The More the Healer Gets Hit the Stronger He Become

Chapter 44

44 – Park Yerin

Droplets of sweat formed on the forehead and trickled down the flesh.

As Kangwoo’s mind rapidly spun, he contemplated the response to the unfolding worst-case scenario.

[Guardian’s Shield Trice]

[A shield made of the other-dimensional mineral ‘Tarium,’ possessing unyielding durability even against Ogre’s attacks. Additionally, it has a ‘Magic Attack Damage -30%’ effect.]

Even with the Guardian’s Shield, witnessing the firepower inflicted by the giant Sand Worm monster, the mage’s fire magic was a force to be reckoned with.

Even with a ‘Magic Attack Damage -30%’ effect on the Guardian’s Shield, it wouldn’t prevent the entire body from being burned if hit by consecutive attacks.

Hence, this was the best choice he could make.

‘Counterattack as soon as the attack begins.’

Surprising her was risky. The woman, feeling threatened, was likely to use her abilities indiscriminately.

So, he had to seize that brief moment when the attacking woman would let her guard down.

‘After blocking the incoming fireball with the shield, in the aftermath of the explosion when sand scatters.’

He draws a short sword from the spatial ring.

As the scattering sand obscured his figure, he knew the mage’s appearance would also be indistinct, but that didn’t matter.

[Ring of Calamity, Pherniceus]

He had planned to imbue the thrown short sword with an explosive skill.

As long as the sword hit anywhere on the woman’s body, victory would be his. However.

‘If that happens….’

The woman is going to die. There is no time to speak or hesitate after drinking the potion. She will die instantly as her body bursts at the moment of explosion.

‘….’

Murder.

The heavy word made Kangwoo’s chest thud.

But there was no other option.

There was no time to restrain her without killing her, and it was too dangerous to afford the luxury of subduing or waiting for her to calm down in front of her abilities.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

The pounding heartbeat echoed vividly in his ears.

If he doesn’t kill her, he will die.

Kangwoo’s grip became moist.

In extreme tension.

Trying not to show his tension, Kangwoo asked.

“So… why are you telling me that?”

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

‘Hold up the shield to block the magic, throw the short sword. Hold up the shield to block the magic, throw the short sword. Hold up the shield-‘

Kangwoo implanted the future actions in his mind as if brainwashed. When he was ready to raise the shield with his fixed left arm, the magician reached out.

“It’s Park Yerin.”

“Hold up the shield-!!”

Clang!

Kangwoo, who had swiftly pulled the shield hanging on his forearm, held it in front of his torso with both hands.

Lowering his posture and bowing his head, Kangwoo covered his entire body with the shield for protection.

In doing so, Kangwoo sensed something peculiar.

“…But didn’t they just mention a name?”

5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds…

Even after a while, there was no impact striking the shield.

As the thought that something was amiss began to occupy Kangwoo’s mind, the magician’s absurd voice pierced through the shield and into Kangwoo’s ear.

“Hey, what are you doing…?”

Suddenly, the idea of escaping through a portal didn’t seem like a bad option.

***

Throughout the ordeal, the sarcastic and informal magician.

Despite looking no taller than a peanut, the magician, who Kangwoo had thought was undoubtedly of the same age, turned out to be the oldest among the party members.

Name: Park Yerin, Age: 24.

After hearing Kangwoo’s explanation for suddenly adopting a defensive stance, Yerin looked fiercely at Kangwoo, who awkwardly hid the shield behind his back, sporting a forced smile.

“Ha, ha. Ha. Ha.”

Even though everything had ended well, his grip was still damp, and his palms were sweaty.

Trying to avoid eye contact while pretending to be indifferent, Kangwoo rolled his eyes subtly at Yerin’s sigh.

“Well, yeah. You could think that way. Especially if you’ve already encountered looters.”

“Y-Yes! That’s exactly what I meant-“

Kangwoo, who had been cautious about treating a distant figure as a looter, hesitated at Yerin’s words.

“Tsk-!”

“Yep.”

About to speak, I suddenly shrunk back.

“Just kidding. You can stop being so cautious now that I understand for real.”

“Yep.”

“… Are you really that person?”

That human climbed the tower alone…?

With disbelief reflected in Park Yerin’s eyes, Kang Woo quietly took off the glove on his left hand.

[Basic Mana Ring of Alter Mages]

[Inferior Spatial Ring]

Park Yerin’s eyes widened as she saw the rings worn on his middle and index fingers.

Since the Basic Mana Ring of Alter Mages was also an item she possessed, she knew it better than anyone.

“Really…”

She couldn’t help but notice the ring that she saw every time she went to the Safe Zone, vowing to buy it someday.

The ring on Kang Woo’s index finger was a 15,000-point Inferior Spatial Ring.

Even amidst the rumors about “that person,” she couldn’t believe the story that he had already purchased a Spatial Ring.

Could it really be true?

“What, didn’t you already know everything?”

Kang Woo already knew about the rumor that “that person” had bought a Spatial Ring. That’s why he showed the Spatial Ring as evidence to the skeptical Park Yerin, who doubted that he was “that person”…

As Park Yerin, unable to close her gaping mouth, remained fixated on the Spatial Ring, cold sweat ran down her back.

“… So, seeing it now, you’ve changed your mind and you’re attacking me to hand over the ring, right?”

He showed it for no reason.

It was when Kangwoo stepped back and put on the gloves he had taken off.

“… Ah, sorry. It’s my first time seeing the dimensional ring in person.”

“….”

“What…? Aren’t you going to open your pretty eyes?”

“… Yes.”

Seeing him return with an impudent expression, it seemed he hadn’t lost his sanity.

Relieved, Kangwoo asked the question that had been on his mind.

“But why did you ask me to undress?”

Revealing the hidden identity, apologizing for suspecting her as a robber, and hearing the sudden confession—all these events had made Kangwoo forget Park Yerin’s original purpose.

Upon hearing that, Yerin, who had made a sound, reversed the question.

“Isn’t my ability useful?”

From Noble mtl dot com

Suddenly?

Baffled by the question with an unclear intention, Kangwoo answered truthfully.

“It’s not just useful…?”

It wasn’t just threatening with fire magic; it was flames that could explode. Even if you gathered all the abilities of the awakened individuals that had appeared in modern times, it was an ability that easily secured a place at the top.

Satisfied with Kangwoo’s honest words, Yerin smiled and opened her mouth.

“Why did the Tower gather people with no apparent connection and make them clear trials? I’ve been thinking about this problem for a while.”

An unexpected topic.

But the end of the conversation was a conclusion Kangwoo had not yet considered.

“Isn’t it the intention to familiarize each other’s faces before putting people through a trial? That’s what I keep thinking.”

“Um… What does that mean?”

Putting people through a trial altogether. Does that mean there could be another trial like on the first floor?

“Well, it could just be a possibility. It’s just speculation, really.”

Even with Park Yerin’s clarification, Kang Woo couldn’t feel relieved. Because.

Chills.

As soon as Kang Woo heard Park Yerin’s words, he felt a shiver run down his spine.

It made sense. Before a large-scale trial where all the awakeners participate, they would randomly assign parties so that the awakeners can familiarize themselves with each other’s faces.

That wasn’t the only thing that fit.

Kang Woo recalled Milena, whom he recently met at the VIP store.

Her resolute words, as if saying she must buy the Shield of Protection, and her silence when asked if she didn’t need any magic items for a while, and her awkward response to the mention of her return.

“If she showed that attitude because she knew she wouldn’t be able to visit the VIP store for about twenty trials…”

It could be baseless speculation.

She might have just said that all the trials from the 30th floor would have randomly assigned team members.

But.

It was strangely unsettling.

Just when Kang Woo couldn’t shake off the inexplicable unease, Park Yerin’s voice reached him.

“It’s just a speculation, but if such a situation were to occur…”

“….”

“Include our team in your party.”

“Our team?”

Kang Woo realized instinctively that Park Yerin was not referring to the members of the 31st floor party. She nodded her head.

“There are people who have been together since the beginning of the modern era. They may not be part of a guild… Unlike the guild members who are obsessed with money and ready to give up climbing at any time, these people have a different mindset.”

Flames ignited in Park Yerin’s eyes as she uttered each word.

“The total number, including me, is five. Although we are all scattered now, I guarantee that none of our team members will be a hindrance to you.”

Park Yerin, the fire mage, vouched for her party members. The situation was uncertain, whether there would be a major trial or not, but it wasn’t bad.

If there really was a large-scale trial where all awakeners had to gather, then it would be dangerous for Kang Woo to move alone, no matter how strong he was.

With a determined mind, Kang Woo erased the polite smile that had been on his face throughout the trial.

“What is your purpose in climbing the Tower?”

Listening to her story, he understood.

Park Yerin despised those who climbed the Tower for money or those who climbed it without any purpose, to the point of abhorrence.

So, if it wasn’t for money, why was she climbing the Tower?

Park Yerin answered Kang Woo’s question as if she had been waiting for it.

“To become stronger.”

“…”

“To become stronger than anyone else, to the point of being able to dry up the seeds of the monsters in the modern era. That is the reason why I am climbing the Tower, and the reason why I will never give up climbing.”

Her eyes glowed with anger, and her fists were clenched tightly.

“Alright. Let’s move together when we meet next time.”

A vow to never give up climbing.

With that vow alone, there was enough reason to be with Park Yerin.

***

[The trial has concluded.]

[Contributions for rewards are now being measured.]

As Park Yerin bid a brief farewell and crossed through the portal, the system’s notification rang out.

[Trial completion reward: 2,000 points]

[Monster defeat points: 1⨉ 280 points]

Points that felt meager for the hardships endured in the desert.

However, Kang Woo, who should express dissatisfaction, was currently captivated by a different place.

[Monster defeat points will be distributed according to the number of participants.]

“What, what is this? Why…?”

When did I end up in a gray space like mine? Surely, it was the Safe Zone.

Certainly, it should be…

“Why… is no one here?”

Up to the 30th floor, the Safe Zone, which was filled with early Awakeners and latecomers mingling, and lower-tier tents stretching to a hundred, now looked deserted.

[Total reward points are 2,056.]

It was eerily empty, as if it were a lie.

“What is this…!”

Not a single Awakener, not even an ant.

A repetition of the unexplained phenomenon since the trial on the 31st floor began.

A normally functioning store indicated that this was part of the Tower’s planned scheme.

“Have people all been split apart…? Why?”

I couldn’t understand at all.

“If everyone is split apart, how will the trials- ah…!”

And as if to prove that prediction correct.

[You have challenged the thirty-second trial alone.]

In Kangwoo’s eyes, who challenged the trial alone, were the awakened ones he had never seen before, waiting for him.