The Tone-Deaf Healer Kills with a Song - Episode 11

After Hunter Miju fainted with foam at her mouth, I went upstairs and got scolded by my team.

Well, rather than scolding, they wore bewildered expressions, seemingly at a loss for words.

“So you’re saying you unintentionally affected her somehow?”

“Yes, this time there wasn’t even a skill activation window, but suddenly this happened…”

“I understand what you mean.”

He dismissed me with a frustrated expression, seemingly accepting that it was an issue of skill incompetence.

Now I’d lost even the most basic right available to Koreans.(1)

“I heard what happened. Please come to my office.”

While sitting dejectedly in the company café drinking an americano, I got a text message. It was from the Guild Leader.

I’d almost forgotten that I was supposed to meet with the Guild Leader today. I got up and headed to the top floor.

“You’re here.”

“Ah, you were w-waiting in front of the elevator…”

While I appreciated him waiting, appearing so suddenly could startle people. But Jung Hwan-jae showed no sign of recognizing this concern as he stood perfectly straight.

I nearly collided with him. My expression must have looked darker than I thought, as I could clearly see him studying my demeanor.

“Do I look that depressed?”

“Yes, we’ll need to find a solution regarding making outsiders faint. I think it might be an equipment issue – have you checked what equipment you have?”

“…”

When I didn’t answer, his steps came to an abrupt halt.

His face showed clear signs of thinking ‘surely not’ as he looked at me, which made me feel rather wronged. How could I have acquired equipment when I’d barely been a hunter for any time at all?

After joining, I’d been told where I could use some of Hanttae’s equipment, but I felt too awkward to just take and use things randomly.

“With equipment, you can try different pieces and choose what feels comfortable. Once you reach a certain level of proficiency, we’ll have custom equipment made.”

“So equipment can break while being used?”

“Yes, and it’s fine if it breaks. It’s part of the company welfare benefits, so you won’t be obligated to pay for it.”

Hearing directly from the Guild Leader that there was no obligation to pay made me feel somewhat relieved. When I unconsciously let out a long sigh, his gaze fell on me.

Though I hadn’t done anything wrong, meeting eyes that reminded me of my past life made me shrink instinctively.

While I was considering speaking first, he continued in a composed voice.

“Generally, people operate by supplementing their lacking stats. There are items that provide corrections to overall stats.”

“Ah, yes.”

“For special stats, you can get help from blacksmiths if you pay above a certain amount. However, even though they have an exclusive contract with Hanttae, their slots are filled for the next three months, so please wait.”

He might be worried I’d switch guilds during that time. 

But I’m prepared to dedicate my life to Hanttae.

When I nodded earnestly, he gestured for me to follow with a light wave of his hand and started walking away. From his earlier words, I thought we were going to look at equipment, but apparently not.

The place he led me to was his office.

“You mentioned something while practicing alone before. About getting additional buffs when using songs from the random music box.”

“That there’s only one left now. Yes, that’s right.”

Specifically, what I had asked him was if he could tell me where to get these random music boxes. I still hadn’t opened the remaining one, planning to use it after my stats developed somewhat.

“I did some research myself, though it might be insufficient.”

“Ah, you didn’t have to go that far…”

What puzzled me lately was the Guild Leader’s attitude toward me. He was being exceptionally kind.

I knew that these days, due to the rarity of healers, guilds tend to accommodate beyond necessary conditions regardless of which side you’re on.

But that’s usually the guild’s attitude, and I’d never heard of a Guild Leader being this passionate.

Though I had definitely submitted an inquiry to the Hunter Support Team about this matter, Jung Hwan-jae gave me the answer directly. I remember the team in charge also showed puzzlement, not expecting the Guild Leader to personally step in.

“Random boxes typically only come as rewards for specific situations. However, when your level increases, something called detailed search function activates. Though it’s only for people with certain required stats.”

“Detailed search?”

I’d never heard about this even in general education classes. Well, it makes sense since lectures don’t usually cover cases that appear extremely rare.

He nodded lightly.

“It’s used not only for skill searches but also for searching other necessary resources. I believe your Creative Technique stat might be used for that.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Yes, though it’s just my speculation. And I believe those musical scores get stored in the data, and that’s how you acquire new songs.”

“Do you perhaps also have stats that use detailed search, Guild Leader…”

I caught myself mid-sentence and covered my mouth. We weren’t even close enough for me to ask such things. My habit of attempting small talk when feeling awkward had caused trouble again.

Asking about someone’s stats or skills is implicitly considered quite rude, and even more so when it comes to a ranker’s abilities.

But he waved it off as if such a question was fine, seemingly understanding it was a mistake.

“I’ll tell you when the opportunity arises. It’s a bit premature now.”

“Ah, then that means…”

“Besides, since you’re the healer who’s been treating me repeatedly, I can’t keep too many secrets.”

Suddenly, something I’d been wondering about came to mind.

“But what exactly am I healing you from?”

It had been puzzling me all along.

Though I’d only healed him twice so far, Jung Hwan-jae had shown strange reactions since that day that felt like an interview.

Hadn’t he acted as if he knew the effect just from one song, even though I hadn’t healed anyone? At first, I thought he had his own means of verification.

“…”

But that wasn’t it. If such means existed, why would guild people struggle so hard during interviews to verify whether applicants’ abilities were real or fake?

While it might be due to his special skill, he definitely spoke as if he’d received some kind of treatment from my skill. Yet he showed no signs of pain, nor were there any visible external wounds.

“Am I actually healing something? I really can’t tell.”

“Mm, you are.”

“From what I can see, you don’t seem injured anywhere, and honestly, it’s more confusing because you’re the only one I can apply my healing skill to.”

I’d clearly heard that things would change as my stats increased and my proficiency improved. While I wouldn’t be able to form my own team, I could at least join somewhere and party with others.

I could even enter and clear low-level dungeons alone. If I’m really lucky, I might even get my name on the edge of the rankings. That is, if I’m really a healer.

But with no visible effects from the skills, I couldn’t be certain at all. Am I really on the right path?

“If you’re having doubts about your abilities, you don’t need to worry. You’re the most talented healer I’ve seen so far.”

“But…”

“I know you’re having doubts about me. It’s understandable.”

He nodded. As if to say it was a perfectly reasonable concern.

Having someone who hadn’t been employed long, and whose life as a hunter wasn’t even that extensive, probe into his affairs – it would be unbearable for most people.

Sometimes hunters, perhaps due to their exceptional abilities, show behaviors that suggest they’ve lost their humanity at some point. If he had been like that, I might have been caught in some trap here and endured terrible times.

But he was speaking in a way that showed consideration for me.

“I’m not saying I misunderstand or want to trouble you, Guild Leader.”

“I know. Don’t worry. I will never misinterpret your words.”

“But I’m stuck with my singing, and because of that, I desperately need to understand the form of healing, and I want to know what buffs are being applied.”

Even though I had essentially interrupted him, the fact that he was nodding with a calm expression was honestly impressive enough to seem somewhat cool.

Or maybe it was because his face was beautiful beyond measure.

T/N:

(1) “Now I’d lost even the most basic right available to Koreans.” : is a humorous reference to singing being considered a basic social activity in Korean culture, particularly in settings like noraebang (karaoke rooms). After the incident where she made someone faint with her singing, she feels she can’t even participate in this basic Korean social activity anymore.