A Mind Growing Strange (4)
After receiving some comfort from Seong Hyunjin for a moment, Karin quickly came to her senses and sat up. Embarrassed at having shown such weakness to her disciple, she blushed faintly and made a request of him.
“...Will you forget what happened today? This master has shown a shameful sight to her disciple.”
“Ah, yes, of course.”
In truth, he had no desire to forget, but Seong Hyunjin replied considerately to spare her feelings.
Karin gave a slight smile at his response.
“Still, this master is always grateful for her disciple's constant thoughts of her.”
“This disciple is thankful that his lacking heart is understood by his master.”
“And... never mind.”
“What's wrong?”
Karin had nearly told him to stop lusting after her so much but held back, not wanting to ruin the mood. Seong Hyunjin might be a reincarnator, but his past life was just that—a past life. Right now, he was still only a young man of twenty. He wouldn't age due to his blessing, but the age gap with Karin was still considerable. There was no point in him showing rational affection toward her.
Still, he had definitely toned down his impulsive advances compared to before. Today, he'd only rubbed his cheek against her chest, but in the past, he would have groped her secretly. So it was progress.
Probably thanks to that pretty girlfriend of his, Serena Eldark, by his side now, Karin thought. She spoke to him.
“...I was just going to tell you to get along well with your girlfriend, my disciple. You show so much foolishness that worry gets the better of me.”
“Ah, Serena? We're doing great.”
Seong Hyunjin replied a bit bashfully.
“Just as Master said, we're close enough to catch each other's scents.”
“...Good. Then that's fortunate.”
It was a satisfying answer as far as Karin was concerned. Not only were he and Serena still on good terms, but they seemed even closer than before.
“......”
Yet for some reason, Karin felt a strange sensation stirring within her. Was it because of that unfamiliar scent on her disciple? The smell of Serena Eldark wafting from him now...
...Was the dragonkin scent always this unpleasant?
She couldn't understand why it felt so repulsive. Karin tilted her head slightly.
She stared quietly at Seong Hyunjin, but unable to pinpoint the reason, she changed the subject.
“...For now, this master will go see the Divine Star. I came unannounced, but I should let the academy know I'm here.”
“Even Dean Shania doesn't know?”
“How could she, when I rushed straight here? Of course, word has been sent, so she must have some idea that I'd come.”
With that, Karin turned to leave. Seeing her off, Seong Hyunjin casually mentioned something he'd forgotten, as if it had just come to mind.
“Ah, Master. The Dragon Star is here right now.”
“Ahajaka Eldark?”
“Yes. To hand over the Wise Star to the judiciary without letting the taboo leak out, we can't reveal everything truthfully, so we need other testimony as evidence... He said Ahajaka's word would make it possible.”
Karins's thoughts aligned perfectly with what Seong Hyunjin said. Ahajaka was also an Eldark and pure dragonkin. Testing his scent would confirm whether her current mood was abnormal or not.
Karin nodded.
“Understood. Then I'll be with the Divine Star, so come meet us there.”
She turned as if to leave immediately. Seong Hyunjin bowed politely.
“Travel safely, Master.”
“Yes, rest well.”
Rather than the door, Karin vanished through the window as she had entered. The moment she left Seong Hyunjin's room, she headed straight somewhere without hesitation. She hadn't asked where Shania was, but after hearing from her disciple that Ahajaka had come, she could easily sense his location. Nothing was easier to detect than Ahajaka Eldark's presence.
His power was so overwhelming that he couldn't easily hide it unless he consciously tried. The king of dragonkin, Ahajaka Eldark, was such a being.
“...Divine Star.”
“Yes?”
“Did you call for me?”
The moment Ahajaka sensed the presence and spoke...
“I came uninvited.”
Karin had arrived first. A chill swept through the air as she landed silently, without a sound.
Shania looked surprised at Karin's sudden appearance, not having expected her so soon.
“Ka-Karin? When did you get here? I heard you were busy with the war in Levatein Territory...”
“I wrapped it up in a hurry. My disciple was hurt.”
“Ah.”
Shania collected herself and bowed first.
“I'm sorry, Karin. For such an unfortunate incident to happen in our academy...”
“...Is it your fault? The culprit who started it is the problem.”
Karin brushed past her quick apology without adding more. She glanced sideways at Ahajaka.
“...Strange.”
“What nonsense is that, popping up out of nowhere, Sword Star?”
Ahajaka was dumbfounded by Karin calling him strange right to his face. Bursting in and immediately saying something like that wasn't the greeting for old acquaintances meeting after a long time.
“Strange the moment you see me? Is there something off about me?”
Even as Ahajaka asked, Karin seemed lost in other thoughts, giving an unrelated reply.
“You're not unpleasant at all...”
“...What on earth are you talking about?”
“Never mind. It was just something for me to mull over, so don't worry about it.”
Ahajaka's expression grew puzzled at her odd words, but Karin had no intention of explaining and pondered alone.
Ahajaka is fine... so why was only Serena Eldark's scent unpleasant?
The only difference between the two was that one was pure dragonkin and the other half. She wondered if it was the elf influence, but Seong Hyunjin was half-elf too, so that didn't fit. Then what made the feelings so different... Karin paused as a realization hit.
There was one difference: gender. Ahajaka was male, Serena female.
If that was the cause... why did Karin find the scent of a female dragonkin like Serena repulsive?
Karin blinked slowly a couple of times.
...No way.
She let out a hollow chuckle inwardly, dismissing the idea as absurd, and dropped the matter.
Shania found Karin's behavior odd too, but she prioritized official business.
“Um... Did you come to see Abraham too, Karin?”
“...Yes, I heard why he attacked my disciple.”
Karin said.
“But it doesn't seem like something we can just gloss over from hearsay.”
“...I understand.”
Shania nodded and proposed to Karin.
“Ahajaka said he wants to see the scene and meet Abraham himself, so why don't you come along?”
“Fine.”
“But no personal retribution, Karin. Abraham's fate has already been decided by law.”
As Shania cautioned just in case, Karin nodded.
“No need to worry; that won't happen.”
“Understood. Follow me.”
# After Karin stopped by and left, late evening arrived. Seong Hyunjin's room had no one else besides him—and exactly one more person.
“You're much better now.”
“Really? So I can participate in the exchange meet, right?”
“Yes, no major issues for the comprehensive sparring.”
It was Yeonhui. Though in the hospital room, Seong Hyunjin wasn't really sick, so he didn't need a full checkup from a specialist. Since waking, Yeonhui had been monitoring his condition.
Given her past behavior, Serena had wanted to avoid leaving Seong Hyunjin alone with her, but the person in question said it was fine. Knowing Yeonhui had truly repented last time, Seong Hyunjin decided not to treat her awkwardly. He just didn't feel like dating her yet—but he knew what a good person she was.
“Thanks, Senior.”
“I haven't done enough to warrant thanks.”
Yeonhui smiled a bit awkwardly as she spoke. Since that day, her attitude toward Seong Hyunjin had been exceedingly cautious. Even if dark thoughts crossed her mind alone sometimes, she never let them show, acting with utmost care.
Seeing her behave so awkwardly that anyone could tell, Seong Hyunjin hesitated.
“...Senior, about that.”
“Yes?”
“You don't have to act so uncomfortable.”
Seong Hyunjin said her stiffness felt even stranger and hoped she'd act like her usual self.
“I get it's a problem if you cross the line like before, but no need to be this awkward.”
Truthfully, it was more for his own comfort than consideration for her. Watching her act awkwardly wasn't pleasant.
But from Yeonhui's position, hearing his suggestion struck differently.
From the moment he brought it up, her eyes showed panic. After a long silence, as if sorting her thoughts, she slowly spoke.
“...How can you say that so easily, Junior?”
“Huh? Was there a problem?”
“...The lack of a problem is the problem.”
Yeonhui said.
“After all the things I've done to you...”
How could he act normal like before? She'd been forgiven, but after such a grave mistake, how could she pretend nothing happened?
Seong Hyunjin shook his head.
“I don't mind.”
“...Pardon?”
“It's in the past, and you apologized back then, right? I accepted it. So no need to feel guilty anymore or act awkward.”
Yeonhui blinked at his reasoning, then recalled their first meeting—how he'd patiently listened to her potentially boring reminiscences.
“...Can I keep liking you, Junior?”
“Huh?... Uh, well... that's up to you, isn't it? Not something I can dictate.”
“......”
Yeonhui pressed her lips together briefly, bit them lightly, then relaxed her unconsciously tensed smile.
“Junior.”
“Yes?”
“You're too... too likable as a person.”
“Yeah, I guess I am pretty likable.”
Seong Hyunjin admitted refreshingly. Serena said it, Yeonhui said it—everyone did, so it must be true. He wasn't humble enough to deny confirmed facts.
Yeonhui smiled faintly.
“That's why I like you.”
“...A confession?”
“What if it is?”
As Seong Hyunjin flustered slightly, Yeonhui smiled beautifully, as if delighted.
He looked a bit troubled.
“...Like I said last time, I'm not ready to date you yet.”
“Rejected.”
“Sorry...”
“No need to apologize.”
Yeonhui looked as if she'd expected this, showing no hurt.
“I figured as much.”
“...?”
As Seong Hyunjin wondered why confess then, Yeonhui explained.
“You told me not to act awkward and to be myself.”
“Yeah, I did.”
“So I did.”
Yeonhui clasped her hands lightly over her chest and smiled radiantly, speaking endearingly.
“I can't hide how much I like you, Junior.”
“...!”
“So I'll keep coming at you. You'll push me away a few times since you still feel distant, like you said... but that's okay.”
Still smiling prettily, Yeonhui gazed at Seong Hyunjin.
“They say even the toughest tree falls after ten strikes, right?”
It was a saying from this world not, but Seong Hyunjin understood perfectly. It was a Korean proverb from his past life and her original world.
Meeting her eyes, Seong Hyunjin looked away slightly.
In a somewhat awkward voice, he said,
“W-Well, like I said... do as you feel, Senior.”
“...Yes, I will.”
“...But don't cross the line.”
“I'll keep that in mind.”
Yeonhui stood, but instead of leaving right away, she looked down at him thoughtfully.
“Senior?”
“...As long as I don't cross the line, it's fine, right, Junior?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. As long as you don't, no need to act aw—”
As Seong Hyunjin spoke, Yeonhui quickly leaned down.
*Smack.*
Just like when he'd collapsed from the aftermath of fighting Shania, she lightly kissed his cheek.
“You allowed this much back then... so I didn't cross the line, right?”
“......”
Yeonhui looked at him. His eyes were wide from the cheek kiss—a bigger reaction than last time.
...Ah.
Her face flushed as she realized it. He'd started seeing her as a woman, even a little.
She'd once tried seducing him directly, even drugging him in hopes he'd take her... but feeling this innocent change in him made her heart tickle in a way that embarrassed her more than whispering temptations ever had.
Flustered by the unfamiliar sensation, Yeonhui hurriedly stepped back and bowed.
“J-Junior, rest well...!”
Seong Hyunjin let out a hollow laugh as she fled the room in quick steps.
“Why's she the one getting embarrassed after doing it?”