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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 91
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91. Han Cheon-seong. You're trying to flirt, aren't you?
***
Click.
Luna slowly walked past me, and my gaze unconsciously followed her. I saw her eyes narrow the moment she saw me.
But Luna, walking past me, didn't say a word.
As if she hadn't seen me. She just walked by.
Click.
Once she had completely passed, an empty laugh escaped me without realizing it.
'Well, I'm nothing to her anyway.'
There was no reason I couldn't be proud of what I had just said to Carita.
But strangely, Luna's gaze bothered me. As if I had a guilty conscience for no reason…
Unconsciously, my gaze drifted in the direction Luna had gone.
'Now that I think about it, where's Millia?'
Luna and Millia always moved together, yet Millia was nowhere to be seen.
I wondered if Luna had come alone, and it strangely registered with me.
I wasn't particularly close to anyone; I was just a fellow student in the same class.
"Han Cheon-seong."
At the sound of Carita's voice, I immediately straightened my head.
"Oh, Carita."
"Was what you just said true…? That you're spending time with me because you care about me… and because you want to?"
When Carita asked cautiously, I nodded.
"It's true. I don't know why you're asking, but there's no other reason I'm with you."
I answered as calmly as possible, yet a strange feeling lingered in a corner of my heart.
I wasn't saying something else to deceive Carita. I was simply spending time with her because I genuinely wanted to save her. And it was true that I wanted to.
'At least until next week.'
I needed to give Carita the most attention. I had no intention of treating her coldly even after that, but for now, I had to gain her favor.
"So you really… mean it."
"Carita. Do you think I approached you with an ulterior motive?"
"To be honest, for the past two days, I thought that. That you approached me because of the Eschielden family, or that my body… was your objective, or that there was some other reason you came to me."
At her words, an empty laugh escaped me.
"How could I possibly target your family… let alone your body? That's just absurd."
I hadn't known how prominent the Eschielden family was in the first place. In the story, Carita was just a tragic character mentioned as a sacrificial offering, then disappearing. But for her to say that, it seemed like a pretty distinguished family. And belatedly… my gaze fell to Carita's body.
'Not as destructive as Adelia, but…'
I found myself thinking about her body, then instantly shook my head hard.
Now wasn't the time to be thinking about such things.
"If you truly think that way and are meeting me because of it, then I'm sorry. I… seem to have seen you a little differently. You were just trying to be with me with such a pure heart."
Carita's subsequent words only made me feel more awkward.
"You don't need to apologize that much. If I were to approach someone so suddenly and say so many things, they'd get suspicious too."
Even as I spoke, I found myself reflecting on my own actions.
The way I immediately approached Carita the moment I first saw her, and the words I exchanged with her. I had approached her supposedly out of consideration, but from Carita's perspective, it was understandable for her to think differently of me.
Thinking that I had other goals, as she said, like her family, or her body…
"To be honest, even if I say this, it might be hard for you to completely trust me. But I'll try harder."
"Oh, no! I trust you, Han Cheon-seong. If you say it's true, then it is."
Her unexpectedly strong affirmation made me unconsciously look at her again.
"You really… trust me?"
If I were Carita, I don't think I'd be able to trust me.
Despite my words, Carita nodded vigorously, meeting my gaze.
Her reddish-pink eyes were much clearer. As if her worries and anxieties had completely vanished. And seeing myself clearly reflected in those eyes, I felt that my actions just now hadn't been so bad.
"I do."
At her subsequent, strong voice, a laugh escaped me without realizing it.
"Thank you for saying that."
"No, I'm more grateful. Thank you for approaching me first like this… To be honest, for the past two days, thinking about you made me very troubled. I wondered what I should do if you had really approached me with such intentions."
"…It's unlikely, but if I had approached you with such intentions, you should have naturally rejected me. What's there to even think about?"
A chuckle escaped me at her absurd dilemma.
If I had really approached her with ill intentions, targeting her family, Carita should have naturally pushed me away or ignored me.
Because it was such an easy answer.
"…I know that's the right thing to do. But, even if it were like that, I don't think I'd be able to act that way."
"You wouldn't be able to act that way? What do you mean?"
"Even if you had approached me with such ill intentions… I would have tried to accept you."
As Carita said something unexpected with a bitter smile, I was momentarily flustered.
"You would have tried to accept me even if I approached you with ill intentions…?"
"I was that desperate. Han Cheon-seong, I wished there was someone like you who would naturally listen to me and spend time with me. You truly appeared out of nowhere, like an answer to my wish. It felt like you were someone who appeared from the sky to save me."
At Carita's shy words… I found myself looking at her more closely for a moment.
And while I didn't know about anything else, I could certainly affirm this:
Although I had vaguely considered Carita's difficulties, she was struggling even more than I had imagined.
'Perhaps.'
Carita's death, originally scheduled for next week. While Letheia, the Apostle of Sacrifice, and other external factors were indeed causes.
Carita herself might have been struggling even more.
Negative emotions might have surged, leading her to make an extreme choice. Clearly, Carita was finding it incredibly difficult just to live her daily life.
To the extent that she would say she would have tried to accept me even if I approached her with ill intentions…
"Do I seem a bit foolish to you, acting like this…?"
Seeing Carita smile awkwardly, I immediately shook my head.
"I think it's understandable if you're going through a lot. And if you're struggling that much… let's meet more often from now on."
As I spoke, I started to think more clearly.
It wasn't just about meeting Carita when she wanted to see me; I needed to seek her out myself. I should have proactively sought her out more so she wouldn't struggle.
"But Han Cheon-seong… you have your own time too. I feel like it would be a bother to you if I asked to meet often."
"Don't apologize for things like that. I can afford to care that much. And if I were only going to help halfway, I wouldn't even take the time to meet you like this. You don't have to worry about me too much."
I spoke the words aloud, as if conveying my intentions to her.
That I would help her more properly. And it was like a promise to myself.
"…If you say it like that, I understand. I won't feel sorry either. Thank you."
"Alright. In that case, Carita. When are you free next?"
"Next…?"
"Because I said I'd be with you. This time, I want to make plans with you."
As I spoke, I felt no hesitation now.
I had realized her importance now, so I had to put it into action immediately.
"In that case, next… Monday seems fine for me."
"Then let's meet at the park after Monday's class. Around 4 PM seems good, how about you?"
"4 PM… That works for me too."
Watching Carita reply shyly, I felt a pang of unnecessary pity.
'How tumultuous her life must have been.'
A life where she could talk to someone like this, and casually make plans. Just for that, Carita was now genuinely grateful to me and trying to express her thanks.
It was proof that Carita had been struggling emotionally for years. Furthermore, as her life, which must have become even more withdrawn after coming to the academy, painted itself in my mind, my heart ached for her.
'Let's be even better to her.'
Making sure she didn't die was one thing, but beyond that, I felt a need to meet with Carita.
There was someone who so desperately wished for help.
And I could help. Wouldn't it be right to help then?
Despite her anxiety, Carita openly revealed her feelings to me. Even though she was greatly worried that I might have approached her with ill intentions, she genuinely faced me.
…That alone was enough reason for me to treat her genuinely.
"Alright, Carita. Shall we get going?"
"Huh?"
"Talking at the cafe is nice, but I thought it might be better to visit other places too. It'll help you clear your head even more."
Saying so, I looked at Carita's plate.
We had both finished our desserts by now. It seemed like a good time to get up.
"Yeah. That sounds good. Let's do that."
Seeing Carita, who now smiled a little brighter as she looked at me, a smile escaped me too.
***
Jingle.
The cafe door closed, and the two young people disappeared.
Several students watching their retreating figures soon brightened their eyes and looked at each other.
"Wow. What's with the vibe between those two…?"
"Han Cheon-seong. He's definitely trying to flirt, isn't he?"
"Well, he is handsome, though."
"I really dislike Carita; she's so gloomy. How could he possibly be interested in her?"
As the female students actively discussed the two who had just left, one woman frowned.
It was Luna, with her striking pink twin tails that stood out even when she was sitting alone, drawing the attention of many students in another sense.
"…That Han Cheon-seong, he really has some nerve."
She muttered, yet her mood remained strange.
Being out alone without Millia, she felt uneasy and bitter.
Of course, she knew there was an unavoidable reason for this. Millia had told her she wanted to focus on her trait training.
And since she knew that spiritual connection in a quiet space was important for spirit traits, she couldn't be with Millia.
Because she couldn't hinder her friend's growth.
It felt as if she had witnessed an unexpectedly strange scene at the cafe she had stopped by during her free time.
Han Cheon-seong, the guy who was constantly rumored to be involved with girls. She was witnessing the reality of that very guy.
'Even if my own situation was a misunderstanding… what's up with that girl, Carita?'
Was Han Cheon-seong really trying to flirt with another student, just as someone had said?
The sight of Han Cheon-seong and the student named Carita, continuing their conversation while occasionally glancing at each other, looked very amicable.
To the point where anyone watching might think they were dating.
Thump.
As she fiddled with her cup, she found herself nodding for a moment.
"No, it might even be better if they *were* dating…."
If Han Cheon-seong ended up with another girl on his own, it would be good for her. Then Millia, her best friend, would have no choice but to give up on Han Cheon-seong.
But that pleasant feeling was only momentary.
"Wait, then Millia might get hurt."
Before she had even apologized to Han Cheon-seong directly, Millia had nagged her countless times.
"-You really shouldn't act like that."
"-You need to consider other students properly too."
"-Luna… I don't think this is right."
"-The Luna I know wasn't like this, I think… Sigh."
Millia's disappointed voices, suddenly flashing in her mind.
…Each and every one of those words was like a sharp spear piercing her chest. And in the self-reproach of disappointing Millia, she even swallowed her pride and apologized.
While she certainly wasn't without some regret towards Han Cheon-seong, the decisive reason she apologized directly was Millia's influence.
And at that moment, she truly felt it.
'How much… Millia liked Han Cheon-seong.'
That Millia was serious, to the point where it felt like her feelings went beyond simple liking.
And with her heart so heavily set on Han Cheon-seong. What if Han Cheon-seong started dating this girl named Carita now…?
Gulp.
She swallowed, but for a moment, she couldn't imagine it.
How hurt and sad Millia would be…
"That… can't happen."
Han Cheon-seong ending up with another girl was definitely not something she would like.
Although she hated that Millia was interested in Han Cheon-seong, she certainly didn't want to see Millia sad.
How much she cared for Millia.
"..."
She bit her lips, then finally got up from her seat.
Rustle.
"I don't know either."
What Han Cheon-seong's intentions were for spending time with this girl named Carita. With Millia absent for her training, she felt she needed to find out on her behalf.
That way, even if Millia got hurt later, she could help lessen the pain.
Click.
Thus began Luna's secret tailing.
A discreet movement to investigate the relationship between Han Cheon-seong and Carita…