CHAPTER 10
The water in the cup was a light blue color.
I hesitated, then took a deep breath.
“Whew…”
Suddenly, a faint smell—like nuts—entered my nose.
So that’s it.
This is poison. I don’t know exactly what kind, but it was definitely a diluted poison.
What surprised me was that I could now smell the poison.
Is this also because of the traces left behind in me? Or maybe…
“Do I just dip my finger in?”
I asked while slowly putting my finger in the water.
The inspector cleared his throat and nodded.
“That liquid is something we call Rash Poison.”
“Huh? Poison?”
“You don’t need to worry. It’s not very strong. You can take your finger out now.”
I quickly pulled my finger out. The inspector looked at it for a moment and smiled.
“Look. Your skin is fine, right?”
“Oh… yeah, it is.”
“Normally, the skin would turn red. So the healer was right after all. Actually, while you were unconscious, I ran a few tests with the healer.
To tell you the truth—Young Master, you can use aura now.”
“What? Me?”
“Yes. I had a feeling from the start. After all, you survived that poison cave.”
The inspector dipped his own finger into the cup as he continued.
“If we just look at the result, it means your body can resist poison now. That’s what aura does.”
“But I can’t use aura. I don’t have the ability to connect with the energy veins. And I still don’t feel anything…”
“Maybe you awakened because of what happened recently.”
“What?”
“The ability to sense energy veins isn’t something that stays the same forever. Some people have no sense when they’re young, but they awaken later.”
That’s true.
That’s why I took the Academy test with a tiny bit of hope—that maybe I’d awaken at the last second.
“To be honest, your aura is still extremely weak. It’s so low that calling it level 1 would be too generous.”
“…”
“But having a little is completely different from having none. Even the smallest amount means you meet the requirement. I’ll contact the Northern Academy and start your admission process.”
“You will?”
“Yes. I have the authority. I’ll count this test as your entrance exam and say you passed.”
“I already passed? Is that okay?”
“Of course. If a royal inspector guarantees it, who would question it? Even an Academy professor wouldn’t complain.”
So this is how it happens.
I’d wondered how I’d end up getting into the Academy. Now that I know, it feels a little too simple.
Is this the power that Brother Lazix talked so much about—the inspector’s authority? Just one little test, and I’m in.
“Thank you, Inspector. I won’t forget this favor.”
“No need to feel pressured. This is the least I could do.”
The inspector shook his head with a smile.
“From now on, it’s up to you. Not even the Grand Inspector could interfere with what happens inside the Academy.”
“Of course. You’ve already done more than enough.”
“I believe you’ll do well. Even if your aura is weak, your sword skills are excellent. Oh—do you have any questions? I used to attend the Northern Academy myself…”
“Do you know what the Poison King Sect is?”
The question came out automatically. The inspector took in a sharp breath.
“Hm, that…”
“One of the enemy’s underlings in the poison cave mentioned it. They said they weren’t part of the Poison King Family, but the Poison King Sect.”
“The Poison King Sect… is a radical religious group that broke off from the Poison King Family.”
“They split off?”
“Yes, that’s what we’ve found so far.”
The inspector frowned and sighed.
“They worship the First Poison King, Kainus, who died hundreds of years ago, as their god.”
“…”
“They’re also the main ones behind this recent attack. But thanks to the fighting during the chase, their power has definitely dropped. At least 1,000 of their fighters were taken out.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Is it really good?
That’s 1,000 fewer people I can take revenge on.
“Yes. I know this may not bring much comfort, but… we’ve already helped with part of your revenge. I hope that eases the pain, even just a little. We’re hearing now that the Poison King Sect is almost wiped out.”
“That’s a relief. Whew…”
I lowered my head with a deep sigh. I looked like I felt sad but also a little better.
But it was all acting.
The truth is, the Poison King Sect still has a huge army and will continue to grow stronger.
How do I know?
Because that’s what I saw in the future.
In those blurry visions of what’s to come, I saw myself fighting endlessly against countless enemies.
So I’m not worried about losing people to take revenge on. Even if a thousand die now, it doesn’t matter. In the future, there will be enemies as many as the stars.
After the questioning ended, I went outside for the first time in days to get some fresh air.
Clarest was a pretty big city. Even in the late afternoon, lots of people were still busy walking around.
Even though the Granble family had fallen, the world was still the same.
Nothing seemed to have changed while I was gone.
After watching people for a while, I looked down at my finger, where the blue water still clung.
He said it was diluted rash poison, right?
If it were just water, it would’ve dried long ago. But this liquid still stayed, sticking to my skin.
Because it was poison.
And if I really had aura, the poison would’ve broken down quickly and disappeared.
Yeah.
That’s it.
I didn’t block the poison because I had aura.
It’s just that the poison wasn’t strong enough to enter my body.
Just a few days ago, the most terrifying poisons in the world were living inside me:
Vein Poison.
Life-and-Death Poison.
Even though they’re gone now, weak poisons don’t dare enter my body—like how small animals avoid the cave of a predator.
Because the scent is still there.
So even though my body is now “clean,” poison can’t get in.
“Poison…”
I gathered the poison on my finger into one little droplet.
This thing can’t enter me.
But I can control it freely.
Because…
I was the Poison King.
Even if it was for a short time, I still have the memories of when the Poison King took over my body.
And even his own memories. That’s how I can do things like this.
“Haha…”
I laughed without meaning to.
It’s kind of ridiculous, isn’t it? I’m supposed to be a Sword Family heir, but I can’t use aura—I can only use poison.
I quickly shook the poison off before anyone saw me.
Drip.
The small droplet hit the ground and spread.
Am I “pure”?
No. I am poison now—at least in spirit.
And soon, my body will become the same.
In the future, I’ll become twisted and monstrous—something like a living poison ghost.
But I’ll have power.
Power to tear apart enemies with poison just like mine.
That’s the future I chose. The path of revenge.
There is no other path. It’s too late now.
Or is it?
Really?
“What if I just disappeared…”
Wouldn’t that be better?
Everyone is dead anyway. And if I fail the family test in a few years, the Granble name will disappear.
If that happens, maybe I should vanish too.
What’s the point of protecting a family that only exists in name?
–No, Ray.
A voice suddenly rang out.
–You are the family.
–You must protect it.
–We’ll always be with you.
“…Brother?”
I felt something nearby. I looked around, then finally up at the sky.
There it was.
A red glowing orb floated in the sky, watching me.
“…Ah.”
I stared at it, frozen.
Just seeing it—I knew what it was.
They were all there.
Everyone who left me… they hadn’t really disappeared. They were still watching me from up there.
“Haha…”
I laughed again.
So I wasn’t alone after all.
No one else seemed to notice the orb. That proved it was only visible to me.
“Hi. How have you all been?”
I waved at the orb.
It seemed to twitch in response. But it didn’t come down.
“Brother? Is that you? Are you mad? I was just joking. I’d never let the family disappear.”
That’s what you always hoped for, right?
I didn’t say it out loud. The orb lowered a little, then stopped.
“Come down. Please.”
I begged. The orb finally started to descend slowly.
Lower and lower.
I don’t know if it was listening to me or if I was moving it with my mind. Maybe both.
Anyway, it came right in front of me. I reached my hand out.
“We could’ve stayed together… inside my body…”
But that wasn’t possible.
The moment my finger touched the orb, pain shot through me and my mind went blank.
“Ugh…”
The orb was made of Vein Poison.
It was a deadly poison created when the first Poison King tainted the earth’s veins.
Way more dangerous than that blue Rash Poison.
But it didn’t matter. Even though my finger swelled and the pain hurt badly, I welcomed it.
Because that pain erased my wish to disappear.
“It’s okay. I’ll do it. I can do it. Just trust me. I’m the only one left, so I have to do it all.”
Everything Brother wanted.
Everything Sister wanted.
Everything Tiber wanted.
And revenge against the ones who caused all of this.
I have a lot to do.
“Lord Ray!”
The inspector’s voice called from behind me. I quickly hid my hand and sent the red orb back into the sky.
“Inspector?”
“There you are.”
He smiled like nothing was strange. Yep, I was the only one who could see the orb.
“I realized it’s almost dinner time. I thought it’d be nice to eat outside for a change.”
Did he hear I hadn’t eaten in three days? He even pretended to eat to check my reaction.
Food, huh?
I hadn’t thought about it, but once he said it—hunger hit me like a wave.
I’m hungry.
I want to eat. Something really tasty…
“Yes, let’s eat. Is there a place nearby with good pie?”
“Pie?”
“Yes. I suddenly want some rich pumpkin pie.”
“Oh, sure! There’s a great place nearby. Let me take you.”
The inspector walked ahead with a smile. I followed behind and looked up at the sky.
Yeah, Tiber.
I understand now. I hear you.
This is how you’re speaking to me, right?
I’ll eat. I’ll eat all I want.
Until this hunger goes away…
