Please Give Me A Kiss, Healer! Chapter 42

Ji-woo finally understood why Shin Il-guk had hesitated when introducing the team members.

‘What’s with this team composition?’

A typical team usually had at least three tankers and three dealers.

But what was this?

Two tankers, and only one dealer.

And on top of that, two healers?

‘What kind of pitiful lineup is this?’

Ji-woo’s expression grew subtle.

Among Special Team 7, the healer Oh Nara had the highest rank.

Her grade was an impressive A-rank.

Perhaps because of that, she…

“Ji-woo, you’re an E-rank healer? G-goodness. Is it even possible to run dungeons with such a low rank?”

Her tone carried a hint of condescension, but Ji-woo didn’t feel offended at all.

Because—

“You must’ve suffered so much all this time. That must’ve been really hard. Oh no…”

Oh Nara’s eyes were already brimming with tears as she said it.

‘No, it’s not really to the point of consolation.’

I was the E-rank one—why are you the one crying?

“Hic… Ji-woo, let’s get along well. I don’t know how much help I’ll be, but I’ll do my best.”

It seemed Oh Nara felt a strong sense of closeness simply because Ji-woo was also a healer.

While they prepared for a brief meeting, Oh Nara stuck close to Ji-woo’s side, refusing to leave.

Twisting her hair nervously, Oh Nara spoke.

“Um, actually, our team does have one more dealer…”

“Oh, really?”

Right, that would make the class balance make sense.

Ji-woo waited for the next team member with anticipation.

But—

“That person is currently under disciplinary action, so you won’t be able to meet them for a while.”

“…Disciplinary action?”

“Yes, this is a secret, but apparently last month that person attacked a fragile healer. Because of that, the victim ended up stranded in a dungeon, or so they say.”

…Good grief.

Ji-woo felt like she knew exactly who the remaining dealer was.

Kang Jae-gyu, that punk!

Ji-woo’s face turned pale.

She immediately leaned over and whispered to Shin Il-guk.

“Il-guk, did you know too? That guy—no, Hunter Kang Jae-gyu—being on the same team?”

“Yes. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you earlier. Woo-hyuk hyung personally stepped in to cover it up, so it seems the details never reached HR. But… it’ll be fine. He’s on indefinite suspension, so you won’t run into him.”

“No, seriously. Even so, how could they put me on the same team as him…?”

As Ji-woo sat there looking like she’d lost her country, Shin Il-guk added,

“It really will be fine, Hunter Do Ji-woo. Our guild’s disciplinary measures are quite severe, so most people don’t even complete the full term and end up withdrawing voluntarily. There’s a high chance Hunter Kang Jae-gyu will leave too, so you don’t need to worry.”

He added that even if that didn’t happen, by the time Kang Jae-gyu’s suspension ended, there would be another reorganization of raid teams.

Ji-woo’s assignment to Special Team 7 was temporary, after all.

At first, Ji-woo had been appalled, but after hearing the explanation, she accepted it surprisingly quickly.

‘It’s a bit unsettling, but… it’ll be fine.’

Even if they did run into each other, so what?

This wasn’t inside a dungeon, and she was a proper S-rank hunter now!

Ji-woo clenched her fist tightly under the table.

Unaware of the detailed situation, Yoo Jae-kyung started the meeting.

“Hunter Do Ji-woo, welcome to Special Team 7. There won’t be anything particularly dangerous here, and the dungeon raids won’t be difficult either.”

“Haha, that’s right. There’s no team more laid-back than ours! Hahaha!”

Special Team 7 had no designated district or dungeon.

Unlike other teams, which were usually assigned one or two administrative blocks, they were different.

They mainly handled the lowest-tier dungeons—D-rank or below—that popped up sporadically within the city.

Shin Il-guk, reading the room, added,

“Of course, it’s not like we have no work at all. We do have one dungeon assigned for next week.”

“Haha, but there’s nothing to worry about. It’s the lowest D-rank, after all. Hahaha!”

“……”

In place of the frozen Shin Il-guk, team leader Yoo Jae-kyung continued,

“The preliminary briefing will be held the day before the raid. We’ll distribute the report then, so make sure to skim through it beforehand.”

“…The day before?”

Ji-woo doubted her ears.

Typically, the modern dungeon gate response followed these five steps:

1. Detect the gate in advance using the Hunter Association’s radar system.
2. Issue a disaster alert and seal off the area. Assign the dungeon to a nearby guild’s raid team.
3. Based on the provided information, the raid team conducts thorough preliminary meetings.
4. Raid the dungeon.
5. Transport the dungeon byproducts outside the gate.

Among these, the most time-consuming step was number 3—the preliminary meetings.

It was the stage where strategies were meticulously planned and formations organized using data provided by the Association or the Emergency Disaster Team.

‘Of course, it’s D-rank, so it shouldn’t be particularly dangerous…’

Still, somehow—

Isn’t this a bit too lax?

“Don’t teams usually prepare meeting minutes at least a week in advance?”

“It’s fine. No one from upper management has ever come down to check on that. No one’s particularly interested in us anyway.”

Yoo Jae-kyung replied while brushing back her hair.

Since it seemed like an everyday occurrence, no one else looked especially dissatisfied.

As they left the meeting room, Shin Il-guk worried that Ji-woo might be disappointed.

Earlier, he’d only talked about Special Team 7 in words—

He hadn’t expected her to realize just how weak their standing in the guild was, or how little motivation there was to grow.

Reading her mood, Shin Il-guk whispered to her quietly.

“Um, Hunter Do Ji-woo. I’ll contact Woo-hyuk hyung as soon as possible to arrange a team transfer—”

“Huh? Why? Don’t contact him!”

“…Pardon?”

When Ji-woo beamed brightly, Shin Il-guk asked in confusion,

“Don’t you… want to move to another team?”

“Nope. I love Special Team 7! I want to be buried here!”

Contrary to Shin Il-guk’s expectations, Ji-woo was actually overjoyed.

Ji-woo’s ultimate dream.

No—every office worker’s dream in this era.

A legally sanctioned paycheck thief.

While she was in Special Team 7, Ji-woo planned to loaf around and collect her salary.

‘No work to do? Even better!’

Unlike other teams, they didn’t even have an assigned district—perfect for slacking off.

“Hehe, then is this my seat?”

“…Yes? Ah, yes. That’s right.”

A bewildered Shin Il-guk stepped aside.

Excited, Ji-woo began unpacking the things she’d brought from home.

A framed family photo.

A potted cactus wearing a party hat.

A colorful pink mug and a toothbrush-and-toothpaste set.

Most hunters barely spent any time in the office.

So team offices were usually formal and barren spaces—

But Ji-woo’s desk was an exception.

She even turned on the humidifier she’d received as a welcome gift, settling into her sparkling little space.

“Wow, I guess this really is a major guild. The chair cushioning is no joke!”

“…Ah, yes. That’s true.”

Our guild chairs are pretty comfortable…

Shin Il-guk muttered blankly.

Just then, the clock struck noon.

“I heard rumors that the Blank Guild cafeteria food is amazing! Il-guk, please show me the cafeteria!”

“…This way, please.”

Ji-woo followed Shin Il-guk and Oh Nara across the office.

Spotting a transparent door on the opposite side, Ji-woo’s eyes lit up.

“Oh! Is this the lounge? Wow, they even have massage chairs and a ping-pong table. Nara, want to play a round of ping-pong with me after lunch?”

“S-sure!”

Oh Nara replied, her cheeks turning red.

And so, Ji-woo’s dream of becoming a phantom thief of salaries—  a professional slacker—was steadily coming true.

 

 

 

***

 

 

‘Kgh, what kind of company cafeteria is more extravagant than a hotel buffet?!’

Ji-woo, Shin Il-guk, and Oh Nara headed to the company cafeteria.

The interior of the cafeteria was spacious enough to accommodate all guild members and still have room to spare.

At the center hung a massive chandelier from the ceiling, and beneath it stood buffet tables divided into four sections: Korean, Western, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine.

“Ji-woo, why are you just standing there? Uh… are you crying right now?”

“H-hic, no! Something just got in my eye.”

Ji-woo, who had been shedding tears of emotion, quickly regained her composure.

Then she smacked her lips at the sight of premium steaks being served fresh in real time.

Next, her gaze locked onto the bar counter offering wine and cocktails.

…Those are non-alcoholic, right?

Even though she knew there was no way a workplace would serve alcohol, her eyes kept drifting back.

‘Let’s start off light.’

If she suddenly stuffed her stomach with top-grade lobster after living on ramen, her digestive system might panic.

Ji-woo calmly began piling food onto her plate.

And thus was completed the eight-story stone pagoda—no, the eight-story food tower!

People around them murmured, but none of it reached Ji-woo.

“Thank you for the meal!”

Every time Ji-woo swung her chopsticks once, a fistful of food vanished.

Oh Nara, sitting beside her, clapped without realizing it.

“J-Ji-woo! You’re amazing! Were you a competitive eater before becoming a hunter? Or maybe a mukbang NewTuber?”

Instead of Ji-woo, who was busy chewing, Shin Il-guk answered.

“Hunter Do Ji-woo is exceptional, yes… but when people awaken, don’t they all tend to eat a lot?”

“Hmm, no matter how much I eat, I’m full after just three spoonfuls of rice.”

“…Three spoonfuls?”