Was Happy Being a Despised F-Rank Healer, You Know? - Chapter 53
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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9. Final Dungeon (1)
Every time I see the energy of ice attributes, I feel it.
Quiet, sharp, and deep.
Three monsters appeared from beyond the corner of the maze.
Though it was a simulation, their movements were identical to real combat.
Yu Hee and Hyun I-seo moved forward simultaneously.
One fell immediately to Yu Hee’s sword strike, and I-seo subdued the other two with brief movements.
Their movements were so natural that I was momentarily dazed.
Only after the signal that it was over came did I follow behind them.
There was nothing at all for me to do.
This is the best.
Safe and quiet.
“Hali.”
Yuhan Seong suddenly called me from behind.
I was startled and turned my head.
“Yeah.”
“Don’t stay too far behind. You can’t leave our line of sight.”
“Yeah… I got it.”
I’m weak anyway.
Being weak, it’s right for me to stay in the back.
But why would he go so far as to say this?
Today, everything felt subtly unfamiliar.
The next area connected to the C Zone Upper Layer.
The terrain itself is simpler than the maze, but the monster patterns are more complex.
The Simulation Room only implements about half the level of actual patterns, but even that is enough to confuse beginners.
The team’s movement route became quite fast, so I breathed a little heavily trying to match the pace.
Running wasn’t a problem, but when I get nervous, my toes stiffen.
When that happens, I have to force myself to relax.
We had been climbing for a while.
Suddenly, the right wall shook.
A vibration occurred as if someone had pushed against it with a bang.
It was the signal for a simulation monster’s appearance.
“Behind Hali!”
Yu Hee’s voice shot up.
I reflexively ducked my body.
At that moment, a black form swept past over my head.
After the wind swept by once, the wall was gouged.
It was definitely an attack.
My heart beat loudly.
Yu Hee approached.
“Hali, are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
I exhaled once and quietly took out a potion bottle.
In case anyone was hurt, I needed to use it right away.
But no one was injured.
They responded instantly and blocked everything.
It was really a strong team.
I quietly put the potion back behind them.
Without anyone knowing.
The teacher spoke through the microphone.
“Good natural response up to the ascending area. Move to the next route.”
Praise came out.
That was because the team’s overall skill was good, not thanks to me.
However, the gazes of several students brushed over me.
There was something like slight doubt in them.
What is it.
What did they see.
I didn’t do anything.
Yuhan Seong spoke briefly from the front.
“We continue.”
We moved again.
When this training ends, the final team composition and dungeon entry schedule will be announced immediately.
The Final Dungeon had already begun, in a sense.
***
Final Dungeon entry day.
The morning air was strangely cold.
The entire school was bustling, but even within that noise, I felt an unfamiliar stillness.
The feeling that there was already a predetermined flow, whatever might happen.
It’s probably just my imagination.
‘Let’s just stay quiet today.’
I opened my bag and checked the potions once more.
The small bottles I had organized touched my fingertips one by one.
This should be enough.
If we can get through without anyone getting hurt.
All the students were already gathered on the playground.
Administration Bureau staff and guild officials were also visible.
There were more people than during regular final exams.
It must be because the dungeon difficulty has increased.
I stood quietly in the back.
“Hali.”
Yu Hee approached and tapped my shoulder.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
I smiled as always.
If you look weak, you become weaker.
Just quiet and unremarkable as usual.
Yuhan Seong was already talking with the teachers.
His expression was the same as always, but somehow more composed.
Lee Hae-sol was checking his gloves, and I-seo was keeping his head slightly lowered while staying alert.
Everyone was tense.
The dungeon entrance began to slowly open.
Black light burst out from inside.
It wasn’t a ceremonial effect but the actual trembling of the gate.
This is the moment when the danger of this world appears most vividly.
The teacher called out the team roster.
“Yuhan Seong’s team, move to Gate 3.”
Our group was called.
I took a deep breath and followed along.
Standing in front of the gate, wind flowed out as if backflowing from inside.
Suffocating air mixed with humidity and metallic scents.
My heart trembled just a little.
It was an unfamiliar, strange sensation.
“Going in.”
Yuhan Seong said from the front.
I followed right behind him, gripping my bag tightly.
Just a little.
I just need to follow a little behind.
The moment I stepped forward, the surroundings darkened.
The space inside the dungeon swallowed us all at once.
The floor was rough and the air flow was more irregular.
If it’s this difficult from the start, the difficulty level must be quite high.
Yuhan Seong scanned ahead first.
Lee Hae-sol slowly drew up the cold air around us.
I-seo was turning his head in a light stance.
Yu Hee gripped her sword handle again.
I quietly followed from behind.
Suddenly the front shook.
Dust settled and sounds lightly bounced.
I stopped walking, feeling like I knew what pattern this was.
This was the movement of a close-range ambush-type monster.
But even if I said something, it wouldn’t mean anything.
There’s no particular reason to believe me either.
Lee Hae-sol noticed first.
Ice energy spread across the floor like a sweep.
“Coming.”
Short words.
Yuhan Seong nodded.
Monsters burst out from the shadow gaps.
One.
Two.
Three.
Even if this wasn’t real combat, their reaction speed was just like real combat.
Hyun I-seo moved quickly and deflected the first attack.
Yu Hee twisted her body to block what was coming from the side.
Lee Hae-sol used cold air from behind to slow their movement speed.
Yuhan Seong put in a suppression move and blocked the front.
I held my breath from behind.
I needed to be ready to pull out potions if necessary.
Which potion should I take out first?
Stamina enhancement?
Recovery?
Detox?
Recovery first for now.
When I put my hand in, I quickly felt a small bottle.
At that moment, someone grabbed me from behind.
It was Yu Hee.
“Hali, it’s dangerous.”
“Okay.”
When the monster fell, the distinctive transition sound of the simulation room was heard.
And immediately the next pattern followed.
This is the Final Dungeon where A~S rank difficulties are mixed.
There are no easy sections.
“Keep moving forward.”
Yuhan Seong said briefly.
At those words, I matched my steps again.
If I stay too far behind, it might be dangerous again.
But if I get too close to the front, it’s even more dangerous.
I quietly maintained just that middle ground.
I have only one job.
When someone gets hurt, to run to them first and hand them a potion.
That’s all.
That was my way to survive in this dungeon.
As we moved deeper into the dungeon, the air gradually became heavier.
Not just humidity, but the energy itself felt like it was clinging damply.
So it became quieter.
It was an atmosphere where if you spoke, the sound would bounce off the walls.
‘Was there a section like this in the original work?’
I searched my memory but couldn’t recall exactly.
The original work I saw was combat-focused, but this current course was much more elaborate.
This might have been newly designed almost for real combat preparation.
There was a small water sound from behind.
No, it wasn’t water but footsteps.
Sounds like someone was intentionally hiding their presence while following us.
Yuhan Seong slowly turned his head.
“Behind.”
One word was enough.
I immediately grabbed my bag.
Lee Hae-sol flicked his fingers and spread cold energy.
A presence rippled from outside our field of vision.
It was a shadow-like monster.
At that moment, the monster climbed up the wall and jumped, falling toward the top of our group.
It was closer than expected.
If the processing speed was slightly slow, it would be close enough to immediately lead to injury.
My body reacted first.
I opened my bag and stepped forward while holding a recovery potion.
So I could use it right away if anyone got hit.
The monster’s claws tore through the air.
Yu Hee raised her sword upward, and I-seo dispersed the force from the side.
Lee Hae-sol created an ice foothold to change the falling angle.
Yuhan Seong grabbed the monster’s jaw at the precise timing and slammed it to the ground.
A collision sound echoed.
Only then did I exhale.
I quickly checked if anyone was hurt.
There wasn’t.
My usefulness was postponed again.
But that was much better.
“Hali, are you okay?”
I-seo asked while catching his breath.
“Yeah.”
I answered briefly.
If I said more than necessary, it felt like my concentration would be disrupted.
We moved a little further inside.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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