I Became The Rankers’ Number One Pick [EN]: Chapter 82

82.

That dawn, Seo-ah, who had been asleep, abruptly opened her eyes.

“…This is.”

Seo-ah got out of bed and went to the window. Su-jeong, who was in the next bed, also woke up and looked around.

“Sister…?”

“Yeah, over here.”

It was a strong surge of mana that even an E-class Hunter could feel.

At Seo-ah’s call, Su-jeong also got out of bed and quickly approached.

It wasn’t visible to the naked eye yet, but she could feel it. The atmosphere was fluctuating over the newly formed island across the sea.

Of course, she had encountered an A-class gate in the Bukhansan mountains with the Royal Guild before. But that time, it was an already formed gate, and now she was witnessing its creation from the very beginning.

‘That’s where I need to go.’

She hadn’t realized she would feel the moment the gate was created so vividly.

“Sister….”

Su-jeong, feeling uneasy, linked arms with Seo-ah. Seo-ah held Su-jeong’s hand and silently gazed at the sea beyond.

***

The Sun Beach Hotel suite, where the Sun Guild was staying.

Four A-class Hunters and E-class Hunter Park Seo-ah were sitting on the sofa in the suite.

“They worked us to the bone until yesterday, and suddenly it’s a suite.”

“They probably want us to conserve our energy. Or maybe it’s the last luxury we get to enjoy before we die,” Kang Hae-in muttered.

Kim Su-hyeok replied, looking around the room with uneasy eyes. “Could be.”

On one side, Song Jin-ho was examining the wound on Yoon Ah-jeong’s leg.

“How did this happen?”

“Ugh, Seo-ah-hyeon’s axe got me. I couldn’t defend with a skill, so….” Yoon Ah-jeong answered Song Jin-ho’s question gloomily.

Kim Su-hyeok scoffed, unafraid. “Oh, I’m disappointed. Getting hurt by the Royal Guild. Ugh!”

Yoon Ah-jeong threw a small stone at Kim Su-hyeok. It was literally a pebble.

“Wait, where did you suddenly get a stone?”

“Hunter Shop.”

“Are you crazy? You’re spending gold on this?”

“Yeah, I might spend more.”

Yoon Ah-jeong threw several stones in a row at Kim Su-hyeok, who jumped up and ran around the room, dodging the flying projectiles.

“Ugh, stop it, I was wrong! No, throwing and hitting is my specialty! Ugh!”

“Hey, you’re making me dizzy. Stop it.” Kang Hae-in said.

“Yeah, it’s hard to heal when you’re moving. Ah-jeong, you stay still too,” Song Jin-ho added.

Only after Kang Hae-in and Song Jin-ho simultaneously intervened did they cease their antics.

Amidst the chaos, Seo-ah, who had been sitting quietly, went over to where Song Jin-ho and Yoon Ah-jeong were.

Looking closely, Yoon Ah-jeong’s wound was deeper than she had initially thought. The cut on her calf was deep, almost exposing the bone.

“Ah… that must hurt.”

Seo-ah knew about Seo-ah-hyeon’s Black Double Axe. Getting hit by that axe would cause such a wound. It was fortunate that her leg wasn’t severed.

“It really hurts, please do something quickly, Song Jin-ho.”

“Wait, it seems like a lot of nerves are damaged too.” Like an X-ray, light flickered from Song Jin-ho’s hand, making his own diagnosis.

It was amazing that this was possible without a doctor or equipment.

“Starting now.”

A subtle light that started from within Song Jin-ho’s body flowed through his palm and gathered on Yoon Ah-jeong’s wound.

Yoon Ah-jeong sighed softly, as if finally relieved.

Seo-ah knew that feeling well.

Every time she experienced Song Jin-ho’s healing skill, she felt a clear and refreshing sensation.

‘Come to think of it….’

Song Jin-ah had said before that the caster’s personality was reflected in the healing skill.

‘She said my skill was kind.’

She couldn’t tell what it felt like when she cast a healing skill on herself, but judging from Song Jin-ho’s skill, others seemed to feel some kind of sensation.

‘What is a kind feeling?’

While Seo-ah was deep in thought, Yoon Ah-jeong’s wound began to heal noticeably.

The red, gaping wound disappeared, leaving only a scar.

It would take Seo-ah three days and nights to heal that level of injury with her skill. She would probably collapse from mana exhaustion before that.

After watching quietly for a little longer, even the scar disappeared, and her skin returned to its original smooth state.

Song Jin-ho stopped the healing skill and took out a small green medicine bottle from his inventory [a magical storage space accessible to Hunters].

“Drink it; it will eliminate any remaining aftereffects.”

“Oh, you’re amazing as always. Thank you.”

Yoon Ah-jeong took the medicine bottle and got up. Seo-ah carefully sat in her empty seat.

“Um, Song Jin-ho Hunter, I have a question.”

When Seo-ah spoke first, Song Jin-ho looked at her with a noticeably pleased expression.

“Yes, ask me anything.”

“Um, how much can a healer heal? Can you heal diseases too? Not just Hunters, but ordinary people….”

It was a question asked with her younger brother, Geon-ho’s, cancer in mind.

Song Jin-ho slowly shook his head after hearing her question.

“I’m not that omnipotent.”

“Is that so?”

“Well, it depends on the healer’s grade, but you can assume that they can heal anything that affects a Hunter’s ‘life’ stat.”

“For example….”

“In everyday life, if a Hunter’s life stat drops because they are tired or sick, a healer’s recovery skill can solve it. But basically, they don’t get sick often.”

“What about ordinary people then?”

Seo-ah asked with subtle anticipation, but Song Jin-ho slowly shook his head.

“If it’s an external wound suffered inside a gate or from a monster, it can be healed the same way. But other external wounds are less effective than when used on Hunters. Still, it’s useful for external wounds.”

“Then, what about diseases?”

“You can assume that it has almost no effect on diseases. Just gives you a little boost, maybe?”

“I see….”

Seo-ah nodded, showing a bit of disappointment. Song Jin-ho, looking at her, muttered with a slightly gloomy face.

“Of course, this is just the story of an A-class healer.”

“…Is it different for S-class?”

“I’ve heard that they can have some effect on curing diseases.”

“S-class….”

Song Jin-ah was the only S-class healer in the country. Seo-ah realized this and looked at Song Jin-ho.

As soon as Song Jin-ah’s name came up, he looked noticeably depressed. What should she say?

She didn’t know what the story was, so she couldn’t rashly comfort him. After thinking this and that, Seo-ah brought up another topic.

“I’ve felt this before, but Song Jin-ho Hunter’s recovery skill has a very clear and refreshing feeling. Like being in a forest?”

At Seo-ah’s words, Song Jin-ho showed an unexpected reaction.

“Really? That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”

“Has no one ever told you that?”

“Ah, they told me it feels like applying a pain reliever.”

“No, not a pain reliever.”

Seo-ah laughed, and Song Jin-ho finally returned to his bright expression.

“Someone said my recovery skill is kind.”

“Really? Kind… Would you like to try it on me once? I’m curious.”

Song Jin-ho held out his arm, and Seo-ah placed her hand on it and used her recovery skill. A gentle and soft light spread and permeated Song Jin-ho’s arm.

Song Jin-ho closed his eyes and felt the skill, nodding.

“I know what you mean. The word ‘kind.’”

“Specifically, what is it like?”

“It’s hard to express. What should I say, it feels like I want to cry.”

“…Huh? You want to cry?”

Seo-ah looked at Song Jin-ho’s calm eyes with a puzzled expression.

“Thank you, I feel comforted.”

“I… didn’t do much.”

In the midst of the silence, Yoon Ah-jeong playfully interjected.

“What, what? You two? Why are you looking at each other like that? If there’s no one here, you’re going to kiss!”

Then Song Jin-ho’s face turned red in an instant, and he shouted at Yoon Ah-jeong.

“Ah, what are you talking about! Don’t say unnecessary things.”

Seo-ah just sat there without any reaction, pondering Song Jin-ho’s words.

A feeling of wanting to cry—is this a good thing?

At that time, a system message suddenly appeared in the air.

[Your title is beginning to sprout. Achievements are still lacking. Accumulate more achievements.]

It was a message she had seen before. It was after meeting Noh Yoon-ji, probably.

“Song Jin-ho, what are you hiding? It’s all visible. Park Seo-ah Hunter, what do you think of our Jin-ho, huh? Honestly.”

“Actually, Jin-ho is not bad,” Kim Su-hyeok joined in while Yoon Ah-jeong was excitedly teasing.

“Ah, well… Song Jin-ho Hunter is…”

While everyone was paying attention to Seo-ah’s next words, the door suddenly burst open.

“Ah….”

Yoon Ah-jeong made a disappointed expression after checking who was at the door. Song Jin-ho was still looking at Seo-ah as if curious, but Seo-ah had already missed her chance to speak.

Yoo Ji-an stepped into the room.

From the moment he entered, Seo-ah couldn’t take her eyes off Yoo Ji-an.

“Everyone, take one of these.”

Yoo Ji-an took out several small, white beads that looked like peppermint candies from his inventory and placed them on his palm.

Kang Hae-in picked up one of them.

“This is an Icing Ball?”

“That’s right.”

“What’s with this gate?”

Yoo Ji-an didn’t answer and called Seo-ah.

“Park Seo-ah.”

Seo-ah scurried over to Yoo Ji-an.

“You take two.”