The Tone-Deaf Healer Kills with a Song - Chapter 44

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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 044
The day of the ranking tournament.
[Liri: I’m certain that was a form of proposal, Yea! How shameless!]
‘There’s no way that’s true….’
It was probably just him asking me to remain his exclusive healer forever. If that counted as a proposal, then sure, but it definitely wasn’t the kind Liri had in mind.
After that day, Liri periodically made remarks—not quite complaints, but close enough—expressing her displeasure with Jung Hwan-jae.
Once while giving advice about skills, once while discussing stat management, and again when talking about the ranking tournament.
[Liri: Anyway, let me explain one last time. Fundamentally, staff members are prohibited from manifesting through avatars or divine incarnations to assist. However, continuing to use divine power that’s already been transferred once is permitted.]
[Liri: Of course, you can’t cause permanent injury or death to your opponent. We generally don’t interfere in human conflicts, but direct intervention is allowed exclusively during ranking tournaments. Of course, you wouldn’t do such a thing, but if anyone tries to harm you, we’ll stop them directly, so don’t worry.]
[Liri: That said, debuffs or penalty skills lasting up to six months are still usable, so don’t be too reassured.]
‘Don’t worry—my stats are already so low there’s nowhere further to fall anyway.’
Even the incomparable Liri fell silent for a moment.
The ranking tournament took place in a Subspace Arena prepared directly by Baldur, accessible only to tournament participants and pre-approved broadcasting stations.
Participants received exclusive teleportation keys, while those merely filming were moved to a separate observation area where they could only watch.
I purified myself from morning, equipped the gear provided by Hanttae, and put on the ring I’d exchanged with Jung Hwan-jae.
The microphone, which I thought had disappeared after its divine power was exhausted following that dungeon, suddenly materialized in the air with a soft pop.
[Liri: It’s my gift. I hid it because using it outside could have caused too much impact.]
[Liri: Once you enter the ranking tournament venue, I won’t be able to contact you for a while. Direct communication is prohibited in places where staff power directly reaches.]
[Liri: But I’ll still be watching. In fact, we’re becoming closer. Don’t worry too much, Yea. My special contract is always valid.]
“Thank you.”
Gratitude had to be spoken aloud to convey my sincerity. Liri sent back a laughing emoticon.
I’d equipped everything I could prepare. Taking a deep breath, I activated the teleportation.
The familiar sensation of the world spinning, and my surroundings transformed in an instant.
To be precise, I was standing in empty air. If I hadn’t miscalculated the coordinates, falling from here would be the first trial.
Current Ranking ??? Hunter ‘Yeom’ has entered. (First time)
Even seeing the window materialize calmly before me, I couldn’t scream—all I could do was cover my mouth with my hand.
Would I start the tournament injured if I fell from here?
On a normal Earth, I’d just fall once and be done with it, but this was a space I’d never visited before.
The moment I squeezed my eyes shut, familiar yet unfamiliar hands caught me.
Only then did a belated scream escape as I thrashed my body. It was a reflexive action, but the arms holding me didn’t let go, as if warning of danger.
“I should have mentioned this beforehand.”
A gentle voice reached my ears, and my struggling body finally stilled.
It was Jung Hwan-jae.
“S-s-senior, no, Guild Master….”
“You can call me casually. I knew it was your first time, but I forgot to explain the venue. I apologize. It’s understandable to be shocked. At least you’re not afraid of getting hurt now, which is fortunate.”
He must have taken a hit or two from my thrashing, yet he showed no reaction as he carefully set me down. The moment my feet touched solid ground, my anxiety eased.
Now I had the composure to look around.
The vast land, shaped like a divine temple, was flat as the ancients once believed the world to be.
It wasn’t a joke—at the edge of the land, you really would fall. This ground was a solitary island floating in the cosmos. Hundreds of hunters gathered upon it, gazing at the massive display boards.
“Is this the Subspace Arena?”
“I heard they’re using the original building from when Baldur was first established as the ranking tournament venue. Apparently it started modestly and is about the size of the Korean Peninsula.”
“Their sense of scale is quite different from ours.”
Jung Hwan-jae nodded in agreement and carefully extended his hand toward me. There was something about the way he was watching my expression.
I took his hand without hesitation. Every time I did, I noticed the same thing—his body temperature was higher than I’d expected. I’d vaguely assumed he’d be cold because of his Reaper nickname, but that wasn’t the case at all.
“The venue assigned to the two hunters competing in the ranking tournament is randomly selected from approximately ten thousand locations. That’s why understanding the terrain’s characteristics is the most important factor.”
“I heard we’re free to use the terrain and its features.”
“Yes, artificial lifeforms sometimes appear, and you can use them freely along with everything else. But regardless, safety is paramount. Don’t worry about your ranking. Even if you drop in rank, you’ll still be my exclusive healer.”
Jung Hwan-jae’s expression turned serious, as if seeking reassurance from me once more.
Of course. I’d do whatever it takes to stay with Hanttae.
How could I abandon this position over something like this?
I nodded with a determined expression, and he laughed. As if his worries had finally lifted.
“But isn’t the Guild Master’s ranking tournament scheduled for later? I heard that people with higher existing ranks get pushed back in the schedule.”
“Yes, but among the Hanttae Guild members, I come earlier than those who compete fastest. Look over there.”
His hand pointed toward the scoreboard where hunters’ gazes were fixed. Multiple screens were broadcasting the ranking tournaments happening right now.
Unlike the screens civilians watched, this was shown directly by Baldur to the hunters, displaying every fight without filter or embellishment.
Through this, hunters could anticipate their next opponent, and some simply placed bets.
On the screen Jung Hwan-jae was pointing to, one of Sung Mi-ju’s team members was competing in a ranking tournament.
“I didn’t expect her ranking tournament to progress this quickly. Since she’s on Mi-ju’s team, I thought it would happen much later than mine.”
“She was attacked right before the last ranking tournament and received a penalty. She’s been determined to recover from it this time.”
I understood. Even someone like me had people trying to bring me down, so most of the Hanttae Guild members must have faced such crises countless times.
The terrain was muddy and treacherous—disadvantageous for someone specialized in close combat.
But as if such things were irrelevant, he charged at his opponent with astounding speed, and with a single roll of his feet, the mud transformed into a massive spear.
“So that’s what using the terrain means…”
“Yes, that’s only possible because he has a skill specialized in transformation. Most people can’t do it.”
“I can’t either.”
In that brief moment, a suspicious light flashed from the mud spear, and his opponent was rolling across the ground.
The spear lodged right beside his opponent’s head, the distance perilously close, and another spear hovered above them.
Baldur Corporation: Hunter Yeo-eum is recognized as the victor.
“He won! Senior, he won!”
“Yes, an opponent of that caliber should be easy to—”
He was about to dismiss it as nothing when he looked at my face and suddenly stopped. He stared at my expression for a long moment, and I wondered if I’d shown my feelings too openly.
His mouth moved as if he wanted to say something, but then he stopped, shook his head gently, and smiled softly.
“Yes, he won. That’s good.”
“Right?”
I know that even against an easy opponent, a single variable can lead to defeat. And I can see how much he genuinely cares about that person on the screen.
I’m smiling while watching the scoreboard when suddenly a spear materializes before me as if it had been waiting.
Hunter Yom’s ranking tournament opponent has been determined.
Please enter the Divine Temple.
It’s my turn.
I looked at Jung Hwan-jae with a determined expression. He immediately grasped the situation and wore the same serious face.
I released the hand I’d been holding and opened my mouth.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“Whatever you do, be careful….”
“No.”
He wore a rare expression of surprise at my confident response.
“I’m going to win!”

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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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