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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 75
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"..."
Night had deepened, and I was seeing Glecia off.
As her figure slowly receded, I felt an inexplicable sense of apology.
Compared to our previous meetings, I felt like I hadn't done much for her today.
Glecia and I hadn't planned anything specific when we met, but today, my physical condition wasn't good, so I couldn't even go to the training ground.
I was late for our meeting, and we simply spent time together without me doing anything special for her. Yet, Glecia stayed with me without a single complaint.
Click-clack. Click-clack.
Just as the sound of her footsteps slowly faded, I shook off the lingering regret in my heart.
'I'll treat her better next time.'
We had agreed to meet one more day this week. I figured I could make it up to her then.
Suddenly, Glecia turned around.
"Han Cheon-seong."
Even from a distance, her voice was clear. As I met her gaze, Glecia suddenly waved at me.
"..."
At that sight, I blinked blankly for a moment, then unconsciously waved back.
The time we spent waving at each other, looking into each other's eyes, truly lasted only a few seconds.
*Grin.*
Then Glecia smiled and turned back, entering her dormitory. Even as I lowered my hand, my mind felt a little hazy.
I felt like Glecia... had suddenly changed a little.
It was hard to explain what was different, but something definitely was.
I instinctively felt it.
"What on earth could have been the catalyst?"
I didn't feel like I'd treated her well today. Yet, Glecia seemed to have suddenly changed for the better.
Then, abruptly, I recalled two weeks ago.
The day of the Academy entrance exam. Even then, I was aware of Glecia, but her cold demeanor prevented me from even attempting to speak to her.
And when Glecia suddenly looked at me, I had waved back at her.
It felt awkward to avoid her gaze, and just staring back was also strange, so I had unconsciously waved. But Glecia's reaction at that time was something I still remembered.
The way she had coldly averted her eyes from me.
And today.
Our relationship had completely reversed, and this time, Glecia looked at me and waved.
...And with a faint smile, at that.
A laugh escaped me the moment I realized it.
"They say you never know what life holds, and it's true."
I'd vaguely hoped to become close with her. But after entering the Academy, I found myself naturally getting along with her.
*Thump.*
Even as I turned to head back to my dormitory, I found it strangely fascinating.
"Now we're in a relationship where we can call each other friends..."
We no longer felt awkward talking to each other or spending time together like this.
It felt like things were going well. On the very first day I received the spear mastery trait, I wondered how I would even live.
But now, the future wasn't as bleak as it was then. No, it felt bright enough to be considered quite promising.
*Thump.*
As I walked, I suddenly brought a hand to my cheek.
The warmth of another hand touching mine... seemed to linger still.
—*Yes. Even now, looking at you like this, I still don't understand you at all.*
Recalling the moment Glecia had placed her hand on my cheek and spoken in that peculiar tone, I shook my head.
"Now, *I* don't understand *you*."
That was truly how I felt.
Whether her relationship with me would remain a simple friendship or not...
Now, I didn't even know that anymore.
***
*Whoosh—*
As the warm water cascaded over her, Glecia slowly opened her mouth.
"He hadn't... forgotten me."
She had thought he'd forgotten their promise, but looking back now, that was just a baseless assumption.
Han Cheon-seong wouldn't do that. She knew he wasn't that kind of person.
Why had she thought that way and felt so disappointed by herself?
If she had waited a little longer at the park, Han Cheon-seong would have come on his own. And thinking back, it felt incredibly fortunate that she had hesitated so foolishly at the end.
Han Cheon-seong hadn't forgotten their promise.
Suddenly, she recalled the moment she had turned around and looked at him.
His face flushed crimson, his lips repeatedly speaking even as he gasped for breath. Yet, Han Cheon-seong's earnest explanation of the situation...
Even hours later, it remained incredibly vivid in her mind.
And simply looking at him like that, the sorrow that had filled her heart easily dissipated.
In that moment, she was simply grateful that he had come to see her.
The fact that he genuinely cared about their relationship was evident in every word he spoke, and she simply accepted him.
"Indeed, we must be... friends."
She now truly considered him a friend.
It wasn't just her thinking about him; he thought about her properly too.
So, yes. They were friends.
"..."
A laugh escaped her again.
She didn't know why she was laughing so much today. But... she just felt good.
'Is this why people form relationships?'
She felt like she understood why people needed to get close to others.
She felt emotions she'd never experienced when she was alone. There was a peculiar sense of fulfillment, a strange emotion that could only be felt when they were together like this.
Furthermore, properly confirming their relationship was... more pleasant than she had imagined.
—*I don't understand you either.*
His bewildered words, spoken abruptly to her, also came to mind.
The moment he said he couldn't understand her, just like she couldn't understand him. Strangely, those words sounded so good to her.
Because it wasn't just her who couldn't understand him; he couldn't properly understand her either.
"Then..."
Han Cheon-seong would want to be with her in the future. As much as she wanted to be with him, he would need her too.
*Nod.* She nodded, already looking forward to their next meeting.
"So, what do friends usually... do to spend time together?"
Suddenly, that thought occurred to her.
Now she and Han Cheon-seong could be called friends.
So next time they met, doing things that friends do...
Wouldn't that be okay?
***
The day passed, and it was the next afternoon.
I wasn't in Classroom C1.
While seemingly straightforward, the Grand Royal Academy's lectures were surprisingly diverse.
With full support from the Empire, renowned instructors, and a precisely planned lecture schedule, everything was meticulously organized.
While students were thoroughly educated on character, morality, and ethics, scheduling was flexible enough to allow them to attend other lectures tailored to their individual traits.
So, instead of only attending lectures from their assigned instructor, there were also inter-class lessons like this. Such lectures were held on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and starting this week, we would be having joint lectures with other students from the same class type.
Each according to their traits. For example, elemental types, long-range types, close-range types, and even rare magic types and superhuman types. If you divided them into detailed fields, there was truly no end.
Naturally, I was a close-range combat type.
*Rustle.*
Currently seated in Classroom C3, my gaze suddenly drifted to the other students.
David, also considered a close-range type, was seated with me. However, the rest of the classroom was filled with students I either didn't know at all or had never spoken to.
*Thump.*
In the somewhat noisy atmosphere, my gaze fell upon the male instructor who entered the classroom.
His sturdy physique and stern expression beneath short blond hair were noticeable.
*Thud!*
The instructor, standing at the podium, abruptly set down his textbook.
"First, it's a pleasure to meet you all. Some of you in this classroom may know me, and some may be seeing me for the first time. Allow me to briefly introduce myself. I am Instructor Vermont, in charge of close-range combat lectures."
As the male instructor grinned and looked around, most of the students tensed up.
But having endured Kali's gaze, this was quite bearable for me. Instructor Vermont then gave a small cough and continued.
"Until this week's lecture, we will thoroughly cover theory. After that, all subsequent lectures will be replaced with practical training. Today might be a bit boring, but I urge you all to listen attentively."
"Yes, sir."
As he spoke in a firm tone, I replied along with the other students and focused on the ensuing lecture.
Honestly, I had never once found a lecture in this world boring.
Rather, it felt fascinating. Since it was knowledge I could directly use with my own power, the lectures were even enjoyable.
"First and foremost, being in the close-range combat category means great danger. No matter how good your traits are, the first thing you must recognize is the inherent risk. Why do I say this first? Whether you stand on the battlefield or not, it's impossible to live your life without ever encountering a monster..."
...
Instructor Vermont's lecture lasted approximately three hours.
It was theoretical, covering precautions and mindsets. I listened intently to every single word.
Simply by virtue of being an 'instructor,' he was someone worthy of my respect. I knew how much risk they had to take and how much they had to achieve on the battlefield to stand on that podium as an instructor in this world.
As someone who had read the Groa novel cover to cover, I couldn't take them lightly.
It was no exaggeration to say that among those who hadn't stood on the battlefield, I understood their dedication the best.
Therefore, I didn't dismiss even the smallest word that came from the instructor's mouth.
"..."
Perhaps my attitude pleased him, as the instructor frequently nodded and directed his gaze toward me.
"You all have surprisingly good lecture etiquette. I'm quite satisfied. Then, let's conclude today's lecture here. However, next week's lecture will take place outside the Academy, so make sure you all come fully prepared."
With those words, Instructor Vermont left his spot, and the students began to rise one by one.
"Han Cheon-seong."
"Huh?"
"I... I can't sit next to you anymore."
Then David said something strange, and I wondered why.
"What are you suddenly talking about?"
"No, seriously, how do you manage to get the instructor's attention everywhere you go? Even I get unnecessarily tense sitting next to you."
As David chuckled, I couldn't help but laugh along.
"It's good if we both focus, isn't it?"
"...Never mind. How could I understand the mindset of a top student?"
"Top student, my foot."
As I slowly rose from my seat, ignoring his silly remark, my gaze unconsciously drifted to a seat in the front.
I hadn't noticed her while focusing on the lecture, but a female student caught my eye belatedly.
Beneath her light blue hair, her complexion was gloomy. She looked so utterly consumed by worry and anxiety that it felt utterly out of place.
'Why is she making that kind of face?'
The lecture wasn't difficult, and it was only the beginning of the Academy term, yet she looked as if the world were ending.
"David."
"Huh?"
"Let's go train today then."
"You want to go straight to the training ground?"
"We can stop by a cafe first, I don't care."
Casually tearing my gaze away from the female student, I planned to help David with his training today.
Seeing him get beaten up by Gerard the other day, I didn't really want to see my friend get thrashed.
"Then let's stop by a cafe first."
"Alright."
As I walked alongside David, my gaze unconsciously drifted back.
To the female student, walking with a small stature that might have been around 160cm. But then I shook my head.
'Well, she's probably not a student I need to worry about...'
Then, I saw the female student's name tag, and I unconsciously stopped.
*Thump.*
"Huh? Han Cheon-seong, what's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing."
I replied awkwardly to David, my gaze momentarily wavering.
—Karitte Esildern.
That name was definitely in my memory.
It was the name of the student who would become the very first victim of the first major incident that would soon erupt.
*Thump.*
As I followed David, I felt strange.
The future of Groa had already been twisted. To prevent this world's future from being twisted any further, I had to conform as much as possible.
'But...'
If someone was about to die right before my eyes,
...would it be right for me to stand by and do nothing? If I truly wished for this world's future not to change any more, could I really... do that?
*Thump.*
"David."
In that moment of deep thought, I found myself speaking without even realizing it.