Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: An Intensely Manifested Will
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It was hard.
My body was heavy.
I wanted to give up.
I wanted to... just put down the spear in my hand.
These were the feelings that surfaced not even thirty minutes after I began sparring with Kalli.
No, it was more accurate to say these feelings were welling up from deep within my heart.
No matter how much I tried to fuel my will, no matter how much I wanted to focus on training with her... it felt as if my body was trying to betray my resolve.
A sense of extreme fatigue, a sensation like a whisper in my ear telling me to stop.
"..."
Still, I bit my lip hard.
I had to rein in the part of me that wanted to be lazy, the part that was growing weak.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Let's take a short break.”
Kalli showed me consideration by suddenly lowering her sword, but I immediately shook my head.
Even with my blurry vision, I forced myself to hold on to my will.
“I can... go a little longer. Please continue the match.”
The temptation to accept her consideration, to lower my guard and put down my spear, gripped me intensely.
But.
I knew I had to overcome this.
It was too soon to be like this.
If I relied on her kindness and goodwill and let my resolve slip, this determination I had worked so hard to build would crumble in an instant.
I felt it instinctively.
Right now, with this desire to give up, this desire to rest for a moment.
I had to be able to take not just one more step, but two. Only then could I move forward.
“Are you sure you're alright?”
“Yes. I'm... fine.”
Though it was a struggle to answer, I squeezed out the little mana I had recovered and wrapped it around my spear.
*Fwoosh!*
Watching the faint blue light coil around the shaft of my spear, I took a very small breath.
Seeing Kalli raise her sword again at my words, I kicked off the ground.
I erased all stray thoughts, forcing a single idea into my mind.
‘Thrust the spear.’
And so I thrust. And advanced.
I pushed my body, which was trying to betray my will, forward by force.
*Shwiiik!*
Then, the tip of my spear shot forward in a straight line.
Its speed was no faster than when I started. But I found meaning in the fact that I could still move forward.
*Clang!*
A brilliant spark flew from her blade as it skillfully met my spearhead.
My spear was immediately sent flying back, but it didn't matter.
I had thrust expecting it to be parried, so I immediately used the recoil to rotate my body.
And I thrust the spear again, faster than before.
*Fwoosh!*
Faster than a moment ago.
And as my spear shot out, I saw Kalli swing her sword once more.
Her hand still moved swiftly, the sword she swung so lightly held a miraculously powerful force.
*Chaaang!*
The speed at which she knocked my spear aside was even faster this time.
*Vwoooom!!*
Following the repelled spear, the strain on my arms was immense, making it even harder to deflect the force.
Yet, I forced myself to take a step.
*Ssk!*
Pivoting on my right foot, I spun again, this time swinging the spear in a wide horizontal arc.
*Fwoosh!*
The spear, swung fast enough to slice through the air, aimed for her legs.
And in that instant, I saw Kalli's hand move downward like a flash of light.
A little.
Ever so slightly, the path of her sword began to become visible to me.
I hadn't taken a full step forward yet.
It was merely... lifting my foot from the ground, preparing to take that step.
It was too insignificant to even call it a step.
Even so, I believed it held meaning.
‘Because I've always been this way.’
Only when it was this hard, when my spirit grew this weak, did the path finally seem to appear before me.
So. I gripped my weakened heart... and held on tighter.
‘Clash with her, even if by force.’
*Claaaang!*
I had to keep swinging, keep thrusting, keep clashing.
If, at the end of these endless clashes, I could finally take one proper step forward... that would be the answer.
…
I didn't know how long I continued to swing and thrust my spear, clashing with Kalli's sword.
However, it was clear that I didn't last much longer.
The force with which Kalli parried my spear grew stronger and stronger. There was no miracle where I broke through her sword to land a hit.
That would truly be... a miracle. No, an impossibility.
*Ssk.*
The sensation of the cold water bottle in my hand felt strangely distant.
There was truly no strength left in my body.
My arms, which had been holding the spear, hung limp, and they trembled just from gripping this water bottle.
Even now, I was only resting because Kalli had forcibly stopped the spar.
I found myself unconsciously reflecting on the training session.
'Was I still not good enough to take that one step?'
I let out a small sigh, but a faint smile touched my lips at the thought.
‘Maybe I'm being too greedy.’
Still, I want to keep growing. That desire endlessly wells up within me. It supports my will even more strongly than the desire to give up and let go.
Growing to Trait Level 4 during my last duel with Leonhardt... was like a powerful awakening for me.
I can't forget the feeling of that moment.
That feeling of growing, of moving forward...
"..."
With a burning thirst, I struggled to lift the water bottle. My hand trembled continuously as I slowly raised it.
*Ssk.*
Then, my grip suddenly loosened, and I thought, *Oh no*.
I clearly saw the bottle slipping from my weakened hand.
‘Ah...’
Just as I blankly anticipated what would happen next.
*Thump.*
My gaze went blankly to the pale white hand that covered my own.
On my hand, which should have dropped the bottle from lack of strength, Kalli placed her own, helping me grip it again.
“Thank... you.”
“No need to thank me... Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Are you really that exhausted?”
At Kalli's carefully phrased question, I slowly shook my head.
Even shaking my head was difficult, but I didn't want to show her how much I was struggling. She was taking time out of her day to help me.
Showing her that I was tired and exhausted felt disrespectful.
“I'm fine.”
I spoke with conviction, focusing on my hand as I slowly brought the water to my lips.
As Kalli's hand naturally released its grip, I was finally able to drink.
*Gulp, gulp.* The water flowing into my mouth was truly, indescribably delicious.
The cold water seemed to jolt my dazed mind awake, and the moment my thirst was quenched felt almost addictive.
“Huu...”
After nearly emptying the bottle, I lowered it, and a laugh escaped me.
More than any food, the water I drank when I was this thirsty was the most delicious. It was so amazing that a silly laugh escaped me. Just then, I felt an intense gaze.
"..."
As Kalli blinked and looked at me, I momentarily thought I had made a fool of myself.
“...I've been unseemly.”
“No, unseemly? It's... not like that.”
Watching Kalli immediately shake her head at my words, I thought.
‘She's a really kind person.’
The thought came to me without thinking.
Even after seeing my pathetic state, Kalli smiled and told me it wasn't so. Besides that, I could feel her goodwill and kindness in many ways.
As long as I didn't do anything she disliked, Kalli was truly this kind.
An upright, just, and good woman... who staunchly upholds her values.
That's why the pitying look another cadet gave me today for having to spend time with her suddenly seemed ridiculous.
‘This is an incredible privilege.’
I should just be grateful that Kalli is paying this much attention to me.
Compared to training alone in the practice hall, having an absolute powerhouse like Kalli here allows me to look further ahead and advance.
Being able to train with a clear goal in mind is a great source of strength for me.
I can test my will and feel the intensity of a warrior clashing with a spear in every moment.
And against her, one of the strongest in the academy.
It was a luxury other cadets would struggle to experience no matter what they paid.
‘Right. So. I have to do better.’
Since she's showing me such kindness, it was only right for me to think about what she would like and act accordingly.
I, too, should treat her with more kindness and express my gratitude.
As I made this silent vow and met Kalli's gaze.
“......”
Kalli suddenly avoided my eyes.
I found it strange but didn't think much of it.
'...Then again, I must look a mess.'
After the continuous sparring, I must look terrible. An instructor might feel burdened if a cadet stared at them like that.
I also averted my gaze and slowly opened my mouth.
“Well then, Instructor. I'd like to request another match.”
“...Cadet Han Cheon-seong?”
“I think I've rested enough.”
Only a few minutes had passed, but I felt like I could hold my spear again.
And if I could hold my spear, I believed I could spar again.
When my body has reached its limit. I want to push it even further.
Now, an intense desire rose from within me.
***
*Claaaang!*
A brilliant spark flew as the spear was sent flying.
This time, the spear soared through the air without fail. It was an expected result, as I had intentionally put great force behind it.
As I turned my gaze to Cadet Han Cheon-seong,
*Thud.*
I could see him finally staggering and collapsing to his knees.
Still, as he tried to somehow get back up, I quickly walked over.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
“...Yes.”
Even though I was right in front of him, Cadet Han Cheon-seong wasn't looking at me.
Even his reply was devoid of strength.
Cadet Han Cheon-seong was staring at the spear that had left his grasp.
As if he had to pick it up again. As if he had to continue this spar...
He was so admirable, but... I carefully placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Let's stop now.”
“I can still go...”
“No. Pushing yourself further in your condition will only be counterproductive.”
I spoke firmly, but I couldn't continue the spar. It was clearly too much; he had reached his limit.
And yet, Cadet Han Cheon-seong had burned with determination, continuously clashing his spear against mine.
...As if to show me exactly why I had decided to favor him, he had kept knocking on the door of my heart.
"..."
As Cadet Han Cheon-seong turned his head blankly toward me at my words, our eyes met, and for a moment, my heart wavered.
Through his hazy eyes, I thought I could see an intense light.
He still hadn't given up. The will to continue the spar.
‘How...’
How can he be this determined?
Any other cadet would have given up sparring with me long ago. They would have quit not long after we started.
I was certain of it.
Because I have never gone easy on a cadet during a spar.
In fact, as we exchanged blows, I tended to push Cadet Han Cheon-seong even harder.
I believed it would be more beneficial for him that way.
“......”
When Cadet Han Cheon-seong's eyes suddenly slid shut, I blinked without thinking.
I had to rush to catch his falling body.
*Slump.*
Though I was greatly surprised to see him collapse into my arms, I couldn't help but catch him.
“...Cadet Han Cheon-seong?”
I asked in a startled voice, but there was no response from him.
Seeing the side of Cadet Han Cheon-seong's face as he leaned against my chest, breathing shallowly...
My body seemed to freeze on the spot.