Chapter 58
Chapter 58
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Practical Lecture - Sparring Between Cadets
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Monday morning.
*Rustle, rustle.*
Changing into his black cadet uniform, Cheon-seong was getting ready for the academy.
"..."
He stared blankly at the morning sun that brightly lit his room, feeling as though he couldn't quite get a grip on his thoughts.
Was it because Sunday had been so chaotic?
...He let out a small breath and shook his head.
'I really need to train.'
He felt that if he just grabbed his spear and swung it, he wouldn't be plagued by distracting thoughts like these. It was better to be physically exhausted; a complicated mind felt like wandering through a maze with no exit.
“Sloth can take hold in an instant.”
*Tap.*
Having finished his preparations, he lightly tapped his cheeks.
“Get a grip.”
Even as I said it, as if making a promise to myself... I tried to suppress the thoughts of the two people that had filled my mind until just a moment ago.
Kalli and Glacia. Because of them, I'd even lost sleep.
Either one of them was enough to throw me into great confusion, but yesterday, several things had happened with both of them at once, so my worries were truly immense.
“It’s not like I’m starved for female attention…”
I needed to think about it a little more lightly and let it go.
Then I faced my current situation once more. It wasn't as if I had time to spare. The further ahead I got, the more I had to focus on my training.
I might be ahead of the other cadets at Level 4 for now, but getting caught up to would happen in an instant.
*Shnk.*
After securing the spear to my back, I opened the door.
*Step.*
As I left the dormitory, I could see other cadets leaving their rooms despite the early hour.
And among them was a familiar face.
"David."
“Oh? You’re out early.”
I was a bit surprised when our eyes met.
“It just happened… But David, you seem to leave this early every day?”
It was strange, walking in step with him so naturally.
We were staying so close to each other, yet today was the first time we’d run into each other at the dormitory.
“Well, I feel more at ease if I head out early. So, did you have a good weekend?”
“It was alright… not bad.”
“Not bad, huh? I’m sure you spent the weekend at the training grounds with your spear in hand.”
“I did train, but I took Sunday off to rest. But resting like that just made me feel lazy.”
“Lazy? If you’re lazy, what does that make the rest of the cadets?”
A laugh escaped me at David’s incredulous chiding, and I nodded.
…
We exchanged small talk the whole way from the dormitory to the academy. It wasn't any deeply meaningful conversation, just two people letting the dialogue flow naturally.
The topic soon shifted to today’s practical lecture.
“Combat training starts today…”
“David. You don’t sound confident.”
“No, it’s not that… but I can’t help being conscious of it, so I’m a little nervous. We’re going to get roughed up today, aren't we?”
“What’s wrong with that? We grow by sparring and getting beaten.”
“You know, you talk a good game. Han Cheon-seong, you think this doesn't concern you because you're Trait Level 4, don't you?”
“It concerns me, too. Even I’m not confident I can win every spar."
As I said it, I truly wasn’t sure.
Being Trait Level 4 gave me an advantage over other cadets, but you never knew how matchups would play out.
Against a cadet with a ranged Trait, I might suffer a pointless defeat.
“Yeah. Like you said, I guess I’ll have to take a beating today and grow from it.”
I liked David's attitude as he seemed to steel his resolve.
Regardless, one shouldn't be afraid of losing a spar.
We would face countless real battles far more intense than this in the future. Considering the world of GROA as I knew it, sparring between cadets was truly nothing.
‘My spar with Leonhardt was a huge experience.’
The experience of facing this world's protagonist had given me immense confidence.
*Step.*
Before I knew it, the lecture hall came into view.
"..."
I grew tense, but for a completely different reason than David’s nervousness.
‘I hope Kalli sees me in a good light.’
I wanted her to properly understand that Glacia and I were not lovers. Kalli wouldn't misunderstand me as easily as before; at the very least, she would hear me out first.
I felt I still had a chance.
***
*Slide.*
As cadets entered C1 Class one by one, they found their seats. All of them were forming small groups.
“I really… hope Instructor Kalli is in a good mood today.”
“Me too. I’d like to get through the lecture peacefully for once.”
“Last Friday was absolutely suffocating. Even thinking about it now, I don’t know how I got through it.”
Cadets who had already become friends gathered in small groups, chatting away. But among them was one peculiar group.
A strange group that other cadets glanced at warily but made no attempt to approach.
It was a space occupied by three young men, as if surrounded by an invisible wall.
It was the group that Jerad Readri belonged to.
“…Spearmanship.”
*Tch.* Muttering the word, Jerad twisted his lips into a sneer.
Between strands of his pale blond hair, his narrow blue eyes glinted with a strange madness.
The biggest reason other cadets didn’t approach them was Jerad himself.
“Jerad. Are you really sure about this?”
“Melden’s right. Han Cheon-seong is Trait Level 4. I think you might be pushing it.”
Despite the concerns voiced by Melden and Duren, who formed the group with him, Jerad simply tilted his head as if he hadn't a care in the world.
“It’s fine. He’s just a lucky commoner. Today’s the day I’ll properly crush him.”
“Jerad, there’s no need to overdo it.”
“Like Duren said, the rumors might be exaggerated, but still, if he really clashed with Leonhardt… it seems better not to.”
No matter how much they expressed their concern, Jerad's mind didn't change.
Today was the practical lecture.
‘I’ll call him out and crush him for all to see.’
Being humiliated by Kalli on the first day was one thing, but her attitude toward that bastard afterward was something he found utterly displeasing.
He had been treated harshly for asking a single question out of goodwill, while Han Cheon-seong received an absurd amount of attention just for luckily managing a draw against Leonhardt.
As if that wasn’t enough… when he tried to reach for Luna, someone Jerad had been interested in for a while, it was simply unbearable.
He couldn’t just stand by and do nothing; it felt like his insides were twisting.
‘How dare a mere commoner… Who does he think he is, aiming for someone so far above him?’
The rumors might be widespread, but they were just rumors. The guy's grade was Common. Level 4 was a bit concerning, but even so, a commoner with a Common Trait had clear limits.
He was only being overrated because of a stroke of incredible luck.
“Don’t worry. Spearmanship is a close-range armament anyway. And with a close-range Trait, all you have to do is not let him close the distance. If the matchup is right, even a Level 4 is beatable.”
He stated his opinion confidently, looking at Melden and Duren.
Commoners were just commoners, and Common was just Common. These guys worried too much.
Commoners were the type to be crushed if you just pressed down on them.
“…I guess that’s true.”
“If you don’t let him get close, I suppose you have a decent chance, Jerad.”
“Exactly. So don’t you two worry so much. I’ll crush him properly today.”
He grew excited at the thought.
He would crush that bastard Han Cheon-seong and, at the same time, show his true worth, turning his reputation around.
The mere thought made his heart swell.
*Slide.*
Just then, the door opened and Han Cheon-seong walked in. Jerad smirked.
He was, of course, accompanied by another commoner, which was just laughable.
‘The one next to him was David, wasn’t he?’
The commoner with orange hair.
Although he had been assigned to the same class as them, it was only because their Traits hadn't developed yet. In the future, the gap between himself and such riffraff would be overwhelming.
*Step.*
As they drew near, his chest filled with heat.
In a few hours—no, in just a short while—he would be able to crush that bastard.
When their eyes met, the one called Han Cheon-seong didn't avoid his gaze for some reason.
"...Pfft."
Then he twisted his lips and turned his head away, and Jerad was unknowingly dumbfounded.
“That crazy bastard…”
Back at his family's estate, if a commoner had shown such disrespect, it would have been an offense worthy of immediate punishment.
Just because they were at the academy, he was getting arrogant, not knowing his place…
*Slide.*
The moment I started to rise from my seat.
*Clank!*
The classroom door opened again.
...He froze and looked over to see Kalli entering the lecture hall.
*Click. Clack.*
As her crimson hair, like a blazing fire, swayed gently, he forced himself to calm down.
"...I can just crush him in the practical."
Steeling his resolve, he vowed to make Kalli see him in a new light as well.
He would prove it. He wasn't a cadet who deserved such treatment.
***
A vast, open lot within the academy.
The fifty cadets of C1 Class were all standing in neat rows and columns.
"..."
"..."
With that many people, it should have been bustling, but everyone remained calmly silent.
That was because Kalli was standing before them with a cold expression.
“Before we begin, I will explain the practical lecture. First, sparring between cadets primarily focuses on ‘gauging your opponent’s capabilities.’ You may accept a challenge if you wish, or you may refuse it. The choice is entirely yours.”
Kalli paused, her gaze sweeping over the cadets before her, then continued in an even colder tone.
“However, there will be times when you cannot run. I would like you to accept all challenges if possible, but I will not force you. Unlike the future evaluation sessions, for now, you may challenge any cadet you wish and proceed with the spars. All of you must remember that this is a spar. Use your full strength, but show proper consideration for your opponent. If you believe a life-threatening injury might occur during a spar, you may call an instructor to observe."
When the calm-voiced Kalli gave permission for the spars to begin,
most of the cadets hesitated.
The academy entrance exam had only evaluated the potential of their Traits, their capacity for growth, and their level as a measure of effort.
It had not included actual combat.
Therefore, for most cadets, this was their very first time engaging in combat after receiving their Traits.
And then, the unexpected happened simultaneously.
“Cadet number 16, David.”
“Cadet number 17, Han Cheon-seong.”
“Cadet number 36, Jerad Readri.”
Three cadets called out their names at the same time, looking at Kalli.
At that moment, the attention of everyone around them was drawn to the three.
Kalli, too, looked from one to the other with interest before turning her gaze to David, who had spoken first.
“Cadet David spoke first, so we will hear him out.”
“Yes. I would like to request a spar with cadet number 36, Jerad, under your observation, Instructor.”
At David's calmly delivered words… Kalli naturally turned her gaze to Jerad.
“Cadet Jerad. Do you accept this spar with Cadet David?”
As she had stated earlier that they had a choice, Kalli asked for his intention to spar.
Jerad hesitated for a moment before a smile spread across his face.
“Yes. I accept, Instructor.”
“Good. Then the two of you, step forward.”
At Kalli’s summons, David and Jerad stepped out of their respective rows and walked forward, their eyes locked on each other.
In contrast to David's coldly set expression, Jerad let out an arrogant laugh.
Of course, Jerad was dumbfounded.
He had originally intended to challenge Han Cheon-seong, but instead, he had been challenged first.
But Jerad thought this was fine, too.
Before challenging Han Cheon-seong.
‘Crushing David first should be fine.’
*Step. Step.*
As David and Jerad faced each other and took their positions, Kalli watched them with a clear gaze.
And she noticed the strange current between them.
‘A spar born from personal feelings, is it?’
A challenge born from mutual dislike. It was a fairly common occurrence at the academy.
And instructors did not stop such things during lectures.
As long as accidents could be prevented under observation, such strong emotions could, in fact, serve as a stepping stone for growth.
"Begin the spar."
As Kalli's calm voice echoed, David kicked off the ground.