Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: A Completely Twisted Future
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***
“I-I’m sorry…!”
Luna shouted, her face flushed so red anyone could see.
It was so awkward and unfamiliar for her that everyone could feel it.
“...”
As Cheon-seong stared, utterly bewildered, Millia, ironically, felt a sense of relief.
‘I’m glad she’s apologizing properly.’
The rumor, inflated by Luna’s misunderstanding, had spread like wildfire, ultimately harming Han Cheon-seong.
That had been weighing on my mind. I could tell that Luna, whether she knew it or not, also showed signs of feeling sorry toward Han Cheon-seong.
That was why I had spent the whole weekend persuading her.
Telling her it would be best to give Han Cheon-seong a proper apology.
The Luna I knew wasn't twisted or a bad person. She was just a close friend who was very clumsy when it came to dealing with people.
“...”
I could tell just by looking at her now, head bowed low after offering her apology.
Her hesitating lips, her eyes darting about, unsure of where to look—it was a reaction she couldn't possibly show if she weren't truly sorry.
Then, my gaze shifted to Han Cheon-seong.
“Are you apologizing for the rumor from last time?”
At his question, Luna gave a slight nod instead of a verbal answer.
Seeing her blush and hesitate, her lips trembling, I felt it was my turn to step in.
“That’s right. It's about the rumor that spread because of Luna's misunderstanding. I know it's very late, but Luna wanted to apologize to you in person, so we came to find you."
“I… see.”
“It’s been weighing heavily on Luna’s mind. Especially after how Instructor Kalli treated you so coldly last week. To be honest, I also felt this was something that needed to be resolved properly.”
My heart was perfectly calm as I spoke on Luna’s behalf.
In truth, this wasn't the first time a situation like this had occurred.
There had been several occasions where someone was harmed by Luna’s misunderstanding or judgment. Each time, I had mediated the situation.
Just like now.
“...”
After that, Han Cheon-seong silently watched Luna with a peculiar expression, as if her attitude was completely unexpected.
And even that attitude… felt natural to me.
‘Because that’s just Luna.’
Luna, who was undeniably beautiful and charming.
But she had a sharp personality that more than overshadowed those charms, acting as a major flaw.
Her dogmatic and self-centered way of thinking prevented anyone from readily approaching her. And even those who did were met with a harshness, like a rose with thorns, or wounded by her sharp words. Besides me, she didn't really have anyone she got along with.
…And that was why. It was incredibly rare for Luna to offer an apology.
So I had expected it. That Han Cheon-seong would react this way.
“Right. Well... thank you for apologizing like this. It's not something I was dwelling on much anymore, but receiving your apology... I think it does make me feel a bit better."
When Han Cheon-seong accepted it more easily than I’d thought, I looked at Luna rather than replying myself.
This moment was important.
A strained relationship could only be smoothed over if it was mended quickly. And the important words couldn't be said by me.
They would only have real meaning if Luna said them herself.
“...”
Even after Han Cheon-seong’s words, Luna continued to hesitate.
*Squeeze.*
I gently took her hand, giving her a boost of courage.
As our eyes met gently, just like always, Luna finally nodded.
“Back then, after our spar... the way I only said what I wanted to say, and how I misunderstood you... I'm truly sorry for all of it.”
But her apology was so clean that I found myself a little surprised.
‘Has Luna grown?’
Or perhaps my words of persuasion over the weekend had caused a great change of heart. I didn’t know. Still, seeing Luna speak so readily, more than I had expected, left me feeling even more satisfied.
She apologized properly and looked Han Cheon-seong straight in the eye.
Even to me, the sight of Luna, blushing beet red with embarrassment, was sufficiently charming.
And so, I inadvertently… glanced over.
At Han Cheon-seong, who was looking at Luna.
“……”
The way Han Cheon-seong blinked was different from before.
As if this side of Luna was completely unexpected, a dazed emotion was plain on his face.
And seeing him like that….
My heart wavered violently.
“...”
A part of my chest ached. It felt like a sharp pain for no reason.
A phantom pain, as if someone were repeatedly gouging my chest with a knife.
It was… so strange.
I had wanted to set things right for Han Cheon-seong, who had been harmed by my close friend’s misunderstanding. That was why I had poured my heart into persuading Luna all weekend.
'I really did….'
I didn't know why my heart was shaking like this.
It was a very good thing that the two of them were resolving their misunderstanding.
It was definitely a good thing.
So why was it that suddenly… I was starting to hate it?
***
The night was thick with darkness.
*Click.*
Returning to his dorm, Cheon-seong leaned his back against the door. He raked a hand over his face and tried to steady his breathing.
“……”
He exhaled slowly, then inhaled again, calming his chaotic mind.
“What… is happening?”
Right now, he was feeling a greater sense of crisis than ever before.
It wasn't about the spar between Jerad and David today. Nor was it the confusion he’d felt after getting to know Adelia. None of that was particularly important.
Those things could be brushed off as momentary happenings.
And they had ended well enough.
But. The fact that Luna had apologized to him in the training hall was a far bigger deal, incomparable to anything that had come before.
‘Because this should never have happened.’
An apology from Luna was something that should never have occurred. If someone else had been entangled with me in such a way and offered an apology, I would have accepted it with an easy heart.
Anyone else would have been fine, but it should never have been 'Luna'.
The Luna I knew was an arrogant heroine with a self-centered and dogmatic personality. The impression I got when I first met her at the entrance ceremony had certainly felt that way.
That was why, despite feeling displeased at first, I had been relieved by her attitude toward me.
Because that was the Luna I had expected.
"Why did she suddenly change her attitude? There wasn't anything that could have been that much of a catalyst... I'm sure of it."
It was true I had been harmed by the rumors that spread from her misunderstanding. But that wasn't enough to cause such a drastic change of heart in Luna.
Such a 'righteous change' in Luna was far too premature.
That was supposed to be Leonhardt's role, and his alone. He was the one who would correct Luna's personality and guide her down the right path.
That was the decisive event that would later lead to Leonhardt and Luna developing a romantic relationship.
The protagonist of this world was Leonhardt, and Luna was his heroine.
But today… that was shattered.
I was feeling a great sense of crisis, one that was close to certainty.
The most significant event, the turning point that was supposed to connect Luna with Leonhardt, has vanished as of today. This was something I had to take seriously, completely separate from whether I felt good or bad about it.
“What… am I supposed to do?”
As the suppressed words escaped my lips, my vision swam.
The great crisis Leonhardt would face in the future. And when he fell into a critical state from an unavoidable, grave injury.
‘Who in the world will heal him now?’
I had thought about Leonhardt being the protagonist hundreds of times, and I was keenly aware of his importance.
Because he was the ‘protagonist’ of this world, the one who would overcome the first crisis soon to befall this academy, and all the catastrophic incidents that would follow.
If Luna didn't get involved with him, all of that would fall apart.
The very foundation of my belief in this world—my faith that Leonhardt would overcome every trial—was severely shaken.
"..."
The crucial turning point where Luna would begin to see Leonhardt in a new light was her moment of self-realization.
The realization that she shouldn’t act this way. The existence of someone who would correct her and lead her upright.
As the main heroine, Luna's emotional development was described in meticulous detail in the story.
How much resolve it took for her to apologize, how she steeled her heart… everything.
Luna only apologizes properly because she goes through a major development, where she properly acknowledges her dogmatic thoughts, values, and mistakes, and tries to move forward.
The most important turning point for her to connect with Leonhardt had completely disappeared.
I had to once again face that fact, my mind blank.
*Rustle.*
As I roughly unbuttoned my student uniform, my chest suddenly felt unbearably tight.
I had vaguely sensed it until now.
That the world of Grand Royal Academy I knew and this world were gradually diverging. But Luna’s apology felt like it had made that realization crystal clear.
“...The future is changing completely.”
For me, could there be anything more unsettling right now?
Knowing the future of this world, I had already formulated a general idea of how I should act.
The moment I grew stronger from my spar with Leonhardt, I had decided that if I were to get involved with the main characters, I should build good relationships and help them.
Because this world can only function properly and safely overcome its various disasters and incidents if they are here.
It was a matter directly linked to my own safety, so I had considered it a matter of course.
That was how importantly I viewed the main characters of Grand Royal Academy.
It wasn't that I was trying to discriminate against anyone; it was just that without them, this world could genuinely be doomed.
"Grand Royal Academy…"
I muttered the name of this world blankly, and a hollow laugh escaped me.
Judging by the title alone, one might think it's a common academy story involving various heroines, but in reality, it's a novel that walks a tightrope, closer to a dark fantasy.
There were certainly some absurd developments that made countless readers curse it.
And yet, the reason so many readers followed Grand Royal Academy was because they were curious to see how Leonhardt would overcome the endless crises.
That’s how relentlessly the crises came.
*Flop.*
I slumped onto my bed, letting out a long sigh.
'It's different.'
I now felt I had to clearly acknowledge that the Grand Royal Academy I knew and this world were different.
The main heroine, one of the key figures who would overcome the future crises.
Today, the biggest turning point that should have connected Luna to Leonhardt had vanished. It felt like I was facing yet another new reality.
Now, I could no longer be at ease.
The grave fact that I could no longer entrust the future of this world to Leonhardt…….