The Owner of the Healing Therapy Shop Is Ranked 0th in the World - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Owner of the Healing Therapy Shop is World Rank 0

Chapter 12

Something to say, something to say… what?

The man’s resolute voice echoed in my head.

“Huh?”

And at the same time, a question mark of ‘surely not?’ dominated my thoughts.

Surely not, surely not. It couldn’t be.

When I turned around like a creaking robot to look behind me, I saw a man tilting his head slightly as he looked down at me.

Gulp, I swallowed involuntarily. The abnormally loud sound only increased my anxiety.

“What…”

Gangjinseong didn’t answer my question. He just stared at me intently while raising one eyebrow.

It was as if he was saying ‘You know very well.’

My lost eyes wandered through the air and my mouth went completely dry.

‘Surely not’ changed to ‘How?’

Mimi clearly said it would be hard to find! How did he track me down so quickly?

My head was spinning dizzily when suddenly the screen of the phone held by the man standing next to Gangjinseong entered my field of vision.

A single photo posted on a bulletin board looking for the hero of Mapo-gu.

‘Ah.’

That’s when I realized.

The black-furred alien from outside Earth was weak when it came to internet technology.

“…”

As if reading the change in my expression, he turned his back and began walking away.

Then he turned around to look at me and nodded his head.

It was silent pressure telling me to follow without any excuses.

Tap, tap.

For a while, two sets of footsteps with different strides quietly echoed through the hospital corridor.

While hurriedly chasing after his retreating figure, my head was noisy enough to explode.

‘I’m definitely caught.’

Then there were two attitudes I could take.

Either prostrate myself and beg for forgiveness, or act shamelessly while shoving a work contract at him.

Which would work better on that AI-like rigid human?

As we left the VIP Hunter exclusive area and entered a corridor where regular patients also came and went, the hallway became noisy.

“It’s, it’s Gangjinseong!”

“Gasp! I’m a fan!”

It was because the ward patients who recognized him gradually filled the corridor.

Several bodyguards who had been quietly following behind me restrained them and cleared a path.

Gangjinseong just walked forward looking straight ahead, as if accustomed to such situations.

It was an embarrassing moment for me, trudging along behind his broad back as he received everyone’s cheers and praise.

By the time we reached the rooftop.

He stopped walking and turned to look at me.

An emotionless gaze, a rigid mouth, a raised chin.

All those expressions and actions were saying one thing.

That I absolutely had to start with an apology.

“Then I’ll stand guard outside.”

The man who had been holding my photo came out to the rooftop, left Gangjinseong there, and closed the door.

At the same time, I felt a thin mana barrier enveloping the entire rooftop.

The sound of wind blowing on the rooftop and car noise stopped all at once.

“…”

It felt like we were left alone in an enclosed space.

I looked resentfully at the tightly closed door, then slowly turned around.

He was leaning diagonally against the rooftop railing with his arms crossed.

Just standing there, he looked like a painting drawn on the blue canvas of the sky.

“It’s been a while.”

“That’s… right.”

When was he acting like he’d devour me, and now he’s greeting me so normally?

I nodded in greeting while unable to erase my sullen expression.

But that was the end of the pleasantries. Whether at the Training Academy or in society, there were no real connections between us two.

So there was only one reason he called me aside. Yes, that was the only thing.

“Should I say it, or will you?”

A thin sigh escaped from my mouth.

What he was going to say was obvious without hearing it.

He would blame me.

Do you know what trouble I went through because you hid your awakening and suddenly disappeared, why did you hide your identity and cause this mess, etc.

He would pour out all sorts of sharp words.

The entire world was focused on his every action and word, crying out desperately to be saved, and that burden was unimaginable.

‘He must be… very angry.’

I squeezed my eyes shut.

From living life so far, I learned that in times like this, a quick apology was the only answer.

“I’m sorry! You must have been very troubled because of me!”

“…”

“I absolutely didn’t hide it on purpose! I had no intention of framing you either, Senior.”

The first part was difficult, but once I started, the rest was easy.

Rambling on, not even knowing what I was saying, I repeatedly made excuses and apologies.

“I awakened so suddenly, and I thought there was absolutely no way I could awaken at my age. You know that! And I was so scared of falling into the Gate… but it was reassuring to know that you were the one known as the conqueror. So…”

“I understand.”

“Huh?”

“I understand your wanting to hide the fact that you awakened.”

I blinked blankly.

Did I hear that correctly?

Not criticism or curses, but understanding?

“I would have done the same.”

A voice without highs and lows and a monotonous tone. Deep weariness was embedded in that casually thrown remark.

How could I not know?

Being Korea’s 1st place, world’s 5th place ranker meant being criticized by those who remembered the number of people lost rather than the number of people he saved.

It was a position more familiar with resentment asking why he didn’t save them rather than gratitude for saving lives.

I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut.

It was because I newly realized that I had imposed another responsibility on someone who had lived and had to continue living such a difficult life.

I had been selfish.

“I’m sorry.”

“I didn’t call you out to hear that.”

He uncrossed his arms and rested his elbows on the railing.

“If you want, I can take that false accusation to the end.”

“Huh?”

“You can live an ordinary life.”

Our gazes met in mid-air. After an unfamiliar silence, he opened his mouth again.

“You look like you want to ask why.”

“Of course, I thought you’d tell me to hold a press conference right away.”

For a moment, cracks appeared in his rigid expression.

He let out a low laugh.

“My heart is eager enough.”

Unlike before, his voice had softened gently, sounding like freshly bloomed cherry blossom petals.

‘This person can make such a voice too.’

“Should I do it for you, or not.”

“…Please do it.”

Meeting his gaze head-on, I spoke with clear pronunciation.

“But I’m not asking you to do it for free.”

I swallowed nervously and pulled out a piece of paper from my chest. As if reading my mind, the paper floated up and fluttered before the senior’s eyes.

Soon he picked up the contract with surprised eyes.

“These are the things you can get if you take the blame for me. Please read the terms carefully.”

After quickly reading through the contract, he gasped and straightened his body that had been leaning lazily.

“You…!”

For someone famous for never showing emotion even when blades rushed at his face or monster hordes attacked, reacting this much meant he was truly shocked.

He hesitated for a moment, then strode toward me. Without taking many steps, he was already standing in front of me.

An emotion somewhere between urgency and excitement was faintly reflected on his expression.

“You can treat the addiction?”

“Yes, if you contract with me.”

“Ha.”

Biting his lips as he looked down at me, he raised his head to look at the sky. Due to his tall height, I couldn’t see his face, but his tightly clenched fist seemed to show his swirling emotions.

Soon a trembling sigh escaped from his lips.

“…Contract with me.”

The senior held out the contract. As I received it, I asked carefully.

“The condition is to conquer all Maze Gates within 3 weeks, no, within 20 days. Will that be alright?”

“Anything.”

The man’s eyes showed not a trace of hesitation as he said this. As if he would gladly accept it even if the end of Gate conquest meant death.

Therefore, I didn’t raise any more objections.

‘Let’s see, the contract method was at the very end of the terms.’

Although I had read the terms, I had never memorized the contract method written in that corner.

I slowly began to read through the contract method.

[The employment contract conclusion method is as follows…]

Soon my face turned red like a burning tomato.

‘Wh-what kind of contract method is this…!’

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