Chapter 1
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: I'm an S-Rank Healer
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One day, I awakened.
As a precious, precious healer. And not just any—he had S-rank potential, to boot.
"Heal."
"Gahhh!"
With my shout, the main tanker rolled on the ground, howling in agony.
His wounds healed, but the pained screams didn't let up.
...Is this really healing?
Domestic First S-Rank Healer Born!
Cha Yeonwoo Nears Contract... Final Agreement on Salary and Stock Options
S-Rank Potential Healer Cha Yeonwoo: Half-Baked in Reality?
Celestial Radiance Guild Fails to Contract Cha Yeonwoo: Deemed Not Immediate Combat Asset
Knew it from the moment the media started hyping it up.
Still, they say the heal amount is solid?
What's the point if getting healed leaves you combat ineffective?
Domestic first albino healer born.
How the hell did things end up like this? I quietly closed my phone.
It felt just like winning the lottery only for it to turn out to be a system error.
I thought my life was finally turning around, but now this?
Roll roll—
As I tossed and turned, an empty soju bottle rolled across the floor.
My 4.5-pyong studio apartment.
Just a few days ago, I'd been preparing to move out. Now reality was a total shitshow.
[Future Comprehensive Finance - Notice: Your credit rating has been adjusted, resulting in an interest rate increase.]
The moment I awakened, I'd maxed out a loan to sign a house contract. If I couldn't pay the balance, I'd lose the deposit. With rates rising now, I was out of options.
In the end, I had no choice but to scour Hunter Net.
Dozens of job postings. I clicked on one that looked easy.
3-man full party basis. Payout ratios adjustable.
Guaranteed split: Tank 20%, DPS 15%, Supporter 20%, Healer 30%
As expected of the noble class. Healers start at a minimum 30% loot share.
That's why it stung even more. My heals were utterly unusable.
Still, on the off chance, I sent a message.
- Hey, any healer spot open?
- Whoa, yep! We'd make room even if there wasn't! Come on! Ready to head out now!
An enthusiastic reply. But worry hit first.
- Uh... my heals kinda hurt. That okay?
- Huh? Hurt? Why? ...Hold on. Checking your profile.
- Ah, you're that guy. Sorry.
Clear rejection. Disappointing, but unavoidable.
I kept hunting new posts and messaging. But the replies were all similar.
- Not looking for risks.
- Sorry, level too low.
The Tower's structure meant you couldn't gain EXP or loot without clearing the floor, no matter how many monsters you killed.
That's why healers got good treatment. Combat sustainability mattered.
I pulled up my status window idly.
Level still 1, just two skills.
The problematic passive was why I was in this mess.
If I got a decent attack skill, things might change—but healers didn't have those.
Plus, new skills unlocked every set levels, so without entering the Tower, I couldn't grow.
Don't big guilds push high-potential folks?
First clears only gave EXP to the party that did it—no busing possible.
"Fuck this. Should've awakened as a DPS."
Irritation surged.
How bad could it hurt to get this reaction? Unbearable.
I pulled out a needle and jabbed my thumb hard.
A sharp sting, red blood beading up. I cast the skill right away.
"Heal... Gahk!"
Pain from that pinprick exploded like stubbing my toe on a doorframe or taking a low blow—racing through my whole body. What the hell!
"Gaaah!"
[Passive Skill: Pain Suppression unlocked]
[Passive Skill: Pain Suppression +0.01]
After rolling on the floor forever, the pain faded, and I came to my senses. Clock showed about three minutes had passed.
'Huff... No wonder they freaked out.'
This wasn't healing—it was a disable debuff.
Recalling the agony made my body shudder. No answer here.
In the Tower, where a moment's lapse meant death, this bullshit? Suicide button.
"Haa..."
No hope like this. Then I remembered the system alert.
"Wait. Something about a skill?"
Checked status—new skill unlocked.
[Passive Skill: Pain Suppression - Ignores inflicted <Pain> with a certain probability. +0.01]
"Huh?"
Why a new skill? Skills unlocked every 5 levels—that was common knowledge.
Searched Hunter Net—no info.
"Maybe the potential?"
Known S-ranks in-country: me included, five total. First healer.
Maybe class-related. Or info suppressed. Latter seemed likely.
"But what to do with this..."
Excited by the new skill, but no clue how to use it.
I'm no tank, not self-healing—what good was it...
"Hah, no way!"
Goosebumps hit. Needle on the floor caught my eye.
Swallowed hard, jabbed my thigh again.
"H-Heal... Kyaaak!"
Clamped hands over mouth, rolled on floor.
Writhing in pain—another alert.
[Passive Skill: Pain Suppression +0.01]
"Ughhh."
Tears and drool everywhere, but checking status revealed it: my path was the fiery road of pain.
"100 times of this for +1? No way, right? You're kidding?"
Gain too tiny vs. suffering.
No guarantee it'd keep rising. Maybe frontloads easy, then skyrockets later—like most skills.
"So basically, level Pain Suppression with self-heals mid-fight. What kinda healer is that?!"
Shuddered at the horrific pain, hung my head.
No way. Self-harm in a solo room for proficiency? Shock death waiting.
Not healer—more like torturer.
"Huh? Torturer?"
Brain kicked into overdrive.
"...Nothing says I can't heal monsters?"
Even I thought it genius.
Wound the monster. Heal it. Agony drops it. Won't die, but crippled in pain—slash it down? Oh! Eureka! Bingo! Anastasia!
Time to test. Stat.
"Heal."
Nothing, as expected.
Heal needs a wound first. Cut, stab, scratch.
Wait—no. I make the wound?
Pinprick's enough—I know from experience.
Amazed at my own smarts.
"Nail this, I could solo."
Searched auction house for wounding tools.
Melee? Skip—melee newbie no combat skills? One stab fail = game over.
Guns... just metal lumps.
Non-Tower gear doesn't work right. Loud, low power.
Ranged? Pass. Needs DPS skills, hard to handle.
Nothing good.
Kept searching: easy, user-friendly.
Then—flame grass petal firebomb.
Burn's a wound, right? Should work. Test time.
Stared at lighter fearfully.
"Ugh, hate this."
Flick—
Dipped finger in flame for self-burn.
Flesh searing smell, intense burning pain.
Cast immediately.
"Heal! Gaaahk!"
[Passive Skill: Pain Suppression +0.01]
Red vest strung with firebombs, I gazed up at the Tower with grim resolve.
Looked like I could yell Allahu Akbar—no one'd bat an eye.
But nobody paid me attention.
This was a haven for ragpickers grabbing whatever worked—fashion terrorists galore. Form over function? Nah.
Ah, the Tower—what a place.
"Hunter ID, please."
Handed it over for entry; receptionist stared in shock. What, first S-rank healer ya see?
"Party member info missing. Please fill out."
"Solo."
"Pardon? Wait, hold on!"
She dashed off, returned with black-suited suits in tow.
"Cha Yeonwoo-ssi, could you come this way?"
"What's this about?"
Management Bureau staff, they said, tried talking me down.
Solo = dog death, blah blah.
Bit intimidated, but I had my ace.
Painful, sure—but heal skill worked.
Finally signed a waiver, commotion ended. Stood on magic circle.
"Enter."
Shout—world flashed white, teleported to unknown.
[Floor 1 - Defeat monsters. 0/10]
[Physical abilities adjusted due to level]
Looked around.
Vast grassland. One goblin glaring, hissing at me.
"What, starting right on entry? That's cheating!"
Goblin crept closer scouting-style, long iron skewer in hand.
I hurriedly lit a firebomb.
Whoosh—
Flames startled it, hesitated—then charged. Not today!
"Kieek!"
Firebomb hit feet, erupted.
Cast instantly.
"Heal!"
"Kerruk!"
Goblin rolled in agony. Perfect—I knew the feeling.
Grabbed hammer, rushed it.
Crack—
[Defeat monsters. 1/10]