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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 87
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Knock, knock.
"Instructor Kali. This is Instructor Ludmina. May I speak with you for a moment?"
"Yes, come in."
As Kali's calm voice reached my ears, Instructor Ludmina immediately gestured to me.
Feeling a little nervous, I nodded.
The door clicked open.
Stepping back into Kali's office, where I had been a few days prior, my tension was at an all-time high.
"Welcome, Instructor Ludmina... Student Han Cheonsung is with you too?"
"Yes. I've come to see you because there's something important I need to tell you, along with Student Han Cheonsung. It's a truly crucial matter."
Watching Ludmina speak with such a serious tone, I inadvertently recalled what she had told me.
'You need to get proper help from Instructor Kali. You shouldn't train alone.'
I had heard many things from her on the way here, but she hadn't told me to stop my training.
Her main point was that I needed to train with proper assistance.
Her words were correct. Yet, my current situation felt incredibly strange.
"...First, both of you, please sit down. Let's hear what you have to say calmly."
With a calm voice, Kali gazed at me with a very peculiar look.
And that gaze... I found it frightening.
I had missed today's lecture due to my physical condition. But what would Kali's reaction be if she found out I had tried to push myself again in the training hall afterwards?
I shifted.
Even as I sat down with Instructor Ludmina, I grew even more nervous.
...
After that, Ludmina continued speaking with Kali in an intensely fervent voice.
"—Student Han Cheonsung possesses infinite potential."
"—Instructor Kali, you might find this hard to believe, but it seems Student Han Cheonsung has independently grasped a clue about skills."
"—So, if you, Instructor Kali, could personally guide Student Han Cheonsung in the right direction..."
She heaped praises upon me, enough to surprise me, who was listening beside them, and Kali kept looking at me with a surprised expression throughout Ludmina's words.
As the fervent conversation continued, I could only confirm that I had indeed gained a clue about skills. I couldn't participate in their discussion.
Instructor Ludmina's passionate voice kept throwing out embarrassing words like 'potential' and 'unprecedented' so casually, that I couldn't bring myself to speak.
As time passed, the circumstances naturally came up.
"...Wait a moment, Instructor Ludmina. So, are you saying Student Han Cheonsung was in the training hall?"
"Yes, that's correct. I, too, saw Student Han Cheonsung's training somewhat late, but it clearly seemed to be a realm approaching a skill. However, it appeared to be placing a great burden on Student Han Cheonsung's body, so I came to see you, Instructor Kali, with the student."
As Instructor Ludmina spoke honestly, I couldn't bring myself to look at Kali for a moment.
Gulp.
Involuntarily swallowing, I had to control my body even more.
I felt more nervous now than when I had forced myself to wield the spear while enduring pain.
'...What should I do?'
Today, Friday, was supposed to be a day for training in Kali's practice room. But not only had I skipped today's lecture, far from recovering my body, I had continued to overexert myself with solo training again.
There was no way Kali wasn't angry right now.
And soon, I could clearly feel someone's gaze.
A sharp gaze, as if piercing through my entire body. I even knew who the owner of that gaze was...
"Haaah..."
At the sound of a deep sigh, I flinched involuntarily.
"Instructor Kali. Is something... wrong?"
"No. I've heard what you said. Instructor Ludmina. As you've said, I will properly take charge of Student Han Cheonsung. You may return now."
...At Kali's calm words, I unconsciously turned my head to look at Instructor Ludmina.
"Yes, then. I will take my leave now. Please take good care of him."
As she stood up with a bewildered expression, as if she also sensed Kali's change in atmosphere, I unconsciously wanted to get up and follow her.
'Please don't leave me alone.'
As I desperately looked at her, Instructor Ludmina, as if sensing my fervent wish, happened to look at me.
"Well then, Student Han Cheonsung. I hope for good results for you."
Beneath her light green hair, a shade different from Adelia's, she, with her gentle eye-smile, left the office without the slightest clue of my feelings.
Click.
Even as I stared blankly at the closing door, my lips hesitated.
I shifted. As I straightened my head, the air in the office felt noticeably heavier. And it wasn't just a feeling; it was real.
From Kali, who was in front of me, I felt an overwhelming pressure that was utterly unapproachable.
"Student Han Cheonsung."
"...Yes, Instructor Kali."
I straightened my posture, and cautiously met her gaze.
Kali, her expression frozen coldly, looked scarier than any other appearance I had seen her in so far. Beyond just being cold or distant, she seemed genuinely angry at me.
"Student Han Cheonsung gaining a clue about skills is truly something to congratulate, and it's a good thing. And I fully understand now why you lost consciousness yesterday... Gaining a clue about skills wasn't something that started today, was it?"
Kali's voice, as she continued speaking, contrary to her expression, held no anger.
It merely sounded cold and indifferent.
"Yes. It's been a few days."
I had no choice but to answer honestly.
No matter what I said, she would pierce right through me with those cold eyes.
"So your craving for training grew even stronger, and your willpower took over. You pushed yourself too hard yesterday, and you trained again today, didn't you?"
As she spoke, as if knowing my condition, I couldn't say a word.
I thought I hadn't shown any signs, but somehow she seemed to have seen right through my physical state.
"Haaah..."
At the sight of Kali letting out another deep sigh, my heart grew heavier than if she had actually gotten angry.
Instead of scolding me harshly, her attitude of trying to suppress her emotions made me feel even more sorry.
Suddenly, what she had told me earlier today came to mind.
"—I just... wish you'd think about your body a little. I like seeing your effort, and your dedication to training is good to see. But you shouldn't do it to the point of ruining your body, should you?"
"—Your strong will is good to see, far better than being lazy and idle. However, there's a limit to everything. Student Han Cheonsung. You understand what I'm trying to say now, don't you?"
Kali, who had gently told me to take care of my body, was clearly worried about me and being considerate.
Yet, now, less than a day after she said that, I had completely disobeyed her words. And there was no denying it whatsoever...
"Student Han Cheonsung. Hold out your hand."
Despite her cold tone, I couldn't refuse in the slightest.
Cautiously, I extended my right arm, trying to control my body to the extreme, but.
Grab.
The moment Kali's hand strongly gripped mine, the strength instantly drained from me. Then, my hand reacted naturally.
Before I could even feel the warmth of her hand against mine, my body reacted first.
Tremble. My arm trembled faintly.
Because it was held in her hand, it felt even more pronounced. The tremor in my hand must have been conveyed to Kali as well...
"...Seriously. You were trying to hide this physical state from me?"
"I'm sorry."
I couldn't say anything else.
Even as I looked into Kali's red eyes that met mine, my body had already stiffened.
"Student Han Cheonsung. I told you I wouldn't say anything if you missed today's lecture, didn't I? Why do you think I said that?"
"...I believe it meant to recover my body."
"Exactly. You know well. Student Han Cheonsung clearly told me you understood. Yet, you're in this state now, aren't you?"
Her words were irrefutable. And they were undeniably correct.
I was utterly speechless.
"You overworked your body to this extent again... No matter how strong your will is, there's clearly a proper order to things. If you had at least told me... you wouldn't have had to abuse your body this much."
With my hand still held by her, I could only listen to her words.
And then, belatedly, I realized. My will had taken over, and I had only been looking straight ahead.
I could have consulted with Kali, sought her advice. But I hadn't even thought of that, and had only tried to push forward.
Because I had gained a clue about skills, I had only thought about reaching it somehow.
My heart was filled with that much urgency.
"What am I going to do with Student Han Cheonsung..."
At her muttering, which sounded like she was talking to herself, my lips merely hesitated.
No matter what I said, it didn't seem like Kali would take it well. I felt sorry, hoping her heart would simply soften.
"It's not that I don't understand your feelings, Student Han Cheonsung. No, I can't say I fully understand you. You gained a clue about skills at Level 4 of your characteristic, how could you not be excited and happy about that? Your craving for training must have filled your heart, and you must have wanted to work even harder and train more."
She shifted.
Then, as the way she held my hand subtly changed, my gaze went blankly to it.
The touch caressing my hand was completely different from how she had initially gripped it strongly.
As if to soothe me. Kali's hand caressing mine even seemed gentle.
"I understand that no matter how much I try to stop you, Student Han Cheonsung, you can't control your own feelings right now. So. Student Han Cheonsung."
"...Yes, Instructor."
Even as I answered belatedly, only then could I properly meet her gaze.
Kali's face, which had been so cold, had somehow returned to its usual expression.
The Kali who wasn't cold outside of lectures, the Kali who possessed consideration and gentleness...
"This weekend. Stay with me."
"...Huh?"
"Let's spend time together. Even if you overexert yourself, I'll handle it all. Gaining a clue about skills at Level 4 of your characteristic is indeed a huge deal, enough to make Instructor Ludmina so excited. Looking back at the academy's history, there's no precedent for a student mastering a skill at Level 4. Thinking about it now... I must have been out of my mind. I should have paid more attention to Student Han Cheonsung and looked out for you more."
At her continued soft voice, even as I blinked, I couldn't instantly adapt to her change.
Kali, who didn't get angry but instead seemed to understand me, made me feel immeasurably grateful, but.
I couldn't do that.
"Instructor Kali...?"
"Yes."
Even as I watched her reply with a faint smile, my thoughts swirled.
Tomorrow, Saturday, I had a meeting with Carite, and on Sunday, I had a meeting with Glacia...
'Wait...'
Now that I thought about it, today.
Wasn't today the day I was supposed to meet Glacia...?
Beyond just postponing Kali's training, I had already made plans to meet Glacia for an extra day this week.
"Student Han Cheonsung?"
"Thank you very much for your words. I'm grateful for your consideration and for saying you'll overlook it all. I know I'm truly shameless, but could you possibly make time in the evening? I have prior engagements on the weekend. If you could make time in the evening..."
Even as I spoke, I didn't even know what I was saying.
Today alone was overwhelming, to the point where my head felt like it would explode.
'I had completely forgotten about Glacia.'
As I spoke and checked the time, there were only 10 minutes left until the promised time of 6 o'clock.
Already... there was no time.