Chapter 65: Terraforming - Fruits of Kindness
“Fights between trainees are normally grounds for discipline. But you've been looking after the slower ones and acting properly, so I'll let it slide just this once. Understood?”
“I'm sorry for causing trouble, Instructor. I'm deeply reflecting on my actions.”
“…Fine. That's enough. Here, take this.”
*Slap.*
“What's this…?”
“It's a fruit called Pruum. Eating it speeds up your growth a little. Keep it secret from the other trainees.”
“Got it. Thank you so much.”
“Come here once every three days to pick up more Pruum.”
“Yes, sir!”
*Clunk! Screech… Thud.*
*Footsteps…*
Far from getting chewed out by Gerard, I'd scored some Pruum.
I'd braced myself for a scolding, but…
Surprisingly, he's not a total asshole.
I'd pegged him as arrogant for ignoring the stragglers.
But face-to-face, that wasn't it at all.
Gerard felt bad that his own skills limited how much he could help them.
He seemed apologetic—and grateful—that I was stepping up.
At least, that's how it came across to me.
Now that I was in the past, should I just kill Gerard? His betrayal of the training camp was set in stone.
But even if I wanted to, I couldn't—he was leagues stronger than me right now.
Guess I'll have to play it by ear.
Wang Ja-gun hadn't been summoned alongside me.
Why? He was still laid up in the infirmary.
One gut punch had sent him crumpling, legs giving out. His belly was black-and-blue; he couldn't even stand yet.
Even toning down the mana, Thousand Pound Strike packed a wallop.
*Footsteps.*
As I descended the stairs to the first floor, Chris Bennett came into view.
Her face, spotting me coming down, was etched with guilt.
She must've thought my fight with Wang Ja-gun was all because of her.
“Ch-Chanyoung! I'm sorry… it was because of me…”
Her face drained of color, she bowed her head in apology.
She couldn't keep up in training, so I'd helped her out—and that sparked the brawl with Wang Ja-gun. Then the fight got me hauled before the instructor. To her, she was the root cause.
It wasn't entirely wrong, but her interpretation was way too self-flagellating.
I flashed her a gentle smile to set her at ease.
For one thing, she was stunning now with her yellow hair—and just as gorgeous in seven years with orange locks.
I'm a sucker for beautiful women.
“Nah, it's fine. My temper's not the best anyway… I just couldn't let that provocation slide.”
“St-Still, if you trace it back, the cause was…!”
“I said it's okay. Anyway… tonight, same as yesterday—after dinner…”
“Hik!… Y-Yes… b-behind the building…”
*Nod.*
Her earlobes flushed red as she ducked her head, answering in that submissive crawl of a voice.
I told her I'd wait behind the building, then we headed out together.
Today's training wasn't quite over yet.
*Chirrrp—chirp.*
The insects' cries reached my ears.
Earth or here, the sound of bugs seeking mates was much the same.
I found it oddly fascinating.
Waiting around bored for someone brings out all sorts of random thoughts, huh.
A few straight days of this, and the view behind the training camp building felt familiar now.
The sun had set, plunging everything into darkness. Even the moon and stars were eclipsed by the building's shadow.
I could make out shapes just fine, though.
…*Stealthy footsteps…*
A soft patter approached, footsteps muffled.
Her light weight kept them faint to begin with.
Without the heightened senses from Sunryeong Ilil Manyo Wolwol, I might've missed them entirely.
“Ch-Chanyoung…?”
“Right here.”
“Ah! Y-Yes.”
“Careful coming over. It's dark…”
“Kyaa!”
*Grab.*
I caught Chris Bennett's shoulder lightly with my forearm as she stumbled.
Her body felt featherlight against my arm.
Made me wonder if she was eating properly.
“Th-Thank you…”
She blushed again, murmuring her thanks.
This time, she didn't duck her face.
Probably figured the darkness hid it well.
It's all in plain view…
With her here, I dug into my pocket to fulfill my goal.
These past few nights, Chris Bennett and I had been holding secret rendezvous behind the building.
The purpose? This.
I pulled out a single green, bumpy fruit-like thing.
“…Here. Eat up. It'll ease the muscle pain. Might even recover some fatigue.”
“Th-Thanks… but this is yours…”
*Crunch crunch!*
Chris Bennett started munching the Green Yam I'd handed her.
I'd been slipping her one every night—a minor stamina booster from the Karma shop.
She had no idea.
At just 15 karma a pop, it was pocket change.
Pruum at 50 every three hours? This was nothing.
“Th-This is from the instructor, right?”
“Yeah. He said it's a secret herb just for the top performer.”
“One every day?”
“Yep. One a day.”
Her face twisted into a pout.
Her current innocent expression kept overlapping with Gwangnyeon-i's confident smile from seven years ahead.
But seeing her so pure like this felt fresh and adorable—I had the urge to pinch her nose.
She'd probably grab it, eyes tearing up, gazing up at me in confusion…
…No, hold back.
“Th-Then… you've been skipping them all this time? I thought you got extras since you gave them so freely!… I-I can't keep taking these… I'm just being a burden…”
“Haha! Nah, I don't get muscle pain even without 'em. My constitution recovers stamina fast.”
“B-But still…”
“You've polished off at least three already—that kinda kills your argument. Makes the next day way easier, doesn't it?”
“…Yeah. The soreness is much less…”
“Then eat up without worrying.”
Chris Bennett stared at the Green Yam in her hand.
Already half-gone.
“Um…”
“I won't take half. Finish it.”
“!… Y-Yes…!”
She started to say something, but my words hit home. She gripped the yam tighter.
Even in this darkness, I could see the tension in her hand—satisfying proof of the skill's power.
*Crunch crunch!*
The shadows beneath the building fell quiet again after the brief murmur of voices, filled only with crunching.
But not for long.
Their voices drowned out the insects once more.
“Um, Chanyoung…”
“Yeah?”
“…Never mind.”
Chris Bennett started to ask something, then swallowed it back.
Her ears were tinged pink.
For someone with social anxiety like her—even an innocent meetup between man and woman must feel overwhelming.
Or so I figured.
Her hands were empty now; she'd finished the Green Yam.
Mission accomplished for tonight.
Time to head back to Earth…
“Chanyoung?”
“Yeah. What's up?”
“Y'know… since the first day when we introduced ourselves, you haven't called my name once. D-Did you… forget it?”
“Chris Bennett. Got it memorized.”
“Ah…”
My straightforward reply caught her off guard—her guess was wrong. Her face flushed faintly.
Did it seem that weird?
The reason I hadn't used her name was simple.
No matter how different she looks… to me, Gwangnyeon-i—or Instructor Gwangnyeon-i—is way more familiar. Can't call her that now, though…
So even in my thoughts, I referred to her future self as Gwangnyeon-i and her present self as Chris Bennett.
I saw them as the same person yet somehow separate—confused and distinct at once.
My mindset was this fuzzy, indefinable limbo.
No word yet existed to perfectly capture a time traveler's paradoxes.
That's why calling her real name felt hesitant, and I'd avoided it till now.
Apparently, it struck her as odd.
“…Should I call you Bennett-ssi?”
“…”
“Huh?”
“W-Well… if it's okay with you…”
“Go ahead.”
“P-Personally… just my personal opinion! Um… more than Bennett-ssi… Ch-Chris… might be better…”
“Chris?”
*Flinch!*
My echo made her jolt, body trembling slightly.
No—Chris.
The darkness lent her courage. Neck flushing crimson, she looked up at me.
This was…
Because of my handsome face…?
Not certain yet.
With her social phobia, even suggesting friendship would embarrass her.
Hard to tell if this was “let's get closer as friends” or “I like you romantically.”
No need to rush.
It'd been less than two weeks here—for me, at least two months ahead.
I could take it slow, gauge her feelings.
“That means we drop the formalities starting now, right? Got it, Chris.”
*Flinch!*
“Hup! Y-Yeah…!”
“Why tell me to go casual if you're still formal with me? Loosen up too.”
“O-Okay! Cha, Cha, Cha, Chanyoung…!”
*Nod nod nod!*
She bobbed her head furiously, following my lead.
Hmm… Chris… Chris… it'd take time to roll off the tongue.
Or I'd just have to say it more, get used to it.
*Snicker.*
“My name's Chanyoung—not Cha, Cha, Cha, Chanyoung?”
“R-Right! Chanyaeng!”
“…Kidding. Just call me casually, Chris.”
*Flinch!*
…She wasn't used to hearing her own name either.
She flinched every time I said Chris.
Yeah… stay that pure forever, Chris. Even in seven years, don't let vulgar crap like ‘wild sex’ or ‘dick smell’ slip from those lips…
Hard to imagine those words from that tiny mouth.
Like my little girl who once chirped, ‘I'm gonna marry Daddy!’ growing up to spit, ‘Men are just money machines.’
A wave of dizziness hit me.