Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: Seo Yu-baek S
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...
That 'Awakener Medical Chart' skill must be the status-reading ability he mentioned just now.
To think it would pick up on this.
I couldn't keep lying when it was right there in plain sight, so I nodded.
"Yeah. For some reason, my stamina kept dropping."
"Haa, just as I thought."
Seo Yu-baek furrowed his brow.
"Then, the time before when you were completely unconscious for so long... that was because of it too?"
"Well, yeah."
In truth, it was because that damn system slapped me with a drug abuse penalty for chugging too many potions.
As I nodded, Seo Yu-baek's concern deepened even further.
Ah, if I left it like this, I'd be in for an earful of nagging until my ears bled.
A bad premonition flashed through my mind, and I hurriedly rattled off an excuse that wasn't quite an excuse.
"But it's not all that bad, I think. Stamina potions are cheaper than mana potions anyway. If you stock up plenty before heading into a dungeon, nothing major happens. Last time I collapsed, it was just because I mismanaged my stamina."
"But, Nayeo-ju."
Seo Yu-baek adjusted his glasses with his index finger as he spoke.
"Healers don't die just because their mana hits zero."
Ah, that didn't work.
Stabbed right in the core, I could only smack my lips.
"Do your guildmates—no, at least Guild Master Kang Han—know about this issue?"
"Nope? No one knew until Teacher noticed. And I have no plans to tell them going forward."
"...If that's what you think, Nayeo-ju, then I won't mention it to anyone else. Don't worry."
"It wasn't full-on worry, just a passing thought, and you picked up on that too."
I gave an awkward haha laugh, and Seo Yu-baek added one final reminder, like a plea.
"Nayeo-ju, you must pay close attention to stamina management every time you enter a dungeon."
"Got it, Teacher."
"Haa, at least from now on, I won't be shocked if you come back unconscious from a dungeon."
Would that really be the case?
I averted my eyes slightly, recalling the random penalty roulette wheel that kept spinning in my head.
There were so many weird status ailments besides fainting.
A quiet lull had settled over the National Awakener Hospital as well.
Even though I was perfectly fine after treatment, the guild master insisted I rest for a day, turning me into an inpatient against my will. I was incredibly, extremely bored.
On top of that, I'd just been in a dungeon with roaring flames licking everywhere, and now here I was, suddenly tucked under a fluffy blanket on a bed. It didn't feel real at all.
"Maybe I'll watch some TV."
The single room had an oversized TV that felt excessive. I turned it on and flipped to a news channel.
...Right, yeah.
I'd tuned in hoping maybe something about the Justice Guild would come up.
"Ack! Why is Sama Young on!"
I slapped my hands over my face so hard it echoed.
It was a reflexive flinch from that demonic face filling the massive screen.
But with only two hands, I couldn't cover my ears, and a few familiar words slipped through.
Taesan?
Acquisition merger?
I slowly lowered my hands from my face and cranked up the TV volume.
Following the anchor's introduction, a conversation between a reporter and Sama Young filled the room.
"Hmph, what a joke."
I snorted derisively without thinking.
I'd bet Seong Yo-na's sandwich that the "collaboration" Sama Young mentioned was lending Taesan money they clearly couldn't repay, using the guild itself as collateral.
Leaning back against the bed with arms crossed, I watched the interview.
But even so, various thoughts crept in unbidden.
'Should I have stopped it?'
Gwak Ho-young wasn't fit to be a guild master, and personally, I wanted him to crash and burn.
But the hunters and staff I'd seen at Taesan Guild—did they deserve this just for picking the wrong company?
Especially the ones who'd suffered under a bad leader in that flame dungeon and gotten hurt...
But I soon shook my head.
'Sama Guild needs to get stronger too, even if not as much as Justice Guild.'
And Sama Young was the type with real talent for that sort of thing.
By absorbing smaller guilds like Taesan and bulking up their hunter roster.
A stronger Sama Guild would have to shoulder part of the dungeon assaults when the end times came.
With Sama Young alive and kicking, of course.
"Wasn't it coming up soon?"
I muttered while pulling out my phone to check the calendar.
The weather was getting chillier by the day, so Sama Young's re-awakening to S-rank must be approaching.
I could check the news around then for the exact timing.
And right then, Sama Young's face started closing in like he was filming some ad.
A chill ran down my spine.
It felt like he was saying that straight to me.
I wanted to chalk it up to overthinking, but the guy was Sama Young.
The symbol of greed and desire, Sama Young.
"Ugh, why does such a creepy face have to be so handsome."
I scratched my prickled arms and got out of bed.
It felt like Sama Young had rubbed off on me, so I suddenly craved some cool autumn breeze.
The park encircling the Awakener Hospital was pretty decent for a stroll.
There were others out walking alone like me, and some chatting with visiting acquaintances.
"Time to head back."
The snacks from the hospital shop weren't hitting right with my mouth feeling blah, and I'd bolted half in flight from Sama Young on screen without grabbing a jacket, so the autumn wind felt pretty nippy.
If I caught a cold, I could already picture the naggers, so I quickened my steps toward the ward.
"Hey? It's Nayeo-ju!"
Out of nowhere, some girl pointed at me and yelled.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Ga-young!"
"Ga-young?"
A name I'd heard somewhere.
I thought that absently and gestured for her to lower her still-pointed finger.
"You know me?"
"Of course! Justice Guild! Nayeo-ju the healer! The one who stole the last hit this ti—mmph!"
"Hey, why'd you veer there mid-flow."
The kid named Ga-young chewed the snack I'd stuffed in her mouth and grinned heehee anyway.
Cute, sure.
But kids were tiring to deal with.
"So, what. You a fan of mine?"
"Yes!"
"...For real?"
"Yes! Totally real!"
And as if to prove it, a familiar pling sound rang out, and a pink speech bubble popped up over the kid's head.
...For real.
A whopping favorability of 15, no less.
I alternated glances between the blushing kid and the bubble over her head, then rustled and offered the snack bag.
"...Wanna eat some?"
"Yes! Thank you!"
The polite kid grabbed my hand, dragged me to a nearby bench, plopped down beside me, and munched away happily.
"What if I'm a bad person? You shouldn't just wolf down food from strangers."
"You're not, though? I know all about Nayeo-ju the healer."
"Kid, you're talking big trouble. Screen Nayeo-ju versus real Nayeo-ju. You've never met me before."
"True, but I've heard tons of stories."
"...Fine, eat up then."
Small stature, little body—she seemed pretty young.
Unable to tell broadcast from reality.
I sighed softly and asked the kid.
"Hey, why're you out here alone? Where's your guardian?"
"Ah, I snuck out."
The kid plunged her tiny hand into the bag and answered nonchalantly.
"Snuck out? Why? Your guardians nag too much?"
"Hmm. Not really."
The kid who'd been grinning nonstop since we met lost a bit of her smile.
"They keep wasting money pointlessly. I'm gonna die anyway."
"How old are you? Your future's wide open—why talk like that?"
"I overheard the doctor and Dad. No real treatment."
"Hey, even so."
"It's all a waste, see? My hospital bills are super expensive. Dad's slaving under scum like Gwak Ho-young just to pay them..."
"Hold up."
I raised a hand to halt the kid.
I'd just heard something familiar.
"Kid, your dad's name wouldn't be..."
"Ga-young!"
Pale-faced and calling the kid's name while sprinting over was, naturally, Hunter Yoo Jin-rok.
No wonder the name rang a bell.
I pointed at him just like the kid had at me earlier.
"Yoo Ga-young?"
"Yes!"
Yoo Jin-rok the hunter's daughter, Yoo Ga-young, crunched her snack and bellowed back heartily.