Chapter 292
Chapter 292
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 292
Chapter Title: The End of the Spar, and...
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***
Contrary to everyone's expectations, the spar that unfolded seemed to be a fierce, close-fought battle.
But that was only for a moment. In the end, it went just as they had predicted.
Everyone watching the spar felt it, and even the two participants themselves realized it.
That the gap between them had grown so wide.
Leonhardt's initial offensive was followed by Han Cheon-seong's storm-like counterattack, leading to a spar so one-sided it was almost pitiful.
He held on remarkably well, but that was all it was—holding on.
Han Cheon-seong never gave Leonhardt a single moment to counterattack after his own assault began.
*Tap.*
Then, as the distance between them widened and the spar paused, the onlookers were struck by a strange feeling.
"Why does Han Cheon-seong have such a peculiar look in his eyes?"
Karite, who had been watching only Han Cheon-seong since the spar began, spoke cautiously. Adelia met her gaze slightly.
"I'm not sure. Perhaps Cadet Han is sensing something we can't. This spar with Cadet Leonhardt is completely different from their first one. It's only natural that what he feels would be different too."
As she offered her careful speculation, Karite nodded in vague understanding.
Their first spar.
She had heard about the match between Leonhardt and Han Cheon-seong on the day of the entrance ceremony, but she didn't know all the details.
Still, she felt that Adelia might be right.
‘The result of that first spar was a draw, after all…’
And because it ended in a draw, the impact of the spar had been immense.
A match between Leonhardt, the top student among this year's new cadets, and Han Cheon-seong, a Common-grade cadet from the lowest rungs of C-Class, was the very definition of incongruous.
Even she, in her unstable and precarious state of mind at the time, had heard their names mentioned countless times.
While Karite watched the standoff, Isabel spoke calmly.
"It will be over soon."
"Yes."
"I think so too."
Neither of them denied her words.
*Fwoosh!*
In an instant, Han Cheon-seong's aura completely transformed. The relentless assault he had maintained until now shifted, becoming deliberate and heavy.
*Shhk!*
As Han Cheon-seong finally made his move, the three women's eyes widened.
The moment a spiral of air seemed to envelop his entire body, Cheon-seong had already closed the distance. It was a movement that bordered on instantaneous, an overwhelming speed that surpassed what Leonhardt had shown at the beginning.
"...Ah."
Karite momentarily lost track of Cheon-seong's movements, while Adelia, seeing his skill for the first time, was stunned by his level.
Isabel, however, had a slightly different impression.
"..."
*Ch-ch-ch-chink…!!*
The blade of the sword and the head of the spear clashed violently.
Power against power.
There were no tricks or variables in their meeting. Just a straightforward movement, a simple confrontation of strength.
As Leonhardt absorbed the force, sliding back across the ground, brilliant flashes of different colored lights scattered from between the sword and spear, decorating the view in a spectacular display.
However, the intense clash between the sword, wreathed in blue waves, and the spear, swirling with a spiral of force, was but a fleeting moment.
*Screee…!*
The spearhead slid down the sword, its direction suddenly shifting downward.
As the sword it was pressed against followed suit, a significant change occurred.
‘That's…’
To Isabel, it was a perfectly natural change.
*Fwoosh—!*
And the moment the lowered spearhead strangely shot back up, Isabel let out an involuntary, dry laugh.
‘Is he putting his feelings into it?’
Just by watching, she could feel the intent with which he wielded his spear.
A clear aim to knock the sword from his opponent's hand.
And she could see that the one holding the sword knew it too, gripping it even tighter.
But even so, his strength seemed insufficient.
Han Cheon-seong had accounted for that as well, intending to strike the sword away with overwhelming force.
*Ch-ch-chink…!*
Indeed, as the spearhead pressing down with pure strength moved lower, the sword had no choice but to follow.
The moment it met the spearhead soaring back up, the outcome was starkly different from before.
*Shlick!*
The immense force imbued in the spearhead sent the hands gripping the sword flying upward.
The moment he was forcibly made to release his weapon had come.
‘It's over.’
The spar seemed to be completely finished.
*FWOOOOOOOSH—!*
But as a brilliant blue light suddenly erupted like an explosion, she found herself blinking.
A deluge of blue light that swallowed the space itself.
It was a light distinctly different from before, a blue so dense that it momentarily obscured the two figures completely.
"..."
Even that lasted only for an instant.
The blue light slowly faded, revealing the scene.
The sword was no longer in Leonhardt's hand.
It could be seen faintly flying through the air, while the spearhead, still radiating a sharp edge, remained.
Right before Leonhardt's heart.
"......"
The outcome everyone had expected.
But the sudden flood of blue light left Isabel with a sense of wonder, and the others felt it too.
"What was that blue light just now?"
"Could it be..."
Amidst the different voices, a laugh rang out.
"Hahahaha......"
Leonhardt, staring at the spear pointed at his heart, had burst into incredibly refreshing laughter.
And even Cheon-seong wore a faint smile.
"......"
Still unable to comprehend the situation, Isabel simply watched the two of them.
The fallen sword lay tumbling on the ground.
Just as she was wondering why this man named Leonhardt could be laughing…
*Shnk.*
Cheon-seong retracted his spear and spoke lightly.
"Did you get your power back just now?"
"No, not yet... not yet."
Leonhardt raised his hand and slowly clenched it into a fist.
...And a faint light burst forth.
*Flicker!*
It was no longer the blue wave of mana.
It was a light of a different nature, a radiant aura like a glorious halo. Despite its small size, its presence was intense due to its pure brilliance.
But even that light soon faded.
"I've only just found a trace of it."
And Leonhardt's eyes were shining more intensely than ever before.
...A peculiar situation.
Isabel vaguely understood.
‘Did it work out?’
As far as she knew, there had never been a case of someone who had lost their trait recovering it on their own.
But this man was now clearly showing the prelude to it.
She could tell from the confidence and conviction in his eyes.
*Thud.*
At the sound, Isabel's gaze immediately shifted to Cheon-seong.
He was leaning on his spear, looking almost nonchalant.
"I'm glad."
Even his faint smile, which seemed to say the spar had ended well, was filled with sincerity.
A bright smile.
But as Isabel looked at him, her eyes suddenly narrowed.
"...Why?"
Why on earth had he agreed to this spar?
Only now did she see it. The state of Han Cheon-seong's body…
He was in a condition where he absolutely should not have been sparring.
His condition was so poor, she couldn't fathom how he had hidden it until now.
*Step.*
"Instructor Adelia?"
The moment she realized, Isabel did not hesitate to act.
***
Time passed.
The spar was over, and even after returning to the infirmary, Cheon-seong's spirits remained high.
His body was exhausted, but his heart was incredibly joyful and clear, without a single trace of doubt.
Nevertheless, he couldn't hide the state of his body.
Now, as he received treatment, Isabel had bluntly told Adelia the truth.
"...Haa."
Seeing Adelia before him, unable to hide her concern, Cheon-seong finally felt a pang of guilt.
"Instructor Adelia. I'm sorry."
Now that a curtain was drawn around him in the infirmary for his check-up... there was no hiding it.
"No. I knew this would happen when I gave my permission... You have no reason to be sorry, Cadet Han."
Amidst a voice that held both composure and worry, Adelia's gaze could be seen scanning my body.
Right now, my body was breaking down.
Blue bruises covered almost my entire body, and the toll on the hand and arm that held the spear was clearly visible.
This was the result even after using Circulating Mana to disperse the pain throughout my body.
My body couldn't withstand the strain of exerting power while it was still recovering.
I had felt it from the middle of the spar.
Even as I thrust my spear, I knew my body was in no normal state…
Yet, I couldn't stop the spar. Knowing how it had come about, I just couldn't stop.
"You're to stay in the infirmary and receive treatment until tomorrow. And it seems Sir Isabel is quite angry... so I think you'll have to apologize to her personally later. I tried to mediate, but she seems furious with you right now."
"Is that so...?"
I replied awkwardly, feeling ashamed to face her.
Thinking back, my actions had been truly reckless.
The outcome of the spar itself was good. Regardless of victory or defeat, Leonhardt had achieved his goal. The only problem was the timing.
My body was still in the process of healing, and I had pushed it too far.
And I had accepted this, knowing full well what would happen.
When Leonhardt had asked me for a spar, he had seriously inquired about my condition. I was the one who had replied that I was fine and accepted his challenge.
And after repeatedly convincing Adelia... now that the spar was over…
I had no regrets.
I knew my body would end up like this, and the outcome was better than I could have ever expected. If I had to choose again, I would make the same choice.
*Squeeze!*
"...Ugh."
An undeniable groan escaped me as a hand suddenly pressed down firmly on my arm.
"Cadet Han, what are you smiling about? Really... after making everyone so worried."
I erased my smile at her deliberate words and nodded.
"I'll apologize to Sir Isabel separately."
"You'd better. From what I know, the duty of a Golden Knight's escort isn't just to protect a royal from external threats... You'll probably need to be very sincere with your apology."
"Yes. I'll keep that in mind."
...As I nodded, an image flickered before my eyes.
The memory of Sir Isabel's gaze, looking at me with intensely cold eyes…
It seemed I would have to speak with her alone after Adelia finished my treatment.