Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Anastasia and Medelfen
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The next day, outside the Grand Royal Academy.
Edelphia, the capital of the Empire, was a bustling metropolis with well-developed buildings, numerous merchants, and a constant flow of people.
As the capital, its infrastructure for economic activity and its well-maintained boulevards naturally drew crowds, making it undeniably the Empire's premier city.
Consequently, the quality of establishments in the capital was on a different level compared to other cities.
Even a simple jewelry store was no exception.
…
“Hmm…”
Anastasia, a woman with a calm demeanor and blue hair tied back neatly, was visiting a jewelry store first thing, a day after arriving in the capital.
She planned to prepare a gift for her long-awaited reunion with Glacia.
*I should have thought about a gift sooner.*
Choosing a gift for Glacia just a few hours before their meeting felt a bit foolish, even to Anastasia herself.
Still, thinking she couldn't go to the academy empty-handed, she carefully examined the accessories displayed in the glass cases.
The accessories, crafted with a variety of gems, were diverse in kind.
Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and even unfamiliar gems like the violet-hued musgravite or the reddish red beryl all caught her eye.
As she surveyed the space filled with countless jeweled accessories.
“Major Anastasia. They all look fine to me.”
When Medelfen, who was beside her, offered his advice, Anastasia glanced at him sideways and opened her lips.
“That sounds like something someone who knows nothing would say. Captain Medelfen, saying 'they all look fine' is completely meaningless.”
As she spoke coldly, Medelfen nodded with a slightly embarrassed expression.
“I... see. My apologies, that was thoughtless of me.”
“Right. Anyway, Captain Medelfen, shouldn't you head to the academy first? We have different schedules, after all.”
Anastasia said coolly, picking up a ruby necklace. Medelfen nodded awkwardly.
“I initially thought that would be best, but since you are also visiting the academy, Major, I thought it would be better to go together.”
“Go together? Your purpose is to promote the officer corps to the cadets, isn't it? Wouldn't it be more timely to go now, while classes are in session?”
“You have a point, Major, but I have plenty of time. And before I use class time to promote the officer corps, I'm planning to first assess the skill level of this year's new cadets.”
As Medelfen calmly explained his thoughts, Anastasia let out a small laugh while looking at the ruby necklace.
“Assessing the cadets' skill level... Considering the situation on the front lines, I wonder if this is the time for that. It seems your thoughts differ from mine, Captain Medelfen?”
“...Not by much. It's true that the number of officers is still declining, and we need more cadets to choose the officer path.”
“Well, that's fine then. I don't want to talk about work now that I'm away from the front lines either.”
Having said that, Anastasia was finally able to decide on a gift.
*Ssk.*
It was a necklace with a deep blue sapphire set in the center. The moment she saw the accessory, Anastasia thought of Glacia.
“Excuse me? I'll take this necklace.”
“...Yes. Thank you. I'll wrap it for you right away.”
As the accessory she had chosen was being wrapped, Anastasia looked around the jewelry store a little more.
*It's certainly different from a few years ago.*
She had visited before to buy a gift for Glacia, but it felt like so much had changed.
And her own position had changed incomparably since then.
Back in her cadet days, she hadn't been very well-off financially.
So even when spending time with Glacia, choosing a gift at a jewelry store was something she had to steel herself to do.
But now, her situation had improved to the point where she could casually stop by a jewelry store and pick out an expensive gift.
“Major. Is one gift for your sister enough? It's been a long time since you've seen her.”
“I don't think I need to buy a lot.”
When the conversation turned to Glacia, Anastasia's previous coldness vanished.
*Ssk, ssk.*
She simply watched with slightly warmer eyes as the clerk elegantly wrapped the accessory.
Watching her, Medelfen chuckled and picked up a nearby hairpin adorned with a red gem.
“Since I'm here at the jewelry store with you, I'll buy a gift for your sister as well, Major.”
“...?”
Surprised by Medelfen's sudden words, she watched as he handed the hairpin he'd chosen to the clerk, asking for it to be wrapped too.
After he paid for it in one go, Anastasia looked at him with a bewildered expression.
“Why are you buying a gift for my sister, Captain Medelfen?”
“I don't know how long I'll be serving under you on the front lines, Major, but it can't hurt to make a good impression, can it?”
As Medelfen responded nonchalantly, Anastasia furrowed her fine brows slightly... then nodded.
“...Alright, fine. I'll accept it gratefully.”
The clerk, smiling gently at the two of them, was about to put the gifts in one bag before speaking cautiously.
“So, customers. Should I put the accessories in the same bag? Or would you like them wrapped separately?”
Anastasia immediately shook her head.
“Wrap them separately, please.”
“...Wouldn't it be better to give them together?”
“If we give them together, it diminishes the meaning of my gift. Things like this are more meaningful when given separately.”
As Anastasia spoke in a rather firm tone, Medelfen nodded uncertainly.
*Jingle!*
Leaving the jewelry store, the two of them naturally began walking toward the academy.
The time had just passed noon.
“Captain Medelfen. We can have lunch at the academy, right?”
“...Yes. Eating at the academy after so long should be a nice change of pace.”
Having come to a quick agreement, Anastasia slowly took in the sight of the academy, its magnificent exterior visible beyond the boulevard.
Just a few years ago, she had enrolled in and graduated from that very academy.
And now, not her, but her sister was enrolled and attending.
And now, it was just a little longer. A very little longer.
*Glacia must have grown up well.*
She was an incredibly pure child, but not so naive as to be taken advantage of by others.
Her grades were good enough to get her into the A1 Class.
The only thing that worried her was that Glacia didn't get along well with others, but she thought it would be fine nonetheless.
*She might have made some good friends.*
*Click.*
*Clack.*
Her pace naturally quickened.
Although they had arranged to meet after her classes, she wanted to see her sister attending a lecture just once.
“Major Anastasia...? Aren't you walking a bit too fast all of a sudden?”
“Just keep up.”
Anastasia replied lightly, a rare, faint smile on her face.
Anticipation.
She was filled with great anticipation, thinking of the sister she hadn't seen in years.
***
A sort of forewarned commotion was brewing at the academy.
“...!”
“...P-Please, enter.”
The guards checking identities at the academy entrance immediately reported Anastasia and Medelfen's arrival. The news spread quickly to the academy's high-ranking officials, to the point where a dedicated escort was dispatched.
Despite the suddenness of their visit, the academy had no choice but to give them special treatment.
The value of Anastasia, an officer with an overwhelming presence even among those on the front lines, was so immense that it was incomparable to anyone else in the Empire.
*Click.*
*Clack.*
*Thud.*
They walked through the academy grounds with the guide assigned to them.
“...This is the building where this year's new cadets are housed.”
As the woman guiding them carefully pointed out the building they were looking for, Anastasia's eyes lit up and she spoke.
“Is it possible to see the cadets during their lecture?”
“See them, you say?”
“Yes. I don't intend to enter the classroom; I just want to watch from the outside.”
As Anastasia spoke cautiously, the guide nodded calmly.
“That much is certainly possible.”
“...That's a relief.”
As they entered the academy building with that brief exchange, Medelfen looked at Anastasia with a peculiar expression.
*Can a person really change this much?*
He was inwardly quite surprised.
He had been surprised on the magitech train ride back to the capital, but the way Anastasia had been acting since their arrival was far beyond his expectations.
Major Anastasia.
There had always been a lot of talk about her among the other officers.
Though a commoner by birth, no one dared treat her as one. Based on her achievements on the front lines alone, it was said that even the rank of Major was an underestimation of her power by the Empire.
Her accomplishments were unbelievably great. A woman who had achieved an unprecedented series of promotions to become the youngest Major.
Her words, actions, and even her appearance were all exceedingly cold and frigid.
Thus, most people were reluctant to even approach her. Combined with her ice-based affinity, she possessed an unapproachable aura.
But now, it was as if that coldness had vanished like a lie.
Instead, she exuded a bright atmosphere that felt almost gentle…
*Click.*
[A1 Class]
Reaching a classroom on the top floor of the academy marked with a sign, Anastasia quietly moved to the window to look inside.
And soon, she found her.
“......”
A rare, great tremor of emotion flickered in Anastasia's eyes.
...The academy official guiding her and Medelfen couldn't help but fall silent.
They followed Anastasia's gaze to see who could stir such emotion in her.
And there sat a cadet with a calm expression.
A female cadet with distinctive blue hair and a peculiar air, who resembled Anastasia yet had a different aura…
“You've really... grown up well.”
As Anastasia muttered blankly, the other two smiled gently.
The officer known for her monstrous, inhuman performance on the front lines, for being so cold, was showing such a gentle side while reuniting with her family.
...The sight alone held a warmth that could touch one's heart.