Chapter 71: Jean can awaken?

As Kai entered the kitchen, he immediately checked the description of the reward he had just received.

And just as the name suggested...

[Awakening Pill: A miraculous pill originating from the World Tree that allows one to wield magic by creating a mana pool and establishing mana pathways.]

[Note: For an unawakened human above the age of sixteen, it may take more than six hours for the pill to create the necessary mana pathways for a basic awakening.]

[Note: The potential of the awakened individual will reach a certain limit. However, the consumer may need to train in order to bridge the gap between their current strength and their full potential.]

[Host, the pill will awaken a powerful skill within the individual. However, it will require time and training for them to fully utilize that skill and reach the upper limit of their potential.]

Kai could hardly believe it.

He possessed something that could easily be considered invaluable.

A means of turning magic into reality for someone who had been deemed incapable of awakening.

And he already knew exactly whom he wanted to give it to.

Before doing so, however, he decided to ask a few questions as he served some eggs onto his plate.

’What are the chances of the pill failing and causing serious harm to the person who consumes it?’

[Negative, Host. The pill originates from the very existence that has given birth to countless worlds. Its potency and purity are absolute. There is no possibility of the pill failing or harming the consumer. Even in the extremely unlikely event that the individual’s body is unable to adapt, the pill will simply nourish and strengthen their body.]

Kai hummed.

’Since you say that... is there anything I need to do before giving it to her?’

He approached the table, where Jean was finishing her meal.

That was when the system responded.

[Host, it is recommended that the subject be in optimal physical and mental condition before consuming the pill. It is advised that the subject improve her physical fitness beforehand.]

Kai nodded.

Jean was not in her best condition, even though she looked slender and well maintained. It was understandable. Until recently, Kai himself had been in much the same state, lacking essential nutrients in his diet and barely exercising.

But he had already been awakened, allowing his body to adapt with relative ease.

For Jean, it would be different. But he knew she could do it.

’Still, I need to be careful about how I bring this up.’

Being unawakened had been a major setback throughout Jean’s life. It was one of the reasons her family had grown to resent her and the very thing that had driven a wedge between them.

It was also the reason she had come to believe that she was a disappointment.

Kai had assured her countless times that there was nothing wrong with her, that she was a wonderful woman and that her lack of an awakening did not define her worth.

But some wounds did not simply disappear because someone offered comforting words.

No matter how sincerely he tried to cover them, the scars left behind by years of rejection remained.

So he decided to tread carefully around the subject.

"What’s on your mind?" Jean suddenly asked, having calmed down from their earlier conversation.

"Nothing much. Just thinking... about our school days." He deliberately brought up an entirely different topic.

"Well, I don’t remember much besides my obsession with being the best," Jean admitted. "Truthfully, I made many friends simply for the sake of maintaining my social status. I didn’t want people to think I was a loner."

Kai gave her a wry smile. "It must have been quite a sight watching me sit alone all the time, then."

Jean smiled. "Well, that’s hardly anyone else’s fault. The way you looked at people always made it feel as though you were questioning their intelligence."

"I’ve heard that twice now, but trust me, I never looked down on anyone."

"Hmm? Then what about that school bully who tried extorting money from you once?"

Kai’s brows rose. "You were watching?"

"I mean... it was a rare sight to see someone bothering you. Everyone was watching." She giggled as the memory resurfaced. "You called him a bird-brained, idiotic oaf who needed knee surgery because that was where his brain was."

Kai slapped a hand over his face.

"Stop it... God, why do you remember all of that?"

Jean shrugged. "Maybe you weren’t the only one who was noticing things about me."

Kai chewed his bread in silence.

Hmm... interesting.

"So, should I assume you were stalking your rival?"

"Stalking is a bit too much..." Jean’s lips curved faintly. "I was just observing an interesting character."

Kai shrugged. "Well, I hope I managed to entertain you, then."

Just then, they heard Elara’s voice coming through the baby monitor. It seemed the little princess had finally woken up.

"I’ll go check on her. Finish your breakfast."

Kai silently thanked her and continued chewing on his strip of bacon.

Just then, he received a call from Adam.

He picked up without much thought.

"Morning."

{Good morning, Hunter Kai. There is a scheduled E-rank raid near Blue Mountain at ten. Would that work for you?}

Kai hummed. "Yeah, that’s fine. Send me the exact address, and let me know whom I should contact when I get there."

Naturally, he couldn’t simply show up and participate in the raid when he wasn’t even part of the raiding team.

{I’ll give you the number of the man handling things there. And, Hunter Kai... try to just observe the raid this time.}

Kai chuckled.

"Don’t worry. Despite what those footages and eyewitness accounts might suggest, I’m actually quite a peaceful guy."

Well, he wasn’t lying. He could certainly hold himself back and simply observe how a real hunting team operated. This time, he would be able to watch calmly without worrying about finding an escape route or constantly preparing for the worst.

{I understand. Then, have a safe trip.}