Chapter 233
Chapter 233
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 233
Chapter Title: A Change of Heart
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***
The next day, Saturday morning.
Han Cheon-seong blinked blankly.
“…”
In his vision, the dormitory ceiling slowly brightened.
*When did so much time pass?*
Lost in continuous thought and worry, time slipped by silently.
Yesterday, he had faced an apostle and overcome a crisis. After the day ended, he had simply remained lost in thought, and now it was already the next morning.
*Rustle.*
He gently brushed his face and dazedly rubbed his eyes.
Having not slept, his body was quite exhausted.
He hadn't slept a wink all night.
He felt a renewed sense of relief that it was the weekend, and a faint breath escaping his lips gently tapped against his hand.
"...Haa."
With his hand still on his face, a hollow laugh escaped him.
"How long will my luck last?"
He muttered the word, "luck." He believed luck had been on his side until now. That his continued survival was thanks to a streak of good fortune.
Every crisis he had overcome so far had been like walking a tightrope.
Crises where it wouldn't have been strange if the rope had snapped at any moment, sending him plummeting below.
And yesterday…
"Glacia... was hurt."
That was clearly a mistake in his judgment.
The Demonic Beast's Frenzy. He had arbitrarily concluded that he could handle the power of the apostle from the second episode on his own.
Even though this world had already deviated and diverged significantly from what he knew, he had still thought that way and tried to face the apostle with Glacia.
And in that process, he had realized.
"..."
As he stared at the ceiling, the image flickered in his vision again.
Glacia's form, floating in the air, blood scattering from her.
The sensation of his heart twisting as he watched her then was still vivid even a day later.
"This can't... go on."
As he muttered dazedly, a deep breath tickled his hand again.
For the past few days, he had decided on his course of action.
Fill the void left by Leonhardt, who had lost his trait.
Act first to prevent other victims and execute the apostles…
He had steeled his resolve.
But that resolve had crumbled at the sight of Glacia yesterday.
His actions.
His judgment.
His firm confidence, his faith in them, vanished, forcing him to look back at himself.
*—I'm really fine. Han Cheon-seong, you should think about yourself first. You're exhausted.*
He suddenly recalled the calm voice of Glacia before they parted.
Despite following him into the forest without knowing why and suffering such a terrible accident, she didn't blame him in the slightest.
...That's why he felt it even more.
"I couldn't even properly protect someone I have a connection with."
As he muttered blankly, his heart was heavy.
Because of his actions, Glacia had been badly hurt. Looking back now, it could have been far more dangerous.
The thought brought another empty laugh.
His growth rate was certainly faster than anyone else's.
A considerable amount of time had passed since he surpassed even Leonhardt, the protagonist of this world.
But even so... he was lacking.
In the end, he couldn't do it 'alone'. Trying to face and resolve the coming crises by himself…
He couldn't assume that heaven-sent luck would be on his side next time.
No, he shouldn't think that way. He needed to think more concretely and make better judgments.
*Slowly.*
As he dazedly sat up, a deep breath escaped him.
And to do that, he couldn't just sit here thinking; he had to act.
"...I should get ready to go out."
The sun was already up, and he had to pull himself together, thinking about the time he could go meet her.
Yesterday, while explaining the situation with the apostle to Kalli, he had made an appointment with her.
He had told her he wanted to have a more serious conversation and even asked her to spare some time for him today, on the weekend.
And Kalli... had readily accepted.
*Slap!*
He slapped his cheeks, waking his hazy mind.
*
After getting ready and walking for some time, he soon arrived at the appointed place.
Kalli's private training room. He had promised to meet her here.
*Knock, knock.*
He knocked on the door of Kalli's private training room and spoke.
"It's Han Cheon-seong, Instructor Kalli."
*—Come in.*
Hearing Kalli's usual calm voice... he took a moment to catch his breath and compose himself.
*I have no choice but to ask her, no matter what.*
Yesterday, he hadn't been able to explain properly when he spoke to her. He had accepted all of Kalli's harsh rebukes after she heard his story.
Recalling how Kalli had repeatedly expressed her concern, asking why he had acted so recklessly, calling it an incredibly dangerous act... he knew he had to properly ask for her help now.
*Click.*
As he carefully opened the door and entered, he saw Kalli, dressed not in her instructor's uniform but in a pure white training outfit.
"First, I'm very sorry for asking for your time on a weekend."
"No. You don't need to be so formal."
He slowly approached her as she watched him with a faint smile.
Kalli must have sensed that he hadn't asked to meet for a spar or training like before.
That must be why she was just staring at him intently.
*Step. Step…*
As the distance between them closed, both Kalli's and his heart stirred strangely.
“…”
Kalli's eyes, watching him without a word.
As he recognized the emotion in her eyes, a part of him hesitated.
*Will she really accept what I have to say?*
The doubt of whether she would accept his words without refusal. Separate from the feelings she held for him, what he was about to say felt ambiguous even to himself.
"Cadet Han Cheon-seong. First... I'm sorry."
He froze for a moment at her words.
"Instructor Kalli?"
"Something so dangerous shouldn't have happened in the first place yesterday... I know it wasn't your fault, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. But thinking back on how I rebuked your judgment and shamed you, I feel I pushed you too hard."
"Not at all. I also think that I... made a hasty decision back then."
"Even so, Cadet Han Cheon-seong... I only said those things because I was truly worried about you... I hope you haven't taken them to heart."
Watching Kalli speak so cautiously... he slowly nodded.
He understood everything she said and held no resentment. Rather, seeing her apologize for her words yesterday and seem to be checking his reaction, his heart felt utterly clear.
"Your words made me realize I need to be more careful. You don't need to say that at all."
"Hearing you say that... puts my mind at ease, but. To be honest, I think my emotions got the better of me yesterday. I regretted it all night, thinking I was too harsh on you, Cadet Han Cheon-seong, especially with Cadet Glacia right there."
Seeing Kalli repeatedly apologize to him, a laugh escaped him.
"I'm really okay."
"You're really... okay?"
"I truly haven't taken it to heart at all. In fact, I'm grateful."
As he spoke calmly, the worries he'd had all the way here and the doubts about whether she would accept his words now felt ridiculous.
*—Kalli Ishtar.*
The woman worrying about him like this right before his eyes was such a transparent person. Infinitely upright and honest. A person who, while expressing her own feelings, only ever showed her affection for him.
Seeing Kalli, who seemed relieved at his demeanor, carefully open her mouth, his own heart felt lighter.
"...So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about? It sounded quite serious."
Looking at Kalli, who asked calmly, he hesitated no longer.
"Instructor Kalli."
***
*—What a relief.*
That was the greatest emotion Kalli felt as she faced Han Cheon-seong entering the training room.
The news that he had faced an apostle again yesterday. And that he had even gone looking for the apostle himself... Kalli had ended up saying harsh things she would never normally say.
Things like asking why he hadn't sought out an instructor and had made such a foolish decision.
Even she felt she had said many quite harsh things.
That's why... Kalli couldn't even sleep properly. Her words had stemmed from worry, but she thought they must have sounded harsh to him, not conveying her true meaning, and she had deeply regretted it.
But seeing Cheon-seong not only acting as usual but also accepting her words so readily, Kalli felt relieved and took him in with her eyes even more.
And why... she liked him.
She was unconsciously reminded of it again.
…
"...I know my words may sound like an absurd request, but I hope you will accept."
She listened to the words spoken in a calm, continuous voice, and at the end, she calmly met the gaze of Cadet Han Cheon-seong, who never once looked away.
More seriously than any other time she had heard him speak, Cadet Han Cheon-seong was speaking to her.
And she could feel something like a desperate wish.
So she understood what he was asking of her. But now, she found Cadet Han Cheon-seong a little hard to understand.
“…Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
"Yes, Instructor Kalli."
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him, who was gazing at her with a serious tone in his voice.
*Why is he making this sound so difficult?*
What Cadet Han Cheon-seong wanted from her could be summarized in a single phrase.
*—To help him without any conditions.*
He was asking her to help him... without questioning his reasons. And to her, she didn't understand why he was finding it so difficult.
"Why are you making it so difficult?"
"...Pardon?"
"You don't have to ask so difficultly."
As she spoke calmly, it didn't seem like a difficult request at all.
Even if Cadet Han Cheon-seong didn't ask so desperately... she was planning to do so if he wanted it anyway.
"Does that mean…"
"I'll accept. In fact, I want you to ask me anytime, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Whether something is difficult, or if there's anything you need my strength for, whatever it is. I'm saying you don't have to state your intentions so arduously like this. I won't ask for reasons every time I help you."