The fire mage lay on the ground, his bloodied feet twitching as Jake healed him at a slow pace, prolonging the torment under the pretense of care. Jake savored each second, each twisted expression on the fire mage's face.
What to do next? Jake mused inwardly, the thrill of revenge coursing through him. Something more… interesting?
Jake focused intently, removing the tendrils embedded in the fire mage's calves one by one, his expression twisted into one of feigned concern. "Mr. Kang, there seems... to be sharp barbed objects lodged deep in his feet and calves."
Jake reported, voice laced with fake worry. "I might need more mana to remove them and time too." Time... of endless pain, he thought gleefully.
Kang Ho nodded briskly and concluded with ease, "I see, so it must be goblin traps..."
He turned to a nearby associate. "Get some high-grade potions, now. We can't let Hyun-Woo stay like this, or that bitc—". He caught himself, glancing around, "Soo-Jin might make this a problem."
Jake's eyes widened as he eavesdropped. Soo-Jin? Problem? he thought with curiosity.
Wait a second... does this guy have a connection??! His curiosity got the best of him. "Mr. Kang," he asked, hiding his unease, "who… is Soo-Jin?"
Kang Ho's face softened in an oddly respectful way as he replied, "Shin Soo-Jin. Hyun-Woo's mother. She's a B-plus rank mage."
Jake's heart sank. A B-plus rank mage? his mother??! He staggerly looked down at Hyun-Woo, his mind whirling.
"What the...! This bastard has connections?? I'd better remove it fast—every trace of my mana from his calves." Immediate thinking started to grip him.
He was playing with fire here, and a misstep could cost him dearly. Jin-Woo's still weak, he reminded himself, and I have no strong allies yet.
If his mother ever found out, he'd face the mage's wrath by himself—a backlash of unimaginable proportions.
Quickly, Jake began working in earnest to heal Hyun-Woo's wounds properly. Sweat gathered on his brow as he tried to absorb the tendrils without looking suspicious.
Hyun-Woo, watching Joo-Hee's focused expression, mistook it for care and concern that he never experienced before even from his family.
Enduring the waves of pain, he felt another flicker of shame, thinking, What a fool I was to mistreat her just because she's better than me.
Jake was calculating his next move. I can still turn this around, he thought. A false benefactor... and maybe luring would do its thing.
As he closed his eyes, a slight guilt emerged. Sorry... Joo-Hee, I might need to use your body to play a little dirty.
He leaned toward Hyun-Woo, his tone carrying a hint of concern. "Can you hold on a moment?" he asked, noting the fire mage's hesitant nod, completely oblivious to the game Jake was about to start.
He knew exactly what could get a guy's attention—a delicate balance of physical touch and charm.
He casually reached for a tie, biting it lightly between her lips, taking his time as he pulled back her orange hair to reveal the soft, pale skin of her nape. His movements were slow, deliberately giving Hyun-Woo a full view as he secured the tie and glanced at him, noting how the mage swallowed, visibly flustered.
Got him, Jake mused, hiding his smirk.
The irony wasn't lost on him. Back on Earth, girls used to pull these tricks to catch a guy's attention, he thought, amused by how the tables had turned. Who'd have thought I'd be using their moves in this world?
Next, Jake removed his leather cloak, allowing the curves of Joo-Hee's form to show subtly under the healer's attire. Pretending to adjust his position, he feigned a small slip, his hand landed on Hyun-Woo's left chest.
The contact sent a visible shiver through the fire mage, his cheeks reddening as he tensed at the unexpected touch. Jake retracted his hands and acted as if he was momentarily shy, glancing away to further amplify the effect.
Satisfied, Jake resumed his healing with a calm focus, concealing his smirk. The seed has been planted. Now, he'd sit back and watch his plan unfold.
Hyun-Woo swallowed hard, his face flushed as he replayed the "accident" in his mind, trying to convince himself. She just slipped, he thought. But… she touched... my... No, I can't be thinking like this. He looked away, ashamed of his reaction.
Just then, Kang Ho handed Jake a high-grade potion, its pristine golden vial gleaming with a bright blue hue. Jake's eyes widened slightly, nearly betraying his composed demeanor.
Despite being a B-rank healer, Joo-Hee was on the poorer side for a certain reason: she was quite a big spender. From the branded clothings he saw in her closet to a wide variety of skincare products and countless hunter supplies, it was clear that her spending habits contributed to her financial situation.
Women, indeed. It reminded him painfully of his spendthrift sister, who never seemed to have enough money despite her womanly lifestyle.
As he glanced at the potion beside him, he felt a pang of greed. This potion... cost millions of fortunes. Should I just... save it? The idea of pocketing it flashed through his mind, but he bitterly pushed it aside to maintain his act.
Instead, Jake bit the inside of his cheek, swallowing the bitterness that came from being on the receiving end of Joo-Hee's "generous" lifestyle.
Jake discreetly checked his status.
_______________________
MP: 389/575
...
- Healing Touch (Skill Level 3 - 49%)
_______________________
His mana was holding, and with this potion, he could keep his Healing Touch going for a long time, potentially leveling up his skill.
Returning his attention to Hyun-Woo, Jake noticed the mage still blushing and sweating slightly. Smirking inwardly, Jake leaned closer, his hand resting gently on Hyun-Woo's forehead.
The seed of physical touch was blooming. The simple touch made Hyun-Woo's face turn an even deeper shade of red, right on cue.
"You're sweating a lot… Are you hurt anywhere else?" Jake murmured with a concerned look, softening his voice just enough to make it seem sincere.
He even took a tissue and gently wiped Hyun-Woo's face, each touch calculated to deepen the other's guilt and discomfort. Hyun-Woo could barely keep his gaze steady, his breathing hitching as he thought, It's not fair… How can she be so kind and gentle... I clearly treated her so horribly just hours ago.
Keeping a soft, concerned expression, Jake continued, "I know you don't like me, but if you keep being silent, how will I know?" Watching the conflict on Hyun-Woo's face, Jake's patience is about to reach its peak. Tch... this is taking too long, he thought.
When Jake decided to return to healing Hyun-Woo's leg, the mage suddenly grabbed his hand while avoiding a direct confrontation with Jake's eyes. "Ho... how can you... still heal me despite everything I did?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of shame and disbelief.
Jake grinned inwardly, thinking, Finally, you gave in, naive jerk.
Meeting Hyun-Woo's eyes, Jake replied with a calm smile, "Do I really need a reason to save someone? I'm a healer; it's my duty to help anyone, no matter their attitude. Besides…" He paused, letting his words sink in, "everyone deserves a second chance to keep going."
Hyun-Woo looked at Joo-Hee in amazement from her conviction, his voice softening with regret. "I'm... sorry. I guess I was just envious because of your rank and..."
Before he could finish, Jake's expression twisted into a mocking grin. "Haha! So it was all because of my rank? Just jealousy? You really are pathetic," he sneered, shaking his head with exaggerated disappointment. "Honestly, I'm too tired to keep up this little game."
The abrupt shift in tone left Hyun-Woo stunned, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to process the whiplash of kindness turned contempt. The apology he'd been working up melted into a bewildered silence.
Struggling to comprehend the sudden shift. Only moments ago, Joo-Hee had seemed like a compassionate, gentle healer—a stark contrast to his own family, who often degraded and belittled him for his C-plus rank. Now, here she was, mirroring that same scorn.
Jake leaned in, his hand grazing the ground as he whispered directly into Hyun-Woo's ear, "So, how did it feel when my roots pierced your foul feet?"
The words dripped with malice, his grin twisted in cruel satisfaction. Hyun-Woo's eyes widened in anger and betrayal as his frustration built into an outraged attempt to speak. "It wa—"
In one swift motion, Jake murmured Verdant Growth, and thick roots shot up, striking Hyun-Woo's neck twice in rapid succession, leaving him slumped and unconscious.
With Kang Ho and the other hunters preoccupied with treating injuries nearby, no one noticed Jake's actions.
Jake allowed himself a small, triumphant smile, but deep inside, a wave of dissatisfaction rolled through him. I've grown rusty. It wasn't as satisfying compared to before, he mused, an unsettling emptiness lingering beneath his twisted sense of victory.
Replaying his earlier words with a cringe and disgust. Deserve a second chance? What a joke, he mused. He almost laughed, the irony thick as his own words came back to haunt him. I better not do this again.