Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Don't Give Up
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After that, Karite opened up to me, sharing various stories.
Unlike her initial strange attitude, it seemed my words had reached her heart. Her demeanor changed afterward.
And so, I was able to listen to Karite's rather long story.
The initially promised thirty minutes became a joke as nearly an hour passed before I had heard most of her story about the past.
“Karite. So you're saying you encountered a purple bird in the nearby Ahel Forest?”
“That's right. The Ahel Forest was where I often walked near my family's estate, and I remember the purple bird I saw then because it was so mysterious. It was such a beautiful bird that I approached it as if mesmerized.”
“So you... came into contact with that purple bird?”
“Yes. I did. I thought it would fly away from me, but it landed on my hand without any hesitation. At the time, I was so fascinated and happy that I didn't know what to do….”
Karite's voice trailed off as she let out a soft sigh.
I, too, paused for a moment.
There was no need to press Karite further. I felt she was already doing her absolute best just by talking to me now.
Her story also represented significant progress.
‘A purple bird….’
In the world of Groa, there was indeed a case of a purple bird appearing. I could guess the culprit with a very high degree of certainty.
—The Apostle of Sacrifice, Leteia.
Thinking about it, the title fit the first episode perfectly.
'Sacrifice.'
However, even within the story, Leteia rarely revealed herself. She was an intelligent apostle who used various familiars, like extensions of herself, to hatch her schemes.
“Still, Han Cheon-seong. Just like you said, now that I've talked about it like this, I feel a little more at ease. My anxiety seems to have faded a lot, too….”
Seeing Karite's sudden, awkward smile, I offered a faint smile of my own.
"Then I'm truly glad."
Although we'd only had a brief conversation, I now had a much better understanding of Karite's situation.
A state where her heart was constantly anxious, where negative emotions were so overwhelming that they interfered with her daily life.
The more I understood Karite, the more sympathy I felt for her, and beyond that, I was grateful she had been so honest with me.
“Karite. I'm truly grateful that you've told me this much. Honestly, I was worried I might have been too forward when we first met.”
“No. I'm the one who should be thankful you approached me today.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Today is the best I've felt in days. It made me realize there are people like you, Han Cheon-seong... Ah, I didn't mean that in a negative way.”
As she fumbled with her words at the end, I let out a small laugh and nodded.
“I know. I'm not misunderstanding.”
But despite my outward response, my heart grew heavy.
‘Even after hearing the full story, there's nothing I can actually do for her.’
It was good that I'd managed to hear her past, driven by the thought of saving her before she became Leteia's sacrifice.
But that was as far as it went.
My own power was too weak right now, and I had no proper way to help Karite.
And regardless of whether I had the power or not, the situation was too ambiguous to even know *how* to help her.
Karite's anxiety. The source of it, Leteia, was an extremely secretive apostle. In the story, Leonhardt only managed to defeat her late in the game.
In truth... I had to accept that there was nothing I could do right now.
“...”
Gently touching my cup, I took in the sight of Karite before me.
Her light sky-blue hair, her frail and delicate impression, compounded by her small frame, made her seem even more so.
I could still sense the anxiety coming from her.
And even her words, thanking me for talking to her, weighed on my mind.
‘Was I really the only one who had reached out to Karite?’
That was what made it even more heartbreaking.
As our conversation continued, Karite became noticeably more talkative, and the anxious look on her face had faded significantly, yet this was the extent of it.
In all that time, she didn't seem to have a bad personality or any other issues.
She was just... a young woman my age. It was only because of her long-standing anxiety that her once bright self had become so somber.
She, who would have otherwise been more charming and surely gotten along well with other students besides me….
"..."
The more I thought about the situation, the heavier my heart became.
When I first approached her, I'd confidently said I would help. Yet now, after hearing everything, I was in no position to offer a solution.
“Um. Han Cheon-seong?”
“...Huh?”
“No, it's just that you suddenly went quiet. I was worried I might have said something wrong. Were you offended just now?”
As Karite asked cautiously, I quickly shook my head.
“Not at all. I was just thinking that your situation is far from ordinary. It's been like this ever since you met that purple bird, right?”
“Yes... that's right. When I went back to the Ahel Forest later, I couldn't find the purple bird again. So, of course, I still don't know the cause or the reason. But I have to keep feeling like I'm all alone in this world.”
Seeing Karite speak so calmly, despite how difficult it must be, I steeled my resolve.
‘It's not like there's nothing I can do to help.’
A moment ago, Karite had said that opening up to me had eased her anxiety, even if just a little.
And that she felt the best she had in days.
Then that alone was meaningful enough.
...It meant that, at the very least, I could be of some help to her.
“Anyway, Karite. From now on, anytime is fine. If you feel more anxious or if your heart feels uncontrollable, come find me. And I hope you'll open up to me about anything, just like you did today. I want to help you, even if it's just in that way."
That was all I could do.
If so, I needed to do at least that much properly.
"Really…?"
Karite paused at my words and asked blankly. I answered without hesitation.
“Of course. I mean it. I'm not the type to make empty promises.”
As I spoke, I met her gaze.
I had to somehow keep Karite in a stable state, at least until the accident during next week's practical lecture.
Even if it meant spending some of my own time during that period, I didn't want to be so calculating when it came to saving a life.
Even if my own growth stagnated a little, was that more important than a person's life?
It wasn't.
If I could be of help to someone like this, it was right to do so.
At the very least, I couldn't just stand by and watch.
“...You know. It’s really strange.”
“Hmm?”
“I was just thinking that you're really strange, Han Cheon-seong.”
“What's so strange about me?”
I smiled as I replied, hoping to put her more at ease, and Karite gave a very faint smile.
“It's just. Like the rumors say, you're definitely not ordinary.”
“Rumors? What kind of rumors are you talking about?”
"There are a lot of rumors going around, but... the one about you fighting to a draw with Leonhardt, this year's top student—that one's true. So you're not ordinary at all."
She said it as if it were obvious, so I didn't bother to deny it.
“...That's because. I worked hard for it.”
“But is that really possible through effort alone? In terms of grade, you, a Common, fought on par with a Legendary."
Looking at the genuinely curious Karite, I nodded.
“It's possible.”
I could state that with conviction.
It certainly isn't easy. It's an arduous and difficult path, but it's not impossible.
Because I had experienced firsthand just how much power a person's will could exert in this world of Groa.
“...So it's really possible.”
“Yes. So. Karite.”
I called her name and gathered my thoughts for a moment.
There were clear limits to how I could help Karite.
For now, all I could do was keep her from trembling with anxiety during our conversations. If that was the case, didn't the greatest power lie with Karite herself?
In this world, will can become power.
If there was a key to overcoming even the inexplicable, phenomena that defied logic, I believed that key was will.
Even if the chances were slim, it at least offered a glimmer of hope.
“...Han Cheon-seong?”
When I paused, Karite blinked and looked at me.
Meeting her gaze, I opened my mouth and spoke in a calm yet serious tone.
“Karite. Don't give up.”
“Suddenly…?”
“It might be sudden, but I wanted to say it. Even I, a Common, am trying this hard to move forward. Compared to me, you're a Unique, right? So. I hope you won't give up either.”
“...I may be a Unique, but I'm still only level 1.”
“What's wrong with being level 1? You just have to move forward from here.”
As I spoke, I tried to pour strength into my voice.
I was beginning to realize it myself. My will was almost abnormally strong in this world.
So I knew it was unreasonable to expect someone else to forge a will as strong as mine.
But I could at least encourage that will.
“Can my trait really... move forward.”
When she spoke again in a tone of resignation, I replied firmly.
“You can. I can assure you of that. Even if you're very anxious right now, even if it's hard, it's entirely possible to move forward.”
I haven't experienced what Karite is going through, so I can't know how difficult her situation is.
However.
As long as I was facing her like this, I had to be able to say it was possible. Right now, Karite needed someone to help her grasp her own will and support her.
If I could be that person, I had to do it gladly.
“......”
At my words, Karite's lips hesitated, and she remained silent for a while.
Seeing this, I calmly held my ground and waited.
Now, Karite. She had to be able to think that way for herself.
She had to be able to possess the belief that she could move forward.
Pushing her forward from behind and simply being with her—that was enough for my role right now.
Not long after, her lips parted.
“...I'll try my best, starting now.”
And the answer she gave was the one I had hoped for most.
An unconscious, bright smile spread across my face as I nodded emphatically.
“That's a great decision. And I'll say it again, Karite, you're more than capable. Besides, your trait is water, an elemental type, right? If you just put in the effort, you're truly a talent too good to be in C-Class.”
Hearing my thoughts, Karite burst out laughing for a moment.
“Too good? What are you talking about?”
“I'm being completely serious. With just a little effort, you could easily get into B-Class, and you have a trait that could even aim for A-Class.”
There wasn't a hint of falsehood in my words.
A Unique-grade elemental trait. And one related to water, an essential resource for life, at that.
It meant that with just a little growth, Karite would have a trait that everyone would be clamoring to recruit.
"Pfft…."
As Karite laughed and shook her head at my words, a chuckle escaped me as well.
I thought, this alone is a huge step.
Considering Karite's gloomy expression when I first saw her today, she had changed so much.
“Han Cheon-seong. From now on... is it really okay for me to call on you?”
“It's fine. As long as it's not during a lecture.”
“...I have no intention of calling you out in the middle of a lecture.”
I smiled at her incredulous reply.
“But I'd like it if we set a time before meeting. I have my own schedule, too. I can't be available every day. But if we make plans, I'll do my best to make time for you.”
I felt sorry even as I added the condition.
After all, I had said 'anytime' but was now adding a caveat.
“Okay, I understand. I'll do that. Then, Han Cheon-seong, since we're on the topic, when can you meet with me again this week?”
She asked naturally. I thought for a moment.
First, I figured I could clear my personal training schedule. That left my meeting with Glacia... and I couldn't postpone that.
Especially since I was late yesterday and promised to meet for an extra day.
“Any day except Friday and Sunday.”
When I listed all the days except the ones I was meeting Glacia, Karite looked a little surprised.
"Other than those... you're available every other day?"
"Yes. I told you I'd help."
There was no hesitation in my reply.
If I were only going to help her half-heartedly, I wouldn't have even postponed my training with David today.