CH 39

Meanwhile, Han Cha-soo who was isolated in the treatment room, focusing on the system window. It was a window that completely blocked out the noise from the outside world.

[The effect of the skill ‘Regeneration’ will be temporarily altered to keep the target alive]

[Do you wish to enter coma state?]

[Y / N]

[If no choice is made within the time limit, you will automatically enter coma state]

[Be aware that any attributed items you are wearing may be dismissed!]

‘This is what popped up just before I fainted.’

The eyes that alternated between the system message window and the status window were serious. Aside from the fact that he’d found a way to unlock the attributed item.

‘Han Cha-soo, you’ve got some pretty good skills on the villainous theme, don’t you?’

He was purely in awe.

The regeneration skill was fraudulent in itself, but to be able to transform it into something like this was truly amazing.

‘If I had this ability, I would have….’

No, no. Han Cha-soo stopped his train of thought.

The inferiority complex of the original Han Cha-soo that he had felt in the dream was a very deep-rooted emotion. It was the source of the original Han Cha-soo. Even if he had been born as an S-rank, he would still have been jealous of others and suffered from inferiority complexes.

Shaking off his thoughts, Han Cha-soo focused on the system window again.

And he noticed something.

‘The conditions are pretty tricky….’

It seems that two things must be met for a regeneration skill to enter coma state.

A mortal wound that is a direct threat to life. And insufficient time to heal it.

The ‘regeneration’ ability itself seems to be a scam, but only because it’s a B-rank skill. Apparently, the skill doesn’t have enough time to heal itself. It must have gained time by entering coma state that minimizes life energy.

‘There’s no other logical explanation than this.’

I’m not sure if I should be surprised that the skills topic is up to speed. Or maybe the system was smart and gave me a chance, but….

‘I can’t pass up this opportunity. ‘

A chance to get away from the earrings that Geum Myeong-yeol was coveting. I couldn’t let this lucky break go to waste.

‘Then how shall I be mortally wounded.’

Han Cha-soo’s mind flashed through various gruesome injuries.

Slide

The sound of a heavy door opening was heard, and a shaky-eyed Jung Yiheon appeared.

“G…!”

Oh, I can’t speak.

Han Cha-soo reflexively grabbed his throat. It didn’t hurt or anything, it was just an unconscious gesture.

But the repercussions of that small action were enormous.

Jung Yiheon’s body stiffened as he approached with a sad face. His pale face instantly hardened, and he quickly approached and knelt beside the bed.

A small scream could be heard through the crack in the door.

Jung Yiheon declared with a solemn face.

“I’ll take care of everything.”

And Han Cha-soo felt dizzy. He immediately shook his head. His instincts were warning him.

You must stop him now. Whatever he’s going to say next, you can’t let him say it.

Otherwise, life will be very difficult, whether it’s unlocking attributed items or not. Instinct whispered to him.

But… no voice.

“Uh… Ugh… Ugh…!”

Han Cha-soo squinted his eyes. If he couldn’t speak, he could at least gesture.

He gripped Jung Yiheon’s hands tightly, shook his head, and sighed.

Of course, it didn’t work; Jung Yiheon’s face only grew more troubled as he looked at him.

“You’ve lost a lot of strength.”

“Ugh….”

“I shouldn’t have left you alone….”

No, no, you bastard, Han Cha-soo shook his head urgently. He didn’t even know why this bastard was doing this in the first place. It was Baek-sun he saved, not Jung Seoheon, so why is he acting like it’s his brother that he saved?

He tried to beat his chest in frustration, but Yiheon grabbed his hand.

“It’s dangerous!”

You’re the most dangerous thing to me right now!

Han Cha-soo was cursing with his eyes.

“Do you think I let you in first to talk nonsense?”

Baek-dam appeared, smirking. Normally, he would have wondered why he was here, but now he was just glad to see him. He never thought he’d see the day when Baek-dam’s sarcasm would feel like sweet rain in the desert.

Han Cha-soo stared at Baek-dam with eyes that were filled with delight, and when Baek-dam noticed, he smiled broadly as he approached the bed.

‘Yes, come and heal me, and while you’re at it, chase away Jung Yiheon.’

With a smile like that, he knew he was going to be nagged like crazy, but he didn’t care. It was better than hearing Jung Yiheon say that he would be responsible for his life again.

But Han Cha-soo’s hopes were dashed.

“Han Chasoo-ssi.”

“……?”

“Why don’t you be the second oldest in my family?”

Baek-dam grinned and rambled on.

“Wouldn’t it be better to be a part of a loving, harmonious family than a life-long contract, a partner, or any of that crap?”

The proposal of a new form of tenancy left Han Cha-soo distraught.

‘Why don’t they give me a fatal blow to the head?’

[Warning!]

[Subject’s energy is being drained at a rapid rate]

[Shutting off external stimuli to conserve energy]

No, wait.

Han Cha-soo was startled by the system message that popped up as if he’d been waiting for it, but it was too late.

[Time remaining to block external stimuli: 3 seconds, 2 seconds, 1 second….]

[Blocking external stimuli]

Han Cha-soo blacked out. He heard an echo of someone shouting something.

“I told you to be careful!”

“His condition is stable, so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem… but we’d like you to refrain from visiting for a while.”

Jung Yiheon and Baek-dam were immediately removed from the treatment room. The medical staff who had been giving them a hard time just a moment ago were like knives in these matters.

“Mmm….”

“Hah.”

The two S-ranks exchanged a nervous glance and left the room.

He could have watched him through the large window in the hallway, but he didn’t want to. He’d looked at him with disdain when he’d first been brought here.

‘They said it was originally a laboratory.’

Why else would there be a magic mirror in the treatment room? It was a vestige of the past, traces of several experiments conducted on awakeners who were initially and forcibly registered with the Awakening Management Bureau.

Just thinking about it sent a chill up his spine, and Baek-dam quickly left the room. Jung Yiheon followed him wordlessly.

They had left the medical wing and were nearing the courtyard.

Jung Yiheon blurted out.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

Baek-dam didn’t ask what he meant, but instead smiled with his eyes folded prettily. Jung Yiheon’s eyes turned cold.

“What? You’re not going to stick your nose into your guildmates’ family relationships, are you? You’d be accused of being a stalker if you did.”

“That’s for me to say.”

“What?”

“Han Cha-soo is a victim who was deeply hurt by hunter Baek-dam. It’s bad enough that you’re showing off for someone like that, but now you’re asking to be a family member…. He must have been so scared that he collapsed as soon as he saw you.”

“Wait, are you saying that Han Cha-soo lost his consciousness because of me?”

“Other than that, there’s no other way to explain the situation.”

“Ha… ha! I’m dumbfounded.”

Baek-dam felt the back of his skull twitch and ring.

“I wondered why you were following me around like a raggedy dog, and now you’re telling me you did it so you could argue with me?”

“Watch your tongue, hunter Baek-dam. It’s not a quarrel, it’s a caution. I’m afraid that’s not going to work, and you’d better stay out of sight until he’s mentally stabilized.”

It was a calm face, but it was a threat, because otherwise he couldn’t explain the heat he was feeling right now.

Baek-dam laughed in exultation.

“Are you going to kill me here?”

“Not likely, you’re a rare S-rank healer, the only one in the country.”

Boom!

An explosion sounded, and acrid smoke billowed into the sky in the distance.

“……!”

“What was that?”

“I’m going to go to Han Chasoo-ssi and if he sees you, he might collapse again, so don’t think about following me.”

“You cheapskate.”

Baek-dam gritted his teeth and glared at his back. Should he follow him now…. No.

“Shit.”

As soon as he spoke, he remembered Han Cha-soo, who had fallen to the ground, black eyes rolling back in his head. Baek-dam raked his fingers through his long hair and let out a murderous curse.

Kwaaang!

A second explosion followed. Baek-dam glared at the source of the explosion through his scattered hair.

“Crisis management teams two and three, remaining at headquarters. Listen up, there’s been an explosion at the detention centre. Form teams of people who can deploy shields and get ready to go in!”

A group of people started running towards the direction of the smoke. Baek-dam’s eyes hardened coldly.

The Detention Centre for the Able, located near the Awakening Management Bureau, held the criminals who had attacked him and injured Han Cha-soo.

“Holy shit.”

The detention centre is attacked just as Han Cha-soo wakes up.

“Hah.”

This was too obvious.

Baek-dam’s eyes burned furiously as he glared at the detention centre. In his hand, he held a whip that shone like gold.

“It’s better that way. If we catch all the people behind them, he’ll be fine.”

If Han Cha-soo fainted when he saw him and remembered the horrors of the day, remove the cause.

Find them all, cut off their limbs, and Han Cha-soo will be relieved.

Baek-dam laughed and walked away.