The Tone-Deaf Healer Kills with a Song - Chapter 40

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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 040
My answer seemed unexpected; he widened his eyes for a moment before nodding with even greater enthusiasm than before. Hwa-jon spoke.
“Now I understand why that person likes you. After you finish eating, go outside. The conflict seems to have settled. I’ll see you at the ranking tournament.”
As I stepped outside after finishing my meal, I found a familiar crowd gathered in disarray.
They parted naturally as I approached, creating a space for me to stand. I reflexively bowed my head slightly in greeting, and they mirrored the gesture.
Among Mi-ju and Jung Hwan-jae and several others stood a woman who appeared to be mediating.
I’d seen her before. She was the one I’d encountered when I first went for my interview. Kim A-jin.
“We’ve already sent several official notices requesting that you exercise particular caution to prevent disputes between guilds.”
“There is no dispute. This was a necessary conversation. No one has actually suffered physical injury, have they? If you wish, you’re welcome to check the CCTV footage.”
Jung Hwan-jae explained calmly to Kim A-jin. There was certainly no sign of anyone being hurt.
The unfamiliar faces in front showed only hostile gazes, with no other visible changes. Yet the weight of that hostility was considerable.
Even from where I stood, slightly apart, I could feel all of that animosity directed my way.
Or perhaps all of this hostility was aimed at me. Once this thought occurred to me, I finally understood.
“Those people don’t seem to like me much.”
As I muttered this, Liri appeared and stepped in front of me.
But Jung Hwan-jae moved faster, blocking my path. He hid me behind his body as if to shield me from their gazes all at once.
They didn’t dare show any discomfort toward Jung Hwan-jae.
I could tell it wasn’t my time to step forward yet. As I took a few steps back, Kim A-jin’s gaze turned toward me.
“…In any case, I understand. Wind Guild members, please follow me. We have multiple testimonies that you made insulting remarks toward Sung Mi-ju. We also need to investigate the matter of Kim Kyung-hoon, who is currently unreachable.”
“Ah, I don’t really know where Kyung-hoon went either.”
“Then why are you refusing to appear at the Hunter Association?”
“Well, that’s…”
The one who had been protesting so vigorously suddenly fell silent.
Behind him, Sung Mi-ju, who had been standing with a defiant posture, opened her mouth.
“That’s because he has something to hide, so he told Kim Kyung-hoon to hold his ground no matter what. He’s been like that for years, so it’s not surprising.”
“Excuse me.”
“What.”
With that sarcastic remark, the situation was on the verge of escalating again, but Jung Hwan-jae stepped forward and blocked the space between them, defusing the tension.
He said nothing, but his eyes spoke volumes.
Both of them should stop.
It was indeed somewhat tactless to growl at each other while he stood there so quietly.
After all, he was the nation’s finest guild master before being a ranker.
“In any case, I’ll escort you to the Hunter Association.”
“No, ugh.”
Still wearing aggrieved expressions, the Wind Guild members realized there was little point in resisting further and followed Kim A-jin away, grumbling as they went.
Some of them stared at me intently, as if trying to burn my face into their memory.
‘What will they do even if they remember my face?’
Whether it was because I now had the confidence of belonging to Hanttae, or thanks to the two men protecting me, I found myself brimming with unwarranted confidence.
And I was someone who had once knocked out Sung Mi-ju—someone capable of handling several of them—with just this songbird-like voice of mine.
My skills hadn’t improved much, but as they say, position makes the person; my ego had grown unnecessarily strong.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I just arrived, and my senior helped me get here. Hwa-jon guided me earlier, so I’ve already eaten.”
It was far more composed than I expected.
The hostility he radiated didn’t even reach the edge of fear for me.
Now I had people who could protect me, people who would worry if I disappeared, and—though it was speculation—a man who wouldn’t tolerate anything happening to me.
Ah, this is why I feel like I’ve been raised so gently by love, and honestly, I feel quite good about it?
“….”
“…Why?”
“Oh, no reason. You just look happy.”
Apparently, the corners of my mouth had been twitching without my knowledge.
I hurriedly composed my expression. We’d just been in a standoff with them, and if I suddenly started grinning, wouldn’t I look like some strange battle maniac?
Since I wasn’t working alone at the Convenience Store anymore with no one around, I needed to develop the habit of not letting strange thoughts show on my face.
Sung Mi-ju and Sung Ji-wook were entering the building with thoroughly refreshed expressions, having gone out of their way to see off the Wind Guild members and thoroughly teased them.
“Hey, Sung Ji-wook. Don’t pick a fight with Rosalind this time. You’re going to lose anyway.”
“What? You don’t know until you try, right? And Sung Mi-ju, whose side are you on?”
“Rosalind’s.”
“Hey!”
The voices fading behind me sounded remarkably carefree.
Since there was no one to talk to inside, I stood beside Jung Hwan-jae.
“Is it because of Hwa-jon that you’re in such a good mood?”
“Pardon?”
“You were smiling just now.”
I’d been waiting quietly, wondering if he had something else to say or if there was something about the Wind Guild he wanted to explain, but Jung Hwan-jae said something completely off-topic.
It seemed he’d been thinking about how I’d almost started grinning foolishly a moment ago.
I’d just heard a declaration of a ranking match from him, so what was this about?
When I briefly relayed the conversation I’d had with Hwa-jon to him, he visibly relaxed. As if I shouldn’t smile because of that.
I brushed my hair back once and opened my mouth.
“Just now, I was smiling because I realized I’m in a position where I’m somewhat cherished at Hanttae Guild. If someone cares about you, who wouldn’t be happy?”
“Ah, I see….”
“To be precise, I was smiling because of you, senior.”
Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to come to a place where I’m needed like this.
I didn’t add the rest and waited. His shoulders trembled slightly.
…Was he laughing?
“The Wind Guild people caused a commotion because of me, didn’t they?”
“…Yes, somewhat. We made a blood oath to keep what happened inside the Dungeon secret, but when the Hunter Association investigated, information about us probably came up.”
“Do you hold a high position within the guild?”
“I’m the Vice Guild Master.”
Including Hanttae, quite a few guilds had created the position of Vice Guild Master to distribute duties.
With so much work to do, it was understandable that I might resent him for disappearing.
He must have come to this building because he was invited, yet in the end, he withdrew without accomplishing anything.
It had a pleasant, tangy flavor.
“But you said we were partners, and I haven’t really done anything, have I?”
“No, your presence here is more than enough. You’ve shown everyone that you’re a hunter I care about. Simply demonstrating that Hanttae has talent of this caliber is achievement enough.”
It was the opposite of what he’d said.
A public warning—since he was looking after me carefully, don’t do anything reckless like Kim Kyung-hoon did.
But I had no intention of exposing his true meaning and embarrassing him.
Instead, I stepped closer with gratitude in my heart and gave his forearm a light bump with my shoulder—a gesture of camaraderie.
I saw his body stiffen immediately and wondered if I should have refrained.
It would have been awkward if a window hadn’t appeared before my eyes.
We now announce the first opponent for Yeom Ye-ah.
It is Hwa-jon.
※ Your registered hunter name will be displayed to your opponent.
Just when I was wondering when the match would begin, a System Message appeared before me as if it had read my every thought, displaying the battle state.
Perhaps because I’d just seen Hwa-jon, I felt neither fear nor tension. He didn’t even seem like someone who would suddenly kindle competitive fire against me.
This fight was mine alone to undertake. To prove my strength without asking anyone for help.
The Labyrinth debuff still hadn’t lifted, and my stats remained dire.
I lifted my gaze to Jung Hwan-jae.
Our eyes met—he was looking at me too. I smiled without thinking.
“I’ll do my best.”

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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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