Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Anastasia
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***
Who is the most talked-about figure in any work of fiction?
Most people could answer without much thought.
The protagonist.
Naturally, the protagonist of a story would be the subject of the most discussion.
And Leonhardt, the protagonist of the story *Groa*, was no exception.
He faced an endless series of crises, yet in every situation, he championed good, overcoming adversity with an unshakeable heart.
Leonhardt's journey, a testament to the human spirit, was enough to make the reader's heart swell with a peculiar emotion.
In fact, I had felt the same.
I had thought Leonhardt was a protagonist I liked for a change. It had been too long since I’d encountered one who didn’t carelessly disregard the lives of others to satisfy his own selfish desires, or act solely for personal gain like money or lust.
While such a protagonist could be frustrating at times, his resolve to confront crises and overcome them with sheer willpower had always left a good impression on me.
But in the early parts of the story, there was one person who was mentioned even more than Leonhardt.
‘Anastasia…’
I knew my mouth was hanging agape, but the shock of it all refused to fade.
“Han Cheon-seong? What’s wrong?”
“It’s… nothing. I was just surprised to hear a… familiar name.”
“A familiar name? I don’t think my sister’s name is that common.”
Her skeptical response only elicited an awkward laugh from me.
“I suppose you’re right.”
As I mumbled noncommittally, my heart felt like it was sinking into an unprecedented cold.
It felt as if my mind had taken a direct hit from a nuke, stained by the immense shock.
—Anastasia, the Apostle Executioner.
Befitting such a grim title, she occupied a strangely significant portion of *Groa*’s early narrative.
While the novel seemed to proceed peacefully, focusing on protagonist Leonhardt’s daily life, it would often abruptly shift to Anastasia on the battlefield, depicting the intensity and peril of the war.
Back then, as a reader, I had found it incredibly annoying, and the outcry from other readers about the broken flow had been massive.
“Let’s head back in.”
“Yeah… let’s.”
*Screech.*
As I followed her through the opening door of the infirmary, my mind remained in turmoil.
My thoughts were instantly consumed by Anastasia.
And the descriptors for Anastasia were truly countless.
-One of the few absolutes in the world with a level 10 trait.
-A being known to have single-handedly slain apostles in numbers well into the triple digits.
-Her personal influence was said not just to change the tide of a battle, but to be the core power of the entire Western Front.
-And she was the one who started every snowball effect….
…
My lips felt parched as I recalled the information about Anastasia.
‘To think the connection to Anastasia was Glacia.’
Why did Leonhardt have to face and overcome one great crisis after another?
Why did the front lines, which had held for years, suddenly collapse, leading to a massive crisis?
It was all because Anastasia, an absolute power, a being of immense strength, had suddenly gone missing.
No one knew why she disappeared, and it was never explained in the story.
Anastasia had vanished without a trace.
Which was why so many people had complained, asking why the author even introduced her in the first place…
“…Student Han Cheon-seong. Why do you look so pale?”
Seeing Adelia’s concerned expression, I blankly touched my own face.
‘Was my expression that grave?’
As I wondered, my gaze fell upon Karite.
“Han Cheon-seong, did something happen after you left the infirmary? Why did you suddenly get so pale?”
A small laugh escaped my lips at the anxiety in Karite’s voice.
“Nothing happened. I just… think I still need some rest. I feel a bit exhausted.”
As I tried to soothe their worries, I suddenly caught sight of Glacia.
“…”
As if she too sensed something was off about me, she was watching me with a look full of concern.
…And as I looked at her, a great wave, unlike any before, crashed within my heart.
‘Could Glacia be a key figure in this world?’
Although I no longer had any intention of befriending her for personal gain, if Anastasia was involved, the story was completely different.
She was a being who could potentially decide the fate of this world. Anastasia’s presence was just that overwhelmingly powerful.
She was a being whose strength was so absolute she could only be described as a transcendent.
“Hah… If Student Han Cheon-seong is saying this himself, you should just rest for today and do nothing else. Student Karite and Student Glacia, I’d like you to leave now. Is there anything else you need to say?”
As Adelia took control of the situation, Karite and Glacia slowly shook their heads.
“No, nothing. Han Cheon-seong, maybe I kept you for too long… you must need your rest.”
“Han Cheon-seong. You have to get better soon, okay?”
I felt a pang of guilt at the two women’s words.
‘They have no reason to feel sorry for me.’
But right now, more than anything, I needed time to think.
In my current situation, I had no way of contacting Anastasia, the core of the Western Front’s power, so it was fair to say I had completely forgotten about her until now.
I had thought there was no point in hoping for or worrying about a possibility with zero chance of success.
But now.
‘Anastasia has a connection to Glacia. And if they’re family…’
My lips moved unconsciously.
“Somehow…”
Was there any way, any way at all, to bring Anastasia to the academy?
In the original story, she only ever appeared on the battlefield before suddenly disappearing.
If only I could find out the reason for her disappearance…
No, I didn’t even need that much.
If Anastasia simply returned to the academy and her future disappearance was prevented, the coming events would change dramatically.
It wouldn’t be a mere butterfly effect, but a colossal typhoon.
One that could change the very fate of this world…
“…Somehow? Student Han Cheon-seong, what do you mean by that?”
Startled by Adelia’s voice, who had approached me at some point, I shook my head.
“Somehow… I want to recover.”
As I fumbled with my words, Adelia gave me an incredulous look.
“Really… the more I see of you, Student Han Cheon-seong, the more I think you’re incorrigible. Even with that exhausted look on your face, you’d rather jump back into your daily routine than rest comfortably?”
As she spoke, she slowly extended her hand, and I carefully offered her my left one.
*Swoosh.*
As our hands touched, a warm energy immediately began to flow in through my fingertips.
“Because returning to daily life is the best thing. Of course, I also very much enjoy this time spent alone with you, Instructor Adelia…”
The words spilled from my mouth on their own, while my thoughts remained completely fixated on Anastasia.
…
And so, Han Cheon-seong did not notice.
*Flinch.*
That Adelia, who was warmly holding his hand, had for a brief moment widened her eyes.
***
“Because returning to daily life is the best thing. Of course, I also very much enjoy this time spent alone with you, Instructor Adelia…”
At Cheon-seong’s absentminded words, a startled Adelia managed to compose her physical reaction with superhuman speed.
To the distracted Cheon-seong, it was as if she hadn't reacted at all. She had regained her composure in a mere instant.
“Well… even if that’s just flattery, it doesn’t feel bad to hear.”
As Adelia spoke calmly, Cheon-seong, his gaze fixed on their joined hands, simply continued speaking as the thoughts flowed.
“It’s not flattery. I really… genuinely think my time with you is wonderful, Instructor Adelia.”
“…Student Han Cheon-seong. You shouldn’t tease an instructor. It’s only because it’s me that I’m taking your words so calmly. If you’d said that to another instructor, you would have surely been scolded. Are you aware of how your words sound?”
As if to warn the dazed Cheon-seong, Adelia’s demeanor turned cold. He slowly lifted his gaze from their hands.
*Swoosh.*
Looking at Adelia’s cold expression, he tilted his head in confusion.
“Instructor Adelia, did you perhaps dislike your time with me?”
“…Excuse me?”
Adelia replied blankly to the unexpected remark, and Cheon-seong immediately shook his head.
“I suppose that could be the case for you, Instructor Adelia. Though we are instructor and student, we are still a man and a woman. Perhaps I’ve been too familiar. It seems… I was unconsciously leaning on your warmth.”
“W-Wait a moment, Student Han Cheon-seong! Why would you think I disliked my time with you?”
Adelia hastily refuted his words, and a faint smile touched Cheon-seong’s lips.
“…Putting myself in your shoes, I get the feeling that I must be quite a burden. You must be busy enough just treating a few students on a normal day, yet you’re spending most of your time focused on me. I… think I was being thoughtless.”
Cheon-seong continued, his eyes still clouded.
Then, as if struck by a great worry, he furrowed his brow, and Adelia, watching him, now looked visibly flustered.
*Grip!*
Adelia squeezed his hand with great force.
It was an incredible amount of strength.
So powerful, in fact, that it seemed impossible to have come from a woman’s soft hand. The shock was enough to jolt Cheon-seong back to his senses.
“…Student Han Cheon-seong.”
At the sound of Adelia’s voice, thick with heat, Cheon-seong, finally aware of reality, nodded.
“Yes… Instructor.”
“I did not dislike my time with you in the slightest.”
At Adelia’s words, which carried a certain resolve… Cheon-seong blinked blankly.
‘So suddenly…?’
To Cheon-seong, who had been speaking while lost in thought about Anastasia, Adelia’s sudden seriousness felt… incredibly random.
“So, please don’t get the wrong idea. Alright…?”
As if embarrassed by his reaction, Adelia spoke cautiously. Not understanding the situation, Cheon-seong simply nodded for now.
“I truly enjoyed the time I spent with you, Instructor Adelia.”
And as he stated what he felt… without a hint of reservation, Adelia bit her lip tightly.
“…Honestly.”
As Adelia let out a sigh, as if releasing the heat building within her, Cheon-seong cautiously brought his train of thought to a halt.