Chapter 1 – Jiah Kang
To be honest, I was confused at first too.
I wonder if everything that happened last night was a nightmare.
What a nightmare Stop escaping from reality.
When I got up from the bed, it was still dark around me.
I looked at the clock and it was 2:00 AM.
It was 2:00 in the morning when Kang Ji-ah came.
“I feel dirty.”
I said touching my back.
It’s not that, but my back hurts like it’s burning.
The miasma that had been stored in the form of a tattoo on the skin was still radiating hot heat.
Originally, it was a book-shaped tattoo made up of 50 pages, but you could tell without looking.
Five sheets were torn.
Since it usually consumes one sheet when manipulating a person once, it is a magic that consumes a lot of money.
You should think that since it is magic that defies time, there is a price to pay.
It seems that it is a magic that cannot be used in the way of dying meaninglessly or endlessly re-challenging.
I walked around the room to see if there was anything wrong with my body.
Fortunately, his physical condition was normal. It seems that there is no consumption value other than poison.
Magic to return to the past by dying?
As it is a unique magic, I instinctively figured out how to use it, but I’m not sure about the other details.
It’s also the first magic I’ve ever used.
More important than that is what to do with Kang Ji-ah.
Two days ago, Kang Ji-ah sensed her miasma from me.
She’s still looking for my life.
However, as long as they don’t know that I know their plans, it’s a game in my favor.
She could run away, or she could see her chance and kill her with her reverse and run away.
“That’s not my style.”
Jiah Kang killed me.
The feeling of being killed by someone she thought of as a colleague was more terrible than she thought.
Your own magic.
Inherent magic that controls the human mind.
If I don’t manipulate Kang Ji-ah until I get tired of it, I won’t be able to get rid of it.
It’s also what I do best.
In that case, I should sleep first.
@
I got up at 6:30 am, made the bed tidy, washed up briefly, and left the room.
Although it is called a room, it is a one-touch tent that looks very cramped from the outside.
Still, because of the magic, the actual interior space is as wide as that of most studios.
From this point of view, it is a high-end product that is only supplied to those who have been in service for more than one year and above the level of a foreman.
Looking at giving expensive things like this to guys who are not regular soldiers, but half-mercenaries, the empire certainly has a lot of money.
As we walked up to the 10-person tent of the 5 hunting team, we saw the members lined up in a straight line.
“Roll call.”
“Total members 10, current members 10. There are no vacancies.”
These are 10 men and women who have nothing in common.
Combat uniforms are provided, but are free to wear.
There are no restrictions on hair or clothing.
As long as we keep the minimum controllable lines, no one will say anything even if we dress up as we like and live as we want.
It is definitely a group closer to mercenaries than regular troops.
The man in the front row who had just reported the number of people looked at me and said.
Captain, did you sleep well all night? You should have done that if you were going to drink all the way with me today.
Was it
“Captain, did you sleep well all night?
It is a strange sensation that you would feel when experiencing an experience you have seen in a dream.
“Hey, No. 1. How many times have you lost to me last month? Say something like that after you’ve outgrown me at least once.”
“Boy, you call me by number again! Call me by name!”
As the man complained, the members of the group standing behind him whispered.
“It’s a penalty when it was applied for the 8th time last month. So stop betting on a game that doesn’t work. It looks like a bandit, so the alcohol is weak…”
“Do you know who will clean up your vomit when you stretch out?”
If left alone, it would grow endlessly, so he raised his hand and shut his crew.
“Anyway, play and eat today. There are various types of alcohol in special cuts of pork and beef, so you won’t get bored.
Since this is all state money, especially eat more freely.”
The members of the crew cheered when they heard me.
Crazy guys.
With that said, I turned around and headed for headquarters.
I saw a 24-person tent used as headquarters.
Of course, that is also a structure that is much wider inside than it looks.
The foremen gathered in front of the headquarters. It was for a personnel report.
After about 10 minutes, all 50 hunting team leaders were gathered and lined up with sleepy faces.
“Okay, skip it! I don’t know about other days, but there’s no way there will be a vacancy on a day like today. Let’s prepare food for each group later. Disband!”
The unit commander just said what he had to say and went into the headquarters.
It’s the second time I’m listening to it, but something’s annoying… Maybe you should say it a little earlier.
Do you train your mutt?
Look at me because you’re pretty
The captains dispersed with poop-chewed faces.
Instead of going straight to my tent like they did, I followed Jia Kang.
Her ears pricked up as I approached her quickly.
“What’s your business? Captain 5?”
Kang Ji-ah turned her body.
She tended to dress up in her supply battle uniform.
The gray-based digital combat uniform that clings to her body accentuates her sleek figure.
She was a cool-looking, cat-like beauty, but the black tail hanging between her thighs was that of her canine family, so I felt something indescribable.
It’s okay if something goes wrong.
I said after checking to see if anyone was around.
“How about a drink together later?”
At that moment, it seemed as if the sound of screws being loosened came from Kang Ji-ah’s body.
Since none other than me spoke to you, you must have been very wary even though you were pretending to be calm, right?
“Alcohol…Alcohol?”
“Yes. Just the two of us without telling anyone.”
When I laughed casually, she was visibly embarrassed.
“It’s a bit sudden.”
“I’ve been interested in it before. Now that the hunt is over, I thought there wouldn’t be much time left to see each other.”
If you think about it normally, Kang Ji-ah can’t do that.
I kinda… No she’s terribly handsome, but to her I’m a crippled foe.
Let alone a drinking party, it would not be enough to beat him to death right away.
But Jiah Kang is trying to kill me.
As a result, she succeeds in assassinating her on a drunken day, but Kang Ji-ah does not know about it.
Coming to my room at night and assassinating me is not certain whether it will succeed or fail, and the next task is burdensome.
She must still be anxious, hoping for a better opportunity.
At that time, I told you that I would create a situation for the two of you in a locked room with my own feet, but you didn’t accept it and you were exhausted?
Kang Ji-ah tried to put on her calm expression, she pondered for a few seconds.
I can hear her head rolling.
She’ll accept anyway, so what’s the point of worrying so much?
She answered, (trying to) smile at her end.
“Okay. In return, can you make sure to keep the secret? It’s kind of like rumors…”
“Of course. I’ll take it to the grave. Then where is the place…?”
“Can we meet at the captain’s tent? There’s a guard post near my tent, so I’m afraid I’ll get caught.”
The soundproofing of the team’s tent is complete, but that’s an excuse.
It looks like he’s plotting something.
“Sure! You must know that my tent is in a secluded location.
Because our crew members are so noisy.
Um… I think by 7 p.M., It’s going to be pretty much gone.
Then quietly get out and come to my tent. I’ll prepare a delicious snack for you.”
“Then I’ll do that. I’ll have to bring the alcohol I’ve been saving. There are rumors in the unit that you drink well.”
Yes, that’s because it’s easier for you to get poisoned with alcohol. Come fully prepared.
It will be of no use.
“Then see you later! Have a good meal with the members.”
“The captain too.”
As if she wanted to get away as quickly as possible, Kang Ji-ah left as soon as her story was over.
It’s going so smoothly and according to plan.
Rather anxious?
Anyway, now all I have to do is wait for Kang Ji-ah to come.
@
I gave No. 1 a crushing defeat before lunch was over.
He fell silent and banged his head on his table.
It was just like yesterday.
In fact, almost everything happened the same as yesterday.
Except for one.
While the festival was in full swing, the unit commander called the team leaders together and delivered an announcement.
The emperor who broke the long confinement declared that he would greatly reward our unit for achieving its mission.
Nothing like this happened yesterday.
Did my actions change the future like in the movie?
No, what kind of butterfly effect did my actions even break the Emperor’s confinement?
It’s embarrassing, but it’s not a bad thing, it’s a good thing.
Above all, the most important thing right now is dealing with Kang Ji-ah.
Let’s think about this next time.
@
Ji-Ah Kang came to my tent exactly at 7:00 PM.
She was wearing plain clothes for some reason.
I was wearing dolphin pants and a comfortable sweater.
It feels like it’s not the 27th hunting leader, but the private clothes of the human Kang Ji-ah.
She had a large bottle of wine at her side.
“She dressed comfortably to drink comfortably, doesn’t it suit her? What’s wrong with her expression?”
“It’s because I’m surprised. Wearing only combat uniforms every day… Let’s try to relax a bit normally. Let’s have a good eye.”
When he replied with a good attitude, Kang Ji-ah’s lips drew an arc.
You’ve definitely made up your mind.
The smoke has become much better than in the morning.
After that, she started drinking normally with Jia Kang.
It was to get rid of her last remaining doubts.
Kang Ji-ah believed that the target she was trying to assassinate was going to have a drink alone in a secret room with her own hands, but she really wasn’t so stupid that she had no doubts.
Kang Jia also accepted the conversation well and drank her drink.
She drinks much better than at least No. 1.
But after about two hours, she seemed to be getting her own drunkenness.
“I honestly still can’t believe it. That the monster is dead…”
Jiah Kang gulped down her well-cooked beef and beer, she said.
“Ah… That’s right. Everyone who’s ever seen it in person must be like that. But since I’ve seen it with my own two eyes, I can’t help but believe it.”
“Even the captain!”
Jiah Kang put her glass on her table and said in a cracked voice.
I was honestly surprised.
“You’ve seen the captain too. The miasma that covered and altered the entire ruins… The size is well over 500m… How ferocious and persistent they are even with their offspring, let alone their mother.”
“Jia-san is right. You must have seen it, but two days ago, the miasma that came out of his wounds made him blind.”
“Ah~! Don’t talk about it at that time. It doesn’t taste like alcohol. It’s like disgusting miasma. How come there are all living things that have something like that?”
“…”
Look at him Are you watching my reaction?
Once you get used to poison, it’s quite familiar…
Without blinking an eye, I put off a fun drinking party.
Kang Ji-ah was also pretending to be drunk, but it really couldn’t be.
She was looking out for me
I don’t think I’ll be careless as more time passes.
It seemed like it would be difficult to break through.
I said, pretending to giggle at her story.
“Open it soon. It smells delicious already, doesn’t it?”
When Kang Ji-ah pointed at the bottle she had brought, her eyes lit up.
“It’s a very good drink compared to snacks, so I was saving it in case the manager would feel inferior… It’s good to open it. I don’t have any regrets, do I?”
“I will never regret it. You have a knack for annoying people.”
Hey, I think you smiled sincerely for the first time today.
Jia Kang squeezed the tightly sealed cork with her bare hand and pulled it out in one breath.
What came out of the bottle with a pop was not foam, but sparks.
“I’m surprised. Was it a shipper?”
“It’s a professional level to pour this. You know that fireju is a drink that even enjoys the magic contained in it, right? There won’t be many opportunities to try magic.”
It’s a magic drink. You didn’t lie, did you?
But, is this alcohol mixed with Kang Ji-ah’s saliva?
Something feels strange…
As she poured the red liquid into her pointed-bottomed glass, the top of the glass caught fire like a torch.
Definitely tastes good
“One shot!”
As I emptied the glass, I felt the thrilling liquid travel down my esophagus.
If it wasn’t for the poison, I would have been able to enjoy it purely.
When the poison created by magic was mixed with alcohol and was about to spread through my body, I resisted it by circulating mana silently throughout my body.
Poison was neutralized and disappeared more easily than expected, perhaps because a small amount was added so as not to be discovered.
Ji-ah Kang had no choice but to use the poison she made herself with her magic to leave no trace of her.
Mana is negated by greater mana.
Therefore, the poison created by magic is neutralized by magical power.
Neutralizing it is simple if you know in advance when to poison it.
Ji-ah Kang was looking at me with her triumphant smile, unaware of anything.
I suddenly put my head down and pretended to be dizzy.
“Ah… Did you overdo it? It suddenly comes up…”
“Are you okay? Did I pour too much at once? I’m sorry, Captain.”
It’s strange to say such a thing in such an excited voice.
As I got up and staggered, Kang Ji-ah came over and stood next to me as if to support me.
He’s probably going to see if the poison is working properly.
I wiggled my arms around her as if I couldn’t see the front, and put my palm on the back of her neck, the back of her head.
She wasn’t wary of me at this moment.
It is the same whether man or beast.
The moment they hunt their prey, they become defenseless.
From the moment I drank my first cup, I was only aiming for now.
Just a moment of relief thinking that Kang Ji-ah poisoned me.
She dared to induce a situation where she and her alone would be because it was an advantageous situation not only for her, but also for her and me.
I can control people with magic.
However, there are several limitations to my magic as well.
You can’t hypnotize people just by making eye contact or shoot brainwashing waves with a magic wand.
I don’t even have a wand or anything like that.
However, the effect is absolute.
Your back gets hot as if it’s burning.
First of all, only one page.
Through my palms, refined miasma permeates Kang Ji-ah’s head.
Kang Ji-ah’s hands hung limply.
