Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Just One Day Away
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***
“In that case, when a new pillar emerges in a few years, are you saying the apostles who now object will bear the full consequences? I will take responsibility for my words. I can assure you, a new pillar will appear within five years. If not, I will cede ninety percent of my power to Yusillia.”
“…What.”
“To go that far… Are you certain?”
At the power laced in Azazel’s voice, the opposing apostles’ voices weakened noticeably.
The immense power the nine apostles gathered here had amassed was not something that could be obtained or achieved in a short time.
An innumerable length of time.
Only by accumulating and layering time and experience beyond human imagination could an apostle of their caliber exist.
Yet Azazel was now pushing his opinion so forcefully as to offer that very power as collateral.
“……”
“……”
As the dissenting apostles fell silent one by one, a stillness soon seized the darkness.
Watching them, Azazel waited for the opportune moment in the silence.
*There’s nothing more to say.*
It was no exaggeration to say he had played every card he could.
If they were to destroy the Empire, their long-held desire, they could no longer delay, even if it meant accepting the damages.
The ‘Grand Plan’ had to proceed.
*If it means erasing the humans of the Empire, every last one of them, even a day sooner….*
Just as Azazel, who had argued so strongly, also maintained his silence,
“Excellent.”
*Fwoosh!!*
A sudden burst of flame, shifting through a myriad of colors, bizarrely erased the darkness.
The apostle’s form, appearing as if the fires of hell had been made manifest, was both strange and utterly savage.
And yet, the light shining from its eyes within the flames was exceedingly cold.
“I, too, agree with Azazel’s proposal to proceed with the Grand Plan. If a new pillar emerges, the plan will surely be distorted. In that case, we must stomp out the seed and erase it properly beforehand.”
“Sekhmet……”
“You too now side with Azazel?”
“I do. And Azazel, you’ve surely seen something through Leteia’s eyes, have you not?”
As the crimson-flamed apostle called ‘Sekhmet’ continued, Azazel slowly nodded.
“It has only been a month since the human awakened his abilities. Yet he manifested a power great enough to annihilate Leteia’s avatar.”
As Azazel relayed the facts he had witnessed in a calm tone, the situation shifted dramatically.
Some apostles finally accepted his words and conceded, while others grew intensely angry.
“Then, we must assume it’s true that a new pillar will emerge in a few years.”
“Azazel! Why did you not speak of this sooner!?”
“That is certainly… a sign of a pillar, I’d say.”
The weight of Azazel’s words was enough to completely silence any opposition.
To them, who had lived for ages and understood humanity, Azazel’s statement was enough to bring one particular being to mind.
A mighty being who had displayed overwhelming power since her student days, enough to stand against the apostles, and who later grew endlessly to become the pillar of the Empire.
—Apostle Executioner Anastasia.
For the few apostles who had actually faced her, his words were something they could never overlook.
“Is there truly… no end to human potential?”
As one apostle suddenly voiced their opinion in a heavy tone, Azazel’s eyes contorted fiercely.
That voice was thick with resignation.
That an apostle possessing power on par with his own would hold humanity in such high regard was something Azazel could not comprehend.
“That is why we must eliminate the seed that will become a pillar all the more quickly. We must advance the Grand Plan, even if it means taking some risks. The odds will be far better than letting a pillar grow unchecked.”
As Azazel suppressed his anger and delivered his opinion, no further objections were raised.
—Yusillia’s flawed prophecy.
—The emergence of a human who would become a new pillar.
Each was an incredibly heavy topic.
Naturally, their gazes turned back to Yusillia.
Even if their opinions had found some common ground, if Yusillia objected, the consensus they had reached could very well fracture once more.
“If that is what everyone desires, then fine. It would be best to advance the Grand Plan.”
And the answer to that was an affirmation.
Yusillia was a being who, barring special circumstances, did not go against the majority opinion of the other apostles.
She generally preferred to yield to the great flow, to the destiny that would unfold….
“…Then is it decided?”
“It seems so.”
“Who, then, will lay the first cornerstone of the Grand Plan?”
The discussion immediately continued.
If they were to advance the timeline and proceed with the Grand Plan, there could be no hesitation.
“Since I was the one to bring it up, I suppose I should set an example.”
“Excellent. Then I shall join Azazel in unleashing my power.”
As Sekhmet voiced her opinion alongside the volunteering Azazel,
“Yes, the two of you will do.”
Yusillia concluded the matter, as if there was no need to hear from the other apostles.
…
Afterward, not a word was exchanged among the various apostles.
Gradually erasing their presence, they began to vanish from the space as if entrusting their bodies to the darkness.
*Ssssh.*
*Ssssh…….*
And so, another change was set in motion.
An intervention to save a single being.
The one who was saved had, as if to prove a point, survived a crisis where survival was impossible, manifesting overwhelming power and branding himself into the apostles’ minds.
An intervention that should never have occurred had brought about the signs of an even greater change.
“Can even this… be changed?”
With the lone Yusillia’s final words, the darkness once again began to absorb all light.
***
—Edelfia, the Imperial Capital.
The academy, located in the highest part of Edelfia.
There, the afternoon lectures were already drawing to a close.
“That will be all for today’s lecture. Good work, everyone.”
At Kalli’s serene voice, the students rose from their seats one by one, their faces bright.
“And just like that, another day is over.”
As David spoke, clearly pleased the lecture was finished, Cheon-seong, who was packing his things beside him, let out a chuckle.
“David, I think you’re the one who needs to focus more in class. Maybe it’s because it’s been a while, but why couldn’t you concentrate at all today?”
At Cheon-seong’s unexpected question, David’s eyes clouded over.
“...”
He stared intently at Cheon-seong for a moment, then shook his head.
“Now that you’re actually here again, I’m the one who feels like I’m dying. What am I supposed to do?”
“You feel like you’re dying because I’m here? What does that mean?”
As Cheon-seong blinked, not understanding the cryptic remark, David glanced toward Kalli, who was finishing up at the podium, and cautiously leaned closer to Cheon-seong.
He then whispered into his ear.
“Do you have any idea how many times Instructor Kalli looked over here today, all because of you? I really can’t get used to it.”
Now that he had revealed the reason for his discomfort, Cheon-seong simply looked at David with an expression of disbelief.
Then, with a short laugh, he patted David’s shoulder.
*Pat, pat.*
At the strange gesture, David looked at Cheon-seong quizzically. Cheon-seong spoke calmly.
“David, endure it.”
“…You call that advice?”
“It gets easier once you get used to Instructor Kalli’s gaze. Besides, if you think about it, it just means she’s paying more attention to us. What’s so bad about that?”
As Cheon-seong casually brushed off his concerns, David’s jaw dropped. He covered his face with his hands and blinked blankly.
“Seriously… watching you, Han Cheon-seong, makes me feel like I’m the weird one.”
“Don’t worry about it. You’re perfectly normal, David.”
“…That’s my point. Doesn’t that just mean you’re the abnormal one?”
As their lighthearted conversation continued, Cheon-seong remained perfectly composed.
Faced with David’s playful or aghast reactions, Cheon-seong’s heart was filled with a sense of ease.
The satisfaction of having fully absorbed Kalli’s lecture for the first time in a while, and even the training session with her scheduled for later in the afternoon.
As Cheon-seong organized his thoughts, he suddenly glanced outside the classroom and immediately stood up.
“I’m heading out first today. Let’s go to the training grounds together tomorrow.”
“Yeah, let’s… I think I need to rest today, too.”
After bidding David farewell, Cheon-seong left the lecture hall with another appointment in mind.
*Swoosh.*
He opened the door to leave, and as soon as he did, his eyes fell upon a woman leaning against a wall in the hallway.
The white-toned uniform was clearly out of place in front of the C-Class lecture hall. Yet, seeing the woman who possessed a unique beauty, Cheon-seong smiled faintly.
“Glacia.”
As he called her name, Glacia looked up, her expression brightening considerably.
“Yes, Han Cheon-seong.”
“Thanks for coming all this way. I could have gone to the A-Class building, though.”
“My lecture just ended first.”
They began to walk together, their conversation flowing naturally.
*Thud. Click-clack….*
Despite the differing sounds of their footsteps and the gazes they drew from surrounding students, Cheon-seong focused solely on Glacia.
He was currently gathering his thoughts about Anastasia.
*Deliver the message calmly.*
Although Mondays weren’t typically a day he would meet with Glacia, he had specifically arranged to see her during lunchtime.
He had asked her to spare him a moment after their lectures, and Glacia had accepted his request with perfect nonchalance.
Just as Cheon-seong was about to speak,
Glacia spoke a fraction of a second faster.
“First, there’s something I need to tell you. I don’t think we’ll be able to meet like this tomorrow.”
“…Huh? Why?”
At the unexpected words, Cheon-seong looked puzzled. Glacia wore an expression he had never seen at the academy before.
A face alight with anticipation. Her eyes curved into gentle crescents. Her sudden change made her seem like a different person.
“I got a message that my sister is arriving at the academy tomorrow. So, I don’t think I’ll have time for you.”
As Glacia continued, her voice filled with joy,
*Thud.*
Cheon-seong, who had been listening to her, came to a dead stop.
“…”
For a moment, he blinked, unable to say a word.
He had spent the entire past week agonizing over how to get Anastasia to the academy.
And yet, it had happened without any warning.
So anticlimactically, and so, so easily….
*A stroke of heavenly luck?*
For a moment, Cheon-seong didn’t even know what to call this thing he was experiencing.
“…Han Cheon-seong? What’s wrong?”
Cheon-seong looked at Glacia, who was asking after him, and swallowed hard.
Then, he began to stride purposefully toward her.
*Step, step….*
…Glacia watched his unexpected approach with a composed expression.
Soon, Cheon-seong was standing right in front of her.
Taking a slow, deep breath, he met Glacia’s gaze with resolute eyes.
“Glacia.”
At his serious tone, Glacia’s response was a bit delayed.
“…Yes.”
“I was hoping I could spend time with you tomorrow, too. Would that be possible…? Of course, it’s fine if your sister is there. I just really want to be with you. I know we’re just friends, but we spent so little time together this past week…”
As Cheon-seong spoke cautiously, he was more nervous than he had ever been.
He was so desperate that he himself wasn’t even aware of what he was saying.
He faced Glacia, filled with a sense of mission that he absolutely had to make a meeting with Anastasia happen.
“……”
Faced with Cheon-seong’s startling directness, it was Glacia who faltered.