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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 62
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62. Adelia Evangeline
***
—The Academy Infirmary.
Before I knew it, the practical training session had ended, and it was lunchtime.
While many students were taking a break for lunch, three people were currently in the infirmary.
Adelia Evangeline, the female instructor in charge of the infirmary as a healer.
David, still lying unconscious in the sickbed.
And Han Cheon-seong, silently watching David.
"Excuse me… Student Han Cheon-seong?"
"Yes, Instructor Adelia."
"As I keep telling you, Student David's condition is truly fine. Despite appearances, there are no major injuries, only some bruises. He'll wake up soon."
As Adelia spoke cautiously, Cheon-seong slowly nodded and replied.
It was a conversation that had already occurred several times between us.
While I was truly grateful for her consideration, I was also genuinely fine right now.
"I appreciate your words. But I'd like to wait until he wakes up before I leave."
"…Haa. Are you really okay not eating? There isn't much time left for lunch, is there?"
"Lunch is fine. With my friend in this condition, I don't feel like eating alone."
It wasn't just talk; I genuinely had no appetite.
I simply had no desire to eat anything.
Now that the sparring had ended and it was lunchtime, I had visited the infirmary to check on David… and seeing him lying so peacefully unconscious, various thoughts instantly flooded my mind.
And the strongest emotion among them was 'regret.'
Regret that I hadn't punished Gerard more mercilessly.
A deep regret that even if my image to the other students and Kali might turn negative, or even make me seem like trash like Gerard, I should have properly punished that scumbag.
Seeing him still unconscious, I couldn't help but wonder if I had been too rational.
"..."
As I was idly passing the time, staring at him.
*Swoosh.*
Suddenly, Instructor Adelia rose.
"Student Han Cheon-seong's assigned instructor is Instructor Kali, correct?"
"Yes. It is Instructor Kali, but…"
"Then I'll inform her beforehand. If you're so worried about your friend, it's fine if you're a little late. And let's have lunch together here. I'll tell my assistant to bring meals for both of us, my portion and yours."
Stunned by Instructor Adelia's unexpected words, I hastily shook my head.
"Ah, no. Instructor Adelia. I'm truly fine."
"What do you mean, 'fine'? You have such a worried look on your face. I'll relay the message about the lecture, so please don't refuse so much, Student. Alright?"
…At her gentle smile and words, I was momentarily speechless.
I had come to check on David's condition. I had no intention of skipping class because of it.
But to receive such unexpected kindness from an instructor…
*Click.*
As I hesitated to answer, she smiled softly and then left the infirmary, making it impossible for me to refuse completely.
"Haa…"
Letting out a small sigh, I decided to just accept what had happened.
I couldn't ignore the instructor's consideration, and I thought I should leave the infirmary once class started, after I had eaten lunch.
Even so, my gaze drifted back.
Looking at David, still unconscious as if in a deep sleep, I finally felt some of the tension ease.
Then, the words I'd been holding inside slipped out.
"…Seriously. Why did you have to step forward first and end up like this?"
It would have been enough to just watch me handle Gerard.
Suddenly, I remembered David stopping me when I was about to stand up to Gerard's taunts last week.
It was definitely David who told me to be patient, saying there would be an opportunity during practical training.
Yet, he couldn't hold back himself and ended up in this state by fighting before me.
Just this morning, he had said he was nervous. I had no idea what confidence he had to step forward first.
"Is he the type to suppress his emotions… internally?"
Over the past few days, Gerard's provocations had infuriated me, but perhaps those emotions also applied to David.
Even David couldn't have found it pleasant to hear.
Despite that, he had seemed relatively calm, so I thought he was just letting it go in one ear and out the other, but judging by his actions today, that wasn't the case at all.
In fact, it's more likely that David suppressed his emotions even more than I did, isn't it?
"…"
Though I still felt I should have beaten Gerard more severely, for now, I was just relieved that David was okay.
'…Because I can create another opportunity next time.'
Then, I wanted to help David, perhaps with training, so he could punish Gerard himself.
*Trembling…*
Then I looked at my hands.
Now that Adelia had left and my tension had eased, my hands were trembling beyond my control.
—[Pierce and Twist a Single Point]
The after-effects of unleashing that, which hadn't yet become a full-fledged skill, were more significant than I'd anticipated. To the point where I could feel the strain on my body.
Though I hadn't shown any outward signs while Instructor Adelia was present…
"I shouldn't overuse it."
Being something incomplete, not a fully awakened skill, there was no telling what risks might be involved in using it.
Perhaps an even greater strain might be placed on my body…
How long did I wait like that?
*Click.*
Turning my head at the sound of the door opening, I saw Instructor Adelia again.
And a woman of similar age who entered with her.
Strangely, both women had emerald-colored hair, but while Adelia gave off a warm impression with her gentle demeanor, the woman who entered with her, presumably an assistant, felt rather cold.
I immediately stood up and took the tray the assistant was holding.
"Thank you."
"No problem."
Shaking my head at the assistant's words, I immediately placed the tray on a nearby table.
It contained meals for three people, and for a moment, it was strange to think I was receiving such treatment.
"Student Han Cheon-seong. I've already informed Instructor Kali, so don't worry and relax."
"…Thank you, Instructor Adelia."
"What's there to thank? I just found you so admirable that I extended a gesture of goodwill, seeing you watch over him."
At Adelia's warm smile, my heart seemed to be tinged with warmth as well.
"Oh, and Erpe. You can go back now and organize what needs to be done today."
"Yes, Instructor."
Watching the woman called Erpe disappear, I returned to my seat and looked at David again.
*Click.*
At the sound of the infirmary door closing, I still felt a sense of longing as I looked at him, still unconscious.
'It would be really nice if he woke up now and we could eat lunch together.'
But I couldn't wake David. I thought it was best to let him recover consciousness naturally.
"Student Han Cheon-seong. Do you want to wake Student David now?"
"…Ah, no."
As she asked, as if she had read my mind, I was flustered and shook my head.
Was my reaction amusing? I felt embarrassed by her light smile.
"Even with the power of healing attributes, it doesn't completely restore everything. It merely drastically boosts natural healing, quickly mending visible injuries. And it's the same for consciousness. It's best to let him recover naturally. So you mustn't try to wake Student David, okay?"
"Yes, I understand."
As I answered, I unconsciously found it difficult to meet her gaze.
She was suddenly speaking so gently, as if gently admonishing a child, and I couldn't get used to it.
"For now, Student Han Cheon-seong, let's have lunch first. I'll take care of Student David separately once he regains consciousness."
"…Yes."
At her words, I moved to the table where I had placed the food earlier and sat down.
And naturally, Instructor Adelia sat across from me, and seeing her, I felt a peculiar sensation.
'Is this the second time?'
Coincidentally, it was another meal where I faced an instructor.
"Is this your first time eating with an instructor, Student Han Cheon-seong?"
As she asked, picking up her spoon, I belatedly picked up mine and shook my head.
"It's not my first time eating with an instructor. I happened to have a meal with Instructor Kali once before."
"Really? Well, that's quite surprising. Considering Instructor Kali's reputation, I heard she treats students quite strictly… It must have been quite uncomfortable for you, Student Han Cheon-seong, to have a meal with her. But Student Han Cheon-seong, you don't have to be so nervous now. I won't treat students harshly like Kali does… so you can eat comfortably."
As she said that, she smiled gently again, and my gaze unconsciously drifted to her.
It made me wonder if this wasn't a world from a novel, where everyone seemed to be a beauty, and my gaze involuntarily lingered.
*Swoosh…*
Adelia's posture, as she naturally leaned her upper body towards the table to eat, was truly graceful.
But when a certain part of her body became excessively emphasized…
*Gulp.*
I swallowed hard and immediately lowered my gaze.
I felt I shouldn't look at her any longer.
I had been thinking about David until now, so I hadn't been conscious of Instructor Adelia, but as we directly faced each other and ate, whether I liked it or not, I couldn't help but be aware of her.
Even how stunning her figure truly was…
…
*Clink.*
The meal proceeded with the gentle clatter of cutlery as we ate.
*Slicing…*
As I meticulously cut the steak into small pieces with my knife, I realized the food was far from ordinary.
'This is instructor's dining hall food.'
The quality of the food before me was something you'd find only in the instructors' dining hall, a place exclusively for instructors, not the student cafeteria where students paid for their meals.
I had felt it when I went with Kali last time, but while the student cafeteria wasn't bad, there was a drastic difference in quality compared to the food from the instructors' dining hall.
*Chomp.*
As I put a piece of steak into my mouth, the rich juices were palpable. It was definitely delicious.
I had no appetite, but for it to taste this good, I couldn't even imagine how delicious the meat truly was.
"…"
"…"
As I gently raised my head, our eyes met by chance.
I blinked for a moment, unable to understand.
'Why is she looking at me?'
No, we were facing each other, so it wasn't strange to look, but Adelia was looking at me with a peculiar gaze, and for a moment, I couldn't grasp its meaning.
"The food… it's really delicious."
Just in case, I offered my thoughts on the food, and Adelia instantly smiled so brightly that I became even more flustered by her expression.
"Right? The food is really delicious, isn't it?"
"…Yes. Is this from the instructors' dining hall?"
"That's right. If I had my way, I'd love to treat all the other students to such food. But opportunities like that rarely arise. If other instructors or students saw me taking a student to the instructors' dining hall, it might look a bit… you know. Such delicious food should be enjoyed by more people."
As she spoke at length, sounding genuinely regretful, I nodded, still finding it strange.
'Is she a gourmet?'
As I thought that, I could at least tell that Adelia had a very kind heart.
Her role as a healer in charge of the infirmary, and her unreserved expression of goodwill towards a student, were both quite unique.
"Student Han Cheon-seong. Then try this too. This cheese is really delicious."
Then, suddenly, she cut a piece of cheese from her own plate and offered it directly to me.
"…"
Watching the cheese slowly approach my mouth, I was momentarily speechless.
…My mouth simply wouldn't open.
As Adelia offered the food, I watched her upper body slowly press against the table, accentuating her figure.
It was a truly instinctive reaction, and there was nothing I could do about it.
*Gulp.*
I unconsciously swallowed hard and idly opened my mouth.