Chapter 53: The Poison Veil

“Breaking news? They’re always breaking news.”

Hunter news is like that.

It’s mostly about Hunters or Gates, so new Gate appearances often hit as breaking news.

I’d seen plenty, but this one I couldn’t ignore.

I knew because I’d seen so many.

The reporter’s voice wasn’t the usual “it’s news, but not dire” tone—it was “this is serious!”

• Two days since a Gate opened at Hamak Mountain’s summit.
  
• Yet, the Gate remains unconquered.
  

“Pfft, nothing big.”

I got worked up for nothing.

Just a Gate unraided for two days, not even a week, and they’re making a fuss?

With Gate occurrences up, real breaking news was common, so why this?

Grumbling, I reached for my hammer when—

• The issue is the toxic gas leaking from the Gate.
  
• It’s already engulfed Hamak Mountain.
  
• Spreading unchecked, it’s reached nearby villages, triggering an emergency evacuation.
  

“Toxic gas?”

• The gas is lethal, instantly fatal to non-Awakened civilians.
  
• Even Awakened fare slightly better, but Rank 8 Hunter Kim Min-seok, the first to attempt the raid, is in a coma from poisoning.
  
• The Hunter Association stepped in, but most top-rankers are away on other Gates…
  

The news continued.

I figured other Hunters would handle it, but “Hamak Mountain” rang a bell.

Not a famous mountain, yet familiar.

I checked.

“It’s close!”

Not that close—over ten kilometers away on the map.

But, unlikely as it was, what if the Gate stayed unraided?

The news said the gas was spreading faster.

What were other Hunters doing?

• Hunters attempting the raid are stalled by the pervasive gas.
  
• To reach and conquer the Gate, massive antidotes or many purification-class Hunters are needed.
  
• However, realistically…
  

The gas blocked entry.

Despite being Rank 6, the monsters weren’t that strong.

The problem was the poison.

If raided early, it wouldn’t have escalated.

“Why didn’t they raid it sooner?”

Trouble.

Real trouble.

If the gas reached my house, evacuation orders might come, but I couldn’t bear leaving.

Three options:

Hunters somehow conquer the Gate.

I install a gas defense system at home.

Or—

“Nam Bora.”

• Yes, what’s up?

“Any teams at headquarters?”

My guild.

Others might not know, but Vulcanus Guild, raised as my bodyguards, could step up.

Nam Bora, checking something, replied.

• The Hamak Mountain Gate, right?

She knew my general location, the only one who did.

Bound by a system contract to never disclose my info, she was trustworthy.

She likely connected my location to the Gate.

• Team 1 is resting at headquarters.

“Can they handle it?”

Vulcanus Guild was growing fast.

But they were still growing.

Barely tackling Rank 5 Gates, and Hamak’s was Rank 6.

Was I pushing them too hard?

Nam Bora thought differently.

• Hamak’s Gate is Rank 6 solely due to its potent poison.
  
• Without countermeasures, it’s among the tougher Rank 6 Gates, but with preparation, it’s different.
  
• With perfect measures, Team 1 can handle it.
  

“Measures like gas masks?”

• Exactly.
  
• Not just respiratory protection—monsters cause poisoning on contact, so protective gear is needed.
  

“With those, they can succeed?”

• I believe so.
  
• If it gets risky, gas protection lets them escape safely.
  

Gas masks and protective gear.

If they fully block the poison, Vulcanus Guild could do it.

I nodded.

A Rank 6 Gate’s poison, not Rank 5.

I hadn’t tested it, but I was confident.

I could make it.

“Deploy Team 1 immediately. I’ll start crafting. Have them prepare at the gas’s edge.”

• Got it.

After hanging up, I checked my materials.

Rare fiber from Zone 2: Thread of Purification.

Perfect base.

[Using Production Skill.]

[Select the shape of the item to craft.]

“Gas mask… no, mask.”

I initially thought of a real-world gas mask.

But in the Hunter world, items are more like game gear than reality.

A mask covering the mouth could suffice for anti-poison effects.

[Choose the material for the mask.]

I used pure Purification Fiber from disassembled Thread of Purification.

Then I searched the auction for more.

Purification Fiber boosts status resistance, but I needed poison-specific protection.

No suitable mask materials stood out.

Then—

“Will this work?”

[‘Blessed Antidote’ purchased.]

I bought a high-grade antidote in bulk.

With my crafting experience, I knew.

In a game, using an antidote as a material is absurd.

But this world isn’t a game.

It’s closer to a game than reality, but closer to reality than a game.

“Let’s try.”

No hesitation—I added the antidote as a material.

Thankfully, the system didn’t reject it.

[Crafting begins.]

Clang!

Ten masks for Team 1’s ten members.

The gas wasn’t spreading fast, but quicker was better.

[Progress: 61%…]

Hammering, the fiber wove into fabric.

The Blessed Antidote poured in, soaking the fibers.

As points broke, the antidote fused perfectly.

The Purification Fiber’s pure white gained Vulcanus’ emblem.

[Crafting complete.]

[‘Detox Mask’ obtained.]

The item was done.

Fancy name.

But performance mattered.

It needed to fully resist up to Rank 6 poison.

Nervously, I checked.

[Detox Mask]

Type: Mask

Grade: S

Restriction: Level 40+

Description: Made solely to block poison, the ultimate gas mask.

Abilities:

1. Anti-Poison – Immune to respiratory poisons up to Rank 5. 50% resistance to Rank 6+ poisons.
   
2. Blessing – Increases poison resistance by 30% for all exposure types.
   
3. Poison Defense – Boosts defense and resistance against poison attacks.
   

“Nice!”

Perfect.

No utility beyond poison, but it excelled there.

It granted full immunity to respiratory poisons, though limited to breathing.

Other poison resistance was a bonus, but for Gate combat with poison monsters, I’d need protective suits.

But—

“First, these!”

Ten masks for ten members.

I couldn’t risk subpar quality, so I didn’t ask Crafter 1 for help.

“My precious home, I’ll protect you!”

For the first time in a while, I hammered with urgency.

“Vulcanus Team 1, arrived. Standing by at the gas’s edge.”

• Please wait there.

Team 1’s leader, Park Sang-hyun, reported.

He scanned the surroundings.

“Damn, this poison’s intense.”

“Stay back! It’s dangerous!”

“When’s a top guild coming?”

“Does it matter? Most guilds can’t handle this. The poison’s near Rank 5.”

Chaos reigned.

High-rank Hunters stumbled like zombies, collapsing.

Hunters frantically healed or retreated.

Civilians clung to Hunters, refusing to abandon homes.

The poison’s reach grew.

“Team Leader, it’s a Rank 6 Gate. Can we handle it? We’ve only done low-end Rank 5s.”

A team member cautiously asked.

Park Sang-hyun knew.

A Rank 6 Gate was beyond them.

But he’d heard enough.

“Hamak’s Gate is focused solely on poison. With proper resistance, we can handle it.”

“If the resistance fails even slightly…”

“We came this far trusting Master’s gear, didn’t we?”

With his words, items arrived via guild transfer.

Small masks appeared.

Simple, covering half the face, marked with Vulcanus’ emblem.

Hesitant to approach the gas, the team wavered.

“I’ll go first.”

Park Sang-hyun stepped forward.

Fully immersed in the gas, he closed his eyes and inhaled.

Even Rank 8 Hunters fell to this poison.

Barely Rank 7, or Rank 8 without gear, he risked death.

But he trusted.

Vulcanus’ gear.

Without it, he’d never have reached this point.

Inhale.

A deep breath.

Then—

Exhale.

Exhaling, Park Sang-hyun turned with confidence.

“I trust Master’s gear completely.”

Seeing him breathe naturally in the poison, Team 1 stepped into the gas.

The scene was broadcast live on Hunter News.