The Stolen Antidote
Rookie: Baek Jaesung 20
"Ughhh!"
It had been a long nightmare. It felt like writhing in inescapable darkness, sticky tar wrapping around his limbs, choking his breath. Was he even alive right now?
His vision was filled with nothing but black—he couldn't tell if this was the land of the living or the dead. It felt closer to the latter.
"@#$%...!"
Someone was calling him. For some reason, the voice felt familiar. Like a lifeline pulling him from deep mud.
Thanks to that voice, the surrounding darkness slowly lifted. The heavy, clinging mud over his body seemed to peel away bit by bit.
A single ray of light pierced the receding shadows. He desperately reached for it through the crack in the dark.
"Seonuk-ssi!"
"Ugh...!"
There wasn't a single spot that didn't hurt. Even opening his eyes took every ounce of strength. He barely managed it.
Bright lantern light, not blinding sunlight, filled his vision. Was this what it felt like to survive the brink of death? Letting out weak breaths amid convulsions, Seonuk looked every bit the man who'd knocked on death's door. He even felt grateful just to breathe.
"Seonuk-ssi!"
His lover's voice rang out—the one that had guided him from the dark mire like a beacon. It instantly banished his anxiety, infusing life into his near-dead body. Just hearing it blew away all his worries.
Warmed by Jang Hana's voice, Seonuk opened his mouth.
"Hana-ya."
"Thank God! I'm so glad!"
Jang Hana threw herself into his arms. Seonuk's condition wasn't normal, but he didn't let on, even hugging her back with what strength he had left. Hana sniffled in Kim Seonuk's embrace.
"I really thought you were going to die...!"
"Ahaha... I'm sorry."
He truly was. As the party's tank and healer, getting taken out by a monster was embarrassing. He could easily imagine the hardship the others had endured. Especially his lover, Jang Hana—she must have suffered mentally too. She'd always been the worrying type.
"No! It's my fault for not protecting you."
The two shared a brief reunion, holding hands. Just that made Seonuk feel his strength returning.
"Where are we now? Looks like a cave—did we move to another room?"
Seonuk asked about the situation. It probably wasn't good. He guessed as much from Hana's gaunt cheeks.
"Come to think of it, where are the other party members? What happened?"
Hana's face darkened sharply at his question. Seonuk sensed from her expression that things were far worse than he'd imagined.
"Did the others get taken out by monsters too?"
Hana shook her head gravely. Her grim look wasn't about the other members.
She ended up stealing it...
She'd succumbed to the devil's temptation. Or rather, it wasn't temptation—it was her choice.
Hana told herself anyone would do the same watching their lover die, but that didn't justify her actions.
Should I... run?
The devil's whispered solution echoed in her mind. Fleeing with Seonuk might complete the perfect crime, as it suggested.
But she shook her head. Doing that would make her no better than a beast. She wasn't some paragon of virtue, but she sure as hell wasn't trash either.
I'll apologize properly. Yeah. If we get out of this dungeon somehow, I can pay back this debt.
She resolved to face her choice head-on. Her actions were a grave mistake. Fleeing to dodge a momentary lapse would let that guilt haunt her forever—and it would hurt as much as watching her lover die before her eyes.
"Hana-ya, your face looks bad... Is the situation really rough? What about the others?"
"Ah... well..."
Hana pondered how to explain. Then, someone entered the cave.
"Hana-ssi!"
It was Jaesung. But something was off about him. He staggered in, utterly exhausted. As he hurried back into the cave, his body gave out.
"J-Jaesung-ssi!"
Hana rushed to him in shock. Jaesung clutched his right arm and said,
"A venomous snake got me! The poison's too strong for me to detox—antidote... There's an antidote in my bag! Please get it for me."
Color drained from Hana's face at his words.
"A-Antidote...?"
Jaesung, seeing her reaction, rambled on.
"Ah, uh... It's my emergency one. Sorry about Seonuk-ssi, but I only have the one, so I hid it. Forgive me. Urk! F-First, the antidote..."
He seemed to misread why she was shocked. Of course, it was all part of Jaesung's ploy. He knew the real reason her face had hardened.
How will she play this? Will she try to kill me?
Based on what he'd seen of Jang Hana so far, that was unlikely. But extreme situations change people. Jaesung watched her expectantly.
Hana trembled. She'd planned to apologize when he returned, but this was beyond her imagination.
She glanced at Seonuk, twisting her neck. Then it hit her—he was a healer.
"S-Seonuk-ssi...!"
Hana called to Kim Seonuk.
*-*-*
The moment I left the cave, I scanned the surroundings. Not for an oasis. I was hunting monsters—Desert Snakes, to be precise.
Desert Snakes are your standard monsters in desert dungeons. They look just like Earth's venomous snakes, sand-colored and all.
They carry neurotoxin, but nothing as potent as a Sand Knight's. I could detox even Sand Knight venom with Light Cure. Still, for insurance, I went for the milder Desert Snake.
Took about ten minutes of wandering to spot one. I deliberately let it bite my right arm.
"Stings a bit."
I used Light Cure to neutralize it instantly. Left the bite mark on purpose. Then, near the cave, I fired up Darkness Radar to check their status.
Two big blips inside: Jang Hana and Kim Seonuk. Seonuk wasn't moving. Hana was pacing anxiously.
Now, just wait. Time was on my side. Knowing that, I bided my time patiently.
The payoff came quicker than expected. About ten minutes in, Seonuk started moving. No way he'd wake without antidote by some miracle. Hana must've dipped into my bag. Time for acting mode.
Acting 4Lv (C-rank)
↳ Gain proficient acting skills.
My Acting skill is level 4. No ordinary person could see through it. Even dungeon hunters like them couldn't pierce my performance. Hunter doesn't mean superhuman perception.
I clutched my right arm with my left, faking exhaustion. Not just facial expressions—my movements were spot-on. I limped slightly, losing balance, and collapsed before Hana with a thud.
"J-Jaesung-ssi!"
"A venomous snake got me! The poison's too strong for me to detox—antidote... There's an antidote in my bag! Please get it for me."
Hana's face darkened like a nuke had dropped.
She was an open book. Seeing her crumple made me feel like I owned her emotions.
"Ah, uh... It's my emergency one. Sorry about Seonuk-ssi, but I only have the one, so I hid it. Forgive me. Urk! F-First, the antidote..."
I kept up the act. The justification was mine anyway.
Not using my antidote on Seonuk was fair. I'd already done plenty for their party.
Hana's eyes looked like an earthquake hit. She was on the verge of tears, a balloon ready to pop at the slightest prick.
"S-Seonuk-ssi...!"
She called to him. I synced my performance.
"Huh? How's Seonuk-ssi awake?"
I feigned confusion, and Seonuk looked equally baffled. He clearly hadn't heard any explanation and had no clue about the crisis.
"Hana-ya, I'm a bit confused."
"W-Well, it's like..."
"Hana-ssi, explanations later—get the antidote from my bag... please."
I convulsed loudly for effect. They both jumped. Seonuk approached me. Right—he was a healer.
"You hurt? I don't know the situation, but I'll heal you."
"Normal healing won't cut it. I'm a healer too—tried self-heal, no dice. Antidote..."
"Let me check your status first."
I showed him my arm. The bite mark was slightly swollen, nothing else. Seonuk tilted his head.
"No obvious symptoms?"
"Neurotoxin. No feeling in my right arm. Could end up crippled."
"Neurotoxin, huh. What monster?"
"Snake. Not a Desert Snake—first time seeing it. Maybe a boss."
"Yeah, lots of unfamiliar monsters here. The zombie that got me was weird too. I'll try healing."
Seonuk's ability was Aqua Bless, an enhancement type famous for healing. He used a healing technique on my arm.
"Dispel Bless."
Blue light leaked from his fingertips, enveloping my right arm.
"...... No change. Still no sensation on the right."
I faked it. Unlike visible wounds, poisons or mental attacks are easy to fake if the patient insists.
Healers know this well. Sure, some poisons cause swelling or blackening, but many are symptomless visually—especially monster venoms.
"If it worsens, I might lose the arm forever. Urk! Antidote first..."
My fakery was perfected by level 4 Acting. I shoved Seonuk aside and crawled to my bag. Hana reached out.
"W-Wait...!"
I rummaged. Naturally, no antidote bottle. I widened my eyes, raising my voice.
"Huh? The antidote...! What!?"
With my awkward left hand, I frantically pulled out everything. Hana and Seonuk stepped back. Seonuk whispered to her,
"What's he doing?"
"......?"
I yelled loud enough for them to hear unwillingly.
"It's gone?! No way! Come out! Come out! Come out!"
I dumped everything, shaking it upside down. Just dust.
"How... Ah! Wait! Don't tell me, Seonuk-ssi waking up..."
I turned to Hana. Key moment. I glared with venomous eyes, betrayal and hatred overwhelming the cave's air.
Hana flinched like a deer spotting a predator, tears streaming from her hunter eyes.
My genuine threat brought Seonuk jumping in front, shielding her like a black knight defending his lady. He raised his voice at me.
"I don't know what's going on, but drop the killing intent. Hana's scared."
"Hana-ssi! How could you...! How could you betray your lifesaver!?"
I ignored Seonuk, yelling at Hana. Her body shook violently from my direct shout.
What now? She didn't seem ready to turn the tables.
"Betray? What do you mean?"
I snorted, glaring at Seonuk. Tall guy over 180cm, but weaker-willed than expected. He stepped back under my pressure but held position, questioning me.
"Explain what happened. I have no idea."
"Explain!? Fine!"
I summarized events: Our party saving hers, agreeing to escape together, scattering in the sandstorm and Desert Orcs, Hana stealing my antidote for Seonuk. I threw in minor convulsions.
Last part was inference—Hana cowering in the corner proved it. Seonuk's face turned ashen. I pounded the ground with my left arm, shouting.
"You thief! What now!?"
"I-I'm... sorry!"
Hana just apologized. Seonuk, hearing the full story, hung his head too, apologizing with her.
"Sorry. We sincerely apologize."
"Hey! Think a sorry fixes this? What if my arm's ruined?"
"W-We’ll take responsibility."
Strong sense of duty or doting boyfriend? Seonuk bowed deeply. A hothead might've flipped—but they'd be more fun. This couple was both meek, birds of a feather. They bowed in unison.
"We'll get you out fast for treatment."
"I'll do my best too. Sob... Really sorry."
I sat up. The pretty couple groveling before me—refreshing sight. I eyed my limp right hand.
"Damn. Make sure you take full responsibility."