Solo Leveling: I’m the strongest Healer

Keyaru's POV

"Hyomin Noona, I came to take you back," I said softly to this rage-filled teenager.

But before she could express her opinion, a red-haired delinquent got up from his seat to stand in front of me.

"Can't you see she's not interested in leaving?"

"So get lost, kid."

I frowned at his breath reeking of alcohol and cigarettes.

I glanced at everyone in the room before turning my attention back to him.

"I'm not talking to you sunbae, but to my noona."

I casually put my hand on his shoulder before bringing my face close to his ear, so only he could hear what came next.

"Gunwoo, that's your name, right?"

"Stop hanging around my sister or getting in my way. It'll avoid unnecessary drama for both of us."

This time, I spoke without using any 'honorifics' typically used to address an elder, like 'Hyung' or 'Sunbae.'

You need to understand that in Korea, it's extremely inappropriate to speak to someone without honorifics.

Of course, if you're an ignorant foreigner, it's okay, but I've already demonstrated excellent Korean proficiency.

Gunwoo already understood that I was mocking him.

"You little..." Gunwoo 'pushed' me before suddenly attacking me, to everyone's surprise.

"Too slow," I said, hitting his neck with the taser hidden in my hoodie pocket before grabbing him by his collar with one hand and throwing him against a wall.

WHAM The wall took damage, and Gunwoo seemed to lose consciousness.

"Damn, I used a bit too much force." I turned back to Hyomin and her friends, ignoring the other guys.

"So, are you coming back with me?" I said casually, extending my hand toward her.

tch After clicking her tongue in annoyance, Hyomin gathered her things one by one before leaving the room without giving me a second glance.

Of course, she ignored my outstretched hand.

"Sorry, girls, for showing you this unsightly side." I pulled out an amount of money that I estimated was way more than enough for hospital fees and repairs before giving it to a blonde sitting near my sister's former spot.

"Give this to the sleeping sunbae." I quickly left to catch up with Hyomin.

I had thought time would bring things back to how they were between us, but Hyomin had become more and more distant with me and mom.

It got worse in high school since she doesn't like being associated with me.

"Wait, Noona!!!" I managed to catch up to her, but she tried to shake off my hand from her wrist.

"Let go of me, idiot!!" Hyomin's loud voice started to draw attention to us.

"Stop making a scene in the middle of the street," I said, quickly looking around before dragging her into a quiet alley.

"This is perfect," I said before pushing her against a wall.

"Initially, I just wanted to bring you back with me to avoid mom blowing up, but I'm gonna change my plans a bit."

The atmosphere in the alley became tense in seconds.

"What are you talking about?" she said, a bit confused by my words but looking at me defiantly.

"I'm just saying we won't leave this place until you explain why you've been avoiding me and keeping your distance from me for years."

I avoided mentioning mom's case since it's become a sensitive topic with her.

"Ridiculous, I'm leaving!" She tried to leave, but I slammed my palm against the wall to block her path.

I didn't say anything more, but I looked into her eyes.

Our staring contest lasted for an unknown time before she let out a self-deprecating smile.

"No doubt about it, you're really as stubborn as her," she said, before stopping smiling and taking on a serious look.

"I'm just tired of being a stain on this family."

There was a moment of silence before I spoke again since she didn't seem to want to elaborate.

"So you became a 'bad girl' because of issues with dad?" I asked for confirmation.

"'Just'? It's not 'just' that, Keyaru."

"I spent a good part of my life being compared to you, a prodigy who skips grades and was born from sincere love..." This time, Hyomin started to pour her heart out.

She expressed her frustration at being an incompetent big sister, but also her anger about me always cleaning up after her.

It surprisingly lasted an hour or minute!

"*Sniff*... you... you think... that... you're better than me... right?" Tears were rolling down her cheeks as she looked at me with a mixture of anger, envy, and something else.

Of course I'm better than you, you little idiot, but that's not the main issue here.

*Thump* I gently hit the top of her head before pressing my forehead against hers.

"Idiot," I said, smiling tenderly.

I already knew all this.

I just overestimated her ability to handle her inferiority complex and her father's absence.

She acts tough, but she's soft inside.

"You're my noona, I don't care about others' opinions or even yours."

Her eyes were wide at my words.

A cute reaction, from my point of view, especially since my words are sincere.

I sincerely love my family in this life.

At first, I played my role in this play called 'family,' but I found myself appreciating their love for me.

Even if 'some' express it awkwardly.

This situation is probably related to my family in my past life, which is completely messed up.

"Idiot, didn't anyone tell you that pushy guys are unpopular? *Kiss*"

Hyomin quickly stole a kiss on my cheek before putting distance between us.

"We can go home now, right?" She avoids my gaze after this sneaky act.

The contrast between her rebellious nature and her current 'cute' appearance starts to awaken something in me.

I quickly extinguished this unhealthy flame that I blamed on a side effect of original Keyaru's memories.

"Yeah," I said simply before leading the way.

Hyomin grabbed my arm on the way while a comfortable silence reigned between us.

...

My 15th birthday finally arrived a few months after my reconciliation with Hyomin Joo.

"Status," I said while looking at my reflection in a mirror.

Name: Keyaru Kim

Age: 15

Race: Human

Class: Healer, Hero

Level: 1

MP: 12/12

Physical Attack: 15

Physical Defense: 16

Magic Attack: 7

Magic Defense: 18

Speed: 17

Skills:

• Healing Magic Lv1

Passive Skills:

• MP Recovery Rate Increase Lv1: Healer magician skill, MP recovery rate is 10% faster.

• Healing Capacity Increase Lv1: Healer magician skill, adds a positive correction to healing magic.

• EXP Increase: Hero-exclusive skill, gives 2x the amount of EXP gained for you and your group.

• Level Limit Breakthrough (self): Hero-exclusive skill, allows release of level limit set at birth.

• Level Limit Breakthrough (others): Hero-exclusive skill. By giving someone your bodily fluids containing your magical power, there's a chance their upper level limit will increase by one level.

"I see, I received Keyaru's eyes, but they're not shown in my status."

Normally, you need a special tool to see your status in original Keyaru's world.

Fortunately, ROB allowed me to keep them, unlike other skills.

"I might curse him sometimes, but he's a good guy deep down."

After examining my status, I noticed it's higher than original Keyaru's at the start of his story.

I'm literally three times stronger than him.

I immediately checked my talent values since they're crucial for my stat evolution with each level up.

Level Limit: ♾️

Talent Values:

MP: 180

Physical Attack: 90

Physical Defense: 60

Magic Attack: 160

Magic Defense: 120

Speed: 90

Total Value: 700

Monstrous numbers appeared before me.

In addition to having the infinite level limit that all heroes possess, I also have a total talent value of 700.

The average number normal humans possess is about 60 for their talent value, and having a total value of about 350 is considered good.

For information, original Keyaru has a total talent value of 560, and the magic hero has a total of 580.

Note: the magic hero had 140 in magic talent and was considered humanity's most talented magician.

"Despite these numbers, it won't mean anything if your level limit is 4 or 10, for example," I said to no one in particular.

I just remembered a particularly talented girl with an extremely low level limit in Redo of the Healer.

I closed my status before leaving the bathroom.

I decided to put aside this evolution related to my talent like my reincarnation, as I doubt ROB will help me in this area.