As Ark scaled the Harilal Mountains, he used his Foraging skill to gather all the grass and fruit he could see, cramming them in his bag.

It was so he could test out his newly learned Survival Cooking.

As hed expected, when he arrived at the cave it was crawling with mice again. Because he had cleared the mice swarm before, he was able to recover 2 stat points in just 1 hour. However, his satiety was down to half and his health recovery rate was falling.

It was time to use his newly learned skill.

Well, shall I just put this and that in and mix it up?

Ark rummaged around his bag and put mushrooms and some strange looking grasses in his pot. With the Survival Cooking pot, there was no need to make a separate fire. All you had to do was put in the ingredients, and everything would be automatically heated and food would be made. He added water and after about 1 minute, an explosion suddenly erupted from the pot.

- You have failed Survival Cooking. All the ingredients have been consumed.

Even after that, he tried again and again with different ingredients, but he just kept getting the failure message. Finally, with his seventh attempt, he completed a soup that radiated a fragrant smell.

- You have successfully used Survival Cooking. This is a dish made with the use of Land Fruit and Cochran. However, without personally tasting it, there is no way to tell what kind of dish it is. After confirming its taste, the recipe and its special effects will be automatically recorded in the Cookbook.

Ark quaffed a sip of the soup without a second thought.

There was a sharp feeling accompanying the food down his throat and, suddenly, his vision yellowed. The strength from his body was sucked right out. As his back helplessly twisted, his head struck the floor.

W-Whats going on?

-You have been poisoned with a paralytic poison! The food you have made using Survival Cooking is Fragrant Poison Soup. The effects of being poisoned are paralysis, a decrease in satiety and you cannot move for 10 minutes. Its better not to make this soup.

Holy cow, so this was what it meant by dangerous?

Then didnt that mean that hed have to suffer these kinds of effects every time he made a new dish? Fortunately, he had already cleared all the wolves and mice in the area, but if he had haphazardly made the dish and eaten it, he might have even died then and there.

After groaning and moaning for 10 minutes, Ark was finally able to stand up.

And after shuddering, he tore into the wheat bread he had brought just in case.

Damn, no wonder he taught me this so meekly.

After all, life was not that easy.

***

What the hell should I do with that mouse bastard?

Hyun Woos mind was entirely filled with thoughts of the Demon Mouse.

It had already been two days since Kraydon had updated the quest.

During the past two days, he had gone into the cave dozens of times, but he gained nothing. The caves structure was complicated, but in the end the roads all converged into one place: the lair of the impudently resistant Demon Mouse.

He had also thought about luring the Demon Mouse to a different place and going in. However the Demon Mouse didnt move an inch from where it was planted. In the end he just wasted time in a state where he couldnt do anything. All he managed to do was to restore his cut stat points.

Is there really nothing I can do but to give up like this?

Hyun Woo puffed out a sigh.

The deadline was until tomorrow afternoon. But since he had to go to work in the day, if he couldnt finish this up by tonight, the quest would be cancelled and the Soldiers would be on the move. The room for Hyun Woo to claim his rights would disappear.

Eeeek!

A shriek burst out from within the warehouse.

It was Jung Hye Sun, the night university student who worked part-time at the mart. Though she was smart enough to earn a scholarship, the reason why she was at a night university was because of family circumstances.

He hadnt heard the details, but it seemed like a tough situation.

After being awakened by cold reality, Hyun Woo had become a cynical person.

He didnt even get along with his co-workers at work. There were times when hed been cursed at for that kind of personality. Still, he wasnt like that to everyone. To the few people who truly worried about him, Hyun Woo also treated them with sincerity.

No, could it be that it was their reaction to distance themselves from anyone they couldnt use?

He had cared about those kinds of exploiters more than he needed to.

In this case, Jung Hye Sun was suffering through a plight like his own.

After learning about her family situation, he had taken care of her as if it was his business to.

He had taken responsibility for her mistakes, and sometimes he gave her sodas that he himself hadnt bought and drank for many years.

If hed had a little sister, it would be that feeling.

His consciousness abruptly awakened, Hyun Woo rushed to the scene.

Hye Sun, whats going on?

Mouse, a mouse...

Hye Sun, who had collapsed on the floor, pointed to an area as she trembled. As he turned his eyes towards the area, a baby mouse quickly escaped in between some boxes.

Hyun Woo watched the mouse with annoyed eyes and muttered.

Damn, mice are a problem whether its here or there.

What? Are there mice at oppas house, too?

No, theres something like that.

As Hyun Woo cleared away the boxes to find the runaway mouse, Hye Sun was appalled.

Dont, dont do that. What are you going to do if the mouse comes out again?

It has to come out so I can knock it down.

Oppa, arent you even afraid of mice?

Scared? Of mice?

Hyun Woo laughed. To be sure, in the past he would have been a little scared. These days, there werent a lot of chances to see a mouse. However, now he felt no difference between a mouse and a fly.

New Worlds mice were more realistic than reality. He had killed ten thousand of those mice in the village and had killed thousands of them today at dawn. In addition, he was currently waiting for an opportunity to kill the Demon Mouse. Knocking down one baby mouse was no problem.

Just wait. Ill thrash it right away.

Dont, dont do it. I dont want to see it again. Theres nothing in the world more scary than mice to me. Im afraid just thinking of mice being here. I think Ill have to tell the owner right away and at least sprinkle some rat poison.

It was then that Hyun Woo, who was cleaning up boxes, flinched.

Hye Sun was startled and asked with a shaking voice.

Whats wrong? Did the mouse come out?

Hye Sun, what did you just say?

What? That weve got to put out some mouse poison....

Thats it!

Hyun Woo shouted while clapping his hands.

Why didnt I think of that? Itll be simple if I do that!

Hyun Woo suddenly turned around, grasped Hye Suns hand tightly, and shook it enthusiastically.

Thanks, Hye Sun! Thanks to you, Ive finally found the way to resolve this!

What? What?

As Hyun Woo suddenly grasped her hand and shook it, Hye Sun turned tomato red.

***

Hu hu hu, you doomed mice bastards. Today is the day you bastards die.

Ark had a satisfied smile as he looked at the bubbling, boiling pot.

The tasty smelling, strongly aromatic food was Arks masterpiece, the Fragrant Poison Soup.

Ark stored enough of the completed soup into some pouches and entered the cave. Thanks to the repeated attacks of Ark and the wolves, the cave was already mostly depleted of mice.

Then, when he reached the innermost part where the Demon Mouse was holing up inside, a great number of mice rushed at him while making menacing noises.

Ark fought the rats with his sword, and entered further inside.

Grrrrrrrrr.

Within the darkness, the red lights sparkled.

He had seen it so often that it didnt even occur to him to be scared. They were annoying, flashing eyes that said the Demon Mouse was there once again. Thinking the Demon Mouse was a hindrance, he went forward.

Dont glare at me like that. Today Ive come to bring you a present.

Ark strode confidently to the Demon Mouse, then grabbed and threw the pouch. The Demon Mouse reflexively swung its front paw at it and tore a large hole in the pouch, which spilled the Fragrant Poison Soup.

The Demon Mouse hesitated for a bit. However, no matter how large a mouse was, it was still a mouse in the end. There was no way it could go against its nature.

After crinkling and darting its nose in and out, the Demon Mouse licked the soup.

On the outside, poisonous mushrooms are beautiful. The Fragrant Poison Soup also appeared harmless from an outward glance. The smell was incredibly good, and the taste was also alright in its own way.

The soup must have been to the Demon Mouses liking because, after eating it once, it throughly licked the floor. The other rats had also fallen for the seemingly harmless exterior of the soup and swarmed around.

Thats right, eat lots.

Ark threw the rest of the bags with a pleased expression.

Soon afterward, the Fragrant Poison Soup finally took effect. The greedily lapping small mice convulsed and stretched out. Then, the Demon Mouse must have sensed that something was wrong, because it cried out with a sharp sound. But by then, it was too late.

His trump card cooking was already taking effect in the Demon Mouses stomach.

The Demon Mouse stumbled around and limply collapsed on one side. Belly-up, its four legs, pointed towards heaven, and started to tremble.

Kekeke, you high and mighty mouse shit. Youre no match for me. Then, shall I take a look at whatever youve been hiding? No, I should get my revenge on all the times Ive suffered first, right?

Ark hummed a song to himself as he approached the Demon Mouse. Then, in front of his eyes, a terrifying claw suddenly shot out at him. As Ark instinctively pulled out his sword and raised it, his hands shook.

How, how could this be....!

Arks face went pale. The Demon Mouse he had thought was completely paralyzed had swung its front paw at him.

Something was wrong! Ark urgently turned his body to run away. However, the Demon Mouse had already blocked half of the exit with its body.

Damn it, am I going to die again?

It happened when a hopeless expression surfaced on Arks face.

As it stepped toward him, the Demon Mouse breathed hoarsely and wobbled.

No, the drug is working. Its just that in comparison to its body mass, the drug dose was too small, so the effect is weaker.

Ark, whose thoughts had been racing, gained a light in his eyes.

New World wasnt a game where you could simply hit and slash anyways.

How well he could handle a fighting situation was also important. So there was no reason why he couldnt handle a Demon Mouse that had consumed a paralyzing drug and couldnt properly steady its body. In addition, Ark was already at a state where he had achieved level 10.

Alright, then even if I die, Ill see this to the end!

Ark brandished his sword and began to attack the Monster Rat.

Maybe it was the effect of his level ups, or because of the paralysis, but his attacks were received differently than before. Every time Ark swung his sword, blood spurt out and the Demon Mouse staggered. However, Ark didnt hurry.

The drug effect lasts for 10 minutes anyway. Theres no need to rush.

Ark circled around the mouse and while ceaselessly thrusting his sword. The Demon Mouse brandished its front paw several times, but it lacked the power from before. Ark was usually able to slide past the attacks without difficulty.

However, the system was set up so that avoiding every attack was impossible.

As time passed, the injuries on Arks body grew and his health fell. After 5 minutes of attacking, the Demon Mouses body turned reddish.

Its in critical condition! I can see the end at last!

The critical condition was a phenomenon that appeared after the health was down to 1/10.

Ark pushed the Demon Mouse with more boldness. But when his victory was almost assured, the Demon Mouse suddenly howled and sprung to its feet. Its front paw flew towards him with a speed incomparable to before.

The hell, what, whats going on?

Ark barely managed to block the attacks and looked at the Demon Mouse with a devastated expression.

There were still 3 minutes to go until 10 minutes was up. But the paralysis must have completely worn off because the Demon Mouse was charging at him with full speed.

With one blink of the eye, Ark had been forced to go on defensive.

It was too much to defend against, let alone attack. He saw his health dropping each time he blocked an attack. After blocking about ten attacks, the sword shattered.

- The rusted iron swords durability has reached 0 and it has broken.

Damn it!

At last, even the sword hed believed in disappeared.

His remaining health was 23. Ark hurriedly downed the health restoration potion. However, the Demon Mouse didnt miss that action and struck out with its front paw, hitting Arks chest. Fortunately, since he had used the health potion, his life was barely saved, but the situation was grim. Like the Demon Mouse, Arks body entered critical condition and his body became red.

Damn, what kind of situation is this...

As he dodged the front paw that kept flying at him, Ark exploded in rage. Now he could only endure one hit, at best. If a second hit flew out at him, his cold head would undoubtedly hit the floor.

No, that cant happen! If I give up here, then I have to give up this dungeon! If Im to die, then I might as well bite the bullet! You damn mouse shit, Ill take you down with me!

Ark flung himself at the Demon Mouse. The front paw flew out and smacked his chest, but Ark didnt withdraw. With all his strength concentrated on one hit, his fist struck the bastards forehead.

- With your Undying Will, you have found the Demon Mouses weakness. You have dealt a fatal blow.

In that moment, along with the flashing message, the Demon Mouses movements just... stopped.

The Demon Mouse reared, heaved a steaming breath, and collapsed with all its limbs splayed out. Then, the Demon Mouses appearance slowly turned transparent. With that, his situation became clear.

It was Arks victory!

Is, is this it?

As if to confirm his thoughts, there was a pleasant sound that accompanied his 1 level up.

His legs belatedly began to tremble, as though he had cramps.

As he struggled to raise his head, his life was at just 2. While on the verge of death, in critical condition senses his attack power and chance of critical hits had risen. In addition, his Hand-to-Hand Combat skills hit chance and evasion added up so the damage hed taken was a minimum, he was able to drag out the maximum damage for a miraculous victory.

Ah, now isnt the time to be standing around!

Ark, who was absent-mindedly staring at the Monster Rat for a brief time, suddenly raised his head.

There were still hundred-odd mice still left in the cave.

If the paralysis wore off on the mice while his health was at rock bottom, hed be finished then and there. Ark straightened and glared fiercely at the mice.

Hey, you little mice shit! Shall I make you pay for all suffering you caused?

Fear flashed into the eyes of the shivering, convulsing mice.

***

Then, shall I take a look at the spoils?

Ark, who had completely trampled and killed all hundred-odd mice, checked the spoils the Demon Mouse had dropped. But his expression quickly turned to one of disappointment. The Demon Mouse hed finally killed after escaping the throes of death multiple times hadnt dropped items that were as good as hed hoped.

There was only a thick leather and a Worn Sword.

Black Bear Mouse Leather (Ingredient) The leather of the Demon Mouse, who watched over numerous mice inside the mysterious cave. It is strong enough to block a decent sword, and its ability to block the cold is excellent. It cant be simply used, but if it is processed well, it looks like it can make quality armor.

Armor... this looks pretty useful, huh?

Corroded Sword