I Became The Only Healer In The Academy [EN]: Chapter 159

159

The press conference with the reporters waiting outside the association was simple.

They asked how many people Seonghyun had healed due to this incident, and what he had gained as a result.

Of course, since the association president was now on the same side, Seonghyun mentioned that the president had offered to grant him anything he wanted, but he had refused.

They also inquired if he had discovered anything more about the incident, and if he was feeling alright. He brushed off these questions with appropriate answers, bringing the conference to a close.

After the conference, a car was waiting for Seonghyun at the entrance as he exited the association.

“Mr. Kim Hunter!”

Rich was there to personally pick up Seonghyun.

Surprisingly, the red convertible suited Rich quite well.

“The reporters are still here; isn’t this likely to cause misunderstandings?”

Seonghyun asked before getting into the car. Rich smiled lightly, saying,

“Let them.”

“You’re less cautious than I thought.”

“I’m not someone who needs to be mindful of what others think.”

Rich tapped the seat, gesturing for him to get in quickly. Seonghyun chuckled lightly before getting into the car.

“Rich, do you have a favorite food?”

“I’m similar to you, Mr. Kim Hunter. I like anything that helps me gain weight.”

“Haha, is that so?”

“I have a reservation at a place, and I think you’ll like it.”

“If it’s a place Rich likes, I’m sure I’ll like it too.”

“I’m so glad I wasn’t caught up in that explosion.”

Seonghyun was surprised by Rich’s uncharacteristic joke and laughed. Rich, with a light smile, headed to the place he had mentioned.

“The surroundings… are quite different from when I first came to America.”

This downtown area was no different from what he had seen when he first arrived.

Tall buildings and people heading home from work.

Some meeting friends to spend time, others meeting their lovers.

But the areas beyond this familiar scenery were completely different now.

There should have been even taller buildings, and even more people walking around outside.

Moreover, some of them would have been in the hospital or perhaps in a more distant place from which they could never return if it weren’t for Seonghyun.

“It’s not… your fault, Mr. Kim Hunter.”

Rich spoke in a subdued voice, thinking that Seonghyun’s gaze, fixed on the restoration work in full swing, indicated he was feeling guilty.

“Of course. I can confidently say that I did my best.”

“That’s right. You did your best more than anyone else, Mr. Kim Hunter.”

The journey to the destination was only about 10 minutes.

That short 10 minutes seemed to bring more comfort to Seonghyun than the time he had rested yesterday.

“Is this it?”

“Yes. Is it… not to your liking?”

“Of course not.”

Seonghyun looked at the small shop in front of him.

The small two-story building, out of place in the downtown area, looked so dilapidated that it wouldn’t be surprising if it were redeveloped at any moment.

“This restaurant has been in business for over 80 years.”

“They’ve been running the store for 80 years.”

“Yes, it looks like this on the outside, but it’s a place that brings comfort to many people.”

With a smile full of affection, Rich entered the store first.

Following behind, they were greeted by the relatively quiet interior of the store, as it was still a bit before dinner time.

“Uncle, I’m here.”

“Welcome… oh, Rich! It’s been so long!”

A kind-faced man between middle and old age greeted them, wearing an apron that didn’t quite match his build.

“I know, right? It’s been too long.”

“I know you’re busy, but at this rate, I’ll forget your face.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll try to come more often next time.”

“More importantly, who’s next to you… Mr. Kim Seonghyun Hunter, by any chance?”

“Ah, yes. Hello. I’m Kim Seonghyun.”

The customers in the store, who had been looking at Rich, stared blankly at Seonghyun upon hearing his name.

“Oh, my… aren’t you the benefactor of many hunters?”

“Haha… it’s not that much. I just did what I could with the power I have.”

“To feel the pain of others and save people is something that ordinary people like me can’t understand until we die, or even after death. Welcome.”

The expression on the owner’s face as he extended his hand was that of someone happier and more pleased than anyone else.

“But seeing you come with Rich… are you two perhaps… in that kind of relationship?”

Looking at the question that followed, Seonghyun understood why he had such a pleased and happy expression.

“…Excuse me? That kind of relationship…?”

“Ah, Uncle! That’s rude!!”

“Oh? Ah, my bad. I didn’t read the room [didn’t understand the social situation]. I can tell just by looking. Please, have a seat. I’ll bring out the menu I’m most confident in.”

As soon as Seonghyun sat down, Rich said apologetically.

“I’m sorry. My uncle can be a bit mischievous…”

“It’s alright. He seems like a cheerful person. I understand why you like this place.”

The interior of the store was shabby.

Even compared to other ordinary stores, it was impossible to shake off the impression of being shabby.

But perhaps that’s why it felt even more endearing.

A place passed down through generations.

“By the way, how do you know the owner here?”

“He’s… someone who has been a great support to me.”

With eyes as if a child were looking at their parents, Rich gazed at the back of the man making food inside the store and continued to speak.

“You might have noticed, but I don’t have parents.”

Seonghyun already knew before his regression that Rich’s parents were not around.

“I was abandoned. When I was young. So young that I don’t even remember.”

But hearing the details was a first.

Especially from Rich’s own mouth.

He was about to tell her that she didn’t have to say anything if it was a memory she didn’t want to recall, but Rich’s expression seemed a bit different from that.

Perhaps she had been waiting to talk about it.

Maybe there just hadn’t been anyone to tell.

Seonghyun stared straight at Rich and remained silent.

As if telling her to go ahead and say whatever she wanted, he would listen to everything.

“…It’s a cliché, but quite a few orphanages aren’t run solely for the sake of the children. For some, it might be a place to launder money under the guise of donations, and for others, it might be a place to comfortably receive government subsidies. Of course, there are places run for the sake of the children, but unfortunately, mine wasn’t.”

Hearing about the orphanage, Choi Hoon suddenly came to mind.

Like Rich, he had grown up in a place that had forgotten its original purpose.

“Actually, when I was young, I was incredibly passive. I couldn’t decide anything on my own, and I couldn’t even do the things I was told to do properly.”

Seonghyun was relieved by Rich’s expression.

It was the expression of someone reminiscing about memories.

Rich no longer had any feelings left for the parents who had abandoned her.

Rather, it was as if being abandoned was better.

“I spent several years there. From when I was so young that I don’t remember, until I was old enough to remember the details.”

Unlike others, Rich had awakened her abilities quite early.

“When I unknowingly used my abilities, my meals changed. I still remember it. The time when bacon suddenly appeared from a small piece of bread. I was happy then. I thought I was being loved. But it wasn’t. I was constantly dragged into the opened gate without being reported to the association.”

Perhaps not many people knew about Rich’s past.

Maybe just the man making food inside and a few others.

“So I ran away. It hurt. It was much more filling than when I only got a piece of bread, but it hurt just as much. So I kept wandering. Some people pitied me and gave me a meal and a warm place to sleep, but others looked at me with eyes as if I were a bug.”

The one who appeared before Rich, who had been begging and surviving like that for days, was the owner inside.

“That’s how I met Uncle. Back then, Uncle had the same smile he greeted me with today, and he reached out his hand. But I didn’t trust him. Until then, some of the people who had smiled like that had other motives for me. They wanted something in return for providing delicious food and a warm place to sleep. At that time, I had just run away from someone like that the day before, so I looked at Uncle with distrustful eyes.”

However, one thing that was different from the day before was that it was morning.

“I still remember what Uncle said then. He told me to just eat a hearty lunch and go. He said he was confident in his cooking. I was about to refuse, but the sound coming from my stomach was honest.”

That’s how Rich first met the owner.

And the relationship has continued unbroken from then until now.

“From then on, I worked at Uncle’s store. Then, Uncle realized that I had awakened my abilities and persuaded me to go to the association, and I, who was recognized for my immense value, lived under the association’s support. I wanted to stay with Uncle, but he thought it would be better for my future to live at the association, so he sent me there.”

After that, it was a story that Seonghyun also knew.

The story of a young hunter who quickly made her presence known to the world.

“Here you go, you’ve been waiting a long time, right?”

The owner brought the food.

It wasn’t anything special.

A few slices of bacon, eggs, bread and salad, french fries and sausage.

A typical American breakfast.

“Thank you for the meal, Uncle.”

“Of course! Please enjoy it, Mr. Kim Seonghyun Hunter.”

“Yes, I will.”

Seonghyun first cut the bacon and put it in his mouth.

“…”

It wasn’t delicious.

The surface, which had been baked for a long time and was hard and slightly burnt, was probably in a state that no one could call delicious.

It was as if he was eating it only because of the unique taste of bacon itself.

“How is it?”

Whether he knew that or not, the owner’s expression was already that of someone expecting praise.

“I-It’s delicious.”

“Nothing has changed. Uncle.”

“Haha! Of course! All my regulars say the same thing. How is it that the owner hasn’t changed at all?”

The owner’s expression was truly that of someone confident in their cooking, so Seonghyun smiled awkwardly and picked up another food.

Slightly salty eggs, too sour salad dressing, slightly undercooked french fries, and excessively hard bread.

Foods that didn’t seem like he could call delicious even with empty words.

“Please tell me if you need more!”

With that, the owner left with a hearty laugh and went back into the kitchen.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Yes? What for?”

“I wanted to treat you to a delicious dinner…”

Seonghyun kept looking at Rich, who couldn’t meet his eyes.

Until she met his eyes.

Rich, who had unconsciously raised her head at Seonghyun’s silence, met Seonghyun’s gaze.

“Why, why are you looking at me like that…”

“You haven’t forgotten what I like, have you?”

“Foods that… make you gain weight?”

“Yes. Owner. Can I get more bacon?”

“Of course! Just wait a moment!”

After placing the additional order, Seonghyun started eating again and said.

“This is the first time I’ve had food that nourishes my heart like this. It’s delicious. Sincerely.”

“Mr. Kim Seonghyun… Hunter…”

Rich bit her lower lip at the sight of Seonghyun really enjoying the meal and said the same.

“Please… add more for me too. Uncle.”