Chapter 266
Chapter 266
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 266
Chapter Title: Back to Reality
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"...."
When I opened my eyes after a long dream, the first thing I saw was darkness.
As my blurry vision slowly came into focus, I could finally take in 'reality'.
The strangest thing was that I didn't feel like I had just woken up at all.
It was just... an indescribable feeling... as if I had returned to where I was meant to be.
*What a relief.*
Even though I was aware it had been a dream, all I could think was that it was a relief.
The pain I'd felt while fighting for my life against monsters in the dream,
my heart that had felt on the verge of collapsing despite calmly accepting such tragedy,
and the metallic scent of blood that felt like it would numb my nose—
it was all gone.
Everything had vanished like a momentary illusion.
Only pure, jet-black darkness filled my vision.
"...."
And more than anything, the fact that the horrific traces of corpses strewn everywhere were no longer in my sight... allowed my heart to find peace.
...And so I realized.
That 'this place' where I was, was reality.
"Are you awake?"
At the soft, whispered voice, I blinked and lifted my head.
It was then I realized I was leaning against Kalli.
"...Ah, yes."
As I opened my mouth, my voice was hoarse, and I couldn't continue speaking.
And gradually, the memories of today seemed to return properly. I had trained in the release technique Kalli taught me, and at the end, I had fallen asleep in her embrace.
...And it seemed I had been leaning against Kalli like this the entire time, until the moment I woke up.
"Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Did you... have a bad dream or something? You look quite pale."
At her gentle voice, which carefully observed me... my eyes strangely blurred.
But that, too, was only for a moment.
"I'm fine."
...I shook my head and collected myself.
A dream.
*Right, it was just a dream.*
No matter how much hardship and suffering I endured in that dream, as if it were real, it was still just a dream.
However, my heart felt like it was sinking endlessly. Even though I knew everything I had just experienced was a dream... my mood wouldn't easily recover.
"I must have pushed you harder than I thought, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. I should have been more considerate, I'm sorry. I actually thought about waking you up midway to take you to the dorms, but you were sleeping so soundly I couldn't bring myself to do it..."
"...No. I'm fine."
As I spoke, a small laugh escaped me.
...A warm and gentle voice.
It was so different from my situation just a moment ago. The difference in warmth was so extreme that I was struggling to adjust...
"Instructor, have you been holding me this whole time?"
I asked in a hoarse voice, leaning my head a little more against her shoulder.
"Ah, yes. Was it uncomfortable?"
...Perhaps my action was unexpected, as I could feel Kalli's surprise, and a faint laugh escaped me.
"No, not at all. It's because I'm so grateful."
...Having escaped that hellish dream, I was simply grateful to be receiving such warm consideration.
"And it seems to be quite late. You aren't overexerting yourself because of me, are you?"
I spoke in a hoarse voice, needing time to compose my heart.
"It is late. It's already past eleven..."
As she gently wrapped an arm around my shoulder, I realized anew just how long I had been asleep... and I didn't want to part from her just yet.
*To be more precise...*
I didn't want to be alone again. I felt as if the dream from moments ago would seize me once more.
—The forest engulfed in flames.
Everywhere I went was filled with threatening monsters, and I had to constantly face the sight of people dying.
Even knowing it was all a dream, I couldn't escape it.
I believed I had to kill the monsters that were killing people, and in the dream, I had tried to kill as many as I could, even to the point of breaking my own body.
For quite a long time, at that...
*I know it was just a dream, really.*
I just couldn't turn away from the people dying right before my eyes.
I... felt it for the first time.
What it feels like to see someone die before your eyes, even if they're a stranger. The sight of people falling helplessly in the face of destructive scenery was not something one could simply ignore.
The terribly vivid dream had starkly revealed how my heart would react.
And now, having barely escaped it.
I just wanted to lean into the comfort of this moment, into the warmth Kalli was showing me.
"Cadet Han Cheon-seong."
"...Yes."
"Don't think about strange things right now."
At the sudden voice... I froze.
Leaning against her shoulder now, it didn't feel like Kalli was looking at me.
She was just accepting me as I was, yet it seemed as if she knew exactly what was on my mind.
"Don't hold onto difficult thoughts for too long... I don't know what's troubling you, but try to think simply. Think about the reality right in front of you, and think about me, who's here by your side."
Her endlessly gentle voice firmly grounded my heart.
...Telling me I didn't need to dwell on such a dream or suffer because of it.
It was so strange.
I definitely hadn't said anything to her. How could Kalli know just the right words to say to set me straight?
"I will."
...Slowly nodding, I let out a soft chuckle. I gently turned my head to look at Kalli.
*Rustle.*
Her hand stroking my hair as I leaned against her was strangely ticklish, and the sight of Kalli in my view was as beautiful as ever.
My deeply sunken, heavy heart became magically light with just a few of her words.
"..."
As I gazed at her without a word, Kalli gently met my eyes, and even that looked like a painting to me.
And then.
*So this is why it's so important...*
I think I finally understood why having someone by your side when you're struggling means so much.
I hadn't even told her I was having a hard time. Yet, someone who understood me so well was right here.
"...."
I could feel her heart just from the way her eyes looked at me now.
Her heart, which loved and cared for me so much. And so, I naturally came to realize just how much happiness I was experiencing right now.
*Ssk.*
I gently tilted my head and pressed my lips lightly to her cheek.
*Chu.*
...My heart led the way, and my body naturally followed.
Because she looked even more lovely.
"Ah..."
And seeing Kalli react so strongly to even a light kiss seemed to fill my heart.
She was so lovely like this, but the Kalli from a moment ago, who had been so considerate as to let me lean on her completely, was different.
It was fascinating, and I liked that too.
"Is the time okay?"
"...Hm?"
"The time, I mean. I was wondering if it's okay for you to stay with me later, or if I might be forcing you to stay."
I spoke calmly, unable to tear my eyes away from her.
—A little.
We had clearly accepted our relationship with the line drawn at 'a little'.
But right now, I wanted to cross that 'little' line between us.
"...H-Han Cheon-seong... Cadet? No matter what... I think it's a bit too soon for us to spend time... like that..."
But perhaps my words were too sudden.
Kalli, unable to hide her flustered state, rambled and trembled, and I could clearly see her gaze darting about.
And as even her body, pressed against mine, flinched with tension, I instinctively felt it.
*Not yet.*
That thought came to mind seeing her, but instead, a faint laugh escaped me.
I didn't know how far Kalli's thoughts had gone with me... but I found it a little cheeky.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be reacting like that.
"Instructor Kalli?"
"...Uh, yes."
"Just how far are your thoughts going? I only wanted to spend a little more time with you..."
As I trailed off and narrowed my eyes, Kalli grew even more flustered.
"H-How far... No, it's just that... Cadet Han Cheon-seong? I hope you don't... misunderstand. I wasn't thinking anything like that... at all."
Kalli, reacting so innocently to my teasing question.
Finding her adorable, I gently pulled my leaning body away.
*Ssk.*
And I naturally raised my hand.
"...."
As I caressed her pale cheek, which was visible even in the darkness, I took in her lovely flinch before holding her head and guiding it toward me.
...As I naturally met my lips with her dazed, approaching face, in this moment, I simply wanted her.
*Thump.*
As our lips touched, I held her gaze, her eyes wavering even more, but I didn't hesitate.
"Eut... Heup!"
As I gently angled our joined lips, I found myself wanting to see her react even more strongly.
As I did, my hand naturally moved to cradle the back of her head, preventing her from pulling away.
Her eyes, squeezed shut.
Her face, completely flushed red.
And the intense heat radiating from our connected lips...
Feeling all of it... I even felt relieved that she had responded that way.
*Not yet...*
For now, I can be satisfied with this.
Because Kalli wasn't ready to fully accept me just a moment ago, I decided to be content with continuing our kiss.
Therefore, I won't cross the line any further.
"Mmph...!"
But as we simply continued to kiss, Kalli's resistance completely vanished, and it felt as if she was constantly tempting me.
To make me cross the line.
To make me crave her more...
*Srrk.*
As I gently pulled my lips away, an indescribably sensual thread connected her lips and mine.
"Haa..."
As Kalli exhaled a ragged breath with completely unfocused eyes, I gently pulled her into my arms.
As her slender form pressed against mine, I felt both satisfied and yet, still wanting.
"...Really. Are you going to keep looking at me like that?"
"Why..."
At her dazed reply, I swallowed the rest of my words.
*Because it's really hard to hold back.*
"It's just because you're so beautiful."
I said something else... while holding her a little more tightly in my embrace.