Chapter 102
Translator: Kell Editor: Weasalopes
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The Birth of the Healing Hand
Hikaru arrived at Borderzard, the closest town to Un el Portan that day . The moment he passed by the town hall where the wounded were being treated, he had a terrible sense of foreboding . His Instinct tingled .
He stepped inside, and the smell of the stagnant air almost overwhelmed him . Then he heard a familiar voice .
Paula…
Three girls who left their village . They formed a party with young men from the neighboring village which broke up after they encountered a horde of Goblins . After saving the girls, Hikaru ended up having dinner with them . Paula, in particular, seemed to have taken a liking to him .
It did sound like they needed money, Hikaru thought . They probably joined the monster hunt for the reward .
But he couldn’t blame them . If it was like every other year, even beginner adventurers like them could help by carrying monsters slain by high-ranked adventurers, or taking down the small fries .
It was simply ill luck . Nothing more, nothing less . Perhaps that was what spurred him to approach Paula, to meet her again . He learned that her two friends — Pia and Priscilla — were at death’s door .
【Soul Board】Paula Nohra
Age: 17 Rank: 8
13
【Magical Power】
. . 【Mana】2
【Willpower】
. . 【Faith】
… . 【Holy】4
……【Healing Magic】2
……【Support Magic】1
If I modify her Soul Board, she can heal them .
But once points had been spent, they couldn’t be taken back . If he increased the power of her healing magic, what would she do afterwards? What if she turned into an enemy? What if she told people about Hikaru’s ability?
This is a simple problem . Do I trust her? Or do I let them die? I guess it must be fate that always brings us together .
「Do you want to save them?」he asked .
Hikaru steeled himself and decided to trust her . If he deemed her to be not trustworthy, he would kill her with his own hands .
Paula didn’t hesitate for a second . He felt her resolve, her determination to save her friends even if it meant giving up her own life .
「Close your eyes . The moment you open them again, your life will change . 」
Hikaru opened her Soul Board while her eyes were shut .
【Soul Board】Paula Nohra
Age: 17 Rank: 8
4
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【Magical Power】
. . 【Mana】5
【Willpower】
. . 【Faith】
… . 【Holy】4
……【Healing Magic】8
……【Support Magic】1
「Open your eyes . 」
「………」
She looked at him, eyes wet from tears .
「Do you feel different?」
「It’s like… my mana has increased . 」
「Use all the mana you got to heal them . 」
「Okay . 」
Hikaru placed one hand on Paula’s shoulder and the other on Pia’s forehead, then activated Group Obfuscation .
「O God who art in heaven, in thy name I ask for a miracle . In thy right hand thou offerest the gift of life, in thy left the blessing of death . Give us grace so we can survive . I offer thee my mana…」
Paula chanted with both hands on Pia’s abdomen, her voice rich and full . Warm, golden mana overflowed from Paula’s body . She had her eyes closed, though, so she couldn’t see it herself .
Golden light flowed through her hands and into Pia’s body . The flesh on her friend’s belly twitched as it gradually healed . It felt like watching a computer-generated image .
Looks like eight points on Healing Magic is enough, Hikaru thought .
He didn’t put ten points on it for a few reasons . First, he wasn’t sure how powerful her magic would turn out to be . It would pose a problem if her mana capacity wasn’t enough . He could’ve put five or six points, but he imagined there would be a few of those people in this world . Yet he hadn’t heard of a healing magic that could restore flesh, aside from legends and myths . As such, he estimated eight points would be enough . He didn’t have time to verify it, however .
Paula staggered on her feet as she let out a low groan . Fortunately, Hikaru managed to hold her up .
「Did you use your mana all at once?」
「Y-Yes… You told me to use all my mana . How’s Pia?」
「You take a look . 」
Paula’s eyes widened as she looked at her friend .
「H-H-Her abdomen’s healed!」
「Isn’t that great?」
Paula turned her attention to Hikaru .
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「Figaru-zabaaaaa!」
Hikaru’s spine made a strange sound as she embraced him tight .
「Y-You idiot! Let go of me!」
「But… But…」
「There’s still your other friend!」
「Ah . 」
She quickly let go of him .
Phew… Good thing I had Group Obfuscation on .
Not one person noticed what was going on .
「What happened to Priscilla?」Hikaru asked .
「She got poisoned, and my magic doesn’t work . 」
「I’m not sure how it works, but shouldn’t you know first what kind of poison it is before you can neutralize it?」
「No . I should be able to heal her . If it’s a more potent poison, then you just use a more powerful magic . 」
「…And you don’t have much mana left . 」
With his Mana Detection, Hikaru could tell she didn’t have much left in her tank . So he opened her Soul Board and added one point on her Mana .
「Huh? Wait… My mana increased?! Did you do this?!」
「Just use your magic on her quick . 」
「O-Okay!」
As Paula cast her magic, color gradually returned to Priscilla’s face .
「Th-Thank goodness…」
At long last, Paula felt relief . Softly, she closed her eyes…
「Ugh?!」
Hikaru’s karate chop landed on her head .
「Why are you sleeping? Do you want your friends to stay in such unsanitary conditions? Let’s move them somewhere else . 」
「O-Okay!」
First, they supported Priscilla from both sides and got her on her feet . They then left the town hall and made their way to the subjugation team’s camp . The town’s inns were not enough to accommodate all the adventurers so the Adventurers Guild’s training ground was used as a camp instead .
The men and women were separated . Paula asked and a small tent was provided to her . With his Stealth, Hikaru was able to enter the women’s area .
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「Just wait a bit, Priscilla . I’ll bring Pia soon . 」
When they stepped out of the tent, they noticed the adventurers starting to get restless .
「Wh-What’s happening?」Paula asked .
「Ah, a large group of monsters is closing in on this town . 」
「I see… Wait, what?! That sounds like terrible news! How can you be so calm?!」
Hikaru flashed a grin .
「We’ll be fine . Someone qualified at dealing with such a problem is on their way . 」
「Someone qualified?」
「Let’s hurry and bring Pia here too . 」
They left the camp and headed back to the town hall .
「We have a problem now . You . 」
「M-Me?! I’m fine! I have spare mana thanks to you and I think it’s recovering faster now . 」
While she didn’t know exactly what happened, Paula believed her increased mana capacity was because of Hikaru . Her healing magic had improved considerably as well, but she seemed unaware of it . I can just explain it to her some other time .
「I told you to devote the rest of your life to me . 」
「Ah, y-yeah . Uhm… I look forward to spending my life with you . 」
She stopped and bowed deeply . Hikaru hit her with another chop on the head .
「Listen . This is serious . As you may have realized, I tweaked your abilities . 」
「Ugh… Why do you have to be so mean?」
「Because you’re getting carried away . You are now one of this country’s — no, this continent’s most powerful healers . 」
「Oh…」
「That’s not how I expect you to react . Think about it . Do you know anyone else who can actually restore flesh?」
Paula froze .
「N-Now that you mention it… I heard only some of the higher-ups of the church, the Cardinals, can do that . 」
Oh, so someone from the church can do what she did, huh? I thought that only happened in legends . I guess I was wrong . Six points on Healing Magic probably would’ve been enough .
「What would happen if people found out about your abilities?」
「I-I don’t know…」
「Even the church will want you . Royals and nobles too, most likely . You have the power to fix someone as though nothing happened to them in the first place . A struggle revolving around you will occur . Many people will die . I asked you if you were prepared for that . 」
Paula turned pale as a sheet . Reality finally dawned on her .
「Listen closely . You have to lay low . And you will pay me back for the power I gave you . 」
「Pay you back…」
「How many more times do I have to save you?」
「………」
Paula pursed her lips .
「I now understand what you’re trying to say . Please accept my life . 」
Hikaru wagered and he won . Paula could be trusted . He was glad he modified her Soul Board .
「We’ll think about what to do from now on some other time . First, we’ll bring Pia to the camp . You stay with them until they wake up . Once they do, flee somewhere safe and then say your goodbyes . 」
「…Okay . 」
He couldn’t bring Pia and Priscilla with him . The more people he had to protect, the more unfavorable it was . Hikaru’s abilities were best suited for one-on-ones . Paula seemed to have understood as she nodded silently .
「 Here, take this . 」
Hikaru handed her a bag of coins, a key, and a piece of paper with his address .
「Right now, I’m staying in a town in Forestia called Scholarzard . I want you to head there . You can split the money with Pia and Priscilla . Send them back to your village . I’m sure you’ve realized by now that you’re not exactly fit to be adventurers . 」
「Uh, are you sure I can go with you?」
「I’m keeping you for my own reasons . I’ve always wanted a Healer by my side . 」
「I… see . 」
「Are you disappointed that I’m treating you like a tool?」
「No . You saved my friends’ lives . I have no complaints whatsoever . 」she said in a clear voice .
「Good . 」
「What are you going to do now?」
「I will end this mess . 」
「End? How?」
「Let’s move!」
「O-Okay!」
They made their way to the town hall . Hikaru was just a bit worried, but right now he couldn’t keep Paula company .