Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: So You Like Big Breasts Too, Don't You?
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***
—The weekend.
For most people, it was a time for rest.
And that was no different for the academy's instructors.
The brutal environment of the fierce, blood-stained front lines, coupled with a tension that could never be relaxed, left most officers with both their bodies and minds utterly exhausted.
To catch their breath, even for a moment, they would return to the academy and take on a period of teaching cadets.
For them, staying at the academy was, in itself, a form of rest, and this was especially true on the weekends.
Even the highest-ranking officials at the academy tried not to interfere with the instructors, going so far as to avoid even the most trivial contact to give them as much consideration as possible on the weekend.
*Tap.*
But just as there are exceptions to every rule, there was an instructor who spent even her ‘day off’ at the academy.
Two such women were strolling down the academy's main thoroughfare.
The brilliant sunlight caught her emerald hair, making her beauty shine even more dazzlingly. Adelia even wore a small smile as she walked.
And beside Adelia, keeping pace with her, was a woman with a similar appearance but a much calmer, more subdued complexion—her assistant, Erpe.
“Erpe, is there anything you’d like to have for lunch?”
“Whatever Instructor Adelia likes is fine with me.”
“Don’t be so dull. It’s the weekend, so you can be a little more assertive today. I’m in a really good mood.”
As Adelia smiled brightly, Erpe thought for a moment before nodding.
“In that case… I would like to have an Esley steak.”
“Really? Great. Let’s go to Esley Restaurant today.”
Adelia readily agreed, even humming a little tune as she walked. Erpe found herself gently gazing at the instructor's back as she walked ahead.
*She seems to be in a particularly good mood today.*
Instructor Adelia felt even brighter than usual.
*Did something good happen to her on Saturday, when I wasn't around?*
* * *
It wasn't long before they arrived at a restaurant within the academy grounds.
—Esley.
Seeing its distinctive white logo, a corner of her heart warmed with memories of her childhood.
The Esley Restaurant she used to visit with her family remained a fond memory, even now that she was well into adulthood.
*Ting!*
As they opened the door and stepped inside, the clean, white interior, a signature of Esley Restaurant, was a welcome sight.
“Go ahead and find us a table by the window. I’m just going to wash my hands quickly.”
“Yes, understood.”
Parting from the instructor, her heart fluttered as she sat down at a suitable window-side table.
*Today is going to be an even better day.*
Instructor Adelia was a warm-hearted person by nature, so it was always pleasant to be with her, but today she seemed especially happy, which made even Erpe feel excited.
To have a nice meal in a cheerful atmosphere.
Wasn't that a form of happiness in itself?
*There isn't much time left in my assistantship, so…*
Every moment spent with Instructor Adelia was precious.
*Rustle.*
As she picked up the menu from the side of the table, she saw various steaks and side dishes.
She was just wondering what would be a good simple appetizer.
“Wow, so a place like this really exists.”
“Han Cheon-seong, is this your first time at Esley Restaurant?”
“Yeah. I never thought there’d be a place like this inside the academy.”
Hearing a familiar name, she blinked involuntarily.
*Cadet Han Cheon-seong?*
As the thought crossed her mind, she gently turned her head and saw two cadets sitting at the table right next to them.
One was Cadet Han Cheon-seong, who had become quite familiar to her, and the other was a beautiful female cadet with long blue hair. She seemed to have seen her somewhere before.
More than anything, she was a little surprised by the pure white uniform that symbolized A-Class.
It was rare for an A-Class cadet to associate with a C-Class cadet.
“Oh, hello, Assistant Erpe.”
Perhaps sensing her gaze, Cadet Han Cheon-seong recognized her and greeted her. She nodded back, caught off guard.
“…Yes. Hello, Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
To run into him here of all places. It was a strange coincidence.
“It seems you’re alone, Assistant Erpe. Did you perhaps come with Instructor Adelia?”
“Yes, I came with Instructor Adelia. She has just stepped away to wash her hands. And you, Cadet Han Cheon-seong… did you come with this female cadet?”
As she answered, her gaze shifted to the woman sitting across from him.
She belatedly recognized the name ‘Glacia’ on the nameplate.
*I have seen her before.*
She’d thought her face was familiar. She was one of the cadets who had come looking for Han Cheon-seong two weeks ago.
“Ah, Glacia is my friend. She’s been helping me out in many ways… and somehow we ended up coming to a restaurant like this.”
He answered before she had even asked anything, which she found a bit odd, but she decided to let it go.
Now that he had left the infirmary, he was just another cadet.
Running into him wasn't anything special.
And yet, she couldn't help but feel a little concerned.
In the first place, if a man and a woman came to a restaurant together, there was only one conclusion.
A date. A romantic relationship.
*I can't interfere.*
It wouldn't be right for her to interrupt their time, so she stopped the conversation herself.
“…”
Just as she was ordering a simple appetizer from the waiter, she saw the instructor approaching from a distance, drying her hands.
She slowly raised her hand to show where she was, and the instructor flashed a small smile. That smile alone warmed her heart a little.
*Come to think of it, won't Instructor Adelia be happy to see Cadet Han Cheon-seong too?*
The cadet she had treated was living such a normal life. For someone who healed others, could there be anything more gratifying?
*Tap.*
“Erpe, have you been waiting long?”
“Not at all. I’ve already ordered the appetizers.”
“Good job. We can choose our main courses later.”
*Click.*
A small smile escaped her as she looked at the instructor sitting opposite her.
The angle was just so that she didn't seem to have noticed Cadet Han Cheon-seong at the next table. Erpe wanted to tell her directly.
“Instructor Adelia.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong is at the next table.”
“…At the next table?”
She had spoken, certain that the instructor would be pleased. For a moment, her face lit up.
*Flinch.*
But it was only for a moment. As soon as Instructor Adelia saw Han Cheon-seong, her expression hardened rapidly, and Erpe froze, not knowing why.
“I… see. He’s with another cadet.”
“Yes. He’s living a completely normal life.”
She had intended to praise Instructor Adelia again for how perfectly she had treated him, but…
“…Yes. I see.”
Strangely, Instructor Adelia did not look very happy.
*Strange.*
She had been sure Instructor Adelia would be even happier than she was, but this wasn't the reaction she had expected.
*Clatter.*
Just then, a waiter began to set the appetizers on their table, and their conversation was cut short.
*Clink. Clink.*
She felt a little excited as she looked at the food being served, but Instructor Adelia’s gaze wasn't on the food.
*Glance.*
She kept looking over at the next table where Han Cheon-seong was. Just then, as if sensing her gaze, Han Cheon-seong turned his head.
“…”
“…”
The conversation that should have followed never came. The two of them paused, their lips hesitating.
To her, this whole… scene looked incredibly strange.
*Why…?*
She remembered Instructor Adelia and Cadet Han Cheon-seong getting along very well.
This didn't feel like that at all.
***
What did it feel like to be sitting on pins and needles?
Ironically, while sitting on the plush seat of a high-end restaurant, I was getting a very real sense of what it meant to be on pins and needles.
Uncomfortable, distracting, and nerve-wracking.
I wanted to get out of this place. No matter how delicious the steak was, I couldn't focus on the taste.
“Han Cheon-seong.”
“…Yeah, Glacia.”
Her voice called to me, and I met her gaze blankly.
“Why are you acting so unnaturally today? Are you that upset that I was late?”
“Glacia, it’s not that. Why would I be upset over you being just ten minutes late? I’ve been late before too. I’m really fine with it.”
“I’m glad to hear that, but you’re being really weird today. You’re not acting like yourself.”
Glacia furrowed her brow slightly, expressing a small complaint. Well… I couldn’t help it.
Even now, I could feel an intense gaze on me.
There was no way I could savor a steak under that stare.
*Glimpse.* I glanced at the next table and saw two women dining calmly.
They both seemed to have emerald hair, but the difference in shade made them clearly distinguishable. Both women were beautiful, but one in particular caught my attention.
Instructor Adelia was sitting not far from me, and just yesterday, I had confirmed her feelings.
That she had feelings for me.
*Gulp.*
As I brought a piece of steak to my mouth, I could barely taste the meat.
*Am I on a date with another girl right in front of a woman who likes me…?*
The realization of my situation struck me.
Glacia had brought me to this restaurant to buy me a nice lunch as an apology for being late, but from a third person's perspective, it wouldn't be strange to mistake this for a date.
That made me even more self-conscious.
*Glance.*
Adelia sent a subtle look my way.
I knew exactly why she was looking at me like that, why she was giving me such an intense, uncomfortable stare.
*Clink.*
The cold sound of silverware being set down made me flinch.
“Han Cheon-seong.”
“…What?”
Breaking out of my thoughts, I looked forward to see Glacia now openly frowning.
“You keep looking at Instructor Adelia. That’s incredibly rude. Why are you so conscious of her?”
“Well… it’s just that running into an instructor in a place like this is both nice and a bit awkward. I don’t mean anything by it.”
“Even so. Instructor Adelia might feel uncomfortable too. It’s the weekend, we should be considerate of her.”
Glacia spoke as if my attitude was wrong, and I could only manage an awkward laugh.
She was speaking very articulately, far more than usual.
She said it wasn't good to keep looking at the instructor, and that since it was the weekend, we shouldn't intrude on each other.
That's why I wanted to end this meal quickly.
The situation was too delicate to explain things to Adelia, who was likely misunderstanding us, and I didn't want to continue eating under her strange gaze.
*Gulp.*
It seemed best to just eat my steak and leave quickly.
As I tried my best to ignore Adelia's stare, my eyes fell on Glacia, who had already finished her own steak and was now watching me intently.
*When did she finish eating?*
Or had I just been that unfocused on my meal? I continued to eat awkwardly.
“Han Cheon-seong. So you… you like big breasts too, don't you?”
At Glacia’s sudden question, I nearly choked on my food.
“...!”
The food got stuck in my throat for a moment. I frantically drank some water, completely dumbfounded.
“Wh-What are you talking about?”
But despite my words, Glacia was gently caressing her own chest.
*Press.*
Then, her pale hand pressed down on her ample bosom, and the sight of her uniform sinking softly into it…
For a moment, I couldn't look away.
“I think mine are bigger than my sister’s…”
Glacia said, glancing sideways. I quickly averted my gaze.