Chapter 120
Chapter 120
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: A Wicked Heart Born from Misunderstanding
-----------------------------------------------------------------
For a moment, I was so dumbfounded that no words came out.
“If it's too difficult... you don't have to answer out loud. Just a nod will do.”
To make matters worse, Luna continued whispering as if it were a foregone conclusion that I had been molested.
Slowly, though my hand was numb, I somehow managed to lift it.
I grabbed her.
And I took hold of the shoulder of Luna, who was whispering in my ear.
I gently pushed her body away from mine and met her gaze. She was looking at me with utmost seriousness.
I had no idea why she had such a misunderstanding, but seeing Luna’s complex and subtle gaze, I slowly shook my head.
Answering her outright seemed strange, so I denied it with my actions instead.
‘So this is what it's like to be so dumbfounded you forget the pain.’
I was so flabbergasted that I even forgot the dull ache that had been present.
Really... why on earth would Adelia molest me?
‘What could she possibly want from me…?’
With that thought, my gaze shifted to Adelia, who was watching us from the side.
I was worried Adelia might have overheard Luna’s words and gotten the wrong idea, but she was watching us with a placid expression, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.
“Luna. What did you say... to Han Cheon-seong?”
At Millia’s slightly surprised voice, Luna immediately shook her head.
“No, it’s just... Han Cheon-seong looked like he was in really bad shape, so I asked if he was okay.”
“...Is that so?”
Though it was a strange answer by any measure, Millia seemed to accept it at face value.
Then, with a clearly awkward gesture, Luna turned back to me.
A quick glance.
...Her eyes met mine in a silent, subtle plea. It was as if she was telling me to confess to her right then and there.
Finding her actions absurd, I momentarily forgot the situation and let out a small laugh.
As I started to remove my hand from Luna’s shoulder... I froze.
“...!”
A sharp, stabbing pain suddenly spread through my body.
Just as my head naturally bowed down.
“Han Cheon-seong! Are you okay?”
Luna rushed to my side again.
“Uh... I’m fine. It was just... for a moment.”
“...Cadet Han Cheon-seong has just finished his treatment and needs absolute rest. You two, if it isn't absolutely necessary, please say what you need to quickly and then leave.”
As Adelia’s calm voice suddenly cut in, I was reminded once again.
That stabbing pain that flared amidst the dull ache. My body definitely needed rest.
"..."
"..."
Then my eyes met Luna’s. Her eyes misted over slightly, and I instinctively shook my head.
I quickly signaled for her not to do anything foolish. Luna let out a faint sigh and nodded.
As Luna moved away, Millia immediately approached.
“Han Cheon-seong. Are you in a lot of pain right now?”
“I’m fine... The worst of it... is over now. It’s just a little difficult at the moment.”
Even as I answered, I felt incredibly awkward.
...My appearance must have been a mess after Adelia’s treatment just now.
But for some reason, whenever I faced Millia, I was always like this.
The woman who was my ideal type came to visit me, and every time, I had to show her this sorry state of mine.
It was just embarrassing.
“You look like you’re in really bad shape. You should really focus on resting for a while.”
“...Yeah. I should.”
Even as we exchanged awkward conversation, meeting Millia’s gaze felt more burdensome than it did with Luna.
If only she had come in the afternoon, I could have shown her a better side of me.
Right now, my vision was blurry, so I was probably staring blankly like an idiot, and my disheveled appearance was undoubtedly pathetic.
“Anyway, I’m sorry for visiting so suddenly. You need to rest peacefully. Still, seeing you conscious like this puts my mind at ease. I hope to see you in the lecture hall soon.”
Millia’s calm yet gentle voice warmed my heart.
‘Millia really is kind.’
Just from the gentle way she spoke, I could feel her kind heart.
Truly kind. Whenever I talked with Millia, more than any other time, I felt I understood what true... feminine charm was.
“Thank you... for saying that... I’ll make sure to see you in the lecture hall next week.”
“Okay. Then... you should get some rest. We’ll be going now.”
As Millia spoke carefully and moved away from me, I honestly felt a pang of disappointment.
...We had only spoken for a very short time, but Millia was definitely different from others.
“It seems your conversation is over. You two should go back and get some rest as well. Understood?”
As Adelia spoke, as if to end the short visit, Luna and Millia didn't object.
The two of them gave me one last look before disappearing.
While my eyes were drawn more to Millia’s gaze, Luna’s complex and subtle expression inexplicably weighed on my mind.
‘I don’t know why she asked such a thing, but surely Luna wouldn’t do anything foolish.’
Just as I was thinking that there was no way Luna would do something so stupid.
The two of them soon vanished completely from Adelia’s sight.
Click.
With the sound of the door closing, I let out a small breath and leaned back against the hospital bed.
“Still... I am grateful.”
Knowing someone was worried about me was, in itself, a source of strength.
Whatever Luna’s intentions were, the fact that she came to check on me showed she cared. And while facing Millia was embarrassing, there was no denying I was happy to see her.
My heart felt a little fuller.
Even though I felt like I'd been dropped into this world all alone, it was in moments like these that I truly felt the connections I'd made with so many people.
‘Even if my body is on the verge of collapse…’
Maybe living a life like this wasn’t so bad after all.
A soft rustle.
As I was lost in thought, the curtain was drawn back once more.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. You’re still feeling pain, aren’t you?”
Adelia asked cautiously. I didn't deny it.
“Yes. But it’s... bearable.”
It was difficult, but the pain wasn’t unbearable.
“You can just... close your eyes and lie still now. You won’t have to worry about anyone else visiting. I’ll stay by your side until the pain subsides.”
“But Instructor... you must be very tired... You really don’t have to do that.”
Just as I was thinking I was imposing on her too much, Adelia smiled gently and shook her head.
Then she naturally sat down beside me. My eyes were drawn to her without thinking.
“...!”
I instantly shut my mouth and turned my head away from her.
...My gaze had followed my most basic instincts.
I hadn’t realized it when I was in extreme pain, but now, with the pain at a bearable level, facing Adelia up close... I realized it was dangerous in a different sense.
‘How can I not look?’
...For a man, a woman with a voluptuous figure like Adelia was dangerous just to look at up close.
“I thought you were just saying you were fine, but Cadet Han Cheon-seong, you really seem to be holding up, don’t you?”
“...Ah. Yes.”
As I answered blankly.
A small laugh could be heard.
“Really... I already said it’s okay if you can’t help but look.”
...Adelia’s murmur made me flinch.
‘She noticed... I was looking at her chest.’
Thinking she couldn’t have missed it, I let out an awkward laugh.
—!
As a stabbing pain surged through me again, I couldn’t say another word.
A soft touch.
Suddenly, I felt something placed on my hand.
“...You must be in a lot of pain. You don't have to be so conscious of it. I won't say anything about such a physiological reaction. Just rest comfortably.”
At her gentle voice, I let out a faint breath and nodded.
Then I closed my eyes completely.
...It seemed that closing my eyes was the most comfortable option.
***
A soft rustle.
As the black-haired student with his eyes closed settled back onto the bed, Adelia carefully supported his body.
But in that moment, she hesitated.
Looking at Cheon-seong lying there peacefully, she felt that even a small joke would disturb his rest, so she swallowed the words that had formed in her mouth.
“Just stay like that and rest.”
“Yes, Instructor.”
The cadet’s diligent reply was endearing, yet a part of her heart felt strange.
The words spoken by the two cadets who had just left.
They seemed like simple words of concern for Cadet Han Cheon-seong, but... there were some things she couldn’t easily dismiss.
Why did Cadet Luna…
‘Think such a ridiculous thing.’
And she had even asked Cadet Han Cheon-seong directly, to the point that for a moment, Adelia had doubted her own ears.
How on earth could someone think that…
‘I was molesting Cadet Han Cheon-seong…’
How could she possibly think that?
It was a whisper made without knowing the extent of an instructor’s senses, but…
Looking back, it wasn’t simply a look of concern for Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
Cadet Luna definitely seemed to harbor some suspicion towards her.
“……”
He breathed softly, evenly.
As she quietly watched Cadet Han Cheon-seong, who was breathing deeply but not yet asleep, a hollow laugh escaped her.
She hadn’t raised her voice just now to avoid causing a scene, but right now, she felt bewildered.
To think the day would come when she’d be suspected of being a female instructor who molests male cadets.
‘I did tell Erpe to let her know it was a misunderstanding, but.’
The more she thought about it, the more absurd it was, and all she could do was laugh.
She had been misunderstood in the opposite way on occasion, but the thought of her molesting someone had never once crossed her mind.
A soft motion.
Then she saw Cadet Han Cheon-seong frown slightly.
It seemed a stray lock of his hair was poking him in the eye. As she carefully reached out and brushed his hair aside, she saw his expression relax.
He was probably in a state where even simple actions like lifting a hand were difficult.
“……”
...As she silently watched Cadet Han Cheon-seong, an absurd thought crossed her mind.
‘Certainly.’
Right now, Cadet Han Cheon-seong... was in a state where he couldn’t even resist whatever she might do to him.
He was that exhausted and unable to move his body comfortably.
His current appearance gave off a completely different feeling from his usual self, and it was quite…….
Gulp.
She swallowed hard and quickly shook her head.
She even snatched back the hand that was tidying his hair.
‘Honestly... what kind of ridiculous thought is this?’
It seemed Cadet Luna’s nonsense had caused her to entertain a foolish thought herself.
...How could an instructor molest a cadet?
That was truly, utterly absurd.
"..."
He was certainly handsome, and the sight of him breathing so softly was a little cute, but...
Something like that could... never happen.
No, it was something that must not happen.