Tarte's Simple Healing Solution
Tarte had acquired a new skill from the intense battle against the foxes. The Blunt Weapon Mastery (Rank: F) — a passive skill that increases physical attack power and accuracy when wielding blunt weapons — had manifested with a soft chime in her mind.
She had always believed the more skills one possessed, the better. And after realizing that scriptures could be classified as blunt weapons, she had smiled. “Healing might also be turnable into a skill someday.”
Right now, someone in the party was injured. But what did that matter? The question that truly burned in her was: What exactly was a priest? In the real world she had imagined a religious figure serving a god, but in the game it was simply the rear support role — the one who provided healing and buffs.
“That was exactly what Strawberry Cream Cheese Tarte had done in Starfall raids.”
She had remembered the role perfectly. “Since I have a class, there must be a job bonus in the skill too. Warriors heal differently from priests, of course. Their efficiency couldn’t be the same.” She had arrived at that conclusion long ago. Therefore, healing should be her specialty.
She had made her decision.
“Allow me to examine the wound.”
Tarte approached Hyeolpung Geomseong and crouched beside him. His lower leg was bitten, so standing inspection had been impossible. The amount of flesh lost was roughly the size of one finger. It was far worse than she had expected for a modern office worker.
‘First, stop the bleeding.’
She had no medical knowledge, but she knew basic first aid. Normally one washed the wound with running water and applied pressure to stop bleeding. She had no disinfectant or ointment, nor bandages.
‘No water, no medicine, no cloth either.’ She had hesitated.
She could apply her own saliva, couldn’t she?
“Raise your leg higher than your heart.”
Following her instruction, Hyeolpung Geomseong lifted his leg as if attempting a high kick.
“Sit down, you idiot?”
“Ah.”
The live-stream chat exploded with laughter.
“What’s going on with this guy’s IQ?”
“I’ve found the entertainment of my life!”
Of course, Hyeolpung Geomseong had followed her orders faithfully. He had raised his leg with all his strength to keep the wound above his heart. He simply hadn’t thought it would be easier while sitting.
‘The only usable cloth is this.’
While Hyeolpung Geomseong sat with his buttocks on the ground, Tarte approached Muraebae.
“Borrow your gauntlet for a moment.”
Apparently Muraebae had never served in the army and had broken the most basic rule — never drop your weapon in combat. He simply handed it over.
Tarte accepted the gauntlet and lifted the hem of her skirt to cut a strip of clean cloth from it. There was no other fabric available in the vicinity except what they were already wearing.
“What? Cutting clothes for emergency treatment? Are you actually filming a survival show?”
“Is that outfit even clean?”
“It’s pretty, but it’s a waste…”
If she hadn’t been broadcasting, she would have cut Hyeolpung Geomseong’s leather instead. It would have been far more reasonable. Real-world people who cause injuries should pay for them.
But the global livestream made her hesitate. She had chosen differently from her usual practicality.
“Just the Holy Saintess is so cool~~”
“The lady’s kindness matches her beauty, doesn’t it…”
“This is the healer!”
She created a clean strip of cloth and knelt before the wounded man with her legs under her as if lying down. Pressing the cloth against the wound, she stopped the bleeding.
“Her posture is so lewd…”
“Anyone who enjoys medical procedures like that can’t function in daily life…”
“Chat, please fix your quality control.”
A bit of blood had stained her sleeve, but she didn’t care. This wasn’t peaceful territory; luxuries like that were out of the question.
Thanks to the leg being held higher than her heart, the bleeding had stopped.
In front of her, a message appeared.
First Aid acquired!
First Aid (Rank: F)
The effect of First Aid is increased. Job bonus: Priest.
“As expected.”
The skill had appeared exactly as she had predicted, along with the job bonus. Yet joy had to be postponed. They were still in the dangerous heart of the forest.
‘If we move again, the injury won’t heal.’
She considered her next action. Turning to her companions, she asked, “Muraebae-nim, can you carry Geomseong-nim?”
Muraebae looked at the much larger warrior. The size difference was enormous — roughly the difference between a cow and a pig. Both were large, but the cow was clearly bigger.
“I’ll try.”
Nevertheless, Muraebae accepted the carry.
The sight of the originally human-sized Geomseong being treated as mere baggage after the fox fight was hilarious.
“The pack looks really heavy!”
“The size difference is doubled because of how you’re carrying him!”
“Aah, Geomseong-ham! Stop being a troll!”
“Actually, the Rogue didn’t contribute much either.”
“Only the Holy Saintess can handle this.”
“Why call her Holy Saintess already? She’s just a Priest.”
“If you’re pretty, you’re a Saint.”
“Yep.”
Muraebae carrying the massive Hyeolpung Geomseong was ridiculous. The onlookers understood the laughter perfectly.
Even more impossible was for Tarte — tiny beside the warrior — or for Daepokpal, who looked frail with his thin frame and weak appearance, to lift him. Yet here they were, advancing as three party members and one burden.
“Thankfully, no stronger enemies appeared.”
Tarte’s group exited the forest without further combat. According to her analysis, the creatures waiting outside this forest should be no more than beginner hunting grounds — the usual slimes, goblins, and similar mobs from RPGs.
Yet when she checked her party’s status, even facing slimes would be a struggle, and goblins could wipe them out. The future felt completely dark.
‘I have to somehow manage my companions.’
She stared at the village ahead. This was the very first settlement she had encountered upon entering the Tower. What awaited them here?
The village was scattered with houses. Unlike a single enclosed settlement, each house stood within its own fence. This told Tarte one important fact: monster attacks were not frequent or particularly threatening here.
If they had been truly dangerous, the houses would have clustered closer and the fences would have been far higher.
Civilization had not progressed much. Modern concrete buildings were nowhere to be found. Only brick houses and timber-framed dwellings existed. The setting was pure fantasy.
In the center of the village, young people and elders were arguing, unable to reconcile their differences.
“The Korean patch is working!”
Tarte understood every word they spoke; their conversation was entirely in Korean.
Other villagers must share similar thoughts. Watching the livestream chat, she approached the villagers.
“Can we know what’s happening here as well?”
In RPGs, one had to intervene in any event, no matter how unrelated it seemed. Only then would quests and growth appear.
“Who are you?”
A young man who appeared to be the representative stepped forward and asked, his voice loud as he faced the elderly representative.
“I’ll call myself an adventurer.”
Tarte gave the safest answer. In an RPG, the protagonist was almost always an adventurer.
“What’s an adventurer?”
“Another way of saying a hikikomori NEET?”
The young and the old, who had been growling at each other, suddenly united to mock the adventurer.
Just wandering around could be a job? This had been a long-standing dilemma in the RPG world.
“Then I’ll be a pilgrim.”
Tarte surrendered and changed her story immediately. She would be a pilgrim priest.
What about the others? Perhaps Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing following the Tang Priest? It sounded oddly fitting.
She had smiled at her own joke.
The destructive power of a smiling beauty was immense.