Chapter 23 · 9 min

Chapter 23

Wind of Healing

I took out the heart from the plastic bag.

Gloomy chill comes in along the palm.

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[Cursed Heart]

-Someone's heart whose identity is unknown. Mana can be injected to absorb the heart, but the method to reverse it is not known.

-30% physical ability decrease occurs per skill that hasn't reached the maximum level.

-When the skill reaches the maximum level, one out-of-hierarchy skill can be acquired each.

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Exactly as seen in the request form.

An item that simultaneously has extreme advantages and disadvantages.

If there's a skill that hasn't reached the maximum level.

A fatal disadvantage of blowing away 30% of physical ability whole.

On the other hand, if there's a maximum level skill.

It has the absurd advantage of being able to learn out-of-hierarchy skills.

Yu Ji-seong opened his mouth.

“It's in a state of only informal appraisal at the workshop. If requesting formal appraisal, much more accurate information can be known···.”

There was no need to do that.

I immediately used the Appraisal skill on the heart.

Bright light lingered around the heart and new information floated up.

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[Cursed Heart]

-Apostle's heart.

-The moment of absorption, the original owner's will disappears and completely belongs to the user.

-Mana can be injected to absorb the heart, but there is no method to reverse it.

-30% physical ability decrease occurs per skill that hasn't reached the maximum level.

-When the skill reaches the maximum level, one out-of-hierarchy skill can be acquired each.

-[Two Hearts (LV1)]: Can store mana in the cursed heart, and use it when needed.

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Result of using the highest level Appraisal skill.

New explanation was added.

First, apostle's heart.

“Apostle···you say? Well. I've never heard of it.”

I asked Yu Ji-seong but there's no special information.

I carefully examined the archive but the same.

If there's no information in the office and archive, it's practically the same as no information.

Next, two hearts.

Simply put, it's the role of a spare mana storage warehouse.

If able to fill the rapidly consumed mana by using magics of different series, it would be perfect.

‘Moreover, seeing the level attached, there's sufficient room for the Transcendence trait to apply.’

Lack of information about the apostle is an anxiety factor.

But an item that belongs anyway the moment of absorption.

It doesn't particularly look dangerous.

Moreover, thinking of that advantage, not absorbing it is at a strange level.

I immediately blew mana into the heart.

Seuuuuu···.

In an instant, the heart turned into black smoke.

The energy that flew into the empty air permeates into the skin.

Like that for a while.

A new heart instantly took place right next to the existing heart.

[You have absorbed the cursed heart]

That was the end.

Inside the chest.

Two hearts started roughly pulsing.

I returned home.

Checking the phone, a text had come.

Yu Seo-ha.

[Good work. We'll have Mr. Choi Geon-u take on simple production requests from the office side for a while and watch the progress]

A good thought.

As much as a big incident was experienced, going out to the field immediately would clearly have psychological resistance.

Time to organize the mind while processing light work would be needed.

I inwardly admired Yu Seo-ha.

‘The more I see, the more appropriate and warm a person.’

Recalling, it seems there were quite a few warm people around me before the accident too.

Parents were also always kind to me.

Maybe I also missed this kind of affection.

Affection as human to human.

I packed the not many belongings and left the motel room.

Returned the key to the counter, and stopped by the bank to deposit money.

The money the old man Choi handed over was more than thought.

A large sum of 70 million won.

Unknown to awakeners, but an enormous amount to me.

Even my hands lightly trembled while depositing.

Next, I moved to the pre-searched place.

[Miracle Business Hotel]

Located in Daerim-dong.

A business hotel with daily accommodation fee of 130,000 won.

I entered the lobby.

Not luxurious, but the musty feeling unique to motels completely disappeared.

“How many days do you plan to stay?”

I spread two fingers.

“Two days?”

I shook my head, and this time spread seven fingers.

The employee nodded.

“I'll register as 2 weeks. The room is 1302.”

I shook my head at the employee mentioning breakfast service and went up to the room.

I opened the curtain and looked outside.

The unorganized scenery of Daerim-dong unfolds under my feet, and beyond that toward the Han River side, neatly organized districts came into view.

Thud.

I lay my body on the bed.

I thought of resting a bit, but anyway sleep didn't seem to come.

I immediately moved to the lobby.

[You have entered the tower lobby floor]

I turned my head and looked at the place where people gathered.

It's the skill shop direction.

Originally there's no skill that can be additionally learned.

But if the effect of the cursed heart applies to the shop too, the story changes.

Currently mastered skills are as many as 7.

Common skills are Meditation, Detection, Appraisal.

Flame skills are Fireball, Flame Burst, Red Flame, Holy Fire.

If the ability of the cursed heart applies intact.

A total of 7 new skills can be learned.

Curious.

Is that really possible.

Step. Step. Step.

Approaching the skill merchant slowly for a while.

I couldn't help but flinch in surprise.

The Hispanic merchant who always smiled vulgarly and threw jokes was looking at me with hardened eyes.

But that was also brief.

The fellow who felt my gaze returned to the original frivolous appearance.

“Hey, you came wearing something amazing?”

[Held points: 32,820 points]

[Obtainable series: [Common][Earth][Wind][Water][Ice][Lightning][Holy][Dark]]

Looking at the list, it seems certain that skills can be additionally learned.

There was a unique point that stood out.

First, the flame series doesn't exist.

The last stage of the flame series.

The magic in charge of [Melt].

The word meaning furnace, Crucible.

“Is there no Crucible?”

“Hey, hey. Even if wearing something good, business morals must be kept.”

The fellow smiled slyly and winked one eye.

“Come back after clearing the 6th floor of the tower. Before that, absolutely not.”

Other series skills could be learned.

Not all.

As many as 5 basic skills could be acquired.

From earth series, Bind.

A basic skill that binds the enemy with the ground.

From wind series, Wind Shield.

Defense magic that compresses air to block attacks.

The skill most urgent for me.

Water series skill is Flow.

A skill that freely controls the flow of water.

Ice series skill is Freezing.

A skill that creates and spreads ice.

Lightning series skill is Electrocution.

A skill that flows current to give paralysis effect and continuous damage.

“This crazy guy is also the first time seeing···.”

Was it the first time seeing a guy learning five skills at once.

The skill merchant clicked his tongue.

‘...By the way, point consumption is quite large.’

They said if not the first acquired attribute, the price is expensive, and it seemed true.

Even basic magic 300 points each.

A total of 1500 points was consumed.

The higher the series, the more expensive it will be.

If spending freely just because held points are many, an unfortunate incident of not being able to learn the actually needed skill might occur.

[Acquiring Common series skill]

[Telekinesis (LV1)]

[Tracking (LV1)]

I also learned two common series skills.

Finally, the most important holy attribute skill.

[Acquiring Holy attribute skill]

[Wind of Healing (LV1)]

···Finally succeeded in learning.

The most basic skill of holy attribute, Wind of Healing.

A skill known to heighten the target's natural healing ability.

But that's only talk when it's a low-level skill.

No one knows what effect it will show when raised to the maximum level.

'Anyway, became able to learn holy attribute. Fortunate.'

Was it because I made the half-delusional plan into reality faster than thought.

Learning the holy series skill, the feeling was new.

Even if the skill doesn't have the expected effect, it's fine.

I can learn other skills additionally and treat the body.

‘...Shall I tower climb, or confirm the effect of the skill?’

I pondered for a moment, but the answer was already decided.

I left the tower and returned to the lodging bed.

Tower climbing is good but treatment first.

First I examined the community.

Like most basic skills, the evaluation was poor.

After thoroughly digging even the archive, it was organized.

Sleep comes well.

If sleeping and waking, fatigue recovery is clean.

“What···is it a feeling of getting IV?”

Once using it, I'll know.

I raised mana and used the skill.

Whoong-

Soft wind lightly sweeps above the bed.

Suddenly the head went blank.

A feeling like yawning at any moment.

Of course yawning was impossible.

Holding the heavy eyelids by force for a while.

The awaited message floated up.

[You have used the Wind of Healing (LV1) skill]

[[Transcendence (EX) ability manifests]

[Experience points gained increase by 1,000,000 times]

[The skill level of Wind of Healing (LV1) increases]

[The skill level of Wind of Healing (LV2) increases]

[The skill level of Wind of Healing (LV3) increases]

···

[Wind of Healing (LV20) skill has reached the maximum level]

The blowing wind became much stronger.

The mood became much more comfortable.

This time the eyelids dropped without even time for a yawn to come out.

‘What is this···.’

I couldn't even continue thoughts anymore.

As is, it went dark before my eyes.

I opened my eyes.

Chirp!

Chirp chirp!!

Bird song came through the open window.

A sound that naturally improves the mood.

Whether lying too long, the back was itchy.

I raised my body with Mana Thread and scratched the back hard.

Refreshing.

I headed to the window.

Opened the window, and briefly appreciated the gloomy scenery of Daerim-dong.

The midsummer sunlight is quite stinging...

“...!!”

Suddenly I opened my eyes wide.

The back is itchy, and the sunlight is stinging.

What is this···!!

‘My god.’

I wrapped my body with Mana Thread, and ran to the bathroom.

Raised my head and checked the mirror.

A somewhat gloomy face no different from usual.

But clearly different from usual.

Twitch.

The eyebrows moved, and the corners of the mouth lightly trembled.

The fine tremor that started from the fingers and toes gradually spread.

Mana Thread did nothing but the body was reacting.

"Ueuueu..."

A bizarre sound seeping from the throat.

Similar to the voice heard in the tower.

The voice forgotten the whole time, that I so wanted to recover.

I blinked at the unknown foreign feeling.

Something overflowed and flowed down.

I raised my head.

The youth in the mirror is crying.

Tears were flowing down the face in streams.

I released Mana Thread, and forcibly raised the trembling arm.

Wiped the tears with trembling fingers.

Clearly felt sensation.

...Warm.

I raised my head, and looked at the corners of the mouth drooping powerlessly in the mirror.

Giving strength as much as possible, I pulled up both sides.

The facial muscles trembled for a while.

I barely succeeded in smiling.

An extremely awkward smile but it doesn't matter.

A smile made for the first time in 8 years.

Today this alone was enough.

Now it was time to confirm the newly learned skills.