/
[Kyaaaaa!]
The guardian, named [Black Imugi], continued to zone us away so that we couldn’t approach [Daji].
There were times when its tail, the size of a truck, would bend and flick at a tremendous speed, driving itself into our sides. When we jumped into the air and tried to aim for its eyes, it would spray poison mist or open its mouth to bite and tear into our bodies. Its speed was also incredibly fast; it seemed difficult to approach the Imugi without taking any damage in return.
In addition, even if the attacks hit, its scales were so hard that the attacks did not cause any significant damage–only slight bruises and scratches. Because of its strong resistance to magic, the Imugi did not move a single inch in the face of large-scale magic explosions.
‘So, there are times when Seo Dawon is useless too, huh
’
If I were a mage, this battle was so one-sided to the extent that I’d run away.
However, Seo Dawon did not seem particularly anxious and kept using a wide variety of magic that didn’t seem to work. I thought he would have some plan. Seeing the Imugi raise its head–still intact and fine–after Woo Ragi’s echo sword attacks, the inside of my mouth felt strangely gritty.
Of course, I couldn’t just tranquilly watch Seo Dawon cast magic. The bodies that were hanging from the wooden poles stretched their arms straight, turned into a mass of jiangshi 1, and attacked us.
The corpse’s eyes rolled up in their heads; they rushed towards us. Because I’ve experienced this sort of situation before, I wasn’t intimidated; however, the [Jiangshi] emanated a problematic and tricky ‘corpse poison.’ 2
“My throat and eyes are stinging.”
“Get to Jaemin-ie before it gets worse.”
“

”
The [Jiangshi] would rush in with bodies bloated with alcohol and upturned pupils. However, they weren’t so bloated that they couldn’t properly stretch their arms out; the bodies maintained a neat posture. In addition, their nails were green, as if moldy; whenever they swung their arms, a threatening sound ripped through the air.
I noticed that the [Jiangshi] main weapons were their hands. I tried to cut off their wrist bones while holding the dagger in a reverse grip.
However, as the dagger struck the [Jiangshi’s] wrist, a sound like iron hitting iron rang out; the strike didn’t seem effective. So, I had no choice but to aim for its relatively soft elbow. Even if I cut that off, however, the monster would quickly attach its body together again; I had no choice but to defend myself.
Furthermore, most of Jung Garam’s skills were close combat oriented, so I was unknowingly exposed to the [Jianghi’s] corpse poison.
It wasn’t serious enough for me to succumb to some abnormal status effect, but my condition continued to deteriorate. After hearing my complaints, Seo Dawon told me to go to Bae Jaemin in a kind voice; I felt a little frustrated at that. Even though his words were valid, I felt greatly defiant. However, I wiped all notion of that annoyance from my face and turned towards Bae Jaemin, following Seo Dawon’s orders. I was exposed to poison I could no longer ignore, anyway.
Bae Jaemin stood behind us–in the most protected position–watching the battlefield and casting buffs in anticipation of the guild members’ injuries. As I approached, Bae Jaemin turned a nervous look on me; I must have seemed fine at a surface glance, though, for he turned his head away without saying anything.
“Use your cure on me.” I said.
“

”
Feeling ignored, I called out to him demandingly. Bae Jaemin simply reached out to me expressionlessly and deployed [Cure].
“

?”
However, as soon as the [Cure] began to take effect, I suddenly felt dizzy–head spinning. Simultaneously, dark red blood poured out of my mouth and nostrils.
As soon as I sensed the abnormal consequences, I immediately wondered if Bae jaemin was finally showing his true colors. So, stumbling, I looked up and glared at Bae Jaemin.
“Jung Garam!” However, the bastard ran to me with a stark, pale face. I raised my dagger up and out, as if to tell him not to touch me, but the bastard did not care and pulled me towards him without hesitation. Then with one hand on my chest and the other on my head, he recited some strange spell. “[Sacrificial Exchange].”
Perhaps due to the current skill’s effects, brilliant wings that didn’t fit with Bae Jaemin unfurled behind the Priest’s back. The flashy wings, which looked like they were formed from curtains of light, flapped a few times before disappearing into pieces.
However, the effect was as amazing as the skill’s performative qualities. As soon as the wings disappeared, my pain did as well–as if it had been washed away. My poor condition due to the spreading poison had recovered.
“

What’s that?” I couldn’t hold in my admiration and muttered sourly.
I could hear Bae Jaemin’s chilly voice from above my head. “I’ve finished so put away that dagger.”
As soon as I heard that voice, my momentary embarrassed admiration vanished. Moreover, I felt frustrated with his lukewarm weight leaning against me.
Since Bae Jaemin was only slightly taller than Jung Garam, I could see his philtrum quite close; I wanted to punch him and knock him over. Moreover, the bastard I was angry that I showed him my vulnerable side.
However, before I could hit him, Bae Jaemin suddenly faltered and collapsed. Bewilderment overtook my irritation. “I didn’t even hit him yet?”
“
Shut up and get lost.” Bae Jaemin pulled himself back on his knees and spat out dark blood; he raised his sweat-laden face my way. He looked how I looked earlier–poison seeping through his body. Eyes bloodshot–veins popping at the edges of his irises–he looked like someone on the verge of death.
Instead of assisting him, I raised his chin up with the dagger I was holding. Then, lowering my voice so the other guild members couldn’t hear nor pay attention to what was happening, I said, “What are you scheming?”
“What?”
“What’s with the overreaction? [Sacrificial Exchange]? Why did you use such an uncomfortable skill?”
“Haah
 If you’re going to talk nonsense, then hurry up and get lost.”
No matter how much I thought about it, I wondered if it was necessary for Bae Jaemin to act so kindly towards Jung Garam.
Because I believed that Bae Jaemin might have colluded with the assassins who entered this dungeon, the Priest’s pale face was nothing more than smoke and mirrors. However, Bae Jaemin continued to stubbornly glare me in the eye; his lips thinned as if he had something to say before pushing away the dagger. “It’ll be my responsibility if you die, so don’t misunderstand and get lost. Don’t come crawling back like a fool because you’ve gotten poisoned again.”
“How many times a day can you use this spell?”
“
Once.”
“Then what about the next guild member that succumbs to poison?”
“Haah
 Do you think everyone fights like a fool like you? You always take so many risks–this time too
!”
While listening to him, I suddenly cut a line across my palm with the dagger. Though it painfully stung for a moment, the pain soon disappeared. Bae Jaemin flinched before wrinkling his brows.
A faint smell of iron began to exude from where the bastard was grabbing my collar. As expected my wounds transferred onto the Priest.
Bae Jaemin retreated from me with a slightly frightened face, realizing why I had cut myself. I didn’t even need to clench my fist and widen the cut; it was clear that I had tide had turned in my favor.
“Will all the wounds I suffer be transferred to you?” I asked, grinning.
Even though looked scared enough to chatter his teeth, Bae Jaemin confessed calmly, “
Only for two hours.”
“If I were to get hurt until I’m on the verge of death, will that be transferred to you?”
“Why don’t you try and find out.”
“Should I?” My eyes closed into crescent moon smiles.
Bae Jaemin clenched his trembling fist, trying hard not to show how rattled he was in his expression. “Don’t.”
I carefully looked at Bae Jaemin’s regret-stained expression before poking him in the cheek with my finger. Though the priest looked uncomfortable, he sat perfectly still. Enjoying his humiliation, I asked him in gentler voice, “Jaemin-ah, you need something from me, right?”
“

”
“Honestly, unless you’re a pervert
 You must have some ulterior motive to continue to cling close to me–especially when you know how much I hate you.”
“

”
“It’d be much more comfortable for you to just say what you want from me. I might give whatever it is to you.”
Bae Jaemin now looked at me with a contemptuous gaze. However, I saw faint signs of conflict within his eyes.
“Is it because of Beatrice?” I asked.
“

”
Maybe I was wrong; Bae Jaemin repressed his momentarily exposed emotions and lowered his head. “If you’re done talking, get lost.”
Then, a congratulatory notification appeared before me.
Footnotes
Reanimated corpse monsters in Asian lore 시독 (si-dok) = virulence or poison that’s released due to decomposing organic matter.