Nursing (2)
Yeonhui's expression was undeniably alluring as she slyly trailed the towel down across Seong Hyun-jin's chest. "Junior…"
She let out a heated breath, whispering slowly. "You want this too, don't you, Junior? That's why you're just sitting there?"
Her cheeks flushed deeper and deeper. The usual benevolent look on Yeonhui's face vanished somewhere, replaced by a slightly dangerous glint in her eyes and even hotter breaths spilling from her lips.
"You feel the same way I do… looking forward to what comes next, right?!"
Her face twisted with mounting excitement and a hint of madness. Now, with her other hand—not the one holding the towel—she boldly placed it on his chest as well.
"Haa, Junior… you can just stay still."
The mask that had always hidden Yeonhui's true expression shattered, revealing her feelings for Seong Hyun-jin in full.
"I'll… take care of everything… ♥"
If one word could describe Yeonhui's expression, it was ecstasy. She'd forgotten this was a hospital room, lost in the thrill of claiming the man she'd harbored in her heart.
"……."
In this atmosphere, Seong Hyun-jin wasn't fool enough to misunderstand what Yeonhui meant by what comes next.
But.
"Yeonhui sunbae."
"…Yes?"
Seong Hyun-jin gently pushed her shoulders away. In a situation no red-blooded man could refuse, he'd shoved the woman aside.
Yeonhui's face froze cold for a moment, wondering what the hell was going on.
"Are you… rejecting me right now?"
But Seong Hyun-jin had his reasons. It wasn't that he didn't understand her intentions—he understood them too well, which was why he'd done it.
"You're too worked up."
"…Junior."
She asked in a slightly chilly voice. "Do I… not appeal to you?"
"It's not that."
Seong Hyun-jin explained calmly. "You don't need to repay me for helping you like this."
"…Pardon?"
"A woman's body is like a treasure—it should be cherished. When you hand over that treasure, sunbae, would you give it to just anyone?"
Yeonhui looked at him with a slightly surprised expression.
"You're saying… my body is like a treasure?"
"Not just you—it's true for all women. You have to think long and hard before giving it to someone truly worthy, right?"
Seong Hyun-jin put it simply. "No need to hand it over just to repay a debt."
"……."
He made it sound noble, but the real, decisive reason he'd pushed her away was something else entirely. He couldn't exactly say it out loud, so he'd spun a plausible excuse.
How could he?
'Yeonhui sunbae has breasts that are too small.'
He liked everything else about her, but her small chest killed the mood. His standards were a bit off, sure. But his surroundings had warped them that way.
From his master Karin on down—Serena Eldark, Ciela Teraport, even Clarice, who was fine with weird demands in exchange for sword lessons—all had ample bosoms.
Karin was the main culprit behind this absurd benchmark, but the others hadn't helped.
Oblivious to Seong Hyun-jin's inner thoughts, Yeonhui pondered to herself.
'He's… cherishing me…'
She blushed at her own delusion, then pulled her hands from his body.
"…If that's what you say, Junior, then I'll try to cherish my body more too."
"Yeah, that's right."
"Still… Junior."
Yeonhui continued. "I want to repay you. In some other way."
"If it'll put your mind at ease, I don't mind."
Seong Hyun-jin gave permission, and Yeonhui nodded slightly in response.
And then.
Mwah.
Seong Hyun-jin felt something soft and moist touch his right cheek, then pull away. He knew exactly what that sensation was.
"…Yeonhui sunbae?"
As the stunned Seong Hyun-jin stared at her in bewilderment, Yeonhui smiled broadly, not hiding her flushed cheeks.
"Think of it as a thank-you. Oh, and…"
She pressed her index finger to her lips, then whispered to him.
"Whenever you want, what comes next is always on the table?"
"……!"
"I'm always thinking of you, after all."
With that, Yeonhui handed him the towel and climbed down from the bed.
"Like I said, wipe the front yourself. And you need to get checked by the doctor too."
Seong Hyun-jin nodded dazedly, and Yeonhui smiled happily at his vacant reaction, bowing her head politely.
"Rest well, Hyunjin junior."
Yeonhui left the room promptly, and Seong Hyun-jin touched his cheek where her soft lips had just brushed.
With a pang of regret, he muttered to himself.
"…If only her breasts were a bit bigger."
***
After a thorough check-up revealed no issues with his body, Seong Hyun-jin was discharged without a hitch.
The moment he stepped out of the academy's infirmary, he ran into familiar faces.
"Ciela sunbae?"
"Hey, junior!"
A female student with sky-blue hair like a clear day and golden eyes sparkling like treasure—that was Ciela Teraport, as striking as ever.
She greeted him cheerfully. "Heard you pulled off something huge again?"
"Huh? It wasn't that big a deal…"
"Oh come on, I heard everything! You helped Yeonhui sunbae get into Terastial Academy? Against the Divine Star herself!"
Ciela gushed in amazement, then muttered a bit coldly.
"…Though it feels like you stirred up unnecessary trouble."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing!"
"…Where'd you hear about that anyway?"
Seong Hyun-jin wondered if someone who'd witnessed it had spread rumors. Thankfully, no.
"My master told me, obviously!"
"Ah…"
Ciela had simply heard it from Eleonora, her master, who was there at the time.
"How's your body feeling?"
At her question, Seong Hyun-jin nodded to reassure her. "All good, no problems."
"Good to hear."
And then Seong Hyun-jin jolted in surprise.
Ciela, nodding with relief, suddenly grabbed his hand tight.
"…Ciela sunbae?"
"Come with me somewhere!"
"Where to, all of a sudden?"
"Someone wants you there."
Seong Hyun-jin tilted his head. "Me?"
"Yup! You'll see when we get there!"
Ciela dragged him along, and he had no choice but to trot after her.
He realized their destination as they took a familiar path.
"The dean's office?"
"Oh, you caught on? Yep!"
Ciela confirmed it. "Master told me to bring you."
"I don't remember doing anything wrong."
"Haha, it's not to scold you, so relax."
She added, "It's for your sake."
"?"
For his sake? Puzzled, Seong Hyun-jin looked at her, but Ciela just barged open the dean's office door without explaining.
"Hi~!"
"Ah, you brought him."
Eleonora welcomed Seong Hyun-jin and Ciela warmly. "Come in, Seong Hyun-jin. You too, Ciela."
Seong Hyun-jin glanced around. Noting Karin's absence, he asked, "Master's not here?"
"Karin's in the first-year swordsmanship class."
"Isn't class over?"
"It is, but with her as instructor, the students are so fired up she's still stuck there."
Seong Hyun-jin nodded in understanding.
"Anyway, you wanted to see me, Dean?"
"Yes."
"Why…?"
"I was just about to explain."
Eleonora cut straight to it, addressing his curiosity. "Actually, Karin asked me a favor."
"Pardon?"
"About that evil spirit eating away at your body."
Seong Hyun-jin's eyes widened at her words.
"She wants me to find a way to fix the spirit's side effects. That's why I called you."
"…Can it be fixed?"
"Not sure yet. Lots to check first."
Eleonora stood and approached him with heavy steps, beckoning Ciela over.
"When you wield your spirit, Ciela and I will observe the changes in your body. Then we'll find answers."
"…How do we fix the evil spirit's side effects?"
"Well, it's my first time trying this directly… but it's not unprecedented. There was a man plagued by an evil spirit who got help from someone else and overcame it."
Pointing to Ciela now beside her, Eleonora said, "Not to brag, but my disciple and I know spirits better than anyone. Trust us and give it a shot."
"If it can be solved, I'd love that…"
"Then let's do it, junior! What's the harm if it works?"
At Ciela's words, Seong Hyun-jin asked the pair, "What do I need to do?"
"Well, for starters…"
Ciela beamed. "Live with me for a while!"