I Became The Only Healer In The Academy [EN]: Chapter 77

77

“Hey… doesn’t this 1st year look promising?”

“N, no way…”

The students watching the broadcast began to stir.

Of course, everyone hadn’t had their last turn yet, but in the first match, they showed a close fight, even if it was a bit boring. Inhwan faced the second opponent with almost no loss of strength.

“But the second opponent… won’t be easy either.”

“Who is it?”

“Look. He’s coming in now.”

The second representative of the 3rd year appearing on the broadcast was Kim Hanwook.

He was a famous figure within the Academy, a talented individual already confirmed to join a large guild after graduation.

“Ah… that guy came out as the second.”

He was at a similar level to the last 3rd-year representative who hadn’t come out yet, but the problem was the compatibility of their abilities.

“The compatibility is terrible.”

Kim Hanwook’s ability was a barrier.

However, it could render barriers useless if someone got within a certain distance.

An ability focused more on defense than offense.

That’s what everyone knew, but there was a slightly different truth.

One of the facts that many people didn’t know, a hidden ability of Kim Hanwook that Seongwook had told him about.

It was the reflection of the last received ranged attack.

‘The compatibility is…’

It would have been better if Sangyeon’s turn was the opposite.

There was no point in thinking about it like this now, so Inhwan reorganized Hanwook’s abilities in his mind.

‘Nullification of ranged attacks and reflection of the last received ranged attack.’

In fact, it was closer to copying than reflecting.

The ability to copy and cast the last nullified ranged attack as it was.

Of course, it wasn’t without weaknesses.

The ability to nullify and copy ranged attacks was only possible for attacks he recognized.

‘I have to… engage in close combat.’

Inhwan took a short breath.

Among Inhwan’s abilities, there was not a single one related to close combat.

However, Inhwan had been hunting monsters with Seonghyun and Sangyeon, which led to an increase in not only the use of his abilities but also his physical abilities.

The plan was simple.

Stick to the opponent as much as possible to divert their attention, then use the ability.

That way, even if they recognized the attack, there would be a gap while using the ability, and he could land an effective hit then.

“How long are you going to make me wait?”

“Huh? I was waiting too?”

Inhwan shrugged and answered with a sly tone, and Kim Hanwook chuckled as if he was dumbfounded and took a stance.

“I know all about your abilities. And you… will know my abilities too.”

Inhwan didn’t answer and immediately rushed at Kim Hanwook.

“I knew you’d do this.”

Kim Hanwook, anticipating Inhwan’s movement, smiled and countered Inhwan’s incoming attack.

It was a rare sight.

Two hunters with ranged abilities engaging in close combat without using any abilities at all.

“This…!”

Kim Hanwook initially parried Inhwan’s attacks.

But as time passed, it became increasingly difficult to parry.

‘This, this bastard, doesn’t he only have ranged abilities?’

Of course, his movements and strength were lacking compared to those with abilities specialized in close combat, but the attacks were too fast and powerful to be considered a hunter with only ranged abilities.

“Cough!”

Eventually, an effective hit landed on his abdomen.

Blood didn’t burst from his mouth, but at least saliva did.

“This…”

The person who received the attack was none other than Inhwan.

‘W, why?’

It was incomprehensible.

Clearly, his attack was faster and stronger.

“Tsk tsk… Did you think I got into a large guild with just a reflection ability?”

Kim Hanwook didn’t seem to have any intention of attacking further.

As if telling him to come at him.

‘Was the information Seongwook gave me wrong?’

He wouldn’t have given the wrong information.

‘Let’s check once…’

Inhwan charged at Kim Hanwook as before, then created a gap as much as possible.

Since Inhwan’s movements were faster, it wasn’t difficult to create a gap, and this time, he used a ranged attack right in front of him.

“…”

The flame that flashed right in front of Kim Hanwook disappeared as if it never happened.

“What are you doing?”

Kim Hanwook, smiling, asked, and then punched Inhwan’s face with all his might.

“Cough!”

Even though Kim Hanwook didn’t have any abilities related to close combat, a hunter is a hunter, and Inhwan was also a hunter with ranged abilities, so the impact was quite significant.

“Now get lost.”

Kim Hanwook, heading towards Inhwan who had fallen to the ground, began to stomp on Inhwan.

“Where. Does. A 1st year. Brat. Dare…”

Kim Hanwook, stomping on Inhwan with emotion in each step, tried to step back when he felt a warm, no, a hot sensation from the soles of his feet.

“L, let go of this!”

But Inhwan was holding Kim Hanwook’s foot with both hands.

“This…!”

Inhwan’s ability had already worked.

Before he recognized the attack.

Of course, he couldn’t block it, and Kim Hanwook screamed at the feeling of his insides burning and collapsed on the spot.

“Haa, haa…”

Kim Hanwook looked at his trembling hands.

What if Inhwan was in perfect condition?

The thought that he might have felt the burning sensation of this magic power a little more sent shivers down his spine.

“Ugh… You’re holding up well because you’re a senior.”

“Haa… haa…”

Inhwan burst into laughter as if he was disappointed, and Kim Hanwook let out a hollow laugh as he looked at Inhwan.

“The last representative of the 1st year, please enter the arena immediately.”

The broadcast came on, confirming Inhwan’s incapacitated state.

“Hoo, that’s too bad.”

Kim Hanwook looked at Inhwan’s expression.

‘…What is it?’

Inhwan’s expression was as if he had won.

It was the kind of expression a general who lost the battle but won the war would have.

“…You’re just a 1st year anyway.”

Kim Hanwook stared at the passage where Seonghyun would enter.

“…”

The sound of footsteps was just ordinary footsteps to anyone else, but strangely, Kim Hanwook was feeling a strange pressure.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Seonghyun, as if Kim Hanwook wasn’t even in his sight, said to Inhwan, who was being carried out on a stretcher, as soon as he entered the arena.

“It’s not an excuse… but the compatibility…”

“I know, I know.”

Seonghyun stopped the people who were about to take Inhwan away.

“Go and watch comfortably.”

Seonghyun soon spread his hand over Inhwan’s body, and soon a gentle light began to circulate.

“Hoo, I feel like I’m going to live. Thank you.”

“Come up with a plan to prepare for the National Competition.”

Inhwan, who laughed for a long time at Seonghyun’s words, nodded and tapped Seonghyun’s shoulder once before leaving the arena through the hallway.

Kim Hanwook, who was listening to Seonghyun’s words, snorted as if he was dumbfounded.

“Come up with a plan to prepare for the National Competition?”

“…”

But there was no answer.

“This 1st year representative has no basics, let alone skills…”

It wasn’t that there was no answer at all.

It just came back in a slightly different way.

Seonghyun appeared in front of him in an instant.

That wasn’t all.

He didn’t even know when he moved, but pain began to surge from his abdomen.

“Cough!”

It wasn’t an ability either.

It was really just the pain of something colliding with his abdomen.

With that one pain, Kim Hanwook lost consciousness.

“…”

Not only the other students watching the broadcast but even this arena was enveloped in silence.

Even the broadcast that was supposed to announce the entrance of the next 3rd year representative was silent.

“…The last representative of the 3rd year, please enter the arena immediately.”

Soon, the last representative of the 3rd year, Cha Minhyuk, entered.

‘Should I use the Saintly Imprint [a powerful healing and offensive ability] right away?’

He had no intention of not using it at all.

Seonghyun’s goal was to participate in the National Competition, and he had no intention of choosing means and methods to achieve that goal.

However, there was one thing he didn’t like.

The gazes of the 3rd years looking at him.

Strictly speaking, not only the Academy but also the Association was grateful for Seonghyun’s abilities, and he was being recognized as much.

However, the 3rd years of the Academy didn’t recognize Seonghyun.

They just thought that the reemergence of his abilities was just good luck.

He didn’t want them to be friendly, but he didn’t want them to show a strange hostility either.

“That’s quite an impressive movement.”

“You too.”

Seonghyun didn’t intend to drag the conversation out, so he answered carelessly without even looking at him.

“Are all 1st years like this? Or is it just you guys?”

“…”

Cha Minhyuk’s ability was a bit compatible with Seonghyun this time.

An opponent that could be a bit difficult if he didn’t use the Saintly Imprint.

Nullification of pain, nullification of abilities.

Of course, there was a time limit, and after that, he was just an ordinary person with a strong and fast body, but the reason why he could be the leader among the 3rd year representatives was that the time was quite long.

It was roughly similar to Seongwook’s ability sealing, but unlike that, Cha Minhyuk’s nullification was the ability to nullify abilities used on himself.

Here is an unknown ability.

It was immunity.

Not only nullifying pain and abilities but also immune to all kinds of mental attacks.

“I’ll go first.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a very faint barrier-like thing formed around Cha Minhyuk’s body.

‘Will the ability nullification block the activation of the Saintly Imprint itself?’

He was curious, but now was not the time to worry, so Seonghyun immediately pulled out the wooden sword he had in his arms.

“A healer with a sword. So you’re not just a healer but more like a paladin? That kind of feeling suits you better.”

“You talk too much.”

Cha Minhyuk sighed as if he couldn’t stand it anymore and slowly approached Seonghyun in a completely defenseless state.

Cha Minhyuk wasn’t holding a sword, but it didn’t matter anyway.

He wouldn’t feel pain.

“Wow…”

Everyone watching the broadcast watched without saying a word, only exclaiming.

To be honest, the two’s battle was no different from the battle between Sangyeon and Jinhyuk that they saw for the first time.

The only difference was that the level of the exchange was unbelievably high.

“S, Seonghyun is a healer… but…”

“I know…”

Even the voices mixed with the self-deprecation of those with abilities specialized in close combat began to be heard.

If they were asked if they could show such movements, there was definitely no one in the 1st year.

Perhaps Sangyeon, who used Berserk [an ability that enhances physical strength but impairs judgment], could follow a little.

“This is real… Can we win?”

“I think… we can expect a little.”

Until now, the 1st year had no significant standing within the Academy.

Since they knew the difference between themselves and the 3rd years very well, they were accepting some unfairness as unavoidable.

But if Seonghyun wins here, a sense of anticipation began to arise that the 1st year’s standing might rise a little.

Now Seonghyun wanted it.

A very slight sense of unity had begun to take root.