A Terminal Healer Needs an Obsessive Maniac (Completed) - Chapter 145

Chapter 145

Even after hearing the kind explanation, he didn’t understand immediately. However, when he belatedly realized that it was a gift prepared to prevent Ryu Seo-ha himself from falling ill, overwhelmed by helplessness like before, he got goosebumps.

This instinctively felt repulsive, as if it was no different from treating humans like possessions that could be manipulated at will, like pets or what used to be called companion animals in the past.

“Are you saying I should play God?”

“It’s not an issue to take so seriously.”

Choi Gang-hu emphasized the goodwill underlying the action, saying it was just a role of occasionally caring for souls abandoned in destruction so they could enjoy a smooth life again and maintain their good nature.

It was true that Ryu Seo-ha was briefly tempted by the persuasion that he should see it as a kind of talent donation, giving paradise to those worthy of happiness. But he wasn’t at all confident about playing the role of absolute ruler of a new world.

However, he couldn’t flatly refuse his lover’s sincerely prepared gift for the reason that “it doesn’t align with my values.” He also felt that this much was nothing, considering he had been willing to commit murder for him.

“You can leave the miscellaneous management to monsters like Ruby who understand you well, employed as secretaries, and just check in occasionally.”

Ryu Seo-ha barely swallowed a sigh at the words that missed the point of his concern, again persuading that since they were such good souls, the possibility of creating upsetting situations was slim no matter what environment they were placed in.

“…I’m sorry, but let me think about it a bit more.”

“Alright.”

In the end, he postponed his answer on whether to accept the gift or not, and unknowingly let out a sigh of relief at his lover’s ready retreat.

“But I hope you’ll accept this.”

Choi Gang-hu, uncharacteristically slightly tense, took out a small box from [Subspace]. Ryu Seo-ha, also tense at this strange air, swallowed dryly and stared down at the slowly opening box.

“Ah.”

The identity of the gift revealed inside the deep blue box was none other than a ring.

“Could this be…”

And not just a ring made of ordinary metal and jewels, but a transcendent artifact made by compressing and intertwining half each of the Black Wing and White Wing main cores.

“It is the core.”

His eyes naturally became distant at his lover’s ready affirmation. It wasn’t even the absolute ring from fantasy novels mentioned jokingly in his previous life, but what on earth was this deus ex machina-like object?

Choi Gang-hu couldn’t have been unaware of the danger, the fact that this ring containing power strong enough to control the whole world if only there were enough resources to invest would stimulate the desires of all beings in the world.

But apart from the question of why, it was a beautiful ring enough to instantly capture one’s gaze. It was in the form of two rings of light gently shimmering and rotating on their own, naturally intersecting each other.

“I made it so that when connecting the magic circuit, the transparent refined core of higher beings plated on it will absorb the burden on body and soul that you would feel.”

Come to think of it, there was a clear difference from when he saw the main core in the higher dimension. The awe-inspiring wave of power that was recognizable at a glance couldn’t be felt from the ring before his eyes.

In other words, thanks to wrapping the higher being’s core on the ring’s surface to act as a scapegoat, it seemed to be blocking even the phenomenon of the inner main core externally radiating power.

“…Is this jewel a dimension core?”

And a single raw stone set in the center of the ring was scattering beautiful and brilliant light like an exquisitely cut diamond. Choi Gang-hu nodded with a smile at the question posed as a guess.

“I filled the dimension core managed by the Black Wing forces with white magic, so it won’t last long.”

Ryu Seo-ha was so surprised by the appearance of a substance beyond common sense that he didn’t properly hear the considerate words saying he would handle the hassle of periodically replacing the jewel himself.

“How on earth…”

“I had plenty of subjects and time to experiment.”

Choi Gang-hu gestured nonchalantly, alternately pointing to the jewel that once served as the heart of higher beings and his own body. Did he conduct some kind of biological research on his own body and higher beings amidst his busy schedule?

“If you use that power to finely adjust the misaligned balance between soul and body, Ryu Seo-ha’s remaining lifespan problem should be neatly solved.”

The solution to the problem that had constantly held Ryu Seo-ha back since his reincarnation with a body of different origin from his soul, and had caused even greater frustration after awakening as an S-rank healer, was now within reach.

It was all thanks to his precious lover, Choi Gang-hu, who had been tirelessly searching for a way. The help was so great that words of gratitude couldn’t easily leave his mouth. How could he ever repay this grace?

“…Are you perhaps not happy?”

Lost in complex thoughts and staring blankly at Choi Gang-hu, Ryu Seo-ha blurted out an irrelevant question without thinking at his lover’s expression tinged with deep regret. Then he realized a beat late, oops.

“Honestly, I’m very disappointed.”

His eyes, which had quickly gathered his wits and were about to express sincere gratitude, filled with puzzlement.

“About what?”

At first he seemed somehow tense, and now he was showing inexplicable regret – Choi Gang-hu’s psychological changes were hard to understand.

“Because I have to quietly yield the position that can uniquely fill Ryu Seo-ha’s desperate need to the engagement ring I made and gifted myself.”

His deep voice calmly uttered bomb-like words.

“…Engagement ring?”

Ryu Seo-ha, alternately throwing trembling glances at the ring case and Choi Gang-hu’s face that seemed gloomy yet expectant and inscrutable, belatedly discovered the ring worn on his left hand as he slightly raised his arm.

“They said it’s better not to do the proposal event publicly.”

“No, that…”

The ring, exactly the same shape as the one he received as a gift, looked like a wedding gift prepared for the proposal itself. Had he even found a way to exactly halve the main cores containing powers of opposite natures while intertwining them?

“When I saw before, it seemed Ryu Seo-ha also thought elaborately prepared events were tacky.”

At these words, Ryu Seo-ha recalled the huge rose bouquet he had received on the rooftop of the Hannam-dong mansion decorated with numerous balloons, heart-shaped candles, and a red flower path, and couldn’t find words to refute. He thought he had responded well enough, but it seems he had shown his bewilderment more strongly than he thought.

“So I only focused on the ring…”

The strongest man in humanity, no, the man who had finally gained the greatest ability across all dimensions, standing firmly on billowing clouds covering the Milky Way, trailed off and his face grew serious.

“Don’t you like it?”

I even carefully created the atmosphere… Was it too dark? Should I have set the brightness of the moonlight higher? The following low muttering made Ryu Seo-ha let out a clear laugh.

“It’s the most perfect proposal in the world.”

As he smiled with his eyes curved like crescent moons and took the ring case, Choi Gang-hu smiled back as if he had never had a serious expression.

He was still somewhat clumsy and full of actions detached from common sense, but such aspects of the man who always seemed perfect deeply touched Ryu Seo-ha’s heart.

“Ryu Seo-ha.”

A low, deep voice quietly called his name, which he had longed for without even knowing it. Then slightly excited hands picked up the brilliantly shining engagement ring.

“I love you with all my heart.”

And he confessed sincerely to his precious lover whom he wanted to make his partner.

“Will you live eternity together with me?”

Eternity. It was not a word to be taken lightly, even if it seemed very sweet. An unimaginably long time would stand before them like a terrifying wall.

There might be times when conflicts don’t cease because they were born with very different dispositions and have lived in completely different ways, and there might come a moment when changing each other’s habits and adjusting to each other becomes burdensome.

But still, Ryu Seo-ha wanted to walk into the tunnel of eternity, matching steps with this man, Choi Gang-hu. Burying the fear of the unknown far away.

“Yes.”

The sound answering the proposal flowed out immediately without a hint of hesitation.

“I want to live together forever, with you, Choi Gang-hu.”

Choi Gang-hu, having heard the definite answer, looked at Ryu Seo-ha as if caressing him, his eyes filled with boundless affection and utmost joy.

Then, his hand trembled slightly as he put the ring made by mixing the main core with the dimension core and higher being’s core on Ryu Seo-ha’s left ring finger.

Was it because of the joy at the acceptance of his proposal? Or was it due to regret that the tool of liberation he had given to Ryu Seo-ha by his own choice would cause them to lose their special relationship?

After quietly organizing his thoughts, Ryu Seo-ha made a decision for the man who had gifted him complete freedom, despite having a persistent nature that would hate to miss even one of his lover’s breaths.

“But I’ll only use this ring when there’s no other choice.”

Perhaps if he raised the level of the skill [Light of Attunement] and his sensory stats to the fullest, he could use the ring to correct the misaligned balance between soul and body as Choi Gang-hu said. Various inconveniences in life would also disappear.

“I’d like you to continue amply filling my needs from now on, Choi Gang-hu.”

However, Ryu Seo-ha was no longer afraid of the shadow of death looming without pain. Because his strongest ally would always look after his well-being. He thought it was his role to look after the heart of that ally.

“Will you help me?”

Maintaining the power that binds them together with an invisible compulsion so they can’t be apart for long. Judging from his obsessive behavior towards Ryu Seo-ha’s every move, that was probably what Choi Gang-hu wanted. That’s why Ryu Seo-ha decided.

“By my side, forever.”

Until the deep wound in Choi Gang-hu’s heart heals and that obsession fades away, he would remain a terminal patient that only his beloved lover could cure.