Chapter 12: The Healer Begins to Shine
A subtle scent mingled in the air—faint sweat mixed with sweet perfume. Someone poked my shoulder. When I opened my eyes, Yoo Chae-eun was crouched beside me, peering down with a gentle gaze.
"Seojun, you're awake?"
"Mm. Yeah."
Whew, that startled me. This woman really dives right in. I sat up abruptly, steeling myself. Looking around, the sleeping bags and tents were already packed away.
Ah, they should've woken me. Or maybe I slept too deeply. Had yesterday's fatigue built up that much in just one day?
"If you're up, move it already."
Lee Soo-jung approached, swinging her staff casually. At her gruff tone, I scrambled to my feet and stepped aside. She slung the staff over her back and bent down, nonchalantly folding the sleeping bag I'd used.
"...I can do that."
"Forget it. Go eat breakfast. It's ready."
Lee Soo-jung replied without even glancing my way, and Yoo Chae-eun lightly took my arm, guiding me along. In the awkward silence, I ventured a question.
"...Was I hard to wake up?"
"Yeah... um, well. You were sleeping so soundly. You wouldn't stir. Probably exhausted from your first day. Sorry for making you take night watch anyway."
"No, absolutely not. I volunteered."
As we reached the group, a savory aroma wafted over. It was cup ramen, just like yesterday. Kim Na-yoon was scooping some into Ma Pildu's bowl when she spotted us.
"Breakfast is mild today~. Can't have spicy first thing in the morning—hurts the stomach. Oh my, why so late?"
Kim Na-yoon's gaze lingered meaningfully on us. Yoo Chae-eun's cheeks flushed faintly, clearly catching the implication.
"Hey! Little bro Seojun! Get over here and eat hearty!"
Ma Pildu, flexing his rock-solid muscles even at breakfast, beckoned me over. I trudged to his side and sat down; he immediately shoved his freshly filled bowl my way.
"Here, bro. Got jerky too—eat up!"
His brotherly warmth was touching, but when I glanced back, Kim Na-yoon's brow furrowed ever so slightly. This guy's oblivious as hell.
"Jerky's fine for me. But everyone loves ramen, huh?"
Cup ramen required a lot of water to prep. Most hunters probably favored combat rations like this.
"......"
Had I said something wrong? The cheerful vibe froze in an instant.
"...It's what my brother liked."
Yoo Chae-eun's real brother—the former Pania guild master. My bad, I should've kept quiet. Her face looked on the verge of tears, and guilt twisted in my gut. As I opened my mouth to apologize, Ma Pildu stood to fetch jerky. The others eyed me cautiously. Beside me, Lee Se-ah, gnawing on some jerky, offered me a piece.
"Not your fault. Here."
"Uh, thanks."
She didn't say much, but she seemed kind. I took the jerky and popped it in my mouth. Under her pulled-low hat, faint old scars dotted her body.
"S-sorry."
"No, I'm the one sorry. That must've caught you off guard."
Yoo Chae-eun smiled brightly and launched her recharged drone. She's so considerate.
Time to move again. Everyone took their positions.
"Alright, let's clear this by tonight! Hahat!!"
"Sounds good, Pildu bro."
A hush fell for a split second. Did I mess up again? My heart skipped, but Ma Pildu's grin eased my nerves.
"Wait, when did you two get on first-name terms, old man?"
"Ooh, like that? Guess I'll call you sis too?"
"Me too, sis."
The morning buzzed with energy. Time to hustle today too. Ma Pildu led the way with a smile.
"Fire Tornado!!"
Lee Soo-jung's crimson magic circle incinerated a horde of zombies in a blink, reducing them to ash. Up front, Kim Na-yoon swung her spear, shattering skeletons into fragments.
"Not much left. Don't burn out before the boss!"
Yoo Chae-eun's arrows streaked toward distant zombies, lightning crackling on impact and sweeping them away.
"Whoa."
The exclamation slipped out; Yoo Chae-eun shot me a sidelong glance, her expression screaming Pretty cool, right? Lee Se-ah finished off stragglers with thrown daggers. The monsters fell in droves. Even for a moderate dungeon, they were crushing it.
"Haha, boss room ahead. Been a while—Skeleton General!"
"Ugh, that skull's so ugly. Quick clear, then newbie welcome drinks?"
Kim Na-yoon's suggestion earned Yoo Chae-eun's nod. Smiles bloomed; even shadowy Lee Se-ah gripped her dagger tight and dipped her head.
We reached the end and shoved open the heavy door. A chillier cave draft hit us, walls of sheer rock. Stairs led to a throne-like chair.
"General's here."
Lee Se-ah steadied her breath, stance firm. Her daggers glinted. Yet the mood stayed relaxed—they'd cleared this plenty.
The Skeleton General loomed larger than usual, shield and sword in hand. Regular skeletons wielding axes and spears spawned as guards.
"Spinning Fist!!"
Ma Pildu leaped high, whirling like his skill name before smashing the General's skull with a punch. Lee Se-ah conjured misty poison; bones melted at joints, collapsing grotesquely. Creak, crunch. Bang!! The General swung its longsword at Ma Pildu's face, but Kim Na-yoon parried effortlessly with her spear. Her weapon was dwarfed, though—thin cuts opened on her arm and cheek, blood trickling.
"These bros piss me off. Time for a heal after ages? I'll handle it."
Calling the General "bro" with a grin, Kim Na-yoon winked back at me. We were almost out anyway. I cast Heal swiftly; glowing green light mended her arm, cheek, and scratches in seconds.
Heal
"...Hah. Feels so good. Been forever."
Kim Na-yoon caressed her cheek with a smile. Her spear hardened as she leaped at the General.
"Hah! Spear of Deadly Pierce!"
Clang!! Her core's full power surged into the thrust. The already damaged skull shattered pathetically.
"Done now? Ugh, wanna shower ASAP."
Lee Soo-jung, back with me, turned to the door—but it wouldn't budge. She yanked harder, yelling.
"Huh? Why won't it open? Monsters still in this room?!"
"No way..."
Ma Pildu tilted his head and tried; still stuck. Then rattling bones reassembled from fragments in seconds.
"...What the?!"
As we gawked, a robed figure floated above the chair—a skeleton in a hood, clutching something in bony fingers. A scythe longer and sharper than Kim Na-yoon's spear or Lee Se-ah's daggers, wickedly curved.
"Reaper..."
A porter muttered it.
The Reaper raised its free hand; even the Skeleton General revived intact. Or reformed, really.
"Ugh, pain in the ass. Reaper here? Doesn't match the difficulty."
Reapers ranked high among undead—lesser lich equivalents. Winnable, but we'd take hits.
"Haha, fired up now! That's the spirit!!"
Unlike grumpy Lee Soo-jung, Ma Pildu smacked his fists, hyped. Tension thickened the air.
"Dark Throwing Knives!!"
Lee Se-ah sheathed her daggers and hurled small ones; they exploded like bombs on impact. Gunpowder stench filled the air. Shattered bones littered ahead. Creak, crunch. Smoke cleared... but the General shielded the floating Reaper with its shield. Lee Soo-jung whipped fireballs; whoosh!! The Reaper vanished, reappearing beside us in a blink.
Its scythe slashed before we reacted.
"Kyaaak!!"
Deep gash across Lee Soo-jung's abdomen. Ma Pildu roared and charged, landing a mighty kick—but the Reaper vanished, his strike whiffing air.
Heal
Warm green light poured from my hand into her wound. Despite heavy bleeding, her abdomen healed pristine in moments.
"...Thanks. Two left now?"
Lee Soo-jung's ears reddened. Word was I could heal five times total. One on Ma Pildu yesterday, one each on Kim Na-yoon and her today—two remaining, she figured. I stayed silent. Actions spoke louder.
"Fall back when I shoot."
Yoo Chae-eun nocked an arrow, red glow swirling. Kim Na-yoon clashed spear-to-scythe with the Reaper, Lee Se-ah assisting. Ma Pildu dueled the General, whose undead aura boosted it fiercely.
"Phoenix."
Her arrow blazed like a fiery bird toward the Reaper. Creak, creak. Lee Se-ah and Kim Na-yoon dodged; the General slammed Ma Pildu with its shield using sudden superhuman strength.
"Argh!"
It dashed to intercept, taking the flaming arrow instead and crumbling to ash.
"No!"
"You okay?"
Ma Pildu lay crumpled, right leg and left arm twisted. I healed him instantly; he sprang up apologetically.
"...Gotta tank with potions now. For real."
Heal
The Reaper raised its hand; bones reassembled. The ashen General reformed in black light.
"Hah. Fucking hell."
Lee Soo-jung swept back her red hair in the heavy silence.
"Thunder Spear Strike!!"
Rumble, boom boom. Kim Na-yoon spun her spear, thunder crashing with each swing, battering the Reaper. But the General blocked protectively.
"Ambush Strike!!"
Lee Se-ah's dagger pulverized its skull again.
"Reaper, now."
Kim Na-yoon nodded—but the furious Reaper closed on Lee Se-ah, severing both her arms in a flash.
"Ack. Potion. Request."
Calm despite the blood, she called to the porters. One tossed a potion. Thud!! The Reaper slammed its scythe down; black darkness erupted, coiling around our limbs like smoke—necks chained too. Grind, grind. Eerie sounds emanated from its hooded skull, like glee. The scythe whipped toward Ma Pildu's leg, Kim Na-yoon's shoulder—blood sprayed. It fluttered toward us rearsiders. My neck was next. Some binding magic. Needed to dispel it. Something to purge all ailments.
Purifying Light
A blue magic circle etched beautifully across the cold floor. Azure mist rose and spread.
"Move!!"
Clang!! The Reaper swung at my neck in rage; Yoo Chae-eun barely blocked with her bow. Lee Soo-jung summoned nine fire orbs, blasting it back.
Heal. Heal. Heal.
Brilliant green light cascaded from my hands, seeping into Ma Pildu's leg, Lee Se-ah's arms, Kim Na-yoon's shoulder. They healed rapidly, faces stunned. They rose dazed, staring at me, speechless and flustered. No point hiding it anyway.
"Focus—attack!"
I pointed at the Reaper, shouting. Snapping to, their eyes locked on the foe.
"As long as I'm here, none of you will get hurt. So..."
They swallowed hard. It was true. As long as I lived, I could spam heals endlessly.
"Fight without worry."
Gripping my glowing green orb, I declared it firmly.