Chapter 116

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 116

Chapter Title: Treatment

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Fortunately, there was no need to spend the remaining two days on the uninhabited island before heading back.

After waiting about two or three hours, Instructor Cha Serin opened the passageway, allowing everyone to return to the school.

'Still, it won't be easy for the school itself to operate normally.'

Several people were already at the school, repairing the half-destroyed buildings.

Moreover, with Joo Tae-ho and the instructors from the second and third years among the ten or so who had died, it seemed operations would be difficult for the time being.

'It'll probably take about half a month to resurrect all the instructors.'

Reviving those who had been dead for five or six hours was more cumbersome than expected.

First, use the miracle obtained from the Ninth World, [Time Reversal], to turn back the corpse's time.

Then apply [Complete Resurrection], followed by [Soul Restoration] to fully bring them back.

'There was a small cost due to that soul restoration, but it doesn't matter.'

[Soul Restoration] was an ability I'd acquired in the Fifth World, one that required sacrificing my lifespan as payment.

Because of that, I had to drink a Potion of Youth every time I used it, incurring some expense, but I didn't mind.

'I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠can get as many Potions of Youth as I need.'

However, Kang Ju-young, who had watched the entire process, seemed to undergo some emotional shift. Her attitude toward me had softened considerably compared to before.

Previously, it felt like she was dealing with me only out of necessity, but now there seemed to be a hint of sincerity.

'Borrowing Lee Seojun's words, my affinity has gone up, I guess.'

In any case, I planned to revive Joo Tae-ho first and then the remaining instructors, but there was something to do before that.

'Time to collect some skill stones.'

As a healer, I was to treat those suffering from incurable diseases.

In return for rare skill stones—that was the deal. As soon as Sunday rolled around, I got to work.

-I'm looking forward to seeing what skill stones people bring.

Lee Seojun sounded excited about what skill stones the people might offer.

When I arrived at the building Joo Tae-ho had prepared, I realized more people had shown up than expected.

'Around twenty, maybe.'

That number included heroes and the patients they brought—probably about ten in total.

I figured I could wrap up ten patients in under an hour. Just as that thought crossed my mind, the gathered crowd spotted me.

"It's the healer!"

"Healer!"

A few heroes even pointed at me, telling their patients that everything would be fine now.

"That's the healer who can even bring the dead back to life. All that's left is for him to cure your illness cleanly."

"……."

For some reason, the atmosphere suggested they'd riot if I failed to cure an incurable disease.

Of course, if things went south, I could always use an Elixir, so I brushed it off and addressed the group.

"Those who brought level 10 or level 9 skill stones."

"……."

"……."

The heroes fell silent all at once.

As expected, no one had brought level 10 or 9 skill stones.

"Looks like none. Then come in order of arrival."

With that, I headed inside the building and saw someone already waiting.

"Right on time."

It was none other than Joo Tae-ho, who had arrived first and been waiting.

Naturally, as the first one I'd revived among those killed by Lucas, it wasn't strange that he was alive.

"What brings you here?"

But waiting in this building was odd, so I asked about that first.

"You never know what might happen during the treatments. I figured I could lend a hand if needed."

"Unnecessary meddling."

"Don't say that. I thought this was my way of helping you out, after you went through the trouble of reviving me."

He had come to repay the favor of being resurrected after Lucas killed him.

I didn't really need him, but having him around wouldn't hurt, so I nodded and let him stay.

-With Joo Tae-ho here, no one will cause trouble.

Lee Seojun seemed fine with Joo Tae-ho's presence.

Ignoring that, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠turned to the first hero who had followed me in, along with who I assumed was his patient.

'His younger brother, probably.'

They looked like brothers, with the hero supporting the younger one at his side. Pointing to him, the hero spoke up.

"Healer, please treat my little brother."

"Show me the goods first."

But the purpose of these treatments was solely to collect rare skill stones.

Curing someone for free out of pity would cheat everyone else bringing skill stones later.

"Ah, here you go."

I took the politely offered skill stone and immediately checked it with my observation skill.

"A level 7 High-Speed Flight skill."

Just by saying it aloud, Lee Seojun beside me would tell me if it was rare.

-It's a rare skill. No stock on the market, trades for 2-3 billion.

As Lee Seojun confirmed, the hero who brought it explained.

"As you know, it lets you fly through the air as long as you have mana. Even Grand Mage Naseha of the Compass Guild ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠uses it."

"……."

To put it bluntly, it was useless to me.

But my comrades might appreciate it, so I nodded.

"Good. I'll take this."

"Thank you!"

The hero's face lit up as he shouted his thanks.

I pocketed the skill stone first, then checked what was wrong with the younger brother beside him.

"What's the illness?"

"Mana Stone Disease."

Mana Stone Disease?

I had no idea what that was, but Lee Seojun did.

-It's a disease where stones called mana stones keep forming in the stomach. Mana is everywhere in this world, even in food. During digestion, the mana clumps into stones...

I nodded calmly as Lee Seojun gave his long explanation.

Obviously, I doubted my healing abilities could cure some unheard-of Mana Stone Disease.

'Returning the body to normal is easy.'

If damaged organs were the issue, I could fix it instantly.

But this Mana Stone Disease I'd never heard of—this seemed like treating symptoms only, not the root cause.

-In short, it's a congenital inability to handle mana. But can you even cure something like this, Seongmin?

If not, I'd just use an Elixir.

'One Elixir for a level 7 skill stone, though...'

It felt like a loss on my end, but I decided to try treating him anyway.

'Heal. Regeneration. Purification.'

Flash!—

I unleashed [Heal] for wounds, [Regeneration] to regrow limbs like a lizard's tail, and [Purification] to eliminate all afflictions.

Pouring out my healer abilities, the brother's complexion improved dramatically, but it didn't seem like the Mana Stone Disease was fully cured.

'As expected, congenital conditions are beyond it.'

Now nearly certain, I asked the brother figure.

"How's your body feel?"

"M-my body? It feels amazing. I've never felt this light in my life."

"Yun-ho!"

The hero hugged his brother tightly from behind, convinced the treatment was complete.

The problem was, it was only temporary—the root cause, Mana Stone Disease, remained untreated.

'No helping it.'

I pulled an Elixir from my subspace inventory.

"Drink this too."

"A potion?"

"You need this to fully cure the disease."

Elixirs treated wounds, diseases, curses, and disabilities.

Assuming it would fix even a congenital issue like Mana Stone Disease, I handed it over. He drank it without suspicion.

Flash!—

A light emanated from his body as he swallowed the Elixir.

I knew this glow signaled the healing process, so I watched silently.

"Tell me how your body feels now."

"Uh, um... Something feels different, but I don't know."

That figures.

"Treatment's done. Go to the hospital for confirmation."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Looks fully cured to me."

With the Elixir, the chances of curing Mana Stone Disease were high.

"Thank you so much. B-but if it's not cured..."

"Tell me after you check."

"A-ah, yes. Understood. Thank you again."

The hero left with a faintly suspicious expression but words of gratitude.

He'd probably head straight to the hospital. Given the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Elixir's effects, it was surely cured.

'Do I have to give Elixirs to everyone with an incurable disease?'

Thankfully, not everyone had a rare congenital disease like Mana Stone Disease.

The second patient had cancer, so I cured it cleanly.

The third was a mother with dementia, so I restored her brain with regeneration.

As I treated one patient after another, my skill stone collection grew accordingly.

This was the whole point of offering treatments in the first place, so it was only natural.

"Heh. Just today alone, you've racked up over ten billion."

Joo Tae-ho marveled at the skill stones I'd gathered.

To check their rarity, I'd mutter the skill names aloud.

That's how Joo Tae-ho knew what I'd gotten and roughly calculated the value.

"This one's no good."

Not everyone brought rare skill stones, of course.

I rejected one that was pricey but not rare enough. The hero who brought it flew into a rage.

"What?! You won't take it?!"

He lunged forward in fury, but flinched when Joo Tae-ho stepped up.

"Care to say more?"

"N-no, sir."

Even he couldn't bring himself to challenge Joo Tae-ho, so he muttered a denial and left.

Looking at Joo Tae-ho, who had volunteered as security, I was glad I hadn't sent him away. I called in the next patient.