Just minutes later, the air in the hospital room crackled as space itself was torn apart.
From the distortion emerged Han Ji-Hoon, the space mage who had been suspicious of Joo-Hee before.
Accompanying him was none other than Chairman Go Gunhee.
The moment Joo-Hee saw the familiar face of Han Ji-Hoon, she instinctively rolled her eyes—though subtly, making sure it wasn't noticeable.
'For goodness' sake, this shameless jerk is here again...' she thought bitterly.
Ji-Hoon, wearing a friendly smile, even had the audacity to wave at her.
"Ms. Lee, you look a bit… annoyed to see me. Are you not happy that I came to visit?" he asked, feigning disappointment as he placed a hand over his cheek.
Then, with a theatrical sigh, he continued, "I rushed you to the hospital as fast as I could yesterday, and yet this is how I'm treated? How unfair life can be..."
Joo-Hee's eye twitched as her initial suspicion was correct.
Ji-Hoon had likely been released from his probation just to bring her here.
Annoying as he was, she had to admit he had helped.
Still, his antics were unbearable.
Forcing a polite smile, she chuckled lightly and replied, "How could that be, Mr. Han? I truly appreciate your help. It's just that our past encounters… left a rather sour taste, for reasons I'm sure you know quite well."
She shot him a subtle glare while keeping her smile intact.
Though her voice had mostly recovered, her throat still felt dry—but at least it was better than yesterday.
Before Ji-Hoon could retort, Chairman Go Gunhee stepped in with a light cough.
"Ms. Lee, I'm glad to see you recovering well. Congratulations on regaining your health. As for the previous actions of my subordinate, please don't take them to heart. I apologize on his behalf."
Joo-Hee exhaled and shook her head with a small smile, "No need to apologize, Mr. Chairman. It was just a minor dispute, and it's already in the past. Best to leave it forgotten."
Gunhee nodded, "Ms. Lee truly has a magnanimous heart..."
As their conversation continued, Joo-Hee finally learned the most recent piece of news.
Her reawakening had not been contained within the premises.
Instead, it had been publicly announced across South Korea.
She was now being labeled as an Irregular Reawakened—one who had awakened into an entirely different class.
Instead of just remaining a healer, she had become both a mage and a healer.
Though she had expected this outcome after seeing the swarm of reporters outside the association yesterday, it didn't make things any easier.
Despite the title of Irregular being thrust upon her, she knew the truth—she was nothing more than a weakling temporarily propped up by mysterious items of unknown origins.
Minutes later, Go Gunhee and Han Ji-Hoon prepared to take their leave.
"Ms. Lee," the chairman said warmly, "it seems our meeting will be cut short for now. I must return to the association. This agent here will assist you with your hospitalization paperwork, and don't worry about the fees—the association will cover all expenses."
He paused for a brief moment, his tone shifting with a hint of hesitation.
"And regarding the guild you plan to join… I hope you would also consider the association as an option. I'm hoping to hear from you soon, Ms. Lee."
Joo-Hee bowed slightly, nodding in response as she thanked the Chairman.
She understood the implications behind his words.
The chairman wanted her under the association's wing, rather than having her lured away by one of the major guilds, affecting the balance of power of guilds and authority.
...
Once the chairman and Han Ji-Hoon left, and the agent departed to process her bills, she was finally alone.
With a heavy sigh, she let herself fall back onto the hospital bed, arms sprawled out as she stared at the ceiling.
Turning her head, she saw a potted plant nearby.
Without much thought, she raised her hand and released her mana, activating her skill with her thoughts—[Verdant Growth].
The small plant trembled as an invisible force washed over it, responding to her will.
'Just two days…' she thought while playing with the plant. 'In just two days, so much has happened...'
'Jin-Woo already discovered my system. The association misunderstood my reawakening. My system upgraded due to some items.'
'I inherited the legacy of a Heaven's Herald and learned about worldviews… an entire concept that I didn't even know existed...'
She exhaled sharply, rubbing her temple as she muttered, 'Sigh... things are only going to get more complicated from here, aren't they?'
Her gaze drifted back to the plant.
In mere seconds, its stem thickened, its leaves grew lusher, and buds formed where none had existed before.Vibrant flowers began to bloom, even though the plant had never been capable of flowering.
Joo-Hee watched in quiet fascination.
At Level 6, Verdant Growth could now alter the cellular composition of normal plants, modifying their inherent traits at her command.
It was no longer just a skill for accelerating plant growth—it was a tool for evolution and partial manipulation.
'I better not slack anymore,' she resolved, clenching her fists. 'I need to level up. Tomorrow, I'll head to that dungeon and get stronger—no matter what.'
A soft knock at the door pulled Joo-Hee from her thoughts.
With a flick of her finger, the plant on her bedside table shrank back to its original form, its blossoms fading as if they had never been there.
The agent stepped inside, offering a polite nod.
"Ms. Lee, the hospitalization has been settled. The doctor said you can be discharged whenever you're ready. But if you'd rather stay and rest, you can remain for another day."
Joo-Hee stretched her arms before responding, "Alright, thanks for handling that, mister. But, may I ask where's my phone? I need to call someone."
"Also... I'd prefer to leave today, hospitals feel too stuffy," she paused before continuing.
"Ah, my apologies! I completely forgot," the agent said, quickly retrieving her phone and handing it over. "Here you go, Ms. Lee."
She took it with a nod of thanks as the agent excused himself, heading off to the restroom.
The moment she unlocked her screen, dozens of missed calls and unread messages flooded her notification bar.
Most were from unknown numbers, but one stood out.
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Sung Jin-Woo: Joo-Hee, if you see this, please send me the hospital's location. I'll be there right away.
Sung Jin-Woo: Both Jin-ah and I are really worried... The association won't even tell me which hospital you're in. 😞
Sung Jin-Woo: …
_______________________
Her eyes widened slightly as she noticed the nineteen missed calls from him.
With a soft chuckle, she murmured, "Ha, this big guy really knows how to worry… I don't even know what hospital I'm in myself, how can I even tell you?"
As she scrolled further, she noticed more messages, ones that made her pause.
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Song Chi-Yul: Kiddo, I heard from Mr. Woo about your condition. Are you okay now? Also… thank you so much, Joo-Hee. I never thought I'd be able to use my arm again after it was cut off, but you made it happen.
Sung Chi-Yul: As for the reassessment recommendation, I… I don't even know what to say. If you ever need help, please don't hesitate to ask.
_______________________
A warm feeling spread in her chest as she read the old hunter's words.
Another message caught her attention.
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Kang Jeongho: Joo-Hee… this might sound awkward, but really—thank you. And… we're really sorry. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to increase my rank.
Kang Jeongho: I don't know how it happened, but I think it was because we were near you when you… reawakened. I know I don't deserve your kindness after what I did, but thank you. I won't forget this favor.
_______________________
Joo-Hee stared at the screen, her fingers lingering over the messages.
The past few days had been chaotic, but at least… it seemed she had made a difference.
Joo-Hee quickly dialed Yoo Minji's number, pressing the phone to her ear.
The call connected almost instantly.
"Hello? Ms. Lee?" Yoo Minji's cheerful voice rang through the line.
"Ms. Yoo, regarding my rental today... can I ask to reschedule it if possible..." Joo-Hee said.
There was a brief pause before Minji responded with an enthusiastic, "Of course! Consider it done. Oh, and congratulations on your reawakening as a mage. That's really amazing!"
Joo-Hee chuckled lightly. "Thank you."
"As a little gift, I'll cover the rescheduling fees for you~" Minji added warmly.
"That's too much—"
"No, no, I insist!"
Joo-Hee smiled. "Alright, then. I really appreciate it, Ms. Yoo. Thank you."
After ending the call, she let out a deep breath and stood up from the hospital bed, taking a slow, steady inhale before exhaling.
'At last… I have two days. Two days to rest and prepare.'
She clenched her fists and focused, 'Status!'
In an instant, multiple green panels materialized before her eyes.
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[Sage Enlightenment System V.2.0]
.
Name: Lee Joo-Hee (Jake Garcia)
Class: Sage of Eternal Leaf
Title: None
.
Level: 3 (126/200)
HP: 800/800
MP: 3,000/3,000
.
[ Stats ]
[ Skills ]
[ Quests ]
[ Notifications (+2) ]
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Basic Stats:
— Strength [42/200]
— Dexterity [41/200]
— Vitality [56/200]
— Magic Power [100/200]
— Intelligence [74/200]
— Wisdom [81/200]
— [Available Slot]
— [Available Slot]
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Basic Skills:
— Healing Touch (Skill Level 6 - 49%)
Amplified healing abilities, allowing for rapid recovery of wounds and ailments.
— Verdant Growth (Skill Level 6 - 21%)
Manipulation of plants and nature, enabling the user to control and accelerate plant growth.
— Nature's Embrace (Skill Level 5 - 4%)
A protective barrier formed from natural energy, capable of shielding the user and others from harm.
— Basic Swordsmanship (Skill Level 4 - 0%)
Fundamentals of sword fighting, focusing on precision and control.
— Basic Meditation (Skill Level 6 - 21%)
Enhances the user's ability to sense and manipulate internal mana, aiding in the recovery of magic power and increasing the effectiveness of other mana-based skills.
.
Origin Skill:
— Fragmented Tongue of Babel [???] (Skill Level 1 - 0.8%):
Grants the ability to understand and speak all languages known under the heavens upon hearing them once. This includes ancient, forgotten, and even mystical tongues, enabling seamless communication with any being. This is an incomplete inheritance.
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