Please Give Me A Kiss, Healer! Chapter 10

— Nyaaaak, no waaay! That garbage-tier acting wouldn’t fool a newborn chick!!

Whether it believed it or not didn’t matter.

Kang-woo, who had fallen for it completely, quickly gathered a huge pile of firewood in front of them.

Then he clapped his hands once, and a bright campfire roared to life.

“Ji-woo, is it warm now?”

“Yes. Thanks, Kang-woo.”

“…Mm. Tell me if you need more.”

Kang-woo folded his large body awkwardly as he sat beside her.

In the firelight, his ash-gray hair glowed like a burning sunset.

If he moved just a little farther away, he could sit comfortably…

But it was clear that “sitting away from Ji-woo” was not an option he would ever choose.

Ji-woo stared into the crackling flames, sinking into thought.

They had only met half a day ago, yet being next to him felt strangely familiar—like meeting someone she’d known for years.

It felt like he was pulling her into his orbit… and the worst part was she didn’t dislike it, which only confused her more.

Focus, Do Ji-woo. This is not the time for this.

She shook her head and opened her status window again.

[Mana: 1500/3000]

Her mana, which had been nearly empty, was now about half recovered.

Earlier, she had used more mana than expected while dragging Kang-woo along, but now that she would be moving alone, this much was plenty.

But the problem was…

Ji-woo glanced at Kang-woo beside her.

As if he had been watching her the whole time, their eyes met immediately.

“Ji-woo.”

A heavy weight settled on her shoulder.

Kang-woo leaned his head against her, his perfect lips parting softly.

“Ji-woo, what are you thinking about.”

“Um……”

That I need to get out of here as fast as possible?

But if she said that, it would probably provoke the now-docile wolf into snapping.

He didn’t seem like he’d harm her, but… how to put it?

It felt like Kang-woo was the type to use his beautiful face as a weapon to tie her down by the ankles.

“Ji-woo?”

“…….”

Every time he blinked, his sunset-colored eyes shimmered.

Ji-woo’s mouth hung slightly open, unable to answer.

If he’s THIS handsome… maybe getting captured and living here wouldn’t be so ba—wait, what the hell am I thinking!?

Startled by her own thoughts, Ji-woo shivered.

“Ji-woo, are you cold?”

“…A little.”

Hearing her mosquito-sized reply, Kang-woo furrowed his perfect brows.

“As I thought, it’s not enough. Maybe I should gather more firewood.”

“What?”

Ji-woo stared at the blazing campfire in front of her.

The penguin, drying its damp wings by the fire, spoke instead.

— Kang-wooo, are your eyes stuffed with moss? How does THAT look insufficient to youuu?

The firewood beside the fire was piled like a small mountain.

You could burn that for a week straight…

Was he trying to start a forest fire or something?

Or was his dream job a lumberjack?

But Kang-woo didn’t care at all—he just stomped the ground and disappeared back into the forest.

And then—thud.

Crack. Crack. CRAAACK.

With a single punch, an enormous tree snapped in half.

“Hiiik!”

Ji-woo clamped a hand over her mouth as she watched the massive tree fall in slow motion like a movie scene.

Is that even possible? What is he, a mithril axe!?

No, even a mithril axe couldn’t do that!

Barely suppressing a hiccup, she heard the crazy penguin mutter beside her.

— Nya-nyaak? Kang-woo, is he sick or something? Why’s he weaker than usual?

What?

Stunned, Ji-woo turned back to watch Kang-woo.

Thud.

CRUMBLE.

He stomped down with his foot, and the huge tree stump shattered into pieces.

What the hell. THAT is him being “weak”?

Ji-woo’s shaking hands curled into fists.

She realized again—Kang-woo wasn’t just strong. He was monstrously strong.

Right. Get it together, Do Ji-woo! That man is NOT human!

This was not the time to be swooning over his handsome face.

He was being nice now, but who knew when he could suddenly flip?

And if he ever found out I lied…

She imagined herself exploding like that tree stump, scattering into the air.

Hic—she hiccupped again.

The penguin flapped its wings wildly and screeched at her.

— Jiu! What did you eat without meee?! You stingy brat, hand over the snacks RIGHT NOW!!

Getting pecked in the knee by the frantic penguin, Ji-woo made up her mind.

I need to run away. Immediately.

Dealing with the strongest flower-boy was bad enough— but now there was this insane penguin too!

It was impossible to endure any longer.

Now that Kang-woo had disappeared deep into the forest, this was the perfect chance.

Monsters belong in dungeons, humans belong in the real world.

Repeating it like a spell, Jiu squeezed her eyes shut.

“Skill activation, Return to Dungeon.”

[You are leaving the Safe Zone and returning to the Dungeon.]

The moment she spoke the activation words, a transparent barrier formed around her.

Huh? Why isn’t it moving right away?

Jiu’s eyes shot open wide.

She expected a portal to appear like before, or for her to be transported instantly.

Right on cue, a system window appeared in front of her.

System

Generating your first return route.

A protective shield has been created for a safe dungeon return.

Time remaining: 5 minutes

 

F–Five minutes?

Wait—then what about Kang-woo?

Jiu gasped and spun around, only to find him already watching her, having sensed something was wrong.

“Jiu.”

His golden eyes shimmered under the sunlight.

With a single leap, Kang-woo reached her—but the barrier pushed him away.

He frowned slightly, then slammed his arms against the shield.

KWHAAANG!

A deafening boom rang out, and another system window popped up.

System

Durability: 9000/10000

If durability reaches 0, dungeon return will be canceled.

Time remaining: 4 minutes 30 seconds

 

Well… 9000 is still plenty—

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Kang-woo began pounding the barrier wildly, trying to break through.

And with that, the durability numbers began to plummet.

Jiu, who had initially felt relieved, slowly turned pale.

System

Durability: 8900/10000

⋮

Durability: 7800/10000

⋮

Durability: 6600/10000

 

I-Isn’t this actually going to break?!

Jiu squeezed her eyes shut and screamed.

“Stop!”

Kang-woo froze.

He lowered his thick eyelashes.

His expressionless face turned toward her.

“Jiu, wait just a little. I’ll get you out soon.”

“No, don’t!”

“…Why?”

His bright yellow eyes stared at her intently, filled with confusion.

“I’m sorry, Kang-woo. I’m not the person you’ve been looking for.”

“No. No, Jiu.”

The way Kang-woo stared blankly at her made her chest ache.

Jiu let out a deep sigh and revealed everything she had been hiding.

“You misunderstood. And I took advantage of that.”

“…Jiu can use me as much as she wants. As much as she likes. Anytime.”

Like a broken cassette tape, the name Jiu spilled endlessly from Kang-woo’s red lips.

“No. I’m not that person. I lied to you, and I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. You just lost your memories, that’s all. It’s okay.”

Kang-woo didn’t blink once as he stared down at her.

Even now, his golden eyes were overflowing with affection.

If she had known it would turn out like this, she should’ve insisted until the end— that she wasn’t the person he was looking for.

Jiu bit her lip hard.

“Fine. Let’s say I really am that Jiu you’re looking for. Even so, I don’t remember anything. And honestly, Kang-woo…”

How was she supposed to make him give up?

After taking a short breath, she continued.

“This clingy behavior… it’s too much. Way too much.”

Kang-woo’s golden eyes trembled, as if struck.

But soon after, he placed his hand on the barrier like a child trying to behave well.

“I’ll do better. I can change anything however you want.”

He was desperate, as if wanting nothing more than to get closer to her.

Jiu felt her stomach twist painfully at his unconditional affection.

But she curled her fists and forced herself to breathe.

Now more than ever… I have to be cold.

It was better for both him and her.

“Kang-woo… no, Mr. Kang-woo. Even so, nothing can be done. We live in different worlds.”

“…Different?”

“You’re a monster. And I’m a human. We can never be together.”

Monsters belong in dungeons. Humans belong in reality.

Even if Jiu awakened as an S-rank, even if monsters adored her—
that truth would never change.

Kang-woo remained silent for a long time.

Does he finally understand what I’m saying?

Jiu’s eyes flicked to the floating system window.

The blinking numbers told her she didn’t have much time left to face him.

She hoped Kang-woo would someday find the real Jiu he was looking for.

Thinking that, she looked back at him.

Kang-woo also seemed to have something to say, meeting her gaze directly.

“Jiu, is that all?”

“…What?”

“That the only reason I can’t be with you?”