Gulp, gulp.
A sticky liquid continued to flow down Suho’s neck.
The taste was strong and fishy, but it was edible.
‘After all, it’s not like I’ve ever tasted this kind of poison before.’
While Suho was drinking every last drop of Kasaka’s poison.
In Suho’s body, Quresha’s ‘Protection from Plagues’ and Candiaru’s blessing of ‘Healthy Longevity’ were being steadily activated.
Tiring.
[Harmful ingredients detected.] [Treatment begins with the effect of ‘Buff: Detox’.] [3, 2, 1… … Detoxification is complete.] [‘Side Effect: Damaged Muscle’ disappears.]
First, the fatal side effects of ‘Kasaka’s Poison’ were completely purified.
Tiring.
[Effect ‘Kasakka’s Iron Scale’: Physical damage is reduced by 20%.]
Now, only the positive buff effect remains, without the side effects, increasing the defense of the guardian.
Here, Suho’s recent matt house skill has been increasing defense by up to +100%, so when combined, it becomes a whopping +120% defense.
At this point, Suho had become a tanker who would never be outdone, no matter where he went.
But what Soo-ho was most happy about was that he could now use Kasaka’s poison itself for attacks.
[Debuff: Kasaka’s Poison]
A poison that damages the muscles of the poisoned target, reducing their strength by -35.
When we say that muscles are damaged, we literally mean that the opponent’s overall strength and speed are weakened.
It was as if I had obtained a debuff of a much more powerful level than the ‘Paralysis Poison’ that simply slowed down my movements.
‘This will definitely help, right?’
Suho immediately called out to Quay.
“Quay.”
[Yes, Master.]
“From now on, fight by coating all your attacks with Kasaka’s poison.”
[All right.]
Swaaaah.
At that command, the tip of Quay’s spear was imbued with ‘Debuff: Kasaka’s Poison’.
‘It would be effective to start the battle by shooting Quay with an arrow like today, then debuffing the opponent with Kasaka’s poison.’
Of course, most of the guys will be cleaned up on the quay line like today.
‘I unexpectedly gained an incredibly good ability.’
Suho nodded with a satisfied expression.
* * *
While Suho was checking the compensation, the aftermath of the Euljiro incident was also being smoothly sorted out.
After all the demons were wiped out, the swamp area gradually shrank and disappeared.
From the moment safety was secured, reporters began to swarm the area and report on the urgent situation to the media.
Of course, it was always the Association Hunters’ job to sort out this chaotic situation.
“This is reporter Oh Seok-hoon from Hunter Daily! The black arrow that suddenly flew from the sky was the skill of which hunter!”
“Those two arrows practically hunted the boss mob and the whole situation… …!”
“No, wait. Please, one question at a time… … .”
Team leader Han Jae-hyeok was surrounded by numerous reporters with microphones and a tearful face.
‘Now is not the time for me to be doing this.’
He was surrounded by reporters as he had to chase after Thomas Andre, who had suddenly disappeared.
But that doesn’t mean I can just ignore this and leave.
In any case, they were the association hunters closest to Euljiro, and it was the association’s job to handle the aftermath.
Fortunately, the situation was quickly put out and there were few casualties, so the most urgent task now was to fairly distribute the corpses of the demons.
“I caught this devil!”
“What nonsense are you talking about! The wound from my skill is clearly visible here!”
‘… … In fact, the most difficult moment is from now on.’
Team Leader Han Jae-hyuk’s head was spinning at the sight of the hunters fighting over the corpses of the demons, claiming them as theirs.
But strangely enough, none of them touched the demons that were killed by the two black arrows that flew in between.
‘The first shot came like lightning and killed the boss mob, and the second arrow turned the entire swamp upside down like some kind of siege cannon. Even if the second shot was like that, the problem was that first shot.’
Since Team Leader Han Jae-hyeok had seen many archer hunters while working for the association, he understood the meaning of the ‘first arrow’ better than anyone else.
Other hunters would surely know the meaning of it and would not dare to claim ownership of the arrow that killed them.
‘I turned my direction in the sky and found the boss mob exactly and shot it. It was as if the arrow had eyes.’
If it was a guided missile, then I would understand.
That was because it was a method of confirming the reality in front of one’s eyes and then chasing after it to the end to hit the target.
But how could it come flying in from far away in the sky in a parabolic arc, then change direction like a thunderbolt to hunt down the strongest demons?
‘Who was the archer hunter with this skill? It’s a skill I’ve never seen before.’
But all these questions were resolved sooner than expected.
Suddenly, the face of Korea’s best archer, Tae-gyu Lim, appeared nearby.
“Gasp! It’s Im Tae-gyu!”
“Guildmaster of the Grim Reaper!”
“Ah! I wondered who shot the arrow!”
“As expected, there is no other archer with this kind of skill than Im Tae-gyu!”
Woof woof!
“What, what! Wait! Why are you guys like this?!”
Tae-gyu Lim couldn’t help but be startled when he saw the reporters suddenly rushing toward him.
“As expected, it’s Guild Leader Im Tae-gyu!”
“Wasn’t that Hunter Im Tae-gyu who shot the arrow a little while ago?!”
“Mr. Im Tae-gyu! Please say something! I heard that you generously paid compensation to the bereaved families of this immigration risk… …!”
“Wait! Wait! One question at a time, please!”
Even if he was the world’s best S-class hunter, this situation would have been embarrassing.
Tae-gyu Lim turned his head to find Su-ho with a sad face.
Then, just then, his eyes met with Soo-ho’s, who was standing in a corner far away where no one was looking and leisurely watching him struggle.
‘Oh my, that kid is for real!’
Suho just nodded at Im Taegyu with a warm smile.
With a mean expression on his face, as if he was asking the old man to come up with an excuse.
‘Oh my. You don’t want to be revealed? What kind of mysticism is this! Kids these days are for real!’
Of course, in one way I understood.
Anyway, even if this kind of incident received media attention, it wouldn’t raise his value.
Rather, it just creates a lot of annoying things.
In the end, the hunter’s price was raised on his own, even if no one knew about it.
If your goal is not to get a job at a large guild, then it is a simple structure where you earn money based on how many demons you hunt.
Or, you can start your own guild by raising your own brand image… … .
‘No, wait.’
Stop.
It was Tae-gyu Lim who realized something from Soo-ho’s expression as he looked at him.
‘Could this be for me… …?’
Looking at the current situation, the moment I say that this is what I did.
It was certainly an opportunity to restore the image of the Grim Reaper Guild, which had fallen into the abyss, even a little.
This was an opportunity to let the media know that even though the Death God Guild was being criticized, the guild leader, Taegyu Lim, was still strong.
But why is that?
‘Why on earth would you do this for me… … .’
That was when.
As Taegyu Lim was making a puzzled expression, a voice came into his ear.
[… … With this, the debt is paid.]
“… … !”
At that eerily familiar voice, Tae-gyu Lim shivered as if he had been struck by lightning.
And I turned my head urgently to look around, but the owner of the voice was nowhere to be seen.
But I could be sure.
‘no way?!’
No, how could I not recognize it!
It was the voice of his incompetent friend, Lee Min-seong, who had brought the Death Guild into this state!
“Hey, where are you!”
When Im Tae-gyu suddenly shouted, the reporters around him reacted with puzzlement.
But I guess that was fine.
“Where are you! Where are you!”
[… … .]
But he didn’t know it.
His evil friend Lee Min-seong is no longer in this world.
There is only ‘Quay’ who was reborn as a shadow soldier.
And then.
Quay, who had been quietly looking up at the face of his old friend while shuffling among the shadows of numerous reporters, opened his mouth again.
But the content wasn’t an apology that said sorry now.
From the beginning, Quay had no intention of asking him for forgiveness.
So this is just… … .
Just doing what needs to be done.
[… … There is a secret ledger hidden in the Death Guild. It is the slush funds accumulated by the deceased Lee Min-seong.]
“… … !”
[Anyway, that money is the property of the guild you bought, so no one but the guild leader can take it out. If only they knew the location of the account and the password… … .]
Lim Tae-gyu’s eyes filled with shock as he suddenly discovered the hidden truth.
To him, Quay silently told Im Tae-gyu the password to the secret account he had accumulated.
Over and over again until he could memorize it.
* * *
[… … Thank you, Master.]
“Are you done?”
[Yes. No more foolishness.]
Berga growled as he watched Quay bow his head politely as he returned to Suho.
[How ungrateful. Instead of offering that much money to the Lord, you gave it to your friend.] [I was thinking of doing the same at first, but what can I do since it’s legally impossible? That account is one that only the guild master or vice-guild master of the guild you bought can access.]
Quay, who was making excuses like that, looked at Suho with a slightly embarrassed expression.
If we didn’t do this anyway, it was blind money that would disappear into thin air without anyone knowing along with the death of ‘Lee Min-seong’.
Now, the guild bought with that money is able to put out the urgent fire, even if it is not back to its former state.
therefore…….
[I think I’ve done enough.]
Now, I felt like I could truly abandon the name Lee Min-seong with peace of mind.
“good job.”
Suho nodded at Quay’s relieved expression.
at that time.
Swish.
Quay and Berg returned to the shadow of the guardian.
At that moment, Thomas Andre was walking towards Suho from afar.
Thomas, like Im Tae-gyu, seemed to have finally been released from dealing with annoying reporters.
“So, are you ready now?”
To Thomas Andre’s sudden question, Suho nodded his head in agreement.
“yes.”
One corner of Thomas Andre’s mouth went up, as if he really liked that cool answer.
“Departure is tomorrow morning.”
Leaving those words behind, Thomas Andre immediately turns around and goes back to where Laura is.
A determined light appeared in Suho’s eyes as he looked at the huge back.
‘tomorrow.’
It’s finally tomorrow.
To find her missing mother.
‘To the Glacier Dungeon.’
That was when.
“Suho.”
Tae-gyu Lim shook off the reporters and approached Su-ho to speak.
“Let me ask you just one thing.”
“yes?”
“Into that glacier dungeon… … Are you the only one going in? Or are your companions going with you?”
“Colleague?”
“Yeah. Those guys who want to create a guild with you.”
Suho looked puzzled by the unexpected question and then fell into thought for a moment.
Eshilya would of course follow, but Im Do-gyun was a little hesitant about whether he should tell her that he would go in with her.
Im Do-gyun has been living in his own shadow these days, as he is currently receiving training from Ammut.
That’s why, when Suho entered the Glacier Dungeon, Im Do-gyun, who was in the shadows, was also taken with him.
“Well, let’s go in together for now.”
“Yeah. Is that so? … … Well, it’ll be okay since Thomas Andre is going too.”
“… … ?”
Tae-gyu Lim, who was muttering to himself with a troubled expression, nodded while scratching his head.
“Well, have a safe trip. If your colleagues are in danger, watch out for them.”
“That’s obvious… … .”
hmm?
Suho’s eyes widened as he felt a strange sense of foreboding for a moment.
Someone’s face overlapped with Im Tae-gyu’s embarrassed face.
‘Wait a minute. No way?’
“Sir, by any chance… … .”
The moment Soo-ho was about to ask something.
Im Tae-gyu interrupted her words and spoke first.
“Oh, and I just got some unexpected money coming in.”
“… … ?”
“I have a ‘bow’ that I was originally going to sell to make some money. I’ll lend you that, so use it in the Glacier Dungeon and then return it to me.”
“… … A bow?”
