Chapter 24: Chapter 23

“The blood analysis results? As far as I know, there was nothing special…”

The Association researcher shook his head and looked at Ryu Seo-ha cautiously. He was someone who had been present during the forceful blood test. Now one of the popup dungeon survivors.

“Both the ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and CRP (C-reactive protein) levels were within normal range, and other aspects… Oh! The mana compatibility score was significantly higher than the average for S-rank hunters.”

The researcher continued while flipping through charts. It was a 180-degree change in attitude from the awakened registration day.

“Could I possibly get a copy of the measurement test results?”

“Of course! Just a moment!”

Ryu Seo-ha received the blood analysis test results and left the Association building, pulling his hat down low and swallowing a sigh.

‘Was it just something he said?’

Even after confirming with his own eyes that there were no abnormalities, the 4th Apostle’s words still bothered him. As befitting a secret society with worldwide influence, the Cult’s information and technology were pioneering.

Just as he had spouted nonsense about giving a number and telling him to contact, this too might be a lie. Even while thinking that, he kept worrying about it. Starting with the Cult’s Apostle revealing himself directly. There’s no way they would carelessly release doppelgangers and block outside interference to raise social awareness for no reason.

Why on earth did they do it? To observe someone possessing unusual strength and someone they want to make a sacrifice?

Maybe they wanted to see how they would deal with crisis situations while conquering an artificial dungeon. Then were the remarks that seemed like trying to drive a wedge between the two people a move to attempt kidnapping again?

‘Is a healer worth that much?’

Though they may be more special materials than other classes, the amount of mana that can be extracted from one person is still ridiculously small. It’s hard to think it would be worth the risk of exposing the Cult’s identity.

The more he pondered, the more questions multiplied. Shaking his head, he called a taxi through an app and got in. It was a luxury he couldn’t have imagined before, but now he couldn’t easily use buses or subways.

S-class healer Ryu Seo-ha, flooded with CF love calls despite series of incidents…

Healing-type hunter turns out to be max level in practical response too?

Blinded grade Choi Gang-hu, S-class possibility speculated

FromHell Guild Master, really level 1? Suspicions about long unregistered period

Ryu Seo-ha and Choi Gang-hu were once again on the media’s chopping block. It was such a hot topic that if it weren’t for the hunter industry where incidents frequently occur, there might have been controversy about staged acts for publicity in other fields.

The greatest interest was focused on things like Choi Gang-hu’s actual combat power and Ryu Seo-ha’s talent as a combat hunter. Despite how many people died. Just like during the popup dungeon, the attitude of taking human lives lightly was remarkable.

In contrast, the atmosphere of mourning was stronger in the quarantine zone, which was an apocalyptic situation. It seemed to be because they had routinely enjoyed stimulation in peacetime. Yesterday, armed national hunters burst in right after the monitoring room was half-destroyed.

Hunter test monitoring room recording lost… Who’s responsible for negligent management?

Shock! Doppelganger intruding on practical exam?

From S-class healer kidnapping to murder case! Conspiracy theories raised

The on-site supervisor who received a brief report of the situation reported to superiors, and all applicants had to be interrogated as witnesses and persons of reference. The action cams were submitted to the audit team as evidence.

The victims’ bodies preserved in a frozen state were transferred to the National Forensic Service for autopsy, and the results came out that very day. Everything was handled quickly. Almost bitterly so.

Status: Remaining lifespan 21 days 21 hours 44 minutes / Waiting to receive reward

Time was already short, yet it felt like problems were only increasing instead of being resolved. Even if they obtain the elixir from the S-rank dungeon that the FromHell Guild members will conquer, there’s no certainty he can survive.

Regardless of how he felt inside, he had to go to work. Now that he had acquired his hunter license.

The headquarters located in Samseong-dong was splendid, unlike a new guild. As expected of a subsidiary guild of a large corporation.

“Hello!”

“Hello.”

From the moment he entered the lobby, office workers greeted him with friendly greetings. Their glances were mixed with curiosity and wonder. It was the same when getting his employee ID and in the elevator.

Today he had no dungeon conquest scheduled. He just had to treat one employee affiliated with the guild and then comfortably wait on standby until it was time to go home. No wonder non-combat healers are called a cushy job.

5th floor, where production-related departments are gathered. As he opened the door with multiple layers of soundproofing installed, he felt someone approaching from behind. He tensed reflexively and turned around to see large boxes.

The face of the person carrying them wasn’t visible because they had stacked two already large boxes. Judging by the silhouette, it seemed to be a short woman. Her penguin-like waddling gait looked precarious.

“Ah, thank you… Oh? Oh?”

Thinking it would be difficult to open and close the heavy, thick door alone, he passed through first and held it open, when the woman who peeked her eyes out from beside the boxes started to express gratitude but then floundered in surprise.

Because of that, the box placed on top collapsed. Ryu Seo-ha quickly reached out and grabbed it, habitually checking if the contents were intact. Fortunately, the machine parts filling the box were undamaged.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah, yes yes! Thank you!”

When he asked while helping carry the box, the woman nodded her head furiously with a flustered expression. He thought the faint blush rising on her cheeks looked cute.

“Where are you going? I’ll help carry the luggage.”

“Huff… Really?”

Her big reactions and honesty in everything also felt endearing. Was it because she reminded him of his younger sister who he used to be close friends with as a child?

“Just ahead, to the Production Research Lab…”

Her hesitant, cautious trailing off was similar too.

“That works out well. I was just about to visit there too.”

“R-really? Oh, but… You’re Hunter Ryu Seo-ha, right?”

“Yes.”

“I’m a fan…!”

The woman confessed in a murmur, lowering her reddened face. With an expression clearly showing anxiety about whether it was okay to say such things, if he would find it burdensome. Ryu Seo-ha smiled slightly, crinkling his eyes as if to reassure her.

“Thank you.”

Emotion welled up in the woman’s eyes as she glanced up at him. As if she had received some amazing fan service. Even though he had only given a short, potentially formal expression of gratitude.

“Han Gaeul! What took you so lo… Hunter Ryu Seo-ha?”

As they entered the Production Research Lab directly opposite, a man who looked to be in his 30s caught his eye as he started to shout but then paused. The name written on the employee ID hanging around his neck was ‘Dr. Han Gang-seok’. He was the subject Ryu Seo-ha was supposed to treat today.

“Hello.”

“Oh, welcome. Um, would you like some coffee? Or green tea?”

He asked fussily, but didn’t seem to intend to move himself. Understandably so, as both his legs were completely shattered. It was a trace of refusing Choi Gang-hu’s scouting offer.

“Han Gaeul, what are you doing? Not helping carry the guest’s lugga… No, wait. Why is he carrying your luggage? Did you push it off on him?”

Ryu Seo-ha looked anew at the woman, Han Gaeul, who pouted at the harsh scolding. Ah, so she was one of the major characters from the original work who later awakens as an S-class production type.

“He offered to help first.”

“Still… No, never mind. Quickly bring something for the guest to drink.”

“Having broken legs really makes you act like a master, huh.”

Though she grumbled at Han Gang-seok’s words, who was her cousin, Han Gaeul obediently moved towards the pantry. Ryu Seo-ha, who had set down the luggage he was carrying, lightly waved his hand.

“It’s fine. I’ll just do the treatment and leave right away.”

“Ah, right. You must be very busy? To think a D-rank hunter like me would receive treatment from you… Life is full of surprises. I didn’t expect the treatment to be this good at a new guild, haha.”

Han Gang-seok laughed while scratching his head. He was a genius who had already earned PhDs in materials science and engineering and physics in his mid-20s. Even after awakening, he had worked as a department head at a research institute established by the state.

He was showing outstanding achievements in dungeon research fields including by-products, surpassing even elderly professors. He was the kind of talent that would attract Choi Gang-hu’s interest regardless of hunter grade.

“Is it alright to start treatment right away?”

“Yes, of course.”

Han Gang-seok, who is currently in charge of the Production Research Lab at FromHell Guild, nodded quickly. His eyes were full of curiosity. Ryu Seo-ha first unwrapped the tightly wound plaster cast and placed his hand on the calf.

The skill ‘Healing Light’ is being cast.

A pure white light that looked like it could purify one’s mind just by looking at it enveloped the broken leg.

“Ooh…”

“Wow…”

Han Gang-seok observed with eyes that looked like they might shoot lasers. Han Gaeul, standing beside him, also let out a pure exclamation of admiration along with him.

“Would you like to try moving your leg?”

“Oh! It’s completely healed. No pain at all.”

Han Gang-seok immediately stood up and boldly tried jumping, giving a thumbs up.

“By the way, I wonder if it can heal other things too…”

“Other things?”

“You know, erectile dysfunction or decreased libido… Ow! Why are you hitting me? It’s a joke, a joke!”

Han Gang-seok grumbled and rolled his eyes after receiving a crisp back smack from Han Gaeul.

“Really, I’m so embarrassed… I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Ryu Seo-ha smiled and shook his head at Han Gaeul, who apologized on his behalf with a red face. There was no need to take offense at a harmless joke.

“Excuse me.”

Just then, with a light knock, a tall man entered. Ryu Seo-ha’s eyes widened.

“Oh, Guild Master Gangseong?”

Han Gang-seok also raised his voice in surprise.

“I found the right place. Ryu Seo-ha, do you have a moment to talk?”

Gangseong Guild Master, Choi Junwan, asked with a smile. His attitude was far too relaxed for someone visiting the guild of an opponent in a succession struggle. It seemed he had visited unofficially without prior notice.

“What brings you here?”

“It’s a bit awkward to talk here, shall we go down to the cafe?”

“…I’m sorry. I’m still on duty.”

There was nothing good about meeting privately with someone directly opposing Choi Gang-hu. There was no need to give room for unnecessary misunderstandings.

“It will only take a moment.”

“I don’t know what this is about, but I’m busy with work.”

“I was under the impression your schedule was finished… Was I mistaken?”

Despite repeated polite refusals, Choi Junwan shook his head as if he had checked everything beforehand. He didn’t seem likely to back down easily. In the end, Ryu Seo-ha had no choice but to follow him. I’ll just hear his business briefly and get up right away.@@novelbin@@

“Ryu Seo-ha. Did you know?”

Fortunately, Choi Junwan didn’t seem to want to drag things out either, as he got straight to the point as soon as they sat down and ordered drinks in a quiet cafe.

“That Choi Gang-hu has assigned a stealth-type hunter to monitor you.”