“A rescue team and a treatment center?”
“Yeah.”
As they headed back to where Geonwoo was, Haeun echoed the plan Sihyeon had laid out, and Sihyeon nodded. At the sudden proposal, Haeun rubbed his chin as if thinking it over, then frowned. Sihyeon needlessly swallowed once and shifted his gaze. For some reason, Kang Haeun acting like a normal person today was making things very difficult for him.
If it were any other time, he would’ve agreed without thinking. Or no, maybe even then he wouldn’t have.
“How much mana do you have left? It’s not like you can just keep using that kind of skill from earlier.”
“I’ve got enough mana for now. And that’s exactly why I need you.”
“…Don’t tell me you’re saying you’re going to wring me dry right now? You barbarian!”
Seeing Sihyeon speak so calmly, Haeun recoiled in shock. It was admittedly a little exaggerated, but in terms of the actual objective, it wasn’t entirely wrong, so Sihyeon couldn’t really argue. While he stayed silent, Haeun ducked behind Hamin.
“I’m not doing it, I can’t!”
“What’s with you? You should still have plenty of mana left.”
“I mean, even if I do have a lot left—”
“If necessary, I can use a mana recovery skill on you too. I can’t restore a large number of people like before, but while single-target recovery has a fairly long cooldown, using it itself is still possible.”
There were broadly three kinds of mana recovery skills for Healers. One restored about 20% of one person’s mana per use as a single-target recovery, one fully restored one person’s mana, and the last one—like the blessing from earlier—fully restored a large number of people at once as an area recovery. The number of times they could be used and the available skills differed depending on proficiency and talent, but one thing was certain: the farther up the line you went, the longer the cooldown became.
In other words, unlike Blessing of God, a relatively lighter single-target recovery only had around a 30-minute cooldown, so it could be used much more easily. Of course, the shorter cooldown came at the cost of terrible efficiency since it still devoured mana.
Healer skills would continue walking the path of absolute garbage efficiency unless proficiency increased enough to reduce cooldowns and total mana reserves went up. There was supposedly a Healer overseas who could fully restore more than 50 people at once, but just imagining how much that person must’ve been ground down to reach that point was enough to make Sihyeon sick.
Sihyeon, who had clearly chosen the wrong class, shook his head. His class teacher had said his pace wasn’t bad either, but compared to other classes, the poor early growth was still the same.
After finishing his brief bout of self-pity and looking over at the others, Sihyeon saw Haeun—still mulling things over—let out a groan as he glanced at Hamin, who was lying there with a do whatever you want attitude, and Seowoo, who still hadn’t fully come around.
“So, to sum it up, you want to form a rescue team, set up a treatment center, and heal students there. In exchange for points.”
“Yeah.”
“And the ones getting sent out as rescue team members would be Min, Geonwoo, Seowoo, and Haru hyung?”
“Once Yoo Seowoo wakes up.”
“…Then what’s in it for the rescue team?”
That was a pretty sharp question. And at the same time, for Sihyeon—who had rather hoped to gloss over that part—it was not a welcome one.
“If they rescue people, they’ll get 100 points per person they save. Altruism points. And if they deal with Irregulars while rescuing them, they’ll get even more than that. So there is something in it for them. I’m not asking you to do unpaid labor for nothing.”
“And I’d be giving them flight magic so they can search for people from above?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s inefficient.”
Haeun gave his verdict without even a moment’s hesitation. Honestly, with the kind of physical ability the Four Heavenly Kings had, they’d probably earn more points just hunting down and slaughtering Irregulars on their own than bothering with any rescue team setup. And judging by the look on Haeun’s face, it didn’t seem like he was unaware of that fact either.
The rescue team and treatment center plan was something built thoroughly for Sihyeon’s benefit. At the same time, it would also let him keep the Four Heavenly Kings in check, so for securing first place, there really wasn’t anything better.
Which meant there was no way he could back down.
“Do you need it?”
“Huh?”
“First place. Do you need it?”
“Umm… not really?”
Maybe Hamin cared, but Haeun wasn’t the type to be especially obsessed with rankings. As long as he placed somewhere near the top, that was enough. More than that, he preferred things that were fun, so Sihyeon took one step closer toward him.
“I need it.”
“Me?”
“…If we’re being technical, yeah.”
What he meant was that he needed first place, but somehow the flow of the conversation had twisted strangely. And while all this was happening, time was still passing, so Sihyeon tilted his head slightly.
“I’m asking you to help me, Kang Haeun.”
“…….”
It wasn’t an order or coercion. It was a request. Even if it probably sounded like blackmail or intimidation coming from him, it was still, technically, a request. When Sihyeon looked at him, Haeun let out another pained groan. Sihyeon stepped even closer and slowly looked over one of the Four Heavenly Kings. These were the same people who had insisted on hovering around him and making themselves part of his circle even when he pushed them away and said he didn’t want them there. He figured it would be fine to press a little more.
“You used to be so happy to follow me around, but I guess you can’t grant me one favor.”
“Huhhh?”
“I thought I’d helped you guys before.”
“Ughhh.” Haeun’s groan deepened even more. Haeun looked conflicted, Hamin was staring at him with a strange expression, and Geonwoo looked like he didn’t particularly have any thoughts at all. Haru remained as silent as ever. And Seowoo—
“So I just need to help, right?”
At some point he had woken up and was now sitting up, smiling at Sihyeon.
That same soft smile he always wore.
“You look fine.”
“Thanks to you.”
“Then make your life worth something.”
“If you’re the one asking, what wouldn’t I do for you?”
Seowoo deliberately answered in an even more exaggerated tone. Sihyeon, who had wanted to ask him something about Class C, swallowed the words and frowned. Maybe nearly dying had knocked something else loose in his head too, because he was acting even gentler than usual. And apparently Sihyeon wasn’t the only one who felt that way, because Hamin was looking at Seowoo with a deeply displeased expression as well.
A quick glance to the side showed Haru nodding as if in agreement. Geonwoo nodded too. That left only Haeun and Hamin.
“Since I’ve already got three people, I’m not going to bother asking someone who doesn’t want to help.”
Since you guys are partners anyway, you can just go rack up points together.
Saying it in an indifferent tone, Sihyeon turned away. Immediately, Haeun hurriedly grabbed his hand. At the abrupt grip, Sihyeon looked at him. Meeting his gaze, Haeun made a small umm sound, glanced over at Hamin, and then broke into a grin. It was the kind of grin that practically screamed hopelessly immature.
“If everyone else is doing it, I’d feel left out if I didn’t. I’ll do it!”
Because I like Sihyeon!
Yeah, right. Sihyeon lightly ignored the energetic addition and looked at Hamin. He knew Hamin well. Compared to the other Four Heavenly Kings, Hamin was the sort whose inner thoughts were relatively easy to read, which was why Sihyeon had ended up learning more about him. And based on that experience, in a situation like this, Hamin would definitely—
“…Then just do it.”
—answer exactly like that.
Having secured the agreement of all five of the others, Sihyeon used the mana that had, in the meantime, completely recovered and spread a wide Barrier around the area.
What was a treatment center, really? If you just pitched up a tent in a reasonably safe place, that made a temporary treatment center. And Sihyeon could say with confidence that, as long as he had put up a Barrier, there was nowhere safer than this place until his mana ran out.
“Ooh!”
As soon as the Barrier went up, Haeun lit up in delight. Watching him, Sihyeon swung his staff, and a massive pillar of light rose in front of his Barrier. It was a long column of light that shot all the way into the sky.
“What’s this supposed to be now?”
“A landmark.”
Holy Light. The name was grand, but the skill itself was a total rip-off with no actual effect beyond visuals. Still, it could at least be put to use like this. Sihyeon stared at the towering beam for a moment, then cleared his throat. It was time to announce the opening of the treatment center.
“But how are you going to let people know about the treatment center?”
“With a loudspeaker.”
“Huh? You have something like that?”
“I do.”
Arriving at that simple conclusion, Sihyeon picked up his staff and thought briefly. It was true that it felt wasteful to use Copy on something like this, but for publicity, there really wasn’t a better option, so he opened his mouth.
“Ahem, this is Kang Sihyeon of Year 1 Class A.”
Sihyeon’s voice rang throughout the space as if speakers had been installed everywhere.
“Some of you have probably noticed the pillar of light by now. We have established a treatment center at the location where that pillar stands, so anyone needing treatment, please make your way toward the light. Treatment will be provided for 200 points, and if for some reason you cannot leave your current location, please look up at the sky and wave your hands as widely as possible. An A-Class rescue team will then be dispatched to assist you. Please note that if you fail to survive the night and die, 500 points will be deducted from the score you have earned. That is all.”
“…….”
At Sihyeon’s voice booming across all directions like an echo, the gazes of the Four Heavenly Kings turned squarely toward him. Their looks practically asked When did you copy something like that too? Sihyeon merely shrugged.
“The principal’s microphone had an amplification skill on it. I went to him and learned it.”
“That’s not learning, that’s stealing. And is that thing about losing 500 points if you die actually true?”
“I’ve never died, so how would I know? I just figured paying 200 points is better than losing 500, so I said it to light a fire under them.”
“Hah.” Even with Hamin’s comment and incredulous laugh, Sihyeon remained perfectly calm. Telling Haeun to quit spacing out and get to work by putting flight buffs on the others, he saw Haeun—who had been staring at him—open his mouth blankly.
“What do I do?”
“What?”
Thinking maybe there was some kind of problem, Sihyeon asked, only for Haeun to suddenly throw himself at him. No matter how cute Haeun looked, he was still a seventeen-year-old lunatic. Maybe if it were Haru, but he had no desire to have a fully grown Haeun clinging to him, so he pushed him away with a frown. Then Kang Haeun, for the first time in a while, fully unleashed his lunatic tendencies.
“I’m seriously so glad I became friends with you, Sihyeon. How are you this funny every single time? Wanna date, Sihyeon?”
“What are you even saying?”
Instead of properly indulging the insane nonsense, Sihyeon just pushed Haeun’s face away and hurried him along. Only after Haeun finally peeled himself off and started moving did the Four Heavenly Kings rescue squad—including Haru—launch into action in no time.
***
[You have received a transfer of 200 points from ‘Jung Eunhye’.]
[You heal another person. You have earned 100 altruism points.]
[You have received a transfer of 200 points from ‘Nam Jihwa’.]
[You have cured a status ailment curse. You have earned 100 achievement points.]
[You have freed another person from a curse. You have earned 100 altruism points.]
[You have received a transfer of 200 points from ‘Kim Yuja’.]
[You have treated many people. You have earned 1,000 achievement points.]
[You have received a transfer of 200 points from ‘Na Mumyeong’….]
.
.
.
Total points: 12,500. Starting from 4,500 points and healing people until his mana ran dry, Sihyeon checked the result and then flopped onto the ground in a starfish sprawl. He had treated people day and night without pause, and now, after another night had passed, the sky was brilliantly blue—while he felt as though he had turned completely white. It was lucky, in a way, that more of the students had ended up in the same area than he’d expected.
“Are you hurting a lot?”
“…I can manage.”
When Haru came over and asked with quiet concern, Sihyeon swallowed back the words I feel like I’ve been squeezed right to my limit and answered instead. Then he called out to Hamin.
“Lee Hamin.”
“What.”
“Show me your score for a second.”
“What?”
At Sihyeon’s sudden remark, Hamin’s expression crumpled. When Hamin demanded to know why the hell he had to do that, Sihyeon answered that if he didn’t want to show him, then he should hand over at least 1,000 points. Hamin arched a brow and looked at him like he was some kind of thug.
At the exact same time, that was when 3,000 points arrived.
[You have received a transfer of 1,000 points from ‘Yoo Seowoo’.]
[You have received a transfer of 1,000 points from ‘Ban Haru’.]
[You have received a transfer of 1,000 points from ‘Baek Geonwoo’.]
At the three windows popping up one after another, Sihyeon’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s, and he turned around. The three of them were looking at him as though it had all been planned in advance. Just as he was about to let out a disbelieving laugh, a massive system window filled his vision.
[Game play time has reached 70 hours. You will be automatically logged out.]
It was the window announcing the end of the first end-of-month evaluation.
