Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: I Think I Like It After All
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***
Once their exchange was over, the conversation didn't continue.
"..."
"..."
A strange silence hung between the two, with only the faint sound of a spoon scooping stew echoing softly.
Their pace of eating was incredibly slow, and Kalli's heart wasn't entirely at ease as she watched Cheon-seong.
‘Why is he trying to push himself this hard?’
Effort, willpower, fortitude… all were truly good words. For a cadet in the prime of their growth, it was the most necessary mindset.
But right now, it felt excessive.
For the first time, she was looking at someone and thinking their effort was too much.
Among the countless cadets who entered the academy, there were innumerable students devoted to training. But even among them, Cadet Han Cheon-seong was exceptionally unique.
He burned with an intense will for training. The look in Cadet Han Cheon-seong's eyes as he focused on his training went beyond simple aspiration or the will to advance; now, it even held a sense of ‘resolve.’
To say he was strengthening his will for his own improvement... his gaze was so serious it was hard to believe.
*Scrape.*
Even now, as he scooped his stew and his gaze flickered to meet hers, a deep worry was visible in the cadet's eyes.
“This beef stew is really delicious.”
As Cadet Han Cheon-seong awkwardly broke the silence, she calmly responded.
“It was made by my family's chef.”
The Ishtar family had brought a chef they favored directly to the estate, so their skill was bound to be higher than the instructors' dining hall cook, not lower.
“I... see.”
Even as she saw the cadet's surprised expression, a thought crossed her mind.
She thought there must be a reason why Cadet Han Cheon-seong was trying so hard.
'What is he looking at, that he can burn with such will?'
Last year, even on the battlefield where lives were on the line, she could hardly remember anyone who burned with a will like Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
Instead, only the faces of officers and soldiers whose wills were worn down just by surviving another arduous day on the front lines came to mind.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Just listen casually while you eat.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
Seeing his compliant response, she felt she first needed to calm Cadet Han Cheon-seong's mind.
“I think it's okay to take your time and move forward slowly. You're already progressing fast enough, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. If you can awaken a skill, it's no exaggeration to say you'll be years ahead of other cadets. No, it's not just about being ahead; you might even be obtaining a skill that some people could never reach in their entire lives. That's why, when it comes to skills, even if you spend years on it, it wouldn't be considered slow growth at all. In fact, you could say it's incredibly fast.”
As she calmly conveyed her words, she, too, was able to view the current situation more calmly.
It had only been two weeks since he entered the academy; tomorrow would mark the start of the third week.
And yet, Cadet Han Cheon-seong had already reached level 4 in his trait and, unbelievably, had even grasped a clue about a skill.
Those achievements alone constituted an astonishing growth rate, one without precedent, and facing him now, she was realizing it all over again.
‘He really is a genius.’
And that a once-in-a-generation genius was right here in front of her.
His Common trait could no longer obscure him; his talent was unparalleled. And Cadet Han Cheon-seong possessed a will that surpassed even that talent.
She could say with certainty that no one, during their cadet years, could burn with the same will as Cadet Han Cheon-seong did now.
With no special trigger, no crisis to warrant it, Cadet Han Cheon-seong had grown this much in the early stages.
He was already proving just how strong he could become, with that body and that mental fortitude.
Looking at Cadet Han Cheon-seong, who had calmly accepted her words... she ended up adding one more thing.
"Just why... are you trying to focus so intensely on training?"
Seeing him momentarily at a loss for words, she spoke again.
“I'll say it again, but I don't think you have any reason to be in a rush. In fact, I think it would be fine to go a little slower. Take your time and advance bit by bit. I can guarantee it. Even if you decide to do that, you'll still progress more than fast enough."
Cadet Han Cheon-seong, who had been glancing at her until just a moment ago, didn't seem to have given up on his will to train.
She could picture it as clearly as day: if she weren't here, he would have likely tried to train his skill again.
That was one of the reasons she had brought Cadet Han Cheon-seong to her private residence instead of the infirmary.
Because she had to properly stop him from overexerting himself any further.
“......”
Watching Cadet Han Cheon-seong, who seemed to be contemplating her words, she now waited patiently for him to sort out his thoughts.
What he needed now, more than anything, was 'leisure'. The leisure to calmly reflect on himself, to stop and tend to his body rather than continuously trying to press forward.
Before long, Cadet Han Cheon-seong slowly revealed his answer.
“As for why I'm so focused on training... there's no grand reason. It's just that I feel too weak."
At his resigned tone, accompanied by a faint smile... she couldn't understand it for a moment.
“Why do you think you're weak?”
“I don't know either. Maybe I'm aiming for too high a standard, but when I think about the goal I'm trying to reach, I feel I'm still severely lacking.”
As his gaze held hers directly, she was momentarily speechless.
"..."
His distinct black eyes were looking at her, as if capturing her gaze.
It was as if he were saying that the goal he spoke of... was her.
Naturally, last night came to mind.
The moment she had manifested her concept, Cadet Han Cheon-seong had fixed his gaze on her.
And as if recalling something, he had shown a look of inner turmoil.
Even in that moment, he had clearly looked as if he were setting her as his goal.
‘But. That's ridiculous…’
The more she thought about it, the more she felt at a loss for words.
A cadet shouldn't look to an instructor as their goal. It was a nonsensical aspiration that would only chip away at their will, preventing them from moving forward.
What he should be looking at wasn't her... but his fellow cadets.
People often say it's good for goals and dreams to be big and grand, but there was a definite 'line' to that.
A goal that was too big, an unattainable aspiration, would only break one's will from the very start.
"..."
As their gazes met in silence, she found herself thinking blankly.
There were countless people in this world called geniuses, and no matter how strong one was, they could not stand alone in the heavens.
Even if one reached the absolute position of being called a 'Pillar of the Empire', there was always another sky above the sky.
But for Cadet Han Cheon-seong to set her as his aspiration was truly…
It was a notion she couldn't even have conceived of.
“I believe you understand what I'm saying to some extent, Instructor Kalli.”
She found herself looking at Cadet Han Cheon-seong, who continued speaking calmly despite her lack of response.
“Perhaps you think my goal is excessive, and maybe you feel it's truly reckless. But I feel like if I don't properly face reality, I won't be able to move forward. If I think that this spear I hold will be broken in vain by someone, that I can't possibly face them, then I felt there would be no meaning in me holding or wielding a spear anymore.”
While saying this, Cadet Han Cheon-seong candidly revealed his intentions.
About why he was aiming for her, and why he had to.
“But. That will be very... difficult.”
Before she even realized it, she had uttered words she shouldn't have.
As an instructor who should be encouraging and uplifting her cadets... to say a cadet's path would be difficult was absurd.
“Instructor Kalli.”
“...Sorry. That was my mistake. Please don't take it to heart.”
As she belatedly tried to correct herself, Cadet Han Cheon-seong faintly shook his head.
“It's alright. I know it's a difficult path. But that's precisely why I see you as my aspiration, Instructor Kalli.”
“Aspiration…”
“Yes. Because I've always believed that the spear I hold will one day be able to reach your sword.”
A faint laugh escaped her lips at his words.
Truly, so very straightforward.
‘How can he say something like that so purely?’
Even those who stood with her on the battlefield feared crossing swords with her.
No, there were plenty who openly avoided training with her, because they felt their will would break the moment their swords met hers.
That was why she didn't blame them.
She knew the difference in their given traits, and how large a gap those traits created.
But now, a cadet who had just entered the academy was telling her.
That he would reach her with his spear.
That he would properly face her sword with his spear…
His confident tone made her feel for a moment as if she had been issued a challenge.
And she knew his words weren't an empty boast.
He was one of the few people who, despite being broken and knocked down dozens of times in their spars, got back up to face her again.
Unlike the other officers and soldiers who feared her, he looked at her with a direct gaze.
Just how strong did one's heart have to be to do that?
Even she couldn't fathom it.
The more she thought, the more she couldn't stop smiling.
Looking at the cadet who met her gaze with such transparency, she naturally nodded her head.
“I think I like it after all.”
Her true feelings had slipped out unconsciously.
“...Huh?”
“Your mindset, Cadet Han Cheon-seong. I like this attitude of yours very much."
As she spoke, her heart felt relieved.
In this moment, she just wanted to convey her feelings.
“If you say so, I can only be grateful.”
“You don't have to be grateful. I'm doing this because I want to. The fact that I'm showing you more favor, looking out for you, is purely because I want to. Yes, so. You really don't have to be grateful.”
That was why she hoped the cadet wouldn't be so deferential to her.
She wanted him to continue moving forward, just as straightforward and pure as he was now. She hoped this shining aspect of him would never change and that he would grow even greater in the future.
'...Really.'
She didn't know why she found Cadet Han Cheon-seong so admirable.
Perhaps her words were unexpected; seeing his embarrassed look, she unconsciously reached out her hand.
“...Sorry, but. May I pat your head for a bit?”
*Rustle.*
The moment she spoke, her hand was already on the cadet's head.
“Uh... that... Yes. Alright.”
Seeing his visibly flustered state, another laugh escaped her.
Right now, every single one of his actions seemed nothing but cute.
'I never thought the day would come when I'd look at a man and think this way….'
*Rustle, rustle.*
As she carefully stroked his hair, she took in the sight of Cadet Han Cheon-seong's embarrassment.
“...Instructor?”
“Yes.”
“Then, may I ask a favor of you as well?”
“You can ask for anything.”
As she replied, she felt she wanted to grant his wish, whatever it might be, as long as it was within her power.
“After I've rested enough today, perhaps I could do a little skill training tonight…”
“No.”
She cut him off coldly, her expression hardening.
The warm, pleasant feeling was still in her heart, but even so, she could not grant that request.
“...Instructor.”
Her heart weakened for a moment at the sight of the cadet looking up at her so desperately, but she shook her head again.
That, she could not permit, no matter what he said.
“Cadet Han Cheon-seong.”
“...Yes, Instructor.”
“Forget training. For the rest of today, you must stay with me. Understood?”
She drove the point home to Cadet Han Cheon-seong.
To make sure he wouldn't even think of training while she wasn't around.
She needed to keep a tight rein on Cadet Han Cheon-seong.