"However, since you're Miss Hero, this procedure that has little meaning for you can naturally be skipped. The small privileges I have as the chairman exist for such occasions."
Unlike the impression most people have of association chairmen, the Healer Association president, with an excessively youthful appearance, chuckled softly.
In the military, aside from military chaplains, most medics are members of the Healer Association. As the president, he naturally had access to relevant information channels.
Although this president's manner of dealing with people was impeccable, his youthful appearance, which looked many times younger than the current Gleaming Scale Serpent, made it difficult for people to believe he was the leader of a large association.
However, in the perception of the Gleaming Scale Serpent, although this man appeared young, the inner maturity of his soul did not match his appearance.
But this president clearly didn't have the habit of explaining to everyone why he looked so young. He looked at the heavy door at the end of the hallway and smiled.
"The Stigmata Room is just ahead, Miss Hero. We can conduct the reincarnation at any time."
Similar to the Six Major Guilds, life professions also reincarnate by bestowing stigmata. Only in this way can special skills, which are difficult to describe with words and require magic manipulation, be taught to the professionals.
Upon hearing this, the Hero was slightly taken aback and paused, her expression growing increasingly awkward, with a slight blush on her earlobes.
Sensing that the Hero had stopped, the Healer Association president turned around in surprise.
"What's wrong, Miss Hero?" After looking up and down at the Hero, the president nodded in sudden understanding.
"If it's the restroom you need, it's over there. I'll have someone prepare a change of clothes if needed.
"I didn't consider this thoroughly. Even if we skip steps, the important reincarnation ceremony should be somewhat formal, and Miss Hero needs some time to prepare."
Though the Hero had no dirt on her, she was still wearing the clothes from her departure, and her barefooted stance was hardly what one would call presentable.
Although she hadn't stopped for these reasons, the Hero nodded repeatedly anyway.
Thus, under the Healer Association president's watchful gaze, the Gleaming Scale Serpent accompanied the Hero as they left.
Though it seemed a bit odd for an older servant to accompany the mistress for freshening up, the president, who had seen various nobles, was used to such sights.
"Your Majesty, you're awake?" Once they turned the corner, the Gleaming Scale Serpent slightly smiled and spoke softly.
"...Yes, thank you for your trouble this time." Retaining memories from her hollow moments, the Hero nodded with a flushed face.
She turned on the faucet, splashing her face with the cool, purified water and exhaled comfortably.
She felt like she had woken from an incredibly vivid dream. Although she was still herself in the dream, her logic was chaotic and her actions uncontrollable.
The worst part was, this dream turned out to be real.
Having an association president call her 'Miss Hero' and cutting corners on reincarnation... While she didn't oppose becoming a Healer, this feeling of sleepwalking into reality was quite jarring.
But since she was already here, she had no intention of leaving.
Soon, dressed in pristine healer attire, the Hero returned to the front of the Stigmata Room, her hair tied back with a White Snake hairpin under her veil.
The pristine clothing did nothing to dull her complexion. The girl stood in the hallway, her surrounding radiance seeming to brighten just to highlight this flawless whiteness.
[Healer's Stigmata Location (from top to bottom)]
Standing quietly in front of the Stigmata Room, the president looked at the Hero in her healer uniform with a gentle smile.
"As I expected, Miss Hero, this attire suits you very well."
The Hero shyly lowered her head and thanked him for his compliment, suggesting there was no need to address her so formally.
Although he was a bit puzzled as to why the Hero turned shy after changing clothes, losing that initial candid demeanor, the president didn't dwell and instead switched to another topic.
"So, before I bestow the Healer's stigmata on you, Miss Hero, I need to conduct a small test."
He smiled slightly and extended his hands.
On one hand, magic took the form of a sharp light blade, lightly slicing across the palm of the other hand.
[Hero's Reaction Speed]
The sharp magic light blade effortlessly made a cut on the president's palm.
The action was so decisive that it caught the Hero off guard, almost leaving her unable to respond.
"Miss Hero, please—" The president's smile remained unchanged, as he spoke calmly.
But before he could finish, the Hero hurriedly grabbed his hand.
[Hero activated skill: Unpaid Love]
Seeing the wound heal rapidly, the Hero breathed a sigh of relief. Although she had treated many people before coming here, a wound of this degree was still no issue.
Then, the Hero looked up in dissatisfaction, an image of a close friend flashing in her mind.
"President, what are you doing!? How can you hurt yourself so carelessly?"
Her tone was both reproachful and pained.
The president's smile froze. Looking at the wound that healed in less than a sentence, his expression went from surprise to understanding.
"I'm sorry… Miss Hero, it seems once again I didn't think it through."
He bowed his head sincerely; the overly formal apology left the Hero a bit at a loss for words.
"Well, anyway… just so you understand."
Before the atmosphere grew awkward, the Healer Association president straightened up and redirected the conversation to the main topic.
The Hero quickly forgot the unpleasantness and, under the president's guidance, entered the Stigmata Room,
The president's gaze was filled with awe as he watched the Hero curiously examining the stigmata vessels neatly arranged in the wall grids.
'Reducing one's basic magic power, constructing a body structure without rejection, while also having a calming spirit effect… exceedingly excellent, yet exceedingly pure.'
This calming effect wasn't the power of magic but rather the true goodwill and selflessness of the girl, flowing through magic into the hearts of those treated.
'But in this cruel world, the purer one is, the more easily they endure trials… and the more easily they are polluted and harmed.'
Contrary to his youthful appearance, the Healer Association president felt a world-weary sigh in his heart, yet a hint of expectation lay in his gaze.
"Only, those capable of changing the world are often this kind of pure."
The Healer Association president chuckled softly, reaching for a purely white stigmata.
[This stigmata emphasizes—]
8. Replenish Magic Power
9. Human Anatomy Insight♛
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure