Chapter 69: Advice from a Life Senior

“By any chance… are you going out with Rohan?”

“!?”

Clara’s head, which had been tilted downwards, shot up.

Both of them felt that this was probably the first time they had looked directly at each other like this.

“As your assigned instructor, I have no intention of interfering with a cadet’s love life. I’m aware that it can be good motivation.”

“Uh…!”

Even though Juyeon said that, Clara’s agitation didn’t subside.

So, she hastily added more words.

“It’s simply curiosity. You were with Rohan at the bookstore and during this incident. You two seemed particularly close.”

“Going out means… d-dating… right? M-M-M… Me and Rohan… oppa…?”

“That’s right. While there could be other interpretations, the meaning I’m asking about is that one.”

After finishing her sentence, Juyeon walked calmly towards the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.

She brought back a cool juice, and the girl was fiddling with her hair with a flushed face.

She used the offered juice more to cool her heated cheeks than to drink it.

“I’m… n-not d-dating… oppa…”

Although denying it, her voice trailed off as if caught on something. Her fingers fidgeted nervously, and her body twisted like a pretzel.

Clara’s actions were so transparent that even Juyeon, who knew nothing about love, could understand at a glance.

A pleased smile formed on her face.

She sincerely began to cheer for the budding love the girl harbored.

“I see. I’ll be cheering for you from afar, hoping for a good outcome.”

“…!”

“Rohan seems to have a constitution that attracts trouble, strangely enough. It wouldn’t be good for him to be alone, even outside the Academy.”

Of course, having a man and a woman together in the Academy dormitory was out of the question.

Since the times were so chaotic, if there was a capable girl like Clara at the bookstore where Rohan worked, Juyeon would feel a little more at ease.

At that answer.

The girl was amazed.

Ah!

Juyeon hadn’t thought her words of encouragement were anything special.

But for the girl, it was a large ripple that cleared away the fears she had secretly harbored.

S-Such a… good person…!

Juyeon’s words were a resounding home run in Clara’s heart.

She held the bestowed juice in both hands as if praying.

“Clara.”

“Yes…!”

“Are there any foods you can’t eat?”

“Anything… too bitter… is difficult.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Clara started to trot after Juyeon as she walked, and Juyeon, after seating Clara at the dining table, opened the refrigerator to check the ingredients.

There’s no meat.

After opening even the vegetable compartment below to check, Juyeon fell into thought.

The ingredients are lacking. If it doesn’t work out, it might be better to order delivery.

She didn’t care about the price. She just wanted to feed them well.

But Juyeon hesitated even with that act.

Because there was one hidden problem in her heart that would please both Rohan and Clara.

Sigh…

A part, the very edge of Juyeon’s desire to feed them both.

That place was buried with a mass of reflection and remorse, making it hard to call it simply virtuous.

Juyeon felt sorry for the two.

Perhaps as heavily as guilt.

Even if imagination and delusion don’t require the other party’s consent, Juyeon couldn’t deny that she was increasingly projecting her lost younger brother onto Rohan.

She kept shaking her head, saying it wasn’t so.

But when Rohan returned from danger today, she could no longer ignore that fact.

That she was receiving Rohan’s help in overcoming a trauma she couldn’t shake off for so long, penetrating her mind through her hardened body, impervious even to medicine.

She could only feel sorry for Clara, who was swept up in these feelings.

Truly… unfit to be an instructor.

Juyeon closed the refrigerator, managed her expression, and then

informed the pale girl who was sitting there sipping her juice.

“It’s embarrassing, but I haven’t been grocery shopping recently. Is it okay if we order dinner for delivery?”

“Oh, of course… it’s okay…!”

“Then, shall we order when Rohan arrives? I don’t know when he’ll be here, though.”

At Juyeon’s words, Clara looked at the smartphone in her hand and smiled bashfully.

An expression that clearly showed who she was communicating with.

Juyeon smiled at that sight and waited for the voice to be heard.

“Oppa says he’s leaving soon…!”

“Hmm, he reports properly to Clara.”

The girl seemed pleased by those words. If Clara had been a Beastkin, her tail would have been wagging and her ears twitching.

It was a feeling she somehow understood.

Gurgle──.

Juyeon brewed coffee, spreading the rich aroma throughout the living room.

She took a steaming mug and a notebook and sat facing Clara.

Now was the time to discuss heavier topics, unlike the earlier small talk.

“And about immigration. Even if it’s sensitive information, I’d like you to answer my questions honestly.”

Clara nodded her head vigorously as if to say she understood.

To Juyeon, the girl seemed less nervous about this topic.

“Which country are you officially registered in?”

“W-Well, I haven’t told oppa about this yet…”

“Don’t worry. I won’t disclose any of Clara’s private information without your consent.”

“Thank you…!”

Her face relaxed after hearing the confirmation. Clara’s voice became clearer.

Satisfied with the newfound strength in her voice, Juyeon opened her notebook.

She clicked her pen, showing the girl she was ready to take notes.

“I’ll ask again. Which country are you officially registered in?”

“Zeno… is the name of the country.”

“You’ve come a long way. It must have been hard.”

Even though Zeno was a small and exclusive country, Juyeon knew about its turbulent internal affairs due to the civil war.

She was aware of most information regarding the political situation between countries.

Even if Zeno thought they were hiding it well, they couldn’t escape the eyes of the powerful nations.

“Did you falsify any information on the documents submitted to the agency? If so, you need to request a correction now.”

“No…!”

“According to Rohan, you’re not a wanted criminal, right?”

“Yes.”

Juyeon continued to ask questions, and Clara answered.

The girl even shared foolish anecdotes, like how she sold the burner phone she brought from Zeno for a pittance and bought the fancy clothes she was wearing now, talking about the time when she didn’t properly understand the value of money.

Juyeon listened with a serious face, without a hint of mockery.

By the time the juice Clara had been sipping was gone,

“Honestly, I have many more questions I want to ask. However, this is enough information for the immigration request, so I won’t pry unnecessarily.”

Juyeon’s gaze shifted towards the weapon Clara had placed beside her.

Truly chaotic times. The power to protect oneself and what one cherished was important.

“…Thank you.”

The girl expressed her gratitude, knowing the meaning behind Juyeon’s words and gaze.

“Lastly, Clara.”

Juyeon spoke in a lower, more serious voice than when they were conversing earlier.

The girl’s gaze met eyes that seemed to flicker with fire.

“If, for instance, the purpose of creating a new identity leads to criminal activity and causes trouble for Academy City, not only the Public Security Bureau but I too will have to take action.”

An air that implied she would truly not forgive her if that happened.

The overwhelming pressure emanating from her made Clara hold her breath.

“That is my responsibility in helping you with this matter. Do you understand?”

“Yes…!”

As Clara nodded without hesitation, Juyeon showed a satisfied curve of her lips, instantly softening the heavy atmosphere.

“I’ll give you my number. Feel free to contact me if any problems arise or if you need advice.”

“!”

At those words, Clara eagerly held out her smartphone with both hands.

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After the heavy topic ended.

While waiting for Rohan, small talk related to Academy City continued between Juyeon and Clara.

The girl tapped her fingernails on the empty juice bottle and spoke what was on her mind.

“Juyeon-nim. I have a concern, would you listen…?”

“If I can be of help, I’ll gladly listen.”

How could someone be so reliable!

Clara felt as if Juyeon would give her amazing advice that would pierce through her naive consciousness.

“W-Well, Zeno, where I lived, has a monogamous culture…”

“My home country, the Three Kingdoms Union, is the same. Most countries are.”

A hope that they might understand each other.

Clara asked Juyeon with sparkling eyes.

“H-Have you…! When you were dating… was the man you were seeing from a polygamous culture?”

“Hmm?”

Why was Clara asking this question? Juyeon derived the answer before even fully considering the question.

She knew where the girl’s interest lay.

Ah, Solaris was like that. And Tigrova too.

Having thoroughly read books about the Southern Region while in charge of Rohan, it came to mind vividly.

Therefore, she decided to be honest.

“I don’t think I can be of much help with that. Unfortunately, I’ve never dated a man before.”

“!!!”

Clara was startled by the fact that Juyeon casually revealed.

For such a beautiful woman to have never been in a relationship, could it be that there was simply no man who caught her eye?

“T-Then…! If the man you meet in the future, Juyeon-nim, is from a polygamous culture, what would you do…?”

“Hmm.”

Juyeon had never focused on romance in her life.

Nevertheless, she felt she should think about it seriously now. The girl in front of her seemed desperate.

Polygamy.

In the first place, Juyeon had never given her heart to a man. Thus, even imagining it wasn’t easy.

She had received many proposals and confessions.

However, Juyeon couldn’t understand the passionate gazes they sent her way.

Polygamy is also ultimately a culture.

Thinking that way brought certain things to mind. Even within the Academy, the instructors came from various countries.

If they could respect the parts they could respect and compromise on the parts that were difficult to understand, they could move forward.

Based on that, Juyeon’s answer was formed.

“The one approaching should understand the culture.”

Similar to Carrot Instructor reserving a Three Kingdoms Union restaurant when inviting her to a meal.

Since Juyeon had never experienced the emotions surrounding romantic relationships, that was all she could compare it to.

“…!”

Clara froze, startled by Juyeon’s answer, which came across as if it were obvious.

The thoughts she had when she met Noa, who was from Tigrova, at the bookstore came to mind. The thoughts were hammered in, deeper than before.

“Let me explain.”

Juyeon explained her thoughts to Clara as if giving a lesson.

A country’s culture is both the pride of its people and the principle behind their actions.

It forms the basis of common sense and values held by individuals.

As she continued her small lesson, using the dining table as a podium,

Ding-dong!

The doorbell rang, requesting someone to open the door.

Rohan was seen peering through the camera, poking his head around.