The Tone-Deaf Healer Kills with a Song - Chapter 199

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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 – Side Story 2-2
―How are things going with Reaper and the romance business these days, Ye-ah?
“Well, same as always, I suppose?”
―Really? Truly?
Rosalind Brown had been calling me almost daily lately, asking how my romantic relationship was progressing.
It was as if she were hoping something dramatic would happen.
It would be nice if I could give her a satisfying answer.
Whenever I said nothing was happening, she’d make this oddly deflated expression—which struck me as suspicious.
“What’s supposed to happen? Do we need to fight or something…?”
The first couple of times, I’d just laughed it off, but as this kept repeating, I felt increasingly uncomfortable myself.
Noticing my expression shift, Rosalind Brown frantically shook her head.
―No, no! You two should have a good relationship. You should be together forever! I just… I was hoping there might be some progress between you two. I’m sorry, Ye-ah.
“Progress?”
Progress between lovers would mean…
The word “marriage” flashed through my mind.
Surely not?
Truth be told, I hadn’t given a single thought to marrying Jung Hwan-jae right now.
That’s not to say I didn’t want to marry him—it’s just that the word “marriage” had no place in my life at this moment.
I’d only just adapted to life as a Hunter, and now I had to adapt to being ranked number one solo.
In less than a year, I’d stopped Ragnarok, and Dungeons keep erupting without pause.
Besides, this was something I’d already discussed with Jung Hwan-jae.
“If I were to marry, I’d prefer to wait until I’m past thirty.”
“If that’s what you wish, Ye-ah, we don’t need to marry at all. I’m content simply being by your side. As long as I can hear you say you love me.”
He’d said that if the moment ever came when I couldn’t say I loved him, it would be enough just to feel that love.
So I’d put marriage completely out of my mind.
Could it be that everyone except us was expecting our wedding?
A sudden sense of crisis swept through me, and my expression must have changed.
Rosalind Brown, interpreting this however she pleased, gazed at me with a knowing glint in her eye.
―See? You do have something on your mind, don’t you? You’re just pretending not to notice. Well, Reaper’s always been a bit like that anyway.
“No, but I never expected people to have such high expectations…”
―What are you talking about? You’re the one who found out late. Dante and I hear almost every day how much Reaper is struggling with this.
To that extent? Jung Hwan-jae had been thinking that seriously about our marriage?
If that were the case, he should have talked to me directly about it.
It seems my attitude when I said I wasn’t thinking about marriage was far too rigid.
“…I see. Thank you for letting me know, Rosalind. Still, I’ll wait until he tells me directly.”
―Right, right! He seems to be agonizing over the timing right now.
“Though I’m not sure that’s something worth deliberating over to that extent.”
―Reaper’s always been the type to fixate and obsess over trivial things.
In any case, Rosalind Brown made me promise multiple times to tell her the moment anything progressed, then hung up.
While she seemed relieved to have shared this with me, I felt the opposite.
Doubt took root in my heart.
My lover was seriously considering our future together, yet I remained blissfully unaware, living in peace.
Half of me felt a subtle sting that she’d consulted with someone else instead of me.
The other half wondered what could have driven her to such lengths—my emotions tangled in conflicting threads.
[Liri: Ye-ah, your expression looks troubled.]
[Liri: Besides, it could all be a misunderstanding anyway. Don’t you think it’s better to just talk it through?]
Seeing me sit alone, wringing my hands in distress, Liri seemed to take pity on me.
She was right. There was no point agonizing here.
I’d told Rosalind Brown I’d wait and see, but I had no idea how long I could keep this secret.
‘I’m afraid I’ll make another terrible decision about this.’
I couldn’t do something like that to my lover.
By now, the folder containing all my songs held hundreds of tracks.
Naturally, dozens of them were songs only I could compose.
The Valkyrie Network couldn’t hide its delight each time I registered a new exclusive song.
‘[The Valkyrie Network expresses deep gratitude for another exclusive song registration and expands your network access privileges!]’
‘[You now have access to even the past underwear colors of your assigned staff members!]’
In this way, I could access knowledge I’d never once been curious about in my entire life.
Here I was, possessing such vast knowledge, yet I couldn’t understand my own lover’s true feelings.
Now that I thought about it, there were signs I’d missed.
There were times when she’d start to tell me something, then stop. I’d been careless.
She often paused mid-sentence, claiming my eyes were too beautiful or that she was overwhelmed remembering how I looked in battle.
She’d make all sorts of excuses while asking if there was anything I wanted, or if I’d developed new interests or favorite gemstones lately.
Since she was a man of few words, I’d assumed this was how he expressed his affection.
So I’d earnestly answered, even fabricating preferences I didn’t have.
‘He must have tried to bring up marriage but decided the moment wasn’t right, so he backed off.’
[Liri: Ye-ah, don’t agonize alone. You need to go talk to him.]
[Liri: All conflict begins with a breakdown in communication.]
‘But Liri, all the circumstances….’
[Liri: That’s overanalyzing.]
[Liri: You know how you are—once you fixate on something, you can’t let it go. Just listen to me.]
Each brief message struck me painfully.
Once the word “marriage” had lodged itself in my mind, everything felt like buildup toward that moment.
I should just go ask him directly.
“Ye-ah, aren’t you coming down?”
“I’m coming….”
First, let me finish today’s work.

* * *
“Ye-ah, you’ve arrived.”
Today was a rare occasion when I came in later than Jung Hwan-jae.
Since becoming the top-ranked hunter, such days happened occasionally.
Sometimes there were state functions I had to attend, or dignitaries I needed to meet.
Other times I’d demonstrate what skills were truly like for aspiring young hunters.
And then there were the volunteer efforts I took on myself—helping those suffering in pain and despair.
Jung Hwan-jae had wanted to come along, but even without the top ranking, he had far too much work as the Guild Master.
“Today was absolutely exhausting. And people talk so much.”
“Depending on whose side Ye-ah takes, the Hunter Association chairman could change. It’s unavoidable.”
This was how I came to understand the weight my position carried.
What the Association chairman was like before, what they’re like now—that wasn’t something I needed to worry about right now.
“I’m hungry.”
“I thought as much.”
Even though I’d arrived in the early morning, he’d prepared a late-night meal timed perfectly for my return.
The sight of him in a black shirt with an apron was quite striking. He must have planned it.
Now that I looked, there was even a glass of wine, and candles lit to set the mood.
“…Isn’t this a bit too fancy for a late-night snack?”
“…W-well, I thought occasionally setting the mood like this might not be so bad.”
My words had hit the mark—his hands trembled as he set down the plate.
The worry I’d momentarily forgotten during my busy day came crashing back into my mind.
Was it now?
That thing he wanted to tell me?
The deliberately set atmosphere and his subtle gaze—this was definitely that, wasn’t it?
“You can tell me after we eat.”
“You have something you want to say to me, don’t you?”
“…Yes, but it’s not something that serious, so you can relax your expression.”
Apparently, I’d been making an extremely tense, scrunched-up face.
I quietly chewed the food he’d made. It was so delicious that even in this tense moment, I couldn’t help but smile.
But what if he’s asking me to marry him?
Should I say we need more time together?
No, that sounds like a breakup.
Should I say I’m not ready yet?
That’s not great either. It feels like I’d eventually say yes anyway.
What do I do?
In the midst of my worrying, Jung Hwan-jae looked at me.
“Ye-ah.”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry.”

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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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