181. The Unexpected Visitor
***
As the sunset fades, darkness slowly settles on the ground.
And before I knew it, I had left the A-class training ground and arrived at the cadet cafeteria.
It was just for an easy dinner.
“… … .”
Took.
As I picked up the tray with the food I ordered, my heart was filled with a calm yet small joy.
The things I gained today, the sense of accomplishment, did not leave even after time passed, leaving a lasting impression.
‘It’s good.’
While feeling pure joy, the cadet cafeteria was quite empty.
Since it was the weekend, it seemed that many cadets were having dinner somewhere else rather than at the cadet cafeteria, but I thought for a while as I headed for the window seat.
‘First of all, the biggest task has been solved.’
Attribute level 5. I have achieved the best results I could achieve.
good.
As I put down the tray on the window seat, I thought about the future.
Now I have about 4 days left. While preparing for the arrival of the Apostle, there was no burden at all in my heart. In fact, I haven’t felt much tension since I got an appointment from Anastasia a few days ago.
I couldn’t deny that there was a sense of stability in my heart that no matter what apostle came to visit me, I could safely overcome the crisis as long as I had Anastasia.
Attribute level 10. Because she is an overwhelming existence that goes beyond the axis of this empire and is called the ‘main axis’ of the empire… .
The feelings I felt were completely different from the pressure and suffocating sense of danger that I had to save Karite alone a few weeks ago.
Like this, I have someone to lean on. She is completely trustworthy and there is no reason to doubt her.
“Whoa.”
I decided to eat my heart a little more lightly while blowing as if cooling down the steaming soup.
‘There’s no need to feel pressured.’
In the past, I wasn’t so comfortable as I was spending my days, but now I definitely felt like I could put my mind at ease.
Anastasia’s support is a strong safety device, and confidence in my own strength. When I reached level 5 of the attribute, my entire body was filled with confidence. The sense of security that I could overcome any crisis seemed to hold me firmly.
snap.
I could feel the glances around me as I scooped up the vegetable soup, which wasn’t quite bad.
Some of the cadets in the cafeteria looked at me with interest, but now I seemed to be getting used to those gazes.
‘At the training ground, dozens of people stared at me openly.’
The stares from a few people in the restaurant seemed insignificant compared to just a moment ago.
Took.
Then, I enjoyed a small dinner while bringing a sandwich with a little bit of meat to my mouth.
I didn’t have much money in my hand to order and reserve the window, but I felt like happiness in itself to eat food like this.
Took.
Then, when the tray was placed right across from me, I was surprised and looked at it.
“…?”
That time when I was surprised because I didn’t even think that anyone would sit in front of me. I saw a woman with a very mysterious appearance.
“I know Cadet Han Chun-seong is quite popular. Why are you eating dinner alone?”
“…Are you the instructor?”
Even looking at her, I didn’t know how to react.
The woman in front of me was not a cadet like me. Although she was wearing a pure white dress, she probably looked like an instructor.
I felt at once something like maturity and well-refined prayer that I couldn’t feel from a cadet.
“that’s right. It looks like there’s no one to eat with, can I sit down?”
“It’s okay. May I know the instructor’s name?”
“Oh, really… I must be out of my mind. I should have introduced myself properly first. My name is Esia, the A4 class instructor. I can say that I am quite close with Instructor Kali, who is currently in charge of Chun-seong Han.”
He calmly introduced himself and smiled brightly, but I nodded while embarrassed.
“…So you’re Instructor Esia.”
I knew that he was one of the instructors mentioned in the story.
And since she was already sitting across from me, I couldn’t refuse her.
“Actually, I was a cadet of Han Chun-seong. I came here directly because I was curious about various rumors. I don’t think we will have time to talk now or later.”
I inadvertently looked at her at the sound of her voice telling me that she had come to see me honestly.
The first thing that caught my eye was her white silver hair that came down to her waist, and yet fresh green eyes that came into my field of vision.
Unlike her mysterious appearance, she was a beauty with a very bright impression, and moreover, her personality seemed to be visible with just a few words. Just by talking to her without hesitation, it was clear to me that she was a person who got along well with others.
“First of all, Cadet Han Chun-seong eats some meat now. It must be the time to grow up, isn’t this enough for dinner?”
Took.
Then, a chunk of steak in his tray was passed over to my tray, and I blinked my eyes while accepting it.
“I… thank you.”
I received it because I couldn’t refuse it since I had already received it, but it was a very sudden feeling.
“You don’t have to be particularly grateful. Cadet Han Chun-seong is giving it to me in exchange for having dinner with me. So, I want you to talk to me, okay?”
…I felt like I was caught up in her cheerful, unstoppable voice.
As if to prevent rejection, strange words were thrown, but even listening to them, I couldn’t reflect the rejection. It made me unable to refuse at all, so I wondered if he was aiming for that on purpose.
But contrary to that thought, I was smiling lightly.
“Hey, I’m just grateful if Instructor spends time with me like this.”
“What, are you good at talking? I wonder if this is why everyone praises Cadet Han Chunseong so much.”
She burst into laughter as if she heard my words quite well, and leisurely sliced the steak.
‘I can’t just put my mind at ease and make mistakes.’
Speaking of being a class A instructor and being close friends with Carly, I needed to look good too. Moreover, the woman who introduced Eshiara had a special reason to do so.
‘Because it’s a special strengthening type.’
Maybe in the future I might get help.
snap.
Esia started eating as if she was happy, and I awkwardly started slicing the meat.
Seruk. Seruk.
I swallowed a gulp along with the knife cutting the steak.
“… … .”
Even so, I was in a state of exhaustion due to sparring in the afternoon. However, to eat a very good steak for free, I couldn’t help but be moved.
Even so, I thought that today was a very lucky day.
The evolution of the characteristics is meaningful, and I ate the steak Glesia bought for lunch, but in the evening, I suddenly got a steak from a female instructor who was alive.
‘Obviously, if it’s a luxury, it’s a luxury.’
If you think about it, you might think it’s strange, but even while eating steak, I waited for her to talk to me first.
“First of all, I heard the news a while ago that you reached level 5. Congratulations to Han Chun-seong. ”
“…thank you. Instructor Esia.”
I smiled awkwardly even as I wondered if news about me had already spread.
good.
Then, when she suddenly put down the spoon and stared at me, I also delayed my meal and cautiously met her gaze.
Seeing me like that, Esia smiled softly and shook her head.
“You really don’t have to be so rigid. Cadet Han Chun-seong is fine if he listens to me while eating comfortably. I don’t treat cadets so harshly.”
It seemed like he was trying to relieve my tension. No matter how much she said it, I couldn’t.
How can cadets eat comfortably with the instructor in front of them? That in itself was nonsense.
“… … .”
When I smiled awkwardly, she lightly snapped a piece of steak to her mouth and fixed her eyes on me, moving her lips.
When the unique mysterious eyes stared at me, I had to be enveloped in a really strange feeling.
Her eyes seemed to be testing me, or maybe she was looking for me out of pure interest. In a word, it was hard to guess exactly what the intent was.
…Even so, the appearance is quite relaxed, or should I say the appearance of an instructor.
I was a little nervous and looked at him, but I wasn’t scared.
‘It’s true that this person came to me with goodwill.’
It didn’t look like he came to visit me with any malice or other motives. At least when I met her eyes, I could be sure of that.
“As expected… I should say that he was a talented cadet that Carly had his eyes on, and if he had reached level 5 in his second month, he would probably be the youngest person to graduate from the academy.”
“That’s too much praise. I still lack a lot.”
While answering the unexpected words, I wasn’t thinking at all about being the youngest graduate.
It’s hard to take care of myself right now, but I didn’t even have the desire to leave the academy early.
“Yes? If I were a cadet in Han Chun-seong, I would have been excited all day just because I entered the 5th level today, and I would have thought of everything, but I am more humble than I thought.”
…He mixes short words in between and expresses a strange sense of familiarity, which was very strange.
It’s not bad because he’s a very bright person, but it felt like he was trying to get closer.
“…I’m still excited.”
So, I answered honestly.
Rather than thinking too long, I just want to show myself as I am.
“what. Then, even though your heart is excited, why are you answering so humbly?”
“It’s not that I’m humble… To the instructors, if you’re a cadet, of course you have to be polite.”
While answering, I was also full of doubts.
ㅡEsia Rethelin.
The full name in the work came to mind now.
Is she looking at me now, or is she asking me because she wants to hear something? While giving a standard answer, I was able to look into both eyes.
“Hmm… .”
At my gaze, she makes eye contact as if she is strange. Even as we met eyes, it was still hard to know what was inside.
“Is this why you like it?”
Then, at the words I couldn’t understand, I stopped eating steak for a moment.
“…Yes?”
“Oh, no. I was just talking to myself. Don’t worry too much about it.”
He shook his head softly, but even those words were very strange.
‘For what purpose did Esia come?’
Weekends must be a very precious time for an instructor, but there was no way she would come to me without any reason.