Chapter 51. Dersen Luabella & Rachel Luabella

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Step.
Step…

As I headed back to the dormitory after parting with Grecia, my entire body ached all over.

Using the training artifacts in the A-Class training ground, which weren’t available in the C-Class one, my body rapidly complained of fatigue.

It didn’t feel like I had trained for that long, but the level of fatigue was on a different dimension.

“…”

As I yawned unconsciously, my gaze was drawn to the academy buildings tinted red by the setting sun.

The majestic scale of the academy.

It was so grand that I wondered if there could be an academy of this scale even in the original world.

Moreover, as the buildings used by upper-class students who entered in different years were also dyed by the sunset alongside the building used by this year’s entrants, it created a spectacle that could only be described as magnificent.

As I stared at it blankly, a smile escaped my lips.

“Tomorrow starts the weekend.”

There are no lectures on RHA’s weekends. Both instructors and students try to rest to recharge.

So usually, weekends were a time for students to socialize. Although some students train on weekends, most take it easy on weekends unless it’s exam period.

In the case of the protagonist Leonhardt, being so popular, he spends weekends with various characters, creating episodes, but…

‘There’s no way I’d have anything like that.’

Rather, that made me feel at ease.

“Maybe I’ll rest comfortably for one day of the weekend.”

Although my body is holding up quite well right now, rest was still essential.

I’ve trained excessively, and apart from my appointment with Grecia on Sunday, I have nothing to worry about on the weekend.

I arranged to properly schedule Kali’s private training room next week.

Step.

As I walked lost in thought, I noticed students gradually emerging from one side of my view.

It wasn’t the regular academy building that ordinary students use, but another very luxurious academy building.

Students wearing golden student uniforms that looked expensive at a glance were coming out of the building one by one. Even from quite a distance, they stood out clearly.

‘S-Class…’

S-Class is composed solely of children from high-ranking noble families with significant influence, including the imperial family.

The minimum Talent grade is restricted to Unique, and they could be considered beings that ordinary students wouldn’t dare approach.

Among them, there were two particularly eye-catching figures.

A pair of bright blonde man and woman.

With an overwhelming presence even among the S-Class students in view, they were members of the current imperial family.

The brother was ‘Dersen Luabella’ and the sister was ‘Rachel Luabella’.

Gulp.

As I unconsciously looked at them, I swallowed and immediately averted my gaze.

If I stared too long and they took offense, it could become troublesome. It was best not to form any connection early on.

“Only Leonhardt can deal with them.”

While I might accidentally encounter other heroines like Luna who’s in the same class as me right now, the case with the imperial family was different.

Unless it was Leonhardt, one couldn’t properly converse with them.

Step.

As I walked towards the dormitory, I thought it would be impossible for me to form a connection with the imperial family.

In the case of the imperial princess ‘Rachel’, because Dersen dotes on her to a serious degree, he constantly clashes with Leonhardt.

‘…’

The imperial princess Rachel also had feelings for Leonhardt, and Leonhardt reciprocated those feelings towards Rachel.

But there was constant friction between them.

All because of Dersen alone.

“…Well, I suppose this is one of the trials the protagonist has to face.”

I muttered and smiled wryly.

Still, he should be able to handle it well on his own.

It wasn’t something I needed to worry about. And Leonhardt’s involvement with the imperial princess would happen much later anyway.

Step.

As I was walking like that.

…Suddenly I felt a chill.

Step.

Lost in thought, I hadn’t noticed, but belatedly I heard footsteps approaching me.

And not just one, but multiple.

Step. Step…

For a moment I thought about heading straight to the dormitory to avoid those approaching me… but feeling that wouldn’t be right, I slowly turned around.

Hoping desperately that it wasn’t who I thought it was…

“Oh my.”

But as always, unpleasant expectations were spot on. The blonde woman looking at me in surprise.

Rachel Luabella, a beauty of the highest order with a pure and warm impression under her radiant golden blonde hair.

Seeing her appearance up close, I felt my breath stop for a moment.

But… I couldn’t show it.

Because Dersen was naturally standing right beside her.

Besides them, several noble children were standing behind the two, and just confirming that gave me a sense of pressure.

“What’s the matter?”

As I opened my mouth, I had to be extremely careful not to let my voice tremble.

There’s no honorific speech between academy students based on status. As I spoke calmly, I felt cold sweat suddenly running down my back.

“So it is you, Han Chunsung. It’s nothing much. Our Rachel was very curious about you. Since we’ve met like this, we’d like you to spare some time. That’s alright, isn’t it?”

Dersen’s words “That’s alright, isn’t it?” were imbued with a naturalness that no one else could imitate.

Even the certainty that I couldn’t refuse his words…

I nodded while awkwardly glancing at Rachel.

“Yes… that’s fine.”

Even as I faced the imperial princess Rachel with eyes full of curiosity, I felt like this was a bolt from the blue.

“Excellent. Then let’s have some tea together. The rest of you may leave now, it might make Rachel uncomfortable if we all move together.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“We’ll take our leave then.”

At Dersen’s words, the high-ranking nobles all bowed deeply and withdrew, and just seeing that made my heart freeze even more.

After they had vacated their positions.

Dersen gave me a look and naturally took a step forward.

Step.

As I naturally matched his pace, I felt like I was burning up inside.

‘This is crazy.’

How could this happen to me? I felt an even greater sense of crisis now than when Luna misunderstood me and false rumors spread.

…This was an event that should have happened to Leonhardt.

But how did I end up getting involved with the imperial family? No matter how I thought about it, this didn’t make sense.

“Han Chunsung?”
“…Yes.”
“I’ll treat you to some quite good tea, so you can look forward to it. Not just Rachel, but I’ve been quite curious about you too. I didn’t expect to meet like this by chance, though.”
“Is that so… I’m honored.”
“What honor… But really, it’s surprising. Despite being Common grade, you achieved a draw in a duel with this year’s top student Leonhardt? Leonhardt, who became this year’s top student surpassing me, wouldn’t have deliberately lost, so I’m even more intrigued by you.”

As Dersen spoke calmly, I felt like I was walking on thin ice beside him.

When I hesitated for a moment, unable to find words to say,

“Haha… Well. There’s no need to treat me so stiffly like others do. Aren’t we all just fellow students anyway?”

As Dersen spoke quite amicably, I didn’t feel his words were sincere at all.

In this world where even nobles naturally look down on commoners, how would Dersen, a member of the imperial family, view a commoner?

Moreover, Dersen’s Talent was Legendary grade, making him one of the ‘only’ two students with Legendary Talent among this year’s entrants, along with Leonhardt.

…Compared to that, I was Common grade.

No matter how strong my spearmanship was beyond my grade, prejudice about grades couldn’t be ignored.

Whether it was Talent or status, the moment I made even a small slip of the tongue, it would be over for me.

“I appreciate your words, but how could I dare to do so?”
“…I see, if you insist that much, I’m disappointed too. I guess I can’t force you any further.”

As I nodded lightly, I saw the coldness in Dersen’s eyes.

He was testing me now, probing me lightly.

And because I knew that, I tried to answer as calmly as possible.

This situation was almost identical to the questions Dersen had posed to Leonhardt.

“Excuse me. Is your name Han Chunsung?”

As I heard such a gentle voice, I turned my gaze to the side, startled.

There was Rachel, looking at me with sparkling eyes.

“Yes, that’s right.”

I didn’t make the foolish statement that my surname was Han and my given name was Chunsung.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do; I had to think that I didn’t have a surname in this world.

“Han Chunsung. What an interesting name. It’s a name I’ve never heard before… From the rumors about your duel with Student Leonhardt to your name, everything feels intriguing.”

As she smiled gently while looking at me, I unconsciously found myself staring blankly at her before forcibly controlling myself.

“I hear that often. My name is special compared to others.”
“Well, that’s true. So, are you on your way back from training today? Your student uniform seems quite dirty.”

As Dersen immediately cut into my conversation with Rachel, I naturally turned my gaze to him and nodded.

“Yes. I was focused on training… My appearance is a bit messy.”
“Then before we have tea, I’ll have a maid attend to you, it would be good for you to change your clothes.”

As Dersen spoke as if it was only natural, I immediately accepted.

“Yes, I understand.”

Even as I tried to answer calmly, my heart felt infinitely heavy.

This isn’t just a figure of speech, I felt like I was walking with time bombs on both sides.

An absolute sense of crisis that my academy life would end if I made a mistake with either of them.

‘If it was going to be like this… I should have stayed at the training ground longer.’

Or I should have turned away without even thinking the moment I saw them. I regretted looking at them out of curiosity for a moment.

“So, Han Chunsung. I heard you have a spearmanship Talent. I’ve handled spears quite a bit in the past too.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Isn’t the spear the king of cold weapons? Although they say spearmanship doesn’t receive significant power from any Talent, the spear as a weapon is worth taking the time to learn.”

As Dersen suddenly spoke strangely, I became interested in his words.

As a member of the imperial family, his childhood must have been extraordinary, but I didn’t know he had even learned spearmanship.

“I’ve learned spearmanship too.”

As Rachel spoke as if wanting to join the conversation, I unconsciously turned my gaze to her…

But the sense of crisis I felt only grew stronger.

It felt like I absolutely… wouldn’t be able to easily escape this situation. No, it felt like an already confirmed future.