Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Penalty Roulette
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At first, I didn't notice it at all.
As a non-combat class, I had no idea it was killing intent.
I was too frantic treating Lee Yu-chan to notice anything else.
With 50 Stamina drained in one go, drowsiness came crashing over me again.
I hurriedly pulled a Stamina Recovery Potion from my sub-space and downed it in one gulp.
What am I supposed to do, then?
While I dismissed the system's warning, Lee Yu-chan—who had been lying there like he was dead—painfully opened his eyes.
"......Ugh."
"Lee Yu-chan, you with us?"
"N-Nayeo-ju sis."
"What? Anywhere else hurt?"
"Dan-danger."
"What are you talking about?"
When I tore my eyes away from Lee Yu-chan and looked up, the situation around us had already changed.
Yang Hwa-yeon was blocking my front with a hardened expression, and Han Ji-seong—who was staggering from heavy mana use—had fallen back to stand near me.
At that moment, I belatedly realized that the strange prickling sensation on the top of my head I'd felt earlier was killing intent directed at me.
"That bastard just won't snap out of it."
Yang Hwa-yeon ground her teeth, flames flickering over both fists.
And beyond her, I locked eyes directly with Jang Su-ho's blood-red glare fixed on me.
'Ah, looks like I'm next on the list.'
It was pure gut instinct, no need for elaboration.
At the same time, Jang Su-ho charged straight at me.
He'd discarded his shield somewhere, and with every pounding step, the monster blood left dark splatters behind.
I didn't hesitate and yelled at Kang Han.
"Fry him!"
Pzzzt!
Kang Han unleashed a fairly powerful bolt of lightning at Jang Su-ho.
But Jang Su-ho merely staggered for a moment before charging even faster.
"Jang Su-ho!"
Kang Han bellowed his name like a shout and fired another bolt.
Pzzt!
This one had some effect.
Jang Su-ho's speed slowed.
And finally, when a solid orb of electric current slammed into his back—
Thud!
Jang Su-ho collapsed at last.
Just a few steps away from me.
"Snap out of it, you idiot!"
Yang Hwa-yeon seized the moment, rushing in to pin him to the ground.
Even then, he thrashed desperately to break free, like a wild beast refusing to be tamed.
"Hey, Jang Su-ho."
"It's dangerous. Step back."
Kang Han, now helping Yang Hwa-yeon subdue him, warned me.
For a split second, I thought, 'Should I?'
But I couldn't just leave Jang Su-ho like that out of a bit of fear.
"N-no. Hold on."
I approached Jang Su-ho and reached out my hand.
Kang Han didn't try to stop me anymore.
His forearms bulged with veins as he pinned Jang Su-ho down even harder.
"Jang Su-ho, it's me. Nayeo-ju. Look at me."
I placed my hand on Jang Su-ho's forehead, even as he glared at me from where he was smashed into the ground.
His body temperature was scorching hot, like he was on fire.
Still, better than with Han Ji-seong, thank goodness.
'How much Stamina do I have left?'
'I'll purify 20%.'
That should be enough to bring him back to his senses.
As I listened to the system voice, I deliberately muttered aloud.
"Just in case, I'll use the healing skill too."
A wave of weakness washed over me, and the system announced the skill activation complete.
Thankfully, focus began to return to Jang Su-ho's eyes.
"Grr... Urgh......"
As awareness returned, he seemed baffled by the sight of his comrades pinning him down—his pupils trembled.
"Wh-what was I......"
Then despair crashed over him.
"Did I... transform again?"
"We can let him go now. He seems back to normal."
At my words, Yang Hwa-yeon and Kang Han released him and stepped back.
"Anyone hurt? Did I hurt someone again...... no, right?"
"No one."
"No one... got hurt?"
"Yeah, no one. I told you—I won't let that happen."
"Good...... that's good."
As if trying to fully regain his senses, Jang Su-ho slammed his forehead into the ground repeatedly with dull thuds, murmuring like a groan.
"No one got hurt, no one."
Then he lifted his head, blood trickling from his forehead, and said to me.
"Thank you, Nayeo-ju."
Pling~
Jang Su-ho's affection shot up in an instant.
But like with Kang Han last time, a single word trailed after the affection level.
Master? Master?
Master, in this equal, democratic society?
Is this okay?
While I floundered in confusion, Jang Su-ho sat up on his own and bowed his head to everyone.
"I'm sorry, everyone."
"......As long as you're okay."
Han Ji-seong pressed down firmly on Jang Su-ho's slumped shoulder once.
"Anyway, it's over. Congrats on the first clear."
Yang Hwa-yeon said brightly, deliberately lightening the mood.
"Yeah, we cleared it!"
Lee Yu-eul chimed in.
"Everyone did great."
As Kang Han spoke, I started to come back to myself from Jang Su-ho's "master" attack.
Honestly, I'd been a bit complacent thinking it was just a guerrilla gate.
But tackling the dungeon firsthand had been far more—much more—dangerous than I'd imagined.
Hunters really risked their lives every single time.
"First, let me recover some Stamina and heal everyone up."
Lee Yu-chan wasn't the only one injured.
Aside from Yang Hwa-yeon, who hadn't joined the direct fight, everyone from Justice Guild bore wounds large and small.
I pulled another potion bottle from my sub-space and drank it.
"Ugh, bitter."
As I felt my Stamina filling, I reached out to Jang Su-ho sitting right in front of me—
"What the—"
A tacky ding-ding-ding rang out from somewhere, and a massive circular wheel filled my vision.
Before I could even read what was written on it, the wheel spun furiously and soon slowed to a stop.
As the cheap slot machine whirred and flashed with gaudy effects, a system window popped up.
"Fuc—, backstabbed like this—"
I didn't even finish the word before I slumped sideways.
And in half-resigned thought—
Jang Su-ho, why are you just standing there shocked?
Catch me so my head doesn't hit the ground, Master.
Can't take it anymore. Petitioning the admins for a Justice Guild board.
'That damn system.'
The moment I regained consciousness, I cursed the system before even opening my eyes.
'Penalty random draw?'
It was so absurd I couldn't even speak.
Well, maybe I was just too exhausted.
Anyway, I'd known this world's system specialized in backstabs, but hiding a massive screw-you like this?
'So five potions is the limit, huh.'
Made sense, in a way.
For someone like me who burned Stamina to heal physical injuries and Dark Addiction, no limits would mean unlimited skill uses.
'Still, come on!'
The annoying system stayed silent even as I mentally trashed it.
"Sigh."
I finally sighed and opened my eyes.
The familiar Awakener Hospital ceiling came into view, along with five round faces.
"Nayeo-ju-ssi, can you see me?"
"Sis!"
"Unnie, you okay?"
"Why scare us like that?"
"Nayeo-ju......"
Just one word each, but from five people, it was pretty noisy.
"Yeah, I see you all fine, I'm fine, sorry for scaring you."
I gave a rough reply, rubbed my stiff body, and asked.
"I was out for about 16 hours, right?"
"Huh, yeah, now that you mention it. How'd you know?"
Lee Yu-chan's eyes went wide as he asked back.
"My body just feels like that's how long I slept."
That ruthless system.
Not even a single hour of haggling.
I checked my status window first.
And spotted the change.
It leveled up.
The Physical Healing skill, stuck at Beginner I forever, had reached Beginner II.
"Jackpot."
"Jackpot? What jackpot?"
A new voice cut in.
"Oh, Doctor. Long time no see."
The young doctor I always owed my life to approached, chart in one hand, brow furrowed.
"We'd both be better off seeing each other even less."
"Well, that's true, but......"
I tried to laugh it off, but then I saw it.
Embroidered on the flapping white coat: the doctor's name.
「 Seo Yu-baek 」
The owner of this Awakener Hospital and S-rank healer, Seo Yu-baek, had arrived.
'Ah, that explains why he's so handsome.'