Jinchul knew the committee was a slow-moving beast. They would deliberate, they would argue, and they would delay. But he didn't have time to wait for their approval.
He knew he had to act now. The "Earthling's memories were a constant, nagging reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows. He had to begin.
He walked out of the office and headed for the main entrance. His mind was now on his other pressing concern: President Go Gunhee's hidden injuries. He had to find a way to heal them before it was too late. He knew the healer would be the key.
He stepped outside into the cool evening air, the bustling city of Seoul a vibrant tapestry of human and mana signatures.
He took his phone and checked the details of a retired S-Ranker. He took his car to that place while formulating a new plan to convince S-Rank Healer, Min Byung-Gyu, a man who had now turned away from the battle, to return to the fray.
He knew he had to show him something no one else could see. A path to a different future.
He reached that place and closed his eyes, filtering out the chaos, and found it. A faint, almost imperceptible beacon of pure, healing energy. It was a signature so pure it felt like a mountain spring—calm, clear, and powerful.
Min Byung-Gyu, who was reading the history of hunters and dungeons, suddenly sensed someone approaching his home. Then he hears a knock knock on his door.
"Whose there?" questions Min.
(T/N: Joe Mama :))
"I have come looking for Mr. Min" replied Jinchul.
Min walks to the door and opens it looking a little shocked as to who have paid him a visit "Wow Mr. Woo what a surprise, please come in" Jinchul seeing that goes inside.
Min places a cup of water near the sofa and asks him smiling "So tell me what can I do for you". "Well Mr Min, I hope all is fine, let me get straight to the point, I need your help," said Jinchul looking at Byung-Gyu.
"My help you mean the healing power hmmm….sure whom should I heal" asks Min who had his hand on his chin.
"It will be the President," replied Jinchul without any emotion.
"Who??" questioned Byung-gyu tilting his head "Mr. Go Gunhee?"
"The one and only" said Jinchul. "I know you had checked him before but I need you to check him again and if possible heal him"
"Knowing that you are asking me to check him again. But I don't think it will change much. As we were late to treat his injuries, it's not curable, " said Min Byung-Gyu.
"I need Doctor Min not Hunter Min" said Jinchul looking at Byung-Gyu whose face is slowly changing "I know you don't want to be Hunter, I won't cross the line but you can still use the power right. Just do a check up on the president, we will talk more once that is done. We will pay, please don't worry about that"
"I don't care much about money but make sure to pay me well" said standing up to shake Jinchul's hand suddenly
"I thought you would not accept it" looking at the hand, Jinchul says.
"Well you said right, you need Doctor Min, I liked that phrase. And life was also getting boring. I even thought of becoming a teacher, you know" Min said, laughing and scratching his head.
"Then please accept my thanks" said Jinchul bowing to him "Even if president cannot be cured, Thank you very much for accepting it"
"Don't make it so serious Mr.Woo . It's our president, of course I will help" said Byung-Gyu, raising Jinchul who was about to bow.
"Then call me Jinchul or Jin," said Jinchul, smiling. "Then call me Min or Gyu" replied Byung-Gyu who was also equally smiling.
The next day, Jinchul arrives at the association on time, working while thinking about the President's injury.
Using his upgraded Mana sense, what he had seen was President's Mana being devoured/corroded by something else. A knock on the door interrupts his thinking.
"Hey Jin, hope I didn't disturb you" says Gyu while opening the door.
"Gyu, I didn't think you would arrive this early. Have a seat, let me check whether the president is available" says Jinchul while pointing to the seat in front of him.
"Ok, I think this is the first time visiting the Chief of Surveillance team's office," says Gyu looking around Jin's office.
"Its just a normal cabin, nothing different Gyu. Let's go, I will show around the association and meet with the president as he will be available in 10 minutes" says Jinchul standing up while fixing his coolers.
"Man you don't go anywhere without wearing that, is it? Why do you even wear it inside here?" Gyu says, pointing at his sunglasses. He was genuinely amused by the small quirk in his serious friend.
"Do I look good?" asks Jinchul suddenly, a faint smirk on his lips.
"Hmm yeah," replies Gyu, caught off guard.
"You got the answer then," says Jin laughing and opens the door of his office while going out
"Huh, I didn't take you for the type to care about that" laughing Gyu says, following him to which Jin just shrugs.
While showing the association to Gyu later they arrive at the President's office. The door opened to a spacious room with a panoramic view of Seoul.
Go Gunhee looked up from his desk, his expression a mix of surprise and curiosity as he saw Min Byung-Gyu.
Their last official meeting was when the S-Rank healer retired, and Go Gunhee had since worried about the toll that life had taken on his powerful but weary hunter.
"Mr. Min, how are you doing?" asks Gunhee, looking at the spirited young man before him.
"Mr. Go, I am good. Hope you are doing well!!" replies Gyu
"It's fine, I think. But first have a seat Mr. Min and you too Jinchul" says Gunhee
After seeing them sit in front of him, Gunhee asks " So tell me gentleman, May I know your reason for the visit. Are you coming back from retirement" even though Gunhee kept it subtle,
Jinchul can see the president getting a little excited. Like who won't, Min Byung Gyu is an S Rank Healer, a treasure beyond compare. His excitement manifested as a small, controlled surge in his mana, a tell that Jinchul's senses immediately picked up.
"Well, I thought Jin would have explained it to you or you had asked him to meet me" says Gyu looking at Jin who is on his right
"Jinchul, it looks like you are hiding something from me" said Gunhee, narrowing his eyes, the amusement gone from his tone..
"Its nothing Mr. President, I want Gyu to diagnose you and try to heal you if possible. I think I may have found the source but it requires professional help" replied Jinchul nonchalantly.
Gunhee immediately understood its due Jinchul's reawakening while Gyu tilts his head not understanding what they are talking about.
"Ok, let's do it." says Gunhee, looking at Min Byung Gyu. He trusted Jinchul implicitly, a trust that had been forged working with him.
The air in Go Gunhee's office was heavy with anticipation, the silence punctuated only by the soft click of Min Byung-Gyu's bag being set on the mahogany desk.
Jinchul stood to the side, his posture as rigid as ever, while the President remained seated, a stoic expression on his face as Min Byung-Gyu laid a hand on his shoulder.
Min Byung-Gyu's mana, once a vibrant spring, flowed from his hand and into the President. Jinchul's senses had already given him a roadmap, but the healer had to find the truth for himself.
"Gyu, focus on his mana and find its source, we know about his physical condition" says Jinchul looking at their mana using his senses.
Even though Gyu didn't understand why Jinchul suddenly said that, after a moment of hesitation he decided to follow what Jin told. It was a strange command, but something in Jinchul's voice was utterly convincing.
He took a deep breath, focusing all his healing magic not on the surface wounds but on the very source of Go Gunhee's mana.
But this time, it was different. Min Byung-Gyu's eyes widened, and he removed his hand, a look of profound shock on his face.
"What is it, Mr. Min?" Go Gunhee asked, his voice calm despite the healer's reaction.
Min Byung-Gyu shook his head slowly, turning to look at Jinchul with a mixture of disbelief and wonder. "President… he's right. It's not just a physical injury. The mana in your body… it's been corrupted no its corroded to be exact"
Jinchul stepped forward saying "The mana I sensed was discordant, an anomaly. It's not simple but even more perplexing is something else. Even though your Mana is getting corroded, it also helps you, I don't know how." making them bewildered.
At the same time Jinchul thinks of the creator's fragments inside of Gunhee which should be protecting him.
Go Gunhee leaning back in his chair, a rare, thoughtful smile gracing his lips said "This… changes everything." He turned to Min Byung-Gyu. "Can you cure it now that we know what it is?"
"It will take time," Min Byung-Gyu replied, the old fire of the hunter returning to his eyes. "The process is delicate, but yes, I believe so. But Jin, how did you know this? It's impossible to see this with a normal mana sense."
Jinchul met his gaze, his eyes hidden behind the dark lenses of his glasses. "What matters now is that we move forward. You are needed, Gyu. The President needs your help now more than ever"
"Don't worry Jin. The president will be back to 100% in a year" says Gyu, thumping his chest.
"Good. Jinchul, I think we will need to include Min Byung Gyu to our plans" says Gunhee looking at Min Byung Gyu. A silent, resolute vow formed in the President's mind. "He would not let such a spirit languish in self-imposed exile"
Jinchul thought about it and found that it will help them very much if Gyu is on board. So he started explaining about the anomaly but leaving out his reawakening to Gyu.
"Wow so you are saying there is a pattern about the gates & dungeons and you are looking for evidence to back it up. You are also planning to form a team to help you on these things" said Gyu with his hand on his chin nodding to what Jin had said.
"Let me be part of it, but don't expect me to be in frontline" said Gyu, looking serious.
"It's more than enough. Thanks" replied Jin
"Welcome Back S Rank Healer Min Byung Gyu" said Gunhee standing up.
The three men shared a silent moment, an unspoken alliance formed in the heart of the Hunter's Association. A team of misfits—a reawakened hero, a disillusioned S-Rank healer, and a dying President—had just committed to a course of action that would change the destiny of their world.