Chapter 103
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Corpse Collection (2)
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“When did you get here?”
Joo Tae-ho asked in a slightly suspicious tone, probably because I'd appeared without a sound.
Figuring I needed to say something, I first summoned the door leading into the villa.
Paabat!—
“I wasn't just arriving now. I've been here from the start.”
As I made the summoned door vanish again, Joo Tae-ho seemed to piece it together.
“So you've been inside that door until now. What's in there?”
“A nicely furnished villa.”
“A villa? If that's true, I'd like to take a look myself.”
Joo Tae-ho showed some interest in my villa, but that was it.
Right now, there was something more important, so he made a request of me.
“More than that, I need your power.”
“You want me to resurrect the dead, right?”
Joo Tae-ho nodded without denying it.
“There must be a lot of people killed in this villain raid. If the rumors about you reviving Kang Ju-young are true, lend us a hand.”
“I don't like useless rumors spreading, but...”
I decided to accept Joo Tae-ho's request.
Of course, I didn't forget my original goal of collecting the villains' corpses.
“I'll help. But in exchange, the villains' corpses are mine.”
“You have a hobby of collecting corpses?”
“...”
“Just kidding. You plan to revive the villains too, right? But what do you intend to do with them once they're back?”
As expected, Joo Tae-ho seemed to have figured out that I'd revive the villains.
I thought it would be weirder if he hadn't, so I answered honestly without any lies.
“Use them as my subordinates.”
“Subordinates... Do you think that'll work? Plus, walking around with villains could cause all sorts of problems.”
Lee Seojun nodded along as he said that.
-Problems will crop up, sure. They're famous, after all. Countries might even demand custody of them.
Joo Tae-ho and Lee Seojun said bringing villains along would cause issues, but I didn't care.
I was running a criminal organization to begin with, and I could just ignore whatever the country spouted.
-Of course, none of that matters to you, Lee Seong-min.
Lee Seojun knew full well that such problems wouldn't affect me.
“Doesn't matter to me. I'll handle any fallout.”
“Hm. Fine. But don't use them to commit crimes.”
“Can't promise that.”
At that, Joo Tae-ho paused and looked back at me.
“In that case, I can't hand over the corpses.”
“You mean you won't revive the people dying right now either?”
“...”
Joo Tae-ho's face showed conflict between the freshly dead and the villains who'd revive later.
But considering his personality, I figured he couldn't abandon those who'd died defending this place.
“...No helping it. Fine.”
Watching him ultimately agree, my fondness for him somehow dropped sharply.
I'd openly admitted to committing crimes, so maybe it was only natural.
'Still, better than lying.'
Thinking it was better to be upfront like this, I started by collecting the villains Joo Tae-ho had killed.
I opened my subspace and put the bodies in one by one. Joo Tae-ho, watching, asked with a puzzled look.
“Aren't you going to revive them?”
“Reviving them now would just make them rampage.”
I planned to do it after preparations were complete.
“Anyway, let's get going. The sooner the better for everyone.”
After checking the academy with Joo Tae-ho, we saw the raid had been mostly repelled.
Some fights were still ongoing, but most areas were wrapping up, so it shouldn't take long.
“As expected. So many dead.”
On the contrary, Joo Tae-ho spotted the fallen first and spoke in a regretful tone.
Following him around, I saw about 30 to 40 human bodies excluding monsters.
'That's actually not many deaths.'
There were villains among them too, so fewer than expected had died.
It was like a small-scale war in a way—things could have gone much worse with more cadets lost.
“I'll put the bodies in my subspace and revive them somewhere secluded...”
I was explaining to Joo Tae-ho how I'd do it when—
“H-Hey? Healer!”
Someone pointed at me and shouted it.
He looked like one of the Hero Association members from the Destroyer subjugation before.
“Healer?”
“Yeah, the healer who can even revive the dead!”
“That healer from the rumors?”
Because he'd blurted it out upon seeing me, others nearby turned their heads all at once.
“Healer! Please save my friend!”
“Here—my comrade's dead!”
And just like that, they swarmed me as if on cue.
Thankfully, before they could grab or cling to me, Joo Tae-ho stepped in.
“Everyone, quiet down. You trying to spread the word there's a healer here?”
“...”
“...”
Joo Tae-ho's influence was still strong; the approaching crowd halted in unison.
Still, seeing their anxious faces, he sighed softly and gave orders.
“Gather the bodies in one place. The healer and I will handle the rest.”
“Yes, sir!”
After that, people bustled about, collecting their dead friends or comrades in one spot.
They'd even separated another pile nearby—the villains' bodies, easy to spot.
'Some cleanly bisected ones there.'
Several corpses had perfectly flat cuts, like Joo Tae-ho's attacks.
As I eyed them, Lee Seojun glanced at the bodies too and guessed the culprit.
-Looks like Ryu Ye-reung's work. She's the top of second-year.
Second-year?
-Best to avoid getting tangled, but... you could probably handle it, Lee Seong-min.
“...?”
I gave Lee Seojun a puzzled look, and he explained right away.
-Ryu Ye-reung's ideal type is someone who won't die no matter what she does. You fit that, so I figured it'd be fine.
“...”
I couldn't hide my bewilderment at Ryu Ye-reung's ideal type that Lee Seojun described.
No normal girl would have tastes like that—it was the only thought in my head.
'Maybe best to steer clear, like he said.'
Of course, top of second-year meant she had real potential.
Still, as a first-year, chances of crossing paths were slim.
“All gathered, sir.”
Meanwhile, they'd piled up the bodies.
I'd planned to collect them myself and revive in private.
But some idiot had yelled “healer,” so hiding it seemed pointless now.
'Might as well do it here.'
Complete Resurrection
Wounds regenerate automatically. Consciousness restored.
Paabat!—
Using the healer's skill, Complete Resurrection, on the body right in front of me regenerated its wounds and restored its senses.
“U-Ugh...”
Those witnessing the revival firsthand stared at me and the revived person in shock.
“My god.”
“He really brought back the dead.”
“Look—the wounds are completely healed.”
I ignored the chatter and kept using Complete Resurrection on the rest.
About halfway done, a man approached cautiously and made a request.
“Um, Healer... Can you cure incurable diseases too?”
“What are you doing to my guest?”
No sooner had he asked than Joo Tae-ho shielded me and stopped him.
Incurable diseases varied by dimension, so I couldn't promise blanket cures.
'Elixirs would work, sure, but...'
Using one per patient would strain even me.
One or two was fine, but word would spread like wildfire.
'Can't just keep ignoring them either.'
Thinking it over—with input from my main body and other clones—I spoke so all could hear.
“If you want my power, bring a level 10 skill stone. Or three level 9s, and I'll gladly help.”
“...”
“...”
They stared in shock, deeming my demand outrageous.
Not even level 9s, let alone 10s, had dropped from the S-rank gate during the Destroyer fight.
'That rare, huh.'
At my request, their stunned faces shifted to resignation.
“Those terms are too steep. Could you ease them a bit?”
The first man who'd spoken pleaded for leniency.
Looked like he desperately wanted healing for someone.
'Hm.'
A pure healer persona wouldn't budge.
But after deliberating with my main body and clones, I nodded.
“Rare skill stones work too.”
“What's the criteria for 'rare'?”
“Stones several times pricier than average for their level.”
I laid out the benchmark, and seeing hope, he nodded.
With all revived, I finished by stashing the villains' bodies in my subspace.
“...Healer. Why take the villains' corpses?”
“Already cleared it with Joo Tae-ho.”
Having seen the revivals, they naturally assumed I'd revive the villains too.
I confirmed the deal, and eyes turned to Joo Tae-ho skeptically.
“In exchange for reviving the dead, I agreed to give him the villains' bodies.”
“What if they revive and attack again?”
“Think they'll do that? If they do, we'll deal with it then.”
Joo Tae-ho defended me, and the crowd backed off a step, though their eyes brimmed with dissatisfaction.