Chapter 10
“Stop right there!”
Yeah, because that always works.
Ignoring Choi Mi-ran’s shout, I dashed into the forest.
A magic bullet whizzed past, missing by inches.
Zigzag.
Keep moving.
The poison slowed me down, but every passing second—
My body adapted.
My speed increased.
“Damn it!”
Mi-ran hesitated, glancing between me and the paralyzed men behind her.
She knew she couldn’t catch me.
With a frustrated growl, she turned back.
“Good. Now let’s play.”
I circled around.
Waited for an opening.
She was busy looting Sang-jun and Sang-heon’s gear.
Perfect.
I charged.
Mi-ran barely noticed before I was right on top of her.
“What?! You again?!”
Panic flashed in her eyes.
She hurled another poison orb.
Pfft.
Too late.
The green mist engulfed me, but—
My body barely reacted.
A mild tingle. That’s it.
Her poison resistance training was working too well.
Mi-ran’s eyes widened in horror.
She fired magic bullets.
I dodged, weaving through them like a ghost.
The last one—
I deflected with my arm.
Not even a scratch.
“No more games.”
I drove my fist into her ribs.
BANG!
It was like punching a wall.
A shimmering barrier flashed around her body.
She had a defense skill.
For the first time—
Her fear turned into confidence.
“Your attacks won’t work!”
She grinned.
Then, she pulled out a different orb.
A pale blue mist erupted around me.
Pain—
Like a thousand needles stabbing my flesh.
I collapsed, muscles spasming.
Mi-ran sighed in relief.
“Phew. That one was expensive, you know?”
Her heel crushed my hand.
“Ugh. What a waste.”
She kicked me again and again—
Assuming I was done for.
She turned away, back to looting.
[ Poison Resistance (F → E) ]
[ Iron Will (F → E) ]
“Got you.”
My body regenerated.
My vision cleared.
Pain?
I could barely feel it anymore.
I rose.
Mi-ran turned—
Her face drained of color.
“W-What the hell?!”
She panicked.
More magic bullets.
More dodging.
I closed the distance instantly—
Another punch.
BOOM!
The barrier cracked.
Mi-ran’s smirk vanished.
“You—!”
She clutched her wand with both hands, reinforcing her shield.
But I kept striking.
Faster.
Harder.
The barrier shattered.
Mi-ran screamed as she was blasted backward.
She hit the ground, coughing up blood.
She bolted.
I chased.
She threw poison bombs behind her.
I ran straight through.
The pain?
Bearable.
I was getting immune.
“WHAT ARE YOU?!”
She screamed in terror.
I didn’t answer.
I just ran faster.
The Gate was getting closer.
If she escaped—
She could hide.
Not happening.
I poured every ounce of strength into my legs.
[ Stamina +1 ]
The world blurred.
Then—
I jumped.
SLAM!
My foot crushed her back.
She hit the ground hard.
The Gate was only ten meters away.
“No running.”
I grabbed her pouch.
“Antidote. Which one?”
Her lips twisted in defiance.
Then—
“Green bottle.”
Liar.
I uncorked the green bottle—
And forced it down her throat.
“AAAHHH! BLEEEGH!”
She convulsed, frothing at the mouth.
Not antidote.
Pure poison.
I smirked.
“Too obedient.”
I pulled out other vials.
A drop on my tongue.
My body reacted.
Bingo.
I grabbed the real antidote.
Forced a small dose down her throat.
Then, I bound her hands and feet.
Threw her over my shoulder.
And returned for the others.
Sang-heon woke first.
“What… happened?”
Still groggy.
“She poisoned us. Tried to loot our bodies.”
I motioned to Mi-ran’s unconscious form.
His face darkened.
Then, realization hit—
He looked at me.
“You saved us.”
I shrugged.
“Lucky I was resistant.”
He bowed deeply.
“Thank you.”
I wasn’t used to people thanking me.
Sang-jun woke next.
Unlike Sang-heon—
He didn’t thank me.
Instead—
He raged, trying to kick Mi-ran’s unconscious body.
I stopped him.
“Let the authorities handle it.”
With effort, he backed off.
We left the Gate and reported everything.
The Hunter Bureau took her away.
Her real identity?
Fake.
She’d used stolen IDs for years.
With the evidence we provided—
There was no way out for her.
I also kept a secret.
A vial of concentrated poison.
Might come in handy later.
Sang-heon shook my hand.
“I owe you my life. If you ever need anything—call me.”
I nodded.
“Stay safe.”
Sang-jun?
He just walked off without a word.
No thank you.
No acknowledgment.
Expected.
I didn’t care.
With my Hunter career launched, I finally had time for something more important.
My mother.
I hailed a taxi back home.
For weeks, I had been too weak to face her.
Now—
I was stronger.
The old apartment complex came into view.
I entered.
Punched in the passcode.
The door opened.
“Ji-seok! You’re home!”
My mother—wearing an apron, hands damp from cooking.
She pulled me into a warm embrace.
“You’ve grown!”
Her eyes softened.
“Dinner’s almost ready. Come in.”
My throat tightened.
“Yeah, Mom. I’m home.”
Home.
For now.
But the war ahead—
Was only beginning.