Leveling Up Alone

This time around, one of the new skills Han-Yeol received was one that he could use during combat, but his joy was fully focused on the ‘Restore’ skill. Han-Yeol thought as he clenched his fist. ‘Ah… finally… I can finally treat father’s illness…!’

The description of ‘Restore’ stated that it had the ability to not only heal physical injuries but also illnesses caused by contaminated mana as well. Han-Yeol was now certain, after reading the skill’s description, that his father’s illness was caused by mana contamination.

‘Ah… Heuk…! Heuk…! Ahhh…’ Han-Yeol cried, large droplets of tears falling from his eyes. He thought that all of the tears he could have cried for his father had already dried up, but the floodgates of his eyes opened as he burst into tears once again. He cried for quite a while before he calmed down and called his father.

Ring… Ring… Ring…

[Hello? What’s the matter, Han-Yeol?]

“Where are you, father?” Han-Yeol asked.

[I’m at the pool place, of course. Where else would I be? Ah, you should come by and see the place. I might be the owner of the place, but you are technically my investor. So, shouldn’t you at least see how the interior construction is going?]

“Should I drop by?” Han-Yeol said.

[You should. I’ve always wanted to show you the place before we officially open it. Can you come right now?]

“Yes, I can. Can you please message me the location?” Han-Yeol said.

[Alright. Oh, don’t even think about buying something on the way. We haven’t opened yet, and we don’t have space here right now.]

Beep…!

“Ah… There’s really no stopping father…” Han-Yeol muttered after ending the call.

Han-Yeol checked the address that was sent to him through a message, and he drove there with the van that he had recently purchased. He soon spotted a familiar car that he had previously purchased parked in front of a building where there was construction going on on the second floor. He thought, ‘The location isn’t that bad.’

The building was not located in the city center, but it was still a place that had a lot of foot traffic. In fact, Han-Yeol was actually relieved that it was not located in the city center. The area where his father had chosen to open the pool place mostly had restaurants instead of bars or pubs, which meant that his father would not have to struggle with drunk customers coming to his shop.

Han-Yeol used the stairs instead of the elevator, since it was located on the second floor.

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

The busy sounds of ongoing construction could be heard once Han-Yeol reached the second floor, and the sounds of hammering and drilling filled the place.

“Ah, Han-Yeol. Come over here,” Han-Yeol’s father said.

“When is the construction going to finish?” Han-Yeol asked.

“It will finish by next month, according to the man in charge. How is it? Isn’t it nice?” his father asked.

“Yes, the location is good, and the interior seems to be coming along nicely as well. The other facilities seem to be good as well so I think it can be quite profitable once you open it,” Han-Yeol replied.

Han-Yeol did not really give it much thought when his father had mentioned wanting to open a pool place, but he realized after visiting that his father seemed to have put a lot of thought and effort into his business. His father had planned things out so thoroughly that even Han-Yeol, who did not have any knack for business, could tell at a single glance that it was going to be a profitable business.

“Oh right, can you give me a few minutes of your time, father?” Han-Yeol asked.

“Sure, I’m just standing here to watch over the construction anyway, but what is this about?” his father asked.

“I recently found a way to cure your illness, and I want to cure you, father,” Han-Yeol replied.

“Is what you are saying true…?” his father asked in surprise.

“Yes,” Han-Yeol replied.

Han-Yeol’s father was aware that Han-Yeol had been healing him when he was asleep. It was not all the time, but there had been quite a few times that he had woken up from sensing Han-Yeol’s approach. He was also aware that Han-Yeol had been frustrated by the fact that his illness was not getting cured.

To be honest, he was feeling more relieved by the fact that he was no longer going to be a burden to his son, rather than the fact that his illness could be cured.

‘Han-Yeol… you don’t have to be tied down by me anymore. You can go and live your life now,’ his father thought. His heart felt lighter now that he was no longer a burden to his one and only precious son.

Han-Yeol went to a room café[1] nearby and booked a corner room. He placed his hand on his father’s left chest, which was where his heart was at, and used his skill. He activated his skill with full anticipation. ‘Restore!’

Woooong…

A sound incomparably fuller, and mana that was denser than when used ‘Heal’ before, resonated as Han-Yeol infused his mana into his father. Then, the ‘Restore’ skill started to clash against the lump of black mana that clung to his father’s heart.

Han-Yeol’s forehead had beads of sweat as he focused all of his senses on the battle against the lump of black mana.

‘Han-Yeol…’ his father thought with a bittersweet feeling in his heavy heart. He felt sorry for his son, but he was thankful at the same time. ‘I wonder when this immature little kid grew up so fast.’

His son had met the wrong parents and could not live a normal life. He cursed himself day and night for getting sick with this damned illness just when he thought he could provide a better life for his son. However, his son had grown up well and had become a Hunter despite meeting a useless father like him; but above all, Han-Yeol was a very filial son. His young immature son had suddenly grown up into such an outstanding young man.

Han-Yeol’s father closed his eyes and thought that he would have no lingering regrets even if his son failed to cure his illness and if he died right here and now. He suddenly thought, ‘Although it’s a shame that I won’t be able to see my grandkids…’

Tears started welling up in Han-Yeol’s father’s eyes, and his tears fell on Han-Yeol’s arm. However, Han-Yeol did not seem to have noticed it, since he was entirely focused on his struggle against the lump of black mana.

‘I got it!’ Han-Yeol exclaimed inwardly.

There was one thing that his father misunderstood: the ‘Restore’ skill that Han-Yeol used was not a gamble-type of skill that came with risks.

Mana filled with healing properties flowed from Han-Yeol’s hands and started to slowly move the lump of black mana just as it was described in the skill’s description.

‘So you finally decided to move! I will completely get rid of you this time!’ Han-Yeol exclaimed inwardly as he steeled his resolve. He looked at the lump of black mana as if it was his lifelong nemesis that took everything from him, and he was on the verge of exterminating the lump of black mana that almost took his entire world through his ‘Restore’ skill.

There was no room for mercy.

Wooooong!!!

Han-Yeol increased his mana’s density as he used every single one of his one hundred fifty MAG stat.

Squirm…! Squirm!

“Keuk!” Han-Yeol’s father groaned. The lump of black mana that clung to his heart as if it was its own, or rather its own house, caused excruciating pain to him when Han-Yeol tried to pull it out.

However, this was the lump of black mana making a final stand. It held on for dear life, but Han-Yeol pressed on as he felt that it was going to be better for him to finish this in one go instead of doing it progressively. He was certain that his father was going to suffer even more if he failed to cure the illness this time. In fact, he had no idea what that thing would do if it was almost exterminated but survived.

‘Just give up already!’ Han-Yeol exclaimed inwardly.

Pukeok!

There was no actual sound, but the lump of black mana finally detached itself from Han-Yeol’s father’s heart.

“Hoo… Hoo…” Han-Yeol’s breathing was ragged.

‘This is not the end of it. I can only say it’s completely cured if I manage to expel it from father’s body,’ Han-Yeol thought as he carefully enveloped the lump of black mana with his own mana. His experience of controlling his own mana through various situations helped him a lot this time. Focusing all of his senses on his mana, he thought, ‘Slowly… I have to slowly extract it out.’

Han-Yeol had the option of carefully guiding the lump of black mana through his father’s blood vessels before leading it all the way down to his fingertips or toes. However, he was concerned that the lump of black mana might break apart and spread all over his father’s body. There was also the concern of leaving some traces of it behind and making the illness relapse again. Therefore, Han-Yeol decided to take the drastic measure and directly extract it.

‘It’s not easy even with ‘Restore’… I thought it would be easy like the heal they use in novels or video games,’

Han-Yeol grumbled.

The limitations of reality made it much more difficult than he expected things to be. However, Han-Yeol did not give up. He collected his breath and slowly started to extract the lump of black mana from his father’s chest.

Wooooong!!!

“Keuhup!”

Of course, his father was still in excruciating pain throughout the process.

‘Please hang on just a little bit more, father. It will be over soon,’ Han-Yeol thought.

Chwaak!

‘It’s over!’ Han-Yeol exclaimed inwardly. He successfully extracted the lump of black mana that desperately clung to his father after battling against it for five minutes.

“Finally!” Han-Yeol rejoiced.

Squirm… Squirm…!

The lump of black mana desperately squirmed as if it was trying to escape. In fact, it appeared to be looking for another host to infect rather than trying to run away.

Han-Yeol wrapped the squirming lump of black mana with his own before he set it ablaze by using his skill ‘Fire Attribute’.

Kieeeeeek!!

The sight of Han-Yeol using his mana to burn the lump of black mana seemed like a holy fire of justice burning evil darkness.

‘Finally…’ Han-Yeol thought. It was finally over. The source of his father’s suffering and his heartache over the past five years was finally gone.

“Cough! Cough!” Han-Yeol's father violently coughed. He felt awkward at the sudden disappearance of the parasite that had been living in his heart for the past five years, even though it was something that sucked away at his life force.

“Are you alright, father?” Han-Yeol asked with a concerned look.

“Ugh… Y-Yes… Is it finally cured…?” his father weakly asked in response.

Han-Yeol’s father saw it as well. He saw the lump of black mana emerging from his chest, and he also saw his son burn the hideous-looking thing like he was burning an insect. He thought proudly, ‘That’s my son.’

“Yes, father. It is finished,” Han-Yeol replied as he tightly hugged his father. He no longer had to worry about the lump of black mana going on a rampage and killing his father, and his father was now going to be able to live normally just like anyone else without having to be worried about his health. With tears in his eyes, he cried out, “Father… Father…!”

“Yes, my son. My beloved son,” his father replied as he patted Han-Yeol’s back.

“You can now do whatever you want. You can even drink and travel as well,” Han-Yeol said.

“Yes. Yes, I can,” his father replied with a warm smile as he continued patting Han-Yeol’s back.

“You can also remarry a beautiful woman now as well,” Han-Yeol jokingly added.

“What did you say…?” his father said. His face slightly crumpled at Han-Yeol’s words. It was a normal reaction for anyone, since it was not common for someone to say such a joke in these kinds of situations. His father exclaimed, “Han-Yeol… You!”

“Yes, father?” Han-Yeol replied.

“You…! Can’t you do something about my balding then?” his father asked.

“H-Huh…?” Han-Yeol was dumbfounded at his father’s words. He expected his father to rebuke him or say something serious, but instead, his father was talking about his balding. Han-Yeol weakly laughed as he felt all of his tension from a while ago disappeared, and then he asked, “Do you really have to fix your balding? You are still cool regardless, father.”

“What did you say? Don’t you know balding is genetically inherited? Oh, I see. You seem to want to be bald too. Let me speed it up a bit and shave your head right now!” his father fiercely responded.

“Ah! Father! Please calm down. I will find a way to fix your balding, so please calm down!” Han-Yeol urgently replied.

“Hoho. You should’ve said so earlier,” his father replied with a satisfied smile.

Han-Yeol’s father changed his mind about shaving Han-Yeol’s head after receiving multiple reassurances from his son, who planned to find a cure for his baldness.

“Hahaha!”

“Hehehe!”

What followed was a hearty laugh filled with happiness by the father and son duo. It seemed that spring had finally come for them, and the winds of favor have started to blow their way.

1. A room café is a café partitioned into rooms. These have been quite a hot topic these days for various reasons, but it is quite a versatile place since some of them have TVs, computers, beds, and all. ☜