Chapter 20: In Need of a Healer
"Look, I am not telling you not to be a hunter. I realize this is a part of life now. It is needed. You need to at least find someone with healing capabilities in the future. Any deeper and you would not have made it here. You would not have made it through that floor if you were not capable. At least keep yourself alive."
It seemed a little unreasonable to lecture me about needing a healer. Those abilities were rare. I remained silent as the doctor began tending to my other minor injuries. Once he was done cleaning my wounds, the two assistants began chanting in a low tone.
My wounds were covered in soft light and soon my skin was visibly intact again. The healers slumped together as they stepped away, exhausted. That was the other thing that was unreasonable. To find a gifted healer was next to impossible.
Leveling up healers to be effective was painfully hard. If you were to refer to it in game terms it would be like they gained next to no experience in the dungeon. Not to mention they tended to be very prone to dying even from weak monsters.
"Ok, you are fixed up. Your stamina is gonna take a hit from the healing today. Take it easy until you feel normal."
The doctor marched out of the room, causing both assistants to rush out in order to catch up to him. I sighed as I placed my damaged armor and cut up shirt into the trash. I pulled a set of plain clothes from my bag and stepped into the courtesy shower in the room.
It seemed like they were upgrading the clinic dramatically. There was now a sign by the entrance that read that the clinic was run by the association. Streamlining the life for hunters seemed to be the main focus now. I did not pay it any mind as it was extremely convenient.
By the time I changed into the new set of clothes, I felt extremely tired. The skin around my newly healed injuries was hot to the touch and slightly pink. I couldn't head straight home either, since I needed to visit the association.
There was the matter of my destroyed armor, but I also wanted to do something about my weapon choices. It felt like all the tough enemies I had come across were huge, and tough to deal with. Especially since my main choice of weapon was knives. My sword already had a few chips in it and I didn't want to take the chance of it breaking completely the next time my life depended on it.
Thankfully the clinic was positioned right across from the association and it was but a short walk. I headed straight towards the lounge so that I could do all my business in one place. I scanned my card and headed to the nearest open room.
The cozy room I was used to last time had changed and the room itself had grown larger. It seemed that the advancement in technology I had grown used to was still moving at an incredible rate. They were already prepared to accept large materials and monsters.
"Welcome to the Lounge. How may I assist you today?" An association employee was sitting on one of the sofas in the room smiling at me.
I took my seat across from her and began the process of pulling out materials from the dungeon.
"Lastly, I have a tiger carcass. Can I set it in the space over there?" I gestured towards the white stone floor in the corner of the room where the new renovations had been made. The association woman looked up startled from her tablet.
"Yes, of course. May I ask how you transported it?" I was right they had been informed of this beforehand. I held up my bag and then reached my hand into it and roughly yanked the tiger out. With just the barest of tugs it easily came out of the bag, only assuming its original weight once the entire thing had left the space.
A light thud as the carcass hit the floor signaled the woman to get up quickly and hit some controls on the wall I had overlooked. It seemed this part of the room was engineered as a large scanner for items. The process was a little longer, but I didn't mind as tea had been served while we were processing materials.
"I have settled all of the items you brought in today. Would you like to view the association shop while you are here?" The woman held out her tablet and I took it.
It was impressive to see the amount of items that had been added to the shop since I last visited the lounge. The tiger had netted me over 100,000 points. I scrolled through the weapons but frowned at the selection. It still seemed that they only offered beginner level equipment.
"Are there not better options for weapons?"
"The association is still trying to contract talented crafters. Unfortunately, even with the advances of today we are having problems procuring the necessary talent. I can give you a list of independent crafters."
She touched a button on the table and a hidden door at the back of the room opened. Another association employee walked in with a half piece of paper with words printed on it.
That was all they had. It really must be difficult to find crafters this early on. In Silver City, most of the population were hunters. There was still the risk of never coming out alive from the dungeon, so there were people who are still holding out so that might be why. Crafters tended to be cautious individuals.
"Thank you for choosing the association to trade your dungeon spoils." Both employees bowed as I left the room. I studied the list as I walked down the long hallway back into the main part of the association building.
I briefly heard the thud of a door closing and then I ran straight into something causing me to fall backwards. Ow. I can't believe with all my enhancements after becoming a hunter that falling on my behind still hurts this much.
The paper in my hand had fallen to the ground next to me and as I reached to pick it up I accidentally touched the hand of the person I ran into who had reached down to pick it up.
"Oh, I am sorry!" A small girl that looked no older than fifteen exclaimed.
"No, I was the one not paying attention to where I was going." I picked up my paper and slowly got back up to my feet.
"Hi, my name is Kai. Sorry to have run into you like that." I held out my hand and shook the young girl's hand. "You look quite young to be a hunter."
A slight blush came over the girl's face. "Uh, no… I am actually already eighteen…" My eyes widened at my mistake. How could a girl this young looking already be eighteen?
"Oh, excuse me. Sometimes I open my mouth and strange words come out. Ha, ha." That was a stupid thing to say, self.
"That's all right. I get it all the time. I even had to bring my birth certificate when I registered with the association. Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Callie." Callie scratched the back of her head nervously.
"Nice to meet you. I was just heading home for today, if you will excuse me." I tried to take a step around her, but she held up her hand.
"Wa- Wait!" I paused mid-step and turned back to Callie. "Would you be interested in maybe going into the dungeon together sometime? It's ok if you don't. No, even if it is just to the first floor of Silver City Dungeon. Please."
Callie's face looked up with me as if she were ready to get down on her knees and beg. I almost took a step back from shock. It felt like I had somehow brought a child to tears.
"Um. I don't mind if it's just the first floor." My answer came out without me thinking about it. I felt like I couldn't say no to that face. Callie's face lit up and her hand raised in a victory pose. "I did it! I found someone to party with!"
"Uh… Hey, why did you ask some random stranger to party with you though?" Callie snapped out of her reverie suddenly and looked down at the ground while twiddling her fingers.
"Well, you see, I am actually a healer and I can't handle the first floor by myself. Since I am not experienced enough to work at the clinic I need someone to help me increase my level. Or that is what the doctor who runs the place told me."
I wondered if it was the same doctor who told me to party up with a healer? It seemed much too convenient, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to bring along someone who could potentially save my life in the future.
"I have one condition." Callie clammed up at my voice. "You can't tell anyone about me or what happens in the dungeon."
"Of course!" Callie smiled once more and I placed my hand on her head to pat it. Even though she was already eighteen, it felt like I had suddenly gained a little sister.
"It seems we will have to upgrade your gear first. I was going to stop to see a crafter on my way back. Let's go together."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone