Chapter 5

“Poison, you say?”

Terminal illness, huh? Should I be dancing because it’s not terminal, or pissed off at the bastard who slipped me the poison?

I knew something felt off about the symptoms for tuberculosis.

“Yes. I’m certain.”

“No way it’s incurable or something, right?”

The S-rank healer Korea’s proudest ‘God,’ Hunter Jooian—there probably aren’t many poisons in the world she couldn’t detox.

And sure enough, Hunter Jooian flashed a pretty smile.

Detoxed, and only +20? That’s like an ant’s tear.

But breathing felt so much easier.

Hold on—wasn’t the God’s Shop the trade-off for the terminal penalty?

Does that mean the shop’s gone too?

I opened it on a whim, but the God’s Shop was still there. Looked like I could keep using it.

Seeing my face relax, Jooian smiled.

“But you could get hit with it again anytime. However did you end up poisoned…?”

Jooian tilted her head slightly and asked,

“You said it was terminal from the moment you arrived, right?”

“Yeah. They called it lung disease for a commoner.”

“I did a little digging on the Forlang family…”

At Jooian’s words, I widened my eyes.

“What? Even I didn’t know that?”

Okay, I hadn’t actually checked, but still. Jooian burst out laughing.

“With Hunter Shin Yuli there, I had to look into it.”

As expected of our hunter team’s healing ace, Jooian. I gazed at her with starry-eyed admiration.

Her smile faded quickly as her expression turned grave.

“From what I gathered, the original Forlang heir designate was Lady Senia de Forlang. But she suddenly fell ill and could no longer wield a sword.”

“Sounds about right.”

I replied, recalling the manor drama.

And the more I thought, the angrier I got.

“So the poisoner was probably trying to snatch the heir spot from Senia?”

“Likely.”

Then the prime suspect was obviously the brother who’d taken the heir position.

The culprit’s inside! I nodded firmly.

“Perfect. Let’s nab that jerk first and make him talk.”

“Um…”

Jooian trailed off, unable to continue.

Oh right—I’m sub-F-rank specs right now.

If Shin Jae-heon had heard, he’d have snapped, “With that body?” But angel Jooian was different.

Instead, she gave me a pitying look and clasped my hand tight.

“I’ll help with whatever I can, Hunter Shin Yuli.”

“Thanks. You really are the healing queen. You glow.”

She radiates. I wiped away imaginary tears, nodding vigorously.

“Hey, Jooian—one favor?”

“Yes, anything.”

What if I said, “Stay as my family’s pretty face forever”?

I admired the sparkling handsome face, then said,

“You have that Poison Detection skill, right? Think you could cast it on me?”

“Ah, of course.”

Jooian took my hand without a second thought.

“Whoa, that Pope bonus is insane.”

“Soon you’ll job-change into a class that gets bonuses too, Hunter Shin Yuli.”

Jooian meant it as comfort, but I could only smile wryly.

From terminal lady to… rage-filled berserker Shin Yuli?

“Anyway, thanks. Now, time to hunt down the culprit.”

First, I had to show I was fine. Glancing around the cathedral, I said,

“Perfect—say I luckily got treated by a high priest.”

Of course, as the Forlang baronetcy’s golden girl, they’d have summoned every doctor and priest when Senia fell ill.

But no one cured her. No one knew it was poison!

“I’ll drop High Priest Ian’s name big-time.”

Ian cured what countless others couldn’t!

Shinshian Church High Priest Ian is amazing! I’ll spread the word!

Jooian laughed at that.

“That’s thanks enough, Hunter Shin Yuli.”

Healing queen, ah.

“Take care, then. If anything comes up, call for sure.”

He mimed holding a phone to his ear—a very Korean gesture.

I giggled.

“Got it. See ya!”

I strode out of the cathedral feeling refreshed.

Maybe grab a sword when I get home?

Full HP at 53—swinging a blade might topple me quick, but no helping it.

Stats only rise with training, after all.

That very moment—a quest popped up.

“Ooh, killer quest name.”

Defense boost—then no more HP ticks from the hyper maid slamming doors, right?

I left the cathedral grinning.

“Milady, allow me to escort you.”

Right outside, B-rank cutie pure dealer Lady Edith welcomed me, her face etched with worry I’d collapse.

Fair enough—for the frail Senia lady, it was a marathon schedule.

I nodded.

“Thanks, if you would.”

Breathing was easier, sure—but I didn’t have the stamina to push it yet.

So, who was the poisoner?

One of those two shiny-faced brothers, for sure.

Bet it’s the heir.

That ominous smoke behind his job mark? Hint he was a dirty dealer, not pure.

—Rattle!

The escorted carriage lurched into motion.

“Ah, stuffy.”

I flung the window wide.

“Ah,”

…Ouch.

Almost cursed, but barely held it in.

RP dungeon rules! Rules! Senia’s a noble!

Nobles don’t say “uncle foot stink!” No “watermelon seeds sprout!”

“…”

I hummed the national anthem in my head while peering out.

Then fired up the hunter chat.

“Milady…”

A faint murmur drifted from afar.

Glanced over—Edith watching me with heartbreaking pity.

No, it is pitiful, but not for long?

Wanna grind hunts hard. Swing a sword wild!

Eh? Nearly yelped aloud.

Hunter So Yeri—quiet for days, busy? Solo dungeoning?

Can she just casually smash monsters like that?

Well… true.

I sweated bullets internally.

Edith’s sad eyes made expression control a nightmare.

So Yeri’s razor-sharp one-liners held strong even in fantasy land.

Then Jooian’s chat pinged. Shin Jae-heon’s followed hot on its heels.

Why’s he jumping in so fast?

Classic Shin Jae-heon random flex. Nearly snorted.

Going well? He’d gone quiet these past couple days. He replied instantly.

His localization still half-baked. He paused, then replied.

Super casual vibe.

So neither I, nor pity-eyed Edith, nor chat-visible Jooian or So Yeri knew.

A brutal bloodwind was about to sweep the empire.

The next day.

To clear [Sub Quest: Return of the Sword Emperor], I stepped out of the manor at dawn.

“Milady, the early air’s still chilly. At least a cardigan…”

The maid chased after me, but I had reason to refuse.

“I’m good. Gotta tough this out.”

At my words, the maid peering into my eyes bowed deeply.

“…It’s like you’ve regained your resolute will, milady. I’m overjoyed.”

She looked genuinely moved.

What will? The spec-up grind will?

“Thanks.”

Unwittingly resolute, I left the worried maid behind and reached the knight order’s training ground.

“Hah!”

Unison shouts rang out. Nice vibe.

The B-rank pure dealers, spaced in formation for morning drills—adorably perfect.

Kids, that’s cute and all, but hunt monsters to rank up faster.

Couldn’t say it, so I just watched wistfully.

Then they spotted me—knights froze mid-motion.

“Milady?”

“Lady Senia… at the training ground?”

Shocked faces.

Anyone’d think a ghost showed up.

Fair—the dying TB waif suddenly rises and hits the training yard.

“Carry on.”

I waved them off. But they hesitated.

And a weird tension flowed between them.

Not just from me showing up.

“…?”

I glanced back at the manor.

Come to think—servants who’d usually swarm weren’t around today. Quiet.

Something happening?

Then a sub quest pinged again.

Ooh, God’s Shop coins? My eyes lit up.