The Tone-Deaf Healer Kills with a Song - Chapter 5

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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 005
Startled, I was the one who stopped singing.
“Are you… alright?”
“Yes, the effect is definitely working.”
To my eyes, nothing had changed. Yet he moved forward as though we were done here, extending his hand into empty air.
A brilliant light, crystalline and radiant, gathered in his palm and swiftly coalesced into an enormous scythe. In that moment, I suddenly recalled Guild Master Jung Hwan’s other epithet.
‘The Reaper.’
“Let’s go. Now.”
As he swung the scythe through the void, a blood-crimson luminescence flooded the space. Blinded by the brilliance, I squeezed my eyes shut, and when I opened them again, I found myself standing before the Subway screen door.
The others materialized one by one around me—to the sides, behind, everywhere. The Dungeon expels its conquerors to the surface in order: first clear, then those who contributed to the clear.
Which meant I had contributed to clearing this Dungeon second only to him.
As I stared at him in disbelief, he calmly pressed a small card into my hand. Its surface bore the holographic emblem of Hanttae.
“Report for work tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry?”
“This is an intern teleportation card. Use it to enter, and we’ll convert you to full-time employment.”
The Unknown Male Hunter turned to leave without hesitation, then abruptly stopped and removed his black coat.
“Huh?”
“It’s my fault. You don’t need to return it.”
Then he vanished before my eyes at terrifying speed. I had no time to comprehend his words, let alone return the coat.
The coat reached my ankles and was so oversized that my hands didn’t even emerge from the sleeves. I wondered what I could have possibly done wrong.
As I examined the garments beneath the coat, my gaze caught on the hem of my formal skirt—torn away to the size of a fingernail.
[Liri: Apparently, being too concerned about these things is also a problem.]
“….”
‘He was bothered by that?’
[Liri: How shameless.]
I quietly fastened the coat.
I hadn’t noticed at all that the coat’s pockets were heavy.

* * *
“Hey, Yeom Ye-ah. This is equipment—we can’t dry clean it.”
“Huh? Oh, I see… But why not?”
“You didn’t see that article about the hunter who used fabric softener on their gear and had to pay three billion won in damages? Don’t say reckless things like that.”
‘So it really is actual equipment.’
I’d initially assumed the coat was just fashion wear when the Laundry Shop Owner handed it over so readily. When he said he couldn’t handle it, he hung the coat neatly on a hanger and returned my altered skirt along with it.
I’d heard that equipment couldn’t be left at a laundry. Equipment required not just repairs but also cleaning by awakeners with equipment crafting skills—naturally, the prices were astronomical.
With only 120,000 won left in my account after all expenses, it was completely beyond my means. I had no choice but to carefully fold the clothes still on the hanger and wrapped in plastic, placing them in the paper bag I’d brought.
“But you look cheerful today. You seemed happy when you came by yesterday to drop off your clothes too.”
“Do I?”
“Yeah, in the year you’ve worked here, I’ve never seen you smile.”
“Oh, boss. People might think I’ve been living miserably. It’s just that I got hired as a permanent employee.”
“Really?”
After the Laundry Shop Owner expressed his delight about my dry cleaning suit and congratulated me, I said goodbye loudly and headed out.
“Yeom Ye-ah! Wait a moment.”
I would have walked out briskly if the owner hadn’t caught up with me in his rush. He handed me something that looked like a black jewel, as if he’d just remembered.
“What is this?”
“You don’t know? It fell out of that coat. Keep it safe.”
I’d almost become the person who stole that man’s belongings. I quickly tossed it into the paper bag and hurried on my way.
[Liri: Are you heading to work now?]
‘…Yes!’
[Liri: Then I’ll provide you with the awakener gift that Balder has prepared.]
‘Yes!’
The awakener gift I’d only heard rumors about.
It was famous for being something you couldn’t receive through ordinary awakening—you had to enter a dungeon and emerge to receive it.
It was a welcome kit provided by “Balder,” presumed to be the creator or administrator of the status window that appeared in this world, and its contents varied greatly depending on each awakener’s abilities and circumstances.
-This station has a wide gap between the train and platform. Please be careful when boarding or exiting.
Unlike yesterday, I boarded the subway with a noticeably more confident stride. I no longer felt intimidated by the sight of other hunters adorned with all manner of glittering equipment.
Because I was a hunter now too. A healer who received VIP treatment wherever I went.
With excitement, I opened the glimmering mail that had just appeared in my status window.
Balder congratulates you on your first participation in Ragnarok and grants you a new gift.
We hope that fortune and blessings accompany Yeom Ye-ah from this moment forward.
[Random Music Box (S ~ D)(2)]
[Ragnarok Guide (Yeom Ye-ah) – Accessible from third dungeon entry onwards]
New Buff! From now until your third dungeon entry, Strength, Mana, and Speed increase by 0.5 ranks each.
[Random Equipment Box (A ~ D) – Tier provided according to skill proficiency at time of opening. Additional stats randomly granted up to 4 maximum.]
Apart from the music box, most of the items were things I could guess the purpose of.
I’d open the music box after work today.
And then one final screen appeared.
Your first Ragnarok dungeon entry experience has been recognized. Balder’s protection ends here. From now on, even if you receive attacks that could be fatal, forced defense will no longer activate.
I had second thoughts.
Wasn’t what I was losing far greater than what I was gaining?
Perhaps my expression had grown too dark, because Liri urgently sent me a message.
[Liri: You see, newly awakened hunters have the highest mortality rate on their first dungeon run. That’s why we provide what we call a novice-exclusive buff by paying a certain price on our end. It’s just too expensive to continue indefinitely, so I hope you understand.]
‘Wasn’t it the case that you only logged in when I called before, but you’ve been reaching out far too often these past couple of days?’
[Liri: It’s because the distance between you and me has shrunk. The closer we are, the longer our chat messages can be. If we get even closer, I might even be able to manifest in your world! But there’s a limit to how many messages I can send per day, so I end up talking more. By the way, do you hate it when I contact you?]
If I could have used emoticons, I’m certain it would have shown tears. My resolve wavered, and I shook my head once.
[Liri: Thank goodness! Still, I’ll make sure not to bother you during work and only try to connect when you’re off the clock. If you need anything else, just reach out to me like you normally do. Fighting!]
The conversation with the staff member has ended. You can restart it anytime upon request.
The subway had arrived right on time. Now it was truly just me, fighting alone. To console myself, I began walking with determined steps.
After using the third teleportation device and the intern card, I jumped through, and a thick blue smoke billowed up, leaving me feeling dizzy.
After several seconds had passed, the scenery before my eyes flipped once.
Along the path I always traveled, directly behind the Hunter Association stood a massive building where I had always thought there was just a residential neighborhood. How expensive must the equipment have been to hide it so thoroughly that no one knew it was here?
[Hanttae]
Even those two simple characters hung on the building seemed to declare that we could reveal our status through just these two letters, and my heart swelled with pride.
They say that on your first day of work, your heart is always full of company spirit.
As soon as I entered the building, I thought I heard someone cursing as they headed out on an errand, but I politely pretended not to notice.
I could see the faces of people rushing about. There were famous hunters whose affiliation with Hanttae had been exposed, rankers known as freelance hunters, and people like me wearing bewildered expressions.
I opened my phone and checked the onboarding notice once more.
[Thank you for joining Hanttae, Hunter Yeom Ye-ah. Please visit Room 2701 on the 27th floor of the Hanttae Guild by 10:00 AM for a brief orientation and training session. The orientation and training are expected to take approximately 40 minutes.]

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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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