Chapter 130: Evolving Max Charm
The two young men’s pounding hearts, ragged breaths, and the sweet sound of lips meeting filled the silent room.
Gara’s eyes fluttered shut, surrendering to the warmth of the kiss and the rough tenderness of Madha’s hand on his shoulder and neck.
They clung to each other, savoring the sweetness of feelings finally given form. The kiss broke only for air—just enough to catch a breath—before they dove in again. As though neither could get enough, minutes slipped by.
The longer it went on, the more Madha realized how much he wanted, how much more of Gara he desired.
Snap. Something inside him flicked, pulling him back.
Slowly, he drew away from Gara’s lips.
Gara gasped for air, chest rising as though he’d just finished running. His pink lips, catching the lantern’s light, looked dangerously tempting.
Madha forced his thoughts into order. His lust-filled gaze cleared.
"Can we... take this further?" he asked. Somehow, Gara was still in his arms, perched lightly on his lap.
In this position, it took everything in him to restrain his own hunger.
The question snapped Gara back to his senses. He’d been swept up too, and though he didn’t regret it—he had long wished for Madha to take a bold step— but going further...
"I’m not ready." Gara slid off his lap, and Madha steadied him as he stood.
The truth was, whenever Gara thought of going beyond this, a face always surfaced in his mind, Langga’s. Not with pain, not with sorrow, but with a constant presence, as if mocking him.
And once again, anger pricked Gara’s heart. He still couldn’t forgive that jerk professor.
"I understand. I won’t push you, Gara." Madha’s smile softened.
Once again, Gara felt butterflies fluttering in his stomach. He hadn’t realized that falling in love could feel both sweet and nerve-wracking at the same time.
He stepped forward, pressed a quick kiss to Madha’s lips, and then turned back toward his room.
A soft, lingering smile remained on Madha’s face as he watched the man he loved walk away.
Inside his room, Gara placed a hand over his chest, hoping his racing heartbeat would slow even a little.
Slowly, a wide grin spread across his face, and he began to chuckle to himself, partly embarrassed, partly thrilled.
"Stop laughing. You can’t even get pregnant," a familiar mechanical voice ringed. It was Goddess Freya, her presence long absent.
Her sudden appearance reminded Gara of Max Charm.
Normally, Max Charm should have been activated earlier, and it did activate. But Madha was perfectly able to hold himself back.
While Loka did a complete 180 because of his Talent, Madha—and it turned out Fian as well—who were often subjected to the effects of the Max Charm, were still able to maintain their sanity.
It all came down to individual willpower.
Still, Gara often felt that Max Charm, the Talent gifted by the goddess, was more of a curse than a blessing.
Ignoring the goddess’s words, Gara confronted her directly. I don’t want Max Charm! Take it back!
"No."
Then change the activation time. Let me at least decide when I want to use it!
"No."
Why not? This Talent could kill me if it keeps activating like this!
No answer came.
I know you don’t care if I die, since I can come back, but I shouldn’t die from my own Talent! Talents are supposed to help, not kill me!
ANSWER ME!
Goddess Freya seemed to be pretending not to hear.
Gara refused to give up. Lately, Freya had been appearing less and less, probably busy with her duties as a goddess. He had to succeed in negotiating with her today.
GODDESS FREYA, ANSWER ME!
GODDESS FREYA, YOU’RE FOOLISH! EVIL! MAKING THIS CHALLENGE IMPOSSIBLE!
GODDESS FREYA, INCOMPETENT! You can’t even change a single Talent!
GODDESS FREYA—
"Fine!" Freya’s voice suddenly rang out.
Fine?! Gara couldn’t help but smirk. Apparently, all he needed was to act a little shameless to get the goddess to respond.
"Your Max Charm Talent will evolve, but there’s a condition."
What condition?
"You must pregnant within a month. If not, your Max Charm will revert to its previous state."
One month?! In another month, the triplets won’t even be a full two months old. How can I get pregnant again right away? Gara was completely baffled.
His scars had just completely healed, he couldn’t believe he had to get pregnant again right away.
"If you don’t want to, then fine."
Gara hesitated only for a moment. Then he decided, Alright. I accept the condition. Change my Talent now.
Immediately, a transparent blue panel appeared before his eyes.
[Max Level Max Charm (Passive) -> Max Level Max Charm (Active)]
Switching from passive to active was incredibly useful. Now he could control Max Charm at will.
Whether he could actually get pregnant or not, that was a problem for later.
...
Time passed quickly. Gara had now spent a full month in Bota Village. Among the Liners stationed here, he and Fian had been around the longest besides the investigation team.
The attitude of the new Liners was completely different from before. Where once they had been envious or dismissive of Gara’s Talent, they now idolized him.
He provided water for the Camp Liners, served as a reliable healer in the clinic, and his herbal medicines had saved villagers’ lives multiple times. And, of course, he was handsome—beautiful.
From women to men, everyone admired him. Much of this was thanks to Yuvika, who claimed to be Gara’s number one fan and never missed a chance to broadcast his talents whenever she spoke.
Even though she had realized that Gara was the one who brewed Orman’s medicinal herb, she didn’t dare speak directly to him.
So even as her mission here neared its end, she hadn’t discussed her father’s business with Gara.
Narin, meanwhile, had done nothing. Whatever her plans were, they remained a mystery.
One thing was certain, Gara’s life had been far more peaceful these past two weeks.
"Mom, we’re heading out," Gara said to Wina.
He, Fian, and Madha were going to town to report the completion of their mission.
Finally, the Bota Village mission was complete.
...