The Healer's Price

I held the pill in my hand, and a status window popped up.

"Oh ho..."

Without a safety measure like this, I probably wouldn't have even started the conversation. Even if the building itself was protected by the system, once a person entered, there'd be no way to protect her.

I swallowed the pill and waited a moment.

"Open the door and come in. Don't just stand there like an idiot."

"Y-yes, sir..."

"Yes."

I opened the door and stepped inside, greeted by the familiar scent of a hospital. It was spotless and clean, with the lights brightly lit. Just looking at this scene, no one would believe this was an apocalyptic world.

"First room on the left. Come in."

Following her instructions, I entered the examination room and finally came face-to-face with Shin Roa.

"Hmm..."

She was a beauty with jet-black bobbed hair. Her eyes looked a bit weary, and she wore a deeply scooped top that accentuated her chest and a short skirt that revealed her legs.

Our eyes met.

"You're actually a man. Not a woman in disguise—a real man."

"Well, yeah."

"Let's talk. A base, right? Which ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠group are you with?"

"Not really with any group..."

"Don't play word games. I can ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠kind of guess."

She fixed me with a sharp glare.

"If that status window stuff is real, you must have a base. Probably expanded with medical facilities, but no doctor on hand."

"We don't really have medical facilities per se—just an apartment—"

"What?"

She looked at me like I was half delusional.

"Doesn't seem like one of the groups I know. Where do you live?"

"Around Anseongu..."

"Oh, there? You're crazy. Why's a guy living there? What do you even eat—wait. Apartment? There's an apartment there?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, considering you roam around there... you must be pretty strong."

"Yeah."

I shrugged. This place was decent enough to live in, so it felt odd hearing her treat it like some demonic realm.

"Anyway, let's sum it up. You want me to go there—to your apartment in Anseongu—and treat the woman there."

"Yes."

She scooted her chair closer, leaning in toward me.

"But this isn't as easy as you think."

"..."

"Treating her isn't the issue. I don't know how to fix someone in that state, but if the status window says 'Doctor,' it'll probably work."

"Yes."

"But it's too dangerous."

I knew that. What I was asking her to do was no different from a politely wrapped "please die for me."

"I'm a doctor. My level's not low, but basically, I'm a civilian. The moment I step outside, someone could kill me."

"I understand."

"I've got plenty of enemies with grudges, and you can't guarantee that woman you know isn't one of them."

I nodded silently.

"Even if this isn't a trap, Anseongu? Ha, no way. I don't know how strong you are, but I can't be sure you'd protect me all the way there."

She rattled off reasons why she couldn't go along with my request.

"What would it take for you to agree?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

But she still had room for negotiation. What she was saying was just bait to raise her bargaining power.

"The price of my life."

Her eyes bored straight into me.

"Even if you're lying through your teeth right now, kidnap me, rape me, turn me into a sex slave... or just kill me outright, I need something that makes me think, 'Yeah, that's worth it.'"

"That won't happen."

"It's not about trust. Whatever you say here is just words, right?"

In a world where everyone suspects everyone else, even if she followed my words, no one could overpower me. All she could trust was that one pill fixing my level to 1.

Of course, it was meaningless to me.

"Ha..."

I was certain. Even at level 1, I could kill or kidnap dozens, hundreds of people at her level.

I didn't want to do anything bad. To heal Seohee, I'd have to hand her body over to this woman, and I didn't want to make enemies.

But if she didn't give me a choice, I'd have to consider violent options.

Not right now, though.

"You know there's a dungeon nearby?"

"I heard about it recently."

"Yeah. Kill the boss there and bring me the spoils."

"...Pardon?"

I'd heard about the dungeon, but the boss was news to me. It sounded important, but I wasn't sure what it meant.

"Bring that... and give me a week. Exactly one week, then I'll go with you. Fair trade, right?"

I nodded slowly.

"Sounds good. Let's give it a shot."

"Fun. But... aren't you worried?"

The corner of Roa's mouth twisted upward.

"Worried about what?"

"Once I go out with you, I'm at your mercy—I could die anytime. Well, a guy's level wouldn't be low."

"Hmm..."

"But on the flip side... once you hand over the spoils, if I lock the door and hole up, what can you do?"

She had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a point. If she didn't open the door, I might not be able to breach this system-protected space.

"Honestly... nothing much would happen."

"Oh?"

"I'd just write it off as getting scammed and move on. Find another doctor. That's it."

"Coward or wise guy, I can't tell..."

Roa crossed her legs the other way, looking down at me.

"If you take getting screwed lying down, you're a coward. If you figure there's nothing you can do anyway and cut your losses... wise."

"I've got plenty to do. No time to waste on the likes of you. But..."

I met her gaze calmly.

"If that happens, I'll see you as someone 'who can die without consequence' or 'who should be killed if possible.'"

"Whoa, is that a threat? So scary, I can't bear it."

"Depending on the situation, you might need to be scared."

Even back when I was active as a hero, people like this existed. Merchants jacking up prices on supplies I needed or trying to frame me to drive me off. I didn't punish them right away. Cleaning blood off my sword was always a hassle.

But a hero being needed meant the land was in danger. I kept a mental list of 'disposable people' and sacrificed them without hesitation when needed.

And that list was always short. Most ended up dead.

"Even if I don't come hunting you, you'll live in fear. Trembling at the thought that someone like you fooled me, losing sleep wondering when I'll kill you."

I gave her a warm, murderous-free smile.

"...Yeah?"

"Yes. You might even curse me in your final moments, hating me for not saving you—without remembering what you did."

She burst into laughter.

"Pahahaha! Perfect. Fine, got it. If you bring those spoils, I'll keep my word."

"If you do that, I couldn't ask for more."

"That woman—she's not in immediate danger, right?"

"She's fine. Not that critical."

"Good. Deal's done. Need anything else?"

"No. We'll talk after I bring the spoils."

"Deal. And..."

She flashed a sly grin.

"You seem pretty well-stocked on supplies?"

"Decent enough."

"Got a carrier? Open it."

I tilted my head, then fetched the carrier I'd left at the hospital entrance.

"What's in it?"

"Snacks. Thought maybe we could trade, but looks pointless now."

"Leave them all."

"Pardon?"

I could only gape, not understanding.

"Consultation fee. And every morning, take the pill, come in, and leave supplies."

"Ha..."

"Don't like it? We can pretend this talk never happened. Your girl... couldn't use her limbs at all, right? Tough nursing her. Wanna hunt for a new doctor?"

"..."

Finding another doctor beat starting over, especially since organized groups wouldn't let their doctors come to my hideout, even if they wanted to.

But switching to this attitude the moment she sensed she had the upper hand... I instantly understood why Seohee badmouthed Roa so much.

"Can't bring this much every time."

"Just enough to show sincerity. Pretty please?"

I nodded weakly, looking dumbfounded.

'Shin Roa...'

If she crossed the line, I might have to write her off.