Chapter 34: Recovery Manipulation.

"That's fine. Penelope already planned on healing everyone after Peneloped healed you," she responded, her cheerful smile unwavering.

Hearing this, Dawn let out a sigh. 'This girl, she's truly too kind for her own good.'

Dawn wanted to decline her offer, but the radiance of her smile and the sparkle in her eyes rendered him speechless. Knowing her stubborn nature, he was convinced she wouldn't easily relent.

With a soft sigh, he gave in, extending his arms towards her as the two halted their march.

"Alright, do as you please..."

Penelope's face brightened even more at his consent. Her smile widened as she joyfully nodded, reaching out to grasp his hands with her own. 

Her hands felt small and delicate in his, leaving Dawn to wonder how someone as frail as her had managed to endure the harsh conditions they had faced.

However, his thoughts were quickly overshadowed by what happened next. Penelope's large, round blue eyes ignited with a golden glow, and from her hands emanated a brilliant golden light. 

The air seemed to converge around her as her wild, curly blonde hair began to float upwards, stirred by an unseen force.

Dawn watched in silence as the golden light enveloped his body, particularly his injured arms. The warmth that spread through him was both comforting and invigorating.

[Recovery Manipulation: Forced Recovery.]

He felt the pain in his injuries diminish as notifications popped up in his consciousness.

[You are being healed.] [HP: 72% -> 81% -> 90%]

The damaged muscles and torn flesh began to mend themselves, the injuries visibly healing. The process was not only miraculous but also held a certain beauty.

Penelope, with her eyes closed, was entirely focused on the task at hand. Clutching his arms, she bore an expression of deep concentration, her brows furrowed in determination. For the first time, Dawn saw her as someone genuinely capable and dependable.

Within moments, Dawn's injuries had fully healed. Penelope released his arms, taking a deep breath and gradually opening her eyes. 

"How does it feel?" she asked, her round blue eyes filled with concern as she looked up at him.

Dawn clenched his hand into a fist, waving it around a few times. It felt as though he had never been injured, with not even a scar in sight. 

'If this ability existed in my old world, this girl would have been seen as a miracle,' he thought.

"It feels great," he affirmed.

At his response, her face lit up with another gleeful smile. 

"Penelope's glad she could help."

As he gazed at her smiling face, Dawn couldn't help but wonder, 'How is she able to smile so much for someone else's sake…'

"Hey… if there's anything you need me to do for you, just let me know," Dawn said, his expression serious as he looked directly at her.

"That's fine, Penelope didn't help you because she wanted something in return."

"Don't be stubborn. I don't like owing people things. So if you ever have a request, I'll grant it, just one."

"...Then—tell Penelope your name."

"Seriously…? That's all you want?" he asked, incredulous.

She nodded eagerly. 

In response, Dawn placed his hand over her head and ruffled her hair, messing it up further.

"Ow! What was that for?" she protested, grabbing her head.

"Sorry, just checking if you had a brain in there."

"Hng… Penelope thinks you're mean."

"Sometimes, being mean is necessary to survive." he sighed. "But it's Dawn… just call me Dawn," He said as he turned to walk away.

As Dawn turned to walk away, he realized that the majority of the other awakened had halted and were now watching them intently. Just as he anticipated, they too desired to have their injuries healed by Penelope's remarkable ability.

Meanwhile, Penelope seemed oblivious to their stares, her attention solely on memorizing Dawn's name. "Dawn... Dawn..." she repeated joyfully, her voice carrying a contented hum.

Dawn, witnessing this scene, could only place a palm against his face and sigh deeply. 

'This girl doesn't realise it yet but her ability is something that others will try to take advantage of her for, if she continues to be as kind as she is, she won't survive.'

-

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-

The journey back to their manor felt as if it would never end, dispelling the initial fears of traps but replacing them with the weariness of a long walk. 

It was so lengthy that the group had been walking for hours without any sign of their destination, turning the journey itself into a form of endurance training. 

Given the considerable distance they had covered during their training exercises, it was understandable, yet that did little to ease the fatigue setting in among them.Despite their efforts to pick up the pace, the manor still seemed far off. 

As Dawn walked, his attention momentarily shifted to the rear of the line, where Penelope was busy administering her healing abilities to other members of their group. Her bright smile suggested generosity and satisfaction with her efforts, yet the strain it imposed on her was evident. 

However, Dawn's concern for her well-being was somewhat alleviated by the presence of Ayleth and Freya, who stood watchfully by her side. It seemed clear that, regardless of the circumstances, they had been keeping a protective eye on Penelope all along. 

Their evident concern for Penelope's wellbeing was reassuring.

'That's the sixteenth one she's healed, including me. She's healed exactly half of the group.'

Dawn's observation was tinged with a mix of admiration and frustration. To divert his growing irritation, he chose to immerse himself in reviewing his skill screen.

[Skills] 

[Skills] (4) 

[0 skill points available.] 

[Weapon Mastery Lv. 1] (Passive) 

[Mastery: 9.82%] 

[Stealth Mastery Lv. 1] (Passive) 

[Mastery: 41.46%] 

[Inspect Lv. 1] 

[Mastery: 93.27%] 

[Disguise Lv. 1] 

[Mastery: 0.00%] 

[Would you like to see more details?]

'Hm… Inspect is close to levelling up and stealth is almost half-way there.' He noted as he analysed the screen.

Curious about the potential changes from levelling up his skills, Dawn decided to make use of the opportunity presented by the group's focus on Penelope, Ayleth, and Freya. 

He quietly shifted his attention to inspecting the random elements around him and practiced concealing his energy and presence while walking at the forefront.

[Inspect Lv. 1] 

Dawn's attention settled on one of the glowing crystals that lit their path.

[Luminite Crystals] 

[These naturally occurring crystals emit a gentle, ethereal glow, illuminating the caverns with a soft, otherworldly light. Each crystal is imbued with a unique luminescence, ranging from soft hues of azure and violet to vibrant tones of emerald and sapphire.]

'Oh, that's interesting… so there are different colors…' Dawn mused, intrigued by the information. 

However, his examination was abruptly interrupted by a voice calling out to him. "Hey you." 

Surprised, Dawn looked towards the voice, only to find Mason, Blaise, and Karol walking nearby, all of them fixing their gaze on him. 

Dawn glanced around, wondering if they were addressing someone else, but upon seeing no one else around, he pointed to himself with doubt.

"Yes, you!" Mason confirmed, his tone carrying a hint of annoyance.

"How can I help?" Dawn asked, managing to muster a smile that he hoped appeared genuine.

"I saw what you did with the creature in the village. I've been wondering for a while now," Mason started, his curiosity evident. 

"Karol said you're someone who just awakened. If you just awakened, how were you able to run from that thing when even those who had awakened way before you couldn't? What exactly are you?"

There it was, the very situation Dawn had hoped to avoid. His act of standing out had sparked curiosity and suspicion, turning his fear of drawing too much attention to himself into reality.