If the poisons I'd mastered so far were for subduing opponents, the ones I was about to learn were lethal toxins meant to kill.
By consuming Snake Mind, a poison extracted from venomous snakes, I'd unlock Blood Spray Technique.
"Young master?"
"What?"
Peru called out to me as he pulled a small glass vial containing Snake Mind from a magic pouch.
"This is extremely dangerous, even in a single drop."
"I know."
"You're really going to consume it? It's far more toxic than the ones I gave you before."
"I know, man."
Peru looked uneasy as he produced the vial.
"Hm…"
He frowned, clearly worried—not for me, but for himself. If I died, he'd be in trouble.
This guy still thinks I'm addicted to his initial poison.
Click.
"Here's everything."
"Five vials, as ordered."
"Yes."
About 500ml in total.
"And with the leftover money, I got this."
Peru pulled out another vial, differently colored.
What's that?
[Creator's Eye activated.]
[Fire Toad Poison]
Only one in a thousand fire toads is born with poison. The poisonous one becomes the pack leader, protecting the group with its toxin. Those poisoned by it feel excruciating pain, as if their body is burning from within.
Wow, that sounds agonizing.
"Recognize it?"
"Fire Toad Poison."
"Sigh, you really know everything."
Peru shook his head, impressed.
"I've never used it myself. It's expensive and rare, so I got it just once. Is it okay?"
"Yeah, good job."
I checked what poison I'd gain from the Fire Toad Poison.
[Frog Flame Poison] - Unlocked by consuming Fire Toad Poison.
Two lethal poisons to unlock today.
"Get me some food."
"Food?"
"Of course. You don't drink on an empty stomach, and you don't take poison either. You're a poisoner and don't know that?"
"Is that so?"
"So, bring something hearty."
"Yes."
Peru rushed to the kitchen and returned quickly with food.
"That was fast. But what're you doing?"
"Huh?"
He brought two portions of chirein soup.
"When I said hearty, I meant steak, bread, chicken—stuff like that."
"Arin instructed me to give you only chirein soup."
"Tch…"
Arin, you…
"Should I get something else?"
"Nah, no time. Get out."
"Don't I need to help?"
"How?"
Peru looked up at the ceiling, thinking about what he could do.
"Nothing, I guess."
"So what should you do?"
"Leave."
This guy seemed fine before, but why's he acting so dumb now?
"Your job now is to keep everyone out of my room. That's enough."
"Got it. I'll block anyone."
Peru thumped his chest, ready for duty.
"Alright, go. No one comes in until I'm out."
"Yes, don't worry."
After Peru left, I checked Ten Thousand Poison Magnetic Spirit.
[Ten Thousand Poison Magnetic Spirit] - 3rd Star, 18%
I've been grinding it, but progress is slow. Guess poisons are the key to big jumps.
"Whatever, it'll work out."
These poisons were dangerous, so I was nervous, but all I could do was trust my 3rd Star technique.
Pop.
I poured all the poisons into the chirein soup.
Hope this doesn't melt the bowl.
Surprisingly, the poisons didn't affect the soup's appearance.
"Whew, bit nervous."
No point delaying—I closed my eyes and chugged it.
Five seconds after finishing, the reaction hit.
"Urgh!"
Two excruciating pains struck at once: my body felt like it was being torn apart, and my organs were burning.
Argh!
The pain was so intense I nearly passed out, but one pain woke me as the other faded—a twisted cycle.
Gritting my teeth, I kept running Ten Thousand Poison Magnetic Spirit.
[Consumed poison (Snake Mind).]
[Ten Thousand Poison Magnetic Spirit absorbs Snake Mind.]
[Technique proficiency increased.]
[Blood Spray Technique unlocked.]
[Consumed poison (Fire Toad Poison).]
[Ten Thousand Poison Magnetic Spirit absorbs Fire Toad Poison.]
[Technique proficiency increased.]
[Frog Flame Poison unlocked.]
Messages flashed through my closed eyes, but I had no time to focus on them.
If my concentration slipped even for a moment, I might actually die.
Enduring the pain, I kept circulating the technique, and the pain slowly subsided.
Focusing harder, I absorbed the poisons, minimizing thought and honing in on the flow of energy and poison.
Lost in time, a notification snapped me back.
[Ten Thousand Poison Magnetic Spirit has reached 4th Star.]
[Technique has reached Intermediate Mastery.]
[You glimpse the realm of Ascension.]
[Some locked abilities are now unlocked.]
[Proficiency in low-grade poisons and hidden weapon techniques increases rapidly.]
[Trait: Hundred Poisons Immunity acquired.]
Waking from my trance, messages appeared and vanished rapidly.
Gah! Too many to read!
But one thing was clear: I'd hit 4th Star.
I'd hoped the poisons' potency might push me there, but actually achieving it felt surreal.
The last one was Hundred Poisons Immunity.
It meant no ordinary poison could harm me now—no pain, no symptoms. Perfect for someone who needs to keep consuming poisons.
Goodbye, days of agony!
"Man, I'm starving."
Outside, the sunset indicated evening. Half a day had passed—faster than expected.
"Peru!"
Sensing him at the door, I called out. He rushed in.
"You're finally out! I was debating whether to barge in."
His dark circles reached his cheeks. What'd he do?
"It's just half a day. Why the panic?"
"Half a day? No way."
"What?"
"Young master, it's been three days."
"Three days?"
"Yes. It's the third day since I gave you the poisons."
Three days? Felt like a meal's worth of time.
If Peru's right, those poisons were so potent it took three days to absorb. That Fire Toad Poison was brutal.
"So you stood at the door the whole time?"
"Of course."
My nose stung. No wonder his dark circles were so bad. His legs were trembling too.
Gotta let him rest.
"Take a week off."
"What?"
"You haven't slept in three days. You're wrecked. Rest up."
"It's fine. Three days is nothing."
He bounced in place, brushing it off.
"Rest when I say rest. The aftermath of sleep deprivation hits after thirty."
"Thirty? You're not even twenty!"
"Oh! The Marquis said that."
I slipped, saying something from my old life.
"Honestly, I'm about to collapse. I'll rest and come back tomorrow."
"No, you stayed up three days, so take four off."
"That's too much."
"It's an order. Done."
Peru seemed to weigh if I was serious.
"I mean it. Go rest. Have fun outside if you want."
"Thank you. Take care."
"Thanks for your hard work, Peru."
I thanked him again before he left.
"N-No, it's nothing…"
"Just go sleep."
"Eek!"
He hesitated, so I pushed him out.
"I'll send food up!"
"Gotta eat."
Peru planned to bring food before resting.
"Oh, it said I hit intermediate mastery."
One of the messages mentioned reaching the intermediate stage. In martial arts terms, I'm now strong enough to be called a warrior anywhere.
"Time to go get it. Can't keep throwing daggers forever."
I already had designs for other hidden weapons in my head, but my clumsy hands couldn't craft them, and no artisan here had the finesse.
"But there's a substitute. Heh."
Sorry to the protagonist, but I decided to take the weapon he uses early in the story.
He only uses it briefly before switching to another purpose, so it won't mess up the plot much.
Knock, knock.
"Young master, I brought food."
"Come in."
Not Peru—a maid brought the meal.
"Why's it chirein soup?"
"Peru said you fasted for three days, so soup's best to avoid upsetting your stomach."
"Haha!"
Annoying, but fair.
Even if it's soup, I ate slowly, my first meal in three days.
"Finished? I'll clear the dishes."
"Thanks. One more thing."
"Yes?"
"Tell the Marquis I want to see him."
"Understood."
Even as the young master, I can't just barge in to see the Marquis. I need to request an audience.
Realizing I hadn't bathed in three days, I hit the bathhouse. Feeling drowsy, I returned to my room, eager to crash, but a familiar face was waiting.
"Oh, you're back?"
"Yes. I returned this afternoon."
It was Arin, back from external training.
"How was it?"
"Very educational. And I might qualify as a knight soon."
"Already?"
"The commander supported me, and I got lucky."
"That's great."
I could tell now. Despite her stoic face, she was happy.
"Second Butler came by earlier, saying your audience with the Marquis is set for tomorrow morning. Did you request one?"
"Yeah."
"So soon after the last one?"
I nodded.
"Reporting an outing."
"To the village after so long?"
I grinned, brimming with greed.
"Nah, to grab some treasure."