-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 50
-----------------------------------------------------------------
50. The Direction of the Heart
***
The gazes around us converged on Glessia and me. No, it was mostly focused on Glessia.
The light of blessing swirling around her entire body was truly extraordinary.
!
Glessia's form, moving rapidly and continuously, was undergoing intense training that mimicked real combat.
And that sight itself felt alien to me.
'What kind of epiphany could she possibly have had?'
I had watched her from the beginning, but I couldn't understand it at all.
The light of blessing must have enveloped Glessia because she had gained a great epiphany, but what on earth could have been the catalyst for such a thing?
In the world of Groa, it wasn't unheard of for someone to emit a light of blessing while engrossed in training. But it was literally 'not unheard of'—it certainly didn't mean that emitting a light of blessing during training was a frequent occurrence.
It was extremely rare.
Moreover, considering the early stages of the academy, Glessia was already at a high level.
—Unique Trait, Level 3.
If she were to evolve her trait like this, she would immediately reach Level 4...
Gulp.
Even as I swallowed, a shiver of dread ran through me.
...It was even more incredible than Leonhardt, who could be called the protagonist of this world, reaching Level 3 in one go.
It was an unbelievable miracle.
It meant Glessia possessed talent beyond that.
"...How?"
"Even if it's Class A1, are there only monsters like this here?"
"If Glessia evolves, her trait will be Level 4, won't it...?"
At the disbelieving voices from the students gathered nearby, my own heart, surprisingly, calmed down.
The light of blessing was merely a prelude, hinting at evolution. It didn't mean evolution was guaranteed.
Whether Glessia could truly achieve such an incredible growth remained to be seen.
!
!!!!
As if she didn't even notice the attention focused on her, Glessia continued to leap through space, riding the fiercely blowing wind.
And at that moment.
As one of Glessia's eyes furrowed, I felt a deep sense of regret.
"Ah."
"..."
The students gathered nearby also let out gasps of disappointment, and the fierce winds that had been raging throughout the area slowly died down.
Glessia's sword, which had been continuously brandished, also lowered.
As the light of blessing around her entire body also faded, everyone's expectations came to such a futile end.
Thud.
Looking at Glessia, who stood in place without saying a word, I thought it was inevitable.
'If she had reached Level 4, Glessia would have surpassed Leonhardt.'
The level of a trait was always difficult to raise.
Furthermore, it was known that higher-grade traits allowed for faster leveling compared to lower-grade traits.
However, there was a clear 'fallacy' in that statement.
Rather than students with high-grade traits finding it easy to level up, it meant that a greater number of students with lower-grade traits gave up on growth and fell behind.
While it was certainly true that, on average, higher-grade traits grew faster than lower-grade ones, it was quite a laughable statement once you understood the underlying reason.
It was simply because students with higher-grade traits were much more determined to push forward and put in greater effort.
"Han Cheonsung."
Then, she suddenly called out to me without thinking, and I calmly met her gaze.
'She must be disappointed.'
But there was no emotion beyond that.
"In your opinion... how did I look?"
"It was good. There was no unnaturalness in how you utilized your trait or in your movements."
I didn't know if I was in a position to evaluate her, but that's how Glessia appeared to me.
Her movements were natural, and her ability to move rapidly by riding the strong winds was a power unique to her, one that no other student could handle.
"No unnaturalness. Is that all?"
"If I were to go into detail, there are other impressions. But Glessia, what specific aspect do you want me to elaborate on?"
It felt strange even as I watched Glessia gradually approach me.
From my perspective, she seemed to be progressing well on her own.
It looked as if she had found her own direction on how to properly understand and train her trait for evolution.
It was rather puzzling.
Why she was seeking that answer from me.
"It's not about a specific part. I want you to tell me everything you felt while watching me."
But when she spoke so directly, I involuntarily flinched.
"..."
At the sight of the surprised students around me, gasping, I was momentarily greatly flustered, but I managed to compose myself.
Click.
Before I knew it, Glessia stood facing me, barely a step away.
"..."
She demanded an answer from me with an utterly pure gaze. But I, in turn, couldn't understand why she was seeking that answer from me.
Our traits belonged to different categories, so there wasn't much advice I could give.
Would my advice or feelings even be meaningful?
"Glessia. Even if you say 'everything'... I can't control wind. Wouldn't it be better to ask a student with a similar trait? That would be much more meaningful."
In the end, I spoke with practical help in mind rather than just my feelings.
But for some reason, Glessia shook her head.
"Han Cheonsung. Even the smallest thing is fine. Your feelings are much more important to me than those of other students."
At Glessia's repeatedly insistent words, the gazes of the surrounding students felt even more stinging as they looked at me.
Nevertheless, I conveyed my feelings.
"If you insist, I'll talk about your movements. You wielded your trait, wind, imbuing your sword with its energy, and you also used wind when you moved... Your movements were very natural, but. They felt a little monotonous. Your attacks flowed consistently, like calm water, making it obvious what kind of attack you would make next."
"...Monotonous, predictable."
"Yes. Of course, I think that can also be a strength; if you maintain a steady, unwavering offensive, it will be an advantage. But isn't the essence of wind freedom?"
I answered cautiously, even as I inversely applied one of the spear's principles.
A spear was a weapon that held greater advantages in consistent, linear offensives rather than emphasizing diverse changes.
The sharp spearhead. The power concentrated at that single point held a strength more formidable than any other weapon could contain.
It could pierce opponents, inflicting fatal damage.
However, 'wind' was considered entirely different from spear techniques.
Wind, by its very nature, was free and boundless. This was evident from the fact that Glessia could use wind even without wielding a sword.
If so, the trait of wind should be able to encompass infinite variations.
Wouldn't change suit Glessia better than a consistent offensive?
"The essence of wind is freedom..."
Even as I watched Glessia murmur blankly, I didn't think my words were the definitive answer.
I couldn't control wind myself, nor was I certain if my understanding of the trait's power was correct. I had merely stated what I felt.
Because Glessia had wanted it.
Whirrr—
Suddenly, a subtle breeze swirled around Glessia's form, causing both our hair to naturally flutter.
The wind was cool and refreshing.
It wasn't the fierce and sharp wind that had just raged throughout the area, but a wind that brought comfort to those nearby.
"Han Cheonsung, thank you."
Suddenly, Glessia smiled softly and met my gaze, and I involuntarily looked away.
"...I'm glad if it helped."
Glessia, with her blue hair fluttering in the wind, looked extraordinary.
When beauty was imbued with purity.
I felt again how much she could change in appearance.
With my averted gaze, I noticed the surrounding students.
As if it wasn't just me who felt that way, many of the students watching the training were staring at Glessia as if enchanted.
"..."
"..."
At that sight, a small laugh involuntarily escaped me.
So, I wasn't the strange one.
Encountering such a radiant Glessia and feeling my heart flutter, even for a moment...
It was simply natural.
...
At that moment.
Cheonsung didn't realize.
That when he briefly smiled while averting her gaze, Glessia too had averted her gaze from him.
***
!
A sword imbued with a brilliant blue light.
It was alien, its nature different from mana, and it felt even more beautiful.
And Yumia felt a sense of disappointment watching the sword's owner.
How much disappointment one could feel when, despite being together, it felt as though they weren't together at all...
"..."
Now, as we took turns observing each other's training, as if checking on our progress, I felt my mood sink.
Leonhardt's gaze, as he focused on his training, occasionally drifted to one spot.
It was the space where Glessia and Han Cheonsung were. And there, Han Cheonsung could be seen wielding a spear.
Having reached the absurd level of Trait Level 4, the spear techniques he displayed seemed threatening even to me.
But more than that.
I didn't like Leonhardt's gaze.
"Is it that hard to focus?"
I found myself blurting out the words without thinking.
"Ah... I'm sorry."
"It's not something to be sorry for, not being able to focus. But if you keep struggling to concentrate, why don't you just stop training for a bit?"
At my words, Leonhardt gave an awkward laugh and withdrew his sword.
It was strange, even as I saw his golden hair clinging to his face or his student uniform greatly disheveled.
Clearly, Leonhardt was merely unable to focus on his training; he couldn't be seen as slacking off.
...That's why I ended up saying something I didn't mean.
"Leonhardt. Should I say it again? That we should train together right now."
And if he wanted... I could say it for him.
That much was truly nothing.
"...No, I can't."
"Why? You can't focus at all right now. When we first brought it up, Han Cheonsung was willing to accept us, and if it's just about convincing Glessia..."
"Yumia. I'm truly fine."
Leonhardt, who had always listened to my words, suddenly cut me off.
His blue eyes, meeting my gaze, looked more resolute than ever before.
And within that resolute gaze, I could clearly feel that he was greatly wavering.
So, a laugh involuntarily escaped me.
"...Is that so? Alright then."
Even as I answered with a smile, a corner of my chest ached faintly.
'Not yet...'
You're still not there.
I thought Leonhardt had completely lost interest in Glessia after last night, but that wasn't the case.
Because in his eyes, I saw the wavering and lingering attachment.
Leonhardt still... hadn't completely let go of Glessia in his heart.
"I'm sorry, Yumia. You're dedicating your precious time to me, too."
"No. It's fine."
...Even as I answered, I was truly fine.
My heart ached, but I could still endure it.
Because Glessia truly had no interest in Leonhardt whatsoever.
Since I had feelings for him, I also had a sense of what Glessia's feelings were right now.
!
!!
Even now, in a corner of the training ground, a man was powerfully thrusting a spear engulfed in blue light.
—Han Cheonsung.
Glessia, who still had her eyes on that man, made me certain of one thing.
That Glessia's heart was already directed towards Han Cheonsung.