UHNA 04

Chapter 04

 Surviving as an F-Rank Healer

“Pledge. I stand before the proud Taegeukgi…”

The representative of the new students, Lee Haesol, read the familiar pledge. Even after passing through destruction, the same words of the pledge stirred a faint nostalgia.

‘She was also in Class 8.’

I calmly smiled, maintaining my social poise, and looked at the person who would accompany the future S-rank and protagonist all the way to the ninth dungeon.

Knowing how tough the days ahead would be for her, unlike the F-rank Jin Hari, her sparkling presence only made me feel a little sorry for her.

Even now, she was struggling enough to be the student representative in a class full of troublemakers.

‘Was that because of the curse?’

The curse that prevented Haejoo potions from working.

‘I know what I need to do to see its effect, and Yuhanseong will probably take care of it soon enough.’

I took my eyes off him and observed the students in Class 8.

Mostly those who were likely to survive after the finals.

‘That must be Hyun.’

The one sitting diagonally behind in the second row, covering half of his face with his bangs, muttering to himself.

‘That looks like Gong Seoyoon.’

Unless there was another person being dragged out by their ears for chatting too much during the entrance ceremony.

I also immediately recognized Yuhee, who had caused an accident in some practice dungeon, was rescued, and became Yuhanseong’s loyal subordinate.

‘They say he looks like an angel… he really looks like a noble heroine from a romantic fantasy.’

None of them were S-rank yet, but after meeting the protagonist’s chance, they would probably hit S-rank within a year.

Other students also had potential, but their chances of dying this year were high, so I deliberately didn’t focus on them.

It would only make me feel uneasy.

‘And I have three noses of my own, mind you.’

At that moment, my gaze naturally fell on someone.

‘…Ah.’

A youth watching Lee Haesol carefully among the students of Class 8.

His dark black hair was like a night sky full of stars. His clean, white skin, like a nobleman’s, highlighted his features in perfect harmony.

I slightly parted my lips.

Is this real?

‘The protagonist was supposed to be handsome… right?’

The original story was mainly narrated from his perspective, focusing only on raising S-ranks, so his face was rarely described, but the official setting could be confirmed by the reactions of those around him.

Even without looking at the name tag, this was Yuhanseong.

Ironically, seeing his shining beauty actually helped me relax a little.

‘Perfect for maintaining a psychologically appropriate distance.’

The usual chaotic events that happen to protagonists in body-swap stories wouldn’t happen in my life, I was sure of that.

Plus, knowing the original story, I was worried I might unnecessarily empathize with the protagonist. But overly handsome people naturally create distance.

Good.

Adjusting my distance somewhere between antisocial and social, surviving the finals dungeon itself seemed manageable.

Even if I treated everyone kindly, they would basically look down on me anyway.

I could approach them without hesitation and still maintain balance.

‘No problem on the protagonist’s side either.’

He only dealt with people who had S-rank potential.

‘Good. Then let’s get started.’

Let everyone gradually get used to me.

Once they reached at least the point where they didn’t want to die…

‘If things go well, they might even become customers at my potion shop after graduation.’

The entrance ceremony ended.

‘Then the only problem left is practicing potion-making.’

Leaving the now-ordered auditorium, I followed the teacher to the classroom, already filled with thoughts of secretly practicing potion-making.

‘I have no choice but to roll with it. But will there even be a practice room I can borrow?’

At that time, I didn’t know that my “moderate” approach, familiar from the modern world, wouldn’t be considered “moderate” at all by aspiring hunters born and raised in this grim world.

To maintain an appropriate presence, I needed to focus on two things.

First: managing first impressions.

“…….”

Even without trying, being F-rank would stand out in a negative way.

Not only that. I would be making potions to the point of exhaustion, which could also make me stand out if done carelessly, so I had to manage that in advance.

As gentle and bright as possible.

Preventing any malicious interpretations at the source.

Of course, the seniors I saw on the way in would probably spread rumors calling me an incompetent and lazy F-rank, but that was a weapon to prevent S-ranks from overreacting.

To stop it from getting worse and just remain a reputation of being lazy, my personality couldn’t have any sharp edges.

‘That wouldn’t help me survive anyway.’

Plus, Jin Hari’s appearance… kind of looked like a romantic fantasy villainess.

Smiling gently, she could look puppy-like, but expressionless, she gave off a very cold vibe.

‘Compared to the main characters in the original work, she’s not an extraordinary beauty, so just looks alone won’t give me points.’

So I had to leave a purely good impression.

From the moment I moved to the classroom, I controlled my expression and atmosphere.

Corners of my mouth naturally lifted, like a smiling person.

My forehead smooth and straightened was standard.

With a faint smile as my passive, I entered the classroom.

At that perfect moment, the protagonist passed by me and muttered:

“Nothing changes, huh….”

I squinted, resisting the overwhelming cringe.

Do you even know what that means?

‘As I saw before regression, the underachievers’ class has a rundown classroom.’

It looked normal to me. But judging from the original story, other classes were decorated like the diverse sets seen during the entrance, so that made sense.

I’d check it out later.

Anyway, reacting now would ruin everything.

I almost reflexively looked his way but restrained myself and moved in the opposite direction.

‘Today, I mustn’t even make eye contact.’

The first day after the protagonist’s regression was described in detail even down to minor details in the novel. And with high probability, anyone he noticed at this timing, whether main or supporting, would get caught up in his events.

Just like Jin Hari in the original.

‘Anyway, being F-rank, I’ve probably already made enemies.’

It was fortunate that Yuhanseong didn’t know Jin Hari well before regression because he belonged to another class.

In any case, I decided to act defensively today.

The protagonist’s seat was at the far left window from the teacher’s desk.

Even as he moved up grades, he always sat there.

So I took the seat diagonally opposite, at the front right.

‘End to end.’

Even if visible, I’d just blend into the background. But I could still toss potions if needed.

Looking around after sitting, everyone seemed uneasy and just observing.

So I discreetly observed everyone in the class, including the protagonist.

Awakener Academy had small, elite classes, twelve students per class, ten classes total.

Our class was the only one with 13 students, a collection of misfits.

‘Everyone looks flashy.’

As awakeners leveled up, their charm stat increased, so they were naturally good-looking.

Even starting below average, they’d improve over time.

Our class, though misfits, weren’t incompetent, so there were no other F-ranks like me.

Hence, their appearances were fine.

‘As for me, Jin Hari was already kind of pretty, so my basic charm stat was high.’

I casually gave small eye greetings to those who made eye contact, occasionally checking the protagonist’s direction without drawing attention.

He was looking out the window with a serious expression.

‘I can probably guess what he’s thinking.’

He’s likely considering the S-rank sprouts in this class.

This class in the original story was a device to show his habit of focusing only on S-ranks.

Except for Lee Haesol, he was quite kind to the misfit students because they all had potential.

‘Except for Jin Hari.’

Anyway, the whole class was practically going to become Avengers-level powerful.

‘Ah, maybe I should remove one of them from the early protagonist team.’

I casually glanced at a corner, recalling the original story.

The gloomy Lee Sanghee had trapped and killed a C-rank student before reforming to become the protagonist’s yandere girlfriend.

‘I’ll stay away from them, absolutely… no entanglement.’

She doesn’t know I’m F-rank yet, so she avoids my eyes, but if she finds out, I have no idea what she might do behind my back.

Better not let my guard down.