Please Give Me A Kiss, Healer! Chapter 20

A harsh, unforgiving world.

But despite those words, Ji-woo’s face—smiling “hehe” like always—still looked far too youthful to match.

Shin Woo-hyuk was about to speak again when—

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Footsteps of monsters vibrated through the dirt floor.

A large group of ants appeared in Ji-woo’s view through the goggles.

Far down the dark tunnel, the ants, having detected intruders, were charging toward them like mad.

“Guildmaster!”

“Yes, I’m ready.”

Shin Woo-hyuk drew his sword and took a combat stance.

Up until now, Ji-woo had been conserving mana while using her Search skill, but this time she chose to join the fight.

And out came Ji-woo’s signature triple buff!

BlessBody,AngelWalking,HolyEyes!

At the same moment she activated the skills, a system window appeared before her eyes.

System

Due to the Awakening Effect of <Supporter of All>, the effects of your skills are greatly amplified.

‘Expanded skill effect?’

Ji-woo tilted her head, brushing it off. How strong could basic buffs be, anyway?

But for Shin Woo-hyuk, who received the enhanced triple buff, the situation was completely different.

‘What is this surge of energy in my whole body?’

The three buffs Ji-woo had used were the most basic of basics.

As an experienced guildmaster, Shin Woo-hyuk was naturally well versed in healer buffs.

Yet—

‘How is this a basic skill? Even a top-tier healer couldn’t produce effects like this!’

Shin Woo-hyuk’s shocked eyes darted toward Ji-woo standing beside him.

He had received buffs from countless top-tier healers during dungeon raids.

One of them was even the world-renowned S-rank healer known as “Celestial Michael.”

He had met her only once, during a rare overseas raid in the U.S.

‘But this doesn’t make sense.’

Even a second-awakening hunter couldn’t surpass someone like Celestial Michael—one of the world’s treasures.

‘This feels similar… No, Hunter Do Ji-woo’s buffs might actually be stronger!’

If they weren’t currently inside a deadly trap zone, Shin Woo-hyuk would have grabbed Ji-woo by the shoulders and interrogated her relentlessly.

Who—no, what exactly she was.

What kind of second-awakening pathway produced buffs powerful enough to slap an S-rank healer across the face.

Her ability to detect gates. Her ability to secure safety inside dungeons.

None of Ji-woo’s abilities were clearly explained—but none of that mattered anymore.

His dormant obsession with talent acquisition ignited like wildfire.

‘I must bring Hunter Do Ji-woo into the guild, no matter what it takes!’

Kidnapping? Threats? Imprisonment?

Such crude methods could never hold someone like her.

And he wouldn’t choose anything so immoral anyway.

Then the only way to win her over… was sheer overwhelming generosity.

The Vacant Guild—ranked #1 nationwide.

Its guildmaster’s obsession with talent was on a whole different level.

Shin Woo-hyuk vowed then and there: he would give Ji-woo anything she wanted. Money, honor… even his own body, if it came to that…!

Meanwhile, completely unaware that Shin Woo-hyuk was quietly burning with fervor, Ji-woo meticulously checked her own status.

Status

Name: Do Ji-woo
Alignment: Good
1st Awakening Class: Healer (E)
2nd Awakening Class: Supporter of All (S)
HP: 5000/5000
Mana: 2900/3000
Strength: 3
Agility: 17
Wisdom: 9
Luck: 99

Status – Title List

♨ Passion That Moved a God ♨
Savior Who Healed a Monster
♥ Innocent Kiss Stolen ♥
I’m the Owner of This Land
I Am This Child’s Parent!
Mole (F)

Status – Achievement List

Healing a Monster!
★ Kissing a Monster ★
Kidnapping a Monster!

Effect: Favorability with all monsters +140 (Bonus Skill Effect +10%)

Compared to Shin Woo-hyuk, who was exhausted from clearing the way, Ji-woo was completely fine.

Actually, she felt better than usual—much better.

All thanks to the title she had just earned when she discovered the ant burrow.

Title: Mole (F)
Effect: While underground, HP and Mana recover extremely quickly.

‘I didn’t expect it to be useful like this.’

She hadn’t known how fast “extremely quickly” meant, but at this rate, it was practically a high-speed charger.

Her recovery felt more than ten times faster than usual.

Just seconds after applying buffs to Shin Woo-hyuk, her mana was already fully restored.

‘Seriously, it’s my title, but it’s busted! How is this an F-rank?’

The fact that the effect only applied while underground was a little disappointing, but for someone whose stats were usually garbage, even this was like rain in a drought.

Ji-woo checked her skill window one last time.

Then she raised her staff at the approaching swarm of ants—

Huh?

“Guildmaster! Wait a second!”

“…What is it?”

“Don’t attack! Please put the sword away!”

Shin Woohyuk, whose nerves were razor-sharp on the brink of battle, frowned deeply.

Put down his weapon with a monster right in front of them?

What kind of insane request was that?

But even so, while maintaining full alertness, he lowered his sword obediently.

It was possible only because of the solid trust he had built toward Jiwoo in such a short time.

“Guildmaster, thank you for believing in me.”

Jiwoo gave him a small wink, then stepped forward ahead of him.

A massive swarm of ants with sharp, blade-like antennae.

And tiny, slender Jiwoo standing alone before them.

The ants twitched their antennae toward her, exhaling sharp hissing breaths, looking as if they were ready to crush her at any moment.

“Hunter Do Jiwoo! Step back immediately!”

Just as Shin Woohyuk raised his sword again, ready to begin the attack—

“Shhh.”

“…?”

“Shhh, good boy, right?”

Then she even made gentle, lulling hand motions in the air.

Seeing Jiwoo cooing like she was pacifying a baby, Shin Woohyuk froze as if someone had smacked him in the back of the head.

Her strange behavior continued.

“We came all the way here looking for a child. Have you seen her? Same species as me, wearing yellow clothes.”

“……”

“Ahh, I see.”

“……”

“Okay, I get it. I won’t touch anything else.”

“……”

“Hm? I don’t really have anything to trade… Oh! How about this?”

Jiwoo pulled a fish from her inventory.

She waved the fish at the ants, then sighed deeply.

“Sigh… Guys, just this once, okay? This is all I have right now. Do you see any convenience stores down here? Anything?”

“……”

“Oh, really? Thank you! Thank you so much!”

Shin Woohyuk’s gaze toward Jiwoo gradually became… bizarre.

Did Hunter Do Jiwoo secretly take some kind of drug?

But soon, Shin Woohyuk found a new possible answer to his own question.

Or did the ants all take that drug together?

Because the ants that had been blocking their way… were slowly backing up.

Exactly as if they were yielding to Jiwoo’s request.

Shin Woohyuk was far too bewildered by the scene unfolding before his eyes.

“Hunter.”

“……”

“Hunter?”

“……”

“Hunter Do Jiwoo!”

“Ah—wait! Just wait! Geez, you’re so impatient—what are you, a rabbit?!”

Having been suddenly compared to an impatient rabbit, Shin Woohyuk clamped his mouth shut.

He was extremely wronged, but he couldn’t very well scold the ants who were moving out of the way to complain about it.

Meanwhile, the only person who could explain anything—Do Jiwoo—was completely absorbed in her own little world.

Her round head was busy replaying what had just happened.

A moment earlier, while checking her skill window, she had noticed a certain skill— the mysterious one she received after awakening into an S-rank!

Skill

Translation (Auto-active)
= Allows mutual communication with monsters.
Effect: Affection with all monsters +10%

Come to think of it… does this maybe work on those ants too?

Gulping, Jiwoo used her skill on the ant at the very front.

A healer’s exclusive skill that could check the target’s status!

“[Holy Eyes!].”

System

Due to the effect of 〈Supporter of All〉, the skill’s power is expanded.
Retrieving monster information…

Status
Name: Gam124
Species: Antman
Condition: Full
An insect-type monster living inside the ant nest. Likes dark places and is extremely weak to bright light. If you offer it sweet candy, it may consider becoming your friend.
Relationship with you: Friendly
It will not attack you unless you point a weapon at it first.

…Jackpot!

And so, Jiwoo held back Shin Woohyuk, who had raised his weapon again, and attempted communication with the Antmen.

Even though she didn’t have any candy—

But I have this!

[Well-Grilled Fish (D-rank)]

The fish Dongsik had once given her!

Jiwoo held out the fish and gently coaxed the Antmen.

A negotiation so smooth it could rival Seohee’s diplomatic showdowns poured forth from her mouth.