Chapter 322
Chapter 322
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 322
Chapter Title: A Sudden Kiss
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***
Night passed, and Tuesday morning arrived.
The moment I woke up, I felt a sense of strangeness.
“Something…”
I mumbled blankly, my gaze suddenly falling to my own hands.
*Clench.*
As I opened and closed my hand, I was certain something had changed. And then I realized what it was.
Just yesterday when I woke up, there was an unpleasant sensation, as if something was clinging all over my body.
I thought perhaps I had just adapted to Ariya's mana now, but that wasn't it.
“Ariya’s mana has faded.”
Her mana had thinned out, as if it were slowly vanishing.
That's why I was able to wake up so comfortably...
As I tidied my messy hair, I suddenly understood.
“So this is why she told me to visit her every two days.”
The mana Ariya had injected into my body would disappear, so she meant for me to come and have it replenished.
The thought made a laugh escape my lips.
“It’s definitely an opportunity, if you want to call it that…”
An opportunity.
A reason to visit Ariya, and more chances to spend time with her.
And yet, for some reason, the thought of actually being able to woo her didn't cross my mind at all.
My feelings were, frankly, a bit complicated.
In truth, my last visit to the Magic Tower was to win Ariya's favor, and even my very first visit had impure intentions.
‘All to win Ariya’s favor.’
Every single visit was meant to win her heart, but each time I spent at the Magic Tower, that purpose completely faded away.
Far from winning her favor, I was so drained from resisting and enduring the various pains that I couldn't even entertain such thoughts.
*Crack. Snap!*
I stretched deeply, the sound of my bones popping as I loosened up my body.
“...Let’s not get too obsessed.”
I couldn't deny that I needed Ariya.
But since I received so much help from her every time I visited, it felt ridiculous to approach her with such impure motives.
Instead, naturally…
I figured that as I spent more time with Ariya, an opportunity would naturally present itself.
A crack in the moment she allowed me to close the distance.
Then, at that time, I believed I could properly approach her.
…
There were times when it felt like time flew by.
“Han Cheon-seong. You got plans today?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Figured you would. Well, I’m heading out then.”
“Alright... David, train hard today too.”
“I don't just train all the time, you know.”
With a small laugh, David left immediately.
Now that the afternoon lecture was over, I slowly considered what I had to do today.
‘Meet up with Glacia and spend some time with her... then head to the Magic Tower in the evening.’
Training with Glacia at the training grounds seemed like a good idea. Just as I was organizing my schedule and getting up…
*Click-clack.*
...A distinct footstep echoed in my ears.
It sounded like ordinary shoes, but my gaze unconsciously drifted in that direction.
And there, having approached me at some point…
was Millia, looking at me cautiously.
Meeting her flushed face beneath her short black hair and her eyes filled with warmth, my heart wavered greatly.
“Han Cheon-seong. Do you have time today?”
“...Ah, well, about that.”
I hesitated for a moment, unable to answer as calmly as I had with David.
“Oh, do you have a prior engagement?”
As Millia asked again cautiously in response to my hesitation, I could only nod awkwardly.
“Yeah. I have something planned... but I think I can make a little time.”
Even as I said it, I felt a lingering regret.
It felt like too much of a shame to end things with Millia just like that.
“Oh, really!?”
And at the sight of her face lighting up at my words... my heart pounded in my chest.
‘Yesterday…’
I had kissed her by surprise, and Millia and I were able to start a relationship.
I had even received her answer.
An answer that even someone like me was okay, that she would be in a relationship with me.
“Then about an hour...? I think I'll be free for that long. Would that be okay?”
“Of course! I'm fine with that.”
Her bright smile made me smile without realizing it.
Millia's innocent smile was just so adorable.
And it was a completely different feeling.
...The feeling of being able to date the ideal type I had always dreamed of was just so different.
As I packed up my textbooks and started walking with Millia, a fluttering excitement filled my heart.
*Creeak.*
But the moment we left the lecture hall.
The sight of blue hair, appearing as if to steal my attention, seemed to freeze my body for a second.
“...Han Cheon-seong.”
It was a call I hadn't expected at all.
“Uh... Glacia.”
I replied awkwardly, my gaze momentarily wandering.
Between Millia beside me, and Glacia.
“I was hoping we could go together right now…”
As Glacia spoke, her gaze naturally shifted to Millia standing next to me, and I was overcome with an indescribable feeling.
“Hello?”
Millia also paused before replying to Glacia, and my heart felt like it was walking on a path of thorns.
“Yeah. Hello. You must be Millia.”
Glacia nodded, her eyes taking in the name tag on the uniform, but I didn't know why her light words sounded so heavy.
“Glacia. Did you come looking for Han Cheon-seong?”
“That's right. I was planning to go with him now.”
“Then what should we do...? Han Cheon-seong promised to spend about an hour with me. I already heard he had a prior engagement, and I'm guessing that's you... Right, Han Cheon-seong?”
Throughout this exchange, Glacia’s clear eyes seemed to question me.
Faced with her seemingly calm gaze, I could only give an awkward smile.
“That's right. I have plans with Glacia today... but there's still time until our appointment, so I was going to spend it with you.”
“Is that so? That's what Han Cheon-seong says. I'm sorry, Glacia, but could you come back at the appointed time?”
As Millia calmly took my words and spoke so nonchalantly, I strangely found her a bit frightening.
I didn't know what she was thinking, but while she appeared composed on the outside, I wondered how she could be so calm.
“......”
And after that, the reply that should have come from Glacia never did.
*Glance….*
As my wandering gaze turned back to Glacia, I understood why.
Silence.
Glacia, staring at me without a word, seemed to be speaking with her eyes.
‘Are you really going to send me away like this?’
A look filled with disappointment.
But I couldn't respond to it.
“I'm sorry, Glacia. We have a set time to meet. I'd like to see you then.”
My heart felt strange as I spoke so carefully.
...She was clearly not a woman I was in a relationship with.
I knew that Glacia and I were definitely not a couple.
She had clearly agreed to be friends with me. But I also felt that it wasn't an ordinary friendship.
“......Alright. I'll see you then.”
Glacia spat out the words and turned away from me without hesitation.
*Click-clack. Click-clack.*
As I blankly watched Glacia's back grow distant, my feelings were indescribable.
...I felt as if I had committed a great sin against Glacia.
We were still just friends, but I knew we were in a strange relationship that went beyond friendship...
But even that feeling didn't last long.
“Han Cheon-seong.”
Millia's cold voice made me pull myself together.
“Uh... Millia.”
“I'm in a bad mood now.”
“Huh?”
“I said, I'm in a bad mood.”
*Tug.*
As the cold-voiced Millia pulled my hand forcefully, I was led along by her, unable to adapt to her sudden change.
‘Millia...?’
*Click-clack.*
As I matched my steps to her forceful pace, I suddenly felt gazes focused on us.
No, to be precise, it had been happening since we were talking with Glacia just a moment ago.
The surrounding cadets' eyes had been subtly turning toward us.
*Click!*
Before long, Millia abruptly stopped walking, and I flinched without realizing it.
I really... realized it too late.
‘What kind of foolish thing am I doing right now...’
I should have known that my current attitude could hurt them both, but I was being wishy-washy.
Looking at the stopped Millia, I quickly continued speaking.
“Millia. I'm sorry. I should have been more decisive…”
This kind of half-hearted attitude wouldn't do.
Just as I thought I should just be shameless and focus on one person instead...
*Rustle.*
I could only stand there blankly and let it happen.
I registered the action itself—Millia gently rising onto her tiptoes and cupping my face with her hands.
*Thump.*
But when she immediately pressed her lips against mine, I couldn't do anything at all.
“...!”
Before I knew it, Millia was stealing my lips.
“Kyaa!”
“Wha- what's going on?”
“When did those two get like that...”
And despite the various voices of the cadets around us... I couldn't focus on them in the slightest.
“......”
Millia's eyes, still staring intensely at me.
From her soft lips that were plundering mine as if by force, I could even feel an obsession akin to lust.
It was... a completely different kiss from the affectionate one we shared yesterday.
*Part.*
Millia pulled her lips away and spoke, her breath shallow.
“You know, I... think I'm a bit possessive.”
It was an unexpected declaration.