The Tone-Deaf Healer Kills with a Song - Chapter 68

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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 068
My expression must have been far too grave, because Jung Hwan-jae hurriedly shook his head.
“What could this conversation that only we need to hear be about? Is it that this world is approaching destruction?”
“…That’s not it. You don’t need to worry so much.”
In truth, Ragnarok is a curse created by the staff members up there. As these thoughts crossed my mind, my face darkened considerably.
“So it really is Ragnarok….”
[Liri: Ragnarok isn’t like a Gate or a sign of destruction!]
[Liri: To be precise, it’s just a continuous destructive phenomenon. If left unchecked, that world could be destroyed. But Earth has so many powerful Awakened ones that we’re fine!]
[Liri: Though it seems the initial language patch might have been faulty, which is why the first Gate was named ‘Ragnarok,’ causing some confusion….]
“…So it’s not something that will happen.”
Before I could even worry, Liri was already speaking so cheerfully that I felt embarrassed.
But still, this existence called Dante troubled me.
The first Awakened one and the original hunter who had maintained an unshakeable first place until Jung Hwan-jae and I appeared. If someone like that was saying something, it certainly wasn’t mere wordplay.
Hadn’t he crossed the Sea just to have this conversation?
“Yea, your expression is dark.”
“Yes, I’m worried about how many things I’ll have to face. My heart is beating too fast.”
Though it was a figure of speech, my heartbeat was indeed slightly elevated.
I was nervously chewing my lower lip when Jung Hwan-jae pulled something from his inventory and offered it to me.
“Gasp, is this that expensive calming potion….”
“Drinking this should help you calm down.”
‘But this is incredibly expensive….’
Because it was so expensive, the Convenience Store sold imitation versions with reduced effectiveness.
I remembered scanning barcodes with a look of despair as hunters drank those knockoffs as if they were grateful for them.
Even from hearsay, the genuine potion cost an unimaginable amount, yet he was offering it to me simply because my heart was racing.
Unable to bring myself to accept it, I hesitated, so he opened the cap himself and held it out to me.
“If your heart is just beating a little fast, you can calm down by taking some deep breaths….”
“I’m concerned. Haven’t you seen far too many people today?”
“…I haven’t seen anyone except Kim A-jin.”
The broadcast journalists had come to interview Jung Hwan-jae and me, but their feet got stuck with Sung Mi-ju and Sung Ji-wook.
I managed to buy time by forcing those two, who looked absolutely miserable, to leave.
The interview seemed to be in full swing, as I could hear commotion in the distance. Should I turn my attention that way?
“Will Mi-ju and Ji-wook be alright? There seemed to be so many reporters. Those two might actually be the ones who are really, really nervous.”
“No, Mi-ju enjoys that sort of thing, so she’s fine. And Ji-wook is so focused on taking care of Mi-ju that he probably doesn’t have time to worry about anyone else. Besides, they’re not people doing interviews for the first or second time.”
“…Right, that’s true.”
Damn! I couldn’t escape it.
Even if not to the same extent as Jung Hwan-jae and me, they’re also hunters beloved worldwide.
Not only are the siblings both in the top fifty as hunters, but they’re affiliated with Hanttae. It’s unfortunate, but waiting for that time will have been worthwhile.
Anyway, I had only seen Kim A-jin, yet he was acting as if I had been worn out by countless people.
“…H-here.”
If I refused to drink it, it seemed like he would force-feed me, so I finally accepted the potion.
No matter how much money you have, it’s still wasteful to use something this precious on me like this.
I drank the potion carefully, my expression screaming regret at the extravagance. The apple-flavored liquid slid smoothly down my throat.
The effect of ‘Calming Potion’ is applied.
Your body relaxes.
A buff is applied. You will hit 5% fewer off-key notes than usual.
‘So instead of hitting twenty off-key notes, I’ll only hit nineteen.’
Just one sip gave me this much of a buff. Now I understood why people were so obsessed with potions.
The tension that had gripped my body instantly melted away into drowsy comfort. It was incomparably better than any fatigue recovery potion.
As my body loosened, I suddenly realized just how much tension and worry I’d been carrying.
“How do you feel?”
“It’s so comfortable and wonderful… You really do get what you pay for with quality!”
“There’s still some left…”
“Please have some, senior! I didn’t let my lips touch it!”
Even one sip was an astronomical price by my standards. So I held out the bottle to him.
I really hadn’t let my lips touch it, but I could sense Jung Hwan-jae hesitating.
Why was he being so cautious? With an expression similar to his from moments before, I waited without backing down an inch.
“…It’s fine even if you do touch it with your lips.”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, no, I mean… it’s fine if I don’t drink any and you finish it all.”
“I’d still prefer to share it.”
There’s a saying about sharing even a single bean. My tension had already melted away completely, so I didn’t need more.
Jung Hwan-jae didn’t seem particularly tense, but I wanted him to drink it and be healthier for it.
I waited with an unyielding attitude, and eventually he relented, accepting the potion and finishing what remained.
“I received a buff that reduces my off-key notes. What about you, senior?”
“Hmm… I no longer receive buffs from potions at this level. They’re mainly provided to hunters who’ve recently registered.”
I made no effort to hide my disappointment. I’d thought it would help him somehow.
He tossed the empty potion bottle into the trash with the same expression as before.
“But it did calm me down.”
“You were tense though, right? Ugh, I got excited thinking I could help.”
“I’m always tense when I’m beside you.”
He spoke in a calm, blunt tone, but those words didn’t land lightly on me at all.
Always tense when beside me?
Was I the kind of person whose presence made others tense?
The few people I knew said that being around me actually eased their tension or gave them strength.
Especially Liri.
Liri said that being with me not only motivated her but made her genuinely happy. I’d been filling my self-esteem with that.
A dedicated healer who causes tension and requires so much hand management.
The worst.
“Liri?”
“Oh, no, it’s fine. I think my tension just melted away too much. I’m getting drowsy.”
I was subtly taken aback. Was he really saying that looking after me was nothing but a burden?
Sitting there in dejection, contemplating whether I should join the potion bottles in the trash, Jung Hwan-jae cautiously opened his mouth as if reading my mood.
“To continue where we left off earlier, if Dante insists on bringing us all the way into the dungeon, it seems the reason is likely due to the handler murders that have been a recurring problem.”
“…Handler murders?”
It wasn’t a topic I could simply brush aside while wallowing in despair.
I decided to postpone my tunnel-digging plans for now. Jung Hwan-jae’s expression had grown serious—this was clearly not a light matter to discuss.
“Yes, handlers force contractors to use Holy power excessively, or take a fatal blow meant for the contractor, leading to their dissolution.”
“Why would anyone do such a thing….”
“Because once they do, that hunter can no longer receive support from that handler. Simply put, it’s jealousy—though I’d rather not understand such psychology.”
He explained that this was happening to the rankers.
The mere thought of Liri dying in my place made my heart sink.
“So what should we do?”
Jung Hwan-jae fell silent for a moment before continuing. Whatever magic he used, the surroundings suddenly became completely soundproof.
“There’s an organization conducting these activities systematically.”
“Yes…?”
“And there’s a possibility that hunter Kim Kyung-hoon is connected to that influential organization.”

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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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