Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Apostle of Sacrifice, Leteia
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***
—Practical Training.
Or, as some would call it, a live combat exercise.
This was the first time we were leaving the academy for a class.
I didn't know how I'd spent the morning. It felt as if I'd simply blinked, and suddenly it was the next day, in the afternoon.
*Step.*
Even as I stepped onto the academy's warp point, my heart continued to pound in my chest.
It was a little different from the usual racing heart I got from anticipating and bracing for a future event.
It was as if... my body was reacting first.
*'Danger.'*
I felt it instinctively.
As if my body already sensed what was to come.
A flash—!
Light erupted from the warp point, and in an instant, my vision shifted dramatically.
"...!"
My view of the academy's interior was replaced by a completely different space, a new landscape filling my eyes.
“Cadets experiencing a warp for the first time, please take a moment to steady yourselves.”
At Instructor Vermont's words, I and several other cadets stood still and took a moment to recover.
Afterward, the cadets naturally began gathering in their assigned pairs. Normally, I would have been paired with David, but I had arranged to be partnered with Karite today.
*Tap.*
And soon, I saw Karite approaching me.
“Han Cheon-seong... I'm counting on you today.”
She still had a hint of negativity about her, but compared to before, it had lessened considerably.
Where she once had an intimidating air that made you hesitant to approach, she now seemed accessible enough for any other cadet.
“Karite. I’m counting on you too.”
I replied with my usual faint smile, deciding not to tell her about the danger she was in just yet.
The ‘future sight’ I had seen wasn't a fixed destiny.
I just knew I had to stay by her side and guide her carefully.
As everyone finished pairing up, Instructor Vermont cleared his throat loudly to get our attention.
"Now that you're all in pairs, we will soon move into Ail Forest. Stay alert on the way, but don't be overly tense. Trust in your equipment and your Traits, and be prepared to react calmly at all times."
The cadets nodded, their faces tense at the instructor's unusually grave tone.
The same was true for Karite, my partner.
“...Can I really do this?”
Karite's quiet mumble was loud and clear to me.
“Don't worry.”
“Ah, sorry... did you hear that?”
“I'm right here. And you don't need to be so anxious. I'm with you.”
As I answered, I put strength into my voice.
So that she wouldn't feel the slightest bit of anxiety. I had to be unshakable first.
“Just hearing you say that helps. Thank you.”
I returned Karite's faint smile with one of my own, but...
...I couldn't truly mean it.
*Thump.*
My heart had been pounding even harder since we'd warped. My body kept warning me, as if something was about to happen.
That I couldn't let my guard down for a single moment.
*Thump. Click...*
Following Instructor Vermont's lead, we slowly began walking toward our destination, Ail Forest.
Along the way, Instructor Vermont explained the habits and dangers of the ghouls we would be facing, and I went over the information again and again in my mind.
—Ghouls.
They were commonly known as undead-type monsters, similar to zombies.
But they were faster than typical zombies and possessed great physical strength.
How long had we been walking?
As we entered the outskirts of Ail Forest, surrounded by dense vegetation, the air seemed to grow heavier.
*Thud.*
When Instructor Vermont came to a halt, we, who were following him, naturally stopped as well.
“From this point on, you will proceed along the designated route and engage any ghouls you find. Remember to head for Area B2, as assigned. I and the other instructors will be following at a distance. If you feel you're unable to handle a ghoul, do not hesitate to call for an instructor. Stay alert, be cautious, and show us what you can do.”
...Hearing this, I felt some of the tension in my heart ease.
*'Thank goodness.'*
I had thought about going to Kalli dozens of times today.
But... I couldn't bring myself to do it. She was in charge of a different area and different cadets for the afternoon class. I had considered speaking to Instructor Vermont, who was in charge of us, but he had already addressed my concerns.
He said they would be following us and we could call them at any time.
But at the same time, a strange question arose.
*'The instructor... he clearly wasn't unprepared for an accident.'*
The first episode to appear in the story.
—The Sacrificial Lamb.
I had assumed it happened because of the instructor's negligence or some problem with Karite.
But the real Instructor Vermont had warned the cadets both before and after entering Ail Forest, even adding that the instructors would be right behind them.
Then...
*'How on earth could an accident like that happen?'*
Lost in thought, my gaze naturally shifted to Karite.
"....."
As she focused on Instructor Vermont's words, the negativity in her eyes had diminished even more since she'd been with me.
Just a little more, and she could pass for an ordinary cadet...
“Alright, everyone, move out.”
After Instructor Vermont finished speaking, the paired cadets began to move out one by one.
As I watched them, trying to sort out my thoughts...
“Han Cheon-seong!”
Hearing my name called suddenly, I turned my head to see David.
“...David.”
I felt a pang of guilt seeing him paired with another cadet, a necessary change because I needed to look after Karite.
He strode over to me and asked in a low voice.
“Hey. Is something up with you today?”
“...Nothing's wrong.”
“Alright. Anyway, I know you'll be fine without me saying anything, but... try not to be too tense.”
*Pat.*
He patted my shoulder before quickly moving away with his partner. A small laugh escaped me as I watched him go.
*'He's a really good guy.'*
The kind of friend you wonder if you'll ever meet again. I turned my gaze back to Karite.
“Karite.”
“...Yeah.”
“Let's get going."
I took the first step.
...My heart felt a little lighter, but I didn't let down my guard.
I'll move with the other cadets and do my best to avoid any danger.
*'If I lead Karite and stay careful...'*
Maybe... no accident will happen today.
I sincerely hoped it would be that kind of day.
***
*Rustle. Rustle.*
The figures of the cadets slowly entering Ail Forest were clearly visible in 'someone's' line of sight.
Even Instructor Vermont, who followed the cadets, was visible to him.
The being watched the paired cadets for a moment... then let out a faint sigh.
“......”
It was a strange breath, mixed with resignation and some other deep emotion.
Despite it all, the man gave a hollow smile.
*'It's too late for regrets now.'*
A silent laugh played on his lips before fading.
This deep emotion always ensnared me before I carried out a job.
The ethical dilemma, the sacrifice, the offering, the perspective of the innocent who were about to die...
But with a slight shake of his head, he brushed all such thoughts aside.
He knew that what he had to do was beyond the pale.
It was something that had to be done for his own sake, for his family.
And for now, the plan was proceeding without a hitch.
Even if someone were to die at his hands or suffer a great misfortune...
*'It can't be helped.'*
It couldn't be helped now.
It was already irreversible.
And today, an even greater incident than before would unfold.
—An academy cadet dies in an accident.
The chaos that would follow would be anything but ordinary.
And yet, it had to be done.
A sacrifice was needed.
The sacrifice of someone who would become an offering was necessary, and 'It,' the one who desired the sacrifice, had specified the cadet's life to him.
It had told him that it had laid the groundwork long ago; all he had to do was approach and reap it.
That chilling voice still seemed to echo in his ears.
His thoughts were brief.
*Rustle.*
He followed the cadets who were slowly moving away, his steps silent.
His vision expanded in an instant as he moved expertly through the vegetation.
And he locked his eyes on his target cadet.
The female cadet with sky-blue hair.
—Karite Esildereun.
Her face was distinct from the other cadets, so it didn't take long to find her.
Her face was still clearly clouded with gloom and negativity. But he found himself frowning involuntarily.
*'The cadet's condition...'*
Compared to when he had last checked just a week ago, her condition seemed to have improved to a strange degree.
As far as he knew, her state should have worsened. It was as if she had overcome the dark thoughts on her own.
"..."
He let out a dry laugh at the thought.
*'Impossible.'*
Overcoming those thoughts was impossible for anyone.
For a mere cadet to resist and conquer the thoughts planted by 'It' was absurd.
So he began to watch more carefully.
-Ghouls aren't that difficult to fight. We should be fine if we handle them calmly.
-...Yeah. Still, I'm relieved to be paired with you. To be honest, with my Trait... I thought I'd just be a burden to anyone I partnered with.
-I'm telling you again, it's really fine. We're just starting out; how could everyone be perfect? You just have to improve from here on out.
The cadet conversing naturally with the target also came into view.
*'His name was Han Cheon-seong, wasn't it.'*
He was a cadet currently surrounded by rumors at the academy, so he knew the name.
However, he didn't know why that cadet was with Karite.
There should have been no connection, no reason for them to be together.
As time passed and he continued to watch them, he naturally came to an understanding.
The reason for Karite's significant improvement. The root cause was that cadet, Han Cheon-seong.
“......”
Another faint sigh escaped him as he thought about the plan.
*'I don't want to increase the number of victims...'*
It seemed an additional sacrifice was unavoidable.