Chapter 130: First steps

After finishing his conversation with Adam, Kai stepped out of his room and headed toward the living area.

The first time he had seen Jean in her yoga outfit, he had been caught off guard. Today, however, he was prepared for the sight. Finding her stretching her body with practiced movements, he offered a faint smile and decided not to disturb her.

Instead, he turned his attention to the little princess currently embarking on her own expedition.

Elara had ventured into the deeper recesses of the house, or rather, the small space beneath the staircase. The faint rattling coming from that direction made it easy enough for Kai to locate her without relying on his skills.

"What do we have here?" he asked, crouching beside her. "Did you find something interesting?"

"Mm... Papa."

Elara turned toward him and pointed at something on the wall.

Following the direction of her tiny finger, Kai noticed the dangling cord of a wall lamp. A faint smile spread across his face.

"Want to grab it?"

She didn’t seem to understand his question. Instead, she began crawling toward the wall with renewed determination.

Kai’s eyebrows rose slightly. Scooting closer, he gently pulled the cord down a little.

Click!

The light switched on, illuminating the small space beneath the stairs. However, his movement had also brought the cord within easier reach.

Kai was just about to help Elara grab it when he noticed something unexpected.

"Mm-aaah!"

The little girl pushed herself forward, planting her knees firmly against the floor as she attempted to rise. To Kai’s surprise, she was already using the wall to support her tiny body.

He blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before deciding to remain silent and watch.

Elara initially reached for the cord with both hands, but she soon seemed to realize that doing so made it difficult to maintain her balance. After a brief struggle, she planted her left hand against the wall and stretched her right arm toward the dangling cord.

"Come on, baby. You can do it. Just a little more."

Kai watched closely, his attention fixed on her little legs as she struggled to steady herself. Her knees were still slightly bent, and she shifted her weight hesitantly, trying to find the right balance as she pushed herself upward.

Slowly, inch by inch, she straightened her legs.

Her tiny fingers crept closer to the cord, and as she stretched farther, more of her weight shifted onto her toes. She wobbled slightly but managed to keep herself upright, gradually finding her footing.

Kai held his breath.

Click!

Elara finally caught the cord and pulled it triumphantly.

And just like that, she was standing on her own two feet.

Kai’s eyes widened.

For a brief moment, he simply stared at his daughter, hardly believing what he had just witnessed. Joy surged through him, and he was about to celebrate when Elara suddenly lost her balance and began tipping backward.

Thankfully, he reacted in time, catching her securely in his arms before she could fall.

"Mm... Eheh!"

Elara giggled happily, apparently delighted by the sudden change in her surroundings. Kai, meanwhile, let out a soft sigh of relief, though the smile on his face never faded.

His little girl had just stood on her own for the very first time.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, Host. You have helped your child stand on her own feet for the first time.]

[Skill acquired!]

[Skill: Dash]

[Rank: A]

[Description: Allows host to enhance his speed for a short duration.]

[Note: At the current level the host could only amplify his speed by three times for a minute.]

[Note: The skill would gradually develop through repetitive usage.]

Kai barely registered the notification. His attention remained entirely on the little girl cradled in his arms as he carried her back toward the living area.

"Jean, you won’t believe what just happened!"

Jean had been drinking water when he called out to her. She raised her eyebrows curiously, wondering what had gotten him so excited.

Kai held Elara up for her to see, his face practically glowing with pride.

"She just stood on her own two feet! Completely by herself!"

Jean’s eyes widened as she lowered her bottle.

"Really? You didn’t support her at all?"

Kai shook his head. Then, unable to resist, he gently rubbed his cheek against Elara’s soft one.

"My strong girl is already growing up," he murmured, his voice thick with affection. "I’m getting emotional just thinking about it."

Jean chuckled at his reaction.

"Don’t tell me you’re planning to throw a celebration over this."

Kai looked up at her as though she had just suggested something utterly unreasonable.

"But this deserves a celebration! We need to remember the day she took her first steps!"

Jean folded her arms, giving him a pointed look.

"Have you forgotten what we’re supposed to do soon? I need to be in the best possible shape to swallow that pill, remember? I’ve been trying my best to prepare myself for it."

Kai sighed when he remembered their plans. His gaze wandered over her briefly before he decided to consult the system.

’Appraise her physical stats.’

[Analyzing...]

[Strength: 7]

[Speed: 7]

[Endurance: 9]

[Intelligence: 10]

[Host, the peak physical stats of an unawakened human generally reach eight for most women.]

Kai was rather impressed.

Despite having spent much of the past few years without an ideal diet, Jean had managed to maintain surprisingly good physical attributes. Her endurance, in particular, was noteworthy for an unawakened human.

’System, would it be safe for her to take the pill now?’

[Indeed, Host. The system has ensured that the pill can be consumed regardless of the recipient’s physical condition. However, the host still chose to exercise caution.]

Kai smiled wryly at the warning before turning back to Jean.

"Actually, there’s no need to push yourself so hard. All I need to know is whether you’re ready to take it."

Jean took another deep gulp of water, then remained silent for a moment as she gathered her thoughts. The prospect was clearly weighing on her, but after a few seconds, she finally nodded.

"I am."

Kai returned the nod, his expression growing more serious.

"Good. Then tomorrow morning, I’ll call Mark and Mia over. They’ll look after Elli while we find a suitable place for this."

Jean nodded in agreement.

Tomorrow would undoubtedly be a big day for her.