The Healer with the Siren
It was a rare date. If that sudden phone call hadn't come in, the mood would have been even better.
Jeong Ye-na pouted as she opened her crossbody bag. Her phone was vibrating inside. When she picked it up, the caller's name appeared on the screen.
"Hello? Ga-young unnie?! I'm off today…."
A boss calling on her day off? The worst. Why did it have to be today of all days? She was annoyed. Lately, Kang Ga-young had been such a high-strung boss. Anyone who saw her working like a madwoman would be left speechless.
"Where are you?"
"…I'm kinda far out right now."
It wouldn't ruin the date, would it? Fortunately, Kang Ga-young's voice sounded much better than during raids. Had she gone through a breakup or something? Come to think of it, she seemed to be burying herself in work to clear her mind.
"I need the USB you took. Now."
"…Ah."
Checking her bag while holding the phone, she found the USB in the inner pocket. It held vital info on recently generated dungeons. The patterns of dungeon creation were changing, and so were the clear methods. Without preparation, surprises could pop up anytime.
"You're off today anyway, so I'll come to you."
"Huh? Really? That's fine?!"
Thank goodness. She could just step out briefly when unnie arrived and hand it over. No risk of Kang Ga-young running into Lee Seo-jun that way. Perfect plan.
After hanging up, she texted the location to Kang Ga-young. Oh, right—she should set one of today's photos as her wallpaper. As happy thoughts filled her mind,
Screams erupted from where Lee Seo-jun was.
"Get out now!!"
A desperate voice searching for someone. Her heart fluttered a bit at the appealing male tone. It sounded dangerous, but a soft puff of air escaped her lips.
"Ye-na! Jeong Ye-na!!!"
A bizarre monster was trying to smash through the glass. If it broke through, it might attack Lee Seo-jun. No way. I have to protect everyone. I can do it. It's water, after all.
She froze it as much as possible, forming rock-like structures. The ice rose more intricately and beautifully. Ice chunks of the perfect size stacked densely like rocks, eventually reaching the ceiling solidly. Water trickled only through tiny gaps.
A beautiful, sturdy ice wall. The result of her intense training. Now she faced off against the monster across the ice barrier.
Lee Seo-jun looked a little surprised. Expecting him to fall for her now would be greedy, right?
"Thanks, Ye-na."
She just smiled. Glad she could help oppa.
"I can totally do it. As long as I have oppa. We can clear this for sure!"
She was confident. With Lee Seo-jun, defeat wasn't an option. He was the best healer.
"Looks like we're the only ones who can clear this anyway?"
In an instant, an angelic halo appeared above Lee Seo-jun's head. Purple light emanated from him, felt through all her senses. This was it. The fullness and elation filling her to the bone.
Sarrruk.
See? Not scary at all.
The shark-like monster's red eyes glared at us. Jeong Ye-na's ice wall shimmered with faint purple light overlaid on it. Fortunately, the people inside seemed to have evacuated safely.
Ku-kung--!!
The shark monster slammed its head into the ice wall with its mouth wide open. Its massive tail whipped around, drawing involuntary admiration. Too bad it wasn't just an aquarium event.
Honestly, I almost stepped back.
"Don't worry, oppa. I've got the buff now—I'll finish it quick!"
Hope she didn't notice my flinch. Jeong Ye-na smirked and raised her hand. Like a noble snow woman, ice danced into existence at her gesture. Cold air brushed my cheek.
Drr, drr--drduk!!
Ice rocks kept rising from the floor. They completely enclosed the shark monster against the ice wall. The icy enclosure resembled a massive prison.
Jeong Ye-na gently lifted her fingertips. Purple ice shards rained freely from the water like a storm. Sharp icicles pierced the shark monster's fins and body from all sides. Soon, red blood flowed from the beast.
The shark monster slowly sank into the water. It had been a powerful enough attack.
Jeong Ye-na turned back with a dazed expression, beaming brightly.
"I did great, right?! Praise me."
"…Yeah. Impressive."
Was that it? It looked like a dungeon monster. Swimming around suggested an ocean-themed dungeon background.
"So how do we find the dungeon?"
"Yeah. We can't go into the water. Oppa, you good at swimming?"
"Nope."
"Hmm. I know CPR really well!!"
I glanced around, ignoring Jeong Ye-na's sparkling eyes. The fleeing people must have reported it, but no hunters or staff had shown up. The music from the building speakers suggested no major issue, though it was slightly different from when we entered. A singer I'd never heard before.
"…Her voice is incredible."
If I could listen to this song forever, nothing else would matter. I had to go.
"We gotta go."
"Huh? Oppa, where?!"
I shook off Jeong Ye-na's grip on my arm and walked forward. Someone was calling me. I was walking alone, but I didn't know where to. Lost sense of direction? Water poured over me more and more. My vision blurred.
"Oppa?! Oppa, why so sudden? Slow down. Wait—what is this?!"
I slowly closed my eyes amid Jeong Ye-na's shouts. My vision went black.
"Mm."
I slowly opened my eyes. Had I passed out without realizing? The sight that greeted me startled me.
Looking up revealed a blue sky. The distinctive sea scent filled my nose. No, slightly different. I'd entered a dungeon. Where was Jeong Ye-na?
"Ugh!!"
I tried to raise my arms but failed. My body was bound with rope. The ground was littered with bone fragments and unknown graves. The eerie atmosphere made me swallow hard. Fresh corpses were visible too. Bloodstained clothes with name tags—like aquarium staff.
"Kueoook!! Kueok!"
A bizarre cry came from behind. Startled, I turned to see what seemed like a monster. It walked bipedally like a human but looked entirely different. Upper body fish, lower body human. Skin unlike any person's, with gills and fins. A so-called merfolk stared at me.
It said something, but I couldn't understand. Its bulging eyes made my stomach churn. No communication possible. Did I have to fight this thing now?
"Kueoook?!"
It grabbed the rope behind my back with its damp, muscular hand. Maybe Jeong Ye-na or others had been captured too. It didn't seem immediately hostile, so I slowly walked as it pulled.
The rope was rough, low quality. "Ow." Not major pain, but my involuntary sound made it ease up. As if afraid to hurt me. Maybe just my imagination.
How far did we go? Not that far. The island-like place was ambiguously sized—not big, not small.
"Heheung~♩♪"
A pleasant hum, that beautiful voice from before. The sight stole my gaze instantly.
"Oh my~. What a catch!"
"…Siren?!"
Lush red hair and stunning looks like a foreign actress. Upper body human, lower fish. Ornate wings on her arms. I remembered news from before regression. Men enchanted by her voice jumped into the sea or got eaten. Women went mad. High-rank women might differ.
Siren's island. Sirens were tougher than the orc chieftains from that massive raid.
Something felt off. Was I unconsciously affected? I cast Purifying Light on myself—small and subtle. Faint blue light brushed my body.
"I like him."
The red-haired siren on a large rock smiled satisfied. As a female siren without clothes, I had nowhere to look.
"Bring him here!"
She beckoned, and the merfolk shoved me forward vigorously. I tumbled face-first. Quickly looking around, no other people like me. Jeong Ye-na too. Maybe only I was pulled in. Worst case.
The beautiful siren swiftly called others. Two more sirens flew in instantly. Blonde siren. Green-haired siren. One was overwhelming; three was too much. I could protect myself, but taking them down? I'd have to hold out until other hunters entered.
Let's do it. I could at least survive.
"What's this? A survivor?"
"No, weird clothes? Black hair and eyes like that last guy!"
Blood smeared her mouth—had she eaten the staff and visitors? If I'd been faster, maybe I could've saved them. Regrettable.
"Black hair and eyes. Bet he tastes good!!"
She eyed me excitedly. The redhead snapped.
"No! I called dibs. After all my seduction."
The other two grumbled.
"What?! You're not hogging him, right?"
"Greedy! Leg or arm then!!"
After the brief spat, the redhead played her lyre. Thanks to Purifying Light, I stood blankly. A puzzled voice.
"…What? Why isn't he sleeping?"
I slowly lay on the ground, pretending to close my eyes. Her distinctive laugh rang in my ears. If threatened, I'd escape with Guardian Angel. My heart pounded at the approaching wingbeats.