Poison-Eating Healer Chapter 40

Episode 40

Inside a luxuriously decorated office.

Despite the size of the large office, there is only one desk.

On the wall were stylish photos of hunters reminiscent of movie posters, and each photo had a golden ‘G’ mark on it.

Glory Guild.

The largest and best group of hunters in existence.

This was the representative office of the Glory Guild, which can be said to be the pinnacle of Korea, both in name and reality.

“Are you sure?”

CEO Goo Gun-i asks in a tone as nervous as his spiky hair.

One might be intimidated by the sharp voice of an ‘S’ rank hunter.

The Chief Secretary maintains an unwavering attitude.

“I’m sure.”

In most cases, what the chief secretary says is mostly right.

Gu Geon knew that well, but he had no choice but to ask one more time.

“You’re not going astray from the Bishop Guild, are you?”

“They are not such great people. Rather, Bishop Guild officials are contacting us to check our situation.”

“… … shit. “Where on earth are you stuck and what are you doing?”

Goo Geon sighs as if he is shocked.

“With all the attention in the world, why aren’t you doing anything?”

“According to reporters, let alone interview appointments, even if they happen to run into each other, they ignore them.”

“I am indeed.”

If it were me, I would be anxious to take advantage of the spotlight.

Rather than taking advantage of the attention, the ‘bastard’ is like a mole hiding in the ground, not even showing his nose.

Where are you stuck and what are you doing?

Cheon Hae-seon.

Although it had been over a month since he became an ‘S’ ranker, no one knew Cheon Hae-seon’s whereabouts.

“You said you weren’t just stuck at home, right?”

“yes. “It is said that even after completing the probationary period, he continues to leave the house.”

“It’s not like you’re going hiking carefree. It definitely seems like there’s something there… … .”

It’s frustrating.

I’ve never seen a guy this unpredictable before.

It is a rule in Korea that if the Glory Guild comes, they come.

How could it be that the word ‘Geul-o-wa’ is floating around?

Even new hunters who were arrogant at first eventually accepted the Glory Guild’s offer.

Because there is fame, money, and popularity that cannot be experienced in other guilds.

In recent years, the Glory Guild has almost monopolized the ‘A’ rank hunters.

There were complaints from the surrounding guilds, but that was none of my business.

There is only one group with which friendly relations must be maintained: the Hunter Association.

The Glory Guild’s strategy was to recruit promising talent even if it meant offering more than double or even triple the amount offered by other guilds.

However, Cheon Hae-seon was taking steps that were different from before in many ways.

“If you don’t have other guilds in mind, then what on earth… … ?”

The bullets were heavily loaded.

Even if you pay the highest price ever, you must catch the Cheonhae Line.

Because he is worth it.

[perhaps… … He may be higher than me.]

Maria’s honest confession came as a huge shock to Gu Geon.

I knew that her potential was great enough to require the use of a gold core, but I thought she may have ‘already’ surpassed her.

Maria is revered as the best healer in the country, or even the best healer in the world.

The emergence of a genius who goes beyond the unrivaled healer.

No one in this world would have expected the appearance of such a being.

The problem was that the genius was not with anyone.

“Reporters and guild officials were hiding near the house for a while… … . They say that every time that happens, they find you like a ghost and threaten you.”

“A threat?”

“I heard that too… … . “They said that if I saw them one more time, I would never see them again in my life.”

“her.”

A smile escaped from between Goo Geon’s thick lips.

It’s not some kind of social phobia.

How long are you going to hide in the shadows like that?

wait.

Hiding in the shadows… … ?

“We need to change our methods.”

“yes?”

“There is no way to capture him by just chasing him around like he is doing now. A change in thinking is needed.”

“Are you saying you won’t look for Cheon Hae-seon anymore?”

“okay.”

The smile on his lips turns into a mean look.

There are two ways to bring out the hiding guy.

Either use your hands to bring it out, or induce a situation so that it comes out directly.

“They say he’s an S ranker, but he’s just a kid. He is a minor who cannot legally drink alcohol. “If you hold on to your mentality and shake it, you won’t be able to overcome it.”

Hunter is an honorable profession that saves lives.

In particular, ‘S’ rankers have the same popularity as celebrities.

Countless people are interested in the ‘S’ ranker’s every move.

Most people are in a praising mood, but if someone makes a mistake, the repercussions are severe.

“So you’re trying to wage a public opinion war.”

“okay. That’s right.”

After thinking about it, Goo Geon sinks deeply into the chair.

Why didn’t I think of that earlier?

People naturally have expectations about ‘S’ rank hunters.

Join a major guild and start raiding dungeons, and save people when the gate explodes.

It is only natural that the higher the grade, the higher the expected value.

But what about Cheonhaeseon today?

He is in a state of hiding, not even joining a guild, let alone engaging in external activities.

So to speak, as an ‘S’ ranker, he lacks ‘self-awareness’.

‘The headline is complete… … . ‘After that.’

There are many articles that can be written to suit your taste.

If possible, we should use the major media with the greatest impact.

Responsibility as an ‘S’ ranker.

If you highlight that, Cheon Hae-seon will have to join the guild even if you don’t like it.

And his choice will be Glory Guild.

Maria and Cheon Hae-seon.

It is difficult to find a guild with two ‘S’ rank healers even if you search around the world, let alone in Korea.

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen Maria all day today. “You’re not in the ‘healing room’ by any chance, are you?”

“no. “He said he had a personal appointment in the morning.”

“Personal promise?”

Goo Geon’s thick eyebrows twitch once.

Aside from work and guilt, she is a corpse. It’s a personal promise.

It was definitely a rare thing.

“No word on where you’re going?”

“yes. “You didn’t say anything in particular about meeting anyone.”

“The sun will rise in the west. Mary is her personal promise.”

Goo Geon chuckled and got up from his seat.

I was a little nervous, but I don’t think anything major will happen.

Because Maria never once disappointed herself.

“Contact the editor-in-chief of Joongan Ilbo. “I have something important to say.”

* * *

Again.

Someone else is secretly watching here.

I’m so sick of this.

After becoming an ‘S’ ranker, my house became a hangout for media reporters and guild officials.

What time do I leave the house and when do I come back?

Little things like how many times you take the bus were covered in the news.

Even though I thought it didn’t matter to me, I was irritated seeing the damage being done to my sister and the residents who live with me.

So I took special measures.

He declared that he would build a lifelong relationship with anyone he met here and their organization.

I conveyed my opinion with a friendly(?) smile, and from then on they began to listen.

If I were to boycott it, I wouldn’t be able to handle the repercussions as an employee.

however.

It seemed to have quieted down recently, but another person was caught on my radar.

He is even the most clumsy of all the people I have ever seen.

He’s staring at me so hard that it makes the back of my head itch.

“Cap hat and tied hair… … “Is it over there?”

If it runs away before confirming its identity, it will be a dorumuk, so I decided to use ‘dogbo’.

Pot.

“oh… … !”

A clear voice flows from the person wearing the hat.

I think I was quite surprised, but that’s none of my business.

“What is your affiliation?”

“yes?”

“Tell me where it is and go back and tell it. “If I see you one more time, I will never see you again.”

A woman wearing a hat that is deeply pressed down answers hesitantly.

“My affiliation is already… … “You would know.”

what… … ?

What are you talking about.

When did I see you… … .

uh????

“Maria?!”

“How you doing? “Hunter Cheon Hae-seon.”

Maria smiles shyly and says hello.

This isn’t the first time I’ve seen her in person.

I saw her face when I was with Gu Geon and when I was taking the hunter qualification exam.

But I never expected to see Maria here.

“her… … .”

It’s an appearance that doesn’t seem realistic no matter how many times you see it.

Perfect facial features that do not show even an inch of error, as if they were created by artificial intelligence.

If you put a square frame in front of your eyes, it was a sight you could believe even if it were something you saw on TV.

“… … I’m doing reasonably well. “I didn’t know that the person watching over me was Maria.”

“sorry. “Suddenly without any contact.”

When did we ever share contact information?

Looking at the conversation, it seems that Maria is not very calm either.

“It’s okay. It’s not something that happens in one day or two. “Do you have business for me?”

“yes.”

“If there’s a recruitment offer or something like that… … .”

“no.”

Maria shakes her head vigorously, as if that would never happen.

It was hard to see from a distance because she was wearing a hat that was too deep, but even in casual clothes, she was oozing with an aura that was different from that of an ‘S’ rank healer.

“I came to see Hunter Haeseon Cheon for personal reasons, not as a member of the Glory Guild.”

It’s a sound that could easily be misunderstood if someone hears it.

Even without dialogue, Maria and I have so many elements that people will notice.

I suggested a suitable place for her.

It may be a scary place for other people, but it is a very convenient place for us.

* * *

“… … “This place is still the same.”

Maria lets out a deep sigh.

A place where not even a single ant is visible as a living thing.

A place where traces of civilization still remain, but all that can be seen is desolation.

A place where countless people died and I awakened as a poisoner.

This was the gate area of ​​the open building.

“Quite a bit of time has passed since the gate opened… … . Repair work is still not done… … .”

“From the perspective of the general public, there is no difference between this place and Chernobyl. Of course, it is true that the response was delayed.”

“When I get back, I’ll have to talk about this first. The city is in ruins and there is no plan to restore it… … .”

A look of sadness is evident on Maria’s expression.

The reason I brought her here was because it was a ‘convenient place.’

Not only ordinary people, but even most hunters do not go near the gate where the poison monster appeared.

Because I can’t guarantee whether the monsters’ poison has completely disappeared.

However, if you were a healer, especially a healer like me or Maria, there would be no problem if you set foot in this area.

The problem is that Maria feels guilty after witnessing the tragedy here… … .

‘I didn’t mean to, but I didn’t do anything I couldn’t do.’

Before she was an ‘S’ rank healer, she was from the Glory Guild.

Although they don’t have as much hostility as Goo Geon, they can’t be free from responsibility as long as they are on the same boat.

A responsibility that weighs a person’s life.

“We can talk in peace here.”

“yes… … . “It certainly is.”

Maria, who was looking around the ruins of the open building with gloomy eyes, turned her head towards me.

“A monster healed by Hunter Cheon Hae-seon. “Do you remember?”

“yes. “I remember.”

Imperial Tiger.

This is the guy I named ‘Daebeom’.

Could it be that he got into an accident just because he became more energetic?

“The Imperial Tiger escaped.”

oh.

boy.

You succeeded.

“I finally did it.”

“… … yes?”

“ah… … . that is… … My healing was complete. Something like that. “I’m sure you’re not trying to shift the blame for that escape onto me, right?”

“Hehe. “It can’t be.”

Maria smiled and shook her head.

Was she a woman who knew how to smile like that?

“As a fellow healer, I was curious. “At that time, the Imperial Tiger was not only physically damaged but also poisoned, and its core had some scratches.”

This is the first time I have heard of damage to the core.

“The Imperial Tiger is a species called a spirit creature. It has a level of intelligence that is different from that of monsters. “Some spirit creatures can even transcend ‘space.’”

“It’s space… … no way… … ?”

“yes. “The association is keeping quiet, but given that there is no evidence of damage to property, it appears that he escaped using his extraspatial abilities.”

wow.

He was a much bigger guy than I thought, right?

A large monster that transcends space and space.

wait.

Then shouldn’t you come to me first and say thank you?

“I thought it would be impossible to restore the damaged core. “Until I witnessed Hunter Haeseon Cheon’s healing ability.”

So I came here for personal reasons.

As ‘Healer’ Maria, I wanted to share my feelings about healing.

But what can I do?

My healing process is fundamentally different from that of a typical healer.

“well. There is nothing special to say other than the fact that the ether in the body flows to the target. “Maria will probably use the same method.”

“also… … okay… … . I thought there might be something special… … .”

Since then, we have briefly talked about a few things related to healing.

She opened her small mouth wide when she heard that she was able to talk to Daebeom telepathically.

“Young things are young things. “I think I heard some precious stories today in many ways.”

Maria did not even mention the reason for recruiting until the moment she left.

Of course, this could also be high-level psychological warfare, but looking at her expression, I thought it might not be so.

“If it’s okay… … .”

She took out a small thing from inside her arms.

Is this a Glory Guild business card? I thought it was a simple note.

There was a phone number written on it.

“This is my personal number that is not registered with the association. “Please contact me later if you need anything personally.”

As if they were aware that I was from the Glory Guild, they didn’t ask for my number.

A situation where one party can unilaterally contact you.

There was no reason for me to refuse.

“I am learning a lot. “I hope to see you again soon.”

Most hunters have arrogant habits.

It’s probably natural because there are so many people who support it.

However, I could not find a single such feeling in Maria, who was called the Hunter of Hunters.

Either that’s really his nature, or he’s a very cunning fox.

It’s probably one of two things.

I said hello and stopped her as she was about to leave.

“Maria.”

“yes?”

From the time I first saw her until now, there was one thing I had always been curious about.

“Do you even participate in battle yourself?”

“??”

I know it’s a stupid question.

Who gives ‘S’ rank healers a role other than healing?

But otherwise, there is no way to explain this ‘phenomenon’.

“no… … . “I’m just focusing on healing on the battlefield.”

“But why do you have so many healed wounds?”

“!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

On the outside, it looks like the healing is complete, but I can see it with my own eyes.

There were indescribable, terrible wounds all over her body.

How many tanks are around, and why did Maria have such wounds?

“that… … case… … .”

Mary’s face, once as white as jade, suddenly becomes contemplative.

Did I ask a question I couldn’t answer?

“Then goodbye!”

“?!”

She fled the scene as if running away.

We didn’t meet each other much, but with a deep expression on our faces that we had never seen before.

So for a while.

I had to look at her back as she suddenly disappeared.