Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Chapter 25: The Warrior’s Poison Inhalation

“Where is this place?”

I was lying on a bed — one so soft and luxurious that its very texture seemed to sink beneath me.

It was far too high-class to belong to any ordinary inn. It felt like something from a noble’s mansion.

Having once stayed at the Duke of Kellyburn’s residence, I knew well the difference between a noble’s bed and that of a commoner.

At that moment, a man’s voice came from beside me. A familiar voice — it was Kazan’s.

“Is something the matter?”

“Where are we? This bed is… far too soft.”

“Your senses are sharp.”

My expression stiffened awkwardly.

Any commoner would’ve felt out of place on such a bed. Yet to call this sensitivity “sharp senses”…

When I looked closely, I noticed something in Kazan’s eyes — kindness.

Even my father, Zeke, had never looked at me with such warmth.

I replied, still dazed.

“Thank you. But… where exactly are we? Weren’t we just sparring in the street moments ago?”

Kazan’s face twisted into a strange expression.

“Do you not remember? In the middle of our duel, you suddenly began swinging your sword through empty air. You performed swordsmanship alone for ten whole hours.”

Shock spread across my face.

‘Could it be… I entered that state I’d only ever heard about — the state of selflessness?’

Every martial artist dreams of mua-jigyeong — the trance-like state where one becomes so deeply immersed in training that they lose awareness of themselves and their surroundings.

And the moment I’d been focused was precisely when I had been refining my martial arts…

It was entirely possible that I had unconsciously achieved a new enlightenment.

‘I want to test it right now.’

To think I’d gained new insight without even realizing it — I couldn’t help but feel my body heat up with anticipation.

Just as the memories began flickering back in fragments—

“You’ve returned, Kazan.”

A voice as cold as a blizzard pierced my ear.

“So this is the one you said you’d bring as a comrade…? This fledgling boy is the Black Dragon?”

The owner of that icy voice had an expression just as frigid.

In his green eyes — reminiscent of a windswept meadow — there wasn’t a trace of emotion, and his tightly pressed lips spoke of an obstinate character.

“My apologies, Count.”

Kazan bowed his head respectfully.

“However, my comrade is no mere fledgling. Though he may appear young, he’s strong enough to crush most opponents with ease.”

It sounded like an apology, yet I could tell it wasn’t one of submission.

The Count stared down at Kazan, his face hard. Kazan remained bowed, as if he were sincerely apologizing.

“You speak boldly for someone who hasn’t even completed the commission I gave you.”

“…I’m deeply sorry for that. Give me a little more time — I’ll finish it soon.”

“How much longer? You’ve been staying at my manor for five days now. I think I’ve waited long enough — and indeed, I have. I heard the Black Dragon completes any request within a day. But I suppose that was when the old captain was still in charge. Those days are long gone, it seems.”

Kazan flinched. His fists trembled as he muttered,

“…My apologies. I’ll finish it right away.”

“Instead of babysitting this fledgling, you’d do better to focus on my commission.”

Leaving only those words behind, the Count exited the room.

When the sound of his footsteps faded into the distance, I asked,

“That man… was he the Count of Enox?”

“Watch your tongue. This mansion isn’t our base. Be mindful of what you say.”

I nodded. It was reasonable advice. If the Count himself had overheard me, trouble might have followed.

“I apologize. Then, that man was indeed Count Enox?”

“Yes. He’s the one who gave me the commission.”

Kazan’s expression darkened.

“About half a month ago, a request came in — to slay a beast that had been plaguing his territory.”

“Not an ordinary one. A Basilisk — the kind that possesses the deadliest venom among all demon beasts. I was born immune to poison. That’s why Count Enox entrusted the task to me.”

“But the subjugation seems to be taking longer than expected.”

“The Basilisk isn’t much of a threat aside from its poison. However, this one seems to be a mutation. Normally, they’re the size of a large snake — but this one was bigger than a bear.”

“It wasn’t just the poison. Its durability was the real problem. No matter how many wounds I inflicted, it recovered instantly and charged again. It was like fighting a demon beast.”

I let out a quiet sigh. A beast comparable to a demon beast — it certainly sounded troublesome.

Then a thought struck me — maybe I could help.

My body had already become strong enough that most blades couldn’t leave a mark. It was possible even poison wouldn’t affect me anymore.

More than anything, I owed Kazan. Though it wasn’t intentional, thanks to him I’d been able to reexamine my martial arts.

“If there were two of us instead of one… could we capture the beast?”

Kazan looked at me, startled.

“Are you saying you could assist me?”

Suspicion clouded his eyes — naturally so. A Basilisk wasn’t something one could defeat through sheer force.

Unless one had Kazan’s unique immunity to poison, even approaching it would mean death.

“I’m a warrior,” I said.

“A warrior grows stronger as his body hardens through training. A seasoned warrior doesn’t get cut by blades. Perhaps… poison won’t affect me either.”

“…It’s true, our former captain was immune to poison as well. I’d assumed he, like me, possessed an unusual constitution — but perhaps not. Still, that applied to Captain Garan. You’re not as seasoned a warrior as he was.”

Even as the current leader of the Black Dragon Mercenary Corps, Kazan still seemed to regard Garan as the true captain.

He spoke of him without hesitation — a testament to the trust and respect he still held for Garan.

“Former Captain Garan acknowledged my body’s strength. He even said it resembled his own. I should be capable of withstanding poison as well.”

Kazan glanced at me. It wasn’t hesitation in his eyes — rather, he seemed intrigued, genuinely curious about what I had just said.

Kazan had already lost Count Enox’s trust. And for a mercenary, trust was as precious as life itself.

If time dragged on any longer, the name of the Black Dragon would be tarnished.

No one knew that better than Kazan himself.

“If what you say is true, it’ll be of great help. But how do you intend to prove that your body is immune to poison?”

“Why not drink some and see?”

“Are you truly fine with that?”

“I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t confident. I won’t take it back.”

Kazan handed me a vial. Inside, a faint violet liquid shimmered as it sloshed.

“This is a paralytic poison made using Basilisk venom. Even a single drop would leave an ordinary man paralyzed for a week. Originally, it was meant to be used to subdue the Basilisk.”

I immediately took the vial.

In the martial world, I had heard of realms such as Immunity to All Poisons, Diamond Body, and Blade-Resistant Skin.

So I decided to use this as an opportunity — to test my own body.

As I opened the vial, a stench assaulted my nose. It was a smell so foul my face scrunched up on its own.

Even a pigsty wouldn’t reek this badly.

“It smells terrible, doesn’t it? I didn’t bother with the scent, but the taste should be fine — I put some effort into that.”

I pinched my nose between two fingers and nodded.

Then, slowly, I let a drop touch my tongue.

As Kazan said, the taste wasn’t bad — it reminded me of wild raspberries I used to pick and eat in the mountains as a child.

I swallowed the paralytic poison.

I could feel the liquid sliding down my throat, tracing the path of my esophagus. When it finally reached my stomach, a faint heat flared in my abdomen.

A tingling sensation crept into my fingertips — the paralysis had begun.

I clenched and unclenched my fists slowly. My fingers still tingled, refusing to move exactly as I willed.

Kazan exclaimed in astonishment.

“You really are immune to poison. You drank three drops and you’re perfectly fine.”

His amazement was plain on his face, joy gleaming in his expression.

“I must inform the Count at once. Come, Leon.”

I nodded and rose from the bed. Even walking caused no discomfort.

It was true — the poison had no effect.

I felt a strange sense of wonder. I hadn’t realized my body had become this resilient.

A quiet pride welled up from deep within.

Kazan led the way toward Count Enox’s office, smiling warmly as we walked.

Before Kazan could speak, Count Enox frowned.

“What is it? Have you found a way to slay the Basilisk?”

“Yes. The Basilisk appearing in the County of Enox is a mutation. I couldn’t handle it alone. Thus, I’ve decided to borrow the strength of my comrade.”

“Your comrade… surely you don’t mean that milk-smelling fledgling?”

“He’s no fledgling. He’s a full member of the Black Dragon.”

In that instant, their gazes clashed in midair — silent but fierce, as though their eyes alone were crossing blades.

A suffocating stillness filled the room.

Then Count Enox broke the silence.

“Kazan, I don’t like jokes. Meaning — I take every word you say seriously.”

“You should. Leon is capable. He can endure the Basilisk’s poison.”

“It seems your judgment has dulled after failing to capture the Basilisk for half a month.”

“…Did you just say my judgment has dulled?”

Silence once again blanketed the office — but this time, it was a different kind of silence.

A rippling energy surged from Kazan’s entire body — what the martial world called Qi Wave, or Mana Flow in the Empire.

“I am a Black Dragon.”

“Still clinging to old glory, are you? Wake up, Kazan. Without Garan, the Black Dragon is nothing. Or do you think you can replace him? No, you can’t. If I recall correctly, wasn’t it your fault that Garan was injured in the first place?”

The invisible pressure radiating from Kazan intensified. One of Enox’s guards stepped forward, standing right before Kazan.

It looked as though they could clash at any moment.

Even I felt my knees tremble under the sheer force of it.

‘I have to stop this!’

The thought came instinctively. I wasn’t strong enough to restrain them, but I knew what it meant for a commoner to defy a noble.

Overcoming my fear, I stepped between Kazan and the guard.

“I am a warrior from the North. My body has been trained to the extreme — poison has no effect on me.”

Count Enox’s sharp gaze turned to me.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know where the one causing trouble in my territory came from? I know you’re a warrior — and I also know that a warrior as young as you can’t possibly be immune to poison.”

“Then please, put me to the test.”

I straightened my back proudly. This was the time to show confidence — there was no room for hesitation or fear.

“I’ll prove that no poison can harm me.”

The aide responded immediately to the Count’s call. From a drawer, he retrieved a vial and spoke.

“This is Basilisk venom — a sample we collected while attempting to produce an antidote. A single drop is enough to kill five grown men. Please consider your choice carefully.”

Viden’s tone was cautious.

Just looking at the venom made my skin crawl. The greenish liquid was viscous, clinging to the glass as if alive.

I took the vial in hand. I could ponder its appearance later — now was the time to display resolve.

The Count spoke again.

“You look young, so I’ll tell you in advance — there is no antidote for this Basilisk’s venom. It’s a mutant, and its poison differs from the ordinary kind. Will you still go through with it?”

I looked straight at him.

“I never intended to rely on an antidote. I said the poison wouldn’t affect me — and to prove that, using an antidote would defeat the purpose.”

As soon as he gave permission, I let a drop of Basilisk venom fall into my mouth.

‘If my assumption is correct, the poison will have no effect.’

Even if it did, it didn’t matter. I could neutralize it with my internal energy.

At worst, I’d suffer for a week — nothing more.

A sharp pain struck my throat. It wasn’t unbearable, but a flicker of unease rose within me.

The venom slid down my throat into my stomach, just like the paralytic poison.

Everyone’s eyes were on me, tense with expectation. It was Basilisk venom — one of the deadliest poisons in existence.

And I had swallowed it raw, without an antidote. Even the strongest among them couldn’t hide their nervousness.

A second felt like an hour.

“In Elphrel, a warrior drinks alcohol for the first time at the age of five.”

“…Rather early, isn’t it?”

“It’s a ceremonial event. Some of them continue drinking afterward, but I didn’t — I didn’t like the taste.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“The Basilisk’s venom tastes bad. It tastes just like that liquor.”

Count Enox burst into laughter, clapping his hands. His green eyes sparkled with amusement. Rising from his seat, he extended his hand toward me.

“My name is Kalliz Enox.”

I shook the Count’s hand as I replied.