Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: I Really Like It
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***
*Click.*
The moment she entered the infirmary, Yumia looked for Leonhardt.
*Whoosh!*
And before Leonhardt could even open his mouth, she threw herself into his arms. For a moment, I found myself unable to move.
“…Yumia.”
As a flustered Leonhardt awkwardly wrapped his arms around her, a strange laugh escaped me.
“The cadets these days are all so passionate. To the point where I wonder if this is even okay.”
I glanced at Adelia as she spoke, looking at me, and gently nodded.
“I think there are good aspects to it.”
Romance between cadets wasn't forbidden. However, any resulting drop in grades was solely the cadet's 'own burden'.
In other words, falling behind other cadets because you're distracted by romance is all a matter of personal choice.
The academy doesn't force or encourage cadets one way or the other.
Of course, spending the night together in the dorms is strictly prohibited, but the general policy is to let cadets make their own judgments.
“Leonhardt… I’m so glad.”
Yumia’s tearful voice echoed for a moment before her face slowly buried itself in Leonhardt’s chest.
Her expression was one of immense relief, yet she seemed to be desperately holding back a surge of tears.
‘Is she really that happy?’
I felt a strange sense of satisfaction and had no regrets about my choice.
The first time I mentioned Yumia to Adelia, she had hesitated and refused. Even so, I repeatedly asked, conveying my intentions. When Adelia finally agreed, she made one request of me.
…It was so trivial that I accepted it without a second thought.
After watching the two of them share this emotional moment, I turned to leave.
“Well then, Instructor Adelia. I’ll leave him in your care.”
“…Don’t worry. And you know you can’t forget the promise you made me, right?”
“Yes. I’ll be sure to keep it in mind and come back.”
Adelia’s request was truly a small one.
She had simply asked me to stop by the infirmary again before returning to the dorms today.
I took one last look at Yumia in Leonhardt’s arms, then slowly left the infirmary.
*Click.*
*—You two. You should restrain yourselves a little in front of an instructor, you know?*
Hearing Adelia's faintly teasing voice, I let out a small chuckle.
It was time to go meet Glacia.
*
*Step.*
When I arrived at the park, our meeting spot, I saw Glacia sitting on a bench.
“Glacia.”
As I called her name warmly and approached, she slowly turned her head toward me.
“…Han Cheon-seong.”
Her cold tone gave me a strange feeling.
*Rustle.*
Glacia looked up at me, her expression utterly indifferent. In a way, you could say this was her usual self, but I could clearly feel that something was different.
“Have you been waiting long? I thought I got here on time…”
As I spoke and sat down beside her, Glacia silently shook her head. Then she just stared at me… and as our eyes met, I wondered what was wrong.
‘Is there something she doesn’t like?’
Just as the question crossed my mind, her lips parted indifferently.
“I haven’t been waiting long. I just got here too.”
“Oh? That’s a relief. Should we go to a café? Or is there somewhere else you want to go?”
I asked out of courtesy, as I always did, but I didn't have high expectations.
Glacia was more passive than one might think; I could hardly remember her ever saying she wanted to go somewhere specific…
“There is a place I want to go.”
“…There is?”
“The third floor of the recreational facility. I heard there are many animals there. I’d like you to go with me today.”
I stared blankly at her rather detailed explanation and nodded. I knew exactly what she was talking about.
There was only one place in the academy known for having animals.
‘It’s the place I went to with Karite.’
“Alright. Should we go now?”
In response, Glacia nodded.
…Although she wore her usual expressionless face, I could now clearly sense that Glacia was not in a good mood.
*Click-clack.*
As I walked in step with Glacia, all sorts of thoughts crossed my mind.
‘Did something happen to upset her?’
I didn't think I'd done anything wrong, but then a possible reason occurred to me.
“Right. Did Lady Anastasia leave safely?”
Anastasia had left just yesterday, so it made sense that Glacia’s mood would be somber.
*Glance.* Glacia looked at me and replied as if it were obvious.
“My sister is stronger than anyone. You don’t need to worry.”
“True… Still, I hope I can see Lady Anastasia again sometime. She really helped me a great deal.”
“Right. So, Han Cheon-seong… are you sure you’re okay now?”
Glacia asked, her eyes scanning my body, and I nodded nonchalantly.
“No problem. I’m almost fully healed.”
“…Still, be careful.”
As Glacia said this while looking intently at me before turning away, I felt a little awkward.
“Thanks for worrying about me.”
I said cautiously, making up my mind.
I had a gut feeling that I would have to be very mindful of Glacia’s mood today.
***
—Recreational Facility, 3rd Floor.
As they entered the area where the various animals were kept, Glacia blinked.
The strange animal smells were one thing, but more than that, there were simply too many people.
‘Are there always this many people?’
The cadets gathered in small groups seemed to fill the entire space, making her feel a little resistant.
“It’s crowded here, even on a weekday.”
“Even on a weekday? Han Cheon-seong, have you been here before?”
“I happened to… stop by once. It wasn’t too bad.”
His casual reply made her frown unconsciously.
‘This is my first time.’
It was a little disappointing that Han Cheon-seong spoke as if he were familiar with the place. And it made her a little curious.
“…Did you come here alone?”
Had Han Cheon-seong come here by himself?
Even she thought it was a strange question, but she was strangely curious.
“I wasn’t alone. I came with a friend.”
“A friend…”
“Yeah. A friend.”
His calm demeanor felt somewhat unnatural, but she nodded anyway. It seemed a bit foolish to keep asking.
And when he said ‘friend,’ she had a good idea who it might be.
‘Is it that guy, David?’
She assumed he probably came with him. If not… the girl named Karite also came to mind, but she didn’t dwell on it.
The thought that he had come with someone other than her made her not want to think about it.
“Alright, Glacia. I’ll give you a proper tour. Just follow me.”
“…Okay.”
As she followed Han Cheon-seong, who walked ahead, she saw many other cadets.
Most of them were female cadets, looking at the animals with expressions of awe or delight… and her own heart fluttered a bit.
In truth, she had become curious after overhearing her classmates talk about this place.
But they all went with their friends and shared their experiences, which made her think that she wanted to come with Han Cheon-seong, too.
And today, that wish was coming true.
*Step.*
“Is there any particular animal you like?”
He asked as they weaved through the crowd. She blinked, then nodded.
“Rabbits.”
“…Rabbits?”
Seeing his slightly surprised look, I spoke again.
“I. I like rabbits.”
“I-I see… Well, that’s great. I know exactly where the rabbits are.”
His next words felt unnatural again, but I didn’t think much of it.
After we walked for a while, Han Cheon-seong found the rabbit enclosure at once, without any hesitation.
And he even bought some hay with a familiar ease… I found myself staring at him.
‘I should be the one paying for this.’
Admission to the recreational facility was free, but it seemed you had to pay for things like hay or other animal experiences.
And I remembered the terms we had agreed upon when we met.
That I would be covering all the costs.
‘I’ll just give him the money when we part ways.’
Soon, Han Cheon-seong returned with the hay.
“Here you go, Glacia. This is your share.”
He said, handing the hay to me with a bright expression.
“Thank you.”
*Brush.*
As I took the hay, our hands brushed, and I flinched involuntarily.
“…Glacia?”
I blinked blankly as Han Cheon-seong looked at me, puzzled.
“No, it’s nothing.”
I replied immediately, but the feeling was so strange. Our hands had only brushed against each other.
We had done that often before, and we had even hugged.
So, it was really nothing…
I didn't know why I was feeling so strange right now.
“Oh? Anyway, let’s go see the rabbits.”
Han Cheon-seong chuckled and approached the rabbit pen. As I followed him in a daze, a scene suddenly flickered before my eyes.
The sight of Yumia holding Han Cheon-seong’s hand.
And the way Han Cheon-seong had looked at her bright smile…
“……”
But unlike Yumia, who had entered the infirmary, Han Cheon-seong had come out, so I knew it was nothing.
I was just overthinking things.
But… strangely, I couldn’t get that image out of my head.
“Glacia. Are you going to give them the hay first?”
“…Oh. Yes.”
I replied absently, grabbed a handful of hay, and held it out inside the pen.
A pure white rabbit from the group immediately hopped over, and my complicated feelings seemed to melt away.
‘So cute.’
Rabbits really were cute.
Just looking at them was healing… filling me with a sense of adoration.
*Nibble, nibble!*
Watching it hungrily munch on the hay I offered, the corners of my mouth lifted on their own.
“You really do like rabbits, don't you.”
Hearing his voice, I unconsciously lifted my head and replied naturally.
“Yes. I really like them.”
The moment I said that.
My vision filled with the sight of Han Cheon-seong’s gentle smile, and I whipped my head away without thinking.
But in that moment, I must have shaken the hand holding the hay, because I saw the startled rabbit scamper away.
“……”
As I watched the rabbit go, my good mood soured into something strange.
“Glacia. What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
“…It’s just. Nothing.”
Even as I replied, I felt strange. It was a feeling so foreign, so powerful, that it was startling.
‘Why… why am I feeling this way?’
My heart fluttered again, and this time with Han Cheon-seong felt different from before…
It felt so, so different.