A Strange Longing

Since the penalty for continuing the battle was small, I was able to wake up the next day.

The smell of disinfectant at the tip of my nose told me this was a hospital room, even without opening my eyes.

Probably, when I fainted and collapsed, Lykan-nim moved me to the hospital room.

I raised my upper body and stretched vigorously. Even though I received a penalty, I belatedly felt a sense of accomplishment that I had finished the training as promised.

As I was wearing a satisfied smile, the curtain of the next bed suddenly opened.

Chwaak-

My head naturally turned. As my eyes met with brown eyes, I swallowed hard without realizing it.

,I thought you’d be waking up soon.”

At Lykan-nim’s words, I sighed. It was an uneasy start from the beginning.

Lykan-nim, who got out of bed while twitching his imposing muscles, suddenly came to my bed and knelt down abruptly.

,This Lykan-nim, is moved!”

Lykan-nim’s shout made the hospital ward’s windows vibrate. The remaining sleepiness disappeared as if hit by cold water, and I belatedly came to my senses.

,What are you doing….”

,I didn’t realize your determination to aim for strength beyond your talent, enduring bone-scraping pain!”

Did he eat something alcoholic, or am I dreaming? Either way, it’s a situation I don’t like.

Lykan-nim’s brown eyes shone like lights. A burdensome gaze, a gaze that seemed to expect something from me.

Instinctively, I thought it would be annoying, so I tried to say something, but Lykan-nim’s words were faster than I could open my mouth. Unlike his appearance, is he a chatterbox?

,So I decided too! I’ve decided to take you as my true disciple. While you were asleep, I planned the training schedule at the highest intensity to match your determination. I promise the best efficiency in a short period of time!”

,No, what the… bullshit….”

Could it be that I succeeded in running around the training ground 30 times, and that’s why he’s doing this? While I was stammering in embarrassment, Lykan-nim, not hearing my words, said with a pleased expression.

,There’s no need to be so moved. Rather, your sincerity is making me burn with passion for the first time in a while. I’ve never felt like this before. Hahahahaha!!!”

I desperately calculated in my head. To escape this misunderstanding, I felt like I had to slap Lykan-nim’s cheek right away.

I reflexively raised my hand, but I soon regained my reason. The muscles boasting their presence under Lykan-nim’s clothes greatly helped me regain my reason.

,What do you mean by suddenly taking me as a disciple? And you raised the training to the highest intensity… to someone who just fainted and woke up from training….”

Lykan-nim got up from his seat. Then, without permission, he abruptly put his hand on my shoulder. I could feel the countless calluses embedded in his thick hand.

Lykan-nim smiled and said.

,Don’t worry. It’s a perfect training schedule that even calculates for you fainting. With that level of mental strength, you’ll definitely be able to keep up even if you faint dozens of times.”

,No, isn’t that the problem? You’re saying I have to faint dozens of times… it’s like torture, not training.”

I looked at Lykan-nim, who was talking as if fainting was natural, with an absurd expression. Instead, he tilted his head as if he didn’t understand my words.

,Hmm? Was my explanation insufficient? To put it simply, it’s to make you strong in a short period of time. Wasn’t your purpose for getting training from me to grow as much as possible during the vacation?”

,…I guess so.”

Somehow, I felt like I was being swayed by Lykan-nim even as I answered. Is it because he’s a professor for nothing? Even if I wanted to add something to Lykan-nim’s words that hit the nail on the head, I ended up closing my mouth.

Even though I knew it would be difficult, I was the one who decided to receive Lykan-nim’s training during the vacation. The determination to become stronger and protect what is precious to me is deeply embedded in my heart so that I can never forget it.

,And if you become my disciple, I’m thinking of sharing our family’s vision.”

The last hesitation remaining in my heart disappeared at Lykan-nim’s continued words. I must accept this.

In fact, I don’t know what the family’s vision that Lykan-nim mentioned is. However, Lykan-nim is set to be the strongest professor in terms of force in the academy.

If it’s Lykan-nim’s vision, it will be of great help to me, even if I don’t know what it is.

,That’s a good look in your eyes. As expected, a man should desire strength. Keu keu keu.”

I got out of bed and knelt down in front of Lykan-nim, who was saying lines that an evil villain would say.

,Can you promise? That if I become a disciple, I will become stronger.”

I was short on time. If the power of destruction didn’t work on the clergy, I had to develop my own strength.

The reason why I, who was still below the academy average, ended up killing Dwin was by using the Berserker’s power that I had drawn out using the Geass.

If I can’t utilize tools, then develop my own strength. That was the conclusion I came to while spending time in this penalty.

Lykan-nim, who was looking down at me, sat down on the floor. After matching my eye level, Lykan-nim, who gave an unknown smile, said.

,I can’t promise.”

When I made an uncomprehending expression at those words, Lykan-nim added with a pleasant smile.

,I haven’t heard your goal of strength yet.”

Goal.

For some reason, that word greatly touched my heart. My heart beats wildly on its own. I can know what I want through the beating of my heart.

I know it’s impossible. In the setting, no matter how hard I try, I will never be able to reach it.

That’s why I yearn even more. Like a pathetic moth wanting to reach the sun above the sky, not the fire in front of me. I am Roel, so I cannot give up my old wish.

,I want to surpass Roel.”

Lykan-nim was silent for a moment after hearing my answer. Lykan-nim, who had been staring at me intently, finally nodded in satisfaction.

,Yes, a man should have that kind of goal.”

Lykan-nim got up from his seat. He looked down at me, who was kneeling, with a smile and asked.

,Do you know that Roel has already reached the realm of the Transcendent?”

At Lykan-nim’s words, I frowned. It is true that Roel is a munchkin in the setting. But it wasn’t simply that he was a munchkin from the beginning, but rather a growing munchkin.

Roel becomes a Transcendent after this winter vacation ends. Could it be that a new variable has arisen?

Seeing my hardened expression, Lykan-nim said in a low voice.

,The week you were passed out in the ward. During that time, Roel reached the realm of the Transcendent on his own. Until now, no student at the academy has achieved such rapid achievement. No, I should say he is the youngest Transcendent on the continent.”

My wildly beating heart began to slow down. A familiar emotion surged up from the bottom of my emotions. I unknowingly gritted my teeth at the deep sense of defeat that subdued my heart.

It’s miserable. While I was trying to reach the average, Roel became a Transcendent in just one week.

Is this the difference in class? Can a dull person never surpass a genius?

,But I believe that you can also reach the realm of the Transcendent.”

My heart flinched at Lykan-nim’s words. At first, I thought it was a comforting lie. But there was a strong belief in Lykan-nim’s gaze looking at me.

,There is something that you are the only one who can compare to Roel. That is, an indomitable spirit. Although you were much slower than Roel, you eventually ran around the training ground 30 times. If it’s you, you will eventually be able to reach the Transcendent. I can promise you that.”

I burst out laughing at Lykan-nim’s appearance of holding out his thick pinky finger. Did he underestimate experience? His skill in handling students was extraordinary.

Okay, let’s admit it. It was a stupid thought.

There was no need to fall into despair just because I couldn’t surpass Roel in an instant. I shouldn’t confuse the reason why I made Roel my goal of strength.

Protecting what is precious.

That was my true goal.

,Then, I look forward to working with you.”

I said that and bowed my head. Lykan-nim made an awkward expression and slightly turned his gaze out the window and asked.

,Ahem, so you’ve decided to become my disciple?”

,…Yes. Well, yeah.”

Did he want to receive confirmation from my mouth? When I answered with a sullen expression, Lykan-nim wiped his nose for some reason, as if he was embarrassed.

,Ahem! Then… try calling me that once.”

,Yes?”

,You know, what a disciple calls.”

I felt a strange longing at Lykan-nim’s appearance of pretending not to know and feigning ignorance, and said.

,Are you perhaps talking about ‘Master’?”

,Pfft.“

,…?”

I heard a deflating sound that was hard to believe came from the mouth of Lykan-nim, who is a mass of muscles. Do people want to hear the word ‘Master’ when they get older?

Lykan-nim must have heard the word ‘Professor’ a lot. It’s an unknowable thing.

Lykan-nim coughed in vain, perhaps because he was embarrassed.

,Ahem! I want to harshly teach my disciple starting today, but I have to bring training supplies from the family, and there is a guest waiting for you outside the door since yesterday, so I will leave for today.”

With a pleasant smile, Lykan-nim patted my shoulder and left the hospital room. I scratched my head lightly and got up from my seat, and the guest that Lykan-nim mentioned came to my mind, so I approached the door.

Who could the guest be? Is it Estelle?

Before I could reach for the doorknob, the hospital room door burst open without warning.

The moment I met the eyes of the guest who came to find me, I forgot to breathe for a moment.

,Hello, Roel. Are you okay?”

Ellie asked, her obsidian-like eyes shining with concern.