Was Happy Being a Despised F-Rank Healer, You Know? - Chapter 148

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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. Treading Shadows (10)

The evening air had settled in damp and heavy.
‘It’s been a while.’
I turned a potion bottle slowly in my palm, lost in thought.
I’d just locked up the shop and stepped outside.
There was no one around today.
It had been several days since I’d opened Lion’s Territory to all the Class 8 students. In that time, something unexpected had happened—I’d begun to have moments alone, perhaps because word had spread that I had dedicated guards.
‘They’re completely absorbed in training there now.’
Was it what you’d call a hunter’s hunting instinct?
Regardless of personality or background, they all seemed to share something primal, something animal. A sensibility in common.
I hadn’t noticed it much when it was just me and the Yuhan Seong Party, but now that they were all together, it became unmistakable.
That I was fundamentally different from them.
“…….”
[Contractor. The air is strange.]
[There are some brazen ones, Protagonist!]
I’d been thinking about my friends, who should be training in Lion’s Territory by now, when Erich and the Lion’s voices pulled me back to focus.
Right—this wasn’t the time to be dwelling on the fundamental differences between them and me.
‘I know.’
[Should we Manifest……?]
‘No. Wait a little longer.’
Erich clicked his tongue in disapproval.
The Lion rumbled as well.
But what could I do? I’d been laying groundwork these past few days—I couldn’t afford to lose my nerve at the last moment.
‘I was careful not to interfere with their training.’
This had to be it.
Yu Hee and Han Seong were starting to sense something was off.
For days now, Yu Hee had been saying she felt a strange presence. Yuhan Seong had glanced at me dozens of times, and I could feel he suspected what I was planning.
But since they hadn’t caught definitive proof, they’d only been nagging at Erich and the Lion.
As for them sticking to my side all day—I couldn’t bring myself to refuse outright.
But I’d been sensing it too.
More eyes on me.
A presence following behind with each step I took.
Eyes gleaming in building shadows were multiplying steadily.
‘Not eyes from the academy students, are they?’
[Yes…….]
The Lion answered dejectedly.
After learning what had happened between Han Yi and me, for whatever reason, he’d begun pushing the students training in his territory harder. Some of them gritted their teeth when they saw him, but the Lion paid them no mind. And he’d become adorably sulky while helping with my plan.
A few students gnashed their teeth when they saw the Lion, but he paid them no mind. And he’d often sulk like this while helping with my plan.
‘Don’t worry. I’m not dying.’
[…….]
[…….]
Neither of them replied—it wasn’t the answer they wanted.
I laughed awkwardly and turned down an alley between two buildings.
A nearly empty section opened up before me.
A place where they stored miscellaneous junk, with a few warehouses—somewhere students rarely ventured, so it was usually deserted.
For assassins, the timing was perfect.
I pretended to have business there, unlocking one of the warehouse padlocks with a key I’d brought beforehand.
Wind scraping across the metal door creaked.
Then a low voice came.
“That’s far enough.”
I stopped.
And slowly turned my head.
People were emerging from both sides of the alley.
One.
Two.
Three…….
More than ten.
‘Moving without a trace.’
Before leaving the shop, I’d drunk every special potion I could prepare.
That’s why Erich and the Lion were sulking now.
They’d sensed I was trying to do this without using them.
‘I should have told you first. Sorry. Next time I’ll tell you ahead of time.’
Even if the Lion didn’t mind, Erich had been looking forward to a fight—he had reason to be disappointed.
Both let out sighs at the same time. Their breathing was surprisingly well-matched……?
I narrowed my eyes in thought. Then, watching the ten people who’d arrived soundlessly, I spoke softly.
“The Yoo Clan. Am I right?”
At that, several of them let out strange laughs.
The man standing at the front spoke.
“Has Yu Hee disclosed the clan’s confidential affairs to you?”
“That can’t be. I just studied hard.”
“Studied?”
“I frequent the Ancient Book Library.”
I decided to play along with his demand for a fuller explanation.
‘They’ve judged they can kill me anytime and are showing off their leisure.’
They must already know how I use potions, yet they’re acting like this—which meant my potions weren’t a threat to them.
‘Maybe they’re belittling special potions.’
Were they all just kids?
“It seems the succession of the heir hasn’t been completely decided on Yu Hee.”
The air in the alley wavered slightly.
“So Yu Hee really……!”
“No, that’s not it. Like I said—I studied hard.”
“If you don’t give us a proper explanation, you’ll die painfully.”
A harsh, ragged voice threw a threat from the other side.
“The thing is, I’m not someone worth targeting for assassination. Simple kidnapping would be another matter.”
“…….”
“And these assassins, moving without the slightest trace, in such perfect unison—impressive that they infiltrated Narin Academy at all. To hunt students inside without being caught, to move like this…… How many assassins like that could exist in the world?”
Perhaps because I was praising the Yoo Clan, the sharp atmosphere among the killers seemed to ease slightly.
…… Right. They really are just kids.
“But twelve seems excessive. And honestly, if there’s a reason people pay attention to me, it’s probably not me myself but my surroundings. Conveniently, one of my friends is Yu Hee.”
“Hah.”
“Why kill someone close to Yu Hee? Now that I think about it—I’ve never wronged the Yoo Clan. So it’s not a grudge. That leaves one possibility.”
“You studied ancient texts, so you’d learn our methods. But how did you know the Yoo Clan still selects heirs using the old ways?”
“I didn’t.”
I answered with a faint smile.
“I was just testing the waters. You all seem young. You reacted just the way I hoped, confirming it with your own words.”
“……!”
They all hesitated. Not even flinching is an accomplishment.
These kids couldn’t be more than middle school age, even at the oldest.
Their bodies might be adult-sized, but that was likely an illusion.
Though I couldn’t afford to underestimate them.
Then someone in the back burst out laughing.
“Look at that? Quite the entertaining girl, isn’t she?”
Weren’t there only ten?
[Twelve.]
Erich spoke belatedly, in a flat tone.
As if he’d been hoping I’d call on him.
…… To be honest, even if not the Lion, I wasn’t sure what Erich could do right now.
Even if he moved, it would be with this body—and as you can see, this body is just a defenseless F-rank Healer.
“Plaything material? Really, the Mistress’s toys are on a different level. Can’t we just take this one?”
“Go ahead and try. Then I’ll kill you along with her.”
Behind the mischievous voice came another figure stepping forward. The twelfth member of the Yoo Clan.
A sword hung across his shoulder.
Unusual for an assassin’s weapon, but the way the air didn’t shift at all made him seem even more dangerous.
“See, rabbit. We each formed our own teams. Whoever brings in the biggest achievement becomes the heir—we put quite a bit of effort into it.”
I fell silent for a moment.
Rabbit? What’s that supposed to mean?
“And?”
“My team was just missing one thing, and you’d fit perfectly. Too bad.”
Several people behind the playful one laughed in unison. They must be his team members.
Too bad meant they’d already decided to kill me.
I asked flatly.
“You talk a lot. That’s disappointing.”
“F-rank Healer Jin Hali. Admitted to Narin Academy through special healer selection. Seems to have some debt too. Currently, half of the most watched prospective hunters think you’re important.”
Half the most watched prospective hunters probably meant all of third year combined.
“My friends are really excellent.”
“Friends? You’re naive enough to believe in something like that? Well, since you’re a toy, I suppose it’s fine.”
At the mischievous one’s words, the assassin who’d appeared twelfth spoke sharply.
“If we kill you, I wonder if the Mistress will become sincere.”
What on earth was that supposed to mean?
‘Does he mean Yu Hee genuinely wants them dead?’
But whatever that statement had touched, all twelve of them fell silent at once.
A strange understanding settling between them.
I couldn’t help but look at them strangely.
I was seeing something in them that reminded me of Erich and the Lion, sulking at me right now. Was I imagining it?

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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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