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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 45
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"Student Han Cheon-seong. The Grand Royal Academy's regulations clearly don't restrict romance between students, so it's not a violation of the rules. And I believe it's perfectly natural for students in the prime of their youth, attending lectures together and seeing each other, to develop feelings. They might feel attracted to outstanding, charming, or beautiful students, express that attraction, and eventually develop into a romantic relationship. That's a very natural emotion, and no one should blame them for it."
Watching Kali speak so calmly, I was momentarily speechless.
Kali had suddenly started talking about romance between students.
"However, hasn't it been less than a week since you all enrolled in the Academy? I believe this is the time when everyone should be pouring their energy into growing and striving to advance..."
As Kali, interrupting herself, tapped the teaching material she'd brought, the oddly resonant sound made me flinch involuntarily.
But I truly felt wronged.
It wasn't like I was actually dating another student; I was just facing the absurd situation of a 'zero-confession, one-rejection' born from a misunderstanding...
Strictly speaking, I was nothing but a pure victim.
When I looked at Luna, who could be called the mastermind, she happened to be looking back at me.
"..."
"..."
The moment our eyes met, her distinctive violet pupils wavered noticeably, and I found myself blinking involuntarily.
I had thought Luna's sudden remark was either pure malice or genuinely born from a misunderstanding. But now, Luna's reaction was too strange.
She belatedly averted her gaze, looking as if she felt a flicker of apology towards me, even if just for a moment.
'Was I mistaken?'
There's no way Luna would do that.
Just as I was lost in thought,
*Thwack!*
I flinched at the sudden sound.
I turned my gaze to see Kali, who had slammed down the teaching material, staring at me with an even fiercer look than before.
"Student Han Cheon-seong."
"Ah, yes... Instructor Kali."
"I... I don't want to blame you for such feelings, Student Han Cheon-seong, because they are perfectly natural. And truly... I'm not trying to humiliate or shame you. However, it's still the early days of the Academy. I'd like you to exercise a little more self-restraint. That's what I wanted to say."
Faced with Kali's cold words... I could only nod.
"...Yes. I understand. I'll be more careful."
This was a no-win situation for me.
There was no response I could possibly give right now.
Rumors concerning Luna and me had already spread far and wide, reaching even Kali's ears.
And if I were to say now that Luna had misunderstood, I knew full well it would only make me look even more ridiculous.
I immediately understood why Kali was looking at me so coldly now. From the original story, she had never looked favorably upon romance between students.
In fact, she was one of the instructors who detested student romance.
She believed that students who fell in love neglected their training. For her, who valued effort above all else, students engrossed in romance were practically objects of disgust.
That's why, halfway through the novel, she even snapped at Leonhardt, 'Did you come to the Academy to find romance!?'
"...Alright, that's enough from me. Let's begin the lecture. Students, please open your textbooks."
At Kali's firm words, I pulled out my textbook in a daze, my spirits sinking considerably.
My focus on Luna had led to an untimely misunderstanding, and as a result...
Kali's perception of me had also worsened significantly.
This... this was a big problem for me.
'What am I going to do?'
Kali's personal training room. Would I be able to use that special space in the future?
It was an essential space for my progress. It wasn't just a consideration; I 'absolutely' had to improve my relationship with Kali to be able to use it.
To me, Kali was now more important than anyone else.
"Hang in there."
...*Pat.*
As David carefully patted my shoulder and spoke, I barely managed to swallow the sigh that was about to escape.
***
"...Alright, let's take a short break. We'll resume the lecture in ten minutes."
When Kali announced a brief intermission, the students finally exhaled sighs of relief and cautiously rose from their seats.
Kali's lecture, which continued from morning into the afternoon amidst a chilly atmosphere, was enough to freeze the classroom. No one dared to displease her.
Everyone tried to focus on the lecture as if their lives depended on it, even taking care to breathe and stretch lightly only when they could gauge Kali's mood.
...Still, the break time was an exception, and as most students vacated their seats, Kali's heart wasn't entirely at ease seeing them go.
In fact, her discomfort was greater than that of most students.
"..."
As she gently settled into the instructor's seat, she blankly ran a hand over her face.
—This isn't like me.
...And she felt that way again.
From the moment she entered the classroom today, and throughout the lecture, she had repeatedly felt that this wasn't like her.
Even she wondered why she was acting so foolishly, treating the students coldly and making them uncomfortable throughout the lecture... The more she thought about it, the more foolish she felt.
'Why am I like this?'
...What could have upset her so much? Why was she so down today?
Her behavior, as if taking out her bad mood on the students... made her feel as though even she would start to dislike herself.
*Rustle.*
As she roughly swept back her hair, her gaze drifted blankly around the classroom.
There were a few commendable students reviewing their textbooks as if studying the lecture content, but most had left the classroom, as if they didn't want to be in the same space as her during the break.
She keenly felt that.
And...
Suddenly, her gaze fell upon Student Han Cheon-seong.
"..."
He sat quietly in his seat, his eyes fixed on his textbook, as if reviewing the previous lecture.
Student Han Cheon-seong was clearly working hard.
Although she had often looked his way throughout today's lecture, Student Han Cheon-seong had never shown any sign of listening carelessly or not paying attention.
'...I feel sorry.'
That's why, even now, looking at him, she felt even more regret.
In a classroom full of students, she had singled out Student Han Cheon-seong and, though not explicitly humiliating him, had certainly made him feel shamed.
She had said she wasn't trying to humiliate him, but how insulted and ashamed must Student Han Cheon-seong have felt at her words in that moment?
He was only twenty years old.
Although technically an adult, he was still at an age where emotions weren't fully controlled and everything was still immature.
Reflecting on herself just a few years ago, she knew how foolish her thoughts and values had been before she stood on the battlefield.
Yet, she had done something to a student that she should never have done.
As an instructor, how cruel her actions had been, how she had disregarded a student's dignity by abusing her authority...
She bit her lip tightly, still unable to understand herself even now.
'...Why did I act that way?'
She had said that romance between students was natural and not something to blame, yet she had clearly hounded Student Han Cheon-seong as if reprimanding him.
She had uttered only foolish words, as if forcing an answer from the student.
"..."
Unconsciously, she let out a shallow breath and blankly ran a hand through her hair.
And then, she dimly understood.
'Perhaps...'
Had her expectations for Student Han Cheon-seong been too high?
A few days ago, she had spent several hours with Student Han Cheon-seong, having lunch together and even an unexpected sparring session in her personal training room.
The feelings she had experienced then, while watching Student Han Cheon-seong, had truly been special.
'A massive shining rough gem... She felt he was a talent who could become a pillar of the Empire.'
Within the Empire, exceptional individuals, numbering fewer than twenty, were referred to as 'Pillars of the Empire.'
She had believed she had already seen a student who would become such a pillar.
—Han Cheon-seong.
Even though his attribute rank was Common, how much he would develop in the future and how great a strength he would become for this Empire.
And how many people he would save in this world, full of dangers, as the front lines gradually receded...
She had simply held absurd expectations for the student.
Was that why she was foolishly getting angry and arbitrarily disappointed about him having romantic feelings?
"..."
She let out a soft breath and composed herself.
'I need to act normally.'
She needed to relax and treat the students a little more gently, and after this lecture, she had to properly apologize to Student Han Cheon-seong in private.
She knew how foolishly she had acted, so she absolutely had to.
***
The day's lectures, which felt much longer than usual, finally concluded.
*Rustle.*
As if eager to leave the classroom as soon as possible, many students hastily rose, and David was no exception.
"Han Cheon-seong?"
"...Huh?"
"Do you have any plans today? If not, I was hoping we could train together."
At his cautious offer, I felt incredibly grateful to David in that moment.
But more than that, I still had something I needed to do.
"Thank you so much for saying that. But... I have something I need to say to Instructor Kali."
"...Do you really have to do it today?"
Seeing David question me, surprised, I awkwardly nodded.
I had to say it today, right away.
Now, with Kali clearly holding ill feelings towards me, there was a chance that a bad impression would solidify if I tried to resolve it over time.
That would be the worst for me.
"Yeah, I think I need to talk to her properly today."
"Well... I wouldn't recommend it. But if you say so, then it must be. Anyway, good luck."
*Pat.*
As David patted my shoulder again and left, I also composed myself.
Honestly, I still didn't have a good feeling about this.
How I should resolve it...
Although Kali's coldness seemed to have eased slightly towards the end of the lecture, her gaze was still icy.
It was the same even now.
Kali, who remained in her seat after the lecture, seemed to be deep in thought.
Kali exuded a certain intimidating aura, enough for me to fully understand why the other students were so eager to leave immediately upon seeing her.
'Still, I have to face it.'
This, too, was reality.
The reality I had to face. A reality I couldn't, and shouldn't, avoid.
*Rustle.*
I rose from my seat and slowly approached Kali.
*Step.*
*Step.*
Even as I approached her, my hands trembled slightly.
Could I properly persuade Kali?
Could I have a proper conversation with her, given that she held ill feelings towards me?
I was incredibly nervous.
And then, reaching Kali's front, I carefully opened my mouth.
"Instructor Kali."
"Student Han Cheon-seong."
Our voices overlapped by chance, and I was momentarily surprised.
Immediately after, as our eyes met...
The feeling was very strange.
'Why is her gaze...'
Kali's gaze was completely beyond my expectations.
So much so that...
I momentarily forgot what I was supposed to say.