Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Special Training (6)
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Geon-ju ran all day until his feet were swollen.
Over the seven exhausting hours filled with complaints, sighs, groans, and fatigue, the pursuer chasing him kept changing. From werewolf to swamp snake, swamp snake to poison spider, poison spider to firebird. While being hunted by various foes, Geon-ju learned how to flee quickly through forests, seas, swamps, and even raging fires. He grasped the traits of monsters with different paper qualities, performed emergency treatments multiple times, and realized how best to heal in any given situation.
His judgment and self-treatment skills had improved dramatically compared to just half a day ago. It was a brutal, crude method, but undeniably effective.
Sa-yoon watched Geon-ju's gradual changes with satisfaction. As night fell and the surroundings turned pitch black, he spotted Geon-ju staggering back.
After all that running, he should have learned to escape unscathed and then counterattack. Yet every time Geon-ju gained real combat experience, he returned with a serious injury somewhere. This time, it was his shoulder.
Even after staunching the bleeding, blood dripped steadily from his shoulder as Geon-ju clutched it and stumbled right up to Sa-yoon. Sa-yoon summoned the clear conditions window to check the changes.
There were changes in the numbers, however slight. After twenty escapes, Geon-ju had finally notched three or more perfect escapes, but his body was ragged like a dishcloth. Sa-yoon had forbidden potion use for anything short of fractures.
You needed to learn to fight through a certain level of pain, and since he had the bad habit of mishandling his body in combat, the ban was meant to break it. But the habit hadn't changed—instead, he'd just gotten more injured. His stealth skill had improved from focusing on self-preservation over fighting, but it fell short of the desired results.
If he could recover and do it two more times...
Sa-yoon smacked his lips in regret. Just two more, no more, no less, and Geon-ju would learn to take care of his body. But pushing further now would surely make him collapse from exhaustion.
Well, you can't fill your belly on the first bite.
Deciding to be satisfied for now, Sa-yoon watched as Geon-ju's body swayed and tilted toward him.
"Geon-ju?"
Sa-yoon called his name, surprised—Geon-ju rarely approached or leaned on him first. Thunk. With a few shirt buttons undone, Geon-ju's forehead met his bare chest.
Unusually hot. Far above average body temperature.
Sensing something wrong, Sa-yoon placed a hand on Geon-ju's forehead, then his neck. Everywhere he touched burned—his pretty boy had turned into a fireball.
"Poisoned."
His complexion was poor, breathing ragged. Classic poisoning symptoms. The last pursuer was a firebird—why come back poisoned by something else? Probably nicked his leg on a toxic plant while running, or a prior poison had kicked in late.
Sa-yoon laid Geon-ju down and first poured an antidote into his mouth.
"The rank's the issue."
Most monsters sent were A-rank or below—Sa-yoon wouldn't have minded. He'd built immunity by consuming various poisons on system orders, rendering him resistant to every known hunter-world toxin.
He hadn't worried much about poison, but an S-rank like him differed from a B-rank like Geon-ju. An A-rank poison harmless to Sa-yoon was like a higher-grade weapon piercing Geon-ju's bloodstream.
If too much time had passed since poisoning, the antidote might not work properly.
A body accustomed to poison would shake it off within an hour of antidote. But judging by looks and experience, Geon-ju had never ingested a drop in his life. Better abandon hopes of quick recovery.
Sa-yoon shifted Geon-ju's head to his lap, precisely checking pulse and breath. Breathing unstable. Poison spread full-body—fingertips rigid. No wonder the bleeding hadn't stopped properly. His body wouldn't obey.
How long had this been going?
Two hours ago, Geon-ju had been decent. Six bandaged wounds, sure, but treatable post-training. He'd complained and cursed rebelliously throughout. By then, he'd gone silent—Sa-yoon thought he'd accepted the training's value. In truth, he lacked the strength to speak, his condition worsening.
Even then, breathing was steady, complexion merely pale.
In the two hours fleeing, killing, and returning, things escalated.
The firebird was a weak A-rank, near B. Surviving tougher, sensitive monsters before, Sa-yoon figured Geon-ju could handle it alone. He called it the finale, urging independence—no way he could oversee every fight forever.
But that timing coincided with Geon-ju's worst state, leaving Sa-yoon flustered.
Not within expected injuries—Sa-yoon's eyes darkened intently. Unwittingly gripping the neck pulse harder, he withdrew his hand, frowning as he scrutinized Geon-ju's tightly shut eyes.
Grabbing his cheeks, turning his face—his gaze caught the ring on his finger. The one from Disbelief's Altar reward, shared one each.
Geon-ju had relied on that artifact alone—shouldn't have trusted just one.
Poison saps stamina slowly. By the time the artifact warned of low stamina, it was likely irreversible.
"Commendable, or foolish?"
Spotting his poor state, pushing through pain to return was praiseworthy. But knowing it was poison, he should've spoken up before leaving, refused, or hinted for leniency.
Or asked for extra potions due to unease.
No anti-poison potions among those provided.
Using them on wounds might've prevented rapid decline. Despite grumbling, Geon-ju's upright nature meant no potions unless fractured—minor scratches or major wounds alike.
So he returned covered in black blood.
Instead of whining, use the potions flexibly.
Rebuke and praise lingered unspoken, vanishing. Even if voiced, hallucinating Geon-ju wouldn't hear.
Sa-yoon sighed shortly instead, ripping open potions and pouring them over all wounds.
For swift detox, maximize condition first.
"Ugh! Hnng..."
"Stay still. I'm treating you."
Poison amplified even minor pain. Just disinfectant and potions, yet Geon-ju writhed, clutching Sa-yoon's clothes, pressing his fevered forehead to his thigh.
Groans mixed with faint sobs—Sa-yoon scowled. Felt like irredeemable trash.
If it was too much, just say so.
Chiding words rose but stuck—Geon-ju's conscience returning, or Sa-yoon's own guilt.
He knew he'd pushed too hard.
"Kids these days are so fragile. Back in my day, I'd chew herbs after poisoning."
Strictly, dropped in a field without antidote, he'd munched random plants seeking detox herbs. Still, fact: ran and foraged while poisoned.
Ditched the nagging when groans persisted—no more "latte" stories to stall. Confirmed wounds healing via potion, unwrapped bandages, fed remaining antidote, then covered Geon-ju's eyes.
"Sleep, pretty boy. You'll recover faster."
Not ending in one or two hours. Deep sleep would shorten recovery. Covering eyes irked him—he twitched his head, eyelids fluttering—but soon stilled.
Rapid breaths gradually steadied.
Realizing grueling training paused, tension drained from his rigid body.
Pat pat.
Sa-yoon awkwardly patted Geon-ju's chest, inhaling deeply.
Planned field initiation tonight, fix Geon-ju's potential, use him for night watch. But his pretty boy's frailty derailed it.
"It's not like I never stood watch for you."
Muttering unheard words to the sleeping boy, Sa-yoon grumbled about no guild leader matching him. Faint echo in his mind: Jong-sik's old scolding—make them sick all you want, one potion doesn't fix it.