I Became The Only Healer In The Academy [EN]: Chapter 112

‘Ugh…!’

This wasn’t an opponent you could simply describe as overwhelming.

It possessed speed similar to a high-ranking Hunter specialized in speed, and a sword—whether controlled or sentient—relentlessly and sharply pursued Sung Hyun, anticipating his every move.

“Kuh…”

Of course, the magical beast wasn’t exactly having an easy time against Sung Hyun either.

An inexplicable pain.

Not just that, but the magnitude of the pain felt as if swords were being stabbed into its body constantly.

That sensation continued to dull its movements.

Fortunately for the magical beast, its movements and the sword’s movements were unrelated.

The battle between Sung Hyun and the magical beast continued.

Neither managed to land a decisive blow, but Sung Hyun’s skin was repeatedly marked with minor wounds that appeared and disappeared.

“Hoo, finally tiring out, are we?”

The magical beast looked down at Sung Hyun, who was breathing heavily.

“I want to ask you something.”

Having regained its composure now that the pain had subsided, the magical beast spoke to Sung Hyun in the same arrogant tone as before.

“Am I afraid of you right now?”

There was even a hint of laughter in its tone.

However, Sung Hyun showed no reaction.

His ragged breathing only gradually evened out.

“You don’t even have the strength to speak, do you?”

The magical beast was certain of victory in this battle.

It had taken more effort than expected, but it was still satisfied, considering it had provided a sufficient level of entertainment.

“If I tear your corpse to shreds and throw it beyond the gate, others like you, or even stronger, will come. Ah… I’m already trembling with anticipation. Who will bring me greater satisfaction?”

“Bullshit.”

“…I was hoping for an answer to my question, not such words.”

The one sword he had summoned was already gone.

Even the remaining sword was positioned in front of the magical beast.

“You struggled with one. Can you handle two?”

As soon as the magical beast finished speaking, the two swords flew straight towards Sung Hyun.

“Kuh!”

It was on a completely different level compared to dealing with one sword.

The magical beast itself didn’t move; only the two swords were in motion, with one attacking Sung Hyun directly and the second flying in from behind.

He couldn’t sense their approach.

He had to evade them using only the unique sensation of a cold blade.

“This is the end.”

In the moment of continuously dodging the two swords, a single, unusually large opening appeared compared to the gaps he had shown several times before.

“It was fun.”

The magical beast dashed towards that opening in Sung Hyun’s defense.

It didn’t need a sword.

The weak skin of a human could be pierced with its bare hands.

“Did you think I would fall for such a petty trick?”

At that moment when it approached Sung Hyun, it felt a presence from behind.

The man’s summon, [referring to one of Sung Hyun’s summoned entities] which had been holding one of the swords until just now.

However, the magical beast had anticipated this much.

The one sword that had been attacking Sung Hyun’s back until just now was already in the magical beast’s hand the moment Sung Hyun showed an opening.

With the sword in hand, the only thing left for the magical beast to do was to block the summon’s attack without even looking at it, and then plunge its hand into Sung Hyun’s exposed gap.

“It was somewhat enjoyab…”

That’s when it happened.

The pain that he thought had disappeared returned.

“…!”

Every living thing in this world, except for humans and magical beasts, has adapted to survive.

They were beings that had survived by adapting to everything around them, even when everything changed.

But there was one thing they couldn’t adapt to.

That was pain.

The vanished pain suddenly returned to the magical beast.

It was undoubtedly the same magnitude of pain it had felt earlier.

But could it not adapt?

The sudden, immense pain caused the magical beast to momentarily drop the sword it was holding, and the sword floating in the air also fell to the ground.

“Kuaaak!”

Now, the situation couldn’t be more perfect.

To exploit the opening, it was necessary to approach.

Sung Hyun plunged his sword straight into the magical beast’s heart.

“Y, You… hum…”

The pain was not much different from what he had felt a moment ago, but this time there was one difference.

His body wouldn’t move as he willed.

“Okay… I’ll ask again.”

Sung Hyun twisted the sword he had plunged in, whispering into the ear of the magical beast, who was spitting blood.

“Are you a little afraid of me now?”

“Y…you… don’…”

The magical beast tried to say something, but Sung Hyun had no intention of listening.

He pulled out the sword he had plunged in and cut off the magical beast’s head.

“Hoo…”

Sung Hyun collapsed to the floor.

He didn’t have a single wound on his body, but he was so exhausted that even breathing was difficult.

[You have cleared the final gate of level 5.]

[You have defeated the master of the place connected to an unknown force.]

“If level 5 is this difficult… what about the rest…”

The battle against the being who endured the pain of the stigma [a mark or brand indicating disgrace or infamy] for the first time.

It seemed even more difficult because Sung Hyun had no means of attack other than the stigma and the increased physical abilities from Sacrifice [likely referring to a skill or ability].

[Level 5 gates will no longer be generated.]

[A reward is given for clearing the final gate of level 5.]

[Reward: New ability]

“That’s welcome news.”

[Unlock: Descent]

[Descent: Move to the light around a subject with faith. There is a one-day cooldown per faithful subject.]

[Unlock: Holy Sword]

[Holy Sword: Attack with a sword imbued with the power of light.]

“T, Two?”

[Recombination is possible with the Sage’s ability.]

[Would you like to start recombination?]

“Recombination too…”

[List of abilities available for recombination]

[Materialization, Holy Sword, Stigma]

[Recombination result: Authority]

[Authority: Can create swords imbued with the power of light equal to the number of faithful subjects. Those targeted by the sword are affected by the stigma.]

[Previous effects of recombination are present by default.]

“…Crazy.”

It was a bit dumbfounding.

A combat ability came out just when he wanted it, and the fact that three abilities recombined to create an ability called Authority.

On top of that, the ability called Descent was also incredible.

Although there was a one-day cooldown per faithful subject, he could appear anywhere as long as there was light around him, regardless of time or place.

How many places in this world are untouched by light?

It would be difficult to exist unless it was a deliberately created space.

Sung Hyun first used the newly unlocked ability, Holy Sword, before recombining.

“Hmm…”

The shape of the sword that appeared in the air, unfortunately, couldn’t be held and used by Sung Hyun, but it seemed to have a will of its own, as it was aimed at the magical beast whose head had already been cut off.

“It’s like the ability of the magical beast I just fought.”

Sung Hyun looked at the magical beast’s corpse.

He had to collect any loot he could since he would have to leave the gate soon.

After reaching into the wound he had just dug into and taking out the crystal, Sung Hyun was about to leave the gate when he found a sword lying on the ground.

“…”

Why?

The sword kept appealing to him as if telling him to use it.

“I needed a decent sword anyway.”

The black sword with a black chain on the handle looked nothing like Sung Hyun, who used healing abilities.

“What does it matter?”

The sword didn’t reflect Sung Hyun’s ideology.

Sung Hyun picked up the two swords lying on the ground.

“…!”

The moment he grabbed the sword, a sensation as if forcibly connecting with Sung Hyun was transmitted through his fingertips.

“Wh, What is it!”

He was so surprised that he threw the sword away, but he didn’t hear the sound he should have heard.

The sword hadn’t fallen to the ground.

It was floating in the air, aiming at the magical beast just like the Holy Sword Sung Hyun had summoned, as if it recognized him as its master.

[Enlightenment is forcibly activated.]

“Wh, What did you say?”

[You have become the owner of the Remembering Sword.]

“It’s a waste to use Enlightenment [likely a skill or ability].”

But he couldn’t regret it since it had already been used.

There was no turning back.

[Remembering Sword: Remembers the target’s wounds.]

[The ability is changed by the influence of Enlightenment.]

[Remembers the target’s pain.]

“Remembers pain? Does that mean it moves along with the stigma?”

If so, it could be a good thing.

The Holy Sword couldn’t be held and used, but the Remembering Sword could be held and used, and one of the most important points of all.

That was that the Holy Sword was a magical attack, but the Remembering Sword was a physical attack.

Sung Hyun immediately swung the sword.

The feeling of it fitting perfectly in his hand was incomparable to the ordinary swords he had used so far.

“Let’s get out of here first. The gate will disappear soon.”

Sung Hyun, who had returned the way he had come and exited the gate, immediately checked the time.

“…Is something like this possible?”

Not much time had passed, not even a minute.

He couldn’t confirm it, but it might not have been any time at all.

As Sung Hyun exited the gate, the window reappeared in front of him.

[Source of Unknown Power: Master of Ability]

“Master of Ability…”

Who exactly is that master referring to?

Is it referring to Sung Hyun, who has abilities different from others, or is it referring to the master of the abilities that all Hunters in this world possess?

It wasn’t information that he could know for sure, but it was information that he could at least grasp what it was related to.

And, he had a feeling that it might be bigger than Sung Hyun thought.

“I need to use the Authority ability first.”

Sung Hyun couldn’t use Authority right away because the gate was disappearing.

“I can’t use it outside anyway.”

From the moment he left the house, he could constantly feel Department Head Cha’s presence.

The situation was not yet sufficient to reveal all his abilities to the Association.

Judging by the level alone, the master of the final gate of level 5 he faced today was similar to the top-ranking Hunters in Korea.

Of course, strength for strength, speed for speed.

Compared to Hunters who specialize in one thing like that, the master of the final gate was specialized in everything.

Putting it all together, he was probably among the top in Korea.

“Let’s move for now.”

Going home was too narrow to test his abilities.

In addition, there were too many eyes watching, with the Association’s personnel as well as those sent by Hakenon guarding him.

They weren’t people who wouldn’t notice that Sung Hyun used his abilities in his house.

A place that satisfies these conditions.

A place that is not too narrow to test his abilities, has no separate guards, and is in a position that others cannot easily feel.

It was Inhwan’s house, located on the top floor of the building.

There was no way the story would leak out.

Inhwan and Sangyeon already had faith in Sung Hyun.

“Then it’s decided.”

Sung Hyun headed straight to Inhwan’s house.