Chapter 262
Chapter 262
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 262
Chapter Title: Daring Karite
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*Swoosh—!*
The moment I took Karite's hand.
“Ah…”
All I felt when I held her hand was… a sense of mystery.
Something unknown.
A special sensation I'd never felt before.
'It's as if the water has a will of its own.'
Normally, I would have expected the ripples to soak my hand and arm, spreading further the moment I touched her.
But that wasn't what happened.
The intensity of the water weakened only around the hand I held. While my hand did get wet, the ripples weren't strong enough to travel up my arm.
Instead, they were calm and gentle.
It made me realize just how much control Karite had over the water.
“So? Can you feel it?”
“I can. I don't fully understand it, but I can tell you have complete command over the water.”
“It's not quite complete yet. Still, just by enveloping my body in these ripples, I've gained a completely different kind of power. I can essentially erase all resistance and friction. My movement speed is incomparable to before, and my destructive power has increased as well.”
Karite seemed incredibly excited as she explained, her voice full of confidence.
And I thought she had every right to be.
'It really is different.'
Watching Karite, I was reminded that the evolution of an attribute can vary from person to person.
She hadn't acquired a new skill or anything like that. She had simply reached Attribute Level 4 and awakened to a new concept of power.
And yet, this was the result.
“It's an incredible power. I'm almost at a loss for words... It seems to have limitless applications.”
“Hearing you say that makes me even happier.”
As I watched Karite smile brightly, a thought crossed my mind.
I had thought Karite had changed.
A positive, bright, and cheerful personality. The gloomy, somber air she once had was gone.
But maybe that wasn't it... Perhaps.
'Could this be Karite's true personality?'
It had been some time since she'd escaped Leteia's influence. Every time I saw Karite, she seemed different.
And it felt completely natural.
So much so that the Karite I was looking at now felt like her true, beautiful, and bright self.
*Squeeze.*
Then, I felt a gentle pressure on my hand, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“You know, I've worked so... so hard. You have no idea how much I thought about you.”
“About me?”
“Yes. I felt so impatient every time I heard about how much you were growing. Even though it was just rumors, I suddenly felt like there was a wall between us.”
“A wall? What... You don't have to think like that.”
A dry laugh escaped my lips as I spoke.
My growth was the result of overcoming several extraordinary crises.
It was an achievement, an overwhelming growth I'd gained *because* of those trials. It wasn't something that should make others feel like there was a wall between us.
My growth hadn't been normal, after all.
“Still, I really felt it. You were pulling ahead, growing so fast, while my own accomplishments felt so small. I felt like I'd still be conscious of it even when we met again...”
“...Is that why you turned me away when I came to see you?”
“Yes. And I worked incredibly hard during the rest of that time. Until my achievements wouldn't fall too far behind. I knew you'd be kind like this even if I told you, but I wanted to feel worthy on my own.”
She explained her reasons, laying bare all her efforts.
Seeing her now, looking at me with pride after achieving so much... she seemed truly radiant. To think she had been working this hard without me knowing.
From Attribute Level 2 to Level 4 in a single month.
A growth rate that defied common sense.
'Just how hard must Karite have worked...'
*Sway, sway.*
As I watched Karite smile brightly while holding my hand, it suddenly occurred to me that we were a little too close.
She was so open, with no sense of distance between us.
And then, her words suddenly stuck in my mind.
'Thought about me...'
She'd said it so naturally that I hadn't registered it at first. But Karite was saying such significant things to me so casually.
As if I were at the center of everything for her.
“Hey, Han Cheon-seong.”
“...Yeah. Karite.”
“Do I seem a little different now?”
“It's not about 'now.' I've never seen you in a bad light.”
“Even so, I wanted to hear you say it. I thought that, as I am now, I wouldn't be a burden to you. That I might be good enough to be by your side.”
......The more I listened to her, the more I remembered a fact I'd been overlooking.
I might have...
'...never properly considered how I must have appeared to Karite.'
My goodwill towards her, the various emotions I'd shown, and even the times I'd gone to see her.
“You can be with me.”
“Right? I think I can hold my head a little higher now. I wanted to reach Attribute Level 5 like you, but that seemed too far off... You know, I'll keep working even harder from now on!”
Watching Karite speak with such vigor, I couldn't help but swallow.
*Gulp.*
A strange tension filled me. Thinking back, it had been like this from the beginning.
Back when I was helping Karite unconditionally, trying to instill a will to live in her. I knew even then that she might misunderstand me.
That I liked her. I had acted in a way that would make it seem like I had feelings for her.
I had to do it back then.
I thought I was the only one who could support her and help her get back on her feet. I felt I had to be the one to shoulder her emotional pain and struggles.
Even if it meant she would misunderstand, I had no choice.
*Slip.*
When I gently let go of her hand, she naturally pulled hers back.
“Um. Han Cheon-seong. Could you... turn around for a moment? I'm going to release this power now. If I do, I think you'll see my completely naked body...”
Seeing her suddenly act shy, I immediately turned around.
“...Take your time.”
“Okay. I'll get dressed right away.”
As I listened, I stared blankly at the empty training hall.
'What... should I do?'
Even as I wondered, I knew the answer.
-That the time had come.
-The time had come to clear up Karite's misunderstanding.
Judging by her words and actions, it was highly likely that Karite still misunderstood, thinking I had feelings for her.
*Rustle, rustle.*
Just then, the sound of fabric brushing against skin tickled my ears.
...My heart wavered.
Wouldn't I end up hurting Karite? I could already picture her pained expression.
***
*Rustle, rustle.*
She put on her skirt first, then slid her arms into the blouse she'd taken off.
As she slowly put on each piece of clothing she'd removed, Karite's heart pounded in her chest.
'What is... Han Cheon-seong thinking right now?'
*Glance.*
Turning her head, she saw Han Cheon-seong's back. He was still turned away from her, staring at the innocent floor.
He trusted her words completely, doing exactly as she asked.
Spending time together for the first time in a while.
Han Cheon-seong was still as kind and cool as ever.
And his surprised reaction from a moment ago... it was everything she had hoped for, no, it was more, filling her with a sense of complete satisfaction.
—The feeling of being acknowledged.
The gratification of that moment, of having properly imprinted her value and her necessity onto Han Cheon-seong, was the most powerful emotion she had felt in years, captivating her entire being.
It felt like happiness was overflowing, about to burst out of her.
*Click. Click.*
Her heart hammered as she fastened the buttons of her blouse.
It pounded as if it would explode, and she couldn't help but feel a flush of embarrassment at her own audacious act.
'I showed him my body.'
Back when she first took off her clothes to manifest her power.
She had... intentionally made the ripples covering her body a little weaker.
So that when Han Cheon-seong looked up, he would be able to faintly see her body.
She had revealed her well-tended body, clad in the stylish black underwear she had deliberately worn.
...A daring act.
And afterward, as she approached him, had him take her hand, and spoke with him, her heart had been racing with anxiety.
But seeing Han Cheon-seong's reaction gave her courage.
He went along with it, not disliking or rejecting her.
In addition to the confidence in her achievements, a confidence in herself as a woman had steadily grown within her.
'I can do this.'
As she thought this... she picked up her final piece of clothing, the student jacket—and then gently let it go.
*Slip.*
Watching the jacket fall limply to the floor, she took a careful step forward.
Clad only in her blouse and skirt, she steeled her resolve.
Barefoot, not even wearing her shoes, making no sound, she wanted to slowly approach Han Cheon-seong, who stood with his back defenselessly turned to her.
It felt like she was luring the pure-hearted Han Cheon-seong into her trap, but strangely, she felt no hesitation.
*Swish.*
Using a minute amount of water under her feet, she erased all friction, completely concealing her presence.
*Gulp.*
...She swallowed silently, an unconscious tension gripping her.
She had definitely taken a proper step forward today, getting that much closer to Han Cheon-seong.
She had gotten closer than she'd ever imagined, but it didn't feel like enough. On top of this swelling satisfaction, her heart now craved him even more.
'A little more…'
She had waited so long for this moment.
I want to get closer.
Just as she drew near Han Cheon-seong.
“Haaah…”
A deep sigh made her freeze.
'Why is he sighing like that?'
It was clearly a weary sigh.
Did Han Cheon-seong have some worry or concern she didn't know about?
After a moment of thought, she acted.
“Han Cheon-seong.”
Calling his name with all her heart, she gently wrapped her arms around Han Cheon-seong from behind, embracing his defenseless back.
*Flinch.*
“...Karite!?”
Hearing the utter shock in his voice, she squeezed tighter, holding him fast.
“Just for a moment... stay like this.”