The More the Healer Gets Hit the Stronger He Become

37 – Sizzle

Milena, who alternated between the table full of food and Kang Woo, sighed and waved her hand as she observed his hardened expression.

In an instant, the space changed, revealing a vast area lined with items, just like the first time Kang Woo visited the VIP shop.

From plate armor fully equipped on glass shelves to a variety of weapons arranged by type.

Even if they were of the same type, the size and appearance of the weapons varied so much that it was impossible to estimate the number of items on display with the naked eye.

“….”

Though he intended to check out the items, now that he had arrived at the VIP shop, it was unclear where to start browsing.

It felt like being adrift in a vast sea.

Fortunately, next to Kang Woo was the friendly owner of the VIP shop.

“hehehehe, the moment for all the hardships you’ve endured has finally come to light!”

Milena, hands on her waist, raised her chin.

“While watching dramas, I’ve discreetly compiled a list of items worthy of purchase for the owner of prophecy!”

“Oh.”

Kang Woo, who had been absentmindedly gazing at the spectacle of items, applauded at the unexpectedly profound declaration.

Clap clap clap clap clap.

“hehehe!”

Clap clap clap clap clap clap.

“Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoot!”

Kang Woo, who was grateful for the cheers, stopped applauding.

“….”

“Hoo hoo hoo hoot hoo hoot!”

Milena, with one hand on her waist and the other in front of her mouth, began to prance around, producing the laughter of a noble lady.

“Hoot hoot hoot hoot hoot!”

‘What drama did she watch, anyway?’

With each spin, her European medieval-style dress magically transformed.

Even though he was the administrator of the tower, is it okay to behave like this?

‘Should I tease her a bit when the contact reaches the fire fist?’

Contemplating, Kang Woo, with a stern gaze, summoned Milena, who was relentless in showing off her dress.

“Administrator?”

“Hoo hoo hoot… Ah.”

Her foot, which had been about 10cm above the ground, touched the surface.

Lastly, spinning one more time and transforming into a neat suit, Milena cleared her throat.

“Before the introduction, there is one important issue.”

“Important issue…?”

From Noble mtl dot com

“Did you wake up and check your possession points?”

With Milena’s words, a message manifested in Kang Woo’s field of view through administrator privileges.

[Possession Points: 54,599]

It was an unexpected turn of events. However, Kangwoo sensed something peculiar.

“The last confirmed point on the 28th floor was 45,819…?”

He had defeated the King Slime, which had absorbed all the other slimes, yet only received a mere 10 points?

Strange. Fortunately, there was someone in front of Kangwoo who could unravel the mystery.

Kangwoo’s gaze shifted to Milena, the manager of the tower.

Upon seeing Kangwoo, Milena awkwardly avoided his gaze and smiled.

“Um… Kangwoo-nim, you’re aware that your body has been healed, right…?”

The title that had been consistently referred to as the ‘Owner of Prophecy’ had now changed to ‘Kangwoo-nim.’

Kangwoo’s narrowed eyes showed a subtle change.

“During the last random box, did you perhaps take points without my knowledge…?”

“Oh! No, that time! Uh… No, it’s not like that.”

“…??”

Was she confessing to taking and using his points again?

As Kangwoo’s gaze turned fierce, Milena hastily explained.

“Um, I had no choice! I’m just a manager overseeing the ‘tower’; I don’t have the authority to interfere in the life and death of the ‘humans’ challenging the tower!”

“Then what about healing me…?”

“I used Kangwoo-nim’s points to buy the highest-grade healing potion! But really, there was no other option! If Kangwoo-nim had seen it then, you would have understood, but your injuries at that time were to the extent that nothing less than the highest-grade would do!”

“… If it’s the highest grade.”

[Highest-grade Healing Potion 10,000 Points]

The phrase he had seen in the shop at some point flashed in his mind.

‘My body feels so vivid for a reason.’

Yes. When you drink a potion worth ten points, it should vividly affect you; otherwise, there’s something odd.

“But, you still haven’t paid the entrance fee for the VIP store I mentioned last time! This visit is considered my ‘invitation,’ so there shouldn’t be a separate entrance fee!”

‘I wonder how much the entrance fee was….’

Kangwoo soon recalled.

– Please note that 5,000 points will be deducted for entrance starting from the second visit!

“I know it’s points you’ve earned with difficulty, but I really….”

“I understand. It’s what you used to save me, so it can’t be helped.”

Kangwoo put away his chilly gaze and replaced it with a warm smile.

It wasn’t just the thought of getting a discount of 5,000 points; he understood that he might have died if he hadn’t bought the top-grade item.

Really.

“Are you really okay?”

“Of course. Now, my points are 54,599. So, do you recommend an item that matches that?”

“Oh, certainly!”

Milena, who had regained her laughter, had a confident expression.

“Don’t be surprised!”

With a light flick of her hand, a frightening sound, Bang! accompanied by white smoke burst out.

‘It must be the recommended item from the VIP store owner.’

I wonder what kind of items there are.

Waiting with an excited heart for the items to appear as the smoke cleared, Kangwoo couldn’t hide his disappointment as the objects gradually revealed themselves.

“Is this all?”

Contrary to the anticipatory sound effects, what appeared in the air was just a shield.

‘… Is this a good thing?’

Not an impressive jet-black or a sacred pure white, but a plain gray Kite Shield, neither fancy nor extraordinary.

“Wow, does it really kill the vibe? It’s a shield made of pure Tarium, so its durability…”

“…Tarium?”

“Oh! Let me explain!”

With Milena’s gesture, an item description floated above the ordinary gray shield.

[Guardian Shield ‘Trysii’]

[A shield made of the mineral ‘Tarium’ from a different dimension, it withstands Ogre attacks without a scratch. Additionally, it has a ‘Magic Attack Damage -30%’ effect.]

“….”

Kangwoo reflected on how he had disappointed himself just by the appearance.

A shield that withstands Ogre attacks without a scratch and has a -30% Magic Attack Damage effect.

‘If I really get hit by an Ogre, will the shield be flying intact in the sky?’

But even so, there was a significant difference between flying in the sky with a broken shield and flying with an intact one.

The former meant that further defense was impossible, while the latter implied the ability to maintain a tanker position as long as the body could endure.

“What do you think?”

“…It’s good.”

There was no denying it.

From physical defense to magical defense, this shield with an overflowing spec was more than suitable for Kangwoo, who was now facing only the trial of the 30th floor.

The shield I used to carry is now nothing more than scrap metal.

However.

“Are there no other items?”

“What? If you mean other items…”

Kang Woo didn’t forget.

The desperate hardships he faced on the 29th floor, just because there were no usable magic skills inside the cave.

To avoid facing such hardships again….

“… A magic attack skill item.”

He needed a different means of attack.

“I want to see a skill item like the Ring of Calamity.”

Milena hesitated at Kang Woo’s words.

Because she sensed Kang Woo’s intention behind searching for a skill item.

However, instead of summoning a new item, Milena pushed forward the shield.

“It’s priced at 52,000 points. You might find it expensive, but if you try it yourself, you won’t regret spending those points at all.”

“No, I…”

“Buy this.”

“…What?”

Kang Woo, who was furrowing his brow, closed his mouth at Milena’s firm words.

‘What is this?’

Milena clearly knew what kind of ordeal she had faced on the 29th floor. Yet, despite that, she had such an attitude….

Something feels strange.

Kangwoo, who maintained silence in the unfamiliarity, grimaced at a sudden thought.

“Perhaps, for a while, there’s no need for magic items…”

Otherwise, Milena, who aspires to conquer the tower, maintaining such an attitude was inexplicable.

“…Is that it?”

Milena remained silent in response to Kangwoo’s words. She simply smiled without uttering a word.

Gaining enough response from her demeanor, Kangwoo nodded.

“…Let’s go with a shield.”

“You’ve made a good choice! You won’t regret it!”

Since Kangwoo learned that there would be trials without the need for magic items for a while, there was no reason to insist on stubbornness.

***

“That’s right! Since you enjoy it so much-!”

After completing the purchase of items, Kangwoo, returning to the self-proclaimed Milena’s house, devoured the freshly prepared food on the warm table.

“In dramas, they act like they hate it at first, but if you’re going to enjoy it so much-“

Listening with one ear to the pouring chatter from the side, Kangwoo focused on his meal.

If he had his way, he would have immediately returned to the safe zone for rest, but… unavoidable circumstances existed here.

Firstly, after clearing seven trials and reuniting with the manager, he had to discreetly gather information.

Secondly….

[Current Points: 599]

There was no money left.

After purchasing the 52,000-point Shield of Triashee, Kang Woo was left with a mere 2,599 points. In that situation, with the 29th-floor trauma looming, he impulsively bought two intermediate healing potions without even considering his balance. After coming to his senses, he checked his balance only to find the number 599 remaining.

Nom nom slurp slurp.

Although his face had turned red when he had boldly refused the meal earlier, once the awkward moment passed, he realized there was no harm in accepting food.

‘Hmm? Does it taste different?’

The food Kang Woo bought from the store in the Safe Zone was delicious, but Milena’s cooking had a distinct aroma.

It was like the difference between a buffet where various dishes were served and a restaurant specializing in one particular dish.

“Do all VIP shop customers get meals served like this as a bonus?” Kang Woo asked as he focused on eating.

Whether Kang Woo’s question pleased Milena because he had finally initiated a conversation or because a topic had naturally come up, she cheerfully responded.

“Of course not! It’s only natural for me to treat you like this! After all, you’re the first owner of the prophecy! Besides, there aren’t many people who qualify to enter the VIP shop in the first place.”

“Really?”

“Yes! Except for the blond guy with the sword, no one else has come.”

That little kid who received the random box seemed to be doing well.

Kang Woo barely contained his shock at Milena’s casual remark.

He had thought that the discoverers of the VIP shop would be an extremely small number, but to think he was only the second customer! What was even more surprising was the mention of the person with blond hair and a sword.

‘Among those awakened enough to discover the VIP shop, if they have blond hair and use a sword…’

It was undoubtedly Liam Johns, the world’s number one awakened who had cleared the 69th floor.

At the pinnacle among awakened individuals, he was the only one with both golden hair and pitch-black eyes.

“So, um-“

Casually fitting into Milena’s conversation, Kangwoo threw in light questions here and there, soon parting ways with Milena, exchanging smiles.

“It’s only our second meeting, no need to be on guard.”

Gradually building rapport, he collected bits of information, starting with small details.

Kangwoo, hiding his true feelings, shook hands lightly.

“Well then, see you again. I’ll be back soon.”

“Oh… y-yes!”

‘?’

Something was off. A peculiar, unfamiliar face, seemingly concealing something, unlike before.

As Kangwoo was about to inquire, a bright light flashed, and Milena’s parting words reached him.

“Oh! When you go to the Safe Zone, take out the backpack from the spatial ring! If you break the boss room and earn points, get new gloves! It’s ‘important’!”

“Backpack…? Gloves? Suddenly?”

Why carry a backpack when there’s a spatial ring with it?

Wondering, Kangwoo realized the reason for Milena’s advice only when he was transported to the 31st-floor trial.

“You are challenging the thirty-first trial.”

“The required number of participants has been met.”

“In 20 minutes, the trial will begin.”

Certainly, within the trial he faced alone on the 31st floor.

“Ah, hello.”

“Finally, the last minute has arrived.”

Four people I had never seen before were waiting for him.