The Heroine Stole My Regression-Chapter 74

“I probably smell, right? I came straight here after training...”

Trailing off, her expression looked slightly uneasy.

“No, not at all. It’s fine.”

I answered quietly.

Though honestly, it was a problem.

There was a scent—but what touched the tip ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) of my nose wasn’t sweat. It was something subtle and pleasant, softly diffusing through the humid air and messing with my breathing.

Her scent was... stimulating something in me. My condition was already unstable as it was.

Even now, my heartbeat was quickening.

“Really? That’s a relief...”

Yu Hana smiled. Her eyes curved slightly.

That gentle, smiling expression felt unusually close today.

And the way her robe had loosened just a little—

As she leaned forward, the once-neat front shifted, and my gaze kept catching the line that extended down her neckline.

Unconsciously, I turned my eyes away and looked toward the instructor.

“Looks like the teams are finalized.”

We had already submitted the names of our group before returning to our seats.

The screen began to display the fifteen teams, listing four names each.

“Soon, four Gaon Academy students will be randomly assigned to each team.”

Though the screen still showed empty slots, something was clearly about to fill them.

“There’s no need to worry too much. The team formation system is being applied equally to both Kalos and Gaon. We’ve ensured strict fairness.”

Several students nodded at the instructor’s reassurance.

Overall, the teams looked fairly balanced.

No one team stood out as overwhelmingly strong or notably weak.

Except one.

Ju Seojun and Johan.

The two of them had been grouped with Gaon’s rank 11 student, Gail.

On top of that, Gail’s mentor was one of the top-ranked students in Gaon.

A four-man team of all males.

Kalos rank 1 and Gaon rank 2.

On paper, it was clearly the strongest team.

I glanced sideways.

Yu Hana was still sitting upright with a gentle smile, her hands resting neatly on her lap as she turned her gaze toward me. Yoon Chaeha, beside her, was whispering something to Jo Yuri.

‘We’re stronger.’

In terms of potential—and even current ability—we weren’t behind.

“That’s all for today.”

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The instructor wrapped up.

“Dismissed. Starting tomorrow, team-based schedules will begin in earnest. Please gather on time.”

The auditorium filled with the sounds of students standing and chatting in groups.

We stayed seated.

No need to rush.

It was easier to leave once the crowd thinned out.

That’s when I felt a presence approaching.

A relaxed gait—Ju Seojun.

He walked slowly over to Yoon Chaeha, casually raised a hand in greeting.

“Your group turned out alright?”

“Yeah.”

Yoon Chaeha replied flatly, without turning her head.

Ju Seojun didn’t press further. Instead, he shifted naturally toward me and Yu Hana.

“Hello. You’re a mentor, right? I never saw you around before since you were always out.”

He bowed his head respectfully toward me.

Ju Seojun had a good personality. Smooth, polite, never abrasive.

“And... this person is...?”

His eyes shifted to Yu Hana.

Without a word, she neatly adjusted the front of her robe, turned, and gave a slight bow.

“...Yu Hana.”

Expressionless, calm.

Ju Seojun nodded again, then turned back to Yoon Chaeha.

“You ready for the individual match?”

“More or less.”

“You better be. I’m seriously different this time.”

“Mm.”

Short exchange.

Ju Seojun smirked and turned around.

“See you later~”

I watched his retreating back carefully.

‘He’s right.’

It wasn’t an empty boast.

Ju Seojun had definitely grown—remarkably so.

Faster than even she realized.

Since coming to Gaon, Yoon Chaeha had been trying literally everything.

Whatever caught her interest—today this, tomorrow that.

That approach was certainly her, but on the flip side, it meant she'd been neglecting her main field—magic.

And during that same period, Ju Seojun had probably been working non-stop to close that gap.

In a way, maybe this situation could serve as a good trigger for Yoon Chaeha too.

She was always someone who grew when pushed.

“Let’s head out too.”

We quietly stood and left the auditorium.

Outside, twilight had already fallen.

Moonlight shimmered softly through the hallway windows.

“Thanks for today. Let’s work well together from now on.”

Jo Yuri left us with a polite farewell, leading the way ahead.

“See you tomorrow. And... the fish was good today.”

Yoon Chaeha nodded lightly and followed after her.

I lingered behind for a moment, letting out a quiet breath.

That comforting sense of relief—another day safely over. All that was left now was to head home and suppress the internal energy before it spiraled out of control...

And then, beside me, Yu Hana spoke up.

“Hey... Haein.”

I turned to look at her naturally.

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“It’s been a while, but... could you maybe help me train one-on-one?”

There was a quiet hint of anticipation in her voice.

“I gained a few things during closed-door training. I’m not trying to brag or anything, I just... really wanted to show you.”

Her expression entered my view. A bit embarrassed, but her eyes were sincere.

It felt like she just wanted someone to validate her growth.

“It’s not for any reason, really... it’s just that you taught me swordsmanship. I made it this far thanks to you, so I want to show you what I’ve learned.”

Given the state my body was in, I considered declining—but I couldn’t.

Partly because I was curious how much she’d really grown.

“...Alright.”

In the end, I accepted.

As I nodded quietly, her eyes lit up.

“Really?”

A voice full of happiness.

Yu Hana added, a moment later,

“But... I learned a lot, so it might take a while tonight. We might go pretty late—is that okay?”

I turned to look down the hallway.

At the end, Yoon Chaeha was slowly walking away with Jo Yuri.

“If it’s just the two of us, that late...”

Before Yu Hana could finish her sentence, I cut her off.

“Then how about the three of us just do it together?”

“Three...?”

Yu Hana blinked slowly.

“I figured we could include Yoon Chaeha too. I haven’t done any mentoring the last few weeks, and I was going to today anyway. I feel bad for skipping.”

Yu Hana looked quietly into my face, then gave a small nod.

“...Sure... I’d like that.”

I pulled up my watch and sent a quick message.

[belief_]: Come back real quick

[summer]: Me? Why?

[belief_]: Let’s do mentoring.

At the end of the hall, Yoon Chaeha stopped walking and sharply turned her head to look back at us.

Then, without saying a word, she slowly started walking our way.

As she got closer, she spoke.

“I thought you forgot.”

I replied casually.

“I didn’t forget.”

A lie.

Honestly, I had forgotten. But thanks to Yu Hana, I remembered.

Worked out well.

Being alone in a room with Yu Hana in my current condition would’ve been... dangerous. Having Yoon Chaeha with us would help ease that pressure.

Yoon Chaeha glanced sideways at Yu Hana and gave a slight nod.

So she can greet people.

She’s grown a lot.

The three of us walked in silence.

The night air had calmed, and the hallway leading to the training center was completely empty.

Training Hall B.

Once we passed through the entrance, we found the spacious interior still bustling with students in the middle of their own training.

We moved straight toward the back of the facility.

I scanned my watch and opened a personal training room.

—Beep.

The door opened, revealing a room neatly lined with state-of-the-art training equipment.

“Nice.”

As the door closed behind us, the sensor activated, and the lights slowly came on.

As expected of Building B—its facilities were the best.

I turned to the two of them.

“So, what should we start with?”

I could check Yu Hana’s swordsmanship, or help Yoon Chaeha with her mana control.

As I was thinking it over, I opened my mouth quietly.

“I’ll check your swordsmanship—”

Before I could finish, Yu Hana cut in.

“Sparring.”

When I turned to look at her, she was smiling as she met my gaze.

“Let’s start with a spar.”

Then she turned her head slightly toward Yoon Chaeha.

“Is that alright? I’d really like to spar with you, Miss Yoon Chaeha.”

Yoon Chaeha locked eyes with her.

Her eyes lit with red fire.

“Yes, I’m fine with that.”

She nodded.

Based on her earlier reaction, it was clear she’d taken quite a bit of interest in Yu Hana as well.

“Uh... yeah. Sure, do that.”

I gave a vague answer and stepped back.

As I naturally cleared the center, the two of them slowly walked to opposite ends of the training floor.

Eventually, they stood facing each other.

Yu Hana gently rolled her wrists. Yoon Chaeha closed her eyes.

A silent stillness fell over the room.

‘What... is this?’

A sudden sparring match.

And just like that... I had become the spectator.