Chapter 236
Chapter 236
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 236
Chapter Title: Would you accept it even if I kissed you now?
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***
As I approached Glacia, she greeted me calmly, contrary to what I expected.
“I didn't expect to see you here. What a coincidence.”
“I know. Glacia, are you really sure you're okay?”
“I'm fine. There isn't even a scar left.”
Her voice was as detached and composed as ever.
As I sat beside her and we fell into a natural conversation, something felt different than I'd anticipated.
I expected her to say something about Kalli and me, even if it was just a small comment, but she didn't ask a thing.
So as our conversation continued, a sense of calm slowly washed over me.
*It must not be a big deal.*
I'd only touched Kalli's cheek to brush off a flower petal, not as a gesture of affection.
Besides, knowing Glacia's personality, I doubted she would have thought much of it even if she had seen me.
“Han Cheon-seong.”
“Yes, Glacia?”
“Listen. There's something I need to tell you.”
“What is it? Don't hesitate to tell me.”
I calmly met her gaze.
“……”
Her gaze was clear and direct. Meeting those distinctive blue eyes, I was once again relieved that her face bore no scars.
“I've found a clue to a skill.”
I blinked at her casually spoken words.
The lightness of her tone belied the weight of her words.
“W-Wait a minute… Glacia. Are you serious?”
“I am. Yesterday, I suddenly felt a strange sensation. And I realized it was a clue to a skill.”
Hearing the faint excitement in her voice, I studied her carefully.
“……”
As I considered if anything about her had changed, I did sense a shift.
*It's real.*
Her energy felt more refined than usual. In just a single day, it had changed beyond recognition.
Even the clarity in her eyes as she gazed at me told me she was speaking the truth.
“Really... That's amazing! Congratulations, Glacia! So you can sense the concept of a skill now?”
A wave of genuine happiness washed over me as I congratulated her.
“Yes. But I still have a long way to go. I think I'll have to work much harder to grasp it fully.”
“Yeah, that makes sense. Still, it's incredible. Oh, and while a skill is important, I think you should focus on developing your Trait first.”
“Is that more important?”
“Much more. I've been down this road before. I put a huge strain on my body trying to awaken a skill too forcefully. It nearly broke me... Now I know why. My body wasn't ready to handle it.”
“So... Trait Level 5 should come first.”
“Exactly. But still... this is really amazing, Glacia.”
I congratulated her again, making sure to warn her of the dangers I'd experienced.
I was happy to share the lessons I'd learned from nearly destroying myself.
*This is completely unexpected.*
Even Leonhardt, the original protagonist, hadn't found a 'clue to a skill' at Trait Level 4.
I'd managed it only after overcoming numerous crises and desperately seeking a breakthrough, but skills were never meant to be acquired easily.
“…Alright, I'll be careful. You don't have to worry so much.”
“Still, I hope you don't get too obsessed with it. For someone like you, the skill will come naturally as you grow. There's no need to rush.”
The more I said it, the more surreal it felt.
Seeing someone I was close to get stronger was nothing but a joy.
Furthermore, with someone as powerful as Glacia awakening in Class A, we'd be able to overcome future crises more easily.
This meant the burden on me, the one who had to take Leonhardt's place, would be significantly lightened.
And for Glacia, of all people, to have achieved this level of growth…
“Actually, on a happy occasion like this, just congratulating you with words doesn't feel right.”
“If not with words, then what…?”
“I'll treat you to a nice dinner tonight. You've found a clue to a skill; the least I can do is celebrate with you.”
Overcome with joy, I grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a little shake.
*Shake, shake.*
As she swayed dazedly in my grip, her blank stare was just amusing.
*She could be a little more excited.*
Since Glacia was so calm about gaining a skill, I felt like I was getting overly excited on her behalf.
Still, I really wanted to celebrate with her, even if it was like this.
“……Hey, that hurts.”
When Glacia frowned slightly and grabbed my arm, I cleared my throat and let go.
“Ahem. I just got a little carried away... But seriously, you can look forward to dinner. I'll take you somewhere nice.”
“…I don't really mind either way.”
“Come on, Glacia. Aren't you happy? It's a clue to a skill. I was ecstatic when I found mine.”
I was a bit puzzled as I said it.
The first day I found a clue to my skill, I was too excited to sleep, and every day after felt incredibly meaningful.
And though that joy eventually faded as I focused on saving Karite, gaining such great power was still a momentous occasion.
“I am… happy.”
“Really? You don't seem very excited. I would have thought you'd come find me to tell me.”
“That was… my intention.”
“It was?”
“Yes… I wanted to tell you first. I even went to your dorm to find you.”
I was a little surprised by her words. So she had been looking for me.
*So we just missed each other.*
I must have been with Kalli at the time. It was a shame I couldn't congratulate her right away, which made me even more determined to treat her to a really nice dinner.
“But, Han Cheon-seong.”
“Yes?”
“Why… were you with Instructor Kalli today?”
When she finally brought up Kalli, I paused for a moment before answering, keeping my expression neutral.
“I met with her to ask for a personal favor. Instructor Kalli was kind enough to grant my request.”
“…A personal favor?”
“Yes. It's about my training. It was a bit rude of me to ask for her time on a weekend, but she accepted, and I'm very grateful.”
And I meant every word.
Asking for her help was a deeply personal request, and because she so readily agreed, my own feelings toward her grew warmer. I was truly thankful.
“……”
But when Glacia didn't respond, I carefully met her gaze.
*Could it be...*
I had the strange feeling she was thinking about what I'd done with Kalli.
***
Staring at Cheon-seong, Glacia felt a strange sense of unease.
She could tell he wasn't lying to her, but a gut feeling told her there was something he wasn't saying.
“……”
The way he met her gaze was exactly like the Han Cheon-seong she knew.
He had celebrated her discovery of a skill clue with more enthusiasm than she'd expected, which had, in turn, made her happier than she let on.
His words made it clear just how close they had become.
And yet… something felt off.
A corner of her mind couldn't let it go.
That was why she had asked about Instructor Kalli directly, and his answer made a vague sort of sense.
“Han Cheon-seong.”
“Yes… Glacia.”
She watched him closely, then chose her next words carefully.
“I think you need to be careful.”
“Careful?”
Seeing his innocent reaction, she nodded absently.
…She couldn't be certain of what she'd sensed.
But she felt she had to warn him.
The look Instructor Kalli had given him earlier kept replaying in her mind.
As far as she knew, that was the kind of look you only saw from a certain *type* of person.
“Even if she's an instructor, I don't think you should blindly follow or rely on her.”
“What… are you talking about?”
Seeing him take her words more seriously, she reached out without hesitation.
And just as he had done in his excitement moments before, she placed her hand on his shoulder.
“This doesn't bother you, does it?”
“…Of course not. It's not like this means anything, right?”
“Right. It doesn't mean anything. I'm just touching you as a friend.”
As she spoke, the hand on his shoulder slid gently upward. Her touch traced the line of his neck until it reached his face.
She gently cupped his face, watching his reaction closely.
He flinched at her touch, his eyes filled with confusion. That was how he looked at her.
*Just as I thought...*
And, just as she'd expected, he didn't resist at all.
“You seem too unguarded to me.”
“…Why are you saying that all of a sudden?”
“You're not pushing me away, even though I'm doing this.”
As she spoke, she was beginning to understand.
For a long time, she'd never had a proper friend, so she'd simply been acting out the gestures she'd only ever observed between others.
And Han Cheon-seong had accepted it all.
When she hugged him or held his hand without a second thought, he simply accepted it.
That was part of why she'd acted that way. But she now saw that those actions could be interpreted differently.
She was realizing it now.
“Glacia… it would be strange for me to push you away now. Like you said, I know your actions don't mean anything.”
Seeing him reply with an awkward smile… her heart stirred with a subtle emotion.
*I'm grateful that he accepts me, but...*
That's what made it feel so strange.
She and Han Cheon-seong were truly close, and she had even started to form friend-like relationships with others.
For instance, she could now call Leonhardt and Yumia her friends.
But this was different.
Even within her own definition of 'friend', Han Cheon-seong felt distinctly different from the other two.
“You allow this because it's me, right?”
“Well… yes.”
“Then what if it wasn't me? What if Instructor Kalli did this to you? Would you allow it then?”
“That… I suppose I would, assuming Instructor Kalli had a good reason?”
She narrowed her eyes at his hesitant reply.
“Why would you just accept it?”
“…Huh?”
“I don't understand why you'd just assume there's a reason and allow it. You can refuse Instructor Kalli's advances, you know.”
“Wait. Glacia, what are you trying to say? Are you telling me to be wary of Instructor Kalli?”
At his incredulous tone, she tightened her grip on his face slightly.
She turned his head to face her directly and answered in a firm voice.
“That's right. I'm telling you to be wary.”
“…What?”
“We're friends, a relationship where we both accept each other. But that means you need to be careful with everyone else.”
She felt it with certainty as she spoke.
Han Cheon-seong was in a very dangerous position right now.
He lets people get too close without thinking. And he himself gets too close to others just as easily.
That… didn't seem right.
Because the look she had seen in Instructor Kalli's eyes was dangerous.
"Glacia… don't you think you're overreacting? It's Instructor Kalli. I think I understand what you're trying to say, but…"
"Han Cheon-seong."
She cut him off with a sigh.
*This is exactly why...*
This was the problem.
Because he felt so defenseless.
"Would you accept it even if I kissed you right now?"