Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: A Private Moment Between Two Instructors
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***
The clock approached midnight, signaling the end of another day.
Despite the time when darkness should have blanketed the land, Edelfia, the capital of the Empire, was not particularly dark.
Vibrant lights illuminated every corner of the city, and crowds as large as those during the day roamed the streets.
Chatter and laughter filled the air as couples, families, and friends, all full of life, moved from one place to another.
And in one corner of this bustling cityscape.
A wine bar tucked away in a quiet, shadowy alleyway possessed an atmosphere slightly different from the rest of the metropolis.
*Jingle!*
The bell at the entrance chimed as two people entered.
“Welcome.”
A middle-aged man who appeared to be the owner greeted them while wiping a glass with a clean white cloth. The two women who had entered gave a light nod in response.
When the owner’s gaze finally settled on them, he was taken by surprise.
“…We have some special guests today.”
The owner’s eyes fell upon two women of distinctly different beauty.
One had a proud air about her, with crimson hair that seemed to hold a blazing fire. The other was a beautiful woman with a gentler impression and emerald-green hair.
While their striking appearances were noteworthy, it was their attire that was far from ordinary.
They were dressed in stylish black suits, which signified that they were ‘instructors’ from the central Grand Royal Academy. The owner couldn't help but be astonished.
“Well, I wouldn’t say we’re anything special. We’re just ordinary customers, no different from anyone else.”
Adelia replied lightly as she walked forward, with Kalli following awkwardly by her side.
*Click. Clack….*
The sharp sound of their heels echoed through the wine bar, causing the few patrons inside to turn their gazes toward them in surprise.
*Settle.*
Adelia, however, paid no mind to the stares and seated herself at a table along the wall, then glanced at Kalli with a slight nod of her head.
“Let’s sit here.”
“…Instructor Adelia, you seem quite familiar with places like this.”
“I sometimes stop by for a few drinks by myself.”
Adelia smiled as she spoke and immediately called over a waiter. Soon, two glasses and a bottle of wine with a luxurious golden label were set on the table.
*Slide.*
Adelia personally pushed a glass toward Kalli, then uncorked the wine with a practiced hand and filled her glass.
*Pour…*
Kalli simply watched the crimson liquid slowly rise, then expressed her gratitude with a small nod.
“By the way, considering your reputation, Instructor Kalli, I wouldn’t have thought a place like this would be so unfamiliar to you. I heard you went to the front lines as soon as you graduated from the academy. Is that why?”
Adelia’s eyes shone with deep curiosity, but Kalli slowly shook her head.
“No. It’s not that it’s unfamiliar, but I’m personally not very fond of alcohol.”
She answered indirectly, implying she avoided alcohol in general, not just wine. Adelia stared at Kalli blankly for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“Oh, really? Then… you should have told me sooner. You accepted my offer so readily last time that I assumed you were fine with drinking. What should I do? I don't want to force alcohol on anyone…”
*Swish…*
Adelia gently swirled the wine in her own glass. Kalli carefully lifted her glass and offered a faint smile.
“You don’t need to worry. It’s not that I can’t drink at all. And I felt I owed you in many ways, Instructor Adelia, so I thought we should have an occasion like this.”
“Is that so? Well, that’s a relief.”
Adelia let out a breath as if reassured and held up her glass.
*Clink!*
As the clear sound of glasses touching rang out, both women raised their glasses without hesitation.
“…”
As the wine touched her lips, they began to stain red.
*Thud.*
Of the two, it was naturally Kalli who set her glass down first.
She had only taken a small sip from the glass that wasn't even a third full, but Adelia drank a bit more of hers before putting it down.
“……”
Kalli gently traced the rim of her glass, her gaze unreadable.
The instructor before her, Adelia, was quite peculiar.
Just as Kalli was about to head home after finishing her duties at the academy, Adelia had sought her out to remind her of their promise to have a drink.
That was why she was now drinking with her, at a time when she would have normally returned to her estate to rest.
‘We did make a promise, but being here like this feels strange.’
Even after meeting her several times, Instructor Adelia’s personality was difficult to grasp.
One moment she would be endlessly gentle with instructors and students alike, and the next, that gentleness would vanish as if it were a lie, replaced by a cold demeanor.
‘Adelia Evangeline…’
Kalli had heard much about her reputation on the front lines, but she still felt Adelia was a woman who was hard to understand.
“Why are you staring so intently?”
*Ting!*
Adelia flicked her glass lightly with her finger as she asked. Kalli slowly shook her head.
“…No reason. I was just thinking this drinking session feels a bit sudden.”
“Sudden? Is that how you feel, Instructor Kalli? I was thinking I was rather late in keeping my promise. I’m not one to make empty promises.”
Watching her speak so calmly, Kalli found herself nodding inadvertently.
“…I see.”
Keeping one’s word was certainly a respectable trait.
‘There’s no harm in getting closer to her.’
In truth, this applied to all the instructors; there was no downside to being on good terms with them.
Although it had been just over three months since she returned to the academy, she still felt she was lacking as an instructor compared to the others. Moreover, since the students under her care could get injured at any time, it was ideal to maintain a friendly relationship with Adelia.
*Sip.*
As she took another sip from her glass, she found herself looking around.
People who appeared to be ordinary city residents were seated at the bar and tables, and she could feel their intense stares.
‘There must have been better places than this.’
While their gazes were a little unpleasant, the atmosphere inside was calm and not so bad.
*Sip.*
“You’re lucky, Instructor Kalli.”
Hearing the voice, she turned to see Instructor Adelia resting her chin on her hand, gazing at her placidly.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s nothing, really. I was just thinking that if I were to teach students and spend my time like you do, it might feel different. A small bit of envy, I suppose.”
Seeing her smile sweetly, Kalli thought, *Is that so?* and gently shook her head.
“You are also doing something truly meaningful, Instructor Adelia. I believe that medical instructors like you might hold an even greater significance than those who teach students.”
“You think so? It’s nice of you to say that, but…”
Watching Adelia take a sip from her glass, seemingly pleased, Kalli thought about how she genuinely meant it.
While she believed teaching students was a worthy endeavor, the act of healing someone’s wounds and saving a life was a noble deed that could not be replaced by anything else.
Therefore, it could never be looked down upon or belittled.
Reflecting on her experiences on the front lines, medical officers were beings who deserved the highest respect.
‘Come to think of it, there’s no reason for me to be on edge with Instructor Adelia.’
With that thought, her gaze toward Instructor Adelia softened.
Resting her chin on her hand, Instructor Adelia had a distinctly different air about her than she did at the academy.
A bit more mature, perhaps. Kalli knew she was only a year older at twenty-six, but for some reason, she exuded an atmosphere of greater maturity.
*Glance.*
As their eyes met, Adelia’s suddenly narrowed.
“Instructor Kalli, you can be more relaxed with me. There’s no need to feel awkward or think about authority. Outside the academy, I’d rather we interact as people, not based on hierarchy.”
A faint smile escaped Kalli’s lips at the friendly words.
“…I don’t find you difficult. I truly believe it would be good for us to become closer.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried you might find me difficult.”
As Adelia smiled and tilted her glass, Kalli nodded calmly.
They hadn't exchanged many words, yet it felt as though a weight had been lifted from her heart. It felt like they were slowly letting their guards down.
“Ah, on that note, Instructor Kalli. There’s something I’m curious about.”
“Please, feel free to ask.”
She replied lightly and took a sip from her glass. Adelia met her gaze steadily.
Just as Kalli faintly furrowed her brow at the bitter taste of the wine, feeling that gaze become particularly intense, Adelia parted her lips.
“It’s about student Han Cheon-seong.”
The completely unexpected words made Kalli freeze for a moment.
*Clink.*
She carefully set down her glass, an awkward smile on her face.
“…About student Han Cheon-seong, what aspect are you curious about?”
Even as she spoke, a great turmoil stirred within her. She had already shared a very strange atmosphere with Han Cheon-seong today, and her heart had been in chaos ever since.
‘I can’t believe his name would come from Instructor Adelia’s lips.’
Instructor Adelia, her smile slowly fading, spoke as if it were nothing.
“It’s nothing special. How has he been in the lecture hall lately?”
“In the lecture hall… I’d say he’s a student with an excellent academic attitude. He’s always striving to do his best. He maintains top-tier grades in theoretical classes as well. His body has fully recovered, so seeing him dedicated to his training recently has been the best part.”
…Even as she calmly answered about Han Cheon-seong, her heart wavered slightly.
The more she mentioned him, the more his image flickered in and out of her mind. In particular, thinking back to the time she spent with him today seemed to make her body flush with heat.
“…”
The image of Han Cheon-seong, his hand on her cheek, gazing at her.
His calm demeanor, unbefitting of his age, as if he would accept whatever she did…
“That’s a relief. I figured you’d be looking after student Han Cheon-seong without me having to say anything, but I was hoping you could pay him a little more attention. Although his body has almost completely recovered, I’d rather he not visit me too often.”
Kalli nodded blankly at her calm voice.
She wholeheartedly agreed with the sentiment that Han Cheon-seong shouldn't get hurt.
“I am also paying special attention to student Han Cheon-seong. I’ve been advising him not to overexert himself like before.”
In truth, she was paying far more attention than her words let on.
Both inside and outside of lectures, she was giving him so much attention that she wondered if it was appropriate for an instructor to focus so much on a single student.
That was why she didn't want him to get hurt or have to visit the infirmary again.
As she made a silent vow and met Adelia’s gaze.
Suddenly, Instructor Adelia’s eyes narrowed. It was a smile. And to Kalli, it was a smile that felt incredibly strange…
“Instructor Kalli. I have something else to say about student Han Cheon-seong.”
As she spoke with a calm yet peculiar glint in her eyes, Kalli felt a sense of dissonance but nodded anyway.
“Yes… please ask.”
She answered hesitantly.
“Actually, you could say this is something I want to say to you, Instructor Kalli, but I hope you’ll take it lightly.”
…With her repeated preamble, Kalli began to feel increasingly strange.
‘What on earth is she trying to say that requires such a lead-up?’
And it was about Han Cheon-seong, as well as herself.
It sounded like a very peculiar thing to say.
“Instructor Kalli, what do you think of student Han Cheon-seong?”
Her voice, when it came…
Was truly strange.
“……”
It felt like a question she could easily answer, yet for a moment, the words caught in her throat.