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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Healer
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Healer.
A term often appearing in games, referring to someone with the ability to heal wounds.
In this comic, [Stardust!], which I was transmigrated into, there was also a woman with healing abilities.
Healing. At first glance, it seems like a heroic ability, but...
Unfortunately, she was a villain.
It goes without saying that having a healer on your side is incredibly reassuring, but if they're on the opposing side, it drives you absolutely mad.
You beat them up so badly they couldn't move for months, but they somehow crawl away and escape, heal completely in a day, and then return to cause more terror.
Our Stardust team wondered how those guys recovered so quickly and came back, and it was later revealed that it was all thanks to a female villain called 'Ex-Saint' who healed the villains.
The main culprit who increased the difficulty of catching already tough villains in the latter half of the original story.
If only she were dealt with, the latter half would become considerably easier.
So,
I have to take her in.
"So, Oppa, you're saying there's a girl who later becomes a saint-like figure, but only for villains, healing them?"
"Yes. Wouldn't it be incredibly reassuring if you had just one of her?"
"Ha... You're really not going to tell me how you know all this? Is it just your imagination, or can you really see the future?"
"Seo-eun, you're still a child, so you wouldn't know, but when you become an adult, you'll understand everything~."
"What kind of... Phew. Anyway, I get it. So, where is she now and what's she doing?"
"Hmm..."
"What's she doing?"
"In the back alleys... Probably pickpocketing."
"Huh?"
Seo-eun made a face as if she'd suddenly heard something absurd. Hmm... How should I explain this?
"I think she was a high school student, or something like that?"
At my words, Seo-eun's face became even more dumbfounded.
Hmm... How should I explain this?
***
Lee Ha-yul.
She lived as an orphan from a very young age.
She endured severe abuse with her younger brother in the orphanage, barely surviving day by day.
Then, the orphanage director discovered her ability.
A top-tier healing ability that could save even people on the verge of death.
Normally, it would be right to report it directly to the Association.
But the cunning orphanage director hid it.
And tried to sell Lee Ha-yul to conglomerates.
Essentially, he planned human trafficking.
However, Lee Ha-yul, realizing this, escaped the orphanage.
Stabbing and killing the crazy director who knew her secret.
And so, she wandered the back alleys with her younger brother.
A life of barely surviving by stealing and pickpocketing.
Then one day, her younger brother was attacked and killed by thugs right before her eyes.
Deeply shocked, she eventually turned to darkness.
She believed that her situation was all because of this world.
Because of the Association that didn't recognize and help her in advance, and because of the government.
Living tenaciously like that, she eventually joined the Villain Alliance and participated in the project to collapse South Korea, helping the villains.
Looking at it this way, she has quite a few similarities with Seo-eun. Resenting the world and eventually trying to destroy it.
Anyway, the conclusion is to win her over and make her my ally.
She seems perfect as the first member of the Egostick-initiated Villain Alliance.
If I gather them one by one like this, won't I eventually be able to control almost all the villains?
Well, probably not.
Never mind all that, winning her over is the top priority right now.
Of course, due to what she experienced at the orphanage, she basically has a deep distrust of humans, so there's the problem that she won't easily come over to my side.
If I were to run up to her and say, "I'll give you money, so pledge your loyalty to me!" I'd just be asking for a knife to the gut.
Still, with the suspension bridge effect, somehow, wouldn't something work out?
"Actually, I'll handle everything, Seo-eun, so you don't have to worry."
"When you say that, it makes me worry even more..."
Seo-eun gave me a disapproving look.
There's really nothing to worry about.
I'm already confident this method will work.
Because I used this very method to become close with you, Seo-eun...
***
Anyway, that's how I find myself standing here now.
Evening, somewhere in a back alley in Seoul without CCTV.
From my memory, she was active around here...
As I aimlessly wandered the alley.
Seo-eun contacted me through the earphone I had in.
[Oppa, a girl is secretly watching you from the alley at 2 o'clock. I think that's her?]
Bingo.
Currently, I'm dressed in black clothes, without even a mask.
I'm walking around looking a bit clueless but also like I have a lot of money. I'm dressed to look like an easy mark.
Hmm...
As I walked slowly.
Finally, the girl came running from over there.
She ran towards me, then bumped into me as if by accident, and passed by.
And so, I, the mighty Egostick, was shoulder-checked by a teenage girl.
Who would have known that the proud Egostick would be living like this? Truly a regrettable situation.
Then the girl disappeared into the darkness in the distance with a rapid patter of footsteps.
Once the girl was finally out of sight, I finally put my hand in my pocket.
As expected, an empty pocket. The wallet that was inside was gone.
"Figures."
Good.
It's going according to plan.
From the dark back alley, I grinned.
[What are you doing there? Come back now.]
"Alright."
I've cast the bait,
Now you just have to bite.
***
"Hah, hah."
Lee Ha-yul, she ran and ran.
A successful pickpocketing after a long time.
She ran and ran until the man couldn't find her, and then finally caught her breath after reaching a distant spot.
After reaching a safe place, she took out the wallet she had stolen from the man with trembling hands.
A wallet with E.S embroidered on the outside.
Carefully opening it, what was inside was...
"100,000 won?"
Ten 10,000 won bills.
This was a huge stroke of luck.
These days, people carry cards, so they don't carry cash...
"With this money... I can buy Cha-yoon something other than ramen..."
Muttering quietly to herself, she then walked home with a slight smile.
Of course, she felt a little sorry for the person who lost money because of her, but...
'I can't help it, can I?'
She tried to comfort herself, walking along the street, telling herself that since they had no money, no abilities, no identity, nothing, they had no choice but to live like this.
Of course, the growing guilt was unavoidable.
"Noona, you're back?"
Entering the crumbling shantytown, her younger brother greeted her.
With a bitter smile, she went inside and said to her younger brother,
"Noona earned some money today. Let's eat something delicious."
"Really? Wow!!!"
A child whose emotional expressions were still clumsy, as he was only an elementary school student.
Watching him, she found herself smiling unconsciously.
Yes, even if I can't eat well, at least this child should.
Stroking her younger brother's head, she sighed.
They could get by with this for today and tomorrow, but what about after that?
Like the dark night, her heart was also dyed in gloom.
***
[Title] When is Mangostick coming back?
I'm cold...
=[Comments]=
[OP found frozen to death lol]
[
Deleted comment.
]
ㄴ[?]
ㄴ[???]
ㄴ[What was it? I couldn't see it because it was deleted.]
ㄴ[It literally said 'Sorry, I'm busy these days, wait a few more weeks lol']
ㄴ[Why does it say 'account does not exist' when I click on that comment's account? So creepy lol]
ㄴ[That comment is really Mangostick, isn't it?]
ㄴ[Nah, no wayㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
*
These days, I've been doing this for fun because I'm a bit bored.
Going into my fan cafe and leaving a few comments where people are just hanging out.
Of course, I delete them right away, but... this is surprisingly fun...!!
Somehow, if Seo-eun found out I was doing this, she'd probably look at me with contempt again... Hmm...
I stopped messing around and started thinking about my future plans.
The 'Drizzle Soaking Clothes' plan, as I call it.
This time, I let my wallet be taken.
Next time, I'll go again, change my clothes, and let my wallet be taken again.
But it'll still be an E.S. initialed wallet.
After she steals it a few more times, she'll realize that she's continuously stealing the same person's wallet.
That's when she'll notice something strange. Why is this person still coming to this spot, remaining still even when she shoulder-checks him, after having his wallet stolen once already?
And at the same time, why does the money, which was 100,000 won at first, increase to 200,000 won, then 300,000 won the next time?
By the time she starts questioning, that's when I'll appear in front of her house.
'Actually, I knew I was pickpocketed last time, and I was tracking you to catch you.
However, seeing you pushing through such difficult circumstances while taking care of your younger brother deeply moved me.
If you're okay with it, I'd like to become your guardian.'
However, even if I say that, due to her deeply rooted distrust of humans, she's unlikely to listen to me.
She'll tell me to get lost, and then I'll say I understand and quietly, sadly retreat.
Then, even though she pushed me away, for some reason, I'll keep coming to mind.
She'll realize I wasn't after her powers, and seeing that I coolly left and never came back...
'Maybe... he was actually a truly good person after all...'
And when she's thinking that sadly, I predict that's exactly when *that* incident will occur.
The gang's murder of her younger brother.
So, just before her younger brother dies, what if I intervene and save him?
And what if I apply to be her guardian one more time?
Wouldn't she completely trust me then and come under my wing?
"Heheheh... Perfect..."
From deep within the basement, I let out an evil laugh.
Yes, my plan is perfect.
It can't go wrong.
As I was making such evil plans, holding a wallet with 200,000 won inside, planning the next step in my room one day.
Seo-eun suddenly burst into my room, flung the door open, and shouted.
"Oppa! That gang, or whatever it is, just showed up! What do we do?"
Oh, for f***'s sake, why are they here already?