I Became The Only Healer In The Academy [EN]: Chapter 26

26

A friend stayed by the man’s side.

Until the very next day.

“How are they? Are they feeling any better?”

His parents had been sleeping since yesterday, and while their expressions seemed relatively peaceful, the man had no way of knowing what was happening inside, leaving him frustrated.

“I am sorry to say this, but even if they wake up, it will be difficult for them to lead a normal life.”

“Yes? What, what do you mean by that?”

The man couldn’t understand the doctor’s words.

What doctor would tell a guardian that it might be better if their loved ones didn’t wake up?

But conversely, if he was saying this, it meant the situation was as bad as it could get, so the man waited for the doctor to be proven wrong.

“The pain they’re experiencing is likely getting worse. So, we’re increasing the dosage of painkillers and even administering narcotic painkillers, but even that will eventually be insufficient.”

“Then…”

“Exactly. If all they feel when they’re awake is pain, I’m saying it might be better for them not to wake up at all. Of course, the choice is yours to make.”

Jinseok couldn’t answer.

If they had to spend the rest of their lives lying like this, without even regaining consciousness, would that truly be living?

Or would it be better to be awake, even if they were in pain?

Jinseok clenched his fists.

No matter what choice he made, there was no best or optimal option.

Only the worst and the lesser of two evils existed.

And the fact that he was the only one who had to choose made it even more painful.

He was the one who put his parents in this situation.

He was the one who had to choose his parents’ future, between the worst and the lesser of two evils.

“You have a few days to think about it, so please consider it carefully and let me know.”

The doctor seemed unwilling to talk any further.

The more they talked, the more it reminded them that all they could do was alleviate the pain.

“Jinseok…”

His friend could only call out the name of his friend in pain, unable to offer any other words of comfort.

The only fortunate thing was that he could suggest a solution.

“Hey, hey…”

The friend sat beside Jinseok, who was slumped in despair next to his parents’ beds.

“Do you remember what I said yesterday?”

“Yesterday? Ah, that there might be a way…?”

“Yeah.”

“What is it? What way are you talking about?”

Jinseok looked at his friend, erasing the despair that had been in his eyes until just now.

“You… know about the healer who was on TV before, right?”

“Ah… Ah! Of course, I know. How could I not know?”

Jinseok was well aware.

As a Hunter [a person with supernatural abilities], there was no way he wouldn’t know.

“Could it be…”

“That’s right. I don’t think there’s anyone else who can help right now.”

“…”

However, Jinseok didn’t react positively.

He was too aware of the side effects.

“Would someone who has no connection to my family step forward for them…?”

Moreover, it wasn’t just about stepping forward.

The biggest problem was whether they would be willing to feel the pain that Jinseok’s parents were currently experiencing.

“Are you just going to stand by like this?”

“…It’s not that, but…”

“Let’s go.”

“…Huh?”

“I said, let’s go. Let’s go meet them.”

Jinseok was still hesitant, but as his friend said, the only remaining option was to meet the healer.

“But do you know where they are?”

“That person is also a class representative at the Academy [a school for Hunters], just like me. They head towards the gate [a portal to another dimension] every day. The same gate you went to.”

“In that case…!”

Jinseok now seemed to have a glimmer of hope.

He didn’t know what kind of person Seonghyun was yet, but he was willing to agree to whatever they asked for.

Even his own life.

Jinseok and his friend immediately left the hospital.

Having found the only way to resolve the situation, there was no reason to hesitate any longer.

About 30 minutes from the hospital, Jinseok arrived back at the gate he had visited with a different mindset just yesterday.

“Hang in there. They should be there now.”

“Yeah…”

The two immediately entered the gate.

They felt the presence of Hunters around them and checked, but it seemed there were none at the entrance, so they headed deeper.

“I feel a presence up ahead.”

His friend sensed the Hunters and held his hand in front of Jinseok.

If they encountered a Hunter committing a crime this deep inside, there would be no one to ask for help, so they had to assess the situation before making contact.

“…That’s right.”

“Huh?”

“Do you see the Hunter in the middle over there? That’s the healer.”

“Th-that person is…!”

They were hunting monsters with the other class representatives.

“Let’s approach them after this battle is over.”

The monster subjugation ended much faster than they had expected, and Jinseok and his friend approached Seonghyun’s group without any hesitation.

“Who are they?”

Seonghyun had already sensed their presence.

However, they didn’t seem hostile, so he was just watching to see what they would do.

Instead of the nervous Jinseok, his friend cautiously asked.

“Are you the healer…?”

“Yes.”

Seonghyun’s answer was concise.

He didn’t introduce himself or ask what they needed.

“Can we talk to you for a moment?”

“Talking… Can you wait a moment?”

“Okay, contact me if anything happens.”

“Go ahead.”

Inhwan and Sangyeon seemed to think it was okay to talk for a bit.

“I’ll just borrow him for a moment.”

Seonghyun moved away from the group with the two and started talking.

“What’s going on?”

Jinseok was relieved that Seonghyun wasn’t showing much wariness.

“Jinseok, you tell him.”

“…”

Before opening his mouth, Jinseok took action.

Kneeling on the spot, Jinseok looked at Seonghyun.

Seeing the bewilderment and embarrassment mixed in the eyes looking down at him, it seemed Jinseok’s actions were completely unexpected.

“Please, please help me.”

“Wh-what…”

“My parents, they’ve been cursed.”

“Cursed…?”

Seonghyun was immediately able to grasp the situation.

He already knew the identity of the mutated monsters and even knew where they were appearing.

That meant the man kneeling before him had tried to defeat the mutated monster, and as a result, his parents had been cursed.

“That’s…”

Jinseok briefly explained the situation, and it was all as Seonghyun had expected.

“Please…”

Jinseok could only say the word ‘please.’

Seonghyun was also a Hunter, and if he was a Hunter, he would know what kind of curse it was.

Moreover, the pain that his parents, who were ordinary people, were feeling would be on a different level from the pain a Hunter would feel.

Asking someone he had never met to feel that pain on his behalf was not easy to say.

“I’ll give you anything you want. If it’s something I have, I’ll give it to you right away, and if it’s something I don’t have, I’ll find a way to get it.”

“Well… even if you say that, there might not be anything I can do.”

“Yes…?”

Seonghyun’s ability was healing.

Looking back at the description of his healing ability, all it said was that he could heal small wounds without a trace.

“You know that curses and wounds are different, right?”

“Su-surely.”

“My ability is healing. Something like a curse… I don’t think I can do it.”

This was not something that Jinseok and his friend had not anticipated.

Healing wounds and dispelling curses were clearly different domains.

“Then… I…”

However, anticipating it and receiving confirmation were also different domains.

The despair he had been trying to ignore materialized, and with the hope that had now completely disappeared, Jinseok remained kneeling, his gaze fixed on the ground.

What to do now.

Was there really no way left?

Was he going to have to live like this, unable to hold on to his parents or let them go?

“…If it’s just to check…”

“Re-really?”

Seonghyun reached out his hand to Jinseok, who was still kneeling, and said.

“Get up first.”

“…”

Jinseok lowered his gaze to the ground again for a moment.

He seemed to need some time to calm down, so Seonghyun waited for a moment with his hand outstretched, and soon, Jinseok seemed to have calmed down and took Seonghyun’s hand and stood up.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“I don’t think it’s time to thank me yet. I’ll go talk to my group before we leave.”

“Yes. Thank you again…”

Seonghyun immediately headed towards Sangyeon and Inhwan.

“Did you finish talking? What did they say?”

“It’s obvious. They want me to save someone who’s hurt, right?”

“There’s a bit of a situation.”

Seonghyun briefly explained the situation, and Inhwan nodded.

“Then there’s no helping it. So, we’re meeting tomorrow?”

“Probably.”

“…Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Having obtained the group’s understanding,

Seonghyun immediately followed Jinseok to the hospital.

They didn’t have any other conversations until they arrived at the hospital.

He simply followed Jinseok’s hurried steps to the hospital room.

Arriving at the hospital room, Seonghyun stood before Jinseok’s parents, guided by Jinseok.

‘Their expressions certainly look peaceful, but that’s not the case at all.’

From the outside, it looked like there was nothing wrong, but Seonghyun could feel it.

They had sought unconsciousness to escape the pain.

“I-is it possible?”

Seonghyun placed his hand on the foreheads of Jinseok’s parents.

And then, he used his healing ability.

“…”

“…”

A moment of silence lingered, but there was no change in Seonghyun’s expression.

‘This is strange.’

He definitely felt the pain.

But it was definitely not enough to say that he had dispelled the curse.

‘Is it just reducing the pain they’re experiencing now?’

Seonghyun continued to use his healing ability on the pain that was bearable, and soon, the amount of pain he felt gradually decreased.

“What, what’s happening?”

“…Let’s talk outside for now.”

Although the curtains of the hospital bed were drawn, there were other patients and guardians, so Seonghyun went outside with Jinseok and his friend.

“This is the first time this has happened, but it seems the best I can do is to alleviate some of the pain they’re experiencing now.”

“Ah…”

Jinseok’s expression was a mixture of relief, regret, despair, and hope.

“After using it continuously, there was a moment when I didn’t feel any pain. I’ll have to try again tomorrow to know for sure.”

He could have used Materialization [Seonghyun’s unique ability] to give them medicine and leave, but this was a first for him, so he wanted to see it with his own eyes.

“So, you’re coming again tomorrow?”

“Yes, well… I guess I have to.”

Jinseok looked at Seonghyun and bit his lower lip.

He looked like he had a lot to say, but he seemed hesitant to even do that, fearing it might be a hindrance to Seonghyun.

“Thank you…”

“Thank me when everything is better.”

Seonghyun promised to come again tomorrow and left.

Jinseok’s friend, who had been waiting outside, approached Jinseok after confirming that Seonghyun had left and asked.

“Are you okay?”

“What’s not okay? If I’ve relieved even a little bit of their pain… I can be satisfied with that.”

Jinseok’s expression had definitely improved a lot.

If he had looked like he had given up on everything just a moment ago, now he had the expression of someone who had found hope.

“I’m going to go.”

“Yeah. Now that I think about it, I didn’t say thank you to you. Thank you so much.”

“Don’t mention it. I’m going.”

Jinseok, who was about to smoke a cigarette before going in, put the cigarette back in his pocket and returned to the hospital room.

But in the hospital room, an unbelievable sight was unfolding.

“Ugh…”

“Ah, Father…?”

His father had woken up.

And soon, his mother also regained consciousness.