Chapter 7
Chapter 7
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Already a Former Member
-----------------------------------------------------------------
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Already a Former Member] On the way home after leaving Bloom Guild.
"Damn it... I just wasted my time."
I kicked a pebble rolling along the roadside, grumbling to myself.
I'd wondered if there might be some shady ulterior motive behind offering ten million for five flowers—a huge sum.
But the buyer was from a top-three guild in Korea, so I'd decided to trust them.
And what happens?
They straight-up tell me to join the guild?
I snorted derisively.
They must've thought my naive, harmless appearance made me an easy mark. Lure me in gently, then pry out my cultivation secrets.
It was a transparent ploy.
More than that, I had zero interest in joining a guild.
Once you're in, you'd have to dive into gates every day, fighting brutal battles against terrifying monsters nonstop.
"They bragged about guaranteeing gate runs like it was some big perk."
To someone like me who dreaded gates, that was practically a punishment.
As I sulked and kicked more roadside pebbles, a flicker of unease stirred in the corner of my mind.
"...Tch, but did I come off as too rude?"
And rightly so—the place I'd just left was Bloom Guild, one of Korea's big three.
In a guild of that caliber, I couldn't hold back and ended up snapping.
—So you're saying you'll only buy if I join the guild?
—Yeah, then forget it. I'm not selling. Goodbye.
But I had no choice!
I'd psyched myself up big time for my first deal and come all this way.
Realizing it was all for nothing filled me with unbearable frustration!
"Well, still..."
I'd slipped that woman a little "bribe" as I left, so maybe it'd be fine.
"Hope so, anyway."
Bloom Guild screamed money from a mile away.
The building was massive, the interior all gleaming marble, and the first-floor reception was swarming with staff.
Stepping into the elevator to the ground floor, I'd made a snap decision.
Someday, when I ramp up mass production or grow some ultra-rare, pricey plants.
Bloom could be a whale client, so no point making enemies.
That's why, right before leaving the building, I'd covered my tracks against my rudeness turning them hostile.
But with their league being no joke, I guess some worry was inevitable.
Thud.
Thud.
Lost in thought, staring at nothing but the pebbles as I walked.
Suddenly, the surroundings felt unusually chaotic.
Right then.
🚨 GATE RAMPAGE ALERT 🚨 At approximately 15:42 today, a mid-level gate in Seoul's Seongbuk-gu area has rampaged due to prolonged failure to clear. Nearby citizens, evacuate immediately. (Ministry of the Interior and Safety / Gate Management Bureau) A piercing alarm blared as my phone screen flashed.
Looking up from it, a horrific scene unfolded before me.
People fleeing in terror, staring straight ahead. Others trampled and falling, yet scrambling back up to run.
And at the center.
Lay people drenched in blood.
One gushing blood from their leg in torrents, another dripping from their head.
The rest sprawled on the ground with grievous wounds.
It was too gruesome to witness with open eyes.
"......"
My mind went blank.
My feet rooted to the spot.
I could only stand there, dazed, staring ahead.
Thrum.
A faint vibration came from the potted plant clutched in my arms.
At the same time, a blue wave rippled around me.
Thrum.
Thrum.
The mana pulses continued a couple more times, steadying my wildly pounding heart.
Sounds that had been muffled, like underwater, sharpened into clarity.
"If we don't get him to a hospital soon, it'll be bad... What do we do..."
"Is there anyone nearby who's awakened a Heal skill?! Healer! Anyone?!"
"Healer! Where are you?! Please... Healer!"
Families of the fallen clung to their bloodied loved ones, wailing into the chaos.
I quietly approached the injured and knelt down.
"...Healer?"
I gave a reassuring smile to the woman murmuring in disbelief.
Then I closed my eyes and focused.
"......"
Using a Heal skill in front of this crowd.
Everyone would learn I'm one of Korea's rare healers.
Honestly, I had no clue how to handle the fallout.
My quiet daily life might get noisy.
But whatever.
Save lives first, right?
I gently placed both hands over the injured person's wounds.
A soft glow trickled from my fingertips.
'...At this rate, it'll take all day.'
The wounds were so deep, I'd need three, no, five times the mana I used in gates.
I gritted my teeth and drew up the mana within me.
A fierce burst of light poured from my fingertips.
I could see the torn flesh knitting back together.
"...Hoo."
Then, a warning chimed deep inside me.
Mana depleted—stop now.
But there were still so many left.
I gazed quietly at the pots I'd hugged all day.
'Ten million... each.'
Never thought I'd use them myself.
But better this than nothing.
If I'd sold them all to Bloom Guild, the rest would've died because no one had mana to spare.
'Sorry.'
I popped the carefully nurtured flowers into my mouth one by one, spamming Heals like mad.
Bitter taste flooded my mouth; mana churned wildly inside.
A '[Proficiency increased]' message flashed by at some point.
But I had no bandwidth to care.
"Hoo."
Eventually, I'd Healed every last injured person.
All that remained: drained mana and crashing fatigue.
I felt like collapsing right then.
Should I just flop onto the ground? I seriously considered it.
"!?"
Suddenly, someone grabbed my hand.
Startled, I turned to meet the eyes of one of the sobbing bystanders.
"Thank you. Healer, thank you so much..."
Tears streaming down her face, she bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
That sparked an outpouring from those around.
"Healer... thank you for saving my dad. Sniff, sob..."
"Thank you for saving my daughter..."
"I don't know how to repay you... Thank you..."
One by one, teary-eyed, they bowed to me.
Flustered, I scratched the back of my head.
"I just used a skill, that's all..."
Lucky to have awakened Heal, and used it on people in need.
Did it really warrant this much thanks?
That was my inner thought.
Yet seeing their genuine gratitude, hands clasped tight around mine, a strange warmth floated in my chest.
An unfamiliar feeling.
But... not unpleasant.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A massive TV dominated the office wall.
📺 LIVE BROADCAST 📺 [At approximately 3:42 p.m. today, a mid-level gate in Seoul's Seongbuk-gu area rampaged due to prolonged failure to clear.] Song Yu-hwa's gaze locked on one figure in the live footage.
📺 LIVE BROADCAST 📺 [A healer passing by has been caught on camera treating severely injured citizens, sparking a buzz.] Eyes reminiscent of fresh green leaves.
Silver hair shimmering like moonlight.
A cute, lovable face like compacted cotton candy.
"......"
Song Yu-hwa stared unblinking at the screen, murmuring in disbelief.
"No way."
The corners of her mouth trembled slowly.
"That girl... was a healer..."
The voice rasping from deep in her throat was low and heavy, like crushed stone.
The reason for her shock ran deeper.
Bloom Guild, with not a single healer, had a dedicated task force just for recruiting them.
And that precious healer.
Just hours ago.
Slipped right through her fingers.
—No long talk—get to the point. Join Bloom.
—You probably haven't even done many gates. Join us, and we'll guarantee your raid slots, of course...
Along with all that arrogant bluster.
Reeling from the shock, she pressed a hand to her forehead and staggered.
That's when a first-floor staffer entered the office.
"Pardon me. The guest who visited earlier said to give this to you, Guild Master."
Song Yu-hwa took the pot with trembling hands. The staffer added,
"She said you looked exhausted from work, and keeping this near your desk would help."
"......"
"Message delivered. I'll be going now."
The door shut with a thud.
Song Yu-hwa clutched the pot tightly to her chest in silence.
A blue glow flickered from within the black wrapping.
Her turbulent heart began to calm.
—Oh, right! One more thing. Just having the flower nearby emits mana waves for psychological stability...
The girl's chatter echoed in her mind again.
'Even after I acted so high-handed.'
She'd left this treasure as a gift...?
Her eyes shook violently.
And the one who'd cultivated it alone.
Was one of the world's rare healers.
'Can I even put a number on what I just lost?'
Song Yu-hwa had lived by the motto "No regrets in my life."
Never once second-guessed her choices.
Now, for the first time.
She felt regret, bone-deep.
She knew now what it truly meant.
Reflexively, she opened the exchange app.
The only way left to contact the girl.
But.
⚠️ ACCESS DENIED ⚠️ [Already a Former Member]