Plotting the Scene

As they finally completed their quota, the team's excitement was undeniable.

They decided to head back and check the rankings, hoping for a chance to enter the coveted top spots.

As Jake took a last look before going, he felt a mixture of joy, sadness and nostalgia, recalling how Joo-Hee had revealed herself to him in this very place.

'Bye... Joo-Hee,' he thought as he gave her a last farewell.

"Unnie, let's go now!" Da-Sol shouted, breaking Jake's thoughts.

As they approached the dungeon gate, Da-Sol couldn't resist throwing a cheeky remark.

"Unnie, don't go running around to puke, okay?"

Joo-Hee's eyes twitched at the comment, and she swiftly headlocked Da-Sol, ruffling her hair roughly.

"Shut up, you blabbermouth!" she retorted, but a small smile crept onto her face.

"Hahaha! Sorry, sorry!" Da-Sol laughed, and the rest of the team joined in, the tension from the hunt dissipating as they exited the dungeon.

Joo-Hee sighed in relief as the fresh air hit her face, grateful she had activated [Healing Touch] just in time.

As they stepped outside, they noticed that only a handful of teams had finished hunting, even after almost five hours had passed.

Unbeknownst to them, whispers spread quickly, laced with envy and admiration.

Not a single scratch, bruise, or even a trace of exhaustion was visible on Team 4.

Their complexions were fresh, and they looked as if they'd just gone for a light stroll, not a grueling hunt.

Hunters in other teams clicked their tongues, muttering among themselves.

"If only we had that healer on our team," one hunter grumbled.

Others exchanged glances, nodding.

It was clear that some teams had been held back by their weaker members, forced to cover for them and even sustain injuries to keep the pace.

Kang Ho narrowed his eyes also at Joo-Hee's team, intrigued.

He noticed Min-Soo, their porter, standing with a relaxed stance as if he hadn't been hauling gear all day.

His backpack wasn't even half-full, unlike other porters weighed down with equipment and items of their respective teams.

Kang Ho smiled to himself, reaching his own conclusion.

'To think I'd see a team today that didn't abuse their porter'

'And looking at them, they all seem fine and healthy. This is all because of Joo-Hee. Her healing and barrier magic must've kept the team safe.'

"Come on, let's hurry!" Min-Soo said, his enthusiasm infectious.

He bolted toward the reception, eager to hand in the bag of goblin essence stones before any other team could catch up.

Joo-Hee and the others rushed after him, the excitement bubbling in their chests.

If they got their stones appraised quickly, they might have a shot at the top ten.

The male receptionist, noticing their eagerness, smiled gently.

"There, there, please keep it down. Let's see what you've got."

He summoned a radiant yellow magic circle that glowed brilliantly, casting a warm light that illuminated his focused eyes.

Joo-Hee stood in awe, captivated by the intricate patterns and the sheer energy radiating from the magic circle as it materialized before her.

The receptionist began to encode the varying ranks of the essence stones, and they leaned in closer, her heart racing as the screen displayed their hard-earned rewards:

_______________________

[8] Goblin Essence Stone (E-plus rank)

[13] Goblin Essence Stone (E-rank)

[9] Goblin Essence Stone (E-minus rank)

...

Calculating...

...

Team 4 - 297 points

...

Revealing overall current team rank...

_______________________

Joo-Hee's heart pounded as he stood alongside her teammates, all of them holding their breaths.

Min-Soo clasped his hands together in silent prayer, Eun-Bi bit her lip anxiously, and even Joo-Hee felt her heart tightening with hope.

'Please, at least in the top 5,' she thought, clenching her fists.

'I really need this price (money).'

The screen flickered, then displayed the rankings. 

_______________________

[ CURRENT HUNT RANKING ]

.

1 | Team 10 - 322 points

2 | Team 6 - 316 points

3 | Team 13 - 308 points

4 | Team 4 - 297 points

...

_______________________

As soon as their team's name appeared within the top 5, a cheer erupted.

Relief washed over them like a wave.

Even Jae-Sung and Yoon-Ji couldn't hide their excitement.

They exchanged glances, almost going in for a high-five before quickly turning away, both looking awkward but pleased.

Still, their enthusiasm bubbled over as they joined the others in celebrating.

"TOP FOUR!" Min-Soo exclaimed, his face flushed with joy.

Joo-Hee exhaled deeply, a huge smile breaking out.

A cheer erupted from Joo-Hee's team, intensifying the envies of the other team.

Couldn't contain themselves, Da-Sol, Eun-Bi, and Min-Soo, practically tackled Joo-Hee in a group hug, lifting her off the ground as they cheered and thanked her.

"Thank you, Miss Joo-Hee (Unnie)!" they said in unison, their voices filled with genuine gratitude.

Joo-Hee, flustered by the unexpected show of affection, squirmed a bit, pushing them away gently.

"Get off me, will you?" she grumbled, though she couldn't help but smile at their enthusiasm.

This kind of open gratitude felt strange to her—foreign, yet strangely heartwarming.

'Ha! These people really…' she thought, rolling her eyes, but the hidden smile lingered.

Yoon-Ji and Jae-Sung stood to the side, smiling softly as they watched.

Though less vocal in their gratitude, they both gave Joo-Hee a subtle nod of acknowledgment.

Joo-Hee understood—it was a thank-you in their own way.

Just as they were beginning to settle down, a commotion at the gate caught their attention.

Soon, Team 7 stumbled out—led by their main attacker, the fire mage.

His group was visibly battered with scrapes and bruises covering their bodies.

Kang Ho rushed over to support them, concern flashing across his face as he looked at their injuries.

Joo-Hee watched the scene, suppressing a smile.

'Looks like the grass isn't greener on the other side, after all,' she thought with a sly smile and satisfaction.

Yoon-Ji crossed her arms, a contemptuous smirk on her face.

"Karma's a bitch," she said, and the other members nodded in agreement.

Joo-Hee suppressed a laugh, masking it with a polite smile to avoid raising suspicion.

Then, Kang Ho amplified his voice using mana, calling out for Joo-Hee.

The echo of his shout bounced off the rocky terrain, and Joo-Hee thought, 'All according to plan.'

Da-Sol shot her a warning look.

"Don't tell me… you would heal that jerk? Unnie! just tell Mr. Kang you're out of mana."

"Exactly," Min-Soo added with concern.

"Miss Joo-Hee, healing someone like him isn't worth it."

Eun-Bi nodded, her expression filled with worry.

Joo-Hee put on a fake sorrowful smile.

"Nah, it's okay. It's my job as a healer to heal anyone, after all. I'll be back, don't worry."

As he approached Kang Ho, who was busy tending to the injured, Joo-Hee announced her presence.

"I'm here, Mr. Kang," she said, and Kang Ho wasted no time.

"Really sorry for calling you, Joo-Hee. But, we need your help to heal. Our healer is busy healing the others, having another hand would really greatly help us," she said, her voice tinged with urgency.

She fully understood why the B-minus healer's spells were ineffective.

It was all because of the root tendrils he embedded within the fire mage's lower body that only he could extract.

As the fire mage's eyes fluttered open, he spotted Joo-Hee, and his face twisted in shame.

He felt the weight of his actions press heavily upon him as the pain surged.

Joo-Hee focused, whispering, [Verdant Growth], as she drew on her magic.

She gripped the tendrils deeply embedded in the fire mage's calves and feet, pulling them out with forceful deliberate force.

The fire mage let out a piercing scream, causing a stir among his party.

"What are you doing?!" one of his teammates shouted, concern flooding their voice.

"He's in enough pain already! Are you trying to take revenge?"

Kang Ho intervened, slapping the shouting hunter across the face.

"Is that the right attitude to show someone who's here to help your leader?" he snapped.

"Go finish that bandage!"

Joo-Hee smirked inwardly at the unfolding drama, her healing magic continuing to flow.

'You reap what you sow,' she thought, watching as the fire mage covered his face with a hand in shame, guilt evident on his face.

Joo-Hee silently uttered [Healing Touch], ensuring that the healing process was slower than usual.

A rush of ecstasy coursed through Joo-Hee, an emotion she hadn't felt in a long time.

This sensation was all familiar.

It was reminiscent of his junior high school years, where he had employed dirty and toxic tactics to climb to the top of the school ranking.

The process might be unfair, but Jake had never cared about the process—only the outcome mattered to him at that time.

Despite having changed his ways in his senior years, striving to fit in through benevolence, Jake felt a dark thrill as he embraced his past self.

He had promised to suppress this side of him, yet now, he reveled in the delight it brought him.

His soul felt alive, and a suppressed malicious smile crept onto his face as he indulged in the moment.

'This is not enough!' he thought, a sinister gleam in his eyes as he continued.

The fire mage's grits and regrets became background music to Joo-Hee's internal symphony of triumph.

She was in control, and she would savor every moment of the fire mage's suffering.

In his mind, she could almost taste the sweet revenge, and it only fueled her desire for more.