Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Not Training, But a Picnic (1)
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A few days had passed quickly since the incident in the rift.
The very next day, just as my sister had suggested, I secretly applied for private training with Instructor Cheon Da-eun without letting Seraphina know.
Honestly, I thought I'd get shot down.
Even if things had ended on a good note with the instructor last time, showing up for a session after moving under Seraphina's wing felt downright shameless.
But surprisingly, Instructor Cheon Da-eun agreed without hesitation.
'Hm, come to my office when the time comes.'
"This actually worked..."
I'd been sure our relationship had gotten awkward.
'Does that mean I get to spend some more hot time with the instructor...?'
Whew. You idiot.
Why do these thoughts always come first?
The important part starts now.
Either way, I'd been given one more coin to spend.
Knock knock.
"It's Kang Ihyeon. May I come in?"
"Enter."
Her office was impeccably neat, matching her no-nonsense personality. Beyond the desk, Instructor Cheon Da-eun looked up from reviewing her documents.
For a moment, I swallowed unconsciously.
"You're here. Take a seat."
Her usual icy, sharp aura was markedly different. Her inherent strictness remained, of course, but her gaze had softened somehow. And...
'Is she... in a good mood today?'
A faint but unmistakable smile.
I couldn't miss it.
"Since you want private lessons so badly, I've made time for you. But remember this, Kang Ihyeon. My training won't be easy. If your resolve is half-hearted, it's better not to start at all."
"Of course, Instructor. I'm prepared to handle any training you throw at me!"
I answered almost reflexively.
Satisfied with my response, she smiled faintly once more.
"Good. Then we'll start today. But... there's one thing to keep in mind. We have to avoid drawing attention within the academy as much as possible. Especially... we absolutely cannot let Instructor Seraphina find out about our private meetings."
"Ah. Yeah, that makes sense."
She was the type who'd say who-knows-what if she saw us together.
Jealousy would kick in, and she'd cook up some weird scheme, no doubt.
"She probably thinks I'm not thrilled about you moving to Class D. If she finds out we're meeting privately, it could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings or even sabotage. So from now on, when we meet for these sessions... come quietly in plain, inconspicuous clothes that won't attract eyes. Understood?"
"Yes, understood, Instructor."
At that point, I figured we'd meet outside the academy and train non-stop for 24 hours.
"Huh?"
Was I misunderstanding what private lessons meant?
In front of the academy's back gate.
I arrived first at the agreed spot and waited for the instructor when an unbelievable sight caught my eye from afar.
"I-Instructor...?"
"......"
White.
A thin, form-fitting white sundress that clung to every curve of her body, paired with a straw hat.
And over that dress, more than half of her enormous, bursting breasts were precariously exposed.
Never mind that it was early winter— what was with that provocative outfit...?
The woman standing before me was that strict Instructor Cheon Da-eun?
In a way, such an outrageous look might mean no one would recognize her as the academy's elite instructor.
'But still... no matter how you slice it... wow.'
As I gawked at her with my mouth hanging open, the instructor—uncharacteristically—blushed and averted her gaze. Her fingers fidgeted awkwardly with the brim of her hat, trembling slightly.
"W-What are you staring at like that, Kang Ihyeon?"
"No, Instructor... that outfit..."
"Hm. Didn't I tell you to come in plain clothes that won't draw attention? This is part of that, so don't worry about it."
But it was drawing my attention in a whole different way.
Her calm words, the complete opposite of what I'd expected, left me blinking dumbly.
Was this really the instructor? It was hard to tear my eyes from her pale nape and the tantalizing cleavage.
"No one will suspect I'm an academy instructor dressed like this. Do you think anyone would look at a woman in these clothes and think 'Instructor Cheon Da-eun'?"
"Ah, yeah... you're right, no one would recognize you. Except me..."
"Ahem! Anyway... no time to waste. Follow me."
With that, she walked past me. The hem of her white dress swayed, revealing her smooth legs, while her full hips swayed seductively with each step, captivating my gaze.
'Can I even focus on training today...?'
She headed to a virtual training facility near the academy.
As the name implied, it was a private facility for training in virtual spaces created by special devices.
With the vast majority of Tartaros's population being hunter-related, these facilities were everywhere in the city.
The instructor smoothly gave her reservation name at the counter, got the room key, and led me down a long corridor lined with identical doors on both sides.
'What kind of training requires coming all the way here?'
My doubts didn't last long. She stopped at one door, opened it, and went inside. I cautiously followed.
And once again, the sight before me left me stunned.
An endless expanse of meadow. Warm sunlight bathed the scene, a cool breeze rustled gently—it was a picturesque paradise. In the middle of the meadow sat a single picnic mat, like a scene from a movie. The instructor must have set the virtual landscape herself, yet...
'...Is this a picnic, not training?'
She walked to the mat as if it were her natural spot and sat down gracefully. Then she beckoned me over.
"Kang Ihyeon, why are you standing there dumbfounded? Sit down here first."
"Y-Yes? Oh, sure..."
I shuffled awkwardly to her side and sat. Without her usual stern demeanor, her faintly excited expression only confused me more.
"Um, Instructor... is today's training... a picnic?"
She furrowed her brow slightly at my question, then shook her head with a soft sigh.
"I didn't come all this way for frivolous talk. This is a legitimate part of training."
"Training... you say?"
"Yes. Training."
Was she serious?
She nodded with a grave expression and met my eyes directly.
"Kang Ihyeon, I've heard you acquired a rare ability as a Maker Hunter—one that creates clone dolls of real people."
"Yeah... that's right."
The clone had mentioned it first, so the original body knew too, naturally.
"Normally, I couldn't offer direct help. My expertise is combat instruction, far removed from Maker skills. My advice on their growth or use would be extremely limited."
Her eyes sharpened for a moment.
"But mana operation is different. No matter how rare or powerful your skills, without solid basic mana control to back them up, you won't unleash their true potential—and long-term growth will hit clear limits."
"So that means..."
"Here, I'll draw out your inner mana and help you use it more effectively, so you can focus better in future training."
It sounded plausible.
But how did that connect to this place...?
As I pondered, the instructor suddenly flushed deeply. Her gaze wavered, her voice trembling faintly.
"You're a vigorous young man. And... that's why you fell for that woman Seraphina so easily. I remember it clearly."
"Huh? Th-That..."
"Rena... was it? Making that Japanese celebrity doll—all because of your lecherous reasons. Others might not know, but I do."
"N-No! Instructor! That's a misunderstanding! I didn't make the Rena doll for those reasons!"
I waved my hands frantically in denial, but she shot me a cold glare.
"Don't lie, Kang Ihyeon. Even on the way here, your perverted eyes never left my body. You kept trying to ogle me at every chance."
"Uh, well..."
Her sharp point left me speechless. It was true. I'd been sneaking glances at her bold outfit since we met.
She sighed softly, as if exasperated, but a strange amusement flickered in her expression.
"Hmph. I know your vulgar nature won't change easily. So here's a special proposal."
"A proposal?"
"Yes. For every satisfactory result in mana operation training... I'll grant one thing you want."
She gestured subtly to her ample breasts, straining against the white dress with overwhelming volume.
"How's that? Isn't this uselessly huge lump of flesh what you've been craving?"
I gaped again at her blunt words. Hearing such explicit terms from the instructor's mouth blurred the lines between her and my sister Da-eun even more. Or maybe, since they were the same person from the start, it was inevitable.
And when she provoked like this, her true feelings were obvious.
'Instructor... you just wanted to hang out with me after all.'
It was classic tsundere—grumbling at someone she liked while craving their attention. Acting strict and disdainful on the outside, but loving every minute inside.
I swallowed a laugh inwardly.
'She's so cute.'
I grinned at her.
'My sister might pull it off casually, but for the instructor to wear something this bold and say provocative things... she must have mustered a ton of courage.'
Her earlobes were pink, and though she feigned composure, her trembling fingertips betrayed her tension. She was surely mortified inside.
"Instructor, if I show results... anything?"
"Hmph. Of course. But don't try any tricks. You won't fool my eyes."
I replied confidently.
"Hehe, don't worry, Instructor! This time, I'll show you growth that'll leave you stunned!"
"Hmph, fine words. First, let's check your current level."
She stood and adjusted the virtual space settings. Familiar training dummies appeared.
'Alright, time to show her. How much stronger I've gotten!'
I got into stance, channeling mana into my fist. But...
Huh?
Then it hit me.
'Oh right. Most of the skills I've been honing lately... are those ones.'
Besides Clone Creation, the skills I'd focused on were all specialized for nighttime 'training'—the kind too embarrassing to mention in front of the instructor.
Skills far from mana operation, purely for physical 'conversation'.
'When did I start thinking I'd gotten stronger?'
Sweat beaded on my forehead.
This training session looked way tougher than expected. Her expectant gaze already had me seeing stars.
A few days earlier.
Cheon family estate.
"Hah, whew...!"
Finishing her intense session, Cheon Da-eun collapsed to the floor, breathing raggedly.
Her body was drenched in sweat, her toned muscles quivering faintly.
Her black hair clung messily to her nape and forehead, soaked. Her thigh wound hadn't fully healed, throbbing painfully, but she gritted her teeth and endured.
"Still not enough. Only training matters. I lost my disciple because I was too weak..."
She couldn't stop her rehab. Losing Kang Ihyeon to that seductive Seraphina? Entirely her own failing, she firmly believed.
'If only I'd been a bit stronger... if I'd shown him more...'
But a nagging doubt crept in.
'But... was it really not a woman problem?'
She'd dismissed it as absurd at first.
After their union, she'd thought their bond unbreakable. No stray cat like Seraphina could come between them.
Yet distance breeds distance, and the old suspicion resurfaced.
Was it because she couldn't satisfy his primal desires?
Her chest tightened. As she tried to steady her muddled heart—
Creeeak—
The heavy steel door to the underground training hall swung open, and a familiar shadow entered.
"Good grief, Sis. You're not fully recovered, and you're at it before dawn? What's with the drama?"
"...Cheon Seo-eun."
A sharp yet languid voice. Cheon Da-eun turned. There stood her only sister, still in combat gear from the recent rift mission—Cheon Seo-eun.
Long, wavy black hair cascading down; a glamorous, toned figure eerily like her sister's. But their auras were opposites.
Unlike the rigid, strict Cheon Da-eun, Cheon Seo-eun was free-spirited like Seraphina—provocative at times.