I Became The Only Healer In The Academy [EN]: Chapter 128

128

Seonghyun spent his time at the Academy until the scheduled subjugation of the Rank 2 Gate.

During that nearly week-long period, Seonghyun visited the assassin trapped in Chief Choi’s fissure every day without fail, but he didn’t achieve any significant results.

“He’s holding on better than I thought…”

And now, it was the last day to visit Chief Choi’s fissure before setting out to subjugate the Rank 2 Gate.

“Let’s depart immediately.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The assassin inside the fissure showed no trace of his former self.

His mind was already completely shattered, and the ceaseless pain that surged 24 hours a day seemed impossible to adapt to, yet he eventually did.

“…What are you planning to do with him? At this rate, he won’t even be able to remember anything properly…”

“Ah, that’s not a problem.”

Seonghyun had only used healing so far.

In other words, he hadn’t used purification [a skill that can alter a person’s emotions and mental state].

“I don’t know if you can hear me, but you have to stay here forever. Until you open your mouth.”

Purification was the ability to change even the opponent’s emotions.

The abnormal body that had adapted to the pain, and the spirit that had become devastated as a result.

The man, who had been so broken that he seemed like he would never return to a normal life even if he left this fissure, was restored to his right mind with a single touch from Seonghyun.

“…?”

If his eyes had been devoid of vitality and will before, now he was directing an unimaginable amount of hatred towards Seonghyun.

“He’s refreshed.”

“Y-Yes.”

Seonghyun approached the man who was hanging on the wall with swords piercing his hands and feet.

“Now your mind is perfectly clear, right?”

“Kim Seonghyun!! You son of a bitch!!”

Judging by the very loud curse he spat out, it seemed like he had returned to his best condition as Seonghyun had expected.

“Then, keep up the good work.”

He could have asked if he was willing to talk now or what had happened, but Seonghyun had no intention of doing so.

Judging by how long he had endured, the man probably had no intention of speaking at all.

“H-Hey! Kim Seonghyun!!”

The voice calling out to Seonghyun as he left the fissure continued to echo, but Seonghyun didn’t look back and came outside.

“…How pitiful. I think I would have spoken immediately if I were him.”

“If you can’t even take your own life… I probably wouldn’t either.”

The man couldn’t take his own life.

He had already tried to give up his life by biting his tongue several times, but that place was inside the fissure.

There was no way Chief Choi, the owner of the fissure, wouldn’t know about such a thing.

Moreover, Chief Choi was always by his side as Seonghyun’s escort, always perfectly finishing the healing without any variables.

‘…If Hunter Kim Seonghyun were an enemy…’

The thought alone sent shivers down his spine.

Perhaps he would have been in a similar situation to that man.

“But Hunter Kim. The man doesn’t seem like he’s going to talk…”

“That’s right. He won’t talk.”

Then what was the reason for keeping the man alive?

Chief Choi wondered if he might be useful elsewhere and asked Seonghyun.

“Is there any use for that man?”

“Yes? No. There’s no way. He’s useless since he won’t talk.”

“Then why are you keeping him alive…”

Chief Choi asked in a very cautious tone, and Seonghyun replied with a light smile.

“I’m not keeping him alive, I’m not killing him.”

“…Ah.”

It didn’t take long for Chief Choi to understand the meaning of those words.

He wasn’t being kept alive because he had value, but he wasn’t being killed because he had no value.

The man in the fissure was the one who had targeted Seonghyun’s life.

For that reason alone, the man was not dying.

“No one will acknowledge it, but since he targeted my life, he must receive a punishment befitting that.”

He didn’t have a hobby of torture, but no matter who you asked, the value of the man and Seonghyun was like heaven and earth.

“Um, excuse me. Hunter Kim.”

“Yes. Please speak.”

“Would it be possible for me to join this Rank 2 Gate subjugation?”

“Yes, of course.”

Permission was granted more easily and willingly than expected.

“T-Thank you.”

“Then, Chief Choi… I think you can take charge of the overall support.”

“Understood.”

Chief Choi’s ability was a well-balanced, all-around ability encompassing attack, defense, and support, and he was a competent person who had become the chief of the association at a young age, so he would at least not be a burden.

——————————————–

“Are you all well-prepared?”

“”Yes!!””

The raid leaders of Guild A, standing in front of the Rank 2 Gate, shouted with voices full of spirit.

“Good. Since you are all capable people, I trust that you will make appropriate judgments in unexpected situations. If a situation arises that is difficult to handle, I will let you know.”

What could be more reassuring than this?

In addition to having the unique healing ability, the top hunter in Korea was backing them up.

The fact that they were able to embark on the subjugation of the Rank 2 Gate, which they could never have dreamed of before, was largely due to Seonghyun’s power.

No, it wasn’t just large, it was actually most of it.

“Everyone, maintain a moderate level of tension, and let’s go in.”

Today, not only the association but also reporters were gathered in front of the gate.

Seonghyun’s Guild A, which had only cleared Rank 4 Gates and some Rank 3 Gates until now, was embarking on the subjugation of a Rank 2 Gate, not even having started the subjugation of Rank 3 Gates in earnest.

Seonghyun’s name value was also significant, but the schedule for the subjugation of a Rank 2 Gate by a guild that had been created not long ago was also a major issue.

“Hunter Kim Seonghyun! What do you think the result of this Rank 2 Gate subjugation will be?”

“Hunter! I heard that the number of people in the raid is only enough to handle a Rank 3 Gate, is that okay?”

Questions from reporters began to pour out endlessly, and Seonghyun looked at the reporters and said.

“I will answer with the subjugation of the gate.”

Soon, Seonghyun and his guild members disappeared into the gate.

It was hard to believe that the 11 people who were setting out to subjugate the Rank 2 Gate entered the gate.

“This is… a Rank 2 Gate…”

As soon as they stepped inside the gate, the energy that enveloped their entire bodies was on a completely different level from the Rank 3 or lower gates.

The sensation of their skin tingling made it feel as if they were being urged to leave the gate right now, even if it was late.

“…”

The sound of the guild members swallowing their saliva echoed.

The vast desert, the dark sky, and the feeling of their feet being buried in the sand made it feel as if something unknown was pulling them down.

“Each team should act separately, and don’t let your guard down in the rear. Let’s start.”

Forcing themselves to ignore the feeling of their feet constantly sinking, Seonghyun’s raid gradually headed deeper into the Rank 2 Gate.

“It’s too quiet…”

There was nothing to be felt around them.

But that didn’t mean it had caused a mutation.

The color of the gate they were seeing was the same.

The excessive silence and tranquility were instead increasing their tension even more.

The moment that tension gradually increased to a level that might be a bit too much.

“The ground! Be careful of the ground!”

Less than a second after Seonghyun’s urgent shout, a subtle vibration was felt, and at the same time, a demonic beast with a huge body and mouth burst out of the ground as if it were exploding.

“Kuaaak!”

Even though Seonghyun had warned them in advance, there were some who couldn’t avoid it.

Fortunately, no one was in the very center of it thanks to Seonghyun’s words.

Thanks to that, no guild members were caught in that huge mouth.

“More! Team 1 below and Team 3 below!”

Two more demonic beasts, even larger than the one that had just popped out, burst out of the ground, and this time, thanks to Seonghyun’s instructions, fortunately, no guild members were seriously injured.

“Everyone, stay in your positions…”

Fortunately, these were all three of the demonic beasts, and the numbers were okay since each team was confident.

‘The demonic beasts are stronger than I thought.’

It might be difficult.

Of course, if Seonghyun wasn’t there.

“…Everyone, wait.”

The moment each team was about to attack, an unidentified liquid began to spew out from the demonic beast’s huge mouth.

“A-Avoid it!”

“Kuek!”

The unidentified liquid, which even oxidized the sand as it was, began to scatter here and there.

Moreover, this wasn’t all.

The reason Seonghyun had everyone wait.

“Chief Choi. Can you handle the poison of those huge demonic beasts?”

“Leave it to me.”

As soon as Chief Choi moved to deal with the poison, demonic beasts appeared from the sand dunes in front.

“Hoo… They managed to avoid our cuties’ attacks.”

Those who wore animal bones on their faces.

The demonic beasts, who gave a strong impression of being like natives, were looking down at Seonghyun’s raid from the top of the hill.

“…They seem to know we’re here.”

Among the humans who would soon become the food of the cuties, the only human who was looking at them.

The fact that he had been looking at them since the moment they appeared on the hill meant that he had already noticed them from before.

“Call the cuties back. The ambush has failed.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Soon, a huge whistle sound was heard, and as soon as that sound was heard, the three demonic beasts stopped spewing poison.

Then, they quickly hid their bodies in the sand and disappeared.

“We should at least give them a welcoming greeting. Start.”

With the command of the demonic beast who seemed to be the leader, the demonic beasts who had not yet revealed themselves on the hill appeared.

Holding huge bows without arrows or bowstrings.

Seonghyun’s raid was focusing all their attention on the ground, wondering if the disappeared demonic beasts would reappear.

Only Seonghyun had confirmed that they were preparing like that.

“Those demonic beasts are gone. Now we need to focus on this side.”

With Seonghyun’s words, everyone’s gaze turned to the hill, and on the hill, the demonic beasts with the impression of natives holding huge bows were shining light on the bows and aiming down.

“H-Hunter Kim! That’s!”

The demonic beasts were roughly twice the size of humans.

And since those bows were similar in size to their height, the size of the bows alone was twice the size of humans.

The ominous and huge black energy shining at the end of it had sharply changed.

“Shoot.”

Nearly a hundred arrows began to fly in a straight line, not in a parabola.

“Only the defense ability users of each team come forward.”

The number was at most three in total.

They had to block nearly 100 arrows with three people.

“You just need to not die. Trust me.”

With Seonghyun’s words, the slightly agitated atmosphere disappeared completely, and at the same time, a sword of light was created.

‘I can’t block them all.’

The subjugation of this Rank 2 Gate was also to increase Seonghyun’s experience, but it was also important for the guild’s raid leaders to experience it directly.

Block only one arrow per person.

In that way, he was intercepting all the rest, and something was flying at an incredible speed from behind.

The identity of that unbelievable speed, which was not easy to react to because it had already gained momentum, was an arrow.

The arrow, which was much larger and faster than the ones he was intercepting now, was flying towards Inhwan, not anyone else.

It was too late to block it with his authority.

“Inhwan! Kang Inhwan!!!”

At the same time as Seonghyun’s shout, Inhwan, who was looking at Seonghyun, turned his head at the chilling sensation he felt on his back and used Demarche’s barrier [a magical shield].

However, the barrier was meaningless.

Even when Sangyeon broke the barrier, he did break it in one go, but he couldn’t break it smoothly.

He felt like something was blocking it, but this arrow didn’t.

Whether it was because his magic power was far from enough, or whether it was ignoring the barrier, Demarche’s barrier completely disappeared as if nothing had been there without anything getting in the way.

“…Huh?”