Chapter 12

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 12

Chapter Title: A Priest with a Different Style

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“Ugh...”

My stomach churned, and my head felt like it was splitting open.

I must've overdone it last night.

I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and chugged it down. My mind cleared a bit.

“I wonder if James is okay.”

James, who had been downing bomb shots like a champ, had eventually passed out cold.

Even then, he answered every question I threw at him, spilling all sorts of info.

In the end, he got dragged away by some guys in black suits who showed up out of nowhere.

Alcohol knows the answers.

That's the power of K-drinking culture for you.

It was more or less the situation I intended, but I managed to extract a ton of useful information from James anyway.

The biggest payoff was getting a clear answer to the nagging question I'd been pondering.

It was all about the perspective on why nations don't control high-ranking hunters.

James's logic was simple.

No matter how impressive a single hunter is, they're just a sideshow compared to the ones handling trillions of dollars.

Sure, that might change someone's life, but to them, it's just one more thing to manage.

Hearing it laid out like that made sense.

Even if I raked in billions, I'd just be on the level of a top sports star.

That's why we get to roam so freely.

But they have no idea.

The checkpoint rewards have the power to shake the world.

I quietly called up my status window.

Already level 15. And a decent number of skills unlocked.

This time, I slipped the ring onto my finger.

Over 140 million won accumulated. Quite a haul in just one day.

I could chalk it up to high demand, but at this point, I couldn't help eyeing even higher.

The 10th floor might have even crazier rewards waiting.

I wanted to grow stronger fast and live without worries.

“For now, I'll climb as high as I can.”

The workshop district in Yongsan, Seoul.

This was where production-class hunters clustered, running their little shops.

Everyone recommended this place for processing the shed skin last night, so here I was.

I stepped into a modest building with a sign reading Hana Workshop.

Workbenches and tools filled my view.

As I scanned the interior, a woman in an apron appeared.

“Welcome!”

“I'm here for a crafting commission.”

“Oh, have a seat right here, customer.”

She seemed thrilled at the new customer, beaming cheerfully as she guided me.

“I'm Oh Hana. What material would you like to craft with?”

“Steel Scale Basilisk Shedding.”

“Wow, congrats! So, you'd like some armor made, right?”

Oh Hana clapped at the material, acting like it was her own win.

Then she fetched a booklet.

“These are designs I've made before. If you have something specific in mind, just let me know.”

“I'll take a look first.”

I flipped through the portfolio.

Each time, Oh Hana added gentle explanations.

“The one you're looking at is made from swamp crocodile leather. Hard to get that sheen with shed skin, but it's top-notch in practicality.”

She was the efficiency-focused type—mostly practical styles.

Then one design caught my eye.

“I'll go with this.”

“Wow, great eye. This one's special—only weavers with the skill unlocked can make it.”

“Rare skill, huh?”

“You bet! It's a passive that unlocks at level 5. I'm level 7 myself.”

Level 7? That seemed odd.

Production classes struggle with checkpoints...

“You cleared the 5th floor?”

“No way. Still far from saving up enough.”

“How'd you hit level 7 then?”

“Ah, you don't know how it works. Production classes get a bit of EXP from crafting items. That's why we charge labor fees—materials are EXP.”

News to me.

No wonder people don't sweat crafting costs.

“Any other requests?”

“A tactical belt for potions would be nice.”

“Like this?”

Oh Hana sketched it out on the spot.

Her hands moved with the finesse of a seasoned artisan.

This seemed reliable.

I pulled the Steel Scale Basilisk Shedding from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my inventory.

“Looks good. When will it be done?”

“Three or four days. Write your name and contact here, and I'll text you.”

After commissioning the armor, I headed straight to the Tower.

Call it a compulsion.

Just one day off, and I felt behind, like I was missing out.

So today, it was the 6th floor.

I had tons of prep for the 5th, plus Emergency Escape scrolls. No reason to hesitate.

The moment I saw the system alert, I noticed the clear condition had changed. What now?

“No way... defense?”

I quickly scanned around.

Far off, a half-ruined ancient temple came into view.

Obviously the key spot for this floor.

Gripping the sprayer, I moved slowly.

At the temple, I saw soldiers in tattered leather armor and rusted spears.

Then someone spotted me and shouted.

“It's the priest! The priest is here!”

The soldiers rushed toward me all at once.

It was intimidating as hell, but I held still to gauge the situation.

“Priest! The Defense Captain's badly hurt!”

“We need to heal him fast!”

The soldiers swarmed, making a huge fuss.

I had no clue what was going on.

But calling me priest on sight meant it tied to my class.

Heal, huh...

One wrong heal, and I might get branded a heretic.

“This way!”

They practically shoved me into a side chamber with a gaping hole in the ceiling.

“Ugh...”

A man wrapped head to toe in bandages groaned.

The Defense Captain, no doubt.

A foul stench hit me, pus oozing from wounds everywhere.

He could die any second.

If I screw this up, I'll really kill him...

The soldier stared expectantly, urging me again.

“Hurry!”

If I didn't act, this floor might end before it began.

Screw it.

Try healing; worst case, rip an Emergency Escape scroll.

I reached toward the captain.

Then it hit me—maybe try a sustained heal like Regeneration.

Something I'd realized while stacking Pain Accumulation for boss fights.

This might hurt less?

I took a deep breath and activated it.

Holy light rippled out around me.

“Gah!”

“Argh! Priest! It hurts too much!”

“Aaah! Stop!”

The captain passed out, eyes bulging.

Nearby soldiers writhed in agony.

“What am I supposed to do if you all hurt too!”

My protests fell on deaf ears.

Then, suddenly, the soldiers came to.

“This is the power of the gods!”

“My wounds... the pain's gone!”

“Ahh, taming pain with pain—as expected, Priest, your ways are truly different.”

Soon, the captain woke too. His state was still rough, but it was something.

From him, I got the floor's攻略 info.

“When the sun sets, the beasts will attack. We must protect the Sacred Braziers.”

The Defense Captain sighed heavily, face burdened with the world's weight.

Now things started clicking.

I'd seen on Hunter Net that from the 6th floor, normal floors followed a theme.

This fit perfectly.

Protect the soldiers and hold out—suited for a priest of healing and protection.

Solo run gives me this, huh?

Usually, themes match party class ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠comps. For a half-baked healer like me, it was spot-on.

But I wasn't worried.

“I've prepped hard for boss fights.”

I had the captain rally the soldiers.

Whoosh—

I dumped water bottles from inventory.

Pain Liquid first, then Flame Regeneration Vials, and assorted potions from the exchange.

All battle-optimized.

“Gasp, high priest!”

Items pouring out awed them, but I didn't bother correcting.

If they thought high priest, all the better for me.

I split them among the soldiers, taught usage, and ordered throws on my signal.

As I commanded in the captain's stead, the sun began to set.

Awoo—

Wolf howls echoed from afar.

I positioned the soldiers hastily as dozens of footsteps kicked up dust, closing in.

Moments later, red eyes glowed in the dark.

Direwolves appeared.

“Flame vials—throw!”

Fires erupted along the entry paths on cue.

Any wolf heading for the temple had to cross them.

Grrraa—

They growled low at first, then charged through the flames.

I watched, then raised my hand for Heal.

Yeowp—thunk—thunk—

Soldiers speared the writhing beasts.

And so the first wave began.