Chapter 4

4

Swordmaster Healer Chapter 004

Chapter 1: Reincarnation as a Swordmaster (3)

Sungjun received a call. The investigator informed him that the investigation results were in and he needed to come in to give a statement.

'Come to think of it, I completely forgot about selling the mana stones.'

Since he also needed to sell the mana stones, Sungjun hurried to the dungeon management office to write his statement.

"So, the Living Armor stopped operating on its own?"

In response to the investigator's question, Sungjun nodded.

"It seems it was a limited-use Living Armor that only operated for a certain period."

Many special cases occur in dungeons, so the investigator nodded in understanding. The conclusion was that all party members except Sungjun had been wiped out by unexpected attacks from the Living Armors.

Once the investigation was over, Sungjun immediately headed to the settlement center to sell the mana stones. He poured out the bag full of mana stones in front of the staff member.

"The settlement is complete. It's 11 million won."

Since all the other party members had died, the 11 million won was entirely allocated to Sungjun. The staff member transferred the settlement amount to the account Sungjun had registered on the spot.

Sungjun's eyes trembled slightly as he checked his balance on his smartphone. Tears welled up. With this money, his father could receive treatment without worry for a while.

After leaving the settlement center, Sungjun transferred all but about 1 million won, which he kept for living expenses, to his father's account.

The moment the transfer was complete, his phone rang.

Sungjun answered the call.

"Father, are you feeling well?"

In response to Sungjun's question, a weak laugh came from the other end of the line.

-Thanks to you, I'm fine.

Sungjun swallowed the tears that welled up in his eyes. He had often talked with the doctor and knew how bad his father's condition was.

-By the way, you sent money... quite a large amount. Are you sure it's okay...?

"Yes, I got a good drop in the dungeon."

-Are you not sending all the money you need for yourself?

"Don't worry. I can earn more."

-Okay, I won't ask anymore. But don't overdo it.

"Don't worry, Father."

Even as he was dying of cancer, his father was more concerned about his child. Sungjun suppressed his emotions and answered with a moist voice.

By the time the call ended, he had arrived at his studio apartment.

"I feel strangely energized..."

Despite sleeping a bit more than usual, he felt an unusual surge of energy in his body.

"I could probably lift a rock?"

He climbed the hill behind his apartment to test this. Approaching a rock the size of a small refrigerator, he thought it was unlikely he could lift it.

"What, what is this?"

It was surprisingly light. Shocked, Sungjun dropped the rock.

Thud!

The loud noise when it hit the ground suggested that the rock's weight hadn't 'disappeared' in some strange way.

"My God."

The same was true for other rocks. He could now lift things he couldn't before. Something seemed to have changed since the dungeon called 'Temple of the Previous Life.'

However, he couldn't pinpoint exactly what had changed. So, Sungjun decided to conduct a simple test.

The test took until late at night. Sungjun recorded the results in a memo app. In the past, he couldn't easily lift a rock the size of a soccer ball, but now he could easily lift a rock the size of a small refrigerator.

That wasn't all.

His 100-meter sprint time had improved by about two times, and he could run up and down the hill behind his apartment without getting tired until 10 PM.

'My body has been activated?'

Frequent use of mana gradually activates the body. The physical enhancement is common, but the magnitude of the improvement was so significant that Sungjun couldn't help but be amazed.

'With this, I can solo dungeons!'

Soloing dungeons wasn't the issue. Now, he didn't need to hide behind a mask of weakness. With this newfound strength, he could show his fangs to some extent.

"Now, no one can look down on me."

Rushing back home, he threw himself onto his bed. The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes the next day was an old sword.

'Did I bring this...?'

The influx of unfamiliar memories had left him flustered. Sungjun picked up the sword, which he had carelessly left in a corner, and examined it.

The word 'Roel' was inscribed in a foreign language. Apart from that, there was nothing special about it.

'I'll take it with me for now.'

He planned to go to the dungeon management office to apply for a match. The sudden, unknown strength he had gained was definitely related to Roel.

Sungjun attached Roel to his waist and visited the dungeon management office.

"Hey, Legend."

Someone approached, calling Sungjun by the humiliating nickname 'Legend' because of his low healing power. Looking up, he saw a familiar face.

"Kang Ho-yeong?"

"Yep, it's me. We have something to talk about, don't we?"

Ho-yeong, a C-rank combat hunter, was a close friend of Deok-su. He had come to Sungjun to investigate the mysterious circumstances of Deok-su's death in the dungeon.

"I have nothing to talk about."

Sungjun revealed his hidden fangs. They were very sharp. In the past, he would have worn a mask of weakness, but the awakened reincarnation wouldn't tolerate it.

"Hey, Legend, did you lose your fear just because you survived alone?"

Ho-yeong tapped Sungjun's cheek. It didn't hurt, but it felt terrible. Ho-yeong was known for being a bully on Hunter.com.

He knew how to hurt and humiliate someone's pride. But today, he had chosen the wrong opponent.

"Stop it."

A single word, but its meaning was clear. Sungjun had taken off the mask of weakness he had worn as a weakling and revealed his sharp fangs.

"Stop it? Did living alone finally drive our Legend crazy?"

Ho-yeong was taken aback. Sungjun had always shown a meek demeanor. He never expected him to reveal such sharp fangs.

'What kind of eyes... '

Behind the calm, icy gaze, a fierce storm raged.

This is killing intent.

'A recovery hunter?'

Ho-yeong swallowed hard. He was surprised but knew that backing down here would make him look like a coward who was afraid of 'Legend.' Many onlookers had gathered. Ho-yeong decided to take a risky move.

"Still not showing respect?"

Snap!

It happened in an instant. Sungjun's head turned. Ho-yeong had slapped him.

'My body control isn't perfect yet. I need to endure.'

Sungjun smiled lightly. He had completely read Ho-yeong's movements but couldn't react as he had when fighting the Living Armor.

'I still have a lot to learn.'

Sungjun stroked his burning cheek and glared at Ho-yeong. Despite the slap, his emotions were almost unchanged. Perhaps it was because he was determined to repay him. He was surprisingly calm.

"Still not showing respect?"

"It won't work a second time."

The moment Ho-yeong raised his hand to slap Sungjun again, Sungjun caught his wrist with a cold stare.

"Apologize."

Sungjun's eyes glowed with killing intent. Ho-yeong felt a chill run down his spine. It was as if an invisible blade had touched his throat.

"What?"

"Isn't that Legend?"

Sungjun, known as 'Legend,' was a cursed healer who was infamous on Hunter.com and in the local area.

"Are you afraid of Legend?"

"He seems to be a combat hunter... What a coward."

"Let's post this on Hunter.com."

The whispers from the crowd made Ho-yeong clench his teeth and suppress the chilling killing intent.

No way a mere 'Legend' could emit such killing intent. I must be tired and imagining things. He sneered.

"Or what?"

With a mocking tone, he said. At that moment, Sungjun tightened his grip.

Crack.

A bone-chilling sound, and the bone in Ho-yeong's wrist broke. Just by applying force with his hand, Sungjun had broken the wrist bone.

"Ah!"

Ho-yeong struggled, but Sungjun didn't let go. He had no intention of letting go.

"Let go, you bastard! Ah!"

"I'll let go if you apologize."

"Shut up, you dog..."

"Want me to shatter your bones?"

"Ah!"

As Sungjun applied more force, the pain intensified. Ho-yeong's wrist bone shattered, and he couldn't bear the pain, wetting his pants.

Drip.

His pants were stained, and urine pooled on the floor. The onlookers took a step back at the sight.

"I'm sorry! I was wrong! Please!"

Only after receiving the apology did Sungjun release his grip. Ho-yeong, holding his dangling left arm, stepped back.

-129th Hunter.

"Be more careful in the future."

The machine called out Sungjun's number. Turning to Ho-yeong, Sungjun said,

"Why is a guy like that getting humiliated by Legend, even wetting his pants?"

"Checking Hunter.com, he's a C-rank hunter named Kang Ho-yeong."

"He pretended to be tough but ended up like this to Legend?"

"Looks like he got what he deserved for being a bully."

"Let's post this on Hunter.com."

The onlookers mocked Ho-yeong. Their voices were loud enough to reach his ears. He bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.

'If this continues, my hunter career is over!'

Ho-yeong thought. If the rumor spread that he, a C-rank hunter, had been defeated by a recovery hunter with very low healing power, his dream of joining a regular raid team would be over, and his hunter career would be ruined.

'This is a coincidence! And if I attack from behind, I can cut off one of his arms! Hehe, let's just cut off one arm.'

In the end, Ho-yeong crossed the line with a dangerous thought. He drew his sword with his intact right hand and swung it at Sungjun.

Despite his shattered left arm, his movements were agile, befitting a C-rank hunter.

"Huh?"

The surprised voice belonged to Ho-yeong.

"He, he dodged...?"

Sungjun had dodged his all-out attack.

"I'll call the security guard!"

A staff member, who had been among the onlookers, finally realized the seriousness of the situation and raised her radio. Sungjun, looking at her, spoke calmly.

"There's no need."

His gaze then turned to Ho-yeong. Ho-yeong, meeting those cold eyes, felt a chill run down his spine. A chilling killing intent, far more intense than before, enveloped his entire body.

"This is self-defense now."

The old sword, Roel, revealed its blade.