"Ah, I'm not trying to single you out, sir."
"Yeah."
"Anyway, do you think your rating is low enough now? If not, you might need to drink the weakening potion too."
Cha Eui-jae moved his limbs slightly, assessing his own physical condition. It was far from sufficient. Even getting a B-grade would be a blessing at this rate. Cha Eui-jae shook his head.
"I think it's still not enough."
"That's what I thought. Just a moment."
Coincidentally, the light was red. Seo Min-gi took out a large cardboard box from his inventory and handed it over. When Cha Eui-jae opened the lid, there were ten glass bottles neatly lined up, filled with a hazy liquid.
"These are A-grade weakening potions. They're masterpieces made overnight by the potion makers of the Pado Guild."
"…Really?"
"Yes. The guild leader promised a 300% bonus, so everyone volunteered for overtime."
What a waste of money. But that thought was fleeting.
'It's not my money anyway.'
With a considerably lighter expression, he took out one of the bottles and held it up to the light. Seo Min-gi muttered with a determined look on his face.
"They're meant to be applied to weapons originally… but drinking them shouldn't cause any major issues. We conducted a perfect biological test yesterday."
Cha Eui-jae's head stiffened as he scrutinized the opaque liquid. Who on earth did they test it on? Cha Eui-jae glanced suspiciously at Seo Min-gi for a moment, then opened the lid and drank the potion without hesitation.
However, the sensation that came over Cha Eui-jae's body was somewhat different from what Seo Min-gi described.
'It doesn't seem any different.'
Unlike the bracelet, which showed immediate effects, the potion didn't seem to cause any change. For something created from ominous biological tests, it felt too anticlimactic. With a perplexed expression, Cha Eui-jae opened a second bottle.
"How do you feel?"
Without answering, Eui-jae drank the second bottle. But his condition remained unchanged.
'There's really no difference?'
Seo Min-gi cautiously asked.
"If it's not too much trouble, could you let me know? If you feel unwell, you should take the antidote immediately."
"Seo Min-gi."
"Yes, sir."
"Does it take time for the effect to show up?"
"No. According to our tests, the effect is immediate upon consumption. The potion is so well-made that even one bottle can lower physical abilities and rank. We even got a system warning."
The story was getting stranger. Did he test it on himself? Cha Eui-jae kept inspecting the empty bottle and asked again and again to confirm.
"You said it triggers a system warning?"
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
Cha Eui-jae opened the third bottle without saying anything. By now, Seo Min-gi had noticed something was off. Drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, he asked,
"Um, just in case. I mean, it's unlikely, but just in case."
"Is it having no effect at all?"
Gulp.
Despite drinking three bottles, Cha Eui-jae felt no change. Seo Min-gi was almost in tears at this point. Why wasn't it working? After a moment of contemplation, Cha Eui-jae suddenly looked up.
"Seo Min-gi."
"Yes."
"Is the weakening potion treated as a poison by the system?"
"Ah, yes. Our guild leader drank it yesterday too, but since he's immune to most poisons, the weakening potion had no effect… oh…"
Seo Min-gi's eyes began to tremble violently. Cha Eui-jae quietly closed the box lid. It seemed like the Basilisk's Venom trait was neutralizing the weakening potion as soon as he drank it. It was likely that the system didn't even deem it worth showing a notification.
"Are you resistant to poisons, sir? I was told to be very cautious since you're supposed to be highly susceptible to them…"
Seo Min-gi muttered nervously, almost talking to himself.
"Excuse me."
"Yes? Yes, sir?"
"Is there any other way to lower my rank?"
Seo Min-gi, deep in thought with his head down, suddenly looked up.
"…What if we go to the Hunter Market now and buy all the weakening curse items with the corporate card? I've always wanted to splurge like that once in my life."
"Rejected."
"…I thought so. Word would get out immediately."
Seo Min-gi sighed deeply, looking gloomy.
"I'm truly sorry, but we hadn't predicted this at all… Yes, right now, the bracelet is all we have."
The atmosphere in the van grew tense. Seo Min-gi, seemingly shocked that his plan had failed, kept muttering with a vacant look.
Cha Eui-jae felt a bit lost too, but seeing the person next to him overly depressed, he decided to try small talk he learned while working at the hangover soup restaurant.
"Are you Buddhist?"
"Uh, no? I'm non-religious."
Then what about that rosary hanging from the rearview mirror? Cha Eui-jae almost asked but held back, just rubbing his nose slightly. However, his trained conversation skills wouldn't falter here.
"I saw the rosary."
Seo Min-gi, only then realizing what it was, nodded with a small exclamation.
"I bought it for twenty thousand won at the souvenir shop in Bulguksa Temple. For the sake of realism. Doesn't it suit this vehicle perfectly?"
Realism, huh. Is that something a guy in a suit driving a van should say? Cha Eui-jae's eyes grew cold, but luckily, the small talk seemed to have worked. Seo Min-gi, a bit more animated, muttered excitedly.
"If I look Buddhist enough, it means it served its purpose. I'm glad I bought it and hung it up."
"Ah, yes."
Cha Eui-jae half-listened to Seo Min-gi's rapid speech and opened the glove compartment. Inside, it was filled with crude massage devices, foot massagers, and foldable fans. Taking out a fan and opening it, he was greeted by an image of Buddha with a serene smile amidst lotus flowers. Cha Eui-jae closed the glove compartment with a bang.
'Did this guy just get conned?'
While Cha Eui-jae's trust in Seo Min-gi plummeted, the van steadily made its way to the registration center. Seo Min-gi parked in a paid lot near the center.
The temporary registration center was a large container placed in the town hall parking lot. At the entrance stood life-sized cutouts of Jung Bin with a thumbs-up and Lee Sa-young with folded arms wearing a gas mask. A banner hung above the door.
[We support your Awakened registration! —Awakened Management Bureau]
It was an intimidating sight, as if meant to demoralize visitors. Lee Sa-young's cutout seemed more polished, probably put up after the public service announcement. Seo Min-gi averted his gaze, perhaps to avoid looking at his superior's cutout.
"Although we've arrived, sir, I think the weakening effect of just the bracelet might not be enough for a D-grade. What if we make a strategic retreat and come back later?"
"When?"
"…I have an overseas business trip scheduled, so it will be in about three weeks."
Are you serious? Cha Eui-jae glared coldly, needing to register as soon as possible to establish an alibi. Seo Min-gi bowed his head apologetically.
"I'm sorry."
"Any other options?"
"…Honestly, today is the best time. This container is only operating until the main building construction is complete… By the time I get back from the trip, it'll probably be…"
"So if we're going to rob an empty house, today is the day?"
"Your choice of words is alarming but yes, that's correct. And the bracelet too."
Cha Eui-jae rubbed his wrist. Seo Min-gi spoke sorrowfully.
"If you don't get tested today, you'll have to stay like this until the next test. It's actually a one-time use."
Living under a weakening curse permanently didn't bother him much. However, Cha Eui-jae sensed Seo Min-gi's underlying message.
"You want me to just go and get tested now."
"Honestly, yes."
"But you just suggested a strategic retreat."
"That was out of politeness."
"…"
"I believe in you, sir. You can do it."
Seo Min-gi clasped his hands in support. Cha Eui-jae was exasperated. What made this guy so optimistic? Seo Min-gi muttered resolutely again.
"Don't worry too much. If the worst comes to worst, we'll use the last resort."
'Just get me that D-grade without any drastic measures.'
"Come on, don't be stressed. I'll get some coffee and wait. Good luck!"
Should I hit him with that rosary? Cha Eui-jae glanced at the dangling rosary but decided to let it go. Leaving Seo Min-gi, who was enthusiastically cheering with clenched fists, he pulled up his hood and trudged towards the temporary center.