There wasn’t the slightest trace of regret in Cherrya for her actions, nor any pride in having saved Kane.
It was as if she had done something entirely ordinary—her voice carried the same tone as one would use to talk about a mundane part of their day.
“Why overthink when it’s about saving your own? The more you think, the slower you act.”
Kane couldn’t comprehend it. How could someone be like this?
To Kane, Cherrya was a type of person he had never encountered before.
Even Enoch, who had treated Kane, a commoner, without discrimination, had done so out of sheer indifference.
It wasn’t that he didn’t distinguish between nobles and commoners—it was that no one meant anything to him at all.
“Don’t you think you could act more efficiently if you thought things through first, Cherrya?”
“Nope. If you just go ahead and do it, you’ll figure out how to clean up the mess later.”
“That’s exactly why people say you’re reckless.”
“So what if I am? I’m alive and well, aren’t I?”
“Hah… That’s so you.”
“What do you mean ‘so me’? Do you even know me?”
“How could I not?”
Watching Enoch and Cherrya bicker, Kane couldn’t help but notice it.
Just as Cherrya had become someone special to him, she was clearly someone special to Enoch too.
Kane had quietly admired Enoch Gray all throughout their time at the academy.
Enoch’s cool-headed judgment and brilliant strategic mind were things Kane admired—they were what he himself valued and aspired to.
Naturally, Kane had set his sights on Enoch Gray, who was leagues ahead of him.
But at this very moment, the simplicity Cherrya embodied, her straightforward actions devoid of hesitation, was drawing Kane in like a powerful current.
He wanted to be by her side and charge toward his goal—without overthinking it.
“Anyway, Kane, you’re mine now. I risked my life to save you, so that makes you mine.”
“Haah… Cherrya, you make it sound like he’s some kind of object…”
Enoch let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
“There’s something you don’t know. Kane wants to join the Gray Knights.”
“What? Don’t be ridiculous. What’s so great about the Gray Knights that he’d want to join them?”
“Me.”
“What?”
“Isn’t it obvious he’d want to join to be near me?”
“Where does that confidence even come from? Didn’t you see how cool I was saving Kane in the Carmedan Jungle?”
“And I’m the one who saved you.”
“Hey, let’s get the story straight! You just fell with me, that’s all! And I’m the one who got us out of there, remember?”
Though they were fighting over Kane, there was no real animosity between Emblem and Gray. The smiles playing on their lips made that perfectly clear.
“Why don’t we ask Kane directly, then? Before you showed up, which knight order did Kane want to join?”
“Fine. Let’s ask. Kane, do you really want to join the Gray Knights?”
Cherrya and Enoch both turned their eyes to Kane.
“I…”
Normally, Kane wouldn’t have hesitated to declare, right here and now, that he intended to join the Gray Knights.
That would’ve been the clearest way to make Cherrya Emblem give up on him once and for all.
But now, he just couldn’t bring himself to say the words.
Reading that hesitation, Cherrya let out a long sigh, realizing Enoch had been telling the truth.
“Wow, so it’s true? You were actually trying to join the Gray Knights?”
She shot a deadly glare at Enoch, clearly annoyed to no end.
Enoch simply shrugged, as if to say, ‘Go ahead, try convincing him.’
Grinding her teeth, Cherrya strode up to Kane.
Kane felt himself tense up with every step she took closer.
“You. That day—you just ran straight in to save the students trapped in that hallucination, didn’t you?”
Kane flinched.
Because of his reckless action that day, both Cherrya and Enoch had been put in danger.
Kane had regretted it ever since, lowering his head without saying a word.
“I knew it. You’re one of us Emblems. Our people aren’t stupid—we just follow what our hearts tell us is right.”
She gave him a couple of firm pats on the shoulder, like she was saying everything was okay.
“So you did good. I already had my eye on you before, but after that day, I ended up liking you even more.”
“.……!”
“Judging from how you’re hesitating, I’m guessing you haven’t officially joined the Gray Knights yet. Since there’s still time until graduation, can you at least consider it? I think I’ve earned the right to ask for that much.”
“……Yes.”
Satisfied even with Kane’s barely audible reply, Cherrya brushed past him.
Then, raising her voice, she called out brightly as she approached the Emblem knights nearby.
“I’m back! No one’s hurt, right?”
“Waaaaaah! Commander!”
“Cherryaaaaaaa!!!”
The Emblem knights rushed toward her like a wave, flinging themselves into her arms.
“Ugh, gross! Back off!”
“We missed you so much!!!”
“We heard you couldn’t even open your eyes—what the hell happened!?”
“Exactly! That’s what I’ve been saying! You were knocked out and carried out of that hellhole Carmedan jungle! That place is seriously cursed!”
The training ground was instantly filled with chaos.
Just moments ago, Cherrya had been sharp and confrontational with Kane, but now that fierce demeanor had vanished entirely.
Even the big, brawny knights were clinging to her like a bunch of kids.
“Anyway, nobody’s hurt, right? You better not be. Unless you wanna run 100 laps around the training ground.”
At those words, two of the knights flinched.
Before her sharp glare could even reach them, the two immediately bolted—beginning their laps around the training grounds at full speed.
Watching them dash off, Cherrya turned to Jack and asked.
“How are Marty and Gallad?”
“Marty got clawed by a monster, and Gallad took a hit on his back.”
“Tch.”
Clicking her tongue in disapproval, Cherrya lightly tapped Jack and Lucas.
“Go grab those two again. I brought ointment that’s good for monster poison—figured we’d need it.”
“Gasp—Commander, are you going to apply it yourself?”
“Of course. They’re my people.”
At Cherrya’s warm words, a wave of emotion swept through the Emblem knights.
“Actually, I think I got a scratch right here!”
“Me too! My calves are aching like crazy!”
“Ugh, my back, my back…”
Without any cue, the knights all began shouting over one another, each claiming some injury.
Cherrya burst into laughter at the sight.
“You know I’m going to make them run laps after putting on the ointment, right? Anyone else wanna join them?”
“Nope! I didn’t even get touched by a monster!”
“My calves? Oh, just sore muscles. They’ll be fine after some rest!”
“Haha! My back’s in perfect shape! Yep! Nothing like a strong back on a man!”
The same knights who had just been whining moments ago now shook their heads firmly, faces suddenly full of determination.
Some even flexed their biceps in exaggerated displays of health, trying to show off.
Cherrya grinned at them all.
“Alright, alright. Put those creepy muscles away, Senior Henry.”
“Creepy…? Really?”
Still smiling, Cherrya made her way toward the knights doing their laps, with the rest of the Emblem squad trailing closely behind.
Kane could only stand there, staring blankly at her back.
Noticing this, Enoch let out a quiet chuckle and gave Kane a couple of light pats on the back.
“Go.”
“Huh?”
“I said go.”
“But I’m with Gray…”
“Emblem could use a knight with a good head on their shoulders too.”*
Did Enoch somehow already know what Kane himself hadn’t yet realized?
Giving him a gentle push toward the Emblem squad, Enoch added.
“Go be Emblem’s strategist. That’s what Cherrya needs most.”
As soon as Enoch said that, Kane, as if in a trance, began walking toward the Emblem knights.
It didn’t take long before his hesitant steps turned into a full run.
🍓; *Meaning a knight who is not only brave but also intelligent, practical, and makes wise decisions. The speaker is implying that Emblem could benefit from such a person.
YAYYY THANLS FOR THE CHAPTERS!!!