My Gun Can Pierce Through Hunter Story Clichés!

Lee Han-wol’s rapid-fire attack toward Professor Kim was still continuing.

“Since we’re in an era of convergence these days, why don’t you, Professor Kim, try writing something other than medical papers? The field… well, how about philosophy?”

“…What nonsense are you talking about?”

Despite Han-wol’s mockery, Professor Kim tried to maintain his composure and act like everything was fine.

But cold sweat was already soaking his back and buttocks.

Han-wol certainly knew this.

For Han-wol, every piece of information—the dilation and contraction of Professor Kim’s pupils, the direction and movement of his gaze, the trembling of his fingers—was being quantified, analyzed, and processed as big data.

So Han-wol simply continued raising the pressure step by step.

Like a hunter deliberately guiding a deer and gradually cornering it into one place.

“It’s not nonsense. I just thought of a really interesting topic. Is it ethical to experiment on dying patients? How about that? It fits our current situation perfectly, doesn’t it?”

“Kughk…!”

‘What on earth is happening right now…?’

Hye-jin, standing beside them, could only gape in shock at this unexpected and dramatic development.

All she could do was silently observe.

Professor Kim was already drenched in cold sweat and couldn’t offer any rebuttal.

He could only endure Han-wol’s cutting accusations, feeling shame and guilt.

When he started thinking about what would happen to him next, an overwhelming fear crept over him.

But more than anything else, what terrified him most…

Was about his daughter.

“…I had no choice.”

After silently taking the verbal abuse, Professor Kim finally spoke.

“I had no choice to save my daughter! My daughter also contracted magic poisoning! If we could just figure out how Magic Solvent works, surely we could develop a cure…!”

Professor Kim was trembling all over, on the verge of breaking down in tears.

“Hey.”

But Han-wol just stared at him with disgusted eyes.

“Don’t give me that crap. Whether your daughter dies tomorrow or next year, and whatever you do because of it, that’s none of my business. But you should never have touched my family.”

Han-wol’s voice was colder than ever before.

It contained neither anger nor hatred.

Just calm.

And quiet.

Yet murderous.

It was a chilling voice.

“Han-wol…?”

Hye-jin reflexively called out to Han-wol.

She felt an inexplicable and severe sense of discomfort.

She had noticed that Han-wol had changed somewhat since a month ago, but the expression he was showing now was completely unfamiliar.

And frightening.

“Hmm? What’s wrong, noona?”

The moment Han-wol’s gaze turned toward Hye-jin, his face returned to its usual sly expression.

“Oh, well, I was just thinking since we’ve got his confession, we should handle this legally… physical violence isn’t…”

Hye-jin spoke with slight confusion.

Of course, she was extremely angry too.

But Han-wol beside her was behaving so aggressively that he seemed like a different person, which made her feel somewhat intimidated.

Moreover, the indescribable killing intent Han-wol was emitting…

It was overwhelmingly intimidating, even for a player.

Of course, the moment Hye-jin spoke, such killing intent instantly disappeared.

The fact that he could control it at will made it even more terrifying.

“You’re right. There’s nothing to gain from beating this guy up anymore. Let’s wrap this up.”

Han-wol spoke again to Professor Kim, who was keeping his mouth firmly shut.

His voice was no longer as murderous as before.

“You said you did this for your daughter, right?”

Thanks to the dissipated killing intent, Professor Kim could finally gather enough strength to forcibly grasp his trembling thighs and speak.

“Yes…”

Professor Kim continued weakly.

It was both a confession to Han-wol and an excuse.

“I needed data on the Magic Solvent… As you pointed out, the paper was fabricated, but… the possibility that Magic Solvent might be related to treating magic poisoning is real.”

He thought Han-wol would surely react to this information.

That’s why Professor Kim offered this explanation.

Yet Han-wol looked utterly bored, as if hearing facts he already knew perfectly well.

“It’s true that when administered, it does increase lifespan a bit.”

Indeed, injecting Magic Solvent into unconscious magic poisoning patients did slightly extend their expected lifespan.

But that was only knowing half the story.

“But do you know what the Magic Solvent is made of?”

“Isn’t it created through the player system? It must be made of magical substances.”

‘Well, still at this level, I see.’

Han-wol shrugged and continued.

“Professor Kim, have you heard of potions? The things players drink to recover health.”

Professor Kim silently nodded.

“They have similar components.”

Despite Han-wol’s casual tone, as if discussing his dinner menu, Professor Kim’s eyes widened like saucers.

“What? That’s impossible! Even when we administered potions to magic poisoning patients, there was absolutely no change! There’s definitive research on that!”

“Of course. They have different concentrations.”

In his previous life, Magic Solvent was nothing more than concentrated magic stones that Han-wol had personally processed.

Of course, there were additional steps like adding recovery properties and other processes.

But its purpose was far different from ordinary potions.

Soldiers primarily used it when they were on the brink of death.

The reason was clear.

If administered right before death, they could get up and continue fighting.

And afterward, they would meet their death as horrible masses of flesh.

“While it might be fine for players, if ordinary people drink Magic Solvent, terrible things happen.”

Han-wol clicked his tongue and asked Professor Kim.

“Have you ever performed an autopsy on a patient who received Magic Solvent?”

“…I don’t really know. These documents were just given to me.”

Always saying he doesn’t know—if that’s the case, why be a professor or a doctor?

He should at least offer a speculative statement.

Anyway, not wanting to waste more time, Han-wol provided the answer directly.

“If you did an autopsy, you’d probably find the inside completely filled. With cancer cells.”

“What…?”

Professor Kim’s expression showed disbelief.

Hye-jin, who had been quietly listening beside Han-wol, reacted similarly.

She could only cover her mouth with both hands, unable to even let out a high-pitched scream.

It was too shocking.

“When you drink Magic Solvent, wounds heal at a remarkable rate. Life force naturally increases. But ordinary people can’t possibly handle magic. In the end, the healing continues endlessly, and all newly grown cells become cancer cells.”

Both Professor Kim and Hye-jin held their breath at Han-wol’s explanation.

“Eventually, they transform into horrific masses of flesh. That’s all cancer cells. Even the brief extension of life in dying magic poisoning patients is because of this. If the host dies, the cancer cells die too, right? The details are more complicated, but I don’t need to explain further.”

As soon as Han-wol finished his explanation, Professor Kim’s eyes shook greatly.

The expression of someone betrayed by what they believed in.

He must have truly believed this could cure his daughter.

Hye-jin also trembled, realizing what she had almost done.

Han-wol gently embraced her shoulders.

“H-Han-wol, I didn’t know anything… w-what was I about to…”

“It’s okay, noona. Probably no one knew except for me.”

“But I… I almost killed Seol-ha…”

“I said it’s fine.”

The bad person isn’t Hye-jin noona.

It’s Professor Kim standing in front of them.

But in a way, Professor Kim might also be a manufactured perpetrator.

‘Usually, the mastermind never reveals themselves carelessly.’

He was probably just a pawn.

Since he said his daughter also had magic poisoning, he was likely persuaded or threatened through some method.

Of course, that doesn’t erase his crime of trying to harm Seol-ha.

But there was something more urgent now.

Han-wol took out his phone from his pocket.

When he pressed the record button again, a “ding!” sound indicated the video was saved.

“T-that is…?”

Professor Kim looked at Han-wol with a “don’t tell me” expression.

“It’s probably what Professor Kim is thinking.”

Checking the gallery, both the fabricated paper and the conversation were well recorded.

This was still pre-apocalypse, when the nation, society, and law were still maintained.

Of course, he had no intention of becoming a law-abiding model citizen.

But it didn’t hurt to secure insurance against possible government interference.

Professor Kim knelt before Han-wol.

Clutching Han-wol’s pant leg, he pleaded.

“Please spare me…! I, I was wrong!”

“Yes. You were terribly wrong. But hearing your apology doesn’t make me feel like forgiving you.”

Professor Kim let out a loud cry at Han-wol’s words.

But Han-wol wasn’t done speaking.

“For now, Professor Kim needs to help me. Who knows? I might change my mind.”

It was time to summon the boss.

x x x

Yeom Ho-kwon, the chairman of Samsung Hospital, was not in a good mood.

He wanted to spend his weekend in luxurious comfort, but suddenly received a call from Professor Kim.

“Chairman! Please come to the hospital right now!”

The chairman asked what on earth was happening to cause such commotion.

But Professor Kim only mentioned it was related to the Magic Solvent incident without giving a proper explanation.

Tired of arguing, he ended up visiting the hospital again, after having already been there in the morning.

‘Have the results come out already? He could have just sent a report, really making things inconvenient.’

Still, if Professor Kim was this excited, it was likely something with great profit potential.

The only strange thing was that results had come out after less than a day since administration.

The chairman opened the door and spoke irritably.

“Professor Kim, what’s so urgent that you called me so desperately…”

“Are you the chairman of Samsung Hospital?”

When he opened the door, an unfamiliar young man was sitting arrogantly on the sofa.

The sight of him crossing his legs and resting his arms behind him was displeasing.

“Yes, I am the chairman, but who are you?”

After snapping at him, the young man suddenly stood up and started speaking respectfully.

“I’ve heard a lot from Professor Kim.”

The abrupt change in attitude only increased the sense of discomfort.

“About what?”

“What else? The Magic Solvent.”

“What…!”

The moment he heard those words, his heart sank.

When he was about to ask Professor Kim what was going on.

“Thanks to you, my little sister might be able to live. Thank you so much!”

“What…?”

Professor Kim interjected from the side.

“Chairman, you might want to sit down…”

He sat down facing the young man to hear the story.

“Professor Kim, aren’t you sitting?”

“Ah, my back hurts, so I’ll stand here.”

“Your back? Hmm… well, do as you please.”

The situation seemed to be taking an odd turn, but he decided to go along with it for now.

From what he heard, it was good news.