The Only Enhancer - Chapter 42

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 42
Episode 42 – The True Nature of Kim Min-jun, the Healer (1)
0.
Jung Ji-hwan, team leader of the Hunter Association’s Anti-Hunter Task Force.
The Anti-Hunter Task Force’s role was to apprehend those who committed crimes using their abilities.
Colloquially known as the Villain Task Force.
Jung Ji-hwan was the team leader there.
It was fair to call them the hunter version of the National Intelligence Service—those who confronted and eliminated villains.
Their role was to neutralize villains for the sake of national security.
However, Jung Ji-hwan’s reputation was not particularly stellar.
Was it due to his unpredictable nature?
No, that wasn’t quite it.
-Jung Ji-hwan? Well, he’s competent. In a one-on-one fight, he could even take down a Level 5 villain. But he’s a dealer who can only hunt villains, not monsters. So it’s a bit ambiguous.
-Even if there are many villains, if he can’t handle monsters, it’s still a problem.
-When other Hunter Association staff hunt both villains and monsters, Jung Ji-hwan can only hunt villains, so his standing is inevitably…
A hunter who could only catch villains.
That was the label attached to Jung Ji-hwan.
Of course, this didn’t mean he was discriminated against or treated as incompetent.
The prevailing sentiment was one of regret.
He was far too capable, yet unable to hunt monsters due to the nature of his skills.
In modern times, being unable to hunt monsters inevitably resulted in a significant downgrade in evaluation.
Conversely, the fact that he received such high marks despite this limitation was remarkable.
A Level 4 ranged dealer with not a single offensive skill.
That was Jung Ji-hwan.
Unlike healers or tanks, dealers could sometimes acquire only one type of skill, and this was what happened in his case.
The only skills Jung Ji-hwan possessed were debuff-type abilities.
Wasn’t applying debuffs helpful to a raid?
That wasn’t wrong.
There were dealers who specialized in debuff usage.
The problem was that Jung Ji-hwan’s debuff skills were highly effective against people but far too weak against monsters.
Against monsters, the duration was too short, but against people, it lasted considerably longer.
Had he possessed even one offensive skill, he would have pulled his weight sufficiently, but without any attack skills, he couldn’t contribute his fair share.
And if he relied on item-attached skills, their power was halved compared to his original abilities.
Yet Jung Ji-hwan remained undaunted.
He wasn’t the type to be discouraged anyway, and he was satisfied knowing that catching villains alone was more than enough to serve his country.
After all, wasn’t Jung Ji-hwan the one who could make even Level 5 hunters struggle in a one-on-one confrontation?
In that sense, this new assignment pleased him greatly.
“I consider it an infinite honor to have been dispatched to protect Kim Min-jun, the healer.”
The protection of someone regarded as a crucial talent to the nation.
The Anti-Hunter Task Force ran smoothly even without Jung Ji-hwan, after all.
I took it for granted that I, along with several other hunters, would be assigned to protect Min-jun.
That’s why Jung Ji-hwan spoke to Min-jun with an expression more delighted than usual.
Of course, that was Jung Ji-hwan’s thought alone.
At Jung Ji-hwan’s expressionless—or rather, somewhat cold—gaze, Min-jun flinched slightly.
“Ah… yes. Thank you for your assistance.”
Whether his sharp impression came from being in the Anti-Hunter Task Force or was simply his nature, I couldn’t tell.
At that moment, a healer from the Hunter Association standing nearby, reading Min-jun’s expression, spoke up.
“Senior Jung’s expression has always been like that.”
“Ah.”
“….”
Could he really say something so blunt?
Min-jun glanced at Jung Ji-hwan.
Jung Ji-hwan looked at Min-jun and asked as if confused.
“Is there something the matter?”
“Ah, you don’t seem to react much to comments like that?”
“…? Ah. I see. Thank you for the compliment.”
“…That wasn’t a compliment, senior.”
Min-jun listened to the entire exchange, genuinely bewildered.
“Wasn’t that a comment about having a frightening expression?”
“…Yes, that’s right?”
“But then why isn’t it a compliment? If someone has a frightening expression, it’s easier to deal with villains.”
“…That’s, sigh. No, it is a compliment.”
“Yes, thank you.”
I realized it even when I first met him, but this person is quite peculiar.
Min-jun thought this and turned his head away.
Deciding not to show it, Min-jun listened to their conversation and gazed down through the window.
Gangneung City Hall, roughly seven kilometers in a straight line from Gangneung Port, came into view.
We’ll be arriving soon.
—We will be arriving at Gangneung City Hall shortly.
Just as Min-jun had thought, the announcement of imminent arrival made him somewhat tense.
But Jung Ji-hwan spoke from beside him.
“Hmm, there don’t appear to be any villains in the vicinity. That’s fortunate.”
“No, senior, that’s not really the important thing here.”
“Isn’t it fortunate if there are no villains?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Listening to their conversation, Min-jun gazed out at the distant sea and pondered.
‘A Disaster Level 5 is supposed to be coming, right?’
The tension-free conversation left Min-jun feeling somewhat deflated.
1.
The helicopter carrying Min-jun arrived at Gangneung City Hall without incident.
Quite a few notable figures had gathered in that place.
Lee Hee-bin, a Level 5 Saint affiliated with the Hunter Association.
Won Eun-seong, a Level 5 Spear Destroyer affiliated with the Hunter Association.
And.
“Wow.”
Standing between the two of them was a massive figure towering over two meters tall.
Watching the elderly man whose frame gleamed like steel and whose very presence radiated overwhelming power, I couldn’t help but let out an involuntary exclamation of admiration.
“The Association Chairman, Ma Hyun-seok, I hear.”
To actually meet the Steel Hero, Ma Hyun-seok, in person.
The emotions were entirely fresh.
There could only be one reason he was here.
He had come to see me.
A hero I had only ever seen on television was now extending his hand directly to shake mine.
Though I always felt my own worth, standing before Ma Hyun-seok made it feel entirely new again.
I extended my hand in turn and shook his while speaking.
“I’m Kim Min-jun.”
“Hmm.”
As I shook hands with Ma Hyun-seok with deep emotion, his eyebrows twitched slightly.
Because Ma Hyun-seok’s overwhelming aura emanated involuntarily regardless of his will, those of lower levels would tremble merely by approaching him.
Like the healers standing behind me, for instance.
Yet here I was, shaking his hand without the slightest hesitation or discomfort.
Truly different.
Ma Hyun-seok found himself marveling inwardly, though for reasons quite different from my own.
From behind, the Saint Lee Hee-bin spoke.
“Chairman, we’re running short on time.”
“Ah, is it already that late? Forgive me for keeping our greeting so brief. I shall make a proper visit next time.”
“Not at all. It’s an urgent situation, after all.”
I wasn’t the sort of person who couldn’t understand that much.
In the first place, there was no need for the Association Chairman Ma Hyun-seok to meet me, but from his perspective, he was grateful to me for accepting the Association’s proposal to remain unaffiliated with any organization.
“I appreciate your understanding. Normally, I would have you evacuate entirely rather than remain in the rear, but since this is something you’ll inevitably face someday, I thought it best you experience it indirectly. I’ve assigned Team Leader Jung Ji-hwan to ensure your safety, so there should be no danger. And the reason I came despite this urgent situation is none other than this.”
As Ma Hyun-seok spoke, he looked toward Won Eun-seong standing behind him and extended his hand, receiving a massive leather case.
At first glance, it was clearly no ordinary case.
While its exterior could be called unremarkable, an immense aura emanated from whatever lay within.
‘What in the world is that?’
What could it possibly be that even Won Eun-seong, a Level 5 Spear Destroyer, would hand it over with such care, and Ma Hyun-seok himself would receive it so cautiously?
As I gazed with a face full of questions, Ma Hyun-seok smiled as if he knew I would find it intriguing.
Then he spoke.
“It’s something I’ve rarely seen myself due to limited opportunities, but approval came through this time, so I thought it a good chance to bring it. You may well find yourself wielding this someday.”
As Ma Hyun-seok spoke, he opened the case.
A brilliant radiance burst forth, beginning to bathe the surroundings in a mystical violet light.
The mysterious violet light enveloped the surroundings with an enormous amount of mana, and I found myself swallowing hard at the sight of it.
It was a colossal hammer.
A massive hammer wrapped in brilliant violet light.
I couldn’t help but stare at it with eyes wide open.
[Hammer of Retribution]+6
-A hammer of retribution that delivers punishment upon all things.
-A hammer whose creator and how it came to the present world remain unknown.
-Only those with the proper qualifications can unlock the full power of the Hammer of Retribution.
-Can only be equipped by those Level 6 or above.
-If you possess a buff-type skill, you can use the skill ‘Weakness’.
-If you possess a heal-type skill, you can use the skill ‘Wound Mitigation’.
-If you possess a barrier-type skill, you can use the ultimate ability ‘Fracture’.
-If your class is Healer, you can use the ultimate ability ‘Retribution’.
-When using skills after equipping this weapon, the skill ignores the barriers of Calamity Level 6 monsters.
└When used against Calamity Level 5 or lower monsters, it ignores their barriers and deals additional damage.
A Tier 6 item of which only ten exist in the entire world.
The very item that made Korea one of the world’s strongest Hunter nations.
I swallowed hard again, unable to believe what I was seeing.
“Of course, I believe you could reach Level 6, perhaps even Level 7. It will take time, of course.”
“….”
Captivated by the item, I couldn’t respond as I stared at it in a daze.
Ma Hyun-seok nodded in understanding.
He’d had the same reaction when he first saw this item.
But he lacked the qualifications.
He was a Tank.
But I was different.
Perhaps the material to become the first Level 7.
That’s why he’d assigned Jung Ji-hwan, someone he held dear, as my escort.
‘Kim Min-jun the Healer—he’s the perfect fit for this item.’
Ma Hyun-seok thought this to himself and continued speaking.
“Once you reach Level 6, this item will be yours. As a Tank, I can only use this item to ignore the barriers of Calamity Level 5 monsters.”
At those words, I came to my senses and responded.
“Pardon?”
For a moment, I almost said I couldn’t use it either.
But I held back and answered instead.
“Ah, yes, of course.”
After all, I was currently pretending to be a Healer.
Would I get caught for fraud later?
For a moment, that anxiety crept in, but when the time comes, I’ll just reveal myself as an Enchanter.
No worries.
Kim Min-jun stood there looking somewhat anxious.
Ma Hyun-seok spoke to him.
“Oh right, I heard our side hasn’t obtained the Tier 4 item yet.”
“Ah, yes. Not yet.”
“Hmm, the Hunter Association has decided to assist you as much as we can. I’ll make sure to pay close attention to this matter.”
Just as Kim Min-jun was about to express his gratitude for Ma Hyun-seok’s words.
A message suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[You have confirmed a Tier 6 innate item for the first time.]
[A hidden ability of the skill ‘Enchanter’s Blessing’ has been revealed.]
Upon seeing the message, Kim Min-jun nearly stumbled in shock.
Thinking he was simply overjoyed, Ma Hyun-seok smiled contentedly.
‘Heh, I should arrange to prepare a Tier 5 item for him.’
Giving a Tier 5 item to someone who might become the first to achieve Level 7 was hardly an excessive investment.
As Ma Hyun-seok was raising the reward, Kim Min-jun, who had nearly stumbled, regained his composure and opened Enchanter’s Blessing.
[Enchanter’s Blessing]
-When the buff is used, increases enhancement success rate by 10% for 1 hour.
-When the buff is used, increases critical success probability by 5% for 1 hour.
-Can be used twice every 24 hours.
*Based on the first use, you can use it again after 24 hours.
‘Wow!’
This really is incredible.
2.
Having obtained a Tier 6 innate item and even its hidden option, and though he didn’t know it yet, also able to obtain a Tier 5 item as a reward, Kim Min-jun was grinning from ear to ear.
Jung Ji-hwan, standing beside him, was misinterpreting his expression.
“Impressive.”
“Yes, what?”
At that sharp voice, Kim Min-jun flinched, wondering if something had been discovered.
Jung Ji-hwan spoke to him.
“With a Tier 6 item in your possession, a Disaster Level 5 raid is no longer a threat, but to enjoy it so much—that is truly impressive.”
“…Ah.”
He wondered if it was sarcasm, but it wasn’t.
His genuine admiration was evident in his eyes.
His expression remained as cold and sharp as ice.
Kim Min-jun couldn’t bring himself to say he was happy because he’d obtained the hidden effect of the skill.
He simply nodded.
True, the raid would occur 7 kilometers away from Gangneung Port, but countless casualties could still occur, couldn’t they?
Kim Min-jun shook his head and gathered his thoughts.
Ma Hyun-seok had said that with a Tier 6 item, there would absolutely be no damage here, and even if there were, Jung Ji-hwan would protect him, so there was no great concern—but that wasn’t true for others.
Those participating in the raid and engaging in combat were different.
‘My role here is to heal the wounded, isn’t it?’
A Disaster Level 5 raid required thirty Level 5 hunters and two Level 6 hunters.
But Korea had only twenty-one Level 5 hunters, and just one Level 6.
While a Level 6 artifact could fill the gap left by a missing Level 6 hunter, the shortage of Level 5 hunters had to be compensated by dozens of Level 4 hunters.
Naturally, this meant the casualty rate during the operation was bound to be substantial.
Level 5 hunters could endure reasonably well, and healers would restore them immediately, but Level 4 hunters were different.
Any hit was fatal for them.
They received only emergency first aid on-site before being transported to the rear support base.
Even if healed immediately, the probability of them taking another hit was high.
If the healers at the front lines treated them, it would be close to wasting mana.
So a support base was established at least five kilometers away, where Level 3 healers were stationed to treat the injured Level 4 hunters.
That was my role here.
To rapidly heal the wounded who arrived at this location.
“Phew.”
I had to use the healing skill attached to the artifact, but hadn’t I already seen its effects clearly?
With my mana, even a skill attached to an artifact wasn’t half as effective.
In fact, it sometimes showed superiority over the original skill.
I wondered if it might be because I was an Enhancer, but well, it was just speculation anyway.
Not long after I regained my composure.
A tremendous explosion echoed from Gangneung Port in the distance.
Rummmmmble—.
BOOOOOM—!
CRAAAAASH—!
Even from a distance, Gangneung Port, with its massive explosions and rising clouds of smoke, looked far from ordinary.
The tremors were felt intensely even here, more than seven kilometers away—I couldn’t even imagine what it was like there.
I could hear the sound of buildings collapsing from the surrounding area, and I found myself swallowing hard without realizing it.
So this was the power of a Disaster Level 5.
Now I understood why Ma Hyun-seok had wanted me to experience this, even indirectly.
Less than ten minutes after the raid began, the sound of helicopters filled the air, and urgent shouts erupted.
“Critically wounded! Heal them quickly!”
“They need immediate healing!”
At those words, I reacted faster than the other healers and moved, and Jung Ji-hwan, watching me, murmured “As expected” and followed behind.
The other healers also rushed after me, and when we reached the wounded.
We were met with a gruesome sight.
Each of them frowned and opened their mouths.
“We’ll need to cast healing at least three or four times?”
“No time for complaints. Get to it.”
“This is nasty.”
The injuries were severe enough that a Level 3 healer’s healing would need to be cast three or four times for complete recovery.
And there were ten such wounded.
Despite the emergency transport by helicopter and first aid administered, the condition was quite critical.
As Min-jun activated the healing spell attached to his wand, brilliant light erupted forth, and the spell took hold.
Whoooosh—!
Engulfed in the intense radiance, the wounded hunter’s injuries vanished in an instant, and their grotesque appearance transformed into perfect health before everyone’s eyes.
Shortly after, the Level 4 hunter who had received the healing spell shot to their feet.
All the healers stood transfixed, their minds reeling at the sheer magnitude of healing power—something no Level 3 healer should possess.
“I-insane?”
“What, what is this? Is there a Level 4 hunter here?”
“No, but even for a Level 4, isn’t that healing power absurdly strong?”
“Why is a Level 4 even here in the first place? They should be on the front lines!”
“Then who is that person!?”
While continuing to heal the other wounded, Min-jun suddenly turned his head.
He then looked at the healers with a questioning expression and spoke.
“Aren’t you going to heal them?”
“Oh, right.”
“S-sorry about that.”
What were they even doing?
Min-jun muttered in exasperation and refocused on healing.
He ignored the healers’ needless astonishment and continued his work.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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