Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Because I Have to Be With You. Because I Want To.
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***
After my duel with Luna, I was shot down without ever confessing. Just as I was trying to collect my bewildered heart, I ran into Glacia as if by chance, right after leaving the student cafeteria.
And now.
I was faced with a completely unexpected situation.
“Please, I’m begging you. Han Cheon-seong… stay with me. I’ll pay you whatever it takes.”
Glacia’s words came out of nowhere, and for a moment, my mind went blank.
I had no idea why she was acting this way, and more importantly, what she was saying sounded incredibly strange.
‘Is she trying to buy me with money…?’
While it was a welcome offer for my current financial state, it was so abrupt that I couldn’t just accept it.
I’d noticed it before, and I was feeling it again now—there were serious problems with the way Glacia communicated. I needed to figure out the real meaning behind her words first.
Anyone who overheard what she just said would have every reason to misunderstand.
“...”
At that thought, I instinctively looked around before answering.
And just as I expected.
*Thump.*
I saw the conspicuously bright blond hair of Leonhardt and the red hair of Yumia.
They seemed to have heard Glacia’s words and were staring at us blankly from a short distance away.
...I found myself shaking my head vigorously.
Whatever you’re thinking, I swear it’s not that.
“Hey. Glacia, I need you to calm down and speak slowly. It’s not about the money. We need to go back to our dorms, okay? It’s too late today. I’ll make time after my classes tomorrow, so let’s meet then and talk…”
“No! Please, Han Cheon-seong. I’m begging you. Even for just a little while, please stay with me.”
*Click.*
Glacia stepped closer, until we were within breathing distance, and grabbed my arm. I blinked blankly for a moment.
‘Is this the same calm and indifferent Glacia I know?’
Her sudden change in demeanor made me hesitate. I could see the seriousness in her eyes.
She looked at me with such a desperate gaze, as if she absolutely had to be with me, and I couldn't just refuse her.
‘I really don’t know why she’s doing this, but…’
I felt like I needed to know the reason for her behavior.
But the stares from Leonhardt and Yumia felt piercing, and I couldn't possibly continue the conversation here.
If we kept talking in such an open space, I had a feeling Glacia would drop another bombshell. We had to change locations first.
“Alright. I get it, Glacia. But let’s go somewhere else… Is that okay?”
As I spoke in a gentle, coaxing tone, Glacia looked me straight in the eye and gave a slight nod.
Walking away with Glacia, I felt a strange mood settle over me.
Just when I thought I could finally get some rest for the day…
What on earth was about to happen now?
…
*Clomp, click.*
As Han Cheon-seong and Glacia walked away, Leonhardt watched their retreating figures with a peculiar feeling.
“Wow. Seriously… How can they not be in a relationship when she’s being so direct? Glacia is really something else. I never knew she had such a bold side. I can't believe she just asked 'how much'. It’s like she was trying to buy him.”
Yumia let out a small laugh, and Leonhardt, standing beside her, nodded awkwardly.
…*Please, I’m begging you. Han Cheon-seong.*
…*Stay with me.*
…*I’ll pay you whatever it takes.*
Every single one of Glacia's words echoed vividly in Leonhardt's mind.
Given the circumstances, he couldn't help but realize it now.
Who Glacia's heart belonged to, how she saw Han Cheon-seong…
“…Still, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed.”
He muttered the words with a vacant smile.
Perhaps he had already sensed it.
During his last duel with Han Cheon-seong.
The moment Glacia had approached Cheon-seong right after the duel ended. He had already known.
But it seemed he had been deliberately ignoring the truth. Maybe his attempts to show more interest in Glacia and be a bit kinder were…
“Leonhardt. What are you disappointed about?”
Yumia nudged him in the side, and he immediately shook his head.
“It’s… it’s nothing.”
Was his heart not that deeply invested after all?
His gaze was certainly fixed on the two of them walking away together.
And he could feel a lingering attachment in his heart.
To him, she had been a truly special person, someone he hadn’t encountered in a long time.
But over the past few days, he knew better than anyone that he wasn't in Glacia's heart. So he hadn't held out any hope.
‘I guess Glacia and I can’t be together.’ He had already been preparing himself for that.
He couldn't deny that he was attracted to Glacia, drawn to her unique, mysterious aura.
But seeing those two together now, it was completely decided.
…That he shouldn't try to get any closer to Glacia.
One-sided feelings would only make the other person uncomfortable.
“Nothing, you say… Really, Leonhardt… are you sure?”
Yumia shot him a strange glance. He smiled faintly and slowly began to speak.
“Honestly, I just wished Glacia would have shown us a little of that emotional side too. That’s what I was disappointed about.”
The words he spoke were sincere.
Even if she didn't like him as much as he liked her, he had hoped she would get along well with everyone.
That was why he had made the effort to approach her and talk to her.
“Is that… really all it is?”
Yumia pressed him a little insistently. He met her gaze calmly.
Her red hair, red eyes, her distinct and proud features, her faintly flushed cheeks.
There was nothing about her that wasn't red.
“How do I look to you right now?”
So he asked her instead.
Did he look like someone holding on to a huge, lingering attachment? What did she think?
“To me…?”
“No matter how I answer, it’ll depend on how you see me, Yumia. Your perspective on me is what’s most important.”
Subjective value plays a huge role in how we perceive people. That's why he believed that if Yumia saw him in a good light, then that was the answer, and if not, then it wasn't.
“……Leonhardt.”
She bit her lip and averted her gaze, and he found himself staring at her blankly.
“You know, sometimes… you have a real talent for leaving people speechless.”
“Yumia. Did I… say something I shouldn’t have? If so, I’ll apologize.”
“Forget it! It’s late. We should head back to the dorms too.”
Yumia turned her head sharply and started walking ahead. He smiled faintly and matched her pace.
In a way, wasn't this side of Yumia just another one of her shining charms?
As he thought that, the strange feeling that had settled in his heart seemed to fade away.
And so, on a night where they were all experiencing things so differently.
Each of their nights was growing deeper.
***
The place I took Glacia was a park within the academy grounds.
*Clomp. Click.*
We walked through the park, the refreshing air swirling around us, without exchanging a word.
“...”
“...”
Glacia seemed to think I was just humoring her, as she walked silently beside me. I didn't want to rush the conversation either.
Whatever the reason for her behavior, I believed a meaningful conversation could only happen once we had both calmed down.
As we walked, I noticed the park at night had a certain charm.
The gentle moonlight faintly illuminated the ground, and despite the late hour, the park wasn't too dark.
‘The academy at night is quite a sight.’
For the past few nights, I had collapsed into bed as soon as I returned to my dorm, so I hadn't realized it, but the academy at night had its own kind of beauty.
A small smile escaped my lips.
I wondered how long it had been since I’d walked a street at night with a woman like this. The feeling was strangely new.
In this world, in the dormitories of *Grand Royal Academy*, there was no such thing as a curfew. The rules restricting students weren't particularly strict.
Still, the dorms were strictly separated by gender. Of course, entering the dormitory of the opposite sex was a major rule violation and strictly forbidden.
Therefore, if I were to listen to Glacia, I had no choice but to do it outside the dorms.
‘Come to think of it, the academy rules have some pretty big loopholes.’
Although entering the dorm of the opposite sex was strictly forbidden, honestly, if a student was determined, there was nothing stopping them from having a secret rendezvous.
In fact, as time went on, it was inevitable that couples would form among the students, and romance played a significant role in the plot of *Grand Royal Academy*.
It wasn't for nothing that the academy was the main setting and there were multiple heroines.
Besides, the protagonist of this world, Leonhardt, was an alpha male by any standard. It would be strange if women weren't drawn to him.
“...”
Thinking about it, that was one of the things I liked about the novel *Grand Royal Academy*.
I'd rather have a capable, confident protagonist with multiple heroines than an ugly or average one who inexplicably attracts extraordinary and beautiful women. It just felt more plausible.
Plus, Leonhardt was a good, kind-hearted person who knew how to care for others, so I felt it was fine for him to be loved by several heroines.
“Han Cheon-seong.”
A voice cut through my train of thought.
“Yeah, Glacia.”
I answered calmly, thinking she would finally give me a proper reason.
“I think we should meet four times a week.”
…But it was just another string of nonsensical words.
“…Four times?”
“No matter how I think about it, meeting just twice a week is not enough. That’s how I feel.”
…She was boldly demanding we meet more often in a firm tone. For a moment, I met her eyes, unable to understand.
Her unique blue eyes looked so serious.
And she was looking at me as if I absolutely had to accept her demand.
‘…Anyone would think I’m her boyfriend.’
The ridiculous thought popped into my head.
And since I knew Glacia didn't like me in that way, hearing her talk like this just made me feel strange.
“I’m sorry, Glacia. I don’t think I can do that.”
So I was able to answer calmly.
“Han Cheon-seong. I can really give you as much money as you want. More than you think… I have a lot of money.”
“Just how much money do you… no, that’s not it. Glacia, it’s not about the money. Meeting four times a week is impossible for me right now.”
Before I enrolled, I thought it would be great to meet Glacia often, but a few days into the academy, my situation had changed drastically.
Building a connection with Glacia was definitely a good thing. It was beneficial for me.
But more than that, I had to think about my training.
I had just found a clue about my skills, and for the past few days, I had been growing at a crazy pace that defied my own expectations.
No matter how important connections were, prioritizing my own growth was the right thing to do right now.
Starting tomorrow, I needed to increase my contact with Kalli to get more access to her personal training room. Using the various magitech items there to advance my training was my top priority.
So, meeting four times a week was out of the question.
“…Why? Han Cheon-seong. Do you hate me?”
“Why would I hate you?”
“Then why? Why can’t you? Han Cheon-seong, you just have to be with me. I can give you enough money so you won’t lack anything.”
She spoke forcefully, as if she absolutely had to meet with me more often, and honestly, I was flustered.
She kept saying things that anyone would misunderstand…
Even I was getting confused about what she was thinking.
“First of all, Glacia. Before we go any further, please explain why we have to do this. That should be the first step.”
“The reason…? It’s because I have to be with you. Because I want to.”
Glacia, please… stop talking like that.
I swallowed my words and instinctively avoided her gaze.
She was staring right into my eyes, throwing one verbal fastball after another. I couldn't bring myself to meet her gaze.
If a beautiful woman like Glacia kept talking like that…
Who… wouldn’t feel a flutter in their heart?