Chapter 74

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Time flew by in a blur.

From dawn until evening, Eugene always felt like he was racing against the clock. 

Between the academy’s rigorous curriculum and his relentless self-training after hours, his days seemed to vanish in an instant.

As the weekend loomed closer, he worked hard to calm the anticipation swelling in his chest. He knew if he didn’t focus on his training, time would crawl unbearably slowly. 

To stave off impatience, he pushed himself harder than ever, driving his body to its limits.

Angelica’s return to the academy had been a welcome development in that regard.

No offense to the substitute teacher, but their training sessions had been far too lenient.

The summoned creatures used for practice were pitifully weak compared to Angelica’s golems, and the intensity of the sessions couldn’t even compare.

This wasn’t due to the substitute teacher’s lack of skill or teaching ability—far from it. As the assistant instructor of Class D, a group notorious for its troublemakers, their competence was unquestionable. 

The issue was Eugene himself.

Eugene had grown far too strong.

Having stepped into the threshold of awakening, he now possessed strength rivaling that of active heroes. 

Not just any heroes, but those capable of standing against high rank monsters. For the substitute to effectively teach Eugene, they’d have to go all out—something impractical in a classroom setting with other students to manage.

Angelica, however, was a different story.

A fully awakened supernatural, someone nearly akin to a god, she was leagues beyond Eugene, who had only just begun to tap into awakening. Providing Eugene with specialized training while still accommodating other students was hardly a challenge for her.

Thanks to her, Eugene could engage with the lessons without boredom creeping in.

Her relentless, unforgiving sessions left no room for complacency. By the time class ended, he was too exhausted to entertain any stray thoughts.

And so, time marched on. The sun rose, set, and rose again.

By the time two days had passed, the calendar marked the start of the weekend in red.

During the preceding days, Eugene and Lucia hadn’t talked much about their weekend plans.

Eugene wasn’t one to chatter excessively, and Lucia, despite her sunny disposition, had a quiet and reserved side. Their conversations had been brief and ordinary, with no mention of the upcoming meeting.

At one point, Eugene had even begun to worry if Lucia had forgotten.

But he couldn’t bring himself to ask her about it. He was too embarrassed.

Lucia, of course, wasn’t the type to forget something she’d initiated.

Eugene pulled out a crumpled note he’d reread so many times it had nearly worn thin.

Lucia had handed it to him after class the previous day.

In her neat, delicate handwriting, she’d written the time and place of their meeting.

“Cherry Blossom Festival…”

Eugene let out a faint chuckle.

He’d gone once as a child with Yui.

He still remembered the breathtaking sight of pink petals fluttering in the wind.

Yui had loved flowers—not just any one type, but all of them. She’d even memorized their names from books.

Perhaps that’s why Eugene had developed a fondness for flowers as well, though now they brought back too many memories of Yui, making him avoid them altogether.

But he couldn’t live in the past forever.

Eugene carefully folded the note and tucked it into his pocket. Though there was still time before their meeting, he resolved to leave early. 

Waiting for her would be far better than keeping her waiting.

Standing in front of the mirror, Eugene frowned at his reflection.

“Is this really the right outfit for today?”

A school uniform didn’t seem fitting for such an occasion, but Eugene had no other options. 

He’d never cared about fashion. As long as clothes were practical and comfortable, that was all that mattered to him. Unsurprisingly, his wardrobe lacked anything suitable for going out.

He couldn’t possibly show up in athletic gear.

Regret washed over him. He should’ve prepared in advance, but it was too late now.

After some deliberation, he settled on the uniform as his best choice.

Before leaving, Eugene glanced at his desk, where his sword lay—a custom-made weapon provided by the academy.

He rarely parted with it, but today was an exception.

After all, he wasn’t going to battle—he was going to meet Lucia.

Though… this was essentially a date, wasn’t it?

Shaking off the thought, Eugene grabbed a small dagger he kept as a backup weapon and tucked it into his uniform pocket. 

Angelica’s advice lingered in his mind—better to be prepared just in case.

His destination was the park in District 4, where the Cherry Blossom Festival was held.

Since the academy was in District 2, it would take about an hour by bus.

The meeting time was 9:00 a.m. sharp, but Eugene wasn’t worried. They’d agreed to meet at the academy’s main gate, so he had plenty of time.

As he fiddled with the note in his pocket, Eugene couldn’t help but recall Lucia’s shy smile when she handed it to him.

A smile crept onto his face.

She could’ve just told him directly, but maybe she’d been nervous too.

The thought made him feel even closer to her.

With a light heart, Eugene left the dormitory.

The weather was perfect—clear skies with not a cloud in sight.

Just looking at the blue expanse above made him feel free and alive.

The warm sunlight streamed down gently, and a refreshing breeze brushed past his collar.

Eugene walked lightly towards the academy’s main gate. 

Though the distance from the dormitory to the gate was considerable, his leisurely pace carried him there before he even realized it.

Luckily, he arrived before Lucia. Feeling glad about his early arrival, Eugene smiled softly. His chest was filled with a sense of excitement that made him smile without realizing it.

He checked his wristwatch—15 minutes to the meeting time. It wasn’t much of a wait. As he thought about how quickly the time would pass, he absentmindedly looked up at the blue sky.

“Eugene?”

A clear, melodious voice rang out.

Eugene’s head slowly lowered. Turning in the direction of the voice, he found himself unconsciously parting his lips slightly.

Lucia was approaching, waving her hand energetically.

Without realizing it, Eugene’s eyes quickly scanned her appearance.

She wore a simple white shirt. The oversized fit allowed the hem to flutter slightly with each step.

Her black skinny jeans clung to her, outlining her curves and legs.

Her hair, tied up into a high ponytail, swayed rhythmically with her movements.

Though her outfit was nothing extravagant, seeing Lucia in casual clothes for the first time captivated Eugene, making it hard for him to look away.

Not wearing her school uniform transformed her in his eyes. The mere change in attire made everything about her seem new and refreshing.

“You’re early. Have you been waiting long?”

“Ah, no… I just got here, too.”

A sudden wave of self-consciousness washed over Eugene.

Why hadn’t he thought to prepare casual clothes in advance?

Wearing his school uniform on a day like this felt careless and lazy.

But his embarrassment was short-lived. His heart beat louder, drowning out any other emotions.

Lucia was smiling brightly. Her flushed cheeks showed a faint hint of excitement, and seeing her like this made Eugene open his trembling lips to speak. 

Though no words immediately came to mind, he clumsily pieced together his thoughts.

“Lucia, your outfit really sui—”

“Let’s hurry! Alice is really looking forward to this!”

“…?”

Eugene’s words trailed off unfinished. Only then did he notice the girl behind Lucia, previously obscured from view.

This was a mistake Eugene wouldn’t normally make. But Lucia in casual attire had completely absorbed his attention, leading to this lapse.

A girl in a yellow dress clung to Lucia’s sleeve as she toddled closer.

It was Alice. She glanced shyly at Eugene before leaning into Lucia’s side.

Feeling a wave of confusion, Eugene alternated between looking at Lucia and Alice.

Then, a realization struck him.

Lucia had never once mentioned meeting alone.

And she certainly hadn’t said anything about this being a date.

“…”

A strange sense of emptiness filled Eugene.

Lucia, oblivious to his inner turmoil, simply smiled her radiant smile.

Eugene forced a smile in return, though his lips trembled slightly as he did so. His smile felt hollow.

◈

Great, the first step was a success!

I couldn’t hide my inner satisfaction and found myself grinning like a fool.

I had put a lot of thought into this.

Where would be the best place to strengthen their bond?

After much deliberation, I settled on a spot that held meaning for Eugene and promised a fresh experience for Alice.

The cherry blossom festival.

Eugene had fond memories of attending one with his younger sister in the past.

Revisiting it with Alice would undoubtedly stir emotions in him.

As for Alice, she likely hadn’t attended such a festival since she was very young. It would be an exciting, new experience for her. Even I thought it was a perfect idea.

Lately, Alice had seemed downcast, and I’d been worried about her. She hadn’t seemed thrilled when I initially suggested going out, but as the day arrived, she appeared a little excited. 

Was it because she’d be spending time with Eugene?

Recently, I’d caught her stealing glances at him. Yep, she was definitely interested in him.

I don’t know what sparked this change, but… hey, she’s the main heroine!

Still, Alice seemed shy and stuck close to me. That’s okay. I understand. Later, I’ll make sure to give her and Eugene some time alone. Then she can gather her courage!

Eugene seemed happy about Alice joining as well. Judging by his small smile, he probably appreciated her presence. I understand.

Alice resembled his late sister. Even if he knew they were different people, he couldn’t help but be reminded of her.

Eugene should be thanking me for setting this all up!

I’d kept it a surprise, and judging by his reaction, that was the right call. He looked so genuinely pleased, it warmed my heart.

Everything was going smoothly.

But honestly, I’d been a bit worried.

In the original story, Eugene occasionally missed appointments—not intentionally, but because he’d mix up the location or time and end up in the wrong place.

This quirk often led to unexpected encounters or events, but right now, such chaos wasn’t needed.

So this time, I made sure to write down all the details and give him a note.

If Eugene showed up late or didn’t come, Alice might misunderstand and feel disappointed.

After all, while I know Eugene’s quirks, Alice doesn’t.

All right, let’s get going.

The day is just starting! The “date” has officially begun!

 

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Eugene was fooled (Insert a surprised meerkat image here).

Alice felt better.

She was wearing the one-piece dress Lucia bought her!

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
If you have realized it by now, your brain is not deceiving you. The chapters are getting shorter… 

Well, I do feel bad but… ehe.

Hmm, maybe I’ll do a special upload schedule increase? No idea. I still can’t really keep up with the idea of 3-4 uploads per day.