Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Strange Atmosphere Between the Two Female Instructors
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***
“Oh. Instructor Kalli?”
Adelia, who had assumed the visitor to the infirmary was a cadet, was surprised by the unexpected guest. Kalli offered her an awkward smile.
“Hello, Instructor Adelia... I stopped by because I heard one of my cadets was here. Are Cadet David and Cadet Han Cheon-seong inside, by any chance?”
“Ah, yes they are. But is your lecture already over?”
“It ended a little early today.”
“...Is that so? Anyway, they’re inside. Come on in.”
As Adelia calmly let her into the infirmary, Kalli couldn't help but survey the room as she entered. The first thing she saw was David, lying in a bed as if asleep.
“By any chance, what’s Cadet David’s condition? From what I saw, he didn't seem to have any major issues...”
“Just as you said, there's nothing particularly wrong. He's just taking a little longer to wake up since he lost consciousness, but he'll be fine. Although, when I think about it, it does seem a bit strange for him to be out this long. Anyway, he should be able to attend the academy as usual tomorrow.”
“That’s a relief. Thank you.”
“No thanks are necessary. I was just doing what I’m supposed to do."
As Adelia waved her hand dismissively, Kalli inadvertently glanced around again.
Aside from David, she expected to see Cheon-seong, but he was nowhere in sight.
“Instructor Kalli. Are you perhaps looking for Cadet Han Cheon-seong?”
“Ah, yes. I am."
“Then just a moment. Instructor Kalli, please wait a second.”
Adelia suddenly stopped Kalli and stepped through a white curtain. Kalli watched her blankly.
*Swish.*
Cheon-seong was a little surprised to see Adelia pull back the white curtain and enter.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
“Yes, Instructor Adelia.”
“How are you feeling now? A little better? I feel like I ended up harming an innocent cadet just to show off my power. Are there any aftereffects?"
“No. I’m really fine now."
As Cheon-seong nodded, insisting he was really fine, Adelia let out a soft breath and carefully extended her right hand.
*Rustle.*
Adelia suddenly placed her hand on Cheon-seong’s forehead. Though surprised, he accepted her touch.
—!
Soon, a brilliant, fresh green light burst from Adelia's hand, and a warm, gentle breeze enveloped Cheon-seong's entire body.
As Adelia's unique healing energy circulated through his body, Cheon-seong, though surprised, simply accepted it.
His body immediately felt lighter as vitality began to surge within him.
“This is…."
“It’s my specialty. A moment ago, I went out thinking the visitor might be a cadet in a hurry, but now that I know it’s Instructor Kalli, I thought I’d heal you a bit."
After stroking Cheon-seong's forehead for about a minute, Adelia slowly removed her hand, and the warm, healing wind that had settled in his body dissipated.
Cheon-seong felt a momentary sense of disappointment as he checked his condition.
His body felt completely refreshed, as if he had just washed up in the morning. To Cheon-seong, the effect was unbelievable.
“Thank you, Instructor.”
“No. I was the one who used my skills on a cadet for no good reason. This is the least I could do.”
A small smile playing on her lips, Adelia suddenly bent her body forward.
—!
As her body instantly dipped down, Cheon-seong, who was sitting, couldn't react at all.
“……”
An overwhelming mass instantly loomed large before Cheon-seong's eyes, carrying something akin to more than just violence.
Along with it came the distinct fragrance unique to Adelia's feminine form.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. I know I’m asking just in case, but are you really not uncomfortable with Instructor Kalli?”
When she suddenly whispered the question in his ear, Cheon-seong dazedly shook his head.
The immense destructive power of the moment Adelia had leaned in still shimmered before Cheon-seong's eyes, but he was capable of rational thought.
“...I’m fine. I’m really not uncomfortable with Instructor Kalli.”
“You don’t have to be polite here. I’ll ask again, are you really not uncomfortable?”
Despite Adelia's repeated questioning, Cheon-seong dazedly nodded.
His eyes wavered, captivated by the fresh, floral scent emanating from Adelia. Seeing this, Adelia let out a soft breath and pulled away.
"..."
Cheon-seong could only watch blankly as Adelia, who had approached so suddenly, slowly moved away.
How much of a shock it could be for a person to have breasts of such overwhelming mass appear and disappear from their field of vision.
As they came right before his eyes, Cheon-seong had to struggle to suppress his instincts.
“For you to say that much, I guess it wasn’t just empty words when you said Instructor Kalli treats you well, huh?”
As Adelia spoke with a slight smile, Cheon-seong nodded again.
He wasn't even aware that he was staring intently at Adelia's chest.
Adelia, smirking at his gaze, raised her hand and flicked it lightly.
*Flick!*
"Ah…."
She lightly flicked Cheon-seong's forehead, and he belatedly came to his senses.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. I may have given you permission to look, but I never said you could stare so intently at my chest, did I?”
“...Ah, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine. It doesn’t seem like you did it on purpose. Shall I open the curtain now?”
"Yes. That’s fine."
As Adelia slowly pulled back the curtain, Cheon-seong swallowed hard and straightened his posture.
***
*Swish.*
After Instructor Adelia stepped behind the curtain, Kalli couldn't hear a single sound.
It was as if she had severed the space with her energy.
‘...Why?’
Kalli felt a flicker of doubt.
Why had Adelia used her energy to cut off the space?
And when the white curtain was finally pulled back after nearly five minutes, revealing Instructor Adelia and Cadet Han Cheon-seong, I couldn't help but give them a strange look.
The space behind the curtain was narrower than I had imagined.
‘Just Instructor Adelia and Cadet Han Cheon-seong alone...’
Why had they been in there for several minutes? It suddenly felt incredibly strange.
Of course, there was nothing to suspect about Instructor Adelia or Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
No, I don't even know what I'm suspecting between them in the first place. But thinking about such a cramped space, the strange thought that they must have been naturally pressed close together keeps popping into my head.
“Hello, Instructor Kalli.”
As Cadet Han Cheon-seong smiled awkwardly, I pushed the thoughts from my mind.
“Right. I heard you were in the infirmary because you were worried about Cadet David.”
Even as we exchanged light conversation, I was conscious of Instructor Adelia standing off to the side, watching us with an amused expression.
As a woman praised as the best among the military nurse officers on the battlefield, I'd had a certain admiration for her. But now, something felt strange.
“Instructor. I apologize for skipping your lecture on my own accord. I really didn’t mean to, but it was unintentional…”
“That’s fine. I didn't come all the way to the infirmary to reprimand you for missing class.”
As I replied calmly, my eyes narrowed without me realizing it.
‘...That’s.’
My eyes fell on Cadet Han Cheon-seong’s shoulder.
Seeing a long, green strand of hair, I couldn't understand why another instructor's hair was there.
“And they say David’s condition is fine. I heard he just hasn't regained consciousness yet.”
“I heard that from Instructor Adelia myself. I just came to check on both of you since you’re both cadets under my charge. You don’t have to be so tense.”
“...Thank you for your concern.”
As I watched him slightly bow his head at my words…
It was just as I thought. This was Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
He was exactly as I knew him to be: humble and diligent. And he knew how to look upon an instructor with respect.
And yet, I didn’t know why my eyes kept drifting to the strand of green hair on the cadet’s shoulder.
“Excuse me, just a moment. Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
It bothered me so much that I found myself approaching him.
*Rustle.*
As I reached out my hand, Cadet Han Cheon-seong flinched, and a small laugh escaped my lips.
‘He really is different from how he looks; he doesn't seem used to women.’
...It's not like I have much experience with men myself, but Cadet Han Cheon-seong always got flustered when a woman approached him.
Even so, I liked this peculiar attitude of his, which seemed to properly recognize the boundary between an instructor and a cadet.
He observes boundaries while never slacking on his efforts... a cadet who suits my tastes in many ways.
“It’s nothing. There was just a bit of dust.”
*Brush. Brush.*
As I carefully brushed his shoulder, I let Instructor Adelia's strand of hair fall to the floor.
“Thank you, Instructor.”
“It’s nothing. Don’t mention it.”
As I started to back away, I felt a strange sense of incongruity.
"..."
As I took a soft, shallow breath, the feeling became clear.
It was definitely a fresh, floral scent.
‘This smells like lavender.’
How could Cadet Han Cheon-seong smell of lavender? Do male cadets use lavender-scented products?
Of course, there was no rule against it, but it felt distinctly at odds with my image of him.
Then, my head turned unconsciously.
“Hm? Why are you suddenly looking at me?”
“...No. It’s nothing.”
At the sight of Instructor Adelia speaking up at my gaze, my heart sank.
A truly foolish thought had just crossed my mind.
‘It can’t be.’
There was no way.
‘But for a scent this strong to linger, wouldn't their bodies have had to be in close contact?’
I erased the thought again.
There was no way something like that could have happened between Instructor Adelia and Cadet Han Cheon-seong. If anything, it would be more understandable if the scent had rubbed off on Cadet David while he was being healed by her…
‘It must have just lingered by chance.’
I forcibly erased the thought and put some distance between myself and Cadet Han Cheon-seong again.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Do you have any appointments or other plans later…?”
I had intended to just check on the two cadets and leave, but now that I'd met him in person, it felt like a waste to part ways like this.
Since I had already given him permission to use my personal training room, I figured it would be a good idea to properly teach him about the magitech items today.
‘Cadet Han Cheon-seong missed his afternoon lecture, after all.’
I thought my reasoning was perfectly sound for an instructor.
“No, I don’t have any plans later. If there’s something you need me for, I’ll get ready right away.”
As expected, Cadet Han Cheon-seong readily agreed, which made him seem all the more admirable.
His willingness to work hard, and the fact that he didn't dislike it, were all things I saw in a positive light.
“Then I’d like you to join me for a little while…”
“Just a moment, Instructor Kalli."
At the sound of Instructor Adelia’s voice, I couldn't help but stop talking.
I turned to her and replied.
“Yes, Instructor Adelia.”
“I’m sorry, but I’d appreciate it if you let Cadet Han Cheon-seong go for today.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
Her unexpected meddling made my brow furrow slightly.
Cadet Han Cheon-seong was unequivocally a cadet under my charge. I couldn't understand why Instructor Adelia was trying to interfere in matters concerning him.
“I know Cadet Han Cheon-seong missed your lecture today. But that was something we already agreed upon, wasn't it? Right?”
“...Yes. I’m aware of that. What I’m about to discuss with him isn’t about the lecture.”
“Even so, Instructor Kalli, I made a promise to Cadet Han Cheon-seong today. I told him not to worry, even if he missed the lecture. In that sense, I’d like you to let him go, just for today.”
Calmly and composedly.
But unlike how she had looked at me before, Instructor Adelia met my gaze with an utterly indifferent expression, and for a moment, I was at a loss for words.
I understood the words Instructor Adelia was saying.
I understood that she looked favorably upon Cadet Han Cheon-seong, and that she was showing him kindness out of respect for his upright heart, such as his friendship and concern for Cadet David.
...But why?
I didn't know why her words sounded so unpleasant to me.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Did my words make you feel pressured?”
So, without realizing it, I redirected the question.
I would hear the answer to that question ‘directly’ from Cadet Han Cheon-seong.