Chapter 5

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 5

Chapter Title: It Stings. Sting.

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It stings. Sting.

Once the pain faded, I couldn't help but wonder what the hell this was all about.

I whipped up another potion and checked its item info.

What? Sting? Dismissing that horrific agony as just a "sting" was utterly ridiculous.

"What the hell am I supposed to do with this?"

My plan to make money off potions seemed to have gone up in smoke.

Still, just in case, I posted an ad on Hunter Net. If I could sell them cheap, that'd be better than nothing. At least I could cover the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠loan interest.

The post got comments almost immediately. Mostly reactions calling it weird. Right? I think it's weird too. All my skills are weird.

The reason it's single-use? They'll figure it out once they try it. No one would want to use it twice.

Still, watching the reactions gave me a strange surge of confidence. The healing effect was undeniably real.

I quickly replied.

Okay, you said it's definitely fine. No take-backs later.

The exchange was in the Tower's lobby floor. You had to visit in person to list items.

After a quick shower, I poured the potion into an empty soju bottle from the corner of my room.

But damn, it looked more like a molotov cocktail than a potion. Totally unappealing.

"Guess I need to buy a flask or something."

The one and only Tower in the country was located in Yongsan.

That area boasted sky-high property prices. Meaning it was quite a trek from my rundown studio on the outskirts.

After a long subway ride, I finally arrived at the Tower.

At the exchange, I consigned the Healing Potion for sale.

Please, at least let people say it's decent... It was a small batch for now, but long-term, it was way more than I could handle.

I ran hopeful scenarios in my head.

After listing it, I settled into a waiting area seat.

Might as well prep supplies for Floor 3 while I'm here.

How long was I glued to searches? Then I heard someone calling me.

"Excuse me?"

I turned to see a woman looking my way.

Dark brown ponytail, skin-tight bodysuit. She had a figure that naturally drew the eye.

"Thank you so much for last time."

She suddenly bowed deeply. A sweet perfume wafted over, tickling my nose.

That voice... I'd heard it before.

'Ah, I remember.'

The hunter I'd healed last time. Perfect timing—I still needed to collect for those paralysis needles.

"Do you have a moment?"

She politely led me to a cafe.

We ordered drinks and took a corner seat.

"I'm Ryu Seolhwa. I'm truly sorry it took so long to find you."

Her cheerful looks contrasted with her formal tone.

But her excessive politeness made me uncomfortable.

"It's a bit much."

"No need to worry. First things first—repaying my benefactor, right?"

She slid an envelope across the table.

I opened it to find a yellow check. For 30 million won.

I stared at her in shock, and she flashed a bright smile.

"I heard you're in financial trouble."

This stranger knew my situation? How?

A vague unease crept in. Then it hit me—her name rang a bell.

Ryu Seolhwa... Ah, Snow Flower Guild.

"This is too much for 'repayment.' Don't you think, Snow Flower Guild Leader?"

"Tch, as expected of a healer—sharp instincts."

What? The atmosphere shifted suddenly.

"Cha Yeonwoo, class: Healer. Potential: S-rank. Side effect: Pain—I know because I experienced it. Tower progress: Floor 2 cleared. Level around 8 now?"

Whoa, she had my full dossier.

Is the Management Bureau leaking info? Those bastards.

"Disappointing. I recall Snow Flower Guild sending the first offer."

After awakening results went public, guilds swarmed me. Snow Flower was one.

But why bring it up now?

She's dug into my background, so she must want something. Recruitment?

Her next words were unexpected.

"Let me make a formal request. I need potions."

"Potions?"

It was suspicious.

Healing Potions are a dime a dozen, right?

And how did she know I could make them?

I'd just listed it on the exchange minutes ago.

I probed casually.

"You know about the side effects, right?"

"Of course. We've already reviewed it."

Her evasive phrasing hid her true intentions. I felt like I was being led.

This was bad. Time to flip the script. Boldly.

"So, who's the client here?"

"Pardon?"

"For a deal, we need a contract. Client and contractor—gotta define it."

"......"

She looked flustered.

Yeah, there's something she's not telling me. Time I learned it too.

My turn to take control.

"Can I see the proposal?"

Back home, I searched everything about Healing Potions.

Effects varied, but the core wound-healing function was the same. Nothing stood out except the pain side effect.

So what possibility did Ryu Seolhwa see in mine?

My head was spinning.

Suddenly, I craved something spicy. Guess the recent stress was getting to me.

I slurped down a cup ramen infamous for its insane heat while pondering.

Man, isn't this inhumanly spicy?

Feels like my eyes are watering... I absentmindedly rubbed them.

"......!"

A sharp sting jolted me awake. Shit, I touched my eyes with spice-covered hands.

I frantically wiped with wet wipes, then the potion's annotation flashed in my mind.

'Sting.'

Wait—wounds aren't just cuts or tears. Could stinging count as damage? Spicy isn't taste; it's pain receptors...

"No way..."

I cast Heal on my eye.

"Urgh!"

I was right. No cut, no tear... but Heal activated.

My heart raced.

"Then..."

I frantically scoured Hunter Net and the exchange.

Pain, burns, nerve stimulation—every keyword, but no hits.

Minutes later, scrolling stopped.

"This is it!"

The next day.

I hit the Tower, picked up my items from the exchange, and headed straight to Floor 3.

Truth be told, entering the Tower was a bit impulsive.

But hold back from testing this now? That ain't manly.

With an Emergency Escape scroll, how could I? I'd already endured a whole night.

Dense foliage surrounded the narrow clearing. Like a primitive forest backdrop.

Confirmed starting point safe, I pulled out my prepped flask.

Healing Potion and Scorchweed extract.

Carefully mixed them in ratio.

Then grabbed new gear from inventory.

Honestly, I was half-doubting if it'd work.

Originally for spraying potions on party members—a basic support tool... originally. But for me, it meant something else entirely.

"Ugly as hell, but whatever."

I gripped the sprayer handle.

Spray—

Fired pain liquid at a nearby tree—perfect spread.

Range about 20 meters. Plenty to hit monsters first.

"Nice."

Now for the real test.

I tucked a molotov into my vest and crept into the bushes.

How far did I go?

Snort—

A nasal huff ahead. Not undead, thankfully. Twice in a row would be cheating.

Parted bushes cautiously, peeked out.

Far off, a green muscular monster rubbed against a tree. Marking territory, maybe.

Quietly aimed sprayer, fired.

Spray—spray—

"Queek?"

Liquid hit, monster startled, looked around. Spotted me, charged.

Now I saw its face clearly. Orc.

Kept spraying pain juice.

No need for precision. Around the eyes was enough.

"Kueeek!"

Charging orc suddenly rubbed its eyes frantically. Clearly suffering. It works! I wanted to cheer.

But couldn't close for the killshot yet.

Lit a molotov, hurled it.

Whoosh—

Flames caught, I cast Heal.

"Queeek—!"

Orc rolled on ground, howling. Pain it'd never known.

Pulled War Hammer from inventory, approached.

Thud—thud—crack—

"Yes! Easy, so easy."

Sprayer was shotgun-tier.

Blind sprays still nailed the eyes like magic.

Genius combo, even if I do say so.

After that, smooth sailing.

Three at once?

Spray—spray—spray—

Crash—

Thud—thud—crack—

Five charging together?

Spray—spray—spray—spray—spray—spray—

Crash—whoosh—thud—

Crack—crack—smash—

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Spray, burn, bash. Rinse and repeat silently.

Body moved on autopilot.

No thinking needed.

"Kueeek—!"

A method only I could pull off.

"Kueek—!"

Of course, mistakes happened sometimes.

"Argh! Heal! You fucking bastards!"

For a healer shunned by parties to solo...

I had to get ruthless.