Was Happy Being a Despised F-Rank Healer, You Know? - Chapter 139

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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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17. Chasing Shadows (1)

A week flew past like an arrow.
As the frequency of dungeon entries decreased, the students threw themselves into class-by-class training drills during their free time.
The overall shift toward greater familiarity was visible to the naked eye.
“It’s starting to feel like an actual school now.”
I mumbled while tilting my head, and Lee Hae-sol, who was today’s casual staff member, smiled faintly.
“Either way, you’re making way too much money.”
I smiled back at him, calculated today’s earnings, and muttered with a troubled expression.
Lee Hae-sol tilted his head.
“Troublingly much?”
“Yeah.”
I wasn’t only selling to the students.
The teachers were getting hurt a lot lately while checking dungeons, so I’d been sending some through my homeroom teacher.
But apparently, instead of just giving it away, he sold it.
“I got scolded when I told him to just give it away, so there’s that.”
As I relayed the anecdote about my homeroom teacher with a dejected air, Lee Hae-sol spoke in his characteristic measured tone.
“I think your teacher’s point is valid.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“If you start just giving things to teachers, it becomes hard to draw boundaries later.”
“That’s true too.”
“He’s a good person, isn’t he?”
“My homeroom teacher?”
“Yeah.”
“Absolutely!”
I felt a fresh wave of amazement comparing my teacher from the beginning to how he is now.
And filled with enthusiasm, I eagerly told Lee Hae-sol just how wonderful my homeroom teacher was.
“He’s the one who let me borrow the Manufacturing Room in the first place. He just gave me this bag. And besides…….”
“Besides?”
I hesitated a moment before speaking softly.
“It doesn’t seem like my situation should have worked out this cleanly. Which means he must have put in effort behind the scenes, right?”
Lee Hae-sol studied me intently, then his lips moved slightly before he spoke.
“You read situations well, Hali. I notice it every time.”
“Me? I’ve never heard that before.”
“Really. And I think your guess is right.”
“Right? Ugh. I need to repay his kindness somehow. But it still seems difficult.”
As I let out an exclamation, Lee Hae-sol looked at me.
“I’ve been gathering too much money lately, which was worrying me. But thinking about using it for a gift for the teacher makes it seem insufficient.”
I laughed playfully to myself, saying “Human nature! How mercenary!” and Lee Hae-sol burst into laughter.
I watched that face and, grinning broadly, said,
“I really like it when you smile like that, Lee Hae-sol.”
You look like someone who’s cast off all worries and concerns—liberation and happiness radiate from you.
…….
Lee Hae-sol’s eyes went wide in shock as he simply gazed at me without speaking.
“Come on, let’s go. Today is finally the day we decided to train there!”
“……Hasn’t it been decided yet, though?”
Lee Hae-sol responded softly, his voice catching slightly.
“I’ve been observing for a week, and I haven’t caused any harm to the students.”
“That’s true, but I haven’t found evidence solid enough to trust you with them.”
At his gentle but firm tone, I let out a troubled sound, and Lee Hae-sol gave a short laugh.
Then he naturally shifted how our joined hands were held, taking the initiative, and walked beside me as he spoke.
“Still, if you want this, just tell me. It’s your matter. And we’re weak against you.”
“……You, what—why do you say things like that so casually?”
“Hali’s blushing. Do you have a fever?”
“Lee Hae-sol!”
How rare—Lee Hae-sol joking around.
Among our group, he was the least inclined to humor or jest, which made us laugh even harder.
As we left the Old School Building, sunlight landed on Lee Hae-sol’s hair as he smiled so wide his cheeks lifted.
Usually it looks jet-black with a cool tone, but in the light it shimmers with a subtle blue—beautiful.
I stood there and gazed into Lee Hae-sol’s eyes, which held a color far more mysterious and profound than even his hair.
Seeing him turn toward me in confusion and tilt his head, I spoke.
“When you’re in shadow, you look mysterious, but when you’re in bright light like this, you practically glow.”
“……What?”
“If a mermaid prince from the deep sea became human, I bet it’d be exactly like this.”
“W-what, I—”
“You’re blushing!”
I mouthed “revenge” and laughed, while Lee Hae-sol let out a sound between a sigh and a laugh.
“You two certainly play well together.”
It was Hyun I-seo.
Hyun I-seo was approaching from the opposite direction with Yu Hee.
“We have something to do today.”
“Just the two of you?”
Dangerous!
“Yeah. It’s a small dungeon.”
“Ah, I see.”
With a small dungeon, even if the rank varied, the danger margin was relatively contained.
“I made sure to bring the Potion Set you gave me, so don’t worry.”
“Good. Really good!”
I naturally released Lee Hae-sol’s hand and swept Yu Hee into an embrace, speaking cheerfully—Yu Hee burst into bright laughter.
“Our Hali’s so cute.”
“You’re cute and pretty and cool all at once, Yu Hee!”
As Yu Hee and I cooed over each other like adults egging on a child, Hyun I-seo gazed at distant mountains with a wistful expression.
“I want to escape. ……Wait, don’t come closer. Don’t.”
A few days back, after witnessing this kind of exchange between Yu Hee and me, Hyun I-seo had made that comment with a completely drained expression.
With that kind of energy, we should walk a step apart from each other.
When he said just watching it exhausted him, Yu Hee and I felt the mischief spark to life.
And now—
“Nooo! One step! Jin Hali!”
“Come on, why not. Let’s hold hands and go!”
“Ugh, seriously.”
Hyun I-seo whimpered adorably and frowned.
But he didn’t let go of our joined hands.
Then Yu Hee propped her chin on Hyun I-seo’s shoulder and said,
“That’s right, Hyun I-seo. You can’t be so shy with friends—it won’t work.”
“Why are you and I friends, nooooooo!”
“You’re reacting like you just touched a cockroach. Want me to put you out of your misery?”
Put him out of his misery—not even kill him?
Lee Hae-sol and I both pressed our lips shut and averted our eyes, while Hyun I-seo surrendered peacefully and entrusted his hand to Yu Hee.
“If you want me, take me then, you demon.”
“Take you……. Hehe.”
Just as the conflict escalated and Hyun I-seo was about to be buried alive in humiliation,
the open field near the Library we’d agreed to meet at came into view.
“Looks like Yuhan Seong and Gong Seo-yun haven’t arrived yet.”
“We still have five minutes.”
“Then……. Wait!”
I released Hyun I-seo’s wavering hand and summoned my Domain.
It was a proof method I’d conceived just in case.
Evidence that Erich, the lion, and the Baridegi Dungeon would bring me no harm.
Soon the Baridegi’s Domain filled the open field.
Far lusher than what I’d shown Yu Hee before—herbs and grasses arrayed in beautiful, wild harmony.
This wasn’t even the whole of it, but this much should be enough.
“Wow…….”
“Hali, it’s gotten even more……. Beautiful.”
“……There’s probably no one in the world who could acquire an herb garden like this, no matter what price they paid.”
I spoke to the three people marveling at it.
“I had help from the lion and Erich. Right, you two?”
[Honestly, I’m starting to wonder if there’s anything left for me to help with.]
[U-um, I haven’t done anything, have I……?]
Erich was deliberately channeling his mana at my request so his voice would reach the people around me.
He said it was fine as long as he gathered the mana, and readily agreed.
Out of gratitude, I gave him three High-grade Potions.
I grinned as I watched Erich’s reluctant-toned response and the lion’s confused reaction.
Pleased by their answers, I winked at my three friends, whose faces had softened slightly.
Just then, Yuhan Seong and Gong Seo-yun parted the Five-Colored Delmoksiri Grass that had grown up to an adult’s waist and approached.
“Wow, Hali. Just wandering around here could take the whole day.”
“It probably won’t be enough. There are lots of hidden spots. When you see the boundaries with the Bennet Puppy Trees, there’s even a Gold Coin Thief.”
“Gold, Coin?”
“What’s that?”
Everyone drew closer, their interest kindled.
Yuhan Seong seemed to be marveling at this Domain more than anyone else. His silvery eyes, more dizzying than ever, held an emotion approaching not just amazement but genuine awe.
He too felt drawn by my words.
“Amazing.”
After thanking him for the single word, we all headed toward the base of that tree.
As I gently scattered the soil beneath the Bennet Puppy Tree with my fingers, there it was—a single Gold Coin, resting there quite plainly.

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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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