**Chapter 8: The Seventh Trash Can**
"You want me to become a trash can?"
"That was a slip of the tongue. It’s jargon we use internally... What I meant was that I’d like you to become a warehouse."
"I don't exactly know what you mean by becoming a warehouse."
"My explanation was lacking. I will explain it to you step by step."
Team Leader Park Do-kyung began to explain calmly, starting from the basics.
"First, Gaon, your Karma Index is extremely low."
"Wasn't that a machine error? It shot up to 6,000 and then dropped right back down."
"It was not. You underwent a thorough examination with Mr. Kim Tae-jin after arriving here. It is true that your Karma Index is abnormally low."
I think it was something like 0.58.
Even with that explanation, it’s hard to get a real sense of it.
"We’ve never seen an index like this before, so we double-checked it multiple times."
"But when I came out of the Dark Zone, it was over 6,000, wasn't it?"
"That must be the power of your Cursed Object."
As I thought, it seems Black Heron properly absorbed the Karma of Hunter Kim Tae-jin.
If you get corrupted when your Karma Index goes up, can’t you just lower that index?
"So you're saying that as Black Heron absorbed Hunter Kim Tae-jin's Karma, it came straight to me."
"Yes. And that was an incredibly dangerous attempt. Once you exceed a Karma Index of 6,000, there is a risk of corruption from that point on."
However, possessing amazing regenerative abilities, I digested that Karma quickly and it had already dropped back down to the 1,000 range.
Wouldn't it return to the 0 range by tonight?
"You restored Hunter Kim Tae-jin, who had already been corrupted, to his original state using the power of your Cursed Object. This is... a monumental event that has never existed until now."
"Is it that big of a deal? I thought there would be plenty of Artifacts that absorb Karma."
Isn't that the principle by which Cursed Objects grow stronger?
Offering sacrifices, or absorbing blood or Karma.
That means they can absorb other people's Karma, too.
"It’s not that they don't exist. But if one were to absorb a large amount of Karma at once, they would be corrupted without exception."
"Ah..."
In other words, it was a method that no one but me—who remains fine even after absorbing a massive amount of Karma—could attempt.
"Furthermore, since you digest Karma at such a rapid pace, it theoretically means you could return one Corrupted One to normal every day."
"Wow~"
Since I’ve absorbed the Karma, does that mean Black Heron will stop whining, too? Isn't this a total win?
"Of course, I do not recommend it. You might have been fine this time only because you absorbed a newly corrupted individual."
He said that if I were to absorb a Corrupted One with a Karma Index exceeding 10,000 or 20,000, I could be corrupted in an instant.
Then, would it work if I absorbed it little by little each day?
"Based on several analyses, our conclusion is that you have 'Corruption Immunity'."
"Corruption Immunity..."
"Not only did your Karma Index not rise while carrying the Cursed Object, but you also recovered after absorbing a massive amount of Karma. In other words, you possess a trait that can be considered immunity."
Team Leader Park Do-kyung stood up. He bowed his head deeply and pleaded earnestly.
"If it’s you, Gaon, you could save countless people—perhaps even this Republic of Korea. I implore you."
He was asking me to store Cursed Objects.
In other words, he wanted me to become the seventh warehouse of the Republic of Korea.
"Of course, there will be appropriate compensation. The storage fee will vary depending on which relic you are entrusted with, but it will be at least five million won. Beyond that, you will be supported with whatever else you need."
"Five million won?"
"Because the cost for the Korean government to seal a single Cursed Object is at least tens of millions of won."
I don't know how many Gates occur in Korea, but the number wouldn't be small.
They say there are tens of thousands of Level 0 Hunters right now, which means there is enough demand for Hunter missions to keep them busy.
"This is also a cost calculation based on the lowest-grade Cursed Objects. If you can safely store even S-class hazardous Cursed Objects... the amount would be in the tens of billions or more."
"Whoa..."
I don't need that much money, but it’s a dizzying amount just to hear.
They spend tens of billions just on 'maintenance and storage'?
I had been wondering where the national budget was disappearing to; it seems they were spending it all on storing Cursed Objects.
"...I need time to think. I don't know much about my own condition yet, either."
"We understand. You need to report to your superiors and discuss it, so how about a week?"
"That should be enough..."
I was feeling conflicted, but Team Leader Park Do-kyung continued.
"We will also take care of preparing the examinations and tests."
Leaving Team Leader Park Do-kyung’s promise behind, I left the Bureau.
***
Hunter Management Bureau, Director’s Office.
On the heavy walnut desk, it reads 'Hunter Management Bureau Director Oh Kyung-tae'.
The eyes of the old man, who had his graying hair slicked back, were as sharp as a honed blade.
Director Oh Kyung-tae dropped the report submitted by his subordinates onto the desk.
"Is this true?"
"Yes, although more definitive tests are needed, I believe it is only a matter of time."
"Do you think this makes any sense?"
Hunter Management Bureau Director Oh Kyung-tae.
He is a veteran who has been on the front lines of Gate security for the past 10 years.
And to him, having experienced every kind of hardship, this report was preposterous.
"An initial Karma Index of 0.58? The decimal point doesn't make sense, and it shot up to the 6,000 range and dropped to the 2,000 range? In just a few hours?"
"I confirmed it with my own eyes. It is certain."
"Team Leader Park. You know as well as I do that the Karma Index doesn't drop that quickly."
Oh Kyung-tae had watched humans become corrupted while traversing the Dark World.
That world is a contaminated land where even exposure to the air leads to corruption.
Even when they wore gas masks to purify the air as much as possible, and with search teams, civilian Hunters, and raid parties coming and going to minimize exposure time, there were countless people whose recovery couldn't keep up.
And yet, he used a Cursed Object that accelerates corruption, absorbed someone else's Karma, and recovered to a normal level in just a few hours?
And even this is tens of thousands of times higher than the initial index?
Director Oh Kyung-tae’s expression soured.
It was an absurd report from someone who had no reason to lie and would never have reported a falsehood.
"Are you sure?"
"I deemed it sufficiently credible. We are also preparing for precision tests."
"If it’s true, it’s truly an absurd figure. If this isn't a one-time incident, it will be a tremendous... a truly tremendous thing."
The Republic of Korea was saturated.
To be precise, it was saturated with Cursed Objects.
It had been over 10 years since the world was connected to a new world called the Dark World through Gates.
Humanity had discovered countless new substances in the Dark Zones and found new resources.
Among them, the existence of Artifacts that open Gates was a huge help in exploring the Dark Zones.
The problem is the Cursed Objects.
Evil entities that corrupt their wielders and mutate them into monsters, enemies of humanity.
Even if they are isolated and buried, they contaminate their surroundings and bewitch their hosts, eventually causing a disaster.
Because accidents happen even when they are isolated and access is restricted, the storage of Cursed Objects was the Bureau's primary task.
An initial index in the decimal range.
An absurd recovery rate.
And he was fine even after absorbing all the Karma of a Corrupted One.
"Did you keep it under wraps?"
"I received a non-disclosure agreement from Yoon Gaon, and I’ve also kept the mouth of Hunter Kim Tae-jin, who is recovering, shut."
"Yes, yes, you must also block the information that a Corrupted One has returned to normal."
The Karma Index of the Corrupted One, which must have soared to at least 6,000, dropped below 100.
Yoon Gaon had truly absorbed all of Kim Tae-jin's Karma.
If this were to be revealed, the whole world would be turned upside down.
It wouldn't just be positive news. Dangerous eyes would be focused on him as well.
"Team Leader Park. How do you plan to proceed with the tests?"
"First, we plan to experiment on agents who volunteer from our team. The Containment Division has also agreed to cooperate."
Agents of the Special Task Force... Director Oh Kyung-tae could guess who Team Leader Park Do-kyung would bring along.
"Good. With the Special Task Force Chief away, you, as the Team 2 Leader, are the highest decision-maker in the Special Task Force. I leave the Special Task Force matters to you."
Adjusting his glasses, he gave instructions to Team Leader Park of Team 2.
"Proceed."
***
That night, I ordered a luxurious meal.
I ordered both pizza and chicken at the same time.
Half fried, half seasoned, with a sweet potato crust pizza topped with bulgogi.
"Kuh-uh-uh~ Fuck yeah!"
This is Pizza-nara, this is Chicken-princess.
"Black Heron. Do you only eat blood?"
【......】
There is no answer.
Actually, it had been like that ever since I absorbed Hunter Kim Tae-jin's blood and Karma.
Hoping to wake it up, I stabbed Black Heron into a greasy chicken leg.
【Ebet!! Ptooey! Ptooey, ptooey! What is this!】
"I just stabbed a part-timer at the chicken shop."
【Don't lie to me.】
It didn't fall for it.
Why doesn't a guy who whines about wanting me to kill and stab people believe this?
"It was so quiet that I tried to wake you up; did something happen?"
【I was digesting blood and Karma. For ascension.】
"Ascension?"
【That which lies at the end of the path of hegemony. We shall ascend at the end of accumulating blood and Karma.】
What is it talking about again?
"Forget it, how does the chicken taste?"
【It’s a vulgar taste full of grease! If you eat things like this, you’ll become a pig and won't even be a third-rate, let alone a Demon King!】
It’s a guy that eats flesh, yet it’s making a fuss about chicken grease.
"If you don't want to eat it, don't."
【Wait.】
I was about to pull it out of the chicken leg, but Black Heron stopped me.
"Why? You said it was a vulgar taste full of grease."
【You fool! All of this is for your sake, as my host!】
Curious to hear what kind of nonsense it would spout, I listened in silence.
【If I don't eat this, you'll be the one stuffing your face with this greasy hunk of meat! Then, it would naturally turn into fat, and your movements would become sluggish!】
"So, you're saying you'll eat it for me for the sake of my health?"
【Y-yes, that's it! For your sake! I am willing to endure this unpleasant experience!】
"Oh, my! I didn't realize you had such noble intentions!"
*Sob, sob!*
I took the Black Heron, which had absorbed all the chicken legs, and this time plunged it into the seasoned chicken wings.
【Hmm! This is a pungent and sweet flavor.】
"Ah, this is what we call seasoned chicken."
【The sweetness is overwhelming! If my host were to eat this, he would end up a little pig!】
"How about the bulgogi pizza?"
【It's sweet and salty, and the stretchy solid is even greasy! Oh, this is unforgivable. I cannot let my host eat such things!】
*Crunch, crunch.* The chicken and pizza were absorbed into the blade. Finally, I dipped the Black Heron into a cup of cola, and a scream erupted.
【Ack! What is this stinging liquid?】
As expected, it seemed to like it, as it slurped it all up.
【Urrgh!】
Right.
As long as you liked it, I suppose that's all that matters.
【Ah, I almost forgot to mention something.】
"What is it?"
【The digestion of the Karma you absorbed today is complete.】
Digestion? When I asked what it meant, the Black Heron began to explain.
【You possess a trait where you digest Karma as soon as you accumulate it. But that is tantamount to throwing away infinite power. It's like not absorbing any nutrients at all.】
"You mean I'm just excreting it all out?"
【I am speaking, so don't talk about such filth.】
I got scolded.
Anyway, according to the Black Heron, I have a trait that allows me to digest Karma rapidly.
Because of that, it had been extracting only the nutrients and absorbing them into my body before the Karma could be fully digested.
"You didn't have to do that. Isn't that a bad thing?"
【I told you I only absorbed the nutrients. Don't you feel the energy gathering in your Dantian?】
Now that I thought about it, my stomach felt heavy, as if something was pressing down on it.
I had thought it was just from eating too much greasy food, but once I focused on it, it felt as if something were moving inside my gut.
"Oh. I feel stronger than when I killed those goblins."
【You've finally started to sense magic power. That is the essence of the strength taking root within you.】
Does that mean?
【It means you are now a mana user. Among all my hosts, you are the first to learn to wield magic power in such a short time.】
The standard for a Level 1 Hunter.
I had awakened my magic power.
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