The Alliance (1)
While Dohyun’s group was still locked in a fierce battle with the Acid Tentacler, Daon had just finished treating the critically injured, yet she couldn’t rest. She paced anxiously, her mind consumed by worry for her companions. Please, let everyone come back unharmed… she prayed silently. As long as they survived, she would heal them no matter what.
“Daon, you should rest a little… I’ll finish up here. You’ve already pushed yourself too far.”
“But…”
Jaehun approached her carefully. He understood her feelings, but Daon had clearly reached her limit. She had saved over ten people from the brink of death, and the number of minor injuries she had treated was countless. Her Heal skill had even leveled up from 3 to 4. Her complexion was pale, and cold sweat kept beading on her forehead. She refused to rest out of guilt toward her comrades.
When Daon still wouldn’t move, Jaehun pressed on.
“The boss, Dohyun, Seorin, and Sohyun… they’ll all make it back alive! I know it’s not something we want to say, but… they’ll probably return pretty banged up. When that happens, you’re the only one who can treat them. You need to rest so you can do that!”
It was hard to say they would come back injured. Jaehun himself felt guilty for staying behind in relative safety. Still, as painful as it was to accept, his words weren’t wrong. Even if they returned, they wouldn’t be in one piece. But in her current state, could she really heal everyone?
Daon shook her head inwardly.
“…You’re right. Thank you, Jaehun oppa.”
“Don’t mention it. Let’s go.”
As Daon tried to move, her vision wavered and her legs gave out. Jaehun caught her instantly, as if he had been expecting it.
“Th-thank you…!”
“It’s nothing.”
Leaning on Jaehun, Daon entered the makeshift tent and lay down on a folding cot. Resting itself felt like an effort, but she tried her best to recover as much mana as possible in the short time she had.
“Then I’ll leave you to it.”
Jaehun quickly stepped out to let her rest.
Time passed. Daon had dozed off without realizing it when noise from outside woke her. Still groggy, she hurried out of the tent. A crowd had gathered, and among them she spotted familiar faces. Her expression brightened for a moment—until she realized something was wrong.
She heard Seorin calling her name urgently.
“Daon—!!”
“Unni…”
Daon pushed through the crowd. The first thing she saw was Dohyun, carried on Nayun’s back in a horrific state. His entire body was melted and burned; there wasn’t a single patch of undamaged skin.
“How can a person get hurt that badly? Is he even alive?”
“Watch your mouth! Didn’t you see the quest clear message? It’s thanks to him!”
“I know… I’m just worried…”
“He has to survive…!”
Nayun spotted Daon and rushed over.
“Daon, heal Dohyun! Please!”
Nayun’s own wounds were severe, but compared to Dohyun’s they looked minor. The situation was chaotic and terrifying, but Daon knew she couldn’t afford to freeze. If she hesitated now, something even worse would become reality.
She snapped back to focus.
“A sleeping bag… Bring me a clean sleeping bag!”
“R-right away!”
Jaehun sprinted off and returned moments later with an unused sleeping bag. Daon spread it on the ground.
“Lay him down slowly, Nayun unni!”
“Got it.”
Once Dohyun was laid down, Daon checked his condition. His injuries were so catastrophic it was a miracle he was still breathing, yet his breathing was steady. If she used Heal in time, he could survive.
“I have to treat him right now…! What—?!”
Just as she was about to begin, a system message blocked her view.
You have defeated the Acid Tentacler (Liquid Form). Quest cleared.
You are among the top 10 contributors. 9000 coins awarded.
Rare Skill Selection Ticket awarded. Choose your desired skill.
The massive rewards didn’t distract her. She simply realized that healing Dohyun at her current level would be extremely difficult. But if a new skill could make it possible… then it was worth the time.
Daon looked over the available skills and chose the one she needed most right now.
R Mana Surge Lv.1 0/100
Temporarily and massively amplifies mana.
She poured every coin she had into mana. Her previously empty reserves rose slightly.
Please, don’t be too late!
Daon grabbed Dohyun’s hand. It was completely limp. She activated both Heal and Mana Surge at once. Mana exploded within her, and an enormous amount of green light burst from their joined hands, enveloping his entire body.
The sudden surge in mana was so intense that everyone nearby noticed. Seorin asked worriedly from beside her,
“What is this mana…? Daon, are you okay?”
“I-I’m… f-fine—!!”
Daon’s firm reply made Seorin fall silent. No one could stop her now. All they could do was trust and watch.
Dohyun’s melted skin peeled away as fresh flesh rapidly grew in its place. The more it healed, the worse Daon’s condition became, yet the mana she emitted only grew stronger.
“I will… I will save him!”
“Da…on…”
When Dohyun opened his eyes, he was lying in a bed. He needed a moment to process what had happened, but a system message helpfully explained the situation. The last thing he remembered was the Acid Tentacler dying and the quest clear notification.
“Whoa!”
Overjoyed, he sat up abruptly. He was inside a tent. Then he noticed Daon sleeping on the cot next to him.
“……?”
Ignoring the rest of the messages for now, he checked on her. Faint memories surfaced. He didn’t remember much else, but Daon desperately trying to heal him was crystal clear in his mind.
Even in her sleep, she was sweating. She had clearly overexerted herself saving him. The proof was right in front of him—his body was completely healed, without a single scar.
He stood up, found a towel, and gently wiped the sweat from her face.
“Thank you so much…”
“Ugh…”
“…?!”
The moment the words left his mouth, Daon stirred. Soon her amethyst-like eyes met his. In a dry voice, she called his name.
“Dohyun… oppa…?”
“S-sorry… Did I wake you?”
Feeling awkward, he was about to say more when Daon suddenly sat up and threw her arms around him. His eyes widened.
“……?!”
“Oppa, I’m so glad… I was so worried, sob… How could you fight until you ended up like that…!”
“Uh… ack… uh… W-well…”
He stammered nonsense, more flustered by her tears than the hug itself. These were precious tears born from genuine worry—tears he never wanted to cause.
After a moment of panic, he patted her back and managed to speak.
“I’m sorry… I’ll be more careful next time! So please stop crying.”
Promising he wouldn’t do it again would be a lie, so he couldn’t say that. This was the best he could offer.
“You have to—okay?!”
Daon pulled back slightly and looked him in the eyes. The girl rumored to be a school beauty was now sniffling and sobbing in front of him like a child, completely forgetting her age. How could that not be adorable? A warm smile naturally formed on his face.
“What’s so funny?”
“It’s just… you’re too cute. Sorry.”
“Cute? Sniff. Wait, what am I even—?!”
Daon noticed her own state and hurriedly wiped the snot running down her lips, then desperately swallowed the next drop threatening to fall.
Even beauties have to deal with snot, huh…
“Aah, d-don’t look…!”
She pouted cutely. Just then, Seorin burst into the tent carrying a basin of water.
“Kyaa—!”
“Y-you’re awake… Huh…?”
Seorin froze at the sight of them. It was probably because Daon had suddenly hugged him again—Dohyun himself had been startled by her sudden entrance. Behind Seorin came the others: Sohyun, Nayun, and Jaehun. All three stared with wide eyes.
Seorin seemed to be thinking deeply, but her conclusion was the same as always.
“You did something to Daon again, didn’t you…!!”
“N-no…!”
“Hehe.”
Dohyun looked at Daon, who was still clinging to him with a mischievous little-devil smile.
She’s not doing this on purpose to mess with me, right…?!
After finally calming Seorin down and getting Daon to let go, Dohyun stepped outside the tent. Incidentally, Daon’s sudden hug earlier had probably been to hide her legs giving out—once she stepped away from him, she looked like her usual self again.
Seorin stayed behind to check on Daon’s condition. Sohyun, Nayun, and Jaehun came out with him. Outside, people were busy preparing to leave. Even while moving about, they greeted him warmly.
“Dohyun, you’re up… Thank goodness!”
“We owe our lives to you! Rest easy—we’ll handle the preparations!”
“I’m calling you hyung from now on!”
Even the gangsters, who usually gave off an awkward vibe, approached him with genuine warmth. He hadn’t really talked to most of them before…
Feeling embarrassed, Nayun spoke up.
“Accept it proudly. Everyone survived because of you—including us. You’ve more than earned it.”
“I was just trying to stay alive myself…”
“The result is still the same. Everyone’s grateful to you!”
This time it was Jaehun who spoke. He hadn’t intended any of this, but… it didn’t feel bad at all. Praise could make even a whale dance, and apparently it worked on him too.
While exchanging greetings, he finally noticed the bandages wrapped around Nayun and Sohyun.
“Are you two okay…?”
Unlike him, both were covered in bandages. Seorin had probably been the same. They insisted they were fine, but it was likely his fault… Since Daon had collapsed after healing him, the others hadn’t received treatment. Feeling guilty, Sohyun asked something else, seemingly unconcerned.
“By the way, oppa, what quest rewards did you get? You made it into the top three, right?”
“Uh…”
“I’m curious too!”
Right—he had completely forgotten. Now that everyone’s safety was confirmed, it was time to relax and enjoy the rewards.
A massive reward filled his vision.