Growth (5) - Chapter 161: Sword Star Hakodate Karin
Hakodate Karin, the Sword Star. From the days when she was called the Sword Princess, those who knew her had always seen her as a flower on a sheer cliff.
Her beauty was enough to paralyze any man's reason, yet she treated them with such cold indifference that it only deepened the impression. Everyone fell for her exquisite looks and yearned to claim that body, a living work of art... but no man in the world could best her, the pinnacle of the sword, and drag her to bed. Thus, Karin's body remained utterly pristine—a body that knew no man. It had never been touched by anyone, nor offered to another. And that fact would never change unless her own heart did.
But at this very moment.
"...Eh?"
What she thought would never change had shattered.
Too flustered to think straight, Karin let out a strange noise before belatedly regaining her senses and grasping the situation. Seong Hyun-jin's brutish hand was gripping her breast. Part of it clutched through her clothing, but his thumb was unmistakably buried in the soft, exposed flesh.
"...!!"
Even Karin, whose emotions rarely stirred, couldn't help but flush with shame in such a situation. Her face twisted in uncharacteristic panic, her tongue stumbling as she spoke.
"D-D-Disciple... w-what is the meaning of this...?"
Yet this irreverent disciple, far from remorse, scolded her as if he were in the right.
"Are you trying to torture me right now, Master?!"
"Wh-what...?"
How dare he yell after groping her breast without permission? Shameless impudence had its limits—this was absurd.
Karin stared at him in disbelief, but he shouted even more boldly.
"How am I supposed to react when you show up half-naked like this?! It's not my fault things turned out this way! It's your fault for flaunting these voluptuous breasts, Master!!"
"Wh-what kind of ridiculous logic is that!? R-release me at once!"
Karin grabbed his wrist, trying to pry his hand away by force. But Seong Hyun-jin shook his head defiantly, yelling all the while.
"No way! This is your fault for seducing me, so it's only fair that I do this!"
"N-no...? Ngh... wait...!"
Karin strained to force his hand off, but it wouldn't budge an inch.
What kind of strength...!
Instead, the hand dug even deeper into her flesh, now hurting just a bit even for her. Alternating bewildered glances between his hand and face, Karin gently grasped his forearm as if to calm him.
"Wa-wait, be a little gentler..."
Seong Hyun-jin paused at the sight of her wincing in pain, then eased his grip slightly. But he still didn't let go of her breast. Sighing, this disciple oblivious to his own shamelessness continued.
"Hoo... Master, do you have any idea what state I'm in right now, showing up looking so indecent...?"
"What are you talking about...?"
To calm him down, Karin reluctantly decided to hear him out first. Seong Hyun-jin spoke in a strangely calm voice, mismatched to the awkward situation.
"Can't you see how much I've grown?"
"I was just about to ask about that..."
"Thanks to the Forge Star's help, I solved the issue with this body, and it finally grew like it should have. But as it grew, some side effects kicked in."
"Side effects...?"
Karin glanced at his hand. A side effect that made him grab women's breasts on sight? If so, it was a truly horrific one.
"My body went through all the mental changes of puberty at once, just like the physical growth."
"...Mental changes?"
"Yes. My emotions surge like waves, and my control over my desires is like a child's just awakening to them—completely out of hand. I've tried to rein it in, but right now, my body won't obey my will. I feel an intense interest in the opposite sex against my wishes, and my hands move on their own... It's a real predicament."
"...Ah."
Hearing this, Karin understood why her disciple had been flirting with the maids earlier in the day and why he'd committed this outrage now. No matter how crazy he was, would he really lay hands on his lofty master's sacred person? He truly had no choice.
How could anyone control a body that acted on its own, regardless of will? The reason was so bizarre it seemed suspicious, but Karin knew her disciple wouldn't lie to her. Knowing he had his circumstances, she swallowed her boiling shame with a sigh.
"...Haa, I see. This master failed to notice how much my disciple was suffering—truly my great failing."
"...You understand?"
"Of course, it was a mistake... one you didn't want, wasn't it? So let go now. You can't keep this up forever in such an indecent state, can you?"
Karin tried to coax him as gently as possible. But Seong Hyun-jin sat still as if he hadn't heard, kneading her marshmallow-soft breast little by little.
"Eek!?"
Startled by the motion, Karin lightly slapped his wrist with her palm.
"D-don't knead it!"
"...It wasn't my intention."
"Ngh..."
What could she say when he claimed it wasn't his will? Sighing, Karin spoke.
"Q-quickly, let go. Hurry."
"...My hand won't come off, Master."
"Is there a magnet on my breast or something!? Let go now!"
"...Yes, sorry."
With that, he finally released her. Her breast throbbed from how hard he'd gripped it. Karin straightened her clothes, tying the front more securely than usual. Knowing her disciple's odd condition, she couldn't help as his master, but she wouldn't carelessly provoke him either. As she fanned her burning, shame-flushed face, Seong Hyun-jin spoke.
"Master."
"...What is it?"
"You should still wear something underneath, no? It felt so soft, like you weren't wearing anything..."
"I am wearing some, you madman!! No end to your nonsense—clearly your will is involved!"
"N-no! ...Probably not?"
"...!?"
His vague answer made Karin raise her fist, then pause in surprise. Seong Hyun-jin, once shorter than her, now towered over her, forcing her to raise her fist higher than usual—and her gaze along with it. Only now did she properly look at his face.
At first, anger at seeing him flirt with the maids had blinded her, then panic at his sudden actions. What she saw now was similar to the face she knew, but far more handsome—enough for even her to notice. From a boyish pretty face to a striking young man. Any woman would be tempted.
Karin stared blankly at her changed disciple.
"Master?"
"...Disciple."
"Yes."
"You might do the same outrageous thing to other women, so stay as far from them as possible for a while. Understood?"
To casual ears, it sounded like concern and advice for her disciple's condition. Seong Hyun-jin nodded.
"...Yes, that was my plan anyway. That's why I came straight back to the dorm, but I forgot about the maids."
But her hidden intent was a bit different.
"Exactly. Until your condition improves, you mustn't get close to any women. Not everyone will forgive and overlook it like this master."
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
There was genuine worry in her words, but for some reason, the thought of her disciple in this state fooling around with another woman...
"Good that you understand."
...made her stomach twist unpleasantly.
#
"Instructor Karin?"
As they sorted out the chaos from Seong Hyun-jin's outburst, the girl who'd brought Karin to the dorm appeared.
"Ah, there you are."
A lovely student with cascading pale pink hair—Elena Apocalipse. Spotting Seong Hyun-jin with Karin, she asked in surprise.
"Huh? Is that Junior Seong Hyun-jin?"
"Senior Elena."
He nodded, and Elena approached with wide, curious eyes.
"Wow! I heard you went to fix your growth issue, but you've changed so much I barely recognize you!"
"Really?"
"Yes, to think you could change this much overnight—it's incredible!"
"Ah, Senior. Right now, I'm..."
"Stay back."
Before he could explain, Karin blocked Elena's approach. As Elena looked puzzled, Karin gave a brief explanation.
"Come any closer, and my disciple might end up labeled a sex offender."
"...Pardon?"
"Don't put it like that, Master."
"Isn't it the truth?"
Karin continued.
"Right now, my disciple reaches out to women against his will. Best to keep your distance."
"...Side effect from accelerating his growth spurt, I guess."
Seong Hyun-jin nodded in agreement, and Elena hesitated, glancing at Karin standing so close.
"Then Instructor Karin being near is dangerous too..."
"It's fine now. He's already caused one incident and snapped out of it, so..."
Karin paused mid-sentence.
"...?"
She felt a brutish hand on her rear, just like before. She and Elena looked down simultaneously—at where Seong Hyun-jin's arm had extended.
"...Junior?"
"...Disciple."
"Yes?... Huh?"
Following their gazes, Seong Hyun-jin discovered his own hand clutching Karin's ample rear. This time, he truly seemed unaware, cold sweat beading on his brow. He yanked it away, looking a bit wronged as he faced Karin.
"M-Master, this time it really wasn't my will. I swear!"
"Then earlier was your will?"
"..."
Unable to respond, he watched as Karin raised her hand high with a sigh. He saw it clearly but, knowing his guilt this time, squeezed his eyes shut and accepted the punishment.
Yet no sharp smack or pain came. Instead, a soft pat patted his cheek lightly, twice.
"Be more mindful. What if you do the same to another woman? Not everyone will trust your word like I do."
Her gentle touch carried genuine concern. Seong Hyun-jin blinked dazedly. This was surely another shameful affront to her, yet she wasn't angry—she only worried for him. Faced with such magnanimity, he could only bow his head quietly.
"...I'm sorry, Master. This lowly disciple has been rude again."
"Enough. As long as you're aware, it's fine. Stay vigilant from now on."
"Yes."
He answered obediently, inwardly thinking as he gazed at the forgiving Karin.
...No wonder I can't help but adore her.
He felt certain now: he could never give up these feelings for her, no matter how he tried.