Corruption Immunity: Starting with a Disaster-Grade Cursed Weapon - Chapter 10
Warehouse No. 6 (2)
By the time a hunter reaches Level 5, their speed is not far off from a car at full throttle.
Kang Cheong-hwa, who had been chasing Gaon’s rampage, was stunned by the feats he was displaying.
Even if he were possessed by a cursed object, those movements were not those of an ordinary person.
Was it true that he had awakened at Level 1?
If that were true, it was beyond surprising—it was shocking.
As one moves between Dark Zones, they often awaken their magical power in the process of accumulating Karma.
After all, magical power is like the air that permeates the Dark World.
However, not only does the amount refined vary from person to person, but there is also a limit to how much one can accumulate.
As the Karma index rises, the risk of corruption increases, so people usually finish their business and leave quickly.
Yet, Gaon was perfectly fine even after absorbing all the Karma of the corrupted.
His Karma index, which had soared to the 6,000 range, had returned to normal in just one day, meaning his refinement ability was hundreds of times that of an average hunter.
It was a trait that could only be described as corruption immunity.
He was a talent the Bureau absolutely had to secure.
However, as Gaon stood before the cursed object, Kang Cheong-hwa grew desperate.
The artifacts inside the "inner sanctum" were all dangerous.
They were top-tier hazardous artifacts that the Bureau poured most of its massive government budget into managing.
And among them, the one Yun Gaon was heading toward was...
"Heart of Rapid Flow!"
Five years ago, the culprit behind the Yeouido 6-Second Disaster.
Just six seconds.
Over two thousand casualties occurred before the user's heart burst.
"Stop right there."
Sure enough, Gaon had reached the storage case for the "Heart of Rapid Flow."
She transformed her demonic hand to stop him.
*Click!*
A Grade 1 cursed object that replaces the host's arm and transforms it into a destructive weapon.
Though her body was constantly being mechanized as the price, Kang Cheong-hwa did not hesitate.
"Mr. Yun Gaon. If you don't step back, I will fire."
It was the highest level of firepower she could use immediately. It was not a level a Level 1 hunter could defend against.
It was better to kill him here than to let a disaster loose outside the Bureau.
Kang Cheong-hwa genuinely hoped Gaon would not touch the cursed object.
"My precious!"
The moment Gaon finally reached out, Kang Cheong-hwa pulled the trigger on her right arm, which had transformed into a charged particle cannon.
*BOOM!*
The focused energy cannon engulfed Gaon.
For a human, it was power that would leave not even bones behind in that superheated particle energy.
As the smoke cleared, Kang Cheong-hwa looked for Gaon, who had vanished from before her eyes.
"Where did he..."
After darting her pupils rapidly, she found Gaon in the corner. How on earth did he get there?
No, considering the power the Heart of Rapid Flow possessed, it wasn't impossible.
"No!"
Kang Cheong-hwa tried to fire a second shot, but Gaon was already devouring the heart.
***
I came to my senses only after I had swallowed the heart.
To evaluate the taste, it was better than I thought.
The outer skin was chewy yet slightly crispy, and the thick, viscous blood-sap inside spread with a subtle sweetness.
The unique, deep, and animalistic flavor left behind a savory, fatty sweetness.
I even regretted not sharing it with Black Heron.
Good things are meant to be shared, right?
But to think I actually had the nerve to eat something with such a horrific visual.
【Hey! Are you alright! Host! Get a grip!】
"Uh, why?"
【Host?】
"Hey, this is delicious. I should have given you some."
Wouldn't the joy be doubled if I shared the good stuff?
"But why is there so much dust here..."
【Host! Dodge!】
Just then, a mechanical whirring sound rang out, and Kang Cheong-hwa was aiming her arm at me.
Her right arm had transformed into something like a Gatling gun. The way it was spinning, it looked like it was about to pour out 9,000 rounds per minute...
"Whoa!"
*Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat!!*
A loud volley of gunfire swept through the spot where I had been standing just a moment ago.
Help me!
I ran for my life, but Kang Cheong-hwa’s muzzle kept tracking me.
"Hey! Stop shooting!"
I called out to her, but there was no answer.
It seemed she couldn't hear me over the blaring alarm and the roar of the Gatling gun.
【Use the power of the heart! You must survive first!】
"The power of the heart?"
Now that I think about it, I just ate the heart. Ugh... how did I even eat that disgusting thing?
But even if you tell me to use it, how am I supposed to?
【A cursed tool assimilates with the body and can be used if you have the will! The cursed tool you have taken must possess powerful strength!】
"Then how do I use it?!"
【Concentrate your magical power. Think of it as circulating through that cursed tool and activate it.】
As Black Heron said, I activated my magical power and directed it toward my heart.
"Ugh!"
It hurts.
It felt like a hammer had struck my heart.
But at that moment, I realized something was wrong with my vision.
"Huh?"
The world had slowed down.
As if time had decelerated.
The gunfire pouring from the Gatling gun flowed like slow motion, and Kang Cheong-hwa’s movements also appeared to be frozen.
I strode toward her.
"Uh, hmm..."
Should I stop now?
How do I stop?
But I didn't need to stop.
Soon, the world returned to normal.
"Gah!"
I gasped for air, nearly collapsing from the sudden wave of exhaustion.
"When?!"
Kang Cheong-hwa’s eyes widened as she turned toward me.
"Wait a second!"
"......?"
"Don't shoot... don't you want to negotiate?"
"Are you... in your right mind?"
"Yes, yes, of course. I'm in my right mind."
Even though my heart hurts like crazy.
*CRASH!*
The Retona that had been smashed exploded.
Not only that, but the sturdy reinforced glass wall was also shattered to pieces.
"Would you consider this diminished mental capacity?"
"......"
What on earth have I done?
***
In the interrogation room inside the Bureau.
I didn't expect to be back here again, but considering what I had done, I was just grateful to be alive.
"Mr. Gaon, it seems you have no resistance to bewitchment."
"Bewitchment?"
"Yes, it is the power cursed objects use to call out to their hosts. Resistance to their wicked temptations varies from person to person, but..."
"It seems I have none at all."
Park Do-kyung nodded.
Between Black Heron, the cursed ring in the Dark Zone, and now this incident... it had been clearly proven.
I was far too vulnerable to the voices that cursed objects used to lure people.
"However, your resistance to corruption is extremely high. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say you are completely immune..."
"That's a bit unbalanced."
"I've never seen a case like this either..."
Park Do-kyung took out a measuring device and measured me once again.
This was the sixth time just in this interrogation room.
"1,190... it really dropped quickly from the 13,000 range. It seems the higher the Karma level, the faster the recovery."
"Whew... 10,000... I almost really got corrupted, didn't I?"
"Awakeners who have awakened their magical power are in the safe zone up to 10,000."
Was I able to avoid corruption because I awakened my magical power?
Or am I just naturally immune to corruption?
Even if I don't know for sure, I don't want to experiment with it for no reason.
"But why did my corruption level rise so much? Doesn't just holding a cursed object cause immediate corruption?"
"That is because Mr. Gaon used the power of the cursed technique excessively."
"Cursed technique?"
Come to think of it, Black Heron also called what I ate a cursed tool.
"A cursed tool refers to a cursed object that assimilates with the body. The more you use them, the more they emit Karma from within, corrupting the user."
"Isn't that dangerous?"
To think I swallowed such a hideous thing.
"In Mr. Gaon's case, you are purifying the Karma emitted by the heart immediately, so you are fine. You are perfectly fine even after overloading your abilities."
"What does that mean? Overloading?"
Park Do-kyung scribbled on a pile of documents and showed me a file.
"Yeouido 6-Second Disaster?"
"It is the disaster caused by a corrupted person who took the and went on a rampage in the middle of Yeouido Park. Just 6 seconds. A disaster where over two thousand people died in 6 seconds."
*Gulp!*
I understood what Park Do-kyung meant.
The ability of the cursed tool that I had ingested was—
"It accelerates the time within your own body. To the point where the world looks like it's in slow motion."
The 6-Second Disaster.
On that day, the corrupted person had killed over two thousand people during that accelerated time.
"You must be careful from now on. Cursed tools cause your Karma level to skyrocket depending on how much you use their abilities. There is no guarantee you will be safe next time."
"Yes."
I don't want to experience the recoil of using a cursed tool twice. Just how many times faster was that?
"But will it be okay? I mean... I've essentially eaten it."
"You don't need to worry about that part. It is actually a great achievement. You've cleared away a special-grade cursed object that was a headache for the Bureau."
I feel like a garbage disposal. Maybe I really have become a trash can in the literal sense.
"I don't want to say this, but if you were to pass away, your heart would remain as the 'Heart of Rapid Flow'."
"Gasp! Then what should I do?"
"When you pass away, please ensure your heart is destroyed or cremated."
Unbelievable!
I'll definitely have to remove the heart from my organ donor consent form.
"Still, this has been proven."
Park Do-kyung grinned, as if he were thrilled by this situation.
"Mr. Gaon has strong resistance to corruption. It is certain now."
Originally, they had intended to measure my corruption resistance using a low-grade cursed object, but this incident proved that even a special-grade cursed object could not corrupt me.
My corruption immunity was guaranteed.
"Let's begin the training."
"Training?"
"Yes. We aren't entirely sure what your maximum corruption resistance threshold is, Gaon."
Normally, an average person begins to face the risk of corruption once their levels hit the 6,000 range.
Even for an Awakened who has unlocked their mana, the 10,000 range is considered dangerous.
In my case, I recovered without issue up to 12,000, but there is no telling what might happen once I reach 20,000, 30,000, or 50,000.
"If you yourself grow stronger, the likelihood of your corruption resistance increasing further is high. Once you become at least a Level 3 Hunter, you should be able to handle one or two special-grade cursed objects with ease."
"How do I raise my level?"
"Well, fundamentally, you just need to keep rolling around in Dark Zones, absorbing Karma, and recovering."
I had absorbed Hunter Kim Tae-jin’s Karma when I first awakened, so that wasn't wrong.
But if it’s just a matter of raising and lowering Karma levels, isn't there a more convenient way?
"Can't I just keep using my Demonic Energy? I can raise it to the 10,000 range in an instant."
"That won't work."
As I tilted my head, Kang Cheong-hwa, who was standing next to me, explained in his stead.
"Think of Demonic Energy as an organ. The blood or nutrients produced by an organ only circulate within the body."
In other words, according to the law of conservation of mass, no matter how much I raise my Karma level internally, the total amount remains unchanged.
"Above all, Demonic Energy requires mana to exert its power. With the mana capacity of a Level 1 Hunter, you cannot use Demonic Energy effectively."
"So, in the end, I have to absorb Karma in a Dark Zone."
Both of them nodded.
"But do I necessarily have to absorb Karma only in a Dark Zone?"
"Yes? Oh..."
"..."
Their gazes met, and their eyes widened as if they had realized what I meant.
*Shing.* Black Heron was drawn.
"I'll poke you gently."
*Whoosh~* Treatment complete.
***
For the time being, I stayed at the Hunter Management Bureau.
This was to sign an outsourcing contract for cursed object storage at the government level and to finalize an external service contract with the Bureau.
I wondered if I really needed to be paid this much, but Park Do-kyung told me to accept it since I had saved them far more in the budget.
"Hmm... then, please donate everything except for one million won to the Immanuel Orphanage."
"…This much?"
"I’m going to keep earning more anyway. And this was something I promised myself I’d do when I graduated from the orphanage."
Donating my first paycheck to the orphanage.
It was the place that had nurtured me with love all this time.
"This amount far exceeds what one would consider a first paycheck, though..."
"Well, you said you’d be giving me plenty of other work, right? I’ll earn it back in no time."
"In that case, how about donating to several places? It is a large sum to donate to just one."
I shook my head at Park Do-kyung’s suggestion.
"No, please put it all into the orphanage. The director will know exactly how to put it to good use."
Considering everything the director does, I wonder if even this is enough.
Even though she told me not to worry about money.
Should I go visit her soon?
No, it’s been less than a month since I graduated; that might be a bit much.
"By the way, are Team Leader Park Do-kyung and Agent Kang Cheong-hwa doing alright?"
"Hehehe! I’m telling you, life is worth living these days."
Park Do-kyung showed me his reading on the index meter.
It read 1,126, which is an incredibly low figure considering it had originally been nearing 30,000.
But what I was worried about wasn't Park Do-kyung’s Karma level.
"No... I meant your injuries."
Park Do-kyung had casts on his arms and legs, and if you counted what was under his clothes, he was wrapped in bandages here and there.
"It couldn't be helped. Simply stabbing the limbs didn't allow for proper absorption."
As a result of stabbing him several times with Black Heron, I found that the closer to the heart, the better for absorbing Karma.
I had thought just sticking the blade in anywhere would work, so I stabbed his limbs back and forth before the medical team guided me to a safer spot.
Right next to the sternum. Between the 4th and 6th intercostal spaces.
They say it’s a relatively less critical area, as it’s where they spread the ribs during heart surgery.
Once I successfully absorbed Park Do-kyung’s Karma, Kang Cheong-hwa volunteered as well, and I was able to absorb a whopping 50,000 in Karma from the two of them.
"I’ll have to rest for a while, but it’s much better than worrying about when I might turn corrupt."
They said Agent Kang Cheong-hwa had also been discharged safely. They are sturdy people in many ways.
"Right. You can call me Brother Park. And you can call Agent Kang, Sister Cheong-hwa. There’s a four-year age gap."
"Ah~ but Team Leader, you look a bit too old to be called 'Brother'..."
"…I’m twenty-eight now."
"No way!"
He looks like he’s forty!
"Try serving as a career NCO... you age quickly in the military."
So that’s why he seemed like an NCO; he really was a former non-commissioned officer.
At my reaction, Brother Park wore a dejected expression.
"Anyway, Gaon, you’re practically my savior. If there’s anything you want to ask of me, just say the word."
"Oh, then please take care of me when I go to the military."
"…? Why would you go to the military, Gaon?"
"Isn't every young man in South Korea required to go?"
I don't have any dependents or disabilities, so I’m a lock for active duty, right?
I was planning on getting my physical exam and enlisting in about two years.
"Hunters are exempt from military service if they are active. Didn't you know?"
"Ah..."
There are some conditions, but they say Hunters are generally exempt from military service.
With over 30,000 Hunters, many continue their activities specifically to maintain that exemption.
It was a benefit I hadn't even considered.
Who knew I would awaken?
"Anyway, now that Agent Kang is discharged, why don't you ask her to help you with your training?"
"Ah, the training?"
"Yes, training to handle Demonic Energy. Agent Kang’s arm is made of Demonic Energy, too."
Now that I think about it, Kang Cheong-hwa’s right arm was a cursed object.
I suppose she’s a Demonic Energy user just like me.
"Right. Before that, Gaon. I’ve brought you a relic to back you up, from the Director."
"A relic?"
"Yes, a relic, not a cursed object. It’s something that can be granted with the Director’s approval if deemed necessary for outsourced personnel. I couldn't bring everything, but you can choose one of these."
Park Do-kyung held out the box he had brought.
As I opened the box, relics emitting a brilliant light revealed themselves.
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