TRPM 443

chapter 443

After Lee Ha-eun and the two who had followed her, Kang Ga-ram and Ryu Ah-young, had left, darkness fell outside.

Nothing had happened.

It was simply night.

“I’ll get checked tomorrow morning, and if there’s no problem, I’ll be discharged.”

The examination was to check if any neurotoxin remained in my body. Of course, my body currently had no trace of the toxin.

“That doesn’t mean I’m going to avoid the test.”

With my current level of toxin resistance, I could also hear the doctor’s detailed opinion on what kinds of poison my body could withstand and to what degree.

Besides, the doctor and nurses were just following protocol for the test, and ignoring it would cause complications. So for now, I’d just practice until bedtime. With nightfall, there would be no more visitors anyway.

“…Hmm?”

As I moved my internal energy and practiced, I noticed a slight change in my Harmonic Divine Skill. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t the skill itself that had changed, but the nature of my internal energy.

“Looks like this is how it changed while adapting to the neurotoxin.”

The changed energy… if I had to describe it, I’d say it gained a certain viscosity. Not that the viscosity caused any issues in handling the energy.

It just seemed possible to shape my energy into a lump and expel it from my body. If that were all, it would be beneficial because compressing and releasing energy would become easier. But…

“The problem is that this change resulted from poison.”

It was easy to guess the nature of energy expelled in lumps—it would likely retain the harmful qualities of poison. So I decided not to experiment by expelling it.

“If neurotoxin components remain, that’s a problem. If it’s another poison, that’s also a problem.”

At the very least, if any poison remained in my body, the doctor would extend my hospitalization. I couldn’t explain that my body produced the poison, and even if I tried, no one would believe me.

So I decided to seal this new technique temporarily. I would call it “Poison Skill” for now.

“Even if I wanted to test it in a sealed environment to prevent accidental spread, it would be impossible to do immediately after discharge.”

However, in about two years—well, roughly a year and a half—my own building near the Shinsegyo complex would be completed. It would have living space for me, my mother, Yeon Mirae, and Sophia, along with training rooms, an alchemy lab, and a sorcery lab.

“Originally, it was just for me, but after discussing with my mother, it became a shared residence.”

Anyway, the sorcery lab there would be a suitable place to experiment with Poison Skill.

“Not as refined as the sorcery practice lab at Seoul Awakener Academy, but…”

That place was strangely immaculate, cleaner than a hospital sterile room, and the entrance was a safe door.

The next day, the doctor looked at the results of my physical assessment with a slightly troubled expression.

“Hmmm… This is your first time in this program, right?”

“Yes, why?”

“Have you ever been exposed to a criminal’s poison while working as an artist?”

“No, I haven’t. And actually, my activities as an artist were through a puppet, not my main body.”

It seemed my toxin resistance was unusual.

“No, your resistance isn’t a problem. Many Awakeners have higher tolerance. Some Awakeners have almost no other abilities but possess absolute resistance to poison.”

Oh, I didn’t know such Awakeners existed.

“That person is deployed whenever a monster specialized in hydra-type poison appears, but that’s not the point… Mr. Han Gun-woo, your unique trait is the speed at which your poison resistance develops.”

Exact details would require further testing, but…

“It’s not that your body developed resistance. It seems your body broke down the poison before it could take hold.”

“? So breaking down the poison isn’t the same as having resistance?”

“In terms of having resistance, it’s similar, but technically, it’s different.”

Generally, poison resistance means antibodies are formed in the body. This program’s goal was to generate antibodies to commonly used poisons.

“The technical explanation is skipped for participants, but…”

“…I see.”

Normally, my body would have formed antibodies as it fought off the poison. But my body decomposed the poison instantly, so antibodies never formed.

“Instead, your ability to decompose external poison strengthened, which in some ways is even better than developing resistance through the program.”

“Hmmm… I see.”

It wasn’t perfect, but at least poison wouldn’t affect me easily. The goal of participating in the program was achieved.

“If you want to apply for this program again, I recommend an Awakener-specialized hospital, not this one. Some hospitals have equipment to handle monster poisons.”

Monster poison… While neurotoxin is dangerous, it’s rare and designed for humans, so hospital facilities can handle it. Monster poisons, however, can corrode most things, so they need special containers.

“If necessary, I’ll consider that.”

With that, I got up, showered, changed back into my clothes, and went through discharge procedures.

“…Even using neurotoxin, it didn’t cost as much as I expected.”

Was the neurotoxin they used on me cheaper than I thought? I pondered this as I stepped outside and saw a waiting vehicle.

“Hello, Artist.”

“What? You didn’t go back to England?”

Arthur was in the driver’s seat. After the recent clash between fanatical followers and the fan cafe, I assumed he had returned to England, but he was still in Korea.

“My vacation isn’t over yet.”

“Vacation? You don’t really belong to anyone, right?”

I asked as I got in. I knew Arthur wasn’t part of any guild due to his unique puppet nature. He needed Rachel’s magic periodically and couldn’t participate in long expeditions.

“I’m not officially affiliated, but I do take requests from the London Association and the British royal family. I told them I wouldn’t accept requests while traveling.”

“Really? When does your trip end?”

“Right before your school starts.”

“So you’ll stay in Korea for the whole break?”

“Correct.”

Why would he make that choice… Ah.

“Is it because you don’t want to deal with Elliot?”

“…Anyway, let’s go.”

Arthur avoided answering directly and drove. Elliot, his former pupil, had returned to England for the break.

“Teaching Elliot is a burden?”

“…I heard from the London Association head that Elena crossed the threshold, and Elliot’s reaction was predictable.”

Naturally, he’d want to match or surpass Elena’s strength.

“Normally, I wouldn’t mind, but teaching him is… burdensome.”

“I understand.”

Even if he avoids this winter break, what about spring or next summer?

“I’ll think about that then.”

I sighed as Arthur postponed responsibilities.

“Take care of your own work. Anyway, where are we going?”

Looking out at familiar scenery, I asked. I could guess the general direction but not the exact destination. It wasn’t my house, at least.

“There was an incident in Korea, but the culprits were caught. So some acquaintances with nothing to do decided to go to a ski resort together.”

Ski resort?

“Yes, everyone else left this morning.”

“I’m curious about who’s going, but let’s move on. We’re leaving just like that?”

“You’ve already packed clothes in the pocket dimension, haven’t you?”

I looked at the pocket dimension artifact on my arm. Indeed, all the clothes I might need were there.

“…Any problem?”

The only minor issue would be leaving without informing my mother.

“I think my mother might be among the others Arthur mentioned.”

Given Sophia’s schedule approval for the toxin resistance program, I could manage four days including today. That seemed fine.

Most importantly…

“A spontaneous trip…”

Before the reset, I never did such carefree things. Too many people approached me regarding martial arts, and societal circumstances didn’t encourage leisure due to rising crime and dungeons.

In that sense…

“Sometimes, this could be fun.”

The ski trip Arthur suggested seemed like a tempting option.

“Right? So it’s decided?”

I nodded and leaned back in my seat.

“Oh, by the way,” Arthur said, “I didn’t suggest this trip.”

“Really? Then who did? Yeon Mirae? Lee Ha-eun?”

“Neither of them.”

Then who suggested it?

“The chairman of Seoul Awakener Academy, Shin Han-ji.”

“…Who?”

“Chairman Shin Han-ji.”

I fell silent at that.