Chapter 37. Completely Different Hearts

***

As Luna moved her lips silently, I momentarily focused on her lips.

And I roughly understood her meaning.

‘Don’t… get. closer. to. Mili,a?’

Just as I wondered if I understood correctly, Luna quickly repeated the lip movements, confirming what I had understood.

The message not to get closer to Milia.

And the moment I realized that.

“…”

I unconsciously burst into silent laughter.

“Hm? Han Chunsung. Why are you suddenly laughing?”

As Milia asked while pausing from eating her dessert, I shook my head.

“No, just the dessert looks so delicious. I guess it made me laugh.”

“…Really? You like desserts more than I thought.”

“Well, I don’t dislike them.”

Though I don’t like overly sweet desserts, I quite like apple pie varieties with fruit or puree fillings.

As I glanced at Luna, she was just poking at her dessert with her fork as if she had never looked at me.

‘Really, what is she thinking, she’s not a child.’

Luna’s thoughts of anxiously worrying about losing her close friend to me struck my heart.

And now I could understand. Why Luna was so quiet and silent. And why she accepted sitting with me so docilely.

Perhaps it was because she didn’t know what actions I might take?

Rather than simply trying to block my approach, it felt like Luna was here because she wanted to directly tell me not to get close to Milia.

Since Luna can’t stand feeling anxious, she must have realized that simply rejecting me wasn’t the answer.

Poke.

As I cut my apple pie into a suitable size and brought it to my mouth, I found this situation strangely fascinating.

The fluttering I had felt looking at Milia had already greatly subsided, and instead various questions filled the empty space where it had been.

Click. Click…

Afterwards, time passed as each of us ate our desserts and calmly enjoyed our drinks.

During that time, the conversation between us consisted entirely of me agreeing with Milia’s curious questions. Luna only occasionally opened her mouth to participate in our conversation.

And Luna’s gaze was constantly.

After silently speaking to me, it was constantly directed at me.

She kept glancing at me as if not looking, with eyes full of desperation as if asking me to keep her words. Luna’s eyes were really, how should I put it… ridiculous yet cute.

The negative feelings I had held towards Luna until now melted away like snow.

‘You must have struggled, being mindful of such a childish woman.’

That I had wasted emotions and held negative feelings towards Luna until now… rather, I felt foolish.

Luna was simply expressing her emotions and showing her true self. If anything, it was too pure.

Yet it was ridiculous that I was forcibly trying to rebel and oppose such a Luna.

It’s not like I’m forcibly taking a toy from a child claiming “This is mine!” and answering “It’s mine!” to a child insisting “This toy is mine!”…

As I thought about it, I pondered a bit.

‘If I get closer to Milia here…’

Though it’s hypothetical, if that happened, Luna would surely resent me greatly. It was obvious she would hate me or show dislike for me somehow. Because when it comes to Milia, Luna doesn’t hold back at all.

But conversely, if I could just use this subtle relationship now. Wouldn’t that change things completely?

Luna’s Talent.

ㅡCombat Healing.

Among the extremely valuable healing-type Talents out of numerous Talents. Luna’s Combat Healing had almost cheat-like effects.

It was so excellent that it could hardly be seen as a Rare Talent, to the point where readers often called it unbalanced.

It wasn’t for nothing that Luna became one of the main heroines. To the extent that jokes about “heroine buffs” circulated.

In the later crisis situation. It was Luna’s Combat Healing Talent that miraculously saved Leonhardt when he was on the brink of death. So if I could become friends with such a Luna. It would be an invaluable Talent to have on my side.

With dangers everywhere where it wouldn’t be strange to get injured anytime in future practical training or dispatches… if I could rely on Luna’s goodwill. Nothing could be more ideal.

Thud.

Even as I brought a piece of apple pie to my mouth, I was already looking at this reality coldly.

ㅡLuna and Milia.

Key figures with significant roles in this world.

It would be really ridiculous to say I have the right to choose between the two now, but there seemed to be quite a possibility similar to that.

Then suddenly, I saw Milia giving me subtle looks.

“…”
“…”

As we silently met eyes, Milia smiled brightly then suddenly avoided my gaze. It seemed almost flirtatious. It also looked like she had feelings for me.

But what those feelings were… I wasn’t sure yet.

‘It’s just ambiguous.’

Honestly, the guaranteed valuable heroine Luna was worth prioritizing over everything else.

No matter how precious a top-grade potion might be, it wouldn’t match Luna’s Combat Healing Talent that would shine later.

Indeed, what could be more valuable than owing one’s life?

As my thoughts deepened, I rather had strange thoughts about Milia.

A suspicion that I might be looking at the situation too optimistically to think that Milia fell for me at first sight. Or that she likes me.

Looking at her now, the fluttering in my chest had completely disappeared.

“Han Chunsung. Where are you going after the cafe?”

When Milia suddenly spoke to me, I was greatly surprised.

“After the cafe?”

“Yes. After spending time at the cafe. We still have a lot of time left. Luna and I don’t have anything planned, so. If it’s okay with you, would you like to go to the training ground together?”

At this unexpected suggestion, I couldn’t understand her intentions even more. But ironically, it matched my purpose perfectly.

Whether I built a friendship with the two or not, the place I was planning to go afterwards was the C-class training ground.

‘It would be best if I could use Kali’s personal practice room, but…’

I would have to talk to Kali more to know if I could go there again. It wasn’t a space I could freely enter and leave as I pleased.

Organizing my thoughts, I smiled brightly.

“I’m really grateful you say that. I was originally planning to go to the training ground. So Luna… how about it? Will you come along?”

As I casually addressed Luna, she frowned noticeably for a moment, but when I kept looking at her, she didn’t avoid my gaze.

“…Alright. Let’s do that.”

Luna reluctantly nodded and gave me a direct answer.

‘Is this real…?’

What had seemed like a possibility or something uncertain now became a certainty.

If I prioritized Luna, at least the possibility of developing a non-hostile relationship with her had arisen.

Then I might one day receive the cheat-like healing effects of Combat Healing.

“Wow. I’ve never seen Luna answer another student so calmly before.”

As Milia spoke in surprise, I couldn’t help but smile.

‘It really is unexpected.’

Even in the vast content of the original work, Luna conversing with others could be said to start only from the middle to late parts.

Communication with Luna, which I thought was only possible for Milia or Leonhardt, now seemed possible for me too.

“Then shall we get up now? I think we’ve eaten enough dessert.”

The desserts in front of each of us were already more than half gone.

My apple pie and chocolate dessert were in a state where I could say I had finished them, and they didn’t seem to have much lingering attachment to their desserts either.

“Okay. Then let’s go straight to the training ground. I’m so curious about Han Chunsung’s level 4 Talent.”

“…Sigh. Fine.”

Seeing Luna accepting with a sigh, unlike Milia who answered brightly, I made up my mind.

For now, I’ll maintain an appropriate distance from Milia.

That thought solidified.

Of course…

If Milia really had feelings for me, my thoughts might change,

But for now, improving my relationship with Luna was the urgent priority.

***

C-class training ground.

As Chunsung’s group entered the training ground, many students were already focused on their own training inside.

As she looked at this carefully, Milia unconsciously swallowed the sigh that was about to burst out.

‘Haah….’

Her mood kept feeling strange.

It seemed she was realizing again how unpleasant it could be when things didn’t flow as she intended.

And today especially, that unpleasant feeling was particularly strong.

Her gaze went to her side.

“…”

There was Han Chunsung, looking at Luna instead of her.

The more she looked at Han Chunsung, the more her heart gradually sank.

‘As expected…. He’s looking at Luna.’

In the end.

The thought that it had turned out like this filled her heart like an invasion.

Luna was pretty. Anyone could see she was beautiful and charming. Even she as another woman felt that way.

…Still, I liked it for a moment.

When Han Chunsung first approached, he was only looking at me.

He seemed to intentionally not give Luna any attention. When I answered warmly and responded to his words, he gave me even more attention. Does this man know how excited I was at that moment?

A student with the unusual name ‘Han Chunsung’.

Both that name and face were familiar.

Even as I headed towards Luna’s call looking for me, I unconsciously took in Han Chunsung’s appearance.

An exotic yet unique appearance.

Different from all other students.

It was the first time a man had caught my eye like this at first glance.

And that… strangely entered my heart and my sight.

In the next day’s lecture, and even in today’s lecture, I found myself looking at him without realizing.

And then….

I was shocked to hear a completely unexpected rumor.

ㅡUnprecedented.

Along with reaching Talent level 4 on the day of the entrance ceremony, he achieved a draw in a duel with the top student Leonhardt.

When I learned that this completely unbelievable rumor was true, I thought I had to become friends with this man Han Chunsung somehow.

Apart from my personal feelings. These extraordinary feelings for this man….

A reason arose that I absolutely had to become close to this man.

Because I can’t move forward just by acting together with Luna.

My Talent simply won’t evolve. No matter how hard I try and try.

Moreover, my connections within the academy don’t change at all. Whether I like it or not, I’ve become tied to Luna and am always with her.

It’s not that I dislike Luna. I like Luna as much as she likes me, but….

But if I can’t move forward, it’s meaningless.

As much as Luna will shine in the future. I won’t be able to be by such a Luna’s side.

ㅡLevel 1 Talent.

A Talent that doesn’t increase meant the worst.

So I thought the direction I should go, my goal, everything had an answer in this man Han Chunsung.

‘Talent level 4….’

I, who was still only level 1, had to know how Han Chunsung evolved his Talent.

As I calmed my heart and faced reality, seeing Han Chunsung looking at Luna.

Suddenly Han Chunsung’s head turned towards me.

“……”
“……”

And our eyes met.

As those black eyes with a faint tinge of red stared into my eyes, it felt like my breath stopped for a moment.

Something….
This man was clearly different somehow.

“Milia. Why are you suddenly so quiet? Are you nervous after entering the training ground?”

As he casually smiled and spoke to me lightly.

Thump!

Just from that appearance, my heart….

Beat fiercely, as if beyond my will.