Chapter 625: Born Woman (2)

The enjoyable date with Lulusia continued even after sightseeing in the Hanok Village.

After changing out of our hanboks back into our regular clothes, we had dinner and chatted at a famous nearby Korean restaurant.

At the dessert cafe we visited after our meal, we spent time talking about our daily lives while facing each other.

Afterward, Lulusia suggested she wanted to take a walk around the area, so we strolled along the Cheonggyecheon Stream path, chatting about various things.

“Thank you so much for today, Taekyung.”

“It wasn’t anything special. I did it because I enjoyed myself too.”

“Sihee and Ye-i are always so busy that we never get to meet outside the guild like this, but thanks to you, Taekyung, today feels like it’ll truly be an unforgettable day.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Lulusia.”

“Ahahat.”

Once again, seizing the mood, we continued our date like a couple, subtly holding each other’s hands, me and Lulusia.

It seemed the atmosphere had softened somewhat with the half-day tour of Seoul, so Lulusia’s psychological barriers were likely lowered in many ways right now.

It was at that moment, realizing I could achieve the original purpose for which I first approached her in this situation, that I boldly decided to carefully convey the request I had wanted to make since our first meeting.

“Lulusia.”

“Yes, Taekyung~!”

“If you enjoyed the tour with me today, would you be able to grant me just one favor?”

“Yes~! If it’s a favor I can grant, I can grant it anytime~!”

…Hearing her say ‘anytime,’ I almost lost sight of my original goal and felt other desires surge, but thankfully, I managed to suppress that part with self-control.

After recalling the purpose I had when I first found Lulusia among the other healing-type hunters in the abandoned village, I carefully posed a question to her.

“Lulusia, you can use most healing-related abilities in general, right?”

“Yes, that’s right~!”

“In that case, could you perhaps teach me about handling healing-type abilities as well?”

“Yes~? But when we worked together last time, you seemed quite skilled at handling healing abilities~?”

“Actually, that was the first time I used an awakening ability related to purification. And even then, it was just a fluke from following exactly what you told me, Lulusia.”

“Hmm, is that so~? Actually, I did think you didn’t seem too familiar with purification~!”

“I’d like you to teach me not only purification but also healing for wounds, buffs, or any other healing-type awakening abilities I might acquire in the future. Even just a little bit.”

“Ummm~. What should I do~.”

Perhaps because I asked so earnestly, Lulusia showed a moment of contemplation regarding my request.

Even so, still holding hands, we continued walking together along the Cheonggyecheon Stream path.

She turned the tables, asking me a question before answering whether she needed something to teach me healing abilities.

“First, before I answer whether I’ll grant your favor, Taekyung, may I ask a few questions~?”

“Yes. Ask anything.”

“You mentioned wanting my guidance even when you acquired ‘other healing’ abilities just now~. Does Taekyung perhaps possess abilities slightly different from a simple multi-awakened individual~?”

“…In a way, yes. The awakening ability I possess is, in many respects, one whose limits are unclear.”

“When I saw you last time, you seemed proficient not only in healing abilities but also in swordsmanship~. Generally, multi-awakened individuals can only handle powers within the same category, but Taekyung, you have something special, don’t you~?”

“…Yes.”

“Could you perhaps tell me~?”

…Should I tell her, or not.

It wasn’t that I found Lulusia’s question suspicious or unpleasant. I figured it was a perfectly natural thing for her to be curious about.

Quite a few people who had already been intimate with me knew the true nature of my awakening ability.

Although it was a moment of hesitation, thinking about the future connection I might build with Lulusia, it didn’t seem right to hide anything.

After a brief pause for thought, I carefully confessed the reality of my awakening ability to her.

“To begin with, the awakening ability I possess isn’t something like multi-awakening.”

“What?”

“More accurately, it’s closer to mimicking other hunters’ awakening abilities using a single awakening ability. For example….”

After that, I simply explained the process of how I had grown stronger while handling my awakening abilities up to this point.

Regarding my growth process, like accumulating Awakening Points to level up skills, and unlocking new skills when they reached a certain level.

Lulusia listened patiently through my potentially long and boring explanation, and after hearing everything, our conversation naturally flowed like this.

“Hmm~. So, Taekyung is someone who handles his awakening abilities by collecting those ‘Awakening Points’~?”

“That’s correct.”

“I understand perfectly~! With an awakening ability used in that way, it makes complete sense how you acquire new ones, and why you asked me to teach you how to handle them when that happens~!”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“…However, there’s still one thing I’m curious about~?”

“…And what is that?”

“It seems you didn’t explain how Taekyung collects the ‘Awakening Points’ used to become stronger~! Did you perhaps forget to mention it~?”

…I didn’t forget. I intentionally didn’t mention it because I wanted to hide it a little.

It was only natural. ‘Satisfying the sexual desire of female hunters’ to gain Awakening Points wasn’t exactly an ability one could proudly boast about.

“…Do I really have to tell you?”

“If you don’t want to say it, you don’t have to~! Everyone has something they want to hide, after all~!”

“…….”

“But, if you do tell me, I think I might be able to give a more positive answer regarding Taekyung’s proposal~!”

Lulusia, with her innocent and bright face, subtly urged me to answer.

For some reason, I felt an intuition from her gaze that Lulusia had already somewhat figured out the conditions of my awakening ability.

If that was the case, I thought there was no need to hide it and damage our trust, so I honestly confessed the conditions for handling my awakening ability.

“The method for gathering Awakening Points for my ability is quite simple.”

“…….”

“I gain Awakening Points by satisfying the pent-up sexual desire of female hunters, and I use those points to level up my awakening skills. That is how I handle my awakening ability.”

“S-satisfying the sexual desire of female hunters and gaining Awakening Points…”

Lulusia murmured in a serious tone, her face slightly flushed after hearing my explanation.

Judging by her reaction, it seemed she wasn’t dismissing my words as lies but was genuinely accepting them.

Then, Lulusia quietly nodded as if she suddenly understood something in her mind and murmured.

“As expected… what I saw in the vision was correct….”

“What? What did you just say….”

“Ah, it’s nothing, Taekyung~!”

As I approached Lulusia, who was muttering to herself, she quickly waved her hands dismissively, trying to cover up her mumbling.

Her behavior was clearly suspicious, but what mattered most right now was Lulusia’s answer to my proposal.

As I quietly waited for her to give a positive response, Lulusia’s final question came back to me.

“May I ask just one more question?”

“…What question is it?”

“There’s no need to be nervous. For starters, I intend to accept Taekyung’s proposal. This is just a question to confirm Taekyung’s true feelings, so please don’t take it too seriously and answer honestly.”

“…Okay.”

“…Just in case, but when you first met me at the abandoned village, Taekyung, did you approach me with the intention of making this request~?”

“…….”

It was a moment of surprise at Lulusia’s insight, as she directly brought up the part I wanted to hide as much as possible.

…If she had already guessed this much, there was no point in lying in my answer.

After all, she had already agreed to teach me healing abilities. Even if she didn’t like my answer, Lulusia wasn’t the type to go back on her word.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“…….”

“When they were selecting personnel for purification duty at the abandoned village, I deliberately volunteered to work with you, Lulusia. Among the healing-type hunters I had observed, I thought you were the most responsible, embodying the true spirit of a healing-type hunter.”

“…As I thought, so it was.”

“I apologize if you felt uncomfortable, Lulusia.”

“Oh, n-no…. It’s not that I felt uncomfortable or anything, so it’s fine….”

Seeing her trail off subtly, I momentarily thought she was trying to hide her disappointment.

But the moment I heard her next words, I barely managed to realize I had been mistaken.

“…Actually, I came into today’s date with slightly impure intentions myself.”

“What?”

“So, I felt a little embarrassed thinking, ‘What if I’m the only one meeting Taekyung with such ulterior motives?’ Thankfully, since Taekyung also had another purpose for meeting me, I actually feel relieved.”

“Impure intentions? Weren’t you just hoping to receive a tour of Seoul from me?”

“…Of course, there was that too, but…”

With those words, Lulusia, who had somehow let go of my hand, stood directly facing me, making eye contact.

This time, she carefully made a ‘request’ related to the impure intentions she had harbored.

“Thanks to Taekyung being honest just now, I could be sure. I knew you were someone who could grant what I desire.”

“…….”

“Since Taekyung made a request only he could make of me, I, in turn, will make a request of Taekyung that only he can fulfill.”

“…If it’s something I can grant, I will do my best to fulfill it.”

“…If Taekyung’s awakening ability is about getting stronger by satisfying the sexual desire of female hunters, then I ask you to satisfy my own sexual desire.”

“……What?”

“That is the one and only request I have for Taekyung.”