Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Don't Go Getting Any Funny Ideas, Okay?
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The next morning.
During a break in the morning lecture.
*Tap.*
“Han Cheon-seong. Why are you so out of it today? Didn't you sleep last night?”
As David tapped Cheon-seong's shoulder and spoke with a curious tone, Cheon-seong blinked and gave an awkward smile.
"I'm just... a little tired."
Even as he answered, his vision was blurry.
But when he blinked again, his usual vision returned.
It was the same lecture hall as always, and with Kalli having announced a break, it was clear that most of the cadets were enjoying their rest.
“Hey. You're not overdoing it again, are you?”
“...I'm not. I've been properly pacing myself lately.”
Even as he replied, the corners of his eyes blurred again.
*'Get a grip.'*
*Squeeze.* He pinched his thigh, trying to clear his head with the pain.
I definitely hadn't pushed myself that hard yesterday.
While some fatigue lingered from his training in the park last night, he hadn't pushed himself to the point of losing consciousness or his body crying out in extreme pain.
“Haa. I don't know. I'm not sure if your 'pacing yourself' is really pacing yourself. Anyway, you seem a bit unsteady today, so get some proper rest after the lecture. Pushing yourself when you're like this will only lead to bigger problems.”
"...I should."
I was truly grateful for David's concern. But contrary to my answer, my situation didn't allow for it.
The first incident was going to happen tomorrow.
I couldn't rest even if I wanted to. I still hadn't attained the skill.
“I'll take it easy.”
“Don't just say that, actually do it, okay?”
“I know. Thanks for worrying.”
As they were talking, other cadets began to sit down one by one.
As Kalli prepared to resume the lecture, I slowly gathered my thoughts.
*'Haa….'*
On the outside, I kept insisting I was fine. But inside, a sigh escaped.
...I had a really big problem.
A major setback had occurred in the progress I'd thought was almost complete, like reaching the final stretch before the summit.
I was like a frog in a well. It was only in the early hours of last night that I realized just how vast the power I was pursuing truly was.
After countless attempts to handle my energy with more precision, I felt like I had finally faced the source of my power.
—The spiral is infinite.
...This was the principle I had newly awakened to yesterday, a concept that had now thrown me into a state of extreme confusion.
The change in the concept I'd grasped was immense, and more than anything, I lacked the time to handle it.
The more I learned about my power, the more I paradoxically felt how impossible it was to try and attain a skill in such a short time.
It was like trying to empty a massive lake with a bucket.
Like frantically trying to bail out the lake because time is running out, only to grow anxious as the water level shows no sign of dropping.
That's how my heart felt right now…….
“…Cadet Cheon-seong?”
Then, hearing a voice, I blankly returned to reality.
The gazes of the surrounding cadets were now focused on me.
“Han Cheon-seong. Are you okay?”
As even David called out to me cautiously, I finally realized Kalli had been the one to call my name.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Are you feeling very unwell right now?”
At the unexpected question, I hastily shook my head.
“I'm fine, Instructor.”
“That's a relief, but if you're really not well, it's okay to say so. You don't have to push yourself unnecessarily."
Despite her repeated words, I just gave an awkward nod.
…
As the book closed, Kalli announced the end of the lecture.
“That will be all for the morning lecture.”
Kalli's words marked the end of the morning lecture.
My mind remained dazed throughout the lecture. Kalli had asked again in the middle if I was okay, but I'd managed to answer in time then.
But now that the lecture was over, I couldn't even tell how time had passed.
"You really don't look good. Is something on your mind?"
“No. I'm just not feeling my best today. Anyway, let's go get lunch.”
“Is that so? Well, I'll buy the meal tickets today. Cheer up a bit. You seem really off."
"I'm really fine. Stop worrying."
Looking at the constantly worried David, I was reminded of how much a friend could mean at times like these.
As we headed to the cadet cafeteria, we saw the usual long line.
Getting in at the end of the line, I glanced around.
-What should we eat today?
-Let's get something light. We have a practical lecture this afternoon.
-Oh, right. Yeah... shouldn't eat too much for lunch then.
Watching the cadets chatting in small groups, none of it felt real.
‘Such a peaceful, ordinary day.’
The fact that such a horrific incident would occur tomorrow felt completely unreal.
“But you know you can't pick a really expensive meal ticket, right?”
A laugh escaped me at David's cautious tone.
“I don't know. Since you're treating, I should probably get something expensive.”
"Give me a break. I'm barely making it on this month's allowance, you know?"
Exchanging words, I managed to clear my head a little.
Overthinking wouldn't change reality.
I just…. had to do the best I could.
…
Time passed, and soon it was afternoon.
As soon as the lecture ended, I went to Kalli to speak with her.
No matter how much I pondered and thought about it, in the end, I had no choice but to ask for her help.
I couldn't reach it by training alone. The concept was simply too vast to grasp. That's why I needed help.
*Shhhk.*
Gripping a spear prepared in Kalli's personal training ground, I tried to calm my mind.
Impatience, urgency, a sense of crisis—whatever you wanted to call it, the feeling felt like it was constantly whipping me forward.
Kalli, who had raised her sword, suddenly spoke.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Try to keep a light heart and not get too immersed in any one emotion. The more impatient you are, the more you need to control your mind."
She spoke as if she'd read my mind, and though surprised, I took her words to heart.
I calmly evened my breathing and began to clear my mind.
“Right now, you need to focus on controlling your power more than anything else. And even if your mind is in turmoil, the effort you've put in until now doesn't just disappear.”
Kalli's voice was particularly cold, even more so than usual.
When I told her I had trained last night, she looked at me and let out a deep sigh. I had been acting strangely throughout the lecture today, so it was only natural for her to be upset.
...Even knowing Kalli would be disappointed in me, I had no choice but to confess.
I was in a state where I could see no answer.
I could only hope she would give me some kind of answer….
With that thought, I slowly began to infuse the spear with my energy.
*Srrrrk…!*
Then, streaks of blue light began to appear in the air as if being drawn. The streaks soon multiplied—three, eight, twenty... into countless strands that began to form a single spiral.
“Still, it seems the training did have... some results.”
Despite Kalli's peculiar tone, I silently met her gaze.
I could endure any words from her right now. Even if Kalli thought less of me, I had to move forward.
“There were results, but the concept I was feeling has changed significantly.”
“If it changed, does that mean it's very different from the concept you first felt?”
"Yes. Originally, I envisioned a result where the energy in my spear would offset the opposing force, but last night, the flow I felt suddenly changed.”
This was the biggest reason I felt there was no answer.
The concept I felt now was completely different from what I'd felt at first. It had changed drastically even compared to just a few days ago.
I had hoped to counter an opponent's force and nullify it, but the concept I awakened to was not a nullifying force, but an infinitely advancing spiral.
As if that were the correct path, the concept had changed and shown me a new way.
But a very big problem arose from that.
...It became a much greater power than what I had originally conceived.
I couldn't even control the power enough to fully contain it within the spear I held. Unless the power was just enough to lightly envelop the spear, I couldn't even dare to create a spiral any larger.
“......”
Kalli seemed to be contemplating my words.
Maintaining the spiral on my spear, I waited for her to finish her thoughts. I now knew for certain that I couldn't complete the skill right now.
The moment I tried to imbue the spear with this changed concept.
My body wouldn't just stop at losing consciousness.
‘It would probably... break my body.’
I felt it instinctively.
The moment I realized the concept of an infinite spiral, my breath had caught for an instant, as if my body feared that power.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. This might be difficult, but can you specifically describe how the concept of the skill has changed?”
At Kalli's question, I hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Infinity.”
“Infinity?”
“Yes. An infinitely rotating spiral of blue light. That is the concept I have come to understand."
I couldn't express the concept I'd realized in any more words than that.
It was as if the concept itself had given me the answer: if I had to face a power so strong it was overwhelming, I could counter it with a corresponding infinite spiral.
Oblivious to my current situation, it was as if the principle of this immense power had been... forcibly injected into my mind.
It even felt as if all the concepts I had realized through training until now had been reduced to nothing.
“Then, Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
“Yes, Instructor.”
“I'm not sure how to put this, but... do you still clearly feel that you're on the verge of reaching the skill?”
The question hit the mark so precisely that I was momentarily at a loss for words.
With just that one sentence, Kalli had seen right through my condition.
“...No. It's become uncertain.”
“That's a real relief.”
...And at her reply, I could only blink blankly.
Why would she say it's a relief?
"The number of people who can awaken a skill is extremely small, all things considered. And the nature of a skill differs for each individual."
"Does that mean..."
"The fact that you, Cadet Han Cheon-seong, have spoken of infinity means you have, for now, stepped onto a dangerous staircase."
Despite her calm tone, I couldn't quite understand her words.
A dangerous staircase.
What did that mean?
"Still, it's a relief. I've also felt a concept similar to infinity."
"You've awakened to it as well, Instructor Kalli?"
"Yes. In that sense, I know what kind of trouble you're facing right now, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. That's why I said it was very dangerous."
Lowering her sword, Kalli slowly began to approach me.
"First, release the spiral you're maintaining on the spear."
At her words, I had no choice but to obey.
*Click-clack.*
Soon, she reached me and placed her hand on my spear without hesitation.
*Shhhk.*
And as she placed her hand over mine... I could only stare at her blankly.
"Um... Instructor Kalli?"
"I don't know how you reached the concept of infinity, Cadet Han Cheon-seong, but it's a truly dangerous concept. I don't like making physical contact with a cadet like this either, but I have no choice."
Kalli's eyes were serious as she spoke.
So, as I watched her slowly press her body against mine, I couldn't even bring myself to resist.
"And let me say this first, Cadet Han Cheon-seong... you can't go getting any funny ideas, okay?"
Her breath tickled my ear.