I Became The Only Healer In The Academy [EN]: Chapter 200

200

Just like the first time, his eyes shone with light.

And just like when his mouth first appeared, splitting open in a displeasing smile, a different change began to occur than before.

With his body floating in the air and one hand raised, the color of the sky began to change behind the boss.

“It’s like watching the end of the world.”

“That monster dares…”

If the Earth were ever to be destroyed, it felt like it would be destroyed like this.

It wasn’t just the color of the sky that was changing.

The magic power in the atmosphere began to swirl everywhere, and the sky began to tear apart as it had when the boss first appeared.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, thanks to you. More than me, Hunter…”

“I’m used to it.”

Perhaps feeling guilty towards Seonghyun, who calmly said he was okay despite the pain of having flesh completely torn away near his heart, the Lich made another resolution.

At least he himself would never allow Seonghyun to suffer again.

“More importantly, we need to prepare for that attack first, right? It’s ominous.”

“…Yes. I’ll deploy a magic barrier, but to be frank, the boss’s magic power is higher than mine.”

While Seonghyun and the Lich were talking, Padron was rushing towards the boss.

He wasn’t rushing in without a plan.

First, he hadn’t yet finished the role he was initially assigned, which was to hold the boss for as long as possible. And he didn’t know what the boss was trying to do now, but judging from what he could see, it was extremely dangerous.

And then there was the trust in Seonghyun that was ingrained in Padron’s subconscious.

That trust was one of the biggest reasons why Padron couldn’t hesitate.

‘I’m the only one who can make a meaningful attack on the boss right now.’

The attacks of other top-ranked Hunters were being halved in power before they even reached the boss due to the swirling magic storms everywhere.

Padron tore through the magic storms that were trying to tear his flesh and charged towards the boss.

“Do you think I’ll let you do as you please?!”

Padron’s last attack with all his might.

As is often the case, there was one thing that hunters who specialized in close combat had in common.

A powerful blow that poured out all their magic power.

It was a final blow that didn’t consider the aftermath, but he wasn’t worried.

The Lich was still intact thanks to Seonghyun, and for some reason, Seonghyun didn’t seem like someone who would die.

Padron not only poured out all of his magic power but also used the surrounding magic storms.

While coating his fist with magic power, he surrounded the flow of that magic power with the same flow as the magic storms.

If it were a normal amount, the flow inside the fist would be all there was, but Padron’s flow, which poured out all of his magic power, was causing this flow of magic power to occur even outside the fist.

Thanks to that, the surrounding magic storms began to gather towards Padron’s fist, following his magic power flow.

Since it was a very strong storm that could halve the power of a top-ranked Hunter, when this storm was added to Padron’s fist, a blow far exceeding the original power was created.

So much so that Padron’s arm couldn’t withstand the flow.

“Seong…”

Padron hurriedly tried to call Seonghyun’s name due to the unimaginable pain he felt in his arm.

“Heh, yeah. You have to do this much on your own.”

But as if he had already grasped his intention, the pain felt in his arm was gradually subsiding.

The skin was deeply cut and torn, repeatedly healing at the same time.

A very strong magic storm that occurred dozens of times per second.

Padron was convinced.

That with this much power, no one in this world, not even a god, could withstand it.

The fist didn’t necessarily have to touch the boss.

Padron decided to use that method this time, just like the boss had done.

Although he had only seen it once just now, Padron’s genius combat sense and experience were 알아서 [on its own] satisfying the basic things needed for this.

“Die!!!!”

The distance to the boss was only about 10m.

The magic power that had begun to concentrate from Padron’s shoulder to his arm was causing even the arm’s deformation, just like the boss had done.

“Support him!!”

The other top-ranked Hunters weren’t just watching either.

The surrounding magic storms had disappeared to some extent thanks to Padron’s power, and they began to pour out ranged attacks to limit the boss’s movements.

Debrail, who had solidified the swamp in the previously mutated 2nd-grade gate, also chose the best method he could.

He knew better than anyone else that since the boss’s body was floating in the air, his ability to move the ground would have a clear limit in power.

Debrail raised the ground under Padron, who was in the air like the boss, to create a solid support.

Using most of his magic power to withstand the emitted recoil.

This process was done as naturally as if they had 맞춰 합 [coordinated], and Padron only 담아 [focused] the boss in his sight and 그대로 내질렀다 [unleashed] his fist.

A burst of 파열음 [bursting sound] as if something was 터지는 [exploding].

A huge roar that would be heard in a terrorist attack in the United States 잠재웠다 [subdued] all the noise inside this gate.

A tremendous amount of magic power 뿜어져 나왔다 [erupted] along the path of Padron’s 내지를 [unleashed] fist.

It was merely 뿜어내는 [erupting] magic power, but the amount was beyond imagination and, at the same time, had the nature of a storm, making it extremely fierce.

Perhaps because of that, the dimension itself inside the gate could not 감당하다 [handle] the power and began to 일그러지기 [distort].

It wasn’t completely 찢어진 [torn] like when the boss appeared, but it was a power that 아득하게 넘어선 [far surpassed] the limits of the power that humans could show.

“허억…허억…” [gasp… gasp…]

Padron 그대로 쓰러졌다 [collapsed] on the 지지대 [support] that Debrail 받쳐준 [propped up].

내뿜으면서 [spewing] a tremendous amount of blood from his arm as much as the amount of magic power he had 뿜어냈던 [spewed out].

Padron’s sight, which was 지칠 대로 지친 [completely exhausted] because he had 탕진한 [squandered] all his magic power, was also 점점 흐려지고 [becoming increasingly blurred], but even in that situation, Padron was 응시하고 올곧게 [staring intently] at the boss.

The boss’s expression had no change.

The unpleasant smile he 머금고 [held] was still 그대로 [unchanged].

“개새끼가…쪼개고 지랄이야 지랄은…” [You son of a bitch… grinning like that…]

Padron, who now had no strength left to keep his eyes open, 그대로 눈을 감았다 [closed his eyes].

딱 감기 직전에 [right before closing them] after confirming that his attack 관통한 [penetrated] the boss’s heart 그대로 [directly].

As Padron 확인한 [confirmed], the boss could not 막지 [block] Padron’s attack.

아니, 조금 더 정확하게 말하자면 [no, to be a little more precise] didn’t even make an attempt to 막으려는 [try to block].

As if there was no need to.

“A little late. Human.”

Just a slight difference, so slight that if it had been a little faster, perhaps the boss would have been lying next to Padron.

The boss, having 받아낸 [received] Padron’s attack, 정했다 [decided] Padron as his first target.

The most 무서운 [frightening] thing about humans.

바로 적응력 [adaptability].

But the human 나자빠져 [fallen] on top of that was 다다르고 [reaching] at the end of the 범주 [category] of 적응과 습득, 활용과 힘 [adaptation and acquisition, utilization and power] all.

If more time passed in the future, he would change into a 상당히 위협적인 존재 [considerably threatening existence].

The boss 뻗었다 [extended] his hand towards Padron.

그러자 검은색 사슬 [then black chains] from the 갈라졌던 하늘 [split sky] 나타나 쏟아지기 시작했다 [appeared and began to pour] towards Padron.

그때였다 [it was then].

The boss, 보내오면서 수많은 시간을 지금까지 [having spent countless time until now], the 섬뜩함 [eerie feeling] that he had felt a few times 느껴지던 [was felt] from behind.

The boss 본능적으로 바꾸며 [instinctively changing] the 궤도를 [trajectory] of the 사슬 [chains] he was 날리던 [launching] towards Padron to his 등 뒤 [behind him] and 돌렸다 [turned] his head.

“…?”

정체불명의 존재 [an unidentified being] wearing a 두건 [hood] and 들고 [holding] a 거대한 낫 [giant scythe] towards himself.

그 존재 [that being] was not 꿰뚫리지 [pierced] by the 사슬 [chains], nor did he 받지 [receive] a 타격 [blow] from the boss’s attack.

‘피할 수 없는 공격 [an unavoidable attack].’

That means that this 존재 [being] has a 주인이 [master].

The only way to 사라질 [disappear] this attack is to 찾아 처리 [find and deal with] the 주인을 [master].

The boss 돌렸다 [turned] his 시선을 [gaze] from the 거대한 낫 [giant scythe] that was 떨어지는 [falling] towards his 목 [neck].

다른 누군가가 본다면 [if someone else saw it] it might look like he had 포기한 목숨을 [given up his life], but 당연히 그것은 아니었다 [of course, that was not it].

The 곳 [place] that the boss’s 시선 닿은 [gaze reached] was 다름 아닌 리치 [none other than the Lich].

더불어 [in addition] the fact that he 다루었던 [handled] an 엄청난 양의 소환수를 [an enormous number of summons] 처음 전력을 다했었다 [first used his full power] 것에 모두가 저 인간의 공격을 준비하는 [everyone was preparing for that human’s attack].

“You’re too late too.”

The boss’s 푸른 눈 [blue eyes] 바라보는 [looking at] 리치를 [the Lich] 일순 반짝였다 [momentarily sparkled].

And at the same time, the 거대한 낫 [giant scythe] that had 떨어졌던 [fallen] right in front of the boss’s 목 [neck] 증발하듯 사라져버렸다 [disappeared as if evaporating] with the 낯선 존재 쓴 두건 [unfamiliar being wearing a hood].

“Now… you’re the last one left.”

The boss 바라봤다 [looked at] 성현 [Seonghyun] as if he was going to 끝을 내겠다는 이제 [finish it now].

리치의 마력이 [the Lich’s magic power] 생각보다 많아 [was more than expected] 푸른 눈으로 [with his blue eyes] 봉인할 수 있는 시간이 [the time he could seal him] 그리 길지 않았다 [wasn’t that long].

He had to 처리 [deal with] 성현 [Seonghyun] by any means before that.

“The ability you possess is truly tempting…”

The boss, 응시하던 [staring at] 성현을 [Seonghyun], 순간적으로 깨달았다 [momentarily realized] that 무언가 이상하다는 [something was strange].

대체 어째서 [why on earth] 성현에게 [towards Seonghyun] 친근감이 느껴지는 것일까 [does he feel a sense of familiarity]?

단순히 친근감뿐만 아니라 [not just familiarity], 마치 소속감 [like a sense of belonging], 심지어는 충성심마저 [even loyalty] 조금씩 자라나고 있는 게 느껴졌다 [was gradually growing, he could feel it].

“큭!!”

정체 모를 목소리가 [an unidentified voice] 자꾸 속삭이는 것 같았다 [seemed to keep whispering].

너의 진정한 주인은 저분이라고 [that person is your true master].

어서 복종하라고 [hurry and obey].

무릎을 꿇고 조아리라고 [kneel and bow down].

The boss 부여잡았다 [clutched] his 머리를 [head] with 두 손 [both hands].

손가락이 두피를 파고들어 [his fingers dug into his scalp] 피가 흐르고 있었지만 [and blood was flowing], 이렇게라도 하지 않으면 [if he didn’t do this] 저 목소리에 [to that voice] 당장이라도 무릎을 꿇고 고개를 조아릴 것만 같았다 [he felt like he would kneel and bow his head right away].

“크아악!!!”

The boss 날뛰기 시작했고 [began to rampage] 미친 듯이 [like a madman], and the 대상 [target] was 당연하게도 성현 [naturally, Seonghyun].

이를 지켜보던 [watching this] 성현은 [Seonghyun] 아쉽다는 듯 [as if disappointed] 입맛을 다시며 [smacked his lips] 중얼거렸다 [and muttered].

“Too bad… he would have been the best recruit.”

교화 [Conversion] that he had 사용해 [used] 예전에 [before] 1을 [1] 신앙심 대상자로 만들었던 [to make a faith object].

그 교화 [that Conversion] was 마침 [just in time] 사용 가능한 상태여서 [in a usable state] 사용해봤는데 [he tried to use it], the boss’s 저런 반응과 함께 [with the boss’s reaction] 창 [a window] that 불가능하다는 [impossible] 나타났다 [appeared].

[격이 부족해 사용이 불가능합니다.] [Insufficient rank, unable to use.]

“Well, he is the boss of a 1st-grade gate after all. He wouldn’t give in this easily.”

성현은 [Seonghyun] 빼 들며 [drew] 검을 [his sword] from 품 [his chest] 정화를 사용했다 [and used Purification] to 리치 [the Lich].

“커헉! [cough!] 이, 이렇게나 불쾌한 느낌이라니…! [this is such an unpleasant feeling…!]”

“Are you alright?”

“하아…네 [ha… yes]. 혼자서도 풀어낼 수는 있었겠지만 [I could have resolved it on my own], 아마 조금 더 걸렸을 거예요 [but it probably would have taken a little longer].”

리치는 [the Lich] 자연스럽게 나서려 [naturally tried to step forward] 성현의 앞으로 했지만 [in front of Seonghyun], 확인하고선 [after confirming] 검을 들린 손에 [the hand holding the sword] 성현의 [Seonghyun’s] 깜짝 놀라 말했다 [surprised, said].

“직접 나서시려고요? [Are you going to step up yourself?]”

“그래야 할 것 같은데요? [I think I have to?] 패드론도 [Padron also] 제가 할 수 있는 건 다 했지만 [did everything he could], 마력 자체의 고갈은 [the depletion of magic power itself] 제가 어떻게 할 수 있는 부분이 아니라서요 [is not something I can do anything about].”

“…조심하세요 […be careful]. 절대 무리하지 마시고요 [don’t overdo it]. 조금이라도 위험해지면 [if it gets even a little dangerous] 바로 물러나세요 [retreat immediately]. 만약 김 헌터님이 잘못되면 [if Hunter Kim is harmed] 저희는… [we are…]”

“그만 [stop].”

“…네? […yes?]”

순간 싸늘하고 차가워진 [a moment of cold and chilling] 성현의 음성 [Seonghyun’s voice].

But the 이유 [reason] that was not 자신 때문이 아니라 [not because of himself] 무언가 결심한 듯한 목소리라 [but a voice that seemed to have decided something] 리치는 [the Lich] 멍하니 [blankly] 성현을 응시했다 [stared at Seonghyun].

“조금 쉬세요 [rest a bit].”

“어, 어떻게 하시려고… [uh, what are you going to do…]”

분명 말은 걱정하는 말이 나오고 있었는데 [clearly words of worry were coming out], 검은 사슬이 달린 검을 들고 [holding the sword with the black chains] 앞으로 걸어 나가는 [walking forward] 성현의 뒷모습을 보고 있자니 [watching Seonghyun’s back] 이상하게 질 것 같다는 생각이 전혀 들지 않았다 [strangely, he didn’t think he would lose at all].

대체 무엇을 숨겨둔 걸까 [what on earth is he hiding]?

애초에 숨길 생각이었던 건 맞을까 [was he even planning to hide it in the first place]?

힘을 보일 필요도 없었던 건 아닐까 [was it that there was no need to show his power]?

하는 생각들이 [thoughts like that] 리치의 머릿속을 어지럽히기 시작했다 [began to confuse the Lich’s mind].

생각이 조금 더 깊어져 가려는 순간 [the moment the thoughts were about to get a little deeper], 처음 벌어진 광경은 [the scene that unfolded for the first time] 리치의 잡생각을 완전히 날려버렸다 [completely blew away the Lich’s random thoughts].