I Became The Only Healer In The Academy [EN]: Chapter 249

He wondered what was happening to his own body, but before long, his suspicion began to turn into astonishment.

‘What kind of ability is this…?’

Having lived for so long, he had never seen anything even remotely similar to this ability.

From the moment Sung Hyun’s mana began to flow, he began to feel a strange, subtle emotion.

‘…Or is it? Is this not an emotion at all?’

Things were changing little by little, so much so that he himself didn’t even fully grasp it.

‘Ah, this is…’

Only after some time did he realize what this change was.

His beliefs were changing.

“You… how the hell…”

“Because it was an unwanted thought for you.”

Sung Hyun didn’t expect much, thinking it would be good if it worked out, but seeing the boss’s changed reaction, it seemed to have worked properly.

“Does something seem different?”

“The thought… has disappeared.”

The boss looked around inside the tomb.

Then, using the spirit that had first guided Sung Hyun, he looked around outside the tomb as well.

Nothing had changed from before, except for the mana beast that had simply been guarding the gate.

‘I don’t feel like I have to protect it anymore.’

“Is it over now? Surely I don’t have to fight you or anything, do I?”

“Yes. It’s over. Now I can finally return to dust.”

He couldn’t see the boss’s expression, but he could feel it in his voice.

How long he had been waiting for this moment.

“I never thought I would say this to a human.”

“If you’re going to say it, hurry up and say it. I want to get out of here right away.”

At Sung Hyun’s reply, the boss chuckled and said.

“Thank you. It was a thought that held me back, but even so, this place was originally where I had to protect and live. Only the thought has disappeared while maintaining this appearance, so I’m quite grateful.”

He thought he could only escape if this place was completely distorted, but he was most pleased that he could leave while keeping the memories of the past.

“I’ve talked too much. Thank you.”

The boss spoke his last words and disappeared.

Sung Hyun, though a bit impatient, had listened to everything he had to say.

The empty space remained where the boss had disappeared.

The first place Sung Hyun checked was the mountain of crystals he had seen earlier.

“Isn’t there much more than the crystals that would normally come out of a Rank 2 gate?”

As he was about to collect the crystals, something was shining inside the coffin he had opened earlier.

Picking up the object that was shining alone on the bones, he saw it was shaped like a crystal.

“Is it like a purple crystal?”

The color and shape were no different from the crystals that a typical Rank 2 gate boss would have, but the concentration of mana felt quite dense.

Perhaps the limited gate overflowed because the mana beast that should have appeared did not, and Sung Hyun dealt with the owner of the Rank 2 gate.

Thanks to that, it seemed to have such an incredibly dense concentration.

He put the boss’s crystal in his inventory and tried to collect the remaining crystals, but he saw one different thing among them.

A crystal with the shape and color of a normal crystal, but without any mana felt.

It was common for crystals to lose mana, but if that happened, they would not be able to maintain their original shape and would turn into powder.

“Are you going to absorb my mana too?”

Just in case, he tried to infuse mana into this crystal, but for some reason, the crystal did not accept any mana at all.

“Well, let’s go out and think about it first.”

The purpose of coming to Egypt was over, but there was still something to be resolved.

Even though he received five elixirs, he was a little suspicious that they had readily accepted the offer, and they had not yet demonstrated what they could do.

“I hope the chairman is wise, but…”

When he came out of the gate, reporters were waiting for Sung Hyun.

Looking at their expressions, they all seemed to be expecting him not to come out at all.

Rejecting all of their interview requests, Sung Hyun headed straight to Kamuz.

“Receive the crystal.”

“Oh… is the amount more than I thought?”

“There was a lot inside. I’ll be on my way.”

“A, are you going back right away?”

He asked as if wishing he could stay here a little longer.

“I’m going to rest for a day and go back.”

“Haha, I see. Why don’t you enjoy some more sightseeing…”

“It doesn’t matter. Then I’ll go back to the hotel.”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work.”

The conversation itself was quite warm.

Hiding the laughter that was about to come out at Kamuz’s face, which was smiling brightly but looked like he was wearing a mask, Sung Hyun returned to the hotel.

“I said I’d rest for a day and go back, so they’ll probably start something tonight.”

He wasn’t tired at all, but they would assume that Sung Hyun was quite tired now.

That was only natural.

There was nothing Sung Hyun had to do.

Just wait until night.

And when night came, he just had to pretend to be asleep.

“But what the hell is this?”

A crystal without mana.

He didn’t know how to use it, and it didn’t accept mana, so it was practically no different from a stone.

Since there were no immediate uses, Sung Hyun tossed the stone-like crystal into a corner and lay down on the bed.

“Come quickly if you’re going to come.”

It wasn’t a place he wanted to stay for long.

———————–

It was the time when everyone was asleep.

Astaroth, who had already confirmed that Sung Hyun was asleep, sighed in front of Sung Hyun’s room.

“I have no ill intentions.”

It’s just that the situation happened to coincide like this.

Even if those things hadn’t happened, nothing would have changed.

Astaroth injected mana into the doorknob of Sung Hyun’s room.

Originally, it was a device that only reacted to the mana of the person in the room, but Astaroth had already injected her mana before Sung Hyun came.

The door opened silently without a click.

Sung Hyun’s mana was felt flowing out little by little from inside.

As she slowly entered without making a sound, she saw a figure on the bed.

‘It’s Kim Sung Hyun.’

The mana he exuded was no different from the mana he had felt for the first time.

Astaroth immediately began to use her ability.

First, she installed a device to lower the sensitivity of mana so that Sung Hyun would not notice.

Astaroth slowly concentrated her mind.

Once this is over, Kim Sung Hyun, the top hunter, will be in her hands.

Not anyone else’s, but her own.

After the concentration of mana was over, Astaroth approached and placed her hand on Sung Hyun’s forehead.

“…What is this?”

There was one strange thing.

Even though she had injected all the mana she thought would be enough, it was still far from sufficient.

No, Astaroth was flustered and continued to inject mana with a bewildered look, not even knowing how much more she needed in the first place.

“It doesn’t work, does it?”

“H, Hunter Kim Sung Hyun?”

When she heard a voice without even opening his eyes, Astaroth was startled and stepped back, looking at Sung Hyun.

“What were you trying to do?”

“H, how…”

Sung Hyun, who slowly got up from his seat, first brightened the dark interior.

“This is the first and last time I’m asking twice. What were you trying to do?”

“T, that’s…”

The most embarrassing moment in Astaroth’s life.

It was also the first time she felt fear.

Would it have been better if the room was darker? Astaroth couldn’t raise her head and was just holding her trembling arms.

“I was trying to… use my ability.”

“What kind of ability?”

“C, control.”

“Control, huh…”

It was an ability he had heard of before.

He didn’t know it was Astaroth’s ability.

“What happens to me if I’m controlled?”

“Your consciousness remains, but you move according to my will. It will be released someday.”

Thanks to Sung Hyun’s slightly gentle voice, Astaroth seemed to calm down and continued to answer.

“The failure must be due to the difference in mana.”

“Why is the mana…”

The amount of mana Sung Hyun felt now was just a little lacking to be considered normal.

“People originally perceive as much as their level allows.”

“…”

She couldn’t deny it.

She was experiencing it now.

“What… are you going to do to me?”

“I was originally going to kill you…”

But his thoughts had changed a little.

When he first asked what kind of ability she was trying to use, it seemed that her honest answer had the biggest impact.

“I have a good idea, what do you want to do?”

“What…”

Since she had no choice anyway, Astaroth nodded, and Sung Hyun continued to explain the good idea he had in mind.

“Do you trust me?”

“Of course not. It’s not like I’ve been caught with any significant weaknesses.”

“Then why are you entrusting me with this?”

What should he say to this question to make it easy to understand?

“Um… it’s to repay the favor.”

“Favor?”

“It’s like I saved your life.”

It was a bit of a stretch, but it wasn’t entirely wrong.

If he had wanted to, Astaroth’s breath would have been cut off right now.

“Okay.”

“Good. Then start right now.”

“Right now?”

“I said I’m going back tomorrow, so shouldn’t we see the results before that?”

“…Okay.”

It didn’t take long or difficult to check whether Astaroth had handled the mission Sung Hyun had given her well.

Now, the day Sung Hyun returns to Korea.

The first to visit Sung Hyun was Kamuz and Astaroth.

“Did you have a comfortable night?”

Kamuz’s expression was perfectly expressionless compared to his polite and courteous tone.

However, looking at the bewilderment in his eyes, it seemed that he could not control his body as he wished.

“Yes. Thanks to you, I had a good rest.”

Sung Hyun’s gaze turned to Astaroth, and Astaroth nodded without answering.

“Are you guiding me to the airport, Chairman?”

“…Of course.”

Sung Hyun, with Kamuz in the lead, matched his pace with Astaroth behind him.

“It’s perfect. How long is it possible?”

“It’s possible as long as I’m paying attention. It’s not that Kamuz has a lot of mana.”

“Can you handle the aftermath? It will be released someday.”

“…I don’t know.”

At Astaroth’s complaining answer, Sung Hyun smiled lightly and said, spreading his hand forward.

“I’ll take care of the aftermath. Contact me if there’s a problem.”

What was placed on Sung Hyun’s hand was none other than contact information and a few bottles of elixir.

“E, elixir?”

“There will be a few bottles in the chairman’s office as well. Use them as you see fit.”

“Why are you giving me this…”

“You handled the work well, so you deserve a reward.”

Astaroth’s expression became a little complicated.

But she didn’t seem dissatisfied.

“Ah, and those children in the same situation as those children. Can I ask you to take care of them?”

“Me?”

“It will be easier to manage since you control the chairman. I’ll give you the funds if you need them.”

“…I don’t need it. It’s not like I’m a beggar.”

Looking at Astaroth’s slightly reddened face, it seemed like he had found a very reliable partner.

“Then see you next time.”

“Next time… okay.”

The schedule in Egypt ended like this.

He obtained a crystal that did not contain mana, the use of which was unknown, and was able to move Kamuz, the chairman, as he pleased.