Chapter 7
“Just because you use a healing skill doesn’t mean everything’s automatically solved.”
Luca set a bottle of alcohol and some cotton on the desk.
“Before you heal a wound, you need to disinfect it first. And after healing, you have to clean up properly. Only then can you call it proper treatment.”
“I see.”
“And once you study some medical knowledge, you’ll be able to control how much skill power you use—making it far more efficient.”
That made sense.
If I didn’t know anything about medicine, I’d have to spam my healing skill until the wound looked fine.
But if I had some medical understanding, I’d know when to stop—just enough to stabilize things.
Studying? That’s my specialty.
I’ve always been good with books. I mean, hey, I did go to a Korean university.
He handed me a stack of medical books and told me to read them all as homework.
“You said you’ve never actually used your skill before, right?”
“Yes. Not that I can remember.”
“…Then how did you even know you had a healing skill?”
That question caught me completely off guard. Cold sweat trickled down my back.
If I didn’t answer this right, I’d be in trouble.
Come on, brain, come up with a good excuse!
But after racking my brain, I couldn’t think of anything convincing.
So the only option left was—
“I’m not really sure myself.”
Bluff it out. It’s not like he can prove anything anyway.
I tried to sound calm.
“It’s just… when I woke up, my name and my skill were the only things I remembered clearly.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Without further comment, Luca pulled a dagger from the drawer and cut his own arm.
Wait—what!?
“What are you doing!?”
“You need an actual wound if you’re going to use a healing skill.”
He said it so casually, as if slicing open his arm was nothing. Then he held his arm out to me.
I placed my hand over the wound.
So… I just have to think about healing it?
I want to use my skill.
The moment I thought that, a warm light began to glow from my hand.
Oh…?
Within seconds, the light faded—and his arm was smooth and unblemished.
Luca inspected his arm carefully, then suddenly sprang to his feet.
“It’s really healing magic!”
“Uh, Luca…?”
“Larianna! I’m so glad you came to us!”
He grabbed both my hands and bounced up and down like an excited child.
I was startled, but let him shake my hands along with him.
After a moment, he cleared his throat and said, “Sorry. It’s just—seeing it in person was kind of emotional.”
“It’s fine. I heard you were the one in charge of healing before I came.”
“Yeah. My specialty’s herbalism, so I know a lot about herbs and remedies.”
Luca sighed deeply.
“My brothers don’t get hurt often, but when they do, it’s always serious.”
I pictured the people who went outside—their bodies too.
Strong muscles, long limbs, perfectly sculpted torsos…
Ah. That’s… inappropriate.
Anyway, those weren’t the kind of people who got injured easily.
So if they did get hurt, the enemy must’ve been something fearsome—enough to shred an arm or leg.
“Every time it happened, I’d use my knowledge of herbs to treat them as best I could. But it was all makeshift stuff. If I made a mistake, they could’ve died—or been crippled for life…”
“…So you were worried about them.”
“Well, they’re the ones keeping me safe, after all.”
More than that, though, he genuinely seemed to care about his brothers.
I just smiled and let it go.
“Now that you’re here, they’ll finally get proper treatment—and I might actually get to rest a bit.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Just a warning, those guys never listen when you tell them to rest. You’ll have your hands full.”
Oh dear, the kind of patients who ignore doctor’s orders. The worst kind.
“Well, I’m strong. If they won’t listen, I’ll just make them rest.”
“Pfft—hahaha!”
Luca burst out laughing.
“I really like your personality, Larianna.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Honestly, I thought you’d be some pampered noble lady, but you’re so refreshingly straightforward.”
Huh.
People used to say that back in Korea too—but maybe I seemed even more easygoing in this world.
Come to think of it, what kind of noble lady cleans her own room, refuses servants, and volunteers to go outside where monsters roam?
“Alright, then. Let’s try a slightly deeper wound next.”
“Wait—you’re not cutting yourself again, are you?”
“Looks like I am?”
I frowned and held out my own arm.
“Do it on me instead. I’m the one training here.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve done this kind of thing plenty of times for research. I’ve eaten poison, cut myself, tested herbs to see which stop bleeding best…”
And sure enough, he went ahead and gave himself an even bigger wound.
I healed it quickly, but I still didn’t feel good about it.
“At least now we know small cuts can be healed easily,” he said, jotting something down on paper. Then he looked up.
“There’s usually a penalty when using skills. Do you feel tired, or weak, or anything like that?”
“Uh… now that you mention it, my body does feel a little heavy.”
“The more you train, the better your efficiency will get. Sounds like a growth-type skill.”
I nodded as he explained.
Then he handed me a small vial, gesturing for me to drink it.
It tasted like vegetable juice.
“It’s made from herbs that help restore stamina. Let’s stop here for today since it’s your first session.”
“Our next training is tomorrow, right?”
“Yep. Until then, try to read as many of those books as possible.”
“Got it!”
It’s been five days since I came here—
and I finally have something to do!
I gathered all the books and hurried back to my room.
Lining them up on my desk, I opened one and started reading.
Ten minutes later, I thought:
Past me, who chose biology as a science subject for the Korean college entrance exam… I could kiss you.
Without that basic knowledge, I’d probably be crying right now.
The next day—
“What?! You finished all of these?”
Yes. Two full medical volumes in one day. I did it.
Luca just stared at me, mouth agape.
After a few seconds of shock, he finally came to his senses.
“You didn’t just skim them, did you?”
“Nope. Test me.”
“…Alright. Explain how a skill activates.”
“Yes. A skill is a kind of energy. When I use it on someone, it’s like transferring energy imbued with my will.”
“Go on.”
“This energy is absorbed into the body and moves toward the injured area according to my intent. Then the healing begins.”
“And the cost?”
“The user’s stamina and life force.”
“Then explain the structure of the human body.”
“You mean its components? The body consists of organs, muscles, bones, blood vessels, bodily fluids, and the nervous system.”
He let out a short whistle and closed the book.
Guess he finally believed I’d actually studied.
“With such a passionate student, I think we’ll make quick progress.”
“Then should I start calling you Professor Luca?”
“Call me whatever you like.”
He chuckled and picked up his dagger again—
and I immediately grabbed his arm.
Again!? Why does he always use himself for practice!?
“This one’s supposed to be a deeper cut than yesterday’s, right? No way.”
“I told you—healing practice needs real wounds.”
“I still think creating new wounds just for training is wrong.”
I twisted his wrist lightly and snatched the dagger away.
Luca’s face twisted in surprise.
“Why are you so strong…?”
“Because my skill’s super strength!”
He blinked, at a loss for words.
After rubbing his face, he sighed.
“Right. I keep forgetting you’ve got the strength skill too.”
He was chuckling when a knock came from the door.
“Ah, you’re in the middle of skill training, huh?”
“Isis!”
“Brother, what brings you here?”
Isis grabbed a bundle of herbs from a shelf and held it up for Luca to see.
“Teon asked me to bring this.”
“Don’t tell me he’s making another weird chemical weapon.”
“Pretty much. But… why are you holding that dagger, Larianna?”
His eyes fell on the blade in my hand.
“Oh, I was going to do some practice, but Luca was about to cut himself again, so…”
“You took it away from him?”
“Yes.”
He burst out laughing—and a little chime seemed to ring in my head.
[Affinity with “Isis Clentaine” increased by 2.]
[Current Affinity: 11 / 100]
“If you need a test subject,” Isis said with a grin, “how about Jade? He got a gash on his arm about ten days ago. I only used herbs to stop the bleeding and bind it, but I’m not sure how it’s doing now.”
A gash from ten days ago…?
