The Kael everyone knew could destroy anything with a single touch. He never made it public that he could also heal wounds.
That was, at least, before he entered that cursed dungeon together with the forty-nine others. After discovering that he could not only destroy but also restore, he used this ability and tied it to his new identity.
To survive, he joined a guild and earned extra money on the side. He asked a hunter specialist to alter his face so no one would link him to Kael Solace from years ago.
This hunter specialist knew the truth, because he was one of his few friends. And to protect him, Kael erased his memory using a memory erase potion.
No one should know he was still alive. Otherwise, they would all be hunted down by that man.
Kael could reverse time within the area covered by his dome in under a minute. But he did not want the Guildmaster to discover how quickly he could finish the job. Not to mention, the area he needed to cover was enormous.
For a normal B-class hunter, which was the identity he presented to others, the task should take around twelve hours to complete and require a large amount of potions.
Kael took none.
He was also unwilling to return to the guild earlier than expected, as that would only raise suspicion.
So Kael walked through the empty, silent streets. The coin still rested between his index and middle fingers. A golden ray of light continued to pour out from beneath his feet, spreading outward and repairing the cracked streets along his path.
He moved forward until he reached his hometown.
His old house lay within a three kilometer radius. With a snap of his fingers, he restored everything around it. The monument built in his honor looked as good as new. The house stood exactly as he had left it for his sister and her husband to live in.
Although the Hunter Association had acquired the house and treated it like a national relic, they never allowed anyone inside. Only the exterior was open for public viewing. His sister had made that request when she sold the property to them.
They had gladly obliged.
When Kael stepped inside, the corridor looked exactly as he remembered. He walked across the wooden floor and entered the living room, which was decorated just as it had been before.
He plugged in the television and sat down on the sofa, following a routine he had grown accustomed to back when he lived there with his sister. Whenever she heard the television turn on, she would peek out from the kitchen and tell him to wash up.
Now, the television still worked.
The news featured Sergeant Daniel and his troops stationed outside the perimeter.
A woman holding a microphone delivered a live report to the public.
"We are currently in Mandel City, where a D and E grade dungeon explosion has just occurred. Due to the shortage of available hunters in the area, the dungeon was not cleared in time, resulting in a larger than expected explosion. Military personnel conducted evacuations in advance and are now guarding the perimeter while a hunter with restorative abilities works inside to repair the damage."
"We are live in Mandel City, and as you can see, local residents are still awake and visibly traumatized. Thankfully, there were no casualties. However, part of the affected area includes North Cross Street, which was once the hometown of National Hunter Kael Solace. Many are anxious about whether his former home and neighborhood can be restored to their original state."
"What do you think, Sergeant Daniel?"
"I believe restoration is still possible. Please rest assured that the best hunter with restorative abilities is currently handling the situation." The Sergeant answered with a stoic expression. He held the rifle away from the reporter with his lips pressed firmly.
"How capable is he?"
"We've worked with this hunter and his guild for several years now, and they've never failed to deliver. Each member excels in their respective specialties."
The woman wore a slightly amused expression and smiled.
"Sergeant Daniel, you seem to have a very positive view of this guild. What is its name?"
"It's called the Purple Guild. If you ask my troops or the first responders here, you'll hear their name repeatedly. They make our job easier and always respond the fastest when dungeon calamities like this occur."
Kael raised an eyebrow at the sergeant.
It didn't take long before the guild chat exploded.
"Look at Sergeant Daniel! You idiots better turn on your TVs or phones and watch the live news!"
The message came from the man who had summoned Kael earlier, their Guildmaster. The bald man clearly couldn't resist bragging after being unknowingly praised on national television.
"Sir Baldy, he's praising Clyde, not you," Emma shot back.
"And who knows? Maybe you paid him to advertise us on TV." Matthew added.
"You ungrateful fools. Can't you see he's doing this on his own? That's genuine gratitude! He felt indebted to us, so he promoted us on national TV to attract new members. Aren't you happy?"
Kael turned off the television and typed a reply.
"I'll be happy if you give me one week of paid leave after this job."
Kael went up to the second floor and stopped in front of the door leading to his old room, a sense of familiarity washing over him.
"Great Master Clyde, what did Sir Baldy put you through this time?" Ruby replied, followed by a holding back tears emoji.
"Sir Baldy! We demand you give Great Master Clyde one week of paid leave!"
"Yeah! You can't overwork your members like this!"
"You asked Great Master Clyde to restore the damage of the affected area. And knowing you, you never mentioned to him that the damaged area covers up to ten to eleven kilometer radius. You should know that this work will require a minimum of twelve hours without rest!"