The Healer Smiles
“All done for today~. Oh, right—didn't they say a newbie's joining us next week?”
Kim Na-yoon swung her spear once, flinging off the splattered monster blood in a misty spray. Her comment sparked the others to chime in one by one.
“Of course I know! A healer is finally joining us! And a guy, no less? Haha, looks like I've got a little brother now. Hahat!!”
“...Good. Healer.”
Ma Pildu and Lee Se-ah gave positive reactions, but Lee Soo-jung looked thoroughly unimpressed. Even as she responded, her heart wasn't in it.
“What kind of normal person would join this guild? They'd obviously go to Cheonsu Guild. We've been fine without a healer anyway. People are already leaving—what makes you think a new one would stick around?”
Don't get your hopes up. Just don't.
Pania Guild's A-rank hunters dashed through dungeons without a single healer. Some mocked them as the guild's "boy orphans."
“......”
Realizing the mood had soured at her words, Lee Soo-jung clamped her mouth shut. Kim Na-yoon, untying her neatly pinned-up hair, called out to a porter.
“Hm~. Potion, gimme one~.”
One of the porters sorting monster hides and byproducts handed her a red-tinted potion. Kim Na-yoon sprinkled it evenly over her ankle and wrist. No visible effect, but her complexion seemed a tad brighter. Realistically, a cold pack might've worked better.
“I heard it straight from the source. They even signed the contract already. No idea why, but they passed on Cheonsu Guild.”
Kim Na-yoon's usual bright smile thawed the chilly atmosphere, bringing back the warmth. As her comrades tossed in their two cents, Lee Soo-jung kept her head down.
If that's true...
“...Gotta redo the highlights.”
After wrapping up, Lee Soo-jung rushed to the salon. She blew her scant free time on hair, a bath, and shopping to melt away the stress.
And then the big day arrived. The new guy was none other than Lee Seojun, the world's first S-rank healer from the news.
Something's gotta be up. No way.
Against her suspicions, he was... attractive. No, weirdly handsome. Why skip Cheonsu for Pania? Spy? Nah, nothing to gain here. Pania was a sinking ship, and Cheonsu's perks were way better.
“Hello. I'm Lee Seojun. My class is Healer. Looking forward to working with you.”
Healers are a real class? Sure, she could torch everything with her fire magic sans healer. But as the senior, maybe she should cut him some slack.
He seemed the newbie type, inevitably. He'd used Heal on Ma Pildu's minor scratch—that was fine; she'd teach him as his senior. Ma Pildu would get over it quick. No sweat.
Watching him slurp instant ramen like it was gourmet, she couldn't help a smirk.
“...I could do that.”
His embarrassed look was kinda funny. Even packing sleeping bags felt pointless.
“This sleeping bag's so warm.”
And it smelled nice...
“Fire Tornado!”
Fire Tornado
A red magic circle incinerated the zombie horde to ash. Feeling smug, Lee Soo-jung glanced sideways.
See that?
He looked impressed, but it fell flat. Newbies shouted skill names to look cool—it was laughable.
“Ew, I hate that skull look. Let's wrap this up and hit the newbie welcome drinks~?”
The new guy screamed lightweight. As senior, should she babysit at drinks? Hurry up and beat the boss—she wanted a shower.
Truth be told, she didn't need to shine. Ma Pildu and Kim Na-yoon downed the Skeleton General.
But then came the real problem: the Reaper.
A top-tier undead, lich-lite. Strong for this dungeon. They'd cleared it before, but never this.
“Ugh, what a pain. Why's a Reaper here? Doesn't match the difficulty.”
She'd boasted, but worry crept in. Wrong monster for a mid-small dungeon, short-staffed. She'd only fought big groups once by fluke. Winnable, but casualties if unlucky.
Goal: clear fast, even injured. B-rank+ healers at the hospital could handle it, as long as not too late.
The Reaper revived endlessly, closing in blink-fast. Its scythe slashed her gut.
My fault. Serious wound.
A warm green light from Lee Seojun's hand soaked her belly. Perfect Heal.
Without him, I'd...Without a healer...
“...Thanks. Two left, right?”
No real reply, but who cared. Just as she thought it was over—
The Reaper slammed its scythe down, binding everyone in black light. It swung front to back.
This curse meant doom. No quick fix.
Ending like this? Don't wanna die yet. Please.
She pitied him too—bad luck. At least not alone. Eyes squeezed shut, a small mercy.
“Purifying Light.”
Purifying Light
Removes all status ailments, curses, and debuffs.
A vast, beautiful blue magic circle etched the floor. Dazzling azure waves banished the black.
Her body moved again. Lee Seojun whipped green light to the frontliners at blinding speed.
That impossible blue light. And the green—used seven times already? News said five max.
“Focus. Attack.”
“Fight without worry.”
Could they really? Everyone but him probably thought the same.
His green light cluster was mesmerizing. Gripping her ruby staff tight, she refocused.
Lee Seojun whispered in her ear. Fabric softener and faint sweat—subtle.
She nodded, eyes lifting slightly.
⁕⁕⁕
Enraged, the Reaper flailed wildly. Ma Pildu, Lee Se-ah, and Kim Na-yoon regained composure upfront.
“The hand without the scythe. Cut that first. Before it revives the Skeleton General.”
Kim Na-yoon nodded, regripping her spear. Ma Pildu and Lee Se-ah flanked, preventing teleports.
“Hyaap. Spear of Piercing Thrust!!”
Spear of Piercing Thrust
Her shout infused the long spear with sharp energy, severing the Reaper's shoulder bone clean.
Snap. Now only its scythe arm remained.
Clack, creak, clack, creak. Black glow in its empty sockets intensified.
It swung wider, faster. Blood dripped from Ma Pildu's arms, guarding his chest.
“Heal.”
Heal
Perfectly recovers injuries and restores health.
Green light mended his arms instantly. Ma Pildu leaped high again.
“Dark Eagle Daggers!!”
Dark Eagle Daggers
Lee Se-ah hurled explosive shuriken. The Reaper blinked behind her.
“Watch out!”
It cleaved down. She dodged barely—a speck of a cut on her cheek.
“Heal.”
“Heal.”
“Heal.”
Heal x3
Big wounds, small scratches, even dirt scrapes— all healed indiscriminately. Some laughed in disbelief.
“Dragon Fang Strike!!”
Dragon Fang Strike
Blinding light poured from Kim Na-yoon's spear. A soaring dragon wave smashed the Reaper.
“Haa, ha.”
Its speed slowed, heavily damaged. Almost done.
Glinting eyes met hers. Whoosh.
As expected, it targeted her, blinking to the rear.
“Lee Soo-jung, now!”
“I can see, y'know? Fire Tornado!!”
Fire Tornado
Scorching vortex melted its bones. Blistering heat—even watching made her crave AC.
Her attack ashed the Reaper's bones and robe.
Clunk. The locked door creaked open behind.
“That's really it, right?”
Lee Soo-jung slumped, shaking her head.
“Hm. Undead, so nothing worth salvaging.”
Kim Na-yoon eyed the ashes regretfully. Surviving short-handed was impressive enough.
“Hahat! More importantly, lil' Seojun—Purifying Light? What was that?”
“Yeah, and over ten Heals? Is that even possible?”
As Ma Pildu asked, Lee Soo-jung yelled, staring too. Tension released, her legs buckled.
“Yes. S-rank perks. Purifying Light cures all ailments. As you guessed, no limits for me—unlike others.”
“Hah? You expect us to buy that? Top A-rank healers max three. Skills have cooldowns!”
“Right, no cooldowns? Impossible. Even for S-rank. Especially healers...”
Lee Soo-jung denied it flatly. Ma Pildu scratched his sparse hair, dubious. Lee Se-ah cut in.
“...Thanks. Survived. Thanks to you.”
“Yeah. Thanks. Guild master's got good taste in maknaes.”
Lee Se-ah and Kim Na-yoon sheathed weapons, grateful. Then Yoo Chae-eun strode up, bow slung.
“Sorry I didn't warn you. But Seojun-ssi speaks truth.”
“You knew?”
“...Yes. But you'd never believe without seeing. Should've said sooner—my fault. Truly sorry.”
Yoo Chae-eun bowed to the guild. The heavy silence wasn't blame—it was digesting the unreal.
“But besides Heal and Purifying Light, more skills? What are they?”
“Lee Soo-jung, rude.”
Asking skills unannounced was taboo. Her ears reddened; curious type, huh.
“No issue. I'll explain later. First—out?”
I pointed at the door. They snapped to it.
“...Wait, we killed a Reaper? Zero casualties?!”
“Hahat! Took ya long enough, kid? Our Seojun bro's a blessing. A blessing!”
Lee Soo-jung and Ma Pildu bickered. Steps lightened homeward.
Someone tapped my arm trailing behind.
“Good work. Thanks. Sincerely.”
Without me, Pania's elites might've wiped. Yoo Chae-eun knew.
Worth the contract at least. Maybe more.
Guildmates ahead. A smile crept unbidden.