Chapter 05
[Healing in progress.]
Once again, the hourglass turned and the loading bar began to fill one segment at a time.
This thing is ridiculously slow. Maybe it’s because the wound is far from the heart.
Still, I was glad it was on the back of my hand.
If I had to endure this kind of agonizing wait while kissing some other place like his lips… I wouldn’t be able to die in peace even after death.
If I was going to die saving someone, I didn’t want it to be in some humiliating way.
“Ugh…!”
I heard Calion let out a faint groan.
But he didn’t pull his hand away.
He was much stronger than me—if he wanted to pull away, he easily could have.
It felt like all the strength was slowly draining out of my body.
‘So this is what dying feels like.’
Fortunately, it didn’t hurt.
If death felt like falling asleep, then that was at least a blessing in misfortune…
[Healing complete.]
Success reward: Increased vitality recovery speed proportional to number of allies.
Huh? So I’m not dying?
As I was wondering at the system message that appeared in my mind, I heard Calion calling me in a slightly troubled voice.
“…Master.”
I lifted my head, pulling my lips away from the back of his hand.
The wound on Calion’s chest had already closed.
Not even a scar remained. Completely clean.
‘Wow. It actually worked.’
A kiss on the hand was embarrassing enough, and the loading time was painfully slow—it was almost mortifying—but seeing it heal so perfectly without dying made it worth the shame.
“Calion! Your wound is completely hea—!”
I tried to tell him, my relief and joy spilling out, but I couldn’t.
As I tried to straighten my back, all strength left my body and I collapsed into his arms.
At least the wound had healed—otherwise I might have bumped it.
“Master!”
A sudden wave of dizziness hit me, and I frowned.
Fortunately, whatever it meant by increased recovery speed wasn’t a lie—the ringing in my ears and pounding headache quickly subsided.
“S-sorry, Calion…”
As my vision finally stabilized and I lifted my head, I couldn’t finish my apology.
Calion’s face and ears were bright red.
Even his neck.
‘W-why is he so embarrassed? I just kissed the back of his hand… It wasn’t even an inappropriate place!’
Seeing how flustered he looked, I became nervous too.
I quickly checked where my hands were.
He looked like he’d been violated or something, so I thought maybe I had touched his thigh—but thankfully both my hands were resting on his chest.
…His chest was broader than it looked.
“M-Master…”
Calion called my name in a trembling voice.
A huge man who towered over me by at least two heads, looking like a frightened deer with moist eyes—was this even fair? My heart felt overwhelmed.
“Master. Why would you do something like this…?”
“W-what? Ah, no! I didn’t mean anything weird! I just wanted to heal your wound!”
I quickly pushed myself up and left his arms.
I had placed a hand on his chest while falling, but I swear I didn’t do anything inappropriate. And the actual healing contact was only on his hand.
This kind of thing should be within the acceptable range between strangers, right?
I healed him, after all!
“If I need contact to heal you, then… that’s why…”
Should I have told him beforehand and then kissed his hand? But saying it in that situation would’ve been strange. I wasn’t even sure it would work, and if it failed midway, it would’ve been worse.
“Calion. The wound is… healed, right?”
“…Yes.”
He answered quietly, turning his head away. Through his hair, I could see the tips of his ears still red.
He seemed unusually sensitive—or just easily embarrassed—but his sacredly handsome face even when flustered was a sight to behold.
From the side, his nose was perfect too. His long lashes trembling slightly, his lips parting to release a soft breath before biting them again to steady himself…
‘Why am I out of breath just watching him?’
Feeling my own face heat up, I turned away and fanned myself.
“….”
“….”
An awkward silence fell between us.
Anyone watching would probably think we had just shared a kiss.
It was just a brief press of lips to the back of his hand, yet why did the air feel so strange?
‘But if I had actually kissed him… I don’t think I would’ve pushed him away.’
I had no real reason for that thought.
If this really was a game world, and the genre was something like an adult… no, romance game, then this would be the moment for an event where things progress with Calion.
The healing skill guide appearing there was proof of that.
In games like this, physical closeness often escalates quickly once the trigger is set.
‘Maybe I should’ve just gone for it.’
It was already embarrassing enough to kiss the hand of a man I’d only just met, but now that it was done, I oddly felt regret.
As I unconsciously licked my lips, Calion flinched and bowed his head.
“I apologize for the late greeting.”
“Huh?”
“Thank you for healing me, Master.”
“O-oh, it’s nothing. Compared to how you saved me…”
“Even so.”
Calion took a few deep breaths to steady himself, then spoke in a calmer voice.
“You should not do things like this in the future.”
Why? Because he disliked it?
It didn’t seem like he was offended by me kissing his hand without permission.
When I tilted my head, he pointed at his now-healed chest.
“Those with healing abilities like yours are extremely rare. If others discover your ability, you may be put in danger.”
“Ah.”
Right. Healers are always valuable in any party.
Seeing how a deep wound had healed instantly, my ability was clearly quite useful.
“Once you reach the village, even if you settle there, it would be best to hide the fact that you can heal through contact.”
Well, it consumes vitality, so it’s not like I could use it endlessly.
Even for a moment, I had felt dizzy enough to lose my balance.
Without allies around, I wouldn’t even get the buff for increased recovery speed, meaning it could take a long time to recover.
It was certainly useful—but also dangerous if I couldn’t protect myself.
“Okay. I’ll keep it a secret.”
I nodded, and Calion looked relieved.
‘He looks much younger when he smiles like that.’
Come to think of it, I never asked his age.
From a distance, I’d assumed he was a man in his late twenties—large, strong, imposing.
But up close, he looked surprisingly young.
His pale face made him look almost soft, like he could even pass for just barely twenty.
Considering how Western people sometimes age quickly after adolescence…
No, still, he couldn’t be a teenager, right?
“Calion, how old are you? I’m twenty-six.”
Of course, in Korean age system.
Well, this felt like a Western-style world, so I answered in international age. I’m still in my mid-twenties.
“Hmm, I haven’t counted my age in a long time… I don’t remember.”
Not counting…? That sounded like a lot of years.
‘Is he non-human?’
Maybe a spirit who lives for centuries, or a half-divine being?
His face would make it believable.
“Master. Why are you curious about my age?”
“Ah, well…”
It was just a casual attempt to lighten the mood and build rapport, but it apparently sounded like an interrogation.
“I thought you might have been a monster hunter living alone for a long time. I just wondered if you were lonely.”
“….”
Calion’s expression shifted subtly.
The corners of his eyes were slightly red, but not from embarrassment this time.
It looked more… moved. Overwhelmed.
“Calion?”
When I called his name, he flinched, then quickly composed himself.
“You should get some rest.”
“You should rest too, Calion.”
“I’m fine thanks to your healing. We’ll have to walk the mountain path tomorrow, so you should sleep.”
Unlike Calion, I had terrible stamina and would become useless without sleep.
I was already treated like dead weight; I didn’t need to get worse.
‘I should just sleep obediently.’
Calion took out a small blanket from his inventory—well, I’ll just call it that for convenience—and placed it over my lap.
How much stuff could possibly fit in a bag that small?
It was honestly impressive.
“Please rest, Master.”
“Yes. You rest too, Calion.”
After exchanging polite goodnights, I closed my eyes—and sleep came quickly.
