Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Business (2)
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"What do you mean by his skills have declined?"
I asked Lee Seojun, and he kindly explained.
-Think of it like an athlete. An athlete's performance drops due to injuries, right? Heroes are the same. When they get hurt, their skills decline from the aftermath.
That made sense, but...
"Don't we have healers?"
-Healers are usually from the Geneva Cult. And the Geneva Cult deals with regeneration. Not instant healing like you, Lee Seongmin, but boosting regenerative power to heal.
Lee Seojun added more, as if feeling it wasn't enough.
-Plus, since it boosts regeneration, if a bone breaks, you have to align it first before healing. So the aftermath lingers.
"Different from me."
-Right. Your healing fixes bones instantly no matter how they're broken. The organization members might even think you're an S-rank healer.
"What about other healers?"
-There are various types, but healing that restores the original form like yours is rare. One of the new students heals that way, though.
Then couldn't that student just step in and heal him?
As I thought that and looked at Lee Seojun, he caught on to what I was thinking and shook his head.
-But that kid doesn't even know it's healing. The way they do it is by putting the person in a transparent coffin like cryogenic sleep.
"Coffin?"
-Yes. The target sleeps inside until the healing is done. Of course, when it's over, the coffin vanishes, and they wake up.
It sounded like the sleep duration varied by injury severity.
I was about to ask Lee Seojun more out of curiosity when someone approached me.
"Lee Seongmin."
It was Park So-yul.
She was still wearing her oversized headphones.
"When are you going to seal my ability?"
"Since you brought it up, I'll do it now."
I took out the ring I'd grabbed from the dorm and slipped it onto her right index finger, sealing her ability.
"As long as you wear this ring, your ability will be sealed."
"...An artifact? You know artifacts aren't allowed at the Hero Officer Academy."
"It's not an artifact, so don't worry."
To be precise, it was my ability sealing it.
【No. 003 『Seal+10』】
【Rank: SSS】
【Description: Seals anything. Yes, anything.】
【Special Ability 1: Can set detailed conditions for unsealing.】
【Special Ability 2: Can suppress other targets and forcibly seal them.】
This was a card ability I'd acquired in the 12th world.
After sealing Park So-yul's ability here, I used the first special ability.
"Anyway, as long as you don't remove this ring, the seal won't break."
I'd added the condition that removing the ring would unseal it.
So unless Park So-yul took it off, the seal wouldn't lift.
"Just one ring... Huh?"
Park So-yul, now wearing the ring, suddenly looked surprised—probably because she could no longer hear the surrounding students' thoughts.
She turned her head repeatedly to confirm, then accepted that her ability was sealed.
"How did you do that?"
"It's my ability. That's all you need to know."
"We're supposed to be cooperating, but that's a pretty vague answer, isn't it?"
"I'm only unsealing it for you because of that cooperation."
Regardless of my response, Park So-yul seemed pleased with the seal and fiddled with the ring on her finger.
-Lee Seongmin.
Lee Seojun's voice called me, and when I turned, he pointed to one side.
-Look over there.
"...?"
Feeling puzzled, I turned to where Lee Seojun pointed.
There stood Cheon Seo-yun, silently watching me and Park So-yul.
Park So-yul, beside me, noticed her too and sidled up slyly to speak.
"Looks like a misunderstanding. Want me to explain for you?"
"What are you gonna say? No thanks."
While I answered, Cheon Seo-yun abruptly turned and headed elsewhere.
It seemed like today's stamina training would be me running alone without her.
'More importantly, I need to talk to Seo Ji-ho.'
I'd assumed even if injured, a healer would fix him right up, so hearing about declined skills was unexpected.
Having unintentionally caused Seo Ji-ho's father to lose his edge, I figured I'd help a bit and looked for Seo Ji-ho.
'Hm?'
But no matter where I looked, Seo Ji-ho was nowhere to be seen.
Park So-yul, noticing me scanning around, asked curiously.
"Who are you looking for?"
"Seo Ji-ho... but he's not here."
"He probably doesn't feel like running."
The shock must have hit harder than expected.
Park So-yul said that, then added we'd probably see him later.
"There's practical combat class after, so maybe then?"
"Practical combat today?"
"Yeah. The others trained together and stuff."
It felt like a subtle jab that while the others trained hard, we'd been lounging.
'Maybe I should've paid attention to the others too.'
Cheon Seo-yun and I didn't need training, but the other three did.
Leaving them be would just make them dead weight, so I decided to think seriously about their training.
'Lots to do.'
Talking to Seo Ji-ho, training the kids.
Plus delivering the magic item crafting and rune to Instructor Park Tae-yong.
'I'll take it step by step.'
Nothing was that urgent, so I'd handle it gradually.
Unlike my expectation of running alone today, Cheon Seo-yun silently stuck by my side.
Park So-yul joined too, so on the way back after the turnaround, we drew sharp looks from Instructor Choi Ji-an.
"We're in the same group for practical combat."
But Park So-yul slipped away under the pretense of looking after her teammate.
She then grinned at me, forced to jog slowly.
"This is nice. Earning points like this while running easy."
Jogging slow must've felt comparatively comfy.
Cheon Seo-yun eyed us, then said to me.
"Playboy."
"..."
Probably because I'd given Park So-yul the ring.
No real intent behind it, so the misunderstanding would clear soon, I thought, as I ran to the summit.
'But now Park So-yul's here too.'
Should I show the Collection Cuisine Summon?
I debated internally but decided to, since we were cooperating.
Pop―
As I summoned several dishes from thin air one after another, Park So-yul jumped in surprise.
"Creation type...?"
"If it's creation type, then it's creation type."
Summoning infinitely without cost wasn't wrong.
Anyway, Park So-yul devoured the summoned food mercilessly like Cheon Seo-yun, then declared firmly.
"I'll run with you from now on."
"Every morning with me?"
"Earning points from stamina training, saving on food points—double the gain."
"Not sure the instructor will allow it."
Cheon Seo-yun was a top entrant, so they overlooked her stamina training.
Or maybe since Choi Ji-an also taught her swordsmanship class, she'd checked her fitness there.
"You're not as fit as Cheon Seo-yun."
"It'll work out somehow."
"Do what you want. But I can't help with that."
Already getting side-eye from Choi Ji-an and students for running with Cheon Seo-yun—adding Park So-yul?
'Plus, if instructors learn about my cuisine summon, they'll crack down.'
My summons bypassed the Hero Officer Academy's system.
Structured for constant point spending, but I was earning freebies.
"Obviously, if an instructor catches you, it won't look good."
"Then what?"
Park So-yul got the implication and asked for ideas.
"Best is to eat secretly inside the academy. If there's a spot."
I answered, glancing at Lee Seojun.
He'd spent three years here, so he might know such places.
-A place no one comes? There are a few, but... if you keep going, Lee Seongmin, you'll get caught eventually.
-The best way is to start a club. A clubroom would be safe for summoning food.
"Clubroom?"
At the mention of clubroom, Park So-yul nodded approvingly.
"Sounds good. Frequent visits to a clubroom wouldn't raise eyebrows."
"Problem is, I know nothing about clubs."
I looked to Lee Seojun again for details on clubs.
-No restrictions on starting a club. There's even one for making figurines. But you have to rent a clubroom, paying points monthly.
No restrictions on founding, but clubrooms cost monthly points.
-Even the smallest clubroom costs 100 points a month. Motivated students pool points to cover it.
"We'll look into clubs separately."
Truth was, I wasn't desperate for a club.
Park So-yul, hungry for free points, was.
She stepped up eagerly.
"Got it. I'll check it out."
After that, I used my Warlord's Weapon to zip back to the Hero Officer Academy in one go, and Park So-yul liked it even more.
I thought she'd run back, but clinging to my weapon made the return comfy, so she was thrilled.
'Maybe I should make Park So-yul more useful.'
Setting aside the thought, as first period practical combat neared, I headed to the group arena.
'Huh?'
Then I spotted Seo Ji-ho walking with a visibly dark expression anyone could see.
Wanting to make one proposal to him, I called his name and approached right away.
"Seo Ji-ho."