Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Healer Class Practical
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That was when it happened.
“......Huh?”
“Haha?”
“Wahahahaha!!”
Right after the headbutt landed, the people around them suddenly burst into roaring laughter.
He had thought the atmosphere was extremely tense and hostile, but that light headbutt had completely shattered it.
On top of that, Park Yong’s flustered look—despite his murderous aura—was another laugh point.
“That guy’s strong? Or is that guy weak?”
“Keuhuhu! A philtrum headbutt? What the hell. That’s hilarious.”
“Man, but did you see that class? Hand on his waist and bam, headbutt in the middle of it.”
“What academy’s that guy from? Skills are no joke.”
“Idiot, a class like that is probably a promising talent being groomed by a major guild.”
“Is that so?”
The heavy mood flipped in an instant.
At the same time, Su-ho started drawing attention.
And rightly so—that attack might have looked ridiculous, but anyone who knew anything could tell it was an incredible counter.
Then Park Yong, clutching his mouth, let out a disbelieving scoff.
Soon after, he put on the most menacing expression Su-ho had seen yet and began emanating a razor-sharp killing intent that could really kill someone.
‘Whoa, that killing intent is no joke. But in this atmosphere......’
It was getting dangerous.
So he decided to end it there.
If he chipped away at Park Yong’s confidence any more here, something big was bound to happen.
That situation was to be avoided at all costs.
Su-ho spoke.
“This time, I’ll go first.”
With those words, Su-ho lightly used footwork to close the distance in an instant.
It was footwork incomparable to Park Yong’s—far faster.
Startled, Park Yong belatedly tried to draw his sword, but Su-ho reached out and pressed down on the tip of the hilt.
Then, with his other hand open, he struck Park Yong’s lower jaw upward from below with his palm.
Pow!
He hit a bit harder on purpose.
That way, he’d pass out.
And sure enough......
Thud!
Unable to withstand Su-ho’s strength, Park Yong lost consciousness.
That was when it happened.
[Your understanding of palm strikes is exceptionally high.]
[The system is assessing your talent.]
[Congratulations! You have acquired Palm Strike (B).]
He gained a new skill.
Its name was Palm Strike.
Su-ho dismissed the notification, dusted off his palm, and approached the supervisor.
“I just knocked him out, so please handle the aftermath until he wakes up.”
“Pardon? Oh, yes......!”
“Alright then.”
Su-ho made his polite request and left the spot.
This first encounter with Park Yong was plenty.
***
After a couple of hours, the capsule issue was resolved, and the practical exam resumed.
Su-ho glanced at the platform where the capsules were set up.
Besides the existing supervisors assigned to each capsule, new people had been added— they looked like capsule technicians at a glance.
‘Those must be the skill examiners.’
Their true identity was skill examiners hastily assembled at Su-ho’s request.
Of course, Jeong Cheol-min was among them.
‘They gathered quite a few for a rush job. Cheol-min hyung must’ve worked hard.’
As Su-ho nodded in satisfaction, numbers for the examinees began randomly appearing on the dozens of screens hanging from the ceiling.
“For fairness, numbers will be drawn randomly. Those called must report within 5 minutes, or you’ll be automatically disqualified for absence!”
Su-ho sat quietly in his seat, watching the examinees climb onto the platform.
Soon after, he spotted a few examinees moving to the back door with skill examiners.
They were suspects for cheating.
‘As expected, Cheol-min hyung gets things done.’
The reason they wore fluorescent vests to hide their identities was to prevent any disturbances from cheating suspects as much as possible.
It was probably Jeong Cheol-min’s idea to take such measures.
Thanks to that, the suspects left with examiners and never returned, while the process continued smoothly without alerting other potential cheaters.
Soon after, Su-ho’s number finally appeared on the screen.
‘My turn at last.’
Su-ho ascended the platform with light steps.
Coincidentally—or perhaps intentionally—he was assigned to a capsule with Jeong Cheol-min as the examiner.
Su-ho gave a quiet nod of greeting.
Then he underwent the mana test, receiving far higher results than others, but passed without issue.
Jeong Cheol-min already knew about Su-ho.
Once Su-ho lay in the capsule, the supervisor said,
“If you feel anything odd during the dive, immediately request an emergency help call.”
“Got it.”
He knew the warning.
These dive capsules had more glitches than expected back then.
Su-ho, now equipped with the capsule module, attempted to dive into the exam program.
[Hunter Practical Exam Program initiating.]
[Connecting user consciousness.]
[Dive progress 5%.......]
Soon, the dive reached 100%, his vision went black, and the surroundings changed dramatically.
A monochrome, unfamiliar landscape filled his view.
Another mechanical voice rang out there.
[Player An Su-ho, thank you sincerely for applying for the Hunter License Practical Exam.]
[I am the Program Master, here to assist with your practical exam, Player An Su-ho.]
[We will now begin the Healer class exclusive practical exam based on your registered information.]
The registered practical exams were four types by class.
Su-ho had taken the Warrior class exam in the past; for Warriors, various combat environments based on scenarios tested how long you lasted and how many you killed, from one-on-one to one-against-many.
‘In that sense, for Healers......’
At that moment, the landscape distorted, and screams began echoing from all around.
“Kuaaaah!”
“Save me!”
“Heal here! Give me a heal!”
The screams were just the beginning.
Soon, the stench of gunpowder and blood assaulted his nose, interspersed with explosions.
A scene from hell.
This was the middle of a battlefield in the midst of a massive melee.
Seeing the horrific sight, Su-ho muttered,
“Wow...... No wonder this round’s exam was a surprise one.”
The practical exam was about showing how suited you were to your chosen class.
For Healers, the key was demonstrating selfless dedication and calm treatment under pressure.
‘In that sense, a blood-soaked battlefield is the perfect test site.’
But only to a degree.
The patient screaming in front of him was in such bad shape that any novice unaccustomed to this would vomit or suffer trauma.
‘That’s why Healers command such high prices.’
Su-ho immediately knelt on one knee and began using Light of Healing on the patient.
“Kuheuk, it hurts, it hurts so much......!”
“Hold on just a bit. The rescue team will be here soon.”
Su-ho acted by the book first.
In the Healer exam, healing power or amount didn’t matter much.
This wasn’t testing the Healer’s level—it was just for Hunter License qualification.
In other words, to score highest in the Healer practical, you had to protect the patient to the end, even at the cost of your life.
Simply put, die protecting the patient.
From a global view, the greatest virtue of a Healer was ‘sacrifice.’
‘That’s why Isabella was always going on about sacrifice.’
But Su-ho had no intention of doing that.
‘Am I crazy? Die to an orc?’
He was the Sword God, after all.
For him—a being above bugs like orcs—to die to them?
Plus, this exam program simulated pain realistically for immersion.
‘And it preserves my status window specs as-is, so I’d last way longer getting beaten than other players before dying.’
He might even instinctively dodge, prolonging the agony.
The thought made Su-ho furrow his brow unconsciously.
It was horrific even to imagine.
After finishing first aid, Su-ho looked around.
He spotted an ownerless sword nearby and quickly picked it up.
‘The point of this exam is to protect the patient to the end.’
Then there’s no need to die, right?
Just eliminate the threats to the patient.
Besides, this was a programmed virtual world for the exam.
As far as Su-ho knew, monsters in the practical program had a fixed number.
‘Better to fight until the monsters run out than die pointlessly.’
Right on cue, nearby orcs started approaching Su-ho.
Four of them.
Their eyes, fixed murderously, marked him as their target.
‘Hm.’
Su-ho pondered briefly, then tucked the scavenged sword beside his waist.
No sheath, but he positioned it perfectly as if sheathed, and lowered his upper body.
He couldn’t abandon the patient and run, nor leave the patient and charge ahead alone.
Even to protect them, creating distance would surely deduct points from the program.
So Su-ho chose an appropriate method and prepared.
Su-ho steadily regulated his breathing.
His senses sharpened, and the surrounding noises began separating one by one.
Soon, the four orcs charged at Su-ho all at once.
Come on.
A bit more.
Just a bit closer.
And the moment they entered the range Su-ho envisioned, the sword at his waist exploded outward in a massive swing.
Slash!
A massive slicing sound.
And.
Splurt!
Long sword marks carved into the orcs’ bodies, spraying blood everywhere.
At the same time.
[Your understanding of iaido is exceptionally high.]
[The system is assessing your talent.]
[Congratulations! You have acquired Iaido (B).]
Su-ho reunited with a skill he often used.
‘As expected.’
No matter how virtual this was, as long as it was on Earth, no one escaped the system’s watch.
That’s why physical techniques could be acquired.
The system judged it as the player moving their body directly.
After this was discovered, many players trained techniques in VR.
VR allowed resetting physical damage and fatigue endlessly.
But soon, it was revealed that VR training was inefficient.
Unlike real training that pushed the body to extremes, VR let you customize environments and heal freely, resulting in lower EXP gain rates from comparative tests.
‘But that doesn’t apply to me.’
However, it didn’t apply to Su-ho.
The techniques he wanted to master weren’t from zero base—they were ‘real techniques’ already acquired through sacrifice and direct experience.
‘I’ll hold out as long as possible.’
Su-ho suppressed a leaking smile and raised his sword again.