UHNA 03

Chapter 03

Surviving as an F-Rank Healer

The way to the academy was full of variety. I even had a small guidebook in my bag, so there was no way to get lost.

Following the route outlined in the guidebook, I thought:

“The subway is the same.”

It’s my country, but why is Korea like this?

In a good way.

“Wasn’t this world supposed to have collapsed once?”

According to this world’s setting, 200 years ago, dungeons appeared and the world went through a major upheaval.

Many countries disappeared at that time, but a few countries, including Korea and Japan, were lucky.

The only S-rank dungeon appeared in a distant country, while here, multiple dungeons that could be handled in a practical way appeared.

“The early ranks weren’t high either, so there was time to adapt.”

Awakened individuals were discovered, institutions were created to enroll them, and they were given various perks.

Forming this kind of small system only took about a week.

So in the beginning, Korea even had a slight buffer when it came to clearing dungeons.

“Maybe they pulled it off faster than usual because the world was about to collapse.”

The appearance of a few S-ranks must have been a major factor.

It was encouraging that those S-ranks didn’t go to other countries but stayed here.

Anyway, after surviving that first period of collapse…

In the dungeon disasters that occurred three more times over 50-year cycles, Korean hunters played a considerable role.

Since four or more S-ranks appeared in each generation, the domestic situation remained stable, and there was even capacity to assist overseas.

“Fifty years ago, they didn’t just contribute—they completely cleared the dungeon.”

Moreover, hunters became stronger with each generation.

“Is it because the place is favorable?”

I didn’t believe in feng shui or anything, but I couldn’t help thinking that.

Why am I thinking about this all of a sudden?

“Well, the subway is still running.”

It wasn’t just any subway.

The subway I had seen before being possessed was still alive.

Even after the collapse!

Of course, perhaps because of the destruction, some older subways had more scratches than I remembered, but the fact that they were still in operation was astonishing.

“Does this even make sense?”

A little later, I understood what it meant for the subway to remain intact.

It was a way of expressing pride, perhaps? A statement that it had survived 200 years of destruction without losing infrastructure? That’s why the subway lines and operations were maintained.

But at that moment, I didn’t know that yet, so it only seemed endlessly strange.

“Especially since the stations themselves have changed.”

Every time I passed a station I had never seen, there was plenty to see.

At Ubi Station, rain fell inside the station. Dino Station looked like something out of a dinosaur movie, and I thought I even heard a dinosaur’s roar.

At Amsok Station, it suddenly transformed into something like a temple.

“I know these are all tourist illusions, but seeing them in person… it’s like a movie in itself.”

Because the original work had descriptions of subway stations, I didn’t completely flip out like a mad person.

“It’s the kind of scenery that will probably be ruins within two years.”

Better to take it in while I can.

Once the first dungeon of the year appears, most of Seoul’s sights will be destroyed within a year.

“That’s when half the city turns into a lawless zone, huh?”

That’s also why I’m thinking about graduation without worrying about dropping out or being expelled.

This place is safe.

Anyway, with so much to see, the one-hour trip to Narin Academy wasn’t boring at all.

Of course, talking with students wearing the same uniform helped too.

“I heard an F-rank healer is joining this time. Is it true?”

“No way. Even if they come, they probably won’t even get into a dungeon. Where’d that rumor come from?”

“Ah, I don’t know. I just heard it somewhere.”

“If it’s true, that person’s crazy.”

By the way, this was the first time I had ever encountered the concept of ‘rejection’ in this world.

“Maybe they’re going just to cling to an S-rank. Because, you know, they’re a healer.”

“Healers were always weak anyway. Hmm, but wouldn’t bad rumors prevent that dream from even forming?”

“Oooh?”

I perked up my ears too.

To survive as a clumsy, useless creature like me, the path I had to follow wasn’t as a dealer, but as support—and that meant avoiding dangerous dungeons as much as possible.

How to identify dangerous dungeons?

It’s simple.

Avoid dungeons where the protagonist party gathers or dungeons that appeared in the original work.

I couldn’t let anyone discover that F-rank healer blood acts as bait. I had to be close enough to the protagonists to give information on surviving disasters, but not so close that I would accompany them into dungeons.

“Even if Yuhanseong is friendly, if their ability isn’t enough, they probably won’t bring me to a disaster dungeon—but you never know!”

Basically, managing distance was tricky.

“If I appear overly lazy, the S-ranks probably won’t feel sorry for me and take me along. Right?”

“Ah, true. S-ranks have to care about their image too.”

“Right? If this rumor is true, let’s spread it diligently.”

“Okay.”

So…

If S-ranks go crazy and try to bring me along, I’m preemptively avoiding that situation?

“……”

I should probably give them a gift.

The upperclassmen laughed quietly, and I gratefully eavesdropped on their conversation.

This is all information.

Since adult awakened individuals have information restrictions based on rank, I was worried about how much theory I could learn, but maybe it would be fine.

“If that one dies, we’ll get a day off.”

“When will we rest? If I see that sword in my hands after a month at the academy, even if we’re told not to enter, we might volunteer anyway. Maybe steal leftovers.”

F-rank healers can volunteer and enter C-rank dungeons, right?

“That’s true. But a crazy person has stamina, right? So I’ll watch for three months.”

“Hmm. If we get a day off, will the vacation shorten?”

“Nah, probably not.”

Should I get caught too?

Thanks to you all, I’ll survive until graduation.

In the original work, Jin Hari, pushed by family to earn money, begged the S-rank to take her into a dungeon.

“And then she died in the dungeon.”

Unfortunately, being in the same class as the protagonist made the scale of the accident extraordinary.

In the end, Jin Hari is left as a short story of about 1,500 characters.

A sort of… role emphasizing the tragic accidents where students cruelly die, including the protagonist-only ‘bait’ ability.

I held back the urge to bet my entire fortune on Jin Hari’s graduation and looked out the window.

As if on cue, the guidance announcement echoed through the subway:

[This station is Awakening, Awakening Station.]

“……”

…So it’s called Awakening Station because the Awakener Academy is here? At least it’s not some illusion—it’s normal.

Feeling an inexplicable absurdity, I headed toward the opening doors.

And as soon as I got off, I understood why no illusions were added.

The streets were filled with people—office workers, ladies out shopping, even dogs—using small awakened abilities while moving around. A fantastical world unfolded before me.

It seemed the city itself, not just the station, was like this.

I took in the unfamiliar but fun sights with quick glances, then confidently headed to the academy.

The main gate, topped with blue tiles, welcomed me.

Beyond the main gate, vast and magnificent buildings, like those of a famous overseas university, spread across a huge campus.

This was Narin Academy.

As the setting in the early part of the story, it’s a place for gathering the promising seedlings that would become the protagonist Yuhanseong.

“And while he’s doing that, there’s never a shortage of incidents and accidents.”

Could I really survive safely?

Because of finals, I couldn’t just stay an outsider, but getting close to Yuhanseong was tricky too.

So my plan was to maintain appropriate distance from everyone while providing the best help I could.

“Three heals, a few low-grade potions with low success rates, that’s all.”

From my perspective, it might seem obvious to do, but to the kind-hearted youth of this world, it could be a point in my favor.

Still, it was a little unsettling that in the whirlwind center of the original story, that was all I could do.

“No need to rush. Better that than revealing my bait ability by getting reckless.”

Even so, maybe I should take potion-making a bit more seriously?

Trying to calm my tense mind, I mechanically clapped for the freshman representative giving the entrance oath.