Chapter 27: +Courage

“Gasp!”

“Do not approach! It’s dangerous! Check if there are traces of the curse around!”

“It’s clean!”

“Good. Evacuate the residents and seal it.”

“Seal it?”

“Seal it and move it to the sanctuary for processing. If we handle it wrong here, a great catastrophe will occur. Where did the human who caused the accident go!”

“They said they were fine and evacuated first.”

“Who are they to judge if they’re fine or not! Bring them here immediately!” “It’s an order to leave them as they wish because they’re a VIP.”

“What VIP! Do they think they’re some kind of Grade A Alchemist?”

Just then, an alarm blared and the speaker started spitting out words.

[Residents. A source of the curse has been found inside the building, so please evacuate immediately. This is not a drill, it is a real situation. We repeat. A source of the curse has been found inside the building, so please evacuate immediately. This is not a drill, it is a real situation. Again-]

There was the sound of people rushing out.

“Good! Prepare for sealing!”

I heard chanting next to me, and a light flashed.

“Not enough! Try again!”

A light flashed.

“Again!”

Only after it flashed again did it finally calm down.

“This is the first time I’ve seen such a persistent curse this year. What kind of bastard made this?”

Um…. I’m sorry?

“Withdraw! And be sure to bring the crazy bastard who made something like this in a household to me!”

I’ll send you a <Slime> set, so please forgive me.

Holding my breath and waiting, I heard the sound of people rushing out of the house next door.

[Processing of the source of the curse is complete. Residents, please rest assured-]

This is definitely going to spread as word, isn’t it?

I think it would be good to move.

As long as something like this can happen again, moving is the right thing to do.

The notification that appeared when I spat out the <Curse Fragment> was definitely like this.

[Overcame Despair once.]

If I had completely overcome Despair, it wouldn’t have appeared like that.

[Overcame Despair.]

Wouldn’t it have appeared like this?

I overcame it once, and I’ll probably have to overcome it again.

The name is also the curse’s ‘Fragment’.

I’ll probably spit it out again in the future, but I can’t spit out a curse again in a densely populated place like an apartment, can I?

Curse.

A curse is like cancer.

Like smoking often.

Or drinking a lot.

Or living in an area contaminated with radiation.

Just as you can sometimes infer the reason you got cancer, saying ‘It’s because of this!’,

Sometimes, for no reason at all.

Just like catching a cold.

Cancer and curses are things you can suddenly get one day.

Just like getting the fundamental answer to not smoke or drink when you get cancer.

When you get cursed, you hear things like don’t do things that make others resent you and don’t go to dungeons where undead appear. The reason you got it is glossed over, and you start looking for ways to perform exorcism.

Curses are as persistent as cancer, making exorcism difficult. If caught early, they can be removed simply, but if you miss the right time and the roots deepen, they cannot be solved by ordinary means. If you mess with it carelessly, it can become more severe or change into a different form.

Just a part that fell off earlier caused such chaos, so what kind of curse is hidden inside me?

I can’t consult with anyone about this.

Just as cancer isn’t treated by remote diagnosis.

Face-to-face exorcism is also the basic method for curses.

Slime came looking for me, saying ‘I’m here to perform exorcism!’

What is the answer to this?

1. ‘Die, demon!’ You died.

2. ‘While you’re performing exorcism, let’s do some dissection too.’

3. ‘You have one year left.’

Those who get the correct answer will receive a <Tear Slime>.

Still, there is hope.

Just like this time, if I diligently raise my level and repeat [Special Divide], maybe I can spit out all the curse that has infested my body?

Okay.

If you have a level, raise your level.

Then the path will open.

Before that, I have to move first.

Moving, huh.

It’s really strange.

Before, just going to the mailbox felt like dying.

Now, even thinking about moving doesn’t bother me at all.

Is it the power of the [+Courage] buff?

Or the power of the stars?

Well, when a star is attached, my shoulders and chest straighten, and my chin naturally lifts.

They say you can move mountains with a single word?

If I had the time and budget, I’d level a mountain and build a house there, but I don’t have the time.

Isn’t there a house somewhere with good water, good air, good security, good transportation, bad commercial area, and no neighborly affection?

Ring.

While looking for a single-family house, I got a call from Counselor Park Taeyang.

Asking if he could talk to the Seoul Central Alchemy Center team leader.

So I made an appointment and talked to him.

To summarize the content.

-If the law is revised, we will give you a medal and promote you to Grade C Alchemist. So please take care of things going forward.

Surely they don’t mean I have to take photos when they give me the medal, do they?

-No. You don’t need to worry. Is there anything you wish for?

Give me a new house for an old one.

-I will look into it. Please rest comfortably, and I look forward to our next transaction.

It goes something like this.

Surprisingly, they told me to rest! That stock-parrot Alchemy Center told me to rest!

My plan must have been messed up because of my failure. Instead of pushing me to compensate for it, they told me to rest well because I don’t even have to supply the <Mosquito> series!

When they could catch suckers, they used subordinate employees to control and shake things up.

When things seemed strange, they immediately stepped forward themselves and bowed their heads.

Is this the way of dealing with people for a team leader-level public official?

Their skill at getting things in order is unusual.

***

Seo Gisu gripped the greatsword with both hands and thrust it into the neck of the wolf monster.

The moment the greatsword was stuck in the corpse. Another monster lunged at his neck.

He dropped the sword and raised his arm to protect his neck.

Awl-like teeth pierced the armor and dug into his flesh.

Without twitching an eyebrow, he pulled out the greatsword with his free hand. He swung it down and severed the monster’s neck. The wolf, even after losing its life, showed tenacity and bit and tore at him.

He ignored the head still hanging on his arm and swung the greatsword, cutting the next monster in half.

Only then did he roughly tear off the monster’s head.

His flesh tore and the wound got bigger, but he didn’t care.

The armor greedily drank the blood flowing from his wounds and the blood pouring from the monsters, writhing as it regained its original form.

A light enveloped Gisu’s arm, and in an instant, it was healed.

By the time his body was fully restored, Gisu was already charging at the next monster, swinging his greatsword.

Wearing blood-drinking, crimson armor, slaughtering enemies without regard for his own body.

Who could possibly consider him a Holy Knight?

Even if he gets wounded, the power of his skill heals him quickly.

So, he trades flesh to strike at bone.

Skills grow the more they are used, so if he wants to grow quickly, it was a strategy worth adopting.

Yes, if this were a game.

No matter how powerful a self-healing ability one possesses, this is not a game but reality.

Every wound he receives gnaws at his mind with pain.

Gisu feels the pain too.

He finds it unpleasant.

But the hatred driving him forward was far too great for that pain to stop him.

Upon discovering a dark cave, Gisu didn’t hesitate and threw himself inside.

He ignored the voices calling out to stop him from behind, burrowing into the deepest part and annihilating every monster within.

“Hey! How could you kill them all! You should’ve left the young ones alive!”

A man who arrived late grabbed his shoulder to confront him but flinched and stopped upon seeing the murderous glint in Gisu’s eyes beneath the helmet.

Gisu ignored the man and moved on to find the next monster.

“Who the hell sent this lunatic to the Jeongju Dungeon!”

A few hours later.

Having killed every visible monster, Gisu returned to the base and changed his armor.

He emerged from the dungeon wearing brilliantly shining armor, the kind a Holy Knight might wear.

With his helmet tucked under his arm, he smiled brightly at the cheering fans and waved.

Even when dealing with reporters.

Even while moving in the vehicle.

Even when reporting at the guild house.

Even until he returned to his lodging.

The smiling mask never came off.

Once all watching eyes disappeared, the smile peeled away, replaced by a face as cold as ice.

Entering the bathroom, he stood under the shower water for a very long time, slowly washing away layers of blood and hatred. Though he scrubbed off the surface covered in blood, the hatred, hardened like stone, remained as he stepped out of the bathroom.

Sitting on the bed with a towel over his head, he absentmindedly glanced at his smartphone.

He opened the address book, lifting it to reveal only three contacts.

A family that is no longer here, and the only family left.

And a one-of-a-kind friend.

He had an intuition that he needed to contact the last person on the list.

Normally, out of consideration, he would have sent a text, but instead, he pressed the call button.

“Hey. What are you doing?”

-There’s something called time difference between America and Korea, you inconsiderate jerk.

“You were awake anyway. What are you doing?”

-Looking for a house.

“A house?”

-What’s the point of earning money? Gotta buy a house. I’m looking for one that’ll stay intact even if you barge in and go wild.

“Why would I go wild at your house?”

-Because I might do something that pisses you off. Gotta prepare in advance.

“Whatever it is you’re planning, stop it. Or you’ll die later.”

-No way.

“I’m telling you nicely, stop it.”

-I’m thinking of raising monsters at home.

“Hey, you lunatic! All that talk about it being safe is nonsense!”

-I’m an Alchemist, you crazy monster-slaying maniac. If I need materials, I gotta raise them.

“Hey. I’m warning you. Don’t raise them. If you do, I’ll barge into your house and kill both you and them.”

-Guess I’ll have to build a fortress then. Wanna challenge me to a siege?

“Hey!”

-You’re gonna burst my eardrums. This isn’t America. Do you think Korea would permit raising monsters at home?

“Then what is it?”

-I’m just being cautious about safety because of my fame.

“Did something happen?”

-I’m wise, so I prepare before something happens. By the way, can I send some <Pack Slime> and <Mosquito Hell Slime> to your house?

“…Ugh.”

Gisu inhaled sharply and let out a groan.

It’s true that <Slime> resembling monsters is unpleasant. But it’s something his friend made, and something his mother would likely enjoy receiving.

-Your mom heard the rumors that <Pack Slime> is good but might hesitate to buy it because of you, so I’m thinking of sending some. What do you think? It’s been in circulation for about a month, so it’s been sufficiently proven to be harmless to health. If you really don’t want it, I’ll stop.

“…Stop it.”

-Alright, I’ll stop. You filial son of fire.

“Everything okay with you?”

-Look at you changing the subject.

“I’m asking if everything’s okay.”

-Did I eat something wrong today, or was it yesterday? Something disgusting and repulsive came out of my body.

“You idiot. Not that kind of stuff.”

-Some items sold too well, so I was under a bit of pressure, but I feel better after getting that out.

“Is that so?”

-If your body isn’t well, your mind isn’t either. How about you? Everything okay?

“Same as usual.”

-Spill it. Where else am I gonna hear stories from an SSS-Rank Hunter?

“SSS-Rank, my foot.”

While chatting casually, Gisu’s face softened a little, as if touched by the spring sunlight.

***

Two days later, a list of recommended houses arrived.

What the heck, recommending a house worth over 10 billion?

And it’s not just one or two like this.

The money I currently have is just over 4 billion.

There’s no way the Alchemy Center doesn’t know the extent of my assets as an Alchemist.

Are they telling me to take out a loan?

Look at this.

People in business say debt is also an asset and try to take out as many loans as possible to expand their business scale.

On the other hand, the way of thinking for master craftsmen or Hunters is different.

No matter how small the interest on debt is, it feels wasteful and annoying.

They try to handle it by working more.

It seems they’re testing me, hoping I’ll take out a loan to buy real estate and work even harder to pay off the debt.

My speculation might be wrong.

All the recommended houses meet the conditions I wanted. They might have just recommended them because they’re good properties.

Billions of won is certainly a lot of money, but for me, it’s not something I’d have to slave away for decades to earn. It’s money I can make by just resting for two months.

If they had included something like commercial buildings, I’d be more suspicious, but they didn’t.

Wow, they’re really dancing on the line with finesse.

The fact that many of the properties are close to the Seoul Central Alchemy Center, well, I’ll let that slide as cute.

I can’t decide this on my own.

I also have to deal with the house I’m currently living in.

Even if it’s a house just for me, spending billions of won is a big deal.

I need to consult with my family.

Yeah, I gained courage after spitting out something like <Curse Fragment>.

Meeting my family.

The courage to deceive my family.