I Became The Only Healer In The Academy [EN]: Chapter 7

7

[Selection time has expired.]

I was dumbfounded.

To impose strange restrictions on an ability I didn’t even want, and now to make it impossible to even choose it.

‘…Are they playing with me?’

If there is a god, they’re probably looking down at me and chuckling right now.

[A new quest will be created as an unselected perk.]

[Do you accept?]

‘A new quest?’

After being silent until I faced the goblin, then prompting me to choose with a time limit and no explanation, they’re now offering a new quest instead of other options. Seonghyun frowned.

‘Ha, no choice.’

Still, it’s a quest, which means a reward will follow. Seonghyun accepted without much hesitation.

[Eliminate 100 monsters]

[0/100]

[This quest must be completed alone. Using healing during the quest will result in failure.]

[Reward: A New Path]

‘A new path, huh.’

Considering that Saint and Paladin were just paths to choose, this new path must be one that can only be reached by completing the quest.

‘That means it’s even better.’

Of course, it could be a penalty for not choosing, but Seonghyun decided to think more positively.

“Um…”

“Ah, yes.”

“Thank you so much for today. I don’t know how to repay you…”

“It’s okay. Just think of it as good luck.”

Seonghyun didn’t really hear Hayeon’s words.

He was just preoccupied with how to solve this new quest.

“Still, you saved my life, so… if you don’t mind, could I get your number?”

“Ah, yes. And you don’t have to worry too much about it. If it wasn’t me, anyone else in that spot would have tried to save you.”

Fortunately, no other monsters appeared while Seonghyun and Hayeon headed to the gate.

It seemed the monsters near the gate had moved towards the puddle because of the smell of blood.

“Go in carefully. I have to go quickly, so I can’t escort you.”

“Ah, no! Thank you so much for today. Then, Seonghyun, you go in carefully too.”

Hayeon bowed to Seonghyun and turned back, and Seonghyun also nodded slightly before entering the store just before the gate closed, disposing of the core he had obtained today.

“100,000 won, huh…”

That was quite a lot of money for the short amount of time he spent.

Compared to the 130,000 won he earned from labor before his regression, it was a very high income for the time.

However, back then, if Seonghyun was even slightly injured, his whole family would have been ruined, so there was no choice.

“Can I take care of 100 before the Academy starts?”

Without anyone’s help, and without using his healing ability, he had to eliminate 100 monsters, so he would probably have to stay inside the gate all day.

There were only 4 days left until the Academy started.

He had to hunt about 25 monsters a day to set foot on the new path before the opening.

“Who is it?”

Seonghyun yawned widely as his phone rang in the morning and answered it.

“Hello?”

“This is the Vice President.”

“Ah, hello.”

“I hope I’m not calling too early?”

Seonghyun checked the time at the Vice President’s words.

‘6 AM…’

“Ah, yes. I just woke up. More importantly, what’s the matter…?”

“We plan to disclose it to the media this evening. I was calling to see if you had changed your mind…”

“There’s no change. You can handle it as the Association wishes.”

Seonghyun’s answer was firm, but the Vice President’s voice on the other end of the line was full of concern and worry.

“The moment it’s released to the media, regardless of restrictions, at least the hunters and guilds in Korea will try to contact you, Seonghyun. Of course, the guards are blocking them now, but you can’t stay at home forever. Neither can your family.”

The Vice President’s words made sense.

The Vice President did not want a citizen, and their family, to suffer in order to enhance the nation’s prestige.

“I’ve already prepared for it anyway.”

“…Then, at 6 PM today, Kim Seonghyun will be revealed to the media.”

“Understood.”

Since he didn’t have any close friends, there was no one to talk to about the media except his family.

“I should hunt as many monsters as possible from lunchtime and be home in the evening.”

As he fiddled with his phone while lying down, it was almost time for breakfast.

“Son, are you awake?”

With a pleasant voice, Seonghyun got up and went to the living room where the table was set.

“Do you like the house?”

“What does it matter whether I like it or not? It’s a house we live in thanks to our son. Of course, I love it.”

Despite having basic living expenses guaranteed, Seonghyun’s mother continued to go to work.

“Um… I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Oppa [Older brother, used by females], lately, you seem… very serious.”

“He’s matured. You should mature too. Don’t just gain weight.”

“…Never mind.”

“Actually… I’m going to be on TV at 6 PM today.”

“What?”

“What did you say?”

His sister and mother dropped the spoons they were using to scoop rice and looked at Seonghyun.

Their son and brother, who had lived quietly without causing any major accidents, was suddenly going to be on TV.

“I decided to reveal my ability.”

“…So you finally decided.”

“Really? Then is my brother becoming a celebrity now?”

“I don’t think it’ll be that much. The system isn’t fully established yet, so they won’t reveal everything.”

Seonghyun wasn’t too worried about the Association’s decision.

The Association had been racking their brains to improve the country’s declining prestige, so they knew better than anyone how to utilize this situation.

“Anyway, that’s what’s happening, and I’m coming out today, so you have to be careful from now on.”

“Okay, I believe in what you’ve decided. Don’t worry too much. There are so many guards that we don’t have to worry about thieves.”

“…”

Seonghyun couldn’t bring himself to look up during the meal because he felt so sorry.

The fact that the power to protect his family came from someone other than himself felt quite miserable.

‘…Let’s just endure the Academy.’

Seonghyun finished his meal and immediately began preparing to head to the gate.

There were several gates across the country, but the gate he went to yesterday seemed to be the most suitable for filling the number of 100.

“Is it the Vice President again?”

Seonghyun checked his phone as it rang again, but it was a number he had never seen before.

“…Loan?”

Seonghyun sighed and answered the phone, as loan-related calls usually came at this time.

“I’m not taking out a lo…”

“Ah… Is this Kim Seonghyun’s phone?”

Recognizing a somewhat familiar voice, he traced back his memory and realized it was Hayeon, whom he had saved yesterday.

“Ah, yes. Is this Lee Hayeon?”

“Yes, yes! That’s right. I was wondering if you were free today…”

“What’s the matter? Did something else happen?”

“Ah, no. It’s nothing like that. I was just wondering if you’d like to go monster hunting together today.”

“Ah…”

Normally, he would have welcomed it, but unfortunately, the new quest required him to hunt alone.

“I’m sorry. I have circumstances…”

“Ah, it’s okay. We only met once yesterday, but I was being too friendly, right? Have a good day today!”

Hayeon quickly hung up, and Seonghyun finished preparing to head to the gate again.

“I’ll be back before 6 PM.”

“Okay, take care.”

“If it’s this much by 6 PM…”

Seonghyun looked at the window in front of him.

[Monster Eliminated 18/100]

He felt like he had been hunting non-stop, but the subjugation that started around lunchtime only resulted in 18 monsters.

‘There are too many variables.’

Since it was a gate fully open to low-level hunters, there were many other hunters, and more than anything, if another hunter even touched a monster, it wouldn’t count towards the 100.

“Oppa, is the TV appearance on the news?”

“Anything’s fine. Has it started?”

“Your name hasn’t come out yet, but they’re talking about healing abilities.”

At his sister’s words, Seonghyun immediately went to the living room.

His mother was already there, watching TV with a slightly nervous look.

[…Until now, there have been no hunters with healing abilities, but this morning, the Association provided information that… there is news that a hunter with healing abilities has appeared.]

[The Association has decided not to disclose all of the hunter’s personal information. According to the information released so far, he is a male student in the first year of the Academy.]

The Association showed a small consideration for Seonghyun.

If they had revealed both his name and face, even ordinary people who were not hunters would have been conscious of Seonghyun, but fortunately, that would not happen.

“But if they do that, won’t no one know that Oppa has abilities?”

His sister had a slightly dissatisfied expression.

She felt that if her brother had gained such a great ability, it would be meaningless if no one knew.

“No, the people who need to know will know anyway.”

“How?”

“They can investigate the people who visited the re-awakening center recently and the people who received support from the Academy.”

“Then will everyone at the Academy know?”

“Um… the people who can see the re-awakening center visit list and the Academy scholarship applicant list will know. That’s enough.”

His sister seemed a little confused and soon turned her gaze back to the TV.

Hayeon, who had finished subjugation, took a shower and came out of the room feeling refreshed.

“Miss! How was subjugation today?”

“Always the same. Please get me some coffee.”

“Yes!”

She habitually turned on the TV and sat on the sofa, and unbelievable news was coming out.

[With the appearance of a hunter with healing abilities…]

“…What? Healing ability?”

Hayeon, who knew very well the weight of that ability, stared at the screen in a daze.

‘Healing, could it be Seonghyun?’

No matter how she thought about it, there was no one else who seemed to have healing abilities other than Seonghyun.

No matter what kind of medical skill or medicine existed in the world, there was no way to heal the wounds Hayeon had suffered that day in such a short time.

“I’ll leave it here.”

“You know…”

“Yes.”

“When can I get the list of people who received scholarships from the Academy’s ability re-awakening center and the Academy?”

“Um, I can bring it to you tomorrow.”

“Please.”

Hayeon was already convinced.

However, she wanted to completely rule out the possibility that it might not be.

‘He was an Academy student.’

Hayeon was also an Academy student.

She was going to graduate after finishing the first year, but it seemed like she had a reason to stay longer.