Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Excuse Me for a Moment
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***
Thud. Click.
The echo of their differing footsteps filled the air as Cheon-seong walked alongside Kalli.
The atmosphere between them was a stark contrast to how it had been before they entered the instructors' dining hall.
“...”
“...”
A stillness where neither spoke. The silence that hung between them created a peculiar atmosphere.
And yet, they walked in step with one another.
Where Kalli had previously led the conversation, creating a comfortable rapport, a strange tension now lingered between them… making it difficult to speak rashly.
Glance.
Cheon-seong glanced at Kalli walking beside him, feeling uncertain.
Kalli had suddenly stopped him.
She had spoken to me with an expression that was, to anyone, clearly flustered.
—Cadet Han Cheon-seong? There’s… a place I’d like you to accompany me to for a moment.
But she wouldn't tell me where it was.
I was walking in step with her now, but the abruptness of the situation had left me flustered as well.
‘Still, I suppose this means she took my words well.’
Those cringeworthy, embarrassing words I'd said.
They were partly to cover up a careless slip of the tongue, but they were more than half sincere. And since those words—words I could never repeat—had been received so well, perhaps that was why Kalli was now leading me somewhere.
Just as I was thinking that, my eyes met Kalli's.
"..."
Her red eyes held a peculiar shimmer.
She soon offered an awkward smile.
“First, I’m sorry. I must have seemed a bit sudden to you, Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
She spoke with great caution, and I immediately smiled in reply.
“Not at all. If anything, I should be the one apologizing. It must have looked like I was just getting up to leave on my own. I should have waited for your clear response before rising…”
I had intended to give her some space, thinking she’d be better off alone, but looking back at the situation, it could be seen as me being rude to her.
“No, not at all. You don’t need to worry about that. I’m not the type to nitpick over such things. And besides, I believe you were being considerate of me then, Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
“...If you see it that way, then thank you.”
As I answered cautiously, my mind was put at ease.
Kalli’s demeanor toward me was more cautious than before, but even so, it was clear she hadn't taken my words badly.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.
‘I preferred the Kalli who spoke so freely.’
The way she approached without any sense of distance, the flutter I felt when she would strike up a conversation with a playful smile—it was all still so vivid.
But now, that seemed to be gone. Kalli’s charm lay in that uncalculated way she drew near, but now, I could feel her consciously trying to keep a distance between us.
Then she gave a faint smile, and despite myself, my eyes were drawn to her.
“And as for where we’re going, to explain it belatedly, it’s a place I’m sure you’ll like, Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
“A place I’ll like… you say?”
“Yes. In fact, it’s a place any cadet at the academy would love. Hearing about yesterday’s spar, and then talking with you in person like this… I wanted to do something for you. To be perfectly honest, this would be considered showing you favoritism, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. But favoritism is a given at the academy, so it should be fine.”
Kalli’s voice flowed smoothly.
But the more she spoke, the more questions filled my mind.
Her words alone made it clear that she thought highly of me.
Her indirect mention of favoritism, and her offer to do something for me, sounded incredibly intriguing.
‘Where in the world are we going for her to be talking like this?’
I couldn't guess where it might be.
She could have just told me where we were going, but it was clear Kalli was deliberately keeping it from me.
Then Kalli’s eyes crinkled into a small smile, as if she were anticipating my surprised reaction… which made it difficult for me to press her for an answer.
“In that case, I’m very much looking forward to it.”
Still, for Kalli to be this coy, it had to be a place of considerable value.
I figured I would find out once we arrived.
“Yes. You really should be excited.”
Seeing her smile a bit more naturally at my words, I found myself smiling as well.
'As I thought.'
A beautiful woman is always more beautiful when she smiles.
***
After we re-entered the academy grounds, Kalli led me slowly through several restricted areas accessible only to instructors.
The journey took quite some time.
We had to walk for nearly twenty minutes after leaving the dining hall to reach our destination.
Clank.
As I gazed upon the space we had reached, I was struck with an indescribable shock.
“This place is…”
I murmured blankly, unable to believe my eyes.
A training room, the entire space cast in a blue hue. Within it were various items that emitted a mysterious light, their purpose unknown.
Everything was unfamiliar, yet, ironically, I had a feeling about it.
Though I was seeing them for the first time, I had some idea of what these items were for.
Of course… I couldn’t help but know.
This was a place the protagonist of this world, Leonhardt, wouldn't access until the middle of the novel.
It was this very room that would provide him with the means to overcome the powerful foes and crises he would later face.
It was...
—Kalli’s personal training room.
It was a place so advantageous it could be considered plot armor for the protagonist. The very training room Leonhardt would use to great effect with Kalli’s permission.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Looking around this training room, you probably have no idea what any of this is, do you?”
Kalli asked, looking at my surprised face as if she found it cute. I had no choice but to give an awkward reply.
“Ah, yes… There are so many fascinating things… It’s just amazing.”
I recognized many of the magitech artifacts before me, but I couldn’t let on that I did.
It would make no sense for a first-year cadet to know about this place, let alone the items within it.
Everything here had been acquired through Kalli's own distinguished service.
Click.
Taking a step inside, Kalli gestured around with a bright smile.
“To be honest, every single item in this training room must seem strange and amazing to you, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. But they’re all incredibly valuable. There are some expensive magitech artifacts that only… well, it’s a bit much to say myself, but only distinguished instructors who have shown great valor on the battlefield can even apply for.”
She spoke with a hint of pride, and despite being my senior, she seemed uncharacteristically cute, almost childlike.
She was like an excited child showing off her toys, and I couldn't help but express my genuine admiration.
“Magitech artifacts… That’s incredible.”
Just because I knew these things existed didn’t mean I wasn’t surprised.
No, in fact, knowing about them made it all the more astonishing.
—Favoritism is rampant in the academy.
‘Favoritism’—one of the core themes of the novel.
And it wasn’t something practiced only among the academy’s ‘cadets’.
It was clearly present even among the high-ranking instructors. The higher an instructor’s class, the better their treatment. The Empire provided almost unprecedented levels of support to those who distinguished themselves on the battlefield.
And Kalli’s performance on the battlefield had been nothing short of overwhelming.
It was no surprise she had been supplied with not just one, but several expensive magitech artifacts.
“Hmm… Still, I wonder what would be best for you, Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
As Kalli mulled over the various items around her, I watched her, my heart swelling with anticipation.
‘…This is insane.’
I thought the words I dared not speak aloud, my excitement soaring.
I had to actively fight to keep the corners of my mouth from turning up into a grin.
I understood immediately what Kalli was trying to do for me—what kind of help she was offering.
Of course I did. I knew this place.
I knew what kind of training Leonhardt had undergone here, how he had grown stronger, and how he had overcome every crisis and hardship.
And now, there was no reason I couldn’t become just as strong as Leonhardt.
Even with a Common-grade trait, it wasn’t impossible to become stronger.
“If this is your first time using magitech artifacts, you’ll need time to adjust. It’s making this quite a difficult choice. I’m so sorry, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Could you wait just a moment?”
“I-It’s fine!”
My voice trembled uncontrollably as I spoke.
My heart was pounding even more furiously now than it had during all those moments I’d been captivated by Kalli’s charm earlier today.
Thump!
Thump!
This was a massive, completely unexpected opportunity.
As I watched Kalli fiddle with a pale green orb emitting a strange light, a peculiar gray gem the size of a knuckle, and various other expensive magitech artifacts, my heart showed no signs of calming.
I was dying to tell her which one to pick, but I absolutely could not open my mouth.
I had to accept whatever she chose to give me.
And that alone would be more than enough—it would be an extravagance.
“Ah, this will be perfect.”
Then Kalli finally seemed to make her decision, a faint smile playing on her lips. My gaze fell instinctively to the pair of earrings in her hand.
They were beautiful earrings, adorned with rubies.
‘What are those?’
I’d never seen them before.
What I had really been hoping for was either the pale green orb or the gray gem.
But she had chosen a completely different magitech artifact.
And then, with a soft smile, Kalli approached me.
Click.
Click.
As she drew closer, I found myself simply staring at her.
I waited quietly, assuming she would explain.
…But as the distance between us closed more than I’d expected, my body seemed to freeze solid.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Excuse me for a moment.”
Her captivating voice, almost a whisper in my ear,
Thump!
sent my heart fluttering for an entirely different reason.