Chapter 16
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Translator: MJK
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: 2. The Generously Giving Healer (6)
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A crisis loomed over my future potion shop, one where flies might buzz around without a single customer in sight.
[What, no issues there, so who cares?]
'You sure? It's definitely safe to drink?'
Just then, Lee Hae-sol piped up.
"Is it okay to drink this?"
Erich replied leisurely.
It's good if anything. Nothing bad about it.
'W-Well, if that's the case.'
"Yeah, go ahead. It's just sparkly—that's all. The effects are the same."
"Got it."
He'd probably come over because he was uneasy, figuring it was different from the other low-grade stuff.
His expression was calm, no hint of any bad feelings toward me.
I liked that straightforwardness.
Lee Hae-sol was the class rep, someone with a strong presence in our year, but oddly enough, he was pretty low-key compared to all that attention.
'Can't be helped, given his situation.'
He was under a curse.
To be precise, you could say he'd inflicted it on himself. Trading a penalty for B-rank mana output to achieve A-rank performance. Rumor had it his S-rank-obsessed family had recommended it.
Whatever the case, even with that curse in mind, it was crucial that he trusted my potions.
'Maybe I don't need to worry.'
Earlier, when handing them out to the others, I'd noticed he'd been the one telling everyone about my potion's effects beforehand.
I smiled softly and said,
"No need to worry about side effects. Might be stronger than expected, though."
The more I emphasized my own weakness, the quieter the others got, weirdly enough.
Even now, Hae-sol's face twisted ever so slightly at my words.
Like he'd heard something upsetting.
Anyway.
I kept getting these little confirmations that hunter academy kids were basically softies at heart.
Of course, I knew their reactions stemmed from me constantly reminding them of my place.
"Want more if you need it?"
I offered first.
He thought for a moment, then quietly said,
"Nah."
He tucked the potion away.
As I went to close the box, figuring the chat was over, Hae-sol stepped closer.
A chill seeped in alongside him, like cold silver mana drifting near.
The signature chill of ice-affinity mana.
Flowing from Lee Hae-sol himself.
"By the way."
His voice dropped low.
"Were you in the workshop late last night?"
I froze for a second.
Not Yoo Han-seong—how'd he know?
We barely knew each other.
"How'd you know I was there late?"
"...Saw you by chance. And a few times after."
"Late at night?"
"Yeah. I come out to practice sometimes too."
"To the old school building?"
"Just passing by there. I practice in this building."
"Ah!"
It clicked.
Lee Hae-sol was a total practice bug.
Before becoming S-rank, he'd grind his skills daily out of some personal sense of duty.
Stamina training too, all diligently.
Looked like I'd caught the practice bug's eye.
"Han-seong would've been shocked if he'd seen. Another one like him."
I chuckled under my breath, and Hae-sol tilted his head.
"Han-seong?"
"Yeah. He asked why I practice so hard."
"What'd you say?"
We started walking together, continuing the talk.
I felt the hallway stares scattering.
"Told him since I'm F-rank, I have to work harder."
Hae-sol fell silent for a bit, then lowered his eyes slightly.
And said,
"Most people practice healing over crafting, though."
That's got me curious too.
Pretending not to hear Erich's quip, I replied,
"I'm bad at healing."
Thinking of my healing skill with that useless extra word tacked on.
"You're... bad at healing?"
Hae-sol looked genuinely baffled.
Well, F-rank only gets three uses, but it's not like activation's hard—just the limit that sucks.
"Just my preference too."
No intention to give a straight answer, huh. Tch.
I let Erich's grumbling—like I'd spilled his kimchi—slide in one ear and out the other.
But my heal wasn't just any heal; it was 'Reverse Heal.' Never saw it in the original story. Explanation felt off, low rank too.
"So I'm trying to get good at crafting instead."
Hae-sol bit his lower lip slightly, oddly enough.
"I see."
Silence hung for a moment, then he spoke again.
"Still, don't stay too late..."
He trailed off, eyes dropping.
His soft features twisted faintly.
That expression... it was ambiguous.
'Wait, we're not even that close, are we?'
Why'd it look exactly like worrying about a friend?
'Sigh, guess he's just concerned, friendship aside.'
I swallowed a sigh and smiled quietly.
"I'm fine! No one goes there. You know the old building's mana is unstable."
I folded the box neatly and tucked it under my arm.
"Only reason to go there on purpose would be party invites, right? But as you know, no one's dragging me into theirs."
A tiny breath of relief mixed in as I said it.
Yeah. No one should need me.
That keeps things safe.
But then Hae-sol suddenly said,
"...Who knows."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
My voice softened unwittingly.
Hae-sol stared at my face for a while, then turned away.
He gripped the potion tighter without a word.
Silver mana flared with his grip. Why was he leaking mana like this?
Curious, but as an F-rank without Erich, I couldn't sense mana this sharply, so I didn't pry.
No thanks to needless curiosity.
"...You'll find out soon enough."
He muttered shortly and backed away.
"Said you were heading down? Go on ahead."
I nodded.
"Yeah."
And slowly walked down the hall.
His retreating presence felt strangely lingering.
...What was that?
What else? He's talking about the potion effects.
I waved it off inwardly.
'No way. Not yet.'
Not yet? Plenty of people will freak when they see your potion's effects, even if no one says it now.
'Nah, it's not that big a deal.'
I've used it myself and handed it out.
Sparklies were unexpected, but effects matched what I predicted.
But Erich thought otherwise.
"What's the big deal?"
Frustrated, I asked aloud, and he smirked.
Guess that guy'll tell you.
'That guy?'
"Hey."
In front of an empty classroom.
The guy who'd win unanimous votes for Class 8's most angelic face stood before me.
I blinked at her in confusion.
Yoo Hee.
We'd at least exchanged greetings before.
Lots of people talking to me today.
Even chalking it up to potions felt excessive.
"Uh, hi. What's up?"
Her gaze flicked to the box in my hands.
Catching it, I barely kept my jaw from dropping.
Seriously the potions?
"Hari, um."
She smiled faintly.
"Can you walk with me a bit?"
This flow wasn't good.
Yoo Hee was dangerous.
An assassin I preferred spotting from afar.
But running would look weird.
"S-Sure, why?"
"Got something to say. Just us. That okay?"
She even lightly tugged my arm.
Her fingertips were warmer than expected.
'These hands hold the record for most family kills in her clan?'
Yoo Hee's assassin clan background came out mid-story.
Before that, she was just suspiciously angelic.
So I couldn't act like I knew, but her touch was so innocently puppy-like, it was hard to hide my awkwardness.
For now,
"Uh... had lunch yet?"
She tilted her head without blinking, then smiled angelically.
"Not yet."
"Wanna go together? We can talk over food."
"Eat first, talk after. I'll buy coffee if you're cool with it."
The school cafe had private spots.
She twirled her hair slowly around a finger, gazing intently, and I swallowed hard.
Then nodded.
"Sounds good. Might as well do brunch there and call it a meal."
"Thanks. Great idea."
I tossed the box in a classroom trash bin and stepped out; Hee stuck right back by my side.
'Erich.'
What.
'This is really just because of my sparkly potions?'
If you won't believe it, why ask?
'I'd believe it if it made sense. It was just a normal potion.'
You're short on common sense from grinding short-term affinities. That 'sparkly' trait you mention? It's documented. Has precedents.
'What?'
Never heard? Dungeon potions.
Dungeon potions...