I Became The Only Healer In The Academy [EN]: Chapter 164

164

“This is the end!”

Two of the three monsters that appeared had been dealt with.

Of course, some were injured in the process, but fortunately, none were seriously hurt.

“Watch out for the poison!”

“We’re almost there!”

The monster that seemed impossible to defeat was almost taken down.

“We, we did it!!”

“We defeated a Rank 2 Gate’s monster with our own strength…”

The guild members, unaware of the true nature of the monsters behind the sand dune, believed they had defeated a Rank 2 Gate monster solely with their own power.

“Th, then does this mean we’ve made a name for ourselves among the top-tier hunters?”

“The Guild Master didn’t step in… so, maybe we really did…”

It was a bit of a shame to have to tell these excited people the truth, but if left as is, they would face a major crisis someday.

“Everyone, you’ve worked hard. We won’t be subjugating the boss of this gate; we’ll just leave. And the monster you just defeated isn’t actually a Rank 2 Gate monster.”

“E, excuse me? Not a Rank 2 Gate monster?”

“But it was incredibly strong…”

“That’s right. The monster you defeated is a pet raised by the Rank 2 Gate monster.”

“…”

At the word ‘pet,’ the expressions of the guild members, who had been so excited just moments ago, instantly turned gloomy.

“Of course, even as a pet, it’s stronger than a Rank 3 Gate monster. So, we’ll be coming to subjugate this gate every two days. You handled the weakest one well, so from now on, slightly stronger ones will appear.”

The fact that it was a pet was quite shocking, but at the words ‘the weakest one,’ the guild members seemed to wear expressions as if to say, ‘Figures.’

“I knew it… I didn’t think there was that big of a difference…”

“If we had been arrogant and gone to another Rank 2 Gate…”

They seemed somewhat shocked by the reality of their weaker selves than they had thought, but with the top-tier hunter, Seonghyun, personally setting the schedule, everyone seemed to gain confidence that they could become stronger.

“I’ll always be with you, but if something comes up, I might have to leave.”

“Th, then what about the Rank 2 Gate boss…”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I resolved it well through conversation.”

“…”

At the words ‘resolved it well through conversation,’ the guild members wore expressions of disbelief.

Not a human, but a monster.

And to resolve things well through conversation with a monster who is the boss of a Rank 2 Gate.

“Every time we come to this Rank 2 Gate from now on, slightly stronger pets will appear.”

“What is the Guild Master saying right now…?”

“Is the monster going to train us…?”

When Seonghyun’s words were interpreted, it sounded as if he had cooperated with the monster.

“I think you’re misunderstanding, so let me explain. I haven’t cooperated with these monsters. To put it simply… um… right, subcontracting? Saying it’s subcontracting would be just right.”

“Su, subcontracting…”

It felt like they were hearing a word they never thought they would hear in their hunter lives after a very long time.

Subcontracting monsters and having them train themselves.

“And as you all know, subcontractors all have one weakness, right? The same goes for these monsters, so you don’t have to worry too much. Well, today’s subjugation is over, so let’s head out now to prepare for the day after tomorrow.”

“Yes!!”

Just in case, they had cut off one arm of each monster, and if anything happened, Section Chief Cha would be on standby, so there would be almost no variables.

With the extermination of the monsters almost complete, Seonghyun led the guild members out of the gate.

“They’re out!!”

“Hunter Kim Seonghyun! I heard you saved the lives of 130,000 people in the United States!”

“I heard there was a close conversation with the chairman of the American Association. Can you tell us what you talked about?”

Since Seonghyun’s guild had embarked on a Rank 2 Gate subjugation schedule, there was no way the reporters wouldn’t know.

They were already waiting for Seonghyun outside the gate.

“I’ll arrange a separate meeting, so please go back today.”

The reporters weren’t ones to give up easily, but thanks to those who appeared from behind, they had no choice but to step back.

“Hunter Kim!!”

“You’ve returned.”

It was Hakeno, the CEO of DNN [a fictional company], and the academy principal.

The reason they came to find Seonghyun was one thing.

They failed to protect Seonghyun’s family.

“We apologize…”

Seonghyun was startled by Hakeno’s appearance, who was trying to kneel down without warning, and stopped him, saying.

“St, stop. It would be better to move to another place first.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Hakeno’s expression was like looking at a heinous criminal.

And the principal’s expression was no different.

At Seonghyun’s words to move the location, Hakeno and the principal immediately sent the reporters back and moved with Seonghyun.

The three arrived at the nearest conference room in the DNN building.

As the door closed and only the three of them were in the room, not only Hakeno but also the principal knelt down to Seonghyun at the same time.

“We… apologize. We have nothing to say. It is our fault.”

“I also… apologize.”

“It’s okay. It’s enough if this kind of thing doesn’t happen again in the future.”

Even though Seonghyun said it was okay, Hakeno and the principal remained kneeling.

“Get up. I’ve already said the same thing to the Deputy Association Head, but it’s enough if the people around me don’t get hurt in the future.”

“…”

“My family will be safe from now on. However, not everyone I’m close to can be safe.”

In other words, the scope of surveillance and protection would be even wider.

It was impossible to protect only Seonghyun’s family, so would it be possible in the future?

Realistically, Hakeno and the principal knew it was impossible, but they couldn’t say it directly, so they remained silent.

“The people around me. Don’t forget that includes Hakeno and the principal.”

“…Ah…”

Seonghyun was aware of the problem from the start.

No matter what the problem, there was no way to prevent it completely.

“It’s really okay, so you can all get up.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Hakeno and the principal bowed their heads once and got up from their seats.

“What I want is not perfection. It’s the best you can do.”

As Seonghyun finished speaking and was about to leave the place using Descent [a skill or ability], a window appeared before his eyes.

[A person with faith has been added.]

[A person with faith has been added.]

They hadn’t saved the lives of his family, nor had they given him great help.

They had simply asked for forgiveness, and he had forgiven them.

At the unexpected result, Seonghyun let out a light laugh that naturally bloomed and said.

“Well, it seems like you’ll do your best even if I tell you not to. I’ll be going.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Seonghyun disappeared from before their eyes, and Hakeno and the principal stared blankly at each other.

“Uh… a meal… or something…”

“Ah, yes. Let’s do that.”

Perhaps because they shared the same goal even though it was their first meeting, and because of the sense of solidarity that they had committed the same mistake, they didn’t feel unfamiliar, so they awkwardly bowed their heads to each other and moved to have a meal together.

——————————————–

The work in the United States was over, and all the urgent matters to be dealt with in Korea were finished.

His mother and younger sibling were doing well at home, so Seonghyun needed to sort things out first.

“Let’s organize my thoughts a bit.”

The main framework was already grasped.

There were two unidentified dimensions connected to this world.

Then what kind of relationship did those two have?

Were they cooperating?

Or were they competing?

“As planned, I’ll meet the owner of the Rank 1 or 2 Gate, or the owner of the Rank 2 Gate.”

Why did the owners of the Rank 3 and 4 Gates put him on a normal level?

At that time, the owner of the gate acted according to his will.

That will ultimately put Seonghyun on a normal level.

And the owner took responsibility for those words and took his own life.

What did that owner sincerely want?

Even to the point of volunteering for his own extinction.

“The owners of the Rank 1 and 2 Gates will be of a higher level, which means they’ll know more.”

What kind of attitude those owners would have towards Seonghyun remained to be seen, but first, it seemed like he would have to increase the number of people with faith in order to meet them.

“Is it impossible with the current number? The conditions for meeting them?”

The number of people with faith had far exceeded a thousand.

Did that mean he had to create more people with faith?

“Spear… what do you want? No, what are you in the first place?”

Since the piercing eyes themselves couldn’t be seen, he couldn’t judge at all.

“You never told me everything.”

[Heal.]

“…What?”

[Heal.]

“Heal… who?”

[Everyone.]

It was the first time.

The spear had appeared as if to speak to him like this.

“Is… conversation possible?”

[Possible. Partially.]

“Why haven’t we had a conversation until now?”

[Possible because your level has become a normal level.]

“The spear also changes depending on the level. Then who are you?”

[Impossible.]

“It’s impossible with a normal level. If my level increases, will more conversation be possible?”

[Yes.]

To raise the level, knowledge was needed.

To get that knowledge?

It was impossible in this world.

“If I meet the owners of the Rank 1 and 2 Gates, will my level increase?”

[Depends on your choice.]

“Does my choice mean the choice of meeting itself? Or the choice of attitude I should take after meeting the owner of that gate?”

[Do not know.]

“Well, it seemed like even the actions taken by the owners of the Rank 3 and 4 Gates were unexpected.”

[You must heal.]

“Because I have to get stronger?”

[Yes.]

The reason to get stronger was felt enough.

He wanted the extinction of the monsters, so he had to subjugate the gates, and after meeting the owners of the gates, he thought that it might not be enough now.

“Are there any abilities left that I can gain by increasing the number of people with faith in the future?”

[Yes.]

“What can I get?”

[Impossible.]

“…Okay. But I agree that I need to get stronger. Then who is the next owner I’ll meet? Rank 2? Rank 1?”

[Owner of the Rank 2 Gate.]

“How can I meet them?”

[You must increase the number of people with faith.]

“Simple.”

It was a relatively simple result.

Seonghyun wanted the extinction of the monsters, and to do so, he needed power.

However, to exterminate the monsters, he had to meet beings from another world by satisfying the conditions, and fortunately, the condition itself was that Seonghyun had to become stronger.

“Can I meet them just by increasing the number of people with faith?”

[Yes.]

But before that, one question arose.

What did it mean that the owners of the Rank 3 and 4 Gates were different from expected?

“Then why did the owners of the Rank 3 and 4 Gates…”

Seonghyun paused for a moment as he was about to ask the question.

Was it right to ask this question?

It was a question from an unknown source, but Seonghyun decided to accept this question.

“Ah, no. Then do you want me to meet them quickly?”

[To fulfill your wish, you must, but if you do, the beings in your world will suffer great damage.]

“…You’re even worried about me. That means it’s meaningless to prepare alone.”

[From the owner of the Rank 2 Gate, they are beings of excellent level. There are many ways to use the power you have.]

“How many people with faith do I need to meet the owner of the Rank 2 Gate?”

[There are originally no restrictions. I will limit it.]

“Does that mean I could die if I meet them before that?”

[Yes.]

Talking to the spear like this, many questions were resolved.

And what was certain was that this spear did not want him to die.

‘At least it’s an ally right now.’

“Okay. I understand.”

It was a conversation that added a sense of duty to what he had to do in the future, so Seonghyun was satisfied.