Chapter 102

Translator: Kell | Editor: Weasalopes

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

【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 .

「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 .

「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 .