It Wasn’t Healing, It Was Training Magic

The woman I could see when I turned my head.
The first thing that caught my attention was her hair.

One naturally focuses on her brilliant golden hair that resembles sunlight.
As if the sun’s radiance was leaking through clouds,
it seemed to warmly color even the surrounding air.

Her blue eyes, reminiscent of the deep sea, were as calm as if time had stopped,
and the serenity within them made the viewer’s heart feel at ease.

These two characteristics harmonize to create a scene like a painting,
truly an overwhelming presence.

It was exactly the appearance of my favorite, ‘Daeho Baekya’, as I knew her.

“Lady Soho Baekya,”

However, it wasn’t her.
Although she looked identical to her, it was a different person.

“Second young lady of the White Night Duke’s family… isn’t it?”

Soho Baekya was the twin sister of my favorite, Daeho Baekya.
She’s a character I don’t know well, as she’s only mentioned by name once in the story and doesn’t appear.
An unfamiliar figure I’ve never met as a reader.

Nevertheless, perhaps due to her outward appearance, I felt a sense of familiarity.

“Even if you’re a young lady, you can’t meet the Saint right away.”
“I see. I understand.”

After briefly talking with the guide, she turned her back with a gloomy expression.
I thought Soho might have come to register for the exam too, but it seems that wasn’t the case.

“Huh?”

Did I stare too long?
Our eyes met.
Her puzzled expression.

“Do you have some business with me?”
“…Well.”

I wasn’t sure how to explain due to the sudden encounter.
Wouldn’t it be strange to say I was lost in thought because you look so much like someone I know?

As the silence lengthened, Soho smiled as if she understood and opened her mouth.

“I’m… I’m pretty, aren’t I? Heh.”

With those words, she vanished gracefully.
I had lost sight of her right in front of me.

Soho Baekya,
My first impression was of a young lady who seemed to have very high self-esteem.

The exam is scheduled to take place a week later.

The exam consists of a written test and a practical test.
The results come from combining the scores of these two,
and depending on the score, one might be scouted by the church.

The church is every healer’s dream workplace.
It boasts the best treatment and salary in the industry.
That’s why everyone aims to enter the church when taking the exam.

Or one might be recommended to enter the royal palace of another country.
In fact, healers are so rare that they are welcomed wherever they go.

As the Demon King’s army is showing its presence bit by bit in various parts of the continent,
the existence of healers was extremely precious.

And in fact, the problem is that healers tend not to use magic much.

It seems they have a prejudice that they should save it because it’s a precious miracle.
So generally, to receive healing, the only way is to donate to the church and receive it.

I, however, just use magic indiscriminately when I want to.

“Heal—!”
“Ah! I can see! Thank you. Thank you for restoring my sight.”

I just used magic on a blind beggar.
The blind man scratched his head as if embarrassed, even while expressing gratitude.

“But I have nothing to give…”

A world where you can’t enjoy the miracle of healing if you don’t have money.
Even the healed blind man knew this fact well.

“Then, it’s fine. Instead, help others as much as you’ve received from me.”
“How could… sniff, thank you.”

I don’t particularly ask for anything from people who don’t have money.
It’s not to receive something, but simply because I like using it.
Instead, for people who feel burdened by kindness without compensation, I say whatever I feel like.

Eat delicious food.
Take a walk.
Help and serve others.
Defeat the Demon King’s army, and so on.

Then people leave satisfied.

“I’ll definitely keep it in mind! sniff…”

Anyway, with this, the practical test should be no problem.
I’ve been checking how far I can heal while using my ability,
and there hasn’t been a disease or symptom I couldn’t cure.

As expected, my healing magic was omnipotent.

Then the problem is the written test.
I know common sense and basic knowledge about this world through Zick’s memories,
but I don’t have the specialized knowledge that might appear on the test.

Honestly, I’m not confident,
but I plan to do my best.

In that sense, I’m on my way to the Marleon Central Library.
Located in the center of the city, fortunately not far away, with many materials open to the public.

Even materials for the exam I’m going to take.

“Huh?”

On my way through the market.
A familiar person caught my eye.
A presence that exudes overwhelming charisma even among the crowd.

“…Soho Baekya?”

She was standing still in front of a street stall.
Staring intently at the food there.
The slight drool at the corner of her mouth suggests she really wants to eat it.

However, she was just staring intently.
Really, that’s all.

‘Does she not have money?’

Such a thought crossed my mind,
but that can’t be.

She’s the second young lady of a duke’s family in the Great Seolha Empire.
Surely she must have a lot of money.

She must be resisting for the sake of a diet.
As she stood there for a while, the street vendor uncle greeted her warmly.

“Miss, would you like one?”
“No, it’s okay. I don’t have money…”
“Ho ho ho… Is that so? Well… I see. sigh”

Was it real?!

The street vendor uncle scratched his head and turned away.
He was embarrassed.

“Hello.”

I approached Soho and greeted her.
Because I sensed this was a good opportunity to get closer.

I want to become friends with Soho.
She’s a young lady of the Baekya family and the sister of my favorite character.

To meet Daeho, going through her would be the easiest way.

First of all, the Seolha Empire is a country closed to outsiders,
and the Baekya Duke’s family itself is not friendly to outsiders.

Moreover, Daeho is a hikikomori who avoids meeting people due to her own curse.

If I become friends with Soho and get invited.
I might be able to aim for a natural meeting.

And if I get to meet Daeho.

‘I’ll just heal her.’

I could cure the curse and illness that Daeho has and prevent her tragic death.
This is the first goal I thought of when possessing this world.

“Ah, that handsome man from earlier?”

Her sudden compliment.
It seemed to reveal her glib personality well.

“Huh? Ahem, I’m Zick Barbar, my lady.”

After a moment of embarrassment, I calmly introduced myself first.

“Is that so? Nice to meet you. I’m Soho Baekya.”

In response to my introduction, Soho greeted elegantly according to etiquette.
Befitting a duke’s daughter.
Although I felt a slight sense of disconnect from the blank expression she showed to the street vendor uncle earlier.

“So what brings you here? I’m busy now, so I can’t talk for long.”
“Did you perhaps want to eat that?”
“What?!”
“You were standing there for a long time. Shall I buy you one?”
“Ah, no? I absolutely wasn’t standing still looking at this food because I wanted to eat it?”

What is she saying?
Does she think I wouldn’t know from that?

“Really, I didn’t want to eat that food!”

Feeling my suspicious gaze, Soho repeated twice.
And with a blushing face at that.
At this point, I even feel guilty enough to pretend I don’t know.

“…But I won’t stop you if you’re offering to buy it.”
“Then let’s have one.”

I opened my wallet and paid.
As it happens, I needed a snack for Akasha too, so I bought an extra.
Then I handed over the food I received from the street vendor uncle.

“Yum nyom nyom!”

She started eating happily,
then gave an awkward smile and opened her mouth.

“As a woman, to receive food from a man, I have no choice but to repay you. Come on, tell me what you want.”

Soho said proudly, puffing out her chest.
Her usual attire had her side chest fully exposed, so every time she did that, the presence of her breasts was enormous.

“Anything is fine! Just say it. Hehe.”
“R-Really?”

For a moment, I almost shouted, “Let me touch your chest!”
Seeing her open-minded attitude, she might willingly offer her chest.

‘I can’t waste this opportunity like that.’

My goal is to build a friendship with her.
I needed a pretext to naturally become closer.

The deliberation wasn’t long.
As it happens, there was one thing I needed help with.
If it goes well, I might be able to kill two birds with one stone.

“Please teach me how to study for the healer’s written exam so I can pass.”

To get closer by spending time together.
Of course, this would be when it’s possible for her.

At my answer, Soho smiled as if it was ridiculous.

“Hohoho. That’s simple. Leave it to me. Although I’m not taking the exam myself, for me, a daughter of the Baekya Duke’s family, that much? It’s easy. So, who should I teach?”
“Me.”
“Eh? You’re the one taking the exam? But you’re a man? How can that be…”

Was the shock too great?
Soho asked repeatedly.

“I can help with studying for the written test, but can you really use healing magic?”
“Yes.”
“Huh! No way. There’s no way such a man exists. A handsome face… and he can use magic too? Should I kidnap him? But that can’t be possible, right?”

‘Huh? Kidnap?’

I must have misheard?
As I looked at her with puzzled eyes, Soho said with a serious expression.

“Can you prove it by any chance?”

Anyway, no matter what I said, she didn’t seem to have any intention of removing her suspicious gaze.
I guess you have to see it to believe it.
I quickly scanned the surroundings.

Unfortunately, as luck would have it,
there was no one around who looked sick or in pain.
It’s a situation where I can’t use healing magic.

This is truly troublesome.
Isn’t there a sick person falling from the sky or something?

As I was pondering this,

“Ack, pfft…!”

A fountain of blood unfolded before my eyes.
It kept flowing out, splattering even onto my face.

And of course, the owner of that blood was none other than.

“Damn it…”

It was Soho coughing up blood, uttering harsh words and suffering.