NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23
Chapter 24
“Just a little pain, okay? You doing alright?”
Choi Yeon-woo nodded dutifully. Despite visiting on this golden weekend, the Academy’s resident healer, Na Yang-ho, swiftly bustled around the infirmary gathering supplies, determined to treat her without a hint of displeasure.
“Thank you.”
“Yeah, okay, just hold still now.”
“Yes….”
It was unexpected to see the ever-gentle Na Yang-ho scold her with a stern tone. Who would have thought a day would come when the industry’s famous smiling saint would reprimand her?
As Na Yang-ho sterilized her arms and wrapped them in bandages, Yeon-woo cautiously asked what had been on her mind since before her regression.
“You’re a healer, aren’t you?”
“Huh? That’s right. Haven’t you heard my name before?”
“I have, but… as a healer, why don’t you use Divine Art and just do… um, regular medical stuff first?”
“Oh, that’s a common question. It’s simple.”
Finishing up with the antiseptic, she exclaimed, “All done!” and gave Yeon-woo’s shoulder a light smack.
It hurt since the nerves weren’t blocked. Yeon-woo winced and shrunk away as Na Yang-ho organized the antiseptics.
“Divine Art is, as the name suggests, a power close to miracles, but it’s not omnipotent.”
“Oh, really…?”
“Of course! If it were omnipotent, why couldn’t you reattach limbs without surgery, or bring back the dead? You might be young and not know yet, but in this world, nothing comes without a cost.”
Yeon-woo thought she was relatively informed, but didn’t voice that. Na Yang-ho gently patted her head, perhaps contemplating something as she watched Yeon-woo remain quiet.
“So that’s why I also do regular treatments. It reduces the cost, but speeds up recovery. There’s no reason not to, right?”
As she spoke, Na Yang-ho pulled out her medical certificate from her white coat pocket. Ooh~. Yeon-woo exclaimed, and Na Yang-ho shyly smiled.
Even though the world has decayed, no, it was precisely because of the decay that doctors remained a popular profession. Of course, it was natural that the ratio of research positions decreased and the importance of surgeons increased compared to the past.
“Well, I can’t force you, but I hope for a future where all healers double as doctors. Using Divine Art indiscriminately leads to… many accidents, you know.”
There was a hint of bitterness in her expression as she said that. Well, being a renowned figure in the healing industry, she must have encountered various situations, being called the saint.
Yeon-woo in her previous life was unaware. She was only a little famous, not remarkably so…
“So ultimately, you’re thinking of the patients, right?”
“Well, that’s part of it. Now, let’s proceed.”
Hearing this from the beautiful school nurse in the empty infirmary felt a bit too erotic for Yeon-woo.
[Dad?]
‘Oh, yes….’
It’s nothing, Shar…
Na Yang-ho arranged her hands over her chest and closed her eyes as if praying. A soft yellow light radiated from her neck. A miraculous light that anyone could see or sense.
Divine Art is that kind of thing. Not magic, but miracles. Achievements that uplift the blind and raise the crippled by praying to the gods for such miracles.
And the golden light overflowing from the sunflower-shaped stigmata on her nape symbolized that she was the chosen contractor of the sun god, Solaris, from another realm.
Although gods grant different divine arts to their contractors, in Solaris’s case, healing arts are predominant. Truly deserving of the title “healer,” most who claim to be healers are indeed devotees of Solaris.
The radiant light, reminiscent of the warm midday sun, seeped into her body. She must have lowered the output, considering Yeon-woo’s health. Truly, a saint was too fitting a title for her.
Feeling a warm sensation as if lying under a blanket on a chilly winter day, Yeon-woo closed her eyes dreamily.
Oh, this feels nice. Like something is melting away all the fatigue of today.
[This feels good…]
‘Yeah… If Divine Art is like this, I want to use it too…’
It would be perfect to use it like a massage when feeling tired…
Perhaps her facial muscles relaxed quite a bit, for Na Yang-ho chuckled softly while gently patting Yeon-woo’s head.
“You’ve had a rough time, huh? Just rest a bit. For a few days, don’t lift or swing anything heavy.”
So this is… the charm of adults…? She thought in her mind, scolded by Shar, as Yeon-woo decided to rest a little in the infirmary, enveloped in that cozy sensation.
With the sound of Na Yang-ho quietly working on paperwork in the background, Yeon-woo blissfully drifted off to sleep…
*
Her arms were snugly wrapped in bandages, but the pain was minimal, and movement was comfortable. Impressive. Even so, her insides still felt injured, so she realized she truly needed to rest for a while.
[Hmph, a dragon could do that much.]
‘Yeah, of course. I just wish Shar had grown a bit more, but alas.’
[Hey, Dad is treating me like a kid….]
You are a kid.
Regardless, she felt remarkably refreshed, as though the fatigue of the day had vanished. However, there was one thing she needed to do before resting.
Calculating. And feelings.
As she placed the black orb from her pocket onto the table, it rolled and bumped against a chicken box. Man, I could really go for a beer.
Naturally, the emotional phase was over. During the return trip, Shar had been tearing it apart, chewing it, touching it, and enjoying it. So, I’ll reveal it in five seconds.
The boss item obtained by defeating the Doppleganger.
What could it be!!
[Doppleganger’s Identity… I think?]
It was in the dormitory. With a chicken box atop the table, Yeon-woo was busily tearing into a chicken leg when Shar said that. Ugh, I really want a beer. How can I smuggle one in?
“… Identity?”
After swallowing a mouthful of chicken, Yeon-woo echoed back. The reason for opting for chicken instead of the dormitory dinner was the considerable pile of transformation stones she had acquired today.
It turned out to be around 600,000 won, while she had expected it to be in the 300,000 to 400,000 won range. Inside the different ‘Soma Water’ devoured by the Doppleganger was a rather rare item.
Having earned more than she expected in one go, she couldn’t resist the desire to eat chicken. Moreover, she brought along several materials in preparation for upcoming gates.
But right now, what concerned her more was what Shar had mentioned about the Doppleganger’s identity. Yeon-woo tossed the completely deboned chicken leg into the trash and straightened her posture.
[So, you know about Lich?]
Lich. Shouldn’t be… rich. She slightly nodded. Liches are among the most dangerous ranks of powerful monsters, ancient black mages who attained immortality.
[It’s similar to a Lich’s phylactery. If a Lich detached its life from its body to gain immortality, then the Doppleganger detached its identity to not lose itself.]
“A pile of concepts, huh…”
Yeon-woo nodded ambiguously. A concept pile is pretty common among boss items. Some concepts help in combat while others do not, so it was a binary gamble for a hunter.
If she viewed it that way, the concept dropped from the Doppleganger likely had a high potential to assist her in battle. After all, the items these guys dropped usually leaned towards combat usefulness.
[So, wanna check it out with the Eyes of the Dragon?]
“The Eye of the Dragon, huh.”
The very term made her feel like she wanted to shoot something. The orb stepped aside slightly, as if yielding.
But how do I check it? Should I do it like I did with the Doppleganger? The vision from the Ice White Jade was so intense she couldn’t ignore it.
[Yeah, just do it like last time.]
Following those words, as she moved her mana, her perspective expanded, and focusing on one point made the view magnify as if she were using a camera. Wow, this is incredible.
[By the way, while using the Eyes of the Dragon, keep in mind your eyes will change to resemble a dragon’s.]
Huh? Really? At that, Yeon-woo turned her head quickly to a mirror and saw that her pupils had turned slit like a reptile’s, glowing with a golden radiance. It looked awesome. It was every boy’s fantasy come to life.
Yeon-woo walked to the balcony window and glanced outside. The trees swaying in the wind somehow appeared to be moving slower than usual. Her internal energy boost was working just fine.
Satisfied, she returned to her place and stared fixedly at the black orb. With the Ice White Jade, a blizzard-like scene had surged into her mind. What about this one?
───.
“What the hell is this.”
Yeon-woo could only feel dumbstruck at the spectacle flooding her mind.
*
Before her regression, the status of hunters had plummeted.
Of course, there were many incidents contributing to this, but if you were to ask what the most impactful event was, it could only be one.
“Depressing Monday,” where dozens of hunters formed a hunting party, yet failed to defeat a single monster.
The monster that single-handedly butchered dozens of top hunters had sent back one survivor, claiming itself as the “king.” The utterly terrified survivor reported the incident and decided to retire.
In the end, hunters exist to hunt monsters. Separating monster body parts to sell is merely secondary; hunting monsters that pose a threat to humanity stabilizes society—this is the very essence of the hunter profession.
Thus, if dozens of hunters fell to a single monster, it inevitably created unease within society.
However, people didn’t instantly express dissatisfaction towards hunters. Nearly fifty had died. Society had not lost its compassion enough to demand punishment just because something akin to an accident had yielded no results.
And this happened seven times. Each time they prepared thoroughly, yet humanity could not overcome the monster claiming kingship. With a logical conclusion, the seven monsters that referred to themselves as kings became known as the “Demon Kings.”
For a week, humanity faced humiliation and defeat at the hands of the “Seven Demon Kings.”
…..
Yeon-woo swallowed hard. Sweat trickled down her brow, and she had to wipe it off as she glimpsed the visions contained in the orb with the Eyes of the Dragon. It was shocking.
‘… Monday’s Demon King, Zahak.’
Though she had never encountered him, she knew all the details about the Seven Demon Kings. Comparatively, the image and attire of Monday’s King were somewhat elusive.
Only to appear as a giant that seemingly could block the sun. However, its body was entirely shrouded in darkness, rendering it impossible to discern anything.
Even in her previous life, there were persistent opinions that the Doppleganger was related to Zahak, yet they had never shown any instance of transforming like the Doppleganger while in combat, so she remained skeptical at best.
Covered in dark shadows, Zahak snipped off a finger from his own hand and tossed it to the ground like it was nothing. Just as a raindrop splashes upon the ground, the severed finger melted into the earth, transforming its shape.
… So that’s how they are born. Is that how the Doppleganger…?
And for a brief moment, the Doppleganger remained idle in the dark cave’s corner, not moving at all.
Yeon-woo felt a sprinkle of sympathy towards that sight.
You might wonder why one would feel sympathy towards a flesh-eating monster, yet in some way, Alkeinea must have experienced something similar. She had begun to empathize just a little.
After feasting on the corpses of its biological parents, nothing remained but to sleep drearily in a pit of emptiness.
And Shar, too, likely walked the same path in life. When put that way, it wasn’t something that could be brushed off as someone else’s problem.
[Residual thoughts, huh? Must have felt lonely.]
“Not that I feel sympathy or anything. But, does this mean I ‘understand’ something with my heart?”
If compared, one could say it was akin to an immersion state. Thankfully, she had broken off before things escalated. Had it revealed a scene of devouring a human, it would have been a real disaster. That would have poured unfiltered sensations or emotions into her.
Dragons comprehend everything in existence with their hearts. Thus, when you stepped into the Gate, Alkeinea said she came to understand you at that moment.
Was it by getting closer to the essence of the Doppleganger that she began to accept it as if she had become one? That thought didn’t bring her any pleasant feelings.
Perhaps she had crossed a line she shouldn’t have as a human. Looking long-term, a day might come when she would come to ‘understand’ the sensation of devouring someone.
Yeon-woo subtly glanced at Shar. Perhaps there was indeed a gap in perception between dragons and humans.
……
Yeon-woo took a deep breath. Shaking off the musty and unpleasant sensation, she swirled her mana and expelled it. Something blocked her midway, but she smashed through it with force. The two were different. It was only natural.
What ridiculous thoughts was she entertaining? Hadn’t she known from the beginning? There’s a gap just as wide as that between monsters and humans, or perhaps even larger, between dragons and humans. Didn’t she think from the start that she’d get devoured?
Ultimately, the relationship between monsters and humans mirrored the relationship between humans and nature. It was a struggle for survival. To avoid death, sacrifices must be made. If the chicken laid before her today could understand human emotions, it would surely feel just like her now. It was only natural.
She punched herself in the face to dispel her thoughts.
[W-What!? Dad!]
Shar’s panicked voice reached her, but she paid no mind. Good.
Yeon-woo chucked the black orb violently onto her bed and stomped on it gleefully.
[Dad is going crazy!!]
Shar wailed. What’s the big deal about this?
That young Doppleganger had been lonely. It was young and knew nothing. Trapped in pitch darkness with nothing to show for it, just yearning for warmth. In a sense, it might have been only natural for a human to devour it.
And gazing into the memories of the devoured human, perhaps it longed for family too…
Maybe the puppets of missing persons she witnessed during battles were simply a manifestation of the Doppleganger’s wish to protect itself.
“What do you want from me?”
Yeon-woo scoffed. Sorry, but even when villains in stories claim they have stories of their own, she thought, “I see… Forgiveness? But what of my sword? Will it forgive you?”
This Doppleganger was no different. She would forgive it. It was already dead anyway.
“I’ll make good use of this.”
In the end, it had perished. What remained was only the raw identity it had cherished.
Devouring its enemies, stripping away their identities and leaving behind the remnants, what could be expressed in words was the concept of ‘Manifestation.’
…….
“This is insane.”
[Indeed, it’s not bad….]
Yeon-woo waved the black sword in her hand. She had tested the sword gift from Yuri, seeing if it’d break or sustain damage when she swung it with the scabbard, but neither happened.
The material she used to craft it was a wooden sword given by Namgung Seong. Sorry, Namgung Seong.
“If this is the case, I should do some ‘things’ with it now and then.”
[Depending on the object, I’ll have to research how to shape it, but it’ll be the best weapon for you, Dad.]
That much was true. In her previous life, her main weapon had always been a spear, but aside from that, Yeon-woo had tried out a variety of weapons.
While using a one-handed weapon, she had also tried out shields, and depending on the need, used hammers, maces, slings, etc…. She could manage quite decently with everything except swords.
In that sense, this thing… the Doppleganger sword seemed like a match made in heaven for Yeon-woo. A spear when needed, a shield when needed. The overwhelming merit of having the right weapon at the right time was undeniable.
“Well, for now, I should just focus on using swords.”
[The proficiency of the main weapon is important. It’s kind of weird if the main thing is also the one you have the least talent in….]
“I think so too.”
[But it’s funny that among the various forms it can take, a mana stone exists.]
“Well, that might be….”
Could the fact that it turned into something as large as a person, which was said to have been discovered by miners in her previous life, be the reason?
The truth would never be uncovered now. During that period in her past life, Yeon-woo had left Harmony City, so there might have been an incident of disappearing people somewhere along the line. A stone as large as a human was discovered several months later.
But what mattered was that she had obtained something far more useful and precious than that enormous mana stone.
(To be continued)