They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 290 - 290 I Will Do Anything For You

Chapter 290: I Will Do Anything For You Chapter 290: I Will Do Anything For You He stared at her back, then at the empty space beside him.

His expression shifted, disappointment first, then a mix of something unspoken.

Jealousy?

Hurt?

Maybe just understanding.

He looked away.

Karen reached Abuchi and sat down beside him without asking.

The space between them was quiet.

Abuchi didn’t look at her.

In truth, he hadn’t wanted company.

His mind was running wild, plans, backup plans, what ifs, and all the ways this mission could fall apart.

He needed space.

He needed silence.

But she was already here.

And he couldn’t just chase her off.

Especially not Karen.

She had put herself in danger for him and Ruth.

She had no reason to help, no obligation.

Yet here she was.

Sitting beside him like a quiet shadow in the night.

“How are you holding up?” Karen asked softly, not looking directly at him.

“I’m fine,” Abuchi said quietly, eyes fixed on the dark sky that was slowly bleeding into shades of early morning.

“Just thinking about our next move.” Karen nodded, but she did not move away.

She did not catch that hint of “I need some space right now,” or maybe she did and chose to ignore it.

She kept talking anyway, her voice softer now, as though trying to break through the wall he was building around himself.

“That’s why we’re going to rescue her.

Everything will be fine,” she said, as if saying it enough times might make it true.

Abuchi blinked at her words.

“We.” She said we like it was all of us.

Like this was her fight too.

A warm feeling passed over him.

“Thank you,” he said, almost under his breath.

Then he added, “Thank you for being part of this mission.” Karen’s eyes lit up slightly, and she leaned in just a bit more.

“Of course.

I would do anything for you,” she said, her voice trembling on the edge of something more, something warm.

Her gaze locked on his, steady and intense.

Anything for you.

Abuchi heard the words clearly, but something about the way she said them made his thoughts pause.

Why did that sound… too much?

Too deep?

He glanced at her.

She was close now, a little too close.

Her eyes held something heavy, something brimming.

Maybe affection.

Hope.

Longing.

Was that what she meant this whole time?

But his mind was too full, of Ruth, of escape, of danger and loss.

He shook the thought away, unwilling to dive into it.

“I’ll do anything for you too,” he said, meaning it, but not the same way she did.

“You’re my friend, Karen.

You’ve proven your loyalty over the years.

I don’t mind risking my life for you either.” His voice was calm, sincere… and completely unaware of the weight his words carried.

Karen’s smile faltered.

Friend.

He said friend.

Her heart tightened, not from the words themselves, but from the fact that he said them with such ease.

Like it was obvious.

Like that’s all she was ever supposed to be.

Normally, hearing something like that from him, I’d risk my life for you, should’ve made her heart soar.

And it did, in a way.

But not enough.

Because it wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

It’s not that kind of love, she realized.

And yet, she said nothing.

Because what could she say?

That she didn’t want to be just his friend?

That every time he talked about his fiancée, something inside her twisted?

No.

She couldn’t say any of that.

She didn’t have the courage.

He still loves his fiancée, she reminded herself.

He’s doing all this to save her.

That love is still alive.

If she confessed now, she might lose him.

Not just his trust, but him.

Completely.

And she couldn’t bear that.

So she smiled faintly and nodded, pretending like friend was enough.

Pretending like her heart hadn’t just cracked a little more in the silence between them.

It’s okay, she told herself.

If I can’t have his love… I’ll settle for being by his side.

As long as I don’t lose that, I’ll survive.

Beside her, Abuchi had already turned his gaze back to the road, lost in thought again.

He had no idea what had just passed in her heart.

And she wasn’t going to let him know.

Not now.

Maybe not ever.

Karen didn’t move though.

Even though she could feel Abuchi’s silence, even though it was obvious he wanted to be alone with his thoughts, she chose to stay beside him anyway.

Not out of stubbornness, well, maybe a little, but mostly out of something she couldn’t name.

She just didn’t want to give up even this small position.

Beside him.

Even in silence, it meant something.

So she remained, quietly, respectfully.

Letting him think.

Letting the weight of everything rest between them without interruption.

Time passed slowly, but eventually, the dark sky faded.

Hints of gold and pink stretched over the distant hills as the sun began to rise gently from the east.

Marka slowly awakened.

The quiet streets started to hum.

Metal stalls clanged open.

Wooden doors creaked.

People appeared from narrow alleys, their carts and crates and baskets in tow.

Merchants shouting.

Wheels squeaking.

Morning prayers murmured in low voices.

A fresh wave of life filled the city like a tide.

Abuchi lifted his head, blinking at the sudden burst of activity.

The once still landscape had transformed in front of his eyes.

Market stalls were blooming like flowers across the dusty road.

Traders moved with skillful speed, setting up their stands, shouting prices, dragging sacks and stacking goods.

He watched them absently at first… until he spotted one particular stall.

Foodstock.

His eyes sharpened instantly.

That was they needed for now.

Flour, canned goods, dried fruits, anything that would get them through the next leg of the journey.

And then he noticed something else.

People were rushing toward it.

Not walking.

Rushing.

They were forming a line right in front of the stall.

Fast.