Ch.63Physical Therapist

# 63. Physical Therapist

‘…This is a complete mess.’

Why am I still trying to understand Guild Leader’s perspective in this situation?

The fact that three out of four are women has become trivial compared to the absurd chain of events and the jumble of emotions mixing together.

“Sorry for yelling earlier. When I saw you get slapped, I just lost it…”

Even as we introduce ourselves, knowing we’ll have to stick together for better or worse.

“I’m Seon Seyeon. I’m… sorry. I was the one who encouraged the leader to be selfish.”

Despite having known each other in the game for over a year, this is our first real-life meeting.

“In the game I was Yebeop-nojeong, but here I’m Eun Subin. I didn’t mention it earlier, but I’m the vice guild leader here too. Would you prefer to call me unni or use my name? Whatever’s comfortable for you.”

“So you knew not just my name but my age too?”

Why? How? Why?

Why does this feel so familiar, and why am I not angrier?

Is it because Guild Leader is being honest and communicative?

Because this kidnapper is extremely polite and desperate, and we already had a connection? Because while they’re kidnappers, they’re not directly responsible? Because it turns out the kidnappers are victims too?

“I’m In Soyu, twenty-nine this year. I was teaching Pilates in the mornings and afternoons while running my iTube channel…”

“Pilates? iTube? Oh, now I recognize your face. I think I’ve seen you in my algorithm.”

“Me too. Didn’t you collaborate with other fitness YouTubers quite a bit?”

“You had quite a lot of subscribers, didn’t you?”

Why are we casually chatting about this?

“My revenue must have stopped by now. Haha.”

“Don’t worry. When we get back, tell me your monthly average and I’ll compensate you.”

“…Right. You really are Yebeop.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I watched Guild Leader’s back as he left, giving us women time to talk at Yebeop’s request.

‘What am I supposed to do? I was that kind of healer in the game, but I can’t guarantee I can be the same in reality.’

Is Guild Leader like a drowning person?

Desperately fighting not to die alone and dragging me in too.

But that doesn’t explain why the other three clearly trust and support Guild Leader with one heart and mind.

Whatever their circumstances, it’s obvious that Guild Leader has treated them well here.

A drowning person tries to take others down with them, not help them survive together.

So what should I call this?

“I hope you won’t hate Seonhyun too much.”

“Why?”

“He’s a guild leader, not a dictator. This was our unanimous decision. He has this habit of trying to take all the responsibility on himself because he’s the guild leader.”

“Not because he’s a kidnapper?”

“That too. But bringing you here this time was more our will than his. Especially mine.”

Unni. My goodness.

That Yebeop-nojeong is calling me unni.

I think I’m losing my mind.

“Saying ‘please take care of me’ in this situation would be incredibly thick-skinned. But still, please take care of me.”

“You really are thick-skinned, aren’t you?”

“I’m confident about that. And I’m the vice guild leader. I, who’ve never knelt before anyone in my life, got down on my knees for this. So I can at least ask you to take care of me.”

It’s absolutely mind-boggling.

But it’s so like Yebeop that I can’t even respond and just end up nodding. If she had been a complete stranger, someone I’d never known before, she might have gotten slapped too.

“I’ll be in your care too, Soyu unni. I’ve actually wanted to meet you for a very long time.”

“Oh right. Didn’t you say you wished Soyu unni would come before Subin unni?”

“Huh? How do you know that?”

I still can’t believe that ‘that duo’ KillYouDead and NewActs are such fresh and pretty college students, but does my belief even matter?

What matters is that I need to adapt to this group of five, including myself.

They were all originally skilled, cheerful, and good people, but given the situation…

“Soyu unni. I know it’s devilish and cowardly to give only one option and force that choice. Unlike you, I had almost nothing to give up in my real life… I’ll put part of my life on the other side of the scale along with the leader.”

“Ah, I can’t go that far.”

“Yuri!”

“Instead, I’ll shield you with my body once if you’re in danger.”

“Didn’t the leader say not to talk about risking our lives? Oppa already pledged part of his life to apologize to Soyu unni, and isn’t this the same thing?”

“With me here, you’ll never have to do that, Yuri. No, human affairs are unpredictable. If the healer is in danger, the tank is already…”

Leaving the bickering duo to themselves, I grabbed a clump of my now silver hair and stared at it.

“Here.”

“…A mirror?”

“I thought you might be wondering if you’ve become your game character.”

Yebeop, who eerily read my thoughts, handed me a small mirror. I looked at my face.

‘It’s still me, but with a spoonful or two of my character mixed in.’

It was fascinating, strange, and frightening. Though the differences were subtle, my body didn’t feel like my own. I stopped wondering when my face had changed like this… it seemed pointless now.

“It takes anywhere from a day to a few days at most to manifest skills. Once you succeed in manifesting one, mastering it comes quickly… And based on the flow, the next floor is likely to be a neutral city, so you’ll be able to grow at a leisurely pace.”

“Yebeop, I mean Subin, how long did it take you?”

“Well, for simple manifestation, about a day.”

A day at the earliest, a few days at the latest?

But since a while ago, this feeling that my body isn’t my own, how should I resolve it…

Instinctively, I murmured.

“Salva nos.”

“Gasp! Could it be!”

“W-what’s happening!”

“…Unbelievable.”

[You have acquired the skill ‘Radiance of Salvation’.]

[The skill ‘Radiance of Salvation’ has been added to your skill list.]

KillYouDead clasped her hands together with sparkling eyes, NewActs gaped in astonishment, and for some reason, Yebeop-nojeong wore a somewhat sharp expression.

And when I saw Guild Leader, who had been standing back, rush over with a dazed expression at the light hovering in front of me.

I couldn’t help but feel triumphant.

**

‘Is it for real that a physical therapist can use Radiance of Salvation right away without any practice? My heart is truly swelling with pride.’

After leaving that dreamlike space, we were now walking through a forest path. Not the dense forest near Albrant, but an ordinary forest with less than half the tree density, which was becoming even sparser.

Even as we continued walking, all our attention was focused on the silver-haired beauty.

“Damnatio memoriae.”

“Whoa, shit! You scared me!!! Unni!!! Where are you aiming that?! I said I’d take hits for you if it’s dangerous, but this isn’t what I meant!”

“Ah, sorry. I’m not used to casting what my character used to do.”

“R-right? That’s understandable.”

You call that understandable?

Anyway, that red beam-like thing just now, wasn’t that ‘Memory Erasure,’ one of the few attack skills of an Arc Bishop?

“Even floor adjustments have limits. How can you manifest skills in less than an hour, let alone a day?”

“Why? You called me here because you needed me. Isn’t this good? What’s the point of knowing the reason?”

“…”

“I’m using languages I’ve never spoken before, it’s really fascinating. Ah, I’m going to test some buff and defense skills next, any volunteers?”

“Me!”

“Mmm, just a moment.”

Yebeop-nojeong has met her match!

Seeing Yebeop-nojeong repeatedly close her mouth, I kept mine shut too. It’s best not to speak carelessly and risk drawing fire. I quietly observed as the physical therapist practiced buff skills on KillYouDead.

Unlike the previous two skills, the buff and barrier skills failed a few times, but even so, it took less than an hour.

Apart from practical experience, she was ready for actual combat right now. She had all the healing, buff, barrier, and attack skills.

“Soyu unni. Were you a genius too?”

“What genius? My body just feels strange, and when I thought about releasing that feeling, this happened. It must be because of that floor adjustment thing Subin mentioned, right?”

“…I’m not certain. It’s just my speculation. Magic and divine power are quite different.”

“Right. That must be it.”

That’s what we define as genius.

—I barely managed to hold back from saying that.

It was still awkward to speak up again. I just hoped a city or something would appear soon as I kept walking forward.

One hour became two, two became three, and only then did we finally start to leave the forest behind.

We realized that just three and a half hours ago, we had spent all day wandering around the mountain and fought a short, intense battle with a Guardian, so we decided to rest.

As usual, we looked for a suitable campsite, set up a campfire and tents, and prepared to cook.

I was now used to it and was thinking about preparing a special meal for the physical therapist when she approached us, staring blankly at how efficiently we moved.

“Guild Leader. I have a question.”

“Yes. What is it, noona?”

“Noona… anyway.”

The physical therapist pointed at something and asked.

“Why is there only one tent?”

“Ah.”

“Ah? Ah-ah?”

Now I noticed that the physical therapist’s face had turned red. Her finger was trembling too.

Quite a lot.