Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: Trait Level 5
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***
*Ssk.*
Raising her sword to face him, Kalli prepared for the next onslaught of the spear.
*Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!!*
The countless spear strikes, fired off in succession, seemed to tear through space simultaneously.
"...."
Yet, Kalli remained perfectly composed as she weathered Cheon-seong's assault.
Even as the spar continued, her mind kept drifting to something else. The words she had heard from Esia were captivating her thoughts.
—Student Han Cheon-seong is even more handsome than I thought.
—The rumors about him seem to be greatly exaggerated. It's not that he's a womanizer... it feels more like women just flock to him. I think that's what it is, don't you?
—Right, right. The more we talked, the more polite I found him to be. I can see why the other instructors praise him.
—Come on, Kalli, I only met him because you mentioned him so much. I didn't have any other intentions. Why~ Kalli? Are you perhaps jealous?
—Pfft... Just kidding, just kidding.
—And Student Han Cheon-seong knows how to treat a woman, you know? I didn't even know there were rumors about me, but he was quite the flatterer.
—He said I have a kind heart... I've met a few students who praise my looks, but he's the first one to ever compliment my heart, you know?
...
Esia's intrigued voice echoed in her ears, rising and fading in her memory.
‘Of course, she'd have a high opinion of Student Han Cheon-seong, but…’
It was quite surprising to her how talkative Esia had been throughout lunch. She wasn't usually quiet, but today had been particularly excessive.
She had recounted her time with Student Han Cheon-seong in meticulous detail, as if giving a full report, and she had seemed incredibly excited.
...And so, listening to Esia, Kalli had felt a strange sense of unease.
She was happy to hear him praised, but... certain parts of it bothered her greatly.
‘Saying Esia has a kind heart.’
Why on earth would Student Han Cheon-seong say something like that? It was all she had been wondering since lunch.
Esia had emphasized it to her several times, leaving a lingering, uncomfortable feeling in her heart.
‘And as for me…’
She had spent far more time with Student Han Cheon-seong than Esia had, yet she had never received such a compliment.
The only things she had ever heard from him were words of admiration or gratitude.
Even when she had asked him directly before the spar, Student Han Cheon-seong had just mumbled and tried to awkwardly change the subject.
And that reaction... for some reason, she didn't like it one bit.
...
*Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang-clang-clang! Shiiing—!*
Even lost in deep thought, the spar continued. Her vision was filled with brilliant sparks erupting as her sword met his spear, and she could see Student Han Cheon-seong wielding his weapon with a calm expression.
As she instinctively parried his strikes, she was suddenly struck by how strong he had become.
Only about twenty minutes had passed since they began, but with every exchange, she became more aware of the sheer talent Student Han Cheon-seong possessed.
‘His growth rate is abnormally fast.’
She knew Student Han Cheon-seong was a genius from the moment he started to stand out. But his current rate of growth far surpassed her wildest expectations.
He had grown so much that it was incomparable to their spar just last Friday, only a few days ago.
It was surprising enough that he had found a clue to his skill in the past, but she never imagined he would reach Trait Level 5 in less than two months.
*Swish!*
The change was clear to her eyes: he had switched from his usual two-handed grip to wielding the spear with just his right hand.
*Shwoooosh!*
The spear shot forward like a beam of light, its speed unbelievable for a student who had enrolled this year.
The trajectory of his thrusts was varied, and the spearhead, now sharper as it cut through the air, cleverly aimed for openings in her defense.
*Claaaang!!*
Forcefully parrying a spear thrust aimed at her shoulder, she now had no choice but to imbue her own sword with mana.
"Kuh—!"
Seeing Student Han Cheon-seong stumble back, as if the impact had put a great strain on his spear arm, she spoke softly.
It was time to stop the first round of sparring here.
"Let's take a ten-minute break and then continue."
"...Yes. Understood, Instructor."
Though his eyes, fixed on her, burned with a strong desire to continue, he lowered his spear and composed himself.
His obedient reply was pleasing, and a sense of satisfaction welled up inside her.
‘I really... am so fond of Student Han Cheon-seong.’
His growth was so visible he seemed different every day, and teaching him brought her a corresponding sense of joy.
The satisfaction of personally tutoring Student Han Cheon-seong and watching him grow was far greater than teaching concepts and principles to countless students in a lecture hall... so for her, it was impossible not to grow attached.
Above all, Student Han Cheon-seong hadn't changed for the worse in any way she could see. Despite growing so much and advancing so far, there wasn't a trace of arrogance or conceit in his will.
There was only this admirable student, with his intensified fighting spirit, striving to press forward amidst the heat, determined to look ahead.
*Click.*
Sheathing her sword, she quietly approached Student Han Cheon-seong.
*Thump.*
As she naturally took a seat beside Student Han Cheon-seong, who had sat down in the rest area near the training grounds, a smile escaped her lips.
"You've really... gotten unbelievably strong."
"...You think so?"
He asked back, clearly pleased by her words, looking both innocent and pure. Though exhausted, his eyes sparkled as he looked up at her, seeming to shine.
...She found herself marveling at him.
‘Can a person really be this pure?’
When a student gets this far ahead of their peers, it's only natural for them to become a little arrogant or conceited, to show off their genius.
It wasn't that it was a bad thing; anyone would end up that way. That's just how people are. So she had been prepared to accept it if he boasted a little. But Student Han Cheon-seong wasn't like that at all... which only made him seem more admirable.
"Of course. There probably isn't a single student in this year's class who can surpass you, Student Han Cheon-seong. I can say that with certainty."
"That's... aren't you praising me too much? I'm happy to receive such compliments from you, Instructor Kalli, but I'm only a Common rank..."
Despite her praise, Student Han Cheon-seong grew even more humble and bashful.
At that, she firmly shook her head.
"At your level, Student Han Cheon-seong, your Common rank hardly matters anymore. You're still training this hard, completely focused. Just seeing this, I think it would be nearly impossible for any other first-year to catch up to you. And you have no idea... just how admirable this looks to me."
As she expressed her heartfelt feelings, she felt a genuine affection for Student Han Cheon-seong.
She wanted to keep praising him, even reward him. She wanted to boost his self-esteem, to make him feel just how special he was.
"Ahaha..."
He laughed awkwardly, looking embarrassed and not knowing what to do with himself. She, too, felt her own heart had softened considerably through their recent sparring.
The uncomfortable feeling in her heart had been replaced by a sense of refreshment and satisfaction.
‘That conversation with Esia... I suppose it's fine.’
Student Han Cheon-seong's attitude didn't change much no matter who he was with. It felt strange to dwell on something like that.
If Esia was that friendly to him, it was only natural he would praise her for her kindness.
Just then, she saw Student Han Cheon-seong looking at her intently.
"Instructor Kalli. There's something I'd like to ask of you."
"A request?"
"Yes. When we resume sparring, I'd like to try a challenge."
"A challenge? What do you mean, specifically?"
His gaze was quite serious, making her wonder what he was about to say.
"It's been quite some time since I found the clue to my skill a few weeks ago, hasn't it? I kept feeling like I couldn't complete it. But now that I've reached Trait Level 5, I think it might be possible to finally complete the skill."
His next words made her freeze.
"Student Han Cheon-seong. I believe I've told you before about the skill—that there's no need to be so impatient. Of course, your body must be stronger now that you're at Trait Level 5. But I truly think it's fine to proceed slowly."
His display of confidence was a good thing in itself.
However, she felt it was premature. His overflowing confidence and heightened determination after reaching Trait Level 5 were admirable, but his eagerness was excessive. There was no need to take such a risk right now.
His growth rate was already incomparably fast, and he was more than strong enough as he was.
"Of course, I remember what you told me, Instructor Kalli. I don't intend to push myself too hard right away. But I thought that if I pushed myself just a little... it might be worth a try."
"Push yourself just a little..."
"Yes. I have no intention of wrecking my body. But I was hoping I could challenge myself to train the skill again. I have faith that my body can withstand it now."
He continued to press his case.
A burning desire to challenge his skill. But she slowly narrowed her eyes.
‘It's true that…’
There was a huge difference between Level 4 and Level 5. The side effects probably wouldn't be as severe as last time, when he lost consciousness or severely damaged his body while activating the skill.
And yet, even thinking that, she didn't like the idea at all.
"......"
Student Han Cheon-seong was even now looking into her eyes, conveying his strong will. His upright character and desire for improvement felt almost dazzling to her.
The way he carefully met her gaze, as if awaiting her answer, didn't seem like he intended to be reckless.
'The very fact that he's asking for my permission shows he's thought this through carefully.'
However. Her mind was already made up.
Meeting his gaze, she finally, carefully, shook her head.
"I don't want to see you get hurt, Student Han Cheon-seong."
"Instructor Kalli. I won't get hurt that badly."
When he again expressed his desire to proceed despite her words, a small laugh escaped her.
"I know that. I know your body is much sturdier than before, and that you can now withstand a good portion of the skill's immense power. But if I agree to this, you'll definitely try to push for the next step. That's why I don't want to accept."
Him manifesting the skill's power and her receiving it wouldn't be terribly dangerous in itself.
As Student Han Cheon-seong said, there was a good chance he could complete the skill. The fact that he had grasped the principles and was already manifesting mana with spiral properties was a sign of that.
‘But.’
If she gave in, one thing at a time... she was a little scared of what would come after.
‘He's bound to unconsciously push himself too hard.’
Allowing it once was the same as allowing it the next time. More than anything, she wanted Student Han Cheon-seong to mature a little more.
She wanted him to take the next step only when he could calmly control his heart.
"...Instructor Kalli."
Had he not expected her to refuse his request? Seeing the violent tremor in his eyes, she carefully reached out her hand.
*Ssk.*
She gently took Student Han Cheon-seong's hand and, just like that, released her aura.
———!!
In an instant, a torrent of mana engulfed the space.
"......!"
Seeing his eyes widen, she gave a faint smile.
...Truthfully, she had never thought she would reveal her full power to a newly enrolled student, but to soothe his current feelings, she felt she had to show him.
"Student Han Cheon-seong. Instead of the skill... I'll teach you something else."
Looking at Student Han Cheon-seong, who was overwhelmed by her aura... she gently squeezed his hand.