Chapter 79
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Shopping Plans and Vacation Talks
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“Um…… maybe we should talk after you finish eating.”
“Fair enough. I’ll wait out front.”
With that, Iolin turned and walked away.
But her gaze lingered on Abel. The moment she left, Daniel spoke up again.
“Abel.”
“It’s probably about training.”
“Training alone on a day off?”
“We’ve always trained just the two of us.”
“Where are you going?”
“Weren’t you never really interested in this stuff before?”
Abel narrowed his eyes at Daniel.
She’d seemed utterly disinterested before, but lately, she’d grown unusually persistent.
Daniel just shrugged.
“Nothing fun’s been happening lately.”
“Oh…… right.”
“Fine, fine. I won’t ask anymore.”
Fortunately, Daniel changed the subject before Abel’s mood could sour further.
“Anyway, what’re you doing over break? Oh, wait—you mentioned it before, right? Just training the whole time?”
“I’ll do some training, but I’ll also be heading out a lot. You?”
“Me? Sticking around to train nonstop. No point going home. What do you mean ‘out’—where to?”
“Nothing…… set in stone yet…….”
Abel finished his plate cleanly and spoke up again.
“Spending a day or two somewhere fun might be nice.”
“Fun? Where?”
“Not decided. Want to come if you’re interested?”
“Sounds good to me! I was just gonna hole up in the dorm anyway.”
Daniel accepted readily.
Abel had expected as much.
‘We’re in similar spots, me and Daniel.’
Abel was essentially on his own here.
He had important people and places, but no home or family to return to.
Daniel was much the same.
Even without training, she probably had no desire to go back.
“Oh, and May’s staying at school too, right? Should we ask her?”
“Yeah. More the merrier.”
“True. I’ll ask Hena when she gets back.”
Abel nodded.
He’d planned to make the same offer to Hena the moment she returned.
‘She should be back soon.’
According to what Scarlett had told him earlier, it’d be just a few days.
He hadn’t seen her face since, so he was quietly worried.
They’d started off with some purpose in mind, but now genuine affection had built up, knowingly or not.
“Alright, I’m heading out. We’ll talk details later.”
“Sure.”
Daniel nodded, then leaned forward slightly.
“If you hear anything interesting, tell me too.”
“……I’m going.”
Abel ignored her completely and stood up.
After returning his plate and stepping outside, he spotted Iolin not far away.
She’d really been waiting for him the whole time.
Abel approached her, inwardly flustered.
“Wait long?”
“No. About what I mentioned earlier.”
“Oh, right—asking if I’m free this weekend. Mind telling me where you’re headed?”
Iolin answered without hesitation.
“I’m thinking of buying an artifact that’ll help with mana sensitivity. Any chance you could come along?”
“An artifact? Where from?”
“Still deciding. I don’t know the capital’s layout well.”
Abel almost asked why she wasn’t having someone fetch it but held back.
‘That’s just how she is.’
Iolin was highly regarded in her family, a true prodigy living up to expectations.
If she asked, they’d deliver the finest without question.
But she didn’t like relying on family support.
She preferred handling things herself, whatever it took.
That was likely why she’d asked Abel—a fellow cadet—for help with mana sensitivity.
This seemed no different.
“Works for me. I was planning to head out anyway.”
“Great.”
Iolin’s lips curved into a faint smile at his agreement.
Abel froze for a second at the rare expression on her usually impassive face.
“How’s Saturday morning?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Fine.”
“Perfect. I’ll wait here Saturday morning, then.”
Iolin gave a parting greeting and left first.
Abel stared blankly at her retreating figure for a moment before slowly walking away.
* * *
For the entire official outing period, Abel visited Carlton for training.
The regimen was brutally simplistic—enough to make anyone shake their head—but Abel followed it without complaint.
Not just because he’d agreed not to object at the outset, but because he trusted it.
‘At least the results are guaranteed.’
He knew Carlton from the game, and that knowledge had led him here.
If he hadn’t trusted it, he wouldn’t have bothered.
So his faith in the outcome was equally firm.
Completing this training would mean definite growth.
Whether it hurt or not was another matter.
“Ugh…… gonna die.”
Abel muttered, sprawled on his bed.
Normally, he’d be up and washing by now, but not today.
His muscles were at peak soreness.
Knowing Abel couldn’t visit regularly, Carlton had customized a schedule.
Abel stuck to it religiously, no shortcuts, and felt his body draining day by day.
Of course, Carlton hadn’t made it up carelessly.
‘At least the rest days are a relief.’
The plan called for three days training, one full rest.
Today was that rest.
Even maxing out the academy’s recovery options had limits.
Three on, one off was perfectly balanced.
‘Got physical training lecture today, so morning’s for rest.’
Abel reviewed his schedule mentally, then closed his eyes for a bit.
He dragged himself up only as morning class neared.
“Ugh.”
Groaning, he headed straight to the showers, then the cafeteria.
Class was soon, yet it was crowded.
Probably late trainers grabbing food right before.
He’d told Daniel to eat ahead, so Abel got his tray alone and sat aside.
Exhaustion killed his appetite, but he forced it down and finished quickly.
‘First class is meditation.’
The classroom wasn’t far.
He left the dorm and headed to the lecture building.
Midway, someone called out.
“Abel!”
A cheerful voice.
Abel turned instinctively and widened his eyes.
“Hena?”
“Yeah. Morning.”
Hena approached casually, greeting as if nothing happened.
Abel nodded slightly.
“Morning. Back to classes today?”
“Yeah. Rested plenty.”
Hena smiled.
Officially, her absence was health-related.
She knew Abel had figured out the truth but wouldn’t say it aloud in public.
“Good to hear. Feeling okay?”
“Better than ever, actually.”
Hena teased playfully.
Her brightness drew a smile from Abel.
“But isn’t your class the other way? Total opposite direction.”
“Oh? Right!”
Hena realized belatedly and waved goodbye.
“Catch you after class!”
“Sure.”
Abel nodded casually and kept walking.
Heading to class alone felt oddly different, but it didn’t last.
Prickling stares surrounded him.
They started right after chatting with Hena, and lingered even after she left.
Glancing around subtly, he saw cadets—mostly guys—glaring sharply.
“That guy?”
“Iolin, and now Hena too…….”
He caught snippets of talk.
Abel was baffled inwardly.
‘I’ve always been friends with Hena.’
Why bring it up now?
The cafeteria chat with Iolin must’ve spread more than expected.
It made sense, really.
His tie with Iolin felt purely businesslike.
But she had almost no close friends besides him.
She had one from her region—same gender, childhood friend type—so that didn’t count.
‘Unfair.’
It bugged Abel, though he had no fix.
He couldn’t go around denying it.
Minor compared to other worries, but it left a nagging unease as he walked.
Class proceeded as usual.
Instructors still looked drained from the incident, but content was unchanged.
Cadets, slacked from the long break, gradually sharpened up.
After lectures ended.
“Oh, I saw her this morning too.”
“Yeah?”
Abel was chatting with Daniel as they left the classroom.
Topic: Hena.
“Yeah. Said she was waiting for someone, told me to go ahead.”
“Hm.”
Abel’s expression turned peculiar at Daniel’s words.
He’d thought it coincidence, but now it seemed deliberate.
No time to dwell, though.
“Abel! Daniel!”
A familiar voice called.
“Hena!”
Daniel waved happily.
Hena arrived right after class, books in hand.
Abel asked her.
“How’s it feel being back in lectures after so long?”
“Same old. But kinda fun after the break.”
Hena shrugged, glancing between them.
“Anyway, cafeteria first. I’m starving.”
“Sure.”
“Got it.”
No point standing, so they walked and talked.
“Finals canceled, schedule shortened—break’s just weeks away.”
“Feels like time flew.”
“Longer break’s a plus, though.”
Mid-chit-chat, Daniel piped up at the break mention.
“Oh, right—wanna join us on break?”
“Join you?”
“Yeah. With Abel. May too, if possible. More’s fine.”
“Where to?”
“Dunno yet…… Suburbs or around the capital.”
“Eh. That’s not very vacation-y.”
“Can’t go anywhere reckless. Outside’s dangerous.”
Daniel was right—this world wasn’t safe.
Gigadeus fragments littered everywhere.
The capital felt secure, but vast unconquered lands remained.
Hena pondered, then spoke.
“How about our villa?”