chapter 7
Episode 7 Parasitic Growth (1)
The day after the entrance exam.
Kang Seo-jun’s one-room officetel.
[We sincerely congratulate you on being admitted to the Korea Hunter Academy.]
[※Class assignment will be announced later.]
Kang Seo-jun glanced at the acceptance notice that came via text message and put his smartphone on the shelf.
Then, I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror and caught my breath.
He was thinking of taking out from his stomach the material needed to create the skill ‘Parasite Growth’.
Man-eating parasites.
When Seojun Kang created his character, it was one of the debuff characteristics added to earn points and one of the ingredients needed to create the skill ‘Parasite Growth’.
-Kklikkklik!
Kang Seo-jun turned the shower head, pulled it out, and turned on the water.
-Shoot!
The stream of water shot out with great force.
“Sigh!”
– Jump! Jump up!
Kang Seo-jun held his breath and started gulping down tap water.
And before long,
“Whoop, whoop…!”
Kang Seo-jun vomited due to reflux in his stomach that could not withstand its limit.
-Wiggle.
Several tadpoles as big as fingernails wiggled on top of Kang Seo-jun’s vomit.
When I picked it up with tongs and looked closely, it had a black head with no eyes or nose, only a gurgling mouth with sharp teeth.
“I can’t believe my stomach is full right now…”
Kang Seo-jun frowned in disgust, put three man-eating parasites in a cup and left the bathroom.
“Whoa….”
I shake off the bitterness in my stomach with one sigh.
With this, all the ingredients to create the skill ‘Parasite Growth’ have been obtained.
Park Shin-hoo’s blood from yesterday’s fight.
The man-eating parasite that was just vomited out.
A bag of rich dirt I picked up on my way back home.
And the disposable combination box, mana crystals, soul tree seeds, curse doll, curse awl, parchment, etc. Bought at the dimension store….
Finally, the needle that will draw out Kang Seo-jun’s blood.
“Let’s get started.”
Kang Seo-jun first cut off the clothes with Park Shin-hoo’s blood on them and placed them inside the cursed doll.
Then, he pricked his finger with a needle, drew blood, and applied his own blood to the curse awl.
At this time, Kang Seo-jun worked hard to prevent blood from mixing.
The curse was a task in which the man-hours could change immediately even if there was a slight error in the process.
After the blood work is completed, spread rich soil under a combination box the size of a human head, and sprinkle finely ground mana crystals on it.
Then, the cursed doll is laid down on the dirt, and the soul tree seeds are planted inside the cursed doll.
Finally, drive the curse awl into the doll, being careful not to crush the soul tree seeds, then cover it with parchment and close the combination box.
-Tup!
All processes were completed according to the combination method that Seojun Kang had memorized. Now all I have to do is wait a little while.
-Pusik! Pusik! Peeing!
-Pang!
The combination box rattled, emitting smoke, then burst like a balloon and disappeared.
[Combination success! You have acquired the skill ‘Parasite Growth’!]
“It’s done!”
The combinations in the game and the combinations in real life feel very different, so I was wondering what would happen if it didn’t work, but fortunately that problem didn’t arise.
Kang Seo-jun immediately opened the skill window and checked the newly acquired skills.
───────《Skill》───────
▶Name
Parasitic growth
◆Grade
[Narrative]
◆Description
-Absorbs 20% of the experience gained by the host and uses it as food for the growth of the parasite.
-Current host: Park Shin-hoo
※Special Effect 1. With ‘parasitic growth’, each time the ability increases by 1 point, you can exchange one desired characteristic with the host.
──────────────────
It is a skill that not only allows you to quickly overcome early weakness, but also allows you to consistently keep a troublesome villain in check even in the latter half of the game.
“Good. Good.”
What I especially like is the special effects.
Every time the ability level increases by 1 point due to parasitic growth, one of Park Shin-hoo’s good traits can be stolen, or Kang Seo-jun’s trash trait can be passed on.
Right now, rather than bringing in Park Shin-hoo’s characteristics, it will be used to quickly pass off Kang Seo-jun’s trashy characteristics.
“The first thing to pass on is…”
◆Characteristics
[Terminal cancer Lv. Lowest level]
“This must be it.”
Thanks to his superhuman willpower, Kang Seo-jun himself felt it, although he didn’t show it outwardly.
Considering the rate at which my body deteriorates day by day, I realize that there are only a few days left for me to survive with willpower alone.
The good news is that there is a high probability that Park Shin-hoo is gritting his teeth and engaging in training by now.
Park Shin-hoo was the type of person who would make every effort to crush an opponent stronger than him in any way possible.
[Strength experience increases by stealing the host’s experience!]
[Strength experience increases by stealing the host’s experience!]
The tiger also said it would come if I told it to, and as soon as I could say it, the experience was delivered.
───────《Status Window》───────
▶Name
Kang Seo-jun
◆Ability level
[Strength: 1], [Dexterity: 1]
[Durability: 1], [Anti-demon: 1]
[Stamina: 2], [Magic Power: 1]
[Sense: 1], [Intelligence: 8]
[Will: 30], [Luck: 50]
◆Characteristics
[Eye of Providence Lv. Transcend], [Dimension Shop Lv. Transcend], [Favored One Lv. Transcend], [Highly Obese Lv. Lowest], [Necrotic Dermatitis Lv. Lowest], [Hunchback Lv. Lowest Level], [Clubfoot Lv. Lowest Level], [Twisted Arm Lv. Lowest Level], [Sick Constitution Lv. Lowest Level], [Mana Insensitivity Lv. Lowest Level], [Man-eating Parasite Lv. Lowest Level]]]]]]………
◆Skill
[Time to Counterattack Lv. Epic], [Parasite Growth Lv. Epic]
───────────────────
At this rate, I think we will be able to move cancer to the next level sooner or later.
◆Characteristics
[Man-Eating Parasite Lv. Lowest Level]
“I need to hand this over as quickly as possible.”
They are still in an infantile state and are not causing any trouble, but when they grow up, they not only gnaw away at the host’s body, but eventually even pop out through the stomach.
They can’t even eat elixirs while they’re in the stomach, so even the easiest means of growth are limited.
This is because these guys steal the elixir from the stomach and eat it, so the absorption rate of the elixir decreases and the growth and reproduction speed of the parasite increases explosively.
If you want to speed up your ability growth with the elixir, it would be best to process it as quickly as possible.
“Then now… The important thing is over…”
So far so good….
-Gurgling….
A strange feeling of being hungry but having no appetite.
But there was nothing to eat in this house, and Kang Seo-jun had no money.
First of all, I need to fill my stomach, but what should I do?
“Let’s lie down first.”
Even if you think about it, you should do it in an attitude that conserves as much energy as possible.
For this body, even one calorie is a huge resource.
Kang Seo-jun returned to the bed and lay down next to him.
It was impossible to lie down due to my bent back.
“Cough…! Cough…!”
-Ssam! Scum!
“Huh…”
The condition worsened significantly over the next few days.
Breathing has become more difficult, and my head feels dizzy as if there is noise.
He could still hold on with his willpower, but he was afraid that if he continued like this, he would suddenly stop breathing.
“What happens now…?”
Once you enroll, there is no problem with lodging.
The school provides boarding for all students and three meals a day.
But the problem is that there are still two weeks left until admission.
“2 Weeks like this….”
No matter how strong the will, there is a limit to what a person can endure.
If a person with a fatal disease stays in his room for two weeks without being able to eat properly, he will definitely die.
These two weeks were just skipped time in the game.
But since the game became a reality, things like skipping time didn’t happen.
In the end, I had no money and all I had was a dying body, but I had to somehow endure for two weeks.
“You’re screwed….”
If you try to work part-time jobs like labor or loading and unloading to make money, your health will get worse because you are in poor physical condition.
Still still, that is the worst effort.
In a situation like this, I wonder if Park Seo-yoon would have accepted the money when she said she would compensate.
Should I contact you right now?
The idea was dismissed in less than two seconds.
Putting aside the embarrassment, I don’t know what risks I’ll be taking if I get involved with them now.
It is not profitable to take such a risk just to fill a hungry stomach.
It’s not like there were no other means at all.
“After all, this is all there is.”
◆Characteristics
[Dimension Store Lv. Transcendence]
Dimension stores also sell food.
Like [Prosperity Yeongyang Gang] Or [Ancient Fairy Bread].
Not only are these foods rich in nutrients, they taste great and are easily digested, so even critically ill patients like Kang Seo-jun can eat them without difficulty.
Some even increase abilities like elixirs when taken over a long period of time, while others give temporary buffs to abilities.
However, it is that expensive.
Especially in times like now where every penny of dimensional currency is precious.
Even if you buy food at the dimension store, it is impossible to buy enough food to last for two weeks since you have used up almost all of the dimensional currency you sponsored to create the skill ‘Parasite Growth’.
Right now, it is more urgent to give up cancer than to provide food, so I spent generously….
Now that we have overcome the risk of dying from cancer, we are now in danger of starving to death….
“It’s fun.”
[Will: 30]
Despite this situation, rather than being mentally shaken, I feel energized for no reason.
Willpower is working so hard, but I don’t know what 50 Luck is doing when I really need it.
“Something doesn’t fall from the sky.”
That’s a whopping 50 lucky points.
At a time like this, shouldn’t something come out?
-Ding Dong.
“Huh?”
While I was thinking that, the doorbell rang.
“Ugh….”
Kang Seo-jun struggled to get up and limped toward the door.
I’ve only been lying down for a moment, but the part that was pressed on feels numb as if it’s going to burst.
“Who are you?”
Kang Seo-jun asked in a very hoarse voice.
“Hello! By any chance! Is this Kang Seo-jun’s home?”
The voice heard beyond the door was a woman’s voice with some spirit.
Kang Seo-jun tilted his head and frowned.
What kind of event is this again?
“Who are you?”
Kang Seo-jun was prepared to launch a counterattack at any time.
Since something like that happened yesterday, it wouldn’t be surprising if a bad customer came over.
“Ah! That! I’m a new student at the Korea Hunter Academy! My name is Jin Se-rin!”
“Yes?”
Who?
As soon as I heard that name, my wariness was replaced by confusion and doubt.
Why does Jin Se-rin come here?