Chapter 135 (2) - A Depressed Kendo Player Possesses a Bastard Aristocrat |
***
As the pitch-black night passed and the world awoke to morning, the rays of light that came through the curtains tickled my eyelids.
I frowned at the bright sunlight, but eventually, I opened my heavy eyes and greeted the day.
Perhaps because I was still drowsy, my consciousness was blurred as if it were covered in fog.
As I was rubbing my forehead due to the headache that never failed to come, I felt a warm breath against my chest.
“...Ah.”
Brown hair flickered into my blurry vision.
I belatedly pulled myself together.
The moment I woke up, my body stiffened.
Rachel was asleep, nestled against me.
Her clear, bright eyes were hidden behind her eyelids, and her rosy lips were pressed together in a small pout.
Her slender breaths were quiet and shallow.
The girl looked like a gently swaying bush in the early morning light.
“…”
I stared at Rachel, mesmerized.
The sight of her, sound asleep with her face buried in my chest, was as beautiful as a painting.
It was like looking at a serene landscape.
Peaceful, cool, and quiet.
I wished this moment could last forever.
However, the moment that seemed like it would last forever did not last long.
‘No, wait a minute…’
Rather, it was because of the rather problematic position we were in.
Perhaps because we had tossed and turned during the night, our bodies were pressed close together.
Naturally, this meant that there was a lot of surface area in contact with each other.
As a result, I was acutely aware of certain…curvaceous areas that were best left undescribed.
It felt a little dangerous.
‘Why are we lying like this…?’
I remembered pulling Rachel into bed with me.
But I distinctly remembered her saying she would go back after I fell asleep, so why were we sleeping together?
After racking my sleep-addled brain for a moment, I soon found the answer.
When I glanced down, I saw my arm wrapped around her.
I was holding her so tightly that there was no way she could have moved.
She must have fallen asleep like that.
‘…This is driving me crazy.’
What had I done last night?
Shame flooded me, and my face burned.
Even if I had been tired and out of my mind, I should have had some self-control.
I wanted to pull my hair out, but I held back because I didn’t want to wake Rachel.
“Haa…”
With a sigh, I slowly pulled my arm away and carefully sat up.
Thankfully, Rachel didn’t wake up.
My legs wobbled as I got out of bed and stood up.
Rachel was the only one left on the bed, her hair tousled and her breathing shallow.
I straightened her out and pulled the covers up to her chin.
Even in sleep, she was captivating.
I almost lost myself in her beauty again, but I tore my gaze away and turned my back.
My mind was in turmoil after the events of the previous day. I needed some time to clear my head.
Muttering to myself, I started to get ready to go to the training grounds.
***
“Yo, you maniac!”
A grating voice pierced my ears.
I was lying on the training ground floor, drenched in sweat, when I heard someone call out to me. I lifted my head, my gaze traveling toward the source of the voice.
Standing there was the Golden Boy.
He was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, a smirk on his face.
When our eyes met, his smirk widened.
“…Golden Boy.”
“You’re here again today, I see?”
He glanced around as if he was expecting someone else, then plopped down next to me.
I frowned at his sudden attempt at familiarity, but he just grinned.
“That speech yesterday was amazing. I almost shed a tear, it was so moving.”
“Stop exaggerating…”
“I’m serious! I bet everyone else was touched, too. And Sentinel? What a cool name.”
“Hmm.”
Sentinel.
It was a bit cheesy, but it wasn’t bad.
It had a nice ring to it.
I nodded slowly.
“Well, I’m glad you liked it.”
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, forming a group like that, but… I support you.”
“What are you talking about? You’re in it, too.”
“Huh?”
Golden Boy blinked at me, his expression blank.
Where did this guy keep his brain?
I sighed, exasperated.
“You’re in Sentinel.”
“I’ve never heard anything about that?”
“Of course you haven’t. I never said anything.”
“…”
“You got a problem with that?”
I raised an eyebrow at him, my tone challenging.
He was a valuable asset, after all.
Objectively speaking, he was strong enough to win against me once or twice out of ten matches.
There would be times in the future when we would need to use force.
He would definitely be helpful then.
And if he wanted to survive in this savage world, it would be better for him to be part of a group than to be on his own.
…It wasn’t like I was bringing him in because I was worried about him or anything.
Really. I swear.
“Hey, teacher! What gives you the right to decide this without even asking me?”
“Become a noble if you don’t like it.”
“According to the Academy’s rules, all students are equal!”
“Oh my God. There really is an idiot who actually believes that.”
“Damn it…”
Golden Boy pouted.
I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
“It won’t be so bad being in Sentinel,” I said, trying to placate him.
“It might be a bit of a pain, but there will be benefits.”
“…Benefits?”
“Yeah, benefits.”
“Like what?”
His eyes gleamed with interest.
I chuckled.
“I’ll make you stronger. I’ll be your sparring partner every day. I’ll beat you black and blue until you’re a weapon no one wants to mess with…”
“Do you want to die?!”
He didn't fall for it.