Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Poisonous Mushroom Curiosity
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Poisonous mushroom. Curiosity is truly a mysterious thing.
Even for things that anyone can see scream [Don't] or [This will end badly], there's something strangely alluring about them.
Of course, I'm not saying that's a bad thing.
Curiosity is, after all, the instinct of all intelligent beings.
And it's through that curiosity-driven learning that humanity has grown to where we are today.
In fact, curiosity is much like courage.
The courage to personally test the uncertain or dangerous.
And, as modest as I am to say it myself...
When it comes to courage, isn't it me?
“…….”
I stared at the mushroom in front of me.
My thoughts have been lengthy up to now, but the point is simple.
I want to take a bite out of that colorful mushroom right in my line of sight.
Every edible food grants 'Trial Points'...
So that one might be the same, right?
“Hey, Hoon, no way.”
James, noticing my gaze, furrowed his brow.
“You're not thinking of eating that, are you? Anyone can tell that thing would cause at least a stomachache if eaten...”
“I agree. We haven't even done a proper scout yet, and we don't know how much food is in this forest. There's no need to scavenge something like that already. It looks exactly like a poison mushroom, doesn't it?”
Olena nodded, backing James up.
Opposition from both teammates.
“Hmm.”
I rubbed my chin.
Is it my rebellious nature?
Somehow, the more they're telling me not to, the more I want to.
“Hoon, hold on.”
Thud, thud.
That was when Kapu walked up to the mushroom.
Squatting down and examining it closely, he soon nodded.
“Hmm, it's a poison mushroom, alright.”
Huh? What?
The explorer can even identify poison mushrooms?
“In our country, we call this one 'Death Devil'.”
“Death Devil?”
“Yeah, it's a name they slapped on with scary words to heighten the villagers' awareness. For your information, it's a deadly poison mushroom where just one bite melts your esophagus and rots your stomach. Absolutely do not eat it.”
“......Hah, I see.”
In the end, I nodded and took a step back.
When all my teammates say no, I can't just go off on my own.
Besides.
“......”
I looked up at the sky.
The sunset was ending, and the light was fading.
In the depths of a natural forest, you can barely see anything at night.
That's why visibility was already starting to blur.
“For now, shall we head into the prepared beets for the night?”
“Sounds like we should. But how do we handle watch? We can't light a fire, and if we can't see anything... watch is pointless. No night vision goggles either...”
“I'll handle the watch.”
“You, Hoon?”
Olena blinked.
I smiled.
“Yeah, I have a bone buddy who's used to the dark.”
Solar Spear.
The one who spent its whole life in darkness.
“From now on, nights are mine.”
I was planning to handle watch anyway.
‘Besides.’
I have things to do.
* * *
“Phew.”
The forest where light had completely vanished.
I stepped out near the high ground and let out a breath.
Whoosh! Rustle!
In the dead of night, only eerie wind and cricket chirps filled the air.
Olena, James, and Kapu were already in light sleep.
“My lord, not sleeping?”
Sun Spear approached, noticing I'd come out.
“No issues around so far.”
“Good. Thanks.”
Sleep.
Essential for human survival.
But at some point, my sleep time had drastically decreased.
‘Probably because of the Azure Heart Technique.’
The S-grade inner energy manual I learned from the old man.
Its effects were tremendous.
It expels bodily waste and fatigue, infusing cells with vitality.
The more you circulate it, the younger and clearer your skin becomes.
On top of that, it even provides the benefits of sleep.
‘No need to force sleep.’
Anyway.
Today's tasks weren't done yet.
To finish them...
[Using skill, 'Teachings of the Myriad Arts' (S-grade).]
[Consuming 20 stamina.]
['Myriad Arts Master' appears.]
I need to spend an hour with the old man.
“This guy?”
The old man appeared like a ghost.
“Now you're putting it off until the dead of night?”
“Haha, Elder.”
“Right, this must be that Trial Dungeon made by some Dungeon Maker fellow?”
“Yes.”
I tend to tell the old man everything I do.
Especially when entering special dungeons like this.
That way, he can tailor his own curriculum.
“Hmm, no light, restricted visibility—perfect environment for sensing 'qi'. Alright, we'll start with the Grand Massage today too? Get ready.”
That damn Grand Massage.
It raised my rank a lot thanks to it.
But it still inflicts horrific pain on me.
“No, Elder. Hold on.”
“What is it?”
Maybe because I usually accept without complaint.
The old man tilted his head curiously.
“You mean the Azure Heart Technique, right?”
“......”
“Can it expel poison too?”
That's right.
I'd been hung up on that poison mushroom earlier.
It was still floating tantalizingly in my mind's eye.
I don't know why.
I even thought of eating it and using Bone Heal's 'Recovery'.
But that's on a one-month cooldown, so not yet.
Even if it were available.
I didn't want to waste it on something like this.
'Recovery' is like a spare life.
“Huh? Poison?”
“Yes.”
“You fool! Why just talk about it? The Azure Heart Technique is flawless. It's the pinnacle among countless manuals from my world, painstakingly chosen. You think it can't handle mere poison?”
The old man shrugged, pride wounded.
“Oh, really?”
His words made my eyes sparkle.
“Of course. But why ask?”
“Well, the thing is...”
I recounted the afternoon's events.
How Trial Points rise with every food eaten.
The discovered poison mushroom, Death Devil, and all.
“Hmm.”
The old man pondered quietly.
Then, as if it was all for the best, he spoke.
“Well, it's about time you built poison resistance anyway.”
“Resistance?”
“Yeah, you timed it perfectly.”
The old man praised me instead.
As if the moment had finally arrived.
“Listen well. The Myriad Arts are no light matter. In any world, it's a technique to reach absolute supremacy.”
In his world, the supreme under heaven.
In this one, Hunter Rank 1.
“Boy. The seat of the absolute is never easy. It's brutal and dangerous. Do you know one thing needed to hold it?”
Needed?
I cleared my throat.
“Well... martial prowess to defend it? Connections?”
“Of course those matter, but first, recognize the world is rotten. At least I did. Over centuries holding that seat, countless coveted it.”
The old man reminisced.
“Massive factions who could unify the world without me, the jealous second and third in command, even the emperor ruling the empire... Of course, crushing such losers with a smile is the Myriad Arts' grace. But that requires defenses against every ambush and sneak attack, right?”
“And one of those is poison.”
“Exactly.”
The old man nodded.
“The Azure Heart Technique purifies the body. To reach the legendary realm of Immunity to Ten Thousand Poisons, I sought and ate every poison in the world.”
Body of Immunity to Ten Thousand Poisons.
The legendary state where no poison can invade.
I knew what it meant without him saying.
“After expelling a hundred poisons, I achieved Immunity to a Hundred Poisons. After a thousand, Immunity to a Thousand. Only after devouring every poison in our world...”
The old man smiled.
The Myriad Arts practitioner relished the ordeal.
Savoring the hardship and pain to attain his realm.
“...did I become free of all the world's poisons.”
“Impressive.”
“So, deadly poison nearby? Welcome it with open arms. New poison found? Smile happily, don't fear.”
“......”
To a third party, it might sound perverse.
But why does it resonate so much?
Why is it so appealing?
More than teammates warning poison is dangerous.
The old man's urging that poison is delicious felt more fun.
“Eldrin.”
Rustle!
The high elf of the forest kin approached at my call.
“You called, Master?”
“From tomorrow, gather everything that looks poisonous.”
If poison is that great.
This tropical rainforest is an opportunity for me.
Feels faster and cleaner than sourcing outside the dungeon.
Who knows?
Maybe poisons Earth doesn't have.
“Hmm, last time I saw some poison mushrooms radiating dangerous auras... You sure?”
“Yeah? Even better.”
The old man chuckled at my reply.
“Good. I wandered years for poisons, but you have a forest expert subordinate.”
“Haha...”
As I scratched my head sheepishly.
“Alright then.”
The old man clapped.
“Let's try that Death Devil. You should've trial-and-errored alone, but what's a master for? I'll guide you personally.”
“Ooh, I'd be grateful.”
Eat the tantalizing poison mushroom.
Skip the painful massage.
Perfect.
I headed straight to the mushroom's spot.
Dark, but basic moonlight made it easy to find.
The colorful mushroom sprouting in the tree's shade.
“......”
Gulp.
I swallowed.
'Death Devil?'
Kapu's words echoed.
Melts esophagus, rots stomach on contact?
Tensing up.
It'll hurt, right?
'But for strength...'
I've endured pain before.
Plus, Pain Resistance skill.
Bone Heal too.
Sturdy Myriad Arts old man behind me.
'Alright.'
Eat.
Just shove it in!
Resolved, I stuffed the whole mushroom in my mouth.
Crunch, crunch.
Chewed the uncooked, tough mushroom with my teeth.
'Ugh.'
Just as raw earth taste and odd sensation hit tongue and throat.
[Ding!]
[Consuming 'Death Devil.']
[Acquiring 10 Trial Points.]
[Poison bonus applied.]
['Death Devil' is a Rank 2 deadly poison.]
[Acquiring 300 Trial Points.]
'Crazy?'
I bulged my eyes.
320 points piled up all day from eating.
Killing a person gives 100.
One poison mushroom for 300 Trial Points?
'This...'
It's totally set up for me?