5. I Want to Get Stronger
"Usually, one desires some mystical artifact or spirit elixir. 'I want to grow strong'... How utterly vague."
Madric Blood said that, yet her golden eyes gleamed with unmistakable interest.
As I stayed silent, she continued.
"We'll speak privately later. There's something I wish to discuss."
Something to discuss, huh. I nodded for now and stepped back.
Madric Blood gestured toward Choi Heejeong.
"And what do you desire?"
"Me...? Oh, right. A promotion!"
"A promotion?"
"Well, if that's not possible... maybe arrange some proper meals... that would be nice...?"
Looked like that rice porridge with gravel experience had left a deep scar.
"Hmm. And you?"
Next up was Kim Hansu. The guy, picking at his ear, blew on his finger and pointed straight at Madric Blood's chest.
"That."
"...Pardon?"
"...?"
It wasn't just Madric Blood doubting her ears. Me, Choi Heejeong, and every hunter here wore the same stunned expression.
"You know that thing the section chief took earlier? That. Gimme."
Was Kim Hansu seriously asking for the Jade Legged Blood Hand's inner core? I was beyond speechless—practically ascending from sheer absurdity.
Though, maybe I shouldn't talk.
"I'll think of something more suitable for you."
"Tch."
He clicked his tongue, but he didn't look genuinely disappointed. Probably just testing the waters, seeing if he could snag the unreachable fruit.
In any case, we cleared Underground Floor 10 cleanly under the watchful eyes of the section chief and our fellow hunters.
What would she give me, exactly?
That thought filled my head the whole way back to the lobby.
For starters, the section chief was a vampire, as she'd told Choi Heejeong. So no clan secret techniques for me.
But basic internal energy cultivation methods? She could teach those.
I couldn't wait to meet her. My heart pounded.
Anyway, back in the lobby, we were swarmed by staff shoving cameras and mics in our faces.
"Section Chief Blood! Is it true you conquered Underground Floor 10?"
"Please, just one word!"
"What kind of dungeon was Underground Floor 10?"
"You did it all alone, right, Section Chief?"
Reporters popped up everywhere.
"Such nuisances."
Madric Blood glared at them with murderous intent, sending them scattering in panic.
I knew she'd do that. Even in my past life, she'd shoo reporters away with a flick of her wrist.
Choi Heejeong asked me hesitantly.
"Is that okay? This could hurt the Safety Planning Department's image."
"It'll be fine. This place idolizes the strong as heroes anyway."
No matter how prickly, radical, or pure their personality.
A hero's a hero!
Once someone rises high, haters and fans both appear. That's just human nature.
Choi Heejeong nodded.
"I see. Makes sense. Oh? Look over there."
I followed her gaze.
For some reason, Madric Blood had snatched a nearby reporter's mic.
"I did not accomplish it alone. Nay, alone I could never have succeeded."
For a split second, her eyes met mine before shifting to the reporters who'd frozen mid-flight.
"There was a clever one among them. If only the company had more like him. That is all, nira."
That's when Kim Hansu chimed in.
"What fancy talk from the classy auntie. Kekeke."
"The section chief?"
"Yeah."
The guy starts trash-talking the second he's out of her sight. The section chief wasn't some auntie—she was a bewitching, super apex beauty. Sure, a few hundred years old, but still.
"She'll be director soon, not section chief. Better watch your step."
"What's that mean?"
"She's Safety Planning Department section chief now, but hit S-rank and she promotes to Safety Planning Directorate."
"Hmm. So she's hogging that inner core to boost her stats solo."
I just shrugged.
Then Choi Heejeong asked me.
"Jeongha-ssi, does anything change if Safety Planning Department becomes a directorate?"
"Who knows. Probably something good."
I changed the subject.
"We've been active all day, and it's dinnertime. Let's eat. Shower first, then meet up."
"Mm."
"Got it."
I stood before Madric Blood. She'd summoned me.
"So, you wish to grow strong?"
"Yes. I want to grow strong."
"Hmm."
She eyed me up and down.
"The first time I saw thee, I sensed a familiar aura. And when thou used thy power, I gained certainty, nira."
"What certainty?"
"That thou wieldest power akin to mine own."
I clenched my fist. As expected, the Jade Legged Blood Hand's inner core had been a huge boost.
This changes everything!
"Thus, I shall teach thee a taste of the Blood clan's arts."
"Thank you."
"But the clan's secret ultimate techniques? Those I cannot impart, nira."
That 'a taste' part bugged me, and sure enough...
"Fine. Anything you teach me is enough."
I'd half-expected it. Disappointing, but unavoidable. Passing bloodline secrets to a total outsider? Unheard of.
"What can you teach me?"
"Blood Cycle should pose no issue."
Blood Cycle! Literally 'blood circulation,' but in martial terms, it was an internal energy cultivation method.
"I'll learn diligently."
I nodded calmly, but inside I wanted to cheer with arms raised. All I'd known were the third-rate methods street warriors scraped by with.
Once, I'd begged the Martial Emperor himself to teach me. Flatly rejected. Talent too lacking.
To me, her Blood Cycle was a golden lifeline!
"Good. From tomorrow, proper lessons begin. For today, grasp the basics of blood flow, nira."
"Understood!"
"Follow me."
"Yes."
I trailed Madric Blood somewhere. Her quarters.
Section chief-level hunters' rooms were worlds apart from grunts'. Spacious, luxury furniture, high-end decor. A sweet scent lingered... mixed with a faint blood tang.
Blood packs in the trash. Vampire through and through.
"Sit on the floor."
"Yes."
She placed a hand on my back.
"Whether a human body can master Blood Cycle... even I wonder, nira."
My third-rate method was worlds from Blood Cycle. Would they clash?
I'd worried the same.
"Didn't you already know?"
"Truth be told, I was curious myself, nira."
"Pardon?"
So she was experimenting on me.
"Section Chief, wait...!"
Her energy seeped into me. I couldn't even speak.
"Hup!"
My eyes bulged. Blood surged through my veins at double speed, bubbling fiercely! Time crawled to half pace. My chest burned wildly, something rising from within.
"Puhup!"
Splat!
"Cough! Cough!"
I spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Tsk tsk tsk."
Madric Blood clucked her tongue repeatedly. I wiped my mouth with my sleeve.
"...What happened?"
Did Blood Cycle not suit me? Disaster.
"Thou merely expelled dead blood. No harm to thy health—worry not, nira."
"That's a relief."
She diagnosed my body thoroughly.
"Thy form is supple. Muscles and bones well-suited for combat."
"Thank you."
20 years of training paid off.
"But reaching adulthood before learning Blood Cycle? That's the issue."
"I see..."
Should've started as a child. Like martial arts.
"Yet thy bloodline bears a high-grade energy akin to our clan. A great boon."
I smirked. Potential confirmed.
"Though traces of some cheap, unknown breathing method linger. A flaw."
"...Right."
Should've never learned it!
"Our clan's Blood Cycle would crush such trifles effortlessly."
My smirk returned.
"Good news!"
"But thou art no vampire."
My smirk drooped.
"...Impossible after all, Section Chief?"
"One such as I, a master vampire of the clan, can adapt it for human bodies, nira."
Oh, right—she'd wondered if humans could learn it before. Must've researched.
"So it's possible?"
"Yet thy meridians are utterly clogged. Fatal."
I knew that. Past life's masters had tsked at me every time, cursing I'd never achieve greatness.
"So... possible or not? Section Chief."
"Unblocking meridians? My arts surpass those Murim fools by far, nira."
As expected! None rival vampires in blood matters!
"I'll follow only you my whole life. Loyalty forev—"
"Though 'tis a clan secret rite, unfit for outsiders like thee."
So which is it?!
I composed myself and spun around, dropping to my knees before her.
Screw pride. For strength, I'd sell it cheap.
"Section Chief. Just the conclusion. Can I? Or can't I?"
"Hmm..."
Madric Blood crossed her arms, eyes closed in deep thought. Finally, she spoke.
"Then, three choices for thee."
"What are they?"
"First: Become a vampire, nira."
"V-Vampire?"
I swallowed hard.
"Aye. The simplest, swiftest path to Blood Cycle. Perhaps even clan ultimates."
"But that makes me your familiar, right?"
Vampires turn humans one way only.
"Why offer me this?"
Do I have that value? Vampires don't make familiars lightly.
She chuckled softly.
"Thou seest thyself objectively well."
"Yes. I know myself best."
Masters in my past-past life dismissed me as talentless. I denied it at first—hated it. But reality taught objectivity. That's why I risked devouring the inner core, Gift uncertain.
"Thy feats on Underground Floor 10, and providing means for my ascension to queen."
She drew something from her bosom.
"The Jade Legged Blood Hand's inner core."
"Indeed. Yet strange."
"How so?"
"Mortals covet even the unattainable, greed in their eyes."
Tough to answer. I'd already claimed one. Hers meant nothing to me.
How to phrase...
"...It's not mine."
Textbook morality.
"Thou hast no greed. Yet thy thirst for strength surpasses all. In my millennium, none like thee."
Obviously. I'm a reincarnator.
"Second method?"
"Learn as mere human."
"Third?"
"Forsake the prior two and leave here."
I chose.
"Second."
Didn't want to ditch 'human.'
"Blood Cycle will demand thy life. The path thorny, steps agonizing, regrets aplenty."
"Got it."
Thorny? Pain? Regret? I'd walked hellish roads, endured torments, drowned in what-ifs. Even Madric Blood couldn't imagine.
For a different life than my past-past, I'd do anything.
"And if thy talent proves meager, or thou slack in training, failing to rise by deadline? I'll revoke thy Blood Cycle myself, nira."
"Why?"
"Cannot abide a wretch staining clan honor with our arts."
Firm tone.
"Fine. Doesn't matter."
She stared into my eyes, gauging sincerity. Then nodded.
"Very well. Let us proceed, nira. 'Twill hurt, but scream not."
Her hand on my back again.
"First, expel all dead blood."
"Won't dirty the floor?"
"Thou shalt clean it, nira."
"Puhup!"
I puked blood again.
And that day, I crawled back to my room.
"Hm..."
Sitting on my bed, I recited the 'mantra' she'd taught.
Oddly, its structure mirrored Murim internal methods.
I recalled her words.
'I studied Murim martial arts to adapt Blood Cycle for humans.'
There lay the key. Utterly unlike pure vampire methods. Unprecedented in her clan, efficiency unguaranteed.
Didn't matter. This Blood Cycle outshone my old method tenfold at least.
20 years as a third-rate? Precisely why I knew. Compared to any, an ascension art unbound.