That's right—maybe this could actually work!With that thought, Hayashi glanced at the cute, pink-haired beauty looking at him curiously.
After pondering for a moment, he suddenly said, "Ilhei, have you been having trouble sleeping lately?"
"Hm?"
Somewhat surprised, Ilhei raised her head from her pineapple bun, a hint of confusion flickering in her eyes.
She looked so well-behaved, so soft and adorable—simply beautiful.
"A little, yeah. But Hayashi, how did you know?" She tilted her head, curiosity shining in her eyes.
"Do I really have dark circles that bad?" she joked, rubbing her eyes with a playful smile.
"No, it's something I could feel. Actually, I know traditional medicine."
Hayashi nodded lightly.
"Let me check your pulse."
"Traditional medicine?"The words instantly sparked Ilhei's interest. After all, in Tokyo you rarely heard anyone even mention such things.
To her, it was little more than a mysterious Eastern art—something almost mystical. Which only made her curiosity grow stronger.
"Whatever you feel next, don't move." Hayashi reminded her as he placed three fingers gently on her wrist.
In that moment, the power of the Horse Talisman seeped from his fingertips into Ilhei's skin, spreading deeper inside her.
"So that's what it is…" After a while, Hayashi frowned slightly.
Indeed, as half-humans, they were born from the union of humans and ghouls—bearing the genes of both. And the reason they aged so quickly was that their human and ghoul genes clashed inside their bodies.
But this could be balanced.
With that thought, Hayashi kept channeling the talisman's power into her.
"This feeling… it's so warm… so comfortable…" The warmth spreading through her body was soothing, like soaking in a hot spring. It made her feel safe, relaxed.
Ilhei's beautiful eyes narrowed in bliss, her delicate face flushed with quiet enjoyment.
As Hayashi poured more and more energy into her, the warmth grew stronger, and her breathing grew faster.
"Ahn…" In the end, Ilhei couldn't hold back a soft moan, a blush spreading over her flawless cheeks.
The moment the sound escaped her lips, Hayashi's heart sank.
Looking up, he noticed nearby diners staring at them with curiosity, whispering to each other.
"What do you think those two over there are doing to make a sound like that?"
"No clue. Probably a couple in love—been there myself, I get it."
"Or maybe they're secretly…"
Hearing the whispers around him, Hayashi instantly regretted his timing. If he had known, he would have waited until after dinner to treat her.
"Sorry, I didn't mean…" Ilhei whispered, her cheeks burning red.
"It's fine. Just be careful next time, or people will get the wrong idea." Hayashi shook his head, unconcerned.
Since he had already started, stopping halfway would only waste the effort.
So he focused again. The power of the Horse Talisman coursed through her body hundreds of times, weaving balance into her genes.
Ilhei bit her lip, struggling to suppress any more sounds that might draw attention.
Fortunately, the process didn't take long. Soon, the talisman's power perfectly harmonized her ghoul and human genes.
Because it didn't alter her organs or physical structure, the effect was permanent—even after the connection broke.
"All done. While checking your pulse, I also adjusted a few acupoints. How do you feel now?" Hayashi released her wrist, asking gently.
"My body feels lighter… not weighed down like before. It's so comfortable, so relaxing. And… I feel sleepy." Ilhei blinked slowly, her beautiful eyes hazy with drowsiness.
Hayashi nodded. That was normal. Gene fusion always required rest. A nap would fix everything.
"Thank you… You really are a miracle doctor." She smiled softly, warmth in her eyes.
She could feel the change in her body. Her health had improved, even her vision had sharpened slightly.
Clearly, what he had just done wasn't some simple pulse check or acupoint massage — it was some kind of powerful ability or technique.
But there was a side effect: she could tell her strength and reflexes had dulled just a bit. So this was the cost of treatment?
Even so, Ilhei felt intrigued. She knew half-humans aged far faster than normal humans.
But if Hayashi could improve her condition this much, then he clearly possessed powers far beyond ordinary.
A boy with white hair, unmatched strength, and even such extraordinary healing abilities…
Ilhei looked at him with growing curiosity.
Just how many secrets was Hayashi hiding?