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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 83
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"Han Cheonsung!?"
Even as I took in the woman approaching me, my mind was hazy.
'Mi...lia?'
The woman's name belatedly surfaced in my mind, but my entire body felt utterly devoid of strength.
It seemed I was once again realizing the truth that people never truly get used to pain.
"What in the world happened? What is this state you're in…?"
As I looked at Millia, who had approached and was speaking to me, my resolve slowly began to waver.
'Now…'
Wouldn't it be alright to let go?
To not forget the concept of twisting a single point—that sensation I had briefly touched upon—I continually gripped and regripped my will.
I forcibly held onto my body, which yearned to lose consciousness from the excruciating pain, and tried desperately to recapture that momentary sensation.
And.
I believed I had, even if only slightly, truly grasped that sensation.
Just by enduring such excruciating pain… I had endured long enough.
My resolve was weakening significantly… I could no longer control it.
Thump!
"Han Cheonsung!? Right now…"
Even as Millia filled my vision, a foolish laugh escaped me.
'Thank goodness.'
I wasn't collapsing alone like this. It seemed I wouldn't have to lie on the cold floor and greet the next day.
Amidst thoughts that even I found utterly irresponsible.
"..."
I couldn't possibly stop my eyes from slowly closing.
***
The next day dawned.
The warm morning sunlight slowly illuminated the land, gently embracing buildings, vegetation, and even countless people.
And that warm light soon shone upon the window of an infirmary.
"…"
In the academy infirmary, an emerald-haired woman stood by her post, and a student lay unconscious on a sickbed. It was Adelia and Cheonsung.
Click.
And the infirmary door opened, admitting a woman with short black hair.
"Instructor Adelia. I've brought the healing supplement."
At Millia's words, Adelia offered a faint smile.
"Thank you. You can put it nearby… And I'd like to tell you to go back, but Student Millia won't be leaving, will you?"
Adelia asked calmly, and Millia replied cautiously but firmly.
"…Instructor. I'm truly fine."
"Student Millia might be fine, but *I* am not fine with this situation."
Adelia sighed softly but accepted Millia's presence, and Millia carefully took a seat beside Adelia.
Their gazes naturally turned to Cheonsung, who lay on the sickbed, breathing faintly.
Cheonsung looked utterly disheveled, but compared to his state before losing consciousness, he was definitely more composed.
"Student Han Cheonsung will wake up before long. There was nothing seriously wrong with his body, so we can attribute it to overwork or pushing himself too hard."
"Instructor Adelia. Forgive me for asking, but is there truly nothing wrong with Han Cheonsung…?"
"Yes. Truly nothing wrong."
Adelia replied with certainty, yet her gaze softened as she looked at Millia.
Then, suddenly, she recalled the events of the previous night.
…
After Cheonsung collapsed, Millia urgently carried him on her back and headed to the infirmary.
Fortunately, Adelia's assistant, Efre, was still in the infirmary, and upon Efre's call, Adelia hurriedly returned to treat Cheonsung.
Throughout the night, Adelia repeatedly told Millia that she could go back, but Millia had stayed by Cheonsung's side all night—that was the full account of the previous night.
"…"
Seeing Millia's firm resolve, Adelia let out a soft sigh.
At first, she considered forcing Millia to go back, but in the end, she relented.
'She's… so desperate.'
Looking at Student Millia, still gazing at Student Han Cheonsung, Adelia simply couldn't bring herself to force her away.
"Student Millia. I'll go make some tea for a moment."
"Ah, yes. Understood."
Seeing Student Millia bow her head immediately, Adelia slowly left her spot.
Somehow, she felt she shouldn't be between them in this strange atmosphere.
Click-clack.
As she walked, a faint smile appeared on her face.
'Does Student Millia like Student Han Cheonsung?'
She couldn't be certain of the student's feelings, but she suspected it might be something like that.
To give up one's duties and even sleep to stay by someone else's side… that required a much greater depth of feeling than one might think.
Clink.
Even as she prepared her own tea along with a cup for Student Millia, a question arose in her mind again.
'What on earth caused Student Han Cheonsung to collapse?'
When she first heard that Student Han Cheonsung had been brought to the infirmary unconscious, she was truly shocked. And upon seeing his utterly haggard appearance firsthand, she felt a great sense of alarm.
Trickle.
Even as she poured water, heated to the right temperature with mana, it was still difficult for her to fully understand.
As she proceeded with the healing, no significant abnormalities were detected in Student Han Cheonsung. Only that his body was extremely tense, with muscles knotted in various places, and a considerable amount of residual fatigue.
Of course, even that wasn't something to take lightly, but compared to what she had initially feared—serious injuries—it was closer to a minor ailment.
Rustle. Clink.
As she placed the teacups on a tray and slowly made her way back, she could still see Student Millia's back, her gaze fixed on Student Han Cheonsung.
And that her gaze had been on Student Han Cheonsung all through the previous night.
A small laugh escaped her at the sight of the student.
Being in a battlefield where every day was urgent, and then being here at the academy, sometimes made her numb to emotions.
Because the reality of a battlefield, permeated with a sense of crisis, was so different from the reality of the academy.
Facing death every day or looking at those suffering great pain, then seeing bright and lively students, even if injured, felt completely different.
Her heart… could accept it a little more lightly and warmly.
Her utterly exhausted heart felt as though it was being healed just by looking at students like them.
Clink.
"Student Millia?"
"…Yes."
"Have some black tea. And it's not good for your body to be so tense all the time."
As she carefully placed the teacup on the table,
"Ah, thank you."
Student Millia, who politely bowed her head as she took the teacup, pleased Adelia.
"Oh, and just to confirm again. You said you found Student Han Cheonsung in the park last night, correct?"
"That's right. I heard a sudden groan in the park, and when I checked, Han Cheonsung was collapsed there."
As Student Millia answered, lifting her teacup, a faint cloud passed over her eyes. It was as if she herself couldn't understand it.
Adelia felt a similar sense of bewilderment regarding Student Millia's question.
At first, she had wondered if someone with ill intent had done something to Student Han Cheonsung, but as she proceeded with the healing, she realized that wasn't the case.
Nevertheless, she double-checked just in case, as it could vary depending on the student's unique characteristics.
"Once Student Han Cheonsung regains consciousness, I'll ask him about the circumstances of his collapse. But for now, I see no trace of anyone having done anything. His condition isn't that serious, and he'll return to normal quickly once he regains his energy."
Still, she conveyed these words to alleviate Student Millia's worries, even if just a little.
"I… see. I suppose I spoke too rashly out of concern. Instructor, I apologize."
"I understand why you would. Still, you can relax a bit now. Oh, Student Millia. You're attending Instructor Kali's lecture, aren't you?"
"Yes, that's right."
Adelia deliberated as she looked at Student Millia's reply.
Of course, she would inform Instructor Kali that Student Han Cheonsung, who was currently unconscious, would be absent from the morning lecture.
However.
'What about Student Millia?'
Seeing her worry for Student Han Cheonsung made Adelia instinctively want to help her.
Staying by someone's side all night was truly difficult unless one had experienced it themselves.
However, it had only been a few days since she had spoken with Instructor Kali regarding Student Han Cheonsung.
Wouldn't it be too much interference on her part to ask Instructor Kali again to excuse another student from her lecture?
"Instructor Adelia. I will return before the lecture begins."
"…Are you really sure?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
Seeing Student Millia answer as if she had anticipated Adelia's words, Adelia felt a pang of regret.
'Should I just let her rest instead?'
Although she was caring for Student Millia's body with healing energy, Adelia wondered if she was truly alright mentally.
Sleep, no matter how much one tried to endure physically, still had its limits.
Even if it meant losing a little face with Instructor Kali today, it would be well worth the…
"Ugh…"
Her thoughts were abruptly cut short by a sudden groan.
"Han Cheonsung?"
Along with a startled Student Millia, she immediately checked on Student Han Cheonsung.
His eyes slowly opened amidst his disheveled hair, and she used her energy to reconfirm his condition.
"Student Han Cheonsung, are you alright?"
***
Even as I regained consciousness, my head felt like it was splitting open. Nevertheless, I looked at the two people who had come into view.
"Student Han Cheonsung. You need to rest first. I'll speak to Instructor Kali about your morning lecture, so you can rest comfortably for the entire morning."
First, I met Adelia's gentle gaze and nodded blankly.
"Yes… thank you."
All I remembered was feeling relieved after seeing Millia last night. Seeing Adelia here now, it seemed she had transported me to the infirmary.
"Thank you… Millia. And I'm truly sorry."
I first offered an apology to Millia, who was still in front of me.
After all, I had irresponsibly left my aftermath to her. How flustered Millia must have been then.
"You don't have to be that sorry. I was just very surprised, that's all. So, are you really alright?"
"…Yeah. I think I'm fine now."
Embarrassment welled up as I replied.
Driven by a strong obsession to become stronger, I had used an incomplete concept and ultimately lost consciousness.
Adelia had fortunately told me there was nothing seriously wrong with my body, but looking back at that moment, what I had done was so reckless that it wouldn't have been strange for anything to have happened to me.
"It's a relief if you're alright. Still, Han Cheonsung. I hope you won't overexert yourself too much in the future."
"Uh. I really… have no excuse."
As I replied, I truly couldn't think of anything to say.
Moreover, I had displayed such an embarrassing spectacle in front of the woman I considered my ideal type, and even now, I was showing my completely disheveled appearance without any attempt to hide it.
I genuinely felt like hiding anywhere, if only I could.
"Somehow, you two… look really good together."
"…Huh?"
"No, it's just. Seeing you two students like this. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy for no reason."
At Adelia's sudden words, my face grew even hotter.
Adelia, who kept alternating her strange gaze between Millia and me, seemed like a mischievous child wanting to play a prank.
"Instructor Adelia. You're being mischievous."
"…Millia's right."
Then, at Millia's calm voice, the heat on my face subsided, and I echoed her words.
Internally, I felt a great sense of disappointment at Millia's flat denial.
'Well, it's not like Millia would like me.'
Although I'd once had other thoughts when Millia responded kindly to me the first time I spoke to her, looking back now, I had overlooked that it was simply Millia's nature.
Millia was kind and gentle to everyone, treating them as one person to another.
She was a woman portrayed in the story as being almost on par with Leonhardt in terms of goodness.
So, the feelings I had experienced back then were nothing more than a simple misunderstanding on my part.
"Hmm~ Anyway, I'll go inform Instructor Kali. So, both of you rest for a bit. Just in case, I'll tell Efre to watch the infirmary in my place."
"Yes."
"Understood."
…As I answered blankly, my gaze slowly shifted from Adelia's receding back to Millia.
Come to think of it… it was strange.
'Why is Millia still in the infirmary?' The bright sunlight was announcing morning, yet.