Strange Feelings (3)
Seong Hyun-jin couldn't hide his surprise at the sudden appearance of Hakodate Karin and stared at her in a daze. It hadn't been that long since he'd last seen her, but after a few days apart, she looked so welcoming and beautiful that his expression quickly lit up with joy.
"Master."
But Karin kept her face stern as she spoke to him.
"I have many questions, but first, one thing."
Karin stepped forward briskly and grabbed both of his forearms with her hands.
"Art thou well in body?"
Her black eyes were filled with worry. It all stemmed from her concern for him.
"Yes, just a bit drained of energy—no major injuries."
"...Is that so."
Karin let out a sigh. Knowing it was one of relief, Seong Hyun-jin smiled faintly, feeling pleased, and asked,
"Master, how did you get here so quickly?"
"I ran hither."
She said it as if it were the most natural thing, not having taken a carriage but simply sprinting all the way. Seong Hyun-jin didn't find it odd and got to the point.
"No, weren't you in the Levatein Territory?"
"How could I stay there when my disciple was wounded? I helped the duke until he could handle the rest himself."
Karin said this and sighed once more. It seemed her worries had been far from trivial during the run here. She'd once said swordsmen could get hurt, and that belief hadn't changed. But her extreme concern now was because his opponent had been the Wise Star.
Karin knew Seong Hyun-jin was far superior to his peers and wouldn't worry over injuries from ordinary foes. But against a Palstar Hero, it was different. As a fellow Palstar Hero, she knew well that even the weakest among them, the Wise Star, was beyond what her still-developing disciple could defeat.
"...Disciple."
"Yes, Master."
"How in the world didst thou overcome him?"
Karin asked, recalling the evil spirit she'd just slain.
"Didst thou accept that foul thing just now?"
"...Truth be told, I did receive some help. I'm in this sickbed not from wounds the Wise Star inflicted, but because I collapsed from the backlash of borrowing her power."
At Seong Hyun-jin's honest admission, Karin frowned. She scolded him a bit angrily.
"Foolish child, how couldst thou do such a thing? Have I not told thee time and again? That thing clinging to thee is a curse! Relying on its power will make thee ever more dependent... and eventually, it will have its way. Dost thou not know this?"
"But... if I hadn't, I would have died."
Karin faltered at his calm words.
"Master, it was my spirit that hurt me enough to need hospitalization, but it was also my spirit that saved me."
"...Thou wouldst have died?"
"...I misjudged against the Wise Star. I thought there was one arrow, but there were two, and I lacked the skill to block the second."
Seong Hyun-jin sighed. He spoke to Karin with genuine apology.
"Your unworthy disciple dreams of becoming a swordsman who fights solely with the blade's power, like you, Master... but I'm still sorely lacking. Until I reach that realm, I need this power to survive."
"......"
Karin had meant to chide him further at his words, but the fact that he would have died without it left her speechless. If her precious disciple had truly perished, she couldn't predict what might follow. The Wise Star would have died by her hand, and after that... who knew. Even Karin couldn't fathom it.
He was a bond that had come suddenly, but they'd lived together for twenty years now. Losing him abruptly... she knew the void it would leave in her would be indescribable.
So for now, it was a relief. She didn't like that he'd borrowed the ominous power of that spirit, but if it kept him alive, that came first.
Realizing this, Karin sighed softly.
...I've truly become unlike myself.
Since when had she grown so swayed by emotions? She'd resolved to cast such things aside when she transmigrated to this world.
Karin smiled bitterly. Misreading her expression, Seong Hyun-jin hurriedly explained.
"Master, of course I won't rely on that power! I'll only use it in dire moments like this. I promise."
Watching her disciple desperately trying to reassure her, Karin let out a relieved sigh. She released his forearms and lightly pulled his shoulders toward her.
With a soft *poof*, Seong Hyun-jin's face nestled into her bosom.
"M-Master?"
"I shan't scold thee, so cease thy excuses."
Karin gently stroked the head of the embraced Seong Hyun-jin, just as she had when he was young and occasionally threw tantrums.
"'Tis a relief thou art alive, my disciple."
As she petted him, Seong Hyun-jin glanced up. Karin gazed down with a tender smile. It was so beautiful that he stared blankly without realizing it.
No joke—if goddesses truly existed, surely they'd look like this. It numbed his reason.
"...Master."
"What is it?"
"Couldn't you really marry me? I'll do well."
Karin's hand paused at the words Seong Hyun-jin blurted in his reason-addled state. He flinched, shoulders trembling. He instinctively knew he'd get a solid whack for speaking out of turn again.
But surprisingly, Karin merely stopped petting without clenching her fist. Instead, she looked at him with eyes that said she found it absurd.
"Disciple."
"Yes."
"Dost thou reek of Eldark, yet speak such words to me?"
"...!?"
Seong Hyun-jin jolted, recalling how dangerously close Serena had pressed against him earlier. Had her scent lingered on him?
But neither he nor the other women interested in him had noticed. Not just today, but before too... so it must not have been that strong usually.
Which meant Serena's scent hadn't clung much, but...
"Was not the Eldark girl here until moments ago?"
"H-How did you...?"
"I said it smells. Even if she's half dragonkin, their scent is potent."
"......"
Seong Hyun-jin realized this was something only Karin could detect.
Unaware or not, she lectured him.
"Here's some advice. If thou seekest to calm my heart, speak not while bearing another woman's scent. It lacks sincerity in every way."
"...No one's noticed but you, Master."
Seong Hyun-jin said awkwardly.
"No one's ever mentioned me smelling of Serena... except you."
Karin blinked, closed her eyes, then opened them. She tilted her head slightly and asked,
"Have they all stuffed noses or what?"
"No way."
Sensing he wasn't lying, Karin grew a bit flustered.
This scent is so strong...
To her, Seong Hyun-jin's body now carried Serena Eldark's fragrance intensely. True, all her senses were superhuman, including smell, but if it hit her this hard, others should notice too.
Yet her disciple said otherwise. Meaning only she'd sensed this change so far.
Perplexed why only she noticed but hiding it, Karin said,
"...Hmph, then perhaps I was overly sensitive."
"...Yes."
A brief awkward silence fell. Karin pondered inwardly if she'd been too sensitive, while Seong Hyun-jin, after the quiet, grew absorbed in something.
Realizing late, Karin looked and saw him lost in it.
"...Disciple, what hast thou been doing since earlier?"
Still in her embrace, Seong Hyun-jin was rubbing his cheeks against her ample bosom little by little. Soft, plush, tender, and springy. Each rub brought a pleasant, warm scent, melting his expression into bliss.
Karin pointed it out to make him stop, but Seong Hyun-jin, hooked on the addictive softness, murmured without thinking.
"Feeling maternal love after so long."
"......"
Pain hadn't changed him. Watching her disciple spout nonsense while toying with her body, Karin sighed deeply.
And clenched her fist.
"...Master?"
"Thou hast brought this upon thyself."
*Kong!!*
"Ow!"
Expecting brutal pain, he yelped instinctively, but the flick to his forehead was surprisingly light.
"Since thou art hurt, I'll let it pass at this."
"...Th-Thank you?"
"Get off now."
Seong Hyun-jin wanted more but knew she'd truly anger if he persisted, so he pulled away. Karin straightened her clothes slightly and asked,
"Disciple."
"...Yes, Master?"
"Did the Wise Star attack unknowing thou art my disciple?"
"Ah, no, he knew. I told him when we met before."
Karin let out a hollow laugh.
"He knew."
She revealed a chilling anger. Seong Hyun-jin flinched at the icy aura.
"And still attacked? He must have lost his mind."
"...The Wise Star probably would have done the same even if it were you there instead of me."
"What dost thou mean? Come to think, thou mentioned discovering the taboo he researched."
At her question, Seong Hyun-jin briefly explained: Wise Star Abraham Nobwells had delved into the forbidden realm of Life Creation to revive his daughter lost in the Eden Great Fire. He'd clashed with Seong Hyun-jin and his group upon discovery, ultimately subdued using Astaroth's power.
Hearing this, Karin's expression darkened sharply.
"That day's events still... ha..."
She murmured. For a moment, she'd forgotten her earlier anger and even Seong Hyun-jin before her, her face twisting in pain.
"...Nay, she hasn't forgotten either... perhaps."
"......"
It was a new expression for Seong Hyun-jin. Not just her face—her shoulders and fingertips trembled.
Never had he seen Karin so tormented. Recalling Abraham's words, he thought of what he'd said: the Sword Star, like him having lost a daughter, must have suffered immense loss from that incident, leading to her seclusion.
"Master."
"...What is it?"
"Pardon me for a moment."
"What..."
Seong Hyun-jin reached out and grasped her shoulders. Just as she'd embraced him earlier, he pulled her into his arms.
"...!"
More puzzled than scolding, Karin asked,
"...Disciple?"
"Don't misunderstand, Master. It's not my desire for you—right now, I just want to comfort you."
Karin understood his intent. A bit odd and strange, but true to his kind heart, he simply wished to soothe her distress.
But a master in her disciple's arms? Feeling embarrassed, she said,
"R-Release me. I'm fine..."
"No."
Seong Hyun-jin held her shoulders firmer and spoke resolutely.
"You're human too, Master. Everyone wants comfort in hard times. No matter how strong you are, you're still human—why bear it all alone?"
"That's..."
Because she'd always been alone. Since falling into this world, she'd acted solo, so overcoming alone was natural.
Karin trailed off, but Seong Hyun-jin seemed to grasp her unspoken words.
"You're not alone anymore."
"......"
"You have me as your disciple, just as I have you as master. I'm lacking, but easing your heart is something I can do anytime."
Seong Hyun-jin gently patted her back.
"I know those memories still torment you."
"......"
Karin couldn't refute.
"So borrow this disciple's arms until you feel a bit better."
And she couldn't refuse his offer. Being held and forgetting pain was something she hadn't felt in ages. It worked wonders. The painful memories stirred by Abraham's tale began to wash away.
Feeling a bit better, Karin sensed his firm embrace and asked slyly,
"...Thou truly just wishest to hold me, nothing more?"
"...That desire isn't absent."
"Hah."
Karin chuckled hollowly. But even hearing his honest lust, she didn't push him away.
"...Very well, I'll indulge a bit."
"...Pardon?"
"I need this now. Thou offered comfort, didn't thee? Surely not insincere?"
At her probing, Seong Hyun-jin shook his head.
"Then 'tis fine."
Karin set down her heavy burden for a moment. In her disciple's arms, now strong enough to hold her, she smiled comfortably, unlike before.
"Just for a little while."
"...Yes."