"Ow ow ow, let go!"

— Kkuwang.

The red-haired girl shouted fiercely.

But my loyal servant (?) Brie didn’t seem like he was planning to let go.

[T/N: Changing Brie's pronoun from ‘it’ to ‘he’ as it sounds more fitting.]

It was an incredibly embarrassing situation.

I hadn’t sensed anything at all, but the girl was already within arm’s reach.

What’s more, she was in an invisible state.

‘Was Stealth really such a common skill?’

No.

According to Dr. Jin, there are fewer than ten hunters in our country who can use the Stealth skill.

An advanced technique only possible for top-tier Espers.

Yet both Brie, whom only I could see, and this girl possessed the Stealth skill.

On top of that, Brie even has the ability to detect others in stealth.

At this point, it was enough to make me feel incompetent.

This girl must be an Esper type, right?

And a pretty strong one at that.

I activated the Black Aether within me to its fullest and fixed my gaze on her.

I had to be careful, there’s no telling what tricks she might pull.

"Let go! Let go!"

— Kkuwang!

"......?"

Hmm.

Something felt off.

For someone who was supposed to be a capable Esper, she was way too sloppy.

No, ‘pathetic’ might be a better word.

Her expression was fierce, but her eyes were already brimming with tears.

How painful could it really be, getting bitten on the neck by tiny little Brie, barely a handspan in size?

And yet, she was visibly flustered.

She was feeling an overwhelming fear from Brie's attack (?), which could barely even be called more than a little sting.

‘Oh ho.’

So she was the type to panic when her stealth gets seen through?

Or maybe stealth was the only thing she’s good at?

It was either one, or possibly both.

Just in case she tried to activate stealth again, I grabbed the girl’s arm.

“That’s enough. You can let go now.”

– Kku?

Hearing my words, Brie returned to his usual resting place, my shoulder.

"Good job. Very good."

— Kkuwang!

Brie, seemingly pleased by the praise, rubbed his face against my shoulder.

“Wh… Who are you….m!”

The girl struggled, her face filled with fear.

But no matter how hard she tried to pull her arm away, there was no way she could overcome my current strength, which had reached the physical grade 'D' thanks to my skills.

“I want to ask you something.”

I carefully looked down at her face.

She had a cute and neat appearance.

No, considering she wasn’t wearing any makeup, she would be considered a rare beauty.

If only it weren’t for the terrible scar running along one side of her lip.

Her clothes were as shabby as mine, and the gray vest she wore had quite a few pockets sewn onto it.

“Why did you go as far as using Stealth to spy on me?”

I had somewhat expected that threats might be lurking in the black market.

But actually encountering someone targeting me naturally put me on edge.

“It hurts. If you let go, I’ll tell you.”

“And why should I trust you?”

“I’m not lying. If I use Stealth again, that damn thing will bite me.”

She was pretty clever.

I obediently released her hand, just as she asked.

“Let’s introduce ourselves first. I’m Chun Haesun.”

“...Bisu.”

“Bisu? Is that your name?”

“No one here uses their real name for deals. I have a real name too.”

“Ah.”

So does that mean I need to come up with a fake name too?

“Alright, Bisu. What’s your reason for lurking around me?”

Bisu let out a sigh, then replied as if spitting the words out.

“Hey. Why would a pickpocket be hanging around? I’m trying to snatch something and run.”

A pickpocket, huh.

Using an advanced skill like Stealth just to do petty theft.

Seemed like such a waste of talent.

"And you failed miserably?"

“Damn… yeah. You’re so great. I may look like this but I’ve actually stolen over a thousand things here, you know? It’s that damn monster that caught me. Never got caught until now.”

That was probably true.

Even though my senses are sharp, I didn’t detect her presence at all.

If it weren’t for Brie, I might’ve been fooled just as easily.

"I've been watching you for two hours. At first, I thought you were some novice hunter who stumbled in out of curiosity. And that thing you're carrying."

Her finger pointed at the black plastic bag.

“Who comes to the black market with such sloppy packaging? I figured it had to be some worthless item.”

Ah.

To think that the safety of the black plastic bag would be questioned like this.

I glanced at Brie with a ‘Really?’ expression, and he nodded as if to say, ‘Of course!’

My face flushed with embarrassment.

"But as time passed, my thoughts gradually changed. Surely, you came to sell something, but not finding a stall for over two hours is quite telling. This isn’t some department store where people just window-shop, right?”

Had she forgotten that she was caught while spying?

She wore a face quite smug with her own deduction.

"I've concluded that the item you're carrying could be a rare species that can only be traded in a secret area."

"A secret area...!"

Indeed.

Bisu’s explanation cleared up most of my confusion.

As expected, this place was just for show, the ‘real thing’ was somewhere else.

Indeed.

If she hadn’t told me, I would’ve wasted the whole day for nothing.

I was almost grateful she had been spying on me.

“Your guess is right. Inside this bag is a Cupurm Bloom.”

“What???”

Bisu’s uninterested eyes instantly doubled in size.

“Wow..... isn’t this totally crazy? Who carries a Cupurm Bloom around in such a shabby bag? You must be seriously insane... wait a minute.”

She stopped mumbling to herself and suddenly spoke with a smug grin.

“Knew it. I wasn’t wrong. I figured it had to be something incredible inside. Hehe.”

It seemed like a situation where I found her weird, and she found me just as strange.

Bisu clapped the dust off her hands and gave me a casual greeting.

“I'm Sorry I tried to snatch your stuff. But as you know, this is the black market, and there are no cops around. It's a place where the one who gets robbed is considered at fault. Just think of it as stepping in shit. Later.”

“Yeah, like hell I'll let you walk away.”

Sure, she was a little weird, but that didn’t change the fact that she went after my stuff.

You don’t just get to slip away after that.

“Why? What, you gonna report me to the cops or something?”

“No. You said it yourself, there’s nowhere to report it. I’ve got another way in mind for you to pay for what you did.”

“Pay for it… Don’t tell me you’re planning to have that thing bite me again?”

– Kku?

Bisu gritted her teeth and glared daggers at Brie.

Alright, this is the perfect time to bluff.

Let’s hope she’s the gullible type.

I rewinded time in my mind, back to the days before my awakening.

To recall the face of that doctor, expressionless, cold as he handed down my death sentence with a blank expression.

“If all you get is a bite, consider yourself lucky. You’re going to die soon.”

I spoke flatly, mimicking the doctor’s tone and expression from that day.

“W-What… what did you…. say…?”

“You probably noticed too, this thing isn’t your average monster. Not only can it use Stealth on its own, it can even detect someone else’s stealth. That says it all, doesn’t it? And on top of that… this thing is a poison type.”

"Poison!!"

Bisu let out a voice that was practically a scream.

Well, well.

She was way more gullible than I expected.

“You know about poison-type monsters, right? Without strong healing abilities, most people die within minutes. Judging by the fact you used stealth, you must be an Awakened, but even then, you won’t last more than a few hours.”

“Lies… don’t lie!”

“Then keep screaming as you die. Doesn’t the bite itch? It’s one of the symptoms of poison monster poisoning.”

Bisu’s face went pale.

Usually, a bluff shines when mixed with some truth.

Brie's bite does cause itching, but it doesn’t actually inject any harmful substances into the body.

But she seemed to have already recognized herself as a death sentenced patient.

“I... I don’t want to die like this! You kill someone over a petty pickpocketing? You ruthless bastard!”

Seeing her eyes welling up with tears, I felt my heart soften a bit.

I felt a bit sorry, but there was no way I could let it end here.

“You said it yourself. Here, the one who gets robbed is at fault. Even if what’s stolen is a ‘life,’ it doesn’t make a difference.”

“You… bastard…!!”

“So, I’m saying cooperate. If you take me to a place where this living creature can be traded, I’ll cure your poison.”

“Cure? You mean you can save me?”

"Of course. I'm a healer, even if I look like this."

Actually, I was just a ‘healer candidate’.

But who cares.

Haha.

“Your choice. Die within a few hours like this, or guide me to a place where this Cupurm Bloom can be traded. Of course, it has to be a trustworthy buyer.”

“Can you… really save me? For sure?”

A tear rolled down from Bisu’s eye.

Why is a pickpocket in the black market so soft-hearted?

Well, then again.

Whether it’s the black market or anywhere else in the world, there probably aren't many people who can stay calm in the face of death.

“Yeah. I just want to sell this Cupurm Bloom for its true value, that’s all. I’m not into murder.”

"...Damn it."

She bit her lip and hesitated for a long moment.

Her face had turned even paler, what was she hesitating about now?

“I really hate going to Father…”

“Father?”

Just mentioning ‘Father’ drained the color from her face.

Seeing that fear-soaked expression almost made me blink twice.

“He’s the boss of the trading group I belong to. Everyone here calls him ‘Father.’”

“That’s an unusual title. Is he someone you can trust?”

“Yeah. Father’s strict as a knife when it comes to business. But if you lie… there’s no mercy.”

Bisu unconsciously fiddled with her scar.

“Hah. Today’s just my unlucky day. Come with me. I’m a low-level here, but I can help you get in and out."

“That’s good to hear. Let’s go.”

“...Aren’t you going to detox me? I accepted your offer.”

Bisu slyly glanced my way as she asked.

Seeing right through her like that, I couldn’t help but laugh.

"Haha. You think I just started this business yesterday? Your healing happens ‘after’ the deal is done."

"...You son of a bitch."

* * *

If the marketplace I was at just moments ago was the 'hopeful side' of the black market, then the place I've just arrived at could perfectly be called the 'side of despair'.

After following Bisu as she led me this way and that, I finally came face to face with the man called ‘Father’.

“Munch munch. Hmph.”

It was the place where the king held meetings with his vassals.

The structure resembled a royal hall from the Joseon Dynasty in the photos.

The difference was that the lighting and interior decor were unbearably dark and gloomy.

‘Father’ was happily munching on something as he sat in a chair that required climbing several stairs to reach.

‘That guy…..’

Even at a glance, he was far from an ordinary man.

His long, curly hair hung down to his shoulders, and his facial features were thick and sharp.

Beneath a vest made of beast fur, his bulging muscles loomed over.

His overall style was similar to Gu Gyeon from the Glory Guild, but his shoulders looked at least twice as broad.

Considering his seated posture, he must be about two meters tall.

“Chomp chomp.”

Yet, beyond his imposing appearance, there was a more primal sensation.

The meat that ‘Father’ was tearing into.

It wasn’t the scent of any ordinary meat from this world.

Different species may have distinct scents of meat, but their essence is largely similar.

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel✶fire.net

However, what ‘Father’ was eating lacked that very essence.

What he was eating, surprisingly, was monster meat.

Fuck.

Why would someone eat something like that?

Wait, is that even edible?

“Our kitty brought a guest, huh?”

After finishing the meat, ‘Father’ sucked his fingers clean.

Everything about him, from his appearance to his movements, felt raw, almost feral.

At ‘Father’s’ call, Bisu flinched instinctively.

Then, forcing a bright voice, she answered as if nothing were wrong.

“Yup, Father. Hehe. I recognized this gentleman at a glance and brought him straight here!”

You were trying to pick my pocket and now you're talking like this?

I shot Bisu a sideways glance, but I didn't bother to correct her.

She was smiling on the outside, but I could feel deep fear was rooted in her eyes.

“So, kid. What’s in that little plastic bag that looks like it has ice cream inside?”

‘Father’ looked down at me as he picked meat from between his teeth.

Nothing about his gaze or mannerisms was refined in the slightest.

He was the kind of man you’d expect if a child had been abandoned in the jungle and raised like a beast.

But that didn't matter to me.

All I cared about was trading what I’ve got in my hand.

“I came to sell a rare herb, Cupurm Bloom.”

“Oh…!”

‘Father’s’ expression shifted slightly, curiously amused.

As if thinking, “Well, look at this little guy.”

“A Cuprum Bloom. Something you'd only find in a Poison Dungeon. How’d a little brat like you get your hands on that?”

“That’s none of your business. Just tell me how much will you pay?”

“Hm? WAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

His voice echoed loudly in all directions.

It didn't seem like he intentionally imbued it with a special aura like Gu Gyeon did, but it was an overwhelmingly loud voice.

"Newcomer. Even this damn zone has its own rules."

"…You're not saying you won't trade because it's stolen goods or anything, right?"

"Oh ho. Of course not. Around here, the one who lost it is the one at fault."

Sounds just like what Bisu said.

"However, since the Cuprum Bloom has a limited source, it requires a certain level of verification. If that fucking Hunter Association caught the whiff of it, the cleanup can be really nasty."

In short, it means it's an even trickier item than something stolen or robbed.

Seems Dr. Jin was right, if it's not the black market, the only place where rare herbs could be found is the Hunter Association.

"Verification?"

Snap.

As if in response to my question, 'Father' snapped his fingers.

— Grrrrr...

Then, a chilling growl echoed from behind me.

"Gah…!"

Bisu saw the creature and immediately fled in terror.

‘This thing is...’

A beast with a strong, formidable-looking jaw.

But to me, a familiar monster.

It was a Polluted Hyena.

“Wahahaha. What I mean is, prove it right here and now whether you really got the Cuprum Bloom from a poison dungeon.”

If you’ve got the skill, kill the hyena, if not, then die here yourself.

‘Father’s’ method of verification was simple and brutal.

Maybe he wanted to see the look of fear on my face.

‘Father’ slowly descended the stairs.

I responded with a cold, twisted smile.

“I didn't think it would be a kind method.”

“Hm?”

To my unexpected reaction, ‘Father’s’ expression shifted once more.

I had already fully activated the Black Aether on my way here.

Being a poison monster might be a disaster for most, but not for me.

Besides, ironically, this guy was someone I was acquainted with.

— Grrrrrr…

Just like the one I encountered before, it scraped its front paw as if revving up.

No need to give it time to leap.

Gripping the dagger-shaped Exa in my hand, I swiftly moved behind the hyena in an instant.

Slash—

“Oh...”

With a short exclamation from ‘Father,’ I slashed the hyena near its hindquarters.

— Grrrrrrr!

The hyena screamed and jumped out of my grasp.

Then, shortly after, it collapsed like a straw doll.

A somewhat anticlimactic end, but no monster can survive a cut from Exa’s black blade.

In fact, I'd say it held out for quite some time.

The hyena, which had been squirming intermittently, died within seconds.

"Wow..."

Bisu let out a breathy exclamation.

She looked at me with awe.

I turned away from her gaze and turned to 'Father'.

Let's put aside the unnecessary verification and make a deal, Father.

"Well then ‘Father’,” I said the word sarcastically, ”How much are you willing to pay?”