Lee Sa-young grabbed Cha Eui-jae's hand tightly. The touch of their wounds felt like burning fire. It had been a while since he had felt pain.
Red blood mixed with black blood and flowed down their wrists. Around their joined hands, golden vines blossomed. Something sharp and piercing burrowed into Cha Eui-jae's body, crawling up his arm and settling near his heart.
At the same time, a hot lump rose up from his diaphragm. Cha Eui-jae bit his lip, stifling a groan. It was hard to hold back the urge to retch.
"…Ugh."
"Hold on."
[Trait: Basilisk's Venom (S+) activated.]
'Wait.'
Cha Eui-jae's eyes widened at the sudden system notification.
He had obtained the detoxification trait from capturing a basilisk in the West Sea Rift, but it had never actually activated before. It was a peculiar trait that didn't respond to weak poisons. So why now?
Cha Eui-jae coughed violently, unable to contain his bewilderment, and bright red blood spurted from his mouth. Amid the metallic taste of blood was a faint sweetness.
'Ah, this bastard.'
"…Fuck, Hyung. What's going on?"
Why are you swearing? I should be the one swearing. Cha Eui-jae struggled to keep his fading consciousness as he spat out blood between his teeth. He saw Lee Sa-young, who had frozen in shock.
"Hyung?"
'What kind of lunatic puts poison in someone's body?'
"Hyung, open your mouth quickly."
'I told you I'd kill you if you messed with me…'
"Hurry!"
Muttering anxiously, Lee Sa-young shoved his gloved thumb into Cha Eui-jae's mouth. Instinctively, Cha Eui-jae bit down on Lee Sa-young's thumb. He wanted to bite it off with his teeth, but his head was too hot.
Cha Eui-jae glared at the white system screen that filled his vision, bloodshot eyes burning.
'Why is an S+ grade trait so slow? Do you want me to die?'
[Trait: Basilisk's Venom (S+) activated.]
[Detoxifying.]
[Trait: Basilisk's Venom (S+) activated.]
[Detoxifying.]
[Trait: Basilisk's Venom (S+) activated.]
[Detoxifying.]
The system screen flickered as if protesting its innocence. It seemed to be trying to communicate that it was working hard, but Cha Eui-jae couldn't care less.
He disliked Lee Sa-young and the basilisk's venom both. What kind of bastard puts poison in someone's body? The antidote he was given seemed useless, so why make him drink it? What if he didn't have a detoxification trait?
Soon, a cool liquid flowed down Lee Sa-young's thumb into Cha Eui-jae's mouth. The heat subsided little by little wherever the liquid touched. At the same time, a system notification appeared.
[Detoxification complete.]
[According to the effect of Basilisk's Venom (S+), you have gained resistance to the poison once detoxified.]
Gasping for breath, Cha Eui-jae tried to remember the last time he had coughed up so much blood. As the heat subsided and sensation returned to his fingertips, he realized one of his hands was still held by Lee Sa-young.
"Hyung."
With his free hand, Cha Eui-jae touched his forehead. As his vision cleared, he saw the gas mask staring intently at him.
"…Hyung."
Lee Sa-young called Cha Eui-jae again. Cha Eui-jae slowly calmed his breathing. Whether it was due to his trait working hard or the mysterious liquid Lee Sa-young had given him, his recovery was fast.
'Alright, this much…'
There was still some lingering pain, but it was manageable.
As Lee Sa-young called him again, Cha Eui-jae was about to respond when the warm leather glove gently touched his cheek and jaw. The hand fumbled over his cheek before lifting his chin.
The black gas mask came into clearer view. Lee Sa-young whispered,
"Can you see me?"
Of course, he could see that black face clearly. Cha Eui-jae nodded quietly, his head fixed in place. Lee Sa-young muttered worriedly.
"Looks like you can hear too."
"…"
"What about talking? If you can't, at least blink."
Not trusting himself to speak without swearing, Cha Eui-jae blinked instead. He wasn't unable to speak, just choosing not to. He felt Lee Sa-young's grip on his cheek tighten slightly.
"…Did the poison damage your vocal cords?"
"…"
"What about other parts?"
What kind of poison does this guy have?
Cha Eui-jae couldn't believe what he was hearing. So, from what Lee Sa-young was saying, his poison could simultaneously damage vision, hearing, vocal cords, and internal organs? And it was strong enough to affect an S-grade Awakened?
'Can a simple poison be this potent?'
"Cha Eui-jae."
Lee Sa-young's anxious voice interrupted his thoughts. A cautious hand touched the back of his neck. Cha Eui-jae suddenly wondered what kind of expression Lee Sa-young was making right now. So he reached out with his free hand to…
"…"
"What are you—"
He grabbed the gas mask hard.
Crack. The front of the mask crumpled under his grip. As he twisted and yanked it off, a pale face appeared behind the torn mask. Wide, shocked violet eyes and slightly parted lips, with a few strands of hair stuck to his sweaty forehead.
'Those eyelashes are really long.'
Lee Sa-young's face, usually indifferent, now filled with surprise and confusion, was quite satisfying. After examining Lee Sa-young's face to his heart's content, Cha Eui-jae tossed aside the remains of the mask. Then he removed Lee Sa-young's hand from his neck.
Rubbing the blood off his lips with the back of his hand, Cha Eui-jae spoke,
"I'm fine. My vocal cords aren't damaged."
"…"
"This is the first time I've encountered such a strong poison… Do you have any conscience?"
"…Shit."
Lee Sa-young's pretty face twisted into a scowl. He threw the torn mask to the floor and glared at Cha Eui-jae.
"Why didn't you say anything? Are you joking?"
"I kept quiet because I knew I'd start swearing at you if I spoke, why."
"…Damn it, really. So frustrating…"
Lee Sa-young ran a hand through his hair irritably and turned away. Only then did Cha Eui-jae take a good look around.
The table, now stained with blood, was scorched in places, and the dagger he'd used to cut his palm lay discarded nearby, along with an unfamiliar bottle.
Cha Eui-jae picked up the bottle that had rolled close to him. As it wasn't an ordinary bottle, a system notification appeared.
[Golden Tree Nectar (S)]
[When consumed, it removes all status ailments and curses.]
'…No way.'
Just from the name, it was clearly something extraordinary.
Most status ailment treatments specify the type and grade they can cure. An item that unconditionally removes all status ailments and curses was incredibly rare and valuable. And that precious item was now…
[The bottle is now empty.]
…Rolling empty on the table of a hangover soup restaurant.
So, the cool liquid he'd tasted must have been this. The crazy guy gave him a useless antidote and then put poison in him? Cha Eui-jae's anger at Lee Sa-young for that lessened a bit. Lee Sa-young had seemed quite shocked too, after all.
'The nectar… What a waste.'
If he'd just waited a bit, his 'Basilisk's Venom' trait would have detoxified it on its own. Maybe he should have just mentioned his detoxification trait.
Cha Eui-jae, now holding an empty bottle, glanced sideways at Lee Sa-young, who was still turned away.
"…Hey, Lee Sa-young?"
"…"
"This nectar… Is it expensive?"
"Say one more word."
Lee Sa-young growled, and Cha Eui-jae pursed his lips and watched his tone. Understandably, Lee Sa-young must have been upset. Asking about the price probably felt like rubbing salt in a wound.
Cha Eui-jae reflected on his actions. He had always been bad at consoling others. After some thought, he offered the safest response he could think of.
"Thanks, anyway."
"Ha."
'Did I finally get it right?'
"Thanking someone who poisoned you. You're a saint…"
'You complain even when I thank you.'
Even after a polite thank you, there was no praise in this modern society, just sarcasm. It was more frustrating than eating dry chicken breast without water…
Seeing that continuing the conversation wouldn't yield any good, Cha Eui-jae carefully put down the empty nectar bottle and checked his palm. The wound from the dagger had already healed, but a faint golden chain-like scar lingered.
'Looks like the contract was completed.'
Cha Eui-jae flexed his hand before addressing Lee Sa-young again.
"Now that the contract is done, how about finishing the explanation you started earlier?"
"…"
Finally, Lee Sa-young turned back to him, his expression still slightly sullen. He slowly approached and sat across from Cha Eui-jae. After a moment of silence, he began to speak.
"There are people spreading drugs, and I'm looking for those people."
"…"
"I mentioned this much, right?"
When Cha Eui-jae nodded, Lee Sa-young continued slowly.
"The drugs are sold very cheaply. Easy to obtain anywhere. The easier they are to get, the quicker people get addicted, and the more they crave stronger doses."
Generally, Awakened individuals are more sensitive in every way compared to ordinary people. Their heightened senses mean more things to worry about. As a result, their lives are filled with more discomforts than joys.
To these awakened individuals, the stimulus of the drug was incredibly powerful. It was probably like a magical drug that eliminated the unpleasantness of everyday life and provided nothing but pure pleasure. It was understandable that they would fall for it, as it would be difficult to resist such a pleasure experienced for the first time in a long while.
"As they gradually increase their dosage, at some point, it won't be enough. That's when they seek out the suppliers themselves."
"…"
"Most of the ones who get to that point have either undergone physical mutations or are on the verge of it. The suppliers take in those who come crawling to them."
"To where?"
"To a laboratory."
A chilling light passed over Lee Sa-young's face.
"The drugs are merely bait to gather test subjects."