Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Kalli's Peculiar Heart
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***
—Kalli Ishtar.
Adelia had heard all about the accomplishments she had achieved on the eastern front.
Though they had each stood on different battlefields, a hero who played a major role was bound to shine everywhere.
So seeing Kalli again like this left a strong impression on Adelia.
‘She doesn’t seem as ill-natured as the rumors say.’
The rumors circulating about Instructor Kalli were so dreadful that I truly believed she was a strict and cold instructor to her cadets.
But seeing her interact with Cadet Han Cheon-seong, she didn't seem that cold.
However, that was only for a moment.
…
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Did my words perhaps make you uncomfortable?”
Even though my conversation with him was over, the sight of Instructor Kalli seemingly forcing a response from Cadet Han Cheon-seong made my heart turn cold.
‘What on earth is she doing?’
I had made a clear promise to Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
That I would ensure there was no trouble. He was a commendable student who knew how to care for a friend he hadn't seen in a while, and besides, he was quite handsome. Most importantly, his upright demeanor that day had made me take a liking to him.
I was well aware that almost any man I met would show interest in my body, their gazes subtly yet overtly lingering.
But for Cadet Han Cheon-seong, who was just twenty, to restrain and endure that instinct was both admirable and endearing.
That was why I had wanted to look after him even more…
“Ah, no. They didn't sound burdensome at all.”
Anyone could see how tense Cadet Han Cheon-seong was as he answered Instructor Kalli’s question.
It seemed he usually spoke with her like this…
‘What part of this is okay?’
Cadet Han Cheon-seong was not okay at all.
From that point on, my attitude toward Instructor Kalli changed drastically.
I couldn't tell if she was toying with me or what kind of stunt she was trying to pull.
I knew how great Kalli's reputation was. She was one of the figures known as a 'Pillar of the Empire'.
Even so, strictly by academy graduation year, I was her senior, and I had spent more time on the battlefield.
Kalli Ishtar. She wasn't the only one who graduated early and went to war, and the merits I had earned were not to be taken lightly.
“Instructor Kalli.”
I called out to her in a voice that was utterly cold.
“Yes, Instructor Adelia.”
The way Instructor Kalli looked at me with a faint smile, despite my frigid tone, was truly absurd.
“Do you really think it’s right to force an answer from Cadet Han Cheon-seong here and now?”
“...Instructor Adelia. Forcing him? What do you mean?”
She looked at me, feigning ignorance, and an involuntary scoff escaped my lips.
There’s a proper order to things, but I never imagined she would treat me like this.
No matter how much I tried to treat everyone well, whether instructor or cadet, I simply couldn't see this side of Instructor Kalli in a positive light.
“Hah…”
I let out a deep sigh and ran a hand through my hair.
“Instructor Kalli. I know your accomplishments on the eastern front are truly remarkable. But right now, as you address me, your senior instructor—no, your senior officer—what is the meaning of this attitude?”
“Instructor Adelia, I… I don’t quite understand what you’re saying. What kind of attitude am I showing?”
“Why are you dragging out a matter that was already settled between him and me? And you redirected my question to Cadet Han Cheon-seong for an answer, didn't you? I can only see that as a blatant act of disrespect toward me.”
The air grew frigid.
A heavy atmosphere quickly enveloped the infirmary.
Despite that, I found myself glaring at Kalli with even more coldness.
“...Instructor Adelia, that’s a huge misunderstanding. How could I possibly disrespect you? I, too, have heard of your great renown.”
Though Instructor Kalli faltered at my words before answering articulately, I found her attitude all the more displeasing.
‘She calls that a misunderstanding.’
After showing such an attitude, what could possibly be a misunderstanding? Was she claiming she didn't know what it meant to seek an answer from a cadet in response to my words?
For a moment, I turned my head to look at Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
“Yes, Instructor Adelia.”
As Cadet Han Cheon-seong hastily replied amidst the untimely frosty atmosphere… a sense of guilt welled up inside me.
‘It wasn’t supposed to be like this.’
I didn't understand why Cadet Han Cheon-seong had to suffer because of the tension between me and Instructor Kalli.
He was just a kind and upright cadet.
“...Please pack your things and go.”
“Instructor Adelia, but…”
“It’s not ‘but.’ It’s really fine. I’ll check on Cadet David properly. And I need to have a serious conversation with Instructor Kalli. So I’d appreciate it if you would leave us.”
I spoke firmly, believing it was best to send Cadet Han Cheon-seong away first.
Even if he were to say he was fine with our conversation, it wouldn't be because he was actually fine.
That was why, when Instructor Kalli had first entered, I had repeatedly asked Cadet Han Cheon-seong for his opinion.
I asked if Instructor Kalli made him uncomfortable or if it was difficult for him. Given the many dreadful rumors about her, I was sure he must have felt uneasy.
But when Cadet Han Cheon-seong had answered so calmly, I had actually thought that Instructor Kalli was different from the rumors.
But.
That wasn't the case at all.
This attitude of forcing an answer from a cadet even after I had spoken—Instructor Kalli was doing it so naturally, as if she were unaware of how cowardly it was for an instructor to act that way.
‘Then there’s no way she’d show proper consideration for her cadets.’
She must have treated Cadet Han Cheon-seong like this all the time.
As if it were her right, she must have tried to sway him by leaning on her reputation.
“……”
When Cadet Han Cheon-seong hesitated at my words, glancing at Instructor Kalli, I turned to the now silent instructor.
“Instructor Kalli?”
“...Yes, Instructor Adelia.”
“Do you have any objections to what I just said?”
I asked, looking at her not as a fellow instructor, but as a senior officer, my gaze completely cold.
“No. I have none.”
Seeing her answer reluctantly, I nodded toward Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
At the same time, I tried to soften my gaze so as not to frighten him, and even I found the situation awkward.
Really…
‘What am I even doing?’
The idea of me and Instructor Kalli confronting each other with Cadet Han Cheon-seong in the middle. No, the very thought of a confrontation was ridiculous.
This was something that shouldn't have happened at all.
“Yes. Then… I’ll be on my way.”
At my words, Cadet Han Cheon-seong awkwardly rose to his feet.
*Step. Step.*
As he passed by me, I gently patted his shoulder.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Thank you for staying with me today. I’ll see you next time.”
I spoke in a way that might ease his mind, as he must have been incredibly uncomfortable.
“Yes. I also had a very… enjoyable time.”
With an awkward smile, Cadet Han Cheon-seong carefully exited the infirmary.
*Click.*
As the door closed, only I, Instructor Kalli, and the unconscious Cadet David remained in the infirmary.
*Hoo.* Letting out a short breath, I gestured lightly to a chair.
“Instructor Kalli. Please, have a seat. We need to talk, don't we?”
“...Yes.”
Even I disliked the cold, heavy atmosphere.
I didn't want to assert my authority or speak to Instructor Kalli coercively over something so trivial…
With that thought, I finally relaxed my demeanor.
“I’ll brew some tea. Let's both cool our heads in the meantime. In the first place, neither you nor I… have any reason to be on edge like this, do we?”
I took the initiative, speaking gently.
I didn't want to demand an apology or get into a power struggle over something like this.
“...Yes, you’re right. How could I be on edge with you, Instructor Adelia? This was all just… a misunderstanding.”
“That’s right. It was all a misunderstanding.”
As Instructor Kalli nodded awkwardly, a small laugh escaped me.
“Ah, do you have a favorite tea? I can prepare something specific.”
“No, it’s fine. I drink any kind of tea.”
“Really? Then I’ll prepare some black tea.”
“Yes…”
Was my cold demeanor that jarring?
Watching the dazed Instructor Kalli, I began to brew the tea.
***
Reason and emotion were in constant conflict.
And the disparity, the gap that existed between the two… or whatever you wanted to call it.
Right now, Kalli's heart was wavering.
“…”
The fragrant aroma of black tea tickled her nose.
Instructor Adelia, sitting across from me, had immediately shed her previous cold demeanor.
I could feel her intention to resolve the situation amicably, and the fact that she had been the first to extend an olive branch was something I was truly grateful for.
It was only later that I realized I had clearly been in the wrong.
My sudden impulse to seek an answer from Cadet Han Cheon-seong was, in retrospect… a clear act of disrespect toward Instructor Adelia.
So, without a doubt, I was at fault.
“Instructor Kalli. Are you still feeling upset?”
“No. I’m really fine.”
“If you feel wronged by me in any way, or if I seemed too cold just now, please don't think too deeply about it. I just got caught up in the moment.”
Instructor Adelia smiled gently… looking incredibly benevolent.
To think that I was having such confused feelings toward her… how foolish was that?
“I’m the one who should be sorry… for realizing my mistake too late. Trying to get an answer from a cadet for your words. That could truly be seen as forcing him, and it was wrong of me to act in a way that could be perceived as disrespecting you.”
“It’s really fine now. Everyone makes mistakes. And I tend to think well of people who admit their mistakes right away, so I hold no ill feelings.”
At Instructor Adelia’s gentle voice, I stared blankly and nodded.
*Ssk.* I carefully caressed the warm teacup.
My reason understood.
The whole situation had been resolved smoothly. The misunderstanding was cleared, and there was no reason to harbor any strange feelings. It was over.
But my emotions rebelled, staining my heart with a peculiar feeling.
—Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Thank you for staying with me today. I’ll see you next time.
Instructor Adelia’s hand gently patting Cadet Han Cheon-seong’s shoulder, the warmth in her eyes as she looked at him…
And even the strange smile on Cadet Han Cheon-seong’s face as he replied to her.
…Why.
Why did that keep bothering me?
Had something truly happened between them in the time I wasn't aware of? Such an absurd delusion unwittingly crossed my mind.
That couldn't be possible. Why did these strange thoughts keep popping up…?
*Rustle.*
A rustling sound drew my gaze. I saw Cadet David, blinking his eyes open.
“Ah, Instructor Kalli. Excuse me for a moment.”
Instructor Adelia immediately rose from her seat and approached Cadet David.
“Cadet David. How are you? Are you feeling a little better now?”
She asked gently, checking on the cadet's condition. David, with a dazed expression, opened his mouth.
“Yes. I’m okay… Where am I?”
“You’re in the infirmary. You lost consciousness and collapsed, so I treated you. Do you feel anything unusual in your body, or any strange sensations?”
“No. I feel perfectly fine.”
As I watched David respond blankly…
That, too, felt strange.
‘Why do I feel nothing now?’
Unlike with Cadet Han Cheon-seong, seeing her treat Cadet David with such warmth… stirred no feelings in me at all.
My heart… felt so very strange.