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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 53
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53. Conflicting Values
***
I recounted the details of the last sparring match quite thoroughly.
Mid-conversation, the two of them expressed their curiosity and asked questions, which made my story even longer as I elaborated.
And their reactions were, surprisingly... quite enthusiastic.
"Ohh. So you thrust your spear as if predicting, creating a draw in the end."
"Just the fact that you could predict means you read Leonhardt's sword, doesn't it!?"
At their fervent words, I awkwardly nodded.
I hadn't achieved the draw purely through my talent or skill.
The moment I missed Leonhardt's movement, his habit suddenly came to mind, and I instinctively thrust my spear as if predicting it, that was all.
"I believe I was incredibly lucky. Had the trajectory been off by even a little, it would have been a match I had to concede as a loss."
Thinking back, that instinctive decision felt like it had changed my entire future.
Thrusting the spear as if predicting created a draw, which endlessly elevated my reputation.
It was likely a strong reason why Derssen and Rachel sought me out.
"Even if it was luck, as Rachel says. Was thrusting the spear not Han Cheon-seong's own action?"
"That's right. Thrusting the spear was a decision you made yourself, Han Cheon-seong. I don't think there's any need to dismiss it as mere luck and consider the outcome a defeat."
Despite my words, both of them still held me in quite high regard.
Compared to when they first approached me, their deeper interest and fascination were now palpable.
"It's rather embarrassing to hear you both say that."
Certainly, this situation itself wasn't bad.
The atmosphere was more amicable than I had expected.
However, I wondered if this situation was truly right. Originally, these were individuals meant to be involved with Leonhardt.
It felt strangely odd that I was forging connections with them before Leonhardt.
'...Am I thinking too deeply?'
The situation itself felt peculiar to me right now.
It felt as if the spotlight, which should have been on Leonhardt as he achieved success, was shining on me instead.
Even Luna, the heroine, and Kalley, who was meant to be a great aid to his growth, were like this.
It felt as though all the beings who were supposed to be entangled with Leonhardt were now focused on me.
'This shouldn't be happening.'
Leonhardt was the 'protagonist' who had to overcome all the trials and tribulations that would befall this world.
He was to be considered the most important person in the world.
Because only if Leonhardt grew properly would everything that was to unfold proceed smoothly.
"...Han Cheon-seong?"
At the sound of a voice, I blankly raised my head.
"Ah, I apologize."
"No need to apologize. You seem to have been lost in thought... Is something bothering you?"
"That's right. What were you thinking so deeply about?"
I awkwardly shook my head.
"No, it's nothing. I seem to have gotten lost in thought without realizing it and committed a rudeness."
"If that's the case, it's fine. The conversation has gone on for quite a while, so you might be tired."
"...If you truly have any worries or difficulties, please tell us. As a thank you for spending time with us, I'd like to help if I can."
...Rachel's subsequent words made me involuntarily pause.
—'As a thank you for spending time with us, I'd like to help if I can.'
Rachel's words, while seemingly born of goodwill, were also originally the biggest point of contact between her and Leonhardt.
"I appreciate the offer, but I'm truly fine. Meeting you both today was a great honor for me and a truly wonderful time."
I continued speaking casually, swallowing the sigh that threatened to escape.
My thoughts seemed to continue endlessly. In truth, if I looked at it simply, it was nothing at all.
After all, the cause and effect of this situation were clear.
My evaluation had risen, and as a result, the imperial family simply showed interest in me.
"Is that so. Well, it was quite a good time today. Listening to you talk about spear arts was also very interesting."
"Wait, Brother, are you already... parting ways with Han Cheon-seong?"
"It's evening now. It's about time we parted ways."
"We could just have dinner together. I think it would be fine to spend a little more time with him..."
Derssen and Rachel continued to talk about me, and their interaction somehow put my mind at ease.
Their reactions were completely different from when they first met Leonhardt.
Derssen had clearly been wary of Leonhardt, trying to find all sorts of faults to diminish him, but the Derssen I faced was not such a person.
He had shown a coldness as if testing me, but now I felt him looking at me with favor and goodwill.
'Yes. It's very different....'
I couldn't view it as the interest meant for Leonhardt disappearing just because I was associating with them.
It was simply that I had made contact with them earlier. Yes, that was all.
"Han Cheon-seong. What about you? Would you like to have dinner with us? If so, it would be fine to do so."
At Derssen's calm voice, I immediately shook my head.
Receiving this much goodwill was more than enough for now.
"I'm fine. I'll go back and have dinner there."
"...Is that so. What a shame. Rachel, you heard him, too?"
"Brother. Weren't you forcing his answer just now? If you ask like that, who would say yes to having dinner together?"
"Rachel. What do you mean I forced him?"
Derssen let out a hollow laugh and met my gaze, so I played along as he wished.
"It's absolutely not coercion. I simply wish to return now. Any more time together would actually be a burden for me."
Rachel's attitude toward me, strangely, lacked any distance right now.
And that would be greatly displeasing to Derssen.
No matter how much goodwill Derssen harbored toward me, Rachel was his top priority.
"..."
At Rachel's silent gaze, I smiled faintly and slowly shook my head.
Her gaze seemed to be urging me to say I'd have dinner now, but any more than this was truly a burden for me as well.
These were individuals who would soon be involved with Leonhardt, and I wished they wouldn't place too much expectation on me.
Regardless of whether I had confidence or not, for me to be involved with the imperial family now was simply too much.
"Then, I shall take my leave now. It was a meaningful experience to spend time with you like this."
As I finished speaking, Derssen broke into a broad smile.
"Yes. I was very pleased to have a conversation with you as well."
When I offered to leave on my own, Derssen looked at me as if genuinely pleased, and I, conversely, felt more at ease seeing him like that.
The relationship between me and them was appropriate at this level.
A relationship where we had a mutual liking and didn't think ill of each other, but weren't overly close.
"I also enjoyed being able to converse like this today. Melua, please see Han Cheon-seong off."
At Rachel's reluctant reply, the woman called Melua slowly guided me out.
...
Click.
As I walked alongside the maid called Melua, my gaze involuntarily drifted to her.
A short-haired woman with a darker blue hue than Glesia. She even exuded an air of nobility, unusual for a maid.
'Is she a noble?'
While maids are commonly thought of as servants or ladies-in-waiting, in this world, maids were, at minimum, nobles.
Moreover, maids serving the imperial family had to be of high birth, from at least a Count's house or higher. Someone of humble status couldn't possibly be by the side of the imperial family or high-ranking nobles. Perhaps it was only natural.
Even the maid who had attended to my bath and clothes today must have been a noble.
As we walked in silence, my gaze inadvertently met hers.
"..."
"..."
In the strange silence, just as I wondered if she had something to say to me.
"Is there anything you are curious about regarding me?"
She asked, as if reading my thoughts, and I calmly shook my head.
"No. I suppose I was staring too intently. My apologies."
"...There's no need to apologize. I, too, wondered if you had something to say."
At her calm voice, I calmly averted my gaze.
'...Let's stop thinking.'
Perhaps because I had been constantly nervous while facing the imperial family, I didn't want to think any further due to mental exhaustion.
***
The inner chambers, after Cheon-seong and Melua had left.
Rachel let out a deep sigh and narrowed her eyes.
"...Brother."
"What."
Unlike when Cheon-seong was present, she called Derssen sharply, making him flinch.
"What in the world is wrong with you?"
"What did I do? Spending nearly two hours with Han Cheon-seong should be enough."
As Derssen replied calmly and casually met Rachel's gaze, she scoffed for a moment.
"It's not that it was time to part ways; didn't you chase him off, Brother? Like last time?"
"Rachel. Let me say this again, that's definitely a misunderstanding. I didn't exert any pressure at all."
"What do you mean you didn't exert pressure? From where I stood, it looked like you were giving him a look, subtly telling him to leave."
As Rachel continued to reply with a sharp tone, Derssen distinctly furrowed his brow.
"That wasn't my intention. Yes, Han Cheon-seong was certainly fine. After speaking with him directly, there was nothing to fault about his character or his attitude towards us. But Rachel. Isn't there a significant unbridgeable gap between him and us? There's simply no reason for us to associate with Han Cheon-seong."
Even as Derssen continued speaking as if to persuade her, Rachel only felt frustrated.
'...No reason to associate with him.'
Her brother's words truly stifled her heart.
This world was changing.
And it had been for a long time. While imperial power continued to be maintained, clinging to status was a one-dimensional way of thinking.
Countless commoners had already made names for themselves, and those who proved their worth beyond their status through traits and talents were even more innumerable.
Moreover, news of how perilous the front lines were came daily.
In that sense, a cadet like Han Cheon-seong was certainly worth befriending.
Although he was a commoner with a Common Trait, his potential for growth seemed boundless.
"Brother. If you're going to be like that, then who can possibly associate with us? How many people are there who can truly interact with us, the imperial family, as equals?"
"Strictly speaking, perhaps the scions of Ducal and Marquisate houses, and beyond that, the 'Pillars of the Empire' who wield influence, and high-ranking mages, aren't there? Considering our dignity, we must certainly be mindful of who we associate with."
At her brother's response, his expression hardening even further at her words, she truly felt he was being foolish.
Her brother was too steeped in old ideologies. With such a mindset, he could never embrace more people.
It was simply absurd that her brother, who would one day ascend to the supreme position of Emperor, viewed people with such a narrow perspective.
'Why doesn't he realize that inherited bloodline doesn't mean everything?'
Even among the imperial family, there were incompetent individuals and those who wasted their lives away, becoming obsolete.
It was the same for other nobles.
Everyone wished for excellence, but reality wasn't like that.
"..."
Even facing her brother's unyielding gaze, she felt utterly fed up now.
'Why?'
Couldn't her brother realize?
A few months ago, after his Legendary Trait was revealed, her brother had begun to emphasize bloodline even more, which she viewed very unfavorably.
"...Brother. Let's have dinner separately tonight."
"Rachel!"
"Then, I'll see you tomorrow."
She uttered the words coldly and rose from her seat.
Tap.
Tap.
As she stepped outside, the cadet named Han Cheon-seong suddenly came to mind.
The cadet who had consistently maintained a calm and unyielding attitude while dealing with them.
He was clearly a talent.
And a rare, undeniable talent at that.
After conversing with him for several hours, her brother hadn't recognized Han Cheon-seong's true worth in the slightest.
...
It was truly...
Nothing short of utterly disappointing.