Chapter 83
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: To the Arena
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Time flew by quickly.
The exam that should have capped off the first semester was canceled, but that didn't mean the cadets had any free time.
With the exam scrapped, the instructors weren't slacking off on any of their lectures.
On top of that, the mini-tests they held nearly every other day tormented the cadets.
But even that first semester was now nearing its end.
“Only three days left.”
Just like Daniel's mutter, the academy's first semester had barely three days remaining.
The final day would wrap up after a simple closing ceremony, so tomorrow was practically the last day.
Hena, sitting beside Abel, propped her chin on her hand and chimed in.
“Thinking it's almost over makes me a bit sad.”
“Two days ago, you were saying you wanted to rest soon?”
“Moods change from moment to moment.”
Abel chuckled at Hena's nonchalant reply.
She had only added a single remark, but he fully understood her feelings.
“Feels kinda empty, doesn't it? Adding it all up, we're getting almost a month off.”
“Right? I want to rest, but a month feels a little long.”
“Well, some kids have to go home far away. Can't be helped.”
“Yeah.”
Abel and Daniel had no intention of going home, and Hena's family estate wasn't too far off—a couple of days by carriage would do it.
By contrast, some of the kids from distant places needed a full week just for travel.
The continent was vast, after all.
As they traded idle chatter like that, Hena abruptly whipped her head toward Abel.
“But Abel, you're entering the Vulcanus Arena match this time, right?”
“Huh?”
Abel looked at her in response to the sudden question. Her eyes told him it wasn't just a casual probe.
“How'd you know?”
“What? You're really going?”
The one who yelped in surprise wasn't Hena, but Daniel.
Abel nodded.
“Yeah. It's not an official match—it's the event tournament. Academy cadets can participate too.”
“But first-years almost never do. It's mostly second-years.”
“Right. So where'd you hear?”
“From where? It's the hot rumor going around lately.”
“Rumor?”
Abel tilted his head, as it was the first he'd heard of it.
Daniel chimed in agreement.
“Yeah, Abel. That you're joining the event tournament with Iolin.”
“Some say you're fearless for entering, others say your skills make it worth it.”
“Hmm. Really?”
He mulled it over briefly, then realized it made perfect sense for such rumors to spread.
The event tournament participant list wasn't any big secret, after all.
‘It's an event meant to draw crowds in the first place.’
Who would care if they shrouded the participant list for a non-official match?
Even at half the price of a regular bout, it was always 'names' that packed the seats.
“Guess one of the participating seniors let it slip.”
“Probably. But why didn't you say a word? I'm hurt.”
Hena's question came in a distinctly playful tone, but beneath it lay unmistakable worry she couldn't quite hide.
Abel answered with an awkward smile.
“They said you could withdraw midway. I was still debating right up until a few days ago.”
“But you've made up your mind now, right?”
“Yeah.”
He'd been interested in the tournament, but had no plans to enter if the bracket looked hopeless.
Because failing to crack the top three in the event tournament meant footing the bill for your own Gigant repairs.
‘But this time, it looks worth a shot.’
His final chance to cancel had been two days prior.
In other words, Abel's participation was now set in stone.
“Then I guess I'll have to go watch. Vacation means no need for special outing permission anyway.”
“Me too!”
“Sure.”
Abel nodded with a smile.
But at that moment.
A thunderous bellow rang out from not far away.
“What are you doing!”
Abel's group, who had been chatting leisurely, jumped in surprise and whipped their heads toward the source.
Striding toward them was none other than Kaul.
“Hahaha. Looks like I startled you.”
“Instructor.”
Abel and the others rose from their seats to greet him.
Kaul waved it off.
“Never mind that. Class ended ages ago—why are you still hanging around here?”
They were currently on the physical training field.
They had stayed behind after the last class to talk.
“We were just chatting about this and that before heading back.”
“Guess you're excited for the upcoming vacation.”
Kaul grinned with his wide mouth.
“Well, made it easy to find you. Abel. Come talk with me.”
“Me, sir?”
“Yeah.”
“Yes, sir.”
It was sudden, but there was no reason to refuse, so Abel agreed.
“See you guys later.”
Abel gave Daniel and Hena a farewell and followed after Kaul.
“We'll talk details in the office.”
“Understood.”
Kaul led Abel silently to the building housing the offices.
Upon arriving at the office, Kaul gestured for Abel to take a seat and got down to business.
“Got any plans for vacation?”
“I'm entering the tournament this weekend, as reported. After that, planning to spend two or three days with friends.”
“And after that?”
“...I was planning to request entry permission for the special management area.”
Kaul crossed his arms at Abel's reply.
“Special management area—probably around Red Hole.”
“Yes.”
The special management area was, in simple terms, a place like the Telif Plains where they'd done their field exercise before.
A zone directly managed by the academy or the empire, used for Gigant riders to gain real combat experience.
That said, it was far from one hundred percent safe.
Even during the exercise—with basic management personnel plus academy staff—accidents had still happened.
In truth, once you entered, safety was on you.
“Reckless.”
Kaul, who knew that better than anyone, spoke with a grave expression.
“You've racked up outstanding grades, no doubt. Your Gigant handling is unbelievable for a first-year cadet.”
“Thank you.”
“That's why I approved your tournament entry. But don't you think Red Hole is too soon?”
Abel replied without flinching to Kaul's words.
“I simply think training there is the most suitable for my current situation.”
“You think the academy curriculum isn't enough? Isn't that a bit arrogant?”
“Academy lectures and real combat training are separate things. Above all, I'm not going to Red Hole out of arrogance.”
Abel spoke in a serious tone.
“Quite the opposite.”
“The opposite?”
“I feel like my skills are lacking. Precarious—like I could fall behind at any moment.”
Kaul narrowed his brow at Abel's words.
“...I told you not to get arrogant before, and saying that feels off, but your skills and talent are far from ordinary. No need to feel that impatient.”
“No.”
“What?”
Abel said,
“That impatience is my driving force.”
Kaul stared at Abel in silence.
A heavy silence stretched on, as if it might snap at any moment, for quite some time.
Abruptly, Kaul posed a different question.
“The tournament—this weekend, right?”
“Yes.”
Kaul shot up from his seat.
“Then I'll pull strings to get your permission based on the results.”
“Understood.”
“Alright. You're dismissed.”
Abel gave a polite bow and rose.
“Then I'll be going.”
“Yeah.”
And with that, the conversation ended.
Abel opened the door and left the office, while Kaul stood by the window for a long while.
“Hmm.”
He could see Abel just then exiting the building outside.
“Wasn't planning to lecture or anything...”
Kaul muttered, his eyes tracking that retreating back.
“Well, whatever.”
* * *
Weekend morning.
The academy, usually brimming with energy, was cloaked in stillness.
Abel gazed at the dormitory entrance, where only a chill wind blew, and muttered.
“Never seen it this quiet.”
“First vacation, after all.”
A reply to his soliloquy came from behind.
He turned to see Iolin, her long hair tied back tightly.
She said as she descended the stairs.
“You're out early.”
“Well, match day.”
“Still three hours left?”
“What about you?”
Iolin gave a faint smile at Abel's question. A silver necklace gleamed at her neck.
“Let's go.”
“Yeah.”
He hadn't been waiting for Iolin specifically, but Abel naturally fell into step.
The closing ceremony had been two days ago already.
Most students heading home had left that day.
There were cadets who stayed, but on the first weekend of vacation, hardly anyone rose at this early hour.
Except for unusual cases like theirs.
“Nervous?”
Abel asked as he matched Iolin's stride.
It wasn't as if she'd shown any signs of tension; it was just a casual remark.
“Of course I'm nervous.”
But her response was unexpectedly frank.
Abel turned his head slightly to look at her.
“That's surprising.”
“What is?”
“Thought you weren't the type to get nervous.”
“Because of my always-expressionless face?”
Iolin whipped her head toward Abel.
Their eyes met, and Abel quickly faced forward again as he replied.
“More like, I've never seen you shaken.”
“Shaken?”
“Yeah. You can fake expressions all you want, but not your aura.”
He didn't even need to recall the Iolin he'd learned about through the game.
Ever since enrolling at the academy, the Iolin he'd seen firsthand had been an unshakable warrior in any situation.
Yet Iolin immediately refuted him.
“Not always.”
“What?”
“You can fake your aura too. Just like expressions, it's something that shows on the outside.”
She spoke in a tone tinged with a subtle loneliness.
“Showing weakness outwardly just becomes a weakness.”
“I see.”
Abel couldn't deny her words.
He was doing the exact same thing—forcefully crafting his outward appearance.
Top of the academy. Leading most exams, a man who boldly challenged without pause.
‘Overly dramatic descriptors.’
Whether they held truth or not, Abel always felt that way.
The treatment he received now was beyond his abilities.
What he'd told Kaul about feeling lacking wasn't humility—it was sincere.
“Sometimes, it feels like I'm precariously stacking a tower.”
“A tower?”
Even at Abel's out-of-left-field remark, Iolin calmly picked it up.
“Yeah. Toward that lofty goal. I know it's reckless, but I keep stacking the tower. I know it might collapse, but I can't stop.”
“Out of fear?”
“Yeah. And because there's no other way.”
Abel continued calmly.
“All I'm doing is believing I'll reach the goal before the tower crumbles.”
“Strange talk.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Iolin quickened her pace just a bit and murmured in a small voice.
“But it's not bad.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing.”
“I see.”
Abel gave a faint smile.
“Yeah.”
Abel shook off the thoughts that had briefly weighed on his mind and strode vigorously after her.
“Ah, there's the carriage.”
To climb the tower, he had to keep moving forward.
Which was why he planned to win today's match handily.
As always.
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