The Owner of the Healing Therapy Shop Is Ranked 0th in the World - Chapter 9

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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 9

“Huh…? My senior listened to what I said? When?”

My eyelids slowly closed and opened at Nara’s incomprehensible words.

“You’re probably the only one who doesn’t know? He only listened to you back then?”

I rolled my eyes and tried to recall my Training Academy days, but no particular scene came to mind. It’s not like I was close with my senior, and I don’t think we even exchanged more than a few words.

“That aside, how am I supposed to meet someone even you can’t see? Isn’t he holed up on the top floor of the Hunter Association?”

“You know we have alumni gatherings every February with our Training Academy kids, right!? He’ll come too, if you come.”

“To the alumni gathering…?”

“Ah, please! Please! I know you hate going to alumni gatherings, but your sister wouldn’t ask this unless she was desperate.”

A sigh automatically escaped at the mention of an alumni gathering.

Because I know that the kids who bullied me during my Training Academy days attend the alumni gathering every year.

“You’re still having alumni gatherings even in this situation?”

“When have Hunters ever cared about that stuff? With lives as fragile as flies that could die tomorrow, it’s better to enjoy today.”

When I hesitated, Nara dropped to her expensive knees in front of me and begged.

“I already told Gangjinseong that you’re coming too! If you don’t come, I’m really screwed!”

“You already told my senior?!”

“Yes yes yes! You know how long I’ve been working to recruit him. He said he’d rather die than enter the entertainment industry, so I even founded a guild!”

“…My senior would come to an alumni gathering he’s never attended once just because I’m going?”

“I can bet everything I have that he’ll come.”

As far as I know, my senior has never attended an alumni gathering even once since graduating from the Training Academy. I don’t think he even keeps in touch with any classmates.

But what on earth is the basis for thinking my senior will come? I couldn’t understand Nara’s confident expression at all.

“You’ll come, right? You’ll come, right?”

It wasn’t exactly a request I was eager to fulfill, but it was the first favor Nara had ever asked of me, so I had no intention of refusing. Considering the debt I owe her, I could grant this kind of favor ten times over.

“…Alright.”

“Thank you! You lucky charm!”

Nara covered her mouth with her hand and forcibly swallowed her cheers, then looked at her wristwatch and was startled.

“Ugh, I’m going to miss my flight. Take care of yourself and eat well! You’ve lost even more weight than last time.”

I urgently called out to Nara as she reached for the door handle.

“Ah, Nara!”

“Yeah?”

“Wait, just give me one minute!”

I rushed into the workshop and pulled out a spray bottle. I wanted to give Nara the floral water left over from making the oil earlier as a gift.

I always felt sorry toward Nara, like a debtor with a guilty conscience, so this felt perfect.

Especially since the effect imbued in the floral water seemed like something Nara would absolutely love.

“Take this!”

I was incredibly happy to be able to give the first product I made using my skill to my favorite person first.

“The airplane cabin gets dry, so use it as a mist.”

Nara quickly opened the cap to smell the fragrance and smiled brightly.

“It’s lavender?!”

“Yeah yeah, you like it.”

“Thank you, my little sister. I’ll use it well!”

“I made it in a hurry so there isn’t much. Let me know if you need more.”

“You’re always giving me gifts. It’s fine.”

“No, this time will be a bit different.”

I waved excitedly at Nara as she left the store.

^[High-quality byproduct (Floral Water) completed!]^

^[Additional skills are applied to byproducts.]^

^[Visual Lv.1: Removal (Removes visible flaws from the area of use. Can be used on age spots, blemishes, small scars, wrinkles, etc.)]^

* * *

At the same time, on the top floor of the Korea Hunter Association Building.

Even in the morning when the sun was rising, the bedroom was blocked by curtains, not letting in a single ray of light.

In the bedroom where even the air had settled heavily, the only furniture was a large bed placed in the center, surrounded by state-of-the-art medical equipment lined up densely.

Thin tubes extending from the machines were connected to the arms, legs, neck, and even the forehead of the man lying on the bed.

The liquid flowing through the tubes was transparent yet tinged with a pale blue light, sparkling faintly like the Milky Way in the night sky.

The identity of this liquid moving throughout the man’s body along his blood vessels was holy water from a Hunter known as an S-rank Healer and Saint.

It’s known to have the effect of cleaning mana residue accumulated in blood and muscles, temporarily stopping the progression of mana poisoning.

That’s why the price of holy water is whatever they ask for.

The reason this man can pour such holy water all over his body is none other than because he is Gangjinseong, the S-rank Hunter who supports South Korea.

Whirr- Whirr- Beep- Beep-.

Inside the room filled with the low vibration sounds from the machines. The pale blue light emanating from the monitors cast a pallid glow on Gangjinseong’s face.

His brow was furrowed with painful wrinkles as he kept his eyes closed.

The mana poisoning that deepened as he grew stronger became an inescapable shackle that gnawed at his mind and body.

“Ugh…”

Afterimages of gates poured into his mind like lightning. The terrible cries of monsters, the pain of torn flesh, the tension and pressure that made it impossible to even breathe.

They all vividly came back to life at any time, tormenting his psyche.

Then, the clock announced 7 AM.

The curtains covering one wall automatically parted to both sides, and the morning sunlight streamed directly into the room.

Jinseong, who had been having nightmares, barely regained consciousness and opened his drowsy eyes.

“Phew…”

His face was covered in cold sweat as he sighed and pulled out the needles.

As he sat up, the thin blanket covering his upper body slipped down, revealing his well-built chest muscles.

The deep, large scars across his sides and back, along with other large and small wounds, showed his life story.

Then, the AI’s composed voice echoed in the room.

-Emergency call from the Association President’s Office.

Simultaneously, the television screen turned on. Breaking news that had just been received was being broadcast.

[News that representatives from 20 countries and famous guild representatives from around the world are staging a sit-in at the Korean Hunter Association, demanding immediate announcement of support plans. This is not an official visit schedule…]

“I told you not to call me today under any circumstances.”

-It’s such an urgent matter, the Association President sends his apologies.

Jinseong’s brow furrowed slightly. His right hand seemed uncomfortable as he repeatedly clenched and unclenched it.

It was because he had soloed an AA-rank gate the day before and spent hours consuming mana in the Maze Gate.

Mana poisoning manifests different symptoms in different people, and in Jinseong’s case, it appeared as numbness in his extremities.

The physical reaction was only now appearing, but in fact his mind had already collapsed as much as it could.

Nevertheless, there was a separate reason he had been able to endure until now.

“Tell them to wait until I’m ready.”

-Yes, understood.

Jinseong got up from the bed and went to the large window that occupied one wall, looking down outside. Beyond the large window that offered a panoramic view of Seoul, he could see the Hunter Training Facility where he had grown up as a child.

The reason he, who had no hobby of looking outside, stood in front of the large window every time he woke up stemmed from someone who had lived in that building below.

Jinseong slowly inhaled and exhaled.

As if he had become that little kid from the old days who used to steal glances at the green trees outside the window and those gently rising and falling delicate shoulders.

Jinseong checked the time once more, then entered the shower room.

A little later, Jinseong, having finished preparing to go out, got into the elevator that went directly to the Association President’s Office.

Despite his actions being no different from usual, there was a shallow furrow in Jinseong’s brow.

It was due to the headache he had been feeling constantly since waking up.

The AI installed in the elevator also detected his abnormality.

-You seem to be experiencing a headache. Nerve stabilizers cause side effects including headaches. You have currently exceeded the recommended level.

“Get me a prescription for stronger sedatives.”

-Higher dosage medications require consultation with a doctor before prescription.

“…Make an appointment.”

-I will request an appointment with Director Seong.

Jinseong made his way to the meeting room where the association president was waiting.

President Maeng Seokwoo, who had been pacing anxiously in front of the door, rushed over urgently as soon as he spotted him.

“No matter how much I told them to wait…! They barged in demanding I bring you here no matter what, so I had no choice. You understand, right? Do you think I wanted to interrupt your rest?”

“….”

“Could you just go in there and say you’re reviewing the proposals? Nothing else, absolutely nothing else. Okay?”

“Sure.”

As Jinseong entered the meeting room, dozens of pairs of eyes focused on him.

The previously noisy room fell silent in an instant, and Jinseong twisted his lips into a smile.

Seeing the desperate gazes of countries that usually looked down on Korea and its hunters with unfair treatment, he couldn’t help but laugh.

Jinseong opened his mouth.

“I’ll start with whichever country makes the best offer.”

“What, are you planning to make money when the whole world is about to collapse?”

It was the Chinese Representative.

He apparently didn’t remember how he had blatantly brought up money when Korea had requested support during past emergencies.

Jinseong stared directly at the Chinese Representative and answered concisely.

“Korea isn’t the one in a hurry.”

Everyone’s jaws dropped.

That Gangjinseong, who was called a gate conquest machine and would rush anywhere there was a gate, was making such a statement!

Representatives from various countries who thought they could get Korea’s help on the cheap let out groans.

“Then, then are you telling countries without money to just die when dungeon breaks occur!”

“A good offer doesn’t necessarily have to be money.”

“Then…?”

“It could be cheap pride.”

The room fell silent once again as if ice water had been poured over it.

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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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