Please Give Me A Kiss, Healer! Chapter 104

Status

Name: Oh Nara
Race: Human
Awakening Class: Healer
Status: Healthy

That much was what Jiwoo had expected.

But the notification that appeared next made her freeze.

[Error: Unable to retrieve information.]

It was an error message she hadn’t seen in a long time.

‘This only ever happened with Kangwoo… so why is it showing up for her?’

She barely had time to be surprised before another system window appeared.

System

Due to the awakening effect of “Everyone’s Supporter,” the skill’s effect has expanded.

[Retrieving additional information.]

[Error: Unable to retrieve information.]

For a long while, the system kept alternating between the same two messages.

As if it were struggling against someone—or something—else.

Then, at last—

[The amount of calculated information exceeds the limit.]

[To protect the system user, only summarized information will be provided.]

Status

Name: Oh Nara
Race: Human (Corrupted by demonic energy)
Awakening Class: Healer
Status: Healthy

A human who crossed over from another dimension and a contractor bound to the Demon Race.

If you stay close to black ink, you’ll eventually be stained black yourself.

Be careful. Remaining close to one corrupted by demonic energy may lead to irreversible consequences.

‘What… does any of this mean?’

What’s with the “2” next to her name? Corrupted by demonic energy? Nara?

Jiwoo quickly shut her eyes and opened them again.

The unfamiliar words—”another dimension” and “contractor bound to the Demon Race”—were still there.

“…Hello?”

“…”

“Hey!”

“H-Huh?”

“I thought you said the gas inspection would only take one minute.”

“Ah, right! It’ll be done in a second!”

Jiwoo dismissed the system window and cleared her trembling throat.

Then she stepped into the utility room and pretended to inspect everything.

“Let’s see… the gas meter… Oh dear. This one’s really worn out. Yeah… I think it needs to be replaced.”

“Replaced?”

“Yes. If you don’t change it now, it’ll become a much bigger problem later. It might not be a simple replacement anymore.”

“…How long will that take?”

“Five minutes! I’ll just run down to the parking lot. My equipment’s in the van.”

With her arms crossed, Oh Nara gave a small nod.

Jiwoo walked out of the utility room, then turned back.

“Could you open the utility room window? It’ll be better if the room airs out first.”

It probably wouldn’t make much difference whether it was opened now or later, but Oh Nara obediently complied.

The window was hidden behind a large storage shelf, so it took some effort to reach.

While the short woman struggled to open it, Jiwoo slowly headed toward the front door.

At the same time—

‘Skill: Search.’

The missing Oh Nara… and that unknown being.

The only clues were inside this apartment.

I have to search everything before she realizes something’s wrong.

One minute… no, ten seconds.

Red dots appeared throughout the house.

Ignoring the countless shapes that came into view, Jiwoo rapidly scanned the surroundings.

10.

9.

8.

7.

6.

‘Found it.’

Color finally returned to Jiwoo’s gloomy face.

Without showing the slightest reaction, she naturally stepped out through the front door.

The moment the door shut behind her—

The “Oh Nara” inside the utility room walked back out.

“…”

She silently stared at the apartment entrance where Jiwoo had just left.

 

 

* * *

 

A sharp wind cut through the air like a blade.

‘This is the only way… isn’t it?’

Her curly hair whipped wildly around her as Jiwoo stood on the apartment rooftop.

The building was thirty stories tall.

Oh Nara lived on the twenty-fifth floor.

‘The roof is the easiest way to get close without being seen.’

The rooftop door had been locked, but one kick was enough to force it open.

The problem was that Jiwoo had a mild fear of heights.

She’d been forced to fly plenty of times before, but voluntarily jumping off a rooftop was another matter entirely.

Cold sweat rolled down her back.

‘Should I wait for backup?’

Anxiously, she tapped her phone.

She’d already contacted Team Leader Yoo Jaekyung on the way up, but it would take at least ten minutes for help to arrive.

If she waited too long, whatever was inside Oh Nara’s apartment might realize something was wrong.

‘Capturing it can come later. First…’

Whoooo…

Jiwoo let out a long breath and looked over the edge.

The ground far below seemed impossibly distant.

Her stomach churned, and tears welled in her eyes, but she steeled herself.

Then, hanging from the railing, she spoke the forbidden activation words.

“White Bird’s Flight, activate!”

At once, her body floated into the air.

Jiwoo clung to the outside wall of the building like a barnacle.

Naturally…

It didn’t go smoothly.

“Uwaaaaaaaahhh!!”

What kind of sins did I commit in my past life to deserve this?!

Her arms shook violently as she clung to the railing.

Swallowing her scream, she slowly lowered herself.

…That didn’t go smoothly either.

On the twenty-eighth floor, she made eye contact with a resident.

Jiwoo forced an awkward smile.

“Haha… hello?”

“AAAAAHHHH!!”

A child who had been shaking out a blanket on the balcony screamed and ran inside.

‘Oh no… I feel so bad.’

Having unintentionally traumatized the kid, Jiwoo made a miserable face.

She’d wanted to do this quietly, but it looked like things were getting bigger.

‘Once this is all over, I’ll definitely come back and apologize.’

Assuming everything ended safely.

Biting her lip, she continued descending.

The twenty-fifth floor—where Oh Nara lived—came quickly.

The window to the room she was aiming for was tightly locked.

But for Jiwoo, the all-purpose “X-Doraemon,” that wasn’t a problem.

“Antman’s Super Strength, activate.”

She swung her tiny fist at the window latch.

The result?

Smash!

Without making so much as a tiny sound, the lock crumbled into powder.

Jiwoo pushed the window open and jumped into the room.

She immediately got to her feet—

“You’re late.”

An unwelcome voice interrupted her.

Jiwoo looked up—and froze.

The real Oh Nara lay unconscious on the floor.

That part matched exactly what her Search skill had shown.

But…

“Looks like the parking lot was farther away than expected, Hunter Do Jiwoo.”

She had never expected to see another Oh Nara, holding a knife to the unconscious woman’s throat.

“…How did you know?”

“My master whispered it to me.”

“Your master?”

Jiwoo frowned slightly.

She remembered the status window she’d seen earlier.

A human who crossed over from another dimension and a contractor bound to the Demon Race.

The “master” she spoke of seemed to refer to the Demon Race.

‘I’ve encountered demons before…’

The Ant Queen from the ant nest.

The Kraken she’d fought recently.

Both had been demons.

Enemies through and through—beings unaffected by her Translation skill or the Affinity System.

‘But what exactly is the Demon Race?’

It seemed related to demons somehow, but she couldn’t tell how.

Nothing about them had ever appeared at Hunter Academy, on hunter forums, or in any research paper she’d read.

But this wasn’t the time to wonder.

A cold blade still rested against the unconscious Oh Nara’s neck.

“What do you want from me?”

“What do I want?”

“You’re holding a hostage, which means you want something from me. I’ll do whatever it is. Just put the knife down first.”

“Hmm…”

Apparently she’d hit the mark.

The impostor relaxed her grip ever so slightly, lowering the blade.

“My master wishes to meet you.”