Before the Throne of Corruption
In front of the Throne of Corruption.
The ruler of the north, the Plague King Nergal, clutched a small syringe in his trembling hand.
This tiny tube filled with a transparent liquid.
It was something the human doctor had tossed him, calling it a "free sample."
"This is a lie... You expect this puny liquid to banish my suffering?"
Nergal was skeptical.
He was the king of diseases.
He knew every illness in the world and ruled over all suffering.
Yet his own stubborn chronic rhinitis that clogged his nose and the excruciating conjunctivitis that made it impossible to open his eyes couldn't be cured by any magic.
He figured it was the karma a spreader of plagues had to bear.
"Don't believe me? Then give it back."
Jinhyeok held out his hand.
"Wait!"
Nergal hurriedly hid the syringe.
Believe it or not, he felt like he was suffocating to death right that moment.
Breathing through his mouth had parched his throat until it felt like it would tear apart.
Nothing to lose. If it's poison, I'll kill them all and then myself.
As if resolved, Nergal jabbed the needle into his forearm—rotten flesh, sure, but veins were there.
He pressed the plunger with his thumb.
Squirt.
The cold medicine flowed into his vein.
1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds. Silence hung over the tense standoff.
The hunters swallowed hard.
And then, 5 seconds later.
"Guhh...!"
Nergal's body shuddered like he'd been electrocuted.
The swelling in his nasal mucosa, completely blocked before, subsided in an instant.
A faint breeze began to flow through his nostrils, which had felt sealed with concrete.
Sniiff—.
Air.
Air thick with rot, but to Nergal, it was the sweetest oxygen in the world.
After 500 years, he was breathing through his nose.
"Haaaaah...!"
Nergal threw his head back and let out a cry of ecstasy.
Tears welled in his eyes.
The stabbing pain in his eyes and the crushing headache vanished as if washed away.
The fog cleared from his mind, replaced by the open expanse of a blue sky.
"It's clear...! It's open! I'm breathing!"
Nergal leaped from his jade throne and danced a jig.
The S-rank hunters were speechless at the sight of the grotesque fly-man doing tap dance.
"That... actually worked?"
"Rhinitis is that terrifying, folks."
Jinhyeok crossed his arms, watching with satisfaction.
Antihistamine and steroid cocktail. Perfect for acute symptom relief.
"How's that, sir? Feeling the effects?"
Nergal stopped dancing and rushed to Jinhyeok. A tentacle seized his hand.
"Doctor! No, Master! What is this medicine? Nectar of the gods?"
"You can buy it at any pharmacy. Though my mix ratio's a bit special."
"Give me more! Please, more! What if it wears off and clogs up again?!"
Nergal begged.
Having tasted a clear nose once, going back to blocked was worse than death.
Jinhyeok feigned distress.
"I've got plenty of meds. But this is just temporary relief. Without fixing the root cause, you'll be on pills for life."
"Root cause?"
Jinhyeok pointed around.
"Look at this. It's a pigsty."
The Throne of Corruption.
This place was a literal dump.
Filth overflowed the floor, mold bloomed on the walls, and dust and spores floated like snow in the air.
"You live in this dump—how could you not have allergies? Nose intact in a dust pit?"
"B-but... I'm the Plague King. Filth is my power..."
"Power, my ass. What's the point when you're dying in agony?"
Jinhyeok's sharp words hit home.
Nergal was speechless.
True. What good was power?
If he couldn't sleep with a clogged nose.
"Choose. Rot here with a stuffed nose, or clean it up and breathe easy."
Nergal pondered briefly.
500 years of "pride in filth."
But the bliss of breathing crushed that pride.
"Clean it up."
Nergal decided.
"Clear it all out! Not a speck of dust!"
Jinhyeok grinned and turned.
"You heard him. Time to work."
"...Pardon?"
Shinwoo asked, sensing doom.
"Clean up. Deep clean."
Remodel the Plague King's Castle
Korea's strongest hunters donned hazmat suits again. This time, not for labor, but cleaning services.
"Me... me, Zeus Guild Master... scrubbing someone else's toilet...?"
Shinwoo teared up, spraying bleach into the toilet—essentially a shit bucket.
"No backtalk! Scrub every corner!"
Jinhyeok barked orders like a foreman.
"Mr. Ma Dongtak! Mold on that wall! No axes—use the scrubber!"
"Bro, this is faster! Whirlwind!"
Dongtak spun his axe like a propeller, shaving mold and wall.
"Mr. Seo Jihu! Dehumidify! Dry the floor crisp!"
"Understood... Dry Ice..."
Luna was busy too, diluting disinfectant Jinhyeok gave her and spraying every nook.
"Sterilize! Sterilize!"
Jinhyeok dragged Nergal to the bathhouse.
"Your turn, patient. Scrub off 500 years of grime."
"B-bath?! Water harms my skin!"
"Herbal bath. Luna's special soak—get in."
Jinhyeok shoved Nergal into the tub.
Hot water mixed with herbal extracts + sulfur + sterilizer.
Sizzle!
Black sludge oozed from Nergal's body.
Parasites and bacteria screamed as they detached.
"Gaaah! Hot! Stings!"
"Feels good, right? Time for the scrub-down."
Jinhyeok donned adamantium scrub mitts.
Legendary item that peeled S-rank beast hide.
"Aaack! Gently! Gently!"
An hour later.
The Throne of Corruption was reborn as the Throne of Cleanliness.
Filth gone, floors gleaming.
Moldy wallpaper ripped, walls painted white.
Air filled with fresh phytoncide scent—instead of rot—after spraying 100 cans of air freshener.
And Nergal.
He was unrecognizable.
Caked filth gone, clean skin revealed.
Even his fly wings gleamed transparently.
"F-feels... weird..."
Nergal touched his face in the mirror.
Smooth.
No stickiness.
Above all... refreshing.
"How's it feel?"
Jinhyeok asked.
Nergal inhaled deeply.
Pristine air filled his lungs.
"Refreshing...! I could fly!"
Nergal was overjoyed.
He'd thought filth was power, but cleanliness felt this good?
He reached for Jinhyeok's hand—then paused.
"Hold on."
Nergal pulled hand sanitizer from his pocket and sprayed his palm.
Squish, squish.
Then he grabbed Jinhyeok's hand.
"Thank you, doctor. Now I get it. Hygiene is life."
Jinhyeok stared blankly.
This guy... germaphobe now.
Too clean, and he couldn't tolerate dirt anymore.
"Minions! Bathe now! One speck of dust in my sight, and it's death!"
Nergal bellowed at his fly swarm. They panicked and flew to the stream.
Washing flies. Ecosystem destroyer.
"Treatment successful. Time to settle the bill."
Jinhyeok presented the invoice.
1. Rhinitis treatment & full-body exfoliation (scrub): 1 Essence of Plague
2. Disinfection & cleaning services: Exclusive medical rights in northern region for Arcana Hospital
3. Medication costs: Full access to Abyss poison plants & virus data
Nergal nodded at the bill.
"Cheap. Pocket change compared to breathing bliss."
He sliced open his chest, near the diaphragm.
Out came a bubbling green jelly orb.
Essence of Plague.
The core holding dominion over all diseases.
"Take it. And my castle library's open too. Records of every poison in existence."
Jinhyeok pocketed the essence.
Second essence acquired.
Two left.
Luna's eyes sparkled beside him.
"Poison plant data...! Thank you! I'll study it!"
To her, Nergal's library was a treasure trove.
"Good work. Take your meds, ventilate often."
Jinhyeok grabbed his bag and left the castle. Nergal waved, wiping the door handle with wet wipes.
"Take care. Oh, shake off your shoes outside. You're tracking dust."
Perfect reformation.
Back to Arcana Hospital - Abyss Branch.
"I'm home."
Jinhyeok opened the hospital door.
"Back already?"
Yoo Isu sat on the sofa, reading.
Her complexion was much better than days ago.
But the black veins on her chest lingered.
"Souvenir."
Jinhyeok placed the Essence of Plague on the table.
Next to the acquired Essence of Illusion, purple and green lights mingled gorgeously.
"Already two? You're... incredible."
Isu marveled.
S-rank demon kings—two—conquered in a week.
With medicine, not combat.
"Told you. Doctors save and take."
Jinhyeok shed his coat and flopped on the sofa.
"Halfway. West and south left."
Jinhyeok unrolled the map.
"West: Mad King. Anger management patient."
"South: Gluttony King. Morbid obesity patient."
"Which first?"
Isu asked.
Jinhyeok pondered.
Anger issues needed therapy and sedatives. Obesity... diet.
Then Ma Dongtak entered.
"Director! Pantry's empty!"
"What? Already? All those rice pouches and ramen?"
"Nah, Balakas and the hyenas eat like champs... Plus, the kid patients Luna brought need feeding."
Food shortage. Serious issue.
Abyss beast meat was toxic without purification. Earth instant foods were gone.
Good food aids recovery.
Jinhyeok's eyes fixed south on the map.
"Decided. South."
"South? Gluttony King?"
"Yeah. Nicknamed 'Lord of Voracity.' Means his turf's overflowing with food."
Jinhyeok licked his lips.
"Trim his fat, stock our pantry. Bonus: demonic gourmet tour."
"Diet clinic?"
"Nah. Hell PT Gym & Meal Plan."
Jinhyeok clenched his fist.
"Mr. Ma Dongtak, gear up. Time to use those muscles."
"Fightin'?"
"No. Personal trainer duty."
Third target. Facing the food-obsessed Gluttony King: hunters' harshest diet program in history was about to begin.