Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: You Said You'd Be With Me Today
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***
A person’s mood is a strange thing.
Just this morning during my lecture, I thought I’d be down all day, but now, I felt so refreshed I could fly.
“I’m glad the misunderstanding was cleared up, and everything worked out for the best.”
As I sat in the park after lunch, waiting for Glacia, a smile crept onto my face.
Originally, I had planned to bury myself in the training grounds every day after entering the academy. But not only had I achieved unexpected growth, but now that I had Kalli's support, I felt a newfound sense of ease.
Plus, financially, I’d even treated myself to a delicious steak for the first time in a while with the gold Glacia had given me.
My body and mind were both at peace.
Just then, as I stretched my arms wide to loosen up.
“...”
“...”
My eyes met Glacia’s as she entered the park, and I awkwardly lowered my arms.
*Clack. Clack.*
After our eyes met, Glacia strode over and sat right next to me. It felt so natural that it was almost strange.
“Glacia. Did you have a good lunch?”
“It was fine.”
A short answer to a simple greeting. I was getting used to it as I looked at her.
The white Class A uniform she wore was quite pretty, and it reminded me again how much clothes can enhance a person’s beauty.
I also knew it was up to me to start the conversation.
“So, how do you want to spend our time today?”
“What do you mean, how?”
“Well… you said you wanted to be with me yesterday. So I thought you might have something you wanted to do, or a plan for how to spend the time.”
When I asked, just in case, Glacia gave me a completely transparent look.
She met my gaze without a hint of hesitation or doubt. Her clear blue eyes held a natural confidence.
And then I realized.
‘She… really has no plan at all.’
Incredibly, her words about wanting to be with me meant exactly that.
It wasn’t that she wanted to do something specific with me today, or that she had some other motive… she simply wanted to be with me.
“Han Cheon-seong. Do I need a reason to be with you?”
She threw the question back at me, and for a moment, I was speechless.
…I was reminded again how strange Glacia’s way of speaking was.
How could she throw such a blunt fastball, one that felt like it could easily top 150 km/h, with such a nonchalant expression?
“No. Well… I guess you don’t necessarily need a reason.”
“Then there’s no reason. If I had to say, it’s just because I want to be with you.”
Calmly and composedly.
But as I watched Glacia casually say things that anyone would misunderstand, all I could do was let out a dry laugh.
Last night, her words had honestly made my heart flutter, but now, that feeling was gone.
“I see. Well, in that case, should we just head to the training grounds?”
It was a funny thought, trying to take Glacia somewhere else when she clearly had no romantic feelings for me.
When I made the light suggestion, Glacia gave a slight nod.
“Fine.”
“Alright. Let’s go, then.”
I stood up without hesitation.
Our destination was the Class A training grounds. And I didn't think that was a bad idea at all.
‘Actually, this is great.’
The chance to enter the Class A training grounds was quite a boon for me.
Not only could I train in a better facility with a better environment, but…
‘It would be nice to see Leonhardt, too.’
I was quite curious to see how much stronger he had become in the past few days.
…
*Click.*
As Glacia entered the Class A training grounds, I matched her pace, feeling a renewed sense of awe.
Compared to when I’d entered on the day of the entrance ceremony a few days ago, I felt much more confident now, and I was curious to see what kind of monsters were training here.
*Fwoosh—!*
*FWOOSH—!!*
Fierce winds raged, and crimson flames intensely burned the air.
Elsewhere, shockwaves from exploding air violently decorated one side of the training grounds. Seeing the various scenes, I thought to myself, *as expected*.
‘This is Class A.’
I hadn't been to the Class C training grounds many times, but I could say with certainty that the very density of the air was different between Class C and Class A.
The air in the Class A training grounds was heavier, stickier. Just walking through it created a pressure that seemed to weigh down my body.
Even more so, the gazes of the students in the training grounds felt entirely different.
Despite being clearly superior to the lower-class students, their dedication to training was filled with a palpable, intense will.
The will to advance and improve. A sort of winning mindset seemed to be a basic trait among the Class A students.
“Han Cheon-seong.”
“Yeah.”
At Glacia’s voice, I met her eyes. She was staring at me intently.
“Could you… watch me while I train?”
Her sudden request made me blink for a moment before I nodded.
That wasn't a difficult request.
“Sure. I can do that.”
Glacia seemed satisfied with my answer, pressing her lips together and nodding. Watching her, a small smile escaped me.
‘Is this the process of a person’s language development?’
As I spent more time with Glacia, I was gradually becoming able to understand what she was thinking from her short replies and simple gestures.
Without realizing it, I was adapting to her.
As Glacia and I headed to one side of the training grounds, I felt subtle gazes on me.
“...”
“...”
Gazes filled with interest, curiosity, and even doubt.
It seemed the rumor of my duel with Leonhardt hadn’t been confined to just Class C. Perhaps the attention I was getting was only natural.
To a Class A student, I was a clear anomaly.
Having fought the top student of the year, Leonhardt, to a draw, I could understand why they would find me so strange.
‘If I were a Class A student, I’d find it hard to believe too.’
I was casually brushing off the stares when…
“Han Cheon-seong!”
A bright voice called my name, and my head snapped in its direction.
There was Leonhardt, looking genuinely happy to see me. Yumia was attached to his side, but the feeling he gave off was completely different now.
‘He’s definitely gotten stronger.’
I could feel his presence just by looking at him.
He approached us, and we naturally stopped walking.
“It’s been a few days, Leonhardt.”
“Yeah, it has. Han Cheon-seong. Did you come to train with Glacia?”
“It just sort of happened. But it’s not like I’m not allowed here or anything, right?”
I asked, already knowing the answer, and Leonhardt shook his head as if it were obvious.
“It’s fine. There’s no problem with coming to the training grounds together. But I’m glad you’re here. I was just wondering how you were doing.”
His words made me smile.
It was as if he and I were thinking the same thing.
‘Well, yeah.’
That duel hadn't been a great opportunity just for me.
Leonhardt had also instantly reached Level 3, something that would have normally taken him weeks.
The evolution of a trait was something everyone desired.
“Hmm. Looking at you again… you two really do look good together.”
Yumia’s peculiar gaze made me realize with a start.
‘Right, she saw us yesterday.’
Leonhardt and Yumia were the two people who had overheard our strange conversation.
“Yumia, let me say this first. It’s a misunderstanding.”
This time, I had to correct it immediately.
I wanted no more strange rumors spreading about me.
“Pfft… I just said that you and Glacia look soooo good together.”
As she played innocent, I started to feel uneasy.
“Don’t worry so much, Han Cheon-seong. If you say it’s a misunderstanding, then I’m sure it is. Neither Yumia nor I are the type to spread such things around. Right, Yumia?”
“...Ah, yeah. Right.”
As Leonhardt stepped in to help me, I found myself looking at him in a new light.
‘He really is a good guy.’
It’s rare to meet someone and immediately feel that they are genuinely kind. But every time I saw this guy, I got that distinct impression.
And kind people are often clueless or frustrating, but he wasn't like that at all.
He seemed to notice potential conflicts and would immediately step in to mediate.
“Thanks, Leonhardt.”
“It’s nothing. Anyway, you two are about to train, right? I think it would be great if you trained with us. What do you think?”
“If you’re offering, I’d be happy to. To be honest, I’m also a little curious about how much stronger you’ve gotten.”
Leonhardt and Yumia. They were essential figures in this world, destined to wield overwhelming influence in the future.
Training with them would definitely be beneficial for me as well…
“No.”
My thoughts were cut short by Glacia’s firm voice.
“Huh…?”
“Glacia?”
Even Leonhardt and Yumia looked at her in surprise. Glacia suddenly turned to me.
Her gaze was different from before, filled with a clear intent.
It was as if she were rebuking me for accepting the offer on my own. I, in turn, couldn't understand her reaction.
‘Did I say something wrong?’
Leonhardt had approached us with clear goodwill, and while Yumia’s attitude was a bit prickly, she still stayed within bounds.
I thought it would obviously be a good thing to get closer to them and train together.
“Han Cheon-seong.”
“...Yeah, Glacia.”
As I answered, I found myself swallowing hard.
Why?
Facing her, an inexplicable sense of unease washed over me. There was no reason to feel anxious, yet my body seemed to be warning me.
It felt like something strange was about to come out of Glacia’s mouth. That I needed to stop her from speaking, right now.
…But I didn’t know how.
In that moment.
Glacia’s lips parted.
“Yesterday, you said you’d be with me today. You promised to give me your time… So why are you trying to be with other people?”
Glacia, speaking at length for once, was both pure and unrestrained.
Every word she uttered was so direct that, for a moment, I couldn't think of what to say.
“...”
I opened my mouth, but my train of thought came to a dead halt.
Where should I even begin to refute that?
‘I mean, I did say that.’
But I was pretty sure I hadn’t meant that I would only be with her, just the two of us.
Words could be twisted and turned… and Glacia’s way of speaking was so extreme it would be strange if people *didn’t* misunderstand.
“Um, Glacia?”
“...What.”
My head started to ache at her chilly reply.
Seriously, if you respond so coldly in this situation, of course other people are going to get the wrong idea.
“Ahaha… Han Cheon-seong, sorry. It looks like we interrupted your private training session.”
“You’re right. They should be spending some sweet~ time together. I guess we were being clueless.”
As the two of them said this and quickly backed away,
“W-Wait.”
I belatedly thought I should stop them, but…
*Grasp.*
At that moment, my own arm was caught.