Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Adelia Evangeline
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***
The Academy Infirmary.
Practical training had ended, and lunchtime had arrived.
While many cadets were taking their lunch break, three people were present in the infirmary.
Adelia Evangeline, the female instructor in charge of the infirmary as a healer.
David, still unconscious and lying on a sickbed.
And Han Cheon-seong, silently watching over him…
“Um... Cadet Han Cheon-seong?”
“Yes, Instructor Adelia.”
“As I've said before, Cadet David's condition is really fine. Despite his appearance, he has no major injuries, just some bruises. He'll wake up soon.”
As Adelia spoke cautiously, Cheon-seong slowly nodded and replied.
This was a conversation we had already repeated several times.
While I was truly grateful for her consideration, I was also genuinely fine.
“Thank you for your words. Still, I'd like to stay until he wakes up.”
“...Sigh. Are you sure you're okay with not eating? There isn't much time left for lunch.”
“I can skip lunch. With my friend in this state, I don't feel right eating alone.”
It wasn't just words; I truly had no appetite.
I simply had no desire to eat anything.
After the spar ended and lunchtime began, I had come to the infirmary to check on David… and seeing him lying there so peacefully, various thoughts instantly flooded my mind.
And the strongest among them was ‘regret’.
The regret that I should have punished Jerad, the one who did this to David, more mercilessly.
A deep regret that even if the other cadets and Kalli started to see me as trash like Jerad, or my reputation soured, I should have properly punished that bastard.
Seeing him still unconscious made me wonder if I had been too rational.
“...”
As I was blankly staring at him, passing the time.
*Rustle.*
Suddenly, Instructor Adelia stood up.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong's dedicated instructor is Kalli, correct?”
“Yes. Instructor Kalli is, but…”
“Then I'll let her know beforehand. If you're that worried about your friend, it's alright to be a little late. And let's have lunch together here. I'll have my assistant bring meals for both of us.”
Stunned by Instructor Adelia's unexpected words, I quickly shook my head.
“Oh, no. Instructor Adelia. I'm really fine.”
“How can you be fine? You have such a worried expression. I'll let them know about your class, so don't refuse so strongly. Alright?”
...Her gentle smile as she spoke left me momentarily speechless.
I only came to check on David's condition. I had no intention of skipping class because of it.
But to receive such unexpected kindness from an instructor.
*Click.*
As I hesitated to answer, she smiled softly and left the infirmary, making it impossible for me to refuse completely.
“Hah…”
I let out a small sigh and decided to just accept what had happened.
I couldn't ignore the instructor's consideration, and I figured I'd leave the infirmary as soon as class time arrived after I finished lunch.
Still, my gaze returned.
Looking at David, unconscious as if in a deep sleep, I finally felt some of the tension leave me.
The words inside me then spilled out on their own.
“...Really. Why did you have to step up first and end up like this?”
It would have been enough if you had just watched me deal with Jerad.
I suddenly recalled David stopping me last week when I was about to stand up to Jerad's provocations.
It was David who had told me to be patient, that there would be a chance during the practical spars.
And yet, he was the one who couldn't hold back and ended up like this after sparring before me.
The same guy who said he was nervous just this morning. I had no idea where he got the confidence to go first.
“Perhaps... he's the type to suppress his emotions.”
Over the past few days, Jerad's taunts had infuriated me, but perhaps David had felt the same way.
There was no way David would have enjoyed hearing them either.
Yet, because he seemed relatively calm, I thought he was just letting it go in one ear and out the other. But seeing him today, that clearly wasn't the case.
In fact, it might be more accurate to say that David had suppressed his emotions even more than I had.
“...”
Part of me wished I had beaten Jerad more, but for now, I was just relieved that David was alright.
‘...I can just create another opportunity next time.’
Then, I wanted to help David train so he could punish Jerad himself.
*Tremble…*
Then, I looked down at my hand.
Now that Adelia had left and I'd let my guard down, my hand was trembling against my will.
—[Pierce and Twist a Single Point]
The aftereffects of using that technique, which I had not yet mastered into a skill, were greater than I had anticipated. I could feel the strain it put on my body.
I had suppressed it so as not to show it while Instructor Adelia was here, but…
“I shouldn't overuse that.”
Since it wasn't a fully mastered skill but something incomplete, I didn't know what dangers might come with using it.
It could put an even greater strain on my body…
I wonder how long I waited.
*Click.*
At the sound of the door opening, I turned my head and saw Instructor Adelia again.
And following her was a woman who looked to be around my age.
Curiously, both had emerald-colored hair. But while Adelia had a gentle impression that gave off a warm feeling, the woman who entered with her, presumably her assistant, felt cold.
I immediately stood up and took the tray the assistant was holding.
“Thank you.”
“It's nothing.”
I shook my head at the assistant's words and placed the tray on a nearby table.
There were meals for three people, and for a moment, I found it amazing that I was receiving such treatment.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. I've already spoken to Instructor Kalli, so don't worry and rest easy.”
“...Thank you, Instructor Adelia.”
“No need to thank me. I've been watching you, you know. I just thought it was admirable and wanted to show some goodwill.”
Adelia's warm smile seemed to warm my own heart a little.
“Ah, and Erpe. You can go back now and organize what needs to be done for today.”
“Yes, Instructor.”
As the woman called Erpe quickly departed, I returned to my spot and looked at David again.
*Click.*
Even as the infirmary door closed, I felt a pang of disappointment seeing him still unconscious.
‘It would be great if he woke up now so we could have lunch together.’
But I couldn't wake David up. I knew it was best for him to regain consciousness naturally.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Do you want to wake Cadet David right now?”
“...Ah, no.”
She asked as if she had read my mind, and I shook my head in surprise.
Was I amusing to her? I felt embarrassed by her light smile.
“Even with healing abilities, it doesn't restore everything completely. It just drastically boosts the natural recovery rate to quickly mend external wounds. The same goes for consciousness. It's best to let him regain it naturally. So you mustn't try to wake Cadet David, okay?”
“Yes, I understand.”
As I answered, I found myself avoiding her gaze.
She was speaking so gently, as if chiding a child, and I couldn't get used to it.
“For now, Cadet Han Cheon-seong, let's have lunch first. I'll take care of Cadet David when he wakes up later.”
“...Yes.”
At her words, I sat down at the table where I had placed the food earlier.
And across from me, naturally... Instructor Adelia sat down, and watching her gave me a strange feeling.
‘Is this the second time?’
Coincidentally, another meal sitting face-to-face with an instructor.
“Is this your first time eating with an instructor, Cadet Han Cheon-seong?”
She asked as she picked up her spoon, and I belatedly picked up mine and shook my head.
“It's not my first time eating with an instructor. I happened to have a meal with Instructor Kalli once before.”
“Oh, really? That's quite surprising. Considering Instructor Kalli's reputation, I heard she's very strict with her cadets... That meal must have been very uncomfortable for you. But don't worry, Cadet Han Cheon-seong, you don't have to be so tense now. I'm not as strict as Instructor Kalli... so you can eat comfortably.”
She said this with another gentle smile, and my gaze drifted to her unconsciously.
It really feels like a world from a novel, how is everyone so beautiful? My eyes were drawn to her without me realizing it.
*Swoosh…*
Adelia's posture, leaning her upper body naturally over the table to eat, was completely natural.
But this had the effect of excessively emphasizing a certain part of her body…
*Gulp.*
I swallowed hard and immediately lowered my head.
I felt I shouldn't look at her any longer.
I hadn't been paying much attention to Instructor Adelia because I was focused on David… but now, sitting face-to-face with her for a meal, I couldn't help but be conscious of her, whether I liked it or not.
Even just how devastating her figure was…
…
…
*Clink.*
The meal proceeded with the quiet clinking of our utensils.
*Scrape, scrape…*
As I cut the steak into small pieces with my knife, I realized the food was far from ordinary.
‘This is from the instructors' dining hall.’
The quality of the food before me was something you'd expect from the instructors-only dining hall, not the cadet cafeteria where students pay for their meals.
I'd noticed it when I went with Kalli before; the cadet cafeteria wasn't bad, but there was a drastic difference compared to the food from the instructors' hall.
*Chomp.*
As I put a piece of steak in my mouth, the rich juices filled my senses. It was definitely delicious.
I hadn't had an appetite, so for it to taste this good, I couldn't even imagine how delicious the meat must be.
“...”
“...”
As I gently raised my head, our eyes met as if by chance.
I blinked for a moment, unable to understand.
'Why is she looking at me?'
No, we were sitting opposite each other, so it wasn't strange for her to look at me. But the peculiar glint in Adelia's eyes made me unable to discern her meaning.
“The food... is very delicious.”
I offered my thoughts on the food, just in case, and Adelia's sudden, radiant smile left me even more bewildered.
“It is, isn't it? The food is really delicious, right?”
“...Yes. Is this from the instructors' dining hall?”
“That's right. I'd love to treat all the other cadets to food like this too, but I rarely get the chance. It would look a bit strange to other instructors and cadets if I took a student to the instructors' dining hall... It's a shame, food this delicious should be enjoyed by more people.”
As she spoke, genuinely sounding regretful, I nodded along, finding it fascinating.
‘Is she a foodie?’
While thinking this, I could tell that Adelia had a very kind heart.
From being a healer in charge of the infirmary to so openly showing kindness to a cadet, everything about her was unique.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Here, try this too. This cheese is also really delicious.”
Then, suddenly, she cut a piece of cheese from her own plate and offered it directly to me.
“...”
As I watched the cheese slowly approach my mouth, I was momentarily speechless.
...My mouth truly wouldn't open.
As Adelia leaned forward to offer the food, I could see her upper body slowly pressing against the table.
It was a truly instinctual reaction, and I couldn't do anything about it.
*Gulp.*
Unconsciously swallowing, I blankly opened my mouth.