Chapter 216
Chapter 216
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 216
Chapter Title: A Peculiar Reunion
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***
Wednesday.
It was the incredibly early hour of 6 AM.
A woman was riding the magitech train heading for Edelpia, the Imperial Capital.
Her crimson hair seemed to hold a blazing fire, yet her face, with its characteristic coldness, gave off an unapproachable impression.
A glance.
“……”
People moving through the magitech train’s interior would steal a look at the beautiful woman’s appearance, but they dared not approach any closer.
Her distinctive black uniform, along with the various shining insignia on her shoulders, was dazzling.
Her name was Kalli Ishtar.
She was returning to the academy after carrying out the annual duties of the Ishtar family.
As she watched the scenery rapidly pass by the window, she let out a deep sigh.
“…Haaah.”
She then ran a hand roughly through her hair.
Her heart felt heavy. The worry that had taken root there refused to dissipate. She had left the academy because she had to return to her family, and even now that she had finally escaped, her mind was in utter turmoil.
For the past few days, my heart had felt like it was floating.
‘Is this what it feels like to not be free?’
As I narrowed my eyes, I found myself contemplating the freedom of my own movements.
Of all days, a terrible incident had occurred at the academy on the very day I left. Because of that, I hadn't even been able to properly check on things.
About the incident that Cadet Han Cheon-seong had been caught up in.
I had received word from Esia and confirmed Cadet Han Cheon-seong’s condition… but the anxiety that came from not seeing him with my own eyes was impossible to erase.
Tightly.
As I slowly closed my eyes, a deep fatigue washed over my entire body.
I hadn't slept properly in days, and every night, the face of one person kept coming to mind.
His characteristic black hair.
His kind yet strong-willed face.
And those eyes that always gazed at me so forthrightly.
His sharp nose, his pale cheeks, or even that adorable reaction… surprised and flustered by my sudden actions.
Every single detail came to mind with vivid clarity.
“……”
As I opened my eyes again, the scenery of the Imperial Capital, Edelpia, was beginning to appear outside the window.
Excitement, worry, and anger coexisted, throwing my heart into chaos as I gently clenched my fist.
‘This is too dangerous.’
After realizing my feelings, the incidents he was involved in felt entirely different.
Strange accidents were happening one after another, and at the center of them was always Cadet Han Cheon-seong. The reality of it felt like there was something wrong.
My heart even sank at the news that Cadet Leonhardt, who was involved in this recent incident, had lost his Trait.
Because the same thing could have happened to Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
[The magitech train bound for the Imperial Capital, Edelpia, will be arriving in 5 minutes. 5 minutes remaining.]
Hearing the announcement, I slowly composed myself.
…Separate from my own feelings, it seemed that definite measures were needed regarding Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
***
In Han Cheon-seong’s dormitory.
As morning broke, Cheon-seong opened his eyes and immediately sat up.
*Swish!*
He began to stretch, meticulously checking his condition.
And before long, a smile graced his lips.
“Not bad.”
He had been especially careful with his movements lately, so he nodded as he loosened his stiff shoulders.
My body was now in almost perfect condition. I could feel that I had recovered enough to resume training.
In fact, perhaps because I had rested soundly for a few days in the infirmary, my body felt even better than usual.
*Crack. Snap!*
Raising both hands high above his head to finish his stretches, he felt nothing but refreshed.
“Time to start again.”
Just the thought of being able to train made his heart flutter with anticipation.
With the skill I had finally completed, the Asura Spiral Seven Forms, I could advance even further.
I had lost count of how many times I had reviewed the Asura Spiral Seven Forms over the past few days.
A completely different power that I could now wield. The anticipation it gave me… was simply incomparable to the moment I received Common Spearmanship.
It felt as though this might be the kind of joy cadets who received a Legendary Trait felt.
*
After a quick shower and changing into his cadet uniform, he swiftly left the dormitory.
The class suspension was in effect until today, and perhaps because it was early morning, there were very few cadets in sight. Normal schedules were supposed to resume tomorrow, but it was still surprisingly empty.
“They’re probably just resting.”
He muttered to himself, enjoying the sense of stability from the spear on his back.
*Thud. Thud.*
His destination was Kalli’s private training room.
The last words he had heard from Kalli last week suddenly came to mind.
—I’ll be leaving the academy for a while after today. You can use my training room while I'm gone. Feel free to use it if you want. But you know you have to follow the rules, right?
Kalli’s gentle voice, expressing her regret but also filled with kindness as she explained various things.
“…”
As her voice came to mind, he found himself wanting to see her.
Today marked a week since she had left the academy. During that time, he had been unavoidably unable to use her private training room.
Then, a small smile played on his lips.
“It does feel pretty empty without her.”
She had popped into his thoughts unexpectedly over the past few days; Kalli was truly someone he had come to rely on a great deal.
She was also the woman who had helped him achieve such rapid growth, so her significance to him was by no means small.
And… he remembered the moment she had hugged him.
“……”
The day he gifted her the bracelet, the moment she had shown her affection for him would surface in his mind unbidden.
Being held and shown affection by someone like that was a first for him in this world.
So afterward, his heart would flutter, and a ticklish affection would slowly well up in a corner of his chest.
Even to his own eyes, Kalli was incredibly charming, so it was only natural for him to feel a thrill.
Then…
He remembered being held by someone else.
Another person who had embraced him, telling him it was okay to lean on her.
The memory of Adelia’s gentle embrace, which had given him such profound solace a few days ago, surfaced, and he couldn't help but shake his head.
“To think… this is real.”
He muttered blankly, finding it all hard to believe.
It was incredible even to him, but he was receiving affection from women who were far too good for him.
Kalli and Adelia.
…And both of them were instructors at the academy. He had never imagined that they, as instructors, would harbor feelings for him, a cadet, but it was reality.
He couldn't deny what kind of feelings they held.
Both of them had shown him their hearts through their actions.
And yet… he couldn't give an answer to either of them.
“It’s not like I’m in any position to choose someone…”
He was beginning to feel a small sense of fear.
A fear that if he were to give his heart to someone, the resolve he had worked so hard to build would waver.
He knew it himself.
In the past, when he had been in a relationship, he hadn't been able to focus well on other things. His grades had dropped noticeably, and he had failed to do even the things he was supposed to.
If he were to date women as charming as them now… he had a gut feeling that he wouldn't be able to move forward properly.
Because it felt like his determination to not think only of himself would be completely blurred.
*Thud.*
Lost in his various thoughts, he found himself at Kalli’s private training room.
“Let’s clear these distracting thoughts.”
Shaking his head slightly to steel his resolve, he took out the key Kalli had given him.
*Click.*
With the sound of the key fitting perfectly, he opened the door.
The interior of the training room that came into view was so familiar, and yet…
“……!”
“……!”
As their eyes met, his body froze solid.
Her crimson hair, which seemed to be on fire, framed two wide, surprised eyes. At the same time, her pale skin, nearly bare, came into his view with stark clarity.
*Gulp.*
…The moment he registered the situation, he frantically turned around.
*Clank!*
He quickly shut the door and stepped out of the training room… his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could feel blood rushing through his body, and a heat rose within him.
Yet he couldn't bring himself to do anything.
“Why…”
He muttered blankly, feeling his heart pound rapidly.
*Thump.*
*Thump!*
Because the incredibly beautiful body he had glimpsed for a moment belonged to the very woman who had been on his mind the entire way here.
It was definitely Kalli.
From what he had heard last week, he remembered her saying she would return to the academy this evening. He never imagined she would be in the training room at such an early hour…
‘When on earth…’
As he wondered when she had returned to the academy, his lips trembled.
His heart was in turmoil.
And the image of her body from a moment ago kept replaying in his mind.
Her elegant black underwear, and her figure, which was more voluptuous than he had imagined…
*Whoosh!*
He shook his head violently and covered his face with his hands.
This was no time to be relishing the memory of her beautiful body.
*Knock, knock.*
—Excuse me… Cadet Han Cheon-seong?
He flinched at the voice that came from the other side of the door he was leaning against.
“Ah, yes… Instructor Kalli. I’m truly, truly sorry. I never thought… you would be inside.”
He spoke awkwardly, his heart feeling like it was about to explode.
***
The moment their eyes met, Kalli froze completely.
“……!”
“……!”
The sight of Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
He looked perfectly fine, even relaxed, contrary to all her worries. She was so relieved that for a moment, she forgot the situation entirely.
That she was in the middle of changing her clothes.
*Clank!*
As he frantically turned and left, she belatedly reacted, covering her body.
“…”
A burning heat suffused her entire body as she blankly looked down at herself.
Thankfully, since she was changing, she hadn't taken off her underwear, but in truth… it was as good as showing her entire body to Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
She hesitated for a moment before squeezing her eyes shut.
“Haaah…”
Blankly covering her face with her hands, she somehow managed to finish changing into her training clothes.
She felt a profound sense of shame, but she realized that the incident wasn't Cadet Han Cheon-seong’s fault.
After all, she was the one who had given him the spare key when she left the academy last week.
‘So, it’s natural he wouldn’t knock, but…’
Her rational mind knew this, but her emotions were another matter entirely.
The shame of having her body seen…
And she recalled Cadet Han Cheon-seong's dazed expression from a moment ago.
His lingering gaze that seemed to unconsciously scan her body…
Biting her lip, she walked to the door.
*Knock, knock.*
“Excuse me… Cadet Han Cheon-seong?”
She called out, assuming he hadn't left.
—Ah, yes… Instructor Kalli. I’m truly, truly sorry. I never thought… you would be inside.
Hearing his voice, so unlike the usual Cadet Han Cheon-seong, from beyond the door… she found herself flinching as well.
They were both incredibly embarrassed.