Chapter 116
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Saw Something Good
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I saw something good.
"Big brother..."
Saying it directly to his face, she could understand why her sister had jumped in surprise at those words.
It felt completely different from when she'd mumbled it to herself or mentioned it to her sister.
'Huh... Is, is "big brother" actually this embarrassing to say...?'
There had been some serious thought behind Chloe choosing that particular nickname.
The straightforward "oppa" felt too casual and didn't suit her relationship with the instructor, so she'd decided to elevate it a notch for politeness.
Feeling her face heat up like it was boiling over, Chloe started to raise a hand to it before remembering the instructor was right there and somehow held herself back.
'D-does he hate it?'
The brief silence as she waited for his reaction felt like an endless road stretching out forever.
Her head grew heavy with worry, fixing her gaze downward and leaving her to wait for his answer with her ears alone.
"Kuh-!"
It wasn't "good" or "bad"—it was a voice like gulping down ice-cold water in the sweltering heat.
The situation didn't quite match, but it felt like the shackles on her eyes, glued to the floor, had come loose.
Glancing up slightly, she saw the instructor with his arms crossed, nodding in satisfaction with a pleased expression.
It seemed like a positive reaction, but her needless worrying made her seek confirmation anyway.
"Is it... still weird?"
"No! Not at all! Honestly, I figured at most you'd call me by name with a 'nim' or maybe 'mister' at a stretch, so 'big brother' feels like way more than I deserve—like biting off more than I can chew."
"M-mister...? No way!"
The instructor didn't actually look older despite being her senior.
The scars showing the toll of his perfected physique and hard life, along with the crushing pressure he exuded during lessons, gave off the vibe of a veteran powerhouse with decades of experience.
Paradoxically, though, his face alone just gave a slight sense of him being older than her—nothing more.
"Big brother~ No guy would hate that. Should I just call you Chloe from now on?"
His response brimmed with cheer and vitality, making her wonder if this was really the same cold, ruthless instructor from practical combat class.
Her sister's advice had been spot on: don't be scared, just ask directly, and you'd get an honest reaction, good or bad.
"...Y-yes!"
The warm smile in response lacked the sleazy stickiness or cloying vibe she got from classmates or guys she bumped into often.
It wasn't the stern aura of her family-head father either.
On the contrary, it felt warm and pure—this familiarity reminded her of her sister.
"Haha! Kinda feels like I just got a little sister out of nowhere."
Hearing that made her think the same for a moment. If she imagined an ideal caring big brother, wouldn't it feel just like this?
And with the high chance their relationship could evolve into actual family in the future, her heart fluttered a bit.
"Hehe..."
Stroking his scarred chin with a smile, big brother gazed at her and spoke in a gentle voice.
"Chloe. Mind if I bring up something a bit out of the blue?"
"...Of course!"
For a split second, she saw it: a flicker of fatigue and unease in his dark red eyes.
Exhaling, he brushed his black hair back to reveal his forehead, quickly erasing the negative expression with a soft smile.
"I'm the type who pays extra close attention to the safety of people close to me, now and always—but I might miss something. Just in case."
"...Pardon?"
Unable to follow the sudden shift, a puzzled tone slipped from Chloe's lips.
"Doesn't have to be combat power. If you need experience, money in a pinch, connections, authority... or if you run into something you can't handle and Eclair's not around, just call for me. I've got good ears—shout 'Big brother!' nice and loud, and I might hear you."
"..."
In the empire's noble society, where everything was transactional, this offer was so disarmingly kind and gentle that Chloe flinched, unsure how to respond.
She had nothing of equal value to offer in return.
Not expecting a neat reply right away, big brother leaned forward conspiratorially and whispered one more line.
"Or if you're short on pocket money for that cake you want."
"Eek...!"
The end of it dripped with playful mischief, obvious even to her.
She'd wondered since the dessert shop—how did he know she loved sweets and cake?
"In-instructor... B-big brother."
She nearly slipped into "instructor" out of habit but caught herself. Her face heated up again, though not as badly as before.
Adapting this quickly wasn't like her, but it was a good sign.
"What's up?"
What an intriguing guy... Was this his everyday adventurer side, not the instructor? Just as her sister said—easy to read, honest with his feelings.
Nothing grand about the nickname "big brother," yet his voice brimmed with joy and softness.
It made her sensitive question easier to voice.
"Have I... put on a lot of weight?"
"What are you talking about?"
His face showed genuine confusion. Still, Chloe's hand tentatively moved to her stomach.
Looking down, her chest blocked the view—thanks to the family-regulated diet kicking in during puberty, she believed it had nothing to do with desserts.
Her sister, with her strict diet, was above average too.
She poked and prodded.
'Stomach... no real belly fat...?'
Not ripped abs like her sister's, but constant training meant no major flab... well, not none, just not much.
As a Dreitna, she made the effort to stay active.
"It's just... I like desserts, so I thought it might show on the outside..."
Big brother froze completely at her words, his face twisting like he'd made a huge blunder as he apologized first.
"Sorry! I'm clueless about that stuff... I just heard sweet desserts are popular with girls your age."
"N-no! You don't need to apologize...!"
So that's what it was. Her assumptions felt embarrassing, but a relief too.
...
Chatting with big brother was fun even without any special topic.
The initial tension had eased a lot, and she barely stammered anymore.
Spotting fellow Knight Department cadets heading to the classroom in the distance, Chloe realized break time was over.
When she mentioned heading to class, big brother grinned widely and promised they'd meet again.
"See you later, Chloe! That was fun."
Feeling the sound barrier fading, she hurriedly bowed her head to say goodbye before it fully dropped.
"B-big brother! Me too... it was fun!"
Sleep when you can—that's the rule!
Seria justified and comforted herself today with what she framed as wise thinking.
Once she left the academy, she'd be an adventurer. Pointless liberal arts or theory classes just needed a passing grade, right?
"Hwaaaah~"
Splash-
Yawning wide enough to split her jaws, she scrubbed her hands vigorously at the sink.
She'd dozed through class from midway to the end, but drowsiness still clung to her like sticky goo, refusing to leave.
All-day sitting lectures built up suppressed energy, weirdly overloading her instead.
'Extra sleepy today...'
Shake- flick-
Unlike Rike or Chloe, she didn't carry a handkerchief, so she shook off the water a few times and wiped her hands roughly on her uniform.
Her sister would sigh deeply at the uncovered yawn and wiping hands on clothes.
But this was practice for the rough adventurer life and camping. Probably?
'Next class was... what?'
Couldn't remember, so likely theory... Rike waiting outside would know.
"Ahem! Ahem!"
Clearing her sleep-roughened throat, Seria stepped into the hall and froze at Rike's expression gazing out the window.
'Sh-she's smiling?'
Everyone smiles, sure! But frequency varies.
Rike smiled too, but rarely—countable on one hand. And this blissful smile was a first.
What had her so happy? Following her gaze, a familiar gray head sat on a distant bench.
Complete with those body contours that made her shoulders ache just looking. Undeniably their friend.
"Chloe with—eek!!"
Her uncontrolled shout echoed; she clamped her mouth and glanced around. Luckily, just Rike and her in the hall.
Relieved, Seria mashed her face to the glass like hurling her eyeballs outside, focusing beyond the window.
"That's... the practical instructor with her?!"
She barely interacted with anyone but them, so who was she talking to? The guy opposite was familiar too.
His unique aura and physique were unmistakable even from here.
Which made the scene even harder to grasp. Their only connection was that one weekly class, right?
Chloe, who struggled and avoided even lighter-vibe male cadets around her age!
Chatting away animatedly with the instructor—whose authority and presence dwarfed any cadet... Was this real life?
Felt like she hadn't woken from sleep and was dreaming.
"Hm~ What a nice sight."
Rike's voice carried a subtly erotic tint as it flowed into her ears.
Seria startled fully awake, rubbing her eyes with still-damp hands.
"The instructor and Chloe... wonder what they're talking about?"
"Who knows? No time—let's head to class. Staring won't tell us more."
Seria regained her calm watching Rike revert to her usual emotionless poise.
"Chloe woke me right up..."
Gratitude to her distant friend aside, the curiosity was real.
Trailing after Rike's indifferent stride, Seria kept sneaking glances out the window at Chloe.