Chapter 239: Exchange (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 239: Exchange (2)
Kisaragi Rin.
Head of the Yatagarasu.
Master of a famous shrine in Kyoto.
Why was she here?
This makes no sense.
I didn’t know the exact extent of her martial prowess, but I was certain her potential was higher than any prospect I had anticipated.
Besides, Rin… had a high probability of dying young.
I had never even considered her, but her potential itself had to be immense.
She walked to the microphone at the center of the auditorium stage.
Her school uniform skirt was tailored neatly, and her blouse was worn impeccably.
The shrine maiden robes suited her well, but the school uniform, fitting for her age, was also a perfect match.
She was the very picture of an innocent beauty.
The eyes of every male student in the hall were glued to her.
Rin took the microphone and, under the gaze of thousands, opened her mouth to speak.
“Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you all.”
Her clear voice echoed through the speakers, filling the auditorium.
“My name is Kisaragi Rin, and I am here as the student representative of the Kyoto Spiritual Arts Academy.”
She bowed her head in a polite greeting.
As she raised it again, her eyes found mine with perfect accuracy amidst the massive crowd.
In that instant, the corners of Rin’s eyes curved alluringly.
Others probably didn’t notice.
I never imagined that her “I’ll see you soon” meant she would literally pack her bags and come to Gaon.
I couldn’t have fathomed it.
“What the hell is she doing here?”
Cheon Yeo-wool grumbled from the seat next to me.
She crossed her arms, glaring at Rin on the stage.
After the welcoming ceremony ended, the students filing out of the auditorium were all talking about the exchange students.
Leaving the surrounding commotion behind me, I wove through the crowd and slowly made my way toward the stage where Rin was.
I was happy to see her.
I never thought she would stand before me again like this.
And I certainly never expected to meet her again at Gaon, looking so healthy.
As I approached the front of the stage, Rin, who had been listening to an instructor, turned her head toward me as if she’d sensed my presence.
The moment the instructor turned and walked away, a smile spread across her face.
Tap-tap-tap!
Rin ran to the edge of the stage.
Then, she plopped down, sitting on the edge to meet my gaze.
“Hae-in-nim!”
She swung her legs, looking down at me with a bright smile.
My eyes were drawn to her fair legs, revealed beneath her uniform skirt.
As I stepped closer to Rin, our eyes meeting, the feeling became even clearer.
It wasn't a mistake.
I could feel… her vitality.
Rin was a living person, both then and now.
But back then, when I met her at the shrine in Kyoto, she had always been contemplating death.
Rather than living, she had only thought of producing an heir for her family and the cult, and that sense of resignation and melancholy had naturally seeped out of her.
She had regarded death… as something that would soon arrive.
But now, she was different.
From her faintly flushed cheeks and her eyes sparkling with curiosity to the silly, happy smile on her lips.
Her entire being overflowed with life.
The once monochrome Rin was gaining color.
She was no longer waiting for death.
Perhaps it was because she now had the conviction to live.
As I stood there smiling without a word, Rin suddenly whipped her head from side to side.
After looking around as cute as a squirrel, she lightly hopped down from the stage.
“Hae-in-nim.”
Then, without waiting for my reply, she grabbed my wrist.
Her hand was warm.
Rin led me to a secluded area behind the auditorium.
It was a wide, empty space behind the stage.
She backed me against a wall and smiled sweetly.
Rustle…
Then, without warning, she took the hem of her uniform skirt and boldly lifted it.
“?!”
I was momentarily stunned.
The underwear and fair thighs hidden beneath her skirt came into view.
Thump!
I reflexively shot out a hand and grabbed her skirt to stop it from going any higher.
“Miss Rin…! What are you doing all of a sudden…?”
There was no one else around, but still.
This was a school, and we were outside.
Wasn’t this a bit too radical?
But Rin just giggled playfully, as if my flustered reaction was amusing.
She pushed past my hand and lifted her skirt again, pointing with her finger.
“This… please look.”
Where Rin’s finger pointed.
The borderline where the curve of her hip met the start of her thigh.
A distinct black tattoo was etched upon her fair skin.
“!”
I was momentarily bewildered.
No way.
Had the curse returned?
The tattoo was of a black bird.
“……?”
But looking closely, the bird’s form resembled someone familiar. It wasn’t strange to me.
From its sharp beak to its powerfully outstretched wings.
Wait a minute…
Could it be… Flapper?
As I stared blankly at the tattoo, Rin blushed, smiled bashfully, and whispered.
“It’s… a trace of the Divine Beast.”
She stroked her thigh, as if proud.
“When you saved me, Hae-in-nim… I think his power settled into my body. The Divine Beast’s energy filled the space where the curse left, and it became like this…”
Ah, so that’s what happened.
No wonder the energy from the tattoo didn’t feel particularly evil or ominous.
In fact, it felt so familiar that I had been puzzled.
It seemed that rascal had left a clear mark while healing Rin.
I let out a sigh of relief and asked her with a worried look.
“Is it… not bad for your body? Does it hurt, or cause any strain?”
Rin shook her head at my question.
Then, with her eyes slightly glazed over in a daze, she brought her lips to my ear.
“No.”
Rin’s hot breath touched my ear.
“It feels… good.”
“……”
“I can always feel your energy from here, Hae-in-nim… so it feels like you’re always with me.”
She pressed down on the tattoo once more and whispered.
“It’s reassuring.”
Well… if she wasn’t in pain and it actually gave her a sense of psychological stability.
Besides, if it was Flapper’s energy, it could even protect her in an emergency, so there was no harm in it.
“That’s a relief, then.”
I nodded, reassured.
She smiled bashfully, lowered her skirt, and straightened her clothes.
Alright, her physical check-up was done.
Now it was time to ask what I was really curious about.
“By the way, Rin.”
“Yes.”
“How did you end up here? You must be busy with your duties as the family head… An exchange student, so suddenly…”
At my question, Rin clasped her hands behind her back and fidgeted shyly.
“Actually, my duties as head… I passed them on a while ago because I was sick… When I said I wanted to come, my uncle gladly sent me.”
Rin slowly continued.
“I was originally enrolled in the academy, you see.”
“Ah.”
“But, as you know… my health was in a terrible state, right? I was on death’s door because of the curse, always stuck in bed.”
Her voice turned bitter for a moment before brightening again.
“I had practically dropped out… Everyone at school said so, too. That the head of the Yatagarasu would die soon. That I wasn’t well enough to attend.”
But fortunately, a miracle had occurred.
The curse that had shackled her was gone.
“After you healed me completely and left, Hae-in-nim… I immediately applied for reinstatement.”
Her clenched fists tightened.
“I just kept busy with one thing after another, and before I knew it, I was selected as a top student and sent straight here…”
Rin shrugged.
“……”
“I couldn’t sleep a wink. I was so excited about coming to Gaon…”
She smiled bashfully and took another step closer to me.
The faint scent of cherry blossoms wafted over me.
I slowly raised a hand and patted her shoulder.
“You’ve been through a lot.”
At my touch, Rin narrowed her eyes like a cat, as if savoring the sensation.
“Truly.”
I took in the sight of Rin, who had finally found her own colors after being trapped in monochrome.
Then, I let the corners of my lips lift into a gentle smile.
“I’m glad… you get to live the life you want.”
She was finally getting to live her own life.
“……Yes.”
Rin’s eyes grew slightly red.
She took my hand in both of hers and smiled brightly.
“From now on, I’ll live my life serving you well by your side, Hae-in-nim. For the rest of my life.”
“?”
What was she talking about?
The life I wanted for her was something more free, more independent…
I mean, it would be nice if she helped me, but I just meant for her to live her own life.
“What do you mean by…?”
As I started to ask, Rin squeezed my hand tightly and looked me straight in the eye.
“That is the life I want.”
She rubbed her cheek against the back of my hand and whispered softly.
“I will become stronger.”
Confidence shone in her eyes.
Her aura was formidable.
“To stand by your side… Hae-in-nim.”
As if she would never let go, Rin interlaced our fingers, squeezing tight.
I felt that something was off.
This is…
Isn’t this a confession?
Rin had just confessed to me.