Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Their Thoughts & The First Omen
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***
"..."
Night had deepened by the time I was seeing Glacia off.
As I watched her back slowly recede into the distance, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of guilt.
Compared to our previous meetings, I had done so little for her today.
It wasn't like Glacia and I ever planned what we would do, but I hadn't been feeling well today, so we couldn't even go to the training grounds.
I was late for our meeting, and all I did was spend time with her without offering anything. Yet, Glacia had stayed with me without a single complaint.
*Click. Clack.*
As the sound of her footsteps faded, I shook off the lingering feeling in my heart.
‘I’ll make it up to her next time.’
We had decided to meet one more day this week. I figured I could treat her a little better then.
Then, Glacia suddenly turned around.
“Han Cheon-seong.”
Her voice was clear despite the distance. As our eyes met, she suddenly waved at me.
"..."
I blinked blankly for a moment, then found myself waving back unconsciously.
The moment we stood there, looking at each other and waving, lasted only a few seconds.
A faint smile.
Then, Glacia smiled before turning again and entering her dormitory. As I lowered my hand, my mind felt a bit dazed.
It felt like... Glacia had suddenly changed somehow.
It was hard to explain what had changed, but something definitely had.
I felt it intuitively.
“What… was the catalyst?”
I didn't even think I'd treated her well today. Yet, she gave off the impression of having changed for the better.
Then, a memory from just two weeks ago surfaced.
The day of the academy entrance exam. I had been conscious of Glacia back then, too, but her cold atmosphere had kept me from even daring to speak to her.
And when Glacia had suddenly looked at me, I had waved at her.
It felt awkward to look away, but just staring was also strange, so I'd waved without thinking. But I still remembered her reaction.
How she'd coldly averted her gaze from me.
And today.
Our relationship had completely reversed, and this time, it was Glacia who looked at me and waved.
...with a faint smile, no less.
Realizing this, a laugh escaped my lips.
“They say you can never predict what will happen between people."
I had vaguely hoped we could become friends. And now, after entering the academy, I was naturally spending time with her.
*Step.*
As I turned to head back to my own dormitory, it felt strange all over again.
“Now that we’re at a point where we can be called friends….”
There was no longer any awkwardness in looking at each other, talking, and spending time together like this.
It felt like things were going well. On the first day I received the Spearmanship trait, I had wondered how I would ever survive.
Now, the future didn't seem as dark. In fact, it looked bright enough to feel quite hopeful.
*Step.*
As I walked, my hand drifted to my cheek.
The warmth from the moment another hand—not my own—had touched it... it felt like it was still there.
*—Right. Even now, looking at you like this, I don't understand you at all.*
I recalled the moment Glacia had placed her hand on my cheek and spoken in that peculiar tone, and I shook my head.
“Now, I'm the one who doesn't understand you."
That was truly... how I felt.
Whether our relationship could remain that of simple friends, or not….
Now, I didn't even know that.
***
*Swoooosh—*
Surrendering her body to the warm stream of water, Glacia slowly opened her mouth.
“He... hadn't forgotten about me.”
I had thought he'd forgotten our promise, but now I realized that was just a foolish thought.
Han Cheon-seong wouldn't do that. I knew he wasn't that kind of person.
So why did I think that way and get disappointed all by myself?
If I had waited a little longer in the park, Han Cheon-seong would have shown up on his own. And thinking back, I was so glad I had hesitated like a fool at the last second.
Han Cheon-seong hadn't forgotten his promise to me.
Suddenly, I recalled the moment I had turned to look at him.
His face, flushed bright red, his lips continuing to speak despite his ragged breaths. The image of Han Cheon-seong explaining the situation with such sincerity...
Even after several hours, it was still so vivid.
And just looking at him, the sorrow that had filled my heart easily melted away.
In that moment, I was just grateful that he had come to see me.
The fact that he was genuinely thinking about our relationship was palpable in every word he spoke. So, I simply accepted him.
“I guess we really are... friends.”
Now, I truly thought of him as a friend.
It wasn't just me thinking about him; he was properly thinking of me too.
So. We had to be friends….
"..."
A laugh escaped me again.
I didn't know why I was smiling so much today. But... I was simply in a good mood.
'Is this why people form relationships?'
I thought I understood why people needed to get close to others.
I felt something I'd never felt when I was alone. There was a strange emotion, like a sense of fulfillment, that I could only feel when we were together.
Furthermore, properly confirming our relationship was... a more pleasant experience than I had imagined.
*—I... don't understand you either.*
I even remembered the dazed words he had spoken to me.
The moment he said he didn't understand me, just like I didn't understand him. Strangely, it was so good to hear those words.
Because it wasn't just me who couldn't understand him; he didn't properly understand me either.
"In that case..."
Han Cheon-seong would want to be with me in the future, too. As much as I wanted to be with him, he would need me as well.
*Nod.* As I nodded, I found myself looking forward to our next meeting.
“So, what do... friends usually do to spend time together?”
The thought suddenly struck me.
Since Han Cheon-seong and I could be called friends now.
When we meet next time, we could do things that friends do….
Couldn't we?
***
The next afternoon.
I wasn't in Classroom C1.
The lectures at the Grand Royal Academy, while seeming straightforward, had surprisingly diverse aspects.
With full-fledged support from the empire, its renowned instructors and class schedules were all carried out under meticulous planning.
While cadets were thoroughly educated on character, morals, and ethics, the schedule was also flexible enough to allow them to take other lectures that suited their traits.
So, instead of only attending lectures from one's designated instructor, there were joint classes within the same building. These lectures took place on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and starting this week, we would be taking joint lectures with cadets from other classes in our wing.
Each according to their traits. For example, Elemental, long-range, close-range, other magical arts, and even the rare paranormal types. The sub-specializations were practically endless.
I was, of course, in the close-range specialization.
*Rustle.*
As I sat in the C3 classroom, my gaze drifted to the other cadets.
David, who was also classified as a close-range fighter, was sitting with me. However, the rest of the classroom was filled with cadets I had never seen or spoken to before.
*Step.*
Amidst the slightly chaotic atmosphere, my eyes fell on the male instructor who entered the classroom.
He had a sturdy physique and a strong impression beneath his short blond hair.
*Thwack!*
The instructor, standing at the podium, slapped his textbook down.
“First of all, it’s a pleasure to meet you all. Some cadets in this room may know me, while others may be seeing me for the first time. I'll give a brief introduction. I am Instructor Vermont, and I will be in charge of the close-range lectures.”
As the male instructor smiled faintly and looked around, most of the cadets tensed up.
But for me, who had withstood Kalli's gaze, it was quite bearable. Instructor Vermont then cleared his throat and continued.
“This week's lecture will be a thorough education on theory. From next week on, all lectures will be replaced with practical training. Today might be a bit boring, but I expect everyone to listen attentively.”
"Yes, sir."
As he spoke in a firm tone, I answered along with the other cadets and focused on the lecture that followed.
Honestly, I had never once felt bored during a lecture in this world.
In fact, I found it fascinating. Because it was knowledge I could directly use as power, I even found the lectures enjoyable.
“First, being here in the close-range specialization means you face the greatest danger. No matter how good your traits are, the first thing you must recognize is the risk. Why do I say this first? Because whether you stand on the battlefield or not, it's impossible to go through life without encountering a monster at least once….”
…
Instructor Vermont's lecture continued for about three hours.
It was theoretical, covering precautions and mindsets. I hung on his every word.
The title of 'instructor' alone made them people worthy of my respect, because I knew the immense risks they had to take and the great feats they had to accomplish on the battlefield to stand on that podium.
As someone who had read the *Groa* novel to the end, I couldn't take them lightly.
It was no exaggeration to say that, among those who had never been to the battlefield, I understood their devotion best.
That was why I didn't let a single word from the instructor's mouth go to waste.
"..."
Perhaps pleased with my attitude, the instructor often looked my way and nodded.
“Your attitudes are better than I expected. Quite satisfactory. That will be all for today's lecture. However, next week's lecture will take place right outside the academy, so I expect you all to come fully prepared.”
After saying that, Instructor Vermont left, and the cadets began to get up one by one.
“Han Cheon-seong.”
“Hm?”
“Hey. I can't sit next to you anymore.”
David's peculiar comment made me wonder what he meant.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“I mean, how do you manage to get the instructor's attention everywhere you go? Sitting next to you made me nervous for no reason."
As David said this with a slight smile, I couldn't help but smile back.
“It’s a good thing if we both concentrate.”
“...Whatever. How could I possibly understand the mindset of a model student?”
“Model student, my foot.”
As we exchanged this pointless banter, I slowly rose from my seat.
My gaze inadvertently shifted to a spot in the front row.
I hadn't noticed during the lecture because I was so focused, but a certain female student now caught my eye.
Beneath her light sky-blue hair was a somber complexion. Her expression was filled with so much worry and concern, and it felt so out of place.
'Why is she making a face like that?'
The lecture hadn't been difficult, and it was still just the beginning of our time at the academy, yet she had a look on her face as if the world had ended.
“David.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s go train today.”
“You want to go straight to the training grounds?”
“We can stop by the cafe first. It doesn't matter to me.”
Thinking it was nothing, I tore my gaze away from the female student. I planned on helping David with his training today.
Seeing him get beaten up by Jerad the other day made me realize I didn't want to see my friend take a beating.
“Then let’s hit the cafe first.”
“Alright.”
As I started walking with David….
My gaze unintentionally drifted back.
To the female student walking with a petite frame. But I quickly shook my head.
‘Well, she’s probably not a cadet I need to worry ab—’
But the name on the female student's name tag made me stop in my tracks.
*Thump.*
“Huh? Han Cheon-seong. What's wrong?”
“No, it's nothing.”
I replied awkwardly to David, my eyes wavering for a moment.
—Karite Esildereun.
That name was definitely in my memory.
The first incident, set to happen soon. It was the name of the student who would become its victim.
*Step.*
As I followed David, a strange feeling washed over me.
The future of *Groa* was already twisted. To prevent it from twisting any further, I had to go with the flow as much as possible.
'But…'
If someone destined to die was right in front of me.
...was it right for me to just stand by and watch? Just because I didn't want the future of this world to change any further, was it really... okay for me to do that?
*Thump.*
"David."
The moment the thought crossed my mind, I found myself speaking before I even realized it.