I Became The Only Healer In The Academy [EN]: Chapter 36

36

[Time Remaining Until the Sage-Exclusive Gate Appears: 167:59:59]

“A Sage-Exclusive Gate? Is it similar to a Single-Person Gate?”

Seeing the number decrease from 168 by 1 every second, it seemed the Sage-Exclusive Gate would appear in 168 hours, exactly one week from now.

“I doubt they’ll tell me what it’s related to.”

He couldn’t understand why they were being so uncooperative, especially considering what would happen if the Sage died. Still, Seonghyun tried to comfort himself, thinking they were trying to make him stronger, and then he dismissed the window in front of him.

“Is there any way I can prepare, even a little?”

Fortunately, it was still a week away, so he would be able to enter the gate after the equipment he had requested from the Academy arrived.

“For the next week, I’ll just raid gates alone.”

With the power of his Stigmata [a mark or brand on the body, often associated with religious significance or supernatural abilities], he could gain a significant advantage in combat, and even if something happened, he could use healing to avoid most situations.

“Son, dinner’s ready. Come and eat.”

“Okay.”

Having roughly organized his plans, Seonghyun left his room with a slightly lighter expression than when he had first returned home.

“Is the Academy treating you well these days?”

“Yes. I have friends to go with, and the teachers treat me well too.”

Strictly speaking, the reason his homeroom teacher treated Seonghyun well was solely for his own advancement, but Seonghyun knew the ugly side behind the teacher’s mask and had no intention of being swayed.

Rather, he would use him.

“That’s a relief…”

His mother’s expression seemed much more relaxed.

She hadn’t heard anything about how Seonghyun was doing or what the situation was during the first semester, so until recently, she had considered no news as good news.

But recently, Seonghyun’s changed expression and atmosphere were telling her everything.

That it had been too hard, that just enduring was all he could do.

“Why? Is there something on my face?”

“Do I need something to be on my son’s face to look at him? It’s nothing. Come and eat.”

She could have found out what happened and what was going on, but his mother had no intention of doing so.

Those things were all in the past now, and they were things that wouldn’t happen in the future.

“When is Hyein coming? She seems to be coming home late these days.”

At Seonghyun’s question, his mother showed a rather pleased smile.

He didn’t seem very interested, but it seemed he was quite worried as her brother.

“She started a new academy a few days ago.”

“An academy? That must be expensive…”

“Don’t worry. The Association and the Academy were clamoring to support her, so we sent her to the most famous place without spending a penny.”

His mother’s expression was clear.

It was an expression that she was benefiting from her successful son.

“Mom, you should also have some hobbies. Hyein is also entering a new academy, so she’ll be coming home late, and I’ll also be busy at the Academy and coming home late, so you’ll be bored.”

“Bored? When I watch a drama these days, time flies by so fast. I was wondering what time it was that my son came home so early.”

Certainly, his mother looked much more relaxed and happier than before.

“You should also exercise. Ah, I’ll sign you up for exercise with Hyein when she comes.”

“E-Exercise?”

She didn’t seem to like exercise, but Seonghyun had no intention of yielding this time.

“It’s right in front, so should we go right away when Hyein comes?”

“W-Well, Hyein is tired too…”

“The more tired you are, the more you should exercise.”

“…”

His mother, who usually waited for her daughter to come home, was strangely thinking that it wouldn’t be bad if she was a little later today.

But, unfortunately, Hyein had finished early and was already entering the house code.

“If Hyein eats, we’ll go after she’s done, and if she doesn’t, we’ll go right away.”

“O-Okay…”

Because it was for her daughter’s and her own health, his mother nodded with a heavy expression.

“Daughter, you’re home?”

“Huh? Ah, yeah…”

“Did you eat?”

“I-I’m okay.”

Hyein went straight into her room, and Seonghyun was watching her carefully.

‘What’s wrong?’

It was completely different from Hyein’s usual self.

She had been fine until a few days ago, but after checking today, he couldn’t find the bright side she usually showed.

“Is she going through puberty… She doesn’t try to talk much these days.”

“Really…? Since when?”

“She’s been like that for a few days. I ask her if something’s wrong, but she doesn’t say anything…”

Seonghyun quickly finished his meal and headed to Hyein’s room.

“Hye…”

He was about to lightly knock on the door when he heard a faint sobbing sound from inside.

“…”

It was clear that this wasn’t something that could be easily dismissed.

And since she hadn’t told her mother, she wouldn’t tell him easily either.

‘She said she’s been like this for a few days.’

“What do you think?”

As his mother approached Hyein’s room, Seonghyun led her to the other side, as if to say it was okay.

“You know too, right? That when they’re going through puberty like this, you have to give them time.”

“Yeah… that’s right…”

“She’ll be fine in a few days. Don’t worry.”

His mother’s complexion wasn’t very good, but she seemed to agree as her trustworthy son said so.

“But what kind of academy is it? If the Academy and the Association are competing to support her, it must be a pretty good place.”

“I thought about it a bit, and it seemed like the Association would be better, so I went with the place supported by the Association.”

“Ah…”

Seonghyun thought about why his sister was showing such a figure, but no matter how much he thought about it, there was only one conclusion.

The academy that started a few days ago, and his sister’s changed appearance at the same time.

‘The Association… is doing something like that?’

Nothing had been revealed yet, but Seonghyun was convinced.

However, he wondered why the place supported by the Association had created this situation.

“Then we’re going to exercise next time…?”

His mother looked at Seonghyun and asked, worried about exercise, and Seonghyun smiled and replied.

“Yes, next time.”

Returning to his room, Seonghyun immediately called Inhwan and Sangyeon.

Originally, he was supposed to go on a gate raid tomorrow, but something more important had come up, so he couldn’t go.

Both Inhwan and Sangyeon seemed to understand the word “family matter” and hung up, hoping it would be resolved well.

“I’ll have to go to the Association for the first time in a while.”

He had no intention of wielding power with his current abilities.

Seonghyun’s goal was, after all, the complete extermination of the monsters.

But if his family was harmed like this, then it was a different story.

The next day, Seonghyun headed to the Association without contacting them on purpose.

The employees who recognized Seonghyun at the entrance disappeared somewhere in surprise, and soon after, the secretary who had guided him before appeared.

“What brings you here? The Association President and Vice President are temporarily away.”

The secretary with a stiff expression replied in a voice without any emotion, and Seonghyun asked with the same expression.

“I came to find out something.”

“Follow me.”

Following the secretary, she handed a cup of tea to Seonghyun and said.

“If you’re telling me, it means it’s something I can tell you, right?”

“It’s simple. I heard that the Association provided educational support to my sister a few days ago.”

“Ah, you’re talking about that. That’s right.”

“It’s about that. Where is the academy, and who is the instructor?”

The secretary looked at Seonghyun with a momentary puzzled look.

It was his sister’s education, not someone else’s, but he was curious about the intention of asking the Association, not the sister who was receiving the education.

“I understand.”

But the secretary erased all doubts.

What Seonghyun in front of him wanted now was an answer to his question.

He didn’t want to return with another question.

“It’s called an academy, but it’s conducted in a tutoring format.”

The secretary told Seonghyun in detail about the location, method, time, and who was teaching the tutoring, without missing a single detail.

“Do you have any more questions?”

“That’s enough. Thank you.”

Seonghyun greeted lightly and left the Association immediately.

The reason Seonghyun came to the Association today was simple.

In fact, these were issues that could be asked to his mother, but Seonghyun came to the Association on purpose.

From the Association’s point of view, they would question why Seonghyun took the time to come to the Association to ask about things that he could have asked his family, and then they would show movement to find out on their own.

It was an opportunity for the Association.

If Seonghyun confirmed something today, and if that situation was not what he wanted, he hoped that the Association would show movement.

He thought he could forgive them then.

“The class starts in the evening, so…”

While thinking about how to spend his time until then, Seonghyun headed straight to a nearby open gate because there was nothing as efficient as subjugation [the act of conquering or bringing someone under control].

Hyein finished her school 수업 [Korean word for ‘class’ or ‘lesson’] and moved to receive tutoring.

‘I… don’t want to go…’

It wasn’t the usual ordinary whining.

The insulting remarks that accompanied the tutoring from beginning to end made her days miserable.

But she couldn’t not go.

According to the Association, it was a process that increased the possibility of opening her abilities at the age of 20, and it was also an opportunity to learn many other things.

Arriving at the building where the tutoring would take place, Hyein took a deep breath and entered the building.

“Hello…”

“Oh, Hyein is here? Come and sit down.”

The middle-aged man with a greasy smile naturally put his hand on Hyein’s shoulder and guided her to her seat.

“So, have you thought about it?”

“Yes, yes?”

“Did you forget? Oh dear… I’ll tell you again. You know very well that I’m famous in this industry. It’s not for long! If you spend a little, just a little time with me, I’ll let you take good classes with those people, okay?”

“T-That’s…”

“Ha, don’t act too expensive. It’s common in this industry.”

Hyein trembled for a moment at the creepy touch she felt on her hair.

“Haha, even your trembling 모습 [Korean word for ‘appearance’ or ‘figure’] is so cute? I’ll be able to get an answer tomorrow, right?”

“P-Professor, I, I…”

“Oh dear, if you answer too quickly, you can’t turn back. I’ll give you time until tomorrow, so think about it slowly. If you just do a little deviation… a brilliant future will be waiting for you.”

The professor sat close to Hyein and opened the book.

“We have to do 수업 [Korean word for ‘class’ or ‘lesson’], right? The professor’s voice isn’t loud, so stay close to me today too, okay?”

Still, it was relatively less today, so Hyein tried to concentrate on the 수업 [Korean word for ‘class’ or ‘lesson’], biting her lower lip.

But then, there was a knock on the door from outside.

“Hmm? Who is it? I don’t like being disturbed during tutoring…”

The professor, who was quite upset that his time alone was disturbed, frowned and headed to the door.

“Who is it? I’m in 수업 [Korean word for ‘class’ or ‘lesson’] now. And how did you know about this place?”

But the professor’s question was not answered.

There was another knock.