Incident at the Mission Training Ground - 4

"But why is the Death Witch targeting this place?"

Maybe it was the heavier atmosphere, but Cheon Suho glanced around cautiously before asking.

Perfect timing.

"Ah, right. You guys should know about this too. The reason the Death Witch is after this place... it's probably because of the energy core utilization method they're experimenting with at the First Research Lab right now."

"Energy core utilization?"

"Yeah. The way we've been using the energy we get so far has been a bit inefficient. That's why equipment output was limited, but this new research can boost that output by a decent amount. We're talking about 30% or so."

"Whoa... that's definitely something ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the villains would go after."

If equipment output jumps by 30%, it'd be a real headache for villains on the receiving end. No wonder they'd want to stop that research at all costs.

"Is the Third Research Lab working on that too?"

"Hahaha... no. We're doing something else. But it's still something that'll be a huge help to heroes. Any guesses?"

"Recovery?"

Yoo Choa beat me to it. Sharp as ever.

"Exactly. There are so few Awakeners, and even fewer healers. That's why so many heroes have to fight without one."

"Hmm..."

"You know how there are unique skills you can learn based on your aptitude? Heal is the classic example—only people with the 'Healing' aptitude can learn it. But since there are so few with that aptitude, they're trying to make recovery possible this way."

Beyond that, aptitudes give bonuses to certain actions. For example, people with the 'Sword' aptitude can use the unique skill 'Sword Aura' and get attack power bonuses on derivative skills. Things like that.

Shin Haerang pulled a small cylinder from her pocket. I could see transparent liquid sloshing inside. It was the instant recovery potion you get after Chapter 3 in the main story of the game.

"Don't we already have recovery potions?"

"But their effects aren't that great, right? Heals allow instant treatment so you can jump right back into battle, but current potions don't work like that."

In the game, the early recovery potions you could buy just boosted recovery rate—like a DoT heal. Of course, as the story progressed, the intervals shortened, and later you got ones that were basically instant heals. They still weren't as good as a proper healer's, but way better than nothing.

"Not every hero can have a healer with them. So this potion will be a big help. And it'll lighten the load on healers too."

And it'll reduce the demand for healers a bit. No matter how I thought about it, switching to buffer was the right call.

"Hey, you okay?"

Cheon Suho looked uneasy. What, worried I'd get pushed out and trashed here and there?

"Pfft~ Yohanie will be fine. He always handles things well, right? Once that's done, it might even help him out."

Yoo Choa grinned brightly, while Shin Haerang looked at us curiously.

"Huh? Why?"

"Yohan's a healer too."

"Wait, really? Whoa, that's awesome. Good for you. Can you help with some testing while you're here?"

"It's not hard or anything... but why?"

"I told you, there aren't many healers. Even as a sub-organization of the Hero Association, it's tough getting their cooperation every time."

Since the potion research builds on heal mechanics, they needed a lot of help from healers.

"So, yeah? Pretty please?"

"Sure. It's not a big deal."

"Great! Come on over here then."

Shin Haerang led us further inside. A moment later, male and female researchers who looked just like her started rising like zombies, their eyes gleaming at us. More precisely, at me.

"A test subject..."

"Fresh volunteer... lick."

"Test... let's test!"

"...Do we dissect too?"

It felt like they'd captured me for human experiments. Under their mad gazes, I debated buffing up and bolting, but Shin Haerang smiled awkwardly and shook her head.

"Actually, the 'Gwangryun' Hojae we were supposed to test with last time couldn't make it. So we didn't have any test data..."

'Gwangryun' Hojae. The S-rank healer whose halo alone heals everyone nearby. It made sense he couldn't make time—he represented Korea's healers.

"Isn't Hojae dispatched to Japan right now?"

"Yeah. He was supposed to help with our experiments, but something came up in Japan—Orochi? Anyway, some dangerous monster showed up, so he went to help take it down."

"We tried asking other healers, but everyone was busy or tired or whatever... So we just researched with past data and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠results. The outcomes were... uh. Anyway, nothing dangerous ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or painful. Probably."

Probably? What was that supposed to mean?

"Try using Heal on this!"

"Ah, okay."

The mad researchers held out what looked like a dummy hooked up to wires and tubes. I used Heal on it right away.

"......."

The researchers tilted their heads.

"Uh. Wanna try once more?"

I Healed again.

"It did heal, but..."

"Incredible... such a tiny heal amount..."

They all looked flustered.

"W-Well... you have the healing aptitude and can use Heal, so calling you a healer isn't wrong."

It felt pretty wrong, but whatever.

"N-Not incorrect, but somehow... hmm. Anyway, it worked, so... check the data!"

Shin Haerang seemed genuinely impressed by my minuscule heal amount. Why else would her voice be shaking?

She fiddled with a laptop connected to the dummy, replugged some wires, and operated the equipment behind it.

"One more time?"

Heal again. This time, they seemed prepared—no shock. They just silently stared at the data.

"Is it helping at all?"

"Huh? Oh... yeah. A ton."

I'd unintentionally given these research folks a spark of hope. Good enough.

"Look at this."

One researcher showed me the data. It was a report crammed with numbers and letters I couldn't make heads or tails of—just white paper and black text.

"Anyway, you're being a huge help."

"As morale boosters?"

Since this potion would outheal my puny Heals anyway.

"N-No, understanding the mechanics of Heal is key. The amount itself doesn't matter."

Shin Haerang patted my shoulder with a smile.

"Seriously, if hero work gets tough later, send your application to our lab. I'll make room for you somehow."

Whoa! Job secured even after the Academy!

I'd come for escort duty, but here I was just spamming Heal. Not bad, though.

"Here, eat this too!"

Choco Pies and snacks started piling up in front of me.

"Feels like I came to donate blood."

"Yeah, thought we'd be fighting villains right away..."

"Hey, fighting's fighting, but eat up. Food's what you keep."

"Ooh~! Thanks, I'll dig in~!"

Can't let it go to waste. And they said they'd pack some for the road too.

"Wonder what the others are up to."

Probably nothing major there either.

The last bits of tension melted away like the sweet marshmallow in a Choco Pie.

"Sorry for the wait! Need more snacks?"

"One more Heal?"

"Haha... nah, we're good. It'd be great if you came back for more, but with your academy schedule, that'd be too much to ask."

"Fair enough."

"We work for heroes, of course, but asking a student like you is pretty rude. Still, we're always striving for hero safety and growth, so focus on your training and forget about us. The Hero Association is safe! Don't worry, just hit the books!"

Come or don't come? Mixed signals.

"That sounded like 'come' to me."

"Same here."

Shin Haerang smiled awkwardly and glanced at me; I grinned back.

"Can't do it often, but I'll drop by sometimes."

"Ooh...! For a good kid helping with experiments, here's a little something!"

Grinning, she handed me a small bracelet. It gave off a faint holy aura—a sacred relic, no doubt.

This was plenty good! Replica or not, it boosted holy power and Buddhism skills—like boosting Diamond Protection's defense even more.

"Whoa, can I really take this? Even replicas like this are pretty rare."

You could get the real thing mid-to-late game, but early on, even replicas were hard to find.

"Haha, it's fine. By the way, our lab works Mon-Sun, all week. Drop by whenever. Don't worry about the time—even at night."

Explained why the researchers were so burned out. Seven days a week...

"Might as well just call me over then."

"Haha, can't impose on a busy underclassman like that."

Solid deal anyway. I'd been wondering how to get Buddhism relics.

Gladly putting it to use.

"Looks like nothing much today... Oh, your quarters are next door to this lab. Follow me."

Shin Haerang showed us to two small rooms that looked like on-call quarters and smiled awkwardly.

"Kinda dirty, huh?"

"This is great!"

Yoo Choa was right. Messy and cramped, but livable.

And then.

-WEEEEOOOOOOW!!

"Knew we wouldn't get any sleep here."

Cheon Suho muttered lowly, and Yoo Choa and I nodded slightly.

The blaring alarm pierced our ears alongside flashing red lights. Shin Haerang's face hardened.

"...They're here?"

She quickly tapped a nearby screen, bringing up CCTV footage of the lab exterior.

And there.

"...What the hell is that."

Countless.

"...They've come."

Dead ones. Undead ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were swarming toward the lab.