Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: You're the First for Me
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Step. Step.
My steps were hurried as I walked between the academy buildings.
Yet, the image of Kalli, whom I had just been with, lingered before my eyes.
"I think we can postpone it if you have a prior engagement, but then again, Cadet Han Cheon-seong has found a clue to a skill, so I completely understand how eager you must be. Then... yes, let's meet on the weekend, at night."
Kalli had hesitated slightly before replying. And so, I had arranged to train with Kalli at 9 PM on the weekend.
Even now, I couldn't stop my steps for a moment.
‘I’m late.’
I wanted to run, but my body wasn't fully recovered, so I couldn't bring myself to do it.
I felt like I would just collapse if I tried to run. So, I was doing the next best thing, walking quickly toward the park.
…
Step.
"...Hah."
Though panting, I managed to arrive at the park without being too late.
And then I saw her. The sight of Glacia sitting on a bench, seemingly waiting for me.
Staring at her back, my mouth fell open blankly.
"...This can't go on."
Really…
My mind had no room to spare. Meeting someone regularly in this situation was becoming too much of a burden.
It wasn't that meeting Glacia was a burden, but that I was just too exhausted.
I simply didn't have the mental capacity to meet anyone else. Just thinking about next week's events and my skill felt like my head was about to explode.
Step.
I took a deep breath as I slowly approached.
"Glacia."
When I called her name carefully, I saw her turn toward me.
Swish.
Her unique, deep blue hair swayed as she looked directly at me, her eyes narrowing.
"You're late."
"...Sorry. I didn't mean to be."
As I spoke, only an awkward laugh escaped me.
I checked the time; it was past 6 PM. It was only two minutes, but late was late.
I naturally took a seat beside her, meeting her gaze.
"Sorry for making you wait again."
"...It's fine. I'm just glad you came."
"Glad?"
"I heard you lost consciousness. So I was prepared to accept it if you couldn't make our appointment today."
...Glacia's eyes softened as if they'd never narrowed, and she spoke.
At her words, I found myself asking without thinking.
"Has the rumor already spread?"
"We're in the same building, just on different floors. So when a rumor starts, it spreads incredibly fast. Besides, Han Cheon-seong, it's not just me; other cadets are interested in you too. That makes it spread even faster."
I nodded at her explanation, but then a sense of disconnect struck me about something she'd said.
The part about her being prepared to accept it if I didn't come.
That was a little strange.
"I see. But Glacia, were you planning to keep waiting in the park even if I didn't show up?"
"I was just going to wait in the park to clear my head. And actually, I went to the nurse's office, but you were already gone."
From her calm words, I realized we had missed each other. I didn't know when Glacia had stopped by the nurse's office, but I was grateful just for the thought.
"Still, thank you. It means you came looking for me because you were worried."
"...Worried?"
"Yeah. Didn't you come all the way to the nurse's office because you were worried about me?"
As I spoke, a small smile formed on my lips.
You have to be worried to go looking for someone yourself. And hearing about Glacia's concern felt nice.
"I... suppose so. I guess I might have been worried about you. We're friends, after all."
"Yeah. We're friends."
"Mhm. You and I are friends now."
It was amusing how we were both repeating the same thing.
It made me think again.
‘Friends.’
If we were really friends, I needed to tell her properly.
"Glacia. I'm saying this because we're friends. We promised to meet regularly, and that's what we've been doing."
"Yeah. What about it?"
"It's just... I'd like to make it a bit more flexible. I'm sure it's the same for you, but setting aside time regularly... I feel like I'm running out of time."
It wasn't about neglecting Glacia; it was that I was in a period where I absolutely had to focus.
Between paying attention to Karite and focusing on my own growth, I had no mental space for anything else.
Even today, I had completely forgotten about Glacia. There was no guarantee it wouldn't happen again.
"......"
Looking at the silent Glacia, I carefully continued.
"So, for the time being, let's just meet up whenever we feel like seeing each other. Of course, meeting regularly is nice, but to be honest, I just don't have the time right now."
"...How little time do you have?"
"I have someone I need to meet, and more importantly, I feel like I'm at a crucial point in my growth. In fact, the rumor about me losing consciousness... that happened while I was training yesterday."
Glacia's question was met with my honesty.
Just as I had before, and as Glacia had just said, we had clearly defined our relationship as friends.
In that case, rather than hiding things or making excuses, I wanted to explain my situation as it was.
"Han Cheon-seong. Just... how hard have you been training?"
To her question, which showed she still didn't understand, I told her the absolute truth.
"Actually, recently I... found a clue to a skill."
Just as rumors about me spread quickly, what I showed at the training grounds today would also spread fast. There was no point in hiding it.
That's why I brought it up.
"...!"
Seeing Glacia's surprise, I realized my thinking might have been too hasty.
Her wide eyes and dumbfounded expression made it clear she was truly shocked.
"...A skill?"
"Yeah. I haven't perfected it yet, and I think it will take some time, but I've found a clue."
"You really... found a clue to a skill?"
Her eyes, as she asked again, were filled with a disbelief that found it hard to accept.
Even the pure-hearted Glacia was asking again and again. And I knew her reaction was the normal one.
Instructor Rudmina had spoken to me with a rare, excited tone today. And Kalli had been genuinely surprised too.
‘That's how unbelievable it is that I've found a clue to a skill.’
Even I would have been incredibly surprised if someone told me Leonhardt had found a clue to a skill at level 4.
"How on earth... How is that even possible?"
"Even if you ask how... honestly, I don't know either. I just wished and hoped for it so desperately that I think I got lucky."
"...Because you wished for it desperately."
Seeing Glacia stammer her words, I once again felt how absurd it was that I had found a clue to a skill.
Heavenly luck or a miracle. Whatever you called it, it wasn't an exaggeration when it came to a skill. Even I hadn't expected to find a clue.
"So, Glacia. Let's postpone our regular meetings, at least for a while. I want to focus on my training."
I continued to speak with sincerity.
Glacia, who had called me her friend, would surely understand. I thought she would accept it…
"For a while…"
But Glacia's eyes suddenly dropped, and she showed a hint of hesitation.
"Yes, for a while. Just until I perfect my skill."
"And... when exactly is that?"
Seeing Glacia strangely fixated on our meetings, I once again couldn't understand.
'Why is she acting like this?'
...I thought she would naturally accept it since we had established our friendship. But that wasn't the feeling I got at all.
I thought for a moment before speaking.
"Until next week, for now."
"Until next week…"
"Yes. I'd like us to stop meeting regularly until then. We'll have plenty of time to get to know each other after that."
Seeing Glacia continue to ask, I didn't find her frustrating.
She was just that pure. She wasn't the type to keep her thoughts to herself. She was a direct type who expressed her feelings as they were and sought answers from others.
...In a way, you could say her directness was a problem, but I thought it was just her nature. I knew some people just had to act that way, so I could accept it.
And after my repeated answers, Glacia finally seemed to understand.
"...Alright. I'll do that."
"Thank you, Glacia."
As I said that, I felt a sense of relief.
The weekend was a time for me to rest, too. And in my current situation, even if I met with someone, my mind would still be preoccupied with training.
I couldn't avoid meeting Karite tomorrow, but if I was going to balance that with training, I needed a minimum amount of time to myself.
"Han Cheon-seong."
At the sound of her voice, I met her gaze. Glacia was looking at me with a very strange expression.
Her transparent eyes seemed to hold something different from before.
"You're the first for me."
"...The first? The first what?"
I was momentarily flustered by her characteristically abrupt way of speaking, but Glacia took a calm breath and answered.
"The first person I've truly thought of as a friend. And you're the first person to properly accept me like this. That's what I mean."
"Oh, the first in that sense. If you put it that way, I'm grateful."
Surprised by her sudden words, I could only nod.
Her words felt sincere. I had nothing to say but... thank you.
"So, the thing is, I have a lot of questions about being friends."
"What specifically are you curious about? I'll answer anything I can."
Glacia wasn't my first friend, but I could say we had gotten fairly close.
"I'm curious about what friends usually do together."
"...Friends?"
"Yeah. So, while I'm with you, I'd like to try doing things that friends do. Saying it out loud like this is honestly embarrassing, but I felt I should say it so I can act comfortably around you from now on."
Her words didn't feel like a difficult request.
Being friends wasn't about doing anything grand, after all. It was just about hanging out together.
"That's not a difficult request at all. Since we're friends, I can do all the things friends do."
"You mean... really?"
"Yeah. Really."
...As I answered, I suddenly felt a strange mood.
‘Is this something she really needs to ask again and again?’
But then again, this was Glacia. So I found myself accepting it.
"Then, can we start today?"
...Glacia's questions were becoming more and more intense, her voice filled with anticipation. For a moment, I wondered if I was misunderstanding something.
'The concept of 'friend' that I have….'
Is it different from Glacia's concept of a friend?
"Uh... sure, we can."
As I replied, I couldn't put this strange feeling into words.
And then.
Glacia moved closer.
So quickly that I didn't have any time to react…
She came... so suddenly.