The Tone-Deaf Healer Kills with a Song - Chapter 123
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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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Tone-Deaf Healer Kills with Song – Episode 123
―Yes, a Hanttae Hunter.
“Hello, Researcher. I’m calling to check in on you.”
I hadn’t intended to, but my part-time job voice came out naturally.
Harp’s tone through the phone was lukewarm.
It felt quite different from that parting—which had seemed solemn, as if he’d realized something.
Right, feeling solemn requires stamina anyway.
―You’re Hunter Yeom Ye-ah, correct?
“Yes, that’s right! Actually, I’m heading to the United States, so I won’t be able to contact you for a while.”
―That’s fine. Official communications will go through Hanttae reports anyway.
I’m not sure when everything got arranged, but it seems Jung Hwan-jae had already contacted him.
After exchanging pleasantries, the conversation naturally drifted into casual chat.
He agreed to actively cooperate in finding Kim Kyung-hoon and said he’d consider clearing Dungeons too, though he wasn’t keen on it ‘yet’.
Most of the conversation flowed with him talking and me marveling or agreeing.
―I feel like I’ve been talking about myself too much. Did you call to ask me something?
“No, it’s just that you went into a Dungeon because of me and went through so much trouble. It was weighing on my mind, so I called.”
―You’re quite soft-hearted.
“I hear that often. Oh, can I ask you something a bit personal?”
―Sure, go ahead.
“What was your previous ranking, if you don’t mind?”
I could have looked it up, but I wanted to hear it from him.
It might seem strange to be curious about the past he’d left behind.
But his past is what made him who he is now.
I wanted to understand Harp.
He let out a questioning sound.
―You can find all that with a search.
“Still, I’d rather hear it directly from you.”
―Around the 80th rank, I think.
He laughed, saying he wasn’t particularly concerned with rankings anyway.
But this was no laughing matter.
If he returned, even accounting for recovery time, that would be one more Korean Hunter in the top 100.
I swallowed and carefully opened my mouth.
“Do you have a Guild affiliation…?”
―Don’t start thinking about recruiting me to Hanttae already. I’m going to live as a researcher, not return as a Hunter.
“I see….”
I really wasn’t cut out for HR or sales.
He talked a bit more before showing signs of ending the call.
―Have a good trip to the United States. Give my regards to Rosalind Brown if you see her.
“Oh, you two know each other.”
―With my experience, of course. And….
“And?”
He, who had been speaking smoothly without pause, suddenly fell silent.
The abrupt quiet made me tense for reasons I couldn’t quite explain.
Without thinking, I gripped my phone respectfully with both hands.
I heard him take a deep breath. After a moment of silence, he spoke again.
―Thank you for caring. I mean… thank you.
Before I could even respond, the call ended.
He really was someone whose exterior didn’t match his interior.
* * *
“We can have luggage sent separately, so you just need to make a list. If there’s anything truly important, keep it in your inventory.”
“Yes, but I’ll wear the piercings and ring anyway. Oh, and I’ll be sending you mana regularly, so don’t overdo it and hold back.”
The day before my departure, Jung Hwan-jae and I sat in the Guild Master’s Office having our final conversation.
I checked my luggage again despite having verified it countless times, gave warnings I’d already issued dozens of times, and sighed yet again after sighing hundreds of times before.
Hwa-jon said he’d handle things as expected, so I shouldn’t interfere unnecessarily.
I wished I could be that assertive, but I couldn’t ignore Jung Hwan-jae, who had reached out like a wet puppy.
Now, sitting face to face, I continued our conversation while channeling mana into his hands.
“When I get to the United States, I’ll look into whether there’s a way to resolve your debuff.”
“There’s no need to concern yourself with that.”
“No, you’ve probably searched many times already, but I want to search too. I’ll shake out all of Nike’s secrets.”
I spoke with confidence even though I knew Dante was on a different floor right now.
He blinked in slight surprise before breaking into a smile.
“Then I’ll look forward to it.”
“You can’t say you don’t recognize me when I come back as an incredibly great hunter.”
Taking the opportunity to add some playful banter, he even laughed softly.
Every time I get this kind of response, I’m endlessly satisfied.
When he smiles, I feel good.
I hope he smiles often and shows me that smiling face for a long time.
When I work hard and show results, Jung Hwan-jae is happy.
When Jung Hwan-jae is happy, he smiles.
Therefore, when I work hard, Jung Hwan-jae smiles.
By this syllogism, I’m pushing myself even harder.
“Thank you for respecting my stubbornness and letting me go. Honestly, I thought you might find it burdensome if I suddenly left the Guild.”
“Not at all. A Guild is supposed to respect a hunter’s personal matters more. At least, that’s how Hanttae operates.”
Kim Hwa-hyun’s face flashed through my mind.
Someone who spent most of her time inside Dungeons and only returned when necessary.
If it weren’t for Hanttae’s original atmosphere, this would have been unthinkable.
I nodded in agreement.
Still smiling, he turned his hand over and clasped mine.
It feels like it’s been quite a while since I walked hand in hand with him like this, interlocking our fingers. That was before I even competed in the Ranking Tournament.
Back then, I never imagined I’d find myself caught up in so many complications.
“I’ll bring back a gift for you. If you miss me, feel free to call anytime.”
“I’ll keep the time difference in mind when I call.”
“Or just send me a message. Should I open up my personal chat for you?”
“No, there’s no need to go through all that trouble. International calls work fine. I have Ye-ah’s number, after all.”
The fact that he simply knew my number seemed to carry a subtle note of pride in his tone.
He’s absolutely adorable, seriously.
[Liri: It’s only ten days—are you really acting all sentimental like you won’t see him for ages?]
[Liri: He’s going to get upset!]
‘Why is Liri getting upset?’
Anyone watching would think I’d abandoned my boyfriend to play around with another man.
I waited for the message window to close before turning my head back toward him.
“Even though we’re both rank 1, it feels strange to realize we’re not the same.”
“That’s because we’ve spent different amounts of time as hunters. Ye-ah hasn’t even been a hunter for a full year yet.”
“Though it’s been nearly two years since awakening. It’s quite remarkable….”
Still, it’s an extraordinary development.
Yeom Ye-ah, who used to be so tone-deaf that people would fall backward just from hearing her sing.
Now, out of every five people who hear her, one will say something like, “Oh, that sounds quite pleasant.”
A B+ rank seems to be about that level.
There must be different standards compared to naturally talented singers among ordinary people.
That’s when Jung Hwan-jae blinked.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s just the chat window.”
“The chat window?”
Rensi (18)
An article just came out saying Hunter Yeom Ye-ah is going to the United States. Is that true?
Dante (3)
Yes, she’s coming with me, and the airport will be under control so don’t even think about showing up
Shunt (41)
But people have a right to know
Rosalind (6)
You don’t.
Shunt (41)
There’s been a rumor that Hunter Dante and Hunter Yeom Ye-ah are meeting with romantic feelings. Could you clarify if that’s true?
(Link)
Evidence article
I’d heard of this Shunt person before.
He spoke Korean so fluently that I’d assumed he was Korean, but apparently he’s a foreign journalist.
He followed Jung Hwan-jae so persistently that everyone who knew anything knew about him.
When I clicked the link, it turned out to be a tabloid article he’d written himself.
Ah, what a view-count hunter you are.
“That’s not the kind of relationship we have, you know?”
“…I know.”
Jung Hwan-jae’s response came late.
I thought I heard him muttering something.
Something like, “Is he someone I should be wary of…”
[Liri: That’s not it.]
‘Whatever it is, that’s really not it.’
I watched as Rosalind Brown and Dante hurled all manner of elegant insults at him together, then typed into the chat.
Yeom Ye-ah (1)
I have no interest in Hunter Dante
You know? The new skill I obtained this time (song) is determined to commit something terrible
If you’d rather listen to this instead of the United States, come find me when I return home and I’ll play it for you directly
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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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