Chapter 7

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 7

Chapter Title: Can Pain Be Put on Installments?

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After finishing a late dinner, I pulled out an empty flask.

Potion and Regeneration. Both were skills with daily usage limits.

So I had to brew them into potions and store them before midnight.

Just let those limited uses sit idle?

No Korean can stand for that. Better turn them into 0/5 right now.

"Regeneration Potion!"

"Thrilling? That just means it's gonna hurt again."

I gave a wry smile and stashed the potion in the fridge.

Still, I needed to test it out, but needles or utility knives couldn't inflict status ailments.

I couldn't exactly slice an artery for bleeding status. And a lighter's heat wasn't enough for a proper burn debuff.

So the only option was testing on monsters.

I put on my goggles and mixed the Regeneration Potion.

Drip drip—

First, I poured in the flame extract made from Flame Grass into the flask.

Then, mixing in the Regeneration Potion caused numbers to pop up on one lens of the goggles.

It was amazing. It was like it knew my intent behind the mix.

The result was no longer a Flame Vial.

"Whoa."

I'd made something pretty horrific.

The next day.

I headed to the reception desk to enter the Tower.

"Hunter ID, please."

After handing over my Hunter ID, the receptionist jumped in surprise and looked at me.

"You're Free Pass rank. From now on, you can enter without registration."

"Huh? Free what now?"

"Use the dedicated gate over there."

Looking where she pointed, I saw a hallway enclosed in transparent reinforced glass. It felt like a VIP lounge transplanted straight there.

Yoo Soyeon's doing? Her execution is top-notch.

But I never mentioned giving her potions...

"Over there?"

"Yes. Exclusive for Free ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Pass rank."

I glanced at my usual turnstile, then back at the dedicated path.

Wouldn't going there just draw more attention?

But surprisingly, there were people. Quite a few, actually. Must be the popular, well-connected hunters.

I didn't have the guts to walk through there.

"Can't I use the regular lane?"

"Just scan your ID and go in. You're Free Pass."

Oh, guess I worried for nothing.

Better move quick before that woman shows up.

Thick fog blanketed everything. The air was damp and reeked of fish.

Bubbling sounds echoed from somewhere. This floor seemed to be set in a swamp.

What monsters would show up this time? Please, no undead.

I loaded the Pain Extract into the sprayer and cautiously scouted.

As I walked along the water's edge, a splashing sound hit, followed by a sharp sting in my leg.

"Ow!"

I sprayed the sprayer downward wildly, but only ripples spread across the surface.

The thing that bit me had already vanished into the water.

Checking my calf, red blood was seeping out.

I had no choice but to hurry back to the start point.

Rolling up my pant leg revealed two dark holes oozing bloody water.

The skin around was swollen and bruised ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠purple.

"Damn, what bit me?"

Seemed like a troublesome monster had appeared.

No wonder—the wound didn't look that deep...

I hesitated to use Heal right away. What about the pain?

As I dithered, my head started spinning.

"No way... poison?"

Judging by the wound and symptoms, it was definitely poison.

I needed to treat it fast.

Pain was inevitable anyway, so I decided to try the Regeneration skill instead of Heal.

"Huh?"

I used the skill, but no pain came.

It was like nothing happened—I felt perfectly fine.

Does the Regeneration skill not trigger the Pain passive?

Then suddenly, a throbbing sensation swept through my body with electric pain.

"Ugh!"

Of course... but something's off.

It hurt like hell, but it faded quick.

Looking at the wound, the bluish discoloration on the skin had lightened considerably.

So the healing effect was working.

What the heck?

"Ow!"

Pain surged again.

Short and intense, at regular intervals. The pain came periodically.

"Ngh!"

"What the hell, so annoying. Better to hurt once and be done with it."

I started to cast Heal but hesitated.

But this... it's more bearable than I thought?

That's when I realized. Stacking Pain Accumulation was way less burdensome this way.

Honestly, self-harm and Heal loops? Unless absolutely necessary, no way I'd choose that.

But Regeneration?

"Damn, this is insane."

New skill combos started assembling in my head.

Pain Release was my trump card. But it required painful self-harm, making it inefficient.

What if I used Regeneration?

I could boost resistance stats while stacking pain at the same time.

"Am I a genius or what?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Excitement over the possibilities made my body tremble.

Not from pain, of course.

Anyway, I'd research Regeneration more at home.

First, deal with the current situation.

How to handle the monster hiding in the water?

Throwing a Flame Vial on the surface? It'd fizzle out quick.

So I had to lure it out.

Using my body as bait? Pass.

If it dragged me under, I'd have to rip an Emergency Escape scroll.

Bad math. That's tens of millions down the drain.

What else? I rummaged through my inventory for useful tools.

Then I spotted the Pain Extract.

'What if I dump this in the water?'

I acted immediately.

Splash—splash—

I uncapped the flask and hurled Pain Extract into the water repeatedly.

Nothing at first.

But after waiting a bit, bubbles rose, creating ripples on the surface.

Then, at some point...

Splash—flail—flail!

Long, snake-like things crawled onto the bank, writhing wildly.

Their slimy bodies resembled eels, thicker than my thigh.

Oh right, that's not the point.

I hurriedly chucked a Flame Vial.

Whoosh—

Flames erupted across the swamp.

Monsters twisting in agony. Perfect timing for my secret weapon.

Clink—

Screeeee—!

The Flame Regeneration Vial burst, filling the swamp with ear-grating ultrasonic shrieks.

As the fishy stench and thrashing tails died down, a system alert appeared.

"Whoa! That slaps..."

No need to chase down finishing blows.

The Flame Regeneration Vial's power exceeded expectations. Being aquatic, they were especially vulnerable to fire.

If only these monsters kept spawning, repeat-farming Floor 4 would be fine.

But excluding Floor 1 and gateway boss floors, monsters were random on all layers.

If undead showed up, it'd be hell.

Or use an Emergency Escape scroll.

That could backfire big time.

That's why even high-level DPS solos don't farm low floors.

Back at the start, I brewed a Healing Potion.

Ran out of Pain Extract.

Goggles on, I mixed Scorching Grass extract with Healing Potion.

Spraying the finished Pain Extract, I resumed hunting.

Splash—whoosh—screeeee—!

Once more, the swamp echoed with screams and flames.

After repeated hunts, I cleared Floor 4 without a scratch.

"Sweet. Total honey pot."

Exiting Floor 4, I ducked into a secluded corner.

Felt like Yoo Soyeon might be standing guard.

Wait, why am I even hiding? This is getting tiring.

Then someone called me.

"Cha Yeonwoo?"

Thankfully, not her. A man's voice.

Turning, a guy was frowning at me.

Damn, what a jerk. Celestial Radiance Guild Leader.

"What are you doing in the Tower?"

"Got some stuff to do?"

"Not healing while hiding pain again, right? You'll get blacklisted."

"That was mutual fault if we dig into it."

Starts picking fights the second we meet. What did I ever do to him?

Just ignore each other and go our ways.

"Tch, you've changed? Gotten cocky."

"Still miles from you."

"What? Watch your mouth. I could block you from parties for real!"

"You wouldn't stoop that low, would you?"

Sticking around would just sour my mood.

As I turned to leave, not wanting more talk...

Ryu Seolhwa approached.

"Why's Celestial Radiance Guild Leader so angry again?"

"Ryu Seolhwa? This isn't your business."

"I have some documents to review with him. Right, Mr. Cha Yeonwoo?"

"Review? Tch, pathetic. Struggling to recruit guildies? Picking up chewed gum now?"

"You see what you know. Yeonwoo, shall we move? Air here's bad. Stinks of crap."

The Celestial Radiance Guild Leader glared at Ryu Seolhwa for a while before turning away.

His silent retreating back radiated deep frustration.

They must really hate each other.

Wonder what this woman's scheming now.

Anyway, with the jerk gone, Ryu Seolhwa handed me an envelope.

"Proposal here. Review it and get back to me."

With that, she turned and left.

Seemed her only goal was this handoff. Cooler than expected.

Both sides backing off so easily made me more uneasy.

Meanwhile, at that moment.

Unfamiliar shadows moved inside Cha Yeonwoo's studio apartment.

Drawers opened, bed shifted.

Items on the desk subtly rearranged, clothes on hangers tidied.

They silently scanned the place, finally stopping at the fridge.

Checking inside, they nodded to each other without a word.

Moments later, only silence lingered in the room.