Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Han Cheon-seong. You're hitting on her, right?
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***
Click.
As Luna slowly passed me, my gaze inadvertently followed her. The moment she saw me, I noticed her eyes narrow.
But as she walked past, Luna didn't say a word to me.
As if she hadn't seen me at all. She just kept walking.
Click.
Once she was completely gone, a dry laugh escaped my lips without me realizing it.
'Well, it's not like we're anything to each other.'
There was no reason for me to feel ashamed about what I'd just said to Karite.
But for some reason, Luna's gaze bothered me. It was like I had a guilty conscience...
I found myself unconsciously looking in the direction Luna had gone.
'Come to think of it, where's Millia?'
Luna and Millia were always together, but Millia was nowhere to be seen.
I wondered if Luna had come alone, but it felt strangely significant.
I wasn't particularly close with anyone; we were just classmates.
“Han Cheon-seong.”
Hearing Karite's voice, I turned my head back to her.
“Oh. Karite.”
“Did you mean what you just said...? That you're spending time with me because you're concerned... because you want to.”
As Karite asked cautiously, I nodded my head.
“I mean it. I don't know why you'd ask, but there's no other reason I'm with you.”
I tried to answer calmly, but a part of me felt strange.
It wasn't that I was lying to deceive Karite. I was genuinely spending time with her because I wanted to save her. And it was true that I wanted to.
'At least until next week.'
I had to give Karite my utmost attention. I had no intention of treating her coldly afterward, but for now, I needed to earn her favor.
“So you really... mean it.”
“Karite. Do you think I approached you with some other motive?”
“To be honest, for the past two days, I did. I thought you might have approached me because of the Esildereun family, or because you wanted... my body, or that you had some other reason for coming to me.”
At her words, I couldn't help but let out a dry laugh.
“How could I possibly be after your family... or let alone, your body? That's just ridiculous.”
I didn't even know how powerful the Esildereun family was in the first place. In the story, Karite was just mentioned as a sacrificial offering before disappearing, a tragic character. But for her to say that, I figured it must be a pretty prestigious family. And then, belatedly... my gaze drifted to Karite's body.
'Not as destructive as Adelia's, but...'
I found myself thinking about her body before I could stop myself, then quickly shook my head.
This wasn't the time to be thinking about such things.
“If you're really meeting me with those thoughts, then I'm sorry. I think I... misjudged you. To think you wanted to be with me with such pure intentions.”
Karite's words made me feel even more embarrassed.
“You don't have to be that sorry. If someone suddenly approached me and said all sorts of things, I'd be suspicious too.”
As I spoke, I found myself reflecting on my own actions.
The way I approached Karite the moment I first saw her, and the words I said. I did it out of consideration for her, but it was understandable that she might have seen it differently.
That I had another goal, like her family, or... her body, just as she'd said.
“To be honest, even if I say this, it might still be hard for you to trust me completely. I'll try harder to earn it.”
“N-no! I believe you, Han Cheon-seong. If you say so, then it must be true.”
Her unexpectedly strong affirmation made me look at her again.
“You really... believe me?”
If I were Karite, I don't think I'd be able to trust me.
Despite my words, Karite nodded firmly, meeting my gaze.
Her pale crimson eyes were much clearer now, as if her worries and anxieties had faded. And with my reflection held clearly within them, I felt that my recent actions hadn't been so bad after all.
“I believe you.”
Hearing the conviction in her voice, a smile escaped my lips.
“Thanks for saying that.”
“No, I'm the one who's grateful. Thank you for approaching me first... To be honest, I've been really troubled thinking about you for the past two days. If you really had approached me with those intentions... I was wondering what I should do.”
“...It would never happen, but if I had approached you with such intentions, you should have obviously rejected me. What was there to think about?”
Her absurd dilemma made me chuckle.
If I had truly approached her with ulterior motives, eyeing her family, Karite should have pushed me away or ignored me. That would have been the right thing to do.
The answer was so simple.
“...I know that's the right thing to do. But, even so, I don't think I could have done it.”
“You couldn't have done it? What do you mean?”
“Even if you had approached me with such dark intentions... I think I would have accepted you.”
As Karite said something so unexpected with a bitter smile, I was momentarily taken aback.
“You would have accepted me even if I had ulterior motives...?”
“That's how desperate I was. I'd wished for someone who would listen to me as naturally as you do, Han Cheon-seong, and spend time with me. You appeared so suddenly, fulfilling my wish. It felt like you were sent from the heavens to save me.”
Seeing Karite speak with a shy expression... I found myself staring at her more intently.
And if there was one thing I could say for sure, it was this.
I had vaguely imagined Karite's hardships, but she was struggling even more than I thought...
'Perhaps.'
Karite's death, originally scheduled for next week. The Apostle of Sacrifice, Leteia, and other external factors were part of it, but...
Karite herself might have been suffering even more.
Her negative emotions might have swelled to the point of making an extreme choice. It was clear Karite was finding it incredibly difficult just to get through each day.
To the point where she'd say she would have accepted me even if I had ulterior motives...
“I must seem like a fool to you, don't I...?”
Seeing Karite's embarrassed smile, I immediately shook my head.
“I think anyone could feel that way if they're struggling that much. And if it's that hard... let's meet more often from now on.”
As I spoke, my thoughts became clearer.
I shouldn't just meet her when she wants to see me; I need to seek her out myself. I had to be more proactive in finding her so she wouldn't have to suffer.
“But Han Cheon-seong... you have your own life too. I feel like asking to meet often would be a burden on you.”
“Don't feel sorry about that. I can afford to be more considerate. Besides, if I were only going to help halfway, I wouldn't be making time to meet you like this. You don't have to worry about me so much.”
I said the words aloud, as if to convey my resolve to her.
That I would help her properly. And it was like a vow to myself as well.
“...If you put it that way, I understand. I won't feel sorry anymore. Thank you.”
“Good. In that case, Karite. When are you free next?”
“Next...?”
“I said I'd be with you. So this time, I want to be the one to make plans.”
As I spoke, there was no longer any hesitation.
I understood her importance now, so I had to act on it immediately.
“In that case, I think next week... Monday would be good.”
“Then let's meet at the park after classes on Monday. Around 4 o'clock seems good. How about you?”
“Four o'clock... is fine with me too.”
Watching Karite's shy reply, I felt a pang of sympathy.
'How turbulent must her life have been.'
Just talking with someone, making plans so casually. For that alone, Karite was genuinely trying to express her gratitude to me.
It was proof of how much Karite had suffered mentally over the years. When I pictured how much more withdrawn she must have become after coming to the academy, my heart ached for her.
'I'll have to treat her even better.'
Saving her from death was one thing, but beyond that, I felt a need to meet with Karite.
Here was someone who desperately wanted help.
And I could help. So wasn't it the right thing to do?
Despite her anxiety, Karite had honestly shown me her heart. Even while worrying that I might have ulterior motives, she had faced me with sincerity.
...That alone was reason enough for me to treat her with sincerity as well.
“Well then, Karite. Shall we get going?”
“Huh?”
“Talking in the cafe is nice, but I thought it would be better to stop by some other places too. It'll be a better change of pace.”
As I said that, I glanced at Karite's plate.
We'd both finished our desserts at some point. It seemed like a good time to leave.
“Okay. That sounds good. Let's do that.”
Seeing Karite smile a little more brightly at me, a smile escaped my own lips as well.
***
Jingle.
The cafe door closed, and the two of them disappeared.
Several students who had been watching their backs soon turned to each other, their eyes gleaming.
“Wow. What's with the vibe between those two...?”
“Han Cheon-seong. He's totally hitting on her, right?”
"Well, he is handsome, I guess."
“I can't stand that Karite girl, she's so gloomy. How can he even be interested?”
Watching the female students animatedly discuss the pair who had just left, one young woman frowned.
With her eye-catching pink twintails, she stood out even while sitting alone. It was Luna, drawing the attention of many students for a different reason.
“...That Han Cheon-seong is so shameless.”
She muttered, her feelings a strange mix.
Being out alone without Millia, she felt both unwell and bitter.
Of course, she knew there was an unavoidable reason for this. Millia had told her she wanted to focus on training her trait.
And since she knew that spirit traits required mental communion in a quiet space, she couldn't be with Millia.
She couldn't get in the way of her friend's growth, after all.
So, having some free time, she'd stopped by the cafe, only to feel like she'd witnessed a rather peculiar scene.
Han Cheon-seong, the subject of daily rumors involving women. She was seeing his true colors.
'My case might have been a misunderstanding... but who is this Karite girl?'
Maybe, just as someone had said, Han Cheon-seong really was hitting on another student.
From what she'd seen while sneaking glances, Han Cheon-seong and the student named Karite seemed to be having a very friendly conversation.
So friendly that anyone watching might think they were dating.
Tap.
As she fiddled with her cup, she found herself nodding.
“No, if they were dating, that might actually be a good thing...”
If Han Cheon-seong got together with another girl on his own, that would be great for her. Her best friend Millia would have no choice but to give up on him then.
But that pleasant feeling was short-lived.
“Wait, Millia would get hurt then.”
Before she had apologized to Han Cheon-seong directly, she had been pestered endlessly by Millia.
-You really shouldn't act like that.
-You have to consider the other students properly.
-Luna... I don't think this is right.
-The Luna I know wasn't like this... *Sigh*.
Millia's disappointed voice suddenly echoed in her mind.
...Every single word was like a sharp spear piercing her heart. The self-loathing from disappointing Millia had made her swallow her pride and apologize.
She certainly did feel sorry for Han Cheon-seong, but the decisive reason she'd apologized in person was Millia's influence.
And at that moment, she had clearly felt it.
'Just how much Millia... likes Han Cheon-seong.'
She was so sincere that it felt like it went beyond simple affection.
And with her heart so set on Han Cheon-seong... what if he started dating this Karite girl now?
Gulp.
She swallowed hard, unable to imagine it.
How hurt and sad Millia would be...
“That... can't happen.”
Just because Han Cheon-seong got together with another girl didn't mean it was something she should be happy about.
Even though she hated how much attention Millia gave Han Cheon-seong, she wanted to see Millia sad even less.
She cherished Millia so much.
"..."
After biting her lip for a moment, she finally stood up from her seat.
Rustle.
“I don't know either.”
What Han Cheon-seong's intentions were for hanging out with this Karite girl. With Millia away training, she felt she had to find out in her place.
That way, if Millia did get hurt later, she could help lessen the pain.
Click.
And so, Luna's secret tailing began.
A covert operation to investigate the relationship between Han Cheon-seong and Karite...