Chapter 268
Chapter 268
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 268
Chapter Title: You're Not Having Strange Thoughts Right Now, Are You?
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The sky, painted by the setting sun.
The reddish sky, neither blue nor truly dark, stirred a peculiar sentiment in some.
A strange sentiment that compelled one to gaze endlessly, lost in thought.
“Kalli, why have you been spacing out so much lately?”
Esia’s curious voice filled the cafe.
“Ah, sorry.”
Kalli, sitting opposite her, gave an awkward smile and looked down from the sunset-stained sky.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for. We’re meeting to relax, after all… Still, I’d like to have a proper conversation partner. What’s going on? Is something troubling you? For that to be the case, your expression isn't that dark. Who are you thinking of?”
As Esia grinned and posed her questions, Kalli offered a small smile and shook her head.
“It’s nothing. I was just looking because the sky seemed especially beautiful today.”
“‘Nothing,’ my foot. Do you know how unlike yourself you’ve been lately? So sentimental, I should say… You don’t seem like the Kalli I know. I’m telling you, you’ve changed.”
“Unlike myself? And what do you mean I’ve changed?”
Despite her feigned ignorance, Kalli winced inwardly.
‘Her intuition is still sharp.’
Esia had a knack for prodding at one’s heart in the most unexpected ways. Whether it was a personal worry or a change of heart, she was good at picking up on it and pressing the point, just like now.
Perhaps… I let my guard down a little in front of Esia.
“So, you’re going to hide it from me?”
“There’s nothing to hide. If I made you feel left out, I’ll pay proper attention to you now. Don’t worry.”
There was no hesitation in her answer.
My relationship with Cadet Han Cheon-seong was strictly a secret. A relationship that could not be spoken of or revealed to anyone.
…In the first place, an instructor dating a cadet would be seen as abnormal by anyone who heard of it.
‘Unless it was Instructor Adelia, who shares the same secret as me….’
No matter how close I was with Esia, I couldn’t open up about Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
Slice, plop!
Gently, I cut a piece from my slice of apple pie and placed it on Esia’s plate.
Seeing the piece of apple pie land on her plate, Esia let out a soft chuckle.
“Kalli, be honest. You order apple pie on purpose, don’t you?”
“Well…?”
“Anyway, you always get me to let it go when you do this. You sure know I like apple pie.”
*Chomp.*
As Esia, an apple pie lover, laughed and let the subject drop, his image momentarily flickered over hers in my mind’s eye.
Black hair, a stark contrast to Esia’s silver.
And a calm smile, also a contrast to Esia’s bright one.
And then… the thought of him, who had been more openly affectionate lately, made my heart flutter before I knew it.
‘Come to think of it, Cadet Han Cheon-seong liked apple pie too.’
It wasn’t because of Esia; the reason I’d been choosing apple pie often lately was because it reminded me of Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
Besides, I don’t dislike apple pie either.
“Kalli.”
“Yes?”
At her call, I pushed my thoughts aside and met her gaze. Esia suddenly wore a peculiar expression.
“You know. This is a bit of a different topic, but about Cadet Han Cheon-seong lately.”
“…Ah, yes. Why?”
I was instantly flustered as I replied.
Even if I’d been acting differently lately, I shouldn’t have shown any signs regarding Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
I didn’t know why his name had come from Esia’s lips.
“Haa, you know…”
When Esia hesitated, not continuing immediately, I found myself tensing up.
Just as my heart was pounding, wondering if she knew something about him and me…
*Thud.*
Esia rested her chin on the table and stared at me intently.
“No, it’s nothing. Kalli. In your opinion… how has Cadet Han Cheon-seong been these days?”
“In my opinion? What do you… mean by that?”
I had already answered countless questions about Cadet Han Cheon-seong long ago.
Esia knew that too, so she probably wasn’t just asking about my feelings.
“Lately, I’ve just been a bit curious. The thought that… there’s something about Cadet Han Cheon-seong that I don’t know just won’t leave my mind.”
A sudden change of topic.
…Furthermore, the words coming from Esia’s mouth were enough to fluster me even more.
“Curious… Wai-wait a minute, what do you mean by that?”
“What do I mean? It means I’m curious, just as I said.”
I blinked rapidly at her nonchalant reply.
Out of the blue… I didn’t know what she intended by saying this to me.
“Pfft… Kalli. What on earth are you thinking right now?”
“…Huh?”
“Did what I said sound that strange? I just meant I’m curious. You don’t think I meant I’m interested in him as a man, do you?”
“Ah, no… of course not. It just sounded a little odd.”
“Sounding odd means exactly that. Really, you… how could you even think that? How could an instructor have ulterior motives for a cadet?”
She even waved her hands while bursting into laughter, and I flinched even more at her words.
‘What?’
Could Esia have noticed my relationship with Cadet Han Cheon-seong?
Was she deliberately teasing me because she knew? Just as my heart sank…
Esia continued speaking calmly.
“Hey. You’ve heard the rumor that Ariya, the Master of the Magic Tower, visited the academy a while back, right?”
“…Yeah. I know the Tower Master visited when I wasn’t here. But why?”
—Magic Tower Master.
I knew she was talking about Ariya Schpellen, the master of the Central Magic Tower.
“It seems the purpose of her visit was related to the incident that happened back then. First she met with Cadet Han Cheon-seong, and also Cadet Leonhardt… and at that time, the Tower Master personally gave a token to Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
I could feel Esia’s mana spreading around us as she spoke in a hushed tone.
“…A token to Cadet Han Cheon-seong?”
“You see, I also think it makes no sense. I know Cadet Han Cheon-seong is a cadet with unprecedented growth and outstanding talent, but she still personally gave him a token. And she’s someone who doesn’t show interest in anyone.”
As Esia continued with that peculiar expression, I was surprised by what she said but also greatly relieved.
‘She hasn’t noticed our relationship.’
…While I was relieved, the content itself was puzzling.
The fact that he had received a token from the Magic Tower Master was new information, and Master Ariya was a being shrouded in as much mystery as the countless rumors surrounding her.
From the surprising fact that she had pioneered a level of magecraft once thought impossible for humans, to rumors that the emperor bowed to her because she had obtained eternal youth. There were many other rumors that were simply incomprehensible.
The fact that she didn’t even show courtesy when facing the royal family was a famous example, if you could call it that.
But….
‘To think she gave a token to Cadet Han Cheon-seong.’
That had to mean he had found favor with the mysterious Magic Tower Master.
“That’s why I asked you. I was wondering if there might be something special about Cadet Han Cheon-seong. What do you think? Now that you’ve heard this, do you sense anything?”
As she asked, full of curiosity, I nodded without realizing it.
“I do sense something. Cadet Han Cheon-seong… is truly special.”
“What’s special about him?”
“Uhm. First, he doesn’t really feel like a cadet.”
“Doesn’t feel like a cadet?”
“Yes. That much is certain.”
I couldn’t just dismiss Esia’s question, so I continued.
I had to give a proper answer so that Esia wouldn’t take any more interest in Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
“To put it simply, it’s that he isn’t complacent at all. He doesn’t rest on his laurels and always looks ahead. Isn’t that why the Tower Master gave him the token?”
“…Not complacent, huh. That’s true. Considering his achievements so far, everyone would accept it if he were arrogant, but it’s well-known that Cadet Han Cheon-seong is diligent.”
“Right. I think that’s the biggest reason. Someone like the Tower Master would naturally be able to see through to a person’s essence.”
Even as I spoke… my own heart seemed to react a little.
Isn’t that why I was drawn to Cadet Han Cheon-seong too? As an instructor, it was supposed to be impossible to harbor personal feelings for a cadet.
The biggest difference between an instructor and a cadet was, above all, whether one had experienced the battlefield or not.
To an instructor who has been on the battlefield, a cadet never comes across as someone similar to themselves.
Because of the absolute difference in experience and values, even if they were of the opposite sex, they wouldn’t be perceived as such.
But Cadet Han Cheon-seong was truly different.
He seemed to understand the effort that had strangely changed my life, and his actions were also different from other cadets.
As if he were a completely different person….
“Kalli. Then, what is the essence of Cadet Han Cheon-seong that you’ve seen?”
“…I think it’s his effort.”
“Effort…?”
“Of course, he has talent. I can’t deny that Cadet Han Cheon-seong is innately gifted. But his constant drive to move forward feels like his essence. Watching him from the side, he has a sense of integrity that makes you think he’s a really good person….”
I stopped myself abruptly.
“……”
Then I carefully looked at Esia. She was staring intently into my eyes, and for a moment I gulped.
As I was talking about Cadet Han Cheon-seong, I had inadvertently said more than I should have.
“Effort… what a strange word. When you used to talk about effort, it never really resonated with me, but now you’re using the word ‘effort’ for Cadet Han Cheon-seong, who has achieved unprecedented growth.”
“Well, one couldn’t reach the same level as Cadet Han Cheon-seong with mere effort alone. But I believe that the reason he achieved his current growth is because of his extraordinary effort.”
I know how my use of the word ‘effort’ sounds to others.
That to most people, it would sound close to deceit.
But ‘effort’ was the word that had changed my life, so I couldn’t help but say it.
‘And….’
As someone who has watched Cadet Han Cheon-seong closely, I felt it even more.
That more than his talent, senses, or innate gifts, he had something absolutely extraordinary compared to others.
I’m not saying it’s effort because he put in ordinary effort.
Because normally, one cannot even make that kind of effort.
That’s why I wanted to say that Cadet Han Cheon-seong’s greatest strength, the thing closest to his essence, is his effort.
To be more specific, it’s his will. That will, which manifests strongly anytime, anywhere, naturally draws one’s gaze to him.
“Alright, Kalli. I understand what you’re saying to some extent. But still, it’s really strange. The Tower Master I know… isn’t someone who evaluates people based on effort.”
As Esia showed she still didn’t quite get it, I also started thinking a little more about Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
‘Maybe there really is something we don’t know.’
Even though we had a deeper relationship now, I still couldn’t say I knew everything about him.
It was fascinating.
A commoner, Common-grade, without even a proper background, he must have lived in this world alone. Yet he could shine so brightly on his own.
He shows growth that overwhelms cadets from far superior backgrounds, drawing the interest of many people.
…I certainly didn’t think he had lived an ordinary life.
It made sense that he would have more secrets I didn’t know.
*Tap.*
While picking at the apple pie with my fork… and looking at the pensive Esia, I felt a pang of regret.
‘I want to spend more time with him.’
Lately, it felt like Cadet Han Cheon-seong was pushing himself harder in his training, so I couldn’t press the issue.
I even offered him the use of my personal training room, but he had refused.
—If I stay with you longer, Instructor… I think my feelings will grow even stronger, so I can’t.
The memory of him refusing with a gentle smile made my deep regret grow even stronger.
And I also empathized with his words.
I want to be with him more. But if we stay together longer… I felt like I might suddenly cross the line with him too.
“…”
Nevertheless, a smile unconsciously escaped me at the sweetness of the apple pie spreading in my mouth.
The fact that Cadet Han Cheon-seong, whose attitude toward me had clearly changed recently, felt much more charming… was honestly nice.
It felt like I was the one getting more antsy.
…But this feeling wasn’t unpleasant.
“Kalli.”
“Huh?”
“I’m just asking, just in case, but you… you’re not having strange thoughts right now, are you?”
At her sudden, serious question, I quickly wiped the smile off my face and shook my head vigorously.
“I don’t know what… you’re asking, but absolutely not.”
“……”