I Became the Only Healer in the Academy - Chapter 3
His heart might feel at ease, but if he can’t actually use the obtained ability, it’s useless.
Although Seonghyun is a bit stronger than the ordinary person, dealing with pain every time he heals could be mentally challenging as much as it is physically demanding.
“I should go to the academy first thing tomorrow.”
In the end, the only remaining option was to go to the academy.
Announcing the manifestation of his ability and receiving support would befit the value of his ability.
“I need to buy equipment.”
To use this slightly twisted ability, he needed to ensure that he didn’t feel any pain.
He had to purchase equipment that either ignored pain or eliminated the side effects of his ability.
“I probably won’t find something that completely eliminates that side effect, so I’ll have to buy something pain-resistant.”
It wouldn’t be cheap, but he could afford it if he received the support from the academy.
He doesn’t know exactly how the academy will evaluate his ability, but it was quite a unique skill, so he should be able to receive support equivalent to a top-tier ability.
“Hmm… the academy…”
A massive building stood in front of Seonghyun.
It was none other than the academy building.
In a world where gates appeared, and monsters began to emerge, the academy, built in response to these phenomena, boasted more prestige than any other building.
“Hello.”
“Welcome. This is the academy.”
“I’m here to report the manifestation of my ability.”
At the mention of reporting a manifestation, the academy staff’s eyes widened in surprise as they congratulated Seonghyun.
“A manifestation? Congratulations! You’ve truly been blessed with great fortune!”
“Haha, thank you.”
“The Manifestation Application Center is all the way to the left. Just go straight in.”
“Thank you.”
The Manifestation Application Center was tucked away in a corner on the first floor of the building.
Since manifestation itself was an exceedingly rare occurrence, and because everyone who wasn’t an academy student had to use the Association’s Manifestation Application Center, there were very few employees in charge for that.
“Hello.”
The door opened, and his head was extended out to greet, and upon confirming the interior, the person inside, who appeared to be the manager, was busy looking at their computer monitor with a bored expression.
“Are you the person managing here?”
“Yes, did you come here about the ability manifestation?”
The manager spoke without even glancing at Seonghyun.
“Yes.”
“Please fill out the application form over there.”
Seonghyun quickly filled out the form and handed it to the manager.
“Of course you must be an academy student… Oh? You’re a first-year? Well… I’m envious.”
“Haha… I was just lucky.”
“Let’s see… the new ability you possessed previously… locating weak or vital spots? Hmm… and the one you’ve manifested…”
With a finger propping up the chin, the manager had been reading the application form with a bored expression until they suddenly sat up straight at the last line.
“Heal…ing?”
“Yes, healing.”
The manager scratched their head, taking a moment to assess the situation.
“Uh, is this healing the same as the healing I’m familiar with, you know, the one that helps people recover?”
“Yes, that’s correct… is there some issue?”
“Oh, no, it’s not that, but I just need to report to the higher-ups for a moment…”
The manager frantically looked around, then grabbed their own cell phone that was in a corner, and was headed to leave the room.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll finish this call quickly and be back.”
“Okay.”
The manager hurriedly headed outside the academy.
Then, they entered an alleyway, looked around nervously, and soon made a phone call.
“Hello?”
“Yes, what’s going on? The supervisor has left for a moment.”
“Well, it’s just that I have something to report.”
The academy’s Manifestation Center and the Association’s Manifestation Center were interconnected.
Even if students have graduated from the academy and engage in guild activities, due to the Association’s constraints, it was interconnected because all the hunters in this country were subjected to them.
“Is it something urgent? It’s lunchtime now…”
“It’s very, very urgent.”
“…”
Despite a slightly irritated complaint faintly heard over the phone, there was no refusal.
“Please go ahead and tell me the details. When the supervisor returns, I’ll pass it along.”
“Ahh… Alright. A student from the academy has come to the Manifestation Center for a manifestation report.”
“Yes, and?”
“But the ability in question is… healing.”
“What did you say? Are you sure you didn’t misread it? Healing?”
“I’m sure.”
“Have you verified it? Have you?”
“I haven’t confirmed it yet, but do you think an academy student would lie about something like this, risking expulsion? Please pass this to your manager!”
“Oh, yes, yes! Understood.”
As it was now a matter beyond the academy’s administration, the manager anxiously awaited the call, fidgeting nervously.
“It’s here.”
As expected, the phone rang immediately.
The Association’s manager immediately grasped the seriousness of the situation.
“Hello?”
“I-Is it really true? That a healing ability has manifested? Where are you right now? Oh, it’s the academy, right? Is the student with you? You said you haven’t personally confirmed it yet?”
“P-Please, take it slow. As you’ve been informed, it is true.”
“I’ll go there right now. I’ll be there in 10 minutes.”
“Then, we’ll ensure the ability verification process is ready.”
“Yes.”
The manager hung up the phone and took a deep breath.
“Healing, healing…”
Despite the countless resources and time spent by researchers, no abilities related to healing had ever emerged.
There were no hunters that could create potions, so many hunters were growing weary with time passing.
“It’s not about how strong the ability is.”
Just the fact that a hunter with healing capabilities had appeared would give strength to many.
“I’ll go in for now.”
Since Seonghyun was waiting, the manager didn’t waste any more time and went inside.
“Oh, you’ve been waiting for a while, haven’t you? I apologize. We’ll proceed with the procedure right away.”
The manager received Seonghyun’s application and filled it out on the computer.
“First, the magic power measurement is Grade 5, but… would you like to re-measure it?”
“While I don’t feel much of a difference in my magic power… should I try it anyway?”
“Of course. The measurement method has changed slightly from before. Now we no longer need to draw blood. If you enter that device over there, we’ll begin the re-measurement.”
“Okay.”
Seonghyun entered the device in front of him.
“Then let’s begin. Absolutely do not open your eyes! You could go blind!”
As soon as the manager finished speaking, a strange energy began to envelop Seonghyun’s body.
It went through every corner of his body a few times.
“It’s all done.”
In less than five minutes, the re-measurement of his magic power was completed, and Seonghyun, who had just come out of the device, asked the manager.
“Has anything changed?”
“Well, you did go up from 5th grade to 4th grade in just under 5 minutes. Those who re-manifest usually experience an increase in magic power that matches the strength of the new ability they gain, so that seems likely to be the case.”
The manager conveyed the results of the magic power measurement to Seonghyun.
“Now… it’s time to demonstrate your ability.”
“Oh, okay.”
Seonghyun responded and took a box cutter from his pocket.
“Alright, let’s begin.”
“…Okay.”
The manager swallowed nervously, watching Seonghyun’s finger getting cut.
Seonghyun placed his hand on his own finger and concentrated.
‘Healing my own wounds like this, I don’t feel any pain.’
Confirming this new fact, he slowly opened his eyes, and just like when he healed his finger earlier, the drops of blood were gradually evaporating.
“Oh, wow…!”
A surprised exclamation escaped from the manager, but Seonghyun didn’t break his concentration.
‘It’s become much more natural.’
At that moment, loud footsteps and a voice could be heard from outside.
“Is that person still…!”
As soon as the manager from the Association entered and directly witnessed Seonghyun’s ability, they froze in place.
“It’s done.”
It was only about ten seconds, but for the two people in this room, it felt longer.
“Finally, finally, a possessor of healing ability…!”
The Association’s manager clenched both hands and, looking at Seonghyun, extended one hand.
“It is very nice to meet you. I’m Kim, in charge of the Association’s Manifestation Center. Please feel free to call me manager Kim.”
“Oh, yes. I’m Kim Seonghyun, a first-year student at the Academy.”
“A first-year…”
“Is there any procedure left that i need to do?”
“N-No. It’s already done. I just need to submit the application form and results of the assessment to the Association Manifestation Center.”
The Association manager smiled and replied.
“Well, I’ve already seen it with my own eyes, so if you just hand over the paperwork as a formality, we can consider it done.”
“Alright, then. Can I go now?”
“Of course.”
“Okay, I’ll be on my way.”
As Seonghyun was about to leave after bidding farewell, the Academy manager stopped him and said.
“You’re applying for the Academy, right?”
“Yes.”
“In that case, taking this with you will speed up the process. Without the Manifestation Results Certificate, it can be quite a hassle.”
The Academy manager handed Seonghyun a certificate regarding today’s magic assessment and ability manifestation.
“Thank you.”
Shortly after, Seonghyun left the room, and the two managers sat down. Their expressions had become slightly more serious compared to a moment ago as they faced each other.
“This ability. Will you announce this?”
The Academy manager asked with a slightly worried look, glancing at the Association manager.
“If this was the past, it might have been appropriate to keep it hidden… but now those times have changed.”
In an era where people used to restrain each other’s powers, they could have found a way to keep it under wraps, but it was no longer that era.
Since the essences obtainable from the magical creatures of the gates held significant value, the allocation of these gates created in smaller nations was done in accordance with the country’s status.
“It’s a transcendent ability. You’re aware of the current situation in South Korea, right?”
“Hmm…”
As the Association manager said, the current status of South Korea was not particularly high. While there were many high-level hunters, there was a lack of overwhelmingly powerful ones.
“We must take this opportunity for the nation’s status to rise.”
“But before that, you should take a look at this first…”
The Academy manager handed Seonghyun’s application to the Association manager with a sad expression.
“What is it…”
“Please take a look at the bottom line.”
The Association manager’s eyes moved to the bottom of the document, where there was an unsettling line.
[Side effects include experiencing the pain of the treated subject]
“Furthermore, it says that healing major injuries is impossible. Wouldn’t announcing it to the people just lead to embarrassment…”
Continuing to gaze at the document, the Association manager looked at the Academy manager with a determined expression and said something.
