Chris could barely open his eyes. His eyelids felt like lead, and his mouth was drier than the Burning Sands.
'I hate it when I remember things I shouldn’t. It always messes with my head.'
He rubbed his eyes, hoping to clear the drowsiness, but the world only blurred more. Blinking hard, he scanned the room like a hawk before swinging his legs over the bed. The long sleep had done wonders for his battered body. He stretched, ‘his’ body was more nimble than he’d expected.
'That doctor did wonders. I feel better than after a healing potion.'
A message window flickered into existence.
-If you think so, you should stay here and be his apprentice.-
'Are we talking now? What is your problem with him?'
-I’m talking because he left to look for medicine. He is more dangerous than you think.-
'Dangerous? He saved my life. Why would he do that if he meant me harm?'
-I don’t know. But when he first found you, he didn’t rush to help. He stood back and watched the venom ravage your body. At first, he looked disappointed because the show was already over. Then the little one came out… and changed everything.-
'Chris looked at his left hand. Once, a small snake had curled there, napping contentedly. Now it was gone. Panic seized him, and he searched the room.'
-Stop wasting your time. She’s hiding in the ring.-
'Why would she do that?'
-Because she is smarter than you, and she trusts her instinct. That physician is bad news.-
'Alright. I’ll trust you… for now. Finish your story.'
-She managed to stop the venom’s spread, and her presence drew his attention. He approached, checked to make sure no one was watching, and then… his gaze changed. Greed. He pulled a knife from his bag and was ready to finish you off. I tried waking you with messages, but then… he noticed me.-
'You think he could actually see the message windows?'
--I can’t prove it. But my money’s on yes. Because right after, he smiled, sinister, ear to ear, then he put the knife away, picked you up, and brought you here to begin your treatment. Since then, I’ve kept myself hidden.-
The words hit Chris like a hammer. His instincts screamed at him to run, far from his so-called savior.
He grabbed what little he owned and dashed for the door. But before he could flee, his path was blocked.
“You aren’t healed enough to leave.”
Jang Mu-Yeon stood in the doorway, voice soft, eyes unreadable.
Chris froze, sweat gathering on his brow.
“I feel better than ever. My family must be worried. I have to go.”
Mu-Yeon stepped inside, gaze fixed on Chris’s abdomen. He reached out and gripped Chris’s arm.
“You don’t look well.” He dabbed at Chris’s sweat with a handkerchief. “See? You’re already exhausted. Sit down.”
With surprising ease, he pushed Chris back into a chair.
“I’m grateful for your help.” Chris said, his mind racing for an escape. “But I really should go.”
Mu-Yeon began sorting out his findings and ignored Chris; now was the time to take a risky option and try to strike him by surprise. Chris’s hand crept toward his sword, but when he tried to grip the hilt, his strength failed. His arm went limp.
The man clicked his tongue.
“A foolish choice.” His posture shifted, his voice darkened. “You can always see a man’s true nature in the right circumstances.”
Chris’s vision blurred. Jang Mu-Yeon moved like a shadow, vanishing from one spot and reappearing behind him.
“Wh…at’s happening… to me?” Chris rasped, his throat thick.
Mu-Yeon’s lips stretched into a sinister smile.
“Just a diluted dose of a spider’s venom.” He held up Chris’s arm, showing a tiny puncture. “Enough to paralyze you, but not enough to kill. I thought we might… have some fun.”
“Why?”
“Why? You dare ask me why?” His voice cracked with anger. “I bring you into my home, save your wretched life, and this is how you repay me? With suspicion?!”
He continued rambling, but Chris could no longer pay attention.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
'System! Quickly use the antidote!'
--I used them all.-
Mu-Yeon stopped mid-rant. His eyes glittered.
“There it is again! Do it again!”
'At least we know he can see you. Chris thought bitterly.'
-Not the time for jokes!-
“Yes… There it is!” Mu-Yeon clapped, delighted.
-No! Stay in there.-
'Who are you talking with?'
Suddenly, a black flash burst from Chris’s ring; the snake, fangs bared. But Mu-Yeon snatched her from the air, mere millimeters from his face.
“I was wondering where you went.”
He dropped her into a glass jar. She thrashed and struck at the lid, but it held fast.
“What a feisty specimen. You had such a treasure and didn’t even know. A bloodline thought extinct since the last demonic conquest… and here she is.”
'Do something!' Chris begged.
-I’m trying! I have one option, but the consequences are unknown.-
'Do it!'
--I’ll forcefully activate the dormant talent that you got, but I don’t know what will happen after.-
'Just do it or will be killed.'
-I’m beginning to relocate all the resources into [Stalwart Constitution (dormant)], brace yourself, Chris.-
A lance of pain tore through Chris’s mind, nearly breaking his sanity. He clung to consciousness for his sake…and hers.
Jang Mu-Yeon was too occupied with the examination of the snake, and he didn’t realize that something was happening.
The pain disappeared as he heard the system’s broken voice echo:
-Co#gra%ulati&n fo$ %nlo#king a &ew ta@en*-
[Stalwart Constitution [][][][][]]
Passive.
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Chris could feel himself regaining control over his body. Whatever that talent was doing, it was doing him good.
'This should work.'
He waited until he regained complete control over his body, then checked his inventory. His weapons were useless, but he still had some healing potions. He formed a plan.
He can know I had a vial of venom, but not that it was the only one. I have to keep my promise to Eun-Hwa. I’ll save her child, even if it costs me my life.
Chris summoned a healing potion in one hand and a dagger in the other. Anxiety clawed at his chest, threatening to overwhelm him, but he forced himself to push forward with his plan.
'Here I go!'
“Hey, chucklenuts! Catch!”
He hurled the dagger first. Mu-Yeon dodged easily, snatching it from the air with a smirk. Overconfident, he never noticed the vial that followed until it shattered against his forehead.
The liquid splashed down his face and hands. He screamed, clawing at his skin.
The plan worked; he got scared as his skin began stinging. Mu-Yeon scrambled to look for an antidote.
'Fool. He’s terrified of the venom’s sting when it’s just the healing effect.'
Chris seized the chance. He tore the jar open.
“Go! Run!” He urged.
The snake hesitated, trembling, unwilling to abandon him.
“Go!” He barked again.
Finally, she slithered free.
Chris got ready to try to face their captor, but his breath left his body. A powerful force was pushing him to the ground.
“No one leaves!” Mu-Yeon’s voice was a thunderclap, his presence monstrous.
“Do what you want to me. Let her go!” Chris gasped, struggling to breathe.
The pressure vanished as suddenly as it came. Mu-Yeon straightened, expression serene once more; the harmless healer.
“You’re more than you appear, Baek Yong-Su.” He guided Chris back to the bed, then gently returned the snake to him. “She truly loves you. Tell me, how did you come to possess her?”
Chris glared.
“Strange question, considering you nearly killed me a moment ago.”
“I’ll answer you if you answer me.”
Chris exhaled slowly.
“I didn’t ‘obtain’ her. Lady Eun-Hwa entrusted me with her care.”
Jang Mu-Yeon was thrilled to hear that name.
“I knew it, she did survive the war. Tell me more.” He was as excited as a child on Christmas Day.
“Remember an answer for an answer.”
“Yes, yes. A promise is a promise. Your selfless action made me realize that there was still enough goodness in you. Now tell me.”
Chris told him of the ambush by the Shadow Veil, of Eun-Hwa’s sacrifice. At his words, the little snake curled tighter in his pocket, eyes glistening.
“Those bastards!” His other personality began to show. “In the last war between the demonic and the righteous forces, Eun-Hwa's bloodline was hunted to extinction for their blood and cores by those demons, and now those traitors came and almost put an end to it.”
“Why?”
“Kid, did I scare you and make you lose a screw? How can’t you know?”
“My memories are muddied since the fight with that strange assassin.”
“You got lucky, that bastard was Go Hwan-Do, the Phantom Blade. He is… was a tricky bastard with his illusions. Once I almost got him, but he managed to trap me in an illusion and ran away like a coward.”
“I had to use Eun-Hwa's venom to kill him. He almost finished me with his Shadow Veil Formation.”
Mu-Yeon clapped his back and laughed.
“You’ve managed to not only survive that formation, but you put an end to him. You are…were pretty strong to make him use it. So that is how you got crippled.”
'That is a good cover story. I can’t just tell him that's how I got this body.'
“Unfortunately, yes.” He made the saddest face he could manage.
“I might be able to help you, but….” He examined Chris’s core. “We have to find a replacement as too much time has gone by since you got injured.”
The snake darted out of the pocket and went inside the ring. After some time, she got out with something in her mouth; it was the rock that was placed near her egg. She spat it in Chris’s hand. The crazy physician jumped back at his sight.
“Where did you obtain it?”
Chris answered cluelessly.
“The rock? It was in the ring near her egg.” He scratched her head.
“That is no mere rock. What you are holding is the core of the strongest matriarch of the Imoogi clan and her mother.” He pointed at the small creature.
In his astonishment, Chris almost let go of the core.
“The good news is that I have a way to help you replace your core with that one, but I don’t have all the materials.”
“And the bad news?”
“We have to hurry before all the energy from the core will dissipate. From the looks of it, we have at least two more months. If we succeed, you’ll get the best core for cultivation, and you’ll be inheriting its bloodline.”
“This is the reason her clan was hunted?”
“One of them. The procedure was found by those daemons in an old manuscript and was missing some parts. It took some time and a lot of bloodshed until they completed the procedures. As your family had a strong connection with her clan, they managed to gather the last of the righteous clans and put a stop to the cult’s plan. That last battle sank an already fractured world into an ocean of blood.” He took some time to regain his composure. “There was no winner on that day, kid. Since that day, the cult was pushed into the furthest corners of the Burning Sands, but it seems that they are trying to return.” His face was somber after that recounting of the war.
“What are we going to do?”
Jang Mu-Yeon returned to his old self.
“You? Nothing. I’ll gather the materials. Stay here and don’t touch my things.”
“I don’t even want to know what you have stored around here.”
With a final glance, Mu-Yeon took his satchel and vanished into the night.
Left alone, Chris tried calling the system, but only silence answered. His status screen revealed it: the system was forcefully shut down after awakening ‘Stalwart Constitution’.
He sighed. For now, he truly was on his own.
A sharp nip on his finger drew his attention. The little snake looked up at him.
“You’re right,” Chris said softly. “I still have you. And you deserve a name.”
He thought for a moment, stroking her tiny head. A smile crept across his lips.
“I’ll call you…”
The little snake is waiting, let’s name it!
