NOVEL NEXT CH 9
The sound of footsteps faded quickly behind me as I collapsed.
“Run while it’s eating!”
I had become the “sacrifice.”
For the miners. And for Kang Han, too.
Witnessing an “innocent sacrifice” and protecting them with one’s life.
That was the keyword to unlock Kang Han’s first skill restriction.
However, the Kang Han in *Sejong Barrier* fails to reawaken his skill in the Mansusan Dungeon.
The miners had abandoned him just as they abandoned me, leaving him as a scapegoat.
Now, I found myself fitting the exact description of the “innocent victim.”
‘But this is ridiculous.’
The monster was drooling as it stared at me.
“Grrr…”
It was licking its lips at the sight of me.
While I was locked in a stare-down with the Wing Bat, Kang Han was not idle.
He kept trying to summon his ability, electrical currents, but since his skill wasn’t fully unlocked, only weak sparks fizzled in his hands.
“Damn it.”
I could still try to run right now.
Would I succeed? That was another question.
Instead of forcing strength into my legs, I curled up.
“Better to die once than twice.”
This was the reason I had sought out Kang Han at this point in time.
To force the skill reawakening, which was meant to happen later, to occur today.
Although I didn’t expect to be the one sacrificed.
“Kreeeeek!”
The monster let out a piercing shriek and lunged at me.
Watching it cut through the air toward me, I curled into myself as tightly as possible.
And just as its sharp claws sank into my shoulder and arm, tearing my flesh—
[ Activating skill: Body Healing. ]
Please let it work on me too!
I don’t want to die with 25 billion won left behind!
As a soft glow spread over the wounds inflicted by the Wing Bat, the impact sent me flying backward.
The monster sprang off the cave wall to launch its next attack.
Did I fail?
* * *
Kang Han was furious.
Furious at the people who had abandoned the weakest member as bait.
But most of all, furious at himself for being powerless.
He gritted his teeth so hard that his jaw bulged, but only weak electric currents flickered in his hands.
His vision filled with the system’s infuriating messages:
[ Skill ‘Current’ cannot be activated. ]
[ Remove the skill restriction. ]
[ Remove the skill restriction. ]
The horrifying memories of the fifth dungeon break flashed through his mind.
His mother and his comrades from the Justice Guild had all perished, leaving behind only their screams near the black gate.
Even years later, the restrictions imposed after his forced awakening remained in place.
“Damn it!”
He couldn’t stand idly by as another innocent person died before his eyes.
He would rather die than feel powerless again.
Kang Han charged forward.
If he couldn’t stop the monster, he would die in Hana’s place.
At that moment—
[ The system recognizes an “innocent sacrifice.” ]
[ The system acknowledges your noble willingness to sacrifice yourself. ]
[ Your action is deemed an expression of “righteous anger.” ]
A series of strange messages appeared.
Then, all the notifications disappeared, replaced by a new one:
[ Skill ‘Current’ has reawakened as ‘Punisher’s Lightning.’ ]
“Hah!”
Kang Han stumbled, overwhelmed by a rush of pain and pleasure, like electric currents surging through him.
His entire body seemed to awaken with a roar, cells vibrating in celebration.
Strength surged through him.
He knew instinctively—this time, he could do it.
This time, he could save her.
Crackle!
With a burst of speed, he shot toward the monster, hand raised high.
[ Activating skill: Punisher’s Lightning (S). ]
Golden sparks flashed in Kang Han’s green eyes.
Standing tall, he planted himself in front of Hana’s fallen form.
Crackle!
Lightning, like a streak of vengeance, shot from his hand toward the charging Wing Bat.
“Kyaaaak!”
The monster didn’t even have time to scream properly before it was reduced to ash, scattering like black dust.
“Huff, huff…”
Panting, Kang Han looked down at his hands.
Electric currents still danced around his rough fingers, proof that everything that had just happened was real.
* * *
“I… I survived.”
I really thought I was going to die.
The dizziness I felt was real, not just from relief.
Then, the system notification confirmed why I was feeling so faint.
[ Self-Healing Penalty Applied. ]
[ 60% of your HP has been consumed to heal critical wounds. ]
[ Remaining HP: 15%. ]
Would it have killed them to warn me about this in advance?
“Ugh…”
And to make matters worse, I wasn’t even fully healed.
Clutching my still-bleeding wounds, my vision blurred.
So this is what it feels like to pass out.
In my 23 years of life, I’ve always been confident in my health. But now, for the first time—well, technically the second time in this world—I was about to lose consciousness.
Just before everything went dark, I felt something firm support my collapsing body.
The last thing I saw before blacking out was Kang Han’s green eyes, still glowing with traces of lightning.
* * *
When I woke up, I was greeted by the familiar sight of a hospital room—and an even more familiar face.
It wasn’t Kang Han, but the doctor I’d seen last time.
“This time, you were carried here after mining in a dungeon,” the doctor said, shaking his head in disbelief.
“You really live a dynamic life, Hana.”
“Yeah, I guess I have a knack for trouble.”
Not everyone can end up fighting monsters in a fantasy novel world.
The memory of the monster’s claws sinking into my flesh was still fresh.
“Ugh.”
I checked my injured arm.
Thankfully, the wound was gone without a scar.
‘Show me my current HP.’
[ Current HP: 40% ]
As expected, my body was still recovering.
According to the system message, healing critical wounds consumes 60% of my HP.
And if my HP is below 60%, healing isn’t even possible.
While I pondered the penalties imposed on me, the doctor spoke again.
“I treated the wound on your arm.”
“Oh, thank you.”
It was his job, after all, but I still bowed politely.
The doctor chuckled above me.
“I wasn’t fishing for thanks, Hana. I meant to say that we could use a talented healer like you in our Awakener hospital.”
“Wait, are you…?”
“Yes, I’m offering you a job.”
“So, you’re an Awakener too?”
“Of course. Someone has to patch up all the hunters who come back in pieces.”
“Thanks, but I already have a guild in mind.”
“No chance you’d reconsider?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Nope.”
He was handsome, and the lab coat suited him, but not enough to sway me.
“In that case, things might get tricky for you,” he said, turning on the TV.
「 23-Year-Old Seoul Resident Hana, Revealed as New A-Rank Healer 」
My name was plastered across the screen in bold letters.
“Can they just broadcast people’s personal information like that?!”
“The media is obsessed with hunters,” the doctor said, adjusting his glasses.
To make things worse, the photo from my Awakener registration was displayed prominently on the screen.
The scene shifted to an excited reporter standing in front of a hospital.
「 We’re currently in front of the hospital where Hana is admitted… 」