Chapter 56: Shameful Words (2)

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The man who died on the battlefield in Carly's place had not died in vain. The incident had completely changed her way of thinking and made her value effort. Since then, she looked at the essence of people regardless of the attribute.

It not only changed the way she thought, it changed the way she acted. Although people who heard her talk about the effort thought she was joking, she was serious. She was dedicated to her new view of people.

Now, he could talk to that changed person, to this Carly. Her words from the entrance exam had given him the confidence to face this reality. He knew it wasn't enough that Carly was aware of the effort it took from other people. It only made sense that she should know that her thoughts could influence other people for the better.

That's why he decided to emphasize how she affected him.

"..."

Since Carly still had a blank stare, he figured he was done. He could think of nothing more to add.

"Instructor. I'll leave first. Thank you for your hospitality," Han said formally, awkwardly.

Then he rose from his seat. Carly still looked at him strangely. He hoped she had taken his words in a positive way.

Was I reckless? He hoped to stitch up the emotional scars he had inadvertently touched. But honestly, he wasn't sure he could.

On the other hand, a belated sense of shame entered his heart.

I said harmful words. A saddened smile escaped him at the thought.

He began to turn and walk towards the exit, trying to remain calm as he waved to the instructors in his path.

"Wait a minute. Han Seong!"

Suddenly, he heard Carly's urgent voice.

He stopped immediately.

***

Curiosity.

And interest.

Carly felt that way about Han Seong during the entrance exam.

He had the common grade attribute Spearman. But he had reached Level 3.

This cadet named Han Seong must have tried very hard, because only very few cadets entered the Academy each year with the attribute at level 3.

But since then, she had paid no attention to that cadet. There were enough things on her plate.

Suddenly, she heard the news about the sparring that happened on the same day of the entrance ceremony. She could not believe that Leonhard, the best cadet in the entrance exam, had fought to a standstill with Han Seong, the same cadet she had met at the entrance exam.

She initially had been in a bad mood. It was a dirty trick that the upper class cadets used to do to the lower class cadets. Every year dirty things would happen at the Academy.

The upper class cadets liked to provoke the lower class cadets. And since the lower class couldn't stand the constant provocations, they would gladly accept any chance to spar.

Of course, it all ended in a humiliating defeat for the lower class cadets. So the lower class cadets would have to deal with their feelings of helplessness, in addition to the taunts of other cadets.

She knew that wasn't right, but she didn't have the power to intervene or stop it. Other instructors didn't see things as she did, and either chose to ignore it or to aid in the provocations. Posted only on NovelUtopia

That's why she felt as if she had been hit when she heard the news. She almost dreaded hearing the outcome of the fight. But she was shocked when she learned that the result was a tie.

Only after repeatedly checking whether it was true, even personally visiting the instructor in charge of the training camp and asking for more details about the sparring, was she able to accept what she had heard to be true.

There is a cadet who has achieved results through effort. The name Han Seong stuck in her mind. And she personally approached the instructor in charge of the C1 class to ask for a change of class.

After that, she gave her first lesson where she interacted with the cadets. Cadet Han Seong interested her even more.

She wondered how many more times she should expect to be similarly surprised in her short life of 25 years. His values, his depth of thought, his determination… they were so different from those of the other cadets. That's why she was so shocked by the words he happened to say.

—The Only Way To Move Forward Is To Face Reality.

How could Cadet Han Seong say that?

Could an inexperienced, C-class cadet say the same words that that man used to say? He didn't even get any of the words wrong or misplaced.

She didn't quite remember how he acted after that. Her mind had gone blank. Hearing those unexpected words shook her to the core.

It wasn't easy to stay calm. Although she remained in that confused and emotional state for some time, the cadet's next words reached her ears.

—You gave me confidence to face reality. That means I can move forward. You were the only one who recognized me… I'm just glad I now have the chance to thank you.

She couldn't help but make eye contact with him, even as her mind remained stubbornly blank.

—Instructor. I'll leave first. Thank you for your hospitality.

She finally heard the cadet's calm voice correctly. Then the cadet stood up. She stared at the cadet's back as he began to walk away.

She felt as if she shouldn't let the cadet leave like this.

...

"Wait a minute. Han Seong!"

She unconsciously but out loud spoke – which stopped him in his tracks.

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