## Chapter 236 – Training (End)
Having finished their business and seemingly drained of all energy, the two stumbled back to the mansion. Before they even reached the entrance, a burning smell tickled their noses, causing them to look around in confusion. Could a fire have broken out while everyone was away? That would be a disaster.
But as if to prove their worries unfounded, Clara was calmly preparing a barbecue in one corner of the yard. She lit the firewood, coughed a few times from the billowing smoke, and then waved at Ryu and Asel, who were staring blankly at her.
“Oh, you’re just in time?”
Asel slowly approached Clara, who was smiling brightly.
“What’s all this?”
“Ryu, and Hart too, have been through so much, right? So, I wanted to make them some delicious food.”
“I don’t know how to thank you…”
“Hey, you don’t have to go that far. I’m eating with you, too.”
No sooner had Clara finished speaking than Charlotte appeared from behind Asel.
“Did you have a good time?”
Asel approached Charlotte and asked in a somewhat accusatory tone.
“Charlotte, where were you today?”
He had enjoyed his date thanks to her absence since morning, but he had been worried nonetheless. Of course, Charlotte wasn’t weak enough to be taken advantage of anywhere, but the mere fact that someone who was always by his side was out of sight doubled his anxiety.
She shrugged and replied.
“I just spent some time alone for a change.”
“Is that so? Then that’s fine.”
“It’s late, so let’s eat quickly. Do you know how much Hart and Clara-nim struggled to catch that?”
“That?”
Having confirmed that everyone was present, Clara raised her voice towards the back of the mansion.
“Hart? I think you can bring the meat now.”
“Yes! Got it!”
No sooner had Hart’s voice faded than she appeared, struggling to drag out a cow that was larger than an average house. The cow was completely still, as if it had already lost its life.
Asel and Ryu were so overwhelmed by the size that they couldn’t say a word, while Clara puffed out her chest proudly and said,
“It’s a specialty product from our district. It’s one of our district’s customs to catch this and eat it together during festivals or when there’s something good to celebrate.”
Even if Ryu ate a lot, that size was too much for five people to finish.
As if reading Asel’s worried expression, Clara smiled and said,
“We can share the leftovers with the villagers tomorrow, so you don’t have to worry too much.”
Clara, who had already changed into work clothes, turned to Hart and said,
“Hart, let’s get ready.”
“Yes!”
Hart began to butcher the meat with skillful hands.
The red meat, piece by piece, piled onto the huge platter next to them looked appetizing.
Before picking up a piece of meat, Clara asked Asel as if to confirm.
“Is there a part you particularly like? If not, can I make a recommendation?”
“Yeah, I’ll leave it to you.”
Clara nodded and placed the meat one by one on the grill, which was larger than most people. When Asel made a move to help her, Clara stopped him.
“No, you three are guests, right? Just stay still.”
She then skillfully controlled the fire and flipped the meat. Hart, who had already piled the platter high with meat, came to her side and opened her mouth.
“The Demon Lord’s grilling skills are the best in our district, so you three can just relax.”
“Really? I’m looking forward to it.”
Whether Hart’s confident words in place of Clara were an exaggeration or not, Asel and Charlotte looked surprised, their eyes widening as soon as they put the meat in their mouths.
“What is this? It’s on a different level from what we eat in our district.”
“If I could eat this every day, I’d want to quit serving the Demon Lord and come here.”
“You flatter me. It’s just average.”
While grilling the meat, Clara asked the two,
“There’s also alcohol, what do you want to do?”
“It’s not bad to drink occasionally.”
Asel nodded, saying he would drink, whether it was because Charlotte was drinking or because he was caught up in the atmosphere. He didn’t usually drink much.
“Ryu, what about you?”
“I’m okay.”
He had a promise with Hilda, and he couldn’t just drink here carefree.
“Then let’s just drink a little among ourselves.”
The four, excluding Ryu, poured alcohol into oak cups and drank it down in one gulp.
With the alcohol flowing, the already good atmosphere felt even more ripe.
While Charlotte and Asel were talking among themselves and enjoying a good time for the first time in a while, distracted by the meal, Clara lightly tapped Ryu’s shoulder with her finger. When Ryu turned his head and shifted his gaze, Clara brought her face close and whispered in his ear.
“Ryu, can you come out for a second?”
Ryu didn’t question it and quietly got up from his seat, following Clara.
“Where are you going?”
Clara turned her head and gave a meaningful smile.
“You’ll see when you get there.”
Her steps towards the mountain seemed light, as if she was enjoying herself.
The place they arrived at following Clara was the top of the mountain.
At the same time, Ryu’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.
The place closest to the sky was embraced by a beautiful night sky as if stars were pouring down.
Clara spun around in place and then smiled at Ryu, asking.
“How is it? Pretty, right?”
The open scenery and the fields full of flowers, it could be said to be the most beautiful place he had seen in the 5th District so far.
“This is my favorite place here. I don’t usually show it to just anyone, you know?”
Ryu couldn’t find any other words to praise this scenery.
The only word he could utter was,
“It’s pretty.”
To his simple but honest assessment, Clara smiled brightly as if satisfied.
“Right?”
After finishing her words, Clara threw herself onto the bushes as if diving. The fluffy ground warmly embraced her body.
She smiled and said to Ryu, who was hesitating.
“I feel good, so come here and lie down too.”
Ryu lay down in the flower field like Clara and looked up at the sky.
As he watched the moonlight pouring down brightly as if to comfort his heart, he felt a sense of peace in one corner of his heart. Clara, who was watching the scene with a satisfied expression, quietly whispered as if she was sad.
“You’re leaving tomorrow.”
“Thanks to Clara-nim, the 5th District will remain a very good memory. I want to come again next time.”
“Because of me? No. It’s all thanks to your efforts. Rather, I feel like I only gave you a bad experience at the end.”
“You don’t have to worry too much about that.”
“Yeah, you were that kind of kid.”
Clara turned her body and slightly opened her eyes, then looked straight at Ryu.
The pupils hidden behind her closed eyelids shone brightly like rubies, and within them was a pure affection for Ryu.
The chirping of grasshoppers, the fireflies filling the surroundings as if starlight had descended. Everything felt like a scene from a dream.
Clara slowly parted her lips.
“It’s quiet. It’s as if only the two of us are left in this world. How nice would it be if I could be with you like this?”
As Ryu hesitated and tried to open his mouth, Clara stretched out her index finger and blocked his lips.
“You don’t have to answer. I know it’s my selfish dream.”
Before she knew it, Clara slightly raised her upper body and came closer to Ryu.
“So, will you grant me one small wish right now?”
Ryu playfully replied.
“I’ll listen and think about it.”
Clara also gave a playful smile and gradually came closer.
“No, you don’t need to listen.”
Ryu had already placed his hands around her waist, and Clara placed her hands around his neck and gave him a short kiss. Clara wore a disappointed expression at the kiss that ended in the blink of an eye, but she didn’t push for more.
“I’ll be satisfied with this much for now.”
“Are you sure?”
“If I leave some regrets, won’t you come to see me next time?”
“Even if all these regrets are filled, I’ll come whenever Clara-nim calls me.”
“Haha, that’s nice to hear. But then Asel might get jealous.”
“T, that’s true.”
Clara stroked Ryu’s cheek and continued to speak.
“You’re a very kind child. That’s why I’m scared. How much will you be hurt if you find out about people’s ugly sides? Peace built on someone’s sacrifice, if the day comes when your hands are stained with blood in this contradictory world, won’t your current innocence be tainted?”
Clara’s eyes, as she said that, held a very deep sorrow.
Ryu gently grabbed her hand that was stroking his cheek and said.
“Please support me then, Clara-nim.”
“I don’t have the right to do that. I’ve already stained my hands with a lot of blood.”
Ryu was at a loss for words.
He knew that he couldn’t comfort her with any words.
Clara smiled faintly and stroked his face again.
“But if you say that, I can’t help it, right? I, who have always lived by taking the lives of others, am going to support someone else, the responsibility is heavy, isn’t it?”
Clara, who answered in a playful tone so that Ryu wouldn’t worry, lay still for a while and looked at the sky before slowly getting up from her seat.
“We’ve rested enough now, right? Now, get up. It’s the last lesson.”
“Now?”
“Yeah, it has to be now.”
Ryu, who stood in front of Clara, was nervous.
It was strange to suddenly start training, but what bothered him the most was what had happened yesterday.
Wouldn’t the same sensation that covered his body at that time come again?
The fact that he could hurt the people around him again was a source of fear for him.
But Clara had already come close and hugged him gently.
“Clara-nim?”
“Be happy. This is the last homework I’m giving you.”
“Clara-nim…”
“It’s strange that you, who taught me happiness, can’t live happily, right? Don’t try to carry your problems alone. You can rely on the many people around you, including me. It’s not something to be ashamed of.”
Lastly, Clara kissed Ryu on the forehead.
“You don’t have to come with Asel. You can come and visit anytime. Hart, Alexa, and the other kids I haven’t introduced yet will all like you.”
“I’ll definitely come and visit.”
“Yeah… it’s a promise.”
Ryu hooked his little finger with Clara’s and promised to come here again, and then they went down the mountain hand in hand.
In that way, the last night spent in the 5th District was setting beyond everyone’s laughter.
