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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Reaching the Intermediate Level!
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Reaching the Intermediate Level!
If the poisons I had learned so far were for subduing opponents, the one I was about to learn was a deadly venom capable of killing them.
It was called Blood Eruption, unlocked by consuming Snake Mind, a concoction of poisons extracted from venomous snakes.
"Excuse me, Grand Prince?"
"What is it?"
Peru called out to me as he took a small glass vial containing Snake Mind from his magic pouch.
"This poison is incredibly dangerous, even a single drop of it."
"I know."
"Are you really going to drink it? This is far more potent than the other poisons I've given you."
"I know, you punk."
Peru hesitantly took out the vial of poison, looking uneasy.
"Hmm..."
He frowned, seemingly worried.
But he wasn't worried about me. He was worried that if I died, he would die too.
This guy still thinks he's afflicted with the initial poison.
*Clink.*
"This is all of it."
"Five vials, just as I ordered."
"Yes."
It was about 500ml in total.
"And with the remaining money, I bought this."
Peru took out another glass vial of a different color from his bag.
What's this?
[The Creator's Eye is activating.]
[Fire Frog Poison]
Only one in a thousand fire frogs is born with poison. The poisonous fire frog becomes the leader of its colony, protecting it with its venom. Victims of fire frog poison experience an excruciating pain as their body burns from the inside out.
Wow, I can't even imagine that. It must hurt like hell.
"Do you recognize it?"
"It's fire frog poison."
"Hah, is there anything you don't know?"
Peru shook his head, whether in admiration or disbelief.
"To be honest, I've never used it myself. It's not only expensive but also extremely rare, so I decided to purchase some. Was that alright?"
"Yes. You did well."
In the meantime, I had already looked up the poison technique I could gain from the fire frog poison.
[Frogflame Poison] - Unlocked by consuming fire frog poison.
Looks like I can unlock two lethal poisons today.
"For now, go bring me some food."
"Food?"
"Of course. Just as you don't drink on an empty stomach, you shouldn't consume poison either. You call yourself a poison master and you don't even know that?"
"I-Is that so?"
"It is. So go bring me a feast."
"Yes."
Peru went to the kitchen and returned with food almost immediately.
"That was fast. But what are you doing?"
"Pardon?"
Peru had brought two servings of a lavishly prepared Chirein soup.
"When I said a feast, I meant steak, bread, chicken, things like that."
"Lady Arin instructed me to only give the Grand Prince Chirein soup."
"Hmph..."
Arin, that girl.
"Should I go change it?"
"Forget it. It's a waste of time. You can leave now."
"What? You don't need my help?"
"How would you help?"
At my words, Peru looked up at the ceiling for a moment, thinking about what he could possibly do.
"Nothing at all, it seems."
"Right. So what should you do?"
"I should leave."
He seemed fine when I saw him before, but why does he look so foolish now?
"From now on, your job is to make sure no one enters my room. That's more than enough."
"Understood. I'll stop anyone who comes."
Peru thumped his chest as if to say, "Leave it to me."
"Good, now go. Don't let anyone in until I come out."
"Yes. Don't worry."
After Peru left, I checked the status of my Myriad Poisons Magnetic Divine Qi.
[Myriad Poisons Magnetic Divine Qi] - 3rd Star, 18%
I've been trying to raise it since then, but progress has been slow. I guess I really do need to consume poisons for it to shoot up.
"Well, it'll work out somehow."
The poisons I was about to ingest today were truly dangerous, which made me nervous, but all I could do now was trust in my 3rd Star Myriad Poisons Magnetic Divine Qi.
*Splash.*
I poured all the poisons into the Chirein soup.
Isn't the bowl going to melt from the poison?
Contrary to my expectations, the poisons didn't seem to affect the soup much. On the surface, there was no visible change.
"Whew, I'm a little nervous."
Fearing I'd lose my nerve if I hesitated any longer, I closed my eyes and drank the soup in one gulp.
Exactly five seconds after I finished the soup, the reaction came.
"Keuk!"
Two excruciating pains struck me simultaneously. I felt the agony of my entire body being torn to shreds and my organs being seared.
"Kuaaack!"
The pain was so intense I nearly lost consciousness, but a different wave of agony would jolt me back to my senses. It was a thankfully vicious cycle.
Gritting my teeth, I continued to circulate the Myriad Poisons Magnetic Divine Qi.
[You have consumed a poison (Snake Mind).]
[The Myriad Poisons Magnetic Divine Qi is absorbing the poison (Snake Mind).]
[The proficiency of the Myriad Poisons Magnetic Divine Qi has increased.]
[Blood Eruption has been unlocked.]
[You have consumed a poison (Fire Frog Poison).]
[The Myriad Poisons Magnetic Divine Qi is absorbing the poison (Fire Frog Poison).]
[Frogflame Poison has been unlocked.]
Messages flashed frantically behind my closed eyelids, but I had no time to spare for them now.
If my concentration breaks for even a single moment, I might actually die.
As I endured the pain and continued to circulate my internal energy technique, the agony gradually began to subside.
I focused harder, absorbing the poisons. I cleared my mind, concentrating solely on the movement of my internal energy and the poisons.
Just as I was circulating the technique, having lost all track of time, a notification that snapped me back to reality appeared.
[The Myriad Poisons Magnetic Divine Qi has reached the 4th Star.]
[The Myriad Poisons Magnetic Divine Qi has reached the intermediate stage.]
[You can now glimpse the realm of ascension.]
[Some locked abilities have been unlocked.]
[Proficiency with low-grade poisons and hidden weapon techniques will now increase rapidly.]
[You have acquired the trait: Immunity to a Hundred Poisons.]
As I snapped out of my trance, several message windows appeared and vanished.
Damn it! There were too many, I couldn't read them all.
What was certain, however, was that the Myriad Poisons Magnetic Divine Qi had reached the 4th Star.
The poisons had been so potent that I had a slight hope I might reach the 4th Star, but for it to actually happen felt surreal.
The last thing that popped up was Immunity to a Hundred Poisons.
It meant that a hundred different poisons could not affect me. Now, I could consume most poisons without feeling pain or suffering from any symptoms of poisoning. For someone like me who had to constantly ingest poisons, it was the ultimate trait.
Farewell, days of agony!
"That aside, I'm hungry."
Looking outside, I saw the sun setting, signaling that it was already evening. A whole half-day had passed, which meant I'd absorbed the poisons faster than I thought.
"Peru!"
Sensing Peru standing outside the door, I called for him. He immediately opened the door and came in.
"You're finally out. You were in there for so long, I debated countless times whether I should go in."
Peru had dark circles under his eyes that reached his cheeks. What on earth has he been doing?
"What's all the fuss about half a day?"
"What? Half a day? Not at all."
"What do you mean?"
"Grand Prince, you've been out for three days."
"Huh? Three days?"
"Yes. It's been three days since I gave you the poisons."
Three days. Honestly, it didn't even feel like half a day; it felt more like just enough time to eat a meal.
If what Peru said was true, it meant the poisons were so potent that it took three days to absorb them. The fire frog poison, in particular, was truly intense.
"So you've been standing by the door this whole time?"
"Of course."
Suddenly, I felt a pang in my heart. There was a reason the dark circles under his eyes reached his chin. Come to think of it, his legs seemed to be trembling too.
I should tell him to go rest quickly.
"You, take a week off and come back."
"Pardon?"
"You must be exhausted after not sleeping for three days. Go get some proper rest."
"I'm fine. Staying up for three nights is nothing."
Peru bounced on the balls of his feet, as if to say not to worry.
"If I tell you to rest, then rest. The aftereffects of pulling all-nighters hit you after you turn thirty."
"Thirty? But Grand Prince, you're not even twenty yet."
"Ah! The Marquis told me that."
I'd accidentally said something that belonged to my old life.
"Honestly, I'm about to collapse myself. As you say, Grand Prince, I'll rest and come back tomorrow."
"No, since you didn't sleep for three days, take four days off."
"I don't need that much rest."
"Enough. That's an order. End of discussion."
Peru seemed to be contemplating whether I was serious.
"I'm serious, so go. Get some deep rest. You can even go out and have some fun."
"Thank you. Then please take care of yourself."
"Alright. Peru."
"Yes?"
"You worked hard. Thank you."
I expressed my gratitude once more before he left.
"N-No, it's nothing. I was just..."
"Hurry up and go sleep."
"Ack!"
Peru was hesitating again, not knowing what to do, so I pushed him out the door.
"I'll have a meal sent up first!"
"Right. I do need to eat."
It seemed Peru intended to bring me a meal before going to rest.
"Come to think of it, it said I reached the intermediate level."
Among the messages I saw earlier, there was one about reaching the intermediate stage of the Myriad Poisons Magnetic Divine Qi. In Murim terms, this meant I now had the skills to be considered a martial artist wherever I went.
"I suppose I can go get *that* now. I can't just throw daggers forever."
In truth, I already had the blueprints for several hidden weapons in my head. But with my own two clumsy hands, I couldn't make them myself, and there were no craftsmen here with the delicate skills required.
"But there is something that can serve as a substitute. Hehe."
I felt a little sorry for the protagonist, but I had decided to take the weapon he uses in the early parts of the story.
Besides, the protagonist only uses it for a short time before repurposing it. My taking it wouldn't cause any major changes to the story.
*Knock, knock.*
"Grand Prince, I've brought your meal."
"Come in."
Peru must have gone to rest, as a maid brought the meal. However...
"Why is it Chirein soup?"
"Sir Peru said that since you haven't eaten in three days, I should bring you soup to avoid upsetting your stomach."
"Hahaha!"
It was infuriating, but he wasn't wrong.
Even though it was just soup, it was my first meal in three days, so I ate it slowly, chewing every spoonful.
"I will clear the dishes once you are finished."
"Thank you. And I have one more request."
"Yes. Please, tell me."
"Tell the Marquis that I wish to see him."
"I will."
Even though I was the Grand Prince, I couldn't just go and meet the Marquis whenever I wanted. I had to request an audience in advance.
The thought of not having washed in three days sent me to the bathhouse. After a good soak, I felt languid, like it was the perfect time for a nap.
I returned to my room, ready to throw myself onto the bed, but a familiar face was waiting for me at the door.
"Oh, you're back?"
"Yes. I returned this afternoon."
It was Arin, who had been away on an external training mission.
"How was it?"
"It was quite beneficial. And it seems I will be acquiring my knightly qualifications soon."
"Already?"
"The captain looked after me well, and I was lucky."
"That's great."
I was starting to understand her now. Though her expression barely changed, I could tell she was happy.
"The second butler was here a short while ago. He said your request was approved for tomorrow morning. Did you, by chance, request an audience with the Marquis?"
"I did."
"Didn't you just have an audience with him not long ago?"
I nodded in affirmation.
"To report that I'll be going out."
"Ah, are you going to the village after a long time?"
I replied with a smile filled with avarice.
"No, I'm going to pick up some treasure."