Chapter 29: What am I looking at right now…?

It was meant to be a stalling tactic.

A quick hit with an attack skill to distract the charging monster, giving me a moment to snap the panicked DPS out of their stupor.

But—

BOOM—!

With a deafening crash, the centipede collapsed, writhing in a cloud of dust before going still. Completely dead.

“…”

“…”

Staring at the massive creature felled by a single skill, the entire party, myself included, was speechless.

“…Is it dead?”

Someone muttered in disbelief.

I stepped forward cautiously.

Treading through a mix of blood and green ichor, I approached the centipede’s head.

No faint breath. It was truly dead.

“Healer-nim… took that thing out in one hit?”

A stunned voice broke the silence, and I blurted out an excuse.

“Uh… it must’ve been a dark-type monster! My skills are all holy-based, so…”

“Oh, yeah, that makes sense…?”

“I could one-shot a monster with the right matchup too…!”

“I just froze up. Normally, I’d have…”

The party members shifted gears, puffing up with bravado as if they could’ve done the same.

We reformed our ranks and pressed on.

Maybe the incident left an impression, but the others kept sneaking glances at me, then awkwardly looking away.

Their eyes held a mix of awe, wariness, and… jealousy?

We walked for a while, but no monsters appeared—not even a rat.

“Hm… pretty quiet. Was that the last mob?”

“Seems like it. Hyung! Let’s head to the boss room!”

Unlike the party, who began to relax, unease gnawed at me.

‘I keep feeling like I’m missing something important…’

Then—

A chilling realization hit.

I shouted reflexively.

“Centipedes come in pairs!”

The party turned, confused.

“Don’t let your guard down! Reform ranks! Another centipede’s coming soon!”

At my urgent cry, they scrambled to reorganize.

Honestly, given their earlier behavior, I expected them to dismiss me, but I was relieved they listened.

‘It’s certain. Another one’s coming.’

I chugged a mana potion to refill my reserves, senses on high alert.

Back in my damp basement days, raising plants meant occasional centipede encounters.

And they always came in pairs. Never alone.

But—

“Hm… nothing’s showing up.”

“How long we gotta wait…?”

No tremors, not even a faint vibration. Doubt crept into their eyes.

“Maybe Healer-nim got it wro—”

As someone cautiously spoke amid growing skepticism—

Rumble…

A faint tremor pulsed from deep below.

I whispered, hoping the monster hadn’t noticed us.

“Listen to me for a sec.”

Luck helped me take out the last one, but gates aren’t that forgiving.

Overconfidence could bury us all.

First, we needed to address the distrust.

“Tanker-nim, if you can’t trust the DPS, trust me, your healer. I’ll keep you unscathed with my skills.”

The tanker, called ‘Hyung,’ met my eyes quietly.

“…Got it.”

I continued.

“DPS, same deal. I’ll take responsibility for everyone’s survival, so go all out without worry.”

“…Understood.”

“We’ll give it everything.”

Good.

Their eyes had changed. This would make the raid smoother.

“Vibration’s coming from ahead. Focus.”

The tanker raised his shield, barking low. The DPS swiftly took positions, moving fluidly.

I gathered mana from behind, calmly observing.

Soon, a massive roar echoed, and another centipede erupted from the tanker’s direction.

‘A female?’

Larger and more grotesque than the last, yet the party stayed composed, ready to face it.

CLANG—!!

The tanker’s shield blocked a tail strike, and the DPS unleashed a barrage of skills.

Flames and lightning struck the centipede’s weak points.
I layered healing and shields on the tanker.

“Hyung! Nice block!”

“Great shot!”

Their earlier distrust was gone. Their skills weren’t that bad after all.

‘Or maybe it’s just their gear.’

Under the relentless assault, the centipede couldn’t counter, driven toward its end.

—

A large chest rose where the centipede fell, and the party’s faces lit up.

“That was the boss!!”

Casting me admiring glances, they rushed to the chest.

A moment later, cheers erupted.

“WOW! A Legendary!”

“It’s a growth-type weapon…! Insane!”

The tanker, ‘Hyung,’ beckoned urgently.

“Healer-nim! Come quick!”

Approaching, I saw a glowing chest unlike any before, with a weapon nestled inside.

“Growth-type Legendaries are so rare you can’t buy them! Congrats, Healer-nim!”

“It’s totally yours! Bond with it now!”

I carefully grasped the staff.

A message appeared.

—

[Breath of Groa]
– An ancient spirit’s staff imbued with life, healing, and the cycle of nature.

[Rank: Legendary (Growth-Type)]
[Growth Stage: 1 – Sprout (0%)]

● [Sustained Recovery] Healing skill effects last 10 seconds.
● [Sustained Empowerment] Buff skills spread to nearby allies.
● [Nature’s Sense] Detects hidden rare gatherables.

[Growth Conditions]
– Use magic/healing skills
– Purify nature
– Meditate in nature

※ Next Stage: 2 – Bloom (0%)

‘Legendary?’

I didn’t know what that meant, but it didn’t look as impressive as their excitement suggested.

Being ‘growth-type’ made its stats seem underwhelming.

But one line caught my eye:

– [Nature’s Sense] Detects hidden rare gatherables.

‘Hidden rare gatherables?’

Lumina Bell and Harnella were already potent.
What kind of effects would hidden rare plants have?

I was dying to find out.

Glancing at the party, I spoke cautiously.

“…Um, can I take the weapon?”

They looked puzzled, chiming in.

“Huh? Why even ask…?”

“Of course it’s yours.”

“Even if the world ends, it’s Healer-nim’s.”

Amid the cheerful banter, only the tanker watched me quietly.

He approached slowly and spoke.

“Earlier… I’m sorry for showing such a shameful side, Healer-nim.”

I listened silently.

“It was my first time raiding with a healer… I wasn’t used to being supported…”

“Oh… I see!”

Guilt hit me for comparing them to Manwol’s elites.

Unlike those backed by endless guild resources, healer support was rare for regular awakeners.

I hadn’t considered that.

“If I ever see you again…”

He paused.

“I promised to protect you without a scratch. I’ll keep that promise.”

His eyes burned with resolve.

“Got it! I’m counting on you!”

I couldn’t help but smile.

—

At the gate café, the agency’s female staff gathered again for Harnella tea, joined by coworkers and a senior, drawn by rumors.

But—

‘Why can’t we get in?’

A [Preparing to Open] sign sat neatly in front.

No matter how long they waited, the gate stayed closed.

“Han, you sure this is right? You came at this time?”

“Y-Yes… It was open yesterday…”

Han, who’d hyped the café, shrank as doubts grew.

“What’s this? Agency staff lining up at a gate?”

“There’s a café inside?”

“Sounds fun. Let’s join!”

Curious awakeners passing by joined the growing line.

But the gate showed no signs of opening.

‘Lunch break’s almost over…’

Just then—

The gate’s owner, the café boss, appeared.

Startled by the line, she hurried inside, eyes wide.

The gate opened, and everyone stepped in, gasping at the scenery.

“No way… this is in central Seoul?”

“It’s gorgeous… unreal…”

The same awe the staff felt on their first visit.

‘Heh, the view’s just the start.’

The returning staff puffed up with pride.

Agency workers and awakeners who’d followed filled the tables.

Soon, at the owner’s and staff’s insistence, Harnella tea appeared.

“…Huh?”

“…Wow…!”

Gasps echoed as they sipped.

Slurp—

A manager, frowning, peered into his cup.

“…”

‘Is it… not working for him?’

No way.

Han had dragged him here, risking his wrath, because he’d feel the tea’s effects most.

“Han.”

The manager’s low, stern voice—the one used for screw-ups—made her tense.

“Y-Yes, sir…”

Setting down the cup, he continued.

“I heard rumors you disliked me.”

Han quickly averted her gaze.

Dislike? I’ve cursed him plenty.

She bit her tongue, unable to respond, as he spoke again.

“…Yet you brought me here.”

His voice softened, thick with emotion.

The staff exchanged wide-eyed glances.

“Honestly, I thought you were spouting nonsense. A tea that wipes out fatigue? Sounded absurd.”

“But after drinking it, I knew. It was true.”

A satisfied smile spread across his face.

“My head’s never been this clear. Even on days off, nights after work, my mind was cluttered. That’s gone.”

He met Han’s eyes.

“Thank you, Han.”

“W-What for…”

If you’re grateful, stop picking fights…

As she muttered internally—

“Hey! Don’t litter!”

The owner’s sharp voice cut through.

A couple leaving had tossed trash on the ground.

Clatter—!

The tiny owner charged, fearless, at the couple towering over her.

“Do you know how hard I worked to clean this place!?”

“S-Sorry… We’ll pick it up…”

“This is a warning! No more littering!”

Her fierce aura was unapproachable.

‘She doesn’t look it, but she’s terrifying when mad…’

The lesson not to litter here sank deep.

‘Not that I planned to…’

Turning back to the tea—

‘…What!?’

A small, white creature appeared, startling Han.

‘A spirit!?’

The fabled spirit.

Known for hostility, spirits were to be fled from on sight—a basic fact even agency clerks knew.

Han shot up.

“Right now—!”

About to yell to run—

Flutter—

The spirit, hiding behind the counter, flew lightly to carry an empty teacup back.

“…”

Words failed her.

The unbelievable sight left her mind blank.

‘What…

am I seeing…?’