Fortunately, I Didn't Die
Thankfully, I hadn't died. Black blood kept pouring from my body, only for potions to generate fresh blood in its place. Realizing that vomiting blood was a natural part of the process, I was still coughing it up even now.
"Young master is no ordinary man—he is the rightful heir of the Calione family. There's no way he'd die from something like this measly poison pill."
"Feel the poison absorbing into your body. Circulate it throughout your entire system using your own energy."
"You can do it, young master."
My whole body felt like I'd been doused in ice water. Then it turned scorching hot, as if I'd been thrown into a fire. My skin prickled like I'd been tossed into a bed of needles, only for all sensation to vanish completely, as if it had been erased.
How much time passed like that? Once the raging energy inside me finally calmed, I slowly opened my eyes to see Parnello Ramichi smiling faintly.
"You've done well, young master."
The black blood that had soaked the floor just moments ago was completely gone.
"...How long has it been?"
Parnello checked the pocket watch from his vest pocket at my question.
"About nine hours since ingestion. We've long passed breakfast time."
"...That much time?"
I'd thought it'd been barely an hour. Nine hours was astonishing.
Reading my expression, Parnello chuckled softly.
"To see you so surprised—I'm the one who was shocked."
"Huh?"
Parnello, surprised? Why?
"In all my decades, I've never seen someone bleed that much from a spirit pill. A little longer, and this room would've been an ocean of blood. Of course, I've cleaned it all up now."
...I'd vomited that much blood? I didn't remember.
"More than that... Most spirit pills that grant poison resistance just boost tolerance. But yours seemed... different."
"Like increased natural healing?"
"...You knew?"
Of course. That's why I'd done it in the first place.
"I noticed midway. My body wasn't healing from the potions anymore—it was healing itself."
"Hahaha! At this rate, minor wounds will vanish in no time. I'd love to try that combination myself, but... the pills you brought and the ones I sourced aren't identical, so it'd be too risky."
At his age, one wrong move could kill him.
"Hahaha!"
Parnello burst into laughter, clearly amused by his own joke. The idea of him dying from a spirit pill was unimaginable. A hitman of his caliber surely had massive poison resistance already.
"By the way, shall we test if the resistance really took?"
"Test?"
Parnello pulled two small vials from his pocket.
"The red cap holds black mamba venom from Africa. The blue is the antidote."
"Try it... this one?"
"Better to test in the mansion, where we can respond immediately if things go wrong."
I wondered why we even had black mamba venom in the house, but remembering what kind of family we were made it obvious. Fine, there was an antidote anyway.
"...Not a bad idea. Red one's the poison, right?"
Parnello nodded. I grabbed the vial without hesitation and went to gulp it down.
"Wait."
He stopped me as he uncapped it.
"...Why?"
Was he actually worried about me? As that thought crossed my mind—
"Black mamba venom works best injected into the bloodstream. Allow me."
...Not worried, then. He'd prepared ahead; he pulled a syringe from his pocket and filled it with the poison.
"If anything happens, I'll inject the antidote right away."
A sharp sting, and I felt the venom enter my veins.
"...How do you feel?"
"Hm... Nothing. Did the pill work?"
Truly, no sensation at all. Just, oh, got injected with something.
Pretty useful ability...
Parnello startled, checking the vial.
"Oh dear, looks like I used the antidote."
"...What?"
"Kidding. You looked so tense."
A poison joke... Only Parnello could pull that off.
"No pain at the injection site? Chest tightness? Any symptoms?"
"Just... fine."
"Plenty of time till dinner. Let's wait a bit longer."
Thirty minutes passed.
"...The spirit pill definitely worked."
As Parnello said, black mamba venom should've reacted within thirty minutes. Staying fine meant it functioned. While sitting dazed, an alert for new traits popped up, confirming the effect.
Immunity to All Poisons
Grants immunity to most poisons. Greatly increases poison resistance.
Natural Healing (C)
Increases the body's natural healing ability.
With this, I had six traits total.
Traits fit for the head of an assassin guild.
"Thanks for the help, Parnello. I couldn't have done it without you."
I stood, expressing my gratitude. He waved it off.
"I merely nagged from the sidelines. This is all your achievement, young master."
He said that, but it wasn't true. His presence let me relax and focus. I wanted to repay him somehow, but Parnello wouldn't accept it, so I just smiled.
"Oh, right—while you were concentrating, Alesia came by. Lady Jiyoon was looking for you..."
"Ah."
Alesia was Jiyoon's dedicated maid—practically her nanny. Why would she seek me out?
Hm...
...Oh shit. I remembered.
"...Gotta see Jiyoon first. Thanks again for staying with me, Parnello."
"Just doing my duty."
He smiled warmly and left. I hurried to Jiyoon's room.
Last night, I'd promised to play with her but ended up breaking it unintentionally.
Rushing upstairs, I spotted Alesia waiting outside Jiyoon's door.
"Young master."
"Sorry, Alesia. Where's Jiyoon?"
"She hasn't come out—still inside."
"Got it. I'll go in."
Jiyoon's door was covered in colorful crayon scribbles: [♡ Jiyoon's Room ♡ Knock First!]. I knocked gently.
"Jiyoon?"
[Oppa...? Huh? U, uu... Yeth...]
She sounded thrilled at first, then utterly dejected.
I tried carefully. "Can I come in?"
[...Yeth.]
I opened the door and stepped inside. There she was on the bed, hugging a giant stuffed animal bigger than herself, face buried in it.
"... "
Not even peeking my way, clutching the doll tight. I sat on the bed's edge and stroked her hair.
"Mad I didn't play with you yesterday?"
"...Nooo. Not mad."
Her muffled voice from the doll sounded so listless.
"Oppa’s sorry. Let's talk face-to-face, okay?"
Using my gentlest tone, she slowly lifted her face. Teary eyes, red rims, tear stains on the doll's head.
She'd cried buckets over missing playtime.
"Sad 'cause Oppa forgot after promising?"
"...Yeth."
Her trembling voice held back sobs.
"Didn't wanna bother Oppa first..."
"Oppa’s... sniff... busy... Jiyoon can... wait... sniff..."
She'd held it in, not wanting to burden me...
I sighed, stroking her hair slowly.
"You held back so Oppa wouldn't get stressed?"
"Sniff... yeth..."
Seeing her stirred old memories, leaving me unsure. Felt like I'd committed some huge sin.
What would be best for her now? An idea hit.
"Oppa's really sorry. Wanna go out and play?"
"Sniff... outthide...?"
She peeked up at my eyes.
"Yeah. Today, Oppa's taking you out—tons of yummy food, fun places, play all we want. Sound good?"
"Fun places... yummieth...!"
She wiped her tears, nodding eagerly.
"Good?"
"Yeth...! Jiyoon wanna go outthide!"
"Okay, no more tears now. Deal?"
"Yeth...! No crying... sniff...!"
Her forced cheer was adorable; I couldn't help smiling.
"Good girl. Oppa'll tell Papa, so listen to Alesia till then?"
"Yeth!"
After soothing her, I stepped out and clutched my face.
"...I messed up."
To cheer her, I'd promised to go outside—not play in the mansion.
"Already said it... what now?"
Taking Jiyoon out—without Father or any event, just for fun? I'd have to tell him.
In the original story, Vito Calione avoided letting his kids go out for safety. He'd built this massive estate like an amusement park, hired external tutors for full schooling...
He was that thorough about their protection.
But no choice—I'd own it.
"...Gotta tell him. It's not impossible."
No way he'd say no with me going along. Steel myself, I headed to Father's study—and bumped into him coming out.
"Ah, perfect timing. I had a favor to ask."
"A favor... from me?"
"Yes. And you coming here means you have something to say too?"
Ideal opening for Jiyoon talk. I nodded.
"Yes. Lucky."
"Haha! Then no standing chat—come in."
Thus, I entered Father's study awkwardly.
"So, why seek your old man?"
He sat, lit a cigar, and asked first. Bracing myself, I met his eyes.
"Father, I want to take Jiyoon to the bustling streets."
"...What?"
Thud. His cigar dropped from his mouth.
Eh...? What? Did I screw up big time?