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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 57
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When you're with me, only think of me. I really don't like it when you think of others while you're with me.
***
Esia felt Kali was a bit off today.
'She seems a bit emotional today.'
Ever since she brought up the student Han Cheon-seong, Kali's attitude had become notably peculiar, one might say.
It was uncharacteristic of Kali to be so emotional, to the point where it was strangely fascinating.
However, Kali's change felt rather positive. An emotional Kali felt much more human than the cold, detached figure who slayed monsters on the battlefield.
As time passed and they were about to head to their next destination, Kali suddenly started walking in a direction opposite to the exit.
"Hey, Kali?"
"…Just a moment."
Even at her words, Kali kept her gaze fixed on one spot as she walked, making Esia wonder where she was looking.
Where her gaze landed, two students were seated by the window.
A male and female pair, at that.
Even though they wore different student uniforms, they exuded the distinct aura of a well-matched, handsome couple.
'They say if two people truly like each other, class differences don't matter…'
Such cases were rare, but they did exist.
Instances where students from different classes developed into lovers. But even then, it was usually a difference of one class; Esia had hardly ever seen a two-class difference.
"Don't do that with anyone else."
Suddenly, the male student spoke with a firm tone, drawing Esia's gaze involuntarily.
"It's fine if you do that to me. But I'd rather you didn't do it to anyone else."
The repeated, resolute tone surprised her a little.
'He's got guts.'
A C-class student was speaking to an A-class student as if taking the lead.
Normally, that would be difficult. But the male student spoke without hesitation, as if it were the most natural thing.
"…Why?"
When the female student replied, a little surprised, Esia found herself involuntarily anticipating the male student's next words.
"Because I can accept you, but others can't."
At the male student's words, which sounded as if he was telling her to rely only on him, Esia found her lips curving into a smile.
'Yes, a man needs that kind of guts.'
The male student's willingness to express his feelings honestly, undeterred by the significant class difference, struck Esia as quite appealing.
She thought that to win over a woman superior to oneself, one certainly needed that much spirit. These days, students often got too caught up in class distinctions and were easily intimidated, so this felt even more refreshing.
His striking appearance aside, the male student's unreserved way of speaking made it clear why he was with the female student despite the two-class difference.
Click.
But when Kali now openly headed towards the two students, Esia's heart quickly filled with dread.
Since the topic they'd just discussed was relationships, Kali couldn't possibly be looking favorably upon those two students.
Still, she thought, 'Surely not.'
'Even so, it's the weekend.'
The weekend was a day for everyone to rest. Surely Kali wouldn't interfere with the two students? With a nervous feeling, Esia followed Kali and soon arrived.
"Student Han Cheon-seong?"
When a completely unexpected name came out of Kali's mouth, Esia blinked involuntarily.
'What? He… was *that* student from the rumors?'
The only student to achieve a draw against Leonhardt in a duel, making him widely famous.
—Han Cheon-seong.
Esia hadn't paid much attention to him, preoccupied with her own class, but she never imagined she'd personally see the student Kali was said to favor.
But that was only for a moment.
"…"
The student's startled reaction to Kali's cold summons made Esia feel oddly sorry for him.
Just moments ago, he had so boldly told the female student to rely on him, yet now, facing Kali, he seemed to have frozen as if encountering a natural predator.
'Indeed… there *are* rumors that Kali is truly terrifying.'
There were bizarre rumors that she had half-killed a student on the first day of class, and that her presence throughout lectures was so oppressive one had to consciously breathe, as if walking on thin ice.
Just looking at Student Han Cheon-seong's current reaction… Esia could tell that the rumors weren't entirely false.
"Yes, Instructor Kali?"
As the student awkwardly turned his head to reply, Esia suddenly wondered if she should intervene.
'Don't say anything too harsh.'
When Kali got angry, even Esia found her frightening.
Though they were close, Kali was endlessly cold when it came to her detached side.
"…"
Unexpectedly, however, Kali didn't speak immediately, simply meeting Student Han Cheon-seong's gaze.
Instead, her lips hesitated, as if she were searching for words, and Esia found herself involuntarily swallowing.
In that moment, even the surroundings grew rapidly quiet.
Kali slowly opened her mouth.
"It's nothing serious, so don't be so nervous. I just happened to 'accidentally' run into you at the cafe and was glad to approach. I called you over to offer a small bit of help."
"Help…?"
At those completely unexpected words, Esia was dumbfounded, and Student Han Cheon-seong's expression clearly showed he felt the same way.
"Yes. I just wanted to tell you to relax today, so I approached to pay for your cafe bill."
"Oh… then thank you very much."
As Kali spoke with such a calm yet benevolent tone, Esia found herself looking at Kali anew.
'She really does care for Student Han Cheon-seong.'
Esia had been certain Kali would say something negative, but surprisingly, Kali was speaking favorably even after seeing the student on what looked like a date.
And to think, she was even offering to pay the cafe bill, extending such goodwill, despite the student she claimed to care for spending time with a female student.
"Then, Student Han Cheon-seong, I'll see you in class tomorrow."
"…I'll see you in class tomorrow."
"I heard Student Glescia is also excelling in A-class. I'll cover the bill today, so relax."
"I appreciate your generosity."
Just as Esia thought the conversation was over, Kali's gaze met Student Glescia's, and her expression felt incredibly strange.
She had finished speaking as if to leave immediately.
Yet, Kali oddly didn't take her eyes off the female student.
"…"
As Esia wondered why she was acting that way.
Of the gazes that met, it was ultimately the female student, Glescia, who lowered her head first.
"As expected of an A-class student. It's good to see such confidence."
Kali uttered a single remark and then turned away, making Esia flinch involuntarily.
'What on earth just happened?'
Considering only Kali's words, it sounded like a compliment, but her tone was so cold that it didn't feel like a compliment at all.
It felt more like she disliked the female student named Glescia.
"Kali?"
"Hm? Esia."
"Are you… all right now?"
And in that moment, Esia couldn't even explain why she had said that.
"What do you mean, 'all right'?"
When Kali looked at her as if she were strange, Esia realized her slip of the tongue and awkwardly shook her head.
"No… it's just. I thought you were really angry after seeing the student you favor on a date. I'm relieved that's not the case."
As she spoke, Esia felt a great sense of relief.
Because, contrary to what Kali had told her before, it felt like she was showing generosity towards the student.
However, in response to Esia's words, Kali remained silent until she had finished paying.
"…I was going to pay today."
"It's fine."
Her cold, curt reply made Esia wonder if she had said something wrong.
Click.
Kali remained frosty until they left the cafe, making Esia seriously reconsider what she had just said.
And she couldn't find anything at all.
'Where on earth did my words make Kali angry?'
…Esia thought she had spoken positively.
"Esia."
"…Huh? Kali."
"I'm telling you this because I think you're mistaken, but Student Han Cheon-seong is not in a relationship right now."
"Huh? With that kind of relationship… aren't they in a relationship? When we approached, they seemed to be talking very amicably."
To Esia, it was undeniable.
Both Student Han Cheon-seong and the A-class student named Glescia clearly had feelings for each other.
Esia could sense it in every word they exchanged.
"They are not in a relationship."
But as Kali repeatedly gave a cold reply, Esia blankly nodded her head.
Kali, in her low-pressure state, made her words law.
"…"
"…"
And so… all the way back to the instructor dorms, Esia couldn't bring herself to ask Kali anything further.
'Could she really dislike it that much, her favored student being in a relationship?'
Only that thought idly crossed her mind.
***
"…"
What remains in the wake of a storm?
The answer was: 'Nothing remains.'
If anything remained, it was only broken debris and the cruel marks left by the storm.
Cheon-seong suddenly had that peculiar thought. In the few minutes it took for Kali and the unnamed female instructor to approach them and then disappear.
Ever since, his mind had felt adrift.
Even now, walking out of the cafe, he couldn't forget Kali's gaze that had been fixed on him.
Her cold, piercing gaze felt as if it was binding his body.
Then, when she suddenly looked away, he felt as if he had experienced violence that left no trace.
And even her well-intentioned words about paying for them, his thoughts couldn't keep up with reality.
'Why…?'
Why hadn't Kali gotten angry at him?
Clearly, last Friday, she had treated him as if disappointed by his involvement with Luna, but once that misunderstanding was cleared, she looked upon him favorably.
And today at the cafe, it was a situation that was even harder *not* to misunderstand.
Yet Kali had treated him so favorably…
"Cheon-seong. Han Cheon-seong?"
The repeated calls for his name jolted him back to reality.
"Sorry, Glescia."
"…You don't need to apologize. But why are you so spaced out?"
"It's just… I have a lot to think about."
Even as he answered honestly, he just wanted to rest for a moment.
Then, seeing a bench conveniently located on the side of the street, his mind was made up.
"Glescia, let's rest for a bit."
He grabbed Glescia's arm abruptly and headed for the bench. Glescia stared at him blankly, and he wondered if his own expression was similar to hers right now.
It felt like a reality beyond comprehension was swirling in his mind.
Rustle.
As he sat down on the bench, Glescia belatedly pulled her arm free from his grasp.
"Grabbing my arm so suddenly… you startled me."
"Oh, sorry."
"No need to apologize. So, what's wrong…? Han Cheon-seong. You're not acting like yourself."
At Glescia's unusually sensible words, a laugh involuntarily escaped him.
"You're right. I'm really not acting like myself."
He had no idea how he was supposed to face Kali in class tomorrow.
He unconsciously sighed and ran a hand over his face, his mind blankly fixated on one thought.
'Could it be…?'
The calm before the storm.
Perhaps Kali had expressed that to him just now because of the public's gaze and the weekend setting, which made her speak kindly to him.
It seemed logical to view it that way.
After all, Kali had greatly regretted getting angry at him in the classroom last time.
…So, she might call him aside tomorrow to say many things.
Tap.
The moment something touched his cheek, his head slowly turned.
"Han Cheon-seong."
At Glescia's firm voice, his thoughts broke off, and he simultaneously realized that her hand was cupping his face.
"When you're with me, only think of me. I really don't like it when you think of others while you're with me."
As she spoke, staring intently into his eyes, his mind became even more than before…
…filled with confusion.