Chapter 187
Chapter 187
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 187
Chapter Title: The Agony of Nerve Reconstruction
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I handed something over to the two of them.
"Adult diapers?"
"Go put them on. Unless you want to soil your pants or skirt."
Han Sang-ah stepped up first. I figured she was already mentally prepared.
I bound her limbs tightly and gagged her mouth.
Placing my hand on her back, I took a deep breath. The mana in the air flowed into my body first, then surged into hers.
I immediately began controlling the mana to rework her nerves.
"Urgh... haa..."
Her body started trembling right away.
"We're just getting started."
As I said that, I pressed down hard on her shoulder with my other hand. Her body instinctively tried to pull away from me, seeking even a little relief from the pain.
In truth, this was far easier than doing it to myself.
At least I wasn't the one feeling the pain. She was the one enduring agony like kidney stones all over her body.
"Ah... aaaahhh!"
Han Sang-ah twisted in torment, letting out a scream filled with agony. Even with the gag, it came out that loud.
Her eyes rolled back amid the suffering as her entire body slowly arched like a bow.
It was similar to what happened to the palace eunuch captain. Her muscles throughout her body were convulsing from the unbearable pain. This wasn't training—it was torture.
Drool poured from her gagged mouth. Her bow-like arched body suddenly spasmed wildly, writhing like mad.
A sickening crack came from the joints in her limbs. She was straining so hard it was putting excessive stress on them.
"You can't escape."
The restraints binding her limbs were reinforced with my mana. She couldn't break them and get away.
And once we started, we had to see it through. Tears streamed down her face as she thrashed her head wildly, slamming the back of it against the floor repeatedly.
She probably wanted to just pass out.
"No use. Even if you faint..."
Suddenly, she slumped with a thud, only to snap her eyes wide open and convulse again. The pain was so intense that even unconsciousness wouldn't last.
She couldn't get used to it or numb to it. It was like every nerve in her body was being ripped out with a heated needle, the torment unrelenting.
She made choking, gurgling sounds like she was on the verge of death.
"That's ten minutes down."
We still needed at least fifty more. Harsh as it sounded, we were only just beginning.
Her whole body was drenched in sweat, pouring it out like she was broken. Froth bubbled at her mouth as she fainted, woke, and fainted again.
And finally, I succeeded in completely reconstructing her nerves.
"It's over."
Han Sang-ah was out cold. Not some graceful slumber like Sleeping Beauty—her eyes were rolled back, and the gag was a mess of vomit, froth, and saliva.
Her body twitched like a frog leg hooked to electrodes.
"Not sure if she'll stay sane."
That's why I'd warned them. It hurt like hell. For now, I lifted her aside and injected a recovery potion.
Whether she'd hold onto her sanity or go completely mad, ranting nonsense and seeing hallucinations, was up to the heavens now.
"...I get what I signed up for now."
Jeong O-hoon stared at me with a complicated expression. 'Better to sell first and get beaten later' was a saying for times like this.
He hadn't seen the process itself, but he'd gotten a good look at Han Sang-ah's wrecked state, passed out and insane-looking.
If he hadn't known what was happening, he'd have jumped in like her without a second thought...
"I'm not forcing you. You'd just fall behind."
At my words, Jeong O-hoon muttered a quiet "fuck."
"That's force enough."
He lay down on the floor. I bound his limbs just like I'd done with Han Sang-ah.
"Brace yourself."
The excruciating pain no one wants to feel twice was waiting for him.
"Go easy on me."
Those were his last words before I gagged him.
"I'll put that on your tombstone."
It was like getting shot—there's no such thing as taking it easy.
"..."
I gagged Jeong O-hoon and got to work.
An hour later, he lay passed out next to her in nearly the same sorry state.
Then Han Sang-ah opened her eyes. I hit her with a question right away.
"What's your name?"
"Han Sang-ah. I want to change clothes. The diaper's a disaster."
She'd held onto her sanity. Looking a bit dazed, she scanned her surroundings.
"The world will look different now."
She nodded in agreement and headed straight for the shower. When she returned, I asked,
"Worth enduring?"
She shook her head immediately.
"No. If I'd known it hurt this bad, I never would've done it. Doesn't add up."
She shuddered slightly and took a deep breath.
"Try telling that to yourself after dueling other hunters to make Hope's List. This ain't 'pain builds character' bullshit. The reward matches the pain exactly."
"You just overcame that agony and rebuilt your foundation."
It was like swapping a steam engine for an internal combustion one.
"Mom!"
Suddenly, Jeong O-hoon's shout rang out from behind. He bolted up, trembling like a leaf, took deep breaths, and looked back and forth between me and Han Sang-ah.
"Damn, seeing you two means this is hell. Shit... shoulda been nicer in life!"
"Ranting nonsense means you're still sane."
He glared at me.
"Thought I was gonna die. Felt like my mind and body got gang-raped together. Fuck, my diaper's a mess of lemon juice and melted chocolate!"
"Cut the gross metaphors and go wash up."
Both of them staying sane was impressive. Probably thanks to the experience from consecutively clearing those Rank-1 Erosion Cores.
Jeong O-hoon showered and came back, just like her.
"No separate training today—just rest. Not because you earned it. You need to do nothing. Your bodies need it."
The moment I finished, Han Sang-ah grabbed her phone.
"What're you doing?"
"Ordering delivery. Chocolate cake, yogurt smoothie, mango bingsu, and croffles."
Jeong O-hoon chimed in from the side.
"While you're at it, get me three servings of grilled beef intestines. Fried rice too. Oh, and two bottles of soju."
They figured food would soothe the horror. Not a bad idea.
That evening, we blew 230,000 won on delivery alone. Midway through eating, Jeong O-hoon looked at me like he'd just remembered something.
"Wait, couldn't you burn the pain away with Paradox Flame?"
"If there's no reaction, I can't tell if it's working right."
To do it properly, I need to see them thrashing alive. He looked depressed at my answer.
"Right. But you..."
"I did it to myself."
Han Sang-ah asked,
"So you rebuilt your own nerves through that pain?"
I nodded slightly.
"Tough bastard."
That was Jeong O-hoon's take.
"Not human."
Han Sang-ah's verdict.
After eating, I waved them off.
"You two must be beat—go crash. I'll handle cleanup."
They trudged to the dorms in the building, looking exhausted. Cleanup didn't even need me moving much.
I tidied up with telekinesis, then headed to Jeong O-hoon's room.
"Knew it."
He was having a nightmare. Surviving that intense pain wouldn't come without side effects.
I ignited Paradox Flame and brought it to him. The black fire enveloped his body, burning away the nightmare. Soon, it faded.
His sweat-soaked, tense sleeping face relaxed in an instant.
"Han Sang-ah next."
I did the same in her room, burning her nightmare too, then returned to mine.
"Hoo."
Sitting in a chair, I closed my eyes and focused on breathing. I drew in ambient mana, used it to scan my body continuously, and passed the time until morning.
Morning came, and Han Sang-ah and Jeong O-hoon woke up. We headed to the underground training hall in the building.
"Jesus, how much money did they pour into this?"
It was stocked with all sorts of gear for training. The total cost could probably buy an apartment.
"Tons of people outside."
At Han Sang-ah's words, I went upstairs, peeked out the window, and sighed.
There were crowds, but they weren't trespassing onto the property.
"Should I set 'em on fire?"
"It'll make the news."
Jeong O-hoon freaked out at my joke.
"Kidding."
Might as well grab breakfast while I'm up. The fridge was packed. I hadn't bought any food, so the Association must've stocked it beforehand.
"Oatmeal here. Want some?"
Jeong O-hoon shook his head.
"Nah. Tried it once—feels like snot."
We each made what we wanted for breakfast, ate, and headed back underground.
"Alright, Han Sang-ah first. Sword up."
The instant I spoke, she grabbed her sword and charged. Impressive. Dodging her swing, I muttered in admiration.
"Definitely faster."
"Yeah. Don't wanna go through it again, but it was worth it."
Her sword whipped toward me like a flailing fish.
"Reactions are quicker—good, but..."
I reached out, grabbed her blade, slapped her wrist. As she dropped it, I turned it on her throat.
Jeong O-hoon was the same. Faster movements, better tracking with their eyes than before...
But in actual combat, they got subdued a bit too easily.
"Both of you need your minds to catch up to your bodies first."
They knew what to do—they'd been drilling it in training.
"Checked messages this morning. Schedule's set for three days from now."
Time left to challenge for a spot in the top ranks of Hope's List.
"Three days is plenty. No need to rush. Keep the intensity the same as before."
"Got it."
Once their minds synced up, cracking the top ten would be a breeze. While they prepped for sparring, I had my own task.
"To get to Dakar in Senegal..."
We'd have to go by ship anyway, and most heading through North Africa left from the UK.
First things first: contact the UK's Hunter Association for cooperation. They wouldn't refuse. Pirates were giving them headaches too.