S-Rank Healer Gets Kidnapped First Chapter 36

Before long, another day had passed.

I made my way to the training room for my morning training session.

I had spent plenty of energy having fun yesterday, but perhaps because it hadn’t been actual training, my body felt surprisingly refreshed.

For a hastily arranged welcome party, it had been incredibly fun.

The food had been delicious, and I had also gotten to socialize with guild members I hadn’t met before.

The guild members casually called me “Healer.”

In a place where many people worked together, it wasn’t easy to address someone by their class.

Normally, calling someone “Tank” or “DPS” wouldn’t be very specific.

But in Baekyang, it was possible.

I was the only Healer in the guild.

No one had explicitly told me that, but I had figured it out on my own.

Honestly, I wasn’t an idiot. How could I not notice the absence of a Healer who had never shown their face all this time?

‘Something must have happened.’

I quietly stared at the blue sky beyond the window.

A Hunter’s life was one where you never knew when you would die.

People called it dungeon clearing, but countless sacrifices went into every successful raid.

So it wasn’t particularly strange for a Hunter to disappear without a trace.

‘But somehow, it still bothers me.’

Something must have happened.

It made no sense that Cha Seohae, Na Ye-ri, and Han Seongwoo had failed to protect a single Healer.

“Alright.”

I stretched and cleared my head of those thoughts.

There were things I could dig into and things I couldn’t.

As far as they were concerned, they had lost a comrade. I couldn’t pry into it simply because I was curious.

Instead, I organized the training I needed to do.

“Hmm. First, I need to work on increasing my casting speed…”

Lately, I have been training frequently under Cha Seohae.

But training only against someone of a similar style could narrow one’s perspective.

Yesterday’s joint training had been an incredible experience.

‘His casting speed was absurdly fast, almost as if there was no casting time at all.’

When casting a skill, the speed varied depending on the individual or the skill.

There was the gradual formation of an image, like a pointillist painting, or an expansion period, as though the air itself were taking up space.

For example, with my own skills, Divine Protection expanded like a sphere, while Divine Grace and Blessing gradually took shape like pointillist paintings.

But Cha Seohae’s skills materialized instantly, as though the gap had never existed in the first place.

Of course, since his skills were also based on the system window, there must have been some sort of casting animation.

The important thing was that whether it was pointillism or expansion, his skill animation was practically invisible, as though the process had been compressed to the point of being skipped entirely.

‘Quick reflexes are important for every Hunter. There’s no harm in learning it.’

I knew it would be difficult, but I decided it was something I was willing to endure.

And then—

I took out the pistol I had used yesterday.

“The rest will be weapons training.”

Even saying it aloud felt strange. I never thought I would be doing something like this.

Yesterday, when the welcome party was in full swing, I had called Cha Seohae aside.

“Here. I used it well yesterday.”

“I didn’t see any blood, so I assume you didn’t actually fire it. You just used it to intimidate him?”

He looked over the gun I was handing him before asking me in return.

There was no reason to hide it, so I readily nodded.

“I don’t know how to shoot.”

Of course, what I had told Kang Sihyeon had been a lie.

If merely seeing a gun often during training was enough to master it, then why hadn’t my skill-casting speed improved?

I had been worried that my awkward lie would immediately be exposed.

Fortunately, that hadn’t happened.

“Then take it and practice.”

“Huh?”

My relief turned into bewilderment in an instant.

“With your current skills, you can only fight passively. It must be inconvenient. If you’re okay with it, you can take it and learn how to use it.”

Cha Seohae took my hand and wrapped it around the gun before pushing it toward me.

And just like that, I ended up with a gun.

Keeping in mind that Hunter weapons only responded to the wielder’s mana, Cha Seohae also supplied it with mana bullets.

“I guess I’ll need some more time to get used to this.”

“There’s always more to learn.”

“…?”

I was sure the hallway had been empty, but suddenly I heard someone else’s voice.

I flinched in surprise and turned my head.

“…Han Seongwoo?”

“You’re out early.”

Apparently amused by how much he had startled me, he smiled brightly and stood beside me.

Once I realized the voice belonged to Han Seongwoo, my surprise quickly faded.

I narrowed my eyes and glared at him with all my might.

“I told you not to suppress your presence when you walk around. How long have you been there?”

“From the beginning. Cha Seohae didn’t give me any special assignments today, so I came to do my actual job for once.”

“Your actual job?”

“Bodyguard duty.”

I let out a hollow laugh at Han Seongwoo, who casually appointed himself as my bodyguard.

“Since when did that become your actual job?”

“It’s actually more comfortable than you’d think. All I have to do is follow the Healer who doesn’t do anything reckless, and when the time comes, I get to go have a snack after meals.”

Ever since yesterday, he had changed the way he addressed me from “Hostage” to “Healer.”

He continued listing the other benefits.

Listening to him, I decided none of it was particularly important and cut him off firmly.

“Fine. Since you came along as my bodyguard, you’ll wait outside the training room, right?”

“Huh? Why would I do that? A proper bodyguard has to provide close protection from inside. Someone from the Association could sneak in like yesterday.”

He really had no idea how suspicious he himself looked.

I held my tongue because I didn’t want to hurt his feelings.

“Weren’t you already worrying about how to use a weapon?”

“Who proudly admits to eavesdropping like that?”

“Come on. It’s just that the Healer spoke a little too loudly to herself.”

I gave up on trying to talk to Han Seongwoo, who kept saying nothing but ridiculous things.

“I’m not as knowledgeable as Cha Seohae, but I’ll train with you. How about it?”

“Hmm.”

“We’ve never trained together before.”

Come to think of it, that was true. The dungeon was the first and last time I had properly seen Han Seongwoo’s skills.

“Besides, training with me will be helpful for you, Healer.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I can use both physical and mental abilities.”

Han Seongwoo grinned as if asking whether I wasn’t tempted.

His confident attitude was irritating, but I was definitely interested.

‘Cha Seohae and Na Ye-ri both have skills that lean heavily toward the physical type. Neither has a free-type ability like mental attacks, poison, or water, so I couldn’t exploit any weaknesses.’

If Kang Sihyeon had strengthened his abilities because of what happened this time, I could be vulnerable to mental attacks next time.

‘This must be why you shouldn’t let information slip. There’s always something new to prepare for.’

Having made up my mind, I looked at Han Seongwoo.

“Please take care of me.”

Han Seongwoo smiled back at me.

“No running away.”

 

***

 

Bang!

“You’re still too slow.”

I couldn’t even inhale as I froze in place.

Cold sweat trickled down my temple.

I swallowed hard and lowered my gaze.

Han Seongwoo’s sharp dagger was pointed at my throat.

Perhaps because of the ominous light radiating from its blade, it felt like even the slightest touch would cut me deeply.

‘Fast.’

I couldn’t even track him with my eyes.

I doubted I could follow his movements unless he deliberately showed them to me one by one.

“Haa.”

Only after Han Seongwoo stepped away did my tension finally ease.

I rubbed the back of my neck, still feeling as though the icy blade was hovering there.

“Does it still bother you even though I didn’t infuse it with killing intent? Sorry. I’ll keep a little more distance next time.”

Han Seongwoo raised both hands with an awkward expression, looking restless.

I shook my head.

“No. If you increase the distance while also not using your skill or killing intent, this won’t be proper training. It’ll just reduce the tension.”

I said it firmly.

I couldn’t lower the intensity of the training here. There would be no point in receiving a gun if I couldn’t even deal with an enemy who was merely fast.

Han Seongwoo looked at me stubbornly insisting on continuing and lowered my still-extended arm himself.

“Take a little break first. Your body isn’t accustomed to the gun yet, so you’re trembling. If you keep going like this, you’ll only accumulate fatigue, and your accuracy will drop.”

I looked at my hands after hearing that.

I hadn’t realized it, but both of my hands were trembling badly.

I clenched my fists and even clasped my hands together, but the trembling didn’t subside easily.

“It’ll settle down with time. Cha Seohae’s gun has an insanely high RPM, so the recoil is pretty strong. Your body is resisting because you held that ridiculous—no, that monstrous Master’s gun without modifying it and without any practice, using only buffs.”

“I see…”

I hadn’t noticed because my condition had looked perfectly fine when I had applied the buffs to Cha Seohae.

I hadn’t underestimated the gun, but I never imagined there would be side effects like this.

Seeing my reaction, Han Seongwoo gave me his next piece of feedback.

“The most important thing is this.”

“Hm?”

“You have absolutely no intention of shooting me.”

Han Seongwoo calmly came to that conclusion.

I was rendered speechless and closed my mouth.

“It doesn’t matter that you can’t handle a gun. Once we modify it to suit you and you practice, you’ll improve. But an attack made with absolutely no intention of killing someone is ultimately useless. It only leaves you vulnerable.”

I opened and closed my hand around the gun.

I didn’t say that I couldn’t shoot because it was Han Seongwoo.

Even if the person standing in front of me had been a complete stranger, I would have felt the same.

Killing intent.

I had no desire to kill another person.

I had never even killed a monster, let alone a Hunter who threatened me.

I had always stayed behind other Hunters, supporting them or relying on someone else’s strength.

“Are you only going to learn it for intimidation?”

‘For intimidation?’

Han Seongwoo’s words made me gather my thoughts.

Was I really going to be satisfied with this?

We were continuing the training without even activating Divine Protection.

Part of the reason was the free-type abilities, but we were also worried about the spy we might encounter someday.

For now, I wasn’t leaving the headquarters, and I had no outside activities.

But what would happen once I started working?

If I operated as a Hunter outside, I would inevitably come into contact with other people.

What if I became a target while I had Divine Protection turned off and was taking a break?

‘If I meet someone who intends to hurt me, am I really going to remain defenseless?’

I knew it was rare for Hunters to kill other Hunters.

But hadn’t I already encountered the exception in the Association president?

With so many thoughts running through my mind, I found it difficult to speak.

Seeing me lost in thought, Han Seongwoo asked,

“Want to learn how to use a dagger first?”

“What?”

I asked again at his sudden suggestion.

Han Seongwoo began spinning the dagger around in his hand like a pen.

“I have my limits when it comes to teaching you about guns, but I’m confident when it comes to daggers.”

“You want me to fight at close range? Besides, even using a weapon that attacks indirectly like this is already difficult. Do you really think I can directly cut someone’s flesh?”

I could at least imagine using a gun.

But I couldn’t even imagine using a sword.

Just picturing myself swinging a blade at someone sent chills throughout my body, and I instinctively shook my head.

‘Am I being too weak?’

I had complained about not having a proper offensive skill, but now that I was actually facing real combat, I was acting like the biggest coward of all.

Did I really intend to protect myself?

Even I could tell how hesitant I was. How desperate must I look to someone else?

My strength drained away, and my shoulders drooped.

Then Han Seongwoo patted me as if to encourage me.

“I’m not telling you to stab anyone yourself. To fight at close range, you need to suppress your presence and have good lung capacity. Even if the former can be compensated for with buffs, you can’t develop the latter overnight.”

“……”

“Oh, of course, I wasn’t looking down on you. I was born with that kind of physique thanks to the system window, while you weren’t.”

Even if he tried to sugarcoat it, it was too late.

I glared at him sullenly before asking the main question.

“Then what am I supposed to do with a dagger?”

Han Seongwoo immediately wiped the foolish expression from his face.

Then he straightened the dagger he had been spinning like a pen and threw it with considerable force.

His sudden action made me instinctively follow the blade with my eyes.

Thunk! Rattle.

The dagger embedded itself in the wall, trembling from the force of the impact.

Han Seongwoo, who was looking at the same spot as me, spoke quietly.

“We’re going to use throwing weapons.”