I Became The Only Healer In The Academy [EN]: Chapter 152

152

“You’ve arrived?”

“You’re alone?”

As a basic precaution, forming teams of at least two was fundamental.

The fact that such a basic principle couldn’t be followed meant an urgent situation had arisen.

For the mighty United States.

“So, what exactly happened?”

“Hunter Kim Seong-hyun, you previously reviewed that video, correct?”

“Of course. The one titled SOON.”

“They… have begun their activities.”

Having already heard about it from Chief Cha inside the gate, he wasn’t particularly surprised.

“What happened that requires you to guard the gate alone?”

“Terrorist attacks have begun all over the United States.”

“…Terrorist attacks…”

It wasn’t the time for them to be active yet.

And the fact that they were operating all over the country was quite shocking.

“What’s the damage?”

The Association representative seemed hesitant to answer.

Given that they were the top-ranked in terms of prestige, they might be reluctant to disclose information to a hunter from another country.

However, their reluctance to disclose meant that something unfavorable had happened to them.

It clearly meant they had suffered damage beyond imagination.

‘And yet they come out like this.’

Slightly displeased, Seong-hyun spoke with an indifferent expression, as if it had nothing to do with him.

“The damage must be quite significant. Well, good luck. I’m sure the United States can perfectly handle this and identify the culprits without any damage.”

Having said that, Seong-hyun turned to leave.

“H-Hunter! I-I’m sorry. I’ll tell you everything.”

As expected, they needed Seong-hyun’s power.

If they didn’t need his power, they would have dismissed Seong-hyun’s question about what was happening when he first came out of the gate.

Regardless of the value of Seong-hyun’s abilities, borrowing the power of a top-tier hunter from another country always came with a price.

“Currently, terrorist attacks have occurred everywhere except the East Coast. They seem to be trying to cover the widest geographical area possible, regardless of population density.”

The Association’s information was quite detailed.

They provided information based solely on objective facts, without any subjective input.

“Currently, the number of hunters caught in the explosions is approximately 3,000. And the civilian casualties…”

Even though Seong-hyun had just pointed out their attitude and conveyed that they needed to cooperate fully if they wanted help, the Association’s hunter couldn’t easily speak.

‘The number must be considerable…’

It was foolish to estimate the number of civilians based on the number of hunter casualties.

Because only really low-level hunters had died in the explosions.

“200… approximately 2 million people.”

He had certainly expected significant damage, but the number of 2 million that came from the Association hunter’s mouth was unimaginable.

“H-How big were the explosions for so many people to…”

“Their group’s belief is that civilians without power are worth less than insects.”

“But you clearly said they were operating regardless of density, didn’t you? Yet, the number of 2 million is hard to believe…”

“If you look at the area where the explosions occurred, excluding the East Coast, it was nearly 1/3 of the United States’ territory. And most of the eastern United States is farmland. It seems that the large population in the west resulted in significant casualties.”

Even recalling his memories from before his regression, Seong-hyun remembered only one incident where 2 million people died in a single terrorist attack.

That had happened in China, which had a large population, but this terrorist attack occurred in the United States.

In other words, a terrorist attack could happen again in China sometime in the future.

“How are you handling it?”

“Mid-level and top-tier hunters are participating in large-scale searches and on-site deployments, and all hunters are involved in damage recovery and aftercare.”

“If you’re asking me for help, it’s obviously to support them, right?”

“Yes. That’s right. Not all 2 million people are dead… You’re the only one we can rely on, Hunter Kim Seong-hyun.”

This was quite a dilemma for Seong-hyun as well.

The fact that they were caught in the explosions meant that most of them had external injuries, which meant that the pain Seong-hyun would experience would be considerable.

Moreover, the number was overwhelmingly different compared to the number he had treated in Korea.

‘If I use it wrong this time, it might not end with just lying down for a few days.’

Of course, crisis was also an opportunity, an opportunity to create a huge number of objects of faith in an instant.

‘What should I do?’

If he were to be greedy and end up lying down for a few days, the owners of the 4th and 3rd class gates connected to this would burst out of the gates.

Having faced the owner of the 5th class gate directly, it was clear that the owners of the 4th and 3rd class gates would be unimaginably stronger in comparison.

Moreover, the vice-chairman who hadn’t been dealt with yet remained on American soil.

He had been left alive for his necessity and usefulness, but now he had become a poison.

If Seong-hyun became so weak that he couldn’t even lift a finger, it was obvious how the vice-chairman would react.

He was the one who had tried to kidnap his family, so he would never miss this opportunity.

‘But I can’t just stand by for more than 3 days either…’

It wasn’t because of guilt or responsibility towards them.

He did have a responsibility for the power he possessed, but Seong-hyun thought he was offsetting that responsibility by feeling the pain instead.

‘There’s no other way. Let’s heal them slowly.’

The owners of the gates, whose strength he didn’t know, would soon appear.

He didn’t know if he would gain the next ability, or how many objects of faith he would have to gain to get it, but doing what he could now was always the best thing to do.

“Let’s go. Many people are still getting hurt.”

“T-Thank you! I’ll escort you right away.”

Seong-hyun couldn’t use Chief Cha’s rift because he didn’t know the exact location of the destination, so he set off with the Association’s hunter.

——————————————–

Padron, Leech, the remaining top-tier hunters, and their guild members were all scattered across the country, trying to contain the situation.

“The evacuation speed is too slow.”

He thought the first explosion was everything, but that was a complete delusion.

After causing explosions in the outer areas first, explosions occurred again in the areas where people had evacuated to.

Naturally, they thought bombs were hidden near the outer areas and diverted most of their personnel there, resulting in even greater damage.

‘They didn’t just prepare for 1 or 2 years.’

The fact that he, of all people, had been deceived required two prerequisites.

Secrecy was a given, and they had prepared very secretly and slowly, so that he wouldn’t notice the changes.

“Kyaaak!”

“Kkeuaaak!!”

People’s screams echoed from everywhere.

Some had their arms cut off, some had their legs cut off, and some had fragments of buildings or debris from the explosions embedded in or piercing their bodies.

But unfortunately, those people were the lucky ones.

There were quite a few people who were so caught up in the explosions that their bodies couldn’t be found.

“Some should prioritize searching for the remaining bombs, and those guiding the evacuation should be at the very front to prepare for any possible explosions!”

Leech’s instructions were the most appropriate in this worst-case scenario.

However, even Leech couldn’t prevent everything.

The explosions continued.

The explosions were relentlessly occurring underground, clearly intending to hinder mobility.

The evacuation routes for civilians were bound to be fixed.

Since they were powerless, everyone was evacuating on the ground, following the hunters’ guidance, unable to use the underground shelters and evacuation routes where explosions were occurring.

At that moment, another explosion occurred.

“…”

The roar of that explosion came from the sky.

The downtown area was filled with high-rise buildings.

The center and upper parts of those buildings began to explode with a huge roar.

The intention was too obvious.

Cause explosions in the outer parts of the underground first, and then, at the moment they start moving along the underground evacuation routes, another explosion occurs underground.

If they come out to the ground to evacuate to avoid that, and then the buildings start exploding?

Naturally, a huge amount of debris began to pour down from the sky like rain.

It would be nothing to a hunter, but even a small pebble falling from that height would have considerable power.

The number was not hundreds, but thousands, close to tens of thousands.

“As long as I’m here, the damage will stop here.”

Leech instantly concentrated and wielded an enormous amount of magical power.

A legion similar in number to the evacuating people began to cover the ground in an instant.

There wasn’t even enough land for them to set foot on, and they began to fill the tops of buildings and even inside the buildings.

“I didn’t want to use my abilities outside if possible…”

The unforgettable gazes he received when he first used his abilities.

Those unpleasant speculations that he might be a demon just because he controlled the dead came to mind again.

“That’s… a thing of the past.”

The enormous force that appeared at Leech’s gesture began to block all the flying debris, contrary to his image.

Since each one had power comparable to a hunter, knocking away debris was not a difficult task.

Some of the summoned legion knocked away the debris, while the rest of the summoned legion began to take care of the people who were buried under the debris or had not yet evacuated.

“If only Hunter Kim Seong-hyun were here…”

Leech couldn’t see the evacuating people.

People who had no strength left to scream and were accepting death.

If Seong-hyun were here, wouldn’t he be able to save many people?

“Guild Leader! Guild Leader!”

The vice-guild leader, who was responsible for the evacuation, approached urgently.

What happened again?

“What’s wrong?”

“We’ve confirmed that Hunter Kim Seong-hyun is coming…”

Leech’s expression, which had brightened at the news that Seong-hyun was coming, hardened again at the vice-guild leader’s words that followed.

“The vice-chairman is stopping him.”

“…What? What nonsense is that? Why is the vice-chairman doing that?”

“We haven’t found out the reason yet. He’s just said to be waiting nearby.”

“…Tell him that.”

“Yes?”

“Tell him to come right away because I’ll take responsibility.”

“…Understood.”

He wanted to go meet the vice-chairman right away, but he didn’t have the time.

Seong-hyun had arrived nearby, and there were still many people who could be saved.

“Huh?”

The vice-guild leader, who was about to go to Seong-hyun, stopped and stared at one side.

“Why… H-Hunter Kim Seong-hyun?”

Seong-hyun, who should have been outside the city, had appeared before their eyes.

“Hunter Kim Seong-hyun! Right now…”

Leech, who was about to ask Seong-hyun for their salvation, suddenly paused.

“This is…”

The light spreading in the sky.

That light was so dazzling that even Leech, who led the legion of the dead, felt holiness.