteriorated to such an extent.

He may have been somewhat unpleasant before, but he never crossed the line beyond being ‘human’.

But seeing Gu Gyeon grinding his teeth made me doubt they would actually do so.

'I suppose I’ll need to investigate on my own.'

The battle with Yoo Jiwon was no small shock to me as well.

I cleared so many high-difficulty Poison Dungeons without issue, but now I couldn't believe I was feeling dizzy from just a small bite.

That ‘certain substance’ within him was a threat even to me, a Poisoner.

'I hope some of the substance remains.’

The teeth I tossed to them were only half.

They might assume they received them all, but there was no reason for me to hand over everything.

I gave a slight nod to Maria before turning and heading out of the building.

With Yoo Jiwon's teeth shoved deep in my pocket.

***

Once you become a Hunter, there inevitably comes a time when killing becomes unavoidable.

Like subduing a Hunter who’s gone berserk like Yoo Jiwon, or confronting a Hunter who has committed criminal acts.

There are situations where you must kill, even if you don't want to.

Many Hunters say they suffer aftereffects after taking a life.

While the grand cause of saving the world may be the same, ‘hunting’ and ‘killing’ are perceived differently.

It’s like the trauma a soldier experiences after killing someone for the first time on the battlefield.

A similar kind of psychological torment visits Hunters as well.

But for some reason, I seemed to be an exception.

"Huuuuuaam..."

Was it because Yoo Jiwon had already lost his humanity by then?

Though it was my first time killing a person, I didn't feel much difference compared to when I hunt monsters.

I thought I might have nightmares, but perhaps because I used ‘Poison Flames’ repeatedly, I was able to sleep soundly.

It was to the point where I even found myself reflecting (?) on whether I was always this inhuman.

Actually, as I once told someone, I sometimes find people more frightening than monsters.

Like the people who would pass by and stare at me as if I were a cow or chicken when I collapsed on the street convulsing.

Doctors who announced my terminal diagnosis with dry, emotionless eyes.

Those bastards like Gu Gyeon, who abandon an entire district of people without a second thought.

People like that are far more terrifying than any Giant Treasure monster.

Well, that doesn't mean I'd kill people as easily as I do monsters.

After all, I have no desire to become like those I despise.

'Status check.'

[No abnormal status detected. Condition is normal.]

I was worried some residue substance from the teeth might remain, but fortunately, it seemed to have been completely cleansed.

And so, the day had finally come for me to use this item.

Swipe.

The Soul-Undinding Elixir, which I had planned to use after absorbing the Golden Core.

Now that the incident had been resolved and my condition was normal, there was no longer any reason to delay.

An experience of the Netherworld, a place whose very existence was scarcely known to most.

Yaksha said with a meaningful expression that I might discover something there.

Gulp.

No particular taste.

I just felt sleepy.

Though I had just woken from sleep not long ago, a wave of drowsiness crashed over me like a tidal wave.

-Kkwang

Perhaps worried about my state.

Brie cried out fiercely from my shoulder.

And when I opened my eyes to the sound of his cries.

-???!!!

I had to rub the corners of my eyes with the back of my hand.

-This can't be...

Indeed, the Soul-Undinding Elixir's effect was unmistakable.

Before me sprawled a jungle (?) I had never seen in my life.

I was clearly lying on the sofa just moments ago, but now everything was incredibly strange.

What's more, my body wasn't on the ground but floating in mid-air.

As if I had become a ghost, my form began drifting through the jungle in every direction.

-Woooo.

An oddly dissonant cry drifted from beyond the jungle.

The plants covering every direction were also species far removed from those of the world.

Giant clovers with seven large leaves, or sunflowers that radiated a dazzling, pure-white light.

A world, as if painted freely by a child, unfolded before my eyes.

-How fascinating.

For someone like me, who due to my poisoning symptoms had never been overseas, let alone to the Spirit Realm, this was an exceptionally rare experience.

I spotted mammals with ferocious horns like a Triceratops, and birds of prey with legs as extremely short as a Welsh corgi's.

With bodies like that, can they even hunt properly?

As I was ruminating on such pointless thoughts, I heard Brie's cry again.

-Kkwang!

He was unusually cheerful.

Hold on.

Brie was definitely with me on the sofa.

I had no memory of feeding him the Soul-Undinding Elixir.

Does that mean he stepped into this Spirit Realm by his own power?

Flutter flutter.

As if reunited with his homeland, Brie flapped his wings with a delighted expression.

And then he quickly disappeared among the pink-hued trees.

-Hey, don’t wander around too far.

I said that, but I was sure he would find his way back on his own.

I focused my attention on observing the Netherworld once again.

The creatures there certainly felt different from monsters.

They didn’t show any particularly aggressive tendencies by nature, and there was something about each of their forms that felt strangely clever.

-They’re quite similar to Big Tiger I met before.

-Are you talking about me?

-Yeah.

Huh?

I answered reflexively, but immediately spun around.

There stood a being that humans know as spirit creature.

It was the 'Imperial Tiger' I had healed during my Hunter Qualification Test.

-Big Tiger!

-...So you’ve settled on that name, it seems.

A large species that requires you to raise your head to meet its eyes.

A spirit creature whose ash-colored fur and jet-black markings covering its entire body created an overwhelming feeling of awe and majesty.

He was standing right in front of me.

-Wow, long time no see. I heard you ran away.

-All thanks to you.

-Huh?

-The healing you gave me was fundamental. It not only healed my physical wounds but also returned my damaged inner core to normal.

-Ohh... I guess I did that.

-...Did you not know that?

-All I did was think that I needed to heal you. From then on, it was the healing power inside me that did the rest.

-A blessed ability indeed. It seems you're quite different from other humans.

-By the way, how did you know I was here? I'm only here for a short time because I took a strange medicine.

-Anyone could tell just by looking. You appear to be in a kind of spirit form right now. A friend informed me of your arrival.

I didn’t need to ask who that friend was.

A tiny dragon, clinging as stubbornly as gum to Big Tiger’s solemn face, let out a roar.

-Kkuwang!

-Anyway, it’s good to see you again. I’m glad you came to the Netherworld. I even get to see you in good health.

-Since you are currently in a spiritual state, this doesn’t apply, but if you and I are in the same world, you can call for me anytime.

-You have that ability too?

-It's not my ability. It's yours.

Huh.

I wondered if that ability was part of the 'Beast Communication’ skill V1 showed me.

-I see. It feels reassuring to have a backup now.

Is it because I believe this guy would never harm me?

Somehow, I felt more joyful in this conversation than when talking with people.

Zzt.

-Ugh...!!

But suddenly, I felt a pressure that seemed to weigh down my entire body.

Even when I encountered the Giant Treasure, I didn't feel this way.

-What is this?

From somewhere beyond the mountains, an overwhelming presence could be felt.

To feel such fear just by sensing the presence of something...

As if noticing my stiff expression, Big Tiger gave a nod.

-Crassus Dragon. One of the rulers of this Netherworld.

-Huu... It certainly deserves to be the ruler... I've never felt such fear in my life.

-Since you’re already here, why not take a look?

Even just sensing the dragon from afar made it hard to breathe, seeing it directly might suffocate me.

But on the contrary, a strong curiosity surged from deep within my heart.

A dragon, one of the rulers of the Netherworld.

The chance to see the greatest of spirit beings doesn’t come often.

-It looks like you don't have much time. Get on.

As Big Tiger said, my consciousness was gradually fading.

Perhaps the effect (?) of the Soul-Undinding Elixir was wearing off.

Actually, that was for the best.

If I gaze at the Crassus Dragon with a clear mind, I might lose my senses from the sheer terror.

Big Tiger lowered his head, bending his upper body downward.

Stepping onto the head of such a tall spirit being gave me a somewhat awkward feeling.

-Koo...

Brie returned to his original place (?) on my shoulder and rubbed his face on my cheek.

Maybe it's because we were in the Netherworld, but he seemed to be acting more affectionate than usual.

-By the way, when you grow up... will you become a scary creature like that?

-Kkwang.

***

Thud thud thud...

Riding atop an Imperial Tiger.

I dare say, among humans, this might be a unique experience.

The sheer speed made me feel as if my hair was whipping in the wind, even in this 'spiritual' state.

The only regret is that I felt like I was about to lose consciousness.

Big Tiger was running hard, but I might return to the present world before I even get to see the dragon.

-I’ll say goodbye in advance. I hope we meet again someday.

-It may happen sooner.

-Huh?

-We're almost there. If we get too close, your spirit form might dissipate, so watching from here should be fine.

At the edge of a dizzying cliff, Big Tiger stopped.

On the opposite side of the cliff stood a majestic creature that looked tens of meters tall.

A dragon, long considered a creature of legend.

This must be when expressions like ‘large and magnificent’ are used.

Scales covered in dark hues looked tougher than steel, and wings broad enough to block out the entire sun were breathing slowly.

The four horns rising from its head resembled a crown, a symbol of the supreme dignity of this place.

Although I've conquered 8-star monsters, facing something like that would leave no trace of me behind.

It looked as if it could roar ‘GWAH!’ at any moment, yet for some reason, the dragon remained quiet.

I was admiring its flawless form, albeit from a distance.

A being that is both immense yet delicate, terrifying yet beautiful.

It was gazing down with arrogant eyes at something standing on the ground below.

I thought it was quiet, but it was actually in conversation with someone.

I strained my eyes to identify the thing on the ground.

Then I froze, as if struck by lightning.

-Huh...?

That someone had tanned skin and a confident smile.

Flutter.

Just like when I first met her, one sleeve of her coat fluttered in the wind.

A Poisoner like me, the one who made the person I am today.

The one-armed human confronting the Crassus Dragon was.

-KIRIL!!!!!!!

My lifesaver and mentor.

Kiril.

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