Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The Healer's Oath
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Recalling my past conversations with Seo Yu-baek, I thought back to our first meeting.
"You held on until you were on the verge of collapsing, begging me over and over."
"W-what did I say?"
"Now that I've got money, make sure to put me in a VIP room."
The second time I was brought in,
"You live such a dynamic life, Nayeo-ju."
"It's just my unlucky fate."
Not content with complaining about fate,
"Sorry, but I already have a guild in mind."
"Does that mean there's no room for negotiation with any other guild?"
"Yes."
Strike out. Total wipeout.
I should've made a better impression!
But determined Nayeo-ju couldn't give up here.
I quickly sat up and flashed the "you can't spit on this face" smile I'd learned from my cafe part-time days.
"Still, I'm glad to see you again, Doctor."
"Cough!"
Who was that coughing?
Ignoring the guild members' stares screaming 'What are you doing?', I focused only on Seo Yu-baek.
"...Nayeo-ju, did you hit your head again this time?"
Seo Yu-baek flipped through the chart, muttering 'That's weird, no record of that.'
I wanted to kick him once, but I held back.
Seo Yu-baek looked like the type who'd hand over his wallet if a stranger on the street asked, "Can you lend me 100,000 won?" But surprisingly, he was pitiless when it mattered.
More precisely, he drew a strict line between "his people" and "everyone else."
So, first things first: become one of "his people."
Ignoring the reactions around me, I kept beaming at Seo Yu-baek.
"...Now that the patient is conscious, everyone else, please step outside."
"Is that really necessary?"
It's not like I was undressing for an exam.
They could stay, right?
But Seo Yu-baek was firm.
"Patient medical information is private."
With the doctor insisting that much, Kang Han led the others out.
"We'll wait outside."
As everyone filed out quietly, only Jang Su-ho hesitated, glancing between Seo Yu-baek and me.
Then he left some wistful words and got dragged out by Lee Yu-eul.
"Call me if anything happens!"
Click.
An awkward silence fell for a moment.
Jang Su-ho, you useless guy.
At a time like this, when I need to impress Seo Yu-baek!
"Sorry about that. He's got some... quirks."
A guy whose affection trigger is "Master," so yeah, quirky fits.
"No, it's fine. It's heartwarming to see how much your guildmates care about you."
Seo Yu-baek smiled.
He exuded the relaxed poise of an adult.
Like a high schooler after summer break, stiff from oversleeping, I thumped my sore back and asked,
"Are you here to discharge me like last time?"
"No, discharge today will be difficult."
"Huh? But I'm fine."
I had no memory of injury in the dungeon, and all my limbs moved perfectly.
Watching me wiggle my fingers and toes, Seo Yu-baek sighed softly.
"For the past 16 hours, you've been unconscious."
"Huh? Oh, that was just fatigue."
"You're not understanding. You were 'continuously' unconscious for 16 hours straight, with zero response to any external stimuli."
"Ah."
No escaping that.
System-forced blackout meant I was out cold like a breathing corpse, no reactions.
"No healer's skill in the hospital, including mine, had any effect."
"I see."
Only one option left.
"I have no idea what happened."
Second-best after amnesia for dodging blame.
What can you do if even I don't know?
"Sigh, I figured as much."
Surprisingly, Seo Yu-baek nodded gravely, accepting it without pressing further, as if he'd expected it.
What?
I stared into his eyes through his glasses, but no hidden agenda there.
He genuinely believed my excuse.
'What's this sense of security?'
Had I unknowingly entered Seo Yu-baek's circle already?
"Let's try once more."
Saying that, he took my hand.
As I noted his pale, delicate hand felt slightly cool, a warm energy flowed through our clasped hands.
The system window reacted simultaneously.
"Wow, amazing."
Is this the power of an S-rank healer?
I blankly looked up at Seo Yu-baek.
The 33-year-old man with light brown hair and fair skin was Korea's top S-rank healer.
And that wasn't all.
The "Awakener Hospital" was a healer guild that named itself that.
To counter the powerhouse guild of elite healers, the government slapped "National" on it and poured astronomical funding yearly.
Seo Yu-baek was the second-generation guild master.
His uncle founded it, I think.
"The skill effect is insane."
"It's called 'Healer's Oath'."
A skill name befitting the heir of a healer dynasty.
"It's also a skill that doesn't work on the unconscious."
Damn system.
Even blocking S-rank heals.
"Good, that's a relief. I was worried you might be immune to others' healing skills, but seems not."
"You've healed me before."
"You went in and out of a dungeon. Anything can happen there."
"True."
I agreed wholeheartedly.
My 16-hour blackout was the system's doing, after all.
"I can guess what happened inside. It was because of Hunter Jang Su-ho, right?"
"Well... yeah?"
"Nayeo-ju."
Why did I feel like I was about to get scolded?
"A healer's top priority is not others—it's themselves."
"Yes."
"Overuse healing skills recklessly when allies are hurt, and you'll burn out. Sometimes it ends like this with fainting, but if luck's bad..."
I knew the rest without hearing it.
I'd seen healers' tragic ends in novels, sacrificing till the last.
"So, for your guildmates' sake too, take care of your body."
Golden advice from a senior healer.
"Thanks for the advice. I'll keep it in mind."
"Good girl."
Seo Yu-baek patted my head.
And the affection popped up.
I couldn't always fully grasp why affection rose each time.
But this time, I got it a bit.
'Affection for a healer who moves for others, like himself.'
Knowing Seo Yu-baek's future made it click even more.
My long-thought-dead conscience stung.
Similar to him? I'd never be that type, even in a hundred lifetimes.
"Since the heal worked, that's reassuring. I'll go grab some supplements. Wait a sec."
As Seo Yu-baek left the room, the Justice Guild members poured in.
"What did the doctor say?"
"All good? No issues?"
"Shouldn't we do a full scan?"
"No problems, perfectly healthy."
I answered, casually turning on the TV.
"Oh?"
Coincidentally, it was the news channel again, my photo plastered huge on screen.
This time, unconscious me in Kang Han's princess carry.
"Cool."
I whipped out my phone and snapped the screen.
Stuff like this needs collecting.
"Why are you... taking a picture of that."
Kang Han grumbled beside me, but I waved him off to hush.
Minus me in his arms, Kang Han looked the perfect hero, not just a hunter.
The anchor's words were all positive too.
"Oh, nice. Perfect."
"What's nice about it."
Lee Yu-eul plopped her butt on my bed, scolding me.
"Why do you have such a beak mouth."
"Sis, do you know how worried we were when you suddenly collapsed?"
"Yeah, sorry about that."
"Sorry my ass!"
My apology seemed to rile her more.
"You're a healer, sis! Take care of yourself first!"
"Ah, that."
Similar nagging to Seo Yu-baek's.
I'd played nice with him, but the guild needed honesty.
"Textbook-wise, sure, but reality's different, Yu-eul."
"Sis..."
I addressed not just Lee Yu-eul but all the Justice Guild folks around my bed, wearing varied expressions.
"I have no intention of sacrificing my life recklessly for guildmates. Put differently: as long as my life isn't at stake, I'll go all out to keep Justice Guild fighting."
Sounded cold, but this way, no pointless guilt on their end.
System shenanigans probably weren't just that damn roulette.
"That's my role in the guild."