Chapter 224
Chapter 224
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: Do You... Like Luna?
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***
A soft clatter.
A series of small movements followed—scooping up dessert, fiddling with the glass that held her drink.
The time they were suddenly spending together after Luna had left.
“……”
“……”
Though their gazes crossed from time to time, they couldn't help but feel a peculiar atmosphere lingering between them. Ironically, both of them were feeling the same thing.
Neither could understand why Luna had suddenly left.
Millia couldn't comprehend the strange courtesy Luna had shown by leaving her side, while Han Cheon-seong, for his part, couldn't fathom the peculiar smile Luna had given him as she departed.
But that atmosphere was fleeting. Han Cheon-seong calmly broke the silence.
“So, what are you curious about?”
Luna’s words from before she left.
Her words—that Millia would have a lot of questions for me—weighed on my mind.
“...A lot of things.”
“A lot of things? You don’t have to be so cautious. I’ll answer whatever I can to the best of my ability.”
I’d answered Luna without hesitation, so there was no reason I couldn't do the same for Millia.
As I looked at her with a small smile, Millia nodded very awkwardly.
“Yeah. Okay….”
As she took a small bite of apple pie, I glanced around for a moment to let her relax.
A glance.
A whip of the head.
As soon as I met their eyes, most people turned their heads away, and my expression hardened.
‘This is getting on my nerves.’
I’d decided to ignore the whispers about me and let them slide, but it was a different story when I was with someone else.
It could cause trouble for the person with me, so I needed to give them a proper warning with my gaze.
After meeting the eyes of a few people like that, I felt many of the stares disappear.
“Han Cheon-seong. You said you completed a skill, right? What did it feel like in that moment?”
When Millia finally asked, I calmly turned my head.
“It was pretty special. It felt completely different from usual.”
“Completely different?”
“The moments I evolved my traits were truly joyful, but the sensation I felt when I completed the skill was on another level entirely.”
In fact, I still couldn't forget the sensation of completing the skill. A very special feeling, as if I had finally reached the power I was meant to grasp.
And the thrill that ran through my entire body….
Slowly, I clenched one hand, and confidence swelled within me.
Although I couldn't defeat the Apostle with my own strength alone in that moment, I was confident I could in the future.
“I see. Hearing you say that makes me even more curious. I hope I can get a skill soon.”
As she spoke with earnest longing, a small laugh escaped me.
“Millia. From my perspective, you're already doing well enough. I'd rather you not be impatient. As long as you're thinking clearly about the path forward, you'll definitely get there."
I spoke cautiously, taking care not to sound disingenuous.
“Ah, right…. Yeah. I think so too.”
With the newfound confidence in her voice, the awkwardness between us had vanished.
And I truly didn't think I was spouting empty words.
‘Even if it takes time.’
I believed it was possible for Millia to awaken a skill.
When I first met her, she was only at Trait Level 1. But now she's reached Level 3, showing incredibly fast growth.
I was the one who grew abnormally by facing crises; it wasn't that she was slow.
“So, is there anything else you're curious about?”
“Uhm... I do, but it feels a bit weird for me to be the only one asking questions. On the other hand, is there anything you're curious about? I can answer too."
When she asked in return, I blinked, and something I was curious about came to mind.
“I do have something I'm curious about. How did you... get close to Luna?”
“...With Luna?”
“Yeah. It was nice to see you two were so close, but on the other hand, I was a bit envious.”
In the original story, Luna's role was quite significant. In contrast, Millia had almost no presence. So, how the two became close was never explained in the story.
I wanted to satisfy my curiosity with this opportunity.
“Luna and I… our families have had ties for a long time."
“So you've known each other since you were kids?”
“Yeah. You could say that. Plus, I liked Luna, and she seemed to think I was alright too. We just naturally got along.”
“I see…”
But as Millia continued in a subdued voice, I couldn't help but feel a strange emotion.
A pause.
“Then let's take turns asking questions from now on. I think that would be more comfortable.”
So I felt I should change the subject.
*
The conversation that followed in the cafe was indescribably peculiar.
I continued to ask questions related to Luna, thinking she was our common interest and connection, but Millia remained subdued the entire time.
So, at some point, I realized.
‘More than I thought…’
The fact that Millia didn't like talking about Luna.
I didn't know if she considered my questions an invasion of privacy between friends, but every time I asked about Luna, Millia's tone would sink.
“...Han Cheon-seong. How long are you free today? I have a few more questions.”
“I'm free until evening.”
“Then can we stay together until evening?”
...She asked so directly that I was a little surprised, but I couldn't refuse.
I nodded slightly and gave an awkward smile.
“Of course, that's fine.”
“In return for keeping me company, I'll buy you dinner.”
Seeing her gentle smile, I felt a sense of relief and found myself staring at her.
“It's fine. I'm enjoying my time with you, that's why I'm making time.”
My financial situation had improved, so I didn't particularly want to be treated. I'd only meant it that way, but Millia froze and met my gaze.
“No, I'm the one who had questions for you... I'd feel better if I at least bought dinner. So please, don't feel burdened and accept.”
“...If you insist, then okay."
Just as I answered lightly.
I blinked.
'Wait.'
There was another event tomorrow.
The event where Luna causes trouble in the joint lecture...
In the original story, even though Luna was a Class B student, she caused a huge problem and ended up being paired with a Class A student.
And the person who had to handle that Luna was none other than Leonhardt….
I, who had been focused only on the Apostle, realized it too late.
***
The sky, stained red by the setting sun.
Tap.
Millia, who had been staring blankly at the beautiful sky, gently shifted her gaze to the person beside her.
“……”
His black hair, so different from her own, and his calm, composed face were what caught her eye.
The kindness in his eyes, hidden within a seemingly sharp impression, was even more different than when she first met him at the entrance ceremony.
‘He looks so much more at ease.’
A maturity, clearly different from the other students, was noticeable. She'd felt it moments ago, too, when they were talking and when he interacted with others.
Walking down the academy's main thoroughfare, just the two of them, was certainly unexpected.
And yet, happiness seemed to have found her unexpectedly, bringing a sense of peace.
Moreover, she was gradually realizing that this meaningful time was thanks to Luna's consideration.
‘Luna would never normally leave like that.’
Slowly.
Then his head turned toward her, and their eyes naturally met.
“Millia.”
“Yes."
“Um... we have that joint lecture tomorrow.”
“I know. Why do you ask?”
“You know we'll be paired with Class A students then, right?
”I know."
“First of all, I'm not worried about you. I think you'll adapt well no matter who you're paired with.”
“I think the same about you.”
She naturally returned the out-of-the-blue compliment.
Hearing him say he trusted her was making her feel good, but then...
“Actually, it's not about that. I'm a little worried about Luna.”
The moment Luna's name left Han Cheon-seong's lips again, my heart sank.
“Han Cheon-seong. I'm sure Luna will be fine. You don't have to worry so much... I've already told Luna about tomorrow's lecture.”
Even as I spoke, my voice sounding cold even to my own ears, my heart wavered violently.
‘Why.’
...Why does he keep bringing up Luna when he's with me?
Even in the cafe, when he told me to ask what I was curious about, Han Cheon-seong didn't really ask questions about me.
He'd asked questions that were related to me, but also to Luna.
From how we became friends to how it was a relief we got along so well despite our different personalities... every question seemed to have a bit of Luna mixed in.
“That's... true. Still, I thought if Luna ran into any trouble, you would be troubled too. So... this might be overstepping, but there's a Class A student named Yumia that I know. I thought if I put in a word with her about Luna beforehand, it might make things easier for you too. What do you think…?”
But despite my reaction, Han Cheon-seong cautiously pressed his opinion.
He clearly showed his concern for Luna, even suggesting a solution to me.
“Then I suppose that would be better for Luna."
“Right? Then I'll pass the message along."
Watching Han Cheon-seong reply as if relieved, I felt my heart freeze over.
“……”
While we were in the cafe, I was constantly swept up in contradictory emotions.
I felt incredibly grateful to Luna for creating this opportunity for me.
But in reality.
I hated so much that Han Cheon-seong was showing interest in Luna, not me.
So every time he mentioned Luna, I just endured it…. And endured it again.
And each time, my heart sank into a murky pit.
For the first time today, I realized how childish and petty my heart was.
But I couldn't deny how much I hated it when the person I liked kept talking about someone else.
...Especially if that person was Luna.
I just wanted him to look only at me, at least during this time we were alone together, but he kept acting differently.
Tap.
As I stopped walking, a self-deprecating smile escaped my lips without me realizing it.
“...Han Cheon-seong.”
“Huh? Millia.”
Looking at him, who had stopped walking to match me, I let out a deep breath.
...And I made up my mind.
I felt that I needed to hear a proper answer from him now, so I could figure out what to do with my own feelings.
“I want you to be honest with me. Do you... like Luna?”
“…!”
As I looked at the seemingly shocked Han Cheon-seong...
I felt as if my heart was crumbling to pieces.