Chapter 117: One at a time

"Haah..." Stepping out of the ruins, Kai let out a long, weary sigh.

He was currently in the bathroom, taking a shower to wash away the grime from his recent encounter.

Calling it a battle was hardly appropriate, considering how one-sided the confrontation had been, yet the experience had left him with plenty to think about.

He had already consumed the potion provided by the system to heal himself, but his physical condition was hardly what occupied his mind.

There is such a massive gap between me and an ordinary S-rank.

Kai couldn’t even begin to imagine what would happen if he had to face the dragon in its original form. The thought alone was enough to remind him of just how far he still had to go.

And according to the world, I’m supposed to be far beyond the established ranking hierarchy. Just great.

The confrontation in the ruins had made one thing painfully clear. He needed to devote more time to improving his magic. His bow was a formidable weapon, but with his pitiful mana reserves, he couldn’t bring out even a fraction of its true potential.

[Host, your control over magic is impressive. However, your mental state during the confrontation caused you to expend far more mana than necessary, making your attacks considerably less efficient.]

Kai nodded in understanding. The system’s assessment was difficult to argue with, especially when he recalled how much magic he had wasted during the encounter.

I need to work on my mana reserves. Otherwise, I might as well focus on martial arts and rely on those instead.

He leaned against the tiled wall, allowing the shower to pour over his body as he stared blankly ahead.

The steady rush of water offered a welcome moment of peace, giving him time to reflect on his shortcomings.

Maybe I shouldn’t have left the ruins so early. I could have stayed longer and fought a few more monsters.

After considering it for a moment, he shook his head. There would be other opportunities to train, and he had something more important to attend to today.

He had a meeting scheduled with the Association Chairman. He had promised to meet the man and, if necessary, answer whatever questions he might have.

After all, what other reason could there be for inviting me?

Kai couldn’t think of a convincing alternative. Given the circumstances surrounding his recent activities, he suspected the Chairman was eager to learn more about him.

Clink.

Turning off the shower, Kai dried himself before slipping into his bathrobe and stepping out of the bathroom.

A formal suit lay neatly arranged on the bed, waiting for him. He had purchased it recently, anticipating that he might need something suitable for occasions like this.

It wasn’t particularly extravagant, just a dark blue three-piece suit that struck the right balance between formality and understated elegance.

’Let’s get ready.’

....

Downstairs, Jean was practising a few yoga poses she had recently learned. Now that she had some free time on her hands, she had decided to put it to good use by getting herself into better shape.

The recent incident had made her realize that she needed to be physically fit enough to run and protect herself and Elara if another calamity struck.

She knew Kai would always be there to protect them but staying at one place could easily restrict his movements and corner him.

"M-Maaa!"

Meanwhile, her little yoga partner was struggling with a challenge of her own. Elara was trying to climb onto a cylindrical foam roller, only to tumble off every time she put her weight on it.

The sight was amusing. The roller kept shifting beneath her, making it nearly impossible for her little body to find a stable foothold.

Yet, despite her repeated failures, Elara seemed determined to accomplish her task, apparently just as motivated to exercise as her mother.

Just then, Jean heard Kai approaching the main hall and turned toward him. "Are you..." Her words trailed off as she caught sight of him.

Clad in a crisp suit, Kai left her momentarily speechless.

His hair, unlike its usual slightly untidy state, had been combed neatly into place. His lean, well-defined build complemented the tailored suit perfectly, the fabric accentuating his frame and lending him an air of effortless sophistication.

Even the way he carried himself seemed different, making him look every bit the distinguished gentleman.

As he stood there adjusting his watch, Jean finally found her voice.

"As I thought, formal clothes suit you quite well."

She slowly rose to her feet and walked toward him. The subtle, pleasant fragrance of his cologne greeted her as she approached, adding the final touch to his already impressive appearance.

Stopping close to him, she tilted her head and looked up at his face with a faintly teasing smile.

"I don’t need to worry about some stray fish trying to chase after you, do I?"

Kai chuckled at her question. "That’s the best part about me. I can only love one person at a time, and that position in my heart has been occupied by the same girl for a very long time."

Jean’s lips curved into a pleased smile at his words as she reached for his watch and helped him fasten it around his wrist.

As she did, Kai found himself momentarily distracted by her appearance. The faint fragrance she carried seemed particularly captivating at such close quarters, and his gaze lingered on her a little longer than he had intended.

Her yoga pants hugged the contours of her legs, making it difficult to ignore how attractive she looked.

However, much like his appearance he actually was a gentleman so he quickly pulled his attention away before his thoughts could wander any further.

Instead, he looked at Jean and said, "Tonight, if you’re free, how about we go for a run around the community? There’s something I need to discuss with you."

Jean raised her eyebrows slightly, her hands pausing for a moment as she finished adjusting his watch.

"Is it something important?"

Kai nodded slowly, his expression growing a little more serious. "Yeah... Just about our future."