Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: I'd Completely Forgotten
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***
*Knock, knock.*
“Instructor Kalli. It’s Instructor Rudmina. May I have a moment?”
“Yes. Come in.”
At the sound of Kalli’s serene voice, Instructor Rudmina gestured to me with her eyes.
I nodded, feeling a little tense.
*Click.*
Even though I was re-entering the same office I had visited a few days ago, I was incredibly nervous.
“Welcome. Instructor Rudmina... and Cadet Han Cheon-seong is with you?”
“Yes. I’ve come because there is something I must discuss with you regarding Cadet Han Cheon-seong. It’s very important.”
Watching Rudmina speak with such a serious tone, I inadvertently recalled what she had told me.
‘You need to get proper help from Instructor Kalli. You shouldn’t be training alone.’
I’d listened to her talk the whole way here, but she wasn’t telling me to stop training.
Her point was that I needed to train with proper guidance.
She was right, but my current situation was just too strange.
“...First of all, both of you, please have a seat. Let’s hear this calmly.”
With a tranquil voice, Kalli looked at me with a very peculiar gaze.
And that gaze... I found it frightening.
I had missed today’s lecture due to my physical condition. How would Kalli react when she found out that I had been trying to push myself again in the training hall afterward?
*Slide.*
As I sat down with Instructor Rudmina, I grew even more tense.
…
Afterward, Rudmina began speaking to Kalli with an impassioned voice.
—Cadet Han Cheon-seong has infinite potential.
—I know this may be hard for you to believe, Instructor Kalli, but I think Cadet Han Cheon-seong has discovered a clue to a skill on his own.
—So if you could personally guide him in the right direction…
The praise she heaped on me was so extravagant that even I, listening from the side, was surprised. Kalli stared at me with an astonished expression the entire time she listened.
As their heated conversation unfolded, all I could do was confirm that I had found a clue to a skill. I couldn't participate in their discussion.
Instructor Rudmina’s fervent voice effortlessly spouted embarrassing words like ‘potential’ and ‘unprecedented,’ leaving me unable to open my mouth.
As time passed, the circumstances of how this came to be naturally came up.
“...Wait a moment, Instructor Rudmina. Are you saying that Cadet Han Cheon-seong was in the training hall?”
“Yes, that’s right. I only witnessed his training later on, but it was clearly in the realm of approaching a skill. However, it seemed to be putting a great strain on his body, which is why I brought him to see you.”
As Instructor Rudmina spoke honestly, I couldn’t bring myself to look at Kalli.
*Gulp.*
I swallowed unconsciously, needing to control my body even more tightly.
I felt more nervous now than when I had been forcing myself to hold a spear through the pain.
‘...What do I do?’
Today was Friday, a day I was supposed to be training in Kalli’s training room. But not only had I skipped my lecture, I had also continued to train recklessly on my own instead of recovering.
There was no way Kalli wasn't angry right now.
And soon, I could clearly feel someone’s gaze on me.
A sharp gaze that seemed to pierce through my entire body. I even had a feeling I knew who it belonged to.
“Haaah...”
The deep sigh made me flinch.
“Instructor Kalli. Is... is there a problem?”
“No. I’ve heard you out, Instructor Rudmina. As you said, I will take full responsibility for Cadet Han Cheon-seong. You may go now.”
...Hearing Kalli's calm voice, I unknowingly turned my head to look at Instructor Rudmina.
“Yes. Then, I’ll be on my way. I leave him in your capable hands.”
As if she too had sensed the change in Kalli’s atmosphere, she rose with a bewildered expression. I wanted nothing more than to follow her and get up as well.
‘Please don’t leave me alone.’
As I looked at her pleadingly, Instructor Rudmina seemed to notice my desperation and met my gaze.
“Well then, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. I hope things go well for you.”
With a cheerful smile under her light green hair—a different shade from Adelia’s—she left the office, completely oblivious to my feelings.
*Click.*
As I stared blankly at the closing door, my lips faltered.
*Sssk.* As I straightened my posture, the air in the office felt heavier. And it wasn't just a feeling; it was real.
I could even feel an unapproachable sense of pressure emanating from Kalli in front of me.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
“...Yes, Instructor Kalli.”
I straightened my posture and cautiously met her eyes.
Kalli, her expression hardened and icy, looked more terrifying than I had ever seen her before. It went beyond cold or frigid; she looked genuinely angry with me.
“The fact that you’ve found a clue to a skill is truly something to celebrate, and it’s a good thing. And now I finally understand why you lost consciousness yesterday... This isn’t the first day you’ve had this clue, is it?”
Contrary to her appearance, Kalli’s voice held no anger as she spoke.
It just sounded cold and indifferent.
“No. It’s been a few days.”
I had no choice but to answer honestly.
No matter what I said, she would see right through me with those cold eyes.
“So that’s why your desire to train grew stronger, and your will got the better of you. Even after pushing yourself so hard yesterday, you trained again today.”
She spoke as if she understood my condition, leaving me speechless.
I thought I hadn’t shown it, but she seemed to have already figured out the state my body was in.
“Haaah…”
At the sight of Kalli letting out another deep sigh, my heart felt heavier than if she had simply gotten angry.
Her attempt to suppress her own emotions rather than scolding me harshly made me feel a sense of guilt.
Suddenly, I remembered what she had told me today.
—I just... I just want you to think about your body a little. It’s good to see you working hard, and it’s great to see you devoted to training. But you shouldn’t do it to the point of ruining your body.
—It’s good to see you so driven; it’s much better than being lazy and idle. But there’s a limit to everything. Cadet Han Cheon-seong. You understand what I’m trying to say now, don’t you?
Kalli, who had gently told me to take care of myself, had clearly been worried and considerate of me.
Yet now, less than a day after she said that, I had completely disregarded her words. And there was no way to deny it.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Give me your hand.”
Despite her cold voice, I couldn't refuse.
I cautiously extended my right arm, trying to keep my body under extreme control.
*Grip.*
The moment Kalli’s hand firmly grasped mine, my strength gave out. My hand reacted instinctively.
Before I could even feel the warmth of her touch, my body reacted first.
*Tremble.* My arm shook faintly.
Held in her grasp, the shaking felt even more pronounced. The tremor from my hand must have transferred to Kalli...
“...Really. Were you trying to hide this condition from me?”
“I’m sorry.”
I couldn’t say anything else.
My body was already frozen as I met Kalli’s red eyes.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. I told you I wouldn’t say anything even if you missed today’s lecture. Why do you think I said that?”
“...I thought it meant I should rest and recover.”
“Right. You understood perfectly. And you definitely told me you would. And yet, this is your condition now?”
Her words were the plain truth. Nothing but the truth.
I had no excuses, even if I had ten mouths to speak with.
“Pushing your body to its limits like this again... No matter how strong your will is, there’s a proper order to things. If you had at least told me... you wouldn’t have had to overwork your body this much.”
With my hand still in hers, I could only listen to her words.
And I belatedly realized it. My eagerness had blinded me to everything but what was directly in front of me.
I could have consulted her, or asked for advice. But I hadn't even considered it, only thinking about pushing forward.
After finding a clue to a skill, all I could think about was that I had to reach it, no matter what.
My heart had been filled with that much urgency.
“What am I going to do with you, really...”
Her muttering, almost to herself, made my lips quiver.
Nothing I said would sound good to Kalli. I just felt sorry, hoping her anger would subside.
“It’s not that I don’t understand how you feel. No, I can’t say I fully understand you. Finding a clue to a skill at Trait Level 4, how could you not be excited and happy? Your desire for training must have filled your heart, making you want to work harder and train more.”
*Sssk.*
Then, the grip on my hand changed subtly, and my gaze drifted down to it.
The hand caressing mine was completely different from the one that had gripped it so tightly before.
As if to soothe me, Kalli’s hand stroking mine seemed almost tender.
“I also understand that you can’t control your own feelings right now, no matter how much I try to stop you. So, Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
“...Yes, Instructor.”
As I belatedly replied, I was finally able to properly meet her gaze.
Kalli’s once-cold face had returned to its usual expression.
The Kalli from outside of lectures, who was not cold but considerate and gentle...
“This weekend, stay with me.”
“...Pardon?”
“I said, let’s spend time together. Even if you push yourself, I’ll handle everything. Finding a clue to a skill at Trait Level 4 is, as Instructor Rudmina was so excited about, a very big deal. Looking back at the Academy’s history, there has never been a cadet who acquired a skill at Level 4. Thinking about it now... I must have been out of my mind. I should have paid more attention and looked after you better.”
As I listened to her gentle voice, I blinked, unable to adapt to her sudden change.
I was incredibly grateful that Kalli was trying to understand me instead of getting angry.
But I couldn't do that.
“Instructor Kalli...?”
“Yes.”
As she replied with a faint smile, my mind became a jumble of thoughts.
Tomorrow, Saturday, I had a meeting with Karite, and on Sunday, a meeting with Glacia...
‘Wait a minute…’
Come to think of it, today.
Wasn’t today the day I was supposed to meet Glacia?
On top of postponing my training with Kalli, I had already promised to meet Glacia for an extra day this week.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong?”
“Thank you so much for the offer. I’m grateful for your consideration and willingness to look after me. I know this is shameless of me, but would it be possible to make time at night? I have prior engagements this weekend. If you could make time at night...”
As I spoke, I didn't even know what I was saying.
Just getting through today was so overwhelming that my head felt like it would explode.
‘I’d completely forgotten about Glacia.’
As I finished speaking, I checked the time. It was almost 6 o’clock, our scheduled meeting time. I had only ten minutes left.
I was already... out of time.